Le Diplomate might be the most hyped up restaurant in DC, but unfortunately I do not think it lives up to the expectation. Don’t get me wrong- Le Diplomate has great food, excellent service, and a fun atmosphere. It’s always vibrant, and their fancy French interior is extremely elegant. However, it didn’t blow me away, and especially not for how much buzz there is about this spot. I know a lot of people want to bring out of town friends here, or head over for a fancy date night, but there are a lot of places I would recommend before Le Diplomate.

With that being said, there are a couple things I DO love about the spot. They have great apps- their macarani au gratin is decadent and delicious, and asparagus is also great. Their free bread at the beginning may actually be my favorite thing, though. They are famous for their cranberry walnut bread, which has spurred many a copy-cat recipe, and you’re doing yourself a disservice if you don’t ask for a few extra slices. The main courses are probably where I feel a little let down, though. Both times I’ve gone, I just felt like my entree was ‘good,’ but nothing more.