Newly Updated Café du Parc Goes Even More French

French-themed hotel restaurant Café du Parc is celebrating its 10-year anniversary by reopening with a new art deco look and dishes that aim to replicate a modern brasserie found in the City of Light.

The all-day eatery at the historic Willard Intercontinental (1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW) unveiled the changes to its interiors and menu this month, incorporating cooking techniques and recipes partly inspired by legendary French chef Auguste Escoffier. New additions include beef bourguignon with root vegetables, pan-seared sea bass and scallops with spinach-corn chowder, and Berkshire pork tenderloin with apples cooked in brandy. ”Pork and apples is a classic combination you see in France,” executive chef Peter Laufer’s says of the traditional offering.

The 10-week redesign from interiors firm Parker Torres, which also handled the refurbishment of the hotel, included installing glass orb lights, traditional brasserie-style rounded French chairs, navy blue banquettes, mirrored panels, and decorative subway tiles. One section, inspired by the Concorde Metro Station in Paris, spells out French phrases including bien manger (good food) and bien vivre (good life).

A newly added private dining space called the Pershing Room overlooks the lobby and Peacock Alley.

Cafe du Parc [Official photo]

Cafe du Parc [Official photo]

D.C.’s French dining scene near the White House is on the rise as of late, between the debut of critically acclaimed Mirabelle and pending arrival of Opaline inside the Sofitel hotel.