DC Dining: Le Diplomate

Help! I'm dreaming of Le Diplomate on loop! Let me just introduce the next installment of the DC Dining series by saying: I want this place to open down the street from me so I can pop in for breakfast, lunch and dinner and look chic as hell at this Parisian-esque cafe. Please go and Instagram what you had so I can live vicariously through your experience. 

Le Diplomate

1601 14th St NW

What we ate:

• Pimm's Cup Cocktail
• Ravioli starter
• Steak Frites
• Warm Shrimp Salad
• Vanilla Creme Brûlée 

What we thought: The ravioli was freaking amazing and it made me wish we had ordered more starters and only one person ordered an entree. The warm shrimp salad was fantastic (usually I hate frisee but it wasn't bitter- it was perfectly dressed) and the frites from the husband's plate were great. The steak was definitely over cooked (see below). The creme brûlée is worth coming back for alone. More than anything the atmosphere is worth a visit alone. Being there, you don't feel like you're in DC. The sunroom is a ceiling and entire wall of windows with hanging baskets of tomatoes overhead. There's also plenty of outdoor space (but it was about to storm per usual in summer here), including little two person tables running along the side that look ideal for a quick coffee or cocktail. 

What we did that day: I was actually at a multi day conference at the Marriott Marquis next to the convention center for nutrition legislation (watch the VLOG here and learn more about that plus see the inside of Le Diplomate). The husband came to meet me for an early birthday dinner! This is a great location to get REAL FOOD near the convention center...not hotel food. 

Words of wisdom: Get a reservation (we booked online about two weeks ahead of time, got there about 15 minutes early and were actually seated immediately during prime dinner time). Le Diplomate was literally just (as in last week) named best high end brunch in DC. Also, ask for your steak about one level under cooked what you normally like. We like medium steak and it was definitely more medium well which is a bummer. 

What we ate the next day: For breakfast we split a Starbucks iced mocha and their egg white sandwich. We also had a little fruit (I think apricots). We skipped lunch accidentally and had linner since I still had one more day of conference before I came home. We went to our favorite sub shop (reality) because we hadn't the patience or interest in cooking that night! A great example of how travel and a packed schedule totally throws off your healthy eating at times. 

What are your DC area recommendations! We're adding to our list!