clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
More Maps

Where to Eat and Drink on D.C.’s Southwest Waterfront

Where to Make a Meal Out of Nachos in D.C.

Where to Eat and Drink in Delaware Beach Towns

More in Washington DC See more maps
Steak frites is the core menu item at Medium Rare.
Medium Rare [official]

Where to Order Steak Frites Around D.C.

15 restaurants that do the meaty dish justice

by Vinciane Ngomsi and Eater Staff Updated
1 comment / new
View as Map
Steak frites is the core menu item at Medium Rare.
| Medium Rare [official]
by Vinciane Ngomsi and Eater Staff Updated
1 comment / new

Belgium and France are well-known for bringing their culinary traditions of rich, heavy cooking to the rest of the world. But think beyond waffles, crepes, and croissants. The real hero here is steak frites, the European equivalent of the classic American meat-and-potatoes meal.

While the combination may sound underwhelming, the formula of crispy, thin fries and juicy, tender steak has made this dish a staple menu at many local standbys.

From quiet neighborhood cafes to buzzing bistros, these Washington restaurants can satisfy even the most serious of steak cravings. For D.C.’s essential steakhouses, go here.

Read More
If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Le Chat Noir

Copy Link

This two-level Tenleytown bistro plates up this classic dish with a slab of steak, fries, and plenty of butter. If the dining room feels too small, head upstairs to the wine lounge ($29.95).

4907 Wisconsin Ave Nw, Washington DC, D.C. 20016
(202) 244-2044
(202) 244-2044

Also featured in:

Medium Rare (Multiple locations)

Copy Link

Steak frites with a “secret sauce” is the only entree offered, making an affinity for beef a requirement for dining here ($28.95 for prix fixe). Vegans can sub in grilled portobello for the award-winning culotte steak. Weekends also feature bottomless brunch. The Cleveland Park stalwart is joined by Bethesda and Arlington locations.

3500 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
(202) 237-1432
(202) 237-1432

Also featured in:

La Piquette

Copy Link

The menu at this neighborhood spot varies from time to time, but there's a good chance of traditional entrecôte steak frites with a red wine shallot reduction making the cut during lunch and dinner ($30).

3714 Macomb St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20016
(202) 686-2015
(202) 686-2015
La Piquette’s cozy Cleveland Park digs.
La Piquette

Primrose

Copy Link

Brookland’s Parisian-styled brasserie and wine bar pairs 12-ounce New York strip steak with frites, mushroom bordelaise, and seasonal greens.

3000 12th St NE, Washington, DC 20017
(202) 248-4558
(202) 248-4558
Steak frites at Primrose.
Sam Sanchez

Also featured in:

Bistrot Du Coin

Copy Link

This longstanding and unassuming Dupont Circle bistro oozes French charm, making it a quintessential location for a no-frills plate of grilled steak and fries ($29.95).

1738 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20009
(202) 234-6969
(202) 234-6969

Also featured in:

Le Diplomate

Copy Link

There’s a reason that the buzz is still white-hot at this Logan Circle French restaurant. If you can manage to get a reservation, go for the hanger steak frites and enjoy it in the meticulously designed dining room ($34.95).

1601 14th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20009
(202) 332-3333
(202) 332-3333
What makes food ethnic?
Pan-roasted hanger steak and maître d butter with pommes frites at Le Diplomate.
Photo by Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

Also featured in:

Brasserie Liberté

Copy Link

Make like a guest in a Parisian restaurant at Liberté. Whether dining during lunch or dinner, there are three cuts to accompany the petite salad, green peppercorn sauce and fries: coulotte for $29.95, New York strip for $34.95 and filet mignon for $36.95.

3251 Prospect St NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 878-8404
(202) 878-8404

Also featured in:

CUT by Wolfgang Puck - DC

Copy Link

Head to Georgetown for CUT’s newly revamped brunch spread. The steak comes from American wagyu bavette, and if there was any doubt, hand-cut fries on the side.

1050 31st St NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 617-2424
(202) 617-2424

Also featured in:

Brasserie Beck

Copy Link

Since opening in 2007, the McPherson Square location of Robert Wiedmaier’s Belgian brasserie plates up N.Y. strip steak and crispy Belgian-style fries ($52) with a variety of dipping sauces. The extensive European beer program has help set this downtown destination apart from the crowd.

1101 K St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20005
(202) 408-1717
(202) 408-1717
Brasserie Beck is a downtown institution for steak frites.
Brasserie Beck

Also featured in:

La Bise

Copy Link

Located a stone’s throw from the White House, La Bise offers a “tres major” ($37) or more expensive filet mignon cut for $52. On the side are fries, local greens, and Bordelaise sauce.

800 Connecticut Ave NW Suite 600, Washington, DC 20006
(202) 463-8700
(202) 463-8700

Also featured in:

Cafe Colline

Copy Link

Only available during dinner at Hilton brothers’ Arlington bistro, chef Brendan L’Etoile’s plate of Allen Brothers strip steak comes with a healthy portion of sauce bearnaise and frites for $39.

4536 Langston Blvd., Arlington, VA 22207
(703) 567-6615
(703) 567-6615

Café Riggs

Copy Link

Tucked inside Penn Quarter’s opulent Riggs hotel, classy Cafe Riggs is happy to whip up a plate of steak frites during weekday lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. Their iteration features a New York strip, green peppercorn butter, and fries ($38).

900 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004
(202) 788-2800
(202) 788-2800

Also featured in:

Bistro Bis

Copy Link

At Bistro Bis on Capitol Hill, choose from either a New York steak ($44.50) or ribeye ($59.50). Both options come with a watercress salad, red wine shallot butter, and pommes frites.

15 E St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 661-2700
(202) 661-2700

Also featured in:

Belga Cafe

Copy Link

Barrack Row’s resident Belgian restaurant from chef Bart Vandaele features a plate of grilled hanger steak, Belgian frites, bearnaise sauce, and field greens salad for $49 during brunch on the weekends. There’s also an option to add any eggs.

514 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 544-0100
(202) 544-0100

Also featured in:

BISTRO DU JOUR

Copy Link

Down at the Wharf is stylish Bistro du Jour, which fulfills steak frites cravings with a skirt steak, maître d’hotel butter, watercress salad, and fries for $33.

99 District Square SW, Washington, DC 20024
(202) 984-7400
(202) 984-7400

Also featured in:

More in Maps

Loading comments...

© 2023 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Link copied to the clipboard.

Le Chat Noir

4907 Wisconsin Ave Nw, Washington DC, D.C. 20016

This two-level Tenleytown bistro plates up this classic dish with a slab of steak, fries, and plenty of butter. If the dining room feels too small, head upstairs to the wine lounge ($29.95).

4907 Wisconsin Ave Nw, Washington DC, D.C. 20016
(202) 244-2044
(202) 244-2044

Medium Rare (Multiple locations)

3500 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

Steak frites with a “secret sauce” is the only entree offered, making an affinity for beef a requirement for dining here ($28.95 for prix fixe). Vegans can sub in grilled portobello for the award-winning culotte steak. Weekends also feature bottomless brunch. The Cleveland Park stalwart is joined by Bethesda and Arlington locations.

3500 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
(202) 237-1432
(202) 237-1432

La Piquette

3714 Macomb St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20016

The menu at this neighborhood spot varies from time to time, but there's a good chance of traditional entrecôte steak frites with a red wine shallot reduction making the cut during lunch and dinner ($30).

3714 Macomb St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20016
(202) 686-2015
(202) 686-2015
La Piquette’s cozy Cleveland Park digs.
La Piquette

Primrose

3000 12th St NE, Washington, DC 20017

Brookland’s Parisian-styled brasserie and wine bar pairs 12-ounce New York strip steak with frites, mushroom bordelaise, and seasonal greens.

3000 12th St NE, Washington, DC 20017
(202) 248-4558
(202) 248-4558
Steak frites at Primrose.
Sam Sanchez

Bistrot Du Coin

1738 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20009

This longstanding and unassuming Dupont Circle bistro oozes French charm, making it a quintessential location for a no-frills plate of grilled steak and fries ($29.95).

1738 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20009
(202) 234-6969
(202) 234-6969

Le Diplomate

1601 14th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20009

There’s a reason that the buzz is still white-hot at this Logan Circle French restaurant. If you can manage to get a reservation, go for the hanger steak frites and enjoy it in the meticulously designed dining room ($34.95).

1601 14th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20009
(202) 332-3333
(202) 332-3333
What makes food ethnic?
Pan-roasted hanger steak and maître d butter with pommes frites at Le Diplomate.
Photo by Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

Brasserie Liberté

3251 Prospect St NW, Washington, DC 20007

Make like a guest in a Parisian restaurant at Liberté. Whether dining during lunch or dinner, there are three cuts to accompany the petite salad, green peppercorn sauce and fries: coulotte for $29.95, New York strip for $34.95 and filet mignon for $36.95.

3251 Prospect St NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 878-8404
(202) 878-8404

CUT by Wolfgang Puck - DC

1050 31st St NW, Washington, DC 20007

Head to Georgetown for CUT’s newly revamped brunch spread. The steak comes from American wagyu bavette, and if there was any doubt, hand-cut fries on the side.

1050 31st St NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 617-2424
(202) 617-2424

Brasserie Beck

1101 K St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20005

Since opening in 2007, the McPherson Square location of Robert Wiedmaier’s Belgian brasserie plates up N.Y. strip steak and crispy Belgian-style fries ($52) with a variety of dipping sauces. The extensive European beer program has help set this downtown destination apart from the crowd.

1101 K St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20005
(202) 408-1717
(202) 408-1717
Brasserie Beck is a downtown institution for steak frites.
Brasserie Beck

La Bise

800 Connecticut Ave NW Suite 600, Washington, DC 20006

Located a stone’s throw from the White House, La Bise offers a “tres major” ($37) or more expensive filet mignon cut for $52. On the side are fries, local greens, and Bordelaise sauce.

800 Connecticut Ave NW Suite 600, Washington, DC 20006
(202) 463-8700
(202) 463-8700

Cafe Colline

4536 Langston Blvd., Arlington, VA 22207

Only available during dinner at Hilton brothers’ Arlington bistro, chef Brendan L’Etoile’s plate of Allen Brothers strip steak comes with a healthy portion of sauce bearnaise and frites for $39.

4536 Langston Blvd., Arlington, VA 22207
(703) 567-6615
(703) 567-6615

Café Riggs

900 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004

Tucked inside Penn Quarter’s opulent Riggs hotel, classy Cafe Riggs is happy to whip up a plate of steak frites during weekday lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. Their iteration features a New York strip, green peppercorn butter, and fries ($38).

900 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004
(202) 788-2800
(202) 788-2800

Bistro Bis

15 E St NW, Washington, DC 20001

At Bistro Bis on Capitol Hill, choose from either a New York steak ($44.50) or ribeye ($59.50). Both options come with a watercress salad, red wine shallot butter, and pommes frites.

15 E St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 661-2700
(202) 661-2700

Belga Cafe

514 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003

Barrack Row’s resident Belgian restaurant from chef Bart Vandaele features a plate of grilled hanger steak, Belgian frites, bearnaise sauce, and field greens salad for $49 during brunch on the weekends. There’s also an option to add any eggs.

514 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 544-0100
(202) 544-0100

BISTRO DU JOUR

99 District Square SW, Washington, DC 20024

Down at the Wharf is stylish Bistro du Jour, which fulfills steak frites cravings with a skirt steak, maître d’hotel butter, watercress salad, and fries for $33.

99 District Square SW, Washington, DC 20024
(202) 984-7400
(202) 984-7400

Related Maps