The atmosphere is enchanting, you feel like you are in Europe. Cozy and romantic. We had the heart of palms salad and it blew us away! Delicious deserts too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michael B.
Le Refuge Restaurant in Alexandria, VA, is a true gem that transports you to the heart of France with its authentic cuisine and charming ambiance. My recent dining experience at this establishment left me utterly impressed and thoroughly satisfied. Upon arrival, my spouse and I were greeted warmly and seated promptly, though I would highly recommend making advanced reservations as the venue tends to fill up quickly - a testament to its popularity and excellence. Our culinary journey began with a delightful array of appetizers. I opted for the Salade maison à la vinaigrette, a refreshing house salad with a perfectly balanced vinaigrette dressing, while my spouse enjoyed the classic Caesar salad, both impeccably prepared and bursting with flavor. For the main course, I indulged in the Poitrine de poulet Dijonnaise, a succulent chicken breast adorned with a luscious mustard cream sauce. The flavors were exquisite, and the dish paired beautifully with the restaurant's recommended white wine selection. Meanwhile, my spouse savored the Salmon Béarnaise, cooked to perfection and accompanied by a rich and flavorful sauce. No French dining experience would be complete without dessert, and Le Refuge did not disappoint. We indulged in the Peach Melba and Chocolate Mousse Cake, both of which were heavenly and provided the perfect sweet ending to our meal. Throughout the evening, the service was impeccable, with Jean-Francois Chaufour and his family ensuring that every guest felt welcomed and attended to. It's evident that their passion for French cuisine and hospitality shines through in every aspect of the dining experience. Le Refuge's cozy atmosphere and authentic dishes truly make it a standout dining destination in Alexandria. With over 36 years of culinary excellence, it's no wonder that patrons keep coming back for more. Whether you're craving a taste of France or simply seeking an exceptional dining experience, Le Refuge Restaurant is a must-visit. My spouse and I left feeling thoroughly impressed and already looking forward to our next visit. Merci beaucoup, Le Refuge, for an unforgettable evening!
Melinda Madden
The staff was so kind and attentive, the atmosphere was very cozy, and their quiche Lorraine was to die for!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
J
I'd give it 10 stars if I could. Everything is immaculate, from the staff, to the wine, to the food. If you are celebrating something special, or otherwise just looking to have a fantastic dinner in an intimate setting, this is your place. Make sure to say hello to Elias and ask for his recommendations.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: French Onion Soup, Creme Brulee, Escargot, Chocolate Mousse Cake, Bread Basket, Leg of Lamb
Ly Vuong
Exceptional dishes and great
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
r p
Fabulous lunch. Best French onion soup in DC area. Service was excellent. Love dining here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: French Onion Soup, Bread Basket, Salmon En Croute, Veal Francaise
daniel johnson
Of course this isn’t the only French bistro restaurant. It’s not even the only one in Alexandria, Va. But it might be the best. Authentic food, service & atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Thomas Lundquist
Families been coming here for almost 20 years. The excellence of the food has never changed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: French Onion Soup, Creme Brulee
Sarah M.
We had high expectations based on local reputation, but were shockingly disappointed in the food. It was not good. Meats were poorly cooked and not fresh, and vegetables were bland. Service met expectations but the execution of the kitchen needs serious improvement. Restaurant seems very popular, it was full when we went, but genuinely puzzled by the good reviews of the food.
Claire Wills
The kind of place that is an absolute rarity these days--family owned, exceptional service and word class food. Can't recommend highly enough.
Le refuge is an extremely old school restaurant. They expect you to order multiple courses, but the food is so unbelievably heavy its inadvisable to do that. Ordered the pea soup and quiche. Pea soup had an odd tangy flavor I didn't love, quiche was like a plate of molten cheese and cream absolutely impossible to eat and was so rich that it literally put me to sleep when I came home. That's after only eating a few bites too because again the richness. This was like no other quiche I've ever had and not in a good way. My husband had the onion soup which was amazing, and something else with beef that he also enjoyed. Overall it was an experience and maybe I'd come back for the onion soup, but I kinda doubt it.
Joe Allen
Not at all impressed with the food here. The beef in the wellington was over cooked and made up of small pieces of low quality meat. (both in the high $40s!) Partner had the fish which was not cooked properly, I think undercooked, and quality was not very high. Surprised by the high reviews for this place.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 4
Amy D.
This is one of our favorite local spots in our town. It's not pretending to be some fine dining French place - this is the home cooked delicious country restaurant in burgundy vibe and food. It is absolutely perfect for a cold winter night. Alex and I try to come for the first snow every year and this was no exception. We always get the sautéed calamari, the cassoulet and a bottle of red wine to top it off! This time we tried this wine and it was sensational! *note: I am not a huge fan of red meat and I'm a "cute"erian aka don't like eating cute creatures and the cassoulet is to die for. I just pretend that I have no idea what's in it!! Haha
Cindy R.
Lovely restaurant with amazing food! Will return! Highly recommend the salmon. Great service as well.
The atmosphere is enchanting, you feel like you are in Europe. Cozy and romantic. We had the heart of palms salad and it blew us away! Delicious deserts too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Le Refuge Restaurant in Alexandria, VA, is a true gem that transports you to the heart of France with its authentic cuisine and charming ambiance. My recent dining experience at this establishment left me utterly impressed and thoroughly satisfied. Upon arrival, my spouse and I were greeted warmly and seated promptly, though I would highly recommend making advanced reservations as the venue tends to fill up quickly - a testament to its popularity and excellence. Our culinary journey began with a delightful array of appetizers. I opted for the Salade maison à la vinaigrette, a refreshing house salad with a perfectly balanced vinaigrette dressing, while my spouse enjoyed the classic Caesar salad, both impeccably prepared and bursting with flavor. For the main course, I indulged in the Poitrine de poulet Dijonnaise, a succulent chicken breast adorned with a luscious mustard cream sauce. The flavors were exquisite, and the dish paired beautifully with the restaurant's recommended white wine selection. Meanwhile, my spouse savored the Salmon Béarnaise, cooked to perfection and accompanied by a rich and flavorful sauce. No French dining experience would be complete without dessert, and Le Refuge did not disappoint. We indulged in the Peach Melba and Chocolate Mousse Cake, both of which were heavenly and provided the perfect sweet ending to our meal. Throughout the evening, the service was impeccable, with Jean-Francois Chaufour and his family ensuring that every guest felt welcomed and attended to. It's evident that their passion for French cuisine and hospitality shines through in every aspect of the dining experience. Le Refuge's cozy atmosphere and authentic dishes truly make it a standout dining destination in Alexandria. With over 36 years of culinary excellence, it's no wonder that patrons keep coming back for more. Whether you're craving a taste of France or simply seeking an exceptional dining experience, Le Refuge Restaurant is a must-visit. My spouse and I left feeling thoroughly impressed and already looking forward to our next visit. Merci beaucoup, Le Refuge, for an unforgettable evening!
The staff was so kind and attentive, the atmosphere was very cozy, and their quiche Lorraine was to die for!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I'd give it 10 stars if I could. Everything is immaculate, from the staff, to the wine, to the food. If you are celebrating something special, or otherwise just looking to have a fantastic dinner in an intimate setting, this is your place. Make sure to say hello to Elias and ask for his recommendations.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: French Onion Soup, Creme Brulee, Escargot, Chocolate Mousse Cake, Bread Basket, Leg of Lamb
Exceptional dishes and great
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fabulous lunch. Best French onion soup in DC area. Service was excellent. Love dining here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: French Onion Soup, Bread Basket, Salmon En Croute, Veal Francaise
Of course this isn’t the only French bistro restaurant. It’s not even the only one in Alexandria, Va. But it might be the best. Authentic food, service & atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Families been coming here for almost 20 years. The excellence of the food has never changed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: French Onion Soup, Creme Brulee
We had high expectations based on local reputation, but were shockingly disappointed in the food. It was not good. Meats were poorly cooked and not fresh, and vegetables were bland. Service met expectations but the execution of the kitchen needs serious improvement. Restaurant seems very popular, it was full when we went, but genuinely puzzled by the good reviews of the food.
The kind of place that is an absolute rarity these days--family owned, exceptional service and word class food. Can't recommend highly enough.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Quaint, unique, delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Veal Scallopini
Le refuge is an extremely old school restaurant. They expect you to order multiple courses, but the food is so unbelievably heavy its inadvisable to do that. Ordered the pea soup and quiche. Pea soup had an odd tangy flavor I didn't love, quiche was like a plate of molten cheese and cream absolutely impossible to eat and was so rich that it literally put me to sleep when I came home. That's after only eating a few bites too because again the richness. This was like no other quiche I've ever had and not in a good way. My husband had the onion soup which was amazing, and something else with beef that he also enjoyed. Overall it was an experience and maybe I'd come back for the onion soup, but I kinda doubt it.
Not at all impressed with the food here. The beef in the wellington was over cooked and made up of small pieces of low quality meat. (both in the high $40s!) Partner had the fish which was not cooked properly, I think undercooked, and quality was not very high. Surprised by the high reviews for this place.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 4
This is one of our favorite local spots in our town. It's not pretending to be some fine dining French place - this is the home cooked delicious country restaurant in burgundy vibe and food. It is absolutely perfect for a cold winter night. Alex and I try to come for the first snow every year and this was no exception. We always get the sautéed calamari, the cassoulet and a bottle of red wine to top it off! This time we tried this wine and it was sensational! *note: I am not a huge fan of red meat and I'm a "cute"erian aka don't like eating cute creatures and the cassoulet is to die for. I just pretend that I have no idea what's in it!! Haha
Lovely restaurant with amazing food! Will return! Highly recommend the salmon. Great service as well.