Fraiche

I had such a great experience at Fraîche! The vibe here is amazing—the music was on point and really added to the whole atmosphere. For food, I started with the oxtail meatballs, which were so good. They reminded me of a croquette...crispy on the outside and packed with flavorful, tender meat inside. Our server was awesome and super helpful with recommendations. She suggested I try the Golden Gate Noodles with a side of short rib, and I’m so glad I listened to her. Everything was delicious and really well-seasoned. For dessert, I had the butterscotch bread pudding (bread pudding is one of my favorite desserts btw), and it definitely didn’t disappoint. I would absolutely come back to Fraîche and I’m really hoping they add a brunch menu one day. I feel like the vibe would be perfect for a weekend brunch!!

Came for my birthday dinner with my best friend and we loovvveedd it. The Oxtail meatballs were delicious. 10/10!!! We had the Mambo Fried Red Snapper and the Golden Gate noodles with shrimp. The food was outstanding, the vibe was great and our server Melissa was amazing. She was very attentive and super friendly. She even brought out a dessert for my birthday. I will definitely come back again.

Didn’t realize until later this housed Creole on 14th restaurant at one time. The ambiance has improved greatly with Fraiche. They usually only do dinner but this Sunday they stepped into the brunch niche and did it very nicely. They had some creative food choices short rib hash with sweet potatoes, salmon cakes with grits and the Fraiche frittata. The banana foster pancakes came paired with eggs(both perfectly prepared) and choice of chicken sausage links or bacon. So often it’s offered as add ons. Note the whipped cream and syrup came on the side, preventing the possibility of pancakes getting soggy. Plenty appetizers to choose from fresh oysters on the half shell and charbroiled,generous crab meat tater tots to the flavorful rockfish bites. The food was fantastic but there can’t be enough said about the excellent quality of the service, Olive gave a new standard to above and beyond excellence. The only negative is there is no valet and street parking is difficult but not impossible. Welcome Fraiche to the brunch party, hope you stay for a long and successful time

Visited this restaurant for the first time Friday and absolutely loved it. Between my wife and I, we tried the oxtail meatballs, French onion soup, the risotto, and the Bay Area noodles. The meatballs were a unique way to plate non-nonsense bites of tender oxtail meat. No bones to sort through, no guessing whether you’re biting into a fatty piece or not. The crunchy exterior was a nice contrast. The French onion soup had all the classic components, but had a unique sweetness to it that took a couple bites to adjust to given the more savory default of this dish I was used to, but it grew on me and was hard to put down. The risotto and salmon was the most neutrally flavored dish, but the bits of andouille sausage in the risotto pilaf added a kick of flavor that kept the dish satisfying throughout. The Bay Area noodles were what inspired the visit as I’ve been following the executive chef on YouTube for years and it’s been my favorite dish of his to try to emulate. I’m happy to say my variants have never come close to the quality of the restaurant’s, particularly with the short rib. The flavors were super well balanced, the portion was generous, and the noodles were cooked perfectly. The service and ambiance were also excellent, and as a small bonus, the executive chef was there and interacting with guests. The restaurant was a bit pricey (the cheapest protein-inclusive entree is $28) but the quality of the food and the restaurant in general were well worth it. We’ll be back.

Great meal at Fraîche. The Oxtail meatballs and Sticky ribs were stars of the appetizer show. For mains, the Garlic noodles, Gumbo, and Risotto were amazing. Actually, it was the best Risotto I have ever had. The honey butter cornbread was delish also. Only thing I would change is the music - it’s a little too loud and a bit too “club” vibe. Otherwise, it was a 10/10. Great service also.

Now, the food…WOW! We started with the oxtail meatballs, which were such an interesting and flavorful twist—we loved them! My husband had the lamb chops with mashed potatoes and asparagus, and he couldn’t stop raving about how perfectly cooked everything was. I had the mambo fried snapper, which was crispy, well-seasoned, and absolutely delicious. My daughter enjoyed the Golden Gate noodles with crab meat, and we also shared sides of mac & cheese and broccoli—both were fantastic. The drinks were equally impressive, pairing perfectly with our meal. Overall, I’d rate our experience a solid 10 across the board. Everything—from the food to the service to the atmosphere—was exceptional. We will definitely be back!

I visited Fraiche recently with high expectations, but unfortunately, the service significantly detracted from what could have been an enjoyable dining experience. Our server, Brittney, displayed unprofessional behavior throughout the evening, including visible eye-rolling when we asked questions about the menu and made requests. More concerning was the lack of attentiveness - after taking our initial order, she rarely checked on our table to see if we needed anything or how our meal was progressing. The situation became particularly uncomfortable when we attempted to address these service issues directly. Rather than working to resolve the problems or apologize for the poor experience, Brittney chose to switch us to a different waiter and walked away. The replacement server then disappeared entirely and didn’t return to our table until we specifically requested to speak with a manager. Perhaps most bizarre was overhearing Brittney at the table next to us, asking those diners “Did I roll my eyes at you guys?” It was shocking and unprofessional to hear a server acknowledge this behavior so casually, especially within earshot of other customers. Why would you even ask customers that question? While I can’t speak to the food quality given how the service overshadowed the evening, the lack of basic hospitality and professionalism from the staff makes it difficult to recommend this establishment. Good restaurants understand that service is just as important as the food itself. One bright spot: The hostess, Tahlia, was exceptional throughout our visit. She showed great attention to detail and stepped in to help when our service issues became apparent. Her professionalism and willingness to assist made a significant difference in an otherwise disappointing evening. I hope management takes feedback seriously and works with their team on customer service standards, as the restaurant has potential if these issues are addressed.

Listen, I am not one to go on google and do reviews(you can check and see how many reviews I’ve done), but this place deserves one. I went for brunch and the food was soooo fulfilling and delicious. It’s been a long time since I had food that was exceptionally good and fulfilling at the same time. I am attaching pictures, but you have to know everything was a 10/10. The deviled eggs were so good, I wish more came on the plate. I had the chicken and French toast and I was shocked at how good the seasoning was on the chicken. The French toast was so good too! I mean really good!!! My friend had the Banana foster pancakes and listen… I do not know which was better because both were so good. When I come back to DC we are planning to try out the dinner menu. Oh also, we did have drinks. We both got the vodka berry smash and it was strong, but very flavorful(I’m not much of a drinker). If you are in doubt please give this place a try. Our server, Olive, was amazing and very attentive. We are coming back! It’s well worth it!

So let me start this review by stating that I follow the owner's food channel, so when I saw he was opening a restaurant, I had to check it out. I am so glad I did. The atmosphere was good, but because it was a soft opening, things were still being handled, but it didn't distract from the overall experience. The service: 10/10 From the time my party and I walked in, we were greeted and sat immediately (we did have a reservation). The waitress was awesome, and the co owner of the restaurant was awesome. The food: 10/10 While I did not expect anything less from a restaurant by Mr. Make it Happen, it's another thing to experience it firsthand. My dinner companions and I were thoroughly impressed by each dish, starting with the appetizers and ending with dessert. The price: For amazing food, it was worth the price tag. But I will say to experience it all, be prepared to spend a decent penny, but it's worth it. Overall: 10/10 I will definitely be returning for another evening of fine dining! And lastly, we got to meet the owner, and he stopped to take pictures. Mr. Make it Happen is a humble dude. He was busy but was stopping to thank people for coming and making sure we were enjoying ourselves. That was the chef's kiss on an awesome experience.

I was really excited to try this place because I love the owner on social media, but it ended up being a bit of a letdown. We made a reservation, only to find out upon arrival that they were still undergoing renovations and didn't have space at their regular tables. They initially tried to seat us at a bar-style table, but we ultimately decided to sit at the bar, which was fine. The bartender and the restaurant manager were both really friendly, which I appreciated. However, one thing I didn't love was how the bartender refilled drinks--rather than providing a fresh glass, he would take my boyfriend's glass and refill it each time. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt since they're still new, but the food didn't quite meet my expectations. There's definitely some work to be done, but I'm open to giving it another chance in the future.

Simply put a restaurant that cares! I made a special trip and went opening night due to following Matt on social media for a few years. From a distance he has always been personable, helpful, and fostered community. I've obtained all his products from cookbooks, kitchenware, seasonings, cooking classes, etc. The one thing that I haven't tried yet was his actual cooking so I went to give it a shot. What I got was far more than I bargained for. Fraiche is bigger than the chef. The restaurant is ran by community. The hostess was welcoming, my waitress was very personable, what surprised me the most is I was CONSTANTLY checked on by multiple members of the wait staff and not in a negative or annoying way. You do NOT feel ignored! Many places can provide good food, not many places provide elite service, let alone in a new restaurant. The synchronous culture they've curated out the gate is to be applauded. Moving to the food... BRUH! I am as picky as it gets when it comes to food and there hasn't been one place I've been where I've liked everything I've had. That streak ended yesterday! EVERY SINGLE DISH WAS A HIT! NO EXAGGERATION! I ordered: Chicken wings - seasoned and fried to perfection. Crispy, hot, juicy, flavorful. I had them dry and you can add buffalo or mumbo sauce and it adds another element. The chicken as a stand alone is a star, the sauce is a bonus. Honey butter cornbread- this was the one dish I thought wasn't going to like because the first bite didn't resonate with me. It had delayed flavor lol. Oh buddy it when it hits, it's comes THROUGH! It is made with real corn and has a semi firm/spongy texture that absorbs the honey butter into its nooks and crannies and that's where the flavor resides! That cornbread is made with love! Mac and Cheese - this was my 1/2 of my litmus test. Mac n Cheese can either make or break a dining experience for me. I don't like overly creamy/saucy Mac n cheese... I need grandma's thanksgiving style where the noodles are held together by a thick cheese. It presented well as it had a nice crust on top. When I broke the seal I was a little skeptical because it looked a tad runny, that first bite shut me right on up! I immediately said oh, they ain't come to play! So much flavor in each spoonful, a delight in every bite! Steak Frites - a prime NY Strip with Truffle fries. This was the second half of my litmus test as my initial follow came from Matt's ability to make steaks. They've always looked so good and as a result over the past 5 years I've cultivated my ability to make a damn good steak and am very critical of steaks when I eat out and I do... A LOT! It presents pre sliced with a compound butter, a beautiful charred crust which is VERY important for me and a coarse salt dusting which cannot be understated how much it elevates the meat. Beautifully cooked medium per request and the fries were fried well. They had a crispy exterior and soft interior with a drizzle of truffle on top. The steak was tender and you tasted the char in every bite! I stopped talking after my first bite and I'm not sure I breathed at all until I finished it lol. At this point I was satisfied with my dining experience however I traveled from Dallas to DC to try the restaurant so I attacked the menu some more lol. I then ordered... Fried Snapper- this was where I felt I might have done too much lol. The portion is huge! Lmao. It's served over red beans and rice. The best thing about this dish is the preparation of it. They fillet the fish and serve it to you in nugget form so you don't have to fight with the bones which is so helpful however they deep fry the entire body of the fish and stuff for the lack of a better term the nuggets into the body. It is drizzled in mumbo sauce which adds a nice balance to the breading as it's light salted and the sauce gives it a savory component. It's served with red, green, and yellow peppers as a garnish. Lamb Chops - 4 perfectly seared medium cooked chops seasoned to perfection over a bed of the most liveliest garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus you will taste. Every bite makes u involuntarily close your eyes. I was sold! I didn't get to try the Cornish hen, garlic noodles, or oxtail meatballs but they are the next on my list as I will be returning in the near future to finish what I started! I came to support Matt but I cannot and will not diminish how the staff from top to bottom! The kitchen cooks, the wait staff, management, owners, hostess. EVERYONE put their foot in the grand opening! We all know running a restaurant is extremely hard and most are not successful, if they keep this up and I have no doubt that they will, they created a SPOT TO BE RECKONED WITH!!!! TEN OUT OF 10!!!!!!

Fraiche is a promising addition to the DC dining scene, and overall, we had a great experience with the food. The flavors were truly immaculate--every dish we tried was well thought out and packed with bold, balanced flavors. The Rich Friend Broke Friend was a standout, offering a fun contrast in textures and tastes. The charbroiled oysters were buttery and indulgent, the Caesar salad was crisp and well-dressed, and the crab cakes were packed with lump crab and had just the right amount of seasoning. The mambo snapper was a flavorful highlight, perfectly cooked with that signature DC mambo sauce adding a delicious kick. Even the broccolini, a simple side, was executed beautifully with a nice char and seasoning. The one real miss was the wings--they were undercooked, so we had to send them back, which was disappointing. However, I truly appreciate Jason for stepping in, addressing our concerns, and ensuring we were accommodated. His attentiveness made a difference in our experience. One thing we were happy to see was that the price point aligned with the quality of the dishes. Especially in DC in 2025, where dining out can be hit or miss in terms of value, it was refreshing to feel like we got what we paid for. That being said, the service overall could have been better. While the food was largely a win, the pacing and attentiveness of the staff left room for improvement. With a little more consistency in execution and service, Fraiche has the potential to be a top-tier spot in the city. I'd definitely be open to returning and giving it another try!

I follow Mr. Make It Happen--aka Chef Matt--on social media and subscribe to his newsletter, so when I heard about the soft opening of his new restaurant, I had to make reservations. My friend and I booked a table for 7:30 PM on Wednesday night. We arrived about 15 minutes early, and the hostess kindly seated us right away. The place was already buzzing with energy--laughing patrons, a lively atmosphere, and friendly staff. We stayed for about two hours, and in that time, I lost count of how often the staff checked on us to make sure everything was going well. I truly appreciated that level of attentiveness. At one point, there was a small mix-up--our server accidentally gave the wrong table number to the staff running drinks, so a glass of wine meant for the table next to us was delivered to ours. The general manager handled it graciously, offering us champagne for the mishap, which I thought was a thoughtful touch. He even took the time to chat with us, adding to the warm experience. I was hoping to meet Mr. Make It Happen himself, but we just missed him--hopefully next time! For appetizers, we ordered the oxtail meatballs and charbroiled oysters--and wow. The flavors blended beautifully, and I couldn't stop doing my little happy dance as I ate. For my entrée, I went with the Mambo Red Snapper, served with rice and peas and an escovitch salad. The presentation was stunning, and the flavors were an absolute party in my mouth. The escovitch salad had a kick to it--rightfully so--but even as someone who doesn't typically love spicy food, I found it flavorful rather than overwhelming. It was so fresh and well-balanced that I might need to learn how to make escovitch salad myself because, honestly, can I eat fish any other way now? I also ordered a side of the five-cheese mac and cheese, which was creamy with a nice smoky flavor. The cornbread, however, was my least favorite item of the night. I ordered it expecting a classic piece of cornbread with honey butter on top, but it turned out to be more savory than sweet, with corn, jalapeño, and cheese mixed in. It just had a little too much going on for my taste. To be clear, it didn't taste bad--just a bit too busy for me. I prefer a simple cornbread. For dessert, I had the crème brûlée, topped with fresh berries. There was a hint of citrus in it, which was different for me. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. That said, my friend--who usually doesn't even like crème brûlée--actually enjoyed it, which was a fun surprise. The cocktail menu is definitely for those who enjoy bold, unique flavor combinations. I'm more of a lemon drop and cosmopolitan kind of girl, but unfortunately, they didn't have the syrup for a strawberry lemon drop or the cranberry juice for a cosmo. Instead, I opted for sparkling water with lemon and lime on the side, which turned out to be a refreshing way to wash down all that amazing food. The space itself is super clean, but as expected with a brand-new restaurant, there are still a few small things to iron out. Our table was in a corner near a hallway that leads to the entrance, so every time the front door opened, we felt a cold draft. Also, there was a random table next to us where the POS system was set up, meaning staff frequently came over to ring in orders--right next to us. It wasn't ideal, but it also wasn't unbearable, and I imagine as they fine-tune operations, this won't be an issue in the future. Street parking is hit or miss, but worst-case scenario, there's a parking lot around the corner. For two appetizers, two entrées, two additional sides, a bottle of sparkling water, a cocktail, and dessert, our bill came to $233. Honestly, for the amount of food we had, this is a reasonable price in 2025, especially considering the quality and portion sizes. Fantastic experience! In the words of Chef Matt--looking good. I highly recommend checking out Fraîche, and I'll definitely be back. Hopefully next time, I'll finally meet the man behind the magic!

Fraiche is a great new spot that I would recommend to anyone looking to dine in the Columbia Heights area. Everything we ate and drank was delicious, only taking off one star for a weird customer service experience. After booking a table well in advance, the restaurant contacted us to ask if we would be willing to sit at the bar - as it was our belated Valentines Day, we declined as it wouldn't be romantic. Then they came back and asked if we could arrive early for our reservation. I understand they're new and have limited seating but I do expect to have a table at the time I booked my reservation. As for the positives - drinks were divine and we loved the food, especially their deviled eggs and the green salad. The service once we were there was great - especially from the sommelier and the chef who both were very personable and offered great recommendations. Can't wait to return!

First off I'd like to say the restaurant is still fairly new so there is room to grow. On first arrival the restaurant is super cute and I love the setup of the restaurant. Great for a date night or girls night out if you want something more relaxed which I usually like because I am tired of having to scream across the table to my guest. The service was great the waiter was super fast, knowledgeable and check on us regularly. Also we had a few issues with things and the GM resolved them quickly without a fuss really appreciated that. The drinks were not the best we ordered 4 drinks and each drink tasted like the garnish that was in the drink and not what the drink should taste like. The food was fire that cornbread and gumbo did it for me!! The rice was a little under cooked but once that's fixed the gumbo has the potential to be the most popular item on the menu.

I understand the restaurant just opened Monday so icing grace for that. The service was so so as they workout the kinks and the atmosphere was a touch loud as there isn't enough sound absorbing items. The dining room is a bit awkward but there was just enough space for the tables (which were a bit small). The server assistants were on top of it but the servers were a bit MIA at times and getting bottles of water was a bit difficult, also they were out of still and only had sparkling. Also would suggest a coat rack especially since this winter has been so harsh. Now for the good the food menu had a lot of options from seafood to beef items. We tried a number of the appetizers, soups and many of the main dishes. The deviled eggs were cut pretty small and the bite of chicken was interesting but still good, the star of the night were the oxtail meatballs- Devine!, the mussels were flavored perfectly and the oysters were solid. We ordered the French onion and she crab soups, the French onion had non traditional flavors and the she crab soup had a DELICIOUS flavor but unfortunately was full of crab shells that interrupted the experience. We ordered the steak frites, whole bird chicken and the crab cakes. All were solid dishes, well prepared and flavorful without being too salty or overpowering. The crab cakes like the she crab soup had a good amount of shell fragments as well. The two sides we ordered the garlic mashed potatoes and the Mac and cheese were solid, the Mac and cheese had an uneven ratio of noodles to cheese but was still solid. I would go back after they've been open for a while to try some other dishes and be sure to give the oxtail meatballs another try as well as to continue to explore the menu.

We attend a lot of restaurants in DC their first week. It's sort of a hobby for my wife and I. That said this was one of the best opening weeks I've seen out of a restaurant in a long time. Their staff was not only super friendly but incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. We enjoyed everything we tried, I highly recommend the oxtail meatballs and the California style noodles. My wife and I missed Valentine's Day due to work travel and decided to celebrate a week later with Fraiche and I'm so happy we did. They did everything to ensure we had a special night. The vibe is very urban hip French which we found to be exactly as advertised, non pretentious amazing food. I highly recommend giving them a try. DC seems to be going through a French revival right now, but Fraiche is a fresh take on French.

AMAZINGGGG!!!!!! Like OMG from the time my best friend and I thought we pulled up to Creole on 14th to writing this review Fraiche does not disappoint! Thankful for Jason because this personalized experience from the exquisite menu items to customized curated dranks! We had a ball, and y'all the music was EVERYTHANG! We had a ball!

found out about this place via twitter bc ive been following the chef for a min now and decided to support his new endeavor! im happy i did! the ambiance was perfect for me everything nice and clean as it should be. i dnt eat off restaurant forks or cups but i did here and didnt feel bad about (they didnt have togo silverware) but honestly i didnt even feel like i needed it which ive never experienced before (im very selective with certain things). i dnt remember our waitress name but she was cool we didnt have any problems. now the foooooood!!!! i ordered the branzino (only bc they were out of snapper) and it did not disappoint! it was the best dish to me! 10/10 also ordered the crab soup 10/10 ordered the noodles with salmon for my son (10/10) they gave a lot of noodles and he devoured them mind you hes only 4 and ate damn there his entire plate lol also got the steak frites my steak was cooked to perfection (10/10) if i could go bck in time i wouldve asked if they can give me some gravy from one of their other dishes that i wasnt able to try for my steak just so i can have a lil taste of something else lol (if that makes sense) mac and cheese (10/10) it literally tasted like when i make mac n cheese i was so happy! cornbread (9/10) i thought the cornbread was fine but my mom thought it was a little too sweet for her liking. and the broccolini (10/10) it was grilled or charbroiled something it had this taste that was good! will i recommend this business or go back HELL YEAH...ima order the other half of the menu

My best friend and I randomly stumbled here and it was such a pleasant surprise! The drinks were great. The food was delicious. And the service was the best! Shout out to Jason who crafted amazing cocktails and gave great energy.

The food is, without a doubt, delicious! Every dish we tried delicious! Great ambiance, phenomenal service! Make a reservation! You won't regret it! Thanks for a great evening MrMakeItHappen!