Le Refuge

I’ve been traveled to France, I enjoy French cuisine. Therefore I always tried to find a real French restaurant in DMV area, I am lucky to find Le Refuge, this’s a hidden gem in Old Town Alexandria. The food is amazing, make me think about the flavor that I have in Paris. Ricardo is friendly and his service is excellent. I really enjoy their duck liver mousse and frog legs, the portion of each dishes are large enough, not like some French restaurant that only gives you a small plate. The most important thing is the price is totally acceptable, and the environment is definitely make Le Refuge like a fancy restaurant. Will come back in the future!

Hands down the No. 1 restaurant for me during my time in DC this week! The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive — when I glanced at the bread, one of them immediately came over and asked, “Would you like more?” So thoughtful and kind! The frog leg dish was absolutely amazing, and the pea soup was incredibly rich and flavorful. Truly enjoyed every moment there. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for both ambience and taste! I forgot to practice my French there 🤣

Great French Cuisine! My wife and I stopped by for dinner and loved it. The atmosphere was cozy with a home cook feel. I had the Wellington and my wife had the duck with raspberries. Both were wonderful. I'll say the duck was out of this world and is a must try. Service was also great. We were there at a packed house and they were on the spot with everything. I highly recommend a stop by for a good meal. And don't forget dessert!

A True Taste of France in the DMV – A Must-Visit! If you’re looking for an authentic French experience without the plane ticket, this restaurant is the destination. The food is nothing short of exquisite – from the starters calamari to the perfectly cooked entrees, each bite transports you straight to France. The flavors are rich, the ingredients fresh, and the dishes prepared with undeniable craftsmanship. But it’s not just the food that makes this place shine. The customer service is absolutely impeccable. From the moment you walk in, the staff treats you like family. Attentive, friendly, and always willing to go the extra mile to ensure you have a perfect dining experience. And the décor? Simply breathtaking. The ambiance feels like a chic Parisian bistro, with elegant touches that make you feel as though you’re sitting in the heart of France. From the warm lighting to the thoughtfully designed interiors, the atmosphere truly sets the stage for an unforgettable dining experience. Without a doubt, this is the best French restaurant in the DMV.this place hits all the marks—food, service, and ambiance. Five stars all the way!

Le Refuge is a solid great atmosphere and authentic French charm. The food is rich and well prepared, portions are generous, and the wine selection pairs nicely with the menu. The setting feels cozy and romantic, though service can be a bit slow during busy times. Overall, it’s a good choice for a relaxed, intimate meal.

A really great local French place just off of Washington Street and King. The staff were all very friendly and all the drinks and all of the food we got was very delicious. He definitely has that home-cooked sort of feeling to it and you can tell that the people who run the place and work there really care I had the raspberry duck which was very good. The other members in my party had shrimp and the Coq Au Vin. I also had the french onion soup which was very good. Everything came out perfectly cooked and it was well paced as far as dinner timing went.

Just had a wonderful lunch/experience at Le Refuge. I've been enjoying this restaurant for many years. Today was exceptional thanks to our waiter, Elias, a most charming, delightful person. Can't say enough about how attentive and personable he was throughout our rather extended time. Thank you Elias (aka John)

Very nice French restaurant. Everything tasted good. Their chocolate mouse was amazing, very light and not very sweet. The restaurant is a small one but very cozy. We parked on the street in front of the restaurant.

I brought my family here for my birthday on a Saturday and noon and we had a lovely time. The restaurant is on the small side- I recommend making reservations in advance if your party is larger than 4. We arrived at 11:45am and there were only 2 other tables sat; when we left at 2pm, every table in the restaurant was full. The service is fantastic; they provide the daily specials, bottled wine comes in a chiller and fresh hot bread and butter. For appetizers I highly recommend the in-house made pate fois gras- so delicious with the house made bread. The mushroom caps are also filling and the crawfish is amazing. The onion soup is flavorful and full off cheese, the salmon, scallops and beef all perfectly cooked and seasoned. Wonderful espresso and dessert too!

We enjoyed most of our anniversary dinner very much. The only negative experience was when I wanted to order a fruit tart for dessert (it was on the menu) and I was told this dessert was only available on the weekend. Such a disappointment! Unfortunately, once we went back to the car we were dinged by a parking ticket. We may not rely on street parking in the future. The evening ended on a sour note, regrettably.

This is a cute boutique restaurant. Second time I've been here and I recommend it! It is on the pricier side but I enjoy the quality of the meals and the great service from the staff. I enjoy their seafood and wine options. This is a cute date night spot or to go with a small group of friends/family. Recommend calling to make a reservation during their busier nights!

This place was amazing if I could give it more than five stars I would. The decor is cozy and really sets the mood of a French café. The staff is attentive and absolutely wonderful, charming and so nice and the food it was to die for everything we ate absolutely amazing 100% would I recommend this place definitely make a reservation though it is a very small restaurant!! It's very homestyle cooking, but the flavors are amazing. All the meat is cooked to perfection and the sauces are heavenly. The chocolate mousse was one of the best things I've ever had. It was so decadent. My only complaint is the plates that the entrees come out on we're crazy hot and it kind of turned the table into and oven.

Terrible customer service. I called Oct. 20 to order a $100 gift certificate for my son's birthday which was October 25. I was charged the $100 on my Visa charge card. The manager assured me he would definitely be able to get the certificate to my son's address in Alexandria, Va for his birthday. My son called he had not received the gift. Today is Nov. 16, he has still not received the gift card. I called to complain, the manager was rude and said it is not my fault your son didn't received the gift. I asked him to credit my account, he refused. DON'T TRUST THIS RESTAURANT 1m Reply

I have been going to this local restaurant for years and rarely does it disappoint. Four of us went to dinner there last evening and split two orders of the rack of lamb. It was hands down one of the best meals we have enjoyed in a long time. The serving is quite large. I always order the thyme sauce on the side and bring my own mint jelly. I have tried to replicate the delicious sautéed cabbage, that comes as a side,but can't master it. This authentic French bistro is a gem. Wonderful staff, delicious food. Suzanne B

Good taste and service. I would like to eat there second time. The experience is great.

Great food, great service. This restaurant has been great for years. The menu is very authentically French.

Without writing a book ... Best French Restaurant in the Northern Virginia region... Best food ... the staff are Pro's ! I understand that the owner sent them all off to France to train ! They are not in your face but then again seem to know right away (visual clues ?) that you need attention Restaurant is smallish and inviting ... Just go ... make reservations ... hard to just "walk in"

Le Refuge has been around since 1983 and is considered OT Alexandria's oldest French restaurant. I came here for a birthday celebration with advance reservations; we were seated right away by the windows that were strewn with lights and cute holiday decor - the restaurant itself is very intimate, cozy, and totally has that romantic vibe! Definitely a nice place for a date night or a small get-together. We ordered: +Soupe a L'oignon Gratinee - baked onion soup with swiss cheese +Stuffed Mushrooms - warm mushrooms caps, stuffed with crabmeat and dressed with mustard cream sauce; these were served lukewarm, so I wished that these were served piping hot; the mushrooms were generously filled with crab, but the appetizer itself was just bland in taste +Filet de boeuf sauce Roquefort - filet mignon with a creamy Roquefort sauce; the filet was a little tough, and the roquefort sauce was a bit bland and not as strong-forward as I expected +a Beef Wellington - the steak was a medium rare +a creme brulee - the sugar was burnt, so this was a bit difficult to eat/finish The restaurant also offers prix fixe menus for lunch and dinner, which seem like a great deal. Service was friendly and attentive. Metered street parking can be found around the restaurant. +lukewarm appetizers +bland entrees +burnt creme brulee +friendly service +metered street parking available

Great French food at a reasonable price. Who could ask for more? I had a brandy-laced pate and frog legs, wonderfully garlicky.

The is by far one of the finest French restaurants I have ever eaten! From the start, the service was amazing. Our waiter made our dining experience so special just from his charming personality and his attention to detail. I love that it isn't a LARGE space. You feel that cozy comfort, yet not crowded and cramped with people. It's a place you can speak at your table comfortably and not battle the noise of the room. The food was Devine!!! Everything from the Malbec I had with my meal and my wife's cocktail, to our main course meals were off the charts. It will be a place we see as part of our "staycation" in old town.

This is one of our favorite local spots in our town. It's not pretending to be some fine dining French place - this is the home cooked delicious country restaurant in burgundy vibe and food. It is absolutely perfect for a cold winter night. Alex and I try to come for the first snow every year and this was no exception. We always get the sautéed calamari, the cassoulet and a bottle of red wine to top it off! This time we tried this wine and it was sensational! *note: I am not a huge fan of red meat and I'm a "cute"erian aka don't like eating cute creatures and the cassoulet is to die for. I just pretend that I have no idea what's in it!! Haha

Wanted to love this place but my god, everything was sooooo salty. Onion soup base wasn't rich enough. And bread was a miss with foiled butter packets. Please start using an inhouse compound butter! Ambiance was cute and cozy. Waiter was charming.

What a lovely spot! You can tell it's a mom and pop shop and I love that! Support your local businesses!!! Had dinner with a friend here recently and cannot wait to come back. Our server was funny and helped us decide what we wanted. He was very attentive and there if we needed anything. We shared a French onion soup and it was hearty! So good. I ordered the tilapia which was so flavorful yet healthy and light. My friend ordered the duck and she loved it! Looked delicious -- she was deciding between that or the scallops and our waiter said "for sure the duck!" Everyone is so nice there! Highly recommend checking it out.

Wonderful French cuisine in a beautifully decorated restaurant. The service was excellent and the food could not have been better. I thoroughly enjoyed the beet salad followed by chicken with a delicious mustard sauce and a side of scalloped potatoes. Hope to return someday!!!

Excellent in every way! The sauces are over the top and the service is impeccable. Portions are extremely generous. Le Refuge is a gem.

Cute French restaurant tucked within the lovely streets of Old Town Alexandria. Place is small in a cozy rather than cramped way. Came with friends and appreciated that the staff allowed us to have a leisurely dinner rather than rush us out the door. Had the lamb, which was deliciously prepared, tender and juicy. Among the sides that came with, the potatoes were mouth-wateringly creamy and the standout.

For 30 years, I was a semi-loyal customer, based on the restaurant's having two favorites: frogs' legs and leg of lamb. That history ended today. I'm no longer close, but one hour away, and arrived to learn it was CLOSED for the entire month of August, opening after Labor Day. Just to be sure, I revisited the website and there is NO such notice. To ignore something that important shows a total disregard for customers' time and 'sometimes' loyalty. It also ignores the fact that old town is a tourist destination, and visitors often rely on hotels for recommendations. If they don't know, they'll be sending people to a restaurant that is closed, and that hurts old town as a whole, a community that spends a lot on promotion. Le Refuge is off my list, and I will no longer recommend it to anyone, as I used to do on a regular basis. There is good food throughout the DMV--the decision factor here is DISRESPECT.

Really solid food and super cute atmosphere. Highly recommend the escargot and the duck breast which is on the special menu - so tasty and the sauces were incredible. Coq au vin was just okay though.. a bit salty and overcooked. Other than that a great place to eat!!

Excellent French food. The crab meat stuffed mushrooms were very good. Crab meat was fresh and the mushrooms had good texture. Beef medallions were cooked perfectly, extremely tender, and the three sauces had fantastic flavor. Heads up just like a lot of high end steak houses, their "medium rare" is what a lot would consider "rare". This wasn't a problem because the cut of meat was such high quality that it wasn't chewy at all. The carrot mash and cabbage also had great flavor. Profiterole was perfect. The cream puff was sturdy but not hard and the chocolate sauce was good quality just like the ice cream they used. The cream on the side was homemade and had perfect balance. This place was super small. About 15 tables and they are definitely stuffed in there. You will be eating close to another table. The inside had good ambiance. Not too bright and very cozy. It's expensive but not overpriced. The quality and flavor of the food was worth it.

Le Refuge has street parking, but we found a spot around the corner. We started with a bottle of Malbec, Conquistador de Argentina. For appetizers we ordered the Country Pate, and Escargot. They were out of Escargot, but our very knowledgeable server suggested the crayfish. She was right, they were delicious. Pate was also very tasty. They also brought French bread, and. Continued to bring it all through the meal. It was that good. For dinner, my wife had the quails, with a vegetable medley and scalloped potatoes. She loved it all. I had the Coq au Vin, with the same sides. Very good. Sauce was incredible, though I'm sure it wasn't devoid of sodium. Portions for both were fine. For desert, we split a Creme Brule. It was big so splitting it was easy. It is a bit pricey, but value for what we got was fine.

I've found my new favorite restaurant in Virginia! Le Refuge is the slice of the Loire Valley I never knew I could experience outside of France. Our dinner transported us directly back to Europe with dishes that measured up to those we had while on our travels. Some highlights: -Escargot; perfectly cooked, tomato sauce, not chewy -Duck; so tender and served with the most delicious raspberry sauce -Goat cheese stuffed quail; just wow! -side items served with our meals; the potatoes were a highlight I would love to take home a full plate of. We ordered a cheese plate following our meal and it was just perfect. For drinks we shared a bottle of Chateauneuf de pape and had Kir Royale to start. This is an excellent place to celebrate an anniversary, birthday (they have a special way of celebrating birthdays that isn't cheesy or embarrassing) or just grab dinner on a random night as we saw many regulars doing. Our waiter took absolute care of us and made the best recommendations. We can't wait to return again and again!

All the dishes that we ordered were average. The coq au vin was salty. The onion soup was the best tasting dish. Good baguette.

The food at Le Refuge was excellent and the service was outstanding. The restaurant itself is cute and intimate with a long time loyal patrons. Overall great experience and will return!

It was my first time going tonight. It's such a cute cozy place. The tables are a bit too close to one another so it is a little harder to talk (since you're closer to a person sitting at another table next to you than to the one across from you that you're dining with) But I guess that's the part of the charm. The food was good... I was a little disappointed by little packs of butter accompanying the bread because it looked like something from a highway diner. It just took away from the overall experience. The appetizer was absolutely amazing!!!! We had grilled calamari in a divine sauce! I mean it was so good!!! Our drinks were good. We had gin&tonic and they were nice. We didn't feel like having wine. Our main dishes were ok. We had a fillet mignon and rainbow trout. They were both fine but we wouldn't go for it again. We had some peach desert with ice-cream and almonds that was really nice and refreshing. Overall, it was good. Ps- our server was very sweet and helpful!

A good menu. We've eaten here a lot over the years. Everything is good. Service is excellent . A little cramped for seating but no one seems to mind.

Classy French food in Alexandria. Came in for an at-home siesta for a long week - called if they had any single tables tonight and they were able to get me near the door in an hour at 7. That seemed to be the right call to come in - the restaurant is pretty cozy with every table taken and everyone had a reservation. The ambiance worked with the dim lighting, felt like there was a lot of history to the place. There was a pretty substantial menu of specials: maybe 20 items between the appetizers and starters combined. Had a seasonal endive salad that worked really well with the Roquefort and the walnuts. For an entree I had their take on the Beef Wellington since it was listed under specials - they asked me what doneness I wanted which I appreciated. The pastry work was very pretty, and all of the sides felt really clean. Not only one of the better takes I've had but probably the most economical - there are some name chefs known for the dish in driving distance at twice the price but objectively worse. I've seen birthdays, couple's dinners, post-work meetups and more when I was here, and it really just feels like classic dining in the community. It was cool to see some of the regular parties get excited interacting with the staff and owners. Definitely coming again when the occasion arises!

I came to a birthday party here tonight only to be blown away by the stupendous food and lively staff. We had a huge party but they handled everything perfectly. I had the mushroom caps stuffed with a generous portion of tender, flavorful crabmeat atop a delicious, sharp mustard sauce. I ordered the quails stuffed with goat cheese.... Oh lord. The dish was rich and well-executed. I also tasted the frog legs, lamb shank and the sea scallops! I cannot wait to come back and try the whole menu. Now I have mentioned the staff but I'd like to highlight Elias. He was on his toes all night and expressed his delight at seeing us all enjoy the food. This is the kind of place where food is taken seriously. Splurge and come here.

Cute quaint and authentic ftench cuisine. Frogs lrgs anyobe? Small and quiet in old town alexandria

Le refuge is an extremely old school restaurant. They expect you to order multiple courses, but the food is so unbelievably heavy its inadvisable to do that. Ordered the pea soup and quiche. Pea soup had an odd tangy flavor I didn't love, quiche was like a plate of molten cheese and cream absolutely impossible to eat and was so rich that it literally put me to sleep when I came home. That's after only eating a few bites too because again the richness. This was like no other quiche I've ever had and not in a good way. My husband had the onion soup which was amazing, and something else with beef that he also enjoyed. Overall it was an experience and maybe I'd come back for the onion soup, but I kinda doubt it.

Ok, I'll admit it, I'm a snob about French food & love it. From Julia Child 'till today it's my passion. An evening can be ruined by 'fake' French food that has a splash of cheap wine. I've been to the Refuge b4. Tonite in a party of 6, the evening was a satisfying success. The place was full & buzzing. Food was flowing from the kitchen rapidly. I had Hearts of palm, the Wellington that had liver pate, & Strawberry Melba. The Melba was especially delicious. Heard at the table from my foodie brother "the food here always tastes good". He was right, that time only! Lol.

The perfect place for date night! Staff, food, and service were all wonderful. This was our first time here and it did not disappoint. I'm so happy we found this little gem!

Woooooowwww I'm a regular at Cote d'Or in Falls Church but this place might have the edge. Tonight was my first time there and damn! The place is awesome. Tiny, cozy/cramped, festive. Definitely an older crowd as well, like Cote d'Or. Something odd--I came for a pseudo-birthday dinner, and there were 4 other parties that were doing the same. It's clearly a place that has a lot of regulars, and this is obviously where they come for special occasions. Duck liver mousse was right on point, calf's liver as well. Veggies and potatoes au gratin were perfectly done. Buddy had the rack of lamb, which was great. They have all the French favorites, and I might bump up my rating once I try them all. Place is great and apparently is a local legend owned by one family for 30+ years. A must-try if you like French food. Only downside was the starter bread was just OK as some other reviews have said.

We had high expectations based on local reputation, but were shockingly disappointed in the food. It was not good. Meats were poorly cooked and not fresh, and vegetables were bland. Service met expectations but the execution of the kitchen needs serious improvement. Restaurant seems very popular, it was full when we went, but genuinely puzzled by the good reviews of the food.

Outstanding food and service. Placed was packed on a evening. Waited a couple of minutes for our reserved table to be cleaned, sat down and enjoyed our meals. Although the place was loud which is something that does not happen in France, the restaurant has a nice and cozy vibe. Outstanding mussels in white wine and the mushroom caps were tasty as well. My partner had the beef Wellington which is difficult to make but it was done to perfection. The ahí tuna special was also done to very well. Profiteroles and creme brulle rounded out the meal along with a candle and music for my partner's birthday.

Excellent food and excellent service by Ricardo and other staff members. It was a pleasure as our first visit and we will return. Thank you.

A small local French option in Old Town. Yes you will need reservations and like sitting close to other diners. Service is good. The meal quality is always an individual opinion. The bread served was not up to par and most likely a Sysco product. The wine list and drinks are good. My husband enjoyed the cassoulet and gave it high marks. All the French favorites are on the menu. My veal was tough and over cooked but the mushroom sauce was delicious. Unfortunately my potatoes and veggies were not hot. A fun place for special dinners with good meal options. Yes we would give it another visit. Not sure the value is there.

What an awesome dining experience, food was perfect and the staff top notch. It's a must when we are down in Alexandria. Every entree we have experienced was great

We had the most delightful birthday dinner at Le Refuge! It seems it's a bit of a hidden little gem, the decor whisks you to a far away town in France. We started with the French onion soup which was cooked to perfection. The cheesy top had a crunch to the top and the stewed onions below were delicious. Our dinners, the ambience and the service was fantastic!

Came here for our 13 year old's birthday dinner. He chose this place for two reasons, he wanted beef wellington and he wanted to try a French restaurant. We didn't want to drive to Baltimore to Gordon Ramsay's so this was his 2nd alternative. Nice cozy feel, our server was great. Very attentive and personable. We ordered the escargot app since my child wanted to try them for the first time. He loved them of course! We both ordered the beef wellington, hubby had the crab stuffed fish and my oldest had the shrimp special. Every dish was delicious and my child enjoyed his birthday dinner. They even brought out the dessert we ordered with a candle and sang happy birthday! The only suggestion would be to upgrade the bread basket. I feel the store bought rolls and pats of butter give the place a down graded feel.

Reservations are a MUST. Very small restaurant - told 52 seats but I only counted 46. Very very tight tables. Excellent service, great food variety, always half a dozen or so nightly specials to go with an extensive regular menu. Table yours for about 2 hours then next rotations occur. Expensive especially when getting the Alexandria taxes added in but a good special event dinner place.

A touch of France in DMV Ambiance: An authentic French bistro atmosphere with a large number of quaint knick-knacks to admire. High-quality white-cloth service - a good place for a date or to celebrate a special occasion. Service: Really good. Attentive waiters but not pushy nor do they interrupt. The maitre d' (& owner?) was really good about the wine selections and offered my friend a chance to try the house wine as she was undecided (she ended up going for another really nice bottle). Wanted to try the french onion soup but their broiler wasn't working so it wasn't available - you may want to check in advance if you want this. Food: I had the duck (special) which was terrific. Good portion and perfectly flavored (I was worried the raspberry sauce would be too sweet but it was done very delicately). My friends had other meat options and all loved them. Price: A little speedy but worth it for a special night out. I'll go back - if for no other reason than to try the french onion soup.

I am so happy I went there . Really really cool place with amazing food . Great service and good wine . What else do you want . It is so pretty out there and then such a treat. Every one was very nice . I will go back there again if I am in that area.

Ambiance- charming Service- very attentive and good. Not fine French, but totally fine Cocktails and wine- good Food- seriously OK, but nothing excellent. Bread, which you expect will be great in a French place, was not good. Not fresh, not interesting and served with butter in tiny little picnic containers. If this place was inexpensive, all the above could be overlooked and I'd go back.

Classic French restaurant in old town Alexandria. I had lunch with a group here recently. Good service. The quiche was delicious. One negative side was no separate checks which seems like a poor service practice.

The food is rich, flavorful and divine. Rustic bistro interior gives the place a casual ambiance. Servers are knowledgeable and efficient.

Holy wow. My friends and I went (on their suggestion) and boyyyyyy, was this one of the best meals I've had in Old Town. We ordered quite a bit of food- we split the mussels and crab stuffed mushrooms as our appetizer. The mussels were like a celebration in my mouth. We each ordered our own entree, that we each tasted but wouldn't dare give up more than one bite. I ordered one of the specials- duck breast in raspberry sauce. My mouth is drooling just typing it. So so so good. Then we split a couple of desserts, the Cremé brûlée of course, and the chocolate puff pastry filled with ice cream. We were all very fat and happy guests, and I cannot wait to go back. C'est trés bon!

Delicious meal in a fun atmosphere! We loved our Valentine's dinner here. Chocolate mousse dessert was my favorite part! You will need to call and make reservations in advance but it's worth it.