Le Diplomate

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Parisian Brasserie on 14th Street

Le Diplomate pays sincere homage to French cafe culture from its home in a historic structure on 14th Street N.W. The space was painstakingly built to capture the essence of a Parisian brasserie — traditional charm and modern sophistication in the same room — and it has become one of Washington's most reliable gathering places, equally suited to a weekday lunch, a weekend brunch, or a long dinner with friends.

The restaurant is part of the Starr Restaurants group, and its commitment to quality has earned recognition from Wine Spectator, whose Award of Excellence reflects the depth and care of the curated wine list that anchors the beverage program.

The Menu: Gallic Classics and Daily Plates

The French cuisine here is broad and honest. Starters read like a tour of the brasserie canon: escargots à la bourguignonne with garlic-parsley butter and baguette, a gruyère-crowned onion soup gratinée, gougères made from pâte à choux with fleur de sel, and a hand-chopped steak tartare finished with capers and quail egg. The fruits de mer selection — from a petit plateau serving one to three to a grand plateau for larger groups — signals that this kitchen takes its raw bar seriously, with assorted oysters, jumbo crab cocktail, salmon tartare, and Royal Baika caviar among the options.

Main courses cover the essential territory of French cuisine: steak frites with maître d' butter, moules frites in marinière-style broth, trout amandine with lemon brown butter, and a half roast chicken with rosemary and pommes purée. A rotating plat du jour keeps the menu alive through the week — bouillabaisse on Fridays, rack of lamb on Saturdays, lobster risotto on Tuesdays — so regulars always find a reason to return.

Atmosphere and Versatility

The dining room accommodates everything from solo counter seats to private parties, and outdoor seating extends the Parisian brasserie feeling onto the street. Specialty cocktails and a thoughtfully assembled wine list round out a program designed to complement a long, unhurried meal. Whether the occasion calls for a croque madame at midday or beef bourguignon after dark, Le Diplomate is built for the full range of the day.