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PRICE RANGE
S$33 - S$67
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch
CUISINES
French, European
FEATURES
Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining, Seating, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Accepts Discover, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Reviews (388)
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381 results
Traveller rating
244
106
19
10
2
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LanguageEnglish
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Traveller rating
244
106
19
10
2
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All reviews brunch bouillabaisse duck filet mignon bread red curtains french cuisine business dinner appetizers waitstaff
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Reviewed 23 January 2024

Five of us went to Bistro Cacao on a Wednesday evening. The atmosphere is charming and relaxed. Tables for two upstairs are small romantic booths with red curtains. The menu is typically French. The food was well prepared and very tasty as were the drinks....Excellent service. My salmon dinner was a delight! All told a very pleasant dinner. Street parking not a problem in the evenings. Brunches are apparently very popular. Recommended!More

Date of visit: January 2024
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Reviewed 15 December 2023

We liked the quiet atmosphere. The service was excellent but the food was not great. We had mussels Hors D'Oeuvres which was tasty. but the meat plate was not good. My husband had salmon which was overcooked. I had lamb chops which were just OK....The others in the party did not comment.More

Date of visit: December 2023
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Reviewed 23 October 2023

Dinner here on a Sunday evening. My first time here, but dining partner had been here before as a paying customer, part of an encounter. Reservations suggested, esp to get a private table, though it wasn't full when we were there. Parking was on street,...so allow time for that. This a a very romantic, intimate dining experince for couples. This is not a family dining place, and certainly not a place for a business meal (unless you are in the business of purchasing the time of a partner, I suppose!) Dinner here is for a special moment like an anniversary, a wedding proposal, or as a prelude to a private couple's evening afterwards. Almost like a little French bordello in movies of yesteryear. Hearts and flowers; even the stairs to take you to the private booths have little hearts on them. The booths are intimate and have red curtans for added privacy. Service is discreet and quiet. Not a loud place or a place where you interact with other diners. This is a place for privacy. Wine is a must here. Each table I saw , the couple had a bottle of wine. Varied menu, though a vegan may struggle to find good options. I had salad and then a nice salmon dish. Followed the meal with a delightful sorbet dessert that was tasty and refreshing. They also had heavier dessert options, for those who wish to go in that direction. This is a spot for special evening with a special person. I look forward to returning!More

Date of visit: October 2023
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Reviewed 7 October 2023

Fabulous food and great atmosphere. Loved the look of the interior and great space for outside dining

Date of visit: October 2023
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Reviewed 27 August 2023

The best mushroom ravioli that I have ever tasted. I have tasted this dish in many places and none compare to Bistro Cacao. The steak and frites could have definitely used a better cut of meat. The ambiance is over the top French red. -...in a good way. Service was on point. Very quiet compared to other French bistros in DC.More

Date of visit: August 2023
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Reviewed 24 July 2023

The menu seemed to us to be a classic French bistro menu, and we were not disappointed in any way. The fish and the duck that we ordered were wonderful. Appetizers were quite good. The service was excellent. We plan to return.

Date of visit: July 2023
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Reviewed 6 June 2023

Very good food, amazing service, nice atmosphere.. they do not have kids menu but my kids were able to find food they liked. Everything came perfect and owner was very welcoming.. it is on a pricier side but worth every penny.Highly recommend

Date of visit: April 2023
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Reviewed 21 January 2023 via mobile

Decor in general not elegant, tacky 100%. Very Louisiana style... red curtains, red wallpaper decor, little lamps w/ red shades etc. Food very plain, tasteless. I went for the brunch ordered onion soup and cesar salad w/chicken, very low in condiments. Not a place to...experience French food 😕More

Date of visit: January 2023
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Reviewed 14 January 2023 via mobile

Lovely restaurant with friendly staff and excellent service. The food was amazing, great romantic atmosphere with private tables. Would definitely come back.

Date of visit: January 2023
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Reviewed 4 January 2023

This restaurant has great wine choices and excellent food, that is creative and well prepared. Also each dish is very well presented. There is excellent service.

Date of visit: December 2022
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Reviewed 11 November 2022

We ate outside on the dining canopy on a beautiful warm night. We had great service along with good food. We started with Kir Royal drinks and a cheese plate. My guest had the steak frites and I had the filet Mignon. Dessert was a...trio of creme brulee (the blueberry was very tasty and unexpected) and the molten chocolate cake. We cannot wait to come back again, everything was very good.More

Date of visit: November 2022
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Reviewed 19 October 2022

Very disappointing experience. We came for my birthday with high expectations; however, everything from the service to the atmosphere was lacking, as well as the food. Our waitress literally knew nothing about the menu or the food or wine she was serving, she didn't even...know how to uncork a bottle and had to ask for help. We ordered a cheese platter and when it came out, we asked what kinds of cheese we received and she had no idea, she replied "French cheese." There were fruit flies buzzing around our food. There was also an out of control man at the bar, not that this was something that the restaurant could control, the staff seemed unperturbed, didn't really do anything about it, and I was frankly scared. We decided to just leave after our appetizers ... but still, just feel so ripped off for what we paid, for such a disappointing experience. For that price, we deserve better.More

Date of visit: October 2022
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Reviewed 6 June 2022

The service lagged the whole meal. Our main courses were served without any utensils with which to eat them. In the end I had to get up from the table after asking three different staff for a seafood fork after another server had brought only...spoons and one seafood fork—this routine went on for a good five minutes as our food got cold. Meanwhile a manager breezed by to another destination remarking “mmmm, bouillabaisse” in passing, assuming we were thrilled with our bouillabaisse as opposed to ensuring we had everything we needed--like spoons/seafood forks--and were doing okay. The server also could’ve attempted to connect with us when we sat down and was just generally pretty clueless or maybe he just didn’t care; you also would’ve thought he might’ve asked for help as well as service was unacceptable but instead the experience just crashed and burned. All around, the staff were collectively inattentive and clueless which really overshadowed pretty good food and ruined the night. As someone who spent years in the service industry as a server, shame on Bistro Cacao. I've already spoken with an alleged part owner who wasn't interested in making this right--without my having to come back in and spend more money here? Typical DC attitude. They don't need my business--and they will never get it, nor any of my friends'.More

Date of visit: May 2022
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Reviewed 19 May 2022

I met friends there for dinner. Charming restaurant decor. The French cuisine was just outstanding. The service was very attentive.

Date of visit: April 2022
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Reviewed 16 May 2022

We came for dinner on a drizzly Saturday evening but still wanted to sit outdoors, and were able to do so comfortably thanks to the covered open seating. From the opening drinks (a very tasty cocktail-of-the-day) and appetizer (foie gras) to the main dishes (the...duck and the lamb) and a shared dessert (the moelleux au chocolat), everything was delicious. The waitstaff was attentive and knowledgeable. Small touches like the wonderful homemade butter that accompanies the bread service are what make Bistro Cacao a stand-out restaurant for excellent food in the DC area. Highly recommended for a romantic evening or a business dinner.More

Date of visit: May 2022
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Questions & Answers
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nett10
9 March 2017|
AnswerShow all 7 answers
Response from Lisa-Marietta | Reviewed this property |
They have many options that do not have gluten.
1
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PHill93003
28 March 2015|
AnswerShow all 2 answers
Response from TimmyOT | Reviewed this property |
No shorts, I would say , but I came in without a jacket or coat, just shirtsleeves and trousers, as did other men.
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Frances P
8 February 2015|
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Response from IntlTravlrRevwr | Reviewed this property |
This appears to be an error. The place reviewed was a restaurant not a hotel.
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Bistro Cacao, Washington DC - Capitol Hill - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Bistro Cacao

Bistro Cacao is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 4.5
  • Service: 4.5
  • Value: 4
  • Atmosphere: 4.5