Pastis - DC

“I have been to Pastis a few times, with my husband, my best friend, & my mother-in-law, & all of our experiences have been good (particularly while sitting at the bar under Liv’s care). The food is good (especially the bar filet, topped with herb butter) & the bar is well-stocked with interesting liqueurs like Suze, which I don’t see too often! (Liv is wonderful & accommodating, & has made me both a Tokyo Station & a Yellow—which call for Suze—which I had heard of from another bar.) Pastis is well-decorated, the ambiance is good, & they have matchbooks! A great, consistent dining experience, whether for cocktails & appetizers, or a full meal.”

“Pastis DC was an excellent experience! The ambiance of the restaurant was very intimate. I loved that the tables and chairs were all unique, it made the place feel more special and less manufactured. The food itself was delicious! The escargot were so tender, its a must try! We got the restaurant week menu which was fairly priced and the M. Marmalade cocktail was really good! Overall a great place and we will be coming back!”

“Went to Pastis for dinner with a friend, and this place is definitely a hidden gem in Union Market. One of the highlights for me was the fresh bread — I loved it so much I kept asking for more. The restaurant is bigger than it looks, and the ambience is super romantic, chill, and cozy. It’s a great spot for a date night or a relaxed dinner. I ordered the steak, which was cooked to perfection, and my friend really enjoyed the calamari. I’d be curious to see if they offer a happy hour because this feels like a great place for that. Overall, it’s a cute date spot and a great opportunity to try a different cuisine. I really enjoyed my experience and would definitely come back. Great time!”

“The 6-Escargots were probably one of the best dishes we had it was rich, savory, buttery, and very satisfying. The Onion Soup was also very savory and delicious, a solid French onion soup. The Quiche Lorraine was excellent and ended up being one of the highlights of the meal. The Vietnamese Milkshake was good, but not especially standout. The Sticky Toffee was pretty good, and the Cappuccino was fine. For cocktails, we tried the Jardin and Perroquet Tropicale, but I didn’t like them that much. For the main, the Steak Sandwich was just okay. I actually wish I had ordered the bar steak instead. Something about the sauce or overall mix of ingredients on the sandwich made it feel a little too salty, especially after already having the Onion Soup. I can’t pinpoint exactly why it didn’t work for me, but the flavors didn’t come together as well as I hoped. The server was excellent and very attentive, and the overall service here was very good. The ambiance was also very nice and made the meal feel more enjoyable. Overall, there were some really strong dishes, especially the 6-Escargots, Onion Soup, and Quiche Lorraine, along with great service and a lovely atmosphere. That said, for the price of everything, I’m not sure this is a place I’d want to return to. It was a good experience in some ways, but not quite enough to make me want to come back.”

“In nearly every sense, this is a nice clone of Le Diplomate, especially in terms of the classic bistro decor and menu offering. But unlike Le Diplomate, I was underwhelmed about the food quality, particularly my steak filet. The soups we had, both the mushroom soup and the onion soups were good, especially the onion soup. It had the same profile as the one from Le Diplomate which I also enjoy. Zero complaints. But the filet mignon, ordered medium rare came out over done with the edges well done, the interior first half inch medium, and only a very small center was medium rare. And their bearnaise was not thick or robust, just kind of oddly watery. Not a great combo. Frites were fine, but they are fries. Not dying to go back. Service was fine, nothing bad but nothing remarkable either.”