Bistro Cacao — Restaurant in Washington

My significant other and I came for a nice date night. Wanting to treat ourselves to an all-out experience and get a taste of everything, we did the 5-Course Chef Tasting with the Wine Pairing. Each of the 5 dishes (one salad, two small plates, one entree, and one desert) came with a glass to pair with.

The decor is beautiful and one of the more romantic places to have dinner in DC. When we arrived, we were taken to our seats upstairs, in spacious arm chairs by a window at a 2-person table with flower petals and candles lit. We arrived a bit early for dinner and one of the first seated, and I didn't realize how busy the place had gotten until I got up to use the restroom later in the night - a testament to how intimate and isolated of a dinner we were able to have.

We started with the Burrata Salad, paired with a smooth German Riesling. Certainly a good pairing, and a solid salad.

The dish we received after that, a Crab Puree one that I couldn't find on the menu, was paired with a buttery Chardonnay. This was my favorite-dish and pairing by quite a bit, and one I would certainly go back for alone.

The third course was a classic Foie Gras, paired with a Pinot Noir with a smokey aftertaste. Another phenomenal pairing, and was impressed with the quality and flavor of the Foie Gras. After this - we had an intermission of Lemon Sorbet to cleanse our pallet.

The entree of the night was a Mahi-Mahi dish. While a solid dish (and my significant other's favorite), it was not my favorite of the night, and was a bit disappointed this was the main course of the night that previous strong dishes led up to. This was paired with a Sauvignon Blanc - a fine pairing but, like the salad, not one that really blew me away. It's also one of the first times I left a 5-course meal still a bit hungry.

The dessert was a rich chocolate dish paired with a sweet dessert wine. A good end to the night, but not one I would likely get again here (as it wasn't the most special of a dessert)

Overall, this was a good experience and a charming, romantic night with my significance other. I would definitely recommend coming here for a nice date night, although I don't think it's necessary to do the 5-course Prix Fix (especially at the price). I'll be sure to come again though, either to check out the Brunch or come for a charcuterie board or try some of the richer,...

Every now and again I come up on a restaurant whose ambiance, customer service, & food are equally yoked. This French Bistro provided excellence in all 3 areas. I can’t say I’ve ever had authentic French cuisine before, AND this is a great date spot!! . Where I am: @bistrocacao . Location Reviewed: 316 Massachusetts Ave., N.E. Washington D.C. . Menu Includes: Soups, Salads, Escargot, Calamari, Beef Tartare Petite Plates, Charcuterie Plates, Grilled Salmon, Grilled Blackened Striped Bass, Roasted Lamb, Pan seared Duck, Craft Desserts, Wine, Cocktails, & MORE!! . Items Reviewed: Their Soupe à l ‘Oignon (French Onion Soup topped with Gruyère cheese, with a toasted baguette, & butter $15). STAMP!! Rich, not overbearing, smooth, the cheese flavor packed this soup.

Their Crevettes Flambees (sautéed shrimp, heirloom tomatoes, a lemon, pickled shallots, tomato sauce, & cognac $16). STAMP!! Delectable, a tangy but savory sauce , & fresh!! GET THIS!!

Their Steak Frites (a Filet Mignon cut medium well topped with herb butter, with Pommes Frites $42). STAMP!! I should’ve got the Filet medium, but juicy, tender, & well seasoned nonetheless!!

The Fries…STAMP!! These were the BEST shoestring fries I’ve EVER had!! Well salted, extra crispy, no dip needed!!

Their Trio Crème Brûlée (vanilla, chocolate, & coconut cream topped with caramelized sugar $11). STAMP all 3!! Truly rich, silky, & decadent!!

Their Pearfect Drink (with Pear vodka, lemon juice pear nectar, shaken on the rocks $15). . Customer Service: On Point . Online Navigation: Easy . Parking: Rough . Recommendations: Everything I got!!

Music: YouTube-Backyard Band Pockets & Sockets 1997

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️=STAMP ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️➕=LIKE...

Bistro Cacao: A Love Story Gone Cold

Bistro Cacao, once the tapestry of our love story, now hangs tattered and colorless. For over two decades, it was the stage for our fourth date, the backdrop for our 25th anniversary, and the haven for countless cherished moments. Yesterday, however, our reservation for this "special occasion" turned into a cruel charade.

The hostess, with a nonchalant shrug, informed me the entire upstairs – our sanctuary with its velvet drapes and semi-private tables – was booked. The audacity to suggest another day, another restaurant, as if our anniversary could be rescheduled! They offered a "nicest table downstairs" as consolation, but it was a hollow mockery – a cramped spot by the bar, devoid of the promised oversized chairs.

Even the food, once a symphony of flavors, fell flat. My steak arrived undercooked, my wife's salmon overdone. A tiny crème brûlée, a pathetic attempt at appeasement, did nothing to soothe the sting of disappointment. The warm charm, the genuine hospitality that we once loved, had vanished.

Bistro Cacao, you've traded your heart for a hollow shell, and in doing so, lost two loyal patrons. Our memories, tarnished by this callous indifference, now serve as a cautionary tale, a reminder of a love story betrayed.

We leave you, not with anger, but with a profound sadness. The magic you once possessed is gone, replaced by a cold indifference that chills us to the core. We bid farewell, not just to a restaurant, but to a cherished chapter in our lives.

Farewell, Bistro Cacao. May you find your way back to the haven you once were, but know this – our hearts, once filled with your warmth, now echo with a hollow emptiness, a testament to a love...