Café du Parc — Restaurant in Washington

Wow! So sad, I used to really enjoy sitting outside this place for lunch and also hosted many casual business lunches here. The decor is still nice. However, the food and service has really gone downhill.

I took my family there to grab lunch during the Cherry Blossom Kite Festival (this happens just a short walk from the hotel). As you would expect, it was quite busy and there quite a few families inquiring about an outside table, but it looked like they only had one server available outside. As a result they only had about four tables amidst a sea of open tables and a 30 minute wait. Many many people were leaving to find lunch elsewhere. This is really bad staffing on the part of management.

Also, the blond hostess was rather rude and dismissive, but we decided to add our names to the list as we were starving and didn’t want to walk somewhere else. She took my phone number, we grabbed coffees from the cafe, and sat at one of the tables right outside the door between the hostess and the patio. She walked by us several times to seat people, making eye contact with me at least once. We waited for about 40 minutes. I went inside and check on the wait list and she told me with an almost triumphant tone that she had tried my phone number but it didn’t work, so she had moved on to other people on the list. I noted that I was sitting right outside and that she had walked by me and even make eye contact. She didn’t reply, but did seat us. This is the sort of service you might expect from a haggard hostess at a busy airport restaurant but it seemed a little incongruous at a nice hotel. Particularly since she was only seating for the indoor tables and one outdoor waiter. Other then turning business away with the ridiculously long wait, how busy could she possibly be?

The server was very kind and attentive, but the food was mediocre. I was shocked how much it’s changed. I had the Seared Tuna salad and it looked like it had just been just thrown together. Dressing not good and barely any other. The greens were almost 50% Radicchio, so super sour. The tuna was over seasoned, grisly (not properly cut), and cut in super thick hunks. It was clear that it had been thrown together with no care and or thought it how it was going to to taste.

My daughter’s napkin roll had a dirty napkin and the knife had food residue. She had requested a plain burger without cheese or other sauces. About mid way through her burger she found sauces and chunks of cheese on her burger and then something unidentifiable smeared under her French fries. She lost her appetite and stopped eating. We had been there so long, we didn’t even complain, we just wanted...

I hit up Café du Parc at 1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC, for a bite, and it was a solid experience with some real French vibes right by the White House. This place, tucked into the Willard InterContinental, feels like a Parisian café with a DC twist. I grabbed a spot on their outdoor terrace, which was awesome—great views of Pershing Park and the World War I Memorial. It’s perfect for people-watching with a coffee in hand. The inside’s nice too, but the terrace is where it’s at on a good day. For food, I went with the salmon tartine and the crab cakes. The tartine was fresh and light, with perfectly smoked salmon on crusty bread, topped with just enough dill and cream to make it pop without being heavy. The crab cakes were a win—crispy outside, tender inside, and packed with crab, not filler. The remoulade sauce had a nice kick. I was tempted by the crème brûlée for dessert but passed since I was stuffed. The menu’s got other solid options like steak frites and salads, plus a kids’ menu if you’re with family. Service was mostly on point. Our server was friendly, and you can tell folks like Juan, who’s been there forever, know their stuff. That said, it took a minute to get my iced tea refilled, which was a bit annoying but not a big deal. Drinks were good—I had a French-inspired cocktail that went well with the meal, though it was a tad pricey for the size. The vibe’s lively, but it can get loud indoors, which might bug you if you’re after something chill. Prices are what you’d expect for a fancy spot in this location—not cheap, but the quality’s there. I heard a grumble from another table about a server pushing for a bigger tip, but my bill was fine. Overall, Café du Parc’s a great pick for a nice lunch or dinner with a view. The food’s legit, the terrace is a gem, and it’s got that French charm. I’d give it a 5 out of 5 and will probably swing back for...

We were staying at the JW Marriott across the street and decided to try this restaurant for breakfast. What should have been a pleasant start to the day turned into an upsetting experience that, unfortunately, left us feeling unwelcome.

When we arrived, the host – a senior lady of Asian origin – seated the two parties ahead of us after asking for their room numbers. When it was our turn, she asked the same question. I explained we weren’t hotel guests, just here to dine. Her demeanor immediately changed. Instead of offering us a comfortable table like the others, she tucked us away at a tiny table in the back corner near the kitchen, even though plenty of better tables were open.

I requested to be seated on the outdoor patio. She briskly replied that the tables were "not ready" and walked off. However, when I stepped outside, I counted at least five fully set and open tables. When I pointed this out, she coldly repeated that they weren’t ready — which was clearly untrue.

Even more telling was witnessing another family, also not giving a room number, receive the same second-class treatment. It became difficult to overlook — it felt less like an isolated incident and more like a practiced pattern. Whether intentional or not, the selective seating gave the impression of a biased policy toward who gets priority and who doesn’t.

As for the food, it was mediocre at best and certainly doesn’t justify overlooking this kind of treatment. The unfortunate reality is that the restaurant seems to be relying entirely on its location and ambiance within the hotel, while ignoring the importance of welcoming all guests equally.

There are far too many excellent restaurants and cafés in the area that value their customers without prejudice. We won’t be returning, but I do hope senior management addresses this before it damages the reputation of what could otherwise be a great...