Inventive takes on French classics are turned out at this elegant spot with lots of outdoor seating.
At a glance
#37 of 40 Coffee shops in Washington #5 of 5 Modern French restaurants in WashingtonLocalGuideWorld score: 4.01
Rating breakdown
-
5 ★51%
-
4 ★22%
-
3 ★11%
-
2 ★8%
-
1 ★9%
Quick facts
- What is the rating of Café du Parc?
- Café du Parc is rated 4.0 out of 5 based on 811 reviews.
- How does Café du Parc rank in Washington?
- Café du Parc is #37 of 40 Coffee shops in Washington by LocalGuideWorld score (rating weighted by number of reviews).
- Where is Café du Parc located?
- at Willard InterContinental, 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004 — 0.7 km from the center of Washington.
- How can I contact Café du Parc?
- Phone: (202) 942-7000 · Website: cafeduparc.com
Honestly, it was well below the expectations for such a high-standard hotel that The Willard used to be.
The hosting lady was arrogant without a hint of friendliness, immediately jumping to conclusions that we should walk down a floor for snacks. When we said we wanted to have a dinner she offered a table in a dark area when they were nearly empty. She clearly had no idea of simple manners or respect, especially when speaking to someone in their 70s. This was an unacceptable reception of guests, particularly on Christmas days! Wow! Everyone else from the staff was friendly and nice, as if they were making up for her…
I wish we had walked away immediately, as we ended up returning one main course of lamb ragu pasta because my husband couldn’t eat it. The waiter apologized, and we were not charged for it, but the Caesar salad was also really bad. The lettuce was on the plate as one huge piece, not cut or mixed, and the dressing was just a cheap supermarket one, which shouldn’t be used in restaurants. I didn’t return it as I didn’t want to make it worse for them.
On a positive note, the cheese plate and the pumpkin soup were good! 👍
However , we won’t be back there for that quality overall.
The hosting lady was arrogant without a hint of friendliness, immediately jumping to conclusions that we should walk down a floor for snacks. When we said we wanted to have a dinner she offered a table in a dark area when they were nearly empty. She clearly had no idea of simple manners or respect, especially when speaking to someone in their 70s. This was an unacceptable reception of guests, particularly on Christmas days! Wow! Everyone else from the staff was friendly and nice, as if they were making up for her…
I wish we had walked away immediately, as we ended up returning one main course of lamb ragu pasta because my husband couldn’t eat it. The waiter apologized, and we were not charged for it, but the Caesar salad was also really bad. The lettuce was on the plate as one huge piece, not cut or mixed, and the dressing was just a cheap supermarket one, which shouldn’t be used in restaurants. I didn’t return it as I didn’t want to make it worse for them.
On a positive note, the cheese plate and the pumpkin soup were good! 👍
However , we won’t be back there for that quality overall.
Really enjoyed the food, service, and atmosphere here at Café du Parc. Very kid friendly service and good wine selection. Prices are on the high side if you are on a budget. But the high prices do not mean it's pretentious. The staff are friendly, available, and helpful. I would definitely recommend lunch or dinner here.
Environment was impressive. It felt like a five star. The waiter was nice and service was quick. The food and drinks were delivered with in 10 min of ordering. The waiter did not bring waiter's or checks unless we asked. After he dropped off food, he never came back to check on us. On fact, he never introduced himself. His name was Bhim. Kind but definitely needs training.
Service was fast and very friendly. Food was a little underwhelming.
I ordered the French onion soup to start. It was very tasty but EXTREMELY hot. By the time my main course came (Muscovy Duck Breast) it was still very, very hot and difficult to eat.
The duck was underwhelming. The actual duck breast wasn't seasoned very well. There was very little sauce which would have been fine had it had a more present flavor to it.
The vegetables were the best part. Absolutely delicious, especially the poached figs.
Finally I ordered the creme brulee. It was good, but it wasn't very "brulee-d" on the top. Overall very soft, without that classic crust. It was more spotty, with uneven texture on top. But the flavor itself was still quite good.
I ordered the French onion soup to start. It was very tasty but EXTREMELY hot. By the time my main course came (Muscovy Duck Breast) it was still very, very hot and difficult to eat.
The duck was underwhelming. The actual duck breast wasn't seasoned very well. There was very little sauce which would have been fine had it had a more present flavor to it.
The vegetables were the best part. Absolutely delicious, especially the poached figs.
Finally I ordered the creme brulee. It was good, but it wasn't very "brulee-d" on the top. Overall very soft, without that classic crust. It was more spotty, with uneven texture on top. But the flavor itself was still quite good.
The restaurant has a good location, near famous places. The prices are very high. Even if the food is delicious, it doesn’t cost such money. The cocktails were not so good as they should be. The dishes were big enough and delicious.
The restaurant is clean, the staff is friendly and works good.
The restaurant is clean, the staff is friendly and works good.
One of the greatest dining experiences ever! Our server, Lil, made our night! He was super kind, gave great recommendations, always made sure our glasses were full, was funny, and really took our experience to another level. We had one person in our party with a gluten allergy, and Lil made it so that even the dishes that had sauces that had wheat in them, that they’d be served on the side instead. He went through each item on the menu and told us what could be done gluten friendly, and what could not be changed. The food was delicious also! We had the mussels, pork belly, crab cake, and escargot as starters. The food came out super quick and tasted delicious! The pork belly was super tender, cooked to perfection, and the sauce that it came with was ON POINT! I had the beef bourguignon for my entree, and it was immaculate! The beef was so tender it like melted in my mouth! Delicious, and fantastic service!
This is a very nice Cafe to catch up with old friends or just grab a cup of delicious coffee and relax. Seating is available inside and outside. They offer a variety of delicious pastry and baguette sandwiches.
Horrendous service. The entree was served as we finished the starter. I then had to ask for the starter plates to be cleared and for new cutlery. I had to ask for the main plates to be cleared after the server had come to offer more drinks. Then I needed to ask for the menu for the dessert. Food was advertised as a whole Branzino but served as 1 fillet with a tail. Starters were good. Dessert was good. Gorgeous spot for a drink with a nice outlook though
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