D.C.’s Charming French Cafe Bistro du Jour Saunters Onto Capitol Hill

For its latest act in D.C., Knead Hospitality + Design wakes up extra early. The new Bistro du Jour brings Capitol Hill an elegant spot to enjoy whipped yogurt parfait, quiche, and brioche French toast starting at 6:30 a.m.

The fast-growing restaurant group’s second Bistro du Jour opens today inside the new 271-room Royal Sonesta Washington, DC Capitol Hill (20 Massachusetts Avenue NW). With breakfast, brunch, lunch, happy hour, and dinner out of the gate, Bistro du Jour caters to hotel guests, nearby residents, and transit-oriented staffers hopping off the Metro and going to Congress. On weekdays, the 200-seat bistro gets up 90 minutes earlier than its original edition on the Wharf.

“There’s not a lot of good restaurants in D.C. that do breakfast [beyond] egg sandwiches and standard omelets,” says Jason Berry, who co-owns Knead with Michael Reginbogin. “We both love breakfast and we’re finding it’s easier to find staff to work in the morning.”

The Paris-Brest, named for the famous cycling race in France, is a refined, wheel-shaped play on bagels and lox. Another nice way to start the day is a half-grapefruit topped with Champagne and caramelized cardamom with madeleines for a side kick of carbs.

“It feels like you’re eating something healthy, with sugar on top to sweeten the morning,” says Berry.

Rey Lopez for Bistro du Jour

Like its 2-year-old counterpart on the Wharf, the catch-all cafe serves other morning delights like flaky pastries, its popular Plat Américain (eggs any style, bacon, crispy fingerlings, and a croissant), and fresh-squeezed juice. As the day progresses, there’s salmon ratatouille, pea broth-based gnocchi, skirt steak frites, coq au vin, and plenty of Champagne pours. With much more room to play with, the 6,000-square-foot sophomore locale houses the brand’s first full bar and a 75-percent larger menu.

Debut dishes on Capitol Hill include soufflé au fromage (Gruyere cream and truffle) and dover sole with fresh green grapes, vermouth chervil sauce, and mushrooms.

Rey Lopez for Bistro du Jour

Rey Lopez for Bistro du Jour

Top-selling starters making their way to Capitol Hill include gougères (warm cheese puffs) and macaron au foie, a salty-and-sweet compilation of chicken liver mousse and fig jam. Other familiar favorites include French onion soup, Lyonnaise and tuna Niçoise salads, a croque madame sandwich dripping with bechamel and gooey Gruyere, mussels swimming in white wine and garlic butter, and a double-patty “L’Americain” cheeseburger. Kids can partake in a single-patty version or pan-roasted salmon with fries.

Bistro du Jour’s expansion comes on the heels of a major year for French food in D.C., with a sea of fresh options continuing to show up all over town.

“The cuisine feels eclectic and familiar. You can find something for everyone on the menu,” says Reginbogin, adding “we’re going back [to France] in a couple of weeks to make sure we did it right.”

Rey Lopez for Bistro du Jour

Taking tips from a Parisian garden, the Capitol Hill design includes hand-painted murals of the French countryside, brass wall sconces, and wood-treated columns made to resemble flower baskets. “It’s a brighter, lighter, adult version of a traditional French bistro,” he says. Read: no vintage French signs, little crochet curtains, or cute subway tiles in sight.

“It’s a cleaner, classic, and contemporary hotel aesthetic that dresses up nicely and welcomes various styles of dining,” says Reginbogin. “You can come in jeans and a T-shirt or a three-piece suit.”

The addition of a lounge is a first for the local hospitality group, which is also behind Mi Vida, the Grill, Gatsby, Succotash Prime, and Mi Casa. The all-day feature, outfitted with banquette seating and brass screens, transitions into a darker and moodier setting at night.

Rey Lopez for Bistro du Jour

A marbled bar framed with soft pink stools showcases France’s beloved Kronenbourg beers on draft, French aperitifs, and classic champagne cocktails like a Kir Royale with Creme De Cassis, French 75s, and an Elderflower Spritz made with St. Germain. In-demand green Chartreuse makes its way into the Champs Élysées and At Last cocktails.

Rey Lopez for Bistro du Jour

Rey Lopez for Bistro du Jour

Weekday breakfast runs 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. (and starting at 7 a.m. on weekends); lunch and brunch runs 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and dinner is served from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. (and until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays). Weekday happy hour (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) features $8 cocktails, $6 beers, and discounted food.

Bistro du Jour Capitol Hill marks Knead’s 20th restaurant to date and the first of many openings in the group’s pipeline. Look for up to five new locations and brands to pop in the next year and at least two more in 2025.

Rey Lopez for Bistro du Jour

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