Bistro D’oc

Extremely over priced, small portions, poor service, and my son literally gagged his whole meal. Waiter never refilled drinks or followed up with us on if we wanted anything. Caesar salad dressing was dreadfully fishy. It only earned its 2 star rating because of their desserts. 18% Tip was pre calculated in the bill which gave waiter no incentive to be remotely attentive.

This is a hidden in plain site gem! It is right across from Ford’s Theater so it is perfect to grab dinner at before a show. They offer pre fixe theater meals, which are a great deal. It is very traditional french — with daily specials brought to each table on a sandwich board. The upstairs was not being used when we were there, but it was huge and had a bar and would be great for a private event. The food was quite good. There was ample selection of delicious French wines. Make sure to allow extra time before the show, so you can properly enjoy your meal and wine.

Our absolute favorite place for special dinners downtown! We first discovered it years ago, when looking for a pretheater special menu – which is still great here. The food is classic bistro fare, with intriguing accents from the South of France and Vietnam, reflecting the charming owners’ heritage. And the perfect service is warmly hospitable yet totally professional. Long may Bistro d’Oc thrive!

I have to agree with the review preceding mine… This place is a hidden gem. No pretense.
Very laid back and cozy. Love the faux painted red walls done by the bartender’s mom. Good wine list, excellent cocktails. Great homemade pâté’ with cornichon, though a bit shy of toast.
The family who owns it is from the Languedoc region of France and the fresh Spring peas,
asparagus and frisee’ salad, with vinagarette had a smoky flavor that was subtle and very «French country» like. We sat at the bar, waiting for the rain to be gone on Saturday and
hung out there way after the Sun came out. Right across from Ford’s Theater and next door to the house where poor old Abe actually died, its not hard to find.
Check out the little French postcards and black and white photos opposite the bar. Kind of interesting. Locals there seemed in no hurry to leave. Will def. get back there on my next jaunt
to DC.

The definition of a hidden gem.
When Washingtonians think «tourist» they usually run away in fear, which is why I think this well established and situated French restaurant goes under the radar. Across from Ford’s Theater, this dark red interior hosts those who know it and otherwise goes missed. Boy am I glad I was recommended this place by a friend when we ended up downtown during dinner and wanted to get a good dish.
The Grub:
Pâté ($ 8): A+
THE BEST Pâté I’ve had, complete with sweet sauce and bitter mustard.
Full Rack of Lamb Special ($ 35): A+
THE BEST lamb I’ve had topping baby vegetables, a bean sauce, and rich ingredients. I’m including a picture because I don’t think there’s a better way to show it.
I’m definitely coming back here when I want a spendy dinner for two that’s still under $ 100.

The food fine, but when all you can hears the clattering from the kitchen and muffled music its a horrible ambience

Bistro D’oc served some of the worst food I have ever had in a restaurant. I attempted to order beef burgundy. The waiter suggested beef stroganoff. What they served was not beef stroganoff. It was incredibly poor quality beef stew with a tablespoon of sour cream on top. This place should be closed.

Very cozy little bistro, great location from all the touristy attractions. I had the steak frites. The steak was very tender, perfectly cooked with a delicious blue cheese sauce. The only disappointment was the industrial frozen fries… That steak deserve a better side.

An old standby, so glad they’re still in business. Very good food, attractively presented, at reasonable prices in a cozy bistro environment with attentive service– what else can you ask for?
Pre theatre menu — 3 courses– is a deal at $ 25.

We went specifically for the lamb brains. I assumed (my bad) that the menu they gave us was the daily menu. So we ordered off the menu. I ordered the escargot, it was over cooked, under seasoned and gritty. I sent it back and settled for the onion soup which was good. When we were almost finished we see they have a board of specials that they dragged rediculiosly around to every table but ours. Of course, THAT is where they had the brains listed and about 5 other things I would have ordered. My father in laws steak was nearly raw. My husband’s had sausage was not worth what we paid. Service was slow and the restaurant and food are out of date. It was filled with mostly senior citizens. I can guarantee we will not be returning and will warn others to not waste their time.

Searched for a «French Bistro» near downtown DC for my wife and I. We ordered the Linch Specials and a couple of Kronenbourg’s (Best decision ever). Food was decent (except there is nothing French about fried chicken and hot dog stand worthy French fries), decent service and the location was clean and well kept. Not much else was representative of a «French Bistro». Construction next door dismayed a few other couples and thus we were the ONLY couple in the restaurant at 2:30…just before closing for the afternoon. Again, not a bad place, just not as advertised.

First the food: I had the salmon with ratatouille and it was quite good. Otherwise, the experience was mediocre. The atmosphere was found wanting of warmth, both literally and figuratively. The room was notably chilly and while I asked for the heat to be raised – a request I can’t recall ever having to ask a restaurant – do not think they complied. It remained the same throughout. The service – while not rude – was brusque and impersonal. The two waitresses practically ran to and fro our and other tables, never thinking to check on our meals, ask if we wanted another glass of wine, or even offer us water at the onset of the meal. We had to ask them for water, after our food was brought. Atmospherics and service are just as important as the food and reason why I won’t return here.

I’m still a fan but the place has slipped a good bit on 2 years.
The menu does not really approach the depth and ambition of the menu post on-​line As of this month — not 2 years ago). I know outdated menus are common — but this one lists a good variety of temptations — beef tartare as an entrée, braised veal, short ribs, rack of lamb, duck confit — that seem to have disappeared. Even the cassoulet — a house specialty — is now a special (and the price went from $ 24 to $ 28).
The cassoulet was very good, as was a medley of skate, crab, and shrimp with mashed potatoes. Our starter — clam chowder and butternut squash soup — were solid. But the menu is much more tired and tame. There was only one other occupied table — now it was a Sunday night but it seems like business is down. I’ve had many good meals here and this wqas another one but I wish they;d bring more classics back.
The wine selection by the glass could also use improvement — this is a French bistro.

Very nice indeed. An appropriately understated and quiet bistro in the heart of downtown DC. Excellent food (try the hangar steak), well-​balanced flavors, and good service. Surprisingly well priced — especially given the location and the ambience. Will definitely return.

This is one of the more unrecognized and understated restaurants in DC– but an utter gem of a dining spot. While it’s in the heart of the major tourist attractions, they’ve managed to maintain a delightfully distinctive atmosphere highlighted by dishes that don’t disappoint at a surprisingly decent price point (though please note I would be willing to pay higher prices to see them stay around than not). While probably not for the younger palettes (depending on how sophisticated the child’s tastes are), I would highly recommend the escargo (best in the city) and goat cheese/​beet salad; if inclined, the bartenders make an exquisite martini.
The atmosphere is simple and distinctive and the restaurant picks up during business lunch hours/​speeds up a tad around traditional dinner hours, but is usually semi-​delightfully quiet otherwise — which as anyone that lives in Penn Quarter knows –when it comes to seeking high quality authentic food in a quiet local spot w. an undiscovered atmosphere– this is an experience not to be missed.

A modest but valuable oasis for the non tourist urban dweller to ease into a life beyond the speed of the city. Food is solid, aperitifs lovely, even if the décor is homey… great for a low key evening.

The location was good but the service and the food were very average and overpriced. The duck confit was way overcooked and the salmon tasted like cafeteria food, take it from a French opinion.

went yesterday with a friend to this place. First time.
Nice, warmth decoration, great location since very close of the E street theater… where I went to see a movie just after.
Sevice was good,
The food… So so.
The butter squash… Too greasy…
The cow au vin… Good
The foie gras… Good
The duck confit… Not good… too dry
The shame… Coq au vin et duck only served with french fries :-(((
We left with no dessert neither coffee since a woman already in the restaurant when we arrived. leave her table to come back with a dog…
Supposedly therapeutic dog she but could not shown any paper to the waiter when he ask for those… This dog start to walk around our table … Enough for me to shorten the diner.
I will try one more time…

They open at 5:30 pm sharp on Wednesdays. I know because when I arrived with a colleague and her husband around 5:20 — 5:25 pm, the door was still locked.
It’s a quiet, unassuming place in the heart of DC tourism. I’ve often walked by without giving it much thought but after another colleague suggested Bistro D’oc for a retirement dinner, I thought, «Sure, why not? It’s easily metro accessible for everyone.»
We were seated right away as it looked like our party of 6 had a specially arranged table. I’m glad everyone arrived within a few minutes so we could get started on conversation and ordering.
The waiter propped up a white board that had the evening’s menu specials. It was not clear but I deduced that it was organized by courses with a handful of appetizers, one entrée, and two desserts. A few of us chose the same thing: a gazpacho with shrimp and crabmeat and croutons and a baby zucchini and squash with rosemary polenta dish.
I was very pleasantly surprised by both and could have stopped there but I have a penchant for dessert and added the cheesecake with raspberry coulis and whipped cream from the specials board.
The gazpacho was wonderfully fresh and cool. I did wish they had a little more protein. However, the croutons were lovely and very crispy. As I did not throw them into the soup right away, I suspect that’s why they maintained some texture and body as I got down to the bottom of the bowl.
The polenta was also fantastic. I loved how the squash and zucchini were prepared and it was well seasoned with olive oil on top of a creamy yet gritty polenta. Really delicious.
The cheesecake was a good size and ok. The raspberry was pretty tart but was tempered by the whipped cream.
I liked that the place was not empty nor was it loud. The waiter was attentive and filled my glass of water periodically; he checked in on everyone, and he waited until someone was finished speaking before asking us how things were and whether we needed anything.
It was a great place to dine with old and new friends, and I’d highly recommend this restaurant if you’re catching a show at Ford Theatre or a movie at E St. or just want to enjoy a quality meal for a reasonable DC price. And apparently, there’s a fireplace upstairs.

Here with my brother who had been to France many times and I have been, this is as wonderful as any either of us have ever had in France. The cassoulet is amazing as are the beef cheeks. The escargot was amazing. I recommend this to everyone.

A French restaurant right across from Ford’s theater. Obviously a great location for office-​dwellers and theater goers alike.
The country pâté was quite good. Normally I am not a fan of pâté, but this specimen tasted almost like sausage. It is served with toasted bread and delicious fig jam.
While I was pleased to see the duck confit on the menu, it was imperfectly executed. While the skin was crispy as promised, the fat was imperfectly rendered. Having to pick fat out of your duck kind of ruins the experience. The fries were crispy and delicious, and it also comes with mushrooms, which are a nice addition. Be forewarned that the frites lose their crispness if they sit for long in the duck juices.
My SO described the trout almondine as «boring.» She compared it unfavorably to the same dish at one of DCs other French restaurants. She did not care for the cream sauce, as it should be served in a butter sauce.

The food is 3-​star, average French, but I’m knocking off a star because this place is ridiculously overpriced (even by downtown standards) for essentially being a casual bistro. The $ 9 onion soup was pretty good, but $ 17.50 for a croque monsieur is highway robbery! My $ 23.50 duck confit was nice, but frozen fries, really? The service was okay — our main waitress was pretty sweet but some of the other staff mumbled a lot and seemed to have some major language barriers. Our dinner was fine I suppose, but $ 75 later (2 soups and 2 entrees, no drinks), I did not feel like I got a enough bang for my buck.

The food was good, but the ambience was strange to say the least. I’m pretty sure our waiter was in-​training, so definitely giving slack here, but they have a huge menu on a tripod that they literally move to your table when ordering. Is that a little strange? Maybe I am uncouth. I had the escargot and veal, both delicious. The restaurant was noticeably dark, but then again it seems like it was setting a strange mood.

Before giving this a low rating I DID check to see if anyone else saw what I saw. Some people did but I just had to make sure I wasn’t crazy…
I came and ordered from the Pre/​Post theater menu. If I didn’t I would have been more annoyed because I overspent. This is a great time for a «list of observations»
List of Negative Observations
1. Why is the website down «until further notice?»
2. Why is the décor so dark, dated and slightly depressing?
3. As someone else mentioned… «Where are the French people»
4. Why are the specials written on a dry erase board? And is supposed to be elegant for the server to pick up the ENTIRE BOARD and bring it over to your table.
5. Why are there green onions in everything? (Butternut Squash Soup, Chicken/​rice dish)
6. Why are there sugar packets on the table? Doesn’t seem right.
7. Why do the servers hover around essentially staring at you eat?
8. Why is this food so expensive?
9. Why did they bring out my second course before I finished my first one?
List of Positive Observations
1. Chocolate Crème Puffs YES. Two Thumbs Up. That redeemed this entire experience.
If someone made me come here again… I would just order that.

Came for brunch… The menu is minimally supportive of your typical DC brunch (at least they have florentine eggs Benedict), but it is a solid French bistro.
Best suited for lunch or dinner. High quality French food. Good selection of beverages. Attentive/​promising staff, depending on time of day.
—-TL;DR people, stop reading here — -
I apologize if this sounds lecture-​y, but this part is meant to guide you to really enjoying your time here:
For the staff, you [as the customer] need to be clear and concise. Put the menu down to signal you’re ready to order (It’s a French practice). When food is brought to the table, be polite and ask for any and all add-​on condiments or refills *then*, not later. The staff will try to be attentive without smothering you, so if you need something, even refills, be comfortable with flagging them down. Their checking on you will happen, it’s just not as doting as it is in your typical American establishment.
Remember that English is the second language to some of the staff, so patience is key (I respect that they speak English better than I can speak their native languages).
Dining is an event in and of itself here. If you are in a hurry to get to a movie afterwards, this is not the place for you. If you want an intimate dining experience for lunch or dinner, take the time to stop by.
***Constructive advice for restaurant staff (if they’re reading this):
1) Invest in some simple speakers and play some sweet French lounge/​jazz music. It’ll really warm up the ambience and encourage more conversation. You’ll also get return-​customers.
2) You are missing out on brunch potential. Mimosas are cheap if you use bulk sparkling white wine and good OJ (light pulp). You’ll have decent margin and attract a sizable crowd. No one will turn up their noses at that «bulk» part… No one would pour OJ into really good Champagne, anyways.
Speaking of which: the French Crêpe’ for brunch. Do it. Refer to Oby Lee’s for ideas. Unilocal it. …And Nutella… Raspberries. Yes.
3) I like the additional specials, but the handwriting on the whiteboard needs work, for your customers’ sake. Try printing in all caps with the font of the first letter larger than the rest of the letters. Some may crack jokes about your words «yelling at them,» but just smile… At least they’ll be able to read it.

Well, it is convenient to Fords Theater so that is a plus… however $ 13 grilled ham and cheese sandwiches cut up in cubes (AKA croque monsieur sliders) at happy hour? Bright sides… decently priced alcohol, a long bar with lots of seats and a variety of home made aperitifs for sale. it’s warm and kinda cute here…

I am a regular at B D’Oc and have had nothing but solid French meals here. They offer a decent prix fixe menu for lunch and i believe they offer a pre-​theatre prix fixe (not 100% sure. Check me on this).
Today i had the three egg lunch omelet special and my dining partner had the seafood crêpe lunch special. Both were excellent. Service was very good also. You wont be disappointed at B’DOc. Give it a go.

Serious serious old school things here. But oddly there were some Thai curries and other slightly odd things. Wondering about the story there. Had the Cassoulet and the hanger steak. The steak was cooked perfectly and was very nicely done. The right char on the outside nice and medium rare on the inside. Doing that with a thin steak like a hanger can be tricky. The Cassoulet was rich and yummy. Very traditional and good for a cold night out. So much in one serving though you could split it and be perfectly happy. The place is cozy and dark inside. One of the last standing older building in this area it seemed.
The main reason for 3 stars is the service. Very odd, very abrupt, from the time we sat down to the time we left, just odd and like it was every ones first night. No wine list, but two people came to take our drink order and never brought the wine list, a third guy finally did. Kind of the same thing about or ordering. No one seemed to know who’s table we were so just random people came and asked us things we had already told someone else, etc. Like I said the food was good, just very old school, service needs some work.

I ate at this place recently with some friends. I felt the food was overpriced, although for some of my friends the presentation was nice, as was the ambience.
But what really disappointed me was that they serve foie gras.
As the ASPCA generally notes on foie gras: «The birds’ livers become so enlarged… that according to documentation by veterinarians, the animals must experience unspeakable pain and suffering. Birds have literally exploded from these forced feedings.»
I could more examples of the terrible things unearthed about this industry, but I will just say it’s difficult to enjoy a place when they serve this item. I will not be returning unless they take foie gras off the menu. There is imitation/​faux/​vegan foie gras if they really feel it needs to be on the menu in some form– so they could at least consider that.