French cafe for lunch in No. Va

[beanodc]

Can anyone recommend a Saturday lunch spot , preferably french cuisine, in Alexandria, Arlington or Mclean for a group of 6-8 adults? My brain is not working today.

[Steve]

You should check out La Bergerie. The menu is more interesting for dinner, but they do 'classic' pretty well. May be your best option. But you have to report back!

www.labergerie.com

[weezycom]

I was going to suggest La Bergerie as well, especially for a group who wants to chatter with one another. It's a quiet enough restaurant that conversing with your tablemates is easy. The service I've had there has always been impeccable and the food prepared well, although not innovative.

[Steve]

It's been a while (And probably a couple of chefs) ago that I ate at La Bergerie. The lunch menu is typical of what you'll find throughout the US, but the online dinner menu (aside from soups and salad) reads more like a serious restaurant in France, which is a rarity in the US.

[gelato98]

If you want just a light meal in a cozy place in Old Towne -- the Fontainne Caffe & Creperie is very nice. It might be a little tight for 8 though.

[alkapal]

what about le refuge these days? http://lerefugealexandria.com/

[bhein]

I was going to recommend La Cote D'or as well. It's so off the beaten track it is often overlooked, but still good, authentic French. (Walking distance to East Falls Church metro if that is a concern)

[Arabella09]

I would slip into DC and go to Cafe du Parc at the Willard. It's better than anything French in Arlington, Alexandria, or McLean. But if you are set on NOVA, then Bastille in Old Town is quite good.

[beanodc]

The reason for NoVa is that most of us live there so it is easier to get a large group together where most of us live. I will check out Bastille. Thanks

[Bob W]

Check out La Cote D'or Cafe/Bistro de Celestins on the Arlington/Falls Church line. It's been a few years since I've been there (I used to work very close by), but it was always a dependable, if pricy, spot for mussels, cassoulet, etc.

[Indy 67]

Sadly, La Cote d'Or has gone downhill. I wouldn't recommend that restaurant to anyone!

In McLean, the space that used to be occupied by Le Mistral has now been replaced by a good Italian restaurant Osteria Assaggi. This is the sibling to the mozzarella tasting bar of the same name in Bethesda. My husband and I each had an excellent pasta and we split the veal loin. If you want flawless service, you might not get it since the restaurant is less than two months old. However, two managers are constantly wandering through the restaurant trouble-shooting so they build up a lot of good will to overcome some hiccups. (We were served the wrong pastas and had to wait until the correct order was ready.)