In case you haven't heard, Georgetown is back, and Lutèce is partly (largely) to thank. The stylish French bistro from chef power couple Matt Conroy and pastry extraordinaire Isabel Coss (who are also behind Mexican restaurant Pascual, also on this list) is serving insanely inventive takes on mains, apps, and desserts using seasonal ingredients.
The vibe: Cozy but elevated. This is a place for an event, and a place to take your best friend or love (it's a tiny space that doesn't have much room for groups larger than two). It's a thrill to sit in the cozy dining room and try to guess how each dish will be presented and each ingredient reinvented.
The food: The menu at Lutèce changes weekly, but one recommendation that stays constant is the sourdough—order whichever permutation is offered when you visit. Because everything here is so fresh, I always like to start with something green like charred cabbage or a salad. For mains, I gravitate toward the fish, which is always presented with a new to me flavor combination. For dessert, order one seasonal one and one mainstay; that's the Honey Semifreddo for dessert, which is the restaurant's signature and is the perfect mix of sweet and salty thanks to a pile of Comté cheese.
The drink: Lutèce's has a killer cocktail selection filled with mixed drinks that take full advantage of fresh and seasonal flavors, just like the food menu. My favorites? The Arctic Blast, a smoky wonder infused with earl gray syrup, and the You're a Daisy If You Do, a zippy gin drink with huckleberry and salted honey.
Time Out tip: You won't feel rushed, but keep in mind that each table at Lutèce is allotted a two hour time limit.