L'Auberge Chez Francois
332 Springvale Road
Great Falls, Virginia 22066
Reservations: 703-
www.laubergechezfrancois.com
Price: $$$$
Service: 12
Atmosphere:11
I took my girlfriend to Chez Francois for her birthday. We couldn't have been more pleased with every aspect of our experience.
The setting of the restaurant cannot go without being mentioned. It is in Great Falls, VA, tucked away from the craziness of DC, surrounded by trees. It is especially beautiful at sunset. We walked out on the patio a few times between courses and sat next to the fish pond to enjoy some wine. At night, the string lights on the patio are very romantic.
After our waiter kindly greeted us, we perused the menu while he brought out some pre-dinner drinks, which were exactly to our liking. We enjoyed an 8 course meal and can give one piece of advice-- pace yourself. We were pretty full by the time our entrees came. If you can, keep the bread to a minimum and only take a few bites of the soup and salad.
For our first course, I enjoyed a tuna tartar while my girlfriend had the French Onion Soup. Following our salads, we went out to the porch to enjoy the night air before going in for our main courses, which were exquisite. My girlfriend's angus ribeye looked amazing and my bass was scrumptious. Our entrees were followed by a cheese plate and then a special birthday dessert followed by more desserts (like I said, pace yourself). I had never experienced Baked Alaska before, and really enjoyed it--a hot, thin cake topped with fruit sorbet, and then a meringue. Crispy, sweet, and delicious.
You cannot go wrong with this restaurant. The food, service, and atmosphere were impeccable. The French tendency to insist upon perfection works very well in a restaurant.
Also interesting is the history of the restaurant. The French owner bought the original building back in the 40's and purchased the current location in the 70s. Now in his 90s, he still comes in daily. Some menu items are shipped in from France. It is evident that the restaurant's long history of success now allows the owner to focus intently on the customer experience. If you go, be sure to check out the menu from the 50s. Most items are around the $1 mark.
If you choose Chez Francois for your special occasion, rest assured you are in for treat. It can accommodate large and small parties. There was a larger group close to our table celebrating a couple's anniversary. Mark this one on your 'to-do' list and be sure to go hungry!
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