Pastis DC

Recently dined here with family. The overall atmosphere is nicely designed with many features attempting (and in some instances succeeding) to replicate a classic French brasserie. The stylings create an intimate yet bustling interior bathed in warmer tones.

The menu serves a variety of dishes from poultry & meat to seafood dishes. Some of the appetizers were very tasty and worth a try. The entrees were a mix of portions and quality. I tried the Moules Frites and it was spot on. However, the Chicken Kiev was dry and over-powered by garlic.

The wine selections and recommendations were the best part.

I easily would consider this a great spot for late afternoon / sunset drinks with the occasional appetizers or small dish shared. It’s a nice place for dates (maybe not a first date though) and its value is the proximity to the Union Market and the surrounding area of amenities.

I will try this place again in a few months and hopefully come away for a 5 star experience.

Exactly as promised — solid meal, great cocktails, nice and efficient service and a really cute ambiance. Despite doing cocktails, the Caesar salad, steak tartare, fries, seafood platter, dessert, coffee, and about 3 glasses of wine apiece — we weren’t rushed! And they also brought out a little birthday candle. We sat in one of the round corner tables and they’ve really figured out how to optimize space without making uncomfortable spots. Worth the hype!

Where do I start? I had a wonderful time at Pastis DC; and for the restaurant to be only open for less than a year tells me they’re definitely doing something right!

Our waiter was attentive and kept each one of his tables flowing with service! The food was also delicious (Crispy Calamari, Fish & Chips, Beef bourguignon). I’m a fool for food that comes out HOT and it did just that! Now that the warm weather is hear to stay, I think I might find myself back here again!

Oh! And we got the chocolate mouse to-go so we could watch the finals. We forgot about it in the car so it had flattened by the time we ate it. Overall it was okay but I might need to try it again fresh!

I came here for lunch and we shared an order of oysters, steak sandwich, chicken paillard and the sticky toffee pudding for dessert. The food was excellent! The chicken was well seasoned, the oysters were fresh, and the steak sandwich was great. The sticky toffee pudding was excellent, even better than HK!

The portion sizes are large making the food good for sharing. The restaurant is a bit loud for intimate conversations. Our server was very attentive and friendly.

After tips we ended up paying $40 per person and walked away pretty full (no drinks).

I knew the place from their NYC branch. The DC one has been opened for a couple months now. The restaurant is big but seats are tight and packed together as most french restaurants. The vibe and atmosphere is nice, it has an antique/classic look and vibe to it. Our waiter and managers are super kind and nice! The service was great. It is really 5! The drinks are tasty with nice presentation. The desert part is like a heaven! Don’t forget they also have a secret milkshake that is not on the menu! It is delicious and thick! All that said the short rib dish wasn’t good at all! The steak sandwich and burger were delicious. Will go back there for sure hoping for better food/main dishes though.