Rosemary bistro cafe

My daughter and I had the most delicious dinner last night at Rosemary! We were celebrating my belated birthday and I had the most pampering experience. As we walked in, everyone was super friendly and welcoming. The walls were covered with beautiful colorful art and pleasant music was playing in the background. We were able to converse and take our time looking at the menu while eating artisan fresh baked bread. The salad was so fresh and it came in a surprising edible shell for a bowl. I ordered the special bouillabaisse and was impressed with its taste and sizable pieces of shrimp, scallops, and fish. My daughter’s scallops were also cooked to perfection! And finally, our dessert was the perfect ending to our dinner. We highly recommend!

The atmosphere of the place is what drew me in and that did not disappoint! The service was also incredible. But the actual food I ordered (the rosemary burger and the shrimp ceasar salad) was honestly lacking in flavor. The quality was nice but it was really not seasoned at all. The french onion soup and warm onion tart were better. So give this place a try, my food may just have been a one off.

We happen to see this restaurant while looking for a place for brunch near the neighborhood. What a pleasant surprise. Nice atmosphere, friendly service, and the food. The warm onion tart is amazing! Definitely keeping this place in mind for another brunch on a sunny Sunday morning

First time here and hard to believe we've never come before. Every dish was tasty. Servers were friendly. Food came out very quickly. Will definitely be coming back.

Thinking about our fabulous luncheon spring 2025, for our son’s college graduation. Sophisticated, simple elegance and not fussy at the same time. Food and drinks, service and setting , all delicious and magnificent!! We cannot thank the staff and chef/owner enough for the attention to detail and kindness for a magical event. Leslie, Steve, and Grennon

What a surprise! Who would have thought a small neighborhood restaurant would combine great food, generous portions and reasonable prices in an unhurried, casual atmosphere. As we sat down, the waiter brought us warm, crusty French bread with chilled really high quality butter. We ordered mixed grilled mushrooms (that weren't on the brunch menu but we asked for them anyway and got them with no fuss), avocado toast, caesar salad, salmon, nova salmon on egg, waffle with fruit and cream and peach melba. Photos attached. ALL really good. Apricot nectar - usually a disappointment at most restaurants) was intensely flavored and came in a little bottle from France. So it was the real thing. We couldn't have been happier. Parking (on the weekend) was easy as the next door bank allows use of its parking lot during non-banking hours.

Very cozy atmosphere and the food was delicious. I got the filet mignon (medium) and then the floating island for dessert. The steak had a bit of a charred taste so assume it was cooked over a grill. The crème anglaise in the floating island is so good, i really just wanted to pick the bowl up and drink it lol but, ya know, manners.

I was there for a quick snack but it was enough to get a sense of the place. I was there early so the staff had not much distractions. I dat at a table outdoors. The presentation was acceptable. The staff was attentative and the food, the soup of the day and a salad was really good. I would like to go back for a full dinner next time and try some of their specialities.

This is the neighborhood's go to restaurant for a good dinner. There is excellent food and very friendly and knowledgeable wait staff. Sitting outside can be lovely but Conn Ave has loud traffic during rush hour. My friends and I prefer inside during rush hour. This bistro is a winner.

This cozy bistro is a pleasant surprise. I ate there for the first time with two friends. Everything was delicious. Of special note was the delicata squash salad with citrus and feta and the French onion soup. I recommend this cozy cafe and plan to return.

I kinda wish Yelp would allow more granularity with the ratings because I'd might have given Rosemary 4.5 stars just for the reduction in the coq au vin. // The bread and butter was fine but not remarkable. The coq au vin had great chicken and a delicious reduction but the snow peas didn't work for me and I question the cheesy polenta despite it being tasty. Fine service. I tried the leek soup and thought it was interesting.

The food is good whether you it inside or out the wait staff is personable and efficient. Have the duck confit it will not disappoint!

So delicious- each and every meal - the potato leek soups was delicious without the typically overly rich The leek tort was a delight as was the endive salad Each was an elevated experience Love this place

Food, service, and ambience very good for the price. Best restaurant near Ingleside. Parking easy.

HAIR IN THE FOOD ‼ I came here for Mother's Day brunch for my mom and grandma and what a ridiculous disappointment. It took 50 minutes for them to bring us a bread basket. They sat our reservation for 7 adults at a table fit for MAYBE 5 people. They cooked my mother's meal incorrectly but after 2 hours we did not want it remade. Iced latte was served hot with a glass of ice. It's a shame because this is a neighborhood spot my grandparents have loved, and now we will never be back. Rosemary, get your service together.

The French onion soup and classic Caesar salad are both standouts. The prime beef tips are a nice surprise; tips are tender and accompanying cognac pepper sauce is bright and yummy. Their creme brulee is respectable, but not out of this world. Overall plating of food is noticeably attractive. Service is friendly, however can get behind when the crush is on. This is a quintessential "cozy place". The space is narrow and features lots of booth-tables that make for an intimate setting, especially for small parties of 2-4. There's also an outside dining option, weather permitting. I've only had lunch here; and enjoy it. Tom Sietsema, longtime Washington Post food critic, recognized Rosemary Bistro Cafe as a top spot in 2022.

After living in the neighborhood for a few years, I finally made my way over to Rosemary Bistro for my mother-in-law for Mother's Day this year. I've purchased their pastries available at the seasonal farmers market, so I had a sense of what to expect, but of course the dine-in experience is always different. I say "dine-in" but my MIL insisted on eating on the sidewalk patio on a chilly mid-morning, so that alone killed it for me. However, my beet tartare flan was very prettily prepared, and I was definitely fooled into forgetting that the dish came with a round of farmer's cheese, I mistook it for half a jammy egg! (I took the entire thing home to heat) up and eat there, and it was very good.) My partner got the egg white omelette, and from the picture you can see it looks nice, but the potatoes were cold (I personally blame my MIL, not the restaurant, for that), and while the omelette was okay, he was a bit overwhelmed by the volume of feta (admittedly he's been eating less dairy recently). He was also disappointed with the coffee. At least my MIL was thrilled with her avocado toast. She declared it the best she's ever had, and she seemed very excited by the hot, frothy milk served on the side with her coffee. All in all, probably not a place my partner and I will return to for ourselves, but very happy to have found a local, reasonably priced option that will keep my MIL happy

First, the good - nice server, visually appealing food presentation, and the beet carpaccio was tasty. Live saxophone music was really nice on a Saturday night! But alas, things went downhill fast with the food. My warm onion tart had little if any onion flavor, and wasn't warm. The chicken, mussels meunière and $24 filet burger were all bland and underwhelming. I asked for more bread in anticipation of soaking up delicious broth from the mussels, but it was completely bland. I hope they don't have to throw away the bread, unfortunately, it was not needed. Fries were blah and not hot. Wish the food tasted as good as it looks! It wasn't crowded and we noticed that I am Eddie Cano next door was hopping - maybe that's a hint.

Keeps getting better and better ! Hamachi main course was amazing and beautifully prepared; a genuine wow ! Service was outstanding. Endive salad, side dishes, desserts all were wonderful. Highly recommend

This place is an upscale cafe in my opinion. We called ahead for sane day reservations and were seated quickly. They do have gluten free options or ability to modify, let your server know. The beet salad is always a favorite of mine and this one was delicious. It's on the sweet side but not too sweet, after all it's beets. I could have eaten 2 more servings it was so good to me. The muscles were a decent size portion and tasted fresh with fresh herbs, but it lacked flavor and seasoning. I would not order it again unless they changed the recipe. I usually like a light white wine sauce, cream or red sauce. This tasted steamed with fresh herbs mildly flavored. Personally, I would revamp this recipe. The ingredients were nice tho. The cafe is small and busy and my server was great BUT, to me this environment would work better if everyone helped each other out, like all hands on. Coppi in bDC used to do service that way. Everyone had all tables so things moved more quickly and tips were shared. The busboys were on it! Fast, courteous and attentive. The steak and cheese sandwich was good, the bread delicious. The salad it came with could use improvements. The cooked green peppers with lettuce was just a strange combo and the salad dressing was meh with flavor. The ingredients were fresh tho and a good variety. The lettuce, I would have trimmed off the harder pieces for a place of this caliber. I probably would have enjoyed this dish more if it was more seasoned. The French Fries soooo good, I had to order an extra order. I don't think I have had better fries in this area. It reminded me of Republic fries that used to be in Takoma Park. We would go there just for fries sometimes. The duck confit was delicious. That was better than the sandwich. The duck was moist and perfectly seasoned. The sauce it was laid on fabulous. The oranges on the the plate sooo good, I really enjoyed them. The potatoes perfectly cooked and this dish was nicely seasoned and the vegetables buttery. The snow peas to me a little overdone. They were soggy and I like mine crispy. The carrots perfect. We used dipped the steak sandwich in the sauce and it tasted even better. I would probably serve a side of that sauce with the steak sandwich or serve some bread with the duck. The sauce is too yummy to leave a drop behind. The desert star was the floating merengue. I love chocolate and this was better than the chocolate GF cake and ice cream. The owner suggested that one and he was right! Sooo good. It's light, moist, fluffy, not too sweet and full of flavor. It's a little pricey but for fresh ingredients, with many components and a decent portion size, I found it fare. I was surprised with the many drink selections, they had NO mocktails. This place could easily add some fresh juice or non alcoholic creative drinks and boost their sales and add to the dining experience. A fresh fruit infused ice tea or lemonade even would be a great addition.

I was greeted warmly right away as I entered the establishment and seated in the outdoor area; I ordered the classic muscles, which were cooked very well. The sauce at the bottom could use some work. It was a bit bland to be honest, I'm not sure what it needed. it could've used a bit more flavor. The service was good and everyone seem to enjoy themselves. Overall, I had a good time.

I'd been to Rosemary's before, but I think they've really leveled up. Our family had dinner there last week for my wife's birthday. I had the grilled swordfish, a restaurant week special. It was delicious, but the presentation was most memorable: A perfectly circular inch-high bed of couscous with sprinkled succotash above a drizzled red-orange sauce, all holding up the filet, with garnishes on top. (Just check out the photo, I can't do it justice.) High marks also for onion soup and creme brulee. We ate outside, so I can't say anything about indoor ambience, but the sidewalk tables have improved significantly in terms of space and comfort since the last time I was there. Friendly service, too.

I've eaten here several times this year. It's a nice place with good food. Now that Blue44 has closed this may be my new go to neighborhood restaurant, although parking is a little tougher.

A good brunch menu. More like 3.5 stars for the following reasons: 1. Our waiters got our orders wrong twice and it was only two tables inside on a Sat morning. I was surprised to see an empty space when walked in. 2. The mussels are a bit bland. On top of that, lots of sand in the mussels. Clearly the cleaning was not done properly. I wanted to support a neighborhood business, but I am probably not going back.

The food here is excellent and a creative mix of traditional French dishes with a nod to local ingredients and a few twists. Do not sleep on the specials which appear to be well thought-out as opposed to dumping inventory. Only knock is price point though the portions are heartier than most comparable establishments. Ambience is nice, neighborhood friendly and casual.

Great French food, really enjoyed the Duck and Escargot. The Beet Tartare was also delicious (especially the cheese meant to resemble the egg on a Beef Tartare)! Service was fantastic and me and my girlfriends had a wonderful evening catching up. We didn't feel rushed and really enjoyed the ambiance. We opted to sit indoors on a nice night and it wasn't too loud and the we felt very comfortable. Great spot for some authentic French eats.

The service was really nice, and the waiters were all extremely polite. It was a nice chill vibe, and there weren't many people there. The food was amazing and my personal favorites were the crème brûlée and the chocolate mousse.

Excellent French food, lovely service, and fun decor. My dining companion and I ordered the fish of the day, scallops, and dumplings. Everything was absolutely delicious. Service was cheerful and helpful and we enjoyed the surroundings. They were able to get us in and out of the restaurant quickly as we had a show to see. Definitely will be back to try the other options on the menu.

A safe outdoor environment with heat lamps, and festive lights. Good service. We started with an off menu special salad that had walnuts, blue cheese, fennel, lettuce, burnt peach,and a nice vinaigrette. They divided it for my wife and I without our asking. A great mix of ingredients that go well together. We had the duck leg entree. It had a savory reduction sauce that was expertly developed. The sides were a salad, and potato slices. The portion size for each component was small. Our other entree was branzino filet, with a side of spinach, butternut squash, and cranberries. The fish was moist, but the skin was soft in spots. In prefer the skin crispy. I liked the sides, but couldn't find cranberries. Again, smallish portion size. I enjoyed my pinot noir. Overall, I the food was quite good, and there was a welcomed atmosphere. I would prefer a slightly larger portion, however.

A nice neighborhood restaurant with good food and service. Fred, the owner, is a great host and makes sure that reservations are seated on time. The French onion soup is fine but the onion tart needs a major overhaul. The clams are good as are the fries but the grilled Hamachi miss the mark. Overall, it is a good cozy restaurant with mostly good food and reasonably priced wine selection.

I've been to Rosemary several times and have had a great experience every time. The beet salad is not only delicious but unique and beautifully plated. The floating island dessert is also amazing (and I never thought I'd say that about a meringue-based dessert). For entrees, I've had the salmon which was perfect. I also tried a seafood trio dish for restaurant week with salmon, shrimp, and (I think) branzino that was INCREDIBLE. Based on that dish I'd feel confident ordering any seafood here. Drinks are always on point. And they partake in one of my favorite simple joys in life... free bread and butter while you wait. Yay. Shout out to the staff who are always awesome. They are consistently friendly and (imo) strike the perfect balance of attentive while letting you enjoy your meal. Lastly, the decor inside is a lil fun funky French bistro with cool lamps. For me that just reflects how I think of the place overall -- as a neighborhood restaurant with high quality "French-with-a-twist" food in an unpretentious atmosphere. I'll be back! :)

Came with friends to celebrate my birthday. What a treat! While service was a bit slow, not a deal breaker. They appeared overwhelmed, but the server and food and owner made up for it. I had the beet salad, pan seared trout special and strawberry panacotta. Delicious. Certainly the most colorful food I've ever had. Hope to return again soon. Wonderful neighborhood restaurant.

Great local French bistro! We tried the beet salad and short rib entree, salmon tartare (which was my favorite) and bouillabaisse. Every thing exceeded my expectations! Atmosphere is more on the casual side, next time I want to try the brunch menu.

Read a review extolling this restaurant so a friend & I decided to give it a try for lunch. Service was attentive with 2 staff people walking the narrow aisle making sure diners were satisfied. My salad nicoise was well prepared & nicely presented, although the grilled chicken was overly salty. It was tasty enough not to need the dressing which I'd ordered in the side. Friend ordered the grilled cheese panini which came with a side salad. The panini was quite large so she only ate half but said she'd order it again. She devoured her salad! Nice touch that French bread was served while we were waiting for our entrees. Butter would have been better at room temp as it was difficult to spread.

This tiny restaurant, tucked into a space that used to be a diner (albeit a very good one), has served up extraordinary French dishes ever since it opened. It is a wonderful addition to a neighborhood with lots of restaurants, but relatively little in the way of fine dining. The cooking is a melange of classic cuisine and local ingredients, served with a dash of creativity and an eye for the beauty of the plate. One of my favorite dishes is the seafood risotto, which I've had even when it's not on the menu! Another, ordered today, was a poached monkfish with a superb cauliflower-based sauce. The creme brulee is to die for--actually the best I've had in DC. The wait staff is young and enthusiastic about their work, while the kitchen staff and owners are justly proud of their work. My only caveat is that food this good deserves to be served on a white tablecloth, and not on wooden tables!

It is a nice restaurant whose owner is from the Basque region. The food is great and we all were extremely happy with our meal. The brunch menu offers a nice variety of entries.

What a great brunch spot! I absolutely loved the service and the outdoor patio. I really enjoyed how unique the menu was and well prepared everything we ordered came out. The overall experience was memorable and delicious

The food and atmosphere were subpar. The restaurant was dirty. The bathroom was filthy dirty and clearly not tended. Our waiter was fine and friendly, but he wasn't mindful of suggesting putting our order in prior to the large party. Not necessary but something I would expect from an expensive restaurant. Why only 0 star because we personally saw the owner Fred yelling very loud and bad to the staff this man need some mental help . Meh, I'm not happy. Won't be back, nothing inspiring here.

When we came here there was a french man smoking haughtily outside by the curb so figured this spot was going to be authentic. The patio streetery area is cute with nice little french bistro seating. We ate indoors and the interior is simple but cozy. We had the warm onion tart and homemade tagliatelle pasta. The tart was so so so perfect, I ordered another one to go so I could have it again for lunch the next day. The combination of goat cheese, brussel sprouts, apples and onions was so warm and filling with the perfect crust. Please order this if you come here. I enjoyed the pasta as well, you could tell it really was handmade and I liked the addition of spinach. The wine bottle list was also respectable with a lot of good value options. Definitely worth the trek to the Tenleytown/Chevy Chase area!

I have not been to their actual restaurant but have purchased butternut squash soup from, the Framers market they sell at. The person selling was nice enough. The soup was just okay. It was a little bland and could use more spice and squash. The price was pretty good. I do not think I'd get more soup but glad I tired it.

Food was great! We each had three courses and were happy with them all. Each course was creative and tasty and you can tell they put time and thought into the dishes. Service lagged just a bit - our original server disappeared and we were picked up by someone else I guess. But not a big deal and everyone was friendly. We'll certainly return.

LOVE!!! Fabulous onion soup! All the entrees are great. Salads are fresh and well proportioned. My favorite dessert- Floating Island - is beyond words! Service is terrific and the owner/chef comes out to see how customers are doing. Very personable place...truly a neighborhood bistro and gem!

The appetizers and entrees at Rosemary Bistro are exceptional. The dining room is small so the service is personal. The Chef is often at hand. The bread is wonderful. One quibble: The desert menu is uninteresting and the mousse is like pudding.

We had a delightful lunch outside on a beautiful 78 degree day. We had a glass of champagne along with the best cream of mushroom soup we have ever had! We split their filet mignon burger (with a fresh salad) which was done perfectly and finished it off with a great carrot cake. Definitely will pit this on the list of return to places!

Service was amazing! Everyone is so friendly and helpful, and they were all covid compliant. The Niçoise salad was not traditional like I was hoping, but after I pulled out all of the green/yellow/red peppers it was delicious. I loved the outdoor seating area and I would definitely come back. Dog friendly.

The friendly owner clearly has a passion for food and the sourcing of ingredients. All the dishes we ordered were wonderful - beet tartar, gazpacho, endive salad. The smokey branzino with gremolata was sublime. We hope to come back soon.

Nice neighborhood spot! I have gotten take out and recently sat down. The menu is limited but menu items from the Togo menu can be ordered sit down like the seafood pasta. Simple atmosphere and cute outdoor deck. Portions are a large and the sauces are delicious! Definitely worth a try

First time customer here. My experience was EXCELLENT! I loved everything about this place - the food, atmosphere, the service and the unpretentiousness attitude of everyone we dealt with. Had the French Onion Soup, Duck Breast and chocolate cake and enjoyed all of it. Everything was delicious! I am already making plans to come back and can't wait.

We had grilled watermelon salad that was truly incredible. Unfortunately it is now out of season but it was so unusual and well done that it is enough reason to come back to see what they replace it with. I had the roasted lamb shank which was tender and served with Israeli couscous - I could have that meal every night. My wife had the haddock which was equally delicious. Service was attentive and delightful and the ambiance was quiet and pleasant with music flowing in from the art activities out on the street. A new spot for us that we will happily return to.

Had dinner last night with some close friends. Were seated at a table set into a lane of Connecticut. The traffic was noisy and trucks passed barely a foot front my elbow. Yikes! WE waited 20 minutes for menus and a first visit from the waitress. Of three entrees ordered, one was pretty good (lasagna), the others (mussels, chicken and duck) were overlooked, dry, and unpleasant. The waitress was nice and the apple tart dessert was delicious! Overall, very poor execution, uncomfortable environment and bad cooking. Kudos to our waitress and the desert chef. Worth 1 star. Not recommended.

I love this place! Fred and his staff are amazing! I appreciate warm hospitality, delicious and interesting food, sweet atmosphere- even during Covid. The French meals are creative, fresh, and delicious- nothing I could make at home which is why it's so special to come here. Heaters are ready- plenty of outdoor seating.

Neighborhood French. Friendly owner manager guy. Waiter named something like Gus or Guy not the most competent. Been many times. Every appetizer we've had has been delicious. Good beef dishes. Rich desserts.

Food was good, but value for money on lower end. Had good brunch options--we ordered the Rosemary breakfast and chorizo sandwich

I came here alone tonight and savored every bite of the duck. I Can never finish a whole plate but had to finish this, it was perfect. The elderflower martini 10/10 and just one had me feeling pretty tipsy and that was also perfect tasting.

Fine Dining for the Unpretentious Frederic, the owner, offers the most complex spicing of dishes that you will find anywhere in the Washington area. He offers a 5 star meal for a third of the cost. Frederic and the staff make you feel welcome and comfortable whether you are wearing sneakers from a long walk or dressed up for an evening out. Located right across from Politics and Prose it is perfect for Brunch/Lunch or Dinner.

What an AMAZING LITTLE AUTHENTIC FRENCH BISTRO!!! Hubby and I went for lunch a few weeks ago and came back once or twice a week since then!!! We have been to France a few times and this has been on point with a few twist of fusion cuisine but I have to say what a GREAT PLACE!!! The server are fantastic and very much on top of their game!!! We have came back several times and what the "icing on the cake " is that the owner, Fred, (I think that's his name) came out with to greet us and gave us a toast with this AMAZING dessert liqueur after dinner drink from France!! They actually have "sweetbreads", those who don't know what it is, it's NOT actually " sweet bread" but just look it up- and duck or rabbit, if it's available and if so, order it when they have it!!! You won't be disappointed for all the times we have been eating here for several times and we travel an hour to get here, it's well worth the trip for us - just your local French bistro spot- not too far from the national Zoo off Connecticut Ave!!! We are looking forward to coming back REALLY SOON!!!

Deliciously prepared and beautifully presented take out. I ordered the onion soup, salmon, and mousse. All were excellent. The soup had fantastic flavor and depth, and even the cheese and bread topping translated well with take out. The salmon was cooked to perfection, and the sides complimented the salmon well and were seasonally appropriate. The mousse topped it off. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the warm baguette. I look forward to dining in or on the patio when the weather gets warmer and the pandemic wanes.