My husband and I went this past Thursday for our monthly date night dinner. This has been a restaurant on our list to try for a very long time. Being a week night it was very intimate. A smaller crowd of guests but still a...very full and very attentive staff. There was never a period of time longer than 3-5 mins that we were thoroughly attended to. They do encourage or put forward the prixe fix menu even though they do offer a la carts options it is not something they put out up front. I am not the biggest eater so a full well portioned 4 course meal with between dish additions seemed a little too much for me. I did order a la carte. While my husband ordered the fix menu. Breads first followed by a complementary small portion of lentil soup. Delicious lobster bisque and wagyu beef cheeks well portioned for an appetizer. Followed by my husbands sale which I omitted, we were then provided a complementary lemon sorbet palate cleanser. I throughly enjoyed the veal scallopini which I felt was a very large portion and my husband the beef tenderloins a perfect mediums rare. Again a complimentary meringue, served with chocolate ice cream and a raspberry sauce that was to die for. We enjoyed the chocolate soufflé which was amazing and not too rich to stomach and he enjoyed the creams brûlée. Followed by complementary truffles. So much amazing food. Unbeatable service. Incredible food. Worth the very reasonable cost for a high end restaurant. I can’t wait to return. Portion sizes were much large than anticipated as we have visited many many high end testing menus.More

Have been waiting for 30 years to go to this restaurant. My down fall was that I had built it up in my mind to be this fabulous restaurant based on reviews from friends, write ups etc... I had told several people from the person...confirming the reservation to the maitred that this was our 17th wedding anniversary. It was like a big surprise to them. Even our waiter was surprised to hear it. "No one communicated anything to each other"? Once seated we waited 15 minutes before our waiter came to take our drinks order. Then a lot of breads including garlic bread, plus a cottage cheese, chive and cream spread was delivered along with silverware wrapped in a napkin where laid out very quickly in front of us. We had no idea that the cheese spread was to be used on top of the garlic bread. Figured it out our selves. Our waiter appeared to only have a table of 4 and one other table of 2 aside from our selves to serve. He was very pleasent, but appeared to have not been working that long at the restaurant. Most of our questions he had to get back to us with the answer. I had no problem with that except one. The amuse-bouche which was extremely hot (temp wise) had a hint of alcohol in it. This is a big No No in the extreme fine dining area. What if a person can't drink any form of alcohol. For a restaurant to assume that is wrong. An to serve it without telling the patrons what they are getting is even worse. I had the beef cheeks appetizer and although the cheeks and vegetables were prepared correctly, it was so hot (temp wise) I had to wait several minutes before I could eat it. It was also overally seasoned. To be honest if I would have known better, I would have thought that everything served was micro-waved before service. The real down fall was my lobster and lump crab main course. I had selected this choice as my entree before coming to the restaurant. From the photo to the description, it was a choice I wanted to try. The plate came out with less than a 1 lb lobster meat laid out on a plate. Two sections of lobster claws and the main meat cut in half. Four pieces of mixed lump crab and 2 sections each of orange & grapefruit with 2 long beans on each side in a light butter sauce. The dish looked like someone was in a rush and just wanted to throw food on a plate. The lobster was one of the tiniest lobsters I had ever seen. The crab was loaded with shell which I had to place on the side of the dish. The orange and grapefruit did nothing really to the flavor of this dish except to make one pucker when bitten into. When the waiter asked how the entree was, I told him it was very chewy (because it was over cooked) and there was a lot of shell in the crab (which was to have been all lump). He looked at my plate, saw the shell on the side of my plate and said "really....sorry about that". My husband, also, had to laugh at the size of lobster I was served. He also said it was very chewy. We ordered coffee, tea and had pre-ordered a chocolate soufflé. Waited a while for these items to come. But first came a meringue with whip cream and some sort of ice-cream in the center with raspberries and a candle in the center. I think this was their way of celebrating our anniversary. It was very good. When my soufflé and tea was served the waiter taped the soufflé with a spoon and poured a very thin and light colored chocolate sauce into the center. Nicely presented, but it was again sooooo hot I couldn't eat it for several minutes without blowing in it. It had a very light taste of chocolate and not the deep chocolate taste I had expected. The sauce was very ordinary at best. The total time from the moment we sat down till the bill being served was 2 1/2 hrs. We felt although pleasent our waiter wanted us to do a price fixed menu. Only one of us wanted the price fixed. I did not, but he kept bring the same things that the price fixed menu offered out for 2. When I said I did not order the price fixed he said, no worries and kept doing it any way. Our water glasses where never refilled and we were never asked if we would like anything "aside from booze " to drink, until the coffee and tea service at the end of the meal. This was a very special event for us. 1- I studied at Cordon Bleu in Paris...so I know exceptional cooking when I see it. 2- This was a special occasion, which staff had been reminded of and had to be told at every turn. 3- I have been looking forward to going to this restaurant for 30 years. 4- The cost of this meal was over $300.00 5- We drove a total of 3 hours to come to this place. The food was subpar at best, overly cooked, very salty, and burn your tongue hot. I have been writing reviews for 20 + years, and have traveled the world and eaten in some the most fabulous restaurants. I am disappointed to report that I shall not return to LAuberge. I am sure given the past reviews on this restaurant that many would disagree with my opinion. But, I feel unless you were with me that evening you can not judge my impressions. I hope that my review provides some sort of re-evaluation to Chef Haeringer to check his staff, food quality and presentation when he leaves his restaurant.More

The restaurant is a lovely French-style cottage, with a variety of rooms in cozy seating areas, inside and outdoors, tucked away in the beautiful rolling hills of Great Falls, Va., about 30-45 minutes outside of Washington, D.C., depending on traffic. Take note that the drive...is picturesque, however, a very narrow winding road, with hairpin turns, that maybe challenging driving when dark. The last reservation is taken at 7:30pm, and should be made early. This is a popular family-owned spot for many years. They also serve brunch. The cuisine is Alsatian comfort food, refined fresh ingredients, some of which is attentively grown in a garden out back. One can even take a romantic stroll, along the grounds, surrounding a couple of beautiful patios, with flowers and red accents. The location is perfect for any special occasion, if one is looking for ambience. Nice to arrive on a warm evening to sit outdoors, or an inside room near the fireplace, on cooler evenings. MENU: Nice array of choices that maybe ordered from the main entree menu, prix fixed menu, or a la carte. Some of the items have an up-charge, so be aware. Prix fixed is nice, since one still has a variety to choose from. Prices are expensive, but comparable to other French style restaurants. WINE LIST: Extensive!! There is a very knowledgeable sommelier to suggest pairings. FOOD: I chose from prix-fixed menu: fresh bread with Farmer's cottage cheese spread, cup of tomato bisque, mixed greens salad, Entree- Les Escalopes de Veau (scallops of veal, with Virginia ham, and crabmeat, in a Madeira mushroom sauce, with a mixture of side vegetables). Dessert- Dark Chocolate Torte with Vanilla Ice Cream ( similar to light flourless chocolate cake) The bread and cheese spread was delicious. I enjoyed the warm tomato bisque, served in a charming demi mini sized glass cup, however, I would have liked the portion to have been a little more generous than one tablespoon. The salad was too basic, just a mixture of greens in vinaigrette. I would have preferred more ingredients in the salad. The veal was tasty and very tender, along with a smidgen of nice variety of veggies --- a few French green beans, and a couple slices of root veggies. However, the entree portion, was small for the price. The rich mushroom sauce was typically French, and just what the veal needed as a compliment. I could have done without the ham, as it was not the type of ham that tasted best with the dish (a cured smoked country ham was served ). The chocolate torte for dessert was made with intense Valhrona dark chocolate made to perfection. The small scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side, was some of the best ever, and left one yearning for more. They also have a chocolate soufflé on the menu, which is popular. If desired, make sure to order it at the beginning of the meal, as it takes extra time to prepare. SERVICE: Basically friendly, non-intrusive, with precision. However, I experienced an off-putting incident. I had a spoon given to me with my first place setting, that I used for the soup and cheese dip. I was dining alone, so no other place setting was on the table. When I finished, the waiter took the spoon, with the soiled plates, however, when he brought the dessert, he did not replace the spoon. At this time, I had an extra fork from the original place setting. When I asked politely, for another spoon, the waiter exclaimed, " I had given you a spoon earlier, so you can use the fork for the dessert." What??? I explained that he took the spoon, and that I would like another one for the ice cream, please. I prefer not to eat the ice cream with a fork. He then obliged, and brought the spoon. Surely, this was unnecessary banter, for God's sake! Never the less, when my coffee came, I was given another spoon. The waiter did not check to replenish the coffee. So, in lieu of a couple of glitches, I would rate the service a 7 out 10. As a whole, I would say I enjoyed my first visit at this quaint French establishment, however, I would not rate it the best I've experienced on service or food. I thought the food was good for the most part, but, for what I received, it was over-priced and over-rated. For the price tag I would have expected something with more of a wow-factor. I might consider trying this location again one day, in the future, to experience an alternate menu choice, and also see if the service is kicked up a notch.More

L' Auberge Chez Francois is my favorite restaurant in the world. I am willing to take a chance during the Covid-19 pandemic for a dinner here because it is that amazing. For outside dining, they have rented a huge tent with fans in the ceiling...corners. Plenty of fresh air. Plastic walls can be pulled in case of rain. I was thrilled how far the tables were from each other outside and even inside, so it felt very safe. I saw one to three tables filled in the rooms inside where before there may have been 8 to 10. I walked to see their gardens. They grow many tomato plants for their tomato salad and gazpacho, squash, cucumber 🥒, beans, and herbs. I started the evening properly with the House Aperitif, champagne, Chambord and a raspberry. We had two orders of the garlic bread to go with the cottage cheese spread. A creamy split pea soup. Waygu beef cheeks in sherry base, looked like a stew. The beef were so soft and tender that truly melted in your mouth. Mixed green salad or garden fresh tomato salad. Passion fruit sorbet to cleanse the palette. I had the citrus lobster, and my husband got steak. Doug had an organic blueberry tart with cinnamon ice cream. I had a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and took my dark chocolate tart home for use to enjoy for dessert tomorrow night Chocolate trufflesMore

Four of us had a late luncheon outside. We started our meal with some drinks, excellent breads and complimentary lentil soups. It was the prix fixe menu that consisted of different dishes. I selected the escargots, the tomato salad (tomato from the garden), the trout...and the dessert with meringue and fresh cream. Everything was very tasty and we had excellent service. We sat at the table for almost three hours. It was just delightful. No rush! We had plenty of time to enjoy our food while having good conversations. Last time we ate here was 29 years ago. I am so happy that the restaurant has maintained high standards through the years. We will definitely be back soon.More

The setting is beautiful and it always has been, that hasn’t changed. The service has declined tremendously. Our waiter forgot our salads, served the wrong drink orders, messed up two dinner orders and was generally not available. The food was average at best yet the...prices continue to increase and the quality continues to deteriorate. Such a shame because this used to be the best place around, not anymore.More

A beautiful setting in the Virginia countryside, relaxed dinning, excellent food and service, and reasonable prices for a wonder experience, Have dined there at least once a year for past 30 years. Also have attended a number of cooking demostrations which are followed by dinner...and wine.More