L'Hommage Bistro Francais

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L'Hommage Bistro Francais is the newest dining concept from restaurateur Hakan Ilhan, inspired by his weekend visits to Paris while attending university in the United Kingdom.  We were recently invited to check out Executive Chef Joshua Laban Perkins’ new brunch menu with items that range in price from $7.50 to $19.50.  Brunch is served Saturday & Sunday from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Closest Metro is Mt. Vernon Square or Gallery Place.

The color palette throughout the large space reflects golden hues with a splash of red and pale blue to punctuate the composition, lit with a mix of turn-of-the-century luminaires, stage lighting, and recessed ambient lights. About 170 patrons can fit in the main dining room. Two semi-private dining rooms are also available, and are separated by folding doors. The rooms can accommodate up to 60 guests each for a seated dinner, or up to 120 when the rooms are combined. The adjoining Boulangerie has 14 seats. An outdoor patio is also available during the spring and summer months (weather permitting), and can accommodate 82 guests.  Wine is front and center at L’Hommage, vertically displayed as a backdrop to the dining room. A special climate controlled, glass enclosed room houses the finest and most sought after French wines available in Washington, DC.

New brunch menu items include hors d'oeuvres and salads such as Onion Soupe Gratinée with onions, beef broth, gruyere cheese, and toasted baguette; Duck Terrine with house-made pickles, onion marmalade, and Moutarde a L’ Ancienne; Salade D’endive with Dijon vinaigrette, bleu cheese, scallion, and tomatoes; and Saute Chicken Liver Salade with fried liver, egg, tomatoes, and saba.  We really enjoyed the classic Escargots - Brittany snails cooked in garlic, butter, and parsley with the Gougéres - Mornay sauce filled cheese puffs.  However, our gougéres were a bit cold in the center, and would have been much better with a hotter cheesy center.  Nevertheless, they had great flavor and the savory starters paired well with some fresh mimosas.

Guests will also enjoy entrees and brunch classics like the Burger L'Hommage with choice of accompaniments; L’boeuf Rôti with sliced prime rib, horseradish cream, and au jus; Tartine Au Capri with ciabatta, sliced tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil; Eggs Barigoule with artichoke barigoule, wilted spinach, poached farm eggs, and Bearnaise; Suisse Omelette with farm eggs, lardons, Gruyère, and fines herbes, and Eggs En Cocotte with chopped tomato, red onion, garlic, and basil.  Diners also won’t want to miss L'Hommage's Moules Frite options like the Mariniere with white wine, butter, shallots, garlic, and parsley; Moules A La Diable with a spicy tomato broth; Curry Lime Broth with coconut milk, kefir, and Monebasque with chopped tomato, red onion, garlic, and basil.

Keith enjoyed the classic French brunch item, Croque Madame with jambon and gruyere cheese, served on Brioche with a fried egg on top.  It came with nicely salted fries. The cheese sauce was a bit overpowering, but all in all this was a filling dish.

I tried the new Dutch Pancakes with warm poached apples and Chantilly cream.  The thick crepe-like pancake was a nice texture and I liked the Fall flavors from the cinnamon apples.  I drizzled a little maple syrup on top, though the sweet dish didn't really need it.  This dish was the perfect counterbalance to the salty, savory, garlicky items that I started with.

Service was a bit more formal than expected, but not obtrusive.  A slight faux pas was when the entrees came out before we were finished with our appetizers.  But our server checked in on us the appropriate amount of times and refilled our mimosas and water as needed.  The dining room quickly filled up with large groups providing a boisterous ambience that filled the large space.  Overall, I enjoyed the classic French fare and found them to be a nice change to the traditional brunch menus.

Total Rating: 3.95
Food: 4, Price: 3.5, Service: 4, Ambience: 3.5, Accessibility: 5