Pastis DC — Restaurant in Washington

A SLIGHTLY OFF NIGHT (See visit 2 at the end). Am familiar with Pastis in NYC -- was a frequenter back in the day when I was living up there. Also familiar with Le Diplomate. Since this is a collaborative effort on the part of Keith McNally (handled the design side) and Stephen Starr (oversees the food side) I was expecting big things but as first visits go it was good if not especially memorable. We were there on a quiet night for my birthday which fell immediately after Memorial Day, hence not the best night for a restaurant. While the interior is inviting and beautifully detailed, the food and service wasn't as stellar, albeit perfectly adequate.

The crispy calamari starter was a tad overcooked and it was served with an aioli that I felt had too much lemon it (an easy fix). For the most part I think calamari works best with a simple marinara sauce or failing that, your standard garlic aioli. The bread basket only had one type of bread (whole wheat) but it was very good. My trout almondine with green beans wasn't as satisfying as Le Diplomate's version -- slightly dry/overcooked and in my view overly saturated with almonds and butter. The pommes puree side on the other hand was heavenly -- assuming you don't mind a lot of butter.

My dining partner faired better. The French onion soup was wonderful although a good amount of the gruyere had leaked out and melted onto the sides of the bowl which might have looked good but seemed a bit wasteful. His Chicken Kiev was good but slightly overcooked and dry which admittedly is often the case with baked chicken -- only the very best get that right.

The wine was wonderful and the rice pudding desert, albeit small in size was very satisfying. The service was standard (attentive and polite)-- relatively young/inexperienced waiters who were perhaps too quick to agree with whatever you said.

UPDATE: After giving them my feedback I was contacted by the restaurant and they were kind enough to invite me back, whereupon I had a better experience and ultimately learned that I had been on an off night if the lively crowd and the food and service was to be believed. We very much enjoyed the boeuf bourguignon, and the bouillabaisse (special on friday nights) in particular. In the meantime, I wish the restaurant all the best going forward and I wanted to thank them for caring and for making the effort to win me over and or to take constructive...

Where DC's Culinary Scene Got a French Kiss (and It Was Delicious!) Forget Eiffel Towers and croissants, Pastis is DC's new love affair, and it's sizzling hotter than a crêpe on a July sidewalk. My taste buds did a can-can after the first bite of their veal tongue appetizer. Imagine this: a velvety, melt-in-your-mouth masterpiece nestled on a bed of jewel potatoes that shimmered like tiny emeralds. Each creamy bite was a party in my mouth, and the garnish? Forget parsley sprigs, this was an edible Monet, a kaleidoscope of flavors that had me ooh-la-la-ing all night.

Then came the main event: chicken paillard with almonds. Picture this: a golden, buttery bird so tender it practically surrendered to my fork. And the almonds? Crunchy, toasty, like sunshine on a croissant. The veggies? Vibrant, fresh, like they just did a Zumba class in the garden. Each forkful was a symphony, a culinary chanson that had me humming with delight.

The vibe? Oh, it was pure Parisian magic. Beautiful people, a buzz that crackled like a baguette in a toaster, and a staff who knew their stuff better than a mime knows how to annoy tourists. Opening night jitters? Non! These folks were pros, gliding through the room like seasoned waltzers, making everyone feel like they'd just stepped into a scene from Amélie.

So, if you're looking for a taste of France that's more than just escargot and beret-wearing waiters, Pastis is your new BFF. It's a culinary adventure that'll have you saying "merci beaucoup" with every bite. Just don't blame me if you start practicing your French accent in the shower. You've been warned!

P.S. Don't forget to try the pastis, of course! It's the perfect way to kick off your French fiesta. Just make sure you hold onto your hat, because this place is gonna blow you...

As a French customer, I came with high expectations given the group of restaurants Pastis is part of (I’m a fan of Le Diplomate).

1- The bread at Pastis was very average. Not even worth mentioning but since it’s a French restaurant, I must. Add to this: Le Dip’s bread is amazing, why not the same here?

2- After the waiter validated my preferred main dish (the lamb shank), he came back telling me they were out of it. Mind you, this was a 9pm reservation on a Sat night (peak time). Not OK, this shows poor planning by the management.

3- I ended up getting the Boeuf Bourguignon, very French and expensive as well. Within seconds, I realized the dish is missing “lardons” (a type of bacon bits), which are an integral part of the dish. Without that, the dish is incomplete. Took me 5 long minutes to get my waiter’s attention and then he dares telling me that “lardons” are the type of pasta, clearly showing his total ignorance, which is quite insulting to a customer, let alone a knowledgeable one. He tried to fool me with BS.

4- He goes to the kitchen and 5min later, someone else come back a side plate of “lardons”, which is awkward. Neither the waiter not the kitchen person said “sorry” once…and not did I get some kind of compensation.

5- It is took +10min to be able to enjoy my complete dish after it was originally served to me. By then my plate was already cool etc. Simply unacceptable.

Overall: amazing decor and great vibe but TERRIBLE waiter and unacceptable service (no class after the major blunder) for a restaurant of this caliber (based on price).

Really disappointing, left with a bitter taste in my mouth. Details are what separates great restaurant from average ones. I may give it a second chance but not...