Bistro du Coin Washington DC

When Bistro du Coin opened in 2000, it was nouvelle in DC, a real French bistro with authentic food at a fair price. Signs at the bar read: Cigars, cigarettes, oui oui! More than twenty years later, smoking is out and DC bistros have come and gone, but this neighborhood destination is still worth saying yes to. With garage-style doors open to the street it was built to be Covid friendly pre-pandemic; there are sidewalk tables as well.

The name Bistro du Coin means corner bistro, and the restaurant's walls are a mosaic of memorabilia, posters and photos of celebrity visitors, which, like any good neighborhood local, get added to as time goes on. Get ready for typical French fare: French onion soup, escargot, and pate are on the appetizer menu, with frisee salad, cassoulet, steak frites, mussels, boeuf borguignon or duck to follow. The wine list is dense with aperitifs, champagne, red and white wines; a carafe of house wine is a good pick here. Add Bernaise and wild mushrooms, both side dishes, and particular favorites amongst my crew. Save room for creme brulee or chocolate mousse, order a coffee and linger. Bon appetit!