The Early Word on L'Hommage Bistro Francais in Mt. Vernon Triangle

L'Hommage Bistro Francais, owned by Hakan Ilhan of Alba Osteria, opened just a few weeks ago in Mt. Vernon Triangle. Norris Design worked on the French-inspired interior featuring cafe and bistro tables, a marble bar, a tiled staircase and plenty of wine displayed throughout the restaurant. In fact, they're serving over 200 French wines.

Chef Joshua Laban Perkins, a vet of Le Bernadin and Brasserie Le Coze, is behind the menu of French classics like onion soup, escargot and steak tartare. The restaurant is already distinguishing itself from D.C.'s other French bistros with a large patio and an attached bakery for making breads and pastries. But what do the diners think so far? The restaurant already has 21 Yelp reviews with an overall rating of three and a half stars. Read on for the early word on L'Hommage Bistro Francais:

The How It Compares to Other Bistros News: The comparisons to D.C.'s other French restaurants came immediately. Washington City Pape writes, "L'Hommage Bistro looks to be slightly more affordable than Le Diplomate as well." But Yelper Chris S. says, "My overall sense after eating here was we could pay about $2 more per entree at Le Diplomate and get amazing service, consistently good food and some of the best bread in D.C." Chris S.  Yelper Jen M. says, "The decor was great, a little nicer than [Brasserie] Beck's and toned down from le diplomate." [WCP, Yelp]

The Lovely, Large Space News: Speaking of the design, Instagrammer laetitiabrock loves the yellow floor tiles and Yelper Juliet A. is particularly fond of the wall of wine and the "beautiful" lights. Yelper D E. writes, "Lovely, large space. I generally like booths but I think they had mostly bistro tables since it is, well, a bistro." One OpenTable poster, however, recommends the restaurant add votive candles to the tables for atmosphere. [Instagram, Yelp, OT]

The Cold Bread and Butter News: Many diners were disappointed in the bread, especially because the restaurant has an attached bakery. OpenTable poster MsDuende writes, "The baguette -- BREAD, in a French restaurant with a bakery attached! --seemed not to be fresh, was sliced very thin, and was cold." Yelper Veronique L. writes, "The bread might have been fresh, but it was cold and the butter was equally cold so spreading it on the bread was difficult." [OT, Yelp]

The Ahhhhhmazing French Onion Soup News: According to Instagrammer sugarhoneeicedt, the French onion soup is "ahhhhhmazing!" Yelper Grant G. says, "The French onion soup is very good," and Yelper Juliet A. writes that it has "great flavor and not overly salty." [Instagram, Yelp]

The Boeuf Bourguignon That Melts in Your Mouth News: Yelper Brian F. says this particular dish is "awesome," and Gail R. writes, "The beef was very tender and flavorful as well. "Instagrammer dcdiningadventures says the dish is "fantastic" and "melts in your mouth!" [Yelp, Instagram]

The Dry Pasta News: Diners seem to have mixed feelings about the restaurant's pasta dishes. OpenTable poster JenandMikeB says, "the pappardelle with chicken liver was actually more like linguine with dried up meat - totally dry with no sauce at all." Yelper Ally P. says "the pasta was al dente and good, but a little flavorless." Diners had more success with the shrimp and artichoke chitarra— Yelper Sheldon C. really loved it.

The Mixed Desserts News: Reviews of the desserts were also mixed. Yelper Nancy H. writes, "profiterole pastry puffs were hard and very salty. Apple "tart" contained no pastry or pastry cream, as stated on the menu, but instead consisted solely of cold apples and ice cream." But Instagrammer thereginafong says their creme brulée might be her new favorite in the city. [Yelp, Instagram]

The Searching for Silverware News: Several diners voiced some puzzling complaints about access to silverware. Yelper Tony V. writes, "I had to get my own silverware once my food arrived. The manager noticed it and apologized promptly." Yelper Fred J. says, "Service is over attentive but not quite right - knife brought to me for the second course, interrupting the first course." Yelper Chris S. also says he didn't get a small fork for his mussels. [Yelp]