Mon Ami Gabi translates to "My Friend Gabi". I don't know who this Gabi person is but if they inspired this restaurant into existence, I'd like to buy them a drink. It's the Steak Frites. It's all about the Steak Frites. Fruits de Mer? I don't care! Hors D'oeuvres? The nerve! While I'm sure the other food is delicious, the Steak Frites keeps me coming back. This is a steak made from what I estimate to be the entire cow. Seriously, it is one big steak served with a pile of frites that would make an Idahoan blush. The $24.95 price tag is entirely justified. I recommend the Bordelaise, but they have 5 varieties to suit your tastebuds. The service is to be commended as well, with the servers always making great recommendations. It can get a little crowded in there, as there is not really any seating space for the masses waiting for a table, so we've gotten the occasional impatient glare. So what? Get a bottle of fine Champagne and relax a bit. And remember: if your steak and frites aren't on the same fork at the same time, you're doing something wrong.
(4)
Angela W.
I came here for my birthday brunch with several friends after seeing the great reviews on Yelp. It lives up to its Yelp reputation! The service was amazing. Our waiter was extremely patient and willing to explain everything on the menu - including some off-the-menu specials. I ordered an off-the-menu special with Arctic char - it was delicious! I was able to substitute a side for mashed cauliflower that was almost like mashed potatoes but not quite. I thought it was pretty interesting. I also had their pink lemonade, which was just the right amount of tart. My friends ordered the mac and cheese and french toast - which they enjoyed as well. My friends also talked to the waiter without me knowing, and he brought out small ice cream dishes for everybody! It was such a pleasant surprise. Apparently, they make the ice cream on site! Terrific experience. Eat outside if it's a nice day - you won't regret it! Will be recommending this place to friends.
(5)
Marina H.
Lobster roll had 1/3 of non-substantial lobster mean chunks, 1/3 of lettuce (why?!!) and 1/3 of celery, which completely ruined the roll... The service is average and very slow. Don't think I'll be coming back.
(2)
Erika K.
I had an amazing dining experience here. Our waiter was very attentive without being overbearing. You can't go wrong with the escargots to start! We enjoyed a bottle of Chardonnay. I was a little underwhelmed by my entree, the wild boar ragu. The sauce was not thick enough and the boar was a little tough. However, I did try some of my boyfriend's steak and it was very good. For dessert we used the yelp checkin deal and got some free chocolate mousse along with espresso--all delicious. I will definitely return at some point I would just recommend avoiding the wild boar ragu and opting for steak!
(4)
Hannah H.
Mon Ami Gabi is a French bistro that is part of the Lettuce Entertain You group, and I've been curious about this restaurant for some time. They offer a brunch/lunch/dinner menu, as well as HH, a wine list, GF options, and desserts. Some dear friends and I came here for a late lunch, and we were seated right away. The place itself reminded me slightly of Balthazar in NY, with its deep dark wood and the reds, but I'm thinking that all French bistros have that same look :P I started off with a raspberry soda (no refills T___T), which was a bit heavy on the ice, but quite refreshing. There was also a crusty baguette with butter to nibble on while waiting for the plates. For my main entree, I had the Roquefort Steak Frites, which was a cut of grain-fed midwest beef (mine was a little too overcooked), a side of 'melted' roquefort cheese sauce (this seemed a little off, as it wasn't a creamy cheese sauce that I expected, but it was separated and seemed like a puddle of oil with bleu cheese crumbles T___T; the dish also came with a side of their hand-cut fries that were pretty tasty. I was a little sad that they didn't have any steak sauce available, as the roquefort sauce was just not enough. One friend had the Croque Monsieur, and while she was not much of a fan of it, I loved it! I thought it was one of the best Croque Monsiers I had, being it of a generous sized-sandwiched, filled with a great amount of ham, melty gruyere cheese, and a lovely creamy mornay sauced, pan-fried perfectly - yum! Another friend had a Ham & Cheese Crepe, and this was also of a generous size, filled with an ample amount of sliced ham and cheese; the side of cornichons and dijon mustard were of a great accompaniment. For dessert, I was able to get a Chocolate Mousse for free with a Yelp check-in (yay!), which was chocolatey, creamy, fluffy and light, topped with whipped cream and little round morsels of crunchy chocolate balls - we were all surprised as it was not overly sweet, as well as a hot cup of Cappuccino (creamy and delicious) - a great way way to end our meal. Service was okay, even though our server tended to become MIA often. Bathroom was left much to be desired, as there seemed to be a leak from one of the toilets and was very unkept T___T Metered-parking is also extremely limited along Woodmont, but garages are nearby. +free dessert with a Yelp check-in (!!!) +raspberry soda (no refills) +Croque Monsieur +Chocolate Mousse +Cappuccino +MIA service T___T +unsatisfactory bathroom conditions T___T +extremely limited metered-parking along Woodmont
(4)
Kera T.
As a self admitted bread connoisseur (and addict), I don't often say "I could just go for the bread and butter" lightly. But I could have sat at that table and easily devoured 5 bags of that delicious crusty French bread and salted butter. By myself. But I was with my colleagues so I made do with a measly third of the loaf. Greedy girl problems. For lunch I had a delicious croque-madame, which is the same as a croque-monsieur but with a lightly fried egg on top and a side of fries. They don't list the madame on the menu but most French restaurants will offer it if they serve a monsieur, so you just have to ask-you won't regret it. The ham was sliced perfectly thin, overall it could have been warmer but the egg really sets the whole sandwich off-yum! Service was great and I got a free mousse with my Yelp check-in, which they nicely packaged for me to take back to work because I was so stuffed!
(5)
Kirk S.
While I got the feeling that this place wants to be a big chain, I can't complain about that - the food here is pretty darn good. Mon Ami Gabi is a French restaurant in the heart of Bethesda, meaning it's almost perpetually packed. The design is uber-French Bistro, in an extremely pleasant sort of manner. Service is responsive and superb, though obviously weighed down by the sheer crowds this place attracts. Prices are actually on the cheaper end of what I expected. The food here is quite nice. I had the Steak Frites Bordelaise, which was cooked exactly to my liking. The preparation was simply excellent - I've had very few steaks quite as tasty and tender as this, and I was very pleasantly surprised by the portion size. The frites themselves (i.e. the house french fries, basically) were good, but overwhelmingly portioned, and honestly a bit difficult to eat without making a gigantic mess. The accompanying bread - a baguette, no less - was pleasantly warm but, again, difficult to eat without making a gigantic mess. This place started in Las Vegas, and you can kinda tell that from its Bethesda location. There's a weird sense of American-ness to the place - huge crowds, paper covers for the tables, kids' menus, etc. - that you don't get from more "legit" French Bistros. This isn't a bad thing though - the food's all that really matters, and this place has some of the most "legit" places I've tried beat. Put another way, it may feel like the beginnings of some sort of French Olive Garden, but you can't argue with results.
(4)
Jun Y.
I was invited to come to Mon Ami Gabi for a social meeting. The dinner entree and coffee/tea was paid for but the drinks were not. I started off the meal with a old-fashion made with Maker's Mark. The bartender pour with a heavy hand and was appropriately awarded with a sizable tip. There is a private area toward the back of the restaurant that seats roughly 40 people. I ended up ordering the steak frites. Asked for medium-rare but the steak came out almost raw like something from texas chainsaw massacre. The edges were cooked nice and juicy to the medium-rare level of tender, juiciness you'd expect but as you reached the center I couldn't even cut it with a steak knife. The steak was raw on the inside; cutting into it with a steak knife was like cutting a microfiber bathmat. On top of the steak was a huge slab of butter so unnecessary unless you're trying to meet your creator a few hours after eating. On the bright side the fries came out crispy and well seasoned. There was also plenty of it, since I couldn't chomp through the middle section of my steak I had to settle for the fries. The tea was a come up because it washed down the 200% of daily saturated fat that I ingested in a single meal. The waiter brought out a nice wooden box full of different flavors and a set of china for a self-pour experience. I forgot what brand of tea it was or would have bought more of it online.
(3)
Tunaidi A.
Great French bistro. Once you see the menu, your eyes will automatically gravitate towards the steak frites options, which are pretty good. However, I'm surprisingly more impressed with their soups and salads. The complimentary French bread is also pretty clutch. It comes into good use if you get the escargots (highly recommended). Dessert is another highlight. I had to try the chocolate mousse at a French restaurant, and it was a delight. Surprised myself even more with the profiteroles, which were almost like huge ice cream sandwiches. Service was prompt and helpful. Glad our server offered several specials of the day, including veal sweetbreads. Yum!
This place was awesome! We went for my birthday. I finally got to have my very first Beef Wellington and it was delightful. Everyone in our party enjoyed their food. Not only was the food great, but the service was outstanding! Our waiter was just fantastic. I would definitely go back!
(5)
Nick N.
I was here with my coworkers on a Tuesday and was early enough to get the daily special: duck. A half duck with sauce...delicious. Huge mound of scalped potatoes. The house pate was tasty and smooth. I checked in with Yelp and got a free chocolate mousse. It was tasty and smooth. Not too rich. Based on the number people coming and going, it's best to make reservations.
(4)
Marissa M.
Despite being packed for brunch, service was relatively fast. Our waiter was attentive and knew the menu well, which helped since my friend had a lot of questions. I got the tomato gazpacho to start. It was wonderful! I actually think the only way it could be improved is if it had just slightly less salt- but I'm also quite salt-averse so others may disagree. For my main, I had the chicken and mushroom crepe. Again, I thought it was wonderful, probably my second favorite brunch item I've had in DC (second only to Ardeo's butternut squash soup from 2013). I have been here for dinner as well, and while it was a while ago and I can't remember for the life of me what exactly I had, my boyfriend had a steak, which I remember trying and being impressed by. I'll definitely be going back for brunch in the near future.
(4)
Herman W.
We ordered steak frites and eggs benedict with salmon. Both are pretty good but not impressive. However, we cannot stop eating the free baguette haha. Waiter (his name might be Hunter) gave us free profiteroles because it was our first time to the restaurant. Profiteroles are AMAZING. I guess free food is always delicious. Recommend to sit outside and have a French brunch in a beautiful weekend :)
(4)
Shameem A.
If you're looking for an authentic French experience in that everyone who works there will have serious snootiness and 'tude- this is your place. Went for Sunday brunch with reservations for 6. -when being seated outdoors we asked if they could turn the heater next to our table on ... A very grumble-grumble response and in time someone else came to do that. - yes they give you a crusty baguette - it's literally thrown into the center of the table in a paper bag like you'd get at a bakery. Crust gets everywhere. -i could go on and on but won't. The food was delicious but .. There's no shortage of good food in DC. I was pretty taken aback by the rudeness of the staff. -also- the coffee is mediocre given that this was a french establishment.
Well well well everything was absolutely delicious. Starting with the hot fresh French baguette with whipped butter and preserves. We had to force ourselves to stop eating it and save room for our entrees. What was delicious: *French toast bananas foster w/ a complimentary side of fresh blueberries because I couldn't make up my mind when ordering. *The boys Hamburgers with gruyere and cheddar cheese. Their choice along with fresh crispy French fries *My husbands steak with blue cheese butter Service *outstanding our waiter was friendly, knowledgeable, and personable Atmosphere *very calming with just the right amount of energy to not seem stuffy. There was a private party in a room near by and it was not an issue All in all we had a great time and the food was delicious. We shall return.
My friends wanted meat so I recommended here since we were nearby and my experience the first time was pretty good. This time around, it was just alright. Their steak frites were kind of disappointing. Because they're thin, no matter how you request it cooked, it will come out medium. Their frites/fries are not good either. They cut it so thin that its too fried and oily. One friend got the Bordelaise sauce, which had caramelized onion with red wine. It tasted a little sweet. I had the Skate Wing Provencal with a side of veggies (potatoes, peppers, artichoke, and olives). The fish was on the salty side, but was fresh, flaky, and tender. It came with some type of sauce that I could not put my finger on. There was a hint of lemon flavor and there looked like chopped garnish in the bottom of the sauce dish, but that was about it. The veggies were alright. The smell of olives was overpowering everything else. Check in on Yelp and get a free mousse dessert. They also gave us two additional mousse desserts in shot glasses. The mousse was not bad, but their other desserts are way better.
(3)
Hannah Z.
We dined here for my 30th birthday on 8/1/15. I don't know our server's name because he failed to introduce himself to us; he spoke with quite an arrogant, condescending tone and made us feel like he was rushing through our evening from the moment he opened his mouth. As a former server at the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island, my husband felt that our waiter last night was trying too hard. The food: My husband started with the escargot and he thoroughly enjoyed it. I had the triple cream starter which was a bed of mushrooms with a small piece of melted brie atop it; it was served with three pieces of toasty, crunchy bread. It was very tasty, but not $13 tasty. My husband ordered the bison special and he absolutely loved it while I had one of the filet options and it was delicious, as well. I didn't care for the frites- I found them to be a combination of shoestring and traditional fries, but much too crunchy. We shared the profiteroles for dessert and they were incredible- definitely large enough to share. We shared a bottle of Secret de Famille wine and it was wonderful and moderately priced in comparison to the other red wine options available. Overall, it was a very nice dining experience with the only reason for 3/5 stars being that we felt that we were inconveniencing our server and that he wanted nothing to do with us. We most likely won't return because of this, and so many other places in the Bethesda Row area looked (and smelled!) much more interesting without the stuffy atmosphere.
(3)
Sonj H.
Great little spot. I had the trout which was cooked perfectly, very delicate and buttery as good French food should be. I would have liked a few more capers. I also had the frisee salad with a poached egg, hold the bacon. Very nice salad. He had salmon which was farmed tasting and pureed potatoes which were yummy (technical term). I had a sancerre wine which was good, not my favorite, not my least, it meshed nicely. Ambiance is adorable but the acoustics were a little rough. Service was fine, not great, not bad. Very nice little spot. Great for a catch up, nice vibe, a little indulgent, a little formal and somewhat romantic. I would not want a proposal here but it's a great place for a nice date or meeting. I look forward to coming back for the moules and frites
(4)
Laura F.
Mon Ami Gabi consistently has great food and service. Be sure to sign up for the rewards program, as you are frequently given free appetizers, desserts, and gift cards. Brunch is great, as is lunch and dinner. One of my favorite spots in Bethesda.
(5)
Linda O.
I'm pretty crazy about this spot. Perhaps it is staged to look like something Americans conceive to be a Paris bistro. Who cares? Aren't most restaurants trying to promote some theme or other? I come here because I get treated like a princess and the food is usually decent. The barkeeps are fabulous. The guys are observant and charming. They get me more bread; they bring me both browned butter and blue cheese to go with my steak-frites; they flatter me. They treat other folks around me in the same superb manner. This makes for a terrific atmosphere. That's called "Service" (with a capital S). Other food businesses would do well to follow suit. The Happy Hour food and drinks are a bargain. It gets crowded at that time but should not be a surprise to anyone nor avoided, either. Come on in and partake. The interior is fun and has a flourish. I prefer to eat in the bar, but the main dining room is fine as well. The wait staff is solid; adore their traditional black and white attire. I choose to frequent Mon Ami Gabi not so much for the cuisine but rather for the "joie de vivre" which I experience there. Bien fait, messieurs.
(5)
Greg O.
An old classic for me. I've been to this location for years, back when I used to work in Bethesda. The formula is simple- good service, good food, good atmosphere. Reservations are definitely recommended, it gets very busy. The bread is delicious and addictive, and very easy to fill up on. I usually go with one of the steaks. My favorite is the Bearnaise, and I've had the hanger steak a few times as well. And of course the fries are a necessity- thin, crispy and delicious. Mon Ami Gabi is always a solid choice in the area.
(4)
Ian Maren C.
Great amazing French restaurant. Wine selection was great but then again I'm no wine snob. Escargot was amazing along with everything else we had. Service was great, kid friendly. I recommend a reservation
(5)
Annabelle L.
I returned to Mon Ami Gabi last week for their escargots, but they had a prix fixe special for their 13 year anniversary that I had to take advantage of: 3 courses for only $22!! I got the escargots, their steak frites with bordelaise sauce, and chocolate mousse. The escargots was just as delicious as last time. I loved the steak frites! The steak is thinner than I was expecting, but cooked perfectly. The bordelaise sauce was so flavorful--loved the sweetness of the carmelized onions with hints of red wine throughout. Went perfectly with the steak. Didn't eat too much of the fries (to save room for dessert), but the fries I did have were crispy. I am a huge fan of chocolate mousse and this one was pretty delicious. Light, fluffy, creamy, with these little chocolate balls that added a nice crunch. Service was wonderful as well--I told my server I was in a time crunch and he put my order in immediately with everything coming promptly! What a wonderful meal!
(5)
Kat A.
I have been coming here for ages...for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Though I highly recommend the brunch if I had to pick one over the other. Even if it's not brunch, the food is tasty and the best French food I've had in the area. While they cater to those who are accustomed to traditional French food (like myself) they also impress people like my dad who grew up on a farm in the midwest and is perplexed when I speak French. While he can't pronounce half of the menu, he has loved their food for many years. The servers are literally some of the best we have ever encountered. They know every ingredient in every dish which says a lot. At the end of the day it doesn't matter what meal you have here nor the hour. You can count on the food, the ambiance, and the servers that honestly care about your dining experience. A go to in my book!
(4)
Laurie K.
Culinary delight #2...loved this restaurant!! The waiter was fantastic and had my meal specially prepared due to my onion allergy... Most of us had the steak and eggs with delicious baby potatoes. I don't know what they did to the scrambled eggs but they tasted better than any eggs I have ever had anywhere!!! I splurged and had a bellini which was light and refreshing! All of us shared the 2 desserts...profiteroles and crème brulee that had our mouths watering!!!! Topped it off with a cappuchino... Wowza!!!! This place is elegant yet casual dress was abundant... Priced fair for what you get...and based on the way people were flocking here I'd say it's a hit!!! Merci Mon Ami Gabi!!!
(4)
Loring P.
WONDERFUL. Cozy little French bistro where the truly eclectic Bethesda in-crowd get to mingle with the political honchos from DC!!!!! If you enjoy PERFECT French cuisine.....meaning escargot, steaks, seafood, a vast wine selection, and divine desserts....then this place is definitely for you. Come check out the sartorial elegance of the clientele, and the truly fabulous cuisine!!
(5)
Irene A.
SUNDAY BRUNCH REVIEW Went here for sunday brunch. It was a beautiful summer day in bethesda. We got seating outside. The hosts at the front were friendly and pleasant..automatically creating a good dining experience. Our waiter was friendly, pleasant and funny as well and informative about the menu! Very relax atmosphere and environment. the food: SEAFOOD CREPE I got the seafood crepe and it was DELICIOUS. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. I had read some reviews on here about the crepe and at the end was deciding between that and the french toast blueberry, but went with the crepe. It was absolutely delicious and i HIGHLY recommend it. Some shrimp and scallops on top of a nicely folded crepe with a smooth cream that was not too rich or heavy, but just perfect on top of it all. So happy with my choice. My friends had got the nutella waffle which they said was too rich and sweet for them. Because i checked in on yelp i also got a free chocolate mousse dessert. Im not usually a chocolate mousse kinda gal, but this was not too heavy or rich and just nice and smooth. Overall, pleasant brunch experience with friendly staff and amazing seafood crepe which made the morning perfect.
(4)
Tsuru J.
I met up with a friend here after a jerky metro ride so my stomach was a bit queasy. The waiter was a bit aloof (maybe the same one Hannah Z. got?) and not the most attentive. I got the steak frites roquefort and my companion got the skate wing. Both were nice but overly salty. The frites were more like those fried onion bits that people put on green bean casserole.
(3)
Richard J.
Had there French Onion Soup and listened to the 3 piece band, the music was enjoyable and the soup was delicious. The bartenders/ severs make this experience truly enjoyable.
(5)
A M.
Try the steak and frites! It is delicious, but also fairly expensive.
(4)
Emily H.
Went here at 7 pm on a Saturday night, yet didn't have trouble getting a table for 2 without a reservation... guess that's the suburbs for you. The place was bigger than I anticipated, but decorated nicely for the holidays in a way that made it seem classy. While I waited for my dining partner to arrive, I had two Leffes at the bar. The bartenders were great - nice, joking with customers, and I even overheard that one of them recalled a "regulars" order for four ppl - pretty impressive! We were seated quickly - but they didn't rush us as we still had to close out our bar tab. The hostess and our waiter were both friendly. They brought us a warm, freshly baked baguette to start with including plenty of butter and some sort of sliced carrot spread. Honestly, I vaguely recall the spread being a French thing, but it was pretty flavorless and I only tried a bite. I ordered the classic steak frites. The steak was done perfectly, although a bit thinner than I expected. The two huge pads of butter on it were a bit much, so I scraped most of that off. The fries were particularly awesome - thin cut and just the right amount of crispy, plus you got a BUNCH of them. That was probably the highlight of the meal. The bill came out to over $75, not including my two beers which I paid for at the bar. Kind pricey in my opinion. Despite the decent food and the on point service, I probably won't be back because it is so far in the burbs.
This place is astounding! The food is first-rate, tasteful, delicious, delectable, lip-smacking, and scrumptious. I have been here multiple times during Bethesda's Restaurant Week and would absolutely go back. Each time I ordered their steak frites and it was mouthwatering! My Agency took me here for my birthday last year and it was one of the greatest experiences ever. Mon Ami Gabi is definitely one of the best restaurants in the Bethesda area.
(5)
Ronald L.
Came for the brunch, left with a smile. French cuisine has a lot of history and may seem intimidating to some when they see items like, Wild Escargots de Bourgogne or Salmon Tartare. However, with this French quarter, that feeling doesn't quite stand up. Maybe it's because of its incredibly friendly, attentive, and professional staff. Maybe it's because it's casual attire with a warm and class atmosphere. The ambiance simply welcomes you. During my stay, I ordered the Wild Escargots to start and Waffle Bananas Foster as main. Wild Escargots - Delectable tender snails, deliciously oven-roasted with garlic-herb butter. Big and juicy with a good snap on bite. The garlic-herb butter made the snails pop since the snail itself has a very delicate flavor profile - slightly sweet and muddled earthiness. The garlic was very forward, followed by the freshness of the parsley, and nicely rounded at the finish with the taste of butter. I order escargot every chance I get and this is by far the best I've experienced. Extremely well balanced. Waffle Bananas Foster - Perfectly pressed waffle with a crispy exterior with a light and fluffy interior. Enter the bananas foster sauce served on the side. This sauce is so extremely balanced between the flavors of banana, dark rum, sugar, butter, and cinnamon. Perfectly harmonized with each ingredient next to the other, not above or below. Sweet, bitter, creamy, and spicy -from the cinnamon. This is a must get. These two items spoke the world to me, but not without regret. Regret? I wish I had ordered more. Will definitely be back and highly recommend the brunch.
(4)
Jerry E.
Nothing spectacular about this place, although interior design was kind of unique. I had Filet Mignon Au Poivre cooked in medium rare. It was tender and cooked correctly; however, somehow, the steak was not juicy, so I was a little disappointed... Perhaps, this is expected since it is not a steak specialty restaurant. Water served in the bottle was very good. Same for the coffee, too, very flavorful. The best part was it comes with unlimited refills. Overall, it was a good experience for me.
(3)
Loretta H.
Good food, good service, good atmosphere, and the best french fries, ever!
(4)
Alida R.
My family's visit to Mon Ami Gabi was a disappointment. We visited Mon Ami Gabi in Vegas, and had an amazing dinner -- polished and professional service, the best French onion soup I've ever tasted, fantastic fish, and a phenomenal baked goat cheese appetizer. My dinner at the Bethesda location was like a shabby imitation of this meal. Here are the negatives: The food: the French onion soup was the most disappointing part of the evening. The broth tasted sweet, watery, and bland, and not beefy at all. Salt helped a bit, but not too much. The cheese was decent, but not great. The soup wasn't actually bad -- but it wasn't very GOOD, either. And each portion of soup cost $9 -- at those prices, I expect a darn good cup of soup! Chicken liver mousse appetizer (with gluten free bread): this tasted good, but was quite mild, and less of a mousse and more of a pate. Baked goat cheese appetizer: good, but not great. The cheese was tasty, but goat cheese always is. The tomato sauce it was served in was palatable but nothing special. Scallops gratinees: This is what I ordered, and it tasted delicious, and had a lovely presentation, served in metal scallop shaped dishes on top of a bed of rock salt. There was very little scallop in the dish -- three dishes with one or two tiny slices of scallop in each, topped with mounds of cheese, cream sauce, and onions. Very rich and good, though light on the seafood. The problem with this dish was that the rock salt had all shifted during transit, and a piece was on top of my scallops. I bit into a big, rock hard explosion of saltiness that almost wrecked my pallet for the rest of the meal. Side of brussels sprouts: $5, and a very small dish. The crispy fried leaves that had come off of the main sprouts were amazing. But the center of the sprouts was chewy and tasted undercooked. Service: the waiter was friendly, but it felt like amateur night. Our waiter took our soup orders, and said he would take our entree orders later. He didn't return to take the entree orders until we were finished with our soups -- at which point we ordered appetizers instead of the big entrees we were planning to order, because we had filled up on soup. Our waters were not kept consistently refilled, and I had to keep flagging the waiter for more water. After we finished, the waiter brought us our check without asking if we wanted any coffee or dessert (which we did want!) It almost seemed like the waiter didn't want to bother with us. What, we don't order wine or cocktails and we're not worth paying attention to? Valet parking: costs $7, and the valet literally left our car parked on the street where we had pulled it up. Seriously? Cost: Dinner for three -- a soup and appetizer each -- was $67 before tip; it would have been quite a bit more had we ordered any drinks or gotten entrees. Some positives: Mon Ami Gabi is great with gluten free dietary needs, and they serve complimentary, very good gluten free bread. Wait staff is careful about cross contamination. They have a designated gluten free menu. Also, right now they're offering free chocolate mousse with check in. The mousse (which I had to flag the waiter down for after he brought us the check) was dark, super chocolatey, rich, and fantastic. Go for the check in mousse and gluten free bread, and not much else.
(1)
Jessica L.
Profiteroles are delicious and I got them free by telling the waiter called Hunter that it's my first time dining there! The free baguette with jam and butter is fresh and crunchy. They give you a whole baguette so you will be really full if you try to finish it. I went during brunch time. I got egg Benedict with smoked salmon, it was as expected and good. My friend got steak and fries. We thought the steak was huge according to the yelp pictures, but the steak was actually thin and can be easily finished by a person. There are outdoor seating so this could be an awesome place to have brunch with a few friends in summer when the weather is beautiful. I would come again only if I am nearby but I wouldn't drive all the way to this restaurant just for their food.
(4)
Robert M.
Seafood and chicken crepes were good and so was the coffee. Friendly attentive service.
(4)
Alex P.
Great place friendly staff good food I had the ny steak and my wife the fillet mignon both our sauces were good but her had a little more flavor (the merlot sauce) mine was the bordelaise sauce
(5)
Bob Y.
I had not been to Mon Ami Gabi in quite some time, in fact I had planned to park in the large surface public parking lot caddy corner to the building,but upon arrival I see there is a huge building there now with many retail stores! Anyway, being it was Sunday at 6pm. I pulled around the corner and parked for free at a metered space. I thought to myself while walking to the door that the last time I was here I ordered a burger and frites.....and it drummed up a pleasant memory of a perfectly constructed burger,with above average beefy flavor and a cone of crispy thin "fries". Alas,I could not order this tonight as it was dinner time and the menu does not offer a burger........in fact,upon perusal of it the menu is rather limited..... but kick in the daily specials and I was sure I could find something I would like. Our table of 6 had a good sampling of what they offer.....two orders of scallops were chosen,one caramalized and one gratine and I would have to say,the sauteed ones were far superior.......huge and was told delish. A salmon filet and three steaks rounded out our meal selection. My hangar steak,ordered rare,was in fact cooked to perfection........not common when you order "rare" beef.......it was about 1 1/4" thick and tasty! My wife ordered the steak with blue cheese sauce and it was really too thin a cut of steak........she ordered it medium rare...and,though cooked correctly,it really suffered from being so dang thin! The wonderful blue cheese sauce flavor made up for it though,at least in our minds......the food in summary was quite good for the cost. Now the service we experienced was,as mentioned in many reviews, the standout here......they treat you well without being overbearing or bothering you too often.....you never feel neglected,and you do not have to hunt someone down when you need something,water is topped up without asking,bread crumbs are swept away,and plates are cleared without being obtrusive........ Finally,please check-in with the Yelp app to get a free Chocolate Mousse (one per table) and also tell them one in your party is a first time guest to receive a free profiterole,which is puffy pastry with vanilla ice cream as a sandwich with chocolate sauce drizzled over it!!!!!! I will not let so much time lapse before I come back to visit you Mon Ami Gabi!
(4)
A W.
IDK if it was the drugs talking, but I had the best cream puff of my life here. The rest of my brunch was delicious as well, and the portion sizes were very generous. Service was stellar. 5 stars!
(5)
X M.
A solid choice. Great ambience- we ate inside. Nice and quiet compared to the super busy and noisy options in Bethesda. Our waiter was attentive and anticipated our needs without me having to ask (we were dining with children)-he was also kind to our children--a big plus- it put him over the edge from a good to great tip. Lots of waiters just ignore kids, so this was really a nice surprise. Everyone I was with enjoyed their food. They serve the most delicious hot fresh baked french baguette with creamy butter on the side while you wait. I took away a star because we took some food in a doggy bag and they just dumped it all together when it should have been separated even if meant using separate containers. I'll be packing my own doggy bag next time I go. And yes, over it was a really nice dining experience so we will be back!
(3)
Jonathan K.
This is our favorite restaurant in the area! The food is consistently amazing, the service is prompt, courteous and fast. Their wine list is pretty amazing as well. The only issue is that everyone seems to agree--the wait is always so long!
(5)
Irinka L.
Good. Consistent food and now they have gluten free bread !! The salads and appetizers are the best ! Yey!!
Love this place and environment. The waiter was a little pushy on their specials for the day, which were mostly all fish-based, and my cousin and I (as carnivores) were looking for something more meaty. We decided to share the steak frites as 8oz is quite large. You can replace the fries with mashed potatoes if you're searching for a more healthier option. However, if you check in on Yelp, you get a free chocolate mousse. You get a very generous serving with these chocolate covered choco puff-like balls and whipped cream that is heavenly. This restaurant is a chain, and have many locations, including Las Vegas .
(4)
Lisa S.
I've been here a few times since moving to Bethesda- for brunch, dinner, and dessert. French food is one of my favorite cuisines, and I haven't been disappointed yet! The decor is nice, and the restaurant is set up to resemble a traditional French bistro. The bar area is separate from the restaurant, and also holds a few tables. The dining room has two rooms, and is surprisingly big. The first time I came was for dessert. We sat in the bar (they wouldn't let us sit in the main dining room unless we were having a fine meal, which was fine). We ordered the creme brulee ($6.95) and the white chocolate bread pudding ($7.95). The friendly waiter found out that it was my friend's birthday, so he also brought out an order of chocolate mousse for us, for free! (Normally $5.95). We also ordered some drinks, and the waiter helped my friend choose a wine that she would like that would go well with the desserts. The bread pudding was a little egg-y, but overall the desserts were tasty. We left feeling full of sugar and happy. The second time, I came for dinner. My sister sent me a gift card for here, and I decided to blow it in one go on a nice meal! We shared the warm brie cheese ($10.95). All tables also get a loaf of bread- amazing. For meals, my friend got a steak special- I don't remember exactly what it was, but I remember it was the best thing we ordered all night. I ordered the caramel sea scallops ($21.95), which came with butternut squash puree. The scallops were well-cooked, but for me, the dish lacked a little bit of flavor/texture diversity and pizzazz. We also ordered a bottle of wine- they have solid, diverse, and affordable choices on their list. The third time, I came for brunch. Their brunch menu is probably my favorite, and I plan to be back many times. The loaf of bread they brought us was still warm, and they served it with butter and raspberry jam. I ordered the croque monsieur ($10.95), one of my favorite foods. It was also served with a side of fries. We saw numerous egg dishes pass us while we waited, and they all looked like perfection. The croque monsieur was not the best I've had, but pretty freaking good. Their french fries are thin and crispy, which I like. The waiter was incredibly friendly and awesome- he refilled our waiter and Diet Coke seemingly every two minutes. We also lingered a bit at the table, talking, and nobody rushed us or seemed to mind. Overall, a great place for a meal or a drink. Very friendly waiters, moderately priced (especially for Bethesda), and a great location. Two thumbs up!
We have been here 3 times. First and third time service was good. Second time horrible. I would not have gone back but hubby wanted Eggs Benedict for brunch. Unfortunately, we didn't discover until we were seated that it's not on the menu. My warm Frise salad was not warm. His frites (house made fries) seemed like they were from the night before, not warm at all and stale tasting. We like the Chicken Mousse Pate better than the Housemade Country Pate. I had the scallops which had texture and taste of a skate more than scallop. Our food always seems to take far too long to arrived. Onion soup wasn't hot and was just okay. The sandwiches he has had were just okay. He did enjoy his steak.
(3)
Abdulrahman A.
i like this restaurant. if you go there ask about " Edward " he chooses nice dishes for us.
(5)
Trish J.
We like Mon Ami Gabi. Went their for restaurant week and it was tasty. At this location, there is a small room upstairs that is really nice. Obviously for couples or someone looking to have a romantic evening. Very good steak and frites as well.
(3)
Karina S.
It was a good dinner all in all! I like the way they serve food and wine. Baguette was very yummy! Caesar salad was different from what I used to eat everywhere else! It was spicy, which I didn't expect, and the croutons were not crunchy. This is their way to do it, it's just not for me! I can't say it was not tasty, just very specific i would say! As for the main dish the chicken was a little dry and not very flavored( It could be better! The duck with pork in a gravy was just perfection!!! And this dish is worth to try!!! And the dessert was great too! I actually used a coupon from yelp and get that chocolate mousse for free)
(4)
Nat F.
One of my favorite restaurants! Mon Ami Gabi introduced me to the peppercorn steak! So delicious! Love this place and the waiters.
(5)
Sharon O.
My favorite place to go after a movie at the BethesdaRow Cinema is Mon Ami Gabi next door. For starters, I love sitting at the bar and prefer it to a table. The service is always 5 stars. The bartenders there are considerate in everything they do- from the smallest observation (making sure a wobbly bar stool was even) to the big things (asking the kitchen to get our steak frites split when he overheard we were sharing). Even if there is a rude-snobby MoCo couple there giving them hell, and they will still be class act. Someone said that they like sitting at the bar because it makes them feel like a princess, which I agree. I always get the french onion soup which is delicious. The scallops gratinees is amazing. The steak frites are good, but I think I enjoy the frites more than the steak. Especially with bearnaise.
(4)
Mike B.
Not many French restaurants in the area. Italian restaurants... we're drowning in the marinara. But not many French restaurants. Known for their steak and frites, Mon Ami Gabi has stood planted like the statue of liberty on Bethesda row for some time. So, it's about time I tried them out. We sat in the bar where the one bar tender magically waited on close to 20 different people. *Great Thing 1: A fresh hot baguette is served to you upon sitting down with butter and jam. I decided to order the steak sandwich with frites. I thought... might as well get the steak and frites in some respect. The cheaper option tempted me a little more not only because it was lunch, but had a dipping sauce "described" as au jus by the bar tender. The steak sandwich was mediocre. Although I was not a fan of the bun which was dry ( and seemed to have been made in house), the au jus was actually french onion soup- which was not served to me hot enough. That itself did not make for fantastic dipping. My friend ordered the seafood crepe. Fantastic! Albeit heavy- but alot of perfectly cooked seafood topped the crepe. The frites were absolutely delicious crispy potato fries. I'm not sure what machine they use to get them that size... but I want one. I would like to go back and try many more menu items. Steak in sandwich was good- but crepe was much better.
(4)
Casey K.
Came here for a Saturday brunch and the whole experience from the service to food was just really ok, with nothing noteworthy or stand out. The warm baguette with butter and jam they bring you to nosh on until your items come out was probably my favorite part. They bread is warm and the butter and jam go with it perfectly, I loved this start to our brunch! We order the baked goat cheese starter which was a generous amount that I was very impressed with. It was a baguette cut in half (lengthwise) with a garlic pesto baked into it. This baguette is set atop a round dish with the baked tomato and goat cheese. I thought this dish was pretty unmemorable. The tomato sauce tasted like Chef Boyardee to be quite honest. the goat cheese was lovely, light, and creamy. I would not recommend this starter, as it was just not what I was expecting due to it's lackluster taste. We both ordered quiche for our entree. My dining companion ordered the Quiche Lorraine and I ordered the Butternut Squash and Brie Quiche. I tried both, and in a battle of two very lackluster competitors, the Quiche Lorraine prevailed. I thought the Quiche Lorraine was a nice mix of savory bacon and creamy Jarlsburg cheese, but still would have liked a bit more caramelized onions. The butternut squash and brie quiche was just a total letdown, there were big bits of congealed brie and not very much butternut squash for my liking. The crust was something I ended up eating around, it was neither buttery nor soft and crumbly so much as it was dry brittle and a bit too overcooked in some spots. The service was just ok, no one really had any personality. It was just very robot like, when they brought the tea box up for us to make our selections, they just kind of walked up opened the box and didn't say anything. They all just seemed a bit pissed off quite frankly. Not sure I will be back. There was nothing really standing out to me to make me think this restaurant had any redeeming qualities that would make me want to come back and give this another try.
(2)
Linda G.
It's a chain, yes, but I had the absolutely best mussels I've ever had here this week. YUM!!! Plus the service is always impeccable. Not bad for the price point.
(4)
Vandad C.
I ordered a steak frites au poivre medium rare. It wasn't good even by the lowest bistrot standard. Cold, no taste, and the fries weren't particularly good either. The only redeeming factor here was the giant profiteroles I ordered for dessert. The place itself has a nice look to it but it's nothing extraordinary. Overall it was a fairly mediocre dining experience. Food was meh, waiter was either new or didn't care about he was doing, and price is fairly high for what it is. There's valet parking for $7 and a variety of pay to park garages around this location.
(2)
Esther G.
Wonderful restaurant in the heart of Bethesda Row. Delicious chocolate mousse. If you can, sit at the bar with bartenders Matt & Josh. Always a good time!
(5)
Robert D.
I love this place! I've been countless times and tried just about everything on the menu. No matter what it's always tasty, and the service is great too. One of my favorite restaurants in the area for the great food, attentive, knowledgeable staff, and relaxed atmosphere.
(5)
Dan G.
Went here for employee's annual review. Got escargot app and the Frisee salad. Both were very good. My coworker go the goat cheese app & salmon salad. I tried the goat cheese app & it was delicious as well. Got go back to this place another time as was very impressed at least for lunch. Service was superb as well.
(5)
Colette P.
Last Saturday night I had another delicious meal at Mon Ami Gabi. It was actually restaurant week which I hadn't realized when we made the reservation. I had a salad to start, the steak classique with herb butter and the profiteroles. This was all for about $30.00. The vinaigrette and lettuce were not my favorite. However, the steak was excellent and tasty and done just right. I prefer my steak medium rare. The pommes frites were delicious, crispy, thin, and salty. The profiteroles with chocolate drizzled on top were sublime.
(5)
Cheryl E.
Mon Ami Gabi is a nice French bistro located in Bethesda, MD. The decor is warm and welcoming as is the staff. Through out the whole meal, the staff worked hard to provide an excellent dining experience. I was part of a large group. This typically presents impacts timing and quality. I ordered the scallops and was presented with 4 fairly small scallops on a tomato puree that was running/separating on the plate by the time it arrived. Another diner, ordered and ate only the steamed mussels. They arrived absolutely cold. They were very quickly remade and nicely presented. Unfortunately, the mussels went on to cause a fairly significant stomach upset. The strawberry cake was dry and not at all well presented. I have to believe this is an anomalous experience given all the positive reviews and when back in DC, I will certainly give Moni Ami Gabi another try.
(2)
Mercedes X.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Bethesda the waiters are always awesome drinks are amazing and the food is delicious. It can get quite busy at times so you may need to check on the reservation. And this is definitely a place that you can bring a date to to try to impress her
(5)
Mai C.
I came here for Bethesda restaurant week and ended up eating here twice in one week. Hands down the most delicious burger I have ever had. They offer a variety of cheeses as toppings but being that I hate cheese I asked for a plain burger. The ground beef was very moist and well seasoned even though some of my coworkers ordered it well done (i ordered it medium well). The frites are interesting. They are more like potato ribbons. Initially I was not a fan but it did grow on me the second time around.
(4)
Olga Y.
Brunch here is pretty average. It looked like it would be a perfect brunch place, but appearances were deceiving. The warm bread was nice, but the jam/butter were nothing special. We ended up filling up on it, which was a good thing. The orange juice tasted fresh-squeezed and the coffee was nice and strong. That was the only thing that impressed. My belgian waffle with nutella was, again, pretty average -- I felt like I could make it out of a box at home in the waffle maker and warm up some nutella to go along. The creme fraiche was nice though. My date's eggs benedict with steak were also pretty average. The poached eggs and hollandaise were nice, but the steak was cold-ish (seemed like it sat under a warmer since early morning...) and the home fries were awful -- soggy, warm rather than not, not a crispy one to be found among them and desperately lacking flavor. Feh. I would come back here for lunch or dinner, but I would be in no rush. Brunch is probably a no-go unless all of you want *lunch* -- they don't seem to have a good handle on breakfast items at all.
(3)
kimberly w.
LOVE this restaurant. Definitely my favorite in Bethesda. Beautiful decor. Always great, yummy food. Held my husband's 30th birthday here and they were very accomodating. We had a large group, but not large enough to be in the private room, which was fine. The only thing was that they couldn't put us at one table, but it worked out fine. Other than that, no complaints!
(5)
Lynn C.
I think this place is just okay. I really only like the bloody mary bar during brunch otherwise I would probably never eat here. But, they have nice outdoor seating.
(2)
Cindi C.
Great for a girlfriends lunch. MY BFF and I come here every 6 weeks for our day out together. Yes, stereotypical girlfreind's day, pedis, lunch at Mon Ami Gabi and shopping. We always have a good time here, enjoy the food no matter what we get. I love the quiches, salads (especially the salmon) and the salmon sandwich (I am a sucker for salmon after finding out how good it is for your skin.) Last week I had the peach lemonade, not too tart or sweet. Perfect on an afternoon lunch al fresco. I would however like to come here when it isn't a Saturday. I want to try it some other time. And the serivce has been attentive the past 4 times we have been there.
(5)
Luis U.
The owner recently contacted me to address my concerns and I very much appreciate businesses who aim for better quality. I was on the fence anyway, and seeing businesses care for what their customers have to say is a big plus for me.
(4)
Christine P.
Mon Ami Gabi is a perfect place for a date or with friends. Came on a Wednesday around 6 and we were seated immediately. They have a large selection of wine and food. We got the special of the day, rockfish topped with brussel sprouts and potatoes ($28), and the filet mignon au poivre ($31). I didn't think the filet mignon was that special (the large side of frites is good), but the rockfish was delicious! We came here for a birthday, and the complementary profiterole was great as well. The service was great. Our server (tall male with a french accent) was very pleasant and attentive. He explained the menu and specials well, and made sure everything was okay. Total was $97 excluding tip for a filet mignon, rockfish, salad, and 2 glasses of wine. There's valet parking out front ($7), street parking (limited), or garage parking close by.
Nice brunch spot for the weekend. Brunch for 6 with a few mimosas about $150. Not too bad. Service was good and food great. Got the seafood crepe which wasn't too heavy but filled me up! Forgot to redeem my free dessert. boo. -.-
(4)
Carley M.
I love them. Great service. Great bartenders. Great gluten free menu! Stephan and Jillian are two of the best servers you could ever get and Willie is the only manager i have ever seen anywhere to go out and drop quarters in meters for customers when it is getting close to ticket time. Its such a great behind the scenes client satisfier
(5)
Judi G.
Nice French bistro with all the requirements. Champagne, steak frites, mussels and frites, French onion soup and sandwiches on baguettes. Live music some nights and outdoor dining is relaxed and similar to those in France.
Went tonight for Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, dinner. We had never been before and found the special menu from a quick google search. Mon Ami Gabi went above and beyond from start to finish. We will be back for more meals! Every plate presented was finished beautifully and with care. The dishes were hot, full of flavor, and generously portioned. Another detail we loved was that when staff would refill a drink and we said thank you, they would respond with happy new year. It was clear that the entire restaurant was trained carefully about a special night for people of our faith and it showed. The food was better than my moms (sorry mom), and priced very well for so. much. food. The icing on the cake was receiving a hand written thank you and mini honey cake with a note for a sweet new year with our check!! Above and beyond!!!
(5)
Michal A.
If you're not a meat lover or better yet- a vegetarian - you don't have a lot of options from their menu. They have a couple of cheese appetizers and a vegetable tagine that was just plain vegetables in water (it wasn't even a broth). So my husband is the vegetarian and I had the fish (trout I believe) and it wasn't great either.. A little dry and not too flavorful. Our friends enjoyed their steaks and their wine selection is good. The atmosphere was nice with live music, though a little loud if you're trying to have a conversation.
(3)
John O.
Familiar with the menu from frequent visits in Las Vegas and periodic ones in Chicago, we choose this restaurant for meeting of 5 for dinner. Good service and wine list, reliable menu of steaks and frites I love their mussels and salads It was just right
(4)
Drea G.
As much time as I do not spend in Bethesda I happened to be in the area looking for a place to eat brunch. Through the advice of Yelp we ended up here because it was one of the few places that served alcohol during the day. When we arrived around 12:30 the restaurant was fairly quiet and we were seated immediately. Our server was very nice and explained all the specials and offered recommendations and advice on all the dishes. I was immediately impressed by the very large brunch menu, it definitely took a long time for us to decide on savory or sweet. But as I mentioned before the waiter was very helpful in narrowing down our choices. I ordered the tuna melt tartine sandwich with a bellni. The bellini was nice and potent and the sandwich was flavorful. Minus one star for the cheese on top - it was a bit dry and may have been sitting out for a short while. However, I still enjoyed it and the sandwich is quite large. You also get a large helping of fries with it. One friend had the blueberry french toast and was blown away by the flavor. Another friend had the waffle banana foster and love it. I'm not a fan of bananas on waffles but decided to try it. The waffle was soft, sweet and very delicious, the banana was soft but not too sweet. The raspberry jam for the baguette was delicious, I should have requested a jar for purchase! Highly recommend and would definitely go back to Bethesda just to eat here.
(4)
Tracy L.
The food, atmosphere and service are always a treat!
(5)
Jittima S.
Just had the most traumatic brunch ever at your restaurant. Please keep in mind that making food jokes of any kind at your patron's expense is unprofessional, insensitive and extremely disrespectful. We live in a world where we're constantly criticized by everything we do; however, choosing what one consumes(from your menu) and how one consumes it (especially at your establishment in this case) should be judgmental free. Food was alright until the food-shaming occurred. Bottom line; food-shaming is unacceptable. Fronting it with half-ass apology is appalling & demeaning. Please be mind and keep your loathsome opinion to yourself.
(2)
Hua X.
I had a fantastically large and friendly bearded lumberjack of a waiter who gave me and my friend cream puffs for free after our hefty brunch. This affirmed my view of humanity and I hope the waiter is karmically (and financially) rewarded for his uncommon kindness. I found the brunch itself to be above average and not cosmically good, but the bread and potatoes were soul-comforting. Great 20th century French pop soundtrack in the background. Would certainly come here even just to get away from the standard corporate-indie fare I've come to hear so often.
(4)
Rick K.
One of my all time Favorite Restaurants. I sat at the bar today. I had the mussels and some wine. Also, had their amazing bread. I finished it off with some peach sorbet. Che took great care of me. Michelle took the time to come over and say Hi, while trying to manage many tasks as a rain storm was approaching. The general manager should be congratulated for the great staff and Outstanding Service. I will be back many times and always tell my friends an coworkers to go to Mon Ami !!
(5)
Kari S.
FANTASTIC FANTASTIC FANTASTIC. My husband ordered the steak frites and I ordered the onion soup -- absolutely fabulous! Federico was our waiter and he was terrific. We will be back soon, as in next week.
(5)
Peter L.
Love the nice cafe feel. Sometimes you beed a place to get away and not feel like you are in a Bethesda restaurant...Mon Ami Gabi does just that.
(4)
Christina O.
Went to Mon Ami Gabi for brunch with the husband and friends one lovely Sunday morning. Service was pretty prompt and waitstaff were there when you needed them. Everyone got something different and everyone very much enjoyed their meals. The complimentary fresh-baked baguette they provide is really excellent. I'm pretty much always on the hunt for great baguettes, and it's the closest I've found to what you get in Paris itself. In sum, excellent. I'll be back.
(5)
Catie C.
Really. $33 for a salad, fries, and dessert. A salad which had five spinach leaves, five walnuts, and a handful of cranberries.... for $17? Seriously. Worst lunch ever. I really can't believe I spent that much money just now
(1)
Bill S.
Mon Ami is perfect for brunch and this is what the review is based on. The decor is French bistro and creates a good atmosphere for a eating. They go out of their way to try for good service but occasionally do get orders wrong . At this writing I have about 35 check-ins so I am speaking from a long history rather than one visit. They have a number of on going promotions that also keep us coming back. Current check in gets you a free chocolate moose which is very goo. They also have a sign up text offer which has gotten us free shrimp coattails which are absolutely excellent, offering huge shrimp and a cocktail/horseradish sauce that treats the taste buds. We have also gotten onion soup as a a text-ed promotion which is also great. They have a large selection of wine by the glass an offer you a taste before committing, very nice. Now to the food for brunch. My absolute favorite is the eggs Benedict with salmon, perfect! I have had mixed experience with their mussels. sometimes you get a couple of nasty ones in the serving that should not have gotten through. Their stake sandwich is delicious with the dip sauce they provide. Their cappuccino is excellent as is their coffee. The servers are very good at keeping your cups full. We go go back two or three times a month and its a sure thing for brunch!
(5)
David G.
Great brunch place if you like French cuisine. I ordered the lobster roll which, while delicious, was very skimpy on the amount of lobster meat but plenty of bread and veggies. Let's face it though, lobster rolls are already small as it is. The least you can do is not skimp out on the most important part. My girlfriend, on the other hand, ordered the escargot, which was cooked and served to perfection. Always a good sign when the snails are not overcooked. Would definitely recommend this place for the service and delectable options.
(4)
Nick L.
Came here for Sunday brunch this past weekend. I must note that if a friend didn't suggest it then I would have gone elsewhere due to a previous dinner experience that was sub par. Brunch was excellent! I would return for brunch without hesitation. Prices are a bit high, but what do you expect, they have prime real estate in the heart of Reston Town Center. Also the outside patio is a lovely place to enjoy brunch. I got the eggs Maryland (Benedict with a crab cake on it) Fantastic!!!
(4)
Dawnn J.
Saturday Brunch!! Delish!! Perfect weather for outside eating. Eggs Benedict with smoke salmon yummmmmy!! Fresh baguette with raspberry jam and they even had creme fraise (but u have to ask for it). Marquis Rose...bubbles...make this the perfect brunch!!!
(5)
Toby R.
First of all, go for the "frites" with anything!!! They are magical and need no ketchup or other condiments. Ok, now that I've prologued with that, the service is nothing short of mesmerizing. Very attentive wait staff. Also, they have some great steak dishes, especially the one with bleu cheese on it. Also, if you are a burger aficionado, try theirs...unreal.
(4)
Yesica L.
We went for dinner with some friends to mon ami gabi I'm giving it an ok because the onion soup was ok in my opinion and the cassoulet was really salty and it didn't even have any pork just pure fat I didn't like at all I'll rather go to bistro doc in DC.
I have been to this restaurant at least 4 times prior to writing this review. The service was great and the food was great, but one bad experience can make or break what you think of a place. Although we had a reservation we still had to wait 30 minutes before being seated, don't get me wrong that's not the part I will be reviewing, but just throwing it in there. Service was good for the most part, drinks and apps came in a decent amount of time considering the restaurant to be very very busy. However, my entree is what I am here to review. As all 6 members at the table were being served their entree, I find something odd on my plate. I notice it out of the corner of my eye, and yes something moved...there was a BIG STINK BUG CRAWLING ON MY PLATE on the garnish. There was a LIVE BUG on my plate!!! I didn't make a scene (which any one would have had a reason to scream and make a scene) and alerted our server about the live bug. He apologized and said he would bring me a new dish. However he joked around and tried to play it down. No manager came by to apologize and nothing was done to make me or my table feel more at ease. The new entree came out fairly fast but still, if my steak was over cooked that would be the least they would have done regardless...so we were all astounded that nothing else was done, I mean we shouldn't have to ask or demand something to be done, because in any other place, that is the norm. We will never be returning.
(1)
Milli D.
I love their wine! They also have a great deal for Happy Hour. The place is a bit pricey for the quality of food so it wouldn't be my go to, but the happy hour prices make it totally worth while. Just make sure you get there early enough, the bar area is a bit small and it fills up quickly. This is a great place to grab food and drinks with friends after work.
(4)
Robbin L.
I absolutely love the cauliflower puree. It's really the only reason I come to this restaurant. I also appreciate the intimacy of the bar area and live jazz music. Overall, the food is good and I would recommend making a reservation to secure a spot.
(4)
Verina A.
Wait time was NONE. Went with a group of friends for lunch. I got the steak sandwich and it tasted AMAZING and the dipping sauce tasted phenomenal!
(5)
Racquel C.
I went there for lunch, and it was amazing! Loved the ambience, and the service was good - not great! The food was great! Look forward to returning for happy hour! I had the rockfish special - simply delicious!
(4)
Dean D.
The menu items here are very hit and miss but I'm never disappointed. This is one of my favorite places in the neighborhood. I love their French onion soup sitting outside on a nice day and their desserts especially the banana foster crepe. The muscles rival that of the muscle bar next-door. Each of the times I've been here the service has been excellent. I can recommend the seafood crapes hamburgers and fries. The quiche while inexpensive was not that impressive. The French onion soup is big enough to split amongst two people and they will bring out two bowls.
the wine was nice, and the dessert was fantastic. But unfortunately, the bread was stale, the onion soup tasted burnt, the pesto on the chicken was bitter and the chicken itself was dry, and the steak was tough. Not a repeat for me.
I came here with a group of friends for Restaurant Week and had a great experience. Service was by far the highlight of our meal, as our waiter was incredibly courteous and helpful. I had the onion soup as an appetizer, the steak with bordelaise sauce as an entree, and the peach sorbet for dessert. Our table also split a bottle of bordeaux, which pricey but a good pairing with our meal. I loved this onion soup because it wasn't overly salty even with all of the melted cheese on top. The steak was cooked perfectly rare, although I think I prefer a creamy sauce and will get that next time instead of the bordelaise. The peach sorbet was light and went down easy after all of the heavy foods beforehand. All of the portions were decently sized, and I was stuffed after my meal and especially after helping myself to the plentiful supply of french baguettes on our table. I would definitely come back here for Restaurant Week or if I were looking to splurge on a nice meal.
(4)
Indrani D.
We had the Seafood Crepe, Onion Soup and frites. Everything is delicious. Our waist was the kindest and sweetest. Will come back for the free chocolate mousse, a gift for checking in with Yelp, next time.
(4)
Emily N.
Love this place! Discovered it awhile ago while staying at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. Definitely upscale and not just for your everyday go to restaurant. Steak au poivre medium rare and extra sauce is my always go to entree! Don't forget to get their french onion soup. If you want to split one order you can! Just ask your waiter to split it and they will bake it in separate dishes too.
(4)
Rich G.
Every restaurant in the DC area is trying to imitate their Steak Frites, with little success. My favorite restaurant. Ever.
(5)
Ahmed R.
I came here this past Saturday for brunch. We sat outside on the front patio. I had eggs benedict with steak. Typically I eat this with salmon, but decided to try steak since it isn't common. The eggs were tasty, but the steak was cold and just didn't taste right. It wasn't cooked well. The potatoes were great though. I tried my wife's vanilla waffle, and that was delicious! But the apples on it were so-so. Our server was very nice and courteous, but he didn't fully know the menu and told us a couple incorrect things. We also had to ask twice for certain things like ice and water. Service could have been better. Overall, place was pretty good and I'd come back.
(4)
Amanda K.
LOVE LOVE LOVE, coming here for weekend brunch. I've had the berry french toast, the mussels, and a delicious open face heirloom tomato sandwich; and all of them were perfection. Wait staff is always stellar. They have several people who walk around making sure your drinks are full and bread is available to the table leaving your main waiter to get your order in. I love earing out on their huge patio. It's in a great area downtown and I can't get enough of the food and atmosphere.
(5)
Andrew W.
This place is located on the street so parking may be a bit difficult. We came here only for dessert. Upon entering we noticed the atmosphere of this place to be very classy, modern and intimate. Perfect for a date or a night out with your dressed up friends. We were immediately greeted and seated by a friendly waitress. The service was quick. We ordered a white chocolate banana bread and used the YELP check in to get a free chocolate mouse. The chocolate mouse was made from dark chocolate and was perfectly light and airy. The dark chocolate aspect made the dessert not overly sweet. The white chocolate banana bread came out warm. It was more custard heavy but i didnt mind. It was on the sweeter note but overall with the ice cream it was well balanced. The price was a bit more pricier than expected. Overalll this is a wodnerful place and i would come back again anytime.
(4)
Eddie K.
Been going here for years. Never disappoints. Value and service is pretty good. Have been coming here for brunch and dinner. I have never been disappointed with the food or service. I think for Bethesda, the menu prices are pretty reasonable. They give you french bread- nice and crunchy. Can't beat the steak frites for $22.95. That's the entree I get when I dine here. The escargots and warm brie cheese are great appetizers. During brunch, the crepes are pretty good.
(5)
Steve H.
We walked in Tuesday night with no reservation and were seated immediately. There was live music (horns, etc - basically smooth Jazz) which we appreciated and our waiter was prompt and helpful. We both ordered steak frites. However, neither steak was cooked right - a difficult task to be sure given how thin the steaks were. I mentioned this to our waiter (without expectation - just to generally let them know that their steaks were not being cooked right) and he comped our dessert. That was very nice of him. If the steaks are cooked better next time (we'll definitely be back). I will bump to 5 stars. Yes, it's that good. :)
(4)
Daisy T.
I love french restaurants..... they have a very whimsical and romantic association for me.I have been to Mon Ami Gabi few times for both happy hour and dinner and have enjoyed it every single time. The service is friendly and the food is pretty good. I have had their caramelized scallops, frites and the Almond Trout (this was very delicately prepared) to name a few and have relished all of these. I have also had their salmon and tuna sandwiches for happy hour and they were all very good. I plan on coming here more esp for happy hour as they also have food specials. A solid four from my side.
(4)
Corrie P.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in the area. Intimate, classy Parisian style atmosphere (we love sitting at the front) Fantastic wait staff - They have even given us a couple of complimentary items in the few times we've been there! I love the warm baguette they give you with all meals - and it goes perfect with the mussels! Steak frites are awesome and I don't even like steak. The desserts are killer and you can get a decent bottle of wine for around $30. This place is a total win for date night!
(4)
Helen C.
Brunch today was fantastic! I loved my chicken and mushroom crepe. My friend's blueberry french toast was the best french toast I've had in a really long time. It was perfectly soft and drenched in syrup without being too sugary sweet. There were lots of blueberries which was great. They give real maple syrup here, rather than the fake corn syrup you get at cheap places. We finished with the chocolate mousse which was amazing. I really liked the small crunchy chocolate balls on top; it was nice to add the crunchy texture to the smooth mousse.
(5)
Lisa D.
Great foot but a bit overpriced. I order the steak and it was wonderfully cooked and served with delicious fries. Starting off our meal Was a bit off as nobody every explained the carrot dish and we were given lunch me yes instead of dinner ones which was quite upsetting to learn after we had decide on our dishes. Overall lets just say he lunch Menue looks much better
Solid option. Not too corporate and the price point is pretty reasonable for the offer. I wish I remembered my server's name from yesterday. He made the experience even better. Perfect for a date or dinner with a friend.
(5)
Angela K.
I haven't gone back yet but the manager did reach out, apologize, and give me a gift card to use for my next visit. For that, I am rating them 5 stars for them trying to correct a customer's poor experience. Thank you, Mon Ami Gabi.
I had a very pivotal business meeting with a president and vice president of a bank along with a colleague at Mon Ami Gabbi today in Reston Virginia. The wait staff was very considerate of our conversations and NEVER interrupted us, finding their way along our entire meeting without hesitation. Needless to say I was successful with all parties and had to thank the staff for a wonderful lunch menu of Leek Soup, French onion soup, their mustard salmon was amazing and tried the scallops that were cooked to perfection. Mon Ami is perfect for your discerning palate, well priced and very conducive for your important meetings.
(5)
Mary L.
Recently I discovered that I have a gluten intolerance, so finding a decent place to eat has been pretty tough. I was tired of pizza and bun less burgers and I saw that this place has a gluten free menu. I went with my friend at around 530 on a Saturday night and it quickly filled up after we got there so I would get there early, make a reservation or be prepared to wait a little. If you tell your server that you need a gluten free menu, they bring you out two pieces of multi-grain complementary gluten free bread. It's not bad and it comes with a side of olives and honey butter. My friend and I ordered the baked feta cheese appetizer to share and I asked if they could serve it with some gluten free bread instead. Our server was very nice and the chef said it was no problem so she brought out a couple of pieces of the gluten free bread with the garlic pesto sauce on it. The baked feta was pretty tasty combined with the tomato sauce and bread. I also got the gluten free onion soup. It wasn't bad! I mostly just eat the cheese part and call it a night. For my main dish, I ordered the Chicken Paillard. The chicken was a little overcooked and they were a little chintzy on the sauce. However, the combination of the mushrooms and roasted squash were delicious. Dessert was a white chocolate/chocolate mousse which was also pretty good as far as mousses go. My friend got the Wild Boar Ragu which she said was really good. She was overstuffed on all of the bread though since I couldn't eat the whole baguette that they brought to our table! The food was pretty good and they had a decent selection for a gluten free menu as well. I loved that they had fresh gluten free bread that was not Udi's white bread either. Overall: good food + helpful, super friendly server + decent menu selection for gluten free = This is definitely a place that i can come eat at when I am tired of gluten free pasta, pizza and bun less burgers!
(4)
Arnaud C.
I have a new favorite... but I shouldn't share it with you because they run out of it every evening pretty fast: the skate wings, served with roasted cauliflower, spaetzle (german pasta) and capers: Delicious!
(5)
Andrew G.
Great food, inconsistent service unfortunately from an otherwise very kind server. It was our first visit, we'll probably go back. PRO: Excellent and reasonably-priced kids menu, cool TV-dinner style tray for the kids, tasty chicken strips and fish sticks of the homemade variety (not from Costco). Great hanger steak and mussels, and decent (but not crispy) frites. Nice steak sauces (fun to try a bunch of them if you ask). Pretty basic, high quality food at a very good price, and nice portions. Server split our entrees for us at no charge, brought bonus desserts for the two of us that didn't order one. CON: Server didn't bring starters or bread until after I asked, bananas foster crepe was the absolute low note of the meal- a cold crepe with a single cold raw banana rolled up inside, with some caramel sauce on the top. Just not what we were envisioning although techincally it did have all the parts of bananas foster included in the serving... Summary: Food worth going back for, server who will get better with experience...
(3)
Joseph H.
Restaurant Week Review: Stopped by here with my girlfriend when we saw the deal they were having ($35 for a 3 course meal). The atmosphere was pretty good, reminded me of being in Quebec, and eating at the french style restaurants up there. Outdoor seating seems to be the thing in downtown Bethesda. appetizers started off with a French onion soup for me and a Gazpacho for my girlfriend. French onion soup was served in a fairly large mug, and met my expectations. Nothing spectacular, but it delicious nonetheless. The Gazpacho was much better than i anticipated. Very delicate, but focused on a specific flavor that was exceptional for a cold soup. Steak Frites is their specialty, and is essentially a 10 oz. steak with fries (common fare in French Brassieres). While the sauce served with the steak (i ordered garlic/herb/butter, my girlfriend ordered a lemon butter) was pretty good, the steak was cooked a little too well for my taste, which is dissapointing, considering how easy it is to sear a thin steak. It was a good meal, filling with the fries, but the steak does leave something to be desired Dessert we both decided to get the Creme Brulee. Right amount of glazing on the surface, and a distinct liqueur taste that permeated the dish. Typical creme brulees ive ordered tend to either have too much glazing and the custard is more a pudding/soup than anything else. Not here. Props given here Service was excellent, no complaints, especially on a busy Friday night during restaurant week. Wine selection was focused very heavily on french wines. Personally, im not a huge french wine drinker, prefer spanish wines, so i cant really give an honest POV on this matter. While this was a fun restaurant to be at, outside of restaurant week specials, its hard to see myself coming here again for their prices. But if youre looking for something to try out or a new place to take someone out to, this is not a bad choice
(3)
Sang K.
Subject: Mon Ami Gabi Pros: Cozy interior, Usually excellent service Cons: Slightly overpriced, At times inconsistent Experience: I've come to Mon Ami Gabi 5+ times and have enjoyed it every time. The simple carrot salad that comes with the french bread is addicting and the steak frites rarely disappoint. You have to be prepared for them to mess up the doneness on the steaks because of the thinness of the meat. The service is always on point and attentive. I've had a waiter pour me free glasses of wine that he thought would go well with my order (can't expect this but it was nice). Conclusion: Solid, steak frites dinner spot with above average service
(4)
Cat K.
The setting is charming even for a corporate owned restaurant. And some of the waiters were enthusiastic, at times a little too much for me but I appreciated the effort. Steak frites is good, though the frites aren't typical shoestring or standard cut fries. I enjoyed the variation but wished the fries had more substance to them. The shrimp cocktail arrived surprisingly large. They have a solid gluten-free menu as well and the waiter was attentive to and respectful of my partner's good sensitivity. After two courses we unfortunately did not have room for dessert.
(4)
Lola E.
The food is delicious, but the customer service is superb! The warm baguette and room temperature butter was a great start. I also enjoyed the pate and steak frites. The profiteroles are perfectly made.
(4)
Daniel L.
First Yelp! I'm gonna break things down this way: a quick section and a more detailed section. I came here with my girlfriend, and this is what went down... Food: 5 Price/Value: 4 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Food: 5 We had onion soup, mussels marini re (half-order), bordelaise steak frites, side garlic spinach. All the ingredients are local and fresh, and then they add wine. So good. They're known for their steak, and it was amazing - thin cut, but perfect texture and great taste. The meal is kinda heavy, so the spinach was necessary. Price/Value: 4 Standard price steak ~$22. Other things are a bit pricey, but that's because they're using fresh local ingredients with herbs and wine, portions are pretty big, and you're eating French in Bethesda. We were so full. Not one of those restaurants where you have to keep on eating the free bread to get full. Total bill was ~$50 for the happiness of two people. Service: 5 Waiters were so friendly to us and knowledgeable about their menu. We shared everything, and they brought everything out on separate plates! Impressive! Atmosphere: 5 We ate outside next to a quiet street and some flowers. Everything is clean, light is ambient, and atmosphere is pretty lively. Tips You Should Know: If it's your first time, you get a free dessert! Would I recommend? Yes - take your better looking dates here!
We had a reservation and was seated very promptly. Our server was very attentive and overall very friendly. He made small talk and revisited our table often to make sure everything was alright. I started with the escargot which was very rich and full of flavor. The steak frites "hanger skirt" I ordered was not what I expected. The steak was very tough and not much flavor to it. I recommend coming here for the amazing service and the starters but the steaks were mediocre.
Tried the steak frites and they did not disappoint. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the steaks.
(4)
Lauren S.
My mom and I ate here after trying to find a good dog-friendly place to eat after I picked her up from BWI. We were very hungry, so it was a relief to be seated right away and get our complimentary baguette. We were able to sit outside on the patio, which was very nice, and the waiter brought a little dish for my dog to drink from. The service was attentive, and the food was really good. I had the eggs florentine, which was great, and my mom was very happy with her quiche lorraine. Overall, this is a really nice restaurant, and it's a great dog-friendly place to go.
(5)
Trish V.
Crowded, but the service is lovely and the cold seafood platter for two is terrific. The big downside is no valet.
(4)
Sooyeon L.
Salmon tartare was pretty nasty. Steak was good. Service was pretty terrible. Definitely disappointed and wouldn't recommend it.
(2)
Chetan A.
Great Wine List! Great cosy ambience! Even better stakes ! I love the fact that there are so many options for Meatoholics ! It's a good place for a great meal that won't burn your pocket !
(4)
C W.
Came for brunch on a saturday & had great food & service! French onion soup-well seasoned, rich flavor, good portion. Blueberry french toast-soo yummy!! Didnt really need the syrup as it was moist, light, just the right amount of sweetness. Probably one of the best if not the best french toast I've tried. Lamb sammie-good balance of flavors with adequate slices of lamb. Mix of greens on the side gave some acidity. Escargot-hubby had this & loved it. Used the bread to dip all the buttery garlicky goodness in all the pods. Would like to come back to check out dinner!
(4)
Anna Y.
This place was sosososo good :D I got the daily special which was bacon wrapped filet mignon...and it was amazing. Cooked perfectly and the bacon was delicious. It was a bit pricey..but I enjoyed every single bite of it. My three friends and I also got three desserts. We used the Yelp check-in to get the free chocolate mousse and also got the banana foster crepe and the profiteroles. The chocolate mousse was pretty plain..just a normal chocolate mousse. It had some yummy chocolate bits though which is good. The banana foster crepe was yummy but the best was the profiteroles. SO delicious...I would totally get it again. We were celebrating my friend's birthday and the restaurant gave her a free profiterole so that was pretty cool. Awesome service, the waiter was very personable and the dining experience was great!
(4)
Miah L.
Delicious and great service. A little pricey, but it is Bethesda + a nice French restaurant so it is warranted more than others in the area. Definitely worth a try.
(5)
Cat C.
Great Food, great service! The warm bread with butter is great! I usually order the steak frites the original one with the butter. The mushroom soup is delicious. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)
Ali D.
This place is awesome! Always bustling, always prompt service, reasonable prices, excellent execution. I have been here 5 times in the past 2-3 years and always leave impressed. Bethesda offers a much better quality/price ratio than DC
(5)
Andrea S.
Their pure here was amazing, i truly loved it...but nothing else stands out in my mind. I would go again for the pure. Their stake was very tasty but not out of this world.
Mon Ami Gabi is quite the popular restaurant in the heart of Bethesda. I went to the restaurant on a busy weekend night to celebrate a friend's birthday. The restaurant offers complementary bread and butter. Since it was my first time at the restaurant, I didn't realize that the waiters literally drop a small baguette in a paper bag. Normally, I am used to sliced bread but it was very fresh and good bread. Quite hot. My disappointment came with the limited variety on the menu. Basically it is steak frites or nothing at all. Please keep in mind that if you want their special, you should aim to arrive earlier in the evening or reserve it for your meal. The waiter had neglected to mention that they had run out of the beef Wellington until after he had mentioned it and after we had ordered it. I tasted both the onion soup and the duck confit. The onion soup was surprisingly good and I say this because oftentimes onion soup is too salty. You can't truly go wrong with duck confit but I found this dish to be a bit dry although still flavorful. I ordered the steak bearnaise. I must admit that Mon Ami Gabi does make a rather flavorful and well-cooked steak. The steak here isn't the typical thick cut American steak but rather a hanger steak so expect something flat. Good portion as a main dish. Too much for me to eat. The bearnaise sauce went really well with the fries (frites). Almost everyone at my table helped himself/herself to my sauce. We didn't order anything for dessert with the exception of the free chocolate mousse we received by checking in on Yelp. Good dessert but nothing too spectacular. The texture was somewhat off to a few of the people at my table but not awful. My somewhat average rating is partially due to the poor wait service on that night. As I said previously, Mon Ami Gabi is a popular restaurant and it gets extremely busy. That said, my waiter in particular was nowhere to be found when we needed him. We rarely caught sight of him in the actual restaurant. Most of the time we caught him chatting up neighboring patrons if he was in the dining area. The fastest service we received was getting and paying the bill. Go figure. In summary, Mon Ami Gabi is fine for a normal dinner but probably a little overrated and definitely too busy/crowded for my liking.
(3)
Samantha L.
Welcome to a post about yet another restaurant that I should have visited months, probably even years ago. I decided to finally go check it out during during Bethesda Restaurant Week for lunch. 3 courses for $16... its a great deal! Another reason we picked this restaurant is that my friend is gluten free, and Mon Ami Gabi does a really great job of making sure there are items on the menu that are safe and yummy to eat! I picked the Caesar Salad for my appetizer. It was just ok. A little over-dressed and soggy... For my entree I went for something i almost NEVER pick... Steak. I picked the Steak Fritte with a classique butter. The steak itself was quite tasty. The fries were a little too crispy for my taste... Not overcooked... just very think and crispy. For dessert I actually went "off the menu" my friend had arranged for sorbet instead of the Chocolate Chip Cookie because of her gluten issue. It was a rather hot afternoon, so I politely asked the waiter if I too could have some sorbet. He agreed! The sorbet was probably my favorite part of the meal. It was definitely home made, and very fresh. Not too sweet and not too sour. Would I go back to Mon Ami Gabi.. I'm not sure.... Was it a good deal for Restaurant Week... ABSOLUTELY! Is it a good place to go if you are eating with people who have gluten allergies... YES!
(3)
Jamie S.
Amazing brunch experience! Came here on my birthday and had the most incredible, decadent seafood crepe. Lots of shrimp and scallops and great fresh veggies. The crepe itself was light and fluffy, and the cream sauce drizzled on top of it was UNREAL. For an app we had the chicken liver pate.... HUGE portion with delicious bread. I think I literally ate the last bit with a spoon. SO GOOD. My only complaint would be that coffee was a little cold and cost $3.50 for a teacup size. Extremely pricey for what we got. But, overall, a great experience with amazing food.
(4)
AJ A.
The good(s).. We got seated right away on a Saturday night and somewhat baby friendly. Atmosphere was ok Escargot was great! Mussels on the appetizer was great as well! The bad(s) My steak was not cooked right.. Gave it back same result.. Steak didn't really taste that good
(3)
Parisa A.
Really loved the food here. The service was great not to mention the atmosphere. I will definitely be back! I had a steak which was perfectly cooked. With that i ordered a french onion soup which was also brilliant and not too salty (just the way i like it). Lastly for dessert I had a chocolate mouse which was mouth watering. Great place!!!
(4)
Cory P.
My wife and I ventured to Mon Ami Gabi for the first time. I have heard great things and thought is would be a quality enough place to go for an anniversary dinner without having to head all the way into DC. The result: mediocre. The main plates where good quality as we ordered the filet mignon and an order of the fish of the day - a South American Cobia dish - but the serving was relatively small so we found out the Escargot was not enough of an appetizer to make sure we didn't leave hungry. The service was good, decor was fine, but nothing super-special. We probably will not be back given there are just so many more compelling options as we move into DC in the coming weeks at similarly or cheaper pricing.
(3)
Mike J.
Business lunch on the side patio. Gluten free bread, white peach tea, the blueberry, walnut salad sub ahi tuna- light, classy, good European style feel and service
(5)
Anna T.
Deff an old people place...ahem...fancy rich old people place. They start you off with a foot long french bread that seems to be 3 days old. Whats funny is that its rock hard so you're left sawing off what seems to be wood for the upcoming winter months. My question is, how the hell can these old folks even eat this? Answer! They slobber until its bread pudding because that's what fine dining is all about. Anyways, the food is served in pretty large portions, almost family sized! As far as flavor, I suppose you have to slobber and suck that out as well... This place gets a pretty decent rating due to the fact that their customer base has already lost their taste buds. Example: Mushroom soup? Bland! Please pass the salt! Besides all that, we had a great server. It was busy that night so our food came out a bit slow but he made that up by giving us all complimentary desserts! P.S. don't bother checking in Yelp! for a free chocolate mousse, it was not good. A table full of girls not wanting a second bite says something.
(2)
Jen L.
I generally find European food bland and uncreative. However, I prefer Mediterranean food to Northern European food. The steak was moist, juicy, and very sweet. The french onion soup was sweet and overflowing with chewy thick cheese.
(3)
Meana K.
The food is consistently good. The service has varied -- I've had excellent service and I've had subpar service where you could tell the server was treating my table differently than others being served. Maybe we don't look like we've got money to spend? I've been here probably a dozen times in the past several years. When I'm in the mood for a steak, the hangar steak Mon Ami Gabi satiates that craving. Their mussels and onion soup have always been good. Their crepes are delicious and filling, and they have a bloody mary bar for brunch as well. I'm always well-stuffed here thanks to the bread and butter and their hand-cut frites that I can't get enough of. I'll still keep this toward the top of my list, but hope to see better consistency with the good service I know they're capable of giving.
(4)
Troy H.
Don't you hate when prior ruin your mood? I just went in here for a few glasses of wine. I asked the bartender if I could sit outside bc they have plenty of open tables. He says no, then he says ask the hostess. She was super pleasant even though I still got a no lol. The male host asked the manager... thank god and he said yes! The bartender told me I had to pay then and there... (not to sound ostentatious but I didn't want to) I told him I wanted ti order a couple of glasses before I left. He gave me my check, completely disregarding what I said. I thought the guest was always right. I usually don't leave these kindof reviews but he was not polite about it in anyway and it blew me. #justsaying. If you want ti relax alone without ordering food... go elsewhere, they make you feel awkward.
(2)
Sann G.
Mon Ami Gabi in Bethesda isn't likely to offend anyone's taste buds but neither is it likely to excite other than a lover of run of the mill uninspired fare. The food served here provides a mediocre homogenized French restaurant experience. Mussels, usually a signature dish of French bistro dining, were not accorded any special treatment in the MAG kitchen- they lacked depth of flavor or any kind of surprising herb elements. The Chicken Paillard was bland, not properly flattened, and accompanied by tasteless, dessicated vegetables. The skate wing was a bit better but also far from memorable. The service was OK but not engaging. For the caliber of the food, it's overpriced. Surely there are better French restaurants to be found at comparable prices.
(2)
George P.
Went here for the first time about a month ago. I made a note that it was anniversary and they threw in two nice cakes at the end of the dinner. The food was awesome, and their fries (I forgot their actual name) were well seasoned. The waiter seemed to know that we were in a rush due to parking so got us out of there promptly, which was appreciated.
(5)
Penny C.
Been here several times now. Their complimentary bread (not a fan of the carrots they give you to eat with the bread) and the scallops are very good. Nothing else is really that good. Their steaks are just OK and their fries are pretty bad. They are cut very thinly and then deep fried to hard slivers. Not the kind of fries I prefer. They really are not a classic French restaurant but a lot of people come here for the ambience.
(3)
J W.
I'll never eat in this place again. And it's too bad. We've been eating here for decades. The reason we ate there was that the nation of France had done something that annoyed the US, I've forgotten what it was since this was almost 25 years ago or more. People started to boycott the place because it was a French restaurant. The owner wrote a long, very passionate article in a local newspaper about how he had come America to build his dream and now he was facing ruin for something he hadn't done. I believe in anybody who follows their dreams and anybody who believes in America. So we ate there to show the guy our support. Mon Ami remains one of the best white table cloth place in Bethesda. It's affordable food, served with the aura of a five star restaurant. (They now offer a gluten free menu by the way, which is pretty damn good) Try the frites and steak. Here's the bad news. We ate there the other night ($77.55) and wanted a recipe for a mixed carrot dish, because my wife and I both enjoy cooking and although the dish was simple, it had vinegar, and too much or to little can kill a dish and on line recipes are seldom written for a two person serving. We asked the waiter, Vincent, for the recipe. Vincent was in a hurry to go someplace, we don't know where, or he was under some sort of pressure, but he place wasn't crowded....still the question seemed to tax him. He rambled off the recipe very fast. Evidently this was not his first rodeo for recipes. We thanked him and explained that we knew the ingredient's, we were asking for the recipes. The guy who made it, the chef, would have it. Vincent rambled off the ingredients again. And who says men don't listen? We let it go. Vincent was cranky and having a bad day we suspected and seemed stunned that a man would want a recipe. After the meal, we gave it one more try, and, speaking slowly and wearing a smile so as not to seem threatening, we explained that we were asking about the amounts used in the recipe. Vincent was very unhappy....very unhappy... that we were still on recipe issue and snapped "I already told you." Did you ever have one of those moments when you don't believe what your hearing? It was like that. If his rude reply had been delivered in a French accent, you know, it would have been almost acceptable. I held my hands out, palms down, is the internationally recognized signal for calm the frig down and asked "Well would you ask the chef for the name of the dish? We'll look it up ourselves." Poor Vincent's head exploded. He explained, I swear to God these were his words "There is no recipe. We make it here and nobody else makes it so there is no recipe and I already gave you the recipe" I'm gambling Vincent didn't do well on his school science projects. I also expected him to end his rant with the words "So there!" Anyway, I'm not going to lower myself by falling into an argument with a waiter over carrots.....steak maybe......but not carrots because it would reduce me to the status of an angry rabbit. With steak, if things went to far, you could also explain later "It was over steak". People get that. Still, Vincent's over the top answer was way, way, way out of line. So I came home and wrote it all down here, on Yelp and gave the place one star. But this begs the question, should a waiter act like a jerk to a customer? Well, yes and no. Being a waiter is a tough job, harder than it looks and dealing with the public on a walk in traffic basis isn't easy. Some people are difficult with wait staff just for cruel fun of it and the guy who was there before me may have been one of those people and I was paying for it. Okay, fair enough....but I gave Vincent three chances to be civilized, I'm not asking for hat in hand stuff here, just be nice that's all. Be civilized. But he was nasty and aggressive three times. A few days later one of the principles sent me a note, offered the recipe (We found on line) and asked if his general manager could contact me. I said, sure. Please have him contact me. I then explained that the overall restaurant shouldn't suffer because of the actions of a sole waiter who should probably be in another line of work and changed the stars rating because, admittedly, I was not being reasonable when I gave them out. I was steamed and I should have waited to write the review. Vincent is an unhappy human being, perhaps because of his probable failures in school science, the pain of giving up secret recipes, I don't know, but the food at Mon Ami is good and I do eat in the Reston location after I take in a film out there, since I live in Virginia now. I was also trying to be reasonable. You know what? As soon as I changed the ratings back to five, I never heard from the principle, the general manager, Vincent...nobody......I especially hurt over Vincent not contacting me but anyway..........how, how...how Parisian of you Mon Gabi.
(1)
P T.
Great location, food and service. Everything was incredibly tasty. We tried a couple of appetizers, two steaks (that comes with lots of frites) and chocolate mousse. Great experience. Will return soon.
I go to this restaurant often after the movie theatre, which is next door. The food is pretty good comfort stuff, standard French fare with steak and fries, or roast chicken, salad, not strange dishes, the bread is fantastic though I try not to eat too much to save my appetite for the main course. The place is big with an ample room in the back, do not be fooled by the narrow entrance and bar. The wine list is as expected as expected for this kind of restaurant.
(4)
Robert C.
I was really excited to try this place. There aren't that many French restaurants nearby where I live. Steak Au Poivre - Brandy Peppercorn Sauce ($22.95) - Grain-Feed Midwest Steak with Hand-Cut Frites. This was recommended by our server. The steak isn't bad & the sauce was pretty decent. It's nothing special in my book. But the frites're delicious, very thin yet crunchy. The frites're def the highlight of my dinner. Chicken Liver Mousse ($6.95) - With Burgundy Red Wine Mustard & Toasted Brioche. This appetizer isn't bad, however they need to give more brioche. It doesn't taste as good if you just eat the liver mousse by itself. Overall - The service's pretty good, but the food's just ok in my book. It doesn't really justify good authentic French food in my opinion.
(3)
Andrew K.
Service has consistently been great at every Mon Ami Gabi I've been to and this was no different. I tried the duck confit special and it was delicious. For appetizers we got the soup sampler which came with 3 different samples of soup in small cups. I really liked the french onion soup while my wife loved the mushroom soup. They also give you a whole loaf of french bread with jam and butter and that was good too. I wasn't a big fan of the fries here because I prefer thicker fries. I also tried the salmon and it was good.
(4)
Chanel A.
Amazing restaurant! I love that when you sit down they give you fresh, and warm baquette. And its unlimited. The ambiance is super romantic, and great decor. I had the scallop small dish and house pinot. It was delicious. I will surely return!
I came here with a friend and had a lovely brunch. Nice atmosphere and attentive service, including a visit from the manager who came by to greet us since we had noted we were first time visitors in our reservation. Seems like it would be a nice place to bring parents or other guests.
(4)
Pamela T.
I came here for my nieces 1 month old birthday. We sat in the same location my sister found out she was having a girl. As we sat down we were greeted by our server. He offered us drinks and bread. At that time we were so hungry. We looked at the menu and saw assortments of entrees and appetizers. There was a group of 7 adults and 1 baby. My sister ordered Skate, Her in laws ordered a burger, fish and salad, my mom, brother in law, my boyfriend and I ordered the rib. It comes with either mash potatoes or fries and your choice of sauce. We asked for both bernaise and this yummy red wine, onion jam. For appetizers we ordered oysters, and escargot. Oysters are yummy and not too salty, Escargot of course was just right and my mom really enjoyed it. The entrees came and let me tell you about my rib eye.. it was DELICIOUS. We all ordered it medium rare and it was so tasty. In my belief if it taste good without the sauce its really good. We added the sauce with it and it tasted even better. Our drinks were always filled, no cost on refills on soda. I really enjoyed this place and can't wait to go back.
(5)
Rich K.
I have eaten here twice now and seems to me somewhat off.The restaurant is nice enough to look at, but the food? Steak frites is ok except the frites part , over cooked shards of potato soggy.Uck! Better homemade fries at 5 guys or cheeseburger cheeseburger. I had roast duck and the sauce was very bland . On another occasion rainbow trout almandine that was under seasoned , cheap with the almonds and would have been improved with the addition of some lemon juice?To me this chain french restaurant try's hard, but misses about half the time.
(2)
Jon E.
Last night had a holiday dinner at Mon Ami Gabi. Not only was the food delicious, the service wonderful (thanks Jillian) and the ambiance great but to top off the dinner each of us received a small loaf of honey cake and a personal note of appreciation from the staff for dining there! I can't rave about this place enough!
(5)
Sophie M.
One of my all time favorites! Everything is excellent from the food to the service. The only down side is parking is never easy and it is a little pricey but it's worth it! You cannot go wrong with anything on their menu. Their French Onion Soup is amazing, the Mussels are divine, Steak Frites are delicious, I have never had anything I didn't enjoy. The profiterols are to die for with their homemade fudge sauce......you end up wanting to lick the plate! The blue cheese martini is dangerously good! The place itself is like being in a bistro in France and there is outdoor seating which is lovely as well! I always love my trips to Mon Ami Gabi and there will be many more in the future!
(5)
Anna B.
I went here for brunch today with the bf and his friend, and it was phenomenal! Service, food and atmosphere were all top notch. Not only that, but one in our party was delayed about 30 min in arrival, but they never acted annoyed or rushed us to order once she arrived. Additionally, we were catching up and sat at the table about 2 hours and were not rushed at all. We also received complementary profiteroles! It was fantastic.
(5)
Joseph Y.
You're mostly paying for service. The food wasn't that good for the price that I was paying.
(3)
Carol C.
Okay, I get it, it's not the hyper authentic carved out of the streets of Paris bistro that real Francophiles (just go to France already) want to be associated with. Yes, the waiters speak perfect English and no, please don't bring your bichon frise into the restaurant with you. About half an hour into our dining experience here though, I was frankly too enraptured with the warm crusty bread, sinfully melty brie (dripping with honey and hazelnuts. TMI?), and licking the bottom of my onion soup cup to care if i was in Bethesda or on the moon. And our entrees hadn't even come out yet. Food aside, our waiter definitely gets some major props. My friend and I even jokingly complained to each other that he was in fact, a little TOO attentive. But that was all quickly forgotten and forgiven when we consulted him for our most important decision of the night: whether to get the profiteroles or the chocolate pudding cake in addition to the white chocolate bread pudding we had already committed to. His elegant solution was to just give us the profiterole while we ordered the other two. Um, is this real life? I then proceeded to drown in melted chocolate and ice cream perfection. Also, the whipped cream is salted, which means delicious. So no, it wasn't real life. It was unadulterated nirvana. If you are what you eat, then I definitely left here as a Carol Au Gratin a la Mode. And I liked it.
(4)
Mars F.
Went with the in-laws when they came to visit. Just going over the highlights that I remember: - The mushroom soup was bland and luke warm. Overall just disappointing compared to the fancy way in which is was served (waiter comes by and pours it onto your bowl from a heated teapot thing). - Scallops that the in-laws got were HUGE and they said they were tasty, but it was just too much food. - Overall waitstaff was incredibly inattentive and unhelpful. Our guy only came by a few times and was always hanging out by the bar or out of sight when we needed him. He took forever to take our order, and didn't tell us that the scallops would be too much for a main if we were ordering lots of appetizers. - great gluten-free options, but they come at a price! May try again but this place is definitely not at the top of our list.
(2)
G R.
Location and service excellent. Only 3 stars because the steak frites are just good, not excellent, not very good. Nice but limited wine selection. They do offer a good fish alternative that is also a solid good. Good mussels, good pate. Great bread baguette and butter!
(3)
Jeffrey T.
Came here on a Saturday for Brunch. Was promptly seated with two chilled glasses of water and a nice warm french bread with butter and strawberry preserves (nice touch). Waitress was very friendly. I always love when restaurants have unique specials, that add something new to that day a level of surprise and they did indeed. Ordered a glass of chardonnay which they bring the bottle to the table, allow a generous taste with a further generous pour. Food was good. Ordered the steak with frites and I must indeed say that having eaten frites in both Paris and Belgium, they are comparable. Steak cooked well. ALso had eggs benedict (hollandaise sauce could have had more flavor). Other vary interesting items on the menu that I would be willing to return to and try. Service was fantastic.
(3)
Sara B.
We had a lovely meal here, due in part to our fabulous waiter Ruben. He was just excellent! I can't say enough nice things about the service we received, the best we've experienced in a long time. The standout was the house made country pate. First of all, they gave us an enormous chunk of it, so much that 3 of us could not finish it. It was so porky and full of flavor and it had a perfect texture. It was served with whole grain mustard, crusty bread, and the cornichon, olive, cocktail onion trio. With its neighbor on our table, one Mr. Escargot, we thoroughly enjoyed the appetizers. Natch, we had steak frites - hanger steak with Bearnaise sauce. Steak was cooked a perfect medium rare and the Bearnaise was superb. I could take or leave the frites, they could have been hotter and crispier, and I think I would have preferred them to be longer for easier dipping in the Bearnaise or the sauce from the mussels we also ordered. However, this issue was of no real consequence. Dessert - also good - I happily endorse both the creme brulee and profiteroles. One thing I will mention about this place, because I was actually notably surprised, is that the portion sizes are very generous. It may not be the cheapest place on the block (figuratively b/c I am sure most everything is over priced on this block of Bethesda), but you get some grub for your dollars here. And then the ruin of this nice evening out was the $60 parking ticket I got - seriously, Montgomery County is practicing some legal thievery with their parking fines.
(4)
Chase R.
I only go for Happy Hour. The bartenders are excellent. Drink wine and get steak&frites. End of story. Mac and cheese and onion soup are also superb
(5)
Noelle M.
Wonderful atmosphere, reminds me of restaurants in Paris. The food is of quality and it is absolutely delicious. One of my favorite spots in this area. I should also add that everything is decently priced, which is a plus. If you haven't gone there yet, please give it a try!
(5)
Travis P.
Not a typical review writer but they deserve an applause... I can't even obsess about the service enough! I incredibly enjoy the pomp and circumstance of perfect waiter etiquette but rarely ever expect it; THEY DELIVERED! There was an incredibly delicate gift-card balance misunderstanding and I've never seen such professionalism exercised by a team of wait staff. Forgetting the amazing food I had, I would go back simply to experience the service over a glass of wine!! The "manager in training," that happened to be our server clearly has what it takes to continue the amazing atmosphere I had on my first visit to the restaurant.
(5)
Alexandre S.
It's a very special place, with wonderful food, good french wine, and all people there work to make you confortable and have a nice time..
Always makes me think of my sweet home, Chicago. Lettuce Entertain You always treats you right with large portions and killer drinks. Service is top notch and many restaurants could learn from their example.
(5)
Sunshine M.
Food is excellent but staff is horrible! I know it's a French restaurant but you don't all have to act like arrogant rude snobs! Good God .... Am I paying to be treated like this? UPDATE: the general manager contacted me due to my not so happy experience and spent time listening to me and making it right! These people really care about their customers....so in all fairness I had to change my rating!
(4)
Susie S.
love this place. it has a great french atmosphere. the menu selection are pretty good. service is good. food is good , not that authentic but good enough. overall i would recommend this place.
(4)
Allyson N.
We've only ever been for brunch, but we find the food to be consistently delicious. The waitstaff is incredibly professional. They have awesome gluten free options (including GF bread, which is a rare find). In the warmer months, I love sitting outside and enjoying downtown Bethesda. Definitely make a reservation in advance for brunch. I typically get the steak benedict on gluten free bread. Their creme brulee is hard to turn down.
(4)
Babak A.
Interesting experience here, we hit this place on a Monday night that was extremely busy, the cooks and service staff were out gunned. It took an hour for our food to arrive. The food was very good, and I like to thank the restaurant manager Adam to make things right. I work in retail and he was excellent
(4)
Zara K.
Happy hour is pretty decent I would recommend people ordering their salmon burger with the frites ESP for a cheap lunch alternative (happy hr starts at 3!!!)
(3)
John A.
From what I am told upon entering, the establishment accurately replicates a real french bistro. It is casual and relaxing. There is a chalk board displaying the daily special. We opted to go with several versions of the steak and frites. All were authentically prepared and very good. A french pinot was suggested by the waiter which proved to pair well. Service was diligent with no rush even though we closed the place. Overall a very nice experience. Tres bien.
(4)
Fuego T.
Steak Frites - peppercorn ones. Get them. You're welcome. Solid place for dinner with the family. Lunch menu had a lot of solid options. The onion gratin soup was delicious. Service was really good and our waiter was great. This place is pretty popular year round, and it's no real surprise why. Definitely recommend.
(4)
Lee S.
Based upon all the good reviews I had read, I tried out this place for lunch and ordered a well-done steak and frites while my boyfriend had the scallops. The portions are a bit inconsistent to say the least; my plate was large enough to feed two people while my boyfriend had four scallops and a few vegetables scattered about. As far as the taste goes, the bread was delicious, but my heavily buttered steak was average and the frites were extremely oily and honestly a notch above McDonalds; the only difference was that we were in a classy French restaurant so I guess I was supposed to ignore the grease and the feeling of my arteries closing up? On the other hand, my boyfriend's scallops were very light, tasty, and well-cooked, and we both enjoyed them very much. For dessert, we had the warm chocolate tart with salted caramel ice cream. Now THIS was something unique and absolutely delicious! By themselves, the tart isn't sweet enough and ice cream is a bit too salty, but together, they make for an amazing combination. I carried out another steak and frites meal, a salmon salad, and hamburger for my family and none of them were extraordinarily pleased with their meals, they simply said it was "fine," which is also truly the best word I can think of to describe this restaurant. While the service was good and the atmosphere was quaint, the food was underwhelming and I know I'll be back to try something different, but probably not anytime soon.
(3)
Hue K.
I felt that Mon Ami Gabi was not exactly romantic french bistro .. but more like low-key everyday french restaurant you can come with your family, friends or just neighbors. All brunch dishes looked very good but my friend and I took lunch items since it was already 2:30 pm.. - Complimentary warm baguette comes with butter and jam. This is good enough for 4 stars. - Onion soup: Gooey Gruyere cheese covered onion soup. Good portion. Very satisfying. - Frisee warm bacon salad w/ poached egg: something light yet hearty. If you don't want anything too heavy, try this with a glass of wine and baguette. - Crab meat tartin: Lump crab meat salad (1000 island dressing) on top of buttery toast. Simple yet flavorful open sandwich. Home made potato chip was excellent. Good and attentive service. I will definitely come back for brunch and HH.
(4)
Chris S.
Second time we have been here. First time was date night outside during the summer and this time was inside during the winter with my two year old daughter. They were very accommodating and the food was excellent. I had a beef wellington for the first time and loved it though they said they used crepes instead of traditional pastry.
(4)
Gautam M.
There are certain places that make you feel real good because of their service.. and thats the first thing you feel once you walk in! The Duck burger - their daily special -was a real treat. We enjoyed the quiche lorraine and the chocolate mouse as well. Having the option of sampling the wine you want to order is a big plus as well. Overall a very good place! - good food, good wine and great service..
(4)
A L.
Elegant yet low key. Love the ambiance and service.
(4)
Claudia P.
Love this restaurant. Nice staff.
(5)
Melissa L.
Went here at Sunday lunch/brunch to celebrate a birthday. It was my first time there but the birthday boy had been many times before and considered it a favorite (thus, my high hopes). The restaurant was a LOT bigger than I thought it would be, to the point where us newbies almost missed it despite it taking up an entire street corner. (If you've never been, you should look for the bright red awning instead of the restaurant name, which is in small print and easily missed!) I had made a reservation for the three of us but turns out it wasn't needed. The huge restaurant was about 3/4 full at prime brunch hour (not sure if the July 4th holiday weekend had anything to do with it). Ambience was nice -- not too loud or quiet, big open space, fun French brasserie-style decor. Food was good but not great, which is why the 3-star review. I had the seafood crepe -- a bit strange, with the crepe actually being a pea and cream sauce crepe, and the seafood sitting on top. Scallops and shrimp were tasty and couldn't have been cooked better; I just wished they were actually IN the crepe. Or the menu item should be labeled PEA CREPE (not appetizing) WITH SEAFOOD. My friend got the lobster roll, which he said was also good but not great. It was fun to look at though; the lobster salad was crammed into what looked like a super thick-cut slice of crusty bread, and accompanied by house-made waffle chips. The exception was the birthday boy's Beef Wellington, a house special of the day (the sign on the wall said you had to call to place your order in advance (?!) but they didn't seem to hold to that rule). At about 2-3 times what our dishes cost, the Beef Wellington was definitely worth the cost. It was an amazing, juicy, melt-in-your-mouth cut of steak baked in a pastry and then swimming in divine brown sauce. I had just a bite and it was heaven. Service was pretty good -- we got seated right away and our waiter came around almost immediately with menus. The waiter was a bit MIA after our food came, but not a big deal. He did deliver us the free mousse you get with a Yelp check-in (although he'd never heard of the deal before). All in all, an OKAY experience but nothing to write home about. Except maybe that Beef Wellington... (To be fair, this place is known for its steak frites and the majority of the table got seafood. So I will definitely update this post if/when we go back and order like good 'n' proper red meat-eatin' 'Mericans!)
(3)
Stephanie W.
This place is good. Not incredible but good. Typical French bistro menu. The frites are nicely prepared and you cannot go wrong with the muscles. I continue to go back because the food and service are reliable. Also, be aware that this restaurant has a lot of hard surfaces and therefore gets quite noisy.
(4)
Kyle C.
Good food; their french onion, duck confit, steaks are amazing. I have been there many times, and I love the place!
(5)
Pamm P.
Perfect steak frittes hot crispy bread with butter. A lovely sidewalk dining area to enjoy the weather and people watching. Chocolate desserts and sorbets to finish off your meal. Service with a smile enjoy
(5)
Kathleen C.
This restaurant is very nice, the food and service are always very good to excellent. We have always had competent service so that has never been a problem. The mussels and steaks are very nice and the frites are delicious too. The french onion soup is probably the best I have ever had and I have had it in many french restaurants and tasted it when my kids and husband have ordered it, so there is little variance in the quality of the soup and it has never been extremely salty which is the problem with onion soups. The only thing that disappoints is how loud this restaurant can get when filled with people. The design of the interior makes the sound resonate so my favorite times to enjoy a meal are when the restaurant isn't very crowded. At any rate the food is delicious.
(4)
Sandy M.
We were at Mon Ami Gabi for nearly two hours last night, due to unforeseen circumstances, none of which had to do with the restaurant. We explained our dilemma to our waiter, Che, and he treated us like royalty for the rest of the evening. The french onion soup was great, the complimentary bread (warm and crunchy/soft) was a perfect accompaniment to the wine we enjoyed while waiting for our third party, the escargot were, as always, hot and flavorful. Che checked on us frequently, commiserated with us, made us laugh, and helped turn an evening that might have ended poorly into a lovely event. Thanks, Che. We'll be back!
(4)
N D.
What a great place. The whole staff was so kind and gracious. Food was awesome! Started with the amazing mushroom soup...to die for, followed by the croque-monsieur. My group also had the quiche (which was amazing) and a chicken crepe that was wonderful. We were so full, but the waiter brought us profiteroles just to be nice and didn't charge us for them. Yum! Although I don't live in D.C., I'm definitely going to visit the locations in Chicago. Thanks Mon Ami Gabi for wonderful time!
(5)
Prairie S.
I enjoyed sitting at the bar with a warmed, crusty baguette and some delicious mussels. Their ratatouille side is recommended as well. The wine list was more than adequate. One huge plus? The bartenders are NOT actually authentically French, and have good ol' Maryland manners....so I was quite pleased with the service. Plus the downtown Bethesda location works nicely.
(4)
Bob L.
French Bistro, good steak frites, kind of hard to get a table at supper on the weekends. Food is consistently good.
(3)
Paul M.
Blimey - is it almost 5 years since I first reviewed this spot. I am giving them a massive downgrade for one reason only. I still eat there 2 - 4 times per year, service is good, place is buzzing, some of the menu items are good. BUT ! Their Brussels sprouts are an abomination. This is the new "in" vegetable - every trendy place is selling it. What they are not doing it boiling the bejaysus out of them, then throwing in a few bits of bacon and calling it a day. Come on guys - that is so 70s. Here's what I need you to do: 1. pan fry some bacon, remove it, but keep the grease in the pan 2. add your halved brussels sprouts - let 'em sit a minute or two to char, then stir occasionally 3. grate one some nutmeg 4. chop your bacon bits, add them stir, serve immediately. OK?
(1)
N. A. T.
Was pleasantly surprised to see that they were serving brunch at 2pm on a Friday because it was the december holiday week. The food and service were amazing! My only complaint, which will keep me from returning: Managerial policy towards its clientele. The hostess walked us past some smaller tables, all the way to the very back of the restaurant, towards a rather large booth that could easily seat 4 or 5, even though we were just two people. Even worse, this was right next to the kitchen. We also noted two black women, like us, were seated at a similarly ridiculous table next to the one offered to us, along the back wall of this windowless room. We requested a different table, and the hostess graciously walked us to a table for two in a much more pleasant room with windows. Why we were not initially offered a more appropriately-sized table on a quietly busy afternoon was beyond us. A seat next to the kitchen door should be the last one offered. We shrugged it off and enjoyed our meal at the better table in the better room. But, eventually, the manager comes in and greets every single table but ours - and note that our table was snuggled in between two other occupied tables - to ask about their experience. It's too bad, because we would have sung his waitstaff's praises! Based on the hostess' initial attempt at seating us, which echoed the manager's choice to not greet us, we were left with the impression that we are not this restaurant's ideal client.
(2)
Rebecca Z.
The food was pretty good, but the service was not great. For example, the server asked if we wanted spreads for the bread. We said that we did, but he never brought them. My steak was also not cooked correctly and the waiter never came back to ask how things were.
(3)
Margaret N.
A bit upscale and pricey, but a great restaurant for celebrating a special occasion with family and/or friends! They have a great selection of wines too! Would definitely recommend their scallops and steak, yum!
(4)
Ali D.
Fabulous, fabulous restaurant. I only travel to this area occasionally for conferences, and I've made sure to stop here both times I've been in town. I've had nothing but impeccable service and amazing food. They start you off right off the bat with a loaf of warm baguette and whipped butter - heaven for carbophiles like myself. This time around, I had the French onion soup (on happy hour special for $5), which was amazing. The melted Gruyere was delicious (if a bit heavy, but I'm not a huge cheese person). Paired with a glass of $4 pinot noir, it was a delicious (and cheap!) dinner. They also offer a few full-size sandwiches (steak and salmon) with frites, a few different pates/liver mousses, and other $5 really great happy hour specials. All HH wines are $4 or less, and the jazz music in the bar in the evenings is a really nice touch. Although I understand that this restaurant is a chain, I'm still in love. I'm thinking about going back tomorrow night!
(5)
Elizabeth E.
This is a truly authentic French bistro! Having lived overseas, it was a real treat to enjoy an impromptu lunch here. Chilled water was served from a glass bottle, without ice (European style), and since I don't like ice in the winter, I was thrilled. The bottle was left on the table so that we could refill our glasses as needed, and when we finished it, another was promptly brought over. The mini baguette was delicious - crisp on the outside, warm and fluffy on the inside. The only negative thing I can think of is that the menu displayed outside did not exactly correlate with the menu we were given at the table, but perhaps it was just not recently updated (I had my heart set on a chicken and mushroom crepe that was included on the lunch menu outside, but was only on the breakfast menu once we sat down). The daily specials were displayed on the wall and they all sounded fantastic. I had the onion soup ($7), which was so large that I couldn't even finish it all, having eaten most of the baguette. The bread was on the bottom of the large soup bowl, which was very generously topped with gruyere (rather than the bread and gruyere being toasted on top, as is sometimes the case). The bowl was not a typical little onion soup crock, but a tall bowl, about half-quart-sized. My husband had the steak frites (classique, $27) and said it was one of the best steaks he had ever eaten. The steak was cut thin but long, I assume to speed up cooking time, which was nice since we had only stopped in for lunch. The frites were also cut thin, and the portion was huge. We didn't order wine, but when I saw the beautiful oval wheeled wine cart, I wished we had! Our server was the perfect balance of attentive and relaxed; he didn't bug us unnecessarily, but was available when we wanted him. In fact, everyone there (hostess, busers) was very polite. We could have eaten quickly if needed, and we could have lingered for hours; we were neither rushed nor delayed by the service. We could easily overhear what our neighbors were discussing, but that is to be expected in a bistro. Two very well-behaved little girls were seated with a group near us, and when one of them held up the activity paper that the restaurant had given her, I saw that it was beautifully designed to match the menus, and noticed some sort of game with a number of poodles on it! For the quality of the ambiance and food, the value is fantastic. If I lived closer, I would be a regular!
(5)
Virginia G.
My friend and I went here for brunch last Sunday. There are plenty of tables so we were seated quickly. The menu is diverse especially for Sunday brunch, not heavily laden with egg dishes. I loved that there were lunch items and we were not forced into eating the typical brunch meal. Our waiter was wonderful and extremely attentive. We started with a warm french baguette, butter, and raspberry jam. The bread was wonderful, butter was fresh, and the jam was not too sweet. I ordered the steak sandwich with the fries (yum!). The steak was perfectly cooked and the horseradish sauce was really great. It also came with an au jus dipping sauce. My friend ordered the chicken, brie, apple sandwich. It was warm, gooey and a generous serving. I especially loved the bread it was served on. Overall, this was a perfect brunch experience. We are planning on taking our friends in the future because there are so many options, everyone is happy!
(4)
Jane Q.
This was our first visit and it will not be our last. Absolutely loved the chicken liver pate, grapefruit salad and the profiteroles for dessert.
(5)
Michael B.
With a proven formula the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. The only exception being the one is Vegas, like most restaurants in Vegas it comes up a bit short, Anyway if you like French Bistro style food check it out. The mussels are always a winner, I love the crusty bread and butter the dang you off the rip, and the escargots are always a go to for me. Last time I was here we had the frisee and poached egg which wasn't the bomb but decent just a bit underwhelming. I love French food and this is always a good standby
(4)
Zhao L.
simple and elegant. Food is really good. Good atmosphere and dishes are inexpensive. Definitely recommending it.
(5)
Bon D.
Had the chilled Seafood Platter last night. Huge Shrimp, fresh mussels, great ceviche, Maine lobster - so fresh - fabulous!
(4)
Lora B.
I went here for brunch this morning based on other reviews. I'd say it wad just ok. The breakfast options are pretty limited. I got the eggs Florentine which were pretty good but I got spinach on the side instead of potatoes. It was extremely salty - I only ate half and I'm still dying of thirst two hours later. Friends asked for fruit on the side and they seemed very perplexed and then said ask they had was apples and bananas. It wad fine but fruit at brunch should be a standard. Service was ok but not attentive. Coffee served in tiny cups. I won't be back for brunch.
(3)
Jacinda T.
I'd give this place 3.5 stars if I could. But as I'm not much of a red meat eater, I'm going to have to round down this time. It's a very nice place, fits in well in Bethesda. The waiters are very courteous and usually attentive. I've dined with people who've said the steak frites is very good, so I'm going to take the word for it. I did steal some fries from the bf though, and they were very delicious. But then again, they're fries. I am a huge fan of the French onion soup here. It's a bit on the cheesy side, but I can look passed that. (which is saying something, considering I'm lactose intolerant! lactaid FTW) I also love their French baguettes; good ones are so hard to come by in MD. I've gotten the scallops here, which I didn't really like. But I'm really picky about how my scallops are seared, and these were a bit overcooked. I've also gotten a salad with some time of fish (sorry, I can't remember!) but it was good. Also, the cocktails are quite strong here. I'd stick with wine if you want to enjoy yourself. Oh, and make a reservation on open table ahead of time, you'll save yourself a wait since it gets crowded.
(3)
Don S.
The evening was lovely. Our waiter was most attentive. We all had steak frites. While the flavors were very good, the steaks were very, very thin for the price. That is my only complaint of the evening...but in my mind a significant one. There are a number of good dining places to go.....for an establishment known for this dish..it was disappointing. A lovely place and attentive staff...
(3)
Aerin R.
I went for dinner and it was pretty expensive. My sister had a salad for $18. I had the vegetable tagine and it wasn't what I expected, it tasted like vegetables in water and even though they said there would be a variety of vegetables there were basically only carrots, red bell peppers, and chickpeas. Our waitress also kept coming over asking if we wanted something even though she was standing a couple tables away the entire time and we could've just called her over. For 8 people, it was over $200. The dessert was over-rated adn over-priced. I had this apple ganache thing and I couldn't get if off the plate. The ice-cream that came with it was already half-melted when I got it. With the steak-frites, there were more frites than steak. The beef bourgignon there was this piece of beef on top of 4 noodles surrounded by carrots and that was it. It is definitely a meat place and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone that doesn't want meat. Food:4 Service:4 Price/Value:3 Atmosphere:5
(3)
Zara M.
What impressed me was our waitress as well as the food. We were only in the mood for light fare - apps & salads, not even drinks. The waitress was totally cool with this and we DID NOT get sub-par service once our menu choices became apparent. The waitress came back several times and checked on us - she had blonde hair and was probably in her 30s, wish I remembered her name. She was great. I have not had this same experience at other places in Bethesda. Also, the gluten-free options are great. They happily bring both gluten-free bread plate and normal bread plate.
(5)
stevie t.
I don't branch out too often once I really enjoy something on a menu. So I can only recommend my regular orders. But they're all very good. Starter: Escargot in a garlic butter (with parsley? Something green anyhow). I like to dip the french bread that I've buttered into this sauce. So tastey. Entree: Filet Mignon au Poivre (peppery with a dollop of cream) with a side of Frites (by far, the biggest reason to visit Mon Ami - perfectly thin and fried, also amazing with gravy). Backup Entree: If you're not a carnivore, their Macaroni Gratin is to die for. Baked in one of those black kettle pans with lots of crunchy crumbs all over. The cheese isn't typical either (very slightly sharper). Dessert: Bananas Foster Crepe with Vanilla Ice Cream (extra ice cream...small scoops). Enough said. ~ Although, I must admit, I've skipped it just a couple of times for Georgetown Cupcakes around the corner, but not too too often. The ambiance is awesome, the service is consistent and very good, the outdoor seating is just a bonus for a beautiful day.
(4)
Maddie B.
I love this restaurant!! I went for dinner on a Friday night and it was packed, you definitely need a reservation. The only thing I didn't like was the seating; next time I am going to request a corner table because it was crowded and loud and you are very close to the people next to you. The service was acceptable, a bit slow. Why did I give it 5 stars? The food was fantastic! We had the baked brie, salads, salmon, and a few desserts that were delicious. I plan to go back for lunch and just get the salad, it was so well put together, the flavors were amazing.
(5)
Phi N.
Usually parking in Bethesda is okay; I don't know what was going on tonight... the garages, the parking across the street, parallel parking... all full. As for the restaurant itself, there is a bar at the front you can have a couple drinks at while you wait for a table. There is a nice and classy ambiance to the inside. It gets pretty crowded, and fairly noisy... but we got kind of tipsy, so of course that doesn't bother us... (maybe it was just us that was noisy, sorry!...) Once at our table, the service was excellent. Our waitress was Lorena. She's great, ask for her. We tipped her well, but now that I think of it, I wish I tipped more because we were there for quite a while. As for the food, the escargo was delicious. It was by far the favorite item I ordered. The smoked salmon was pretty good too (sorry I forgot to take pictures of these). Appetizers are the way to go at this restaurant... because for my main course, I ordered the steak bordelaise. My steak was chewy, and that should not be the case when you order medium-rare, more on the rare side... the bordelaise sauce was on point, but the meat itself was what disappointed me. A friend of mine ordered the lemon chicken paillard and macaroni & cheese. Both lacked flavor and sodium. At least my steak sauce was tasty... The Graves champagne bottles we ordered were good. I'm no wine expert or anything... but I can tell you when I like/don't like something, haha.
(3)
Won K.
This review is for a take-out order from Mon Ami Gabi. Was in town for a conference, and had just gotten back from a run so I wanted a quick take-out dinner to enjoy back at my hotel (always felt weird about eating alone in a restaurant). Ordered the steak bernaise over the phone, and it was ready in like 10 minutes. The steak itself I felt was done decently. Half of it was cooked medium well, the other half medium rare like I asked. The sauce and frites were a nice touch, but it was my first steak bernaise so I have no comparison. But I didn't feel like it was anything to write home about. On top of that, they didn't give me any utensils to eat with! Oh the humanity... That said, the ambiance of the restaurant was romantic and appealing. The servers that I briefly interacted with seemed very nice as well. Hopefully I'll get a chance to go back with my conference buddies and check it out and give it another chance.
(3)
Tee D.
I had an all-around great experience here. The food, ambience and service were all good. I went with a group of friends and we shared the foie gras. The French onion soup was delicious. The whole table ordered a steak each- be warned: the steak is huge! For dessert, the profiteroles were delicious as well- I thought it was one of the best I've had though my friend disagrees. I went there for lunch on a week day. Other customers were in the 40+ range. The waiters were attentive and professional.
(4)
LaToya E.
After looking for a great lunch spot with an out of town friend we decided on this place just from the look of the patio area and boy am i glad we did! its such a cute little french bistro! The baguette that was brought out before our meal was delicious and my friend and I had the same burger cooked different ways and they were both PERFECT! The wait staff were great they were somehow always there when we needed something. I will have to stop by this place again when i want to get my fill of a bistro lunch.
(4)
Shank P.
The restaurant was underwhelming to say the least. My onion soup was burnt. Friends ordered rockfish special and felt it was undercooked. When they asked to exchange their dish, the manager came to the table. Unlike other restaurants that measure their worth in customer service, he spoke rudely and was not at all courteous. The one vegetarian entree was mushy veggies with couscous. Needless to say- mediocre fare and poor customer service. Bethesda has much better to offer! The server and valet were fantastic!
(1)
Amanda L.
I almost forgot to write the review. I saw Mon Ami Gabi first in Last Vegas and it was packed. From the name, I know it's French Bistro, and the environment should be private, romantic and intimate and they are. This one we went to located in Bethesda center, next to the cinema. The interior looked very nice, very like Europe and on a Wednesday night dinning time, there are lots of senior citizens made this place look warm and family-oriented. My friend and I ordered mussels, crab cake and short rib(marinated beef sth) with chocolate mousse as dessert. We were really full. I really like the beef as it came with mashed corn & carrots, a little spinach all very tender and delicious. Mussels are not as good as the Terrace restaurant in Kennedy Center, which used more white wine in cooking. The sauce came with crab cake was great, sweet but not too filthy.Their menus change according to the seasons as well, seems like all the restaurants are doing that now. One con is the seats are really close to each other, difficult to get out or in. So, better just seat there until the end of meal. lol
(5)
Callen B.
The best steak I have had in a very long time! I ordered the Steak Roquefort and profiteroles which were both excellent. The service was also top notch! Can not recommend this place highly enough!!!!
(5)
J G.
We had a great dining experience. Our waitress Rebecca was polite, knowledgeable, and very attentive. The venue was quiet when we first arrived (Monday 6pm) but quickly filled to capacity as the night continued. Each course was delicious. We will definitely return for the service alone.
(5)
Kevin P.
Had the rib-eye on bone, and it was just OK. It was definitely overpriced. The ambiance and service; however, was great. Seems like a decent place to go on a nice date.
Terrible terrible service . Very rude middle eastern hostess. She didn't have any kind of customer service. Made the restaurant feel a very cheap place.
(2)
Tra H.
We came here for lunch. I liked the French Onion soup, and the fact that they give an entire baguette for free. The main courses were okay, good enough but not outstanding. We ordered the chicken and mushroom crepe and the steak sandwich. They were both pretty bland. The fries were very good though - crispy and rich. The portion here is huge, so you might want to just order one meal to share. My boyfriend and I had just biked a good 15 miles to get there on the Crescent trail, we were both starving, but yet we could not finish all the food, and we have never not finished anything. Overall, a pleasant experience. Good staff, good atmosphere, generous portions. The food wasn't outstanding, but good enough.
(3)
Rob H.
Great food, good service. Very noisy atmosphere, and tables very tight. Slightly pricey for what you get. Parking in that area is a complete nightmare, be sure to arrive 30 minutes early unless you plan to valet.
(3)
Teeny L.
We love this place!! We drive down to Bethesda from Philadelphia several times a year JUST TO EAT HERE. The steaks are unbelievably tender and the Bearnaise Sauce is Excellent. During our most recent visit, the Manager, Adam Murphy was extremely attentive to the guests at every table in the restaurant. He stopped by each table to ensure that everyone was enjoying their meal and to check if anyone needed anything. He was working hard providing excellent customer service to all. I have not seen a manager work this hard in a long time. The best part of our dinner was the profiterole dessert. Oh my- it is huge and the most delicious dessert that I have ever had. YUM. I highly recommend this restaurant. It is my favorite. I can't wait for our next roadtrip to Bethesda!!!!!
(5)
Tracy L.
So what if this Is a chain, because it's a really good one! We've had dinner here twice and it never fails to deliver a delicious classic French meal. Go with one of their steak and frites entrees and get garlic spinach as a side to complete the meal. While you eat, enjoy some wine, the traditional French brasserie decor and the attentive service. Recommended.
(4)
Kristen J.
excellent service and great food!
(4)
judith a.
Always fun to sit on the sun on summer. The salads and food is good , service excellent and friendly, always a jovial and happy time here.
(4)
Roy S.
This was a pretty nice place. Busy and loud but with a reservation I waited 5 minutes. The steak au poivre was nicely cooked but the focus was on the brandy sauce and not the peppercorns. I was hoping for the opposite. The steak is also pretty thin. The french fries were plentiful but flat? It was interesting but I prefer larger fries (tough to complain about fries though). I really liked the green beans but some people might want them mushier (no idea why). Great wine list, very friendly staff, and right next to Bethesda Row theater (dinner and a movie!!!) I want to try the chicken next...
(4)
Joe G.
So I ate here on my birthday with 6 friends the other day and it was absolutely fantastic. Everyone ordered some kind of steak and it was very delicious all around. Even the cucumber soup thing turned out to be very nice. Anyway, the service is always great here and the food is delicious. I really can't say much more about it than that. I mean, the wine is super expensive, but this is a fancy french restaurant so that is to be expected. They even brought out TWO birthday cookie/chocolate sauce/ice cream things instead of just one! :D I can't eat chocolate but other people in my party assured me that it was delicious and I appreciate they do that thing on your birthday. They will NOT sing happy birthday to you though and I'm sure most birthday patrons probably appreciate not being embarrassed. :) I recommend getting the filet with the red wine reduction sauce, it is my new favorite!
(5)
Mike M.
Love Mon Ami Gabi. The food is fantastic, the service is always top shelf and the location is perfect for a nice night out. I usually start wit h the country pate followed with the steak frites. Occasionally I'll stop by at lunch and sit at the bar and enjoy the pate by myself. You just can't have a bad day if you've had Mon Ami Gabi's country pate for lunch. Get a reservation if you're going for dinner and plan on a long, leisurely dinner.
(5)
Maureen H.
Mon Ami Gabi is a nice French-themed chain restaurant. I've been to the locations in Reston and Bethesda enjoy the food. For a chain, it's still fairly authentic (They do serves Moules Frites, which already earns a few stars from me!) and the ambiance is nice. For brunch, they have a build your own Bloody Mary bar and a rolling champagne cart which is a nice touch. The menu is varied so there's something for everyone in your group (the vegetarian, the cheap person, the Francophile, etc). The only thing that makes it less than perfect is the obscene amount of up-selling. I know it's not the server's fault - I've worked in enough restaurants to know that they probably have to memorize a script of 'specials' every day and offer specific appetizers and sides or risk getting a bad score from a secret shopper. It just makes things a little bit awkward at times and cuts into the 45 minutes or so that I'm paying to enjoy an otherwise really great meal.
(4)
Perry P.
J'adore ce restaurant! I love the bustling atmosphere. It does get loud, but if you eat late, it thins out nicely and you can hear the great French jazz they play over the speakers. I ran into a love jazz trio in the bar one evening, but don't remember what night of the week that was. Anyway -- my favorites are onion soup, caesar salad, bacon wrapped filets, French toast (at brunch), pommes puree (mashed potatoes) and escargots. Don't miss the complimentary shredded carrot salad and warm bread at the beginning! De-lish! The one thing I don't "get" are their frites. They are a little small and chewy -- not as crisp as I would like. For dessert, the profiteroles are to die for! Also love the chocolate mousse and creme brulee. This is my go-to place when I want a nice filling bowl of hot soup or a carb overload...
(5)
Kim H.
Excellent food and particularly great service. It felt like an extravagant evening because the food was so delicious and we were so well taken care of. Just wow.
(5)
Jeremy P.
My wife and I love this restaurant! Excellent food, service, and atmosphere, and conveniently located right next door to the Theaters at Bethesda Row. I Highly recommend the Bearnaise steak, which I enjoyed with a red Rhone wine. And don't skip dessert here. The La Grande Profiterole is life-affirming. Our waiter ceremoniously poured melted chocolate on it at our table and it drew an audience. The only reason I don't give this restaurant a perfect score is because the steak was probably the second or third best I've had. But I eat a lot of great steak so this is a high score for me (I have a perfect score reserved exclusively for #1). Nevertheless, Mon Ami Gabi is way up there among my favorites!
(4)
Deborah N.
I am an ami of good onion soup and pseudo Parisian-looking bistros, especially when they are right next door to a good arts movie house. Go on Tuesday nights for the duck (le quaq) and the jazz (le jazz). Trouve le parking in the garage up the street. I'm not so amoureused with the prices of the glasses of wine but I guess most of the Bethesdaish clientele can afford to drink there without batting an oeuf. (Oops, that means egg!) Moi, je suis pauvre, alors je prend seulement le soupe a l'oignon avec du pain gratuit ou un cafe.
(4)
Anika K.
Came here for dinner and ordered scallops. Friends ordered steak and frites and king salmon. Honestly, my dish tasted the best out of all. Friends complained the steak were not so great qualities and were little over done. Service was great, atmosphere was great, would come back here again but probably won't order steak next time.
(3)
Mike S.
When you see the restaurant through the windows, you would think that this place is for upscale with dinner dress establishment. When you go through the door, you would still think that your wallet will be bitten at the end of the dinner. When you start getting served, you would start easing up your jacket and really study the menu. When you taste the first appetizer, you tend to forget about your dinner check. When you take a bite of its entre, you are not thinking about your money but what to get on your dessert. Finally when you ask for the check, you would see that your credit card comes out of your wallet in a speed that you've never seen before. I hope this helped with your imagination of the place. Oh one last thing, the next morning, you can't believe you spent so much on wine.
In search of Saturday Brunch? Look no further - this is an oasis of food, drink, and tasteful decor on the Row. I met a friend here before seeing two movies at Bethesda Row Cinema and we knew we had several hours to kill before we needed to grab our seats. I can think of no better place to spend a leisurely Saturday afternoon eating and drinking than at Mon Ami Gabi. I met M for brunch at 1 and ordered myself a mimosa while she took advantage of the Build Your Own Bloody Mary Bar. We chatted and eyed the menu for a good long while until our server informed us that the egg special was Eggs Benedict over Braised Short Ribs. Easy decision! We both ordered the Egg Special as well as a plate of Smoked Salmon to split. And right after we ordered our food do you know what happened? A server came by and dropped off a baguette. He gave us a WHOLE BAGUETTE. It's like he knew what I hope to get out of life (Hint: it is a whole baguette. i hope to get a whole baguette out of life) and then left it there in a paper bag for me. Good man. The salmon plate was excellent and perfect for splitting, nicely full of capers and onions and creme fraiche. The eggs were absolutely fantastic, poached perfectly and perched on a bed of shredded, flavorful beef short ribs. The hollandaise had the right zip and didn't break while we ate; I honestly could have done without the potatoes or English muffin and been happy with just the eggs and ribs. They were THAT good. As we moved to duck out to Dolcezza on my suggestion, the skies opened up and a wall of water fell from the sky. Thunder filled the air and the lights dimmed and rose, dimmed and rose while the wind tried to push said water wall horizontally outside. "So. Drink and dessert?" M suggested, eyeing the bar directly to our left. Yes, please. We each enjoyed a Cafe Normande and shared the Bananas Foster Crepe and Flourless Chocolate Cake. The cafes were perfectly boozy and the crepe was a delight to share but the flourless chocolate cake was a bit too airy and we did not clean our plates. Overall a fabulous (though mildly spendy) day and one I plan to repeat, much to the chagrin of my husband's credit card I suspect.
(5)
Lauren S.
Easily my favorite French restaurant in the area! There isn't much competition but it still deserves all five stars. Every course is enjoyable if you order French things (and not items like the burger). The escargot is very rich if you're not afraid of snails. Save some bread so you can sop up the delicious sauce that is always left over from it! Their steaks are (I believe) either flank or hangar steaks that are marinated and cut real thin. When I first saw them, I thought it was a cheap cop out to use a cheap cut but it really works! The steaks are always tender and never (so far) overcooked. I've tried the peppercorn steak, the Merlot steak, and Roquefort steak. I'd recommend all of them depending on your personal taste but I found the third option to be my favorite. They all come with steak frites which are good by themselves. The fact that they naturally soak up all the sauce from the steak itself makes them terrific. Their desserts are all sweet and yummy. Even if they didn't all seem French, they are great! I recommend the cobbler, it is both warm and rich. I thought going to L'Auberge Chez Francois would spoil me on French food but Mon Ami Gabi really comes close on flavor and feel. It may be a little pricey compared to other places in the immediate area but is perfect for occasions. It's also perfect for those times when you just really need a good meal to take the stress away.
(5)
Ryan B.
I've been here several times for lunch and dinner, so it's about time I gave this place a review! Service is usually great as well as the steak and frites dishes. It's a great and less expensive alternative to the higher end steak places in the area. I've had a lot of the menu and can't say I've been disappointed. I'll continue to come back here with family and friends when the opportunity presents itself.
(4)
Robin G.
I'm upgrading my review after tonight's meal. We sat outside and had excellent service. My husband had steak and it was tender and he thoroughly enjoyed every bite and finished it all! I had the trout with the haricots verts. My cocktail was o point as well. Very good experience we had. Glad I gave it another shot!
(5)
Tanya G.
Reasons why I go to Mon Ami Gabi 1. Mushroom soup Hmmm I guess that's only one. Now I can be annoying and repeat myself with increasing exclamation marks, adjectives and adverbs but hopefully that is not necessary (and I do love my exclamation marks :-). That is also not to say that my dear friend Gabi doesn't have anything else worthwhile to offer, the food is delicious, service phenomenal, and the location can't be beat. And who doesn't love a make your own Bloody Mary station?!?! But I'm just being honest; the mushroom soup is go out of your way to this particular restaurant to fulfill your craving worthy. Admit it, you have that one thing at that one restaurant that you go to. Guilty?!?! I thought so :-)
(5)
Don H.
Everything is great here. Good for wine and foods. A quick bite or a longer meal. Just be prepared for it to be pricey and busy.
(4)
myra f.
On Mother's Day had brunch. Well again skip potatoes cold yuck!!! Seems to be a theme that management could fix. Actually whole meal came out cold. If butter on top is not melting at all something is wrong. Waiter was ok. He was nice but could have come back to table to check on us. We were there at 9:30 am it was not crowded. Bread was awesome as usual. I am sure we will be back, but feeling it is hit or miss at this location.
(3)
Emily P.
Okay, I think I'm just done with French restaurants. They either serve puny dishes or food that je ne sais quoi the fuss is all about. Mon ami gabi. I don't get the appeal. I think I went in with high expectations? Maybe I should have gotten the steak because I heard that was their specialty, but I wasn't feeling steak (so maybe, maybe, if I go back, I can write a different review.) Alas, I got the half chicken and fries. Yes, the dish was huge. I couldn't finish it. 2/3 of it was covered with these flat fries that went through liposuction. Not a fan of anorexic fries. The chicken was juicy and seasoned, so I guess that was pretty good. But my friend who ate the rest of the chicken I barely poked into said that the center wasn't that good. The chocolate mousse was divine. I guess, overall, I am not an ami, but not an enemy I either.
(2)
Pape T.
Great food! The desserts are fantastic... It's my go-to restaurant! The spinach salmon salad is great and, for brunch, the blueberry french toast are absolutely delicious!! Great atmosphere... Especially when you're outside on a nice day.
(5)
Amy S.
Aside from the fact that I had two breakups with boyfriends here (which added a bit of sourness to the experience), the breakup dates/fights ended up being quite delicious. In fact, I wouldn't mind having a little more heartbreak if it meant I could eat here again! That steak and chocolate mousse made these the best breakups ever! After he stormed out, I sat there in pleasure tasting that sweet taste of freedom with my delectable glass of champagne and munching away on two delicious French entrees. Weee weeee!! Did I mention the HOT bartender (ooops)? And the fabulous customer service....!
(5)
David W.
Service was a bit slow today, and when I requested Ciroc for the Bloody Mary bar, I expected the vodka in a glass so I could make my own at the Bloody Mary bar... not a pre-made Bloody Mary. The chilled Seafood Plateau "serves two or more" was tasty - but I ate it myself, had desert after, and am still hungry. I only weigh 140#... So no, this does not serve two or more. Maybe an appetizer for two, but not a meal. I'll be back, but this was not this restaurant at it's best...
(4)
Sarah C.
Enjoyed a late XMas Eve dinner before heading out of town. It was packed with families and holiday music tickled our ears. I chewed accordingly to the beat of the songs while people-watching through the window. As customary, we attacked the shredded carrot spread/slaw that I usually mentioned to others as a French version of kimchi w/no spiciness. We devoured this with no bread. Since hubs delighted in sauerkraut and I was a fan of kimchi, MAG's orangy goodness was a comforting start for the evening. I wished for something minty so a mojito was on its way and the hubs enjoyed a glass of Louis Bernard 2006 red wine. The bartender must've been in a festive mood because my green drink was super-hero powerful. Wow, Merry Christmas to me. As for the red wine (I'm not a novice nor am I a connoisseur), it paired well with our chicken entrees. Like their steaks and pork, the chicken classics were tasty. And OMG the frites. I appreciate how these scrumptious goodies are a combination of thinly cut fries and potato chips morphed into this MAG creation. I'm a starch fan. But the finale were two desserts not printed on their current menu. I had the spice cake topped with caramel and, I believe, a scoop of cinnamon ice cream. The hubs chose bread pudding with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. A pic of my gratifying treat is found in their business profile yelp.com/biz_photos/9HHQ… With our bellies full, we were ready for the holiday drive - actually HE was ready for the drive and I was looking forward to the road trip. Bless the better half. MAG's service was friendly, timely and efficient as usual. A regular favorite local spot.
(4)
Miranda C.
This review is long overdue. I came here for a wine tasting and French Fare. Although I couldn't drink any of the wines, there was an abundance of hors d'oeuvres that were just incredibly delicious. Other than having an outstanding time with my friends, I also made some new ones too. Everyone at the event was so friendly and inviting, I must attend the next one! Hopefully I'm available when they do! Definitely recommend this place to anyone that hasn't tried their amazing French Fare! It is to die for! Lol, not literally though!
(5)
Kevin O.
Every time I go there (have been there about 6 times at this point) they do a great job. Service is excellent. Food is fantastic and they are consistent. No, I do not work there, but felt I should do some good reviews as it is easier to by critical of bad spots which I find very often. Had Birthday dinner tonight with brother and his family. Steak is to die for.
(5)
Caroline L.
Came here on a hot day and found the main dining room to be a bit uncomfortably hot. I had a glow of perspiration throughout the entire night (limited myself to one cocktail b/c I felt another one would only make my face warmer and sweat more). Tried to Nutty Russian drink which I thought was yummy. The back dining area was significantly cooler. LOVE LOVE LOVE the whole loaf of warm bread they give you in the beginning of the meal. I mean seriously- the entire loaf? My cousin enjoyed the carrot salad a lot. It wasn't anything wow but it was tangy and crunchy and good difference in texture. Got mussels for the appetizer which was DELICIOUS. We literally finished off another loaf of bread just so we could soak up the broth in the bottom of the pot! We all got a different style of steak and frites for our entree. I got the Steak Classique which came completely well done even though I had asked for medium rare. The middle was completely well done which only makes you think how overdone the outer part of the steak would've been. The server quickly took it back but didn't seem all that apologetic (although he did ask how it was after he brought a new one). This time the steak was medium-well. I gave up and just ate. I appreciated them trying to bring it out quickly but the pad of butter was still completely solid on top (and i think they forgot the seasoning). I was really unimpressed. I guess the classique steak is naturally pretty thin so medium rare is hard to do?? My cousin got the cheapest Hanger Steak and hers was beautifully medium rare b/c it was a thicker piece of steak. So to summarize: delicious free bread, delicious mussels (YUMM!), don't get the Classique steak b/c they don't seem to know how to cook thin cuts of steak properly. I'd come back. Hopefully their a/c is working better now.
(4)
J R.
I don't normally like chain restaurants but this place is great. I've eaten there lots of times over the years and the food has always been great. I had lunch here on Labor Day with Cookie and my daughter. We sat outside. We had a fantastic waiter. I wish that I knew his name. He was always attentive to my daughter's needs. I had a steak sandwich for lunch and Cookie had a chicken gouda sandwich. Both sandwiches were fantastic. My daughter had a mac and cheese kids meal that was only $4. Most time kids meals come with a bunch of junk food but not here. The kids meal had apples and vegetables with it. This meal was a total success and I can't wait to come back.
(4)
Debra T.
25 FOR 25 IS A MUST! An endless supply of wine and delicious h'orderves. I also met a lot of nice and friendly people so I highly recommend checking it out if you haven't already.
(5)
Kristi L.
Delicious food, it is on the list all day long.
(4)
Jen C.
While the decor was eerily similar to Maggiano's Little Italy (minus the red checker table covers)--to which we later found out is under the same restaurant company--the service and food here is what you would expect from a chain restaurant. The free bread and carrot salad starters were tasty, but anything with butter wins my heart. And this was truly the theme of the night. Everything. was. doused. in. butter. We ordered the brie cheese, which came with delicious garlic cloves and melted brie...though it was not hot enough; it became very hard to cut very fast. Delicious but too much honey. Then, we ordered the chicken and the steak. Chicken was fresh but standard (thank god for the butter), and steak was overly salty, potato "fries" had an odd chewy consistency. Nothing to wow. Overall, good food for a stop by if you aren't too picky about which restaurant to go to and want good service. Won't be disappointed, and won't be given unbelievable food. I have a feeling this doesn't serve authentic French food...as I walked away still stumped what exactly it is.
(3)
Monica S.
This French restaurant was so delicious. I would go back in a heartbeat! The atmosphere was very lively. It was little loud in there but nothing crazy. I had the scallops and my date had the hanger steak both of which were delicious. We also had wine paired with both of our meals. The desserts were also fantastic. I had the bananas foster. Over all a bit pricey but the food is well worth it.
My girlfriend's steak was overly buttered and the fries were pretty greasy, definitely did not expect that. What most people don't realize is that with a good steak there is only need for salt and pepper seasoning, and the butter did not add anything other than calories. To add to that we were still burping an overpowering steak smell long after consuming the meat. Their scallops are good, but the sides that came with it could be a little more flavorful. Dessert was a unique combination of tastes that turned out excellent, and the bread was very fresh. But based on phrases that comes with each star ratings, and the overall meal, I definitely feel that "I've experienced better."
I recommend making reservations for brunch, as this place is pretty popular. Everything I had was very good: smoked salmon appetizer, quiche lorraine was delicious and I'm at best a border-line quiche fan, seafood crepe was also very good. Yes, Mon Ami has desserts, but there is Haagan Das next door, just putting it out here!
(4)
Eunice K.
went here for restaurant week.. i ordered the onion soup, salmon and bread pudding my mom ordered the caesar salad, steak with peppercorn sauce..? and bread pudding my sister ordered the au poivre burger when you first come in and sit they do give you warm bread and butter :) yum we all tried a lil of each others dish everything was just okay nothing amazing.. the best part was the frites/fries ;)
(3)
Keisha S.
By far my favorite place to eat in Bethesda just good food all around and the staff is always professional and kind. Perfect for lunch and dinner.
(4)
Jae K.
Had a friend in town, and went for sunday brunch. Decided to sit inside, since the sun was scorching our back. Service was excellent, food-wise, it's everything you'd expect from French restaurant. Unfortunately, can't quiet give it a 5 since it's nothing I haven't seen before in our French restaurants, but it's def a nice and friendly place to grab some French food in Bethesda Row
(4)
Gretchen K.
Love the food & the people. My favorite place for the perfectly cooked steak! Brunch is fantastic too!
(5)
Joseph P.
Went for dinner tonight around 8pm. I had made reservations earlier so getting seated wasn't a problem. The only complaint I'm going to have in this review is that the tables were pressed pretty closely to each other and the table of 5 next to us were having a pretty enthusiastic conversation about one of their girlfriends are her..escapades. Not an entirely appetizing conversation to overhear. Onto the positives. Great service! Our waiter was very patient with us (we didn't decide until his 4th trip back to check on us) and was also very informative whenever we did have questions. I ordered the steak bordelaise (caramelized onions and red wine sauce) and my girlfriend ordered the skate wing. We shared a macaroni and cheese on the side. The steak was ordered medium rare and came medium rare (we all know how those can turn out sometimes). My expectations weren't through the roof since it is a thinner steak and I'm more of a ribeye person. However, the steak was cooked perfectly and the caramelized onions were a sweet addition. It came with some onion fries which were average. The skate wing was also very good. Crisp yet tender just the way it should be. It came some cauliflower puree which was delicious. The mac and cheese was rather heavy and we found it burdensome to finish. The best part of the meal had to be the dessert. We ordered the blueberry sorbet and the profiteroles. Best profiteroles I've ever had. By best, I mean I've only had them once before but who's counting anyway. The blueberry sorbet was also a nice touch to end a heavy dinner. Good service, nice area, generous portions, good food, reasonable price. Enjoy!
(4)
Monty M.
This is a handsomely appointed restaurant with average food and very poor service. Our waiter was an odd combination of traits; pushy yet inattentive. He tried quite hard to get us to order the specials, aggressively promoting the featured dishes with florid praise ("You won't even need to see the menu after I tell you about our specials!"). He seemed very eager to sell us more food and wine than we wanted. My meal of roasted chicken was a large portion, yet flavored heavily with garlic, including whole cloves served nearly raw with sauteeed, diced mushrooms beside the chicken. The chicken was of average quality and seemed to have been brined to tenderize it. It was very salty and wet instead of moist, and tough, with fatty undercooked skin (not at all like authentic Poulet Roti). The frites are not actually frites, but ribbon cut French fries. Yet they were crisp and could be appealing to some diners. Yet the intense flavor of undercooked garlic spoiled the dish. The liquid seeping from the chicken turned the crisp fries into a watery, garlic-y mess, just unappetizing. Our waiter was simply inept (forgot to serve desert, called out to us from another table instead of coming near us, did not offer a desert menu, simply ignored or forgot to put in the desert order ) . A waitress from the next station stepped in to help him (actually picked up our check and handed it to him for processing the credit card). This restaurant has potential, but should offer more sophistication to its service and treat those with small appetites more graciously (we both ordered entrees but no wine, starters or sides). Smaller portions of higher quality food would render Mon Ami Gabi more authentic. Less really is more. Our waiter left a very poor impression of this handsome restaurant, and that's a true handicap. I wanted to like Mon Ami Gabi, but in the end did not like the way I was treated there nor the badly prepared, average quality food, I hope your experience is different.
(1)
Ginny H.
Love it. The mussels, the atmosphere. Everything I've eaten was good and, if you can't mnake it to Fouquet's, make it to Mon Ami G.
(4)
Michael M.
I love this restaurant. Had the chicken liver mousse as a starter and it was heaven. The scallops with whipped cauliflower was quite tasty, although the consistency of the whipped cauliflower was a little too thin, I thought. Nevertheless, it was a very fine dinner. The server was professional and attentive. You do have to plan ahead when you come here though. Everytime I've come here on a whim, it's always been an hour wait, and the bar is tiny so there's no room so I wind up going elsewhere. Make reservations.
(4)
Michellea D.
Yum!! The plates are so large that I split one with my friend. There was no split charge. Definately have the desert (any of them). We split three of the deserts and they were all sooooo good. Can not go wrong with any of the menu items.
(5)
Barbara A.
Steak Frites, pate, wine, all great, slightly noisy but moreso cozy and very European atmosphere. Service is great, especially considering the tightness of the space at times. Have never had to wait with a reservation and valet parking is super helpful in this area. Overall Mon Ami is a worry free option for a great night out.
(4)
Al L.
Went here for Valentine's Day dinner b/c my gf loves French food and this is one of her fave places. I'm not so much a fan of French food but I'll go once in a while. First good thing was we had a reservation at 8:30 and we got there a little bit early and got seated immediately. But we got seated in the main room which was extremely crowded and loud. When I went to use the restroom I saw the back room which was less crowded and more cozy if you only had a table for 2. We got put between two tables of four and basically ended up yelling just to hear each other talk, it felt like we were trying to talk in a loud bar or something like that. Anyways, we started w/ French onion soup and scallops for appetizers. The soup was good but the scallops were pretty much all cheese and onion and 4 little scallops. Not worth the price to me, I've had much bigger scallops for much cheaper at other places. The bread was ok, kind of hard. Steaks were good, cooked to order and had lots of flavor. The only thing is the "hanger" steak is really small! Finally ended w/ creme brulee which was really good there! Service was excellent though, very helpful and attentive but not intrusive. Overall it was a nice experience, next time if I could sit in the back room I'm sure it would be nicer.
(3)
Constance C.
As others have noted, there's nothing authentic about this place, but they definitely went out of their way to buy out a French props warehouse. It has the feel of an Epcot French restaurant, which normally would be a deal-breaker for me, but we were seeing a movie next door, it was open at that odd hour between lunch and dinner (which is definitely a little more French, than American, especially in Bethesda), and we had been craving French bistro food for a few days. With our expectations adjusted accordingly, I have to say we were pleasantly surprised. The restaurant was pretty bustling at 4 p.m. but not overly busy. Waitstaff was very polite and service was quick. Each table is immediately served a vinegary carrot salad and a warm mini-baguette, both of which were pretty good. I had a sandwich du jour of pork loin with sauteed apple, and it was decent. The pork was a little bland, but juicy and tender at least, and I liked the weird, thin, flat, frites. Sandwiches are served with a frisee salad well-dressed in a mustardy viniagrette, which I actually enjoyed. I would never go out of my way to go here, and I wouldn't wait in line either, but under similar Sunday movie-going circumstances, I would be perfectly happy to be whisked away for 45 minutes to the romantic streets of Disneyworld.
(3)
Michael S.
The rating is an average of my and my friend's opinions (sort of). Anyway, this was the first time I've been to this place and for the most part I thought it was pretty good. I liked the bread, I liked my dish (the steak bordelaise) and the banana crepe I had for dessert was OK (read: just OK) too. The tables were obnoxiously big (a minor detail but....) and I didn't really like that "bench seating" they had going on. The servers were definitely not all French, but then again this is a sort of chain so I wasn't really expecting to be totally immersed in French-ness. My friend had the lemon tarte for dessert but neither of us were really satisfied with that. If you're going on a Friday night like we did, make sure you have a reservation...we had to wait 1.5 hours for a (inside) table. Luckily we stopped somewhere else to get an appetizer...I don't really see why it was so crowded? Overall, there are better French places out there. But give this a shot.
(4)
Lisa H.
Mon Ami Gabi is one of those places, that silently creeps up behind you and unknowingly lures you in. I had absolutely no expectations before entering this adorable establishment, and left with such high expectations for all other fine dining restaurants as a result of this jaunt. First, the size of the restaurant was very deceiving. From the entryway, there were only two rooms that were visible to the unexpecting patron. However, I realized how cavernous, quaint, and charming the venue was, as we passed through two other dining rooms before we were eventually seated in a very cute area in the back. We started our meal with a delicious carrot salad, dressed with vinegar, sugar, and a touch of salt. Along side of the carrots, was an entire loaf of warm baguette. This option was great, as it ensured variety, and not just the boring bland basket of bread. The next course, was a beautiful pot of mussels, which simmered in a white wine garlic sauce, with sauteed onions. It was remarkably light, and non-offensive. The mussels were plump and mild. Just the way I like them. Next, we moved our way onto the main course. I had seared scallops, with sauteed spinach and whipped cauliflower. WOWza. The scallops were seasoned perfectly with only salt, pepper, and olive oil. They were seared to perfection (non-fishy and non-chewy, simply delightful). The spinach was dressed with salt, pepper, olive oil, and a hint of garlic. Nothing out of the ordinary. I must say, the perfect compliment to the scallops was the whipped cauliflower. It was truly out of this world. It was seasoned with salt, heavy cream, and a touch of lemon. It was so mild, and thick, it really did give the illusion of mashed potatoes. Now onto the dessert. While our friends enjoyed the bananas foster, my husband and I indulged in the flourless chocolate cake. It was dense, rich and artery clogging. What more could you ask for? All in all, this was a great experience and we would be most inclined to return. The only reason why I cannot give it 5 stars is because of the unsanitary look of the flooring. I know, call me anal, but in a fine dining establishment the floors actually do matter. They are all tile, and look like they have about 20 years of dirt packed into the grout. They were also slippery, which does not sit on the palate very well, when you are unsure of to who or what you owe that unctuous feel. Outside of that, it's a home run.
(4)
Aaron S.
Outside seating is close to the street but still great atmosphere. Very attentive staff and food came quick. I had the scallops, which were excellent, but the fries that came with my friend's steak was outstanding. My guess is they were fried in lard.
(4)
Rrose S.
I was very impressed the first time I went here, but each time I've returned the food and service (and our waiters' English skills for some reason) just get worse and worse. After our last visit when we had to flag down our waiter to ask for our bread and water several times, and my mojito just had twigs and leaves thrown in it (no muddling to speak of), I don't think we'll be returning. Which is a shame because the onion soup and house salad is actually very good.
(2)
Matars Z.
Its difficult to know how to rate Mon Ami Gabi. Mon Ami Gabi has great food over a MAJORITY of visits. This is probably the restaurant I visit most often in Bethesda, every other week, and the range of experience is highly varied. I've had pretty much everything at some point, and seen every season's menu change since they opened. I based my rating on the fact that on a good night when service is great (RARE) and they don't overcook the steak or make other errors, the food can really be fantastic. True bistro comfort food in a pleasant setting- its not sophisticated or complicated, but its exactly what one craves for a bistro visit. Some of soups and specials have been sublime in the last few years. The problem is the following - you have roughly a 33% chance of having food issues (usually because of the service staff delays or errors) and a 75% chance of having awful service. While the managers at this place are really great and generally fix the problems, it is a hassle to have to send back steaks, or ask for managers to fix orders. My experience over the last five to six years has been that three out of four waiters in this restaurant are clueless - clueless as to meat preparation, the ingredients of specials, the preparation, the wine list- and have attitude to go with their lack of knowledge, which is disturbing. They are not attentive to the very simply but specific requests you make, and food is served cold, lukewarm, overcooked - often as a result of the service staff timing. I ask my guests not to even bother asking detailed questions about the menu or preparations, or wine -because some of the responses have been mind-boggling over the years. The service goes from awful to absolutely abysmal if you are truly unlucky and land one of the five or six waiters who absolutely seem to be bothered by having to work at this establishment, making for very grudging service. These are the ones who answer back after making errors - and tell you "steak can't be cooked medium rare to rare - it has to be one or the other" or argue about the soup you didn't order (the only solution I found is just to avoid these waiters by special request). When the food is prepared as it is supposed to - not oversalted, not overcooked, not sitting under a heat lamp forever, not brought to the table at the same time as your appetizer and salad, or left to get cold, - when this happens, its a perfect meal. The reason I keep going back is that as a repeat customer I have finally worked out the methods for increasing my chances of a great food experience with good service. But most visitors may run into the problems again and again and it should not have to be so hard to get good service and warm food that is delivered to your table before it is overcooked under heat lamps, or cold. If your first experience is not good, give it a second or third chance. The primary problem at Mon Ami Gabi, in my view, is the uncaring and untrained wait staff - otherwise great location, great food, and great management. The potential for a great meal makes it always worth revisiting.
(4)
Dwi P.
This is one of my favorite restraurants in Bethesda. The decor is warm and inviting, and makes you feel like you're in Europe. The prices are average, I'd say, for Bethesda, but the portions are quite large. The steak frites are to die for, and their roast chicken is great. I also love all their desserts. As nice as it is, they're also very kid-friendly, with crayons and paper on the tables so the kids can draw and color. I love it here!
(4)
sak v.
The fake ritzy-ness, the allure of being someone your not can be found at this restaurant. I came here for a beer and some oysters. I ordered 12 oysters and a friend of mines ordered the tomato salad with gin and tonic. The oysters were good , you cant go wrong with oysters on ice mixed with some Kronenbourg and anchor steam beer on a nice sunny day eating / drinking outside. During the course of our meal we had a slight interruption from the The stereotypical suburbian -queen of a fake kingdom eating next to us had a question and ASKED "You have a DEEP accent where are we from??" We looked at her and reacted WHAT? DC MAAAM Do we have a problem? (really is this beverly hills) Is my name Axel Foley. There no reason to sit outside with your sweater wearing over the shoulder husband on a 90 degree day and create false stereotyping questions to us. Our waiter was like "Forget that B***H". We will eat anywhere we want. End of Venting great restaurant. Dont let the crowd fool you Eat at Mon Ami Gabi
(4)
Sharen K.
This French bistro does a very good job with traditional French brasserie food. The onion soup was excellent and the steak frites were too! Good service and an excellent red wine all contributed to a delightful evening out. Oh...can't forget the desserts - they were amazing.
(4)
Margaret Z.
I love this place! Have come here twice - once on a date, and once with my French class as part of our class outings. The service is fantastic and the food - quality. The frites are delicious and deceivingly healthy, making them so much more addicting than the usual steakhouse fries. The steak that I got during my date was a little tough, but still delicious in the marinade. The chef was even kind enough to pre-split my entree into two since I was sharing with my date (we weren't too hungry). I don't think I'd get it again, but I'm not the greatest fan of steak so oh well. I got the croque-monsieur (grilled cheese) during my class outing - soooooo good! The cheese was layered on thick and melted to perfection, and I loved adding the thin slices of ham which were a little smokey and not too salty at all. The leftovers heated up very nicely the next day. The best part though, was DESSERT. My word of advice - get the profiteroles... cream puffs minus the cream in the middle, but replaced with vanilla ice cream. Then drizzle the whole dish with hot chocolate fudge and add a sprinkle of powdered sugar. I was so full already, but HAD to stuff all three of these in - too good to pass up and I would go back just for those alone. Oh right, the bread at the beginning - yum. I love bread and the fact that it's mini baguettes just makes me want to hoard them in my purse to take home. Will visit again!
(4)
Nick M.
I am a big fan of Mon Ami Gabi, I find their food is always consistent, and their service is really good. I have been to this location, as well as the location in Vegas, and I notice very little drop off. Their servers know the food, and are great with recommendations. This is one of my favorite brunch spots, nothing better on a Sunday morning than their Croque Madame. The Prime Beef Sandwich, and Au Poivre Burger are also great dishes.
(4)
Evan H.
Last Sunday I met my parents and mon ami gabi for a quick dinner. I thought I had been there before, but nothing felt familiar. The restaurant is supposed to be a moderately fancy french bistro. The inside definitely has a very nice charm and the black and white checkered floor really does have the French bistro feel to it. I like that they bring out a whole baguette to start, it was pretty tasty bread. For a starter i went with the ONion soup. How can you go wrong with that. It was definitely the best french onion soup I Have had in this country (i dont order it a lot, so dont chastise me) -- the other two best soups were in Paris and Quebec. Following the soup, I went with the daily fish special which was halibut wrapped in bacon served over a white bean, tomato and swiss chard stew (though, i think they lied about the chard, there was a tiny piece). Overall, the meal was very pleasant, but I dont think I would call it a place that I would eat at all the time. They seemed to have awesome steaks on the menu, which was probably their specialty, but I opted for the lighter meal of fish.
(4)
Lisa R.
I have eaten here several times and the food is always excellent. You really feel as if you're in Paris. The service is very good and the price is reasonable, given the quality of the food.
(4)
Derek W.
Consistently good. Great apps and bar. Nicely done steaks and salads. Not thrilled with wine list.
(4)
Howard R.
We sat outside for our anniversary dinner. The food was fantastic and the service excellent. Love the valet parking and the great Bethesda neighborhood.
(5)
Veronica J.
The food is amazing I'll give it that much. The servers always professional and courteous but its just too damn expensive... Come on yelp $$ more like $$$$
(4)
Arthur F.
Food was good, wine was good. Good.
(4)
Donna C.
I absolutely adore this restaurant! So if it is located in a city that I am in, I try to eat there, Vegas, Chicago (hometown) and Bethesda. Saturday 8pm, it is beyond crowded but they sit me even though my daughter is parking the car. Yes, I was seated with an incomplete party!!! Our waiter, was beyond courteous, efficient and knowledgeable! It was such a joy to dine with him. Because the bar was unable to make our cocktails, due to lack of ingredients, he did so many little extra things since he felt we were very gracious not to get upset. The Caesar salad was "big" but so very good, not drenched in dressing and accompanied by a wonderful thin baguette crouton and shaved Parmesan. The steaks classique and bleu cheese were so tender and cooked to perfection, between the juices and melted herb butter, the traditional frites took on an additional layer of flavor. These steaks tasted like they had been flown over from a Paris bistro. My daughter and i enjoyed the warm chocolate pudding cake with salted caramel creme and white chocolate bread pudding for dessert and both were a tad big but so tasty and a perfect way to end a mother daughter weekend away.... Every moment and every bite of food was sheer perfection! Every employee was courteous and professional, smiled and talked to me-not insult me with a corporate script written by an out of touch marketing major. Do yourself a favor and enjoy it for yourself......
(5)
Roger W.
We went on a Sunday evening with reservations. Got there a half hour early and were seated right away. Service was great. Lots of attendants. Couldn't take many sips of water without somebody coming by and refilling the glass. Finished plates were removed promptly. I got the filet mignon merlot done black and blue with signature frites just to try them. The merlot and onion reduction was too sweet for me. I should have ordered the steak plain as apparently all of their sauces are on the sweet side. The frites were too chewy. I should have ordered a baked potato. The meat was cooked to perfection, which is not that easy to achieve when you want black and blue. They got it right. My friend ordered the sea scallops. I sampled them and they were delicious with a nice caramelized sear on each side. It would have been better if it had all come with another vegetable, but we each ordered petite salads that were served before the meal. I'd have preferred mine with the meal as there was only potato for a side, but the tables for two are so small, it was easier just to have the salad first. We did not get appetizers, any beverages, or dessert. With a 20% tip rounded up we got out of there at exactly $85. It was a pleasant experience. Next time I'll ask more questions before I order.
(5)
Aaron W.
Four Yelps for Mon Ami Gabi, which is everything that a Bistro should be. First item up for bids on a Bistro: PRICE. A bistro is supposed to be a lower-cost restaurant, somewhere that you can have a good meal without breaking yourself in half. Mon Ami Gabi fits beautifully into this niche. Other than their enormous New York Strip and Ribeye, the only item more than $25 is the Filet. One can eat comfortably here for $25: order the liver and either the good hanger steak or the excellent chicken. You'll get bread and carrot spread and you'll be out of there for $32-$34 with tax and tip. Or get those entrees and a dessert. Second, the place is ALWAYS busy, even at the bar. Have a reservation or be prepared to wait. But a good bistro is always busy; they're the volume sales section of the French restaurant world. Third, there's plentiful outdoor seating when it's warm, and the food is good across the board without being superior; highlights are definitely steaks and salmon and the aforementioned chicken. They have their own farms for the steak, which is how they get away with charging 2/3 of what you'd pay for similar quality at other places. So what does it take to get five from me? Marcel's is five. You get the idea. Along with the nearly adjacent Mussel Bar, for my dime, Mon Ami Gabi is one of the two best restaurants in Bethesda. Go, and bring me some.
(4)
Andrew W.
Yet another perfect meal and cocktails at MAG! Nothing beats a great filet mignon "cooked" to perfection (actually barely cooked to perfection because I like 'em rare) and this place has not disappointed me yet. Whenever I have friends/family in town looking for a great meal this is where we go. Keep up the good work!
(5)
Ronnie K.
I loved this restaurant. Yes it was a little expensive but the food was wonderful and the service was excellent. Mon Ami Gabi has a great atmosphere and the steaks were fantastic!
(5)
Angela A.
After years of walking by this place, I decided to meet my hubby here for a lunch date and was very pleased with the decision. My hubby loves bread and was very pleased with the baguette. We had the escargot for an appetizer and they were delicious maybe a tad bit too salty but still delish!! We ordered a second baguette to sop up all of the delicious butter sauce left over. I ordered probably one of the best hamburgers I have had in my life, juicy(medium), perfectly cooked, a delicious bun that I wish they sold in stores with blue cheese and all the fixings. I wasn't crazy about the frites, they were too much like potato chips and the actual chips that came with my husbands meal tasted a little overcooked. My hubby ordered the lunch special which was a sandwich with avocado and smoked salmon. I tasted some of his leftovers the next day and it tasted pretty good still. We were given a complimentary dessert, a profiterole with vanilla ice cream because our food took a long time to come out. We had been there for about 30 mins, a couple comes in, sits next to us and had their food within 10 minutes of ordering and we were still waiting. And they ordered steaks!! I think our waiter may have forgotten to put our order in. Overall, it was good and I would definitely go back again to try the pate and the french onion soup.
(3)
Keith R.
We were looking for a place to go around the shopping area of Bethesda Ave for lunch so we randomly chose this place. The atmosphere was great. The place had a good french bistro feel to it. The restaurant was larger than we had expected. The free bread was fresh and delicious. They also give you a free pile of shredded carrots, nothing special here, just carrots. We started with the snails. They were tasty, smothered in garlic, pretty standard. We used the snail oil as a bread dipping sauce. My fiance had the tuna salad. She liked it until she got to the hair (not part of the salad, this was a chef's addition). The waiter comped the salad, and gave us a free entree and dessert. He was very apologetic. She then had the mushroom soup which was loaded with mushroom flavor and delicious. I had a gruyere cheese burger with fries. The burger was good, as expected. It is hard to screw up a burger. The fries were very good. They are fresh cut, thin and crispy. Finally to the dessert. The creme brulee was sooo good and only $6 (free for us because of the hair thing). Service was amazing, staff was friendly, food was on time. I would definitely go back again.
(4)
Daniel R.
Have eaten here for Passover 2 years in a row. They do a fantastic job. The matzoh balls were a little tough. Grandma used to say don't lift the lid on the pot - it makes dense - not fluffy - matzoh balls.
(5)
Tina H.
I went here for my birthday with my girl friends couple months ago. It was pricey but it was definitely worth it! One of my friends and I got the steak classique. It came with fries and it was really good! My other friend got jumbo lump crab cakes and it looks delicious. If you have room for desert, you definitely have to try their profiteroles! It IS SO GOOD! It's kind of like creme puffs but better! and top with chocolate fudge, it's amazing! They gave me one because it was my birthday, & it was so good that we end up order one for ourselves. Our waiter was super friendly, helpful & funny. It was pretty packed when we were there but I had reservation so I didn't have to wait too long. Definitely worth trying.
(4)
Melanie Y.
I've heard of this restaurant for a few years now but never had the chance to try it till last Friday. Oh, la la haha. I am total fan. We didn't even realize that it was also restaurant week last week but we didn't end up ordering from the menu. Instead we picked whatever appetizers we wanted and 2 big entree meals plus one dessert and were pretty full by the end. The total cost was about $30 including tip and tax which is not too shabby considering that restaurant week menu is $35 plus tip and tax so we saved AND had a great dining experience. Now that's my kinda foodie trip. =P Ok, so we ordered a whole bunch of appetizers: les Escargots de Bourgogne , Mussels Marinière and Baked cheese. I love escargots! They are about the only thing that I would eat that's not considered normal and always force them upon my friends who never tried them and converted them. I just tell them - think of them as mushrooms. hehe. They were hooked. =D The mussels were steamed in a lovely cream wine sauce that was sooooo goood! mmm.. Now for the baked cheese - I admit I'm not a fan of cheese but this was one thing I was so glad that we ordered! The brie was set in a puree tomato sauce and baked till melted. Then out came this yummy gooey dip dish perfect with toasted french baguette or bread roll. Oh my, it was sooo good!! My one friend ordered the special of the day - Fruit de Mer - (a seafood combo of oysters and shrimp with two salads on the side - one was crab asparagus avocado dip that I LOVE LOVE and I forget the other) I'm a sucker for anything avocado - def very good - too bad it came in a small container. would've inhaled the whole thing myself if I didn't have to share that. =P I ordered the Steak Bordelaise in medium for my entree. The steak came out a bit on the red side but oh my it was juicy and tender with a lovely red wine sauce and cameralized onions. mmmm. I was about full when the entree came (always seem pointless loading up in bread but I LOVE BREAD - hehe) so pack the rest up for hubby. He gulped it down in mins when I brought it home - so good. Of course I had to save room for the dessert which we ordered one dessert - profiteroles. Oh my - the dish came out with three profiteroles (which was perfect - one for each of us) with chocolate drizzled all over it and instead of a yummy custard for the center - it was a huge dollop of vanilla ice cream ( i may be too presumptious to say that it could be french vanilla - haha - who knows) =P it was good - too good. This is something that I may want to recreate in my own kitchen at a later time. =D A huge total recommendation for this one! I took off one star bc the service could be better. There were alot of bustling but still seems slow -could be bc of restaurant week too. I love though how I was greeted on the phone in french as well as the waiters being able to speak french. I 'm glad that was a criteria at the restaurant bc after all, it should set the right mood being in a french restaurant. either way, c'est magnifique et tres tres bien =D
(4)
Consumer X.
I am from the greater SF area and my husband from the greater London area, and we both really enjoy eating. Somehow we ended up in the greater DC area and we dine at MAG, as we like to call Mon Ami Gabi, on a weekly basis. Exceptional service, awesome happy hour if you can get there before 6:30pm and delicious steak frites. Bon appetit!
(4)
Laura A.
Mon Ami Gabi......french, sophisticated, elegant..... the service is outstanding. Friendly and professional. Have to mention the graceful movements of the personnel, the continuous smile and good manners.. so nice. First come to your table is a delicious and crunchy baguette; warm, inside a paper bag accompained by jam and butter... pretty cool eh? We went for brunch , sunday morning, outdoor seating... I do like the menu a lot. Interesting dishes that I don't use to get for brunch. Well, this time I keep myself traditional and I order scrambled eggs and green salad. Which is not in the menu. Have to say it wasn't outstanding and little salty, and I didn't get salad, but potatoes and vegetables frittata instead... well, doesn't make any sense considering my general impresion and I'll skip my food this time. Also because what I saw in another tables as well as what my friend ordered looks delicious.. She order the Seafood crepe....a thin crepe (authentic french) filled with shrimps, in a creamy cheese sauce and covered with sautted scallops. nice presentation, tasty flavor and huge amount of food. My friend looks so happy. the hand-cut fries of the adjacent table capture our attention, original presentation, yummy look,.. so bad we didn't had time to get some. I really see the menu out of standards preparations which is always welcome. I go to DC once in a while and I'm so happy Mon Ami Gabi is just 10 min walking from my bus stop. It deserves to be my last DC stop before I leave. opps, just last thing.. I do like this place for a lunch/brunch with friends, with your partner or with your closest family. Not sure about dinner and I don't see it for a date.
(4)
Gustavo O.
Great place I eat here almost once every two weeks. The decor transports you to a Paris neighborhood. The wine list is good and the bread is fantastic. Steak and frites my favorite. Only one thing will ruin your experience, the rude host on Saturday nights. It seems they flew this guy directly from Paris but they should send him back and get the 4th star in my rating.
Great food and service. This is our second trip to the restaurant. We started out with four mushroom soup. It was creamy, rich and flavorful. My boyfriend ordered steak classique, I ordered steak Bernaise. Steak classique came with flavored butter with herbs which was delicious. Bernaise sauce was greasy without much flavor. (lots of crushed black pepper but no other taste) I wasn't a fan. For dessert, we ordered warm chocolate pudding cake. It was very very rich. Too rich and sweet for my taste (but read in the other reviewers that they have enjoyed it.) Extremely friendly, attentive and fast service. We will be back again.
(4)
Patrick S.
went for restaurant week and was quite impressed love the rolling wine cart, nice to have a sample of a fine Beaujolais the French Onion soup was gooey good, and had their famed Steak Frites with the peppery Au Poivre sauce, and loads of their crispy fries the waiter was excellent, my mom's steak was a little chewy so he brought out a new cut and it was perfect, just great courteous service
(5)
Myrna F.
Food was just okay. I ordered trout, requested it without butter - and it was a tad over cooked. Mostly problematic was the noise level which was almost unbearable! I
(3)
Joseph M.
Great, great food. I'd give it 5 but I have to reserve that for only legendary places and this spot is JUST under.
(4)
Heidi W.
I did not have a very good dining experience, but I appreciate that our friend treated us for dinner here. It was quite pricey! Food: AVERAGE. I ordered a fish special that sounded very good. The seared skin part of the fish was yummy, but the rest still tasted fishy. I've definitely had better. My boyfriend's steak was better, but it was still just okay. Price: Too much. Service: Waiter was kind of pretentious, but I guess he was...on time with his service? Meh.
(2)
Dee B.
Boy, there just isn't a lot of love for Mon Ami Gabi among Yelpers. But I had another good experience here today. I had lunch with three co-workers. All three of them chose from the Restaurant Week menu (Mon Ami extended it for a 2nd week). As appetizer they had french onion soup, but each had a different entree: salmon with spinach salad, cheeseburger w/ Brie and fries, mussels w/ fries. I went for a special: an open faced mushroom sandwich with a poached egg, side salad and fries. We were all pleased with our dishes. For dessert we each had a profiterole with an amazing chocolate sauce. I might go back just for that. Plus, our server was super nice. Overall, a solidly good meal.
(4)
Lucy B.
So. Good. We have had so many things on the menu and they are always wonderful! The lamb is amazing, the escargot is always as buttery and delicious as the time before, the onion soup is wonderful, the filet is ridiculous, the scallops are fabulous, and the muscles are fantastic! Always great service! Be sure to get one of their frequent diner cards, fabulous deal.
(5)
Richard K.
This place was amazing and I wanted everything on the menu. One look at the bacon wrapped fillet mignon and I was in love. Big tip: make a reservation. Luckily I did and when I went there on a Wednesday night, the person in front of me had a 30 minute wait because he had no reservation and it was packed. I went right in with no problem. Would recommend this place. Wait staff was courteous and prompt.
(5)
Robert B.
I've never had French food before and I didn't know what to really expect. We started off with there house wine which was delicious. The appetizers were the sea scallops and the muscles. I've never had anything so good. The bread they gave out was fresh and perfect in the sauce of the muscles to dip. For my main meal I got the special the duck and I didn't know what to expect. It literally was incredible and I would get it again in a heartbeat. My other family members got the filet and it was perfect also. My 11 year old brother got a burger and he raved about it all the way home. I would highly recommend this restaurant and when I visit Maryland again I will be back
(5)
Jonathan H.
What a pleasant surprise! I am starving and cold, and don't even know the name of this place or what kind of food they serve when I bust through the doors looking for nourishment at 10 PM. Luckily, my gut feelings thrust me in the right direction. The tables are all taken up by thirty-something couples and some groups, so my friend and I sit at the bar. A quick glance at the menu and I notice the alcohol selection is larger than the food selection, although both have a lot of variety. I make the bold choice of *...drum roll...* a hamburger. My friend was a little more adventurous and went with the cheese plate. The hamburger looks expensive, tastes expensive, and comes with expensive-looking baby pickles. I will let the reader decide if $12 for a hamburger is expensive. It is delicious. The really awesome part is the serving of steak fries that comes with the burger. The serving is bigger than the burger, and I can eat these little not-too-greasy potato shreds for hours. I must look out of place in this seemingly classy joint, because I dump the fries out on a napkin and eat them like I'm at McDonald's. No problem, the staff turn out to be regular people, just like me. I don't know if I can say the same for the patrons. Speaking of the staff, our bartender Amanda is awesome! She is talkative, funny and has really great rapport with all her customers. The other bartender used to work over near where I live in Odenton, and he is really nice, too. For dessert, I order the profiterole (see the picture, feel the desire). It's three scoops of ice cream topped with something like fried dough, which is in turn topped with chocolate sauce. When you look up "heaven" in the dictionary, there is a picture of this dish, right beside Eva Mendes. After I indulge in the profiterole, the two nice ladies seated on my right want a spoon to try it. I can't part with the smallest bit of this treasure I have in front of me, so the bartender orders them each a complimentary scoop! How thoughtful! Best part? One of the ladies doesn't finish her profiterole, so when she leaves, I eat it! I will definitely come here again, and this time I will get a table to get the whole dining experience, although I am already thoroughly impressed just from sitting and eating at the bar. They have live music and clean bathrooms! What more could I want in a place I had no idea existed until my stomach steered me here?
(4)
Rok L.
Great food, wonderful kids menu as well!
(5)
Jonathan R.
I've been going to this place for 9 years now. While it doesn't quite hit the highs it did back then, I know exactly what to expect from this restaurant in regards to the food and the staff, and for expectations and consistancy are key. Is it loud? Yes, but I don't find it to be overbearing. A couple of highlights from the last few years: Watermelon Gazpacho, Queen's bread pudding, their ribeye and their reg and sweet potato gratin. The misses: bannana's foster crepe, neopolitan profiteroles. We've been fortunate to have some really incredible server's. Thankfully, the turnover rate is lower than many other places. Ask for Bryan. He is the best. All of this praise isn't to say that we haven't had bad experiences there. Steaks have been miscooked (drastically over and under), creme brulee came out raw one time, and we even had a server with a chip on her shoulder. What sets this place apart is the over all willingness to "make it right". Whether that means when you are there or in the future. The owners and managers are very communicative and open to hearing from you. This is still a highlight of Bethesda.
(4)
Jon W.
There is no view of the Bellagio fountains like the one in Las Vegas and it was too cold to sit outside when we ate here a few weeks ago anyway, but the food and service were outstanding. I went with the Tomato soup on the recommendation of my server and it was close to the best soup I have ever had. Everybody enjoyed their sandwiches and the fries that come in a huge cup are actually worth eating! I found the atmosphere to be cozy. We had lunch here before seeing "The Kings Speech" at the theater next door. Everything came pretty quickly and the restaurant was close to completely full. I would come here again. By the way, the movie as well as the meal was great!
(4)
Steven L.
Just got back from what was a perfect Valentine's Day meal at Mon Ami Gabi! Living right in DC, my partner and I often like to mix things up by eating outside of the city itself. As I pondered Valentine's Day possibilities, Mon Ami Gabi came to mind. I had never eaten there... just have always admired how simultaneously classy and quirky the place seemed to be whenever walking by. So anyway, my interest in the place plus our like of Bethesda sealed the deal. I did wait a little too long to make a reservation, though, so all of the dinner options were filled. But we have flexible schedules on Mondays, so I opted for an early 2:30 Valentine's Day meal. It ended up being a great time of the day -- quiet, calm, and the perfect environment in which our waiter (Alex) could give us lots of individual attention. Alex, by the way, was a pro: attentive, professional, friendly, talkative, full of good recommendations (including the wine). My partner ordered the lobster bisque, chicken liver mousse, and pear with blue cheese salad. He seemed to enjoy it all, especially the liver mousse. I was a little more indulgent with the sweet potato soup, macaroni gratin, and salmon and bacon sandwich with lemon aioli. The soups were creamy and delicious, the macaroni gratin cooked perfectly and in a huge portion, and the salmon quite flavorful. Topping things off, Alex very kindly brought us an (on-the-house) dessert -- a single profiterole for each of us. The ice cream and chocolate sauce were really, really good. All in all, a really great experience. And Alex, you're the best!
(5)
Adriana H.
Love it! we went there for brunch twice and both times we had a good experience. The wine list is not the best, but everything else is :) The french bread in a paper bag is FABULOUS!! The price is realistic, the service is spot on and the food delicious. My husband had a steak for brunch. It was scrumptious. I ordered eggs and they were delicious. Yes, we will be back :)
(4)
Tim R.
Went for lunch. Had a burger that was very juicy. Wife had something that I forgot, probably a lunch special.... thinking something ducky. Anyway, we both liked what we had. I don't like the fries though. They serve a bunch of short potato bits that are awkward to eat. Again I want to point out that I don't like to struggle with my food. Overall, I liked the food and service. I'm satisfied.
(3)
Steve M.
Had dinner for restaurant week. French onion soup was souperbe. But the steak with Bearnaise sauce had a faint taste of kerosene; I did not finish and my fault for not sending it back. Large serving of pommes frites was excellent as was the apple tart with ice cream for dessert. I needed help to get my server several times. I would give two stars except that I have seen them do better in the recent past.
(3)
Joey M.
I'll keep this one short and sweet because it was some weeks ago that I had visited: OUTSTANDING BARTENDER! Made some recommendations for some drinks based on what I was already drinking and delivered some of the best mixology I've had. Freakin' delicious! Food was quite good, and the ambience was just right. Highly recommended
(5)
Sonya M.
I love this place. Really intimate and really french! They have an impressive menu and a wine selection. Their food is heavenly. Their service is mostly great. and even if they miss something, they always compensate for it somehow! A few times that I have been there, I've really enjoyed the experience. Their happy hour is really nice too. Great food on their happy hour menu. But the bar space is very limited and it can get really busy! They even have live Jazz some nights!!
(4)
Mariko F.
It was almost exactly a year ago that I was here and still, I think about it all the time. On my 25th birthday, I was working in Bethesda and my mother took me out to dinner here. We didn't have a reservation but were seated right away, with a smile. The waiter came by with the wine list and ran us through the specials. I remember it well -- he said roasted duck and I knew what I had to have. The wine that was recommended with it was a perfect match. My mother had the swordfish, I believe. The dinner was fantastic. It was the atmosphere that makes me remember is most. People were happy to be there. It was decorated in a way that reminded you of an old smoking bar where men sit around with a scotch and a cigar. Slightly pretentious but somehow still laid back. I remember this place and that is saying something. It's a meal and atmosphere that you will remember.
(4)
C R R.
One of my two or three favorite restaurants. I go often, usually for lunch, and it's wonderful. Favorites are the onion soup, the quiche Lorraine, the salads. Wonderful kids meals as they come with green beans and apple slices so there's nice variety and nutrition. Highly recommend.
(5)
Dee L.
These guys were surprisingly accommodating - we had a large party on a busy Friday night and they let people from our group sit down even though the whole party was not there. They also did a wonderful job splitting the check (again, usually a pain with a large group). The food is a little pricey, but for a good reason - it's quite good! I had warm brie with roasted garlic, delicious butternut squash soup (on special) and a frisee salad. I only wish I had asked for the salad dressing on the side, as it was a little too much for me (but I tend to like my salads on the dry side). The chocolate torte was excellent!
(4)
Molly L.
What a perfect place to escape from the chaos of a snow storm!! After being stuck in the car for 3 hours to go 7 miles by the time I got home cooking was the last thing on my mind. Solution: check out a local restaurant. I had no clue when I walked in how spectacular the Mon Ami Gabi would be!! The decor is perfect! Elegant but casual without being stuffy or snooty. They have a wine cart which sits in the middle of the room for easy access to refilling your glass! For dinner my partner and I shared the scallops and the pan seared tuna salad. The salad was good but the scallops were the star of the night!! The scallops were paired with cooked garlic spinach and this amazing cauliflower puree!! The scallop dish was like food crack! I could not have been more satisfied with the meal! I definitely plan to come back, the only hard part will be trying to resist the scallops and check out their other dishes! Thanks Mon Ami Gabi for saving my night after the THUNDERSNOW!!!!
(4)
Jim S.
We went for Sunday brunch. The service, food, and atmosphere were all just right for a relaxing brunch meal with family and friends late on a Sunday morning. Everyone in our party enjoyed their meals of egg dishes and crepes. The mix your own Bloody Mary bar was a nice touch as was the warm baguette served with butter and raspberry jam. We were visiting from out of town, but would definitely go back if we find ourselves in Bethesda again.
(5)
Janty C.
I went to this restaurant with a friend for an early Sunday dinner. The restaurant was empty and the host brought us to the very back of the venue near the kitchen/bathroom. After we sat down, we decided to move to another table and asked our waiter if that would be possible. He did not reply to our request and instead, he called the host over, who happened to walk by, and said, "I did not even said anything to them and they asked to be moved!" Both my friend and I exchanged glances and were baffled by this rudeness as the waiter acted as though we were not even there as he spoke about us. I told my friend that we would be better off spend our money somewhere else. We got up and left; no one did not even bother to ask us why we left so abruptly. That was my first time at Mon Ami Gabi in Bethesda. I am afraid it will also be the last.
(1)
Mary D.
This has been my favorite go-to bistro for years. Good food, friendly & attentive service, and relaxed ambiance keeps me coming back. Great place to enjoy a lunch or dinner with friends and family, and I especially enjoy the outdoor seating during spring/fall. French onion soup is a must have on a cold winter day! I do recommend making a reservation as this little bistro attracts a crowd, especially for dinner. Very enjoyable!
(5)
Harmony H.
I went for brunch and the food was really good and decent priced. Th crab and lobster sandwich was good and the salmon sandwich was really good. I have also heard that their dinner food is really amazing. The profiteroles dessert is AMAZING. Avoid the paninis, they're not that great. The feel of the place is really nice and classy and the service was really good
(4)
Greg B.
Our second visit to Mon Ami Gabi and it was as good as the first. Steak Roquefort was cooked to order, mac and chees great, excellent bread. Escargot, mushrooms , warem brie and sea scallops gratinee are winners. My only negative is the mushroom soup. Not much flavor, thin and expensive. I will still go back. Excellent service from our server Ruben. All the staff is courteous.
(4)
Liz J.
We came here for brunch on a lovely Sunday late morning. We sat outside under a nice sized umbrella (shaded our table for two). We received a fresh small baguette with jam and butter (all were delicious). I ordered eggs benedict with smoked salmon and it was wonderful. The hollandaise wasn't too rich and was a lovely flavor. The smoked salmon wasn't overpowering and meshed well with the rest of the dish. One of my poached eggs was a little overcooked, and they brought out two replacement poached eggs that were both perfectly cooked for the one overcooked one. The only complaint about the benedict is that they don't use english muffins, but do something more like crispy toast. It was hard to cut through and keep on the fork with the eggs and salmon for a balanced bite. My husband got traditional eggs benedict (with canadian bacon) and he enjoyed it (although not a big fan of the toast either). We also got profiteroles for dessert - fantastic and would recommend to anyone and we got coffee - love french coffee! We'll definitely come back for another brunch.
(4)
Bill O.
I must say, I was expecting more. Having enjoyed French Bistros from Paris to many across the U.S. I have to to say that Mon Ami Gabi is more of a Corner Bakery kind of place than a serious restaurant. The food was quite bland, not very interesting and should have been hotter. However, the space is nice, bustling and the service very good. The particulars: After reading earlier reviews I was surprised that the bread was very ordinary. I had the jambalaya with two poached eggs. The dish was lukewarm and bland. Fortunately it was served with tabasco sauce. The eggs were nicely poached. My companion ordered the eggs florentine which was surprisingly served atop two English muffin halves. Again, the eggs were nicely poached. The accompanying Hollandaise Sauce was likewise bland and should have been hotter as well (for obvious reasons). When the weather is warmer, it would be nice to go back, sit on the patio which is appealing, and have a glass of wine and some frites.
(2)
Janet H.
This was my first french experience and it was good. The atmosphere inside the restaurant was very warm and welcoming. They also had a "band" performaning inside. I had a reservation at 7pm and we got there a little bit earlier and we had no problem getting seated immediately. The restaurant itself isn't that big but a good size. We started with the Escargot which was good but nothing like what I had imagined (first escargot experience). I think I would like it much more if it had more flavor. For our entree we got steak and their duck special. The french is all about sauces right? I'm so glad they serve the sauce on the side because I wasn't a fan. The steak itself was excellent. I actually couldn't decide between two sauces so my waiter gave me both.. which I didn't use. The duck I thought was pretty good also. A little dry in some areas but overall, it was good duck. Their fries sooo good! I couldn't stop eating :) Plenty of parking in downtown Bethesda. Plenty to do also after eating to walk around, grab coffee, dessert.. etc. If you haven't tried Mon Ami Gabi, go!
(4)
Karim I.
Consistent quality of food, great service and reasonably priced wine list. Whenever I go to this restaurant, it feels like I am in one of Paris' bistros. The roasted chicken is full of flavors and one of my favorites. The Profiteroles are fabulous.
(4)
Grace L.
Went to Monami Gabi for the first time yesterday, and although my friend and I went in at 10 pm the service as well as the food was excellent! By far one of the most courteous staff I've ever come across. Despite it being a late dinner, the Hanger steak came out tender and delicious. Extremely pleased with the food and the service, nothing like it in VA.
(5)
Lih-Ming W.
Went in a big group of 14. Great atmosphere - french bistro. Had ribeye steak on the bone (rare, $39). Pretty juicy and flavoursome. My friends had theirs medium and it was overcooked. Could be some issues with consistency. Appetisers were pretty good - nice range and great taste. Good french wine list. Our server was great but got some "stressed" attitude from the front desk when I tried to book a cab. Slightly pricier but I think worth it. Would come back.
(4)
Cindy L.
happily surprised with the quality of food vs the cost. poor service for our large group though. waiter made it up to us in the end w free desserts all around, bday boy included. chicken grandmere was cooked well.
(4)
Eric B.
Always a good experience... nothing spectacular, but solid. Steak Frites is reliable. Very satisfying onion soup. Brunch standard ish.
(3)
William F.
My wife and I eat here regularly and have never had a bad meal. Have also enjoyed attending special events
(4)
Colin H.
Came here Monday evening with my wife. We learned that they were hosting a private wine party in the back of the restaurant that limited tables in the dining area, so we seated ourselves at one of the tables available in the bar area. We were greeted by the bartender who asked for our drink order, I ordered a glass of champagne ($8), and my wife ordered a Kieral-Royale ($8) (apologize for the inaccuracy!) which is champagne with a couple other items added to it. We were given a french baguette, butter, and distilled water (free of charge; I note this because in France they will charge you for a bottle of distilled water) to start off. For an appetizer we ordered the Chicken Liver Mousse ($6.95; pate), definitely an acquired taste! This was not as earthy, and gamey as their other pate option that I have had before, but I could only eat several portions of it, and we had more than 50% remaining after our fill. For our entrees, I ordered the Beef Bourginon ($21.95; French version of pot-roast) that was flavorful, tender, and accompanied with carrots, mushrooms, mini-onions, and noodles. Ate the whole thing, none left to take home. Wife ordered the Steak Bernaise ($21.95), she liked the dish and shared some with me, I thought the steak had good flavor, and was cooked properly. This was accompanied by a large amount of "french" fries, more like crispy chips than typical fries. Overall we enjoyed our entrees! Maybe it was because we were seated in the bar area, but the service was slightly lacking. The server(s) only checked on us once in the beginning of the meal, and did not refill our water bottle when it became low/empty. Other than that our experience at Mon Ami Gabi was very good! We will definitely be coming back!
(4)
Jonathan P.
great french bistro -- food is always delicious and consistent. service is always superb. they have a gluten-free menu and serve gluten free bread. one of my favorite restaurants.
(4)
Kristi P.
J' adore Mon Ami Gabi! I was traveling so I attended this restaurant on my own. Some places I go welcome a single; others try to hide you in the back corner. Mon Ami Gabi sat me right in the middle of the busy dinning room and it was perfect. I had all kinds of interesting conversations to listen to, people to watch. Not to mention the fabulous jazz band playing in the corner. I decided to go with a few small plates. The Olive jar, an assortment of marinated olives,onions and a few other veggies. These went perfectly with the fresh baked bread they provided. I also got a side of mashed cauliflower, light and delicate. Such a nice feeling on my palette. I also got the macaroni and cheese dish. Everything really flowed well together. I washed it all down with a light white wine. Lovely place.... Check it out!
(5)
Alexander K.
The dishes are always prepared well, and the weekly specials are great. For dessert order the bread pudding or the flour-less chocolate cake.
(4)
Doug P.
I have to say my review is limited based on the fact that we only had salads. I think this made the watress less interested in our servce as well, and detracted from the dinign experience. Will have to try it again to see if I can give a better review
(3)
Amanda C.
Wonderful brunch, great service. The french bread and jam is amazing. I've had the seafood crepe which is delicious and the vanilla apple french toast is amazing!!
(5)
J P.
I have since gone back to Mon Ami Gabi on a few occasions and enjoyed my meals. Kudos to management for offering a complimentary experience that I unfortunately didn't take advantage of. But it's the thought that counts and I appreciate it.
(4)
Aileen F.
Stopped in for an early dinner and had a great time. Chose to sit inside because it was a little windy, but next time will definitely choose to sit outside. They just revamped the patio seating and it looks great. Very european feel with the tables and flowers, and who doesn't like having a meal outside? Delicious freshly baked bread was immediately brought to us and devoured. :) I chose a few h'orderves, crab cake, cheese plate, and house salads. Everything was tasty and the server was friendly and attentive. I'll be back to sample more of the menu and enjoy the patio seating.
(4)
Jared H.
I ordered the trout. It was the best fish I have eaten in years. Baguette is always awesome. Good service. Nice atmosphere. A good, dependable restaurant.
(5)
Kate A.
I haven't found too many French restaurants in the area, so I wanted to check this place out. It definitely has a fancy atmosphere; it feels luxurious just to be in there. The food is very good, and they have a nice wine list. It's a bit expensive, but if you're willing to splurge for the night, I would recommend the salmon and quinoa. The food menu is limited, so if you like a lot of variety, this may not be your first choice.
(3)
Ozzie G.
It used to be my favorite French restaurant in the area, and I still believe their food is delicious, but I am giving them a 2 star rating based on the level of service they have these days. I took the FILET MIGNON AU POIVRE, and my companion took the Filet with the Merlot sauce. Both dishes were good. The server we had was not very professional, and not knowledgeable regarding the wine list at all. She upsold us on the wine we requested (told us the other one was better), $100 bottle of wine tasted like it was not stored properly. they have a wild mushrooms soup sometimes, that one is very good (one of the soup du jour).
(2)
Izzat A.
I don't see what the hype is about. Just got back here from lunch. A group of 10 of us from work went out to eat. The service was prompt and courteous and that is the reason I'm giving this place 3*. The food itself was very average and it's definitely not the cheapest place to eat. Most entrees range from $10-$25. I got the chicken and brie sandwich and it okay. The carmelized onions really overpowered the entire sandwich. It was different, but it was okay. I wasn't a fan of their famous frites, they seem like string fries to me. The ambiance is definitely nice. I've been to two french places and didn't like either so it could just be a preference thing.
(3)
Deston N.
You get so much for what you pay for. No need to buy the filets, unless you want to. A steak roquefort was so tender and tasty I didn't want it to end. The warm berry cobbler had our whole table battling with spoons. The atmosphere is great for a date or for a family meal. After spending four nights dining in the Washington, D.C. area, this was the highlight. Don't miss it.
(5)
Roll T.
3.75 stars. I've had a love affair with Mon Ami Gabi ever since I first discovered the Las Vegas location. This national chain specializes in moderately priced French cuisine. I always wondered whether the Bethesda location would hold up against the original housed in Paris Hotel. For example, the Bethesda location lacks one of the major elements that made the Vegas location great - a street side view of the madness that encompasses a typical evening in everyone's favorite town of hedonism. Still, it was worth a gamble. I tried the duck sandwich. Nice slivers of duck were generously studded with brie and a garnishment that skips my mind. It was accompanied with a frisee salad and frites. The sandwich compared favorably to what one might find at Cowgirl Creamery in DC. The reasonable price ($9.95) matched as well. My brother ordered a medium rare sirloin cut. The steak cuts at Mon Ami Gabi need work. This was the thinnest cut of sirloin I have ever seen. McDonald's hamburgers are thicker than the Mon Ami Gabi steaks. I loved the basil buerre sauce that accompanied it, but I'd like to see a better cut. Also, my brother asked for his steak to be cooked medium rare and it was medium well. I can't blame the cook; it would be impossible to accurately cook a slice of meat that was so thin it made the model Twiggy look fat by comparison. I also sampled the seafood crepe. Mon Ami Gabi did a good job here. They use a mix of plump scallops and shrimp and covered it in a delectable sauce. It didn't even need the crepe, but that was also tasty. I liked the cheeses used on the cheese plate (especially the Drunken Goat cheese), but I was surprised that they used such a complexly flavored bread for the spread. Individuals who like using sweeter flavors like raisin and honey to complement their cheese will be sufficiently happy though. While I was told that the Bloody Mary bar was outstanding, I didn't personally try it out. I thought I should mention it though. Overall, I'm a bit confused by all the hate. Sure, it's a chain, but if you avoid the thinly sliced steak cuts, you should get a nice meal at a decent price.
(4)
Victoria S.
The best french fries or "frites" as they say in France. I really enjoy Mon Ami Gabi because they are consistent and deliver a fine experience. My only complaint is that the noise level is high and there's definitely a lot of hussle and bussle. I enjoyed the frites, pear and blue cheese salad and the thyme crusted salmon with orzo pasta. Profiteroles for dessert. No complaints in the food department. The service has been consistently knowledgeable and friendly. Maybe that's why there is always a very long wait. I would say Mon Ami Gabi is one of my Bethesda favorites. I will go back again for sure.
(4)
Flaneuse D.
Not much I can add except my personal kudos to Mon Ami Gabi for consistently high quality food and service. I love the mimosas, the baguette with jam, the frites, the roast chicken, and the profiteroles. Always a treat to come here; we've brought the family for Mother's Day and another year for Valentine's Day.
(5)
Colin H.
Great specials, well-made cockails, tasty thin steaks. The fries are too thin, more like potato chips. Otherwise the steak frites would be irresistible. But what I crave most from here are the soft-shell crab and skate. Simple and delicious, and something we can't get in San Francisco. I visit nearly every time I'm on business in Bethesda, and these are what what bring me back.
(4)
Jess Z.
delicious, french, good service- polite. they give you an entire baguette for bread and amazing butter. check in on yelp and get a free scrumptious pot de creme.we had salads and they were very large and healthy.
(4)
Kevin L.
I really wish that Mon Ami Gabi were closer to my place, because I could see doing brunch here on a much more frequent basis if it weren't such a haul to get there. Then again, considering it's creamy, buttery, starchy French food... maybe it's safer that it's so inconvenient. That's a lot less good food sticking to my waist! Walking into MAG feels like stepping into a cozy French cafe that's been blown out to gigantic proportions. The racks of wine bottles, the smartly uniformed wait staff bustling about, and the cramped seating situation all serve to enhance the authenticity of the experience. The food continues the theme of French-ness as well. We were almost immediately provided with a crusty loaf of baguette with butter and jam upon being seated. Our cute, professional server took our orders as we finalized them (which took quite awhile because of how large the selection was!) and returned shortly with the bubbly, citrus-y mimosas we'd ordered. They also have a Bloody Mary bar that sounded interesting, but I wasn't in the mood to try it out. If you enjoy simple steamed artichokes with drawn butter and a dash of lemon, MAG's won't disappoint. I've had better, but this artichoke was plenty to share as a starter among three or four, and it's way better than I could make at home. I had the Bethesda Restaurant Week lunch for $12 of the mixed salad appetizer and mussels entree. The salad was served with crostini slathered with olive paste which was very savory - the salad itself was light and fresh and served as a great match against the creamy white wine sauce the mussels were served in. Although the mussels couldn't hold a candle against the ones at La Chaumiere, for the price they were quite reasonable. I can't say I'd go out of my way to come back here, but if I'm in the neighborhood and itching for a great brunch, I wouldn't hesitate to walk into MAG again. I don't know if it was a function of being Restaurant Week, but the place was packed - reservations would be wise.
(4)
Scott S.
This is the only one in the DC area, so you must at least give it a try. The location is perfect (lots of other shopping, restaurants, biking, etc), and the restaurant atmosphere is perfect. Though the food was great but not as amazing as I had expected, this was the only reason I gave 4/5 stars.
(4)
Armine S.
Never had a bad meal there. The quality of food, preparation and service are truly outstanding!
(5)
Sam J.
You're paying for the location and atmosphere here, because the food and service don't justify the price. The food was mediocre. I eat at a lot of pricey places and am used to paying high prices, but I expect value. I walked away from here feeling ripped-off. I'm offended that they highlight the fact their steaks are "grain-fed" as if this were a good thing. GRAIN-FED beef is a bad thing! GRASS-FED is what's good for you! They are exploiting people's ignorance!
(2)
Hokie H.
I schedule dinner programs all the time for work, so I like to try different menu items all the way. I like the traditional filet mignon, but with recommendations from the waiter I tried the scallops gratines for appetizer and salmon and leek quinoa with citrus butter and man was that good! Fresh fish. Nice butter sauce. Good portion size. I tried to remake the scallop dish and failed miserably. Loved it. Dessert- ice cream filled pastry was ok. would love to come back again!
(5)
Annabelle D.
In general, it's a good restaurant. You can't wrong with their steak and frites dishes. The one time I dined here, one of their specials was the dover sole. It was absolutely delicious! I think it was better than the steak and frites I had during another visit to Mon Ami Gabi. Their desserts are okay. For a French bistro, I expected a little more from them in the dessert arena, but I was quite disappointed that their desserts, although good to taste, weren't outstanding. Also, the bread was hard to break, and the wait for our main dishes was quite long, but every time I've come here, it was with big parties (six or more) Mon Ami Gabi is one of those restaurants that's a good backup for last minute get togethers (If you can, call ahead for a reservation) or a place to eat after a day of shopping in Bethesda.
(3)
E Y.
This may have been a 3 star review for the taste of the food alone but I had to dock another star because of the service. we barely saw our waiter aside from when he came to the table to take our order and at the end when he tossed the check onto our table as he blew past us without so much as a glance or thank you (i suppose that was our cue to leave?) there was a painful, long wait before our apps were finally served. then an even longer wait while we waited for entrees as our empty appetizer dishes sat on the table the entire time because nobody seemed to notice all the food was now in my belly instead of on the plate. the food was soso and i doubt i will return again-maybe my expectations were too high because off all the other reviews? Surprisingly the french onion soup (or just "onion soup" as they call it here since i suppose the french part is a given) was pretty good and did not leave me feeling like i just went to a salt lick. i enjoyed the red wine sauce and caramelized onions on the steak bordelaise and it was med rare just as i had asked for! however, the actual cut of meat i got had a lot of gristle which was pretty disappointing. also, i do not get what all the fuss is about over these frites. it felt like someone cut up a potato to make fries and then picked up all the left over scraps and sold them to mon ami gabi to make their frites- they were so thin and definitely not nearly crispy enough! too bad for me.
(2)
Christina H.
I really do appreciate a good steak, but I maybe only order one once a year... I was only in MD for one week and had the steak and frites TWICE! Amazing. Their staff was wonderful, very friendly and knowledgeable. Both times here were just all around a great experience.
(5)
Alexandra G.
I have eaten here many times and have enjoyed it every time. They give you a fresh, crusty baguette to start with and they have a good wine selection. The food is excellent no matter what you order. I recommend the escargot as an appetizer and the french onion soup is amazing too. The service is always friendly and professional. I would advise you to make a reservation if you're going for dinner on a Friday or Saturday as it is usually packed (always the sign of a good restaurant). And definitely try the desserts! I'm a fan of their of their creme brulee and the bread pudding.
I had a pleasant experience here. The staff was very nice; our waiter attentive and informative. The food was delicious as well. I had a grilled salmon spinach blueberry salad. DELICIOUS! I wasn't sure how the ingredients would pair together, but I was pleasantly surprised! My friend enjoyed a large grilled chicken ceasar salad.
(4)
Melissa P.
I've been here for mother's day and for my graduation/ birthday brunch and occasionally for dinner with some friends. I think mon ami gabi has the best quiche lorraine I have ever had. I seriously crave it all the time. I've been adventurous and tried the escargot here too which is really good if you are a lover of garlic. Once you get over the rubbery texture it's yummy and you totally feel like a badass because you just ate snails! If i didn't like the quiche so much I would definitely order the steak and frites (the one with the carmelized onions), luckily i'm always with someone who orders it so i get to enjoy the best of both worlds. Their mimosas are really great and their service is always very friendly and accommodating. The prices are very reasonable especially considering the quality of the food. I have also been with my cousin a handful of times who has a small child and they accommodate children really well. Fantastic french food, great ambiance, and good for kids. Certainly worthy of 5 stars!
(5)
Michael M.
Yesss... so fantastic in every way. Fresh baguette while you wait with some butter and jam? check. Fantastically cooked burgers? check Freshly cut fritos (sliver cut french fries)? check Bloody Mary bar? check Counting down the days until my next visit.
(5)
A H.
I have eaten in this restaurant many times, mostly for business lunches. I have never been disappointed! So when I had the opportunity to swap some United air miles for a $50 gift certificate, I did it without blinking. So my boyfriend and I finally decided to go and made our reservation in advance (since it was for a Saturday night and they are always packed). When we arrived we were quickly seated (although it was a bit close to other other guests on either side but I was entertained by the other guests conversations so it was all good). I already knew this restaurant can get quite noisy so that was not a concern of mine. The food is VERY inexpensive for what you get (please note I am not saying it is CHEAP, just cheaper than other restaurants of the same quality). So my boyfriend and I were trying not to spend more than just a tip. We ordered their homemade chips with blue cheese dip that i LOVE as an appetizer. He ordered one of the Steak Fritas, and I ordered the Scallops in Butternut Squash puree with brussel sprout leaves. Well I HATE brussel sprouts but NOT in this dish... everything was delicious! I almost licked my plate clean. My boyfriend ate faster than I have ever seen him eat before (he is a VERY SLOW eater) and finished his steak in record time. He was so full he couldn't even finish the "fritas". Soooo... the service was great but our waiter was so busy. Apparently, the appetizer order was missed b/c we got our entrees and hadn't received the chips yet. I said something to the guy who brought us our food and told him we still wanted them. Our waiter came over to sincerely apologize and told us the chips were on him... COOL! (HOWEVER, I had a gift card for $50 that I was trying to spend and no cash on me)... soooo... we decided to order dessert to go since we were too stuffed to eat there. We ordered an apple tart of some sort and it was soooo good when we did eat it later that night! BUT when the bill came, the waiter had also COMPED the dessert b/c he missed the appetizer which was sooo thoughtful but it did not allow us to leave him a large enough tip (we tipped 25-30% on the 2 entrees but wish we could have tipped on the comped items too) ... b/c I couldn't have him run my debit card for just a tip (I was hoping that we would go over the $50 when tax was added by $1-2 bucks so we could leave the tip on my debit card). We scrounged around a couple of bucks and wish we could have tipped him way more than we did... b/c comping both the app and the dessert was above and beyond... I would totally go here again b/c they own up to their mistakes and made me feel happy again when we left... some restaurants do not have this same type of customer service!!!! FABULOUS! :-)
(5)
Pat M.
It was ok. The food was good. However there were somethings here and there that were not to my particular tastes. For example, we ordered the Sea Scallop Gratinees. The scallops themselves were tender and delicious however they were covered with this thick shield of baked cheese. The flavor of the cheese did nothing to help the scallop. The onions and the sauce alone would have made the scallop dish a success. The cheese shield was just... meh. The steaks.... I ordered my steak medium rare to rare. I understand that the pounded flat french style of cooking steaks makes it more difficult to get the right temperature however mine came out medium well. Not a glimmer of pink in there. My wife ordered her steak medium well. The thing came out like a pounded piece of leather. At this point we were so tired and hungry we just ate and left rather than complain. The flavors were good the execution could be better. Unfortunate to say but the best thing about the meal was the bread which was really crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. yum.
(2)
Libby F.
It's Saturday afternoon in Downtown Bethesda. An atypical, but welcome warm day in mid October calls to us to take our beloved four-legged friends with us to the Bethesda Arts Festival. After tangling in the masses for hours, we sat ourselves at nice little bistro table facing Woodmont Avenue and were instantly greeted. (Maybe we were suppose to go to the hostess stand first?) We were given the Brunch menu, but it offered a reasonable amount of a la carte lunch items. I opted for the asparagus and mushroom quiche which was tasty, but not filling. I was eying my neighbors pomme frittes, which looked thin and crisp and were served in a metal tumbler, just the way I like them! My friend had the sandwich du jour, which was pork and while she said it was good, she took most of it home. Both of our dishes were served with a bed of lettuce (not your typical greens, but I don't recall the name of this kind). It had a citrus-type dressing on it. Both entrees were $9.95 each. I'd like to come back, as Anna T. suggested, for Happy Hour. Dinner entree prices are a bit steep, but the atmosphere is appealing. I'm looking forward to trying the escargot next time. There will be a next time.
(4)
Cindy L.
The Grilled Salmon & Spinach Salad is perfection and the Seared Sea Scallops w/spinach, whipped cauliflower, brown butter...wow. Of course the desserts are the highlight. The half-bottles of wine are nice for when you don't want too much (i know all the hardcore wine fans have all gasped). The server doesn't open the wine correctly - bottle facing away, opening it mid-air (spillage!) and they don't use a traditional opener either. I agree that it does get very loud and it's not really French in my opinion b/c I actually like the food :) This spot is a fave place for me and my friends to hit up when we miss each other and need a good food experience to share together...gag.
(4)
sonia g.
Perfect for BRUNCH. You can sit outside, enjoy the busy street, munch on some baguette + raspberry jam... Great food, good atmosphere. In the evening gets a little dark though. Overall, a nice spot to try out and reasonable prices.
We came here with a group on the recommendation of friends who have eaten at the Reston location. Most of the food was "eh...fine", but the value for the money means we won't be coming back. The Good Our waiter was very friendly and did a nice job for the most part for our party of 6. He knew when to pay us a visit and when to leave us alone. The meat eating crowd was pleased with their meals, and I personally enjoyed my salad (endive and watercress) before the actual dinner. If you are into huge portions, this is your place. The Bad When I made the reservation, I had to use Open Table online because when I called the number for reservations I was hung up on. Twice. Fortunately, the online reservation worked out fine. They continued to set up expectations and fail to meet them when it came to my order. I am a vegetarian and I picked this spot over the other French-ish restaurants in Bethesda because they list a $10 market vegetable platter on the website menu. First our waiter did not know the day's selections for the platter (and never came back to tell me what they were, he just put the order in). Then when it arrived, my food was almost entirely cold (hint--start plating the veggies after the steaks are done, people). Finally, the cost was $16, not $10 for cold green beans and asparagus served with under cooked corn and roasted tomato. The mash potatoes were good, thank goodness. Had i known my entree would have been that lame, I would have ordered another salad. There were also order mistakes. Two of my friends ordered the Steak Bearnaise (one well done, one medium) with different sides. The wrong steaks were put on the plates with the sides. To fix the problem, my friends had to switch the meat on their own plates at the table. This happened after my boyfriend ordered the hand cut chips with blue cheese sauce and was served the country style pate instead. (???) That switch was actually fixed by the kitchen, thank goodness. We had some other service issues. The one point at which our waiter dropped the ball was my friend's drink order. She is pregnant and asked for a mojito without the rum. He told her they didn't know how to make that. (Um... simple syrup, lime juice, mint, seltzer water... no rum) Thankfully, she insisted he put in the order and the bar made it just fine. I personally think he didn't want the headache of trying to figure out how to bill a virgin mojito. Finally, an otherwise nice evening I could have written off as "quirky" nearly came to a grinding halt because the sour little woman who was busing our table felt like we were taking too long to finish our deserts. She spoke very little English and kept coming up to our table to ask if we were done. She came four times. The last two were less than a full minute apart. We finally made her take the empty dishes, but then she wanted to take the last dish someone was still eating. Do not take a pregnant woman's desert from her or her friends will write about you on yelp.
(2)
cindy d.
Enviroment cool ,more american food than french food. Price high . If u looking for french food dnt ever eat heard
(3)
Alicia G.
My boss brought me here for lunch about a week ago. We were originally going to go to Levante's but then I remembered that this place was just a bit down from there and that I've always wanted to try it out. I'm really glad that we did! The maitre d' was very friendly and we were seated right away. I really like our server right off the bat. He was older, had a friendly smile and made the lunch features sound irresistable. He had several other tables besides ours but we never felt neglected. He was there to refill our drinks and make sure we had everything we needed without being overbearing. I really liked the interior. The mahogany wine rack that separates the dining rooms is really cool. I like seeing a lot of the wine bottles on display. The bread was warm and crusty...the way I love my carbs. Haha. I settled on the Lemon Chicken Paillard with haricot verts and a lemon butter sauce. It was delicious. Not overcooked and dry; juicy and satisfying. My boss had the brie burger (I think) and it was huge! He said it was really good and enjoyed the pomme frittes. We did end up getting dessert - the warm berry crumble with vanilla ice cream. I guess I should have moved my spoon a little quicker because the ice cream melted realllly quickly. But it was an otherwise very delicious dessert with lots of strawberries, blackberries and all other sorts of berries that one would expect to find in it. Overall, I really enjoyed my dining experience at Mon Ami Gabi and I look forward to coming back and testing out some of the other great dishes on their menu.
(4)
Carrie R.
The best part of the meal was the appetizers. Warm Brie, Escargot, Scallops and Shrimp Cocktail- very delicious. I had the scallops which were lacking flavor, I substituted Cauliflower for Au Gratin, which was bland and the spinach was too oily. Very good ambiance though. Low lighting, mahogany furnishings, great for appetizers and drinks.
(2)
Michael W.
The food at this place is not bad, not bad at all. Yet, I'll give it three stars. But why??? Because I feel that this place deceives its customers by pretending to be a french restaurant. If you were teletransported straight from Houston's to Mon Ami Gabi you wouldn't probably even notice. Perhaps at the time you received your food you would, but only if you happened to pay attention to the "bon appetit" or at the time you get the check, when the waiter quite amusingly told you "l'addition" instead of the check. Apart from that, the place could very well be called "My buddy Joe" (and I think it should).
(3)
Bob F.
I've had great experiences here in the past, but not this time. I had the Au Poivre burger with their "signature hand-cut" fries. Most tasteless meat I've ever had. Au Poivre means "prepared or served with a generous amount of usually coarsely ground black pepper ." There was very little pepper on this burger. It was, however, cooked medium rare, which is what I asked for. The fries were absolutely awful. Tiny little bits of potato (not one was longer than an inch) that had the consistency of shoe leather. I hope they were just having a bad day. I have clients who really like this place. Not sure I'm looking forward to returning.
(1)
Tony P.
I finally took the opportunity of Restaurant Week to come here. It's been on my bookmark for a while. The establishment is modern and roomy with traditional french decor. The service was attentive and the meal was leisurely paced. The amuse bouche was a couscous arrangement alongside a baguette and rich butter. You definitely want to pace yourself, because you can certainly overdose on the baguette and butter alone. My choice of appetizer was the chicken pate. A generous serving of pate that was very buttery and had wonderful flavors. The spicy red wine mustard, sweet and sour cornichons, and pearl onions accoutrements were nicely complementary in flavors. My date had the warm brie appetizer that was also excellent. The creamy melted cheese had a firm hearty flavor and the grilled garlic was soft to spread on the crostini. My entree was the steak frites. A good cut of savory meat with a herb butter sauce served with a side of crunchy frites. The temperature of the meat came out as expected with a nice red center. My date had a beautiful thyme seared salmon on a bed of orzo and spinach with creamy lemon butter sauce. The salmon had a good grilled crust but was juicy and succulent. Our dessert choices were the warm bread pudding and flourless chocolate cake. The bread pudding had a really nice caramel sweetness and the chocolate cake was rich and decadent. My wine choice was the Crozes-Hermitage 2006. An excellent Rhone red wine made with predominantly Syrah grapes. A beautiful nose with hints of spices and fruits, medium tannin structure and acidity, and dark berries flavor. Overall, an excellent foray and I will definitely be back to check out the braised shortribs I saw on the daily menu board. I'm impressed by the generous RW portions. This is definitely one of the best RW picks for me.
(4)
Jay M.
Wonderful Valentine's Day dinner this evening. Our family loves this place and it's spectacular for a cozy date night. Our server tonight was "Ivan" and he made the event so welcoming and personal. Ivan guided our party through the beverage and meal options -- offering an excellent illustration and description of each specialty , , , using a good balance of passion for the food and hand motions to paint the full picture. You just trusted him to bring you whatever he thought best. My Manhattan was superb and I am a Type A when it comes to my cocktail -- I can see from a mile away if it's not 'perfect' - and have been known to wave it off long before it even gets to the table if it's not so. This one was eloquent! The Lobster bisque was dreamy. My Beef Wellington only needed the slightest of pressure from a butter knife to slice through it. The accompanying spinach was rich and very tender and the garlic was potent enough to fend off any evil spirits - the only way to live! Bold. My bride could not resist Ivan's mention (amongst other things) that his mother loves the Arctic Char ("that's so sweet!") nor that it was on a bed of velvety mashed potatoes. My son's Beef Bourguignon was deadly and his girlfriends Roast Chicken with pearly onions, mushrooms and bacon was savory. We intentionally did not finish our entrees so that I could have the left-overs and we could have dessert - 2 specials, a petite round cheese cake with a frothy topping (light & fluffy - no seriously!) and a red velvet cake were stunning, , , and finally the Mango Sorbet was the perfect closer to cleanse the pallet. And there is NOTHING BETTER, yet so often and routinely ignored by many eateries, than a cup of their strong & hearty coffee. I don't smoke but I felt like I wanted a cigarette after that meal!! I'm looking for housing closer to Mon Ami Gabi!
(5)
Melody C.
The only reason why this doesn't get 4 stars instead of a 2 is because I want to make a statement to the management who seemed to blissfully ignore is that the floors were so SLICK WITH GREASE that I didnt want to get out of my chair to go to the bathroom, lest I fall down and break something. I was afraid that I would regret bringing my mom here for mother's day if she fell down. I was nervous when I saw a handicapped gentleman enter the dining room, that he'd fall down too. It totally ruined what could have been a really terrific dining experience and made me question the restaurant's sanitation throughout my meal. When we made a comment about it to the waitress, she said, hmm, I never noticed that, but this is an impossible problem to not notice!!! It's a slip and fall suit waiting to happen! I was quite displeased that this went unaddressed even though we brought it up. Otherwise, the food was pretty darn good, we ordered the country pate (so-so, i realized that I really prefer liver mousse pate), and the plate of warm brie on a bed of honey with sauteed garlic cloves and crispy bread - that was really good! the french onion soup was up to expectation - but if you finish the entire thing it will sit in your stomach way after dinner and prevent you from finishing your entree - the gruyere cheese is very heavy, so as tasty as it is, dont be tempted to finish it or else you wont have room for much else. i also liked it because it wasn't too salty. it's well worth ordering. my mom ordered the halibut special for that day which was really good - i got the steak bordelaise (blue cheese sauce) with frites - which are like somewhere between thin fries and chips - ribbon shaped fries basically. my favorite thing that evening was the dessert - not on the menu - a "flour-free" chocolate cake - a moussey fluffy (but still substantial) round mound of rich chocolate goodness topped with warm chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream. fantastic! OVERALL: MAKE SURE YOU ASK THEM WHAT ARE THE SPECIALS FOR THE DAY - the best things we tried were NOT ON THE MENU.
(2)
Joanne S.
Something is terribly wrong here--we've been coming here regularly for six years now and stopped in last night and asked where favorite bartenders Mark and Gabriel were and was told in a snarky way "they moved on and we can't talk about it" and "I'm tired of hearing about this from our customers 20 times a day, etc." Really? Is that your response--I don't know who forced them out the door but they were the reason we (and many others we know) liked to frequent Mon Ami Gabi. Instead we had this new guy and two women who were only talking to themselves versus making customers feel welcome. We looked down the bar a little later and several stools were left open--never seen that before on a Friday night here so word must be getting out. We are SO disappointed in whatever management has done to lose great people like them. In case Mark reads this review, please let us know where you landed and we'll take our business there. We miss you--"Grey Goose extra dry martini with blue cheese stuffed olives and Miller Lite (no glass)"
(1)
D K.
Unexpected delight. My bf and I wanted a nice place for Sunday brunch. By chance, we came upon Mon Ami Gabi and decided to try it. On the menu, we immediately saw the $10 Mimosas, so we had to try one. We got a Mimosa and a Peach Bellini. Both were delicious and satisfyingly strong. The fresh baguette that comes out is perfect. I knew this place would be awesome after that. (I LOVE BREAD) The waiter was fantastic. He described all the dishes in detail and seemed VERY knowledgeable. He was friendly and very helpful. We started off with the Country Pate. Delicious. A bigger portion than I expected, so be prepared. My bf ordered the Crab Cake Eggs Benedict, which was also delicious. The potatoes... not so much, which were the only disappointing part of the entire experience, but the crab cakes were great, and the English Muffin was baked perfectly. I ordered the Chicken, Brie & Apple Crepe. I'm not too fond of crepes usually, but I like to try new things. It was decent. I'm not sure what makes a good crepe, but I liked the differences in texture between the soft chicken, creamy brie, and crunchy apple. We got the Peach Parfait for dessert. AMAZING. Flavorful, refreshing, and light. The ice cream was homemade, and it was a mix between a peach sorbet & ice cream, so it was light yet creamy. Atmosphere is perfect for Sunday brunch. Lots of families and couples. I think it'd be a great place for dinner also. It's neither too casual nor too formal. FOOD = Great PRICE = Fair SERVICE = Great My bf and I have decided to make Mon Ami Gabi a monthly activity. Can't wait to go again next month.
(4)
Olivia L.
This place has delicious food, it's a bit pricey though. I would recommend doing happy hour there, they have some great deals. You can get a salmon sandwich for like $6. The atmosphere is great and the service is pretty good too.
(4)
Howard M.
We have been here for dinner three times and each time have come away wondering why. There are better steak and seafood restaurants within walking distance. The baguette is good; the steak is fairly tasteless and chewy; even the cheeseburger lacks taste; the fries arrived cold; and the service is indifferent. A French bistro it's not.
(2)
Sean F.
I've been here three times before and all of those times were four star Yelp experiences, so I guess I was due for a bad one. Showed up at 7:00 p.m. on a Saturday night. Expected a wait and were told it would be an hour. We had a movie to be to at 9:30, so I was sure there would be enough time. Sat in the bar and were asked if we'd like to eat and we told them no, relying on the hostesses statement. Sure enough, an hour and a half later at 8:30, we were still sitting there. It wasn't until the couple next to us, who had showed up a half hour after we had, had their buzzer go off that I went back and told the hostess we no longer had enough time to eat for the evening, especially if they were seating walk-ins that came in after we had already. I'm normally pretty forgiving when it comes to stuff like this, but something about this experience rubbed me the wrong way. When it comes to walk-ins, it's not rocket science. Seat them in the order they come in, as time allows.
(1)
Eddie G.
Want me to be honest? (And I know you do...) I wasn't impressed with this place. The hangar steak itself had no flavor, save for the sauce which wasn't too great. And the weird part was that the dish arrived in like five minutes - but wasn't hot. In fact, the spinach side dish (tasty) was also properly cooked, but not hot. All of which me wonder - is their food not cooked to order? In fact, the onion soup struck me the same way - like it had been sitting under a lamp. The cheese on top (thick and promising) wasn't melty, but stringy and tough. Lastly, the fries were a real disappointment. A mound of salty, crunchy bits, like the bottom bits of a bag of chips. Nice dining room, though.
I had a great experience at Mon Ami Gabi this past weekend. My boyfriend and I decided to come here for lunch and we were both extremely satisfied with our food and the customer service we received. I ordered the petite salad and he ordered the sandwich du jour. The prices were very reasonable especially with the quality Mon Ami Gabi puts out. We've already decided we'll have to go again because so many things on the menu sounded delicious.
(4)
Megan S.
The location for Mon Ami Gabi is the real selling point - it is right at the hub of Bethesda activity, and has the nice outdoor seating. You definitely get the sense that you are at a themed French restaurant rather than an authentic French place, but I can't complain about the food, it is quite good. And if you are going to a movie at the artsy theater nearby, or need a place to eat before an event afterwards, this is a great place to have an elegant start to the evening. That said, this is not a particularly unique dining experience, so if you are looking for a culinary experience that is creative or even mold-breaking, this is not your place. This is a good place for the person who knows the 2-3 entrees they regularly order at a restaurant, and wants to have one of those items at a convenient, nice restaurant.
(3)
Libby P.
Even though the food wasn't great, I had the best restaurant experience of my life here. My sister and I took our mother out to dinner on a weeknight for her birthday. They ordered the steak frites and I had scallops. When they couldn't make up their minds about the sauces, the waiter said that he would bring out a few to try. He brought out little dishes of every sauce they have! We had so much fun trying them all and deciding on our favorites. We also had a fantastic salad, but my scallops were rubbery and swimming in sauce. Bistrot du Coin has better and more authentic food for similar prices, but the service was simply amazing.
(4)
Alice K.
Went with a few friends for lunch and sat outdoors. We were quickly seated with a very friendly waiter. I got steak frites- steak bordelaise and it was AMAZING. Other friends also got steak frites and theirs were just as amazing. If there's one thing you get here, it has to be the steak frites! We then got profiteroles and were planning on splitting since we were so full. The waiter showed up with a few extra ones so we could all have one- free of charge! Amazing food, amazing service, would definitely go here again.
(5)
Southern Belle A.
Five stars? Yes! Atmosphere: We sat at an outside table and indulged in the beautiful evening air. Clean white table clothes and overhead red umbrellas. Service: Outstanding. Always on hand. Glass never empty. Food prompt Food: Steak Bearnaise medium rare- perfectly done. Grilled Salmon- crispy on the outside, light and moist on the inside Price: $15-30 entrees Great evening. I definitely recommend this place.
(5)
Chris F.
This place has a great, Euro-vibey atmosphere, and professional, prompt service. The wine was good, but the menu selection was a little lacking. I ended up having a steak. This place is really a French take on a steakhouse. My "classique" was delicious, but I would have preferred to have more menu choices. I feel like I ended up settling for what I ordered.
(4)
Marianne D.
SETTING: Two visits. DECOR: Polished and pressed. SERVICE: Trained, Talented & Tasteful ENTREES: Asparagus Quiche - okay. Perhaps a bit on the dry side for me though. Simple, thin, buttery crust. VERDICT: Will continue to inquire within.
(3)
Isabel B.
I gotta say, the minute I finished my meal at Mon Ami Gabi, I couldn't wait to get to Yelp to sing it praises. I first visited its Bethesda location one sunny and very warm Monday afternoon. Since it was Memorial Day and I had the day off work, I woke up in the mood for brunch but forgot that it was not a weekend day and therefore most restaurants wouldn't be serving it. Mon Ami Gabi was the exception, as they had both full menus available: brunch and lunch. Since at the time it was about 90 degrees outside, my friend and I opted to skip their cute little outdoor seating area and find a table inside. They sat us in a cozy table for two next to the window. Perfect. Although I was a little disappointed to see that there were not enough vegetarian crepe options on the menu, I was soon comforted by the sight of various delicious sounding salads and by hearing that the day's special was a Cucumber gazpacho (I love cold soups on hot summer days!) My friend and I agreed to split the $12 cheese plate and I decided that this, plus the delicious loaf of fresh-baked baguette would be infinitely better than any brunch options I may have had in mind. The cheese plate did not disappoint, and neither did the soup. Although I was thoroughly tempted by the sight of an ice cream cup being delivered to another table, I realized I was satisfied and that the meal had been a success. Next time I visit Gabi's (and there will soon be a next time), I will definitely make sure to try one of their brunch cocktails (Bellini? Customized Bloody Mary?? Yum), and perhaps also the eggs Florentine a chance. Thumbs up Mon Ami Gabi, fantastique!
(5)
Remy M.
I destroy liver like alcoholism. So count me in. Their chicken liver mousse is great, especially on the awesome french bread they bring to every table. For an entree, I get the steak...either "classique" (french for "classic") or "au poivre" (french for "let's put pepper on this steak and charge more"). Both are good choices. The steaks are thin--french style--so don't order it too well done. The desserts are great as well. You can't go wrong with the apple tart thing (not really called that, I forget the real name), the creme brulee or the cream puff thing. Check it out!
(4)
Charles M.
I been eating at this restaurant for years. However last Saturday nite with 2 friends with us our service was terrible 1st our waiter never visited us for at least 15 min He was in such a rush , he never cared to serve our table of 4 The appetizers arrived cold , we let that go My dinner was raw, bleeding red blood out of my chicken I had to call him over since he never checked on us Took my dinner away for a new Took so long that my table finished there dinner way ahead of mine when i ask him as he was running past , what about my dinner it was a disgrace just tio stop him since he forgot my dinner Veg arrived with my dried out chicken thrown at me cold I took a few bites and wanted to leave out of there . took a while for my check so i ask for the manager who tried to help but didn't want to stay around I will be a while before my stomach clears up and till i tell my Friends what happened to go back I thought they been sold to someone else who could not care less good luck going to eat here C
(2)
Tanya M.
Had a wonderful brunch outside (finally can enjoy the outside seating!). Staff was friendly and always refreshed our baguette and water. Overall food service was a little slow but we didn't mind since it was such a nice day and we were not in a hurry. Enjoyed the veggie quiche and everyone else was pleased with their brunch choices as well!
(4)
P A.
I've been here about three times. Amazing service from Vincent who is a happy, cheery fellow who clearly just loves people. He really takes care of his customers and makes dining at this place even more worthwhile. The steak and frites dishes are great (though I've just had the mignon and NY strip). The sauces are delicious and the crispy frites soak it right up. Decent dessert but not the greatest out there. Wonderful place!
(4)
Joannie B.
Food was very good. Staff was nice and friendly, a bit too occupied with each other at times, but BF and I were too focuses on each other. Escargot was good, not great, but satisfying. My steak was cooked very nicely, but a bit on the smaller side. Side salad was, well, it was a salad, pretty hard to mess up. Anyways, overall dinner was good. Great to eat out at during a stormy night, but if need be, stay at home, nothing on the menu that you just cannot do better at home.
(3)
Nick H.
I've only been there for happy hour, but it is the BEST! Hot, fresh bread, $4 glasses of wine, $5 foods including french onion soup, pate, salmon burger, steak sandwich, and Belgian fries crisped to perfection. Oh, and a GREAT atmosphere. I go here weekly now. Friday nights get very crowded.
(5)
Maria S.
I only recently discovered that there was a Mon Ami Gabi in Bethesda. Oui, oui! Anyway, this turned out to be a solid place for brunch--they give you a warm mini baguette and little cups of whipped butter and raspberry preserves as starters. It was perfect to nibble on while waiting for food! They also have bellinis, kirs, and mimosas during brunch. ..although my kir was not quite as cold as I would have liked on such a hot day for whatever reason (perhaps the bottle of wine was out of the fridge for a bit), it was still quite refreshing. Our food was delicious, too--I had the tuna nicoise tartine, which was topped with with both tuna salad and seared tuna slices, as well as tasty olives, tomatoes, and green beans. My dining partner had their bananas foster waffles, which she declared excellent (they bring the sauces, bananas, etc. in separate dishes so you can top the waffle yourself). Service was pleasant and knowledgeable about specials and our food came very quickly, but they did seem totally swamped during the brunch rush.
(4)
Larissa F.
If you want good, reasonably priced French food -- go to Mon Ami Gabi. Be prepared to be stuffed. I have dined at the Bethesda and Reston locations, and both are nicely done for a chain restaurant. The bread is amazing first off, make sure to go off Atkins for this one. French onion soup comes in a HUGE crock, I like to get mine well done on top so it's nice and browned. Salads always look like a top choice, and the pate is supposedly nice as well. The mussels and frites are nicely done, and I love the crispy little frites ribbons that come with the steaks. Although the cut of meat is sometimes a bit fatty (one time I had a large piece of fat through the middle which was not pleasant), I love the choice of sauces and it's always enough for leftovers. I like the steak bordelaise. One thing they do have is nightly specials which always sound intriguing....from sole meuniere to short ribs. If you're not into red meat, the roast chicken is a nice alternative, as is the crispy skate. Overall, its a nice stop on the way home on a Friday night. 5 Star Rating Atmosphere - 3 (romantic, good for small groups) Food - 4 (get your French fill here) Service - 4 (always had attentive servers)
(4)
Lindsay K.
We went here for my brother's birthday and were sorely disappointed with the food and service. It took about half an hour for our food to get to the table, and the waiter never once came to check up on us during that time. My brother's steak was ordered medium rare and when it came out, looked medium rare...yet it tasted chewy, oh so very chewy, as if extra well-done. It was quite odd to say the least. And forget flagging the waiter down about it, because he was nowhere to be found. I ordered the fish and chips, expecting it to be the typical cut of filet, breaded and fried. Instead, it was a thin patty of fish flakes mashed together and pan-fried. It was under-seasoned, dry, and the texture left something to be desired. I can understand a "different take" on a dish, but only do so if you can make it good. In this case it was definitely not. I left some comments on the bill and received a kind phone call from the manager a couple of days later. He invited me back to the restaurant for a complimentary meal, to which I politely declined. However, I did appreciate the gesture.
(2)
Ed L.
Ordered the Steak Steak Bearnaise. First they don't even tell you what cut of steak it is. When I asked the waiter he told me "The butt"... ok so I ordered it. When it comes out it's the flattened steak that I could get at Applebees for $10. The portions were small the steak meat was tough as leather and the sauce was meh.. I would not order it again. It comes with a side of Frites (french for french fries?) which are just chopped and fried potatoes. We also ordered the escargot which tasted like dirt and was mushy. I've had better. The bread was hard and difficult to chew. The butter they served with the bread was hard and cold (I prefer whipped butter...) We did order one of the specials which was Fish and Mussles that was actually pretty good, and the Baked scallops were ok. Overall I would not go back again. Considering the majority of their dishes were Steak and the one I ordered was not very good, one can only wonder how the rest of their dished would taste.
(1)
Philippe D.
I had a very pleasant experience at Mon Ami Gabi. The baguette which we were served was delightfully warm, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The hanger steak which I took was a relatively large portion, but still it was very very good. There were some parts of the steak which I felt tasted a bit strong in terms of spices compared to other milder parts. But, all in all I thought the steak was good. The fries were.... interesting. They were so thin and crispy, and it was definitely a "new" way of serving fries, but I just didn't like them. The bananas foster crepe was alright, but it's definitely not a French trademark, and the caramel-maple-foster sauce was very very sweet. However, the service, ambiance, and steak make up for that and made it a pleasant experience.
(4)
Anna M.
Went here on friday with the bossman and another coworker after a long week and a presentation. We got there around 2:30pm, it was beautiful out and we sat outside to enjoy the weather. we each ordered champagne which was wonderful along with a pate plate, which was also great. The pate wasn't the best I've ever had, but was very good. We then ordered our next drink, I got the French Martini which was light and wonderful for a warm day. we all ordered our meals, bossman ordered a crepe, coworker ordered the steak frites, I ordered the croque madame. all the food was delicious. the frites (fries) were crispy and chip-like. homemade, very good. The croque madame was great, not assembled like a sandwich but cut into corners and served smothered in cheese with an egg on top. An odd way, I thought, to serve a "sandwich". The last time I had this sandwich was in paris, and it was assembled a little differently. The sandwich was a little overbearing and I think there was a little too much cheese (what? is that possible?) yes... when you dont see bread and all you see is cheese, yes.... its possible. It was still very good and the egg was cooked to perfection, which is difficult to find at times. After our meal we ordered another round. I got the mojito. Great mojito. The drinks here were all made great. Tasted great with just the right amount of alcohol. The wine selection here is amazing. We finished the night with a couple more drinks. Bossman and I ordered the chateauneuf-du-pape, which was a wonderful wine. Highly recommended.
(4)
Jim B.
Good, but not great. Came here for Bethesda restaurant week and the prix fixe looked enticing enough to try. I started off with the chicken liver mousse, which came out as an enormous block on my plate. They should've given me an extra loaf of bread to wipe it all up. It tasted alright, but sometimes less is more. Give me more flavor in a smaller serving, so it doesn't feel like I'm eating five cans of fancy feast. The steak was cooked to my liking, with a bleu cheese dressing. Again, nothing mind-blowing, but a solid meal. The frites were delicious, and I proceeded to eat every single one, but I'd say the ones at Les Halles were better. I bookended my prix fixe with another serving of mousse - chocolate this time. Sweet lord was it rich! Almost sickeningly so. I ate that all down as well, of course, and then instantly developed three cavities. The waiter throughout the night was extremely friendly and attentive. The two girls and one gay guy I was with were absolutely smitten with him and proceeded to corral him over to our table at the end and give his life story and family heritage. But again, he did this all with a sincere enthusiasm. One of the most surprising parts of the night was a coupon at the end of my meal for a free steak frites meal ($20 value!!). Will I be back for my free meal? You bet! And if I find myself roaming around Bethesda, I might consider this place. I just wouldn't make a pilgrimage to it.
(3)
Carmen D.
Not sure what the review are all about. I had a steak that had tough pieces and a lot of fat around it. Nothing lean and tastful about it. Frites? Seriously were just soggy french fries. Never going back.
(2)
Anita C.
Came here for lunch yesterday with an old friend. When we entered the restaurant near lunchtime, there was no hostess in the front to greet us, even though there were very few people in the restaurant. We waited a good five minutes before anyone noticed us, and when someone finally did, it was a waiter. He went to look for the hostess, who was still missing, and he was the one who finally took us to our table. Price: $19.99 for the steak frites and $29.99 for the filet mignon with a side of fries. Not bad for steak items. I believe the onion soup was ~$8. Food: However, the food was awful. My friend and I split the onion soup, the steak frites, and the filet mignon. The onion soup that everyone raves about was a bowl of thick, drippy soup with soggy bread on the inside and sticky cheese on the outside. We probably ate two bites each of it. The complimentary "warm bread" that everyone says the meal comes with - so hard, we could barely tear it into bits to eat. The filet mignon was a piece of dried, cold meat on our plates. It had definitely been sitting out for awhile. There was no potato in the French fries - they were more along the lines of fried, thin, crispy potato skins. Not good. The thin steak, their "signature dish," was a little juicier, but still mostly flavorless. I had to douse both meat entrees with their peppercorn and bleu cheese dipping sauces. Terrible food. Suffice it to say, my friend and I barely touched our plates and did NOT take the leftovers home. Service: The highlight of the whole experience was our waiter. He checked in on us multiple times and kindly split our orders into two separate servings without us having to ask. Bottom Line: definitely not on my choice of restaurants to re-visit. Avoid the onion soup at all costs!
(2)
Mike B.
First time to visit this location in Bethesda and was not disappointed! Everything about this restaurant is perfection. We had a large group and sat in a middle table in the main room on a busy night, but never once felt crowded or neglected by staff. The service sets the tone that you are welcomed and special. Glasses are promptly filled, orders are taken with precision, wait staff are thoroughly versed in the nuances of the menu and can offer the perfect wine to pair with your meal. Of course, the food is the star of the night. Starting with Escargot de Borgogne with a hearty garlic and butter sauce. It's so hard to find Escargot cooked right. Some of our other favorite dishes were the trout almondine, each bite was delicate and literally would melt in your mouth. To finish off the evening, bananas foster crepe, oh so heavenly! It's hard to save room for dessert, but you will be glad you did.
(5)
Kelly X.
Service was great. The food was ok. I expected more entrees and the food was a bit plan. The lobster soup was decent. The upside down pear cake was freaking awesome. I would go back to this place for only one reason, the upside down cake!
(3)
Emily F.
Mon Ami Gabi had OK food, OK wine but terrible service. While our waiters all spoke French, the food seemed more American and even a bit Mediterranean. Also don't be deceived by the menu out front - they have an extensive brunch/lunch menu, but the dinner menu is much smaller (read: one page.) If you are not an olive fan, be sure to ask if olives come on your salad or entree - they were on everything we ordered. Overall this place had decent food, good outdoor seating, nice waiters, but they were extremely slow and inattentive.
(2)
Frank H.
Restaurant Week Visit: Had a reservation for lunch and came in a little late. Lots of paid and free parking in the local area. Served initially with a baguette and some coffee. Waiter definitely gave me a lot of refills so service was attentive. We ordered French onion soup, salad for appetizer, mussels and salmon for main course. Everything was well prepared and seasoned well. The mussels were very lightly cooked in wine sauce and apple. The salmon was lightly grilled and served with spinach and orange and grapefruit slices. We enjoyed our meal and the ambiance. It had a cafe, bistro feel and feltvery lively. Didn't care for the French fries but they were ok. Would I go again... yes.
(4)
Ina C.
My favorite things: - Their brunch is close to perfection! Delicious. It fills up quick, so don't sleep in too late! - They have plenty of outdoor seating! - Their steak is to die for and unique! - Other things to do: catch a movie at the very cool Bethesda Row Cinemas around the corner; get some unbelievable ice cream at Gifford's next door; walk off that food coma with a stroll down the Capital Crescent Trail.
(4)
Tori K.
This place is amazing. They have wonderful fresh bread that they bring before the meal and some kind of carrot salad. My favorite is there side of Mac and Cheese with their warm frisee and bacon salad. They also have a very good warm brie.
(5)
Zita L.
If my waiter had spoken French, like those who waited on some other Yelpers, I might have added a third star just for the hell of it. OK, here we go. I was frustrated by the wine list for starters. It listed the regions of France. Fine. And then listed the varietals of grapes found under each of those regions. Fine. And then under THAT, listed the wines by chateaux names. Fine. But it DIDN'T tell you the varietal of grapes contained in each wine, and the waiter - who didn't even look old enough to drink wine - had absolutely no clue about wine or his restaurant's wine list. So nobody in the room knew whether we were ordering a malbec or a merlot. I know what I like, but I'm not an expert. You KNOW your wine ordering experience was bad when you simply had to point and say "I guess I'll take THAT one". The french onion soup I had was boring and overly sweet. The potatoes that came with my friends' steaks were so thin, it's like they couldn't decide whether they wanted to be french fries or potato chips. Not a good fence to be on, as they are either soggy chips or really greasy fries. One friend got plain old potatoes with her fish. I tasted them and they were bland as hell. I also tasted a friend's steak: Meh. The bread that came to the table in the beginning, along with the kicky little accompanying dish of sweet grated carrots were fresh and good, as was the trout. That's where the second star was awarded. Surely Bethesda can do better. Although more pricey, a similar (and slightly better) alternative Big French Bistro waaaaaaay downtown is Les Halles.
(2)
Y Y.
Thought I'd give it another try - wished I did not. Came for dinner. Crappy service with crappier food to boot. The steak is so thin, they should just call it bulgoggi! The frites are so thin they are no better than kettle chips. I had the steak frite at Les Halles and it was waaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy better. Dont be fooled by the nice looking "french bistro paris feel" outdoor sitting or dinning room. The place looks toooo good for the food they serve. Super deceptive!
(1)
Sheena C.
Absolutely looooove this place!!! The staff is so wonderful, and the food is amazing. It is a lot of people in one space but who cares! Totally worth it. I ordered a steak and asked about the different sauces. I finally picked one but was still brought both so I could try them both. It's attention and service like that along with just generally great food that I love.
(5)
TejieSaba S.
This adorable French restaurant is located in hip downtown Bethesda. The atmosphere has a great vibe and if you go here when the weather is warm, I'd recommend sitting outside. If you like rare but not tremendously overpriced imported wine, try their bordeaux, it's very light but aromatic. I have been here on more than one occasion and my favorite thing about this place is the freshness of their food. The salmon salad is amazing and my go-to entree is the sea scallops. I love going back to this place and anyone I have ever recommended this restaurant to has loved it.
(4)
Brian C.
What a delicious meal we had here Saturday night - a little pricy, but the food and service was worth it. We did not make a reservation, so we were told we would have an hour wait. We gave a cell phone number to the hostess, and were delighted to get a call 20 minutes later saying there had been a cancellation and they could sit us now. The hostess pulled out the table so my partner could sit on the inside of the banquette comfortable and the waitress brought water and a hot crispy baguette right away. The bread was served with creamy butter and a tart carrot relish. The waitress told us the specials and waited patiently while we decided among their tempting menu. As an appetizer, I ordered the French Onion soup. Served in a deep white bowl, the focus was shared netween the gooey layer of cheese and toast and the rich beef broth and carmelized onion. As an entree, I ordered the steak bordelaise and pomme fritte. The frites were a crispy pile of potato goodness and they sopped up the rich onion and butter sauce perfectly. The steak was incredibly tender and flavorful. My partner ordered the hot olive bowl as an appetizer. Who knew hot olives could be so tasty and taste so different? He ordered the fish special - a crispy filet over fennel and potatoes. We shoudn't have, but we ordered dessert. Who could resist that dessert list? The layer of chocolate in the chocolate pecan tart was a little hard to cut through, but well worth the effort. The interplay of whipped cream, pecans, chocolate, flaky tart and caramel swirl was wonderful.
(5)
Rhan K.
I always love this place. I used to come here in high school with a school group to get food and loved it then. I came here to take my parents out for dinner and had a decent experience. The food: The fillet mignon was great. Yummy, well cooked and the sauce was perfect. The fries that came with it were great too. The Onion Soup was SPECTACULAR. It is seriously the big MUST of this place. The scallop entree was great but it was 6 pieces of scallop for like 17 dollars, which is a bit of a rip off in some ways. And the Skate Wing was a bit bland. The capers that came with it were really bad (I usually LOVE capers) and so it was a bit of a disappointment. Also, the duck appetizer was overly sweet and not a great balance of flavors with the REALLY under seasoned lentils. The ambiance: It is always the perfectly cute restaurant to sit and eat in. It is just adorable. The Service: The service here is always SPECTACULAR. I must say its amusing to try to speak to the servers in french and even in english , they are just the perfect balance of attentive and not overwhelming.
(4)
Saki M.
Umm, yes this place is great. My lady friends and I come here quite often for Sunday Brunch and we are never disappointed. You'll never go wrong with the eggs du jour or quiche Lorraine. We usually have one or the other as a shared appetizer and the Roquefort steak frites and a couple of French 75's to right last nights wrongs. Skip the dining room and instead cozy up in the bar section and get ready to receive first-class, attentive and thoughtful service from the wonderful bar staff. Great choice to start off a fabulous Sunday Funday.
(5)
Yummy or Crummy S.
My boyfriend was in the mood for some French food for lunch one day and so we scouted yelp's recommendations for the area and decided to check this place out. And boy, am I glad we did! This was the best restaurant EXPERIENCE I've had in a long time. So much so that I decided to make a yelp account just to review it. First off, the FOOD. My boyfriend had the French Onion soup and a Soft Shell Crab sandwich (seasonal), I decided to try 2 appetizers instead of ordering an entree, the Warm Duck Confit and the Chicken Liver Mousse. The French Onion soup ($7) was excellent, and furthermore it was HUGE. Honestly, we weren't expecting much size-wise from a French restaurant, but they sure surprised us. The soup might have been a bit too cheesy for anyone who doesn't like cheese but it was very flavorful and definitely fresh-made. The soft shell crab sandwich ($16) was pretty good, it had a lot of flavor and the bacon was a nice addition. The fries that came with it were also good, fresh and crispy. As for my h'ordeuvres, the duck confit ($11) was OUTSTANDING. The meat practically fell off the bone and was cooked perfectly, the balsamic cherries added a tangy balance of flavor and the potatoes rounded out the dish nicely. I normally don't eat potatoes but with the duck and cherry juices they were delicious. The chicken liver mousse ($7) was also excellent, very smooth and creamy with a burgundy red wine mustard to go with it and pickles, olives and pearl onions on the side as palate cleansers. The balance of flavors in the dish was perfect. To finish the meal off we had iced cappuccinos, which were a perfect ending to the meal. Usually people only talk about the food in a review, but the SERVICE at Mon Ami Gabi was outstanding as well. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and helpful when discussing the menu options, so much so that it honestly seemed like he had been studying it in his sleep! He knew how each dish is cooked and what kind of taste one would expect. When we questioned him about certain dishes, he knew the exact ingredients that were in each dish and gave an unbiased recommendation. He also always made sure our glasses were never empty and even brought out a glass of ice (without being asked!) when there was a possibility that the water might have been getting warm (since we were outside on a nice, sunny day). He checked with us every time a dish was served to make sure it met expectations. He even served us an extra free cup of iced cappuccino when he wasn't happy with the foam on our originals (we hadn't had any complaints!). Overall, our waiter was knowledgeable down to the tiniest detail and made sure our experience at Mon Ami Gabi wasn't going to be our last. We will definitely be back again soon.
(5)
Harvey L.
Cold soup and salad outdoors under a shade tree were excellent, as was the bread. I'm not a fan of their version of French fries, which having tried them a couple of times in the past, I never order. Good service.
(4)
John E.
I think this place is terrific. Some nights they have live jazz and it is very fun to listen to. The seafood an steaks are about 20-25 dollars, but they have lots of cheaper options like delicious burgers and omelettes. I've been about 5 times and the service is consistently good.
(4)
Christina T.
Went for restaurant week last night. DELICIOUS. Had the chilled gazpacho, steak & frites, & crepes... nom dot com. I've never had gazpacho before so was a bit hesitant, but it was absolutely delicious. I expected more veggies, but the avocado in it was delicious. The steak was so good! We couldn't decide what sauce to get with our steak so our waiter brought them all, which was really nice & not something he needed to do. Minus one of the sauces which tasted a bit like bad blue cheese dressing, they were all very yummy. Lucky that we got to try all of them in the first place, though. Dessert was even better--I got the crepe minus the peaches with some ice cream on top. TO DIE FOR. Wish I could have eaten more but I was already so stuffed. All in all, the food was solid across the board. The only thing I disliked was the amount of frites they threw on your plate.. a bit overwhelming & lacking in taste. Service was great, expected it to be subpar because of restaurant week, but we were seated promptly, even a little early [making reservations = the way to go], and our food came at the perfect pace. Our waiter & the other bus boys were also extremely attentive. Decor was adorable. Will definitely be back.
(4)
Dancetolead V.
We had a wonderful lunch at the restaurant last week. I was really disappointed in the fries though. They were thin and greasy, like McDonalds. When the waiter asked if everything was OK, both of us complained about the fries and they brough us the potato chips instead. Again, nothing interesting. The waiter said the restaurant was known for their fries. I didn't see why. They gave us free desert afterwards. Great service and the rest of the food was food. I mentioned the restuarant to another friend who lives to eat out. She said I was crazy and that the Mon Ami Gabi fries were the best she has ever eaten. So she went there for dinner and now won't eat there for a year as the fries were in fact, horrible.
(4)
Sue H.
Steak Classique. Don't get a menu. This is a one-item restaurant. Chicken is bad. Fish is average. Go hungry. Leave so happy.
(5)
Cameron T.
Met up with my cousin for dinner here last night. She had been many times while it was my first visit to the Bethesda location. We started with the chicken liver mousse, which was good. Then I had the Hangar steak, while she ordered the Filet au poivre. We both ordered medium rare. Mine was perfect while hers came out way over cooked. We sent it back, and they brought out a new one. At that point I was donewith my meal. My steak was perfectly cooked, seasoned nicely with merlot butter. It was tender & flavorful. It was also a bargain at $17.95. My cousin's filet was bland, and she said it was usually very good but not last night. Too bad considering it cost $29.95. I didn't care for their frites. Their fries with very thin unlike the traditional fries served with steak frites. They weren't very crispy and I much prefer the traditional version served at places like Les Halles. The service was not so great. The server took awhile to greet our table. He never checked back to see how our food was, and we had to flag him down about the over cooked steak. He never checked back after that until much later when he dropped off the check. I would go back again. It's a good bet if you have a steak craving. I wouldn't expect anything spectacular, but a decent standy-by.
(3)
Natalie F.
This place is beautiful inside and was perfect for the wedding shower lunch I went to last weekend. We had a room to ourselves with a three round tables and a champagne bar. It was super fancy and the service was excellent. For lunch it was a three course menu with starters which I would say were the best. The scallops, Brie with fresh roasted garlic and toast. The main course I got was the tuna burger which was good but really messy and difficult to eat. The desserts were delicious, flour less chocolate cake, crem bru le and Ice cream with chocolate fudge and pastry. The food was good, not as good as I would have expected. The portions are huge for a french restaurant, seems like they are compensating for the quality of the food. I would love to try brunch here, I'm sure it's excellent.
(2)
Bunnie B.
2 words: steak frites. 2 more: get them. Even though Mon Ami Gabi is kind of expensive and full of yuppies (it's Bethesda after all) the food is really tasty. AND it's next to a great independent movie theater and mediocre ice cream shop.
(3)
Brigitte V.
After reading all the 5 star reviews, we thought we'd try this place - we just moved here from Europe and were craving some "home" food. Well, we decided to sit outside on this warm evening. A waiter came and poured some water in our glasses, and we sat waiting for a menu. During this waiting period, we observed all of their staff (waiters, I assume, they were all dressed alike) valet-parking the cars of their customers. We waited for a total of 30 minutes (!!!), never received a menu (!!!), and were finally fed up with being "ignored", so we got up to leave. Needless to say, we will definitely not be back, no matter how awesome the food supposedly is.
(1)
Jo-Elle M.
Went here for a work event (wine tasting/dinner) this week, so I do not know the price of things. (Sorry.) First, Julian, the manager (?) was great. He went through a quick lesson on French wines, and we were served 2 whites and 2 reds. We had a dedicated server who kept the wine glasses full (hello!!) . I had the butter lettuce salad. Very fresh and yummy. My entree was the seared scallops with cauliflower puree and wilted spinach. Oh my goodness. Super delicious. Cooked perfectly and all elements were full of flavor and went together wonderfully. For dessert, I had the creme brulee, which was very good. Wished I tried the flourless chocolate cake - that looked yummy too! I would highly recommend this place. Being from Chicago, the headquarters of the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group is here - including Mon Ami Gabi. I never have been to the Chicago one, but I will definitely make plans to do so really really soon!! Thanks, Julian and staff!
(4)
sophie S.
If you like french food this is the place to be. The french onion soup is as close to the real thing as it gets. The mussels are amazing, steak frits, salads, it's all wonderful. I have never had a bad meal here, it is one of my favorite restaurants. The service is great, they even have a bloody mary bar on weekends for brunch! The place itself looks very French. Parking is difficult usually better to find a lot and walk. Usually best to make reservations (especially during the weekends.) DO NOT FORGET THE DESSERTS!!!! UNBELIEVABLE!
(5)
Heather J.
The best thing about this place is brunch. Though it's supposed to be a French bistro/steakhouse, the steaks are just OK. The brunch and lunch, on the other hand, are fantastic. The french onion soup here is some of the best I've ever had. It's really rich, with tangy gruyere cheese melted on top. I also love their sandwiches. I can't remember all the ones I've tried offhand, but I don't remember being disappointed in any of them. Now, the best part: the baguettes they bring out with brunch. They're warm, crispy and perfectly browned on the outside, and soft on the inside. They serve them with butter and jam - the jam is amazing. I went for lunch once and they didn't have the jam out because it wasn't a weekend, and I asked for some of the jam with my baguette. They happily obliged. My other favorite thing about brunch is their vanilla french toast. It's a huge portion of french toast with cinnamon baked apples and whipped cream. It's absolutely delicious. I always have leftovers, too, which makes my morning almost as good the next day.
(4)
Tamara C.
Went on a Friday night. Had reservations but still had a bit of a wait in the bar. The atmosphere, the service, and the food were excellent. I had the shoulder cut steak with clue cheese medium rare and it was delicious.
(5)
Nicole L.
This is yet another restaurant I walked past for the last 10 years and always wanted to try but never did. From what I heard was good food but expensive. I decided to give it a shot past weekend. From the outside it looked contained, that you can't quite tell what is going on inside. When I walked in, it was bustling with people both at the bar and in the dining area. It's looked like a typical french bistro. We had a reservation for 10 PM european style after being indeicisive most of the night haha, we decided to get there earlier to grab a drink or two. The bar was crowded and after some wait we got the attention of the bartender, we ordered a cotes du rhone and a gabitini - martini with blue cheese stuffed in olives - it was not bad. My companion asked for more olives but the bartender totally 'forgot' about it. After that drink, we just sticked to red wines. We were seated at a nice table at the inside part of the restaurant but it was right at the entrance to the bathroom and kitchen there was lots of traffic though it had a nice view of the dining room. Our waitress was very pleasant and gave us an excellent service. The baguette was fresh and tasty! The waitress was very sweet giving us two complimentary glasses of white sancerre to go with the oysters. We ordered the oysters and escargot - oysters were tiny there was hardly any meat and they were not detached from the muscles. By the time you scraped it off, it looked like a spit out oyster. The escargot was delicious however it was soaked in this garlic-parsley-butter sauce. For the entree, I ordered the skate it was cooked perfectly nicely seasoned and had fresh lemon wedges and capers. There was a cabbage and green beans slaw which I didnt really try except for the green beans. My companion liked it. The fresh cut potato chips were crunchy but they were glistening in oil. I found that it to be rather unappetizing. My companion's trout was overly seasoned it was so salty I was shocked by the first bite. My companion agreed it should be sent back. The waitress again topped up my companion's wine as an apology. Overall, the food was mediocre but less than I imagined all this time about this place but I did like my skate alot!! The service was great!! It made it an enjoyable experience.
(3)
Sonia S.
I have to say, I was underwhelmed with the food at Mon Ami Gabi. However, the ambiance and scene was buzzing and fun- the bar area is a great place to grab apertifs and chat with friends and wait for your table. We lucked out and had a quick wait and got an outside table as well- which overlooks the grassy area in the back. For a French restaurant, this place serves enormous portions, but even compared to an American restaurant, the servings are big...like TGIFridays big. To start, our waitress brought out complimentary baguette (in a paper bag) with whipped butter and a refreshing grated carrot salad. For appetizers, we ordered the butter lettuce salad and the soup of the day (Roasted Red Pepper- good, but quite heavy). The butter lettuce salad with apples, cheese, walnut was not what I expected- it was a hard cheese, unglazed walnuts, and lemony vinaigrette..somehow the combination was off. The flet mignon was good but not exceptional- the frites, were definitely good- they were ribbony, unlike anything I've had before. Again, the portions were huge- I split this entree- and each half portion was the size of a normal serving! The fluke (it's a type of fish) special was a bit mushy and again not amazing..but good. Lastly, we ordered the protiferoles for a table of 3 of us...they brought 3 giant protiferoles (the ice cream was from Gifford's next door and quite good..the hot fudge is apparently housemade). It was a good choice. Service was friendly and attentive.
(3)
PC W.
Way to go Bethesda Restaurant Week for convincing one Restonite, two Arlingtonians and two DC-ers to convene for lunch in Bethesda. The RW deal for lunch was $12 for an appetizer and entree or entree and dessert. Not everyone took advantage of the deal since there were so many great options on the regular menu. I, of course, did. The soup du jour was a butternut squash with bleu cheese. Sweet and creamy. I was very satisfied with my choice. I also had the steamed mussels in white wine cream and bacon sauce served with frites. Mmm, mmm, good. I will definitely go back if I'm in the neighborhood.
(4)
Paula W.
Fantastic service and the food was delicious. They didnt rush us but they werent slow either. The mussels were awesome. Fresh and the broth was very good. Had the scallops appetizer which we didn't realize was covered in cheese but it was still very good. The baked Brie was excellent and the bread pudding was delicious as well. We just had appetizers and dessert and I would definitely go back for a full dinner.
(4)
J M.
Delish. Steak is what they're best at. I wouldn't bother with anything else. Except a nice red, of course ;)
(4)
Araneta A.
The brunch was exceptional. The service was great. This is a place to bring in-laws or people you want to impress because you know they will consistently deliver good food and excellent service.
(4)
Victoria S.
Note: If I could give it 3.5 stars, I would, but I don't feel that it reaches 4 star level (however I am also a very picky eater) OVERALL REVIEW: Good quality food, served luke-warm, at decent prices. Decent restaurant if you're looking for something a little different from your average American steakhouse, but don't go here if you're looking for authentic French food. DETAILED REVIEW: Mon Ami Gabi is located in the center of activity in Bethesda, tucked into the corner near the Bethesda Theatre, with great outdoor seating for those who like to people watch while enjoying a decent meal. While the overall ambience tends to be a little over the top (as if they are constantly trying to remind you that they are a french restaurant), the food is fairly good. The dress is "smart casual", and you'll find lots of people in polos and khakis on a hot summer day. A freshly baked, warm baguette is served with couscous and butter almost immediately. If you order appetizers, may I suggest the mussels, which were very fresh, but only lukewarm by the time they were served to us. Mon Ami Gabi also claims to have the second best french onion soup in DC, however I feel that it is actually a little too sweet, and could use a little more savory/saltiness. For entrees, you can't go wrong with the steaks (although, keep in mind they are pounded thin unless you get the filet mignon, so don't get it too well done). Also delicious is their fish selections (the skate is flaky and delicious, without any real "fishy taste", and the trout has nice seasoning). Again, by the time our food was served to us, it was only lukewarm, bordering on cold. The frites that come with the steaks are very tasty (but again, cold, as if they've been fried, then left sitting on the counter until someone ordered a dish that has a side of frites). The salmon salad is drenched with too much salad dressing, giving you the impression you're basically eating pure salad oil. For dessert, we tried the Profiteroles, which I found to be way too sweet for my tastes. Try the crepes or creme brulee instead, you can never go wrong with creme brulee.
(3)
Rob A.
Good Service, Good Food. What more do I need to say? They have the best french toast ever! Okay so the waiters don't speak French. It's okay. They are still very helpful.
(4)
Brennan R.
I stopped in here for the first time the other night with my Folks. We've tried just about everything on Bethesda Row, but had never ventured inside Mon Ami. What were we thinking waiting so long!? The service was excellent, the bar tender was right on point, pleasing even my super picky dad with a superb Manhattan. I had a starter of the French onion soup, and let me tell you.. Life changing cheesy, oozy, onion perfection. I thought nothing could be better than my soup, but when my hanger steak with merlot butter and frites came out, I swear angels were singing! Cooked to perfection with a serious helping of frites? I'm sold. I'll definitely be back, and please don't make the mistake I made... Don't wait!!! Now go.. Get your steak frite on!
(4)
Hannah C.
an adorable parisian-style cafe that makes you want to jump on a plane and fly to paris. it also had a very similar atmosphere to balthazar, wistfully reminding me of new york. unfortunately i didn't get to try their food because i came to brunch much too late, but the food looked absolutely delicious. the prices for food were very reasonable, however, my order of coffee and perrier that came out to $11 was completely absurd to me. this doesn't change my desire to go back the next time i am in town though.
(4)
Hello H.
I heard their happy hours are good. Service and our waitor were great. But my first experience at Mon Ami Gabi was very poor. The open face shrimp salad sandwich that I got was terrible. The watery mayonnaise-based sauce was disgusting (a strong word, but it was just gross) and the whole thing was absolutely tasteless. I kept pouring on black pepper, and even asked for a lemon wedge to offset the watery mayonnaise, but to no avail. My friend also got the same thing and she also had a poor reaction to the dish. The only untainted part of this meal was the slice of avocado it comes with. That is, the part of it that wasn't already doused in the watery mayo. I also did not like the french bread. You have to use force to rip it apart -- definitely not cool for a sit-down restaurant -- and the bread was just messy and tasteless. See my other reviews to get a sense of what I think is good.
(1)
J H.
Just like Dianne K. , Mon Ami Gabi was an absolute unexpected delight! The food was great and our server was incredibly attentive- the whole staff was. Service: I rushed in while my Fiance was waiting in the car to exchange some money for change to park. While I was at the bar getting change, one of the servers gave me a cup of ice water without me even asking. I looked at the water dumb founded- looked around to see if it was for someone else, but the guy just smiled and said "its hot out there... and walked away". I don't think he was even a bar tender. When we finally got in, we were seated promptly. Our server Alex was really cool and absolutely one of the best servers I've come across. He was incredibly attentive and really seemed like someone who was happy to be working there. We ate the mussels. fillet, and the halibut special. The bread was awesome as were the fries which I couldn't stop eating. The steaks however were a bit bland considering I'm relatively used to Ruth Chris style steaks. The halibut, while being "special" because of the "farm fresh, chef picked vegetables- it also tasted a bit bland for my palette. Overall my experience was swell. I applaud Mon Ami Gabi for their personal customer service. Never did I feel as though the food took too long or our cups were less than full. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)
Denise H.
Best. Onion Soup. Ever. Fresh baguettes & real butter. Filet Mignon with Merlot butter/red wine reduction is one of the best filets I have EVER had - great quality meat prepared exactly as requested. Pommes frites are ok and bountiful! Shared desserts - choc mousse, bananas foster, apple tarte tatin and creme brulee were all excellent. We had a business dinner for 9, and our server was excellent - good balance of attentiveness without being intrusive. Mojito was gooood. Would definitely go back with my husband.
(4)
Karen C.
Come here for Happy Hour. For $5, you can get the french onion soup, salmon burger with huge cup of fries, steak burger w/ huge cup of fries or associate goodies. I usually just get the soup & split the burger with someone. They also offer wines from $3.50-$5/glass. Delish!
(4)
Peggy Lyn S.
Another terrific lunch experience at Mon Ami Gabi! This place never disappoints but this week was exceptional! The special of the day was an open face mushroom sandwich. Served with a perfectly poached egg on top, frites and a salad...incredibly delicious, large portion, great value, great service, comfortable banquette...just delightful. I've been obsessing about the sandwich ever since and debating whether or not to call the restaurant to see when that sandwich will be on the special board again! Merci!
(5)
Matthew W.
Excellent for Saturday lunch. The onion soup and the salads were a delight.
(4)
Leila T.
Gorgeous sunny Saturday, a couple empty tables outside of Mon Ami. So a friend and I decided- why not soak up the beautiful weather and eat outside? We walk into the restaurant (at 25% capacity mind you) and ask the host for a table outside to which the manager replies, "I'm sorry we can't sit you outside. We are in between lunch and dinner right now". Me: "What do you mean, the kitchen is closed?" Him: "No, the kitchen is fully open, we just can't seat you outside. The people already outside are just finishing up. We can only serve you in this one section to my left, or at the bar." Me: (still not comprehending) So...you're saying we can't sit outside even though there are available tables...AND the kitchen is fully operational... Him: "Correct" AU REVIOR!!! Okay...so I haven't actually eaten here, but the crappy rating is due to their snobby attitude and unwillingness to accommodate their customers.
(2)
Olivia L.
We stumbled in starving, without a reservation, at 7:30pm on the Saturday that the MoCo popo closed down the Bethesda Row garage because there was no more parking. Yes, it was a zoo. We were given a buzzer and told that it would be at least an hour before they could seat us -- so much for the 9pm movie we had hoped to see at Bethesda Row Cinema next door. Well, thanks to my ESP, we snagged a table in the bar after about 20 minutes, and had the amazing French onion soup (it's pretty much a meal), and a steak a piece (the steaks are ok, they're very thin so get them well done -- I got mine medium rare and it was close to raw in places -- it's hard to cook a thin steak to a uniform level of doneness). I'm only dropping one star for the done-ness of my steak because we made our movie after all, and it's just a super cute place.
(4)
Sabrina B.
Let's start off by saying I don't think this is *that* authentic and the waiters don't speak a lick of french, but that's fine. Just wanted to put that all out there. Given that, I thought the food here was pretty darn yummy. I always like to scope out good French restaurants for my parents to visit while they're in town, and again, though not authentic, I think this place has very good food. I had the steak and fries. Someone else had the salmon which was also good, and someone else raved about the chicken - which look dry and plain to me, but they said it was good. I also had some sweet wine that was absolutely delicious. I'll definitely go again.
(4)
J C.
It was our dear, devoted intern that reminded me about this place. We were talking about the Bethesda Row Cinema, and she told me "Oh, you've GOT to try this great French restaurant called Mon Ami Gabi! The steak frites are wonderful!" "That's a good idea," I replied. "However, it's more like French-style food, since they're run by Lettuce Entertain You. You know, that big Chicago superchain of restaurants." Her jaw dropped. But that's okay. I had a similar reaction when my dad told me pro wrestling was faked. The Hulkster FAKING IT? Lies... all lies! The interior felt steakhousey. Lots of Oakwood trim and lots of bottles of wine against the walls. Surprisingly, they didn't seat us at one of those setups where you've got the long bench on one side, lined up with 15 smaller tables and chairs on the other side (God knows there was plenty of this seating here, which I absolutely hate). We got a nice, cozy table in the corner (in fact, if I ever bring a date here, I'm going to try to get this same table again). First up, escargot. I only had these once, about 17 years ago, and my coworker never had them at all, so we figured we'd just split an order. Turns out neither one of us cared for them, but that didn't have anything to do with how they were cooked (the garlic butter was very, very tasty!), more like we just didn't like snails. They have a good selection of apps, such as country pate and duck mousse, and they give you a complimentary baguette with butter regardless. As for the main course, I think what MAG does is take traditional French bistro favorites, and just run with those. Nothing like calves brain or cassoulet. Hangar steak and frites is clearly the star of the show, and you can get it several different ways here. I got the Steak Roquefort, which was steak with bleu cheese sauce. My coworker got the Steak Bordelaise, which came with caramelized onions and red wine sauce on top. They have seafood and other dishes there, but for some reason, steak just stands out. Also, they have a list of weekly specials (like duck confit on Sundays), but if you're hankering for the specials, you've got to reserve the special in your reservations. Quantities are limited. The steaks were great. I would have loved for my steak to have had more bleu cheese sauce, but it was very tasty. Meat was cooked medium rare as requested, and very tender. (I've seen complaints, mostly on other review sites, that MAG had a track record of overcooking beef, but it wasn't a problem tonight). The frites are strange. Have you ever ate those potato sticks you get at the grocery store? Imagine those on steroids. Very crisp and very puffy. But we both left stuffed, and for $20 per plate, it was a good value for the money. The verdict: I liked it a lot, and the food was great. Having said that, I have no idea when I'll be here next. For me, it's out of the way, and there's no escaping the fact that it's clearly an American creature, and clearly a chain restaurant at that. It just had that whole corporate feel. With so many other actual French restaurants in DC (that are closer to me) with real French staff, it almost defies logic that I'd come back here when the real deal is closer. Oh, and I overheard the guy next to me remark "yeah... we've got a lot of Americans buried over there. We saved their asses twice." Yeah, this place don't cater to the international crowd, methinks. Note: a word about booze. Their wine selection was quite extensive, but a bit expensive too. Wanna know why it's this way in Montgomery County restaurants? Read on: washingtoncitypaper.com/…
(4)
Heather P.
Super lively, great atmosphere and pretty tasty food! Wines are good, appetizers authentic and entrees generous. I'll be back!
(4)
Meghan G.
This place is feels very "fancy chain" in general. They strive for a french bistro, but with the soaring ceilings and cavernous interior it feels more like a high-end Olive Garden. BUT, the food here is really great. If you are really craving some meat and potatoes, this is your place. The very juicy, wonderfully marinated flank steaks smothered in your choice of toppings (i got the Roquefort) plated with a pile of thin, crispy frites will literally clog your arteries just glancing at it. The entrees are pretty massive, so unless your a freaking lumberjack, you're safe splitting an appetizer and a steak. The service was fast and friendly, bringing us basket after basket of warm crusty bread. I am easily won over with massive amounts of carbs, what can I say. All in all a great place to go, maybe not a first date of special occasion destination given its semi-forced atmosphere of a faux french joint, but give it a go after a few dates or on a special occasion for someone you seems pretty ideal for a work happy hour, or company lunch. Also its convenient to the Bethesda Row Cinema, so good pre or after movie grub.
(4)
Mari C.
Highly recommended for food, ambiance, knowledgeable staff. Going here for dinner is an experience to be cherished.
(5)
Prateeksha N.
I was grossed out by this place. It was dingy, depressing, slow, dirty and the desserts were a shame for a french place. We put down our names on a waiting list and dropped decent cash only to come out of there feeling stale and gritty and about two centuries old. Ignore this place, they have greasy floors!
(2)
Jeff G.
This is a great French bistro right in the middle of Bethesda that provides excellent service and great food, though the price is a bit on the high side. The atmosphere and decor of the place is what you would expect from any French bistro, with lots of wood on the walls, tiled floors, and tables packed in really tight. Every time I have visited, the server was either French or putting on a really bad accent. Sometimes the service is a bit French (e.g. unattentive and snobby), but most of the time it's quite good. I'm a huge escargot fan, so I always get it as an appetizer when we go, and it's some of the best that I have had. Make sure you get extra bread to sop up that wonderful garlic butter ;) Entrees here are a bit on the high side pricewise, but they're definitely tasty and up to par with other French restaurants in the city. Dessert is a definite must here! Overall, great food and reasonable service for a slightly high price, but definitely recommended.
(4)
Judy N.
I rally like this place. One of the best onion soup ever. I love onion soup and just thinking about it make me want to go back there for more. Been there many times, once for HH and other times at the dining room. The servers are always attentive and helpful. I love the French bread, chicken liver mousse and the steak. They also serve brunch during the weekend.
(4)
Virginia C.
I'm usually not a steak person but this place has got the best filet ever (order it with carmelized onions and sherry sauce)!!!
(5)
Lisa D.
Our experience began on a Sunday evening around 8pm. I strolled into the restaurant with my fiance and his family. There were 5 of us and we were told the wait would only be about 15 minutes. They got our cell number and actually called us within the estimated waiting time period. One of the great things about going here is the fact that there are shops and a nice area to walk around if dinner is during rush/primetime. Something I almost immediately noticed, once we sat down, was how this place has some of the most friendly, professional and helpful staff I have ever encountered. They treated us as though we were a big deal despite the fact that we were dressed very casual (we had been walking around the DC area all day and had wedding planning appointments). When I told the server that I wanted the gluten-free menu, he made SURE to inform me that they had gluten free bread (as an appetizer as well). The gluten-free bread was fantastic! He served it on a separate plate and brought it out first because he explained how everything I would be eating that evening would be prepared separately. The server told me that they take gluten allergies VERY seriously and they went over, above and beyond to make sure that experience, despite my diet restrictions, was over the top. I ordered a steak with a thick creamy egg yolk/cream sauce. It was beyond delicious and my mother-in-law-to-be ordered fish. I don't remember what kind but she said she absolutely loved it. My steak was cooked exactly as I had ordered it-medium and presented just before everyone else's food (only seconds before). They were really good about not taking too long to bring out the food and it was timed perfectly. Our appetizer (that everyone shared) was mussels in a cream sauce. They were delicious and exceeded our expectations. Overall I give this place 5 out of 5 because the food, in conjunction with the excellent service, makes this a place I would gladly visit again and a new favorite for the area.
(5)
blowfly x.
Went here Saturday night - definitely make sure you reserve! People who came in without a reservation (this was at 6:30) had an hour wait. The food: Was quite good. I had the escargot appetizer, which was delicious - the snails were large and plump and very tender. My husband had the mussels, which also were large and plump and tender - that isn't always the case with mussels, so we were pleasantly surprised. The creamy wine broth was excellent; I ate (drank) most of that. The full-size version of the mussels appetizer would have been a perfectly adequate meal for me, size wise. Unfortunately I had also ordered the scallop appetizer (as an entree), and had no room for it, so I had to take it home. I did taste a bit - it was good, and the fennel in it was great, but I'm not so sure I like CHEESE (esp. in that large an amount) on scallops. My husband had the porcini soup, which was really mushroomy and very rich. He also had the au poivre steak; it was thinner than we expected, but like everything else, tender and very tasty. He had to take most of that home; between the broth from the mussels and the mushroom soup, we were in danger of a dry land drowning. The waiters were friendly and nice, but a woman kept continuously circling through the restaurant making notes, I suppose on everyone's status. It was sort of irritating to be so obviously kept tabs on. Also unluckily for us, and of course this was not the restaurant's fault, the old lady behind us seemed to have taken her woolly coat out of mothballs 10 seconds before, and the smell was HORRIBLE. Unfortunately for us I wasn't able to pinpoint it until she stood up at the end of our meal. Man. Air your clothes out before you mingle with other people.
(4)
Hampton C.
A group of friends and I rolled large to Mon Ami Gabi last weekend during Bethesda's restaurant week. I thought the restaurant week menu offered plenty of good options. I ended up grabbing the salmon served atop of pile of risotto which was pretty much money in the bank (now bear in mind that I was also rocking the majority of a bottle of French wine at the time as well). I ended up tasting most of friends food whenever they left to use the restroom, and dang! it was all good too. The service was above average but we were hoping for a rich French accent which we didn't get. Anyways, I plan to go back to try the lunch menu sometime soon.
(4)
Katie P.
My husband and I finally visited this restaurant past weekend. We had always wanted to try this place. The weather was beautiful, and an outdoor table at Mon Ami Gabi seemed to be a perfect place for saturday lunch. Server was very pleasant and professional. She knew the menu inside and out, and didn't try to recommend the most expensive items on the menu. The baguette came inside the bag, and it was warm and soft. Loved it. We tried the snail appetizer and it was just ok...unique sauce, but not so appetizing...To me it had too much olive oil...Little more garlic would have been better. Then my husband had a steak sandwich which was served with fries, some greens and caramelized onion. He said the meat was cold, and wasn't so tender. Basically he did not enjoy it. I had their croque monsieur, which came with fries, salad, and fried egg on top. The sandwich itself had nothing special...Just ham and cheese. And tasted no different than regular ham and cheese sandwich. I think it should've been bit warmer so the cheese woud've melted more. The fries were great. Thin and crispy! The presentation of the entrees were very nice as well. But the ones we tried didn't meet my expectations. Maybe we had too high of an expectation about this place. I don't think we'll be coming back for the entrees we tried past weekend...But willing to try some other dish.
(3)
Alex P.
This is one of my go-to places in the DC area for a nice dinner. When my girlfriend's father was in town I sent him here. Great steak-frites every time. The service has been friendly and attentive at every visit, and their country-pate appetizer made me believe that I couldn't possibly enjoy my steak even more...but I did. Warm atmosphere, classic French cuisine done very well, affordable wines, and reliable quality of food and service. I highly recommend Mon Ami Gabi.
(5)
Suzanne P.
I have been here several times for lunch and it is always delicious. I usually order the house salad with goat cheese, the steak sandwich with frites, and for dessert, the profiteroles. I have also sampled the pate, the scallops, and the shrimp, all of which are amazing. Quaint, slightly boisterous setting, with great service. They serve red wine mustard and tiny pickles with the brie which is yummy and classic.
(4)
Robert C.
Accidentally stumbled upon this place walking around Bethesda looking for a place to eat. Great food, great service, great experience. My girlfriend says you must try the Frangria! It's a bit pricey but it's well worth it and it would serve as a nice date spot.
(5)
Alan S.
verry nice, best country pate and onion soup ever. great service and huge portions, really reminds me of paris
(4)
Jed S.
I went to Mon Ami Gabi for dinner with a friend yesterday evening. The maitre d' was quite friendly, as was the wait staff. Service was quick and gracious, and was good at checking to see if we needed/wanted anything without being overly solicitious. The interior is really quite lovely, with pretty warm colors contrasting with the dark mahogony wood, the two dining rooms are separated by a mahogony wine rack, and it creates a welcoming environment. They were having some sort of Apple festival, so the restaurant was decorated with apples all around the perimeter of the room, as well as having some special apple entrees and deserts on the menu. Speaking of apples, our dinner began with a wonderful demibaguette, accompanied with couscous and apple butter. Although we couldn't taste the apple in the apple butter, it was still quite good, and the demibaguette was perfect. I had the french onion soup, which although I thought it was pricey when looking at the menu, comes in a huge portion. It was sweeter then I am used to, but it was really quite good. My dining companion and I both had the fish and chips (pomme frites), which was a very thin, large piece of cod fillet, and very thin ribbon fries that seemed to be a hybrid between classic french fries and potato chips. The cod was absolutely delicious, definitely among the best fried fish that I've had. The frites started of being very good while they were hot, but as they cooled, they kind of lost their appeal. We ended our meal by splitting profiteroles, vanilla ice cream topped with pastry topped with chocolate, and that was very, very good. All in all, Mon Ami Gabi is a perfectly lovely restaurant where I would be comfortable taking a date, a client, my parents, etc. I wouldn't necessarily come here for a first date as the formal, fancy environment might scare someone off, but otherwise, it's pretty darn top notch.
(5)
Alice C.
I rated this place 3.5 stars. Great French restaurant, probably one of the best ones I've tried (out of 3 Fr Restaurants... probably, shot my credibility). But, the baguette - butter - jelly appetizer was great... crispy and tough on the outside and nice and soft on the inside. I ordered the Sandwich du jour which was the Duck Sandwich with the frites. - Sandwich du jour - could NOT taste the duck at all b/c the baguette was so overpowering... had to eat it Open-facedly... from what I could taste of the Duck, it was nice and tender, just not very much. - Salad - too drenched in the dressing - Frites - were crispy and good... it's enough to share with someone else. It reminded me of the potato sticks I used to eat when i was in Kindergarten. I looked over at the other table and the lady had waffle-type frites, which looked cooler and more yummy. Service: Decent Interior: Nicely decorated, didn't think there was anything special, typical of a Fr restaurant.
(4)
Lisa P.
Mon Ami is a staple for us. Perfect for dinner and a movie as the theaters are all close by. The Hanger steak with frites never disappoints and the mussels are served in a creamy broth that pairs well with the table bread. Yum.
(4)
John B.
We came to this place looking for a good date spot after our original pick was not up to par. We found this gem and I might go so far as to say it is the best restaurant I have been to thus far! The service was great, the food was superb, and you even get a free box of truffles to take home. Can't wait to go back! Ask for Bill when you go.
(5)
Morgan W.
It's pretty apparent once you sit down and start browsing the menu that this place is not authentic. That being said, the food was good (not great) and the waiter was extremely friendly. We went for brunch last Saturday, and I got the Quiche Lorraine; it was HUGE and stuffed with bacony goodness. We decided to get the creme brulee for dessert, also HUGE. Then we were given an extra free dessert because we were first time diners...so, basically we ended up rolling out of the restaurant. It wasn't the best place to eat, but it could have been worse. I don't think we'll go out of our way to eat here again, but if we happen to be in Bethesda it's not out of the question.
(3)
Juan A.
I wanted to give them a 3.5, but their french soup was so good, that it tipped the scales to the right. The atmosphere is ideal for a cozy chat, this is not the place to party. The steaks were good and reliable as was the service. A very nice place where I can go to regularly.
(4)
Wood L.
Order the mussels, the sauce isn't typical French cuisine but it's delicious. The salmon salad and scallops with mashed cauliflower were perfect. Frites... signature snack food. The only downside is that the service is hit or miss.
(4)
Bob M.
My wife and I have been here several times and always enjoy the food. The steak frites are particularly excellent. Our only complaint is with timing. The wait staff is always very polite, but on a busy night it seems the restaurant is trying to move us through. On several occasions our food has come out literally 5 minutes after we ordered--not acceptable for fine dining.
(4)
Takaki K.
The waiter greeted us: 'Bon jour, everyone, my name is -- and I'll be your server today'. That pretty much summarizes this place. It's a wannabe French restaurant. Food is okay, nothing extraordinary. The service was super slow and our restaurant week lunch ended up taking over 2 hours.
(2)
Minn L.
One of the few restaurants in Bethesda that I feel is somewhat worth the money. I know it's a French place and I should be more excited about the filet mignon and frites (the frites here are delicious!), but I am a fan of their seafood and salads. They are never drenched in sauce, but light and fresh so that you can actually taste the ingredients. And of course, love the fresh baguette they bring out as starters. If the regular menu is a bit pricy for you, try their happy hour in the bar area. They have a $5 food menu, which includes a steak burger with caramelized onions and mustard mayo, and pate, and for drinks they offer half off wines (glasses and bottles). The servers always seem to be nice and attentive too.
(4)
Mattie C.
Great location in central Bethesda near the bike path and across from the Barnes&Noble. It is a cute restaurant with a great atmosphere and also very interesting food choices. They have great onion soup, which is all I usually get. Also, I tried escargot for the first time in my life here. It wasn't that expensive, and I have to say it was quite tasty! They seemed to be drenched in some type of buttery oil, but I can still say that I tried them :) There were other great items on the menu too, but I am always satisfied with a light lunch of soup and some bread. And try the escargot! It is a shame that I live so far away from here or I would come more often.
(5)
O P.
Great music, excellent crab cake and excellent steak à la Bordelaise. Will come back.
(3)
Trevor M.
Autumn is finally in the air, the crisp leaves crackling like dry fire under your leather patented shoes. Your beige scarf lightly rests upon your shoulder and still has the lilt to be picked up by the occasional breeze. An accordian plays a duet with a bird above. It seems a perfect combination. The air today smells wonderfully pungent when mixed with the wonderful nose of the Cotes Du Rhone. The guyere that you are spreading across the warm baguette compliments the scene as a poodle blithely scatters past your table. Then you realize that your'e really not in a cafe overlooking the Seine on holiday, but that you're really ditching work so that you can hide out at Mon Ami Gabi for a glass of wine and some onion soup. (Note to self: Better call work and fake one of those 12 hour bugs so I don't have to go back to cubeville.) Now, back to our scene in progress. I decide to order the escargots de Bourgogne as it is such a wondeful compliment to the wine and cheese. When mixed together, the herb butter and cheese just simply melt and the sweetness of the escargots is astounding. Not overcooked and tender sitting on the cheese and bread. My nicoise salad with the perfect pepper seared tuna is light and is a nice juxtaposition to the autumn that beckons me outside. It is followed by the onion soup with more cheese on top. It is hard to finish this by myself...so, I do not struggle. The incredible sauteed onions with it's sweetness is a delight and warms the soul on a brisk day as the sun struggles to dance into the cafe. But what is a trip to Mon Ami Gabi without some frites. Fried ever so delicately. This is a meal unto itself. The wine continues to warm and awaken the poet's soul. Text on Iphone: Get back to work and finish your report! End scene.
(4)
Marry K.
Best Steak ive had in a long time! i can still taste it...and i want more!!! Went there on a Friday night and Thank God we booked because gosh was it packed! Walk-ins were being told the wait was about 30-40mins and we were seatead in less than 2 mins when we got there. I ordered the mushroom soup to start which looked and tasted a bit like baby food. i wasnt a fan. We all ordered steak and each and every bite was good till the last morsel. The fries were a bit difficult to eat. A bit soggy and hard to pick up with a fork so i ended up using my hands and eventually stopped eating the fries. id definitely go back and id definitely have the steak again. it was HUGE!! I tried three different types (bites of what my family was having) and each steak was tender and delicious. Service was great. the staff is very polite and our waiter was quite attentive. The restaurant was quite loud and tables too close together. it felt like we were pretty much sitting with other guests as we could hear every bit of their gossip. besides that, mon ami gets a thumbs up!
(4)
lindsey l.
For the hype, I was less than impressed. My cut of meat was over done (asked for rare) and rather paltry. The steak-frites were also over done and too crunchy to enjoy. Atmosphere was decent, but not enough to make up for the disappointment in my entree.
(2)
Kathryn W.
My Birthday was March 20th, that was a Sunday. So to celebrate my 50th Birthday, I ventured out with 15 year friend and neighbor Undra. I had forgotten life is beautiful... I first wanted to go to Chrisfields,but having missed today's gorgeous weather, I choose Mon Ami Gabi after 8:30 pm. I have to say my experience was the best I have had ever at a restaurant. Most of the patio was packed up, but 2 tables were occupied by the front door outside on the patio. Our waiter Michael was a winner,( not in the Charlie Sheen way ,silly,)excellent ,bright,and just for indulging my request outside, he was a wonder for Bethesda. We started with ice tea. I ordered the chicken liver pate it was presented with a squeeze of tasty barbecue sauce, the sauce was ,not overly salty, nor too sweet. The chicken liver pate was smooth in texture and outstanding,the pate is presented with a speared pieces of crust free toast . After that treat I turned to Undra and said how can I tolerate eating the food at home after this ??? I also, informed him that tomorrow he will feel like superman from the needed injection of iron. Forget energy bars, and drinks. My taste buds were reset, to the higher standard now everything will taste like wax compared to here. My dining companion Undra was mesmerized by the jazz trio playing inside the restaurant. it is so pleasant to sit outside on a Thursday evening and have a jazz trio live 20 feet away..Undra listens to jazz 4 hours or more everyday of the week. So it was a real treat for both of us to have live jazz music,fresh air, and outstanding service and decadent savory food all at one time. Who knew??? I loved their steak burgers, or hand burgers that taste better then any recent steaks, I can remember. I had cheddar, on the moist decadent hand burger that made me reminisce what 1960's steaks tasted like in 1966. Undra got some exotic type of mild Swiss cheese and his burger was cooked well done. He stuck with the famous Frites, I declined the fries and was graciously offered fresh green beans that were excellently seasoned with pure garlic and butter. After dinner,I requested to have a lot of the food wrapped up by the busser ,phonetically his name was Euie. He wrapped every dish with a beautiful presentation in foiled diner containers, I had 3 plates, Undra had one. He presented us with 2 strong , brown bags,he even remembered who got what and had each bag filled with each patrons foods. After ordering coffee; I am embarrassed to say I became hypercaffeinated from the previous 2 ice teas. And I had a long winded monologue with Michael, poor waiter. Most of the waiters are tip top minds with Engineering, or Masters degrees and very interesting. I collect watches,and Michael had a beautiful Invecta Watch,his father is in the business of watches. Next time I will quell my enthusiasm and learn something on our black belt bargain hunting. I tip generously when people go above and beyond, Michael had picked up our table so I was delighted to be served by him. After asking what Michael's work schedule was, I forgot some of it; Sorry Michael.Michael invited me to come for brunch, so I plan on making reservations for brunch with a request for Michael. We decided to go inside and listen to the Jazz Trio, I was given another cup of coffee, and Undra had Earl Grey Black tea with lemon. Mark took our order, and proficiently fussed and spoiled us, and Al, a Sidney Potney face with black glasses brought me the coffee, I asked if he was still in school. He said he had graduated from an Arts College in DC, then mentioned his engineering degree. I was in good company to brag about the Ford Transit Connect I had researched and negotiated on. I have an interest for the mechanical myself. So I was in bliss. Discussing the scope of the van, w/self adjusting uni not fisher body, 175 cubic feet of storage, and a quick Ford focus engine. I ordered the Banana Foster. It is simply the best dessert, sweet with a thin crepe with ice cream,and real whip cream. When Mark learned I was celebrating my birthday he brought or bought, us free truffles. The check for dinner was $35, then the check for tea, coffee, and the 2 to 3 serving desert was $14. The live music free. Life is Good..@ Mon Ami Gabi.
(5)
KJ F.
Had a fabulous lunch at Mon Ami yesterday. The manager Michael K. was great. Very friendly, helpful and answered all of our questions. He was extremely accommodating. The seafood crepe is amazing! Make sure you get the profiteroles for dessert! You will not be disappointed!!!
(5)
Bear B.
Definitely a classy-looking establishment that won't break the bank! I was so surprised at the menu prices! Atmosphere and food was pretty fancy looking, but the price was that of a low-end steakhouse! The only complain I have is that the steaks look bigger than they really are. They were cut quite thin. I'd rather have a thicker steak that looked half the size.
(5)
Pilar W.
Their steak frites is one of the best in town. Also good are their seafood dishes, and specials. Last night their chilled asparagus soup, attentive staff, and usual French ambiance held me fast. and the mousse, oh, the mousse! This is a place you don't want to leave. Enjoy.
(4)
Scott M.
Holy cow do I love this place! Dined here, Reston, and LV and they are all excellent. Fantastic wine selection by the glass, French bistro standards done to perfection, and a knowledgeable and attentive staff are impossible to beat..
(5)
Tim D.
First of all, what self-respecting French restaurant doesn't have French waiters, or servers, or bartenders, or host, etc.?? This place is sooooo "Bethesda" that they even have a giant (fake antique) sign up on the wall that says: "French Fries/ Frites" No,- I'm not kidding! (Next time you're at the bar turn around and look up.) I decided to celebrate my MLK Day by having some wine and nibbles at a restaurant, so that's why I stopped in. The wine list (by the glass) was pathetic! No Cab's whatsoever! The guy next to me actually thought he was drinking a Cab but when I asked him to point it out on the menu he pointed to the "house" Bordeaux. When I said: uh, that's a Bordeaux not a Cab he said "oh,- the bartender said it was "like" a Cab"... uh huh.... uh...NOT! I guess that's why he's a bartender not a sommelier! Still, I expect better from a French restaurant.... "By the glass" there was only ONE choice for Pinot, Chard, or Malbec. Bordeaux had three or four choices but seriously, $20 for a "no-name" '07?? ...for one glass?? You gotta be kidding me! The only thing that looked decent was a half-bottle (375 ml.) of '03 Medoc for $34. When I asked if I could "see" the bottle, the bartender said "sure" but it took him 20 min. to produce it (and the place wasn't busy at all). Hmmmm.... Finally the bottle comes, everything looks ok so I say "fine." As he's opening the bottle and about to pour it into a wine glass, I ask him to decant it. He says "sorry, decanter's are only for FULL Bottles"!!! Again,- you gotta be kidding me!! As I contemplate this conundrum (and look around for the manager), he offers to pour it through a sieve (for sediment) and into a carafe instead of a proper decanter... I stifle my disappointment, determined to make the best of it, and the deed is done. The taste was fine...well, "okay" but there was absolutely no "nose" (aroma, bouquet, whatever you want to call it)!!! I waited.......and waited........sipped, and waited.......It took over an hour to "open up" and when it (finally) did,-- it was nothing to "write home about"! The escargot was yummy and the French bread was great: served in a paper bag about 15" long but HOT which really made a difference... (That's the ONE thing they got right!) All in all, $50 for yummy bread & escargot but "ho-hum" wine?? What a RIP!
(2)
Amanda C.
I can't wait to go back! Informative and attentive wait staff, delectable menu, nothing but good all around! I recommend the smoked salmon!
(5)
Karen P.
We revisited Mon Ami this weekend - with the same 3 players as were present in my earlier review. I think the restaurant has taken some of the constructive criticism to heart. We showed up for our 8:30 reservations a few minutes early, put our name in and went to the bar to get some wine. My husband ordered a bottle of wine from the menu (this time, they had the selection and there was no conversation about all of the wines being discontinued!). It was brought promptly and although we were standing in the middle of the bar area with no table (no seats left), the waiter kindly brought 4 glasses, presented, opened and poured the wine for all of us. Our table was about 15 minutes late - acceptable on a busy Saturday night. We were seated and "set up" (water, menu's, bread) quickly. Our order was taken and food delivered in good time. The steaks and frites were as always, wonderful. Mon Ami is back in my good graces and I'll be back.
(4)
Betty S.
I was craving a steak and I never crave steak (I eat very little beef - gasp, I know). Anyways, it was date night and a Saturday night and we didn't make reservations. It worked out since seats at the bar just happened to open up and we were able to get drinks and appetizers. We had the brie and it was delicious! After close to an hour, we finally got our seats. I wish we had a more "private" seating area but I've learned that French places are typically super small and crowded. Plus it was kind of fun eavesdropping on this first date going on next to us. Anyways, onto the STEAK! I had the steak with the onions (sorry I don't remember the exact name). It was perfect and exactly what I was craving. It was tender, juicy, and the perfect medium well that I like where it's not bleeding in my mouth. I ate a good amount, took the rest home and finished the rest 1 hour later. Yup, that good. The bf had the fish, I don't remember what kind exactly but he liked it. It was light and actually very filling (trust me that's tough to do with his stomach). So all in all a great meal and a great date night...if you get what I'm saying ;
What brought us here: My birthday lunch. What we got: Butternut Squash Soup (seasonal special?) Four Mushroom Soup Jumbo Lump Crab Cake Chicken, Broccoli, and Cheese Crepe (shared with my 17-month-old) Prime Steak Sandwich served with hand-cut fries (mmmm....hand-cut fries...) You get this baguette to start with, and it's like the most amazing free bread I've ever eaten...well, next to the fruit & nut bread at Fork Restaurant in Philly ( forkrestaurant.com ). Review: Butternut Squash Soup - sweet and salty, smooth Four Mushroom Soup - earthy, as it should be Jumbo Lump Crab Cake - on top of cole slaw, crab cake good Chicken, Broccoli, and Cheese Crepe - creamy, chicken very tender, wish it had more broccoli though Prime Steak Sandwich served with hand-cut fries - steak cooked perfectly and I don't have to say anymore about the fries Verdict: Would eat here again if in Bethesda. A bit pricey, but not too high compared to surrounding restaurants - I'm talking to you Jaleo ( jaleo.com/index.php/cont… ). Fairly kid-friendly, except I couldn't find anything off the kids menu (only mac n cheese, burgers, and pizza, egh!).
(4)
Daphne A.
Go for the Chicken Paillard. I switched the frites for brussels sprouts for a hearty but healthy dinner. The ambiance is charming and the service is impeccable - just attentive enough not to be overbearing. Actually, everyone seems to be on their best manners at Mon Ami Gabi - even the children were formally dressed and well-behaved! I'll definitely be back here. Next time, steak.
(4)
Lauren B.
Great food, great service. I'd recommend it for brunch early on a Saturday or Sunday!
(5)
Timir D.
I cant comment on the greasy floors, but the food here is worth trying out. You have to call a day ahead to get a reservation at a decent time here, otherwise you will be stuck coming in at 5pm. The table bread and butter comes with a mildly sweet carrot relish and help to ease the wait before the appetizers arrive, the bread is warm and crisp but the chilled butter is hard bit difficult spread. Portions are large, this is primarily due to the huge amount of fries that are served with nearly every main course. My party ordered roast chicken, prime burgers, and a steak au poivre. The burger was cooked correctly, and the chicken appeared to be to not be too dry. I asked the server what cut the steak would be before ordering and was told that it would be the end piece of a tenderloin pounded out flat. When the meat arrived, cooked medium rare as I requested, I received a steak that was 1.5cm thick and quite large. The meat was as tender as I expected it to be from the description. The fries are a filling addition to the plate. I would rate them a 7 on a 10 scale, and say that the could have been a bit crispier. The deserts that we ordered were the creme brulee, chocolate mousse , and pound cake with lemon curd. The brulee was a bit heavy on the egg but enjoyable, the chocolate was rich, not too sweet, but a bit bitter, and the pound cake was moist and complimented well by the curd. Overall I would give this place a high 3/5, just under 4/5
(4)
Bernard D.
I love this place!! While its not authentic like Le Bistro Du Coin in Dupont it is still a great restaurant. You can't go here without getting some variation of the Steak-Frites. The fries are very unique and VERY tasty. Service has always been great and it is not too difficult to get a table although they can get busy.
(5)
Sue F.
This is my 4th time here and this time was the best! Loud atmosphere, but great food. I had the hangar steak and my colleague had the filet. For dessert we each had the warm bread pudding - get hot fudge on the side!
(4)
paul l.
this is not fleur de lys. so if you're going their for fine french food, you will be utter disappointed. but if you are going for a french version of cheesecake factory, then you'll be really happy you went. the moules frittes are pretty tasty as are the escargot. some of the steaks are not to my liking. but i cook a pretty mean steak! the location and ambiance are great and the service is excellent. will i come back? yeup!
(4)
Whitney B.
Went for New Year's Eve. Couldn't get a reservation, but the hostess said to stop by and try so we did. We were seated immediately (thanks!). Our waiter was professional and as attentive as we needed. He recommended a very reasonable and very good bottle of Bordeaux. Our food was very good and cooked to order as we had asked (Started w/ a shared frisee salad and then Steak Roquefort and scallops -- allyummy.). Loved the ambience -- and it was a great place to spend a festive evening. We'll be back, and often.
(4)
Abraham L.
Mon Ami Gabi is like a shop specializing in Van Gogh replicas: enchanting, artistic, and affordable. Disregard the insincerity and it's French dining at its most accessible. Nestled under Bethesda Row's big pointy arrow, straddling the intersection where jovial sidewalk cafes turn into cozy vendor carts, red awnings announce Mon Ami Gabi's curious moniker. It is one of many charismatic touches that make this French Bistro a safe bet. Our visit occurs on a Friday evening. The frenetic ambiance and sumptuous decor is so distracting I find my menu incomprehensible. Waiters duck and weave. Lighting is fashionably low. Tables and their items are flush to maximize occupancy. A constant din emits from the packed clientele. Our waiter materializes to recount a marathon of daily specials. It is a longer speech than we, and the breathless waiter, are used to. Ornate descriptions mix with French words in an American accent. Du jour this. Du jour that. Confounded we ask him to repeat himself. Much to our delight he does. We begin with complimentary appetizer and baguette. There is a tiny plate of grated carrots soaked in Champagne vinaigrette. Curious but easily forgettable. As for the bread, outside it is chewy and crisp. Inside soft, cottony, and warm. It receives high approval ratings from across the table. She orders a charming Halibut. It is agreeable but be sure to splash it with lemon. And even then it receives less attention than the baguette. As for me, I order the French Onion soup and the Steak Roquefort. The former is a meal in itself, cheesy, full of texture, and requires a surprising amount of concentration to eat gracefully. I am stubborn and insist on finishing it but to be honest I only enjoyed the first few spoonfuls. I am stuffed when my Roquefort arrives, but it is still a pleasant surprise. The frites are trendy and addictive. The marbled bleu cheese undeniable. And all restaurants should slice steaks so thinly. This is glamorous food with generous portions and I highly recommend it. Overall, Mon Ami Gabi satisfies my French craving. Classy, clever, not terribly expensive. A reliable dining experience. Would've been perfect except it all felt overly rehearsed. All restaurants are commercial, but I sense it here to the point of distraction. And when the meal feels more like good business than good art, I withhold my fifth star.
(4)
Sean D.
I've been to the Bethesda branch of this restaurant about 5 times. The decor is designed to very carefully recreate a French bistro, almost to the point of cliche. The authenticity however is belied by a few local dishes (crab cakes) and big screen televisions at the bar showing NFL football games in the fall. If it were just the food I would give this restaurant two stars. The food is just okay. The steak frites was a disappointment -- tough, chewy steak and remarkably bland fries. The trout, when I had it, was also bland and dry. The burger was fine, but the roll was dried out. On the other hand, my wife has ordered the chicken grandmere, which was flavorful. The salads are pretty reliable (although I make a better Nicoise at home) as is the classic onion soup. The bread that comes to the table is also pretty good. The reason I come back to this place is not for the food, but for the location. The bar is a perfect place to have a glass of wine before or after a movie at the Landmark cinema next door.
(3)
Shannon K.
Best service, atmosphere, and more importantly.... Food! Love this place!!!
(5)
Alex L.
Disclaimer: I'm a tightwad with stars; that could really be a 3.5/4 so don't be discouraged. Read on. Went here for the first time on a first date, so I was nervous anyway. I had checked out the menu of a bunch of places beforehand (yes, im that nerdy) and came up with a few choices from which i made my date chose. For completeness, my top three were mon ami gabi, jaleo, and assagi. I liked the style of the place--elegant without being stuffy but the tables were a little close together. i was on the bench side of the table, and practically on top of the elderly four-some next to us. We heard quite a lot of their conversations--the coffee was cold, Stella broke her hip, where the best $5 dinner deals are, etc. I think it was clear we were on a first date (I hate that) so the servers were attentive but not intrusive, which I appreciated. They placed a whole baguette, whipped butter and some molded cous-cous thing on our table with no explanation. Needless to say, tearing into a whole baguette with my hands wasnt the most lady-like thing i did all night but whatever. The bread was good. Pretty mediocre wine-by-the-glass selection, but i went with the house malbec i think. could have been a pinot noir. wasnt memorable. We both ordered seafood; I got thyme grilled salmon on a bed of orzo and spinach which was amazing. The salmon was perfectly cooked. He got the scallops, which looked pretty good, but I wasnt about to start picking off his plate, so I dont know how they tasted. No dessert for us, we went elsewhere for another drink and more awkward date conversation. I live right in downtown Bethesda, so would go back, if only for convenience sake. Or if i get a jonesin' for crepes, which is possible. Overall, very good food, and a nice date-spot but not my favorite place on the block.
(3)
Denis G.
The menu is an eclectic mix of American, British and French food, served in the atmosphere of an elegant French bistro (with charming outdoor seating in good weather). Apart for the uniquely unappetizing fries which they inexplicably seem to have adopted as their trademark, the food is excellent and served in well prepared generous portions. I do I wish they had a more extensive and more diverse selection of French wines and offered a good selection of cheeses, but we still had a very enjoyable meal and were well attended to by the staff. It is not inexpensive, but makes for a nice meal out before a movie or with friends.
(4)
James D.
I love this place, particularly the bar area. The bartenders are super attentive and very cool to chat with. I have gotten burgers, beers and all sorts of stuff while enjoying the ambience and usually they have live music every now and then. Even though it is a chain it is still a lot of fun to go to especially if you want low-key French food with cool decor.
(4)
Becky T.
I had a beautiful meal here with friends. We all shared appetizers and desserts so got to sample a little bit of everything. Escargot and shrimp were delicious and I loved their creme brulee. I usually don't order steaks when I go out because I like to eat it very well done and have only had good experiences at home. However, my steak was excellent and moist even without the slightest pink. Their sommelier was wonderful and taught us so much. Even the waiter knew his stuff about the wine.
(5)
Sarah D.
Great mimosas! Small & pricey, but still very yummy. I ordered the eggs benedict (was there for brunch), and that was good. I loved the decor, tons of wine bottles everywhere, and it really felt like I was back home in San Francisco.
(4)
Anna T.
GREAT HAPPY HOUR!!! They have an outstanding happy hour in the bar area with a $5 limited menu (french onion soup, salad, pate and classic steak and frites) and half-price wine. It is a great deal when you look at the regular prices on their dinner menu. If you do not make Happy Hour, I would definitely still eat at Mon Ami Gabi because the food is good... just know that you will be spending MUCH more than the Happy Hour prices. The atmosphere is good and service is nice as well. Bon Apetit.
(5)
Mel B.
Great as a classy happy hour place- baguettes, wine, and french onion soup with a jazz band in the corner. I love looking for french bistros and this is one of my faves- complete with a room to rent out in the back for parties (although I don't know what the rate is). Rich mahogany wood, friendly staff and customers all enjoying themselves. Big fan!
(5)
Mark D.
Stopped by for Sunday brunch with a friend and it was perfect. They have plenty of outside seating either on the sidewalk or on the patio. Their crepes were fantastic. Service was great (especially considering that it was peak brunch time), we were served with this delicious french bread and were well attended to. Didn't feel rushed at all...
(4)
Raymond W.
In my failure to eat steak in DC for the 1.5 years I've been here I've decided to take on two steak dinners during Bethesda restaurant week so that my wallet would emerge alive from the depletion of it contents. At Mon Ami Gabi, my first steak dinner stop, I had the warm brie (to be french) to start, steak frittes and the chocolate cake. The warm brie is not something I normally eat, but was happy with the subtle texture and warmth of the brie with toasted pieces of french bread drizzled with honey, hazelnut, and roasted garlic. I ordered my first medium rare steak and I am now converted (at least for trustworthy restaurants). The hanger steak arrived juicy and tasty with what seemed liek a hunter knife to carve every piece of cow to be be shoved in my mouth. The steak came with a classic butter sauce that you can choose and with a cilantro? sauce as well. The frittes were good too, though I normally prefer fried potatoes with some fluffy potato inside. The chocolate cake put the meal over the top as I came waddling out of the restaurant. The ambiance was an energetic older crowd that let the wine pour down. Mixed with live Jazz, a definite upscale casual restaurant that warrants the price. Thank you Gabi.
(4)
Claudia P.
Love this restaurant. Nice staff.
(5)
Bob L.
French Bistro, good steak frites, kind of hard to get a table at supper on the weekends. Food is consistently good.
(3)
Paul M.
Blimey - is it almost 5 years since I first reviewed this spot. I am giving them a massive downgrade for one reason only. I still eat there 2 - 4 times per year, service is good, place is buzzing, some of the menu items are good. BUT ! Their Brussels sprouts are an abomination. This is the new "in" vegetable - every trendy place is selling it. What they are not doing it boiling the bejaysus out of them, then throwing in a few bits of bacon and calling it a day. Come on guys - that is so 70s. Here's what I need you to do: 1. pan fry some bacon, remove it, but keep the grease in the pan 2. add your halved brussels sprouts - let 'em sit a minute or two to char, then stir occasionally 3. grate one some nutmeg 4. chop your bacon bits, add them stir, serve immediately. OK?
(1)
N. A. T.
Was pleasantly surprised to see that they were serving brunch at 2pm on a Friday because it was the december holiday week. The food and service were amazing! My only complaint, which will keep me from returning: Managerial policy towards its clientele. The hostess walked us past some smaller tables, all the way to the very back of the restaurant, towards a rather large booth that could easily seat 4 or 5, even though we were just two people. Even worse, this was right next to the kitchen. We also noted two black women, like us, were seated at a similarly ridiculous table next to the one offered to us, along the back wall of this windowless room. We requested a different table, and the hostess graciously walked us to a table for two in a much more pleasant room with windows. Why we were not initially offered a more appropriately-sized table on a quietly busy afternoon was beyond us. A seat next to the kitchen door should be the last one offered. We shrugged it off and enjoyed our meal at the better table in the better room. But, eventually, the manager comes in and greets every single table but ours - and note that our table was snuggled in between two other occupied tables - to ask about their experience. It's too bad, because we would have sung his waitstaff's praises! Based on the hostess' initial attempt at seating us, which echoed the manager's choice to not greet us, we were left with the impression that we are not this restaurant's ideal client.
(2)
Rebecca Z.
The food was pretty good, but the service was not great. For example, the server asked if we wanted spreads for the bread. We said that we did, but he never brought them. My steak was also not cooked correctly and the waiter never came back to ask how things were.
(3)
Margaret N.
A bit upscale and pricey, but a great restaurant for celebrating a special occasion with family and/or friends! They have a great selection of wines too! Would definitely recommend their scallops and steak, yum!
(4)
Ali D.
Fabulous, fabulous restaurant. I only travel to this area occasionally for conferences, and I've made sure to stop here both times I've been in town. I've had nothing but impeccable service and amazing food. They start you off right off the bat with a loaf of warm baguette and whipped butter - heaven for carbophiles like myself. This time around, I had the French onion soup (on happy hour special for $5), which was amazing. The melted Gruyere was delicious (if a bit heavy, but I'm not a huge cheese person). Paired with a glass of $4 pinot noir, it was a delicious (and cheap!) dinner. They also offer a few full-size sandwiches (steak and salmon) with frites, a few different pates/liver mousses, and other $5 really great happy hour specials. All HH wines are $4 or less, and the jazz music in the bar in the evenings is a really nice touch. Although I understand that this restaurant is a chain, I'm still in love. I'm thinking about going back tomorrow night!
(5)
Elizabeth E.
This is a truly authentic French bistro! Having lived overseas, it was a real treat to enjoy an impromptu lunch here. Chilled water was served from a glass bottle, without ice (European style), and since I don't like ice in the winter, I was thrilled. The bottle was left on the table so that we could refill our glasses as needed, and when we finished it, another was promptly brought over. The mini baguette was delicious - crisp on the outside, warm and fluffy on the inside. The only negative thing I can think of is that the menu displayed outside did not exactly correlate with the menu we were given at the table, but perhaps it was just not recently updated (I had my heart set on a chicken and mushroom crepe that was included on the lunch menu outside, but was only on the breakfast menu once we sat down). The daily specials were displayed on the wall and they all sounded fantastic. I had the onion soup ($7), which was so large that I couldn't even finish it all, having eaten most of the baguette. The bread was on the bottom of the large soup bowl, which was very generously topped with gruyere (rather than the bread and gruyere being toasted on top, as is sometimes the case). The bowl was not a typical little onion soup crock, but a tall bowl, about half-quart-sized. My husband had the steak frites (classique, $27) and said it was one of the best steaks he had ever eaten. The steak was cut thin but long, I assume to speed up cooking time, which was nice since we had only stopped in for lunch. The frites were also cut thin, and the portion was huge. We didn't order wine, but when I saw the beautiful oval wheeled wine cart, I wished we had! Our server was the perfect balance of attentive and relaxed; he didn't bug us unnecessarily, but was available when we wanted him. In fact, everyone there (hostess, busers) was very polite. We could have eaten quickly if needed, and we could have lingered for hours; we were neither rushed nor delayed by the service. We could easily overhear what our neighbors were discussing, but that is to be expected in a bistro. Two very well-behaved little girls were seated with a group near us, and when one of them held up the activity paper that the restaurant had given her, I saw that it was beautifully designed to match the menus, and noticed some sort of game with a number of poodles on it! For the quality of the ambiance and food, the value is fantastic. If I lived closer, I would be a regular!
(5)
Virginia G.
My friend and I went here for brunch last Sunday. There are plenty of tables so we were seated quickly. The menu is diverse especially for Sunday brunch, not heavily laden with egg dishes. I loved that there were lunch items and we were not forced into eating the typical brunch meal. Our waiter was wonderful and extremely attentive. We started with a warm french baguette, butter, and raspberry jam. The bread was wonderful, butter was fresh, and the jam was not too sweet. I ordered the steak sandwich with the fries (yum!). The steak was perfectly cooked and the horseradish sauce was really great. It also came with an au jus dipping sauce. My friend ordered the chicken, brie, apple sandwich. It was warm, gooey and a generous serving. I especially loved the bread it was served on. Overall, this was a perfect brunch experience. We are planning on taking our friends in the future because there are so many options, everyone is happy!
(4)
Jane Q.
This was our first visit and it will not be our last. Absolutely loved the chicken liver pate, grapefruit salad and the profiteroles for dessert.
(5)
Michael B.
With a proven formula the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. The only exception being the one is Vegas, like most restaurants in Vegas it comes up a bit short, Anyway if you like French Bistro style food check it out. The mussels are always a winner, I love the crusty bread and butter the dang you off the rip, and the escargots are always a go to for me. Last time I was here we had the frisee and poached egg which wasn't the bomb but decent just a bit underwhelming. I love French food and this is always a good standby
(4)
Zhao L.
simple and elegant. Food is really good. Good atmosphere and dishes are inexpensive. Definitely recommending it.
(5)
Bon D.
Had the chilled Seafood Platter last night. Huge Shrimp, fresh mussels, great ceviche, Maine lobster - so fresh - fabulous!
(4)
Lora B.
I went here for brunch this morning based on other reviews. I'd say it wad just ok. The breakfast options are pretty limited. I got the eggs Florentine which were pretty good but I got spinach on the side instead of potatoes. It was extremely salty - I only ate half and I'm still dying of thirst two hours later. Friends asked for fruit on the side and they seemed very perplexed and then said ask they had was apples and bananas. It wad fine but fruit at brunch should be a standard. Service was ok but not attentive. Coffee served in tiny cups. I won't be back for brunch.
(3)
Jacinda T.
I'd give this place 3.5 stars if I could. But as I'm not much of a red meat eater, I'm going to have to round down this time. It's a very nice place, fits in well in Bethesda. The waiters are very courteous and usually attentive. I've dined with people who've said the steak frites is very good, so I'm going to take the word for it. I did steal some fries from the bf though, and they were very delicious. But then again, they're fries. I am a huge fan of the French onion soup here. It's a bit on the cheesy side, but I can look passed that. (which is saying something, considering I'm lactose intolerant! lactaid FTW) I also love their French baguettes; good ones are so hard to come by in MD. I've gotten the scallops here, which I didn't really like. But I'm really picky about how my scallops are seared, and these were a bit overcooked. I've also gotten a salad with some time of fish (sorry, I can't remember!) but it was good. Also, the cocktails are quite strong here. I'd stick with wine if you want to enjoy yourself. Oh, and make a reservation on open table ahead of time, you'll save yourself a wait since it gets crowded.
(3)
Don S.
The evening was lovely. Our waiter was most attentive. We all had steak frites. While the flavors were very good, the steaks were very, very thin for the price. That is my only complaint of the evening...but in my mind a significant one. There are a number of good dining places to go.....for an establishment known for this dish..it was disappointing. A lovely place and attentive staff...
(3)
Aerin R.
I went for dinner and it was pretty expensive. My sister had a salad for $18. I had the vegetable tagine and it wasn't what I expected, it tasted like vegetables in water and even though they said there would be a variety of vegetables there were basically only carrots, red bell peppers, and chickpeas. Our waitress also kept coming over asking if we wanted something even though she was standing a couple tables away the entire time and we could've just called her over. For 8 people, it was over $200. The dessert was over-rated adn over-priced. I had this apple ganache thing and I couldn't get if off the plate. The ice-cream that came with it was already half-melted when I got it. With the steak-frites, there were more frites than steak. The beef bourgignon there was this piece of beef on top of 4 noodles surrounded by carrots and that was it. It is definitely a meat place and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone that doesn't want meat. Food:4 Service:4 Price/Value:3 Atmosphere:5
(3)
Zara M.
What impressed me was our waitress as well as the food. We were only in the mood for light fare - apps & salads, not even drinks. The waitress was totally cool with this and we DID NOT get sub-par service once our menu choices became apparent. The waitress came back several times and checked on us - she had blonde hair and was probably in her 30s, wish I remembered her name. She was great. I have not had this same experience at other places in Bethesda. Also, the gluten-free options are great. They happily bring both gluten-free bread plate and normal bread plate.
(5)
stevie t.
I don't branch out too often once I really enjoy something on a menu. So I can only recommend my regular orders. But they're all very good. Starter: Escargot in a garlic butter (with parsley? Something green anyhow). I like to dip the french bread that I've buttered into this sauce. So tastey. Entree: Filet Mignon au Poivre (peppery with a dollop of cream) with a side of Frites (by far, the biggest reason to visit Mon Ami - perfectly thin and fried, also amazing with gravy). Backup Entree: If you're not a carnivore, their Macaroni Gratin is to die for. Baked in one of those black kettle pans with lots of crunchy crumbs all over. The cheese isn't typical either (very slightly sharper). Dessert: Bananas Foster Crepe with Vanilla Ice Cream (extra ice cream...small scoops). Enough said. ~ Although, I must admit, I've skipped it just a couple of times for Georgetown Cupcakes around the corner, but not too too often. The ambiance is awesome, the service is consistent and very good, the outdoor seating is just a bonus for a beautiful day.
(4)
Maddie B.
I love this restaurant!! I went for dinner on a Friday night and it was packed, you definitely need a reservation. The only thing I didn't like was the seating; next time I am going to request a corner table because it was crowded and loud and you are very close to the people next to you. The service was acceptable, a bit slow. Why did I give it 5 stars? The food was fantastic! We had the baked brie, salads, salmon, and a few desserts that were delicious. I plan to go back for lunch and just get the salad, it was so well put together, the flavors were amazing.
(5)
Phi N.
Usually parking in Bethesda is okay; I don't know what was going on tonight... the garages, the parking across the street, parallel parking... all full. As for the restaurant itself, there is a bar at the front you can have a couple drinks at while you wait for a table. There is a nice and classy ambiance to the inside. It gets pretty crowded, and fairly noisy... but we got kind of tipsy, so of course that doesn't bother us... (maybe it was just us that was noisy, sorry!...) Once at our table, the service was excellent. Our waitress was Lorena. She's great, ask for her. We tipped her well, but now that I think of it, I wish I tipped more because we were there for quite a while. As for the food, the escargo was delicious. It was by far the favorite item I ordered. The smoked salmon was pretty good too (sorry I forgot to take pictures of these). Appetizers are the way to go at this restaurant... because for my main course, I ordered the steak bordelaise. My steak was chewy, and that should not be the case when you order medium-rare, more on the rare side... the bordelaise sauce was on point, but the meat itself was what disappointed me. A friend of mine ordered the lemon chicken paillard and macaroni & cheese. Both lacked flavor and sodium. At least my steak sauce was tasty... The Graves champagne bottles we ordered were good. I'm no wine expert or anything... but I can tell you when I like/don't like something, haha.
(3)
Won K.
This review is for a take-out order from Mon Ami Gabi. Was in town for a conference, and had just gotten back from a run so I wanted a quick take-out dinner to enjoy back at my hotel (always felt weird about eating alone in a restaurant). Ordered the steak bernaise over the phone, and it was ready in like 10 minutes. The steak itself I felt was done decently. Half of it was cooked medium well, the other half medium rare like I asked. The sauce and frites were a nice touch, but it was my first steak bernaise so I have no comparison. But I didn't feel like it was anything to write home about. On top of that, they didn't give me any utensils to eat with! Oh the humanity... That said, the ambiance of the restaurant was romantic and appealing. The servers that I briefly interacted with seemed very nice as well. Hopefully I'll get a chance to go back with my conference buddies and check it out and give it another chance.
(3)
Tee D.
I had an all-around great experience here. The food, ambience and service were all good. I went with a group of friends and we shared the foie gras. The French onion soup was delicious. The whole table ordered a steak each- be warned: the steak is huge! For dessert, the profiteroles were delicious as well- I thought it was one of the best I've had though my friend disagrees. I went there for lunch on a week day. Other customers were in the 40+ range. The waiters were attentive and professional.
(4)
LaToya E.
After looking for a great lunch spot with an out of town friend we decided on this place just from the look of the patio area and boy am i glad we did! its such a cute little french bistro! The baguette that was brought out before our meal was delicious and my friend and I had the same burger cooked different ways and they were both PERFECT! The wait staff were great they were somehow always there when we needed something. I will have to stop by this place again when i want to get my fill of a bistro lunch.
(4)
Shank P.
The restaurant was underwhelming to say the least. My onion soup was burnt. Friends ordered rockfish special and felt it was undercooked. When they asked to exchange their dish, the manager came to the table. Unlike other restaurants that measure their worth in customer service, he spoke rudely and was not at all courteous. The one vegetarian entree was mushy veggies with couscous. Needless to say- mediocre fare and poor customer service. Bethesda has much better to offer! The server and valet were fantastic!
(1)
Amanda L.
I almost forgot to write the review. I saw Mon Ami Gabi first in Last Vegas and it was packed. From the name, I know it's French Bistro, and the environment should be private, romantic and intimate and they are. This one we went to located in Bethesda center, next to the cinema. The interior looked very nice, very like Europe and on a Wednesday night dinning time, there are lots of senior citizens made this place look warm and family-oriented. My friend and I ordered mussels, crab cake and short rib(marinated beef sth) with chocolate mousse as dessert. We were really full. I really like the beef as it came with mashed corn & carrots, a little spinach all very tender and delicious. Mussels are not as good as the Terrace restaurant in Kennedy Center, which used more white wine in cooking. The sauce came with crab cake was great, sweet but not too filthy.Their menus change according to the seasons as well, seems like all the restaurants are doing that now. One con is the seats are really close to each other, difficult to get out or in. So, better just seat there until the end of meal. lol
(5)
Callen B.
The best steak I have had in a very long time! I ordered the Steak Roquefort and profiteroles which were both excellent. The service was also top notch! Can not recommend this place highly enough!!!!
(5)
J G.
We had a great dining experience. Our waitress Rebecca was polite, knowledgeable, and very attentive. The venue was quiet when we first arrived (Monday 6pm) but quickly filled to capacity as the night continued. Each course was delicious. We will definitely return for the service alone.
(5)
Kevin P.
Had the rib-eye on bone, and it was just OK. It was definitely overpriced. The ambiance and service; however, was great. Seems like a decent place to go on a nice date.
Terrible terrible service . Very rude middle eastern hostess. She didn't have any kind of customer service. Made the restaurant feel a very cheap place.
(2)
Tra H.
We came here for lunch. I liked the French Onion soup, and the fact that they give an entire baguette for free. The main courses were okay, good enough but not outstanding. We ordered the chicken and mushroom crepe and the steak sandwich. They were both pretty bland. The fries were very good though - crispy and rich. The portion here is huge, so you might want to just order one meal to share. My boyfriend and I had just biked a good 15 miles to get there on the Crescent trail, we were both starving, but yet we could not finish all the food, and we have never not finished anything. Overall, a pleasant experience. Good staff, good atmosphere, generous portions. The food wasn't outstanding, but good enough.
(3)
Rob H.
Great food, good service. Very noisy atmosphere, and tables very tight. Slightly pricey for what you get. Parking in that area is a complete nightmare, be sure to arrive 30 minutes early unless you plan to valet.
(3)
Teeny L.
We love this place!! We drive down to Bethesda from Philadelphia several times a year JUST TO EAT HERE. The steaks are unbelievably tender and the Bearnaise Sauce is Excellent. During our most recent visit, the Manager, Adam Murphy was extremely attentive to the guests at every table in the restaurant. He stopped by each table to ensure that everyone was enjoying their meal and to check if anyone needed anything. He was working hard providing excellent customer service to all. I have not seen a manager work this hard in a long time. The best part of our dinner was the profiterole dessert. Oh my- it is huge and the most delicious dessert that I have ever had. YUM. I highly recommend this restaurant. It is my favorite. I can't wait for our next roadtrip to Bethesda!!!!!
(5)
Tracy L.
So what if this Is a chain, because it's a really good one! We've had dinner here twice and it never fails to deliver a delicious classic French meal. Go with one of their steak and frites entrees and get garlic spinach as a side to complete the meal. While you eat, enjoy some wine, the traditional French brasserie decor and the attentive service. Recommended.
(4)
Kristen J.
excellent service and great food!
(4)
judith a.
Always fun to sit on the sun on summer. The salads and food is good , service excellent and friendly, always a jovial and happy time here.
(4)
Roy S.
This was a pretty nice place. Busy and loud but with a reservation I waited 5 minutes. The steak au poivre was nicely cooked but the focus was on the brandy sauce and not the peppercorns. I was hoping for the opposite. The steak is also pretty thin. The french fries were plentiful but flat? It was interesting but I prefer larger fries (tough to complain about fries though). I really liked the green beans but some people might want them mushier (no idea why). Great wine list, very friendly staff, and right next to Bethesda Row theater (dinner and a movie!!!) I want to try the chicken next...
(4)
Joe G.
So I ate here on my birthday with 6 friends the other day and it was absolutely fantastic. Everyone ordered some kind of steak and it was very delicious all around. Even the cucumber soup thing turned out to be very nice. Anyway, the service is always great here and the food is delicious. I really can't say much more about it than that. I mean, the wine is super expensive, but this is a fancy french restaurant so that is to be expected. They even brought out TWO birthday cookie/chocolate sauce/ice cream things instead of just one! :D I can't eat chocolate but other people in my party assured me that it was delicious and I appreciate they do that thing on your birthday. They will NOT sing happy birthday to you though and I'm sure most birthday patrons probably appreciate not being embarrassed. :) I recommend getting the filet with the red wine reduction sauce, it is my new favorite!
(5)
Mike M.
Love Mon Ami Gabi. The food is fantastic, the service is always top shelf and the location is perfect for a nice night out. I usually start wit h the country pate followed with the steak frites. Occasionally I'll stop by at lunch and sit at the bar and enjoy the pate by myself. You just can't have a bad day if you've had Mon Ami Gabi's country pate for lunch. Get a reservation if you're going for dinner and plan on a long, leisurely dinner.
(5)
Maureen H.
Mon Ami Gabi is a nice French-themed chain restaurant. I've been to the locations in Reston and Bethesda enjoy the food. For a chain, it's still fairly authentic (They do serves Moules Frites, which already earns a few stars from me!) and the ambiance is nice. For brunch, they have a build your own Bloody Mary bar and a rolling champagne cart which is a nice touch. The menu is varied so there's something for everyone in your group (the vegetarian, the cheap person, the Francophile, etc). The only thing that makes it less than perfect is the obscene amount of up-selling. I know it's not the server's fault - I've worked in enough restaurants to know that they probably have to memorize a script of 'specials' every day and offer specific appetizers and sides or risk getting a bad score from a secret shopper. It just makes things a little bit awkward at times and cuts into the 45 minutes or so that I'm paying to enjoy an otherwise really great meal.
(4)
Perry P.
J'adore ce restaurant! I love the bustling atmosphere. It does get loud, but if you eat late, it thins out nicely and you can hear the great French jazz they play over the speakers. I ran into a love jazz trio in the bar one evening, but don't remember what night of the week that was. Anyway -- my favorites are onion soup, caesar salad, bacon wrapped filets, French toast (at brunch), pommes puree (mashed potatoes) and escargots. Don't miss the complimentary shredded carrot salad and warm bread at the beginning! De-lish! The one thing I don't "get" are their frites. They are a little small and chewy -- not as crisp as I would like. For dessert, the profiteroles are to die for! Also love the chocolate mousse and creme brulee. This is my go-to place when I want a nice filling bowl of hot soup or a carb overload...
(5)
Kim H.
Excellent food and particularly great service. It felt like an extravagant evening because the food was so delicious and we were so well taken care of. Just wow.
(5)
Jeremy P.
My wife and I love this restaurant! Excellent food, service, and atmosphere, and conveniently located right next door to the Theaters at Bethesda Row. I Highly recommend the Bearnaise steak, which I enjoyed with a red Rhone wine. And don't skip dessert here. The La Grande Profiterole is life-affirming. Our waiter ceremoniously poured melted chocolate on it at our table and it drew an audience. The only reason I don't give this restaurant a perfect score is because the steak was probably the second or third best I've had. But I eat a lot of great steak so this is a high score for me (I have a perfect score reserved exclusively for #1). Nevertheless, Mon Ami Gabi is way up there among my favorites!
(4)
Deborah N.
I am an ami of good onion soup and pseudo Parisian-looking bistros, especially when they are right next door to a good arts movie house. Go on Tuesday nights for the duck (le quaq) and the jazz (le jazz). Trouve le parking in the garage up the street. I'm not so amoureused with the prices of the glasses of wine but I guess most of the Bethesdaish clientele can afford to drink there without batting an oeuf. (Oops, that means egg!) Moi, je suis pauvre, alors je prend seulement le soupe a l'oignon avec du pain gratuit ou un cafe.
(4)
Anika K.
Came here for dinner and ordered scallops. Friends ordered steak and frites and king salmon. Honestly, my dish tasted the best out of all. Friends complained the steak were not so great qualities and were little over done. Service was great, atmosphere was great, would come back here again but probably won't order steak next time.
(3)
Mike S.
When you see the restaurant through the windows, you would think that this place is for upscale with dinner dress establishment. When you go through the door, you would still think that your wallet will be bitten at the end of the dinner. When you start getting served, you would start easing up your jacket and really study the menu. When you taste the first appetizer, you tend to forget about your dinner check. When you take a bite of its entre, you are not thinking about your money but what to get on your dessert. Finally when you ask for the check, you would see that your credit card comes out of your wallet in a speed that you've never seen before. I hope this helped with your imagination of the place. Oh one last thing, the next morning, you can't believe you spent so much on wine.
In search of Saturday Brunch? Look no further - this is an oasis of food, drink, and tasteful decor on the Row. I met a friend here before seeing two movies at Bethesda Row Cinema and we knew we had several hours to kill before we needed to grab our seats. I can think of no better place to spend a leisurely Saturday afternoon eating and drinking than at Mon Ami Gabi. I met M for brunch at 1 and ordered myself a mimosa while she took advantage of the Build Your Own Bloody Mary Bar. We chatted and eyed the menu for a good long while until our server informed us that the egg special was Eggs Benedict over Braised Short Ribs. Easy decision! We both ordered the Egg Special as well as a plate of Smoked Salmon to split. And right after we ordered our food do you know what happened? A server came by and dropped off a baguette. He gave us a WHOLE BAGUETTE. It's like he knew what I hope to get out of life (Hint: it is a whole baguette. i hope to get a whole baguette out of life) and then left it there in a paper bag for me. Good man. The salmon plate was excellent and perfect for splitting, nicely full of capers and onions and creme fraiche. The eggs were absolutely fantastic, poached perfectly and perched on a bed of shredded, flavorful beef short ribs. The hollandaise had the right zip and didn't break while we ate; I honestly could have done without the potatoes or English muffin and been happy with just the eggs and ribs. They were THAT good. As we moved to duck out to Dolcezza on my suggestion, the skies opened up and a wall of water fell from the sky. Thunder filled the air and the lights dimmed and rose, dimmed and rose while the wind tried to push said water wall horizontally outside. "So. Drink and dessert?" M suggested, eyeing the bar directly to our left. Yes, please. We each enjoyed a Cafe Normande and shared the Bananas Foster Crepe and Flourless Chocolate Cake. The cafes were perfectly boozy and the crepe was a delight to share but the flourless chocolate cake was a bit too airy and we did not clean our plates. Overall a fabulous (though mildly spendy) day and one I plan to repeat, much to the chagrin of my husband's credit card I suspect.
(5)
Lauren S.
Easily my favorite French restaurant in the area! There isn't much competition but it still deserves all five stars. Every course is enjoyable if you order French things (and not items like the burger). The escargot is very rich if you're not afraid of snails. Save some bread so you can sop up the delicious sauce that is always left over from it! Their steaks are (I believe) either flank or hangar steaks that are marinated and cut real thin. When I first saw them, I thought it was a cheap cop out to use a cheap cut but it really works! The steaks are always tender and never (so far) overcooked. I've tried the peppercorn steak, the Merlot steak, and Roquefort steak. I'd recommend all of them depending on your personal taste but I found the third option to be my favorite. They all come with steak frites which are good by themselves. The fact that they naturally soak up all the sauce from the steak itself makes them terrific. Their desserts are all sweet and yummy. Even if they didn't all seem French, they are great! I recommend the cobbler, it is both warm and rich. I thought going to L'Auberge Chez Francois would spoil me on French food but Mon Ami Gabi really comes close on flavor and feel. It may be a little pricey compared to other places in the immediate area but is perfect for occasions. It's also perfect for those times when you just really need a good meal to take the stress away.
(5)
Ryan B.
I've been here several times for lunch and dinner, so it's about time I gave this place a review! Service is usually great as well as the steak and frites dishes. It's a great and less expensive alternative to the higher end steak places in the area. I've had a lot of the menu and can't say I've been disappointed. I'll continue to come back here with family and friends when the opportunity presents itself.
(4)
Robin G.
I'm upgrading my review after tonight's meal. We sat outside and had excellent service. My husband had steak and it was tender and he thoroughly enjoyed every bite and finished it all! I had the trout with the haricots verts. My cocktail was o point as well. Very good experience we had. Glad I gave it another shot!
(5)
Tanya G.
Reasons why I go to Mon Ami Gabi 1. Mushroom soup Hmmm I guess that's only one. Now I can be annoying and repeat myself with increasing exclamation marks, adjectives and adverbs but hopefully that is not necessary (and I do love my exclamation marks :-). That is also not to say that my dear friend Gabi doesn't have anything else worthwhile to offer, the food is delicious, service phenomenal, and the location can't be beat. And who doesn't love a make your own Bloody Mary station?!?! But I'm just being honest; the mushroom soup is go out of your way to this particular restaurant to fulfill your craving worthy. Admit it, you have that one thing at that one restaurant that you go to. Guilty?!?! I thought so :-)
(5)
Don H.
Everything is great here. Good for wine and foods. A quick bite or a longer meal. Just be prepared for it to be pricey and busy.
(4)
myra f.
On Mother's Day had brunch. Well again skip potatoes cold yuck!!! Seems to be a theme that management could fix. Actually whole meal came out cold. If butter on top is not melting at all something is wrong. Waiter was ok. He was nice but could have come back to table to check on us. We were there at 9:30 am it was not crowded. Bread was awesome as usual. I am sure we will be back, but feeling it is hit or miss at this location.
(3)
Emily P.
Okay, I think I'm just done with French restaurants. They either serve puny dishes or food that je ne sais quoi the fuss is all about. Mon ami gabi. I don't get the appeal. I think I went in with high expectations? Maybe I should have gotten the steak because I heard that was their specialty, but I wasn't feeling steak (so maybe, maybe, if I go back, I can write a different review.) Alas, I got the half chicken and fries. Yes, the dish was huge. I couldn't finish it. 2/3 of it was covered with these flat fries that went through liposuction. Not a fan of anorexic fries. The chicken was juicy and seasoned, so I guess that was pretty good. But my friend who ate the rest of the chicken I barely poked into said that the center wasn't that good. The chocolate mousse was divine. I guess, overall, I am not an ami, but not an enemy I either.
(2)
Pape T.
Great food! The desserts are fantastic... It's my go-to restaurant! The spinach salmon salad is great and, for brunch, the blueberry french toast are absolutely delicious!! Great atmosphere... Especially when you're outside on a nice day.
(5)
Amy S.
Aside from the fact that I had two breakups with boyfriends here (which added a bit of sourness to the experience), the breakup dates/fights ended up being quite delicious. In fact, I wouldn't mind having a little more heartbreak if it meant I could eat here again! That steak and chocolate mousse made these the best breakups ever! After he stormed out, I sat there in pleasure tasting that sweet taste of freedom with my delectable glass of champagne and munching away on two delicious French entrees. Weee weeee!! Did I mention the HOT bartender (ooops)? And the fabulous customer service....!
(5)
David W.
Service was a bit slow today, and when I requested Ciroc for the Bloody Mary bar, I expected the vodka in a glass so I could make my own at the Bloody Mary bar... not a pre-made Bloody Mary. The chilled Seafood Plateau "serves two or more" was tasty - but I ate it myself, had desert after, and am still hungry. I only weigh 140#... So no, this does not serve two or more. Maybe an appetizer for two, but not a meal. I'll be back, but this was not this restaurant at it's best...
(4)
Sarah C.
Enjoyed a late XMas Eve dinner before heading out of town. It was packed with families and holiday music tickled our ears. I chewed accordingly to the beat of the songs while people-watching through the window. As customary, we attacked the shredded carrot spread/slaw that I usually mentioned to others as a French version of kimchi w/no spiciness. We devoured this with no bread. Since hubs delighted in sauerkraut and I was a fan of kimchi, MAG's orangy goodness was a comforting start for the evening. I wished for something minty so a mojito was on its way and the hubs enjoyed a glass of Louis Bernard 2006 red wine. The bartender must've been in a festive mood because my green drink was super-hero powerful. Wow, Merry Christmas to me. As for the red wine (I'm not a novice nor am I a connoisseur), it paired well with our chicken entrees. Like their steaks and pork, the chicken classics were tasty. And OMG the frites. I appreciate how these scrumptious goodies are a combination of thinly cut fries and potato chips morphed into this MAG creation. I'm a starch fan. But the finale were two desserts not printed on their current menu. I had the spice cake topped with caramel and, I believe, a scoop of cinnamon ice cream. The hubs chose bread pudding with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. A pic of my gratifying treat is found in their business profile yelp.com/biz_photos/9HHQ… With our bellies full, we were ready for the holiday drive - actually HE was ready for the drive and I was looking forward to the road trip. Bless the better half. MAG's service was friendly, timely and efficient as usual. A regular favorite local spot.
(4)
Miranda C.
This review is long overdue. I came here for a wine tasting and French Fare. Although I couldn't drink any of the wines, there was an abundance of hors d'oeuvres that were just incredibly delicious. Other than having an outstanding time with my friends, I also made some new ones too. Everyone at the event was so friendly and inviting, I must attend the next one! Hopefully I'm available when they do! Definitely recommend this place to anyone that hasn't tried their amazing French Fare! It is to die for! Lol, not literally though!
(5)
Kevin O.
Every time I go there (have been there about 6 times at this point) they do a great job. Service is excellent. Food is fantastic and they are consistent. No, I do not work there, but felt I should do some good reviews as it is easier to by critical of bad spots which I find very often. Had Birthday dinner tonight with brother and his family. Steak is to die for.
(5)
Caroline L.
Came here on a hot day and found the main dining room to be a bit uncomfortably hot. I had a glow of perspiration throughout the entire night (limited myself to one cocktail b/c I felt another one would only make my face warmer and sweat more). Tried to Nutty Russian drink which I thought was yummy. The back dining area was significantly cooler. LOVE LOVE LOVE the whole loaf of warm bread they give you in the beginning of the meal. I mean seriously- the entire loaf? My cousin enjoyed the carrot salad a lot. It wasn't anything wow but it was tangy and crunchy and good difference in texture. Got mussels for the appetizer which was DELICIOUS. We literally finished off another loaf of bread just so we could soak up the broth in the bottom of the pot! We all got a different style of steak and frites for our entree. I got the Steak Classique which came completely well done even though I had asked for medium rare. The middle was completely well done which only makes you think how overdone the outer part of the steak would've been. The server quickly took it back but didn't seem all that apologetic (although he did ask how it was after he brought a new one). This time the steak was medium-well. I gave up and just ate. I appreciated them trying to bring it out quickly but the pad of butter was still completely solid on top (and i think they forgot the seasoning). I was really unimpressed. I guess the classique steak is naturally pretty thin so medium rare is hard to do?? My cousin got the cheapest Hanger Steak and hers was beautifully medium rare b/c it was a thicker piece of steak. So to summarize: delicious free bread, delicious mussels (YUMM!), don't get the Classique steak b/c they don't seem to know how to cook thin cuts of steak properly. I'd come back. Hopefully their a/c is working better now.
(4)
J R.
I don't normally like chain restaurants but this place is great. I've eaten there lots of times over the years and the food has always been great. I had lunch here on Labor Day with Cookie and my daughter. We sat outside. We had a fantastic waiter. I wish that I knew his name. He was always attentive to my daughter's needs. I had a steak sandwich for lunch and Cookie had a chicken gouda sandwich. Both sandwiches were fantastic. My daughter had a mac and cheese kids meal that was only $4. Most time kids meals come with a bunch of junk food but not here. The kids meal had apples and vegetables with it. This meal was a total success and I can't wait to come back.
(4)
Debra T.
25 FOR 25 IS A MUST! An endless supply of wine and delicious h'orderves. I also met a lot of nice and friendly people so I highly recommend checking it out if you haven't already.
(5)
Kristi L.
Delicious food, it is on the list all day long.
(4)
Jen C.
While the decor was eerily similar to Maggiano's Little Italy (minus the red checker table covers)--to which we later found out is under the same restaurant company--the service and food here is what you would expect from a chain restaurant. The free bread and carrot salad starters were tasty, but anything with butter wins my heart. And this was truly the theme of the night. Everything. was. doused. in. butter. We ordered the brie cheese, which came with delicious garlic cloves and melted brie...though it was not hot enough; it became very hard to cut very fast. Delicious but too much honey. Then, we ordered the chicken and the steak. Chicken was fresh but standard (thank god for the butter), and steak was overly salty, potato "fries" had an odd chewy consistency. Nothing to wow. Overall, good food for a stop by if you aren't too picky about which restaurant to go to and want good service. Won't be disappointed, and won't be given unbelievable food. I have a feeling this doesn't serve authentic French food...as I walked away still stumped what exactly it is.
(3)
Monica S.
This French restaurant was so delicious. I would go back in a heartbeat! The atmosphere was very lively. It was little loud in there but nothing crazy. I had the scallops and my date had the hanger steak both of which were delicious. We also had wine paired with both of our meals. The desserts were also fantastic. I had the bananas foster. Over all a bit pricey but the food is well worth it.
My girlfriend's steak was overly buttered and the fries were pretty greasy, definitely did not expect that. What most people don't realize is that with a good steak there is only need for salt and pepper seasoning, and the butter did not add anything other than calories. To add to that we were still burping an overpowering steak smell long after consuming the meat. Their scallops are good, but the sides that came with it could be a little more flavorful. Dessert was a unique combination of tastes that turned out excellent, and the bread was very fresh. But based on phrases that comes with each star ratings, and the overall meal, I definitely feel that "I've experienced better."
I recommend making reservations for brunch, as this place is pretty popular. Everything I had was very good: smoked salmon appetizer, quiche lorraine was delicious and I'm at best a border-line quiche fan, seafood crepe was also very good. Yes, Mon Ami has desserts, but there is Haagan Das next door, just putting it out here!
(4)
Eunice K.
went here for restaurant week.. i ordered the onion soup, salmon and bread pudding my mom ordered the caesar salad, steak with peppercorn sauce..? and bread pudding my sister ordered the au poivre burger when you first come in and sit they do give you warm bread and butter :) yum we all tried a lil of each others dish everything was just okay nothing amazing.. the best part was the frites/fries ;)
(3)
Keisha S.
By far my favorite place to eat in Bethesda just good food all around and the staff is always professional and kind. Perfect for lunch and dinner.
(4)
Jae K.
Had a friend in town, and went for sunday brunch. Decided to sit inside, since the sun was scorching our back. Service was excellent, food-wise, it's everything you'd expect from French restaurant. Unfortunately, can't quiet give it a 5 since it's nothing I haven't seen before in our French restaurants, but it's def a nice and friendly place to grab some French food in Bethesda Row
(4)
Gretchen K.
Love the food & the people. My favorite place for the perfectly cooked steak! Brunch is fantastic too!
(5)
Joseph P.
Went for dinner tonight around 8pm. I had made reservations earlier so getting seated wasn't a problem. The only complaint I'm going to have in this review is that the tables were pressed pretty closely to each other and the table of 5 next to us were having a pretty enthusiastic conversation about one of their girlfriends are her..escapades. Not an entirely appetizing conversation to overhear. Onto the positives. Great service! Our waiter was very patient with us (we didn't decide until his 4th trip back to check on us) and was also very informative whenever we did have questions. I ordered the steak bordelaise (caramelized onions and red wine sauce) and my girlfriend ordered the skate wing. We shared a macaroni and cheese on the side. The steak was ordered medium rare and came medium rare (we all know how those can turn out sometimes). My expectations weren't through the roof since it is a thinner steak and I'm more of a ribeye person. However, the steak was cooked perfectly and the caramelized onions were a sweet addition. It came with some onion fries which were average. The skate wing was also very good. Crisp yet tender just the way it should be. It came some cauliflower puree which was delicious. The mac and cheese was rather heavy and we found it burdensome to finish. The best part of the meal had to be the dessert. We ordered the blueberry sorbet and the profiteroles. Best profiteroles I've ever had. By best, I mean I've only had them once before but who's counting anyway. The blueberry sorbet was also a nice touch to end a heavy dinner. Good service, nice area, generous portions, good food, reasonable price. Enjoy!
(4)
Minn L.
One of the few restaurants in Bethesda that I feel is somewhat worth the money. I know it's a French place and I should be more excited about the filet mignon and frites (the frites here are delicious!), but I am a fan of their seafood and salads. They are never drenched in sauce, but light and fresh so that you can actually taste the ingredients. And of course, love the fresh baguette they bring out as starters. If the regular menu is a bit pricy for you, try their happy hour in the bar area. They have a $5 food menu, which includes a steak burger with caramelized onions and mustard mayo, and pate, and for drinks they offer half off wines (glasses and bottles). The servers always seem to be nice and attentive too.
(4)
Mattie C.
Great location in central Bethesda near the bike path and across from the Barnes&Noble. It is a cute restaurant with a great atmosphere and also very interesting food choices. They have great onion soup, which is all I usually get. Also, I tried escargot for the first time in my life here. It wasn't that expensive, and I have to say it was quite tasty! They seemed to be drenched in some type of buttery oil, but I can still say that I tried them :) There were other great items on the menu too, but I am always satisfied with a light lunch of soup and some bread. And try the escargot! It is a shame that I live so far away from here or I would come more often.
(5)
O P.
Great music, excellent crab cake and excellent steak à la Bordelaise. Will come back.
(3)
Trevor M.
Autumn is finally in the air, the crisp leaves crackling like dry fire under your leather patented shoes. Your beige scarf lightly rests upon your shoulder and still has the lilt to be picked up by the occasional breeze. An accordian plays a duet with a bird above. It seems a perfect combination. The air today smells wonderfully pungent when mixed with the wonderful nose of the Cotes Du Rhone. The guyere that you are spreading across the warm baguette compliments the scene as a poodle blithely scatters past your table. Then you realize that your'e really not in a cafe overlooking the Seine on holiday, but that you're really ditching work so that you can hide out at Mon Ami Gabi for a glass of wine and some onion soup. (Note to self: Better call work and fake one of those 12 hour bugs so I don't have to go back to cubeville.) Now, back to our scene in progress. I decide to order the escargots de Bourgogne as it is such a wondeful compliment to the wine and cheese. When mixed together, the herb butter and cheese just simply melt and the sweetness of the escargots is astounding. Not overcooked and tender sitting on the cheese and bread. My nicoise salad with the perfect pepper seared tuna is light and is a nice juxtaposition to the autumn that beckons me outside. It is followed by the onion soup with more cheese on top. It is hard to finish this by myself...so, I do not struggle. The incredible sauteed onions with it's sweetness is a delight and warms the soul on a brisk day as the sun struggles to dance into the cafe. But what is a trip to Mon Ami Gabi without some frites. Fried ever so delicately. This is a meal unto itself. The wine continues to warm and awaken the poet's soul. Text on Iphone: Get back to work and finish your report! End scene.
(4)
Marry K.
Best Steak ive had in a long time! i can still taste it...and i want more!!! Went there on a Friday night and Thank God we booked because gosh was it packed! Walk-ins were being told the wait was about 30-40mins and we were seatead in less than 2 mins when we got there. I ordered the mushroom soup to start which looked and tasted a bit like baby food. i wasnt a fan. We all ordered steak and each and every bite was good till the last morsel. The fries were a bit difficult to eat. A bit soggy and hard to pick up with a fork so i ended up using my hands and eventually stopped eating the fries. id definitely go back and id definitely have the steak again. it was HUGE!! I tried three different types (bites of what my family was having) and each steak was tender and delicious. Service was great. the staff is very polite and our waiter was quite attentive. The restaurant was quite loud and tables too close together. it felt like we were pretty much sitting with other guests as we could hear every bit of their gossip. besides that, mon ami gets a thumbs up!
(4)
lindsey l.
For the hype, I was less than impressed. My cut of meat was over done (asked for rare) and rather paltry. The steak-frites were also over done and too crunchy to enjoy. Atmosphere was decent, but not enough to make up for the disappointment in my entree.
(2)
Kathryn W.
My Birthday was March 20th, that was a Sunday. So to celebrate my 50th Birthday, I ventured out with 15 year friend and neighbor Undra. I had forgotten life is beautiful... I first wanted to go to Chrisfields,but having missed today's gorgeous weather, I choose Mon Ami Gabi after 8:30 pm. I have to say my experience was the best I have had ever at a restaurant. Most of the patio was packed up, but 2 tables were occupied by the front door outside on the patio. Our waiter Michael was a winner,( not in the Charlie Sheen way ,silly,)excellent ,bright,and just for indulging my request outside, he was a wonder for Bethesda. We started with ice tea. I ordered the chicken liver pate it was presented with a squeeze of tasty barbecue sauce, the sauce was ,not overly salty, nor too sweet. The chicken liver pate was smooth in texture and outstanding,the pate is presented with a speared pieces of crust free toast . After that treat I turned to Undra and said how can I tolerate eating the food at home after this ??? I also, informed him that tomorrow he will feel like superman from the needed injection of iron. Forget energy bars, and drinks. My taste buds were reset, to the higher standard now everything will taste like wax compared to here. My dining companion Undra was mesmerized by the jazz trio playing inside the restaurant. it is so pleasant to sit outside on a Thursday evening and have a jazz trio live 20 feet away..Undra listens to jazz 4 hours or more everyday of the week. So it was a real treat for both of us to have live jazz music,fresh air, and outstanding service and decadent savory food all at one time. Who knew??? I loved their steak burgers, or hand burgers that taste better then any recent steaks, I can remember. I had cheddar, on the moist decadent hand burger that made me reminisce what 1960's steaks tasted like in 1966. Undra got some exotic type of mild Swiss cheese and his burger was cooked well done. He stuck with the famous Frites, I declined the fries and was graciously offered fresh green beans that were excellently seasoned with pure garlic and butter. After dinner,I requested to have a lot of the food wrapped up by the busser ,phonetically his name was Euie. He wrapped every dish with a beautiful presentation in foiled diner containers, I had 3 plates, Undra had one. He presented us with 2 strong , brown bags,he even remembered who got what and had each bag filled with each patrons foods. After ordering coffee; I am embarrassed to say I became hypercaffeinated from the previous 2 ice teas. And I had a long winded monologue with Michael, poor waiter. Most of the waiters are tip top minds with Engineering, or Masters degrees and very interesting. I collect watches,and Michael had a beautiful Invecta Watch,his father is in the business of watches. Next time I will quell my enthusiasm and learn something on our black belt bargain hunting. I tip generously when people go above and beyond, Michael had picked up our table so I was delighted to be served by him. After asking what Michael's work schedule was, I forgot some of it; Sorry Michael.Michael invited me to come for brunch, so I plan on making reservations for brunch with a request for Michael. We decided to go inside and listen to the Jazz Trio, I was given another cup of coffee, and Undra had Earl Grey Black tea with lemon. Mark took our order, and proficiently fussed and spoiled us, and Al, a Sidney Potney face with black glasses brought me the coffee, I asked if he was still in school. He said he had graduated from an Arts College in DC, then mentioned his engineering degree. I was in good company to brag about the Ford Transit Connect I had researched and negotiated on. I have an interest for the mechanical myself. So I was in bliss. Discussing the scope of the van, w/self adjusting uni not fisher body, 175 cubic feet of storage, and a quick Ford focus engine. I ordered the Banana Foster. It is simply the best dessert, sweet with a thin crepe with ice cream,and real whip cream. When Mark learned I was celebrating my birthday he brought or bought, us free truffles. The check for dinner was $35, then the check for tea, coffee, and the 2 to 3 serving desert was $14. The live music free. Life is Good..@ Mon Ami Gabi.
(5)
KJ F.
Had a fabulous lunch at Mon Ami yesterday. The manager Michael K. was great. Very friendly, helpful and answered all of our questions. He was extremely accommodating. The seafood crepe is amazing! Make sure you get the profiteroles for dessert! You will not be disappointed!!!
(5)
Bear B.
Definitely a classy-looking establishment that won't break the bank! I was so surprised at the menu prices! Atmosphere and food was pretty fancy looking, but the price was that of a low-end steakhouse! The only complain I have is that the steaks look bigger than they really are. They were cut quite thin. I'd rather have a thicker steak that looked half the size.
(5)
Pilar W.
Their steak frites is one of the best in town. Also good are their seafood dishes, and specials. Last night their chilled asparagus soup, attentive staff, and usual French ambiance held me fast. and the mousse, oh, the mousse! This is a place you don't want to leave. Enjoy.
(4)
Scott M.
Holy cow do I love this place! Dined here, Reston, and LV and they are all excellent. Fantastic wine selection by the glass, French bistro standards done to perfection, and a knowledgeable and attentive staff are impossible to beat..
(5)
Tim D.
First of all, what self-respecting French restaurant doesn't have French waiters, or servers, or bartenders, or host, etc.?? This place is sooooo "Bethesda" that they even have a giant (fake antique) sign up on the wall that says: "French Fries/ Frites" No,- I'm not kidding! (Next time you're at the bar turn around and look up.) I decided to celebrate my MLK Day by having some wine and nibbles at a restaurant, so that's why I stopped in. The wine list (by the glass) was pathetic! No Cab's whatsoever! The guy next to me actually thought he was drinking a Cab but when I asked him to point it out on the menu he pointed to the "house" Bordeaux. When I said: uh, that's a Bordeaux not a Cab he said "oh,- the bartender said it was "like" a Cab"... uh huh.... uh...NOT! I guess that's why he's a bartender not a sommelier! Still, I expect better from a French restaurant.... "By the glass" there was only ONE choice for Pinot, Chard, or Malbec. Bordeaux had three or four choices but seriously, $20 for a "no-name" '07?? ...for one glass?? You gotta be kidding me! The only thing that looked decent was a half-bottle (375 ml.) of '03 Medoc for $34. When I asked if I could "see" the bottle, the bartender said "sure" but it took him 20 min. to produce it (and the place wasn't busy at all). Hmmmm.... Finally the bottle comes, everything looks ok so I say "fine." As he's opening the bottle and about to pour it into a wine glass, I ask him to decant it. He says "sorry, decanter's are only for FULL Bottles"!!! Again,- you gotta be kidding me!! As I contemplate this conundrum (and look around for the manager), he offers to pour it through a sieve (for sediment) and into a carafe instead of a proper decanter... I stifle my disappointment, determined to make the best of it, and the deed is done. The taste was fine...well, "okay" but there was absolutely no "nose" (aroma, bouquet, whatever you want to call it)!!! I waited.......and waited........sipped, and waited.......It took over an hour to "open up" and when it (finally) did,-- it was nothing to "write home about"! The escargot was yummy and the French bread was great: served in a paper bag about 15" long but HOT which really made a difference... (That's the ONE thing they got right!) All in all, $50 for yummy bread & escargot but "ho-hum" wine?? What a RIP!
(2)
Amanda C.
I can't wait to go back! Informative and attentive wait staff, delectable menu, nothing but good all around! I recommend the smoked salmon!
(5)
Karen P.
We revisited Mon Ami this weekend - with the same 3 players as were present in my earlier review. I think the restaurant has taken some of the constructive criticism to heart. We showed up for our 8:30 reservations a few minutes early, put our name in and went to the bar to get some wine. My husband ordered a bottle of wine from the menu (this time, they had the selection and there was no conversation about all of the wines being discontinued!). It was brought promptly and although we were standing in the middle of the bar area with no table (no seats left), the waiter kindly brought 4 glasses, presented, opened and poured the wine for all of us. Our table was about 15 minutes late - acceptable on a busy Saturday night. We were seated and "set up" (water, menu's, bread) quickly. Our order was taken and food delivered in good time. The steaks and frites were as always, wonderful. Mon Ami is back in my good graces and I'll be back.
(4)
Betty S.
I was craving a steak and I never crave steak (I eat very little beef - gasp, I know). Anyways, it was date night and a Saturday night and we didn't make reservations. It worked out since seats at the bar just happened to open up and we were able to get drinks and appetizers. We had the brie and it was delicious! After close to an hour, we finally got our seats. I wish we had a more "private" seating area but I've learned that French places are typically super small and crowded. Plus it was kind of fun eavesdropping on this first date going on next to us. Anyways, onto the STEAK! I had the steak with the onions (sorry I don't remember the exact name). It was perfect and exactly what I was craving. It was tender, juicy, and the perfect medium well that I like where it's not bleeding in my mouth. I ate a good amount, took the rest home and finished the rest 1 hour later. Yup, that good. The bf had the fish, I don't remember what kind exactly but he liked it. It was light and actually very filling (trust me that's tough to do with his stomach). So all in all a great meal and a great date night...if you get what I'm saying ;
What brought us here: My birthday lunch. What we got: Butternut Squash Soup (seasonal special?) Four Mushroom Soup Jumbo Lump Crab Cake Chicken, Broccoli, and Cheese Crepe (shared with my 17-month-old) Prime Steak Sandwich served with hand-cut fries (mmmm....hand-cut fries...) You get this baguette to start with, and it's like the most amazing free bread I've ever eaten...well, next to the fruit & nut bread at Fork Restaurant in Philly ( forkrestaurant.com ). Review: Butternut Squash Soup - sweet and salty, smooth Four Mushroom Soup - earthy, as it should be Jumbo Lump Crab Cake - on top of cole slaw, crab cake good Chicken, Broccoli, and Cheese Crepe - creamy, chicken very tender, wish it had more broccoli though Prime Steak Sandwich served with hand-cut fries - steak cooked perfectly and I don't have to say anymore about the fries Verdict: Would eat here again if in Bethesda. A bit pricey, but not too high compared to surrounding restaurants - I'm talking to you Jaleo ( jaleo.com/index.php/cont… ). Fairly kid-friendly, except I couldn't find anything off the kids menu (only mac n cheese, burgers, and pizza, egh!).
(4)
Daphne A.
Go for the Chicken Paillard. I switched the frites for brussels sprouts for a hearty but healthy dinner. The ambiance is charming and the service is impeccable - just attentive enough not to be overbearing. Actually, everyone seems to be on their best manners at Mon Ami Gabi - even the children were formally dressed and well-behaved! I'll definitely be back here. Next time, steak.
(4)
Lauren B.
Great food, great service. I'd recommend it for brunch early on a Saturday or Sunday!
(5)
Timir D.
I cant comment on the greasy floors, but the food here is worth trying out. You have to call a day ahead to get a reservation at a decent time here, otherwise you will be stuck coming in at 5pm. The table bread and butter comes with a mildly sweet carrot relish and help to ease the wait before the appetizers arrive, the bread is warm and crisp but the chilled butter is hard bit difficult spread. Portions are large, this is primarily due to the huge amount of fries that are served with nearly every main course. My party ordered roast chicken, prime burgers, and a steak au poivre. The burger was cooked correctly, and the chicken appeared to be to not be too dry. I asked the server what cut the steak would be before ordering and was told that it would be the end piece of a tenderloin pounded out flat. When the meat arrived, cooked medium rare as I requested, I received a steak that was 1.5cm thick and quite large. The meat was as tender as I expected it to be from the description. The fries are a filling addition to the plate. I would rate them a 7 on a 10 scale, and say that the could have been a bit crispier. The deserts that we ordered were the creme brulee, chocolate mousse , and pound cake with lemon curd. The brulee was a bit heavy on the egg but enjoyable, the chocolate was rich, not too sweet, but a bit bitter, and the pound cake was moist and complimented well by the curd. Overall I would give this place a high 3/5, just under 4/5
(4)
Bernard D.
I love this place!! While its not authentic like Le Bistro Du Coin in Dupont it is still a great restaurant. You can't go here without getting some variation of the Steak-Frites. The fries are very unique and VERY tasty. Service has always been great and it is not too difficult to get a table although they can get busy.
(5)
Sue F.
This is my 4th time here and this time was the best! Loud atmosphere, but great food. I had the hangar steak and my colleague had the filet. For dessert we each had the warm bread pudding - get hot fudge on the side!
(4)
paul l.
this is not fleur de lys. so if you're going their for fine french food, you will be utter disappointed. but if you are going for a french version of cheesecake factory, then you'll be really happy you went. the moules frittes are pretty tasty as are the escargot. some of the steaks are not to my liking. but i cook a pretty mean steak! the location and ambiance are great and the service is excellent. will i come back? yeup!
(4)
Whitney B.
Went for New Year's Eve. Couldn't get a reservation, but the hostess said to stop by and try so we did. We were seated immediately (thanks!). Our waiter was professional and as attentive as we needed. He recommended a very reasonable and very good bottle of Bordeaux. Our food was very good and cooked to order as we had asked (Started w/ a shared frisee salad and then Steak Roquefort and scallops -- allyummy.). Loved the ambience -- and it was a great place to spend a festive evening. We'll be back, and often.
(4)
Abraham L.
Mon Ami Gabi is like a shop specializing in Van Gogh replicas: enchanting, artistic, and affordable. Disregard the insincerity and it's French dining at its most accessible. Nestled under Bethesda Row's big pointy arrow, straddling the intersection where jovial sidewalk cafes turn into cozy vendor carts, red awnings announce Mon Ami Gabi's curious moniker. It is one of many charismatic touches that make this French Bistro a safe bet. Our visit occurs on a Friday evening. The frenetic ambiance and sumptuous decor is so distracting I find my menu incomprehensible. Waiters duck and weave. Lighting is fashionably low. Tables and their items are flush to maximize occupancy. A constant din emits from the packed clientele. Our waiter materializes to recount a marathon of daily specials. It is a longer speech than we, and the breathless waiter, are used to. Ornate descriptions mix with French words in an American accent. Du jour this. Du jour that. Confounded we ask him to repeat himself. Much to our delight he does. We begin with complimentary appetizer and baguette. There is a tiny plate of grated carrots soaked in Champagne vinaigrette. Curious but easily forgettable. As for the bread, outside it is chewy and crisp. Inside soft, cottony, and warm. It receives high approval ratings from across the table. She orders a charming Halibut. It is agreeable but be sure to splash it with lemon. And even then it receives less attention than the baguette. As for me, I order the French Onion soup and the Steak Roquefort. The former is a meal in itself, cheesy, full of texture, and requires a surprising amount of concentration to eat gracefully. I am stubborn and insist on finishing it but to be honest I only enjoyed the first few spoonfuls. I am stuffed when my Roquefort arrives, but it is still a pleasant surprise. The frites are trendy and addictive. The marbled bleu cheese undeniable. And all restaurants should slice steaks so thinly. This is glamorous food with generous portions and I highly recommend it. Overall, Mon Ami Gabi satisfies my French craving. Classy, clever, not terribly expensive. A reliable dining experience. Would've been perfect except it all felt overly rehearsed. All restaurants are commercial, but I sense it here to the point of distraction. And when the meal feels more like good business than good art, I withhold my fifth star.
(4)
Sean D.
I've been to the Bethesda branch of this restaurant about 5 times. The decor is designed to very carefully recreate a French bistro, almost to the point of cliche. The authenticity however is belied by a few local dishes (crab cakes) and big screen televisions at the bar showing NFL football games in the fall. If it were just the food I would give this restaurant two stars. The food is just okay. The steak frites was a disappointment -- tough, chewy steak and remarkably bland fries. The trout, when I had it, was also bland and dry. The burger was fine, but the roll was dried out. On the other hand, my wife has ordered the chicken grandmere, which was flavorful. The salads are pretty reliable (although I make a better Nicoise at home) as is the classic onion soup. The bread that comes to the table is also pretty good. The reason I come back to this place is not for the food, but for the location. The bar is a perfect place to have a glass of wine before or after a movie at the Landmark cinema next door.
(3)
Shannon K.
Best service, atmosphere, and more importantly.... Food! Love this place!!!
(5)
Alex L.
Disclaimer: I'm a tightwad with stars; that could really be a 3.5/4 so don't be discouraged. Read on. Went here for the first time on a first date, so I was nervous anyway. I had checked out the menu of a bunch of places beforehand (yes, im that nerdy) and came up with a few choices from which i made my date chose. For completeness, my top three were mon ami gabi, jaleo, and assagi. I liked the style of the place--elegant without being stuffy but the tables were a little close together. i was on the bench side of the table, and practically on top of the elderly four-some next to us. We heard quite a lot of their conversations--the coffee was cold, Stella broke her hip, where the best $5 dinner deals are, etc. I think it was clear we were on a first date (I hate that) so the servers were attentive but not intrusive, which I appreciated. They placed a whole baguette, whipped butter and some molded cous-cous thing on our table with no explanation. Needless to say, tearing into a whole baguette with my hands wasnt the most lady-like thing i did all night but whatever. The bread was good. Pretty mediocre wine-by-the-glass selection, but i went with the house malbec i think. could have been a pinot noir. wasnt memorable. We both ordered seafood; I got thyme grilled salmon on a bed of orzo and spinach which was amazing. The salmon was perfectly cooked. He got the scallops, which looked pretty good, but I wasnt about to start picking off his plate, so I dont know how they tasted. No dessert for us, we went elsewhere for another drink and more awkward date conversation. I live right in downtown Bethesda, so would go back, if only for convenience sake. Or if i get a jonesin' for crepes, which is possible. Overall, very good food, and a nice date-spot but not my favorite place on the block.
(3)
Denis G.
The menu is an eclectic mix of American, British and French food, served in the atmosphere of an elegant French bistro (with charming outdoor seating in good weather). Apart for the uniquely unappetizing fries which they inexplicably seem to have adopted as their trademark, the food is excellent and served in well prepared generous portions. I do I wish they had a more extensive and more diverse selection of French wines and offered a good selection of cheeses, but we still had a very enjoyable meal and were well attended to by the staff. It is not inexpensive, but makes for a nice meal out before a movie or with friends.
(4)
James D.
I love this place, particularly the bar area. The bartenders are super attentive and very cool to chat with. I have gotten burgers, beers and all sorts of stuff while enjoying the ambience and usually they have live music every now and then. Even though it is a chain it is still a lot of fun to go to especially if you want low-key French food with cool decor.
(4)
Becky T.
I had a beautiful meal here with friends. We all shared appetizers and desserts so got to sample a little bit of everything. Escargot and shrimp were delicious and I loved their creme brulee. I usually don't order steaks when I go out because I like to eat it very well done and have only had good experiences at home. However, my steak was excellent and moist even without the slightest pink. Their sommelier was wonderful and taught us so much. Even the waiter knew his stuff about the wine.
(5)
Sarah D.
Great mimosas! Small & pricey, but still very yummy. I ordered the eggs benedict (was there for brunch), and that was good. I loved the decor, tons of wine bottles everywhere, and it really felt like I was back home in San Francisco.
(4)
Anna T.
GREAT HAPPY HOUR!!! They have an outstanding happy hour in the bar area with a $5 limited menu (french onion soup, salad, pate and classic steak and frites) and half-price wine. It is a great deal when you look at the regular prices on their dinner menu. If you do not make Happy Hour, I would definitely still eat at Mon Ami Gabi because the food is good... just know that you will be spending MUCH more than the Happy Hour prices. The atmosphere is good and service is nice as well. Bon Apetit.
(5)
Mel B.
Great as a classy happy hour place- baguettes, wine, and french onion soup with a jazz band in the corner. I love looking for french bistros and this is one of my faves- complete with a room to rent out in the back for parties (although I don't know what the rate is). Rich mahogany wood, friendly staff and customers all enjoying themselves. Big fan!
(5)
Mark D.
Stopped by for Sunday brunch with a friend and it was perfect. They have plenty of outside seating either on the sidewalk or on the patio. Their crepes were fantastic. Service was great (especially considering that it was peak brunch time), we were served with this delicious french bread and were well attended to. Didn't feel rushed at all...
(4)
Raymond W.
In my failure to eat steak in DC for the 1.5 years I've been here I've decided to take on two steak dinners during Bethesda restaurant week so that my wallet would emerge alive from the depletion of it contents. At Mon Ami Gabi, my first steak dinner stop, I had the warm brie (to be french) to start, steak frittes and the chocolate cake. The warm brie is not something I normally eat, but was happy with the subtle texture and warmth of the brie with toasted pieces of french bread drizzled with honey, hazelnut, and roasted garlic. I ordered my first medium rare steak and I am now converted (at least for trustworthy restaurants). The hanger steak arrived juicy and tasty with what seemed liek a hunter knife to carve every piece of cow to be be shoved in my mouth. The steak came with a classic butter sauce that you can choose and with a cilantro? sauce as well. The frittes were good too, though I normally prefer fried potatoes with some fluffy potato inside. The chocolate cake put the meal over the top as I came waddling out of the restaurant. The ambiance was an energetic older crowd that let the wine pour down. Mixed with live Jazz, a definite upscale casual restaurant that warrants the price. Thank you Gabi.
(4)
Monty M.
This is a handsomely appointed restaurant with average food and very poor service. Our waiter was an odd combination of traits; pushy yet inattentive. He tried quite hard to get us to order the specials, aggressively promoting the featured dishes with florid praise ("You won't even need to see the menu after I tell you about our specials!"). He seemed very eager to sell us more food and wine than we wanted. My meal of roasted chicken was a large portion, yet flavored heavily with garlic, including whole cloves served nearly raw with sauteeed, diced mushrooms beside the chicken. The chicken was of average quality and seemed to have been brined to tenderize it. It was very salty and wet instead of moist, and tough, with fatty undercooked skin (not at all like authentic Poulet Roti). The frites are not actually frites, but ribbon cut French fries. Yet they were crisp and could be appealing to some diners. Yet the intense flavor of undercooked garlic spoiled the dish. The liquid seeping from the chicken turned the crisp fries into a watery, garlic-y mess, just unappetizing. Our waiter was simply inept (forgot to serve desert, called out to us from another table instead of coming near us, did not offer a desert menu, simply ignored or forgot to put in the desert order ) . A waitress from the next station stepped in to help him (actually picked up our check and handed it to him for processing the credit card). This restaurant has potential, but should offer more sophistication to its service and treat those with small appetites more graciously (we both ordered entrees but no wine, starters or sides). Smaller portions of higher quality food would render Mon Ami Gabi more authentic. Less really is more. Our waiter left a very poor impression of this handsome restaurant, and that's a true handicap. I wanted to like Mon Ami Gabi, but in the end did not like the way I was treated there nor the badly prepared, average quality food, I hope your experience is different.
(1)
Ginny H.
Love it. The mussels, the atmosphere. Everything I've eaten was good and, if you can't mnake it to Fouquet's, make it to Mon Ami G.
(4)
Michael M.
I love this restaurant. Had the chicken liver mousse as a starter and it was heaven. The scallops with whipped cauliflower was quite tasty, although the consistency of the whipped cauliflower was a little too thin, I thought. Nevertheless, it was a very fine dinner. The server was professional and attentive. You do have to plan ahead when you come here though. Everytime I've come here on a whim, it's always been an hour wait, and the bar is tiny so there's no room so I wind up going elsewhere. Make reservations.
(4)
Michellea D.
Yum!! The plates are so large that I split one with my friend. There was no split charge. Definately have the desert (any of them). We split three of the deserts and they were all sooooo good. Can not go wrong with any of the menu items.
(5)
Barbara A.
Steak Frites, pate, wine, all great, slightly noisy but moreso cozy and very European atmosphere. Service is great, especially considering the tightness of the space at times. Have never had to wait with a reservation and valet parking is super helpful in this area. Overall Mon Ami is a worry free option for a great night out.
(4)
Al L.
Went here for Valentine's Day dinner b/c my gf loves French food and this is one of her fave places. I'm not so much a fan of French food but I'll go once in a while. First good thing was we had a reservation at 8:30 and we got there a little bit early and got seated immediately. But we got seated in the main room which was extremely crowded and loud. When I went to use the restroom I saw the back room which was less crowded and more cozy if you only had a table for 2. We got put between two tables of four and basically ended up yelling just to hear each other talk, it felt like we were trying to talk in a loud bar or something like that. Anyways, we started w/ French onion soup and scallops for appetizers. The soup was good but the scallops were pretty much all cheese and onion and 4 little scallops. Not worth the price to me, I've had much bigger scallops for much cheaper at other places. The bread was ok, kind of hard. Steaks were good, cooked to order and had lots of flavor. The only thing is the "hanger" steak is really small! Finally ended w/ creme brulee which was really good there! Service was excellent though, very helpful and attentive but not intrusive. Overall it was a nice experience, next time if I could sit in the back room I'm sure it would be nicer.
(3)
Constance C.
As others have noted, there's nothing authentic about this place, but they definitely went out of their way to buy out a French props warehouse. It has the feel of an Epcot French restaurant, which normally would be a deal-breaker for me, but we were seeing a movie next door, it was open at that odd hour between lunch and dinner (which is definitely a little more French, than American, especially in Bethesda), and we had been craving French bistro food for a few days. With our expectations adjusted accordingly, I have to say we were pleasantly surprised. The restaurant was pretty bustling at 4 p.m. but not overly busy. Waitstaff was very polite and service was quick. Each table is immediately served a vinegary carrot salad and a warm mini-baguette, both of which were pretty good. I had a sandwich du jour of pork loin with sauteed apple, and it was decent. The pork was a little bland, but juicy and tender at least, and I liked the weird, thin, flat, frites. Sandwiches are served with a frisee salad well-dressed in a mustardy viniagrette, which I actually enjoyed. I would never go out of my way to go here, and I wouldn't wait in line either, but under similar Sunday movie-going circumstances, I would be perfectly happy to be whisked away for 45 minutes to the romantic streets of Disneyworld.
(3)
Michael S.
The rating is an average of my and my friend's opinions (sort of). Anyway, this was the first time I've been to this place and for the most part I thought it was pretty good. I liked the bread, I liked my dish (the steak bordelaise) and the banana crepe I had for dessert was OK (read: just OK) too. The tables were obnoxiously big (a minor detail but....) and I didn't really like that "bench seating" they had going on. The servers were definitely not all French, but then again this is a sort of chain so I wasn't really expecting to be totally immersed in French-ness. My friend had the lemon tarte for dessert but neither of us were really satisfied with that. If you're going on a Friday night like we did, make sure you have a reservation...we had to wait 1.5 hours for a (inside) table. Luckily we stopped somewhere else to get an appetizer...I don't really see why it was so crowded? Overall, there are better French places out there. But give this a shot.
(4)
Lisa H.
Mon Ami Gabi is one of those places, that silently creeps up behind you and unknowingly lures you in. I had absolutely no expectations before entering this adorable establishment, and left with such high expectations for all other fine dining restaurants as a result of this jaunt. First, the size of the restaurant was very deceiving. From the entryway, there were only two rooms that were visible to the unexpecting patron. However, I realized how cavernous, quaint, and charming the venue was, as we passed through two other dining rooms before we were eventually seated in a very cute area in the back. We started our meal with a delicious carrot salad, dressed with vinegar, sugar, and a touch of salt. Along side of the carrots, was an entire loaf of warm baguette. This option was great, as it ensured variety, and not just the boring bland basket of bread. The next course, was a beautiful pot of mussels, which simmered in a white wine garlic sauce, with sauteed onions. It was remarkably light, and non-offensive. The mussels were plump and mild. Just the way I like them. Next, we moved our way onto the main course. I had seared scallops, with sauteed spinach and whipped cauliflower. WOWza. The scallops were seasoned perfectly with only salt, pepper, and olive oil. They were seared to perfection (non-fishy and non-chewy, simply delightful). The spinach was dressed with salt, pepper, olive oil, and a hint of garlic. Nothing out of the ordinary. I must say, the perfect compliment to the scallops was the whipped cauliflower. It was truly out of this world. It was seasoned with salt, heavy cream, and a touch of lemon. It was so mild, and thick, it really did give the illusion of mashed potatoes. Now onto the dessert. While our friends enjoyed the bananas foster, my husband and I indulged in the flourless chocolate cake. It was dense, rich and artery clogging. What more could you ask for? All in all, this was a great experience and we would be most inclined to return. The only reason why I cannot give it 5 stars is because of the unsanitary look of the flooring. I know, call me anal, but in a fine dining establishment the floors actually do matter. They are all tile, and look like they have about 20 years of dirt packed into the grout. They were also slippery, which does not sit on the palate very well, when you are unsure of to who or what you owe that unctuous feel. Outside of that, it's a home run.
(4)
Aaron S.
Outside seating is close to the street but still great atmosphere. Very attentive staff and food came quick. I had the scallops, which were excellent, but the fries that came with my friend's steak was outstanding. My guess is they were fried in lard.
(4)
Rrose S.
I was very impressed the first time I went here, but each time I've returned the food and service (and our waiters' English skills for some reason) just get worse and worse. After our last visit when we had to flag down our waiter to ask for our bread and water several times, and my mojito just had twigs and leaves thrown in it (no muddling to speak of), I don't think we'll be returning. Which is a shame because the onion soup and house salad is actually very good.
(2)
Matars Z.
Its difficult to know how to rate Mon Ami Gabi. Mon Ami Gabi has great food over a MAJORITY of visits. This is probably the restaurant I visit most often in Bethesda, every other week, and the range of experience is highly varied. I've had pretty much everything at some point, and seen every season's menu change since they opened. I based my rating on the fact that on a good night when service is great (RARE) and they don't overcook the steak or make other errors, the food can really be fantastic. True bistro comfort food in a pleasant setting- its not sophisticated or complicated, but its exactly what one craves for a bistro visit. Some of soups and specials have been sublime in the last few years. The problem is the following - you have roughly a 33% chance of having food issues (usually because of the service staff delays or errors) and a 75% chance of having awful service. While the managers at this place are really great and generally fix the problems, it is a hassle to have to send back steaks, or ask for managers to fix orders. My experience over the last five to six years has been that three out of four waiters in this restaurant are clueless - clueless as to meat preparation, the ingredients of specials, the preparation, the wine list- and have attitude to go with their lack of knowledge, which is disturbing. They are not attentive to the very simply but specific requests you make, and food is served cold, lukewarm, overcooked - often as a result of the service staff timing. I ask my guests not to even bother asking detailed questions about the menu or preparations, or wine -because some of the responses have been mind-boggling over the years. The service goes from awful to absolutely abysmal if you are truly unlucky and land one of the five or six waiters who absolutely seem to be bothered by having to work at this establishment, making for very grudging service. These are the ones who answer back after making errors - and tell you "steak can't be cooked medium rare to rare - it has to be one or the other" or argue about the soup you didn't order (the only solution I found is just to avoid these waiters by special request). When the food is prepared as it is supposed to - not oversalted, not overcooked, not sitting under a heat lamp forever, not brought to the table at the same time as your appetizer and salad, or left to get cold, - when this happens, its a perfect meal. The reason I keep going back is that as a repeat customer I have finally worked out the methods for increasing my chances of a great food experience with good service. But most visitors may run into the problems again and again and it should not have to be so hard to get good service and warm food that is delivered to your table before it is overcooked under heat lamps, or cold. If your first experience is not good, give it a second or third chance. The primary problem at Mon Ami Gabi, in my view, is the uncaring and untrained wait staff - otherwise great location, great food, and great management. The potential for a great meal makes it always worth revisiting.
(4)
Dwi P.
This is one of my favorite restraurants in Bethesda. The decor is warm and inviting, and makes you feel like you're in Europe. The prices are average, I'd say, for Bethesda, but the portions are quite large. The steak frites are to die for, and their roast chicken is great. I also love all their desserts. As nice as it is, they're also very kid-friendly, with crayons and paper on the tables so the kids can draw and color. I love it here!
(4)
sak v.
The fake ritzy-ness, the allure of being someone your not can be found at this restaurant. I came here for a beer and some oysters. I ordered 12 oysters and a friend of mines ordered the tomato salad with gin and tonic. The oysters were good , you cant go wrong with oysters on ice mixed with some Kronenbourg and anchor steam beer on a nice sunny day eating / drinking outside. During the course of our meal we had a slight interruption from the The stereotypical suburbian -queen of a fake kingdom eating next to us had a question and ASKED "You have a DEEP accent where are we from??" We looked at her and reacted WHAT? DC MAAAM Do we have a problem? (really is this beverly hills) Is my name Axel Foley. There no reason to sit outside with your sweater wearing over the shoulder husband on a 90 degree day and create false stereotyping questions to us. Our waiter was like "Forget that B***H". We will eat anywhere we want. End of Venting great restaurant. Dont let the crowd fool you Eat at Mon Ami Gabi
(4)
Sharen K.
This French bistro does a very good job with traditional French brasserie food. The onion soup was excellent and the steak frites were too! Good service and an excellent red wine all contributed to a delightful evening out. Oh...can't forget the desserts - they were amazing.
(4)
Margaret Z.
I love this place! Have come here twice - once on a date, and once with my French class as part of our class outings. The service is fantastic and the food - quality. The frites are delicious and deceivingly healthy, making them so much more addicting than the usual steakhouse fries. The steak that I got during my date was a little tough, but still delicious in the marinade. The chef was even kind enough to pre-split my entree into two since I was sharing with my date (we weren't too hungry). I don't think I'd get it again, but I'm not the greatest fan of steak so oh well. I got the croque-monsieur (grilled cheese) during my class outing - soooooo good! The cheese was layered on thick and melted to perfection, and I loved adding the thin slices of ham which were a little smokey and not too salty at all. The leftovers heated up very nicely the next day. The best part though, was DESSERT. My word of advice - get the profiteroles... cream puffs minus the cream in the middle, but replaced with vanilla ice cream. Then drizzle the whole dish with hot chocolate fudge and add a sprinkle of powdered sugar. I was so full already, but HAD to stuff all three of these in - too good to pass up and I would go back just for those alone. Oh right, the bread at the beginning - yum. I love bread and the fact that it's mini baguettes just makes me want to hoard them in my purse to take home. Will visit again!
(4)
Nick M.
I am a big fan of Mon Ami Gabi, I find their food is always consistent, and their service is really good. I have been to this location, as well as the location in Vegas, and I notice very little drop off. Their servers know the food, and are great with recommendations. This is one of my favorite brunch spots, nothing better on a Sunday morning than their Croque Madame. The Prime Beef Sandwich, and Au Poivre Burger are also great dishes.
(4)
Evan H.
Last Sunday I met my parents and mon ami gabi for a quick dinner. I thought I had been there before, but nothing felt familiar. The restaurant is supposed to be a moderately fancy french bistro. The inside definitely has a very nice charm and the black and white checkered floor really does have the French bistro feel to it. I like that they bring out a whole baguette to start, it was pretty tasty bread. For a starter i went with the ONion soup. How can you go wrong with that. It was definitely the best french onion soup I Have had in this country (i dont order it a lot, so dont chastise me) -- the other two best soups were in Paris and Quebec. Following the soup, I went with the daily fish special which was halibut wrapped in bacon served over a white bean, tomato and swiss chard stew (though, i think they lied about the chard, there was a tiny piece). Overall, the meal was very pleasant, but I dont think I would call it a place that I would eat at all the time. They seemed to have awesome steaks on the menu, which was probably their specialty, but I opted for the lighter meal of fish.
(4)
Lisa R.
I have eaten here several times and the food is always excellent. You really feel as if you're in Paris. The service is very good and the price is reasonable, given the quality of the food.
(4)
Derek W.
Consistently good. Great apps and bar. Nicely done steaks and salads. Not thrilled with wine list.
(4)
Howard R.
We sat outside for our anniversary dinner. The food was fantastic and the service excellent. Love the valet parking and the great Bethesda neighborhood.
(5)
Veronica J.
The food is amazing I'll give it that much. The servers always professional and courteous but its just too damn expensive... Come on yelp $$ more like $$$$
(4)
Arthur F.
Food was good, wine was good. Good.
(4)
Donna C.
I absolutely adore this restaurant! So if it is located in a city that I am in, I try to eat there, Vegas, Chicago (hometown) and Bethesda. Saturday 8pm, it is beyond crowded but they sit me even though my daughter is parking the car. Yes, I was seated with an incomplete party!!! Our waiter, was beyond courteous, efficient and knowledgeable! It was such a joy to dine with him. Because the bar was unable to make our cocktails, due to lack of ingredients, he did so many little extra things since he felt we were very gracious not to get upset. The Caesar salad was "big" but so very good, not drenched in dressing and accompanied by a wonderful thin baguette crouton and shaved Parmesan. The steaks classique and bleu cheese were so tender and cooked to perfection, between the juices and melted herb butter, the traditional frites took on an additional layer of flavor. These steaks tasted like they had been flown over from a Paris bistro. My daughter and i enjoyed the warm chocolate pudding cake with salted caramel creme and white chocolate bread pudding for dessert and both were a tad big but so tasty and a perfect way to end a mother daughter weekend away.... Every moment and every bite of food was sheer perfection! Every employee was courteous and professional, smiled and talked to me-not insult me with a corporate script written by an out of touch marketing major. Do yourself a favor and enjoy it for yourself......
(5)
Roger W.
We went on a Sunday evening with reservations. Got there a half hour early and were seated right away. Service was great. Lots of attendants. Couldn't take many sips of water without somebody coming by and refilling the glass. Finished plates were removed promptly. I got the filet mignon merlot done black and blue with signature frites just to try them. The merlot and onion reduction was too sweet for me. I should have ordered the steak plain as apparently all of their sauces are on the sweet side. The frites were too chewy. I should have ordered a baked potato. The meat was cooked to perfection, which is not that easy to achieve when you want black and blue. They got it right. My friend ordered the sea scallops. I sampled them and they were delicious with a nice caramelized sear on each side. It would have been better if it had all come with another vegetable, but we each ordered petite salads that were served before the meal. I'd have preferred mine with the meal as there was only potato for a side, but the tables for two are so small, it was easier just to have the salad first. We did not get appetizers, any beverages, or dessert. With a 20% tip rounded up we got out of there at exactly $85. It was a pleasant experience. Next time I'll ask more questions before I order.
(5)
Aaron W.
Four Yelps for Mon Ami Gabi, which is everything that a Bistro should be. First item up for bids on a Bistro: PRICE. A bistro is supposed to be a lower-cost restaurant, somewhere that you can have a good meal without breaking yourself in half. Mon Ami Gabi fits beautifully into this niche. Other than their enormous New York Strip and Ribeye, the only item more than $25 is the Filet. One can eat comfortably here for $25: order the liver and either the good hanger steak or the excellent chicken. You'll get bread and carrot spread and you'll be out of there for $32-$34 with tax and tip. Or get those entrees and a dessert. Second, the place is ALWAYS busy, even at the bar. Have a reservation or be prepared to wait. But a good bistro is always busy; they're the volume sales section of the French restaurant world. Third, there's plentiful outdoor seating when it's warm, and the food is good across the board without being superior; highlights are definitely steaks and salmon and the aforementioned chicken. They have their own farms for the steak, which is how they get away with charging 2/3 of what you'd pay for similar quality at other places. So what does it take to get five from me? Marcel's is five. You get the idea. Along with the nearly adjacent Mussel Bar, for my dime, Mon Ami Gabi is one of the two best restaurants in Bethesda. Go, and bring me some.
(4)
Andrew W.
Yet another perfect meal and cocktails at MAG! Nothing beats a great filet mignon "cooked" to perfection (actually barely cooked to perfection because I like 'em rare) and this place has not disappointed me yet. Whenever I have friends/family in town looking for a great meal this is where we go. Keep up the good work!
(5)
Ronnie K.
I loved this restaurant. Yes it was a little expensive but the food was wonderful and the service was excellent. Mon Ami Gabi has a great atmosphere and the steaks were fantastic!
(5)
Angela A.
After years of walking by this place, I decided to meet my hubby here for a lunch date and was very pleased with the decision. My hubby loves bread and was very pleased with the baguette. We had the escargot for an appetizer and they were delicious maybe a tad bit too salty but still delish!! We ordered a second baguette to sop up all of the delicious butter sauce left over. I ordered probably one of the best hamburgers I have had in my life, juicy(medium), perfectly cooked, a delicious bun that I wish they sold in stores with blue cheese and all the fixings. I wasn't crazy about the frites, they were too much like potato chips and the actual chips that came with my husbands meal tasted a little overcooked. My hubby ordered the lunch special which was a sandwich with avocado and smoked salmon. I tasted some of his leftovers the next day and it tasted pretty good still. We were given a complimentary dessert, a profiterole with vanilla ice cream because our food took a long time to come out. We had been there for about 30 mins, a couple comes in, sits next to us and had their food within 10 minutes of ordering and we were still waiting. And they ordered steaks!! I think our waiter may have forgotten to put our order in. Overall, it was good and I would definitely go back again to try the pate and the french onion soup.
(3)
Keith R.
We were looking for a place to go around the shopping area of Bethesda Ave for lunch so we randomly chose this place. The atmosphere was great. The place had a good french bistro feel to it. The restaurant was larger than we had expected. The free bread was fresh and delicious. They also give you a free pile of shredded carrots, nothing special here, just carrots. We started with the snails. They were tasty, smothered in garlic, pretty standard. We used the snail oil as a bread dipping sauce. My fiance had the tuna salad. She liked it until she got to the hair (not part of the salad, this was a chef's addition). The waiter comped the salad, and gave us a free entree and dessert. He was very apologetic. She then had the mushroom soup which was loaded with mushroom flavor and delicious. I had a gruyere cheese burger with fries. The burger was good, as expected. It is hard to screw up a burger. The fries were very good. They are fresh cut, thin and crispy. Finally to the dessert. The creme brulee was sooo good and only $6 (free for us because of the hair thing). Service was amazing, staff was friendly, food was on time. I would definitely go back again.
(4)
Daniel R.
Have eaten here for Passover 2 years in a row. They do a fantastic job. The matzoh balls were a little tough. Grandma used to say don't lift the lid on the pot - it makes dense - not fluffy - matzoh balls.
(5)
Tina H.
I went here for my birthday with my girl friends couple months ago. It was pricey but it was definitely worth it! One of my friends and I got the steak classique. It came with fries and it was really good! My other friend got jumbo lump crab cakes and it looks delicious. If you have room for desert, you definitely have to try their profiteroles! It IS SO GOOD! It's kind of like creme puffs but better! and top with chocolate fudge, it's amazing! They gave me one because it was my birthday, & it was so good that we end up order one for ourselves. Our waiter was super friendly, helpful & funny. It was pretty packed when we were there but I had reservation so I didn't have to wait too long. Definitely worth trying.
(4)
Melanie Y.
I've heard of this restaurant for a few years now but never had the chance to try it till last Friday. Oh, la la haha. I am total fan. We didn't even realize that it was also restaurant week last week but we didn't end up ordering from the menu. Instead we picked whatever appetizers we wanted and 2 big entree meals plus one dessert and were pretty full by the end. The total cost was about $30 including tip and tax which is not too shabby considering that restaurant week menu is $35 plus tip and tax so we saved AND had a great dining experience. Now that's my kinda foodie trip. =P Ok, so we ordered a whole bunch of appetizers: les Escargots de Bourgogne , Mussels Marinière and Baked cheese. I love escargots! They are about the only thing that I would eat that's not considered normal and always force them upon my friends who never tried them and converted them. I just tell them - think of them as mushrooms. hehe. They were hooked. =D The mussels were steamed in a lovely cream wine sauce that was sooooo goood! mmm.. Now for the baked cheese - I admit I'm not a fan of cheese but this was one thing I was so glad that we ordered! The brie was set in a puree tomato sauce and baked till melted. Then out came this yummy gooey dip dish perfect with toasted french baguette or bread roll. Oh my, it was sooo good!! My one friend ordered the special of the day - Fruit de Mer - (a seafood combo of oysters and shrimp with two salads on the side - one was crab asparagus avocado dip that I LOVE LOVE and I forget the other) I'm a sucker for anything avocado - def very good - too bad it came in a small container. would've inhaled the whole thing myself if I didn't have to share that. =P I ordered the Steak Bordelaise in medium for my entree. The steak came out a bit on the red side but oh my it was juicy and tender with a lovely red wine sauce and cameralized onions. mmmm. I was about full when the entree came (always seem pointless loading up in bread but I LOVE BREAD - hehe) so pack the rest up for hubby. He gulped it down in mins when I brought it home - so good. Of course I had to save room for the dessert which we ordered one dessert - profiteroles. Oh my - the dish came out with three profiteroles (which was perfect - one for each of us) with chocolate drizzled all over it and instead of a yummy custard for the center - it was a huge dollop of vanilla ice cream ( i may be too presumptious to say that it could be french vanilla - haha - who knows) =P it was good - too good. This is something that I may want to recreate in my own kitchen at a later time. =D A huge total recommendation for this one! I took off one star bc the service could be better. There were alot of bustling but still seems slow -could be bc of restaurant week too. I love though how I was greeted on the phone in french as well as the waiters being able to speak french. I 'm glad that was a criteria at the restaurant bc after all, it should set the right mood being in a french restaurant. either way, c'est magnifique et tres tres bien =D
(4)
Consumer X.
I am from the greater SF area and my husband from the greater London area, and we both really enjoy eating. Somehow we ended up in the greater DC area and we dine at MAG, as we like to call Mon Ami Gabi, on a weekly basis. Exceptional service, awesome happy hour if you can get there before 6:30pm and delicious steak frites. Bon appetit!
(4)
Laura A.
Mon Ami Gabi......french, sophisticated, elegant..... the service is outstanding. Friendly and professional. Have to mention the graceful movements of the personnel, the continuous smile and good manners.. so nice. First come to your table is a delicious and crunchy baguette; warm, inside a paper bag accompained by jam and butter... pretty cool eh? We went for brunch , sunday morning, outdoor seating... I do like the menu a lot. Interesting dishes that I don't use to get for brunch. Well, this time I keep myself traditional and I order scrambled eggs and green salad. Which is not in the menu. Have to say it wasn't outstanding and little salty, and I didn't get salad, but potatoes and vegetables frittata instead... well, doesn't make any sense considering my general impresion and I'll skip my food this time. Also because what I saw in another tables as well as what my friend ordered looks delicious.. She order the Seafood crepe....a thin crepe (authentic french) filled with shrimps, in a creamy cheese sauce and covered with sautted scallops. nice presentation, tasty flavor and huge amount of food. My friend looks so happy. the hand-cut fries of the adjacent table capture our attention, original presentation, yummy look,.. so bad we didn't had time to get some. I really see the menu out of standards preparations which is always welcome. I go to DC once in a while and I'm so happy Mon Ami Gabi is just 10 min walking from my bus stop. It deserves to be my last DC stop before I leave. opps, just last thing.. I do like this place for a lunch/brunch with friends, with your partner or with your closest family. Not sure about dinner and I don't see it for a date.
(4)
Gustavo O.
Great place I eat here almost once every two weeks. The decor transports you to a Paris neighborhood. The wine list is good and the bread is fantastic. Steak and frites my favorite. Only one thing will ruin your experience, the rude host on Saturday nights. It seems they flew this guy directly from Paris but they should send him back and get the 4th star in my rating.
Great food and service. This is our second trip to the restaurant. We started out with four mushroom soup. It was creamy, rich and flavorful. My boyfriend ordered steak classique, I ordered steak Bernaise. Steak classique came with flavored butter with herbs which was delicious. Bernaise sauce was greasy without much flavor. (lots of crushed black pepper but no other taste) I wasn't a fan. For dessert, we ordered warm chocolate pudding cake. It was very very rich. Too rich and sweet for my taste (but read in the other reviewers that they have enjoyed it.) Extremely friendly, attentive and fast service. We will be back again.
(4)
Patrick S.
went for restaurant week and was quite impressed love the rolling wine cart, nice to have a sample of a fine Beaujolais the French Onion soup was gooey good, and had their famed Steak Frites with the peppery Au Poivre sauce, and loads of their crispy fries the waiter was excellent, my mom's steak was a little chewy so he brought out a new cut and it was perfect, just great courteous service
(5)
Myrna F.
Food was just okay. I ordered trout, requested it without butter - and it was a tad over cooked. Mostly problematic was the noise level which was almost unbearable! I
(3)
Joseph M.
Great, great food. I'd give it 5 but I have to reserve that for only legendary places and this spot is JUST under.
(4)
Heidi W.
I did not have a very good dining experience, but I appreciate that our friend treated us for dinner here. It was quite pricey! Food: AVERAGE. I ordered a fish special that sounded very good. The seared skin part of the fish was yummy, but the rest still tasted fishy. I've definitely had better. My boyfriend's steak was better, but it was still just okay. Price: Too much. Service: Waiter was kind of pretentious, but I guess he was...on time with his service? Meh.
(2)
Dee B.
Boy, there just isn't a lot of love for Mon Ami Gabi among Yelpers. But I had another good experience here today. I had lunch with three co-workers. All three of them chose from the Restaurant Week menu (Mon Ami extended it for a 2nd week). As appetizer they had french onion soup, but each had a different entree: salmon with spinach salad, cheeseburger w/ Brie and fries, mussels w/ fries. I went for a special: an open faced mushroom sandwich with a poached egg, side salad and fries. We were all pleased with our dishes. For dessert we each had a profiterole with an amazing chocolate sauce. I might go back just for that. Plus, our server was super nice. Overall, a solidly good meal.
(4)
Lucy B.
So. Good. We have had so many things on the menu and they are always wonderful! The lamb is amazing, the escargot is always as buttery and delicious as the time before, the onion soup is wonderful, the filet is ridiculous, the scallops are fabulous, and the muscles are fantastic! Always great service! Be sure to get one of their frequent diner cards, fabulous deal.
(5)
Richard K.
This place was amazing and I wanted everything on the menu. One look at the bacon wrapped fillet mignon and I was in love. Big tip: make a reservation. Luckily I did and when I went there on a Wednesday night, the person in front of me had a 30 minute wait because he had no reservation and it was packed. I went right in with no problem. Would recommend this place. Wait staff was courteous and prompt.
(5)
Robert B.
I've never had French food before and I didn't know what to really expect. We started off with there house wine which was delicious. The appetizers were the sea scallops and the muscles. I've never had anything so good. The bread they gave out was fresh and perfect in the sauce of the muscles to dip. For my main meal I got the special the duck and I didn't know what to expect. It literally was incredible and I would get it again in a heartbeat. My other family members got the filet and it was perfect also. My 11 year old brother got a burger and he raved about it all the way home. I would highly recommend this restaurant and when I visit Maryland again I will be back
(5)
Jonathan H.
What a pleasant surprise! I am starving and cold, and don't even know the name of this place or what kind of food they serve when I bust through the doors looking for nourishment at 10 PM. Luckily, my gut feelings thrust me in the right direction. The tables are all taken up by thirty-something couples and some groups, so my friend and I sit at the bar. A quick glance at the menu and I notice the alcohol selection is larger than the food selection, although both have a lot of variety. I make the bold choice of *...drum roll...* a hamburger. My friend was a little more adventurous and went with the cheese plate. The hamburger looks expensive, tastes expensive, and comes with expensive-looking baby pickles. I will let the reader decide if $12 for a hamburger is expensive. It is delicious. The really awesome part is the serving of steak fries that comes with the burger. The serving is bigger than the burger, and I can eat these little not-too-greasy potato shreds for hours. I must look out of place in this seemingly classy joint, because I dump the fries out on a napkin and eat them like I'm at McDonald's. No problem, the staff turn out to be regular people, just like me. I don't know if I can say the same for the patrons. Speaking of the staff, our bartender Amanda is awesome! She is talkative, funny and has really great rapport with all her customers. The other bartender used to work over near where I live in Odenton, and he is really nice, too. For dessert, I order the profiterole (see the picture, feel the desire). It's three scoops of ice cream topped with something like fried dough, which is in turn topped with chocolate sauce. When you look up "heaven" in the dictionary, there is a picture of this dish, right beside Eva Mendes. After I indulge in the profiterole, the two nice ladies seated on my right want a spoon to try it. I can't part with the smallest bit of this treasure I have in front of me, so the bartender orders them each a complimentary scoop! How thoughtful! Best part? One of the ladies doesn't finish her profiterole, so when she leaves, I eat it! I will definitely come here again, and this time I will get a table to get the whole dining experience, although I am already thoroughly impressed just from sitting and eating at the bar. They have live music and clean bathrooms! What more could I want in a place I had no idea existed until my stomach steered me here?
(4)
Rok L.
Great food, wonderful kids menu as well!
(5)
Jonathan R.
I've been going to this place for 9 years now. While it doesn't quite hit the highs it did back then, I know exactly what to expect from this restaurant in regards to the food and the staff, and for expectations and consistancy are key. Is it loud? Yes, but I don't find it to be overbearing. A couple of highlights from the last few years: Watermelon Gazpacho, Queen's bread pudding, their ribeye and their reg and sweet potato gratin. The misses: bannana's foster crepe, neopolitan profiteroles. We've been fortunate to have some really incredible server's. Thankfully, the turnover rate is lower than many other places. Ask for Bryan. He is the best. All of this praise isn't to say that we haven't had bad experiences there. Steaks have been miscooked (drastically over and under), creme brulee came out raw one time, and we even had a server with a chip on her shoulder. What sets this place apart is the over all willingness to "make it right". Whether that means when you are there or in the future. The owners and managers are very communicative and open to hearing from you. This is still a highlight of Bethesda.
(4)
Jon W.
There is no view of the Bellagio fountains like the one in Las Vegas and it was too cold to sit outside when we ate here a few weeks ago anyway, but the food and service were outstanding. I went with the Tomato soup on the recommendation of my server and it was close to the best soup I have ever had. Everybody enjoyed their sandwiches and the fries that come in a huge cup are actually worth eating! I found the atmosphere to be cozy. We had lunch here before seeing "The Kings Speech" at the theater next door. Everything came pretty quickly and the restaurant was close to completely full. I would come here again. By the way, the movie as well as the meal was great!
(4)
Steven L.
Just got back from what was a perfect Valentine's Day meal at Mon Ami Gabi! Living right in DC, my partner and I often like to mix things up by eating outside of the city itself. As I pondered Valentine's Day possibilities, Mon Ami Gabi came to mind. I had never eaten there... just have always admired how simultaneously classy and quirky the place seemed to be whenever walking by. So anyway, my interest in the place plus our like of Bethesda sealed the deal. I did wait a little too long to make a reservation, though, so all of the dinner options were filled. But we have flexible schedules on Mondays, so I opted for an early 2:30 Valentine's Day meal. It ended up being a great time of the day -- quiet, calm, and the perfect environment in which our waiter (Alex) could give us lots of individual attention. Alex, by the way, was a pro: attentive, professional, friendly, talkative, full of good recommendations (including the wine). My partner ordered the lobster bisque, chicken liver mousse, and pear with blue cheese salad. He seemed to enjoy it all, especially the liver mousse. I was a little more indulgent with the sweet potato soup, macaroni gratin, and salmon and bacon sandwich with lemon aioli. The soups were creamy and delicious, the macaroni gratin cooked perfectly and in a huge portion, and the salmon quite flavorful. Topping things off, Alex very kindly brought us an (on-the-house) dessert -- a single profiterole for each of us. The ice cream and chocolate sauce were really, really good. All in all, a really great experience. And Alex, you're the best!
(5)
Adriana H.
Love it! we went there for brunch twice and both times we had a good experience. The wine list is not the best, but everything else is :) The french bread in a paper bag is FABULOUS!! The price is realistic, the service is spot on and the food delicious. My husband had a steak for brunch. It was scrumptious. I ordered eggs and they were delicious. Yes, we will be back :)
(4)
Tim R.
Went for lunch. Had a burger that was very juicy. Wife had something that I forgot, probably a lunch special.... thinking something ducky. Anyway, we both liked what we had. I don't like the fries though. They serve a bunch of short potato bits that are awkward to eat. Again I want to point out that I don't like to struggle with my food. Overall, I liked the food and service. I'm satisfied.
(3)
Steve M.
Had dinner for restaurant week. French onion soup was souperbe. But the steak with Bearnaise sauce had a faint taste of kerosene; I did not finish and my fault for not sending it back. Large serving of pommes frites was excellent as was the apple tart with ice cream for dessert. I needed help to get my server several times. I would give two stars except that I have seen them do better in the recent past.
(3)
Joey M.
I'll keep this one short and sweet because it was some weeks ago that I had visited: OUTSTANDING BARTENDER! Made some recommendations for some drinks based on what I was already drinking and delivered some of the best mixology I've had. Freakin' delicious! Food was quite good, and the ambience was just right. Highly recommended
(5)
Sonya M.
I love this place. Really intimate and really french! They have an impressive menu and a wine selection. Their food is heavenly. Their service is mostly great. and even if they miss something, they always compensate for it somehow! A few times that I have been there, I've really enjoyed the experience. Their happy hour is really nice too. Great food on their happy hour menu. But the bar space is very limited and it can get really busy! They even have live Jazz some nights!!
(4)
Mariko F.
It was almost exactly a year ago that I was here and still, I think about it all the time. On my 25th birthday, I was working in Bethesda and my mother took me out to dinner here. We didn't have a reservation but were seated right away, with a smile. The waiter came by with the wine list and ran us through the specials. I remember it well -- he said roasted duck and I knew what I had to have. The wine that was recommended with it was a perfect match. My mother had the swordfish, I believe. The dinner was fantastic. It was the atmosphere that makes me remember is most. People were happy to be there. It was decorated in a way that reminded you of an old smoking bar where men sit around with a scotch and a cigar. Slightly pretentious but somehow still laid back. I remember this place and that is saying something. It's a meal and atmosphere that you will remember.
(4)
C R R.
One of my two or three favorite restaurants. I go often, usually for lunch, and it's wonderful. Favorites are the onion soup, the quiche Lorraine, the salads. Wonderful kids meals as they come with green beans and apple slices so there's nice variety and nutrition. Highly recommend.
(5)
Dee L.
These guys were surprisingly accommodating - we had a large party on a busy Friday night and they let people from our group sit down even though the whole party was not there. They also did a wonderful job splitting the check (again, usually a pain with a large group). The food is a little pricey, but for a good reason - it's quite good! I had warm brie with roasted garlic, delicious butternut squash soup (on special) and a frisee salad. I only wish I had asked for the salad dressing on the side, as it was a little too much for me (but I tend to like my salads on the dry side). The chocolate torte was excellent!
(4)
Molly L.
What a perfect place to escape from the chaos of a snow storm!! After being stuck in the car for 3 hours to go 7 miles by the time I got home cooking was the last thing on my mind. Solution: check out a local restaurant. I had no clue when I walked in how spectacular the Mon Ami Gabi would be!! The decor is perfect! Elegant but casual without being stuffy or snooty. They have a wine cart which sits in the middle of the room for easy access to refilling your glass! For dinner my partner and I shared the scallops and the pan seared tuna salad. The salad was good but the scallops were the star of the night!! The scallops were paired with cooked garlic spinach and this amazing cauliflower puree!! The scallop dish was like food crack! I could not have been more satisfied with the meal! I definitely plan to come back, the only hard part will be trying to resist the scallops and check out their other dishes! Thanks Mon Ami Gabi for saving my night after the THUNDERSNOW!!!!
(4)
Jim S.
We went for Sunday brunch. The service, food, and atmosphere were all just right for a relaxing brunch meal with family and friends late on a Sunday morning. Everyone in our party enjoyed their meals of egg dishes and crepes. The mix your own Bloody Mary bar was a nice touch as was the warm baguette served with butter and raspberry jam. We were visiting from out of town, but would definitely go back if we find ourselves in Bethesda again.
(5)
Janty C.
I went to this restaurant with a friend for an early Sunday dinner. The restaurant was empty and the host brought us to the very back of the venue near the kitchen/bathroom. After we sat down, we decided to move to another table and asked our waiter if that would be possible. He did not reply to our request and instead, he called the host over, who happened to walk by, and said, "I did not even said anything to them and they asked to be moved!" Both my friend and I exchanged glances and were baffled by this rudeness as the waiter acted as though we were not even there as he spoke about us. I told my friend that we would be better off spend our money somewhere else. We got up and left; no one did not even bother to ask us why we left so abruptly. That was my first time at Mon Ami Gabi in Bethesda. I am afraid it will also be the last.
(1)
Mary D.
This has been my favorite go-to bistro for years. Good food, friendly & attentive service, and relaxed ambiance keeps me coming back. Great place to enjoy a lunch or dinner with friends and family, and I especially enjoy the outdoor seating during spring/fall. French onion soup is a must have on a cold winter day! I do recommend making a reservation as this little bistro attracts a crowd, especially for dinner. Very enjoyable!
(5)
Harmony H.
I went for brunch and the food was really good and decent priced. Th crab and lobster sandwich was good and the salmon sandwich was really good. I have also heard that their dinner food is really amazing. The profiteroles dessert is AMAZING. Avoid the paninis, they're not that great. The feel of the place is really nice and classy and the service was really good
(4)
Greg B.
Our second visit to Mon Ami Gabi and it was as good as the first. Steak Roquefort was cooked to order, mac and chees great, excellent bread. Escargot, mushrooms , warem brie and sea scallops gratinee are winners. My only negative is the mushroom soup. Not much flavor, thin and expensive. I will still go back. Excellent service from our server Ruben. All the staff is courteous.
(4)
Liz J.
We came here for brunch on a lovely Sunday late morning. We sat outside under a nice sized umbrella (shaded our table for two). We received a fresh small baguette with jam and butter (all were delicious). I ordered eggs benedict with smoked salmon and it was wonderful. The hollandaise wasn't too rich and was a lovely flavor. The smoked salmon wasn't overpowering and meshed well with the rest of the dish. One of my poached eggs was a little overcooked, and they brought out two replacement poached eggs that were both perfectly cooked for the one overcooked one. The only complaint about the benedict is that they don't use english muffins, but do something more like crispy toast. It was hard to cut through and keep on the fork with the eggs and salmon for a balanced bite. My husband got traditional eggs benedict (with canadian bacon) and he enjoyed it (although not a big fan of the toast either). We also got profiteroles for dessert - fantastic and would recommend to anyone and we got coffee - love french coffee! We'll definitely come back for another brunch.
(4)
Bill O.
I must say, I was expecting more. Having enjoyed French Bistros from Paris to many across the U.S. I have to to say that Mon Ami Gabi is more of a Corner Bakery kind of place than a serious restaurant. The food was quite bland, not very interesting and should have been hotter. However, the space is nice, bustling and the service very good. The particulars: After reading earlier reviews I was surprised that the bread was very ordinary. I had the jambalaya with two poached eggs. The dish was lukewarm and bland. Fortunately it was served with tabasco sauce. The eggs were nicely poached. My companion ordered the eggs florentine which was surprisingly served atop two English muffin halves. Again, the eggs were nicely poached. The accompanying Hollandaise Sauce was likewise bland and should have been hotter as well (for obvious reasons). When the weather is warmer, it would be nice to go back, sit on the patio which is appealing, and have a glass of wine and some frites.
(2)
Janet H.
This was my first french experience and it was good. The atmosphere inside the restaurant was very warm and welcoming. They also had a "band" performaning inside. I had a reservation at 7pm and we got there a little bit earlier and we had no problem getting seated immediately. The restaurant itself isn't that big but a good size. We started with the Escargot which was good but nothing like what I had imagined (first escargot experience). I think I would like it much more if it had more flavor. For our entree we got steak and their duck special. The french is all about sauces right? I'm so glad they serve the sauce on the side because I wasn't a fan. The steak itself was excellent. I actually couldn't decide between two sauces so my waiter gave me both.. which I didn't use. The duck I thought was pretty good also. A little dry in some areas but overall, it was good duck. Their fries sooo good! I couldn't stop eating :) Plenty of parking in downtown Bethesda. Plenty to do also after eating to walk around, grab coffee, dessert.. etc. If you haven't tried Mon Ami Gabi, go!
(4)
Karim I.
Consistent quality of food, great service and reasonably priced wine list. Whenever I go to this restaurant, it feels like I am in one of Paris' bistros. The roasted chicken is full of flavors and one of my favorites. The Profiteroles are fabulous.
(4)
Grace L.
Went to Monami Gabi for the first time yesterday, and although my friend and I went in at 10 pm the service as well as the food was excellent! By far one of the most courteous staff I've ever come across. Despite it being a late dinner, the Hanger steak came out tender and delicious. Extremely pleased with the food and the service, nothing like it in VA.
(5)
Lih-Ming W.
Went in a big group of 14. Great atmosphere - french bistro. Had ribeye steak on the bone (rare, $39). Pretty juicy and flavoursome. My friends had theirs medium and it was overcooked. Could be some issues with consistency. Appetisers were pretty good - nice range and great taste. Good french wine list. Our server was great but got some "stressed" attitude from the front desk when I tried to book a cab. Slightly pricier but I think worth it. Would come back.
(4)
Cindy L.
happily surprised with the quality of food vs the cost. poor service for our large group though. waiter made it up to us in the end w free desserts all around, bday boy included. chicken grandmere was cooked well.
(4)
Eric B.
Always a good experience... nothing spectacular, but solid. Steak Frites is reliable. Very satisfying onion soup. Brunch standard ish.
(3)
William F.
My wife and I eat here regularly and have never had a bad meal. Have also enjoyed attending special events
(4)
Colin H.
Came here Monday evening with my wife. We learned that they were hosting a private wine party in the back of the restaurant that limited tables in the dining area, so we seated ourselves at one of the tables available in the bar area. We were greeted by the bartender who asked for our drink order, I ordered a glass of champagne ($8), and my wife ordered a Kieral-Royale ($8) (apologize for the inaccuracy!) which is champagne with a couple other items added to it. We were given a french baguette, butter, and distilled water (free of charge; I note this because in France they will charge you for a bottle of distilled water) to start off. For an appetizer we ordered the Chicken Liver Mousse ($6.95; pate), definitely an acquired taste! This was not as earthy, and gamey as their other pate option that I have had before, but I could only eat several portions of it, and we had more than 50% remaining after our fill. For our entrees, I ordered the Beef Bourginon ($21.95; French version of pot-roast) that was flavorful, tender, and accompanied with carrots, mushrooms, mini-onions, and noodles. Ate the whole thing, none left to take home. Wife ordered the Steak Bernaise ($21.95), she liked the dish and shared some with me, I thought the steak had good flavor, and was cooked properly. This was accompanied by a large amount of "french" fries, more like crispy chips than typical fries. Overall we enjoyed our entrees! Maybe it was because we were seated in the bar area, but the service was slightly lacking. The server(s) only checked on us once in the beginning of the meal, and did not refill our water bottle when it became low/empty. Other than that our experience at Mon Ami Gabi was very good! We will definitely be coming back!
(4)
Jonathan P.
great french bistro -- food is always delicious and consistent. service is always superb. they have a gluten-free menu and serve gluten free bread. one of my favorite restaurants.
(4)
Kristi P.
J' adore Mon Ami Gabi! I was traveling so I attended this restaurant on my own. Some places I go welcome a single; others try to hide you in the back corner. Mon Ami Gabi sat me right in the middle of the busy dinning room and it was perfect. I had all kinds of interesting conversations to listen to, people to watch. Not to mention the fabulous jazz band playing in the corner. I decided to go with a few small plates. The Olive jar, an assortment of marinated olives,onions and a few other veggies. These went perfectly with the fresh baked bread they provided. I also got a side of mashed cauliflower, light and delicate. Such a nice feeling on my palette. I also got the macaroni and cheese dish. Everything really flowed well together. I washed it all down with a light white wine. Lovely place.... Check it out!
(5)
Alexander K.
The dishes are always prepared well, and the weekly specials are great. For dessert order the bread pudding or the flour-less chocolate cake.
(4)
Doug P.
I have to say my review is limited based on the fact that we only had salads. I think this made the watress less interested in our servce as well, and detracted from the dinign experience. Will have to try it again to see if I can give a better review
(3)
Amanda C.
Wonderful brunch, great service. The french bread and jam is amazing. I've had the seafood crepe which is delicious and the vanilla apple french toast is amazing!!
(5)
J P.
I have since gone back to Mon Ami Gabi on a few occasions and enjoyed my meals. Kudos to management for offering a complimentary experience that I unfortunately didn't take advantage of. But it's the thought that counts and I appreciate it.
(4)
Aileen F.
Stopped in for an early dinner and had a great time. Chose to sit inside because it was a little windy, but next time will definitely choose to sit outside. They just revamped the patio seating and it looks great. Very european feel with the tables and flowers, and who doesn't like having a meal outside? Delicious freshly baked bread was immediately brought to us and devoured. :) I chose a few h'orderves, crab cake, cheese plate, and house salads. Everything was tasty and the server was friendly and attentive. I'll be back to sample more of the menu and enjoy the patio seating.
(4)
Jared H.
I ordered the trout. It was the best fish I have eaten in years. Baguette is always awesome. Good service. Nice atmosphere. A good, dependable restaurant.
(5)
Kate A.
I haven't found too many French restaurants in the area, so I wanted to check this place out. It definitely has a fancy atmosphere; it feels luxurious just to be in there. The food is very good, and they have a nice wine list. It's a bit expensive, but if you're willing to splurge for the night, I would recommend the salmon and quinoa. The food menu is limited, so if you like a lot of variety, this may not be your first choice.
(3)
Ozzie G.
It used to be my favorite French restaurant in the area, and I still believe their food is delicious, but I am giving them a 2 star rating based on the level of service they have these days. I took the FILET MIGNON AU POIVRE, and my companion took the Filet with the Merlot sauce. Both dishes were good. The server we had was not very professional, and not knowledgeable regarding the wine list at all. She upsold us on the wine we requested (told us the other one was better), $100 bottle of wine tasted like it was not stored properly. they have a wild mushrooms soup sometimes, that one is very good (one of the soup du jour).
(2)
Izzat A.
I don't see what the hype is about. Just got back here from lunch. A group of 10 of us from work went out to eat. The service was prompt and courteous and that is the reason I'm giving this place 3*. The food itself was very average and it's definitely not the cheapest place to eat. Most entrees range from $10-$25. I got the chicken and brie sandwich and it okay. The carmelized onions really overpowered the entire sandwich. It was different, but it was okay. I wasn't a fan of their famous frites, they seem like string fries to me. The ambiance is definitely nice. I've been to two french places and didn't like either so it could just be a preference thing.
(3)
Deston N.
You get so much for what you pay for. No need to buy the filets, unless you want to. A steak roquefort was so tender and tasty I didn't want it to end. The warm berry cobbler had our whole table battling with spoons. The atmosphere is great for a date or for a family meal. After spending four nights dining in the Washington, D.C. area, this was the highlight. Don't miss it.
(5)
Roll T.
3.75 stars. I've had a love affair with Mon Ami Gabi ever since I first discovered the Las Vegas location. This national chain specializes in moderately priced French cuisine. I always wondered whether the Bethesda location would hold up against the original housed in Paris Hotel. For example, the Bethesda location lacks one of the major elements that made the Vegas location great - a street side view of the madness that encompasses a typical evening in everyone's favorite town of hedonism. Still, it was worth a gamble. I tried the duck sandwich. Nice slivers of duck were generously studded with brie and a garnishment that skips my mind. It was accompanied with a frisee salad and frites. The sandwich compared favorably to what one might find at Cowgirl Creamery in DC. The reasonable price ($9.95) matched as well. My brother ordered a medium rare sirloin cut. The steak cuts at Mon Ami Gabi need work. This was the thinnest cut of sirloin I have ever seen. McDonald's hamburgers are thicker than the Mon Ami Gabi steaks. I loved the basil buerre sauce that accompanied it, but I'd like to see a better cut. Also, my brother asked for his steak to be cooked medium rare and it was medium well. I can't blame the cook; it would be impossible to accurately cook a slice of meat that was so thin it made the model Twiggy look fat by comparison. I also sampled the seafood crepe. Mon Ami Gabi did a good job here. They use a mix of plump scallops and shrimp and covered it in a delectable sauce. It didn't even need the crepe, but that was also tasty. I liked the cheeses used on the cheese plate (especially the Drunken Goat cheese), but I was surprised that they used such a complexly flavored bread for the spread. Individuals who like using sweeter flavors like raisin and honey to complement their cheese will be sufficiently happy though. While I was told that the Bloody Mary bar was outstanding, I didn't personally try it out. I thought I should mention it though. Overall, I'm a bit confused by all the hate. Sure, it's a chain, but if you avoid the thinly sliced steak cuts, you should get a nice meal at a decent price.
(4)
Victoria S.
The best french fries or "frites" as they say in France. I really enjoy Mon Ami Gabi because they are consistent and deliver a fine experience. My only complaint is that the noise level is high and there's definitely a lot of hussle and bussle. I enjoyed the frites, pear and blue cheese salad and the thyme crusted salmon with orzo pasta. Profiteroles for dessert. No complaints in the food department. The service has been consistently knowledgeable and friendly. Maybe that's why there is always a very long wait. I would say Mon Ami Gabi is one of my Bethesda favorites. I will go back again for sure.
(4)
Flaneuse D.
Not much I can add except my personal kudos to Mon Ami Gabi for consistently high quality food and service. I love the mimosas, the baguette with jam, the frites, the roast chicken, and the profiteroles. Always a treat to come here; we've brought the family for Mother's Day and another year for Valentine's Day.
(5)
Colin H.
Great specials, well-made cockails, tasty thin steaks. The fries are too thin, more like potato chips. Otherwise the steak frites would be irresistible. But what I crave most from here are the soft-shell crab and skate. Simple and delicious, and something we can't get in San Francisco. I visit nearly every time I'm on business in Bethesda, and these are what what bring me back.
(4)
Jess Z.
delicious, french, good service- polite. they give you an entire baguette for bread and amazing butter. check in on yelp and get a free scrumptious pot de creme.we had salads and they were very large and healthy.
(4)
Kevin L.
I really wish that Mon Ami Gabi were closer to my place, because I could see doing brunch here on a much more frequent basis if it weren't such a haul to get there. Then again, considering it's creamy, buttery, starchy French food... maybe it's safer that it's so inconvenient. That's a lot less good food sticking to my waist! Walking into MAG feels like stepping into a cozy French cafe that's been blown out to gigantic proportions. The racks of wine bottles, the smartly uniformed wait staff bustling about, and the cramped seating situation all serve to enhance the authenticity of the experience. The food continues the theme of French-ness as well. We were almost immediately provided with a crusty loaf of baguette with butter and jam upon being seated. Our cute, professional server took our orders as we finalized them (which took quite awhile because of how large the selection was!) and returned shortly with the bubbly, citrus-y mimosas we'd ordered. They also have a Bloody Mary bar that sounded interesting, but I wasn't in the mood to try it out. If you enjoy simple steamed artichokes with drawn butter and a dash of lemon, MAG's won't disappoint. I've had better, but this artichoke was plenty to share as a starter among three or four, and it's way better than I could make at home. I had the Bethesda Restaurant Week lunch for $12 of the mixed salad appetizer and mussels entree. The salad was served with crostini slathered with olive paste which was very savory - the salad itself was light and fresh and served as a great match against the creamy white wine sauce the mussels were served in. Although the mussels couldn't hold a candle against the ones at La Chaumiere, for the price they were quite reasonable. I can't say I'd go out of my way to come back here, but if I'm in the neighborhood and itching for a great brunch, I wouldn't hesitate to walk into MAG again. I don't know if it was a function of being Restaurant Week, but the place was packed - reservations would be wise.
(4)
Scott S.
This is the only one in the DC area, so you must at least give it a try. The location is perfect (lots of other shopping, restaurants, biking, etc), and the restaurant atmosphere is perfect. Though the food was great but not as amazing as I had expected, this was the only reason I gave 4/5 stars.
(4)
Armine S.
Never had a bad meal there. The quality of food, preparation and service are truly outstanding!
(5)
Sam J.
You're paying for the location and atmosphere here, because the food and service don't justify the price. The food was mediocre. I eat at a lot of pricey places and am used to paying high prices, but I expect value. I walked away from here feeling ripped-off. I'm offended that they highlight the fact their steaks are "grain-fed" as if this were a good thing. GRAIN-FED beef is a bad thing! GRASS-FED is what's good for you! They are exploiting people's ignorance!
(2)
Hokie H.
I schedule dinner programs all the time for work, so I like to try different menu items all the way. I like the traditional filet mignon, but with recommendations from the waiter I tried the scallops gratines for appetizer and salmon and leek quinoa with citrus butter and man was that good! Fresh fish. Nice butter sauce. Good portion size. I tried to remake the scallop dish and failed miserably. Loved it. Dessert- ice cream filled pastry was ok. would love to come back again!
(5)
Annabelle D.
In general, it's a good restaurant. You can't wrong with their steak and frites dishes. The one time I dined here, one of their specials was the dover sole. It was absolutely delicious! I think it was better than the steak and frites I had during another visit to Mon Ami Gabi. Their desserts are okay. For a French bistro, I expected a little more from them in the dessert arena, but I was quite disappointed that their desserts, although good to taste, weren't outstanding. Also, the bread was hard to break, and the wait for our main dishes was quite long, but every time I've come here, it was with big parties (six or more) Mon Ami Gabi is one of those restaurants that's a good backup for last minute get togethers (If you can, call ahead for a reservation) or a place to eat after a day of shopping in Bethesda.
(3)
E Y.
This may have been a 3 star review for the taste of the food alone but I had to dock another star because of the service. we barely saw our waiter aside from when he came to the table to take our order and at the end when he tossed the check onto our table as he blew past us without so much as a glance or thank you (i suppose that was our cue to leave?) there was a painful, long wait before our apps were finally served. then an even longer wait while we waited for entrees as our empty appetizer dishes sat on the table the entire time because nobody seemed to notice all the food was now in my belly instead of on the plate. the food was soso and i doubt i will return again-maybe my expectations were too high because off all the other reviews? Surprisingly the french onion soup (or just "onion soup" as they call it here since i suppose the french part is a given) was pretty good and did not leave me feeling like i just went to a salt lick. i enjoyed the red wine sauce and caramelized onions on the steak bordelaise and it was med rare just as i had asked for! however, the actual cut of meat i got had a lot of gristle which was pretty disappointing. also, i do not get what all the fuss is about over these frites. it felt like someone cut up a potato to make fries and then picked up all the left over scraps and sold them to mon ami gabi to make their frites- they were so thin and definitely not nearly crispy enough! too bad for me.
(2)
Christina H.
I really do appreciate a good steak, but I maybe only order one once a year... I was only in MD for one week and had the steak and frites TWICE! Amazing. Their staff was wonderful, very friendly and knowledgeable. Both times here were just all around a great experience.
(5)
Alexandra G.
I have eaten here many times and have enjoyed it every time. They give you a fresh, crusty baguette to start with and they have a good wine selection. The food is excellent no matter what you order. I recommend the escargot as an appetizer and the french onion soup is amazing too. The service is always friendly and professional. I would advise you to make a reservation if you're going for dinner on a Friday or Saturday as it is usually packed (always the sign of a good restaurant). And definitely try the desserts! I'm a fan of their of their creme brulee and the bread pudding.
I had a pleasant experience here. The staff was very nice; our waiter attentive and informative. The food was delicious as well. I had a grilled salmon spinach blueberry salad. DELICIOUS! I wasn't sure how the ingredients would pair together, but I was pleasantly surprised! My friend enjoyed a large grilled chicken ceasar salad.
(4)
Melissa P.
I've been here for mother's day and for my graduation/ birthday brunch and occasionally for dinner with some friends. I think mon ami gabi has the best quiche lorraine I have ever had. I seriously crave it all the time. I've been adventurous and tried the escargot here too which is really good if you are a lover of garlic. Once you get over the rubbery texture it's yummy and you totally feel like a badass because you just ate snails! If i didn't like the quiche so much I would definitely order the steak and frites (the one with the carmelized onions), luckily i'm always with someone who orders it so i get to enjoy the best of both worlds. Their mimosas are really great and their service is always very friendly and accommodating. The prices are very reasonable especially considering the quality of the food. I have also been with my cousin a handful of times who has a small child and they accommodate children really well. Fantastic french food, great ambiance, and good for kids. Certainly worthy of 5 stars!
(5)
Michael M.
Yesss... so fantastic in every way. Fresh baguette while you wait with some butter and jam? check. Fantastically cooked burgers? check Freshly cut fritos (sliver cut french fries)? check Bloody Mary bar? check Counting down the days until my next visit.
(5)
A H.
I have eaten in this restaurant many times, mostly for business lunches. I have never been disappointed! So when I had the opportunity to swap some United air miles for a $50 gift certificate, I did it without blinking. So my boyfriend and I finally decided to go and made our reservation in advance (since it was for a Saturday night and they are always packed). When we arrived we were quickly seated (although it was a bit close to other other guests on either side but I was entertained by the other guests conversations so it was all good). I already knew this restaurant can get quite noisy so that was not a concern of mine. The food is VERY inexpensive for what you get (please note I am not saying it is CHEAP, just cheaper than other restaurants of the same quality). So my boyfriend and I were trying not to spend more than just a tip. We ordered their homemade chips with blue cheese dip that i LOVE as an appetizer. He ordered one of the Steak Fritas, and I ordered the Scallops in Butternut Squash puree with brussel sprout leaves. Well I HATE brussel sprouts but NOT in this dish... everything was delicious! I almost licked my plate clean. My boyfriend ate faster than I have ever seen him eat before (he is a VERY SLOW eater) and finished his steak in record time. He was so full he couldn't even finish the "fritas". Soooo... the service was great but our waiter was so busy. Apparently, the appetizer order was missed b/c we got our entrees and hadn't received the chips yet. I said something to the guy who brought us our food and told him we still wanted them. Our waiter came over to sincerely apologize and told us the chips were on him... COOL! (HOWEVER, I had a gift card for $50 that I was trying to spend and no cash on me)... soooo... we decided to order dessert to go since we were too stuffed to eat there. We ordered an apple tart of some sort and it was soooo good when we did eat it later that night! BUT when the bill came, the waiter had also COMPED the dessert b/c he missed the appetizer which was sooo thoughtful but it did not allow us to leave him a large enough tip (we tipped 25-30% on the 2 entrees but wish we could have tipped on the comped items too) ... b/c I couldn't have him run my debit card for just a tip (I was hoping that we would go over the $50 when tax was added by $1-2 bucks so we could leave the tip on my debit card). We scrounged around a couple of bucks and wish we could have tipped him way more than we did... b/c comping both the app and the dessert was above and beyond... I would totally go here again b/c they own up to their mistakes and made me feel happy again when we left... some restaurants do not have this same type of customer service!!!! FABULOUS! :-)
(5)
Pat M.
It was ok. The food was good. However there were somethings here and there that were not to my particular tastes. For example, we ordered the Sea Scallop Gratinees. The scallops themselves were tender and delicious however they were covered with this thick shield of baked cheese. The flavor of the cheese did nothing to help the scallop. The onions and the sauce alone would have made the scallop dish a success. The cheese shield was just... meh. The steaks.... I ordered my steak medium rare to rare. I understand that the pounded flat french style of cooking steaks makes it more difficult to get the right temperature however mine came out medium well. Not a glimmer of pink in there. My wife ordered her steak medium well. The thing came out like a pounded piece of leather. At this point we were so tired and hungry we just ate and left rather than complain. The flavors were good the execution could be better. Unfortunate to say but the best thing about the meal was the bread which was really crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. yum.
(2)
Libby F.
It's Saturday afternoon in Downtown Bethesda. An atypical, but welcome warm day in mid October calls to us to take our beloved four-legged friends with us to the Bethesda Arts Festival. After tangling in the masses for hours, we sat ourselves at nice little bistro table facing Woodmont Avenue and were instantly greeted. (Maybe we were suppose to go to the hostess stand first?) We were given the Brunch menu, but it offered a reasonable amount of a la carte lunch items. I opted for the asparagus and mushroom quiche which was tasty, but not filling. I was eying my neighbors pomme frittes, which looked thin and crisp and were served in a metal tumbler, just the way I like them! My friend had the sandwich du jour, which was pork and while she said it was good, she took most of it home. Both of our dishes were served with a bed of lettuce (not your typical greens, but I don't recall the name of this kind). It had a citrus-type dressing on it. Both entrees were $9.95 each. I'd like to come back, as Anna T. suggested, for Happy Hour. Dinner entree prices are a bit steep, but the atmosphere is appealing. I'm looking forward to trying the escargot next time. There will be a next time.
(4)
Cindy L.
The Grilled Salmon & Spinach Salad is perfection and the Seared Sea Scallops w/spinach, whipped cauliflower, brown butter...wow. Of course the desserts are the highlight. The half-bottles of wine are nice for when you don't want too much (i know all the hardcore wine fans have all gasped). The server doesn't open the wine correctly - bottle facing away, opening it mid-air (spillage!) and they don't use a traditional opener either. I agree that it does get very loud and it's not really French in my opinion b/c I actually like the food :) This spot is a fave place for me and my friends to hit up when we miss each other and need a good food experience to share together...gag.
(4)
Michael W.
The food at this place is not bad, not bad at all. Yet, I'll give it three stars. But why??? Because I feel that this place deceives its customers by pretending to be a french restaurant. If you were teletransported straight from Houston's to Mon Ami Gabi you wouldn't probably even notice. Perhaps at the time you received your food you would, but only if you happened to pay attention to the "bon appetit" or at the time you get the check, when the waiter quite amusingly told you "l'addition" instead of the check. Apart from that, the place could very well be called "My buddy Joe" (and I think it should).
(3)
Bob F.
I've had great experiences here in the past, but not this time. I had the Au Poivre burger with their "signature hand-cut" fries. Most tasteless meat I've ever had. Au Poivre means "prepared or served with a generous amount of usually coarsely ground black pepper ." There was very little pepper on this burger. It was, however, cooked medium rare, which is what I asked for. The fries were absolutely awful. Tiny little bits of potato (not one was longer than an inch) that had the consistency of shoe leather. I hope they were just having a bad day. I have clients who really like this place. Not sure I'm looking forward to returning.
(1)
yvette r.
We came here with a group on the recommendation of friends who have eaten at the Reston location. Most of the food was "eh...fine", but the value for the money means we won't be coming back. The Good Our waiter was very friendly and did a nice job for the most part for our party of 6. He knew when to pay us a visit and when to leave us alone. The meat eating crowd was pleased with their meals, and I personally enjoyed my salad (endive and watercress) before the actual dinner. If you are into huge portions, this is your place. The Bad When I made the reservation, I had to use Open Table online because when I called the number for reservations I was hung up on. Twice. Fortunately, the online reservation worked out fine. They continued to set up expectations and fail to meet them when it came to my order. I am a vegetarian and I picked this spot over the other French-ish restaurants in Bethesda because they list a $10 market vegetable platter on the website menu. First our waiter did not know the day's selections for the platter (and never came back to tell me what they were, he just put the order in). Then when it arrived, my food was almost entirely cold (hint--start plating the veggies after the steaks are done, people). Finally, the cost was $16, not $10 for cold green beans and asparagus served with under cooked corn and roasted tomato. The mash potatoes were good, thank goodness. Had i known my entree would have been that lame, I would have ordered another salad. There were also order mistakes. Two of my friends ordered the Steak Bearnaise (one well done, one medium) with different sides. The wrong steaks were put on the plates with the sides. To fix the problem, my friends had to switch the meat on their own plates at the table. This happened after my boyfriend ordered the hand cut chips with blue cheese sauce and was served the country style pate instead. (???) That switch was actually fixed by the kitchen, thank goodness. We had some other service issues. The one point at which our waiter dropped the ball was my friend's drink order. She is pregnant and asked for a mojito without the rum. He told her they didn't know how to make that. (Um... simple syrup, lime juice, mint, seltzer water... no rum) Thankfully, she insisted he put in the order and the bar made it just fine. I personally think he didn't want the headache of trying to figure out how to bill a virgin mojito. Finally, an otherwise nice evening I could have written off as "quirky" nearly came to a grinding halt because the sour little woman who was busing our table felt like we were taking too long to finish our deserts. She spoke very little English and kept coming up to our table to ask if we were done. She came four times. The last two were less than a full minute apart. We finally made her take the empty dishes, but then she wanted to take the last dish someone was still eating. Do not take a pregnant woman's desert from her or her friends will write about you on yelp.
(2)
cindy d.
Enviroment cool ,more american food than french food. Price high . If u looking for french food dnt ever eat heard
(3)
Alicia G.
My boss brought me here for lunch about a week ago. We were originally going to go to Levante's but then I remembered that this place was just a bit down from there and that I've always wanted to try it out. I'm really glad that we did! The maitre d' was very friendly and we were seated right away. I really like our server right off the bat. He was older, had a friendly smile and made the lunch features sound irresistable. He had several other tables besides ours but we never felt neglected. He was there to refill our drinks and make sure we had everything we needed without being overbearing. I really liked the interior. The mahogany wine rack that separates the dining rooms is really cool. I like seeing a lot of the wine bottles on display. The bread was warm and crusty...the way I love my carbs. Haha. I settled on the Lemon Chicken Paillard with haricot verts and a lemon butter sauce. It was delicious. Not overcooked and dry; juicy and satisfying. My boss had the brie burger (I think) and it was huge! He said it was really good and enjoyed the pomme frittes. We did end up getting dessert - the warm berry crumble with vanilla ice cream. I guess I should have moved my spoon a little quicker because the ice cream melted realllly quickly. But it was an otherwise very delicious dessert with lots of strawberries, blackberries and all other sorts of berries that one would expect to find in it. Overall, I really enjoyed my dining experience at Mon Ami Gabi and I look forward to coming back and testing out some of the other great dishes on their menu.
(4)
Carrie R.
The best part of the meal was the appetizers. Warm Brie, Escargot, Scallops and Shrimp Cocktail- very delicious. I had the scallops which were lacking flavor, I substituted Cauliflower for Au Gratin, which was bland and the spinach was too oily. Very good ambiance though. Low lighting, mahogany furnishings, great for appetizers and drinks.
(2)
sonia g.
Perfect for BRUNCH. You can sit outside, enjoy the busy street, munch on some baguette + raspberry jam... Great food, good atmosphere. In the evening gets a little dark though. Overall, a nice spot to try out and reasonable prices.
I finally took the opportunity of Restaurant Week to come here. It's been on my bookmark for a while. The establishment is modern and roomy with traditional french decor. The service was attentive and the meal was leisurely paced. The amuse bouche was a couscous arrangement alongside a baguette and rich butter. You definitely want to pace yourself, because you can certainly overdose on the baguette and butter alone. My choice of appetizer was the chicken pate. A generous serving of pate that was very buttery and had wonderful flavors. The spicy red wine mustard, sweet and sour cornichons, and pearl onions accoutrements were nicely complementary in flavors. My date had the warm brie appetizer that was also excellent. The creamy melted cheese had a firm hearty flavor and the grilled garlic was soft to spread on the crostini. My entree was the steak frites. A good cut of savory meat with a herb butter sauce served with a side of crunchy frites. The temperature of the meat came out as expected with a nice red center. My date had a beautiful thyme seared salmon on a bed of orzo and spinach with creamy lemon butter sauce. The salmon had a good grilled crust but was juicy and succulent. Our dessert choices were the warm bread pudding and flourless chocolate cake. The bread pudding had a really nice caramel sweetness and the chocolate cake was rich and decadent. My wine choice was the Crozes-Hermitage 2006. An excellent Rhone red wine made with predominantly Syrah grapes. A beautiful nose with hints of spices and fruits, medium tannin structure and acidity, and dark berries flavor. Overall, an excellent foray and I will definitely be back to check out the braised shortribs I saw on the daily menu board. I'm impressed by the generous RW portions. This is definitely one of the best RW picks for me.
(4)
Jay M.
Wonderful Valentine's Day dinner this evening. Our family loves this place and it's spectacular for a cozy date night. Our server tonight was "Ivan" and he made the event so welcoming and personal. Ivan guided our party through the beverage and meal options -- offering an excellent illustration and description of each specialty , , , using a good balance of passion for the food and hand motions to paint the full picture. You just trusted him to bring you whatever he thought best. My Manhattan was superb and I am a Type A when it comes to my cocktail -- I can see from a mile away if it's not 'perfect' - and have been known to wave it off long before it even gets to the table if it's not so. This one was eloquent! The Lobster bisque was dreamy. My Beef Wellington only needed the slightest of pressure from a butter knife to slice through it. The accompanying spinach was rich and very tender and the garlic was potent enough to fend off any evil spirits - the only way to live! Bold. My bride could not resist Ivan's mention (amongst other things) that his mother loves the Arctic Char ("that's so sweet!") nor that it was on a bed of velvety mashed potatoes. My son's Beef Bourguignon was deadly and his girlfriends Roast Chicken with pearly onions, mushrooms and bacon was savory. We intentionally did not finish our entrees so that I could have the left-overs and we could have dessert - 2 specials, a petite round cheese cake with a frothy topping (light & fluffy - no seriously!) and a red velvet cake were stunning, , , and finally the Mango Sorbet was the perfect closer to cleanse the pallet. And there is NOTHING BETTER, yet so often and routinely ignored by many eateries, than a cup of their strong & hearty coffee. I don't smoke but I felt like I wanted a cigarette after that meal!! I'm looking for housing closer to Mon Ami Gabi!
(5)
Melody C.
The only reason why this doesn't get 4 stars instead of a 2 is because I want to make a statement to the management who seemed to blissfully ignore is that the floors were so SLICK WITH GREASE that I didnt want to get out of my chair to go to the bathroom, lest I fall down and break something. I was afraid that I would regret bringing my mom here for mother's day if she fell down. I was nervous when I saw a handicapped gentleman enter the dining room, that he'd fall down too. It totally ruined what could have been a really terrific dining experience and made me question the restaurant's sanitation throughout my meal. When we made a comment about it to the waitress, she said, hmm, I never noticed that, but this is an impossible problem to not notice!!! It's a slip and fall suit waiting to happen! I was quite displeased that this went unaddressed even though we brought it up. Otherwise, the food was pretty darn good, we ordered the country pate (so-so, i realized that I really prefer liver mousse pate), and the plate of warm brie on a bed of honey with sauteed garlic cloves and crispy bread - that was really good! the french onion soup was up to expectation - but if you finish the entire thing it will sit in your stomach way after dinner and prevent you from finishing your entree - the gruyere cheese is very heavy, so as tasty as it is, dont be tempted to finish it or else you wont have room for much else. i also liked it because it wasn't too salty. it's well worth ordering. my mom ordered the halibut special for that day which was really good - i got the steak bordelaise (blue cheese sauce) with frites - which are like somewhere between thin fries and chips - ribbon shaped fries basically. my favorite thing that evening was the dessert - not on the menu - a "flour-free" chocolate cake - a moussey fluffy (but still substantial) round mound of rich chocolate goodness topped with warm chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream. fantastic! OVERALL: MAKE SURE YOU ASK THEM WHAT ARE THE SPECIALS FOR THE DAY - the best things we tried were NOT ON THE MENU.
(2)
Joanne S.
Something is terribly wrong here--we've been coming here regularly for six years now and stopped in last night and asked where favorite bartenders Mark and Gabriel were and was told in a snarky way "they moved on and we can't talk about it" and "I'm tired of hearing about this from our customers 20 times a day, etc." Really? Is that your response--I don't know who forced them out the door but they were the reason we (and many others we know) liked to frequent Mon Ami Gabi. Instead we had this new guy and two women who were only talking to themselves versus making customers feel welcome. We looked down the bar a little later and several stools were left open--never seen that before on a Friday night here so word must be getting out. We are SO disappointed in whatever management has done to lose great people like them. In case Mark reads this review, please let us know where you landed and we'll take our business there. We miss you--"Grey Goose extra dry martini with blue cheese stuffed olives and Miller Lite (no glass)"
(1)
D K.
Unexpected delight. My bf and I wanted a nice place for Sunday brunch. By chance, we came upon Mon Ami Gabi and decided to try it. On the menu, we immediately saw the $10 Mimosas, so we had to try one. We got a Mimosa and a Peach Bellini. Both were delicious and satisfyingly strong. The fresh baguette that comes out is perfect. I knew this place would be awesome after that. (I LOVE BREAD) The waiter was fantastic. He described all the dishes in detail and seemed VERY knowledgeable. He was friendly and very helpful. We started off with the Country Pate. Delicious. A bigger portion than I expected, so be prepared. My bf ordered the Crab Cake Eggs Benedict, which was also delicious. The potatoes... not so much, which were the only disappointing part of the entire experience, but the crab cakes were great, and the English Muffin was baked perfectly. I ordered the Chicken, Brie & Apple Crepe. I'm not too fond of crepes usually, but I like to try new things. It was decent. I'm not sure what makes a good crepe, but I liked the differences in texture between the soft chicken, creamy brie, and crunchy apple. We got the Peach Parfait for dessert. AMAZING. Flavorful, refreshing, and light. The ice cream was homemade, and it was a mix between a peach sorbet & ice cream, so it was light yet creamy. Atmosphere is perfect for Sunday brunch. Lots of families and couples. I think it'd be a great place for dinner also. It's neither too casual nor too formal. FOOD = Great PRICE = Fair SERVICE = Great My bf and I have decided to make Mon Ami Gabi a monthly activity. Can't wait to go again next month.
(4)
Olivia L.
This place has delicious food, it's a bit pricey though. I would recommend doing happy hour there, they have some great deals. You can get a salmon sandwich for like $6. The atmosphere is great and the service is pretty good too.
(4)
Howard M.
We have been here for dinner three times and each time have come away wondering why. There are better steak and seafood restaurants within walking distance. The baguette is good; the steak is fairly tasteless and chewy; even the cheeseburger lacks taste; the fries arrived cold; and the service is indifferent. A French bistro it's not.
(2)
Sean F.
I've been here three times before and all of those times were four star Yelp experiences, so I guess I was due for a bad one. Showed up at 7:00 p.m. on a Saturday night. Expected a wait and were told it would be an hour. We had a movie to be to at 9:30, so I was sure there would be enough time. Sat in the bar and were asked if we'd like to eat and we told them no, relying on the hostesses statement. Sure enough, an hour and a half later at 8:30, we were still sitting there. It wasn't until the couple next to us, who had showed up a half hour after we had, had their buzzer go off that I went back and told the hostess we no longer had enough time to eat for the evening, especially if they were seating walk-ins that came in after we had already. I'm normally pretty forgiving when it comes to stuff like this, but something about this experience rubbed me the wrong way. When it comes to walk-ins, it's not rocket science. Seat them in the order they come in, as time allows.
(1)
Eddie G.
Want me to be honest? (And I know you do...) I wasn't impressed with this place. The hangar steak itself had no flavor, save for the sauce which wasn't too great. And the weird part was that the dish arrived in like five minutes - but wasn't hot. In fact, the spinach side dish (tasty) was also properly cooked, but not hot. All of which me wonder - is their food not cooked to order? In fact, the onion soup struck me the same way - like it had been sitting under a lamp. The cheese on top (thick and promising) wasn't melty, but stringy and tough. Lastly, the fries were a real disappointment. A mound of salty, crunchy bits, like the bottom bits of a bag of chips. Nice dining room, though.
I had a great experience at Mon Ami Gabi this past weekend. My boyfriend and I decided to come here for lunch and we were both extremely satisfied with our food and the customer service we received. I ordered the petite salad and he ordered the sandwich du jour. The prices were very reasonable especially with the quality Mon Ami Gabi puts out. We've already decided we'll have to go again because so many things on the menu sounded delicious.
(4)
Megan S.
The location for Mon Ami Gabi is the real selling point - it is right at the hub of Bethesda activity, and has the nice outdoor seating. You definitely get the sense that you are at a themed French restaurant rather than an authentic French place, but I can't complain about the food, it is quite good. And if you are going to a movie at the artsy theater nearby, or need a place to eat before an event afterwards, this is a great place to have an elegant start to the evening. That said, this is not a particularly unique dining experience, so if you are looking for a culinary experience that is creative or even mold-breaking, this is not your place. This is a good place for the person who knows the 2-3 entrees they regularly order at a restaurant, and wants to have one of those items at a convenient, nice restaurant.
(3)
Libby P.
Even though the food wasn't great, I had the best restaurant experience of my life here. My sister and I took our mother out to dinner on a weeknight for her birthday. They ordered the steak frites and I had scallops. When they couldn't make up their minds about the sauces, the waiter said that he would bring out a few to try. He brought out little dishes of every sauce they have! We had so much fun trying them all and deciding on our favorites. We also had a fantastic salad, but my scallops were rubbery and swimming in sauce. Bistrot du Coin has better and more authentic food for similar prices, but the service was simply amazing.
(4)
Alice K.
Went with a few friends for lunch and sat outdoors. We were quickly seated with a very friendly waiter. I got steak frites- steak bordelaise and it was AMAZING. Other friends also got steak frites and theirs were just as amazing. If there's one thing you get here, it has to be the steak frites! We then got profiteroles and were planning on splitting since we were so full. The waiter showed up with a few extra ones so we could all have one- free of charge! Amazing food, amazing service, would definitely go here again.
(5)
Southern Belle A.
Five stars? Yes! Atmosphere: We sat at an outside table and indulged in the beautiful evening air. Clean white table clothes and overhead red umbrellas. Service: Outstanding. Always on hand. Glass never empty. Food prompt Food: Steak Bearnaise medium rare- perfectly done. Grilled Salmon- crispy on the outside, light and moist on the inside Price: $15-30 entrees Great evening. I definitely recommend this place.
(5)
Chris F.
This place has a great, Euro-vibey atmosphere, and professional, prompt service. The wine was good, but the menu selection was a little lacking. I ended up having a steak. This place is really a French take on a steakhouse. My "classique" was delicious, but I would have preferred to have more menu choices. I feel like I ended up settling for what I ordered.
(4)
Marianne D.
SETTING: Two visits. DECOR: Polished and pressed. SERVICE: Trained, Talented & Tasteful ENTREES: Asparagus Quiche - okay. Perhaps a bit on the dry side for me though. Simple, thin, buttery crust. VERDICT: Will continue to inquire within.
(3)
Isabel B.
I gotta say, the minute I finished my meal at Mon Ami Gabi, I couldn't wait to get to Yelp to sing it praises. I first visited its Bethesda location one sunny and very warm Monday afternoon. Since it was Memorial Day and I had the day off work, I woke up in the mood for brunch but forgot that it was not a weekend day and therefore most restaurants wouldn't be serving it. Mon Ami Gabi was the exception, as they had both full menus available: brunch and lunch. Since at the time it was about 90 degrees outside, my friend and I opted to skip their cute little outdoor seating area and find a table inside. They sat us in a cozy table for two next to the window. Perfect. Although I was a little disappointed to see that there were not enough vegetarian crepe options on the menu, I was soon comforted by the sight of various delicious sounding salads and by hearing that the day's special was a Cucumber gazpacho (I love cold soups on hot summer days!) My friend and I agreed to split the $12 cheese plate and I decided that this, plus the delicious loaf of fresh-baked baguette would be infinitely better than any brunch options I may have had in mind. The cheese plate did not disappoint, and neither did the soup. Although I was thoroughly tempted by the sight of an ice cream cup being delivered to another table, I realized I was satisfied and that the meal had been a success. Next time I visit Gabi's (and there will soon be a next time), I will definitely make sure to try one of their brunch cocktails (Bellini? Customized Bloody Mary?? Yum), and perhaps also the eggs Florentine a chance. Thumbs up Mon Ami Gabi, fantastique!
(5)
Remy M.
I destroy liver like alcoholism. So count me in. Their chicken liver mousse is great, especially on the awesome french bread they bring to every table. For an entree, I get the steak...either "classique" (french for "classic") or "au poivre" (french for "let's put pepper on this steak and charge more"). Both are good choices. The steaks are thin--french style--so don't order it too well done. The desserts are great as well. You can't go wrong with the apple tart thing (not really called that, I forget the real name), the creme brulee or the cream puff thing. Check it out!
(4)
Charles M.
I been eating at this restaurant for years. However last Saturday nite with 2 friends with us our service was terrible 1st our waiter never visited us for at least 15 min He was in such a rush , he never cared to serve our table of 4 The appetizers arrived cold , we let that go My dinner was raw, bleeding red blood out of my chicken I had to call him over since he never checked on us Took my dinner away for a new Took so long that my table finished there dinner way ahead of mine when i ask him as he was running past , what about my dinner it was a disgrace just tio stop him since he forgot my dinner Veg arrived with my dried out chicken thrown at me cold I took a few bites and wanted to leave out of there . took a while for my check so i ask for the manager who tried to help but didn't want to stay around I will be a while before my stomach clears up and till i tell my Friends what happened to go back I thought they been sold to someone else who could not care less good luck going to eat here C
(2)
Tanya M.
Had a wonderful brunch outside (finally can enjoy the outside seating!). Staff was friendly and always refreshed our baguette and water. Overall food service was a little slow but we didn't mind since it was such a nice day and we were not in a hurry. Enjoyed the veggie quiche and everyone else was pleased with their brunch choices as well!
(4)
P A.
I've been here about three times. Amazing service from Vincent who is a happy, cheery fellow who clearly just loves people. He really takes care of his customers and makes dining at this place even more worthwhile. The steak and frites dishes are great (though I've just had the mignon and NY strip). The sauces are delicious and the crispy frites soak it right up. Decent dessert but not the greatest out there. Wonderful place!
(4)
Joannie B.
Food was very good. Staff was nice and friendly, a bit too occupied with each other at times, but BF and I were too focuses on each other. Escargot was good, not great, but satisfying. My steak was cooked very nicely, but a bit on the smaller side. Side salad was, well, it was a salad, pretty hard to mess up. Anyways, overall dinner was good. Great to eat out at during a stormy night, but if need be, stay at home, nothing on the menu that you just cannot do better at home.
(3)
Nick H.
I've only been there for happy hour, but it is the BEST! Hot, fresh bread, $4 glasses of wine, $5 foods including french onion soup, pate, salmon burger, steak sandwich, and Belgian fries crisped to perfection. Oh, and a GREAT atmosphere. I go here weekly now. Friday nights get very crowded.
(5)
Maria S.
I only recently discovered that there was a Mon Ami Gabi in Bethesda. Oui, oui! Anyway, this turned out to be a solid place for brunch--they give you a warm mini baguette and little cups of whipped butter and raspberry preserves as starters. It was perfect to nibble on while waiting for food! They also have bellinis, kirs, and mimosas during brunch. ..although my kir was not quite as cold as I would have liked on such a hot day for whatever reason (perhaps the bottle of wine was out of the fridge for a bit), it was still quite refreshing. Our food was delicious, too--I had the tuna nicoise tartine, which was topped with with both tuna salad and seared tuna slices, as well as tasty olives, tomatoes, and green beans. My dining partner had their bananas foster waffles, which she declared excellent (they bring the sauces, bananas, etc. in separate dishes so you can top the waffle yourself). Service was pleasant and knowledgeable about specials and our food came very quickly, but they did seem totally swamped during the brunch rush.
(4)
Larissa F.
If you want good, reasonably priced French food -- go to Mon Ami Gabi. Be prepared to be stuffed. I have dined at the Bethesda and Reston locations, and both are nicely done for a chain restaurant. The bread is amazing first off, make sure to go off Atkins for this one. French onion soup comes in a HUGE crock, I like to get mine well done on top so it's nice and browned. Salads always look like a top choice, and the pate is supposedly nice as well. The mussels and frites are nicely done, and I love the crispy little frites ribbons that come with the steaks. Although the cut of meat is sometimes a bit fatty (one time I had a large piece of fat through the middle which was not pleasant), I love the choice of sauces and it's always enough for leftovers. I like the steak bordelaise. One thing they do have is nightly specials which always sound intriguing....from sole meuniere to short ribs. If you're not into red meat, the roast chicken is a nice alternative, as is the crispy skate. Overall, its a nice stop on the way home on a Friday night. 5 Star Rating Atmosphere - 3 (romantic, good for small groups) Food - 4 (get your French fill here) Service - 4 (always had attentive servers)
(4)
Lindsay K.
We went here for my brother's birthday and were sorely disappointed with the food and service. It took about half an hour for our food to get to the table, and the waiter never once came to check up on us during that time. My brother's steak was ordered medium rare and when it came out, looked medium rare...yet it tasted chewy, oh so very chewy, as if extra well-done. It was quite odd to say the least. And forget flagging the waiter down about it, because he was nowhere to be found. I ordered the fish and chips, expecting it to be the typical cut of filet, breaded and fried. Instead, it was a thin patty of fish flakes mashed together and pan-fried. It was under-seasoned, dry, and the texture left something to be desired. I can understand a "different take" on a dish, but only do so if you can make it good. In this case it was definitely not. I left some comments on the bill and received a kind phone call from the manager a couple of days later. He invited me back to the restaurant for a complimentary meal, to which I politely declined. However, I did appreciate the gesture.
(2)
Ed L.
Ordered the Steak Steak Bearnaise. First they don't even tell you what cut of steak it is. When I asked the waiter he told me "The butt"... ok so I ordered it. When it comes out it's the flattened steak that I could get at Applebees for $10. The portions were small the steak meat was tough as leather and the sauce was meh.. I would not order it again. It comes with a side of Frites (french for french fries?) which are just chopped and fried potatoes. We also ordered the escargot which tasted like dirt and was mushy. I've had better. The bread was hard and difficult to chew. The butter they served with the bread was hard and cold (I prefer whipped butter...) We did order one of the specials which was Fish and Mussles that was actually pretty good, and the Baked scallops were ok. Overall I would not go back again. Considering the majority of their dishes were Steak and the one I ordered was not very good, one can only wonder how the rest of their dished would taste.
(1)
Philippe D.
I had a very pleasant experience at Mon Ami Gabi. The baguette which we were served was delightfully warm, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The hanger steak which I took was a relatively large portion, but still it was very very good. There were some parts of the steak which I felt tasted a bit strong in terms of spices compared to other milder parts. But, all in all I thought the steak was good. The fries were.... interesting. They were so thin and crispy, and it was definitely a "new" way of serving fries, but I just didn't like them. The bananas foster crepe was alright, but it's definitely not a French trademark, and the caramel-maple-foster sauce was very very sweet. However, the service, ambiance, and steak make up for that and made it a pleasant experience.
(4)
Anna M.
Went here on friday with the bossman and another coworker after a long week and a presentation. We got there around 2:30pm, it was beautiful out and we sat outside to enjoy the weather. we each ordered champagne which was wonderful along with a pate plate, which was also great. The pate wasn't the best I've ever had, but was very good. We then ordered our next drink, I got the French Martini which was light and wonderful for a warm day. we all ordered our meals, bossman ordered a crepe, coworker ordered the steak frites, I ordered the croque madame. all the food was delicious. the frites (fries) were crispy and chip-like. homemade, very good. The croque madame was great, not assembled like a sandwich but cut into corners and served smothered in cheese with an egg on top. An odd way, I thought, to serve a "sandwich". The last time I had this sandwich was in paris, and it was assembled a little differently. The sandwich was a little overbearing and I think there was a little too much cheese (what? is that possible?) yes... when you dont see bread and all you see is cheese, yes.... its possible. It was still very good and the egg was cooked to perfection, which is difficult to find at times. After our meal we ordered another round. I got the mojito. Great mojito. The drinks here were all made great. Tasted great with just the right amount of alcohol. The wine selection here is amazing. We finished the night with a couple more drinks. Bossman and I ordered the chateauneuf-du-pape, which was a wonderful wine. Highly recommended.
(4)
Jim B.
Good, but not great. Came here for Bethesda restaurant week and the prix fixe looked enticing enough to try. I started off with the chicken liver mousse, which came out as an enormous block on my plate. They should've given me an extra loaf of bread to wipe it all up. It tasted alright, but sometimes less is more. Give me more flavor in a smaller serving, so it doesn't feel like I'm eating five cans of fancy feast. The steak was cooked to my liking, with a bleu cheese dressing. Again, nothing mind-blowing, but a solid meal. The frites were delicious, and I proceeded to eat every single one, but I'd say the ones at Les Halles were better. I bookended my prix fixe with another serving of mousse - chocolate this time. Sweet lord was it rich! Almost sickeningly so. I ate that all down as well, of course, and then instantly developed three cavities. The waiter throughout the night was extremely friendly and attentive. The two girls and one gay guy I was with were absolutely smitten with him and proceeded to corral him over to our table at the end and give his life story and family heritage. But again, he did this all with a sincere enthusiasm. One of the most surprising parts of the night was a coupon at the end of my meal for a free steak frites meal ($20 value!!). Will I be back for my free meal? You bet! And if I find myself roaming around Bethesda, I might consider this place. I just wouldn't make a pilgrimage to it.
(3)
Carmen D.
Not sure what the review are all about. I had a steak that had tough pieces and a lot of fat around it. Nothing lean and tastful about it. Frites? Seriously were just soggy french fries. Never going back.
(2)
Anita C.
Came here for lunch yesterday with an old friend. When we entered the restaurant near lunchtime, there was no hostess in the front to greet us, even though there were very few people in the restaurant. We waited a good five minutes before anyone noticed us, and when someone finally did, it was a waiter. He went to look for the hostess, who was still missing, and he was the one who finally took us to our table. Price: $19.99 for the steak frites and $29.99 for the filet mignon with a side of fries. Not bad for steak items. I believe the onion soup was ~$8. Food: However, the food was awful. My friend and I split the onion soup, the steak frites, and the filet mignon. The onion soup that everyone raves about was a bowl of thick, drippy soup with soggy bread on the inside and sticky cheese on the outside. We probably ate two bites each of it. The complimentary "warm bread" that everyone says the meal comes with - so hard, we could barely tear it into bits to eat. The filet mignon was a piece of dried, cold meat on our plates. It had definitely been sitting out for awhile. There was no potato in the French fries - they were more along the lines of fried, thin, crispy potato skins. Not good. The thin steak, their "signature dish," was a little juicier, but still mostly flavorless. I had to douse both meat entrees with their peppercorn and bleu cheese dipping sauces. Terrible food. Suffice it to say, my friend and I barely touched our plates and did NOT take the leftovers home. Service: The highlight of the whole experience was our waiter. He checked in on us multiple times and kindly split our orders into two separate servings without us having to ask. Bottom Line: definitely not on my choice of restaurants to re-visit. Avoid the onion soup at all costs!
(2)
Mike B.
First time to visit this location in Bethesda and was not disappointed! Everything about this restaurant is perfection. We had a large group and sat in a middle table in the main room on a busy night, but never once felt crowded or neglected by staff. The service sets the tone that you are welcomed and special. Glasses are promptly filled, orders are taken with precision, wait staff are thoroughly versed in the nuances of the menu and can offer the perfect wine to pair with your meal. Of course, the food is the star of the night. Starting with Escargot de Borgogne with a hearty garlic and butter sauce. It's so hard to find Escargot cooked right. Some of our other favorite dishes were the trout almondine, each bite was delicate and literally would melt in your mouth. To finish off the evening, bananas foster crepe, oh so heavenly! It's hard to save room for dessert, but you will be glad you did.
(5)
Kelly X.
Service was great. The food was ok. I expected more entrees and the food was a bit plan. The lobster soup was decent. The upside down pear cake was freaking awesome. I would go back to this place for only one reason, the upside down cake!
(3)
Emily F.
Mon Ami Gabi had OK food, OK wine but terrible service. While our waiters all spoke French, the food seemed more American and even a bit Mediterranean. Also don't be deceived by the menu out front - they have an extensive brunch/lunch menu, but the dinner menu is much smaller (read: one page.) If you are not an olive fan, be sure to ask if olives come on your salad or entree - they were on everything we ordered. Overall this place had decent food, good outdoor seating, nice waiters, but they were extremely slow and inattentive.
(2)
Frank H.
Restaurant Week Visit: Had a reservation for lunch and came in a little late. Lots of paid and free parking in the local area. Served initially with a baguette and some coffee. Waiter definitely gave me a lot of refills so service was attentive. We ordered French onion soup, salad for appetizer, mussels and salmon for main course. Everything was well prepared and seasoned well. The mussels were very lightly cooked in wine sauce and apple. The salmon was lightly grilled and served with spinach and orange and grapefruit slices. We enjoyed our meal and the ambiance. It had a cafe, bistro feel and feltvery lively. Didn't care for the French fries but they were ok. Would I go again... yes.
(4)
Saki M.
Umm, yes this place is great. My lady friends and I come here quite often for Sunday Brunch and we are never disappointed. You'll never go wrong with the eggs du jour or quiche Lorraine. We usually have one or the other as a shared appetizer and the Roquefort steak frites and a couple of French 75's to right last nights wrongs. Skip the dining room and instead cozy up in the bar section and get ready to receive first-class, attentive and thoughtful service from the wonderful bar staff. Great choice to start off a fabulous Sunday Funday.
(5)
Ina C.
My favorite things: - Their brunch is close to perfection! Delicious. It fills up quick, so don't sleep in too late! - They have plenty of outdoor seating! - Their steak is to die for and unique! - Other things to do: catch a movie at the very cool Bethesda Row Cinemas around the corner; get some unbelievable ice cream at Gifford's next door; walk off that food coma with a stroll down the Capital Crescent Trail.
(4)
Zita L.
If my waiter had spoken French, like those who waited on some other Yelpers, I might have added a third star just for the hell of it. OK, here we go. I was frustrated by the wine list for starters. It listed the regions of France. Fine. And then listed the varietals of grapes found under each of those regions. Fine. And then under THAT, listed the wines by chateaux names. Fine. But it DIDN'T tell you the varietal of grapes contained in each wine, and the waiter - who didn't even look old enough to drink wine - had absolutely no clue about wine or his restaurant's wine list. So nobody in the room knew whether we were ordering a malbec or a merlot. I know what I like, but I'm not an expert. You KNOW your wine ordering experience was bad when you simply had to point and say "I guess I'll take THAT one". The french onion soup I had was boring and overly sweet. The potatoes that came with my friends' steaks were so thin, it's like they couldn't decide whether they wanted to be french fries or potato chips. Not a good fence to be on, as they are either soggy chips or really greasy fries. One friend got plain old potatoes with her fish. I tasted them and they were bland as hell. I also tasted a friend's steak: Meh. The bread that came to the table in the beginning, along with the kicky little accompanying dish of sweet grated carrots were fresh and good, as was the trout. That's where the second star was awarded. Surely Bethesda can do better. Although more pricey, a similar (and slightly better) alternative Big French Bistro waaaaaaay downtown is Les Halles.
(2)
Y Y.
Thought I'd give it another try - wished I did not. Came for dinner. Crappy service with crappier food to boot. The steak is so thin, they should just call it bulgoggi! The frites are so thin they are no better than kettle chips. I had the steak frite at Les Halles and it was waaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy better. Dont be fooled by the nice looking "french bistro paris feel" outdoor sitting or dinning room. The place looks toooo good for the food they serve. Super deceptive!
(1)
Sheena C.
Absolutely looooove this place!!! The staff is so wonderful, and the food is amazing. It is a lot of people in one space but who cares! Totally worth it. I ordered a steak and asked about the different sauces. I finally picked one but was still brought both so I could try them both. It's attention and service like that along with just generally great food that I love.
(5)
Tori K.
This place is amazing. They have wonderful fresh bread that they bring before the meal and some kind of carrot salad. My favorite is there side of Mac and Cheese with their warm frisee and bacon salad. They also have a very good warm brie.
(5)
Harvey L.
Cold soup and salad outdoors under a shade tree were excellent, as was the bread. I'm not a fan of their version of French fries, which having tried them a couple of times in the past, I never order. Good service.
(4)
John E.
I think this place is terrific. Some nights they have live jazz and it is very fun to listen to. The seafood an steaks are about 20-25 dollars, but they have lots of cheaper options like delicious burgers and omelettes. I've been about 5 times and the service is consistently good.
(4)
Brian C.
What a delicious meal we had here Saturday night - a little pricy, but the food and service was worth it. We did not make a reservation, so we were told we would have an hour wait. We gave a cell phone number to the hostess, and were delighted to get a call 20 minutes later saying there had been a cancellation and they could sit us now. The hostess pulled out the table so my partner could sit on the inside of the banquette comfortable and the waitress brought water and a hot crispy baguette right away. The bread was served with creamy butter and a tart carrot relish. The waitress told us the specials and waited patiently while we decided among their tempting menu. As an appetizer, I ordered the French Onion soup. Served in a deep white bowl, the focus was shared netween the gooey layer of cheese and toast and the rich beef broth and carmelized onion. As an entree, I ordered the steak bordelaise and pomme fritte. The frites were a crispy pile of potato goodness and they sopped up the rich onion and butter sauce perfectly. The steak was incredibly tender and flavorful. My partner ordered the hot olive bowl as an appetizer. Who knew hot olives could be so tasty and taste so different? He ordered the fish special - a crispy filet over fennel and potatoes. We shoudn't have, but we ordered dessert. Who could resist that dessert list? The layer of chocolate in the chocolate pecan tart was a little hard to cut through, but well worth the effort. The interplay of whipped cream, pecans, chocolate, flaky tart and caramel swirl was wonderful.
(5)
Rhan K.
I always love this place. I used to come here in high school with a school group to get food and loved it then. I came here to take my parents out for dinner and had a decent experience. The food: The fillet mignon was great. Yummy, well cooked and the sauce was perfect. The fries that came with it were great too. The Onion Soup was SPECTACULAR. It is seriously the big MUST of this place. The scallop entree was great but it was 6 pieces of scallop for like 17 dollars, which is a bit of a rip off in some ways. And the Skate Wing was a bit bland. The capers that came with it were really bad (I usually LOVE capers) and so it was a bit of a disappointment. Also, the duck appetizer was overly sweet and not a great balance of flavors with the REALLY under seasoned lentils. The ambiance: It is always the perfectly cute restaurant to sit and eat in. It is just adorable. The Service: The service here is always SPECTACULAR. I must say its amusing to try to speak to the servers in french and even in english , they are just the perfect balance of attentive and not overwhelming.
(4)
TejieSaba S.
This adorable French restaurant is located in hip downtown Bethesda. The atmosphere has a great vibe and if you go here when the weather is warm, I'd recommend sitting outside. If you like rare but not tremendously overpriced imported wine, try their bordeaux, it's very light but aromatic. I have been here on more than one occasion and my favorite thing about this place is the freshness of their food. The salmon salad is amazing and my go-to entree is the sea scallops. I love going back to this place and anyone I have ever recommended this restaurant to has loved it.
(4)
Yummy or Crummy S.
My boyfriend was in the mood for some French food for lunch one day and so we scouted yelp's recommendations for the area and decided to check this place out. And boy, am I glad we did! This was the best restaurant EXPERIENCE I've had in a long time. So much so that I decided to make a yelp account just to review it. First off, the FOOD. My boyfriend had the French Onion soup and a Soft Shell Crab sandwich (seasonal), I decided to try 2 appetizers instead of ordering an entree, the Warm Duck Confit and the Chicken Liver Mousse. The French Onion soup ($7) was excellent, and furthermore it was HUGE. Honestly, we weren't expecting much size-wise from a French restaurant, but they sure surprised us. The soup might have been a bit too cheesy for anyone who doesn't like cheese but it was very flavorful and definitely fresh-made. The soft shell crab sandwich ($16) was pretty good, it had a lot of flavor and the bacon was a nice addition. The fries that came with it were also good, fresh and crispy. As for my h'ordeuvres, the duck confit ($11) was OUTSTANDING. The meat practically fell off the bone and was cooked perfectly, the balsamic cherries added a tangy balance of flavor and the potatoes rounded out the dish nicely. I normally don't eat potatoes but with the duck and cherry juices they were delicious. The chicken liver mousse ($7) was also excellent, very smooth and creamy with a burgundy red wine mustard to go with it and pickles, olives and pearl onions on the side as palate cleansers. The balance of flavors in the dish was perfect. To finish the meal off we had iced cappuccinos, which were a perfect ending to the meal. Usually people only talk about the food in a review, but the SERVICE at Mon Ami Gabi was outstanding as well. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and helpful when discussing the menu options, so much so that it honestly seemed like he had been studying it in his sleep! He knew how each dish is cooked and what kind of taste one would expect. When we questioned him about certain dishes, he knew the exact ingredients that were in each dish and gave an unbiased recommendation. He also always made sure our glasses were never empty and even brought out a glass of ice (without being asked!) when there was a possibility that the water might have been getting warm (since we were outside on a nice, sunny day). He checked with us every time a dish was served to make sure it met expectations. He even served us an extra free cup of iced cappuccino when he wasn't happy with the foam on our originals (we hadn't had any complaints!). Overall, our waiter was knowledgeable down to the tiniest detail and made sure our experience at Mon Ami Gabi wasn't going to be our last. We will definitely be back again soon.
(5)
Peggy Lyn S.
Another terrific lunch experience at Mon Ami Gabi! This place never disappoints but this week was exceptional! The special of the day was an open face mushroom sandwich. Served with a perfectly poached egg on top, frites and a salad...incredibly delicious, large portion, great value, great service, comfortable banquette...just delightful. I've been obsessing about the sandwich ever since and debating whether or not to call the restaurant to see when that sandwich will be on the special board again! Merci!
(5)
Matthew W.
Excellent for Saturday lunch. The onion soup and the salads were a delight.
(4)
Christina T.
Went for restaurant week last night. DELICIOUS. Had the chilled gazpacho, steak & frites, & crepes... nom dot com. I've never had gazpacho before so was a bit hesitant, but it was absolutely delicious. I expected more veggies, but the avocado in it was delicious. The steak was so good! We couldn't decide what sauce to get with our steak so our waiter brought them all, which was really nice & not something he needed to do. Minus one of the sauces which tasted a bit like bad blue cheese dressing, they were all very yummy. Lucky that we got to try all of them in the first place, though. Dessert was even better--I got the crepe minus the peaches with some ice cream on top. TO DIE FOR. Wish I could have eaten more but I was already so stuffed. All in all, the food was solid across the board. The only thing I disliked was the amount of frites they threw on your plate.. a bit overwhelming & lacking in taste. Service was great, expected it to be subpar because of restaurant week, but we were seated promptly, even a little early [making reservations = the way to go], and our food came at the perfect pace. Our waiter & the other bus boys were also extremely attentive. Decor was adorable. Will definitely be back.
(4)
Dancetolead V.
We had a wonderful lunch at the restaurant last week. I was really disappointed in the fries though. They were thin and greasy, like McDonalds. When the waiter asked if everything was OK, both of us complained about the fries and they brough us the potato chips instead. Again, nothing interesting. The waiter said the restaurant was known for their fries. I didn't see why. They gave us free desert afterwards. Great service and the rest of the food was food. I mentioned the restuarant to another friend who lives to eat out. She said I was crazy and that the Mon Ami Gabi fries were the best she has ever eaten. So she went there for dinner and now won't eat there for a year as the fries were in fact, horrible.
(4)
Sue H.
Steak Classique. Don't get a menu. This is a one-item restaurant. Chicken is bad. Fish is average. Go hungry. Leave so happy.
(5)
Cameron T.
Met up with my cousin for dinner here last night. She had been many times while it was my first visit to the Bethesda location. We started with the chicken liver mousse, which was good. Then I had the Hangar steak, while she ordered the Filet au poivre. We both ordered medium rare. Mine was perfect while hers came out way over cooked. We sent it back, and they brought out a new one. At that point I was donewith my meal. My steak was perfectly cooked, seasoned nicely with merlot butter. It was tender & flavorful. It was also a bargain at $17.95. My cousin's filet was bland, and she said it was usually very good but not last night. Too bad considering it cost $29.95. I didn't care for their frites. Their fries with very thin unlike the traditional fries served with steak frites. They weren't very crispy and I much prefer the traditional version served at places like Les Halles. The service was not so great. The server took awhile to greet our table. He never checked back to see how our food was, and we had to flag him down about the over cooked steak. He never checked back after that until much later when he dropped off the check. I would go back again. It's a good bet if you have a steak craving. I wouldn't expect anything spectacular, but a decent standy-by.
(3)
Natalie F.
This place is beautiful inside and was perfect for the wedding shower lunch I went to last weekend. We had a room to ourselves with a three round tables and a champagne bar. It was super fancy and the service was excellent. For lunch it was a three course menu with starters which I would say were the best. The scallops, Brie with fresh roasted garlic and toast. The main course I got was the tuna burger which was good but really messy and difficult to eat. The desserts were delicious, flour less chocolate cake, crem bru le and Ice cream with chocolate fudge and pastry. The food was good, not as good as I would have expected. The portions are huge for a french restaurant, seems like they are compensating for the quality of the food. I would love to try brunch here, I'm sure it's excellent.
(2)
Bunnie B.
2 words: steak frites. 2 more: get them. Even though Mon Ami Gabi is kind of expensive and full of yuppies (it's Bethesda after all) the food is really tasty. AND it's next to a great independent movie theater and mediocre ice cream shop.
(3)
Brigitte V.
After reading all the 5 star reviews, we thought we'd try this place - we just moved here from Europe and were craving some "home" food. Well, we decided to sit outside on this warm evening. A waiter came and poured some water in our glasses, and we sat waiting for a menu. During this waiting period, we observed all of their staff (waiters, I assume, they were all dressed alike) valet-parking the cars of their customers. We waited for a total of 30 minutes (!!!), never received a menu (!!!), and were finally fed up with being "ignored", so we got up to leave. Needless to say, we will definitely not be back, no matter how awesome the food supposedly is.
(1)
Jo-Elle M.
Went here for a work event (wine tasting/dinner) this week, so I do not know the price of things. (Sorry.) First, Julian, the manager (?) was great. He went through a quick lesson on French wines, and we were served 2 whites and 2 reds. We had a dedicated server who kept the wine glasses full (hello!!) . I had the butter lettuce salad. Very fresh and yummy. My entree was the seared scallops with cauliflower puree and wilted spinach. Oh my goodness. Super delicious. Cooked perfectly and all elements were full of flavor and went together wonderfully. For dessert, I had the creme brulee, which was very good. Wished I tried the flourless chocolate cake - that looked yummy too! I would highly recommend this place. Being from Chicago, the headquarters of the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group is here - including Mon Ami Gabi. I never have been to the Chicago one, but I will definitely make plans to do so really really soon!! Thanks, Julian and staff!
(4)
sophie S.
If you like french food this is the place to be. The french onion soup is as close to the real thing as it gets. The mussels are amazing, steak frits, salads, it's all wonderful. I have never had a bad meal here, it is one of my favorite restaurants. The service is great, they even have a bloody mary bar on weekends for brunch! The place itself looks very French. Parking is difficult usually better to find a lot and walk. Usually best to make reservations (especially during the weekends.) DO NOT FORGET THE DESSERTS!!!! UNBELIEVABLE!
(5)
Heather J.
The best thing about this place is brunch. Though it's supposed to be a French bistro/steakhouse, the steaks are just OK. The brunch and lunch, on the other hand, are fantastic. The french onion soup here is some of the best I've ever had. It's really rich, with tangy gruyere cheese melted on top. I also love their sandwiches. I can't remember all the ones I've tried offhand, but I don't remember being disappointed in any of them. Now, the best part: the baguettes they bring out with brunch. They're warm, crispy and perfectly browned on the outside, and soft on the inside. They serve them with butter and jam - the jam is amazing. I went for lunch once and they didn't have the jam out because it wasn't a weekend, and I asked for some of the jam with my baguette. They happily obliged. My other favorite thing about brunch is their vanilla french toast. It's a huge portion of french toast with cinnamon baked apples and whipped cream. It's absolutely delicious. I always have leftovers, too, which makes my morning almost as good the next day.
(4)
Tamara C.
Went on a Friday night. Had reservations but still had a bit of a wait in the bar. The atmosphere, the service, and the food were excellent. I had the shoulder cut steak with clue cheese medium rare and it was delicious.
(5)
Nicole L.
This is yet another restaurant I walked past for the last 10 years and always wanted to try but never did. From what I heard was good food but expensive. I decided to give it a shot past weekend. From the outside it looked contained, that you can't quite tell what is going on inside. When I walked in, it was bustling with people both at the bar and in the dining area. It's looked like a typical french bistro. We had a reservation for 10 PM european style after being indeicisive most of the night haha, we decided to get there earlier to grab a drink or two. The bar was crowded and after some wait we got the attention of the bartender, we ordered a cotes du rhone and a gabitini - martini with blue cheese stuffed in olives - it was not bad. My companion asked for more olives but the bartender totally 'forgot' about it. After that drink, we just sticked to red wines. We were seated at a nice table at the inside part of the restaurant but it was right at the entrance to the bathroom and kitchen there was lots of traffic though it had a nice view of the dining room. Our waitress was very pleasant and gave us an excellent service. The baguette was fresh and tasty! The waitress was very sweet giving us two complimentary glasses of white sancerre to go with the oysters. We ordered the oysters and escargot - oysters were tiny there was hardly any meat and they were not detached from the muscles. By the time you scraped it off, it looked like a spit out oyster. The escargot was delicious however it was soaked in this garlic-parsley-butter sauce. For the entree, I ordered the skate it was cooked perfectly nicely seasoned and had fresh lemon wedges and capers. There was a cabbage and green beans slaw which I didnt really try except for the green beans. My companion liked it. The fresh cut potato chips were crunchy but they were glistening in oil. I found that it to be rather unappetizing. My companion's trout was overly seasoned it was so salty I was shocked by the first bite. My companion agreed it should be sent back. The waitress again topped up my companion's wine as an apology. Overall, the food was mediocre but less than I imagined all this time about this place but I did like my skate alot!! The service was great!! It made it an enjoyable experience.
(3)
Sonia S.
I have to say, I was underwhelmed with the food at Mon Ami Gabi. However, the ambiance and scene was buzzing and fun- the bar area is a great place to grab apertifs and chat with friends and wait for your table. We lucked out and had a quick wait and got an outside table as well- which overlooks the grassy area in the back. For a French restaurant, this place serves enormous portions, but even compared to an American restaurant, the servings are big...like TGIFridays big. To start, our waitress brought out complimentary baguette (in a paper bag) with whipped butter and a refreshing grated carrot salad. For appetizers, we ordered the butter lettuce salad and the soup of the day (Roasted Red Pepper- good, but quite heavy). The butter lettuce salad with apples, cheese, walnut was not what I expected- it was a hard cheese, unglazed walnuts, and lemony vinaigrette..somehow the combination was off. The flet mignon was good but not exceptional- the frites, were definitely good- they were ribbony, unlike anything I've had before. Again, the portions were huge- I split this entree- and each half portion was the size of a normal serving! The fluke (it's a type of fish) special was a bit mushy and again not amazing..but good. Lastly, we ordered the protiferoles for a table of 3 of us...they brought 3 giant protiferoles (the ice cream was from Gifford's next door and quite good..the hot fudge is apparently housemade). It was a good choice. Service was friendly and attentive.
(3)
PC W.
Way to go Bethesda Restaurant Week for convincing one Restonite, two Arlingtonians and two DC-ers to convene for lunch in Bethesda. The RW deal for lunch was $12 for an appetizer and entree or entree and dessert. Not everyone took advantage of the deal since there were so many great options on the regular menu. I, of course, did. The soup du jour was a butternut squash with bleu cheese. Sweet and creamy. I was very satisfied with my choice. I also had the steamed mussels in white wine cream and bacon sauce served with frites. Mmm, mmm, good. I will definitely go back if I'm in the neighborhood.
(4)
Paula W.
Fantastic service and the food was delicious. They didnt rush us but they werent slow either. The mussels were awesome. Fresh and the broth was very good. Had the scallops appetizer which we didn't realize was covered in cheese but it was still very good. The baked Brie was excellent and the bread pudding was delicious as well. We just had appetizers and dessert and I would definitely go back for a full dinner.
(4)
J M.
Delish. Steak is what they're best at. I wouldn't bother with anything else. Except a nice red, of course ;)
(4)
Araneta A.
The brunch was exceptional. The service was great. This is a place to bring in-laws or people you want to impress because you know they will consistently deliver good food and excellent service.
(4)
Victoria S.
Note: If I could give it 3.5 stars, I would, but I don't feel that it reaches 4 star level (however I am also a very picky eater) OVERALL REVIEW: Good quality food, served luke-warm, at decent prices. Decent restaurant if you're looking for something a little different from your average American steakhouse, but don't go here if you're looking for authentic French food. DETAILED REVIEW: Mon Ami Gabi is located in the center of activity in Bethesda, tucked into the corner near the Bethesda Theatre, with great outdoor seating for those who like to people watch while enjoying a decent meal. While the overall ambience tends to be a little over the top (as if they are constantly trying to remind you that they are a french restaurant), the food is fairly good. The dress is "smart casual", and you'll find lots of people in polos and khakis on a hot summer day. A freshly baked, warm baguette is served with couscous and butter almost immediately. If you order appetizers, may I suggest the mussels, which were very fresh, but only lukewarm by the time they were served to us. Mon Ami Gabi also claims to have the second best french onion soup in DC, however I feel that it is actually a little too sweet, and could use a little more savory/saltiness. For entrees, you can't go wrong with the steaks (although, keep in mind they are pounded thin unless you get the filet mignon, so don't get it too well done). Also delicious is their fish selections (the skate is flaky and delicious, without any real "fishy taste", and the trout has nice seasoning). Again, by the time our food was served to us, it was only lukewarm, bordering on cold. The frites that come with the steaks are very tasty (but again, cold, as if they've been fried, then left sitting on the counter until someone ordered a dish that has a side of frites). The salmon salad is drenched with too much salad dressing, giving you the impression you're basically eating pure salad oil. For dessert, we tried the Profiteroles, which I found to be way too sweet for my tastes. Try the crepes or creme brulee instead, you can never go wrong with creme brulee.
(3)
Rob A.
Good Service, Good Food. What more do I need to say? They have the best french toast ever! Okay so the waiters don't speak French. It's okay. They are still very helpful.
(4)
Brennan R.
I stopped in here for the first time the other night with my Folks. We've tried just about everything on Bethesda Row, but had never ventured inside Mon Ami. What were we thinking waiting so long!? The service was excellent, the bar tender was right on point, pleasing even my super picky dad with a superb Manhattan. I had a starter of the French onion soup, and let me tell you.. Life changing cheesy, oozy, onion perfection. I thought nothing could be better than my soup, but when my hanger steak with merlot butter and frites came out, I swear angels were singing! Cooked to perfection with a serious helping of frites? I'm sold. I'll definitely be back, and please don't make the mistake I made... Don't wait!!! Now go.. Get your steak frite on!
(4)
Hannah C.
an adorable parisian-style cafe that makes you want to jump on a plane and fly to paris. it also had a very similar atmosphere to balthazar, wistfully reminding me of new york. unfortunately i didn't get to try their food because i came to brunch much too late, but the food looked absolutely delicious. the prices for food were very reasonable, however, my order of coffee and perrier that came out to $11 was completely absurd to me. this doesn't change my desire to go back the next time i am in town though.
(4)
Hello H.
I heard their happy hours are good. Service and our waitor were great. But my first experience at Mon Ami Gabi was very poor. The open face shrimp salad sandwich that I got was terrible. The watery mayonnaise-based sauce was disgusting (a strong word, but it was just gross) and the whole thing was absolutely tasteless. I kept pouring on black pepper, and even asked for a lemon wedge to offset the watery mayonnaise, but to no avail. My friend also got the same thing and she also had a poor reaction to the dish. The only untainted part of this meal was the slice of avocado it comes with. That is, the part of it that wasn't already doused in the watery mayo. I also did not like the french bread. You have to use force to rip it apart -- definitely not cool for a sit-down restaurant -- and the bread was just messy and tasteless. See my other reviews to get a sense of what I think is good.
(1)
J H.
Just like Dianne K. , Mon Ami Gabi was an absolute unexpected delight! The food was great and our server was incredibly attentive- the whole staff was. Service: I rushed in while my Fiance was waiting in the car to exchange some money for change to park. While I was at the bar getting change, one of the servers gave me a cup of ice water without me even asking. I looked at the water dumb founded- looked around to see if it was for someone else, but the guy just smiled and said "its hot out there... and walked away". I don't think he was even a bar tender. When we finally got in, we were seated promptly. Our server Alex was really cool and absolutely one of the best servers I've come across. He was incredibly attentive and really seemed like someone who was happy to be working there. We ate the mussels. fillet, and the halibut special. The bread was awesome as were the fries which I couldn't stop eating. The steaks however were a bit bland considering I'm relatively used to Ruth Chris style steaks. The halibut, while being "special" because of the "farm fresh, chef picked vegetables- it also tasted a bit bland for my palette. Overall my experience was swell. I applaud Mon Ami Gabi for their personal customer service. Never did I feel as though the food took too long or our cups were less than full. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)
Denise H.
Best. Onion Soup. Ever. Fresh baguettes & real butter. Filet Mignon with Merlot butter/red wine reduction is one of the best filets I have EVER had - great quality meat prepared exactly as requested. Pommes frites are ok and bountiful! Shared desserts - choc mousse, bananas foster, apple tarte tatin and creme brulee were all excellent. We had a business dinner for 9, and our server was excellent - good balance of attentiveness without being intrusive. Mojito was gooood. Would definitely go back with my husband.
(4)
Karen C.
Come here for Happy Hour. For $5, you can get the french onion soup, salmon burger with huge cup of fries, steak burger w/ huge cup of fries or associate goodies. I usually just get the soup & split the burger with someone. They also offer wines from $3.50-$5/glass. Delish!
(4)
Leila T.
Gorgeous sunny Saturday, a couple empty tables outside of Mon Ami. So a friend and I decided- why not soak up the beautiful weather and eat outside? We walk into the restaurant (at 25% capacity mind you) and ask the host for a table outside to which the manager replies, "I'm sorry we can't sit you outside. We are in between lunch and dinner right now". Me: "What do you mean, the kitchen is closed?" Him: "No, the kitchen is fully open, we just can't seat you outside. The people already outside are just finishing up. We can only serve you in this one section to my left, or at the bar." Me: (still not comprehending) So...you're saying we can't sit outside even though there are available tables...AND the kitchen is fully operational... Him: "Correct" AU REVIOR!!! Okay...so I haven't actually eaten here, but the crappy rating is due to their snobby attitude and unwillingness to accommodate their customers.
(2)
Olivia L.
We stumbled in starving, without a reservation, at 7:30pm on the Saturday that the MoCo popo closed down the Bethesda Row garage because there was no more parking. Yes, it was a zoo. We were given a buzzer and told that it would be at least an hour before they could seat us -- so much for the 9pm movie we had hoped to see at Bethesda Row Cinema next door. Well, thanks to my ESP, we snagged a table in the bar after about 20 minutes, and had the amazing French onion soup (it's pretty much a meal), and a steak a piece (the steaks are ok, they're very thin so get them well done -- I got mine medium rare and it was close to raw in places -- it's hard to cook a thin steak to a uniform level of doneness). I'm only dropping one star for the done-ness of my steak because we made our movie after all, and it's just a super cute place.
(4)
Meghan G.
This place is feels very "fancy chain" in general. They strive for a french bistro, but with the soaring ceilings and cavernous interior it feels more like a high-end Olive Garden. BUT, the food here is really great. If you are really craving some meat and potatoes, this is your place. The very juicy, wonderfully marinated flank steaks smothered in your choice of toppings (i got the Roquefort) plated with a pile of thin, crispy frites will literally clog your arteries just glancing at it. The entrees are pretty massive, so unless your a freaking lumberjack, you're safe splitting an appetizer and a steak. The service was fast and friendly, bringing us basket after basket of warm crusty bread. I am easily won over with massive amounts of carbs, what can I say. All in all a great place to go, maybe not a first date of special occasion destination given its semi-forced atmosphere of a faux french joint, but give it a go after a few dates or on a special occasion for someone you seems pretty ideal for a work happy hour, or company lunch. Also its convenient to the Bethesda Row Cinema, so good pre or after movie grub.
(4)
Mari C.
Highly recommended for food, ambiance, knowledgeable staff. Going here for dinner is an experience to be cherished.
(5)
Prateeksha N.
I was grossed out by this place. It was dingy, depressing, slow, dirty and the desserts were a shame for a french place. We put down our names on a waiting list and dropped decent cash only to come out of there feeling stale and gritty and about two centuries old. Ignore this place, they have greasy floors!
(2)
J C.
It was our dear, devoted intern that reminded me about this place. We were talking about the Bethesda Row Cinema, and she told me "Oh, you've GOT to try this great French restaurant called Mon Ami Gabi! The steak frites are wonderful!" "That's a good idea," I replied. "However, it's more like French-style food, since they're run by Lettuce Entertain You. You know, that big Chicago superchain of restaurants." Her jaw dropped. But that's okay. I had a similar reaction when my dad told me pro wrestling was faked. The Hulkster FAKING IT? Lies... all lies! The interior felt steakhousey. Lots of Oakwood trim and lots of bottles of wine against the walls. Surprisingly, they didn't seat us at one of those setups where you've got the long bench on one side, lined up with 15 smaller tables and chairs on the other side (God knows there was plenty of this seating here, which I absolutely hate). We got a nice, cozy table in the corner (in fact, if I ever bring a date here, I'm going to try to get this same table again). First up, escargot. I only had these once, about 17 years ago, and my coworker never had them at all, so we figured we'd just split an order. Turns out neither one of us cared for them, but that didn't have anything to do with how they were cooked (the garlic butter was very, very tasty!), more like we just didn't like snails. They have a good selection of apps, such as country pate and duck mousse, and they give you a complimentary baguette with butter regardless. As for the main course, I think what MAG does is take traditional French bistro favorites, and just run with those. Nothing like calves brain or cassoulet. Hangar steak and frites is clearly the star of the show, and you can get it several different ways here. I got the Steak Roquefort, which was steak with bleu cheese sauce. My coworker got the Steak Bordelaise, which came with caramelized onions and red wine sauce on top. They have seafood and other dishes there, but for some reason, steak just stands out. Also, they have a list of weekly specials (like duck confit on Sundays), but if you're hankering for the specials, you've got to reserve the special in your reservations. Quantities are limited. The steaks were great. I would have loved for my steak to have had more bleu cheese sauce, but it was very tasty. Meat was cooked medium rare as requested, and very tender. (I've seen complaints, mostly on other review sites, that MAG had a track record of overcooking beef, but it wasn't a problem tonight). The frites are strange. Have you ever ate those potato sticks you get at the grocery store? Imagine those on steroids. Very crisp and very puffy. But we both left stuffed, and for $20 per plate, it was a good value for the money. The verdict: I liked it a lot, and the food was great. Having said that, I have no idea when I'll be here next. For me, it's out of the way, and there's no escaping the fact that it's clearly an American creature, and clearly a chain restaurant at that. It just had that whole corporate feel. With so many other actual French restaurants in DC (that are closer to me) with real French staff, it almost defies logic that I'd come back here when the real deal is closer. Oh, and I overheard the guy next to me remark "yeah... we've got a lot of Americans buried over there. We saved their asses twice." Yeah, this place don't cater to the international crowd, methinks. Note: a word about booze. Their wine selection was quite extensive, but a bit expensive too. Wanna know why it's this way in Montgomery County restaurants? Read on: washingtoncitypaper.com/…
(4)
Heather P.
Super lively, great atmosphere and pretty tasty food! Wines are good, appetizers authentic and entrees generous. I'll be back!
(4)
Jeff G.
This is a great French bistro right in the middle of Bethesda that provides excellent service and great food, though the price is a bit on the high side. The atmosphere and decor of the place is what you would expect from any French bistro, with lots of wood on the walls, tiled floors, and tables packed in really tight. Every time I have visited, the server was either French or putting on a really bad accent. Sometimes the service is a bit French (e.g. unattentive and snobby), but most of the time it's quite good. I'm a huge escargot fan, so I always get it as an appetizer when we go, and it's some of the best that I have had. Make sure you get extra bread to sop up that wonderful garlic butter ;) Entrees here are a bit on the high side pricewise, but they're definitely tasty and up to par with other French restaurants in the city. Dessert is a definite must here! Overall, great food and reasonable service for a slightly high price, but definitely recommended.
(4)
Judy N.
I rally like this place. One of the best onion soup ever. I love onion soup and just thinking about it make me want to go back there for more. Been there many times, once for HH and other times at the dining room. The servers are always attentive and helpful. I love the French bread, chicken liver mousse and the steak. They also serve brunch during the weekend.
(4)
Virginia C.
I'm usually not a steak person but this place has got the best filet ever (order it with carmelized onions and sherry sauce)!!!
(5)
Lisa D.
Our experience began on a Sunday evening around 8pm. I strolled into the restaurant with my fiance and his family. There were 5 of us and we were told the wait would only be about 15 minutes. They got our cell number and actually called us within the estimated waiting time period. One of the great things about going here is the fact that there are shops and a nice area to walk around if dinner is during rush/primetime. Something I almost immediately noticed, once we sat down, was how this place has some of the most friendly, professional and helpful staff I have ever encountered. They treated us as though we were a big deal despite the fact that we were dressed very casual (we had been walking around the DC area all day and had wedding planning appointments). When I told the server that I wanted the gluten-free menu, he made SURE to inform me that they had gluten free bread (as an appetizer as well). The gluten-free bread was fantastic! He served it on a separate plate and brought it out first because he explained how everything I would be eating that evening would be prepared separately. The server told me that they take gluten allergies VERY seriously and they went over, above and beyond to make sure that experience, despite my diet restrictions, was over the top. I ordered a steak with a thick creamy egg yolk/cream sauce. It was beyond delicious and my mother-in-law-to-be ordered fish. I don't remember what kind but she said she absolutely loved it. My steak was cooked exactly as I had ordered it-medium and presented just before everyone else's food (only seconds before). They were really good about not taking too long to bring out the food and it was timed perfectly. Our appetizer (that everyone shared) was mussels in a cream sauce. They were delicious and exceeded our expectations. Overall I give this place 5 out of 5 because the food, in conjunction with the excellent service, makes this a place I would gladly visit again and a new favorite for the area.
(5)
blowfly x.
Went here Saturday night - definitely make sure you reserve! People who came in without a reservation (this was at 6:30) had an hour wait. The food: Was quite good. I had the escargot appetizer, which was delicious - the snails were large and plump and very tender. My husband had the mussels, which also were large and plump and tender - that isn't always the case with mussels, so we were pleasantly surprised. The creamy wine broth was excellent; I ate (drank) most of that. The full-size version of the mussels appetizer would have been a perfectly adequate meal for me, size wise. Unfortunately I had also ordered the scallop appetizer (as an entree), and had no room for it, so I had to take it home. I did taste a bit - it was good, and the fennel in it was great, but I'm not so sure I like CHEESE (esp. in that large an amount) on scallops. My husband had the porcini soup, which was really mushroomy and very rich. He also had the au poivre steak; it was thinner than we expected, but like everything else, tender and very tasty. He had to take most of that home; between the broth from the mussels and the mushroom soup, we were in danger of a dry land drowning. The waiters were friendly and nice, but a woman kept continuously circling through the restaurant making notes, I suppose on everyone's status. It was sort of irritating to be so obviously kept tabs on. Also unluckily for us, and of course this was not the restaurant's fault, the old lady behind us seemed to have taken her woolly coat out of mothballs 10 seconds before, and the smell was HORRIBLE. Unfortunately for us I wasn't able to pinpoint it until she stood up at the end of our meal. Man. Air your clothes out before you mingle with other people.
(4)
Sabrina B.
Let's start off by saying I don't think this is *that* authentic and the waiters don't speak a lick of french, but that's fine. Just wanted to put that all out there. Given that, I thought the food here was pretty darn yummy. I always like to scope out good French restaurants for my parents to visit while they're in town, and again, though not authentic, I think this place has very good food. I had the steak and fries. Someone else had the salmon which was also good, and someone else raved about the chicken - which look dry and plain to me, but they said it was good. I also had some sweet wine that was absolutely delicious. I'll definitely go again.
(4)
Hampton C.
A group of friends and I rolled large to Mon Ami Gabi last weekend during Bethesda's restaurant week. I thought the restaurant week menu offered plenty of good options. I ended up grabbing the salmon served atop of pile of risotto which was pretty much money in the bank (now bear in mind that I was also rocking the majority of a bottle of French wine at the time as well). I ended up tasting most of friends food whenever they left to use the restroom, and dang! it was all good too. The service was above average but we were hoping for a rich French accent which we didn't get. Anyways, I plan to go back to try the lunch menu sometime soon.
(4)
Katie P.
My husband and I finally visited this restaurant past weekend. We had always wanted to try this place. The weather was beautiful, and an outdoor table at Mon Ami Gabi seemed to be a perfect place for saturday lunch. Server was very pleasant and professional. She knew the menu inside and out, and didn't try to recommend the most expensive items on the menu. The baguette came inside the bag, and it was warm and soft. Loved it. We tried the snail appetizer and it was just ok...unique sauce, but not so appetizing...To me it had too much olive oil...Little more garlic would have been better. Then my husband had a steak sandwich which was served with fries, some greens and caramelized onion. He said the meat was cold, and wasn't so tender. Basically he did not enjoy it. I had their croque monsieur, which came with fries, salad, and fried egg on top. The sandwich itself had nothing special...Just ham and cheese. And tasted no different than regular ham and cheese sandwich. I think it should've been bit warmer so the cheese woud've melted more. The fries were great. Thin and crispy! The presentation of the entrees were very nice as well. But the ones we tried didn't meet my expectations. Maybe we had too high of an expectation about this place. I don't think we'll be coming back for the entrees we tried past weekend...But willing to try some other dish.
(3)
Alex P.
This is one of my go-to places in the DC area for a nice dinner. When my girlfriend's father was in town I sent him here. Great steak-frites every time. The service has been friendly and attentive at every visit, and their country-pate appetizer made me believe that I couldn't possibly enjoy my steak even more...but I did. Warm atmosphere, classic French cuisine done very well, affordable wines, and reliable quality of food and service. I highly recommend Mon Ami Gabi.
(5)
Suzanne P.
I have been here several times for lunch and it is always delicious. I usually order the house salad with goat cheese, the steak sandwich with frites, and for dessert, the profiteroles. I have also sampled the pate, the scallops, and the shrimp, all of which are amazing. Quaint, slightly boisterous setting, with great service. They serve red wine mustard and tiny pickles with the brie which is yummy and classic.
(4)
Robert C.
Accidentally stumbled upon this place walking around Bethesda looking for a place to eat. Great food, great service, great experience. My girlfriend says you must try the Frangria! It's a bit pricey but it's well worth it and it would serve as a nice date spot.
(5)
Alan S.
verry nice, best country pate and onion soup ever. great service and huge portions, really reminds me of paris
(4)
Morgan W.
It's pretty apparent once you sit down and start browsing the menu that this place is not authentic. That being said, the food was good (not great) and the waiter was extremely friendly. We went for brunch last Saturday, and I got the Quiche Lorraine; it was HUGE and stuffed with bacony goodness. We decided to get the creme brulee for dessert, also HUGE. Then we were given an extra free dessert because we were first time diners...so, basically we ended up rolling out of the restaurant. It wasn't the best place to eat, but it could have been worse. I don't think we'll go out of our way to eat here again, but if we happen to be in Bethesda it's not out of the question.
(3)
Jed S.
I went to Mon Ami Gabi for dinner with a friend yesterday evening. The maitre d' was quite friendly, as was the wait staff. Service was quick and gracious, and was good at checking to see if we needed/wanted anything without being overly solicitious. The interior is really quite lovely, with pretty warm colors contrasting with the dark mahogony wood, the two dining rooms are separated by a mahogony wine rack, and it creates a welcoming environment. They were having some sort of Apple festival, so the restaurant was decorated with apples all around the perimeter of the room, as well as having some special apple entrees and deserts on the menu. Speaking of apples, our dinner began with a wonderful demibaguette, accompanied with couscous and apple butter. Although we couldn't taste the apple in the apple butter, it was still quite good, and the demibaguette was perfect. I had the french onion soup, which although I thought it was pricey when looking at the menu, comes in a huge portion. It was sweeter then I am used to, but it was really quite good. My dining companion and I both had the fish and chips (pomme frites), which was a very thin, large piece of cod fillet, and very thin ribbon fries that seemed to be a hybrid between classic french fries and potato chips. The cod was absolutely delicious, definitely among the best fried fish that I've had. The frites started of being very good while they were hot, but as they cooled, they kind of lost their appeal. We ended our meal by splitting profiteroles, vanilla ice cream topped with pastry topped with chocolate, and that was very, very good. All in all, Mon Ami Gabi is a perfectly lovely restaurant where I would be comfortable taking a date, a client, my parents, etc. I wouldn't necessarily come here for a first date as the formal, fancy environment might scare someone off, but otherwise, it's pretty darn top notch.
(5)
Alice C.
I rated this place 3.5 stars. Great French restaurant, probably one of the best ones I've tried (out of 3 Fr Restaurants... probably, shot my credibility). But, the baguette - butter - jelly appetizer was great... crispy and tough on the outside and nice and soft on the inside. I ordered the Sandwich du jour which was the Duck Sandwich with the frites. - Sandwich du jour - could NOT taste the duck at all b/c the baguette was so overpowering... had to eat it Open-facedly... from what I could taste of the Duck, it was nice and tender, just not very much. - Salad - too drenched in the dressing - Frites - were crispy and good... it's enough to share with someone else. It reminded me of the potato sticks I used to eat when i was in Kindergarten. I looked over at the other table and the lady had waffle-type frites, which looked cooler and more yummy. Service: Decent Interior: Nicely decorated, didn't think there was anything special, typical of a Fr restaurant.
(4)
Lisa P.
Mon Ami is a staple for us. Perfect for dinner and a movie as the theaters are all close by. The Hanger steak with frites never disappoints and the mussels are served in a creamy broth that pairs well with the table bread. Yum.
(4)
John B.
We came to this place looking for a good date spot after our original pick was not up to par. We found this gem and I might go so far as to say it is the best restaurant I have been to thus far! The service was great, the food was superb, and you even get a free box of truffles to take home. Can't wait to go back! Ask for Bill when you go.
(5)
Juan A.
I wanted to give them a 3.5, but their french soup was so good, that it tipped the scales to the right. The atmosphere is ideal for a cozy chat, this is not the place to party. The steaks were good and reliable as was the service. A very nice place where I can go to regularly.
(4)
Wood L.
Order the mussels, the sauce isn't typical French cuisine but it's delicious. The salmon salad and scallops with mashed cauliflower were perfect. Frites... signature snack food. The only downside is that the service is hit or miss.
(4)
Bob M.
My wife and I have been here several times and always enjoy the food. The steak frites are particularly excellent. Our only complaint is with timing. The wait staff is always very polite, but on a busy night it seems the restaurant is trying to move us through. On several occasions our food has come out literally 5 minutes after we ordered--not acceptable for fine dining.
(4)
Takaki K.
The waiter greeted us: 'Bon jour, everyone, my name is -- and I'll be your server today'. That pretty much summarizes this place. It's a wannabe French restaurant. Food is okay, nothing extraordinary. The service was super slow and our restaurant week lunch ended up taking over 2 hours.
(2)
Mai C.
I came here for Bethesda restaurant week and ended up eating here twice in one week. Hands down the most delicious burger I have ever had. They offer a variety of cheeses as toppings but being that I hate cheese I asked for a plain burger. The ground beef was very moist and well seasoned even though some of my coworkers ordered it well done (i ordered it medium well). The frites are interesting. They are more like potato ribbons. Initially I was not a fan but it did grow on me the second time around.
(4)
Olga Y.
Brunch here is pretty average. It looked like it would be a perfect brunch place, but appearances were deceiving. The warm bread was nice, but the jam/butter were nothing special. We ended up filling up on it, which was a good thing. The orange juice tasted fresh-squeezed and the coffee was nice and strong. That was the only thing that impressed. My belgian waffle with nutella was, again, pretty average -- I felt like I could make it out of a box at home in the waffle maker and warm up some nutella to go along. The creme fraiche was nice though. My date's eggs benedict with steak were also pretty average. The poached eggs and hollandaise were nice, but the steak was cold-ish (seemed like it sat under a warmer since early morning...) and the home fries were awful -- soggy, warm rather than not, not a crispy one to be found among them and desperately lacking flavor. Feh. I would come back here for lunch or dinner, but I would be in no rush. Brunch is probably a no-go unless all of you want *lunch* -- they don't seem to have a good handle on breakfast items at all.
(3)
kimberly w.
LOVE this restaurant. Definitely my favorite in Bethesda. Beautiful decor. Always great, yummy food. Held my husband's 30th birthday here and they were very accomodating. We had a large group, but not large enough to be in the private room, which was fine. The only thing was that they couldn't put us at one table, but it worked out fine. Other than that, no complaints!
(5)
Lynn C.
I think this place is just okay. I really only like the bloody mary bar during brunch otherwise I would probably never eat here. But, they have nice outdoor seating.
(2)
Cindi C.
Great for a girlfriends lunch. MY BFF and I come here every 6 weeks for our day out together. Yes, stereotypical girlfreind's day, pedis, lunch at Mon Ami Gabi and shopping. We always have a good time here, enjoy the food no matter what we get. I love the quiches, salads (especially the salmon) and the salmon sandwich (I am a sucker for salmon after finding out how good it is for your skin.) Last week I had the peach lemonade, not too tart or sweet. Perfect on an afternoon lunch al fresco. I would however like to come here when it isn't a Saturday. I want to try it some other time. And the serivce has been attentive the past 4 times we have been there.
(5)
Mercedes X.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Bethesda the waiters are always awesome drinks are amazing and the food is delicious. It can get quite busy at times so you may need to check on the reservation. And this is definitely a place that you can bring a date to to try to impress her
(5)
Luis U.
The owner recently contacted me to address my concerns and I very much appreciate businesses who aim for better quality. I was on the fence anyway, and seeing businesses care for what their customers have to say is a big plus for me.
(4)
Christine P.
Mon Ami Gabi is a perfect place for a date or with friends. Came on a Wednesday around 6 and we were seated immediately. They have a large selection of wine and food. We got the special of the day, rockfish topped with brussel sprouts and potatoes ($28), and the filet mignon au poivre ($31). I didn't think the filet mignon was that special (the large side of frites is good), but the rockfish was delicious! We came here for a birthday, and the complementary profiterole was great as well. The service was great. Our server (tall male with a french accent) was very pleasant and attentive. He explained the menu and specials well, and made sure everything was okay. Total was $97 excluding tip for a filet mignon, rockfish, salad, and 2 glasses of wine. There's valet parking out front ($7), street parking (limited), or garage parking close by.
Nice brunch spot for the weekend. Brunch for 6 with a few mimosas about $150. Not too bad. Service was good and food great. Got the seafood crepe which wasn't too heavy but filled me up! Forgot to redeem my free dessert. boo. -.-
(4)
Carley M.
I love them. Great service. Great bartenders. Great gluten free menu! Stephan and Jillian are two of the best servers you could ever get and Willie is the only manager i have ever seen anywhere to go out and drop quarters in meters for customers when it is getting close to ticket time. Its such a great behind the scenes client satisfier
(5)
Judi G.
Nice French bistro with all the requirements. Champagne, steak frites, mussels and frites, French onion soup and sandwiches on baguettes. Live music some nights and outdoor dining is relaxed and similar to those in France.
Went tonight for Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, dinner. We had never been before and found the special menu from a quick google search. Mon Ami Gabi went above and beyond from start to finish. We will be back for more meals! Every plate presented was finished beautifully and with care. The dishes were hot, full of flavor, and generously portioned. Another detail we loved was that when staff would refill a drink and we said thank you, they would respond with happy new year. It was clear that the entire restaurant was trained carefully about a special night for people of our faith and it showed. The food was better than my moms (sorry mom), and priced very well for so. much. food. The icing on the cake was receiving a hand written thank you and mini honey cake with a note for a sweet new year with our check!! Above and beyond!!!
(5)
Michal A.
If you're not a meat lover or better yet- a vegetarian - you don't have a lot of options from their menu. They have a couple of cheese appetizers and a vegetable tagine that was just plain vegetables in water (it wasn't even a broth). So my husband is the vegetarian and I had the fish (trout I believe) and it wasn't great either.. A little dry and not too flavorful. Our friends enjoyed their steaks and their wine selection is good. The atmosphere was nice with live music, though a little loud if you're trying to have a conversation.
(3)
John O.
Familiar with the menu from frequent visits in Las Vegas and periodic ones in Chicago, we choose this restaurant for meeting of 5 for dinner. Good service and wine list, reliable menu of steaks and frites I love their mussels and salads It was just right
(4)
Drea G.
As much time as I do not spend in Bethesda I happened to be in the area looking for a place to eat brunch. Through the advice of Yelp we ended up here because it was one of the few places that served alcohol during the day. When we arrived around 12:30 the restaurant was fairly quiet and we were seated immediately. Our server was very nice and explained all the specials and offered recommendations and advice on all the dishes. I was immediately impressed by the very large brunch menu, it definitely took a long time for us to decide on savory or sweet. But as I mentioned before the waiter was very helpful in narrowing down our choices. I ordered the tuna melt tartine sandwich with a bellni. The bellini was nice and potent and the sandwich was flavorful. Minus one star for the cheese on top - it was a bit dry and may have been sitting out for a short while. However, I still enjoyed it and the sandwich is quite large. You also get a large helping of fries with it. One friend had the blueberry french toast and was blown away by the flavor. Another friend had the waffle banana foster and love it. I'm not a fan of bananas on waffles but decided to try it. The waffle was soft, sweet and very delicious, the banana was soft but not too sweet. The raspberry jam for the baguette was delicious, I should have requested a jar for purchase! Highly recommend and would definitely go back to Bethesda just to eat here.
(4)
Tracy L.
The food, atmosphere and service are always a treat!
(5)
Jittima S.
Just had the most traumatic brunch ever at your restaurant. Please keep in mind that making food jokes of any kind at your patron's expense is unprofessional, insensitive and extremely disrespectful. We live in a world where we're constantly criticized by everything we do; however, choosing what one consumes(from your menu) and how one consumes it (especially at your establishment in this case) should be judgmental free. Food was alright until the food-shaming occurred. Bottom line; food-shaming is unacceptable. Fronting it with half-ass apology is appalling & demeaning. Please be mind and keep your loathsome opinion to yourself.
(2)
Hua X.
I had a fantastically large and friendly bearded lumberjack of a waiter who gave me and my friend cream puffs for free after our hefty brunch. This affirmed my view of humanity and I hope the waiter is karmically (and financially) rewarded for his uncommon kindness. I found the brunch itself to be above average and not cosmically good, but the bread and potatoes were soul-comforting. Great 20th century French pop soundtrack in the background. Would certainly come here even just to get away from the standard corporate-indie fare I've come to hear so often.
(4)
Rick K.
One of my all time Favorite Restaurants. I sat at the bar today. I had the mussels and some wine. Also, had their amazing bread. I finished it off with some peach sorbet. Che took great care of me. Michelle took the time to come over and say Hi, while trying to manage many tasks as a rain storm was approaching. The general manager should be congratulated for the great staff and Outstanding Service. I will be back many times and always tell my friends an coworkers to go to Mon Ami !!
(5)
Kari S.
FANTASTIC FANTASTIC FANTASTIC. My husband ordered the steak frites and I ordered the onion soup -- absolutely fabulous! Federico was our waiter and he was terrific. We will be back soon, as in next week.
(5)
Peter L.
Love the nice cafe feel. Sometimes you beed a place to get away and not feel like you are in a Bethesda restaurant...Mon Ami Gabi does just that.
(4)
Christina O.
Went to Mon Ami Gabi for brunch with the husband and friends one lovely Sunday morning. Service was pretty prompt and waitstaff were there when you needed them. Everyone got something different and everyone very much enjoyed their meals. The complimentary fresh-baked baguette they provide is really excellent. I'm pretty much always on the hunt for great baguettes, and it's the closest I've found to what you get in Paris itself. In sum, excellent. I'll be back.
(5)
Bill S.
Mon Ami is perfect for brunch and this is what the review is based on. The decor is French bistro and creates a good atmosphere for a eating. They go out of their way to try for good service but occasionally do get orders wrong . At this writing I have about 35 check-ins so I am speaking from a long history rather than one visit. They have a number of on going promotions that also keep us coming back. Current check in gets you a free chocolate moose which is very goo. They also have a sign up text offer which has gotten us free shrimp coattails which are absolutely excellent, offering huge shrimp and a cocktail/horseradish sauce that treats the taste buds. We have also gotten onion soup as a a text-ed promotion which is also great. They have a large selection of wine by the glass an offer you a taste before committing, very nice. Now to the food for brunch. My absolute favorite is the eggs Benedict with salmon, perfect! I have had mixed experience with their mussels. sometimes you get a couple of nasty ones in the serving that should not have gotten through. Their stake sandwich is delicious with the dip sauce they provide. Their cappuccino is excellent as is their coffee. The servers are very good at keeping your cups full. We go go back two or three times a month and its a sure thing for brunch!
(5)
David G.
Great brunch place if you like French cuisine. I ordered the lobster roll which, while delicious, was very skimpy on the amount of lobster meat but plenty of bread and veggies. Let's face it though, lobster rolls are already small as it is. The least you can do is not skimp out on the most important part. My girlfriend, on the other hand, ordered the escargot, which was cooked and served to perfection. Always a good sign when the snails are not overcooked. Would definitely recommend this place for the service and delectable options.
(4)
Nick L.
Came here for Sunday brunch this past weekend. I must note that if a friend didn't suggest it then I would have gone elsewhere due to a previous dinner experience that was sub par. Brunch was excellent! I would return for brunch without hesitation. Prices are a bit high, but what do you expect, they have prime real estate in the heart of Reston Town Center. Also the outside patio is a lovely place to enjoy brunch. I got the eggs Maryland (Benedict with a crab cake on it) Fantastic!!!
(4)
Dawnn J.
Saturday Brunch!! Delish!! Perfect weather for outside eating. Eggs Benedict with smoke salmon yummmmmy!! Fresh baguette with raspberry jam and they even had creme fraise (but u have to ask for it). Marquis Rose...bubbles...make this the perfect brunch!!!
(5)
Toby R.
First of all, go for the "frites" with anything!!! They are magical and need no ketchup or other condiments. Ok, now that I've prologued with that, the service is nothing short of mesmerizing. Very attentive wait staff. Also, they have some great steak dishes, especially the one with bleu cheese on it. Also, if you are a burger aficionado, try theirs...unreal.
(4)
Yesica L.
We went for dinner with some friends to mon ami gabi I'm giving it an ok because the onion soup was ok in my opinion and the cassoulet was really salty and it didn't even have any pork just pure fat I didn't like at all I'll rather go to bistro doc in DC.
I have been to this restaurant at least 4 times prior to writing this review. The service was great and the food was great, but one bad experience can make or break what you think of a place. Although we had a reservation we still had to wait 30 minutes before being seated, don't get me wrong that's not the part I will be reviewing, but just throwing it in there. Service was good for the most part, drinks and apps came in a decent amount of time considering the restaurant to be very very busy. However, my entree is what I am here to review. As all 6 members at the table were being served their entree, I find something odd on my plate. I notice it out of the corner of my eye, and yes something moved...there was a BIG STINK BUG CRAWLING ON MY PLATE on the garnish. There was a LIVE BUG on my plate!!! I didn't make a scene (which any one would have had a reason to scream and make a scene) and alerted our server about the live bug. He apologized and said he would bring me a new dish. However he joked around and tried to play it down. No manager came by to apologize and nothing was done to make me or my table feel more at ease. The new entree came out fairly fast but still, if my steak was over cooked that would be the least they would have done regardless...so we were all astounded that nothing else was done, I mean we shouldn't have to ask or demand something to be done, because in any other place, that is the norm. We will never be returning.
(1)
Milli D.
I love their wine! They also have a great deal for Happy Hour. The place is a bit pricey for the quality of food so it wouldn't be my go to, but the happy hour prices make it totally worth while. Just make sure you get there early enough, the bar area is a bit small and it fills up quickly. This is a great place to grab food and drinks with friends after work.
(4)
Robbin L.
I absolutely love the cauliflower puree. It's really the only reason I come to this restaurant. I also appreciate the intimacy of the bar area and live jazz music. Overall, the food is good and I would recommend making a reservation to secure a spot.
(4)
Verina A.
Wait time was NONE. Went with a group of friends for lunch. I got the steak sandwich and it tasted AMAZING and the dipping sauce tasted phenomenal!
(5)
Racquel C.
I went there for lunch, and it was amazing! Loved the ambience, and the service was good - not great! The food was great! Look forward to returning for happy hour! I had the rockfish special - simply delicious!
(4)
Catie C.
Really. $33 for a salad, fries, and dessert. A salad which had five spinach leaves, five walnuts, and a handful of cranberries.... for $17? Seriously. Worst lunch ever. I really can't believe I spent that much money just now
(1)
Dean D.
The menu items here are very hit and miss but I'm never disappointed. This is one of my favorite places in the neighborhood. I love their French onion soup sitting outside on a nice day and their desserts especially the banana foster crepe. The muscles rival that of the muscle bar next-door. Each of the times I've been here the service has been excellent. I can recommend the seafood crapes hamburgers and fries. The quiche while inexpensive was not that impressive. The French onion soup is big enough to split amongst two people and they will bring out two bowls.
the wine was nice, and the dessert was fantastic. But unfortunately, the bread was stale, the onion soup tasted burnt, the pesto on the chicken was bitter and the chicken itself was dry, and the steak was tough. Not a repeat for me.
I came here with a group of friends for Restaurant Week and had a great experience. Service was by far the highlight of our meal, as our waiter was incredibly courteous and helpful. I had the onion soup as an appetizer, the steak with bordelaise sauce as an entree, and the peach sorbet for dessert. Our table also split a bottle of bordeaux, which pricey but a good pairing with our meal. I loved this onion soup because it wasn't overly salty even with all of the melted cheese on top. The steak was cooked perfectly rare, although I think I prefer a creamy sauce and will get that next time instead of the bordelaise. The peach sorbet was light and went down easy after all of the heavy foods beforehand. All of the portions were decently sized, and I was stuffed after my meal and especially after helping myself to the plentiful supply of french baguettes on our table. I would definitely come back here for Restaurant Week or if I were looking to splurge on a nice meal.
(4)
Indrani D.
We had the Seafood Crepe, Onion Soup and frites. Everything is delicious. Our waist was the kindest and sweetest. Will come back for the free chocolate mousse, a gift for checking in with Yelp, next time.
(4)
Emily N.
Love this place! Discovered it awhile ago while staying at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. Definitely upscale and not just for your everyday go to restaurant. Steak au poivre medium rare and extra sauce is my always go to entree! Don't forget to get their french onion soup. If you want to split one order you can! Just ask your waiter to split it and they will bake it in separate dishes too.
(4)
Rich G.
Every restaurant in the DC area is trying to imitate their Steak Frites, with little success. My favorite restaurant. Ever.
(5)
Ahmed R.
I came here this past Saturday for brunch. We sat outside on the front patio. I had eggs benedict with steak. Typically I eat this with salmon, but decided to try steak since it isn't common. The eggs were tasty, but the steak was cold and just didn't taste right. It wasn't cooked well. The potatoes were great though. I tried my wife's vanilla waffle, and that was delicious! But the apples on it were so-so. Our server was very nice and courteous, but he didn't fully know the menu and told us a couple incorrect things. We also had to ask twice for certain things like ice and water. Service could have been better. Overall, place was pretty good and I'd come back.
(4)
Amanda K.
LOVE LOVE LOVE, coming here for weekend brunch. I've had the berry french toast, the mussels, and a delicious open face heirloom tomato sandwich; and all of them were perfection. Wait staff is always stellar. They have several people who walk around making sure your drinks are full and bread is available to the table leaving your main waiter to get your order in. I love earing out on their huge patio. It's in a great area downtown and I can't get enough of the food and atmosphere.
(5)
Andrew W.
This place is located on the street so parking may be a bit difficult. We came here only for dessert. Upon entering we noticed the atmosphere of this place to be very classy, modern and intimate. Perfect for a date or a night out with your dressed up friends. We were immediately greeted and seated by a friendly waitress. The service was quick. We ordered a white chocolate banana bread and used the YELP check in to get a free chocolate mouse. The chocolate mouse was made from dark chocolate and was perfectly light and airy. The dark chocolate aspect made the dessert not overly sweet. The white chocolate banana bread came out warm. It was more custard heavy but i didnt mind. It was on the sweeter note but overall with the ice cream it was well balanced. The price was a bit more pricier than expected. Overalll this is a wodnerful place and i would come back again anytime.
(4)
Eddie K.
Been going here for years. Never disappoints. Value and service is pretty good. Have been coming here for brunch and dinner. I have never been disappointed with the food or service. I think for Bethesda, the menu prices are pretty reasonable. They give you french bread- nice and crunchy. Can't beat the steak frites for $22.95. That's the entree I get when I dine here. The escargots and warm brie cheese are great appetizers. During brunch, the crepes are pretty good.
(5)
Steve H.
We walked in Tuesday night with no reservation and were seated immediately. There was live music (horns, etc - basically smooth Jazz) which we appreciated and our waiter was prompt and helpful. We both ordered steak frites. However, neither steak was cooked right - a difficult task to be sure given how thin the steaks were. I mentioned this to our waiter (without expectation - just to generally let them know that their steaks were not being cooked right) and he comped our dessert. That was very nice of him. If the steaks are cooked better next time (we'll definitely be back). I will bump to 5 stars. Yes, it's that good. :)
(4)
Daisy T.
I love french restaurants..... they have a very whimsical and romantic association for me.I have been to Mon Ami Gabi few times for both happy hour and dinner and have enjoyed it every single time. The service is friendly and the food is pretty good. I have had their caramelized scallops, frites and the Almond Trout (this was very delicately prepared) to name a few and have relished all of these. I have also had their salmon and tuna sandwiches for happy hour and they were all very good. I plan on coming here more esp for happy hour as they also have food specials. A solid four from my side.
(4)
Corrie P.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in the area. Intimate, classy Parisian style atmosphere (we love sitting at the front) Fantastic wait staff - They have even given us a couple of complimentary items in the few times we've been there! I love the warm baguette they give you with all meals - and it goes perfect with the mussels! Steak frites are awesome and I don't even like steak. The desserts are killer and you can get a decent bottle of wine for around $30. This place is a total win for date night!
(4)
Helen C.
Brunch today was fantastic! I loved my chicken and mushroom crepe. My friend's blueberry french toast was the best french toast I've had in a really long time. It was perfectly soft and drenched in syrup without being too sugary sweet. There were lots of blueberries which was great. They give real maple syrup here, rather than the fake corn syrup you get at cheap places. We finished with the chocolate mousse which was amazing. I really liked the small crunchy chocolate balls on top; it was nice to add the crunchy texture to the smooth mousse.
(5)
Lisa D.
Great foot but a bit overpriced. I order the steak and it was wonderfully cooked and served with delicious fries. Starting off our meal Was a bit off as nobody every explained the carrot dish and we were given lunch me yes instead of dinner ones which was quite upsetting to learn after we had decide on our dishes. Overall lets just say he lunch Menue looks much better
Solid option. Not too corporate and the price point is pretty reasonable for the offer. I wish I remembered my server's name from yesterday. He made the experience even better. Perfect for a date or dinner with a friend.
(5)
Angela K.
I haven't gone back yet but the manager did reach out, apologize, and give me a gift card to use for my next visit. For that, I am rating them 5 stars for them trying to correct a customer's poor experience. Thank you, Mon Ami Gabi.
I had a very pivotal business meeting with a president and vice president of a bank along with a colleague at Mon Ami Gabbi today in Reston Virginia. The wait staff was very considerate of our conversations and NEVER interrupted us, finding their way along our entire meeting without hesitation. Needless to say I was successful with all parties and had to thank the staff for a wonderful lunch menu of Leek Soup, French onion soup, their mustard salmon was amazing and tried the scallops that were cooked to perfection. Mon Ami is perfect for your discerning palate, well priced and very conducive for your important meetings.
(5)
Mary L.
Recently I discovered that I have a gluten intolerance, so finding a decent place to eat has been pretty tough. I was tired of pizza and bun less burgers and I saw that this place has a gluten free menu. I went with my friend at around 530 on a Saturday night and it quickly filled up after we got there so I would get there early, make a reservation or be prepared to wait a little. If you tell your server that you need a gluten free menu, they bring you out two pieces of multi-grain complementary gluten free bread. It's not bad and it comes with a side of olives and honey butter. My friend and I ordered the baked feta cheese appetizer to share and I asked if they could serve it with some gluten free bread instead. Our server was very nice and the chef said it was no problem so she brought out a couple of pieces of the gluten free bread with the garlic pesto sauce on it. The baked feta was pretty tasty combined with the tomato sauce and bread. I also got the gluten free onion soup. It wasn't bad! I mostly just eat the cheese part and call it a night. For my main dish, I ordered the Chicken Paillard. The chicken was a little overcooked and they were a little chintzy on the sauce. However, the combination of the mushrooms and roasted squash were delicious. Dessert was a white chocolate/chocolate mousse which was also pretty good as far as mousses go. My friend got the Wild Boar Ragu which she said was really good. She was overstuffed on all of the bread though since I couldn't eat the whole baguette that they brought to our table! The food was pretty good and they had a decent selection for a gluten free menu as well. I loved that they had fresh gluten free bread that was not Udi's white bread either. Overall: good food + helpful, super friendly server + decent menu selection for gluten free = This is definitely a place that i can come eat at when I am tired of gluten free pasta, pizza and bun less burgers!
(4)
Joseph H.
Restaurant Week Review: Stopped by here with my girlfriend when we saw the deal they were having ($35 for a 3 course meal). The atmosphere was pretty good, reminded me of being in Quebec, and eating at the french style restaurants up there. Outdoor seating seems to be the thing in downtown Bethesda. appetizers started off with a French onion soup for me and a Gazpacho for my girlfriend. French onion soup was served in a fairly large mug, and met my expectations. Nothing spectacular, but it delicious nonetheless. The Gazpacho was much better than i anticipated. Very delicate, but focused on a specific flavor that was exceptional for a cold soup. Steak Frites is their specialty, and is essentially a 10 oz. steak with fries (common fare in French Brassieres). While the sauce served with the steak (i ordered garlic/herb/butter, my girlfriend ordered a lemon butter) was pretty good, the steak was cooked a little too well for my taste, which is dissapointing, considering how easy it is to sear a thin steak. It was a good meal, filling with the fries, but the steak does leave something to be desired Dessert we both decided to get the Creme Brulee. Right amount of glazing on the surface, and a distinct liqueur taste that permeated the dish. Typical creme brulees ive ordered tend to either have too much glazing and the custard is more a pudding/soup than anything else. Not here. Props given here Service was excellent, no complaints, especially on a busy Friday night during restaurant week. Wine selection was focused very heavily on french wines. Personally, im not a huge french wine drinker, prefer spanish wines, so i cant really give an honest POV on this matter. While this was a fun restaurant to be at, outside of restaurant week specials, its hard to see myself coming here again for their prices. But if youre looking for something to try out or a new place to take someone out to, this is not a bad choice
(3)
Sang K.
Subject: Mon Ami Gabi Pros: Cozy interior, Usually excellent service Cons: Slightly overpriced, At times inconsistent Experience: I've come to Mon Ami Gabi 5+ times and have enjoyed it every time. The simple carrot salad that comes with the french bread is addicting and the steak frites rarely disappoint. You have to be prepared for them to mess up the doneness on the steaks because of the thinness of the meat. The service is always on point and attentive. I've had a waiter pour me free glasses of wine that he thought would go well with my order (can't expect this but it was nice). Conclusion: Solid, steak frites dinner spot with above average service
(4)
Cat K.
The setting is charming even for a corporate owned restaurant. And some of the waiters were enthusiastic, at times a little too much for me but I appreciated the effort. Steak frites is good, though the frites aren't typical shoestring or standard cut fries. I enjoyed the variation but wished the fries had more substance to them. The shrimp cocktail arrived surprisingly large. They have a solid gluten-free menu as well and the waiter was attentive to and respectful of my partner's good sensitivity. After two courses we unfortunately did not have room for dessert.
(4)
Lola E.
The food is delicious, but the customer service is superb! The warm baguette and room temperature butter was a great start. I also enjoyed the pate and steak frites. The profiteroles are perfectly made.
(4)
Daniel L.
First Yelp! I'm gonna break things down this way: a quick section and a more detailed section. I came here with my girlfriend, and this is what went down... Food: 5 Price/Value: 4 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Food: 5 We had onion soup, mussels marini re (half-order), bordelaise steak frites, side garlic spinach. All the ingredients are local and fresh, and then they add wine. So good. They're known for their steak, and it was amazing - thin cut, but perfect texture and great taste. The meal is kinda heavy, so the spinach was necessary. Price/Value: 4 Standard price steak ~$22. Other things are a bit pricey, but that's because they're using fresh local ingredients with herbs and wine, portions are pretty big, and you're eating French in Bethesda. We were so full. Not one of those restaurants where you have to keep on eating the free bread to get full. Total bill was ~$50 for the happiness of two people. Service: 5 Waiters were so friendly to us and knowledgeable about their menu. We shared everything, and they brought everything out on separate plates! Impressive! Atmosphere: 5 We ate outside next to a quiet street and some flowers. Everything is clean, light is ambient, and atmosphere is pretty lively. Tips You Should Know: If it's your first time, you get a free dessert! Would I recommend? Yes - take your better looking dates here!
We had a reservation and was seated very promptly. Our server was very attentive and overall very friendly. He made small talk and revisited our table often to make sure everything was alright. I started with the escargot which was very rich and full of flavor. The steak frites "hanger skirt" I ordered was not what I expected. The steak was very tough and not much flavor to it. I recommend coming here for the amazing service and the starters but the steaks were mediocre.
Tried the steak frites and they did not disappoint. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the steaks.
(4)
Arnaud C.
I have a new favorite... but I shouldn't share it with you because they run out of it every evening pretty fast: the skate wings, served with roasted cauliflower, spaetzle (german pasta) and capers: Delicious!
(5)
Andrew G.
Great food, inconsistent service unfortunately from an otherwise very kind server. It was our first visit, we'll probably go back. PRO: Excellent and reasonably-priced kids menu, cool TV-dinner style tray for the kids, tasty chicken strips and fish sticks of the homemade variety (not from Costco). Great hanger steak and mussels, and decent (but not crispy) frites. Nice steak sauces (fun to try a bunch of them if you ask). Pretty basic, high quality food at a very good price, and nice portions. Server split our entrees for us at no charge, brought bonus desserts for the two of us that didn't order one. CON: Server didn't bring starters or bread until after I asked, bananas foster crepe was the absolute low note of the meal- a cold crepe with a single cold raw banana rolled up inside, with some caramel sauce on the top. Just not what we were envisioning although techincally it did have all the parts of bananas foster included in the serving... Summary: Food worth going back for, server who will get better with experience...
(3)
Lauren S.
My mom and I ate here after trying to find a good dog-friendly place to eat after I picked her up from BWI. We were very hungry, so it was a relief to be seated right away and get our complimentary baguette. We were able to sit outside on the patio, which was very nice, and the waiter brought a little dish for my dog to drink from. The service was attentive, and the food was really good. I had the eggs florentine, which was great, and my mom was very happy with her quiche lorraine. Overall, this is a really nice restaurant, and it's a great dog-friendly place to go.
(5)
Trish V.
Crowded, but the service is lovely and the cold seafood platter for two is terrific. The big downside is no valet.
(4)
Sooyeon L.
Salmon tartare was pretty nasty. Steak was good. Service was pretty terrible. Definitely disappointed and wouldn't recommend it.
(2)
Chetan A.
Great Wine List! Great cosy ambience! Even better stakes ! I love the fact that there are so many options for Meatoholics ! It's a good place for a great meal that won't burn your pocket !
(4)
C W.
Came for brunch on a saturday & had great food & service! French onion soup-well seasoned, rich flavor, good portion. Blueberry french toast-soo yummy!! Didnt really need the syrup as it was moist, light, just the right amount of sweetness. Probably one of the best if not the best french toast I've tried. Lamb sammie-good balance of flavors with adequate slices of lamb. Mix of greens on the side gave some acidity. Escargot-hubby had this & loved it. Used the bread to dip all the buttery garlicky goodness in all the pods. Would like to come back to check out dinner!
(4)
Anna Y.
This place was sosososo good :D I got the daily special which was bacon wrapped filet mignon...and it was amazing. Cooked perfectly and the bacon was delicious. It was a bit pricey..but I enjoyed every single bite of it. My three friends and I also got three desserts. We used the Yelp check-in to get the free chocolate mousse and also got the banana foster crepe and the profiteroles. The chocolate mousse was pretty plain..just a normal chocolate mousse. It had some yummy chocolate bits though which is good. The banana foster crepe was yummy but the best was the profiteroles. SO delicious...I would totally get it again. We were celebrating my friend's birthday and the restaurant gave her a free profiterole so that was pretty cool. Awesome service, the waiter was very personable and the dining experience was great!
(4)
Miah L.
Delicious and great service. A little pricey, but it is Bethesda + a nice French restaurant so it is warranted more than others in the area. Definitely worth a try.
(5)
Cat C.
Great Food, great service! The warm bread with butter is great! I usually order the steak frites the original one with the butter. The mushroom soup is delicious. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)
Ali D.
This place is awesome! Always bustling, always prompt service, reasonable prices, excellent execution. I have been here 5 times in the past 2-3 years and always leave impressed. Bethesda offers a much better quality/price ratio than DC
(5)
Andrea S.
Their pure here was amazing, i truly loved it...but nothing else stands out in my mind. I would go again for the pure. Their stake was very tasty but not out of this world.
Amazing brunch experience! Came here on my birthday and had the most incredible, decadent seafood crepe. Lots of shrimp and scallops and great fresh veggies. The crepe itself was light and fluffy, and the cream sauce drizzled on top of it was UNREAL. For an app we had the chicken liver pate.... HUGE portion with delicious bread. I think I literally ate the last bit with a spoon. SO GOOD. My only complaint would be that coffee was a little cold and cost $3.50 for a teacup size. Extremely pricey for what we got. But, overall, a great experience with amazing food.
(4)
AJ A.
The good(s).. We got seated right away on a Saturday night and somewhat baby friendly. Atmosphere was ok Escargot was great! Mussels on the appetizer was great as well! The bad(s) My steak was not cooked right.. Gave it back same result.. Steak didn't really taste that good
(3)
A L.
Elegant yet low key. Love the ambiance and service.
(4)
Sally Y.
Mon Ami Gabi is quite the popular restaurant in the heart of Bethesda. I went to the restaurant on a busy weekend night to celebrate a friend's birthday. The restaurant offers complementary bread and butter. Since it was my first time at the restaurant, I didn't realize that the waiters literally drop a small baguette in a paper bag. Normally, I am used to sliced bread but it was very fresh and good bread. Quite hot. My disappointment came with the limited variety on the menu. Basically it is steak frites or nothing at all. Please keep in mind that if you want their special, you should aim to arrive earlier in the evening or reserve it for your meal. The waiter had neglected to mention that they had run out of the beef Wellington until after he had mentioned it and after we had ordered it. I tasted both the onion soup and the duck confit. The onion soup was surprisingly good and I say this because oftentimes onion soup is too salty. You can't truly go wrong with duck confit but I found this dish to be a bit dry although still flavorful. I ordered the steak bearnaise. I must admit that Mon Ami Gabi does make a rather flavorful and well-cooked steak. The steak here isn't the typical thick cut American steak but rather a hanger steak so expect something flat. Good portion as a main dish. Too much for me to eat. The bearnaise sauce went really well with the fries (frites). Almost everyone at my table helped himself/herself to my sauce. We didn't order anything for dessert with the exception of the free chocolate mousse we received by checking in on Yelp. Good dessert but nothing too spectacular. The texture was somewhat off to a few of the people at my table but not awful. My somewhat average rating is partially due to the poor wait service on that night. As I said previously, Mon Ami Gabi is a popular restaurant and it gets extremely busy. That said, my waiter in particular was nowhere to be found when we needed him. We rarely caught sight of him in the actual restaurant. Most of the time we caught him chatting up neighboring patrons if he was in the dining area. The fastest service we received was getting and paying the bill. Go figure. In summary, Mon Ami Gabi is fine for a normal dinner but probably a little overrated and definitely too busy/crowded for my liking.
(3)
Samantha L.
Welcome to a post about yet another restaurant that I should have visited months, probably even years ago. I decided to finally go check it out during during Bethesda Restaurant Week for lunch. 3 courses for $16... its a great deal! Another reason we picked this restaurant is that my friend is gluten free, and Mon Ami Gabi does a really great job of making sure there are items on the menu that are safe and yummy to eat! I picked the Caesar Salad for my appetizer. It was just ok. A little over-dressed and soggy... For my entree I went for something i almost NEVER pick... Steak. I picked the Steak Fritte with a classique butter. The steak itself was quite tasty. The fries were a little too crispy for my taste... Not overcooked... just very think and crispy. For dessert I actually went "off the menu" my friend had arranged for sorbet instead of the Chocolate Chip Cookie because of her gluten issue. It was a rather hot afternoon, so I politely asked the waiter if I too could have some sorbet. He agreed! The sorbet was probably my favorite part of the meal. It was definitely home made, and very fresh. Not too sweet and not too sour. Would I go back to Mon Ami Gabi.. I'm not sure.... Was it a good deal for Restaurant Week... ABSOLUTELY! Is it a good place to go if you are eating with people who have gluten allergies... YES!
(3)
Parisa A.
Really loved the food here. The service was great not to mention the atmosphere. I will definitely be back! I had a steak which was perfectly cooked. With that i ordered a french onion soup which was also brilliant and not too salty (just the way i like it). Lastly for dessert I had a chocolate mouse which was mouth watering. Great place!!!
(4)
Cory P.
My wife and I ventured to Mon Ami Gabi for the first time. I have heard great things and thought is would be a quality enough place to go for an anniversary dinner without having to head all the way into DC. The result: mediocre. The main plates where good quality as we ordered the filet mignon and an order of the fish of the day - a South American Cobia dish - but the serving was relatively small so we found out the Escargot was not enough of an appetizer to make sure we didn't leave hungry. The service was good, decor was fine, but nothing super-special. We probably will not be back given there are just so many more compelling options as we move into DC in the coming weeks at similarly or cheaper pricing.
(3)
Mike J.
Business lunch on the side patio. Gluten free bread, white peach tea, the blueberry, walnut salad sub ahi tuna- light, classy, good European style feel and service
(5)
Anna T.
Deff an old people place...ahem...fancy rich old people place. They start you off with a foot long french bread that seems to be 3 days old. Whats funny is that its rock hard so you're left sawing off what seems to be wood for the upcoming winter months. My question is, how the hell can these old folks even eat this? Answer! They slobber until its bread pudding because that's what fine dining is all about. Anyways, the food is served in pretty large portions, almost family sized! As far as flavor, I suppose you have to slobber and suck that out as well... This place gets a pretty decent rating due to the fact that their customer base has already lost their taste buds. Example: Mushroom soup? Bland! Please pass the salt! Besides all that, we had a great server. It was busy that night so our food came out a bit slow but he made that up by giving us all complimentary desserts! P.S. don't bother checking in Yelp! for a free chocolate mousse, it was not good. A table full of girls not wanting a second bite says something.
(2)
Jen L.
I generally find European food bland and uncreative. However, I prefer Mediterranean food to Northern European food. The steak was moist, juicy, and very sweet. The french onion soup was sweet and overflowing with chewy thick cheese.
(3)
Meana K.
The food is consistently good. The service has varied -- I've had excellent service and I've had subpar service where you could tell the server was treating my table differently than others being served. Maybe we don't look like we've got money to spend? I've been here probably a dozen times in the past several years. When I'm in the mood for a steak, the hangar steak Mon Ami Gabi satiates that craving. Their mussels and onion soup have always been good. Their crepes are delicious and filling, and they have a bloody mary bar for brunch as well. I'm always well-stuffed here thanks to the bread and butter and their hand-cut frites that I can't get enough of. I'll still keep this toward the top of my list, but hope to see better consistency with the good service I know they're capable of giving.
(4)
Troy H.
Don't you hate when prior ruin your mood? I just went in here for a few glasses of wine. I asked the bartender if I could sit outside bc they have plenty of open tables. He says no, then he says ask the hostess. She was super pleasant even though I still got a no lol. The male host asked the manager... thank god and he said yes! The bartender told me I had to pay then and there... (not to sound ostentatious but I didn't want to) I told him I wanted ti order a couple of glasses before I left. He gave me my check, completely disregarding what I said. I thought the guest was always right. I usually don't leave these kindof reviews but he was not polite about it in anyway and it blew me. #justsaying. If you want ti relax alone without ordering food... go elsewhere, they make you feel awkward.
(2)
Sann G.
Mon Ami Gabi in Bethesda isn't likely to offend anyone's taste buds but neither is it likely to excite other than a lover of run of the mill uninspired fare. The food served here provides a mediocre homogenized French restaurant experience. Mussels, usually a signature dish of French bistro dining, were not accorded any special treatment in the MAG kitchen- they lacked depth of flavor or any kind of surprising herb elements. The Chicken Paillard was bland, not properly flattened, and accompanied by tasteless, dessicated vegetables. The skate wing was a bit better but also far from memorable. The service was OK but not engaging. For the caliber of the food, it's overpriced. Surely there are better French restaurants to be found at comparable prices.
(2)
George P.
Went here for the first time about a month ago. I made a note that it was anniversary and they threw in two nice cakes at the end of the dinner. The food was awesome, and their fries (I forgot their actual name) were well seasoned. The waiter seemed to know that we were in a rush due to parking so got us out of there promptly, which was appreciated.
(5)
Penny C.
Been here several times now. Their complimentary bread (not a fan of the carrots they give you to eat with the bread) and the scallops are very good. Nothing else is really that good. Their steaks are just OK and their fries are pretty bad. They are cut very thinly and then deep fried to hard slivers. Not the kind of fries I prefer. They really are not a classic French restaurant but a lot of people come here for the ambience.
(3)
J W.
I'll never eat in this place again. And it's too bad. We've been eating here for decades. The reason we ate there was that the nation of France had done something that annoyed the US, I've forgotten what it was since this was almost 25 years ago or more. People started to boycott the place because it was a French restaurant. The owner wrote a long, very passionate article in a local newspaper about how he had come America to build his dream and now he was facing ruin for something he hadn't done. I believe in anybody who follows their dreams and anybody who believes in America. So we ate there to show the guy our support. Mon Ami remains one of the best white table cloth place in Bethesda. It's affordable food, served with the aura of a five star restaurant. (They now offer a gluten free menu by the way, which is pretty damn good) Try the frites and steak. Here's the bad news. We ate there the other night ($77.55) and wanted a recipe for a mixed carrot dish, because my wife and I both enjoy cooking and although the dish was simple, it had vinegar, and too much or to little can kill a dish and on line recipes are seldom written for a two person serving. We asked the waiter, Vincent, for the recipe. Vincent was in a hurry to go someplace, we don't know where, or he was under some sort of pressure, but he place wasn't crowded....still the question seemed to tax him. He rambled off the recipe very fast. Evidently this was not his first rodeo for recipes. We thanked him and explained that we knew the ingredient's, we were asking for the recipes. The guy who made it, the chef, would have it. Vincent rambled off the ingredients again. And who says men don't listen? We let it go. Vincent was cranky and having a bad day we suspected and seemed stunned that a man would want a recipe. After the meal, we gave it one more try, and, speaking slowly and wearing a smile so as not to seem threatening, we explained that we were asking about the amounts used in the recipe. Vincent was very unhappy....very unhappy... that we were still on recipe issue and snapped "I already told you." Did you ever have one of those moments when you don't believe what your hearing? It was like that. If his rude reply had been delivered in a French accent, you know, it would have been almost acceptable. I held my hands out, palms down, is the internationally recognized signal for calm the frig down and asked "Well would you ask the chef for the name of the dish? We'll look it up ourselves." Poor Vincent's head exploded. He explained, I swear to God these were his words "There is no recipe. We make it here and nobody else makes it so there is no recipe and I already gave you the recipe" I'm gambling Vincent didn't do well on his school science projects. I also expected him to end his rant with the words "So there!" Anyway, I'm not going to lower myself by falling into an argument with a waiter over carrots.....steak maybe......but not carrots because it would reduce me to the status of an angry rabbit. With steak, if things went to far, you could also explain later "It was over steak". People get that. Still, Vincent's over the top answer was way, way, way out of line. So I came home and wrote it all down here, on Yelp and gave the place one star. But this begs the question, should a waiter act like a jerk to a customer? Well, yes and no. Being a waiter is a tough job, harder than it looks and dealing with the public on a walk in traffic basis isn't easy. Some people are difficult with wait staff just for cruel fun of it and the guy who was there before me may have been one of those people and I was paying for it. Okay, fair enough....but I gave Vincent three chances to be civilized, I'm not asking for hat in hand stuff here, just be nice that's all. Be civilized. But he was nasty and aggressive three times. A few days later one of the principles sent me a note, offered the recipe (We found on line) and asked if his general manager could contact me. I said, sure. Please have him contact me. I then explained that the overall restaurant shouldn't suffer because of the actions of a sole waiter who should probably be in another line of work and changed the stars rating because, admittedly, I was not being reasonable when I gave them out. I was steamed and I should have waited to write the review. Vincent is an unhappy human being, perhaps because of his probable failures in school science, the pain of giving up secret recipes, I don't know, but the food at Mon Ami is good and I do eat in the Reston location after I take in a film out there, since I live in Virginia now. I was also trying to be reasonable. You know what? As soon as I changed the ratings back to five, I never heard from the principle, the general manager, Vincent...nobody......I especially hurt over Vincent not contacting me but anyway..........how, how...how Parisian of you Mon Gabi.
(1)
P T.
Great location, food and service. Everything was incredibly tasty. We tried a couple of appetizers, two steaks (that comes with lots of frites) and chocolate mousse. Great experience. Will return soon.
I go to this restaurant often after the movie theatre, which is next door. The food is pretty good comfort stuff, standard French fare with steak and fries, or roast chicken, salad, not strange dishes, the bread is fantastic though I try not to eat too much to save my appetite for the main course. The place is big with an ample room in the back, do not be fooled by the narrow entrance and bar. The wine list is as expected as expected for this kind of restaurant.
(4)
Robert C.
I was really excited to try this place. There aren't that many French restaurants nearby where I live. Steak Au Poivre - Brandy Peppercorn Sauce ($22.95) - Grain-Feed Midwest Steak with Hand-Cut Frites. This was recommended by our server. The steak isn't bad & the sauce was pretty decent. It's nothing special in my book. But the frites're delicious, very thin yet crunchy. The frites're def the highlight of my dinner. Chicken Liver Mousse ($6.95) - With Burgundy Red Wine Mustard & Toasted Brioche. This appetizer isn't bad, however they need to give more brioche. It doesn't taste as good if you just eat the liver mousse by itself. Overall - The service's pretty good, but the food's just ok in my book. It doesn't really justify good authentic French food in my opinion.
(3)
Andrew K.
Service has consistently been great at every Mon Ami Gabi I've been to and this was no different. I tried the duck confit special and it was delicious. For appetizers we got the soup sampler which came with 3 different samples of soup in small cups. I really liked the french onion soup while my wife loved the mushroom soup. They also give you a whole loaf of french bread with jam and butter and that was good too. I wasn't a big fan of the fries here because I prefer thicker fries. I also tried the salmon and it was good.
(4)
Chanel A.
Amazing restaurant! I love that when you sit down they give you fresh, and warm baquette. And its unlimited. The ambiance is super romantic, and great decor. I had the scallop small dish and house pinot. It was delicious. I will surely return!
I came here with a friend and had a lovely brunch. Nice atmosphere and attentive service, including a visit from the manager who came by to greet us since we had noted we were first time visitors in our reservation. Seems like it would be a nice place to bring parents or other guests.
(4)
Pamela T.
I came here for my nieces 1 month old birthday. We sat in the same location my sister found out she was having a girl. As we sat down we were greeted by our server. He offered us drinks and bread. At that time we were so hungry. We looked at the menu and saw assortments of entrees and appetizers. There was a group of 7 adults and 1 baby. My sister ordered Skate, Her in laws ordered a burger, fish and salad, my mom, brother in law, my boyfriend and I ordered the rib. It comes with either mash potatoes or fries and your choice of sauce. We asked for both bernaise and this yummy red wine, onion jam. For appetizers we ordered oysters, and escargot. Oysters are yummy and not too salty, Escargot of course was just right and my mom really enjoyed it. The entrees came and let me tell you about my rib eye.. it was DELICIOUS. We all ordered it medium rare and it was so tasty. In my belief if it taste good without the sauce its really good. We added the sauce with it and it tasted even better. Our drinks were always filled, no cost on refills on soda. I really enjoyed this place and can't wait to go back.
(5)
Rich K.
I have eaten here twice now and seems to me somewhat off.The restaurant is nice enough to look at, but the food? Steak frites is ok except the frites part , over cooked shards of potato soggy.Uck! Better homemade fries at 5 guys or cheeseburger cheeseburger. I had roast duck and the sauce was very bland . On another occasion rainbow trout almandine that was under seasoned , cheap with the almonds and would have been improved with the addition of some lemon juice?To me this chain french restaurant try's hard, but misses about half the time.
(2)
Jon E.
Last night had a holiday dinner at Mon Ami Gabi. Not only was the food delicious, the service wonderful (thanks Jillian) and the ambiance great but to top off the dinner each of us received a small loaf of honey cake and a personal note of appreciation from the staff for dining there! I can't rave about this place enough!
(5)
Sophie M.
One of my all time favorites! Everything is excellent from the food to the service. The only down side is parking is never easy and it is a little pricey but it's worth it! You cannot go wrong with anything on their menu. Their French Onion Soup is amazing, the Mussels are divine, Steak Frites are delicious, I have never had anything I didn't enjoy. The profiterols are to die for with their homemade fudge sauce......you end up wanting to lick the plate! The blue cheese martini is dangerously good! The place itself is like being in a bistro in France and there is outdoor seating which is lovely as well! I always love my trips to Mon Ami Gabi and there will be many more in the future!
(5)
Carol C.
Okay, I get it, it's not the hyper authentic carved out of the streets of Paris bistro that real Francophiles (just go to France already) want to be associated with. Yes, the waiters speak perfect English and no, please don't bring your bichon frise into the restaurant with you. About half an hour into our dining experience here though, I was frankly too enraptured with the warm crusty bread, sinfully melty brie (dripping with honey and hazelnuts. TMI?), and licking the bottom of my onion soup cup to care if i was in Bethesda or on the moon. And our entrees hadn't even come out yet. Food aside, our waiter definitely gets some major props. My friend and I even jokingly complained to each other that he was in fact, a little TOO attentive. But that was all quickly forgotten and forgiven when we consulted him for our most important decision of the night: whether to get the profiteroles or the chocolate pudding cake in addition to the white chocolate bread pudding we had already committed to. His elegant solution was to just give us the profiterole while we ordered the other two. Um, is this real life? I then proceeded to drown in melted chocolate and ice cream perfection. Also, the whipped cream is salted, which means delicious. So no, it wasn't real life. It was unadulterated nirvana. If you are what you eat, then I definitely left here as a Carol Au Gratin a la Mode. And I liked it.
(4)
Mars F.
Went with the in-laws when they came to visit. Just going over the highlights that I remember: - The mushroom soup was bland and luke warm. Overall just disappointing compared to the fancy way in which is was served (waiter comes by and pours it onto your bowl from a heated teapot thing). - Scallops that the in-laws got were HUGE and they said they were tasty, but it was just too much food. - Overall waitstaff was incredibly inattentive and unhelpful. Our guy only came by a few times and was always hanging out by the bar or out of sight when we needed him. He took forever to take our order, and didn't tell us that the scallops would be too much for a main if we were ordering lots of appetizers. - great gluten-free options, but they come at a price! May try again but this place is definitely not at the top of our list.
(2)
G R.
Location and service excellent. Only 3 stars because the steak frites are just good, not excellent, not very good. Nice but limited wine selection. They do offer a good fish alternative that is also a solid good. Good mussels, good pate. Great bread baguette and butter!
(3)
Jeffrey T.
Came here on a Saturday for Brunch. Was promptly seated with two chilled glasses of water and a nice warm french bread with butter and strawberry preserves (nice touch). Waitress was very friendly. I always love when restaurants have unique specials, that add something new to that day a level of surprise and they did indeed. Ordered a glass of chardonnay which they bring the bottle to the table, allow a generous taste with a further generous pour. Food was good. Ordered the steak with frites and I must indeed say that having eaten frites in both Paris and Belgium, they are comparable. Steak cooked well. ALso had eggs benedict (hollandaise sauce could have had more flavor). Other vary interesting items on the menu that I would be willing to return to and try. Service was fantastic.
(3)
Sara B.
We had a lovely meal here, due in part to our fabulous waiter Ruben. He was just excellent! I can't say enough nice things about the service we received, the best we've experienced in a long time. The standout was the house made country pate. First of all, they gave us an enormous chunk of it, so much that 3 of us could not finish it. It was so porky and full of flavor and it had a perfect texture. It was served with whole grain mustard, crusty bread, and the cornichon, olive, cocktail onion trio. With its neighbor on our table, one Mr. Escargot, we thoroughly enjoyed the appetizers. Natch, we had steak frites - hanger steak with Bearnaise sauce. Steak was cooked a perfect medium rare and the Bearnaise was superb. I could take or leave the frites, they could have been hotter and crispier, and I think I would have preferred them to be longer for easier dipping in the Bearnaise or the sauce from the mussels we also ordered. However, this issue was of no real consequence. Dessert - also good - I happily endorse both the creme brulee and profiteroles. One thing I will mention about this place, because I was actually notably surprised, is that the portion sizes are very generous. It may not be the cheapest place on the block (figuratively b/c I am sure most everything is over priced on this block of Bethesda), but you get some grub for your dollars here. And then the ruin of this nice evening out was the $60 parking ticket I got - seriously, Montgomery County is practicing some legal thievery with their parking fines.
(4)
Chase R.
I only go for Happy Hour. The bartenders are excellent. Drink wine and get steak&frites. End of story. Mac and cheese and onion soup are also superb
(5)
Noelle M.
Wonderful atmosphere, reminds me of restaurants in Paris. The food is of quality and it is absolutely delicious. One of my favorite spots in this area. I should also add that everything is decently priced, which is a plus. If you haven't gone there yet, please give it a try!
(5)
Travis P.
Not a typical review writer but they deserve an applause... I can't even obsess about the service enough! I incredibly enjoy the pomp and circumstance of perfect waiter etiquette but rarely ever expect it; THEY DELIVERED! There was an incredibly delicate gift-card balance misunderstanding and I've never seen such professionalism exercised by a team of wait staff. Forgetting the amazing food I had, I would go back simply to experience the service over a glass of wine!! The "manager in training," that happened to be our server clearly has what it takes to continue the amazing atmosphere I had on my first visit to the restaurant.
(5)
Alexandre S.
It's a very special place, with wonderful food, good french wine, and all people there work to make you confortable and have a nice time..
I went here for brunch today with the bf and his friend, and it was phenomenal! Service, food and atmosphere were all top notch. Not only that, but one in our party was delayed about 30 min in arrival, but they never acted annoyed or rushed us to order once she arrived. Additionally, we were catching up and sat at the table about 2 hours and were not rushed at all. We also received complementary profiteroles! It was fantastic.
(5)
Joseph Y.
You're mostly paying for service. The food wasn't that good for the price that I was paying.
(3)
Jamie G.
Always makes me think of my sweet home, Chicago. Lettuce Entertain You always treats you right with large portions and killer drinks. Service is top notch and many restaurants could learn from their example.
(5)
Sunshine M.
Food is excellent but staff is horrible! I know it's a French restaurant but you don't all have to act like arrogant rude snobs! Good God .... Am I paying to be treated like this? UPDATE: the general manager contacted me due to my not so happy experience and spent time listening to me and making it right! These people really care about their customers....so in all fairness I had to change my rating!
(4)
Susie S.
love this place. it has a great french atmosphere. the menu selection are pretty good. service is good. food is good , not that authentic but good enough. overall i would recommend this place.
(4)
Allyson N.
We've only ever been for brunch, but we find the food to be consistently delicious. The waitstaff is incredibly professional. They have awesome gluten free options (including GF bread, which is a rare find). In the warmer months, I love sitting outside and enjoying downtown Bethesda. Definitely make a reservation in advance for brunch. I typically get the steak benedict on gluten free bread. Their creme brulee is hard to turn down.
(4)
Babak A.
Interesting experience here, we hit this place on a Monday night that was extremely busy, the cooks and service staff were out gunned. It took an hour for our food to arrive. The food was very good, and I like to thank the restaurant manager Adam to make things right. I work in retail and he was excellent
(4)
Zara K.
Happy hour is pretty decent I would recommend people ordering their salmon burger with the frites ESP for a cheap lunch alternative (happy hr starts at 3!!!)
(3)
John A.
From what I am told upon entering, the establishment accurately replicates a real french bistro. It is casual and relaxing. There is a chalk board displaying the daily special. We opted to go with several versions of the steak and frites. All were authentically prepared and very good. A french pinot was suggested by the waiter which proved to pair well. Service was diligent with no rush even though we closed the place. Overall a very nice experience. Tres bien.
(4)
Fuego T.
Steak Frites - peppercorn ones. Get them. You're welcome. Solid place for dinner with the family. Lunch menu had a lot of solid options. The onion gratin soup was delicious. Service was really good and our waiter was great. This place is pretty popular year round, and it's no real surprise why. Definitely recommend.
(4)
Lee S.
Based upon all the good reviews I had read, I tried out this place for lunch and ordered a well-done steak and frites while my boyfriend had the scallops. The portions are a bit inconsistent to say the least; my plate was large enough to feed two people while my boyfriend had four scallops and a few vegetables scattered about. As far as the taste goes, the bread was delicious, but my heavily buttered steak was average and the frites were extremely oily and honestly a notch above McDonalds; the only difference was that we were in a classy French restaurant so I guess I was supposed to ignore the grease and the feeling of my arteries closing up? On the other hand, my boyfriend's scallops were very light, tasty, and well-cooked, and we both enjoyed them very much. For dessert, we had the warm chocolate tart with salted caramel ice cream. Now THIS was something unique and absolutely delicious! By themselves, the tart isn't sweet enough and ice cream is a bit too salty, but together, they make for an amazing combination. I carried out another steak and frites meal, a salmon salad, and hamburger for my family and none of them were extraordinarily pleased with their meals, they simply said it was "fine," which is also truly the best word I can think of to describe this restaurant. While the service was good and the atmosphere was quaint, the food was underwhelming and I know I'll be back to try something different, but probably not anytime soon.
(3)
Hue K.
I felt that Mon Ami Gabi was not exactly romantic french bistro .. but more like low-key everyday french restaurant you can come with your family, friends or just neighbors. All brunch dishes looked very good but my friend and I took lunch items since it was already 2:30 pm.. - Complimentary warm baguette comes with butter and jam. This is good enough for 4 stars. - Onion soup: Gooey Gruyere cheese covered onion soup. Good portion. Very satisfying. - Frisee warm bacon salad w/ poached egg: something light yet hearty. If you don't want anything too heavy, try this with a glass of wine and baguette. - Crab meat tartin: Lump crab meat salad (1000 island dressing) on top of buttery toast. Simple yet flavorful open sandwich. Home made potato chip was excellent. Good and attentive service. I will definitely come back for brunch and HH.
(4)
Chris S.
Second time we have been here. First time was date night outside during the summer and this time was inside during the winter with my two year old daughter. They were very accommodating and the food was excellent. I had a beef wellington for the first time and loved it though they said they used crepes instead of traditional pastry.
(4)
Gautam M.
There are certain places that make you feel real good because of their service.. and thats the first thing you feel once you walk in! The Duck burger - their daily special -was a real treat. We enjoyed the quiche lorraine and the chocolate mouse as well. Having the option of sampling the wine you want to order is a big plus as well. Overall a very good place! - good food, good wine and great service..
(4)
Melissa L.
Went here at Sunday lunch/brunch to celebrate a birthday. It was my first time there but the birthday boy had been many times before and considered it a favorite (thus, my high hopes). The restaurant was a LOT bigger than I thought it would be, to the point where us newbies almost missed it despite it taking up an entire street corner. (If you've never been, you should look for the bright red awning instead of the restaurant name, which is in small print and easily missed!) I had made a reservation for the three of us but turns out it wasn't needed. The huge restaurant was about 3/4 full at prime brunch hour (not sure if the July 4th holiday weekend had anything to do with it). Ambience was nice -- not too loud or quiet, big open space, fun French brasserie-style decor. Food was good but not great, which is why the 3-star review. I had the seafood crepe -- a bit strange, with the crepe actually being a pea and cream sauce crepe, and the seafood sitting on top. Scallops and shrimp were tasty and couldn't have been cooked better; I just wished they were actually IN the crepe. Or the menu item should be labeled PEA CREPE (not appetizing) WITH SEAFOOD. My friend got the lobster roll, which he said was also good but not great. It was fun to look at though; the lobster salad was crammed into what looked like a super thick-cut slice of crusty bread, and accompanied by house-made waffle chips. The exception was the birthday boy's Beef Wellington, a house special of the day (the sign on the wall said you had to call to place your order in advance (?!) but they didn't seem to hold to that rule). At about 2-3 times what our dishes cost, the Beef Wellington was definitely worth the cost. It was an amazing, juicy, melt-in-your-mouth cut of steak baked in a pastry and then swimming in divine brown sauce. I had just a bite and it was heaven. Service was pretty good -- we got seated right away and our waiter came around almost immediately with menus. The waiter was a bit MIA after our food came, but not a big deal. He did deliver us the free mousse you get with a Yelp check-in (although he'd never heard of the deal before). All in all, an OKAY experience but nothing to write home about. Except maybe that Beef Wellington... (To be fair, this place is known for its steak frites and the majority of the table got seafood. So I will definitely update this post if/when we go back and order like good 'n' proper red meat-eatin' 'Mericans!)
(3)
Stephanie W.
This place is good. Not incredible but good. Typical French bistro menu. The frites are nicely prepared and you cannot go wrong with the muscles. I continue to go back because the food and service are reliable. Also, be aware that this restaurant has a lot of hard surfaces and therefore gets quite noisy.
(4)
Kyle C.
Good food; their french onion, duck confit, steaks are amazing. I have been there many times, and I love the place!
(5)
Pamm P.
Perfect steak frittes hot crispy bread with butter. A lovely sidewalk dining area to enjoy the weather and people watching. Chocolate desserts and sorbets to finish off your meal. Service with a smile enjoy
(5)
Kathleen C.
This restaurant is very nice, the food and service are always very good to excellent. We have always had competent service so that has never been a problem. The mussels and steaks are very nice and the frites are delicious too. The french onion soup is probably the best I have ever had and I have had it in many french restaurants and tasted it when my kids and husband have ordered it, so there is little variance in the quality of the soup and it has never been extremely salty which is the problem with onion soups. The only thing that disappoints is how loud this restaurant can get when filled with people. The design of the interior makes the sound resonate so my favorite times to enjoy a meal are when the restaurant isn't very crowded. At any rate the food is delicious.
(4)
Sandy M.
We were at Mon Ami Gabi for nearly two hours last night, due to unforeseen circumstances, none of which had to do with the restaurant. We explained our dilemma to our waiter, Che, and he treated us like royalty for the rest of the evening. The french onion soup was great, the complimentary bread (warm and crunchy/soft) was a perfect accompaniment to the wine we enjoyed while waiting for our third party, the escargot were, as always, hot and flavorful. Che checked on us frequently, commiserated with us, made us laugh, and helped turn an evening that might have ended poorly into a lovely event. Thanks, Che. We'll be back!
(4)
N D.
What a great place. The whole staff was so kind and gracious. Food was awesome! Started with the amazing mushroom soup...to die for, followed by the croque-monsieur. My group also had the quiche (which was amazing) and a chicken crepe that was wonderful. We were so full, but the waiter brought us profiteroles just to be nice and didn't charge us for them. Yum! Although I don't live in D.C., I'm definitely going to visit the locations in Chicago. Thanks Mon Ami Gabi for wonderful time!
(5)
Prairie S.
I enjoyed sitting at the bar with a warmed, crusty baguette and some delicious mussels. Their ratatouille side is recommended as well. The wine list was more than adequate. One huge plus? The bartenders are NOT actually authentically French, and have good ol' Maryland manners....so I was quite pleased with the service. Plus the downtown Bethesda location works nicely.
(4)
Tunaidi A.
Great French bistro. Once you see the menu, your eyes will automatically gravitate towards the steak frites options, which are pretty good. However, I'm surprisingly more impressed with their soups and salads. The complimentary French bread is also pretty clutch. It comes into good use if you get the escargots (highly recommended). Dessert is another highlight. I had to try the chocolate mousse at a French restaurant, and it was a delight. Surprised myself even more with the profiteroles, which were almost like huge ice cream sandwiches. Service was prompt and helpful. Glad our server offered several specials of the day, including veal sweetbreads. Yum!
(4)
Michael Y.
Mon Ami Gabi translates to "My Friend Gabi". I don't know who this Gabi person is but if they inspired this restaurant into existence, I'd like to buy them a drink. It's the Steak Frites. It's all about the Steak Frites. Fruits de Mer? I don't care! Hors D'oeuvres? The nerve! While I'm sure the other food is delicious, the Steak Frites keeps me coming back. This is a steak made from what I estimate to be the entire cow. Seriously, it is one big steak served with a pile of frites that would make an Idahoan blush. The $24.95 price tag is entirely justified. I recommend the Bordelaise, but they have 5 varieties to suit your tastebuds. The service is to be commended as well, with the servers always making great recommendations. It can get a little crowded in there, as there is not really any seating space for the masses waiting for a table, so we've gotten the occasional impatient glare. So what? Get a bottle of fine Champagne and relax a bit. And remember: if your steak and frites aren't on the same fork at the same time, you're doing something wrong.
(4)
Angela W.
I came here for my birthday brunch with several friends after seeing the great reviews on Yelp. It lives up to its Yelp reputation! The service was amazing. Our waiter was extremely patient and willing to explain everything on the menu - including some off-the-menu specials. I ordered an off-the-menu special with Arctic char - it was delicious! I was able to substitute a side for mashed cauliflower that was almost like mashed potatoes but not quite. I thought it was pretty interesting. I also had their pink lemonade, which was just the right amount of tart. My friends ordered the mac and cheese and french toast - which they enjoyed as well. My friends also talked to the waiter without me knowing, and he brought out small ice cream dishes for everybody! It was such a pleasant surprise. Apparently, they make the ice cream on site! Terrific experience. Eat outside if it's a nice day - you won't regret it! Will be recommending this place to friends.
(5)
Marina H.
Lobster roll had 1/3 of non-substantial lobster mean chunks, 1/3 of lettuce (why?!!) and 1/3 of celery, which completely ruined the roll... The service is average and very slow. Don't think I'll be coming back.
(2)
Erika K.
I had an amazing dining experience here. Our waiter was very attentive without being overbearing. You can't go wrong with the escargots to start! We enjoyed a bottle of Chardonnay. I was a little underwhelmed by my entree, the wild boar ragu. The sauce was not thick enough and the boar was a little tough. However, I did try some of my boyfriend's steak and it was very good. For dessert we used the yelp checkin deal and got some free chocolate mousse along with espresso--all delicious. I will definitely return at some point I would just recommend avoiding the wild boar ragu and opting for steak!
(4)
Hannah H.
Mon Ami Gabi is a French bistro that is part of the Lettuce Entertain You group, and I've been curious about this restaurant for some time. They offer a brunch/lunch/dinner menu, as well as HH, a wine list, GF options, and desserts. Some dear friends and I came here for a late lunch, and we were seated right away. The place itself reminded me slightly of Balthazar in NY, with its deep dark wood and the reds, but I'm thinking that all French bistros have that same look :P I started off with a raspberry soda (no refills T___T), which was a bit heavy on the ice, but quite refreshing. There was also a crusty baguette with butter to nibble on while waiting for the plates. For my main entree, I had the Roquefort Steak Frites, which was a cut of grain-fed midwest beef (mine was a little too overcooked), a side of 'melted' roquefort cheese sauce (this seemed a little off, as it wasn't a creamy cheese sauce that I expected, but it was separated and seemed like a puddle of oil with bleu cheese crumbles T___T; the dish also came with a side of their hand-cut fries that were pretty tasty. I was a little sad that they didn't have any steak sauce available, as the roquefort sauce was just not enough. One friend had the Croque Monsieur, and while she was not much of a fan of it, I loved it! I thought it was one of the best Croque Monsiers I had, being it of a generous sized-sandwiched, filled with a great amount of ham, melty gruyere cheese, and a lovely creamy mornay sauced, pan-fried perfectly - yum! Another friend had a Ham & Cheese Crepe, and this was also of a generous size, filled with an ample amount of sliced ham and cheese; the side of cornichons and dijon mustard were of a great accompaniment. For dessert, I was able to get a Chocolate Mousse for free with a Yelp check-in (yay!), which was chocolatey, creamy, fluffy and light, topped with whipped cream and little round morsels of crunchy chocolate balls - we were all surprised as it was not overly sweet, as well as a hot cup of Cappuccino (creamy and delicious) - a great way way to end our meal. Service was okay, even though our server tended to become MIA often. Bathroom was left much to be desired, as there seemed to be a leak from one of the toilets and was very unkept T___T Metered-parking is also extremely limited along Woodmont, but garages are nearby. +free dessert with a Yelp check-in (!!!) +raspberry soda (no refills) +Croque Monsieur +Chocolate Mousse +Cappuccino +MIA service T___T +unsatisfactory bathroom conditions T___T +extremely limited metered-parking along Woodmont
(4)
Kera T.
As a self admitted bread connoisseur (and addict), I don't often say "I could just go for the bread and butter" lightly. But I could have sat at that table and easily devoured 5 bags of that delicious crusty French bread and salted butter. By myself. But I was with my colleagues so I made do with a measly third of the loaf. Greedy girl problems. For lunch I had a delicious croque-madame, which is the same as a croque-monsieur but with a lightly fried egg on top and a side of fries. They don't list the madame on the menu but most French restaurants will offer it if they serve a monsieur, so you just have to ask-you won't regret it. The ham was sliced perfectly thin, overall it could have been warmer but the egg really sets the whole sandwich off-yum! Service was great and I got a free mousse with my Yelp check-in, which they nicely packaged for me to take back to work because I was so stuffed!
(5)
Kirk S.
While I got the feeling that this place wants to be a big chain, I can't complain about that - the food here is pretty darn good. Mon Ami Gabi is a French restaurant in the heart of Bethesda, meaning it's almost perpetually packed. The design is uber-French Bistro, in an extremely pleasant sort of manner. Service is responsive and superb, though obviously weighed down by the sheer crowds this place attracts. Prices are actually on the cheaper end of what I expected. The food here is quite nice. I had the Steak Frites Bordelaise, which was cooked exactly to my liking. The preparation was simply excellent - I've had very few steaks quite as tasty and tender as this, and I was very pleasantly surprised by the portion size. The frites themselves (i.e. the house french fries, basically) were good, but overwhelmingly portioned, and honestly a bit difficult to eat without making a gigantic mess. The accompanying bread - a baguette, no less - was pleasantly warm but, again, difficult to eat without making a gigantic mess. This place started in Las Vegas, and you can kinda tell that from its Bethesda location. There's a weird sense of American-ness to the place - huge crowds, paper covers for the tables, kids' menus, etc. - that you don't get from more "legit" French Bistros. This isn't a bad thing though - the food's all that really matters, and this place has some of the most "legit" places I've tried beat. Put another way, it may feel like the beginnings of some sort of French Olive Garden, but you can't argue with results.
(4)
Jun Y.
I was invited to come to Mon Ami Gabi for a social meeting. The dinner entree and coffee/tea was paid for but the drinks were not. I started off the meal with a old-fashion made with Maker's Mark. The bartender pour with a heavy hand and was appropriately awarded with a sizable tip. There is a private area toward the back of the restaurant that seats roughly 40 people. I ended up ordering the steak frites. Asked for medium-rare but the steak came out almost raw like something from texas chainsaw massacre. The edges were cooked nice and juicy to the medium-rare level of tender, juiciness you'd expect but as you reached the center I couldn't even cut it with a steak knife. The steak was raw on the inside; cutting into it with a steak knife was like cutting a microfiber bathmat. On top of the steak was a huge slab of butter so unnecessary unless you're trying to meet your creator a few hours after eating. On the bright side the fries came out crispy and well seasoned. There was also plenty of it, since I couldn't chomp through the middle section of my steak I had to settle for the fries. The tea was a come up because it washed down the 200% of daily saturated fat that I ingested in a single meal. The waiter brought out a nice wooden box full of different flavors and a set of china for a self-pour experience. I forgot what brand of tea it was or would have bought more of it online.
This place was awesome! We went for my birthday. I finally got to have my very first Beef Wellington and it was delightful. Everyone in our party enjoyed their food. Not only was the food great, but the service was outstanding! Our waiter was just fantastic. I would definitely go back!
(5)
Nick N.
I was here with my coworkers on a Tuesday and was early enough to get the daily special: duck. A half duck with sauce...delicious. Huge mound of scalped potatoes. The house pate was tasty and smooth. I checked in with Yelp and got a free chocolate mousse. It was tasty and smooth. Not too rich. Based on the number people coming and going, it's best to make reservations.
(4)
Marissa M.
Despite being packed for brunch, service was relatively fast. Our waiter was attentive and knew the menu well, which helped since my friend had a lot of questions. I got the tomato gazpacho to start. It was wonderful! I actually think the only way it could be improved is if it had just slightly less salt- but I'm also quite salt-averse so others may disagree. For my main, I had the chicken and mushroom crepe. Again, I thought it was wonderful, probably my second favorite brunch item I've had in DC (second only to Ardeo's butternut squash soup from 2013). I have been here for dinner as well, and while it was a while ago and I can't remember for the life of me what exactly I had, my boyfriend had a steak, which I remember trying and being impressed by. I'll definitely be going back for brunch in the near future.
(4)
Herman W.
We ordered steak frites and eggs benedict with salmon. Both are pretty good but not impressive. However, we cannot stop eating the free baguette haha. Waiter (his name might be Hunter) gave us free profiteroles because it was our first time to the restaurant. Profiteroles are AMAZING. I guess free food is always delicious. Recommend to sit outside and have a French brunch in a beautiful weekend :)
(4)
Shameem A.
If you're looking for an authentic French experience in that everyone who works there will have serious snootiness and 'tude- this is your place. Went for Sunday brunch with reservations for 6. -when being seated outdoors we asked if they could turn the heater next to our table on ... A very grumble-grumble response and in time someone else came to do that. - yes they give you a crusty baguette - it's literally thrown into the center of the table in a paper bag like you'd get at a bakery. Crust gets everywhere. -i could go on and on but won't. The food was delicious but .. There's no shortage of good food in DC. I was pretty taken aback by the rudeness of the staff. -also- the coffee is mediocre given that this was a french establishment.
Well well well everything was absolutely delicious. Starting with the hot fresh French baguette with whipped butter and preserves. We had to force ourselves to stop eating it and save room for our entrees. What was delicious: *French toast bananas foster w/ a complimentary side of fresh blueberries because I couldn't make up my mind when ordering. *The boys Hamburgers with gruyere and cheddar cheese. Their choice along with fresh crispy French fries *My husbands steak with blue cheese butter Service *outstanding our waiter was friendly, knowledgeable, and personable Atmosphere *very calming with just the right amount of energy to not seem stuffy. There was a private party in a room near by and it was not an issue All in all we had a great time and the food was delicious. We shall return.
(5)
Priscilla Y.
My friends wanted meat so I recommended here since we were nearby and my experience the first time was pretty good. This time around, it was just alright. Their steak frites were kind of disappointing. Because they're thin, no matter how you request it cooked, it will come out medium. Their frites/fries are not good either. They cut it so thin that its too fried and oily. One friend got the Bordelaise sauce, which had caramelized onion with red wine. It tasted a little sweet. I had the Skate Wing Provencal with a side of veggies (potatoes, peppers, artichoke, and olives). The fish was on the salty side, but was fresh, flaky, and tender. It came with some type of sauce that I could not put my finger on. There was a hint of lemon flavor and there looked like chopped garnish in the bottom of the sauce dish, but that was about it. The veggies were alright. The smell of olives was overpowering everything else. Check in on Yelp and get a free mousse dessert. They also gave us two additional mousse desserts in shot glasses. The mousse was not bad, but their other desserts are way better.
(3)
Hannah Z.
We dined here for my 30th birthday on 8/1/15. I don't know our server's name because he failed to introduce himself to us; he spoke with quite an arrogant, condescending tone and made us feel like he was rushing through our evening from the moment he opened his mouth. As a former server at the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island, my husband felt that our waiter last night was trying too hard. The food: My husband started with the escargot and he thoroughly enjoyed it. I had the triple cream starter which was a bed of mushrooms with a small piece of melted brie atop it; it was served with three pieces of toasty, crunchy bread. It was very tasty, but not $13 tasty. My husband ordered the bison special and he absolutely loved it while I had one of the filet options and it was delicious, as well. I didn't care for the frites- I found them to be a combination of shoestring and traditional fries, but much too crunchy. We shared the profiteroles for dessert and they were incredible- definitely large enough to share. We shared a bottle of Secret de Famille wine and it was wonderful and moderately priced in comparison to the other red wine options available. Overall, it was a very nice dining experience with the only reason for 3/5 stars being that we felt that we were inconveniencing our server and that he wanted nothing to do with us. We most likely won't return because of this, and so many other places in the Bethesda Row area looked (and smelled!) much more interesting without the stuffy atmosphere.
(3)
Sonj H.
Great little spot. I had the trout which was cooked perfectly, very delicate and buttery as good French food should be. I would have liked a few more capers. I also had the frisee salad with a poached egg, hold the bacon. Very nice salad. He had salmon which was farmed tasting and pureed potatoes which were yummy (technical term). I had a sancerre wine which was good, not my favorite, not my least, it meshed nicely. Ambiance is adorable but the acoustics were a little rough. Service was fine, not great, not bad. Very nice little spot. Great for a catch up, nice vibe, a little indulgent, a little formal and somewhat romantic. I would not want a proposal here but it's a great place for a nice date or meeting. I look forward to coming back for the moules and frites
(4)
Laura F.
Mon Ami Gabi consistently has great food and service. Be sure to sign up for the rewards program, as you are frequently given free appetizers, desserts, and gift cards. Brunch is great, as is lunch and dinner. One of my favorite spots in Bethesda.
(5)
Linda O.
I'm pretty crazy about this spot. Perhaps it is staged to look like something Americans conceive to be a Paris bistro. Who cares? Aren't most restaurants trying to promote some theme or other? I come here because I get treated like a princess and the food is usually decent. The barkeeps are fabulous. The guys are observant and charming. They get me more bread; they bring me both browned butter and blue cheese to go with my steak-frites; they flatter me. They treat other folks around me in the same superb manner. This makes for a terrific atmosphere. That's called "Service" (with a capital S). Other food businesses would do well to follow suit. The Happy Hour food and drinks are a bargain. It gets crowded at that time but should not be a surprise to anyone nor avoided, either. Come on in and partake. The interior is fun and has a flourish. I prefer to eat in the bar, but the main dining room is fine as well. The wait staff is solid; adore their traditional black and white attire. I choose to frequent Mon Ami Gabi not so much for the cuisine but rather for the "joie de vivre" which I experience there. Bien fait, messieurs.
(5)
Greg O.
An old classic for me. I've been to this location for years, back when I used to work in Bethesda. The formula is simple- good service, good food, good atmosphere. Reservations are definitely recommended, it gets very busy. The bread is delicious and addictive, and very easy to fill up on. I usually go with one of the steaks. My favorite is the Bearnaise, and I've had the hanger steak a few times as well. And of course the fries are a necessity- thin, crispy and delicious. Mon Ami Gabi is always a solid choice in the area.
(4)
Ian Maren C.
Great amazing French restaurant. Wine selection was great but then again I'm no wine snob. Escargot was amazing along with everything else we had. Service was great, kid friendly. I recommend a reservation
(5)
Annabelle L.
I returned to Mon Ami Gabi last week for their escargots, but they had a prix fixe special for their 13 year anniversary that I had to take advantage of: 3 courses for only $22!! I got the escargots, their steak frites with bordelaise sauce, and chocolate mousse. The escargots was just as delicious as last time. I loved the steak frites! The steak is thinner than I was expecting, but cooked perfectly. The bordelaise sauce was so flavorful--loved the sweetness of the carmelized onions with hints of red wine throughout. Went perfectly with the steak. Didn't eat too much of the fries (to save room for dessert), but the fries I did have were crispy. I am a huge fan of chocolate mousse and this one was pretty delicious. Light, fluffy, creamy, with these little chocolate balls that added a nice crunch. Service was wonderful as well--I told my server I was in a time crunch and he put my order in immediately with everything coming promptly! What a wonderful meal!
(5)
Kat A.
I have been coming here for ages...for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Though I highly recommend the brunch if I had to pick one over the other. Even if it's not brunch, the food is tasty and the best French food I've had in the area. While they cater to those who are accustomed to traditional French food (like myself) they also impress people like my dad who grew up on a farm in the midwest and is perplexed when I speak French. While he can't pronounce half of the menu, he has loved their food for many years. The servers are literally some of the best we have ever encountered. They know every ingredient in every dish which says a lot. At the end of the day it doesn't matter what meal you have here nor the hour. You can count on the food, the ambiance, and the servers that honestly care about your dining experience. A go to in my book!
(4)
Laurie K.
Culinary delight #2...loved this restaurant!! The waiter was fantastic and had my meal specially prepared due to my onion allergy... Most of us had the steak and eggs with delicious baby potatoes. I don't know what they did to the scrambled eggs but they tasted better than any eggs I have ever had anywhere!!! I splurged and had a bellini which was light and refreshing! All of us shared the 2 desserts...profiteroles and crème brulee that had our mouths watering!!!! Topped it off with a cappuchino... Wowza!!!! This place is elegant yet casual dress was abundant... Priced fair for what you get...and based on the way people were flocking here I'd say it's a hit!!! Merci Mon Ami Gabi!!!
(4)
Loring P.
WONDERFUL. Cozy little French bistro where the truly eclectic Bethesda in-crowd get to mingle with the political honchos from DC!!!!! If you enjoy PERFECT French cuisine.....meaning escargot, steaks, seafood, a vast wine selection, and divine desserts....then this place is definitely for you. Come check out the sartorial elegance of the clientele, and the truly fabulous cuisine!!
(5)
Irene A.
SUNDAY BRUNCH REVIEW Went here for sunday brunch. It was a beautiful summer day in bethesda. We got seating outside. The hosts at the front were friendly and pleasant..automatically creating a good dining experience. Our waiter was friendly, pleasant and funny as well and informative about the menu! Very relax atmosphere and environment. the food: SEAFOOD CREPE I got the seafood crepe and it was DELICIOUS. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. I had read some reviews on here about the crepe and at the end was deciding between that and the french toast blueberry, but went with the crepe. It was absolutely delicious and i HIGHLY recommend it. Some shrimp and scallops on top of a nicely folded crepe with a smooth cream that was not too rich or heavy, but just perfect on top of it all. So happy with my choice. My friends had got the nutella waffle which they said was too rich and sweet for them. Because i checked in on yelp i also got a free chocolate mousse dessert. Im not usually a chocolate mousse kinda gal, but this was not too heavy or rich and just nice and smooth. Overall, pleasant brunch experience with friendly staff and amazing seafood crepe which made the morning perfect.
(4)
Tsuru J.
I met up with a friend here after a jerky metro ride so my stomach was a bit queasy. The waiter was a bit aloof (maybe the same one Hannah Z. got?) and not the most attentive. I got the steak frites roquefort and my companion got the skate wing. Both were nice but overly salty. The frites were more like those fried onion bits that people put on green bean casserole.
(3)
Richard J.
Had there French Onion Soup and listened to the 3 piece band, the music was enjoyable and the soup was delicious. The bartenders/ severs make this experience truly enjoyable.
(5)
A M.
Try the steak and frites! It is delicious, but also fairly expensive.
(4)
Emily H.
Went here at 7 pm on a Saturday night, yet didn't have trouble getting a table for 2 without a reservation... guess that's the suburbs for you. The place was bigger than I anticipated, but decorated nicely for the holidays in a way that made it seem classy. While I waited for my dining partner to arrive, I had two Leffes at the bar. The bartenders were great - nice, joking with customers, and I even overheard that one of them recalled a "regulars" order for four ppl - pretty impressive! We were seated quickly - but they didn't rush us as we still had to close out our bar tab. The hostess and our waiter were both friendly. They brought us a warm, freshly baked baguette to start with including plenty of butter and some sort of sliced carrot spread. Honestly, I vaguely recall the spread being a French thing, but it was pretty flavorless and I only tried a bite. I ordered the classic steak frites. The steak was done perfectly, although a bit thinner than I expected. The two huge pads of butter on it were a bit much, so I scraped most of that off. The fries were particularly awesome - thin cut and just the right amount of crispy, plus you got a BUNCH of them. That was probably the highlight of the meal. The bill came out to over $75, not including my two beers which I paid for at the bar. Kind pricey in my opinion. Despite the decent food and the on point service, I probably won't be back because it is so far in the burbs.
This place is astounding! The food is first-rate, tasteful, delicious, delectable, lip-smacking, and scrumptious. I have been here multiple times during Bethesda's Restaurant Week and would absolutely go back. Each time I ordered their steak frites and it was mouthwatering! My Agency took me here for my birthday last year and it was one of the greatest experiences ever. Mon Ami Gabi is definitely one of the best restaurants in the Bethesda area.
(5)
Jerry E.
Nothing spectacular about this place, although interior design was kind of unique. I had Filet Mignon Au Poivre cooked in medium rare. It was tender and cooked correctly; however, somehow, the steak was not juicy, so I was a little disappointed... Perhaps, this is expected since it is not a steak specialty restaurant. Water served in the bottle was very good. Same for the coffee, too, very flavorful. The best part was it comes with unlimited refills. Overall, it was a good experience for me.
(3)
Loretta H.
Good food, good service, good atmosphere, and the best french fries, ever!
(4)
Ronald L.
Came for the brunch, left with a smile. French cuisine has a lot of history and may seem intimidating to some when they see items like, Wild Escargots de Bourgogne or Salmon Tartare. However, with this French quarter, that feeling doesn't quite stand up. Maybe it's because of its incredibly friendly, attentive, and professional staff. Maybe it's because it's casual attire with a warm and class atmosphere. The ambiance simply welcomes you. During my stay, I ordered the Wild Escargots to start and Waffle Bananas Foster as main. Wild Escargots - Delectable tender snails, deliciously oven-roasted with garlic-herb butter. Big and juicy with a good snap on bite. The garlic-herb butter made the snails pop since the snail itself has a very delicate flavor profile - slightly sweet and muddled earthiness. The garlic was very forward, followed by the freshness of the parsley, and nicely rounded at the finish with the taste of butter. I order escargot every chance I get and this is by far the best I've experienced. Extremely well balanced. Waffle Bananas Foster - Perfectly pressed waffle with a crispy exterior with a light and fluffy interior. Enter the bananas foster sauce served on the side. This sauce is so extremely balanced between the flavors of banana, dark rum, sugar, butter, and cinnamon. Perfectly harmonized with each ingredient next to the other, not above or below. Sweet, bitter, creamy, and spicy -from the cinnamon. This is a must get. These two items spoke the world to me, but not without regret. Regret? I wish I had ordered more. Will definitely be back and highly recommend the brunch.
(4)
Jessica L.
Profiteroles are delicious and I got them free by telling the waiter called Hunter that it's my first time dining there! The free baguette with jam and butter is fresh and crunchy. They give you a whole baguette so you will be really full if you try to finish it. I went during brunch time. I got egg Benedict with smoked salmon, it was as expected and good. My friend got steak and fries. We thought the steak was huge according to the yelp pictures, but the steak was actually thin and can be easily finished by a person. There are outdoor seating so this could be an awesome place to have brunch with a few friends in summer when the weather is beautiful. I would come again only if I am nearby but I wouldn't drive all the way to this restaurant just for their food.
(4)
Robert M.
Seafood and chicken crepes were good and so was the coffee. Friendly attentive service.
(4)
Alex P.
Great place friendly staff good food I had the ny steak and my wife the fillet mignon both our sauces were good but her had a little more flavor (the merlot sauce) mine was the bordelaise sauce
(5)
Jonathan K.
This is our favorite restaurant in the area! The food is consistently amazing, the service is prompt, courteous and fast. Their wine list is pretty amazing as well. The only issue is that everyone seems to agree--the wait is always so long!
(5)
Irinka L.
Good. Consistent food and now they have gluten free bread !! The salads and appetizers are the best ! Yey!!
(5)
Alida R.
My family's visit to Mon Ami Gabi was a disappointment. We visited Mon Ami Gabi in Vegas, and had an amazing dinner -- polished and professional service, the best French onion soup I've ever tasted, fantastic fish, and a phenomenal baked goat cheese appetizer. My dinner at the Bethesda location was like a shabby imitation of this meal. Here are the negatives: The food: the French onion soup was the most disappointing part of the evening. The broth tasted sweet, watery, and bland, and not beefy at all. Salt helped a bit, but not too much. The cheese was decent, but not great. The soup wasn't actually bad -- but it wasn't very GOOD, either. And each portion of soup cost $9 -- at those prices, I expect a darn good cup of soup! Chicken liver mousse appetizer (with gluten free bread): this tasted good, but was quite mild, and less of a mousse and more of a pate. Baked goat cheese appetizer: good, but not great. The cheese was tasty, but goat cheese always is. The tomato sauce it was served in was palatable but nothing special. Scallops gratinees: This is what I ordered, and it tasted delicious, and had a lovely presentation, served in metal scallop shaped dishes on top of a bed of rock salt. There was very little scallop in the dish -- three dishes with one or two tiny slices of scallop in each, topped with mounds of cheese, cream sauce, and onions. Very rich and good, though light on the seafood. The problem with this dish was that the rock salt had all shifted during transit, and a piece was on top of my scallops. I bit into a big, rock hard explosion of saltiness that almost wrecked my pallet for the rest of the meal. Side of brussels sprouts: $5, and a very small dish. The crispy fried leaves that had come off of the main sprouts were amazing. But the center of the sprouts was chewy and tasted undercooked. Service: the waiter was friendly, but it felt like amateur night. Our waiter took our soup orders, and said he would take our entree orders later. He didn't return to take the entree orders until we were finished with our soups -- at which point we ordered appetizers instead of the big entrees we were planning to order, because we had filled up on soup. Our waters were not kept consistently refilled, and I had to keep flagging the waiter for more water. After we finished, the waiter brought us our check without asking if we wanted any coffee or dessert (which we did want!) It almost seemed like the waiter didn't want to bother with us. What, we don't order wine or cocktails and we're not worth paying attention to? Valet parking: costs $7, and the valet literally left our car parked on the street where we had pulled it up. Seriously? Cost: Dinner for three -- a soup and appetizer each -- was $67 before tip; it would have been quite a bit more had we ordered any drinks or gotten entrees. Some positives: Mon Ami Gabi is great with gluten free dietary needs, and they serve complimentary, very good gluten free bread. Wait staff is careful about cross contamination. They have a designated gluten free menu. Also, right now they're offering free chocolate mousse with check in. The mousse (which I had to flag the waiter down for after he brought us the check) was dark, super chocolatey, rich, and fantastic. Go for the check in mousse and gluten free bread, and not much else.
(1)
Bob Y.
I had not been to Mon Ami Gabi in quite some time, in fact I had planned to park in the large surface public parking lot caddy corner to the building,but upon arrival I see there is a huge building there now with many retail stores! Anyway, being it was Sunday at 6pm. I pulled around the corner and parked for free at a metered space. I thought to myself while walking to the door that the last time I was here I ordered a burger and frites.....and it drummed up a pleasant memory of a perfectly constructed burger,with above average beefy flavor and a cone of crispy thin "fries". Alas,I could not order this tonight as it was dinner time and the menu does not offer a burger........in fact,upon perusal of it the menu is rather limited..... but kick in the daily specials and I was sure I could find something I would like. Our table of 6 had a good sampling of what they offer.....two orders of scallops were chosen,one caramalized and one gratine and I would have to say,the sauteed ones were far superior.......huge and was told delish. A salmon filet and three steaks rounded out our meal selection. My hangar steak,ordered rare,was in fact cooked to perfection........not common when you order "rare" beef.......it was about 1 1/4" thick and tasty! My wife ordered the steak with blue cheese sauce and it was really too thin a cut of steak........she ordered it medium rare...and,though cooked correctly,it really suffered from being so dang thin! The wonderful blue cheese sauce flavor made up for it though,at least in our minds......the food in summary was quite good for the cost. Now the service we experienced was,as mentioned in many reviews, the standout here......they treat you well without being overbearing or bothering you too often.....you never feel neglected,and you do not have to hunt someone down when you need something,water is topped up without asking,bread crumbs are swept away,and plates are cleared without being obtrusive........ Finally,please check-in with the Yelp app to get a free Chocolate Mousse (one per table) and also tell them one in your party is a first time guest to receive a free profiterole,which is puffy pastry with vanilla ice cream as a sandwich with chocolate sauce drizzled over it!!!!!! I will not let so much time lapse before I come back to visit you Mon Ami Gabi!
(4)
A W.
IDK if it was the drugs talking, but I had the best cream puff of my life here. The rest of my brunch was delicious as well, and the portion sizes were very generous. Service was stellar. 5 stars!
(5)
X M.
A solid choice. Great ambience- we ate inside. Nice and quiet compared to the super busy and noisy options in Bethesda. Our waiter was attentive and anticipated our needs without me having to ask (we were dining with children)-he was also kind to our children--a big plus- it put him over the edge from a good to great tip. Lots of waiters just ignore kids, so this was really a nice surprise. Everyone I was with enjoyed their food. They serve the most delicious hot fresh baked french baguette with creamy butter on the side while you wait. I took away a star because we took some food in a doggy bag and they just dumped it all together when it should have been separated even if meant using separate containers. I'll be packing my own doggy bag next time I go. And yes, over it was a really nice dining experience so we will be back!
I've been here a few times since moving to Bethesda- for brunch, dinner, and dessert. French food is one of my favorite cuisines, and I haven't been disappointed yet! The decor is nice, and the restaurant is set up to resemble a traditional French bistro. The bar area is separate from the restaurant, and also holds a few tables. The dining room has two rooms, and is surprisingly big. The first time I came was for dessert. We sat in the bar (they wouldn't let us sit in the main dining room unless we were having a fine meal, which was fine). We ordered the creme brulee ($6.95) and the white chocolate bread pudding ($7.95). The friendly waiter found out that it was my friend's birthday, so he also brought out an order of chocolate mousse for us, for free! (Normally $5.95). We also ordered some drinks, and the waiter helped my friend choose a wine that she would like that would go well with the desserts. The bread pudding was a little egg-y, but overall the desserts were tasty. We left feeling full of sugar and happy. The second time, I came for dinner. My sister sent me a gift card for here, and I decided to blow it in one go on a nice meal! We shared the warm brie cheese ($10.95). All tables also get a loaf of bread- amazing. For meals, my friend got a steak special- I don't remember exactly what it was, but I remember it was the best thing we ordered all night. I ordered the caramel sea scallops ($21.95), which came with butternut squash puree. The scallops were well-cooked, but for me, the dish lacked a little bit of flavor/texture diversity and pizzazz. We also ordered a bottle of wine- they have solid, diverse, and affordable choices on their list. The third time, I came for brunch. Their brunch menu is probably my favorite, and I plan to be back many times. The loaf of bread they brought us was still warm, and they served it with butter and raspberry jam. I ordered the croque monsieur ($10.95), one of my favorite foods. It was also served with a side of fries. We saw numerous egg dishes pass us while we waited, and they all looked like perfection. The croque monsieur was not the best I've had, but pretty freaking good. Their french fries are thin and crispy, which I like. The waiter was incredibly friendly and awesome- he refilled our waiter and Diet Coke seemingly every two minutes. We also lingered a bit at the table, talking, and nobody rushed us or seemed to mind. Overall, a great place for a meal or a drink. Very friendly waiters, moderately priced (especially for Bethesda), and a great location. Two thumbs up!
Love this place and environment. The waiter was a little pushy on their specials for the day, which were mostly all fish-based, and my cousin and I (as carnivores) were looking for something more meaty. We decided to share the steak frites as 8oz is quite large. You can replace the fries with mashed potatoes if you're searching for a more healthier option. However, if you check in on Yelp, you get a free chocolate mousse. You get a very generous serving with these chocolate covered choco puff-like balls and whipped cream that is heavenly. This restaurant is a chain, and have many locations, including Las Vegas .
(4)
Sherry H.
We have been here 3 times. First and third time service was good. Second time horrible. I would not have gone back but hubby wanted Eggs Benedict for brunch. Unfortunately, we didn't discover until we were seated that it's not on the menu. My warm Frise salad was not warm. His frites (house made fries) seemed like they were from the night before, not warm at all and stale tasting. We like the Chicken Mousse Pate better than the Housemade Country Pate. I had the scallops which had texture and taste of a skate more than scallop. Our food always seems to take far too long to arrived. Onion soup wasn't hot and was just okay. The sandwiches he has had were just okay. He did enjoy his steak.
(3)
Abdulrahman A.
i like this restaurant. if you go there ask about " Edward " he chooses nice dishes for us.
(5)
Trish J.
We like Mon Ami Gabi. Went their for restaurant week and it was tasty. At this location, there is a small room upstairs that is really nice. Obviously for couples or someone looking to have a romantic evening. Very good steak and frites as well.
(3)
Karina S.
It was a good dinner all in all! I like the way they serve food and wine. Baguette was very yummy! Caesar salad was different from what I used to eat everywhere else! It was spicy, which I didn't expect, and the croutons were not crunchy. This is their way to do it, it's just not for me! I can't say it was not tasty, just very specific i would say! As for the main dish the chicken was a little dry and not very flavored( It could be better! The duck with pork in a gravy was just perfection!!! And this dish is worth to try!!! And the dessert was great too! I actually used a coupon from yelp and get that chocolate mousse for free)
(4)
Nat F.
One of my favorite restaurants! Mon Ami Gabi introduced me to the peppercorn steak! So delicious! Love this place and the waiters.
(5)
Sharon O.
My favorite place to go after a movie at the BethesdaRow Cinema is Mon Ami Gabi next door. For starters, I love sitting at the bar and prefer it to a table. The service is always 5 stars. The bartenders there are considerate in everything they do- from the smallest observation (making sure a wobbly bar stool was even) to the big things (asking the kitchen to get our steak frites split when he overheard we were sharing). Even if there is a rude-snobby MoCo couple there giving them hell, and they will still be class act. Someone said that they like sitting at the bar because it makes them feel like a princess, which I agree. I always get the french onion soup which is delicious. The scallops gratinees is amazing. The steak frites are good, but I think I enjoy the frites more than the steak. Especially with bearnaise.
(4)
Mike B.
Not many French restaurants in the area. Italian restaurants... we're drowning in the marinara. But not many French restaurants. Known for their steak and frites, Mon Ami Gabi has stood planted like the statue of liberty on Bethesda row for some time. So, it's about time I tried them out. We sat in the bar where the one bar tender magically waited on close to 20 different people. *Great Thing 1: A fresh hot baguette is served to you upon sitting down with butter and jam. I decided to order the steak sandwich with frites. I thought... might as well get the steak and frites in some respect. The cheaper option tempted me a little more not only because it was lunch, but had a dipping sauce "described" as au jus by the bar tender. The steak sandwich was mediocre. Although I was not a fan of the bun which was dry ( and seemed to have been made in house), the au jus was actually french onion soup- which was not served to me hot enough. That itself did not make for fantastic dipping. My friend ordered the seafood crepe. Fantastic! Albeit heavy- but alot of perfectly cooked seafood topped the crepe. The frites were absolutely delicious crispy potato fries. I'm not sure what machine they use to get them that size... but I want one. I would like to go back and try many more menu items. Steak in sandwich was good- but crepe was much better.
(4)
Dan G.
Went here for employee's annual review. Got escargot app and the Frisee salad. Both were very good. My coworker go the goat cheese app & salmon salad. I tried the goat cheese app & it was delicious as well. Got go back to this place another time as was very impressed at least for lunch. Service was superb as well.
(5)
Colette P.
Last Saturday night I had another delicious meal at Mon Ami Gabi. It was actually restaurant week which I hadn't realized when we made the reservation. I had a salad to start, the steak classique with herb butter and the profiteroles. This was all for about $30.00. The vinaigrette and lettuce were not my favorite. However, the steak was excellent and tasty and done just right. I prefer my steak medium rare. The pommes frites were delicious, crispy, thin, and salty. The profiteroles with chocolate drizzled on top were sublime.
(5)
Casey K.
Came here for a Saturday brunch and the whole experience from the service to food was just really ok, with nothing noteworthy or stand out. The warm baguette with butter and jam they bring you to nosh on until your items come out was probably my favorite part. They bread is warm and the butter and jam go with it perfectly, I loved this start to our brunch! We order the baked goat cheese starter which was a generous amount that I was very impressed with. It was a baguette cut in half (lengthwise) with a garlic pesto baked into it. This baguette is set atop a round dish with the baked tomato and goat cheese. I thought this dish was pretty unmemorable. The tomato sauce tasted like Chef Boyardee to be quite honest. the goat cheese was lovely, light, and creamy. I would not recommend this starter, as it was just not what I was expecting due to it's lackluster taste. We both ordered quiche for our entree. My dining companion ordered the Quiche Lorraine and I ordered the Butternut Squash and Brie Quiche. I tried both, and in a battle of two very lackluster competitors, the Quiche Lorraine prevailed. I thought the Quiche Lorraine was a nice mix of savory bacon and creamy Jarlsburg cheese, but still would have liked a bit more caramelized onions. The butternut squash and brie quiche was just a total letdown, there were big bits of congealed brie and not very much butternut squash for my liking. The crust was something I ended up eating around, it was neither buttery nor soft and crumbly so much as it was dry brittle and a bit too overcooked in some spots. The service was just ok, no one really had any personality. It was just very robot like, when they brought the tea box up for us to make our selections, they just kind of walked up opened the box and didn't say anything. They all just seemed a bit pissed off quite frankly. Not sure I will be back. There was nothing really standing out to me to make me think this restaurant had any redeeming qualities that would make me want to come back and give this another try.
(2)
Linda G.
It's a chain, yes, but I had the absolutely best mussels I've ever had here this week. YUM!!! Plus the service is always impeccable. Not bad for the price point.
(4)
Vandad C.
I ordered a steak frites au poivre medium rare. It wasn't good even by the lowest bistrot standard. Cold, no taste, and the fries weren't particularly good either. The only redeeming factor here was the giant profiteroles I ordered for dessert. The place itself has a nice look to it but it's nothing extraordinary. Overall it was a fairly mediocre dining experience. Food was meh, waiter was either new or didn't care about he was doing, and price is fairly high for what it is. There's valet parking for $7 and a variety of pay to park garages around this location.
(2)
Esther G.
Wonderful restaurant in the heart of Bethesda Row. Delicious chocolate mousse. If you can, sit at the bar with bartenders Matt & Josh. Always a good time!
(5)
Robert D.
I love this place! I've been countless times and tried just about everything on the menu. No matter what it's always tasty, and the service is great too. One of my favorite restaurants in the area for the great food, attentive, knowledgeable staff, and relaxed atmosphere.
(5)
Cheryl E.
Mon Ami Gabi is a nice French bistro located in Bethesda, MD. The decor is warm and welcoming as is the staff. Through out the whole meal, the staff worked hard to provide an excellent dining experience. I was part of a large group. This typically presents impacts timing and quality. I ordered the scallops and was presented with 4 fairly small scallops on a tomato puree that was running/separating on the plate by the time it arrived. Another diner, ordered and ate only the steamed mussels. They arrived absolutely cold. They were very quickly remade and nicely presented. Unfortunately, the mussels went on to cause a fairly significant stomach upset. The strawberry cake was dry and not at all well presented. I have to believe this is an anomalous experience given all the positive reviews and when back in DC, I will certainly give Moni Ami Gabi another try.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Valet, Garage, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Michael Y.
Mon Ami Gabi translates to "My Friend Gabi". I don't know who this Gabi person is but if they inspired this restaurant into existence, I'd like to buy them a drink. It's the Steak Frites. It's all about the Steak Frites. Fruits de Mer? I don't care! Hors D'oeuvres? The nerve! While I'm sure the other food is delicious, the Steak Frites keeps me coming back. This is a steak made from what I estimate to be the entire cow. Seriously, it is one big steak served with a pile of frites that would make an Idahoan blush. The $24.95 price tag is entirely justified. I recommend the Bordelaise, but they have 5 varieties to suit your tastebuds. The service is to be commended as well, with the servers always making great recommendations. It can get a little crowded in there, as there is not really any seating space for the masses waiting for a table, so we've gotten the occasional impatient glare. So what? Get a bottle of fine Champagne and relax a bit. And remember: if your steak and frites aren't on the same fork at the same time, you're doing something wrong.
(4)Angela W.
I came here for my birthday brunch with several friends after seeing the great reviews on Yelp. It lives up to its Yelp reputation! The service was amazing. Our waiter was extremely patient and willing to explain everything on the menu - including some off-the-menu specials. I ordered an off-the-menu special with Arctic char - it was delicious! I was able to substitute a side for mashed cauliflower that was almost like mashed potatoes but not quite. I thought it was pretty interesting. I also had their pink lemonade, which was just the right amount of tart. My friends ordered the mac and cheese and french toast - which they enjoyed as well. My friends also talked to the waiter without me knowing, and he brought out small ice cream dishes for everybody! It was such a pleasant surprise. Apparently, they make the ice cream on site! Terrific experience. Eat outside if it's a nice day - you won't regret it! Will be recommending this place to friends.
(5)Marina H.
Lobster roll had 1/3 of non-substantial lobster mean chunks, 1/3 of lettuce (why?!!) and 1/3 of celery, which completely ruined the roll... The service is average and very slow. Don't think I'll be coming back.
(2)Erika K.
I had an amazing dining experience here. Our waiter was very attentive without being overbearing. You can't go wrong with the escargots to start! We enjoyed a bottle of Chardonnay. I was a little underwhelmed by my entree, the wild boar ragu. The sauce was not thick enough and the boar was a little tough. However, I did try some of my boyfriend's steak and it was very good. For dessert we used the yelp checkin deal and got some free chocolate mousse along with espresso--all delicious. I will definitely return at some point I would just recommend avoiding the wild boar ragu and opting for steak!
(4)Hannah H.
Mon Ami Gabi is a French bistro that is part of the Lettuce Entertain You group, and I've been curious about this restaurant for some time. They offer a brunch/lunch/dinner menu, as well as HH, a wine list, GF options, and desserts. Some dear friends and I came here for a late lunch, and we were seated right away. The place itself reminded me slightly of Balthazar in NY, with its deep dark wood and the reds, but I'm thinking that all French bistros have that same look :P I started off with a raspberry soda (no refills T___T), which was a bit heavy on the ice, but quite refreshing. There was also a crusty baguette with butter to nibble on while waiting for the plates. For my main entree, I had the Roquefort Steak Frites, which was a cut of grain-fed midwest beef (mine was a little too overcooked), a side of 'melted' roquefort cheese sauce (this seemed a little off, as it wasn't a creamy cheese sauce that I expected, but it was separated and seemed like a puddle of oil with bleu cheese crumbles T___T; the dish also came with a side of their hand-cut fries that were pretty tasty. I was a little sad that they didn't have any steak sauce available, as the roquefort sauce was just not enough. One friend had the Croque Monsieur, and while she was not much of a fan of it, I loved it! I thought it was one of the best Croque Monsiers I had, being it of a generous sized-sandwiched, filled with a great amount of ham, melty gruyere cheese, and a lovely creamy mornay sauced, pan-fried perfectly - yum! Another friend had a Ham & Cheese Crepe, and this was also of a generous size, filled with an ample amount of sliced ham and cheese; the side of cornichons and dijon mustard were of a great accompaniment. For dessert, I was able to get a Chocolate Mousse for free with a Yelp check-in (yay!), which was chocolatey, creamy, fluffy and light, topped with whipped cream and little round morsels of crunchy chocolate balls - we were all surprised as it was not overly sweet, as well as a hot cup of Cappuccino (creamy and delicious) - a great way way to end our meal. Service was okay, even though our server tended to become MIA often. Bathroom was left much to be desired, as there seemed to be a leak from one of the toilets and was very unkept T___T Metered-parking is also extremely limited along Woodmont, but garages are nearby. +free dessert with a Yelp check-in (!!!) +raspberry soda (no refills) +Croque Monsieur +Chocolate Mousse +Cappuccino +MIA service T___T +unsatisfactory bathroom conditions T___T +extremely limited metered-parking along Woodmont
(4)Kera T.
As a self admitted bread connoisseur (and addict), I don't often say "I could just go for the bread and butter" lightly. But I could have sat at that table and easily devoured 5 bags of that delicious crusty French bread and salted butter. By myself. But I was with my colleagues so I made do with a measly third of the loaf. Greedy girl problems. For lunch I had a delicious croque-madame, which is the same as a croque-monsieur but with a lightly fried egg on top and a side of fries. They don't list the madame on the menu but most French restaurants will offer it if they serve a monsieur, so you just have to ask-you won't regret it. The ham was sliced perfectly thin, overall it could have been warmer but the egg really sets the whole sandwich off-yum! Service was great and I got a free mousse with my Yelp check-in, which they nicely packaged for me to take back to work because I was so stuffed!
(5)Kirk S.
While I got the feeling that this place wants to be a big chain, I can't complain about that - the food here is pretty darn good. Mon Ami Gabi is a French restaurant in the heart of Bethesda, meaning it's almost perpetually packed. The design is uber-French Bistro, in an extremely pleasant sort of manner. Service is responsive and superb, though obviously weighed down by the sheer crowds this place attracts. Prices are actually on the cheaper end of what I expected. The food here is quite nice. I had the Steak Frites Bordelaise, which was cooked exactly to my liking. The preparation was simply excellent - I've had very few steaks quite as tasty and tender as this, and I was very pleasantly surprised by the portion size. The frites themselves (i.e. the house french fries, basically) were good, but overwhelmingly portioned, and honestly a bit difficult to eat without making a gigantic mess. The accompanying bread - a baguette, no less - was pleasantly warm but, again, difficult to eat without making a gigantic mess. This place started in Las Vegas, and you can kinda tell that from its Bethesda location. There's a weird sense of American-ness to the place - huge crowds, paper covers for the tables, kids' menus, etc. - that you don't get from more "legit" French Bistros. This isn't a bad thing though - the food's all that really matters, and this place has some of the most "legit" places I've tried beat. Put another way, it may feel like the beginnings of some sort of French Olive Garden, but you can't argue with results.
(4)Jun Y.
I was invited to come to Mon Ami Gabi for a social meeting. The dinner entree and coffee/tea was paid for but the drinks were not. I started off the meal with a old-fashion made with Maker's Mark. The bartender pour with a heavy hand and was appropriately awarded with a sizable tip. There is a private area toward the back of the restaurant that seats roughly 40 people. I ended up ordering the steak frites. Asked for medium-rare but the steak came out almost raw like something from texas chainsaw massacre. The edges were cooked nice and juicy to the medium-rare level of tender, juiciness you'd expect but as you reached the center I couldn't even cut it with a steak knife. The steak was raw on the inside; cutting into it with a steak knife was like cutting a microfiber bathmat. On top of the steak was a huge slab of butter so unnecessary unless you're trying to meet your creator a few hours after eating. On the bright side the fries came out crispy and well seasoned. There was also plenty of it, since I couldn't chomp through the middle section of my steak I had to settle for the fries. The tea was a come up because it washed down the 200% of daily saturated fat that I ingested in a single meal. The waiter brought out a nice wooden box full of different flavors and a set of china for a self-pour experience. I forgot what brand of tea it was or would have bought more of it online.
(3)Tunaidi A.
Great French bistro. Once you see the menu, your eyes will automatically gravitate towards the steak frites options, which are pretty good. However, I'm surprisingly more impressed with their soups and salads. The complimentary French bread is also pretty clutch. It comes into good use if you get the escargots (highly recommended). Dessert is another highlight. I had to try the chocolate mousse at a French restaurant, and it was a delight. Surprised myself even more with the profiteroles, which were almost like huge ice cream sandwiches. Service was prompt and helpful. Glad our server offered several specials of the day, including veal sweetbreads. Yum!
(4)Wing C.
An alumni dinner at Mon Ami Gabi was a nice consolation in making me momentarily forget and feel better about how much I owe in dental school debt. We were treated to a four course dinner where we were given a prefix menu with 3-4 selections for each course (except for salad course). My classmate and I decided to split each course to sample as many items as possible. We opted for warm Brie and scallop gratinees for appetizers, chicken pillard and mustard salmon for entrees, and profritoles and chocolate mousse for desserts. They started us off with warm, toasty house made French baguette with soften better. Carbs and I are inseparable - I especially appreciated that they spent the time and effort in heating them up! These baguettes were the perfect munch as they worked up our appetites on what were to come! Scallop gratinees - they turned out to be too good to share. I polished my plate clean before acknowledging "oh ya we were supposed to split". The cheesy, bubbly cream over the sweet, caramelized onion baked over meaty, whole scallop. Wished there were more than 3! Mustard salmon - moist, flavorful, made to perfection. Paired with citrus sauce over the buttery, creamy mashed potato - what a nice contrast! Chicken pillard - the chicken was a bit dry for my taste. However the baked kabocha squash and mushroom sides were beyond delicious! I would order this dish again just got the sides alone! Profitoles - puff pastries filled with giant scoops of vanilla ice cream and drenched in chocolate fudge sauce - what is there to not love? Pure scrumptious! Chocolate mousse - light, smooth, and airy - everything a chocolate mousse should be! Loved the extra crunch from the dark chocolate puffs and the additional creaminess from the whipped cream! Since I have a reputation of insatiable appetite, all leftovers were generously offered to me. I was able to sample the traditional steak and creme brûlée. Tbh I'm not a big red meat eater - the steak was a bit tough and I didn't think it was all that special. However, the dollop of herb butter over the steak was a nice touch!. The creme brûlée on the other hand was out of the world! Rich, decadent, so so so good. Already had eaten 6 courses worth of food, my stomach managed to expand further and finished everything. Overall, what a treat! Service was beyond attentive even in a private, large group setting. Price can be a bit steep but well worth it! Happy belly = happy alumni. Hope my school hosts all future alumni events at Mon Ami a Gabi! I will be sure to clear my schedule to attend!
(4)Sophie W.
This place was awesome! We went for my birthday. I finally got to have my very first Beef Wellington and it was delightful. Everyone in our party enjoyed their food. Not only was the food great, but the service was outstanding! Our waiter was just fantastic. I would definitely go back!
(5)Nick N.
I was here with my coworkers on a Tuesday and was early enough to get the daily special: duck. A half duck with sauce...delicious. Huge mound of scalped potatoes. The house pate was tasty and smooth. I checked in with Yelp and got a free chocolate mousse. It was tasty and smooth. Not too rich. Based on the number people coming and going, it's best to make reservations.
(4)Marissa M.
Despite being packed for brunch, service was relatively fast. Our waiter was attentive and knew the menu well, which helped since my friend had a lot of questions. I got the tomato gazpacho to start. It was wonderful! I actually think the only way it could be improved is if it had just slightly less salt- but I'm also quite salt-averse so others may disagree. For my main, I had the chicken and mushroom crepe. Again, I thought it was wonderful, probably my second favorite brunch item I've had in DC (second only to Ardeo's butternut squash soup from 2013). I have been here for dinner as well, and while it was a while ago and I can't remember for the life of me what exactly I had, my boyfriend had a steak, which I remember trying and being impressed by. I'll definitely be going back for brunch in the near future.
(4)Herman W.
We ordered steak frites and eggs benedict with salmon. Both are pretty good but not impressive. However, we cannot stop eating the free baguette haha. Waiter (his name might be Hunter) gave us free profiteroles because it was our first time to the restaurant. Profiteroles are AMAZING. I guess free food is always delicious. Recommend to sit outside and have a French brunch in a beautiful weekend :)
(4)Shameem A.
If you're looking for an authentic French experience in that everyone who works there will have serious snootiness and 'tude- this is your place. Went for Sunday brunch with reservations for 6. -when being seated outdoors we asked if they could turn the heater next to our table on ... A very grumble-grumble response and in time someone else came to do that. - yes they give you a crusty baguette - it's literally thrown into the center of the table in a paper bag like you'd get at a bakery. Crust gets everywhere. -i could go on and on but won't. The food was delicious but .. There's no shortage of good food in DC. I was pretty taken aback by the rudeness of the staff. -also- the coffee is mediocre given that this was a french establishment.
(3)Jenny D.
Classic French cuisine. I loved it. You can't get escargot just anywhere, oh the butter and herbs. The baguette on the table was perfect for sopping up the extra butter. I had the salmon that came with sweet little peas and the cutest baby sweet potatoes and a delicious green purée. Everything was cooked perfectly. My boyfriend finished his meal so quick I didn't even get to try it! He had the sea scallops, I guess it must have been good! The restaurant is simple white table cloth, dark wood. Classy but not stuffy.
(5)Michelle B.
Well well well everything was absolutely delicious. Starting with the hot fresh French baguette with whipped butter and preserves. We had to force ourselves to stop eating it and save room for our entrees. What was delicious: *French toast bananas foster w/ a complimentary side of fresh blueberries because I couldn't make up my mind when ordering. *The boys Hamburgers with gruyere and cheddar cheese. Their choice along with fresh crispy French fries *My husbands steak with blue cheese butter Service *outstanding our waiter was friendly, knowledgeable, and personable Atmosphere *very calming with just the right amount of energy to not seem stuffy. There was a private party in a room near by and it was not an issue All in all we had a great time and the food was delicious. We shall return.
(5)Brian S.
Stopped in here for lunch today and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of service and food. I ordered the chicken liver pâté to start and it was fantastic. It's served with a red wine Dijon sauce, and an accompaniment of toast points and pickled vegetables. My server, Jessica, was fantastic and she sold me on the daily special or "poisson du jour". A pan seared filet of halibut over red beet and lentils, saffron aioli and pea shoots. It was delicious. I would go back again for lunch, and definitely request Jessica as my server.
(5)Priscilla Y.
My friends wanted meat so I recommended here since we were nearby and my experience the first time was pretty good. This time around, it was just alright. Their steak frites were kind of disappointing. Because they're thin, no matter how you request it cooked, it will come out medium. Their frites/fries are not good either. They cut it so thin that its too fried and oily. One friend got the Bordelaise sauce, which had caramelized onion with red wine. It tasted a little sweet. I had the Skate Wing Provencal with a side of veggies (potatoes, peppers, artichoke, and olives). The fish was on the salty side, but was fresh, flaky, and tender. It came with some type of sauce that I could not put my finger on. There was a hint of lemon flavor and there looked like chopped garnish in the bottom of the sauce dish, but that was about it. The veggies were alright. The smell of olives was overpowering everything else. Check in on Yelp and get a free mousse dessert. They also gave us two additional mousse desserts in shot glasses. The mousse was not bad, but their other desserts are way better.
(3)Hannah Z.
We dined here for my 30th birthday on 8/1/15. I don't know our server's name because he failed to introduce himself to us; he spoke with quite an arrogant, condescending tone and made us feel like he was rushing through our evening from the moment he opened his mouth. As a former server at the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island, my husband felt that our waiter last night was trying too hard. The food: My husband started with the escargot and he thoroughly enjoyed it. I had the triple cream starter which was a bed of mushrooms with a small piece of melted brie atop it; it was served with three pieces of toasty, crunchy bread. It was very tasty, but not $13 tasty. My husband ordered the bison special and he absolutely loved it while I had one of the filet options and it was delicious, as well. I didn't care for the frites- I found them to be a combination of shoestring and traditional fries, but much too crunchy. We shared the profiteroles for dessert and they were incredible- definitely large enough to share. We shared a bottle of Secret de Famille wine and it was wonderful and moderately priced in comparison to the other red wine options available. Overall, it was a very nice dining experience with the only reason for 3/5 stars being that we felt that we were inconveniencing our server and that he wanted nothing to do with us. We most likely won't return because of this, and so many other places in the Bethesda Row area looked (and smelled!) much more interesting without the stuffy atmosphere.
(3)Sonj H.
Great little spot. I had the trout which was cooked perfectly, very delicate and buttery as good French food should be. I would have liked a few more capers. I also had the frisee salad with a poached egg, hold the bacon. Very nice salad. He had salmon which was farmed tasting and pureed potatoes which were yummy (technical term). I had a sancerre wine which was good, not my favorite, not my least, it meshed nicely. Ambiance is adorable but the acoustics were a little rough. Service was fine, not great, not bad. Very nice little spot. Great for a catch up, nice vibe, a little indulgent, a little formal and somewhat romantic. I would not want a proposal here but it's a great place for a nice date or meeting. I look forward to coming back for the moules and frites
(4)Laura F.
Mon Ami Gabi consistently has great food and service. Be sure to sign up for the rewards program, as you are frequently given free appetizers, desserts, and gift cards. Brunch is great, as is lunch and dinner. One of my favorite spots in Bethesda.
(5)Linda O.
I'm pretty crazy about this spot. Perhaps it is staged to look like something Americans conceive to be a Paris bistro. Who cares? Aren't most restaurants trying to promote some theme or other? I come here because I get treated like a princess and the food is usually decent. The barkeeps are fabulous. The guys are observant and charming. They get me more bread; they bring me both browned butter and blue cheese to go with my steak-frites; they flatter me. They treat other folks around me in the same superb manner. This makes for a terrific atmosphere. That's called "Service" (with a capital S). Other food businesses would do well to follow suit. The Happy Hour food and drinks are a bargain. It gets crowded at that time but should not be a surprise to anyone nor avoided, either. Come on in and partake. The interior is fun and has a flourish. I prefer to eat in the bar, but the main dining room is fine as well. The wait staff is solid; adore their traditional black and white attire. I choose to frequent Mon Ami Gabi not so much for the cuisine but rather for the "joie de vivre" which I experience there. Bien fait, messieurs.
(5)Greg O.
An old classic for me. I've been to this location for years, back when I used to work in Bethesda. The formula is simple- good service, good food, good atmosphere. Reservations are definitely recommended, it gets very busy. The bread is delicious and addictive, and very easy to fill up on. I usually go with one of the steaks. My favorite is the Bearnaise, and I've had the hanger steak a few times as well. And of course the fries are a necessity- thin, crispy and delicious. Mon Ami Gabi is always a solid choice in the area.
(4)Ian Maren C.
Great amazing French restaurant. Wine selection was great but then again I'm no wine snob. Escargot was amazing along with everything else we had. Service was great, kid friendly. I recommend a reservation
(5)Annabelle L.
I returned to Mon Ami Gabi last week for their escargots, but they had a prix fixe special for their 13 year anniversary that I had to take advantage of: 3 courses for only $22!! I got the escargots, their steak frites with bordelaise sauce, and chocolate mousse. The escargots was just as delicious as last time. I loved the steak frites! The steak is thinner than I was expecting, but cooked perfectly. The bordelaise sauce was so flavorful--loved the sweetness of the carmelized onions with hints of red wine throughout. Went perfectly with the steak. Didn't eat too much of the fries (to save room for dessert), but the fries I did have were crispy. I am a huge fan of chocolate mousse and this one was pretty delicious. Light, fluffy, creamy, with these little chocolate balls that added a nice crunch. Service was wonderful as well--I told my server I was in a time crunch and he put my order in immediately with everything coming promptly! What a wonderful meal!
(5)Kat A.
I have been coming here for ages...for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Though I highly recommend the brunch if I had to pick one over the other. Even if it's not brunch, the food is tasty and the best French food I've had in the area. While they cater to those who are accustomed to traditional French food (like myself) they also impress people like my dad who grew up on a farm in the midwest and is perplexed when I speak French. While he can't pronounce half of the menu, he has loved their food for many years. The servers are literally some of the best we have ever encountered. They know every ingredient in every dish which says a lot. At the end of the day it doesn't matter what meal you have here nor the hour. You can count on the food, the ambiance, and the servers that honestly care about your dining experience. A go to in my book!
(4)Laurie K.
Culinary delight #2...loved this restaurant!! The waiter was fantastic and had my meal specially prepared due to my onion allergy... Most of us had the steak and eggs with delicious baby potatoes. I don't know what they did to the scrambled eggs but they tasted better than any eggs I have ever had anywhere!!! I splurged and had a bellini which was light and refreshing! All of us shared the 2 desserts...profiteroles and crème brulee that had our mouths watering!!!! Topped it off with a cappuchino... Wowza!!!! This place is elegant yet casual dress was abundant... Priced fair for what you get...and based on the way people were flocking here I'd say it's a hit!!! Merci Mon Ami Gabi!!!
(4)Loring P.
WONDERFUL. Cozy little French bistro where the truly eclectic Bethesda in-crowd get to mingle with the political honchos from DC!!!!! If you enjoy PERFECT French cuisine.....meaning escargot, steaks, seafood, a vast wine selection, and divine desserts....then this place is definitely for you. Come check out the sartorial elegance of the clientele, and the truly fabulous cuisine!!
(5)Irene A.
SUNDAY BRUNCH REVIEW Went here for sunday brunch. It was a beautiful summer day in bethesda. We got seating outside. The hosts at the front were friendly and pleasant..automatically creating a good dining experience. Our waiter was friendly, pleasant and funny as well and informative about the menu! Very relax atmosphere and environment. the food: SEAFOOD CREPE I got the seafood crepe and it was DELICIOUS. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. I had read some reviews on here about the crepe and at the end was deciding between that and the french toast blueberry, but went with the crepe. It was absolutely delicious and i HIGHLY recommend it. Some shrimp and scallops on top of a nicely folded crepe with a smooth cream that was not too rich or heavy, but just perfect on top of it all. So happy with my choice. My friends had got the nutella waffle which they said was too rich and sweet for them. Because i checked in on yelp i also got a free chocolate mousse dessert. Im not usually a chocolate mousse kinda gal, but this was not too heavy or rich and just nice and smooth. Overall, pleasant brunch experience with friendly staff and amazing seafood crepe which made the morning perfect.
(4)Tsuru J.
I met up with a friend here after a jerky metro ride so my stomach was a bit queasy. The waiter was a bit aloof (maybe the same one Hannah Z. got?) and not the most attentive. I got the steak frites roquefort and my companion got the skate wing. Both were nice but overly salty. The frites were more like those fried onion bits that people put on green bean casserole.
(3)Richard J.
Had there French Onion Soup and listened to the 3 piece band, the music was enjoyable and the soup was delicious. The bartenders/ severs make this experience truly enjoyable.
(5)A M.
Try the steak and frites! It is delicious, but also fairly expensive.
(4)Emily H.
Went here at 7 pm on a Saturday night, yet didn't have trouble getting a table for 2 without a reservation... guess that's the suburbs for you. The place was bigger than I anticipated, but decorated nicely for the holidays in a way that made it seem classy. While I waited for my dining partner to arrive, I had two Leffes at the bar. The bartenders were great - nice, joking with customers, and I even overheard that one of them recalled a "regulars" order for four ppl - pretty impressive! We were seated quickly - but they didn't rush us as we still had to close out our bar tab. The hostess and our waiter were both friendly. They brought us a warm, freshly baked baguette to start with including plenty of butter and some sort of sliced carrot spread. Honestly, I vaguely recall the spread being a French thing, but it was pretty flavorless and I only tried a bite. I ordered the classic steak frites. The steak was done perfectly, although a bit thinner than I expected. The two huge pads of butter on it were a bit much, so I scraped most of that off. The fries were particularly awesome - thin cut and just the right amount of crispy, plus you got a BUNCH of them. That was probably the highlight of the meal. The bill came out to over $75, not including my two beers which I paid for at the bar. Kind pricey in my opinion. Despite the decent food and the on point service, I probably won't be back because it is so far in the burbs.
(3)Sweta G.
Although they had only one vegetarian entrée but I loved everything they served. Chocolate mousse was really good. Butternut squash purée was amazing too. Server was very nice . The restaurant was bit crowded .
(4)Carolyn C.
This place is astounding! The food is first-rate, tasteful, delicious, delectable, lip-smacking, and scrumptious. I have been here multiple times during Bethesda's Restaurant Week and would absolutely go back. Each time I ordered their steak frites and it was mouthwatering! My Agency took me here for my birthday last year and it was one of the greatest experiences ever. Mon Ami Gabi is definitely one of the best restaurants in the Bethesda area.
(5)Ronald L.
Came for the brunch, left with a smile. French cuisine has a lot of history and may seem intimidating to some when they see items like, Wild Escargots de Bourgogne or Salmon Tartare. However, with this French quarter, that feeling doesn't quite stand up. Maybe it's because of its incredibly friendly, attentive, and professional staff. Maybe it's because it's casual attire with a warm and class atmosphere. The ambiance simply welcomes you. During my stay, I ordered the Wild Escargots to start and Waffle Bananas Foster as main. Wild Escargots - Delectable tender snails, deliciously oven-roasted with garlic-herb butter. Big and juicy with a good snap on bite. The garlic-herb butter made the snails pop since the snail itself has a very delicate flavor profile - slightly sweet and muddled earthiness. The garlic was very forward, followed by the freshness of the parsley, and nicely rounded at the finish with the taste of butter. I order escargot every chance I get and this is by far the best I've experienced. Extremely well balanced. Waffle Bananas Foster - Perfectly pressed waffle with a crispy exterior with a light and fluffy interior. Enter the bananas foster sauce served on the side. This sauce is so extremely balanced between the flavors of banana, dark rum, sugar, butter, and cinnamon. Perfectly harmonized with each ingredient next to the other, not above or below. Sweet, bitter, creamy, and spicy -from the cinnamon. This is a must get. These two items spoke the world to me, but not without regret. Regret? I wish I had ordered more. Will definitely be back and highly recommend the brunch.
(4)Jerry E.
Nothing spectacular about this place, although interior design was kind of unique. I had Filet Mignon Au Poivre cooked in medium rare. It was tender and cooked correctly; however, somehow, the steak was not juicy, so I was a little disappointed... Perhaps, this is expected since it is not a steak specialty restaurant. Water served in the bottle was very good. Same for the coffee, too, very flavorful. The best part was it comes with unlimited refills. Overall, it was a good experience for me.
(3)Loretta H.
Good food, good service, good atmosphere, and the best french fries, ever!
(4)Alida R.
My family's visit to Mon Ami Gabi was a disappointment. We visited Mon Ami Gabi in Vegas, and had an amazing dinner -- polished and professional service, the best French onion soup I've ever tasted, fantastic fish, and a phenomenal baked goat cheese appetizer. My dinner at the Bethesda location was like a shabby imitation of this meal. Here are the negatives: The food: the French onion soup was the most disappointing part of the evening. The broth tasted sweet, watery, and bland, and not beefy at all. Salt helped a bit, but not too much. The cheese was decent, but not great. The soup wasn't actually bad -- but it wasn't very GOOD, either. And each portion of soup cost $9 -- at those prices, I expect a darn good cup of soup! Chicken liver mousse appetizer (with gluten free bread): this tasted good, but was quite mild, and less of a mousse and more of a pate. Baked goat cheese appetizer: good, but not great. The cheese was tasty, but goat cheese always is. The tomato sauce it was served in was palatable but nothing special. Scallops gratinees: This is what I ordered, and it tasted delicious, and had a lovely presentation, served in metal scallop shaped dishes on top of a bed of rock salt. There was very little scallop in the dish -- three dishes with one or two tiny slices of scallop in each, topped with mounds of cheese, cream sauce, and onions. Very rich and good, though light on the seafood. The problem with this dish was that the rock salt had all shifted during transit, and a piece was on top of my scallops. I bit into a big, rock hard explosion of saltiness that almost wrecked my pallet for the rest of the meal. Side of brussels sprouts: $5, and a very small dish. The crispy fried leaves that had come off of the main sprouts were amazing. But the center of the sprouts was chewy and tasted undercooked. Service: the waiter was friendly, but it felt like amateur night. Our waiter took our soup orders, and said he would take our entree orders later. He didn't return to take the entree orders until we were finished with our soups -- at which point we ordered appetizers instead of the big entrees we were planning to order, because we had filled up on soup. Our waters were not kept consistently refilled, and I had to keep flagging the waiter for more water. After we finished, the waiter brought us our check without asking if we wanted any coffee or dessert (which we did want!) It almost seemed like the waiter didn't want to bother with us. What, we don't order wine or cocktails and we're not worth paying attention to? Valet parking: costs $7, and the valet literally left our car parked on the street where we had pulled it up. Seriously? Cost: Dinner for three -- a soup and appetizer each -- was $67 before tip; it would have been quite a bit more had we ordered any drinks or gotten entrees. Some positives: Mon Ami Gabi is great with gluten free dietary needs, and they serve complimentary, very good gluten free bread. Wait staff is careful about cross contamination. They have a designated gluten free menu. Also, right now they're offering free chocolate mousse with check in. The mousse (which I had to flag the waiter down for after he brought us the check) was dark, super chocolatey, rich, and fantastic. Go for the check in mousse and gluten free bread, and not much else.
(1)Jessica L.
Profiteroles are delicious and I got them free by telling the waiter called Hunter that it's my first time dining there! The free baguette with jam and butter is fresh and crunchy. They give you a whole baguette so you will be really full if you try to finish it. I went during brunch time. I got egg Benedict with smoked salmon, it was as expected and good. My friend got steak and fries. We thought the steak was huge according to the yelp pictures, but the steak was actually thin and can be easily finished by a person. There are outdoor seating so this could be an awesome place to have brunch with a few friends in summer when the weather is beautiful. I would come again only if I am nearby but I wouldn't drive all the way to this restaurant just for their food.
(4)Robert M.
Seafood and chicken crepes were good and so was the coffee. Friendly attentive service.
(4)Alex P.
Great place friendly staff good food I had the ny steak and my wife the fillet mignon both our sauces were good but her had a little more flavor (the merlot sauce) mine was the bordelaise sauce
(5)Bob Y.
I had not been to Mon Ami Gabi in quite some time, in fact I had planned to park in the large surface public parking lot caddy corner to the building,but upon arrival I see there is a huge building there now with many retail stores! Anyway, being it was Sunday at 6pm. I pulled around the corner and parked for free at a metered space. I thought to myself while walking to the door that the last time I was here I ordered a burger and frites.....and it drummed up a pleasant memory of a perfectly constructed burger,with above average beefy flavor and a cone of crispy thin "fries". Alas,I could not order this tonight as it was dinner time and the menu does not offer a burger........in fact,upon perusal of it the menu is rather limited..... but kick in the daily specials and I was sure I could find something I would like. Our table of 6 had a good sampling of what they offer.....two orders of scallops were chosen,one caramalized and one gratine and I would have to say,the sauteed ones were far superior.......huge and was told delish. A salmon filet and three steaks rounded out our meal selection. My hangar steak,ordered rare,was in fact cooked to perfection........not common when you order "rare" beef.......it was about 1 1/4" thick and tasty! My wife ordered the steak with blue cheese sauce and it was really too thin a cut of steak........she ordered it medium rare...and,though cooked correctly,it really suffered from being so dang thin! The wonderful blue cheese sauce flavor made up for it though,at least in our minds......the food in summary was quite good for the cost. Now the service we experienced was,as mentioned in many reviews, the standout here......they treat you well without being overbearing or bothering you too often.....you never feel neglected,and you do not have to hunt someone down when you need something,water is topped up without asking,bread crumbs are swept away,and plates are cleared without being obtrusive........ Finally,please check-in with the Yelp app to get a free Chocolate Mousse (one per table) and also tell them one in your party is a first time guest to receive a free profiterole,which is puffy pastry with vanilla ice cream as a sandwich with chocolate sauce drizzled over it!!!!!! I will not let so much time lapse before I come back to visit you Mon Ami Gabi!
(4)A W.
IDK if it was the drugs talking, but I had the best cream puff of my life here. The rest of my brunch was delicious as well, and the portion sizes were very generous. Service was stellar. 5 stars!
(5)X M.
A solid choice. Great ambience- we ate inside. Nice and quiet compared to the super busy and noisy options in Bethesda. Our waiter was attentive and anticipated our needs without me having to ask (we were dining with children)-he was also kind to our children--a big plus- it put him over the edge from a good to great tip. Lots of waiters just ignore kids, so this was really a nice surprise. Everyone I was with enjoyed their food. They serve the most delicious hot fresh baked french baguette with creamy butter on the side while you wait. I took away a star because we took some food in a doggy bag and they just dumped it all together when it should have been separated even if meant using separate containers. I'll be packing my own doggy bag next time I go. And yes, over it was a really nice dining experience so we will be back!
(3)Jonathan K.
This is our favorite restaurant in the area! The food is consistently amazing, the service is prompt, courteous and fast. Their wine list is pretty amazing as well. The only issue is that everyone seems to agree--the wait is always so long!
(5)Irinka L.
Good. Consistent food and now they have gluten free bread !! The salads and appetizers are the best ! Yey!!
(5)Maria L.
What a great place to dine for a special occasion! This place was very busy on a Saturday night. Even though I made reservations for 7 on 8:30pm, we still had to wait. The staff was very apologetic and the manager even came to us and informed us of the situation. The waiter was very nice, as well as the complimentary baguette with the carrot salad. Escargot was so hot, buttery, and full of garlic! I ordered the Classique Steak Frites. I was very pleased with my plate of food. They also gave me a profiterole for my birthday. I had a great birthday dinner. Merci mon ami gabi, tu es très délicieus!
(5)Elizabeth Y.
Love this place and environment. The waiter was a little pushy on their specials for the day, which were mostly all fish-based, and my cousin and I (as carnivores) were looking for something more meaty. We decided to share the steak frites as 8oz is quite large. You can replace the fries with mashed potatoes if you're searching for a more healthier option. However, if you check in on Yelp, you get a free chocolate mousse. You get a very generous serving with these chocolate covered choco puff-like balls and whipped cream that is heavenly. This restaurant is a chain, and have many locations, including Las Vegas .
(4)Lisa S.
I've been here a few times since moving to Bethesda- for brunch, dinner, and dessert. French food is one of my favorite cuisines, and I haven't been disappointed yet! The decor is nice, and the restaurant is set up to resemble a traditional French bistro. The bar area is separate from the restaurant, and also holds a few tables. The dining room has two rooms, and is surprisingly big. The first time I came was for dessert. We sat in the bar (they wouldn't let us sit in the main dining room unless we were having a fine meal, which was fine). We ordered the creme brulee ($6.95) and the white chocolate bread pudding ($7.95). The friendly waiter found out that it was my friend's birthday, so he also brought out an order of chocolate mousse for us, for free! (Normally $5.95). We also ordered some drinks, and the waiter helped my friend choose a wine that she would like that would go well with the desserts. The bread pudding was a little egg-y, but overall the desserts were tasty. We left feeling full of sugar and happy. The second time, I came for dinner. My sister sent me a gift card for here, and I decided to blow it in one go on a nice meal! We shared the warm brie cheese ($10.95). All tables also get a loaf of bread- amazing. For meals, my friend got a steak special- I don't remember exactly what it was, but I remember it was the best thing we ordered all night. I ordered the caramel sea scallops ($21.95), which came with butternut squash puree. The scallops were well-cooked, but for me, the dish lacked a little bit of flavor/texture diversity and pizzazz. We also ordered a bottle of wine- they have solid, diverse, and affordable choices on their list. The third time, I came for brunch. Their brunch menu is probably my favorite, and I plan to be back many times. The loaf of bread they brought us was still warm, and they served it with butter and raspberry jam. I ordered the croque monsieur ($10.95), one of my favorite foods. It was also served with a side of fries. We saw numerous egg dishes pass us while we waited, and they all looked like perfection. The croque monsieur was not the best I've had, but pretty freaking good. Their french fries are thin and crispy, which I like. The waiter was incredibly friendly and awesome- he refilled our waiter and Diet Coke seemingly every two minutes. We also lingered a bit at the table, talking, and nobody rushed us or seemed to mind. Overall, a great place for a meal or a drink. Very friendly waiters, moderately priced (especially for Bethesda), and a great location. Two thumbs up!
(4)Mel A.
Mon Ami Gabi is a French bistro nestled in Bethesda offering flavorful meals accompanied by respectable French wine varietals. We were lucky to get a table out front - the weather was humid but cooled off as there was a gentle summer breeze. A fresh baguette is brought to your table accompanied with butter and a julienned carrot-champagne vinaigrette spread. I enjoyed their special - sautéed halibut topped with brioche croutons on a bed of heirloom tomatoes a roasted garlic vinaigrette. My friend had the crab cake with whipped cauliflower. Our meal paired well with Entre-Deux-Mers, a citrusy-Sauv Blanc, light and crisp from the Bordeaux region. There's a good selection of desserts - I finished my meal with the Peach Melba - bits of summer peaches with raspberry sorbet, vanilla ice cream, and candied almonds. I love peaches and this hit the spot. Looking forward to coming back.
(4)Sherry H.
We have been here 3 times. First and third time service was good. Second time horrible. I would not have gone back but hubby wanted Eggs Benedict for brunch. Unfortunately, we didn't discover until we were seated that it's not on the menu. My warm Frise salad was not warm. His frites (house made fries) seemed like they were from the night before, not warm at all and stale tasting. We like the Chicken Mousse Pate better than the Housemade Country Pate. I had the scallops which had texture and taste of a skate more than scallop. Our food always seems to take far too long to arrived. Onion soup wasn't hot and was just okay. The sandwiches he has had were just okay. He did enjoy his steak.
(3)Abdulrahman A.
i like this restaurant. if you go there ask about " Edward " he chooses nice dishes for us.
(5)Trish J.
We like Mon Ami Gabi. Went their for restaurant week and it was tasty. At this location, there is a small room upstairs that is really nice. Obviously for couples or someone looking to have a romantic evening. Very good steak and frites as well.
(3)Karina S.
It was a good dinner all in all! I like the way they serve food and wine. Baguette was very yummy! Caesar salad was different from what I used to eat everywhere else! It was spicy, which I didn't expect, and the croutons were not crunchy. This is their way to do it, it's just not for me! I can't say it was not tasty, just very specific i would say! As for the main dish the chicken was a little dry and not very flavored( It could be better! The duck with pork in a gravy was just perfection!!! And this dish is worth to try!!! And the dessert was great too! I actually used a coupon from yelp and get that chocolate mousse for free)
(4)Nat F.
One of my favorite restaurants! Mon Ami Gabi introduced me to the peppercorn steak! So delicious! Love this place and the waiters.
(5)Sharon O.
My favorite place to go after a movie at the BethesdaRow Cinema is Mon Ami Gabi next door. For starters, I love sitting at the bar and prefer it to a table. The service is always 5 stars. The bartenders there are considerate in everything they do- from the smallest observation (making sure a wobbly bar stool was even) to the big things (asking the kitchen to get our steak frites split when he overheard we were sharing). Even if there is a rude-snobby MoCo couple there giving them hell, and they will still be class act. Someone said that they like sitting at the bar because it makes them feel like a princess, which I agree. I always get the french onion soup which is delicious. The scallops gratinees is amazing. The steak frites are good, but I think I enjoy the frites more than the steak. Especially with bearnaise.
(4)Mike B.
Not many French restaurants in the area. Italian restaurants... we're drowning in the marinara. But not many French restaurants. Known for their steak and frites, Mon Ami Gabi has stood planted like the statue of liberty on Bethesda row for some time. So, it's about time I tried them out. We sat in the bar where the one bar tender magically waited on close to 20 different people. *Great Thing 1: A fresh hot baguette is served to you upon sitting down with butter and jam. I decided to order the steak sandwich with frites. I thought... might as well get the steak and frites in some respect. The cheaper option tempted me a little more not only because it was lunch, but had a dipping sauce "described" as au jus by the bar tender. The steak sandwich was mediocre. Although I was not a fan of the bun which was dry ( and seemed to have been made in house), the au jus was actually french onion soup- which was not served to me hot enough. That itself did not make for fantastic dipping. My friend ordered the seafood crepe. Fantastic! Albeit heavy- but alot of perfectly cooked seafood topped the crepe. The frites were absolutely delicious crispy potato fries. I'm not sure what machine they use to get them that size... but I want one. I would like to go back and try many more menu items. Steak in sandwich was good- but crepe was much better.
(4)Casey K.
Came here for a Saturday brunch and the whole experience from the service to food was just really ok, with nothing noteworthy or stand out. The warm baguette with butter and jam they bring you to nosh on until your items come out was probably my favorite part. They bread is warm and the butter and jam go with it perfectly, I loved this start to our brunch! We order the baked goat cheese starter which was a generous amount that I was very impressed with. It was a baguette cut in half (lengthwise) with a garlic pesto baked into it. This baguette is set atop a round dish with the baked tomato and goat cheese. I thought this dish was pretty unmemorable. The tomato sauce tasted like Chef Boyardee to be quite honest. the goat cheese was lovely, light, and creamy. I would not recommend this starter, as it was just not what I was expecting due to it's lackluster taste. We both ordered quiche for our entree. My dining companion ordered the Quiche Lorraine and I ordered the Butternut Squash and Brie Quiche. I tried both, and in a battle of two very lackluster competitors, the Quiche Lorraine prevailed. I thought the Quiche Lorraine was a nice mix of savory bacon and creamy Jarlsburg cheese, but still would have liked a bit more caramelized onions. The butternut squash and brie quiche was just a total letdown, there were big bits of congealed brie and not very much butternut squash for my liking. The crust was something I ended up eating around, it was neither buttery nor soft and crumbly so much as it was dry brittle and a bit too overcooked in some spots. The service was just ok, no one really had any personality. It was just very robot like, when they brought the tea box up for us to make our selections, they just kind of walked up opened the box and didn't say anything. They all just seemed a bit pissed off quite frankly. Not sure I will be back. There was nothing really standing out to me to make me think this restaurant had any redeeming qualities that would make me want to come back and give this another try.
(2)Linda G.
It's a chain, yes, but I had the absolutely best mussels I've ever had here this week. YUM!!! Plus the service is always impeccable. Not bad for the price point.
(4)Vandad C.
I ordered a steak frites au poivre medium rare. It wasn't good even by the lowest bistrot standard. Cold, no taste, and the fries weren't particularly good either. The only redeeming factor here was the giant profiteroles I ordered for dessert. The place itself has a nice look to it but it's nothing extraordinary. Overall it was a fairly mediocre dining experience. Food was meh, waiter was either new or didn't care about he was doing, and price is fairly high for what it is. There's valet parking for $7 and a variety of pay to park garages around this location.
(2)Esther G.
Wonderful restaurant in the heart of Bethesda Row. Delicious chocolate mousse. If you can, sit at the bar with bartenders Matt & Josh. Always a good time!
(5)Robert D.
I love this place! I've been countless times and tried just about everything on the menu. No matter what it's always tasty, and the service is great too. One of my favorite restaurants in the area for the great food, attentive, knowledgeable staff, and relaxed atmosphere.
(5)Dan G.
Went here for employee's annual review. Got escargot app and the Frisee salad. Both were very good. My coworker go the goat cheese app & salmon salad. I tried the goat cheese app & it was delicious as well. Got go back to this place another time as was very impressed at least for lunch. Service was superb as well.
(5)Colette P.
Last Saturday night I had another delicious meal at Mon Ami Gabi. It was actually restaurant week which I hadn't realized when we made the reservation. I had a salad to start, the steak classique with herb butter and the profiteroles. This was all for about $30.00. The vinaigrette and lettuce were not my favorite. However, the steak was excellent and tasty and done just right. I prefer my steak medium rare. The pommes frites were delicious, crispy, thin, and salty. The profiteroles with chocolate drizzled on top were sublime.
(5)Cheryl E.
Mon Ami Gabi is a nice French bistro located in Bethesda, MD. The decor is warm and welcoming as is the staff. Through out the whole meal, the staff worked hard to provide an excellent dining experience. I was part of a large group. This typically presents impacts timing and quality. I ordered the scallops and was presented with 4 fairly small scallops on a tomato puree that was running/separating on the plate by the time it arrived. Another diner, ordered and ate only the steamed mussels. They arrived absolutely cold. They were very quickly remade and nicely presented. Unfortunately, the mussels went on to cause a fairly significant stomach upset. The strawberry cake was dry and not at all well presented. I have to believe this is an anomalous experience given all the positive reviews and when back in DC, I will certainly give Moni Ami Gabi another try.
(2)Mercedes X.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Bethesda the waiters are always awesome drinks are amazing and the food is delicious. It can get quite busy at times so you may need to check on the reservation. And this is definitely a place that you can bring a date to to try to impress her
(5)Mai C.
I came here for Bethesda restaurant week and ended up eating here twice in one week. Hands down the most delicious burger I have ever had. They offer a variety of cheeses as toppings but being that I hate cheese I asked for a plain burger. The ground beef was very moist and well seasoned even though some of my coworkers ordered it well done (i ordered it medium well). The frites are interesting. They are more like potato ribbons. Initially I was not a fan but it did grow on me the second time around.
(4)Olga Y.
Brunch here is pretty average. It looked like it would be a perfect brunch place, but appearances were deceiving. The warm bread was nice, but the jam/butter were nothing special. We ended up filling up on it, which was a good thing. The orange juice tasted fresh-squeezed and the coffee was nice and strong. That was the only thing that impressed. My belgian waffle with nutella was, again, pretty average -- I felt like I could make it out of a box at home in the waffle maker and warm up some nutella to go along. The creme fraiche was nice though. My date's eggs benedict with steak were also pretty average. The poached eggs and hollandaise were nice, but the steak was cold-ish (seemed like it sat under a warmer since early morning...) and the home fries were awful -- soggy, warm rather than not, not a crispy one to be found among them and desperately lacking flavor. Feh. I would come back here for lunch or dinner, but I would be in no rush. Brunch is probably a no-go unless all of you want *lunch* -- they don't seem to have a good handle on breakfast items at all.
(3)kimberly w.
LOVE this restaurant. Definitely my favorite in Bethesda. Beautiful decor. Always great, yummy food. Held my husband's 30th birthday here and they were very accomodating. We had a large group, but not large enough to be in the private room, which was fine. The only thing was that they couldn't put us at one table, but it worked out fine. Other than that, no complaints!
(5)Lynn C.
I think this place is just okay. I really only like the bloody mary bar during brunch otherwise I would probably never eat here. But, they have nice outdoor seating.
(2)Cindi C.
Great for a girlfriends lunch. MY BFF and I come here every 6 weeks for our day out together. Yes, stereotypical girlfreind's day, pedis, lunch at Mon Ami Gabi and shopping. We always have a good time here, enjoy the food no matter what we get. I love the quiches, salads (especially the salmon) and the salmon sandwich (I am a sucker for salmon after finding out how good it is for your skin.) Last week I had the peach lemonade, not too tart or sweet. Perfect on an afternoon lunch al fresco. I would however like to come here when it isn't a Saturday. I want to try it some other time. And the serivce has been attentive the past 4 times we have been there.
(5)Luis U.
The owner recently contacted me to address my concerns and I very much appreciate businesses who aim for better quality. I was on the fence anyway, and seeing businesses care for what their customers have to say is a big plus for me.
(4)Christine P.
Mon Ami Gabi is a perfect place for a date or with friends. Came on a Wednesday around 6 and we were seated immediately. They have a large selection of wine and food. We got the special of the day, rockfish topped with brussel sprouts and potatoes ($28), and the filet mignon au poivre ($31). I didn't think the filet mignon was that special (the large side of frites is good), but the rockfish was delicious! We came here for a birthday, and the complementary profiterole was great as well. The service was great. Our server (tall male with a french accent) was very pleasant and attentive. He explained the menu and specials well, and made sure everything was okay. Total was $97 excluding tip for a filet mignon, rockfish, salad, and 2 glasses of wine. There's valet parking out front ($7), street parking (limited), or garage parking close by.
(4)Norman G.
Chacun a son gout: This popular and well-situated bistro is not my particular cup of consommé. Despite its exalted reputation, I'm of the opinion that France has more than its fair share of mediocre restaurants and Mon Ami Gabi belongs to that unexalted company. However, carefully picking and choosing, I have no difficulty in finding a few standard dishes I'm content to eat when friends want to dine here. Except when the weather is pleasant enough to eat outside, you'd better have a reservation or be willing to wait. I'm NEVER in the willing to wait category. Quarters are close and service is not particularly efficient. Washington used to have a number of pretty good French restaurants. And, at least to my taste, Mon Ami Gabi would not have been in the same league as the best of those. However, if you're enamored of old-fashioned and not terribly imaginative French cooking, you might like this restaurant more than I do.
(3)Jiyoung R.
Nice brunch spot for the weekend. Brunch for 6 with a few mimosas about $150. Not too bad. Service was good and food great. Got the seafood crepe which wasn't too heavy but filled me up! Forgot to redeem my free dessert. boo. -.-
(4)Carley M.
I love them. Great service. Great bartenders. Great gluten free menu! Stephan and Jillian are two of the best servers you could ever get and Willie is the only manager i have ever seen anywhere to go out and drop quarters in meters for customers when it is getting close to ticket time. Its such a great behind the scenes client satisfier
(5)Judi G.
Nice French bistro with all the requirements. Champagne, steak frites, mussels and frites, French onion soup and sandwiches on baguettes. Live music some nights and outdoor dining is relaxed and similar to those in France.
(4)Ron W.
The steak frite is to die for. Perfectly cooked and the fries are not what you would expect. Having been to Paris before, steak frite with fries is a staple. The dessert menú has way too many choices. I decided upon the lemon creme brûlée and do not regret it. Reservations are recommended but we got in on a Friday evening (6:30) without one. Our waiter was top notch.
(5)Lauren S.
Went tonight for Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, dinner. We had never been before and found the special menu from a quick google search. Mon Ami Gabi went above and beyond from start to finish. We will be back for more meals! Every plate presented was finished beautifully and with care. The dishes were hot, full of flavor, and generously portioned. Another detail we loved was that when staff would refill a drink and we said thank you, they would respond with happy new year. It was clear that the entire restaurant was trained carefully about a special night for people of our faith and it showed. The food was better than my moms (sorry mom), and priced very well for so. much. food. The icing on the cake was receiving a hand written thank you and mini honey cake with a note for a sweet new year with our check!! Above and beyond!!!
(5)Michal A.
If you're not a meat lover or better yet- a vegetarian - you don't have a lot of options from their menu. They have a couple of cheese appetizers and a vegetable tagine that was just plain vegetables in water (it wasn't even a broth). So my husband is the vegetarian and I had the fish (trout I believe) and it wasn't great either.. A little dry and not too flavorful. Our friends enjoyed their steaks and their wine selection is good. The atmosphere was nice with live music, though a little loud if you're trying to have a conversation.
(3)John O.
Familiar with the menu from frequent visits in Las Vegas and periodic ones in Chicago, we choose this restaurant for meeting of 5 for dinner. Good service and wine list, reliable menu of steaks and frites I love their mussels and salads It was just right
(4)Drea G.
As much time as I do not spend in Bethesda I happened to be in the area looking for a place to eat brunch. Through the advice of Yelp we ended up here because it was one of the few places that served alcohol during the day. When we arrived around 12:30 the restaurant was fairly quiet and we were seated immediately. Our server was very nice and explained all the specials and offered recommendations and advice on all the dishes. I was immediately impressed by the very large brunch menu, it definitely took a long time for us to decide on savory or sweet. But as I mentioned before the waiter was very helpful in narrowing down our choices. I ordered the tuna melt tartine sandwich with a bellni. The bellini was nice and potent and the sandwich was flavorful. Minus one star for the cheese on top - it was a bit dry and may have been sitting out for a short while. However, I still enjoyed it and the sandwich is quite large. You also get a large helping of fries with it. One friend had the blueberry french toast and was blown away by the flavor. Another friend had the waffle banana foster and love it. I'm not a fan of bananas on waffles but decided to try it. The waffle was soft, sweet and very delicious, the banana was soft but not too sweet. The raspberry jam for the baguette was delicious, I should have requested a jar for purchase! Highly recommend and would definitely go back to Bethesda just to eat here.
(4)Tracy L.
The food, atmosphere and service are always a treat!
(5)Jittima S.
Just had the most traumatic brunch ever at your restaurant. Please keep in mind that making food jokes of any kind at your patron's expense is unprofessional, insensitive and extremely disrespectful. We live in a world where we're constantly criticized by everything we do; however, choosing what one consumes(from your menu) and how one consumes it (especially at your establishment in this case) should be judgmental free. Food was alright until the food-shaming occurred. Bottom line; food-shaming is unacceptable. Fronting it with half-ass apology is appalling & demeaning. Please be mind and keep your loathsome opinion to yourself.
(2)Hua X.
I had a fantastically large and friendly bearded lumberjack of a waiter who gave me and my friend cream puffs for free after our hefty brunch. This affirmed my view of humanity and I hope the waiter is karmically (and financially) rewarded for his uncommon kindness. I found the brunch itself to be above average and not cosmically good, but the bread and potatoes were soul-comforting. Great 20th century French pop soundtrack in the background. Would certainly come here even just to get away from the standard corporate-indie fare I've come to hear so often.
(4)Rick K.
One of my all time Favorite Restaurants. I sat at the bar today. I had the mussels and some wine. Also, had their amazing bread. I finished it off with some peach sorbet. Che took great care of me. Michelle took the time to come over and say Hi, while trying to manage many tasks as a rain storm was approaching. The general manager should be congratulated for the great staff and Outstanding Service. I will be back many times and always tell my friends an coworkers to go to Mon Ami !!
(5)Kari S.
FANTASTIC FANTASTIC FANTASTIC. My husband ordered the steak frites and I ordered the onion soup -- absolutely fabulous! Federico was our waiter and he was terrific. We will be back soon, as in next week.
(5)Peter L.
Love the nice cafe feel. Sometimes you beed a place to get away and not feel like you are in a Bethesda restaurant...Mon Ami Gabi does just that.
(4)Christina O.
Went to Mon Ami Gabi for brunch with the husband and friends one lovely Sunday morning. Service was pretty prompt and waitstaff were there when you needed them. Everyone got something different and everyone very much enjoyed their meals. The complimentary fresh-baked baguette they provide is really excellent. I'm pretty much always on the hunt for great baguettes, and it's the closest I've found to what you get in Paris itself. In sum, excellent. I'll be back.
(5)Catie C.
Really. $33 for a salad, fries, and dessert. A salad which had five spinach leaves, five walnuts, and a handful of cranberries.... for $17? Seriously. Worst lunch ever. I really can't believe I spent that much money just now
(1)Bill S.
Mon Ami is perfect for brunch and this is what the review is based on. The decor is French bistro and creates a good atmosphere for a eating. They go out of their way to try for good service but occasionally do get orders wrong . At this writing I have about 35 check-ins so I am speaking from a long history rather than one visit. They have a number of on going promotions that also keep us coming back. Current check in gets you a free chocolate moose which is very goo. They also have a sign up text offer which has gotten us free shrimp coattails which are absolutely excellent, offering huge shrimp and a cocktail/horseradish sauce that treats the taste buds. We have also gotten onion soup as a a text-ed promotion which is also great. They have a large selection of wine by the glass an offer you a taste before committing, very nice. Now to the food for brunch. My absolute favorite is the eggs Benedict with salmon, perfect! I have had mixed experience with their mussels. sometimes you get a couple of nasty ones in the serving that should not have gotten through. Their stake sandwich is delicious with the dip sauce they provide. Their cappuccino is excellent as is their coffee. The servers are very good at keeping your cups full. We go go back two or three times a month and its a sure thing for brunch!
(5)David G.
Great brunch place if you like French cuisine. I ordered the lobster roll which, while delicious, was very skimpy on the amount of lobster meat but plenty of bread and veggies. Let's face it though, lobster rolls are already small as it is. The least you can do is not skimp out on the most important part. My girlfriend, on the other hand, ordered the escargot, which was cooked and served to perfection. Always a good sign when the snails are not overcooked. Would definitely recommend this place for the service and delectable options.
(4)Nick L.
Came here for Sunday brunch this past weekend. I must note that if a friend didn't suggest it then I would have gone elsewhere due to a previous dinner experience that was sub par. Brunch was excellent! I would return for brunch without hesitation. Prices are a bit high, but what do you expect, they have prime real estate in the heart of Reston Town Center. Also the outside patio is a lovely place to enjoy brunch. I got the eggs Maryland (Benedict with a crab cake on it) Fantastic!!!
(4)Dawnn J.
Saturday Brunch!! Delish!! Perfect weather for outside eating. Eggs Benedict with smoke salmon yummmmmy!! Fresh baguette with raspberry jam and they even had creme fraise (but u have to ask for it). Marquis Rose...bubbles...make this the perfect brunch!!!
(5)Toby R.
First of all, go for the "frites" with anything!!! They are magical and need no ketchup or other condiments. Ok, now that I've prologued with that, the service is nothing short of mesmerizing. Very attentive wait staff. Also, they have some great steak dishes, especially the one with bleu cheese on it. Also, if you are a burger aficionado, try theirs...unreal.
(4)Yesica L.
We went for dinner with some friends to mon ami gabi I'm giving it an ok because the onion soup was ok in my opinion and the cassoulet was really salty and it didn't even have any pork just pure fat I didn't like at all I'll rather go to bistro doc in DC.
(3)Nishat K.
I recently went for my birthday dinner and the service, food, and atmosphere was lovely. The steak frites live up to their hype, the steak's tender and juicy and the frites are crispy and not very salty which is a plus in my book. The béarnaise sauce left something to be desired, but the creme brûlée more than made up for that! The waitstaff is impeccable, our waiter was thorough in explaining and answered all questions with patience and during our meal there was always someone nearby to clear off our plates so we didn't have to sit around with them. The restaurant itself is charming and though it was full you don't feel jostled or anything of that kind during your meal. I adore this place!
(4)Andrew A.
I have been to this restaurant at least 4 times prior to writing this review. The service was great and the food was great, but one bad experience can make or break what you think of a place. Although we had a reservation we still had to wait 30 minutes before being seated, don't get me wrong that's not the part I will be reviewing, but just throwing it in there. Service was good for the most part, drinks and apps came in a decent amount of time considering the restaurant to be very very busy. However, my entree is what I am here to review. As all 6 members at the table were being served their entree, I find something odd on my plate. I notice it out of the corner of my eye, and yes something moved...there was a BIG STINK BUG CRAWLING ON MY PLATE on the garnish. There was a LIVE BUG on my plate!!! I didn't make a scene (which any one would have had a reason to scream and make a scene) and alerted our server about the live bug. He apologized and said he would bring me a new dish. However he joked around and tried to play it down. No manager came by to apologize and nothing was done to make me or my table feel more at ease. The new entree came out fairly fast but still, if my steak was over cooked that would be the least they would have done regardless...so we were all astounded that nothing else was done, I mean we shouldn't have to ask or demand something to be done, because in any other place, that is the norm. We will never be returning.
(1)Milli D.
I love their wine! They also have a great deal for Happy Hour. The place is a bit pricey for the quality of food so it wouldn't be my go to, but the happy hour prices make it totally worth while. Just make sure you get there early enough, the bar area is a bit small and it fills up quickly. This is a great place to grab food and drinks with friends after work.
(4)Robbin L.
I absolutely love the cauliflower puree. It's really the only reason I come to this restaurant. I also appreciate the intimacy of the bar area and live jazz music. Overall, the food is good and I would recommend making a reservation to secure a spot.
(4)Verina A.
Wait time was NONE. Went with a group of friends for lunch. I got the steak sandwich and it tasted AMAZING and the dipping sauce tasted phenomenal!
(5)Racquel C.
I went there for lunch, and it was amazing! Loved the ambience, and the service was good - not great! The food was great! Look forward to returning for happy hour! I had the rockfish special - simply delicious!
(4)Dean D.
The menu items here are very hit and miss but I'm never disappointed. This is one of my favorite places in the neighborhood. I love their French onion soup sitting outside on a nice day and their desserts especially the banana foster crepe. The muscles rival that of the muscle bar next-door. Each of the times I've been here the service has been excellent. I can recommend the seafood crapes hamburgers and fries. The quiche while inexpensive was not that impressive. The French onion soup is big enough to split amongst two people and they will bring out two bowls.
(5)Tatiana H.
My husband and I took my mom to this restaurant for lunch last weekend. The service is great. The waiter was a 4 of of 5 stars. The decor is lovely. The prices are on the high side. My mom ordered the salmon salad and she loved it. I ordered the french onion soup. I did not like it. It was way to sweet. I have had french onion soup before and non have been so sweet. I could not finish it. My husband ordered the croque monsieur. The sandwich was okay. I have had much better. I could be wrong but it seems like they use processed ham in the sandwich. The béchamel sauce was good. The fries were good that came on the side. We got the free chocolate desert at the end for checking in on yelp while we were there. This was the best thing I had at lunch.
(2)Elizabeth K.
the wine was nice, and the dessert was fantastic. But unfortunately, the bread was stale, the onion soup tasted burnt, the pesto on the chicken was bitter and the chicken itself was dry, and the steak was tough. Not a repeat for me.
(1)A R.
Order the duck, it tastes fantastic. The skin is very crispy, You would almost think it was deep fried. Also substitute for the sautéed spinach. It complimented the duck very well. If you check-in you will get a free dessert. The noise level is a little high if you sit anywhere near the bar. It was particularly noisy because they had a stringed instrument band playing this evening.
(3)Cat L.
I came here with a group of friends for Restaurant Week and had a great experience. Service was by far the highlight of our meal, as our waiter was incredibly courteous and helpful. I had the onion soup as an appetizer, the steak with bordelaise sauce as an entree, and the peach sorbet for dessert. Our table also split a bottle of bordeaux, which pricey but a good pairing with our meal. I loved this onion soup because it wasn't overly salty even with all of the melted cheese on top. The steak was cooked perfectly rare, although I think I prefer a creamy sauce and will get that next time instead of the bordelaise. The peach sorbet was light and went down easy after all of the heavy foods beforehand. All of the portions were decently sized, and I was stuffed after my meal and especially after helping myself to the plentiful supply of french baguettes on our table. I would definitely come back here for Restaurant Week or if I were looking to splurge on a nice meal.
(4)Indrani D.
We had the Seafood Crepe, Onion Soup and frites. Everything is delicious. Our waist was the kindest and sweetest. Will come back for the free chocolate mousse, a gift for checking in with Yelp, next time.
(4)Emily N.
Love this place! Discovered it awhile ago while staying at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. Definitely upscale and not just for your everyday go to restaurant. Steak au poivre medium rare and extra sauce is my always go to entree! Don't forget to get their french onion soup. If you want to split one order you can! Just ask your waiter to split it and they will bake it in separate dishes too.
(4)Rich G.
Every restaurant in the DC area is trying to imitate their Steak Frites, with little success. My favorite restaurant. Ever.
(5)Ahmed R.
I came here this past Saturday for brunch. We sat outside on the front patio. I had eggs benedict with steak. Typically I eat this with salmon, but decided to try steak since it isn't common. The eggs were tasty, but the steak was cold and just didn't taste right. It wasn't cooked well. The potatoes were great though. I tried my wife's vanilla waffle, and that was delicious! But the apples on it were so-so. Our server was very nice and courteous, but he didn't fully know the menu and told us a couple incorrect things. We also had to ask twice for certain things like ice and water. Service could have been better. Overall, place was pretty good and I'd come back.
(4)Amanda K.
LOVE LOVE LOVE, coming here for weekend brunch. I've had the berry french toast, the mussels, and a delicious open face heirloom tomato sandwich; and all of them were perfection. Wait staff is always stellar. They have several people who walk around making sure your drinks are full and bread is available to the table leaving your main waiter to get your order in. I love earing out on their huge patio. It's in a great area downtown and I can't get enough of the food and atmosphere.
(5)Andrew W.
This place is located on the street so parking may be a bit difficult. We came here only for dessert. Upon entering we noticed the atmosphere of this place to be very classy, modern and intimate. Perfect for a date or a night out with your dressed up friends. We were immediately greeted and seated by a friendly waitress. The service was quick. We ordered a white chocolate banana bread and used the YELP check in to get a free chocolate mouse. The chocolate mouse was made from dark chocolate and was perfectly light and airy. The dark chocolate aspect made the dessert not overly sweet. The white chocolate banana bread came out warm. It was more custard heavy but i didnt mind. It was on the sweeter note but overall with the ice cream it was well balanced. The price was a bit more pricier than expected. Overalll this is a wodnerful place and i would come back again anytime.
(4)Eddie K.
Been going here for years. Never disappoints. Value and service is pretty good. Have been coming here for brunch and dinner. I have never been disappointed with the food or service. I think for Bethesda, the menu prices are pretty reasonable. They give you french bread- nice and crunchy. Can't beat the steak frites for $22.95. That's the entree I get when I dine here. The escargots and warm brie cheese are great appetizers. During brunch, the crepes are pretty good.
(5)Steve H.
We walked in Tuesday night with no reservation and were seated immediately. There was live music (horns, etc - basically smooth Jazz) which we appreciated and our waiter was prompt and helpful. We both ordered steak frites. However, neither steak was cooked right - a difficult task to be sure given how thin the steaks were. I mentioned this to our waiter (without expectation - just to generally let them know that their steaks were not being cooked right) and he comped our dessert. That was very nice of him. If the steaks are cooked better next time (we'll definitely be back). I will bump to 5 stars. Yes, it's that good. :)
(4)Daisy T.
I love french restaurants..... they have a very whimsical and romantic association for me.I have been to Mon Ami Gabi few times for both happy hour and dinner and have enjoyed it every single time. The service is friendly and the food is pretty good. I have had their caramelized scallops, frites and the Almond Trout (this was very delicately prepared) to name a few and have relished all of these. I have also had their salmon and tuna sandwiches for happy hour and they were all very good. I plan on coming here more esp for happy hour as they also have food specials. A solid four from my side.
(4)Corrie P.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in the area. Intimate, classy Parisian style atmosphere (we love sitting at the front) Fantastic wait staff - They have even given us a couple of complimentary items in the few times we've been there! I love the warm baguette they give you with all meals - and it goes perfect with the mussels! Steak frites are awesome and I don't even like steak. The desserts are killer and you can get a decent bottle of wine for around $30. This place is a total win for date night!
(4)Helen C.
Brunch today was fantastic! I loved my chicken and mushroom crepe. My friend's blueberry french toast was the best french toast I've had in a really long time. It was perfectly soft and drenched in syrup without being too sugary sweet. There were lots of blueberries which was great. They give real maple syrup here, rather than the fake corn syrup you get at cheap places. We finished with the chocolate mousse which was amazing. I really liked the small crunchy chocolate balls on top; it was nice to add the crunchy texture to the smooth mousse.
(5)Lisa D.
Great foot but a bit overpriced. I order the steak and it was wonderfully cooked and served with delicious fries. Starting off our meal Was a bit off as nobody every explained the carrot dish and we were given lunch me yes instead of dinner ones which was quite upsetting to learn after we had decide on our dishes. Overall lets just say he lunch Menue looks much better
(3)j g.
My daughter and I had a lovely dinner here. French onion soup was wonderful and the epitome of what it should be. Escargot was very rich and delicious. Brie and toasts was fine, but plain enough that I would not order again. For entrees we had the Steak Béarnaise prepared medium rare. It was prepared perfectly and the frites we tasty. Seared Scallops for the other entrée. Prepared nicely with great flavor. They came with pureed butternut squash and roasted brussel sprouts which were surprisingly nice together. The service was just right. I really appreciated they anticipated and offered to split the French onion soup instead of just offering to bring a second spoon. I liked that the place was large enough (different from a traditional French bistro) to be casual and have conversation in regular voice than whispers. In other words, not pretentious at all.
(4)Sherisse S.
Solid option. Not too corporate and the price point is pretty reasonable for the offer. I wish I remembered my server's name from yesterday. He made the experience even better. Perfect for a date or dinner with a friend.
(5)Angela K.
I haven't gone back yet but the manager did reach out, apologize, and give me a gift card to use for my next visit. For that, I am rating them 5 stars for them trying to correct a customer's poor experience. Thank you, Mon Ami Gabi.
(5)Elena T.
Love everything about this place! They're consistent and always warm and inviting. As usual, I got the steak classique with the cauliflower purée. Delicious. The purée was so smooth and rich just how a purée should be. Although the steak was a little over done, considering I asked for medium rare and got medium - well. But it was still mouthwatering. The chocolate mousse was smooth and light. Perfect. As for the service, A+. Our waiter was extremely friendly and attentive to our needs. Very professional. The atmosphere is great. There was a live band playing which was fun. Overall great meal, and definitely one of my favorite places to go in Bethesda. It never disappoints!
(5)Tom T.
I had a very pivotal business meeting with a president and vice president of a bank along with a colleague at Mon Ami Gabbi today in Reston Virginia. The wait staff was very considerate of our conversations and NEVER interrupted us, finding their way along our entire meeting without hesitation. Needless to say I was successful with all parties and had to thank the staff for a wonderful lunch menu of Leek Soup, French onion soup, their mustard salmon was amazing and tried the scallops that were cooked to perfection. Mon Ami is perfect for your discerning palate, well priced and very conducive for your important meetings.
(5)Mary L.
Recently I discovered that I have a gluten intolerance, so finding a decent place to eat has been pretty tough. I was tired of pizza and bun less burgers and I saw that this place has a gluten free menu. I went with my friend at around 530 on a Saturday night and it quickly filled up after we got there so I would get there early, make a reservation or be prepared to wait a little. If you tell your server that you need a gluten free menu, they bring you out two pieces of multi-grain complementary gluten free bread. It's not bad and it comes with a side of olives and honey butter. My friend and I ordered the baked feta cheese appetizer to share and I asked if they could serve it with some gluten free bread instead. Our server was very nice and the chef said it was no problem so she brought out a couple of pieces of the gluten free bread with the garlic pesto sauce on it. The baked feta was pretty tasty combined with the tomato sauce and bread. I also got the gluten free onion soup. It wasn't bad! I mostly just eat the cheese part and call it a night. For my main dish, I ordered the Chicken Paillard. The chicken was a little overcooked and they were a little chintzy on the sauce. However, the combination of the mushrooms and roasted squash were delicious. Dessert was a white chocolate/chocolate mousse which was also pretty good as far as mousses go. My friend got the Wild Boar Ragu which she said was really good. She was overstuffed on all of the bread though since I couldn't eat the whole baguette that they brought to our table! The food was pretty good and they had a decent selection for a gluten free menu as well. I loved that they had fresh gluten free bread that was not Udi's white bread either. Overall: good food + helpful, super friendly server + decent menu selection for gluten free = This is definitely a place that i can come eat at when I am tired of gluten free pasta, pizza and bun less burgers!
(4)Arnaud C.
I have a new favorite... but I shouldn't share it with you because they run out of it every evening pretty fast: the skate wings, served with roasted cauliflower, spaetzle (german pasta) and capers: Delicious!
(5)Andrew G.
Great food, inconsistent service unfortunately from an otherwise very kind server. It was our first visit, we'll probably go back. PRO: Excellent and reasonably-priced kids menu, cool TV-dinner style tray for the kids, tasty chicken strips and fish sticks of the homemade variety (not from Costco). Great hanger steak and mussels, and decent (but not crispy) frites. Nice steak sauces (fun to try a bunch of them if you ask). Pretty basic, high quality food at a very good price, and nice portions. Server split our entrees for us at no charge, brought bonus desserts for the two of us that didn't order one. CON: Server didn't bring starters or bread until after I asked, bananas foster crepe was the absolute low note of the meal- a cold crepe with a single cold raw banana rolled up inside, with some caramel sauce on the top. Just not what we were envisioning although techincally it did have all the parts of bananas foster included in the serving... Summary: Food worth going back for, server who will get better with experience...
(3)Joseph H.
Restaurant Week Review: Stopped by here with my girlfriend when we saw the deal they were having ($35 for a 3 course meal). The atmosphere was pretty good, reminded me of being in Quebec, and eating at the french style restaurants up there. Outdoor seating seems to be the thing in downtown Bethesda. appetizers started off with a French onion soup for me and a Gazpacho for my girlfriend. French onion soup was served in a fairly large mug, and met my expectations. Nothing spectacular, but it delicious nonetheless. The Gazpacho was much better than i anticipated. Very delicate, but focused on a specific flavor that was exceptional for a cold soup. Steak Frites is their specialty, and is essentially a 10 oz. steak with fries (common fare in French Brassieres). While the sauce served with the steak (i ordered garlic/herb/butter, my girlfriend ordered a lemon butter) was pretty good, the steak was cooked a little too well for my taste, which is dissapointing, considering how easy it is to sear a thin steak. It was a good meal, filling with the fries, but the steak does leave something to be desired Dessert we both decided to get the Creme Brulee. Right amount of glazing on the surface, and a distinct liqueur taste that permeated the dish. Typical creme brulees ive ordered tend to either have too much glazing and the custard is more a pudding/soup than anything else. Not here. Props given here Service was excellent, no complaints, especially on a busy Friday night during restaurant week. Wine selection was focused very heavily on french wines. Personally, im not a huge french wine drinker, prefer spanish wines, so i cant really give an honest POV on this matter. While this was a fun restaurant to be at, outside of restaurant week specials, its hard to see myself coming here again for their prices. But if youre looking for something to try out or a new place to take someone out to, this is not a bad choice
(3)Sang K.
Subject: Mon Ami Gabi Pros: Cozy interior, Usually excellent service Cons: Slightly overpriced, At times inconsistent Experience: I've come to Mon Ami Gabi 5+ times and have enjoyed it every time. The simple carrot salad that comes with the french bread is addicting and the steak frites rarely disappoint. You have to be prepared for them to mess up the doneness on the steaks because of the thinness of the meat. The service is always on point and attentive. I've had a waiter pour me free glasses of wine that he thought would go well with my order (can't expect this but it was nice). Conclusion: Solid, steak frites dinner spot with above average service
(4)Cat K.
The setting is charming even for a corporate owned restaurant. And some of the waiters were enthusiastic, at times a little too much for me but I appreciated the effort. Steak frites is good, though the frites aren't typical shoestring or standard cut fries. I enjoyed the variation but wished the fries had more substance to them. The shrimp cocktail arrived surprisingly large. They have a solid gluten-free menu as well and the waiter was attentive to and respectful of my partner's good sensitivity. After two courses we unfortunately did not have room for dessert.
(4)Lola E.
The food is delicious, but the customer service is superb! The warm baguette and room temperature butter was a great start. I also enjoyed the pate and steak frites. The profiteroles are perfectly made.
(4)Daniel L.
First Yelp! I'm gonna break things down this way: a quick section and a more detailed section. I came here with my girlfriend, and this is what went down... Food: 5 Price/Value: 4 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Food: 5 We had onion soup, mussels marini re (half-order), bordelaise steak frites, side garlic spinach. All the ingredients are local and fresh, and then they add wine. So good. They're known for their steak, and it was amazing - thin cut, but perfect texture and great taste. The meal is kinda heavy, so the spinach was necessary. Price/Value: 4 Standard price steak ~$22. Other things are a bit pricey, but that's because they're using fresh local ingredients with herbs and wine, portions are pretty big, and you're eating French in Bethesda. We were so full. Not one of those restaurants where you have to keep on eating the free bread to get full. Total bill was ~$50 for the happiness of two people. Service: 5 Waiters were so friendly to us and knowledgeable about their menu. We shared everything, and they brought everything out on separate plates! Impressive! Atmosphere: 5 We ate outside next to a quiet street and some flowers. Everything is clean, light is ambient, and atmosphere is pretty lively. Tips You Should Know: If it's your first time, you get a free dessert! Would I recommend? Yes - take your better looking dates here!
(5)Kate A.
Three stars mostly for service, as I found the food to be just OK. Arrived for a leisurely lunch and opted to sit at the bar - it was empty, and seemed to have no dedicated server. The gentleman who took my order was great - he offered to let me try the rose before ordering and offered an honest recommendation when I couldn't settle on a main course. Opted for a frisée and kale salad with bacon and a soft poached egg - large portion for the price, tasty. My second dish was the salmon tartare - underseasoned, but a good portion. They pair the salmon with avocado which unfortunately makes the whole thing a little mushy. The waffle chips you get on the side help a little but don't really bring the crunch that was needed. All in all, great, friendly service but I'd probably try somewhere else next time I'm in the area.
(3)Kaienting T.
We had a reservation and was seated very promptly. Our server was very attentive and overall very friendly. He made small talk and revisited our table often to make sure everything was alright. I started with the escargot which was very rich and full of flavor. The steak frites "hanger skirt" I ordered was not what I expected. The steak was very tough and not much flavor to it. I recommend coming here for the amazing service and the starters but the steaks were mediocre.
(3)cheryl t.
I went here for the first time for a friends birthday dinner. I had high hopes for a first class experience. The food was fine (classic steak frites, sautéed garlic spinach) except for my husbands overly dressed and wilted Caesar salad. Best part of the evening was dining al fresco. Service was lacking and disappointing--which took away from the overall experience, greatly. Waiter kept having to be called over, he forgot things and had to be asked repeatedly for butter for bread, refilled water glasses, mistake on the bill etc. He never came to check on us. Got dessert orders messed up etc. I would not rush back here with so many other nearby options to choose from.
(3)Matt M.
Tried the steak frites and they did not disappoint. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the steaks.
(4)Lauren S.
My mom and I ate here after trying to find a good dog-friendly place to eat after I picked her up from BWI. We were very hungry, so it was a relief to be seated right away and get our complimentary baguette. We were able to sit outside on the patio, which was very nice, and the waiter brought a little dish for my dog to drink from. The service was attentive, and the food was really good. I had the eggs florentine, which was great, and my mom was very happy with her quiche lorraine. Overall, this is a really nice restaurant, and it's a great dog-friendly place to go.
(5)Trish V.
Crowded, but the service is lovely and the cold seafood platter for two is terrific. The big downside is no valet.
(4)Sooyeon L.
Salmon tartare was pretty nasty. Steak was good. Service was pretty terrible. Definitely disappointed and wouldn't recommend it.
(2)Chetan A.
Great Wine List! Great cosy ambience! Even better stakes ! I love the fact that there are so many options for Meatoholics ! It's a good place for a great meal that won't burn your pocket !
(4)C W.
Came for brunch on a saturday & had great food & service! French onion soup-well seasoned, rich flavor, good portion. Blueberry french toast-soo yummy!! Didnt really need the syrup as it was moist, light, just the right amount of sweetness. Probably one of the best if not the best french toast I've tried. Lamb sammie-good balance of flavors with adequate slices of lamb. Mix of greens on the side gave some acidity. Escargot-hubby had this & loved it. Used the bread to dip all the buttery garlicky goodness in all the pods. Would like to come back to check out dinner!
(4)Anna Y.
This place was sosososo good :D I got the daily special which was bacon wrapped filet mignon...and it was amazing. Cooked perfectly and the bacon was delicious. It was a bit pricey..but I enjoyed every single bite of it. My three friends and I also got three desserts. We used the Yelp check-in to get the free chocolate mousse and also got the banana foster crepe and the profiteroles. The chocolate mousse was pretty plain..just a normal chocolate mousse. It had some yummy chocolate bits though which is good. The banana foster crepe was yummy but the best was the profiteroles. SO delicious...I would totally get it again. We were celebrating my friend's birthday and the restaurant gave her a free profiterole so that was pretty cool. Awesome service, the waiter was very personable and the dining experience was great!
(4)Miah L.
Delicious and great service. A little pricey, but it is Bethesda + a nice French restaurant so it is warranted more than others in the area. Definitely worth a try.
(5)Cat C.
Great Food, great service! The warm bread with butter is great! I usually order the steak frites the original one with the butter. The mushroom soup is delicious. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)Ali D.
This place is awesome! Always bustling, always prompt service, reasonable prices, excellent execution. I have been here 5 times in the past 2-3 years and always leave impressed. Bethesda offers a much better quality/price ratio than DC
(5)Andrea S.
Their pure here was amazing, i truly loved it...but nothing else stands out in my mind. I would go again for the pure. Their stake was very tasty but not out of this world.
(4)Drethi C.
Try their steak, ANY OF THEM! enough said
(4)Mark H.
This review is on the dessert only which was absolutely delicious. Very good ice cream and creme brûlée and I for sure took advantage of the Yelp check in deal for a free chocolate mousse which was just amazing. Overall will do again soon.
(4)Sally Y.
Mon Ami Gabi is quite the popular restaurant in the heart of Bethesda. I went to the restaurant on a busy weekend night to celebrate a friend's birthday. The restaurant offers complementary bread and butter. Since it was my first time at the restaurant, I didn't realize that the waiters literally drop a small baguette in a paper bag. Normally, I am used to sliced bread but it was very fresh and good bread. Quite hot. My disappointment came with the limited variety on the menu. Basically it is steak frites or nothing at all. Please keep in mind that if you want their special, you should aim to arrive earlier in the evening or reserve it for your meal. The waiter had neglected to mention that they had run out of the beef Wellington until after he had mentioned it and after we had ordered it. I tasted both the onion soup and the duck confit. The onion soup was surprisingly good and I say this because oftentimes onion soup is too salty. You can't truly go wrong with duck confit but I found this dish to be a bit dry although still flavorful. I ordered the steak bearnaise. I must admit that Mon Ami Gabi does make a rather flavorful and well-cooked steak. The steak here isn't the typical thick cut American steak but rather a hanger steak so expect something flat. Good portion as a main dish. Too much for me to eat. The bearnaise sauce went really well with the fries (frites). Almost everyone at my table helped himself/herself to my sauce. We didn't order anything for dessert with the exception of the free chocolate mousse we received by checking in on Yelp. Good dessert but nothing too spectacular. The texture was somewhat off to a few of the people at my table but not awful. My somewhat average rating is partially due to the poor wait service on that night. As I said previously, Mon Ami Gabi is a popular restaurant and it gets extremely busy. That said, my waiter in particular was nowhere to be found when we needed him. We rarely caught sight of him in the actual restaurant. Most of the time we caught him chatting up neighboring patrons if he was in the dining area. The fastest service we received was getting and paying the bill. Go figure. In summary, Mon Ami Gabi is fine for a normal dinner but probably a little overrated and definitely too busy/crowded for my liking.
(3)Samantha L.
Welcome to a post about yet another restaurant that I should have visited months, probably even years ago. I decided to finally go check it out during during Bethesda Restaurant Week for lunch. 3 courses for $16... its a great deal! Another reason we picked this restaurant is that my friend is gluten free, and Mon Ami Gabi does a really great job of making sure there are items on the menu that are safe and yummy to eat! I picked the Caesar Salad for my appetizer. It was just ok. A little over-dressed and soggy... For my entree I went for something i almost NEVER pick... Steak. I picked the Steak Fritte with a classique butter. The steak itself was quite tasty. The fries were a little too crispy for my taste... Not overcooked... just very think and crispy. For dessert I actually went "off the menu" my friend had arranged for sorbet instead of the Chocolate Chip Cookie because of her gluten issue. It was a rather hot afternoon, so I politely asked the waiter if I too could have some sorbet. He agreed! The sorbet was probably my favorite part of the meal. It was definitely home made, and very fresh. Not too sweet and not too sour. Would I go back to Mon Ami Gabi.. I'm not sure.... Was it a good deal for Restaurant Week... ABSOLUTELY! Is it a good place to go if you are eating with people who have gluten allergies... YES!
(3)Jamie S.
Amazing brunch experience! Came here on my birthday and had the most incredible, decadent seafood crepe. Lots of shrimp and scallops and great fresh veggies. The crepe itself was light and fluffy, and the cream sauce drizzled on top of it was UNREAL. For an app we had the chicken liver pate.... HUGE portion with delicious bread. I think I literally ate the last bit with a spoon. SO GOOD. My only complaint would be that coffee was a little cold and cost $3.50 for a teacup size. Extremely pricey for what we got. But, overall, a great experience with amazing food.
(4)AJ A.
The good(s).. We got seated right away on a Saturday night and somewhat baby friendly. Atmosphere was ok Escargot was great! Mussels on the appetizer was great as well! The bad(s) My steak was not cooked right.. Gave it back same result.. Steak didn't really taste that good
(3)Parisa A.
Really loved the food here. The service was great not to mention the atmosphere. I will definitely be back! I had a steak which was perfectly cooked. With that i ordered a french onion soup which was also brilliant and not too salty (just the way i like it). Lastly for dessert I had a chocolate mouse which was mouth watering. Great place!!!
(4)Cory P.
My wife and I ventured to Mon Ami Gabi for the first time. I have heard great things and thought is would be a quality enough place to go for an anniversary dinner without having to head all the way into DC. The result: mediocre. The main plates where good quality as we ordered the filet mignon and an order of the fish of the day - a South American Cobia dish - but the serving was relatively small so we found out the Escargot was not enough of an appetizer to make sure we didn't leave hungry. The service was good, decor was fine, but nothing super-special. We probably will not be back given there are just so many more compelling options as we move into DC in the coming weeks at similarly or cheaper pricing.
(3)Mike J.
Business lunch on the side patio. Gluten free bread, white peach tea, the blueberry, walnut salad sub ahi tuna- light, classy, good European style feel and service
(5)Anna T.
Deff an old people place...ahem...fancy rich old people place. They start you off with a foot long french bread that seems to be 3 days old. Whats funny is that its rock hard so you're left sawing off what seems to be wood for the upcoming winter months. My question is, how the hell can these old folks even eat this? Answer! They slobber until its bread pudding because that's what fine dining is all about. Anyways, the food is served in pretty large portions, almost family sized! As far as flavor, I suppose you have to slobber and suck that out as well... This place gets a pretty decent rating due to the fact that their customer base has already lost their taste buds. Example: Mushroom soup? Bland! Please pass the salt! Besides all that, we had a great server. It was busy that night so our food came out a bit slow but he made that up by giving us all complimentary desserts! P.S. don't bother checking in Yelp! for a free chocolate mousse, it was not good. A table full of girls not wanting a second bite says something.
(2)Jen L.
I generally find European food bland and uncreative. However, I prefer Mediterranean food to Northern European food. The steak was moist, juicy, and very sweet. The french onion soup was sweet and overflowing with chewy thick cheese.
(3)Meana K.
The food is consistently good. The service has varied -- I've had excellent service and I've had subpar service where you could tell the server was treating my table differently than others being served. Maybe we don't look like we've got money to spend? I've been here probably a dozen times in the past several years. When I'm in the mood for a steak, the hangar steak Mon Ami Gabi satiates that craving. Their mussels and onion soup have always been good. Their crepes are delicious and filling, and they have a bloody mary bar for brunch as well. I'm always well-stuffed here thanks to the bread and butter and their hand-cut frites that I can't get enough of. I'll still keep this toward the top of my list, but hope to see better consistency with the good service I know they're capable of giving.
(4)Troy H.
Don't you hate when prior ruin your mood? I just went in here for a few glasses of wine. I asked the bartender if I could sit outside bc they have plenty of open tables. He says no, then he says ask the hostess. She was super pleasant even though I still got a no lol. The male host asked the manager... thank god and he said yes! The bartender told me I had to pay then and there... (not to sound ostentatious but I didn't want to) I told him I wanted ti order a couple of glasses before I left. He gave me my check, completely disregarding what I said. I thought the guest was always right. I usually don't leave these kindof reviews but he was not polite about it in anyway and it blew me. #justsaying. If you want ti relax alone without ordering food... go elsewhere, they make you feel awkward.
(2)Sann G.
Mon Ami Gabi in Bethesda isn't likely to offend anyone's taste buds but neither is it likely to excite other than a lover of run of the mill uninspired fare. The food served here provides a mediocre homogenized French restaurant experience. Mussels, usually a signature dish of French bistro dining, were not accorded any special treatment in the MAG kitchen- they lacked depth of flavor or any kind of surprising herb elements. The Chicken Paillard was bland, not properly flattened, and accompanied by tasteless, dessicated vegetables. The skate wing was a bit better but also far from memorable. The service was OK but not engaging. For the caliber of the food, it's overpriced. Surely there are better French restaurants to be found at comparable prices.
(2)George P.
Went here for the first time about a month ago. I made a note that it was anniversary and they threw in two nice cakes at the end of the dinner. The food was awesome, and their fries (I forgot their actual name) were well seasoned. The waiter seemed to know that we were in a rush due to parking so got us out of there promptly, which was appreciated.
(5)Penny C.
Been here several times now. Their complimentary bread (not a fan of the carrots they give you to eat with the bread) and the scallops are very good. Nothing else is really that good. Their steaks are just OK and their fries are pretty bad. They are cut very thinly and then deep fried to hard slivers. Not the kind of fries I prefer. They really are not a classic French restaurant but a lot of people come here for the ambience.
(3)J W.
I'll never eat in this place again. And it's too bad. We've been eating here for decades. The reason we ate there was that the nation of France had done something that annoyed the US, I've forgotten what it was since this was almost 25 years ago or more. People started to boycott the place because it was a French restaurant. The owner wrote a long, very passionate article in a local newspaper about how he had come America to build his dream and now he was facing ruin for something he hadn't done. I believe in anybody who follows their dreams and anybody who believes in America. So we ate there to show the guy our support. Mon Ami remains one of the best white table cloth place in Bethesda. It's affordable food, served with the aura of a five star restaurant. (They now offer a gluten free menu by the way, which is pretty damn good) Try the frites and steak. Here's the bad news. We ate there the other night ($77.55) and wanted a recipe for a mixed carrot dish, because my wife and I both enjoy cooking and although the dish was simple, it had vinegar, and too much or to little can kill a dish and on line recipes are seldom written for a two person serving. We asked the waiter, Vincent, for the recipe. Vincent was in a hurry to go someplace, we don't know where, or he was under some sort of pressure, but he place wasn't crowded....still the question seemed to tax him. He rambled off the recipe very fast. Evidently this was not his first rodeo for recipes. We thanked him and explained that we knew the ingredient's, we were asking for the recipes. The guy who made it, the chef, would have it. Vincent rambled off the ingredients again. And who says men don't listen? We let it go. Vincent was cranky and having a bad day we suspected and seemed stunned that a man would want a recipe. After the meal, we gave it one more try, and, speaking slowly and wearing a smile so as not to seem threatening, we explained that we were asking about the amounts used in the recipe. Vincent was very unhappy....very unhappy... that we were still on recipe issue and snapped "I already told you." Did you ever have one of those moments when you don't believe what your hearing? It was like that. If his rude reply had been delivered in a French accent, you know, it would have been almost acceptable. I held my hands out, palms down, is the internationally recognized signal for calm the frig down and asked "Well would you ask the chef for the name of the dish? We'll look it up ourselves." Poor Vincent's head exploded. He explained, I swear to God these were his words "There is no recipe. We make it here and nobody else makes it so there is no recipe and I already gave you the recipe" I'm gambling Vincent didn't do well on his school science projects. I also expected him to end his rant with the words "So there!" Anyway, I'm not going to lower myself by falling into an argument with a waiter over carrots.....steak maybe......but not carrots because it would reduce me to the status of an angry rabbit. With steak, if things went to far, you could also explain later "It was over steak". People get that. Still, Vincent's over the top answer was way, way, way out of line. So I came home and wrote it all down here, on Yelp and gave the place one star. But this begs the question, should a waiter act like a jerk to a customer? Well, yes and no. Being a waiter is a tough job, harder than it looks and dealing with the public on a walk in traffic basis isn't easy. Some people are difficult with wait staff just for cruel fun of it and the guy who was there before me may have been one of those people and I was paying for it. Okay, fair enough....but I gave Vincent three chances to be civilized, I'm not asking for hat in hand stuff here, just be nice that's all. Be civilized. But he was nasty and aggressive three times. A few days later one of the principles sent me a note, offered the recipe (We found on line) and asked if his general manager could contact me. I said, sure. Please have him contact me. I then explained that the overall restaurant shouldn't suffer because of the actions of a sole waiter who should probably be in another line of work and changed the stars rating because, admittedly, I was not being reasonable when I gave them out. I was steamed and I should have waited to write the review. Vincent is an unhappy human being, perhaps because of his probable failures in school science, the pain of giving up secret recipes, I don't know, but the food at Mon Ami is good and I do eat in the Reston location after I take in a film out there, since I live in Virginia now. I was also trying to be reasonable. You know what? As soon as I changed the ratings back to five, I never heard from the principle, the general manager, Vincent...nobody......I especially hurt over Vincent not contacting me but anyway..........how, how...how Parisian of you Mon Gabi.
(1)P T.
Great location, food and service. Everything was incredibly tasty. We tried a couple of appetizers, two steaks (that comes with lots of frites) and chocolate mousse. Great experience. Will return soon.
(4)Carlos R.
My personal favorite restaurant when I have the chance. If you are looking for French Bistro-type food, then this is the place you want to go. The food is magnificent, the service excellent, the atmosphere just right. Bonus points if you manage to secure a table outside on a nice day; it makes all the difference. My personal favorite dish is the Steak Béarnaise. It has never failed me
(5)Sushi C.
I go to this restaurant often after the movie theatre, which is next door. The food is pretty good comfort stuff, standard French fare with steak and fries, or roast chicken, salad, not strange dishes, the bread is fantastic though I try not to eat too much to save my appetite for the main course. The place is big with an ample room in the back, do not be fooled by the narrow entrance and bar. The wine list is as expected as expected for this kind of restaurant.
(4)Robert C.
I was really excited to try this place. There aren't that many French restaurants nearby where I live. Steak Au Poivre - Brandy Peppercorn Sauce ($22.95) - Grain-Feed Midwest Steak with Hand-Cut Frites. This was recommended by our server. The steak isn't bad & the sauce was pretty decent. It's nothing special in my book. But the frites're delicious, very thin yet crunchy. The frites're def the highlight of my dinner. Chicken Liver Mousse ($6.95) - With Burgundy Red Wine Mustard & Toasted Brioche. This appetizer isn't bad, however they need to give more brioche. It doesn't taste as good if you just eat the liver mousse by itself. Overall - The service's pretty good, but the food's just ok in my book. It doesn't really justify good authentic French food in my opinion.
(3)Andrew K.
Service has consistently been great at every Mon Ami Gabi I've been to and this was no different. I tried the duck confit special and it was delicious. For appetizers we got the soup sampler which came with 3 different samples of soup in small cups. I really liked the french onion soup while my wife loved the mushroom soup. They also give you a whole loaf of french bread with jam and butter and that was good too. I wasn't a big fan of the fries here because I prefer thicker fries. I also tried the salmon and it was good.
(4)Chanel A.
Amazing restaurant! I love that when you sit down they give you fresh, and warm baquette. And its unlimited. The ambiance is super romantic, and great decor. I had the scallop small dish and house pinot. It was delicious. I will surely return!
(4)Nicole W.
As good as it gets on two counts- cheese plate and frisee, kale, & warm bacon salad!! Whee eeee! This salad was the most amazing dish I have had it quite some time! Do not pass up on this salad- and it is a nice sized portion, so you may share between two ppl (if also ordering an entree). The cheese plate did not skimp on the raisin bread (ahem, Old Ebbitt Grill), and was served with 3 hard cheeses, jam, and hazelnuts. Very delightful! Mon Ami Gabi also offers a large wine list, and glasses of wine are offered on specific bottles. I enjoyed my glass of rosé (could have had another, but had to drive!). The entree was a little less exciting, but I probably should have chosen something with more pizzaz. The chicken paillard was a butterflied chicken breast, grilled and served with a half lemon (and frites, of course!). The chicken was a tad dry, but the lemon helped. It was tasty, but nothing at that point could compare with the frisee salad :) Service was prompt and courteous- MAKE RESERVATIONS, as this place is small and in high demand for dinner.
(5)Layne S.
I came here with a friend and had a lovely brunch. Nice atmosphere and attentive service, including a visit from the manager who came by to greet us since we had noted we were first time visitors in our reservation. Seems like it would be a nice place to bring parents or other guests.
(4)Pamela T.
I came here for my nieces 1 month old birthday. We sat in the same location my sister found out she was having a girl. As we sat down we were greeted by our server. He offered us drinks and bread. At that time we were so hungry. We looked at the menu and saw assortments of entrees and appetizers. There was a group of 7 adults and 1 baby. My sister ordered Skate, Her in laws ordered a burger, fish and salad, my mom, brother in law, my boyfriend and I ordered the rib. It comes with either mash potatoes or fries and your choice of sauce. We asked for both bernaise and this yummy red wine, onion jam. For appetizers we ordered oysters, and escargot. Oysters are yummy and not too salty, Escargot of course was just right and my mom really enjoyed it. The entrees came and let me tell you about my rib eye.. it was DELICIOUS. We all ordered it medium rare and it was so tasty. In my belief if it taste good without the sauce its really good. We added the sauce with it and it tasted even better. Our drinks were always filled, no cost on refills on soda. I really enjoyed this place and can't wait to go back.
(5)Rich K.
I have eaten here twice now and seems to me somewhat off.The restaurant is nice enough to look at, but the food? Steak frites is ok except the frites part , over cooked shards of potato soggy.Uck! Better homemade fries at 5 guys or cheeseburger cheeseburger. I had roast duck and the sauce was very bland . On another occasion rainbow trout almandine that was under seasoned , cheap with the almonds and would have been improved with the addition of some lemon juice?To me this chain french restaurant try's hard, but misses about half the time.
(2)Jon E.
Last night had a holiday dinner at Mon Ami Gabi. Not only was the food delicious, the service wonderful (thanks Jillian) and the ambiance great but to top off the dinner each of us received a small loaf of honey cake and a personal note of appreciation from the staff for dining there! I can't rave about this place enough!
(5)Sophie M.
One of my all time favorites! Everything is excellent from the food to the service. The only down side is parking is never easy and it is a little pricey but it's worth it! You cannot go wrong with anything on their menu. Their French Onion Soup is amazing, the Mussels are divine, Steak Frites are delicious, I have never had anything I didn't enjoy. The profiterols are to die for with their homemade fudge sauce......you end up wanting to lick the plate! The blue cheese martini is dangerously good! The place itself is like being in a bistro in France and there is outdoor seating which is lovely as well! I always love my trips to Mon Ami Gabi and there will be many more in the future!
(5)Anna B.
I went here for brunch today with the bf and his friend, and it was phenomenal! Service, food and atmosphere were all top notch. Not only that, but one in our party was delayed about 30 min in arrival, but they never acted annoyed or rushed us to order once she arrived. Additionally, we were catching up and sat at the table about 2 hours and were not rushed at all. We also received complementary profiteroles! It was fantastic.
(5)Joseph Y.
You're mostly paying for service. The food wasn't that good for the price that I was paying.
(3)Carol C.
Okay, I get it, it's not the hyper authentic carved out of the streets of Paris bistro that real Francophiles (just go to France already) want to be associated with. Yes, the waiters speak perfect English and no, please don't bring your bichon frise into the restaurant with you. About half an hour into our dining experience here though, I was frankly too enraptured with the warm crusty bread, sinfully melty brie (dripping with honey and hazelnuts. TMI?), and licking the bottom of my onion soup cup to care if i was in Bethesda or on the moon. And our entrees hadn't even come out yet. Food aside, our waiter definitely gets some major props. My friend and I even jokingly complained to each other that he was in fact, a little TOO attentive. But that was all quickly forgotten and forgiven when we consulted him for our most important decision of the night: whether to get the profiteroles or the chocolate pudding cake in addition to the white chocolate bread pudding we had already committed to. His elegant solution was to just give us the profiterole while we ordered the other two. Um, is this real life? I then proceeded to drown in melted chocolate and ice cream perfection. Also, the whipped cream is salted, which means delicious. So no, it wasn't real life. It was unadulterated nirvana. If you are what you eat, then I definitely left here as a Carol Au Gratin a la Mode. And I liked it.
(4)Mars F.
Went with the in-laws when they came to visit. Just going over the highlights that I remember: - The mushroom soup was bland and luke warm. Overall just disappointing compared to the fancy way in which is was served (waiter comes by and pours it onto your bowl from a heated teapot thing). - Scallops that the in-laws got were HUGE and they said they were tasty, but it was just too much food. - Overall waitstaff was incredibly inattentive and unhelpful. Our guy only came by a few times and was always hanging out by the bar or out of sight when we needed him. He took forever to take our order, and didn't tell us that the scallops would be too much for a main if we were ordering lots of appetizers. - great gluten-free options, but they come at a price! May try again but this place is definitely not at the top of our list.
(2)G R.
Location and service excellent. Only 3 stars because the steak frites are just good, not excellent, not very good. Nice but limited wine selection. They do offer a good fish alternative that is also a solid good. Good mussels, good pate. Great bread baguette and butter!
(3)Jeffrey T.
Came here on a Saturday for Brunch. Was promptly seated with two chilled glasses of water and a nice warm french bread with butter and strawberry preserves (nice touch). Waitress was very friendly. I always love when restaurants have unique specials, that add something new to that day a level of surprise and they did indeed. Ordered a glass of chardonnay which they bring the bottle to the table, allow a generous taste with a further generous pour. Food was good. Ordered the steak with frites and I must indeed say that having eaten frites in both Paris and Belgium, they are comparable. Steak cooked well. ALso had eggs benedict (hollandaise sauce could have had more flavor). Other vary interesting items on the menu that I would be willing to return to and try. Service was fantastic.
(3)Sara B.
We had a lovely meal here, due in part to our fabulous waiter Ruben. He was just excellent! I can't say enough nice things about the service we received, the best we've experienced in a long time. The standout was the house made country pate. First of all, they gave us an enormous chunk of it, so much that 3 of us could not finish it. It was so porky and full of flavor and it had a perfect texture. It was served with whole grain mustard, crusty bread, and the cornichon, olive, cocktail onion trio. With its neighbor on our table, one Mr. Escargot, we thoroughly enjoyed the appetizers. Natch, we had steak frites - hanger steak with Bearnaise sauce. Steak was cooked a perfect medium rare and the Bearnaise was superb. I could take or leave the frites, they could have been hotter and crispier, and I think I would have preferred them to be longer for easier dipping in the Bearnaise or the sauce from the mussels we also ordered. However, this issue was of no real consequence. Dessert - also good - I happily endorse both the creme brulee and profiteroles. One thing I will mention about this place, because I was actually notably surprised, is that the portion sizes are very generous. It may not be the cheapest place on the block (figuratively b/c I am sure most everything is over priced on this block of Bethesda), but you get some grub for your dollars here. And then the ruin of this nice evening out was the $60 parking ticket I got - seriously, Montgomery County is practicing some legal thievery with their parking fines.
(4)Chase R.
I only go for Happy Hour. The bartenders are excellent. Drink wine and get steak&frites. End of story. Mac and cheese and onion soup are also superb
(5)Noelle M.
Wonderful atmosphere, reminds me of restaurants in Paris. The food is of quality and it is absolutely delicious. One of my favorite spots in this area. I should also add that everything is decently priced, which is a plus. If you haven't gone there yet, please give it a try!
(5)Travis P.
Not a typical review writer but they deserve an applause... I can't even obsess about the service enough! I incredibly enjoy the pomp and circumstance of perfect waiter etiquette but rarely ever expect it; THEY DELIVERED! There was an incredibly delicate gift-card balance misunderstanding and I've never seen such professionalism exercised by a team of wait staff. Forgetting the amazing food I had, I would go back simply to experience the service over a glass of wine!! The "manager in training," that happened to be our server clearly has what it takes to continue the amazing atmosphere I had on my first visit to the restaurant.
(5)Alexandre S.
It's a very special place, with wonderful food, good french wine, and all people there work to make you confortable and have a nice time..
(4)Ashley K.
Although Mon Ami Gabi is not an authentic French bistro, it's a mediocre place to enjoy some Parisian ambiance and food. You can't go wrong with any variations on the Steak-Frites. The steak is very tender and juicy. My favorite was the Plat du Jour, which was Beef Wellington that day. The puff pastry had a great flaky texture and the meat was perfectly medium rare. For dessert we had chocolate mousse, and it simply was not good. It tasted artificial, and not fresh. I should've ordered the creme brûlée.
(3)Jamie G.
Always makes me think of my sweet home, Chicago. Lettuce Entertain You always treats you right with large portions and killer drinks. Service is top notch and many restaurants could learn from their example.
(5)Sunshine M.
Food is excellent but staff is horrible! I know it's a French restaurant but you don't all have to act like arrogant rude snobs! Good God .... Am I paying to be treated like this? UPDATE: the general manager contacted me due to my not so happy experience and spent time listening to me and making it right! These people really care about their customers....so in all fairness I had to change my rating!
(4)Susie S.
love this place. it has a great french atmosphere. the menu selection are pretty good. service is good. food is good , not that authentic but good enough. overall i would recommend this place.
(4)Allyson N.
We've only ever been for brunch, but we find the food to be consistently delicious. The waitstaff is incredibly professional. They have awesome gluten free options (including GF bread, which is a rare find). In the warmer months, I love sitting outside and enjoying downtown Bethesda. Definitely make a reservation in advance for brunch. I typically get the steak benedict on gluten free bread. Their creme brulee is hard to turn down.
(4)Babak A.
Interesting experience here, we hit this place on a Monday night that was extremely busy, the cooks and service staff were out gunned. It took an hour for our food to arrive. The food was very good, and I like to thank the restaurant manager Adam to make things right. I work in retail and he was excellent
(4)Zara K.
Happy hour is pretty decent I would recommend people ordering their salmon burger with the frites ESP for a cheap lunch alternative (happy hr starts at 3!!!)
(3)John A.
From what I am told upon entering, the establishment accurately replicates a real french bistro. It is casual and relaxing. There is a chalk board displaying the daily special. We opted to go with several versions of the steak and frites. All were authentically prepared and very good. A french pinot was suggested by the waiter which proved to pair well. Service was diligent with no rush even though we closed the place. Overall a very nice experience. Tres bien.
(4)Fuego T.
Steak Frites - peppercorn ones. Get them. You're welcome. Solid place for dinner with the family. Lunch menu had a lot of solid options. The onion gratin soup was delicious. Service was really good and our waiter was great. This place is pretty popular year round, and it's no real surprise why. Definitely recommend.
(4)Lee S.
Based upon all the good reviews I had read, I tried out this place for lunch and ordered a well-done steak and frites while my boyfriend had the scallops. The portions are a bit inconsistent to say the least; my plate was large enough to feed two people while my boyfriend had four scallops and a few vegetables scattered about. As far as the taste goes, the bread was delicious, but my heavily buttered steak was average and the frites were extremely oily and honestly a notch above McDonalds; the only difference was that we were in a classy French restaurant so I guess I was supposed to ignore the grease and the feeling of my arteries closing up? On the other hand, my boyfriend's scallops were very light, tasty, and well-cooked, and we both enjoyed them very much. For dessert, we had the warm chocolate tart with salted caramel ice cream. Now THIS was something unique and absolutely delicious! By themselves, the tart isn't sweet enough and ice cream is a bit too salty, but together, they make for an amazing combination. I carried out another steak and frites meal, a salmon salad, and hamburger for my family and none of them were extraordinarily pleased with their meals, they simply said it was "fine," which is also truly the best word I can think of to describe this restaurant. While the service was good and the atmosphere was quaint, the food was underwhelming and I know I'll be back to try something different, but probably not anytime soon.
(3)Hue K.
I felt that Mon Ami Gabi was not exactly romantic french bistro .. but more like low-key everyday french restaurant you can come with your family, friends or just neighbors. All brunch dishes looked very good but my friend and I took lunch items since it was already 2:30 pm.. - Complimentary warm baguette comes with butter and jam. This is good enough for 4 stars. - Onion soup: Gooey Gruyere cheese covered onion soup. Good portion. Very satisfying. - Frisee warm bacon salad w/ poached egg: something light yet hearty. If you don't want anything too heavy, try this with a glass of wine and baguette. - Crab meat tartin: Lump crab meat salad (1000 island dressing) on top of buttery toast. Simple yet flavorful open sandwich. Home made potato chip was excellent. Good and attentive service. I will definitely come back for brunch and HH.
(4)Chris S.
Second time we have been here. First time was date night outside during the summer and this time was inside during the winter with my two year old daughter. They were very accommodating and the food was excellent. I had a beef wellington for the first time and loved it though they said they used crepes instead of traditional pastry.
(4)Gautam M.
There are certain places that make you feel real good because of their service.. and thats the first thing you feel once you walk in! The Duck burger - their daily special -was a real treat. We enjoyed the quiche lorraine and the chocolate mouse as well. Having the option of sampling the wine you want to order is a big plus as well. Overall a very good place! - good food, good wine and great service..
(4)A L.
Elegant yet low key. Love the ambiance and service.
(4)Claudia P.
Love this restaurant. Nice staff.
(5)Melissa L.
Went here at Sunday lunch/brunch to celebrate a birthday. It was my first time there but the birthday boy had been many times before and considered it a favorite (thus, my high hopes). The restaurant was a LOT bigger than I thought it would be, to the point where us newbies almost missed it despite it taking up an entire street corner. (If you've never been, you should look for the bright red awning instead of the restaurant name, which is in small print and easily missed!) I had made a reservation for the three of us but turns out it wasn't needed. The huge restaurant was about 3/4 full at prime brunch hour (not sure if the July 4th holiday weekend had anything to do with it). Ambience was nice -- not too loud or quiet, big open space, fun French brasserie-style decor. Food was good but not great, which is why the 3-star review. I had the seafood crepe -- a bit strange, with the crepe actually being a pea and cream sauce crepe, and the seafood sitting on top. Scallops and shrimp were tasty and couldn't have been cooked better; I just wished they were actually IN the crepe. Or the menu item should be labeled PEA CREPE (not appetizing) WITH SEAFOOD. My friend got the lobster roll, which he said was also good but not great. It was fun to look at though; the lobster salad was crammed into what looked like a super thick-cut slice of crusty bread, and accompanied by house-made waffle chips. The exception was the birthday boy's Beef Wellington, a house special of the day (the sign on the wall said you had to call to place your order in advance (?!) but they didn't seem to hold to that rule). At about 2-3 times what our dishes cost, the Beef Wellington was definitely worth the cost. It was an amazing, juicy, melt-in-your-mouth cut of steak baked in a pastry and then swimming in divine brown sauce. I had just a bite and it was heaven. Service was pretty good -- we got seated right away and our waiter came around almost immediately with menus. The waiter was a bit MIA after our food came, but not a big deal. He did deliver us the free mousse you get with a Yelp check-in (although he'd never heard of the deal before). All in all, an OKAY experience but nothing to write home about. Except maybe that Beef Wellington... (To be fair, this place is known for its steak frites and the majority of the table got seafood. So I will definitely update this post if/when we go back and order like good 'n' proper red meat-eatin' 'Mericans!)
(3)Stephanie W.
This place is good. Not incredible but good. Typical French bistro menu. The frites are nicely prepared and you cannot go wrong with the muscles. I continue to go back because the food and service are reliable. Also, be aware that this restaurant has a lot of hard surfaces and therefore gets quite noisy.
(4)Kyle C.
Good food; their french onion, duck confit, steaks are amazing. I have been there many times, and I love the place!
(5)Pamm P.
Perfect steak frittes hot crispy bread with butter. A lovely sidewalk dining area to enjoy the weather and people watching. Chocolate desserts and sorbets to finish off your meal. Service with a smile enjoy
(5)Kathleen C.
This restaurant is very nice, the food and service are always very good to excellent. We have always had competent service so that has never been a problem. The mussels and steaks are very nice and the frites are delicious too. The french onion soup is probably the best I have ever had and I have had it in many french restaurants and tasted it when my kids and husband have ordered it, so there is little variance in the quality of the soup and it has never been extremely salty which is the problem with onion soups. The only thing that disappoints is how loud this restaurant can get when filled with people. The design of the interior makes the sound resonate so my favorite times to enjoy a meal are when the restaurant isn't very crowded. At any rate the food is delicious.
(4)Sandy M.
We were at Mon Ami Gabi for nearly two hours last night, due to unforeseen circumstances, none of which had to do with the restaurant. We explained our dilemma to our waiter, Che, and he treated us like royalty for the rest of the evening. The french onion soup was great, the complimentary bread (warm and crunchy/soft) was a perfect accompaniment to the wine we enjoyed while waiting for our third party, the escargot were, as always, hot and flavorful. Che checked on us frequently, commiserated with us, made us laugh, and helped turn an evening that might have ended poorly into a lovely event. Thanks, Che. We'll be back!
(4)N D.
What a great place. The whole staff was so kind and gracious. Food was awesome! Started with the amazing mushroom soup...to die for, followed by the croque-monsieur. My group also had the quiche (which was amazing) and a chicken crepe that was wonderful. We were so full, but the waiter brought us profiteroles just to be nice and didn't charge us for them. Yum! Although I don't live in D.C., I'm definitely going to visit the locations in Chicago. Thanks Mon Ami Gabi for wonderful time!
(5)Prairie S.
I enjoyed sitting at the bar with a warmed, crusty baguette and some delicious mussels. Their ratatouille side is recommended as well. The wine list was more than adequate. One huge plus? The bartenders are NOT actually authentically French, and have good ol' Maryland manners....so I was quite pleased with the service. Plus the downtown Bethesda location works nicely.
(4)Bob L.
French Bistro, good steak frites, kind of hard to get a table at supper on the weekends. Food is consistently good.
(3)Paul M.
Blimey - is it almost 5 years since I first reviewed this spot. I am giving them a massive downgrade for one reason only. I still eat there 2 - 4 times per year, service is good, place is buzzing, some of the menu items are good. BUT ! Their Brussels sprouts are an abomination. This is the new "in" vegetable - every trendy place is selling it. What they are not doing it boiling the bejaysus out of them, then throwing in a few bits of bacon and calling it a day. Come on guys - that is so 70s. Here's what I need you to do: 1. pan fry some bacon, remove it, but keep the grease in the pan 2. add your halved brussels sprouts - let 'em sit a minute or two to char, then stir occasionally 3. grate one some nutmeg 4. chop your bacon bits, add them stir, serve immediately. OK?
(1)N. A. T.
Was pleasantly surprised to see that they were serving brunch at 2pm on a Friday because it was the december holiday week. The food and service were amazing! My only complaint, which will keep me from returning: Managerial policy towards its clientele. The hostess walked us past some smaller tables, all the way to the very back of the restaurant, towards a rather large booth that could easily seat 4 or 5, even though we were just two people. Even worse, this was right next to the kitchen. We also noted two black women, like us, were seated at a similarly ridiculous table next to the one offered to us, along the back wall of this windowless room. We requested a different table, and the hostess graciously walked us to a table for two in a much more pleasant room with windows. Why we were not initially offered a more appropriately-sized table on a quietly busy afternoon was beyond us. A seat next to the kitchen door should be the last one offered. We shrugged it off and enjoyed our meal at the better table in the better room. But, eventually, the manager comes in and greets every single table but ours - and note that our table was snuggled in between two other occupied tables - to ask about their experience. It's too bad, because we would have sung his waitstaff's praises! Based on the hostess' initial attempt at seating us, which echoed the manager's choice to not greet us, we were left with the impression that we are not this restaurant's ideal client.
(2)Rebecca Z.
The food was pretty good, but the service was not great. For example, the server asked if we wanted spreads for the bread. We said that we did, but he never brought them. My steak was also not cooked correctly and the waiter never came back to ask how things were.
(3)Margaret N.
A bit upscale and pricey, but a great restaurant for celebrating a special occasion with family and/or friends! They have a great selection of wines too! Would definitely recommend their scallops and steak, yum!
(4)Ali D.
Fabulous, fabulous restaurant. I only travel to this area occasionally for conferences, and I've made sure to stop here both times I've been in town. I've had nothing but impeccable service and amazing food. They start you off right off the bat with a loaf of warm baguette and whipped butter - heaven for carbophiles like myself. This time around, I had the French onion soup (on happy hour special for $5), which was amazing. The melted Gruyere was delicious (if a bit heavy, but I'm not a huge cheese person). Paired with a glass of $4 pinot noir, it was a delicious (and cheap!) dinner. They also offer a few full-size sandwiches (steak and salmon) with frites, a few different pates/liver mousses, and other $5 really great happy hour specials. All HH wines are $4 or less, and the jazz music in the bar in the evenings is a really nice touch. Although I understand that this restaurant is a chain, I'm still in love. I'm thinking about going back tomorrow night!
(5)Elizabeth E.
This is a truly authentic French bistro! Having lived overseas, it was a real treat to enjoy an impromptu lunch here. Chilled water was served from a glass bottle, without ice (European style), and since I don't like ice in the winter, I was thrilled. The bottle was left on the table so that we could refill our glasses as needed, and when we finished it, another was promptly brought over. The mini baguette was delicious - crisp on the outside, warm and fluffy on the inside. The only negative thing I can think of is that the menu displayed outside did not exactly correlate with the menu we were given at the table, but perhaps it was just not recently updated (I had my heart set on a chicken and mushroom crepe that was included on the lunch menu outside, but was only on the breakfast menu once we sat down). The daily specials were displayed on the wall and they all sounded fantastic. I had the onion soup ($7), which was so large that I couldn't even finish it all, having eaten most of the baguette. The bread was on the bottom of the large soup bowl, which was very generously topped with gruyere (rather than the bread and gruyere being toasted on top, as is sometimes the case). The bowl was not a typical little onion soup crock, but a tall bowl, about half-quart-sized. My husband had the steak frites (classique, $27) and said it was one of the best steaks he had ever eaten. The steak was cut thin but long, I assume to speed up cooking time, which was nice since we had only stopped in for lunch. The frites were also cut thin, and the portion was huge. We didn't order wine, but when I saw the beautiful oval wheeled wine cart, I wished we had! Our server was the perfect balance of attentive and relaxed; he didn't bug us unnecessarily, but was available when we wanted him. In fact, everyone there (hostess, busers) was very polite. We could have eaten quickly if needed, and we could have lingered for hours; we were neither rushed nor delayed by the service. We could easily overhear what our neighbors were discussing, but that is to be expected in a bistro. Two very well-behaved little girls were seated with a group near us, and when one of them held up the activity paper that the restaurant had given her, I saw that it was beautifully designed to match the menus, and noticed some sort of game with a number of poodles on it! For the quality of the ambiance and food, the value is fantastic. If I lived closer, I would be a regular!
(5)Virginia G.
My friend and I went here for brunch last Sunday. There are plenty of tables so we were seated quickly. The menu is diverse especially for Sunday brunch, not heavily laden with egg dishes. I loved that there were lunch items and we were not forced into eating the typical brunch meal. Our waiter was wonderful and extremely attentive. We started with a warm french baguette, butter, and raspberry jam. The bread was wonderful, butter was fresh, and the jam was not too sweet. I ordered the steak sandwich with the fries (yum!). The steak was perfectly cooked and the horseradish sauce was really great. It also came with an au jus dipping sauce. My friend ordered the chicken, brie, apple sandwich. It was warm, gooey and a generous serving. I especially loved the bread it was served on. Overall, this was a perfect brunch experience. We are planning on taking our friends in the future because there are so many options, everyone is happy!
(4)Jane Q.
This was our first visit and it will not be our last. Absolutely loved the chicken liver pate, grapefruit salad and the profiteroles for dessert.
(5)Michael B.
With a proven formula the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. The only exception being the one is Vegas, like most restaurants in Vegas it comes up a bit short, Anyway if you like French Bistro style food check it out. The mussels are always a winner, I love the crusty bread and butter the dang you off the rip, and the escargots are always a go to for me. Last time I was here we had the frisee and poached egg which wasn't the bomb but decent just a bit underwhelming. I love French food and this is always a good standby
(4)Zhao L.
simple and elegant. Food is really good. Good atmosphere and dishes are inexpensive. Definitely recommending it.
(5)Bon D.
Had the chilled Seafood Platter last night. Huge Shrimp, fresh mussels, great ceviche, Maine lobster - so fresh - fabulous!
(4)Lora B.
I went here for brunch this morning based on other reviews. I'd say it wad just ok. The breakfast options are pretty limited. I got the eggs Florentine which were pretty good but I got spinach on the side instead of potatoes. It was extremely salty - I only ate half and I'm still dying of thirst two hours later. Friends asked for fruit on the side and they seemed very perplexed and then said ask they had was apples and bananas. It wad fine but fruit at brunch should be a standard. Service was ok but not attentive. Coffee served in tiny cups. I won't be back for brunch.
(3)Jacinda T.
I'd give this place 3.5 stars if I could. But as I'm not much of a red meat eater, I'm going to have to round down this time. It's a very nice place, fits in well in Bethesda. The waiters are very courteous and usually attentive. I've dined with people who've said the steak frites is very good, so I'm going to take the word for it. I did steal some fries from the bf though, and they were very delicious. But then again, they're fries. I am a huge fan of the French onion soup here. It's a bit on the cheesy side, but I can look passed that. (which is saying something, considering I'm lactose intolerant! lactaid FTW) I also love their French baguettes; good ones are so hard to come by in MD. I've gotten the scallops here, which I didn't really like. But I'm really picky about how my scallops are seared, and these were a bit overcooked. I've also gotten a salad with some time of fish (sorry, I can't remember!) but it was good. Also, the cocktails are quite strong here. I'd stick with wine if you want to enjoy yourself. Oh, and make a reservation on open table ahead of time, you'll save yourself a wait since it gets crowded.
(3)Don S.
The evening was lovely. Our waiter was most attentive. We all had steak frites. While the flavors were very good, the steaks were very, very thin for the price. That is my only complaint of the evening...but in my mind a significant one. There are a number of good dining places to go.....for an establishment known for this dish..it was disappointing. A lovely place and attentive staff...
(3)Aerin R.
I went for dinner and it was pretty expensive. My sister had a salad for $18. I had the vegetable tagine and it wasn't what I expected, it tasted like vegetables in water and even though they said there would be a variety of vegetables there were basically only carrots, red bell peppers, and chickpeas. Our waitress also kept coming over asking if we wanted something even though she was standing a couple tables away the entire time and we could've just called her over. For 8 people, it was over $200. The dessert was over-rated adn over-priced. I had this apple ganache thing and I couldn't get if off the plate. The ice-cream that came with it was already half-melted when I got it. With the steak-frites, there were more frites than steak. The beef bourgignon there was this piece of beef on top of 4 noodles surrounded by carrots and that was it. It is definitely a meat place and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone that doesn't want meat. Food:4 Service:4 Price/Value:3 Atmosphere:5
(3)Zara M.
What impressed me was our waitress as well as the food. We were only in the mood for light fare - apps & salads, not even drinks. The waitress was totally cool with this and we DID NOT get sub-par service once our menu choices became apparent. The waitress came back several times and checked on us - she had blonde hair and was probably in her 30s, wish I remembered her name. She was great. I have not had this same experience at other places in Bethesda. Also, the gluten-free options are great. They happily bring both gluten-free bread plate and normal bread plate.
(5)stevie t.
I don't branch out too often once I really enjoy something on a menu. So I can only recommend my regular orders. But they're all very good. Starter: Escargot in a garlic butter (with parsley? Something green anyhow). I like to dip the french bread that I've buttered into this sauce. So tastey. Entree: Filet Mignon au Poivre (peppery with a dollop of cream) with a side of Frites (by far, the biggest reason to visit Mon Ami - perfectly thin and fried, also amazing with gravy). Backup Entree: If you're not a carnivore, their Macaroni Gratin is to die for. Baked in one of those black kettle pans with lots of crunchy crumbs all over. The cheese isn't typical either (very slightly sharper). Dessert: Bananas Foster Crepe with Vanilla Ice Cream (extra ice cream...small scoops). Enough said. ~ Although, I must admit, I've skipped it just a couple of times for Georgetown Cupcakes around the corner, but not too too often. The ambiance is awesome, the service is consistent and very good, the outdoor seating is just a bonus for a beautiful day.
(4)Maddie B.
I love this restaurant!! I went for dinner on a Friday night and it was packed, you definitely need a reservation. The only thing I didn't like was the seating; next time I am going to request a corner table because it was crowded and loud and you are very close to the people next to you. The service was acceptable, a bit slow. Why did I give it 5 stars? The food was fantastic! We had the baked brie, salads, salmon, and a few desserts that were delicious. I plan to go back for lunch and just get the salad, it was so well put together, the flavors were amazing.
(5)Phi N.
Usually parking in Bethesda is okay; I don't know what was going on tonight... the garages, the parking across the street, parallel parking... all full. As for the restaurant itself, there is a bar at the front you can have a couple drinks at while you wait for a table. There is a nice and classy ambiance to the inside. It gets pretty crowded, and fairly noisy... but we got kind of tipsy, so of course that doesn't bother us... (maybe it was just us that was noisy, sorry!...) Once at our table, the service was excellent. Our waitress was Lorena. She's great, ask for her. We tipped her well, but now that I think of it, I wish I tipped more because we were there for quite a while. As for the food, the escargo was delicious. It was by far the favorite item I ordered. The smoked salmon was pretty good too (sorry I forgot to take pictures of these). Appetizers are the way to go at this restaurant... because for my main course, I ordered the steak bordelaise. My steak was chewy, and that should not be the case when you order medium-rare, more on the rare side... the bordelaise sauce was on point, but the meat itself was what disappointed me. A friend of mine ordered the lemon chicken paillard and macaroni & cheese. Both lacked flavor and sodium. At least my steak sauce was tasty... The Graves champagne bottles we ordered were good. I'm no wine expert or anything... but I can tell you when I like/don't like something, haha.
(3)Won K.
This review is for a take-out order from Mon Ami Gabi. Was in town for a conference, and had just gotten back from a run so I wanted a quick take-out dinner to enjoy back at my hotel (always felt weird about eating alone in a restaurant). Ordered the steak bernaise over the phone, and it was ready in like 10 minutes. The steak itself I felt was done decently. Half of it was cooked medium well, the other half medium rare like I asked. The sauce and frites were a nice touch, but it was my first steak bernaise so I have no comparison. But I didn't feel like it was anything to write home about. On top of that, they didn't give me any utensils to eat with! Oh the humanity... That said, the ambiance of the restaurant was romantic and appealing. The servers that I briefly interacted with seemed very nice as well. Hopefully I'll get a chance to go back with my conference buddies and check it out and give it another chance.
(3)Tee D.
I had an all-around great experience here. The food, ambience and service were all good. I went with a group of friends and we shared the foie gras. The French onion soup was delicious. The whole table ordered a steak each- be warned: the steak is huge! For dessert, the profiteroles were delicious as well- I thought it was one of the best I've had though my friend disagrees. I went there for lunch on a week day. Other customers were in the 40+ range. The waiters were attentive and professional.
(4)LaToya E.
After looking for a great lunch spot with an out of town friend we decided on this place just from the look of the patio area and boy am i glad we did! its such a cute little french bistro! The baguette that was brought out before our meal was delicious and my friend and I had the same burger cooked different ways and they were both PERFECT! The wait staff were great they were somehow always there when we needed something. I will have to stop by this place again when i want to get my fill of a bistro lunch.
(4)Shank P.
The restaurant was underwhelming to say the least. My onion soup was burnt. Friends ordered rockfish special and felt it was undercooked. When they asked to exchange their dish, the manager came to the table. Unlike other restaurants that measure their worth in customer service, he spoke rudely and was not at all courteous. The one vegetarian entree was mushy veggies with couscous. Needless to say- mediocre fare and poor customer service. Bethesda has much better to offer! The server and valet were fantastic!
(1)Amanda L.
I almost forgot to write the review. I saw Mon Ami Gabi first in Last Vegas and it was packed. From the name, I know it's French Bistro, and the environment should be private, romantic and intimate and they are. This one we went to located in Bethesda center, next to the cinema. The interior looked very nice, very like Europe and on a Wednesday night dinning time, there are lots of senior citizens made this place look warm and family-oriented. My friend and I ordered mussels, crab cake and short rib(marinated beef sth) with chocolate mousse as dessert. We were really full. I really like the beef as it came with mashed corn & carrots, a little spinach all very tender and delicious. Mussels are not as good as the Terrace restaurant in Kennedy Center, which used more white wine in cooking. The sauce came with crab cake was great, sweet but not too filthy.Their menus change according to the seasons as well, seems like all the restaurants are doing that now. One con is the seats are really close to each other, difficult to get out or in. So, better just seat there until the end of meal. lol
(5)Callen B.
The best steak I have had in a very long time! I ordered the Steak Roquefort and profiteroles which were both excellent. The service was also top notch! Can not recommend this place highly enough!!!!
(5)J G.
We had a great dining experience. Our waitress Rebecca was polite, knowledgeable, and very attentive. The venue was quiet when we first arrived (Monday 6pm) but quickly filled to capacity as the night continued. Each course was delicious. We will definitely return for the service alone.
(5)Kevin P.
Had the rib-eye on bone, and it was just OK. It was definitely overpriced. The ambiance and service; however, was great. Seems like a decent place to go on a nice date.
(3)Sara R.
Amazing restaurant! For appetizers tried the scallops and duck liver pate. The scallops were the most delicious thing I've ever had. So creamy and rich, it's a must have! The pate was also very good but my date did not like at all, I feel that you either love or hate pate. For entree we both had steak which was alright, felt it lacked flavor. For dessert we got cream brûlée and cream puffs, the cream brûlée had to be the best I've ever had. The cream puffs were too sweet and topped with way too much chocolate. The scallops and cream brûlée def has me in love with this restaurant. Can't wait to go back and try other dishes
(5)Maria G.
Terrible terrible service . Very rude middle eastern hostess. She didn't have any kind of customer service. Made the restaurant feel a very cheap place.
(2)Tra H.
We came here for lunch. I liked the French Onion soup, and the fact that they give an entire baguette for free. The main courses were okay, good enough but not outstanding. We ordered the chicken and mushroom crepe and the steak sandwich. They were both pretty bland. The fries were very good though - crispy and rich. The portion here is huge, so you might want to just order one meal to share. My boyfriend and I had just biked a good 15 miles to get there on the Crescent trail, we were both starving, but yet we could not finish all the food, and we have never not finished anything. Overall, a pleasant experience. Good staff, good atmosphere, generous portions. The food wasn't outstanding, but good enough.
(3)Rob H.
Great food, good service. Very noisy atmosphere, and tables very tight. Slightly pricey for what you get. Parking in that area is a complete nightmare, be sure to arrive 30 minutes early unless you plan to valet.
(3)Teeny L.
We love this place!! We drive down to Bethesda from Philadelphia several times a year JUST TO EAT HERE. The steaks are unbelievably tender and the Bearnaise Sauce is Excellent. During our most recent visit, the Manager, Adam Murphy was extremely attentive to the guests at every table in the restaurant. He stopped by each table to ensure that everyone was enjoying their meal and to check if anyone needed anything. He was working hard providing excellent customer service to all. I have not seen a manager work this hard in a long time. The best part of our dinner was the profiterole dessert. Oh my- it is huge and the most delicious dessert that I have ever had. YUM. I highly recommend this restaurant. It is my favorite. I can't wait for our next roadtrip to Bethesda!!!!!
(5)Tracy L.
So what if this Is a chain, because it's a really good one! We've had dinner here twice and it never fails to deliver a delicious classic French meal. Go with one of their steak and frites entrees and get garlic spinach as a side to complete the meal. While you eat, enjoy some wine, the traditional French brasserie decor and the attentive service. Recommended.
(4)Kristen J.
excellent service and great food!
(4)judith a.
Always fun to sit on the sun on summer. The salads and food is good , service excellent and friendly, always a jovial and happy time here.
(4)Roy S.
This was a pretty nice place. Busy and loud but with a reservation I waited 5 minutes. The steak au poivre was nicely cooked but the focus was on the brandy sauce and not the peppercorns. I was hoping for the opposite. The steak is also pretty thin. The french fries were plentiful but flat? It was interesting but I prefer larger fries (tough to complain about fries though). I really liked the green beans but some people might want them mushier (no idea why). Great wine list, very friendly staff, and right next to Bethesda Row theater (dinner and a movie!!!) I want to try the chicken next...
(4)Joe G.
So I ate here on my birthday with 6 friends the other day and it was absolutely fantastic. Everyone ordered some kind of steak and it was very delicious all around. Even the cucumber soup thing turned out to be very nice. Anyway, the service is always great here and the food is delicious. I really can't say much more about it than that. I mean, the wine is super expensive, but this is a fancy french restaurant so that is to be expected. They even brought out TWO birthday cookie/chocolate sauce/ice cream things instead of just one! :D I can't eat chocolate but other people in my party assured me that it was delicious and I appreciate they do that thing on your birthday. They will NOT sing happy birthday to you though and I'm sure most birthday patrons probably appreciate not being embarrassed. :) I recommend getting the filet with the red wine reduction sauce, it is my new favorite!
(5)Mike M.
Love Mon Ami Gabi. The food is fantastic, the service is always top shelf and the location is perfect for a nice night out. I usually start wit h the country pate followed with the steak frites. Occasionally I'll stop by at lunch and sit at the bar and enjoy the pate by myself. You just can't have a bad day if you've had Mon Ami Gabi's country pate for lunch. Get a reservation if you're going for dinner and plan on a long, leisurely dinner.
(5)Maureen H.
Mon Ami Gabi is a nice French-themed chain restaurant. I've been to the locations in Reston and Bethesda enjoy the food. For a chain, it's still fairly authentic (They do serves Moules Frites, which already earns a few stars from me!) and the ambiance is nice. For brunch, they have a build your own Bloody Mary bar and a rolling champagne cart which is a nice touch. The menu is varied so there's something for everyone in your group (the vegetarian, the cheap person, the Francophile, etc). The only thing that makes it less than perfect is the obscene amount of up-selling. I know it's not the server's fault - I've worked in enough restaurants to know that they probably have to memorize a script of 'specials' every day and offer specific appetizers and sides or risk getting a bad score from a secret shopper. It just makes things a little bit awkward at times and cuts into the 45 minutes or so that I'm paying to enjoy an otherwise really great meal.
(4)Perry P.
J'adore ce restaurant! I love the bustling atmosphere. It does get loud, but if you eat late, it thins out nicely and you can hear the great French jazz they play over the speakers. I ran into a love jazz trio in the bar one evening, but don't remember what night of the week that was. Anyway -- my favorites are onion soup, caesar salad, bacon wrapped filets, French toast (at brunch), pommes puree (mashed potatoes) and escargots. Don't miss the complimentary shredded carrot salad and warm bread at the beginning! De-lish! The one thing I don't "get" are their frites. They are a little small and chewy -- not as crisp as I would like. For dessert, the profiteroles are to die for! Also love the chocolate mousse and creme brulee. This is my go-to place when I want a nice filling bowl of hot soup or a carb overload...
(5)Kim H.
Excellent food and particularly great service. It felt like an extravagant evening because the food was so delicious and we were so well taken care of. Just wow.
(5)Jeremy P.
My wife and I love this restaurant! Excellent food, service, and atmosphere, and conveniently located right next door to the Theaters at Bethesda Row. I Highly recommend the Bearnaise steak, which I enjoyed with a red Rhone wine. And don't skip dessert here. The La Grande Profiterole is life-affirming. Our waiter ceremoniously poured melted chocolate on it at our table and it drew an audience. The only reason I don't give this restaurant a perfect score is because the steak was probably the second or third best I've had. But I eat a lot of great steak so this is a high score for me (I have a perfect score reserved exclusively for #1). Nevertheless, Mon Ami Gabi is way up there among my favorites!
(4)Deborah N.
I am an ami of good onion soup and pseudo Parisian-looking bistros, especially when they are right next door to a good arts movie house. Go on Tuesday nights for the duck (le quaq) and the jazz (le jazz). Trouve le parking in the garage up the street. I'm not so amoureused with the prices of the glasses of wine but I guess most of the Bethesdaish clientele can afford to drink there without batting an oeuf. (Oops, that means egg!) Moi, je suis pauvre, alors je prend seulement le soupe a l'oignon avec du pain gratuit ou un cafe.
(4)Anika K.
Came here for dinner and ordered scallops. Friends ordered steak and frites and king salmon. Honestly, my dish tasted the best out of all. Friends complained the steak were not so great qualities and were little over done. Service was great, atmosphere was great, would come back here again but probably won't order steak next time.
(3)Mike S.
When you see the restaurant through the windows, you would think that this place is for upscale with dinner dress establishment. When you go through the door, you would still think that your wallet will be bitten at the end of the dinner. When you start getting served, you would start easing up your jacket and really study the menu. When you taste the first appetizer, you tend to forget about your dinner check. When you take a bite of its entre, you are not thinking about your money but what to get on your dessert. Finally when you ask for the check, you would see that your credit card comes out of your wallet in a speed that you've never seen before. I hope this helped with your imagination of the place. Oh one last thing, the next morning, you can't believe you spent so much on wine.
(4)Jen F.
Mon Ami Gabi has some great French food and the people who work here are genuinely great people. It's really all about the customers here, which I think a lot of restaurants lose sight of. Sometimes that warm, family-type atmosphere is what makes eating out great! Do not be surprised if they remember you and treat you well. They start you off with a loaf of bread and some delicious dips. Try to refrain yourself and leave room for the meal! For an appetizer, I ordered the squash soup. It was thick and delicious. I probably could have stopped there, but no- onto the entrée! I ordered the roasted chicken- YUMZER. The pom frites were also yumzer. I drool at the very thought. I would suggest calling ahead because it can get very crowded here. There is also a section in the back reserved for private parties.
(5)Deidre D.
In search of Saturday Brunch? Look no further - this is an oasis of food, drink, and tasteful decor on the Row. I met a friend here before seeing two movies at Bethesda Row Cinema and we knew we had several hours to kill before we needed to grab our seats. I can think of no better place to spend a leisurely Saturday afternoon eating and drinking than at Mon Ami Gabi. I met M for brunch at 1 and ordered myself a mimosa while she took advantage of the Build Your Own Bloody Mary Bar. We chatted and eyed the menu for a good long while until our server informed us that the egg special was Eggs Benedict over Braised Short Ribs. Easy decision! We both ordered the Egg Special as well as a plate of Smoked Salmon to split. And right after we ordered our food do you know what happened? A server came by and dropped off a baguette. He gave us a WHOLE BAGUETTE. It's like he knew what I hope to get out of life (Hint: it is a whole baguette. i hope to get a whole baguette out of life) and then left it there in a paper bag for me. Good man. The salmon plate was excellent and perfect for splitting, nicely full of capers and onions and creme fraiche. The eggs were absolutely fantastic, poached perfectly and perched on a bed of shredded, flavorful beef short ribs. The hollandaise had the right zip and didn't break while we ate; I honestly could have done without the potatoes or English muffin and been happy with just the eggs and ribs. They were THAT good. As we moved to duck out to Dolcezza on my suggestion, the skies opened up and a wall of water fell from the sky. Thunder filled the air and the lights dimmed and rose, dimmed and rose while the wind tried to push said water wall horizontally outside. "So. Drink and dessert?" M suggested, eyeing the bar directly to our left. Yes, please. We each enjoyed a Cafe Normande and shared the Bananas Foster Crepe and Flourless Chocolate Cake. The cafes were perfectly boozy and the crepe was a delight to share but the flourless chocolate cake was a bit too airy and we did not clean our plates. Overall a fabulous (though mildly spendy) day and one I plan to repeat, much to the chagrin of my husband's credit card I suspect.
(5)Lauren S.
Easily my favorite French restaurant in the area! There isn't much competition but it still deserves all five stars. Every course is enjoyable if you order French things (and not items like the burger). The escargot is very rich if you're not afraid of snails. Save some bread so you can sop up the delicious sauce that is always left over from it! Their steaks are (I believe) either flank or hangar steaks that are marinated and cut real thin. When I first saw them, I thought it was a cheap cop out to use a cheap cut but it really works! The steaks are always tender and never (so far) overcooked. I've tried the peppercorn steak, the Merlot steak, and Roquefort steak. I'd recommend all of them depending on your personal taste but I found the third option to be my favorite. They all come with steak frites which are good by themselves. The fact that they naturally soak up all the sauce from the steak itself makes them terrific. Their desserts are all sweet and yummy. Even if they didn't all seem French, they are great! I recommend the cobbler, it is both warm and rich. I thought going to L'Auberge Chez Francois would spoil me on French food but Mon Ami Gabi really comes close on flavor and feel. It may be a little pricey compared to other places in the immediate area but is perfect for occasions. It's also perfect for those times when you just really need a good meal to take the stress away.
(5)Ryan B.
I've been here several times for lunch and dinner, so it's about time I gave this place a review! Service is usually great as well as the steak and frites dishes. It's a great and less expensive alternative to the higher end steak places in the area. I've had a lot of the menu and can't say I've been disappointed. I'll continue to come back here with family and friends when the opportunity presents itself.
(4)Robin G.
I'm upgrading my review after tonight's meal. We sat outside and had excellent service. My husband had steak and it was tender and he thoroughly enjoyed every bite and finished it all! I had the trout with the haricots verts. My cocktail was o point as well. Very good experience we had. Glad I gave it another shot!
(5)Tanya G.
Reasons why I go to Mon Ami Gabi 1. Mushroom soup Hmmm I guess that's only one. Now I can be annoying and repeat myself with increasing exclamation marks, adjectives and adverbs but hopefully that is not necessary (and I do love my exclamation marks :-). That is also not to say that my dear friend Gabi doesn't have anything else worthwhile to offer, the food is delicious, service phenomenal, and the location can't be beat. And who doesn't love a make your own Bloody Mary station?!?! But I'm just being honest; the mushroom soup is go out of your way to this particular restaurant to fulfill your craving worthy. Admit it, you have that one thing at that one restaurant that you go to. Guilty?!?! I thought so :-)
(5)Don H.
Everything is great here. Good for wine and foods. A quick bite or a longer meal. Just be prepared for it to be pricey and busy.
(4)myra f.
On Mother's Day had brunch. Well again skip potatoes cold yuck!!! Seems to be a theme that management could fix. Actually whole meal came out cold. If butter on top is not melting at all something is wrong. Waiter was ok. He was nice but could have come back to table to check on us. We were there at 9:30 am it was not crowded. Bread was awesome as usual. I am sure we will be back, but feeling it is hit or miss at this location.
(3)Emily P.
Okay, I think I'm just done with French restaurants. They either serve puny dishes or food that je ne sais quoi the fuss is all about. Mon ami gabi. I don't get the appeal. I think I went in with high expectations? Maybe I should have gotten the steak because I heard that was their specialty, but I wasn't feeling steak (so maybe, maybe, if I go back, I can write a different review.) Alas, I got the half chicken and fries. Yes, the dish was huge. I couldn't finish it. 2/3 of it was covered with these flat fries that went through liposuction. Not a fan of anorexic fries. The chicken was juicy and seasoned, so I guess that was pretty good. But my friend who ate the rest of the chicken I barely poked into said that the center wasn't that good. The chocolate mousse was divine. I guess, overall, I am not an ami, but not an enemy I either.
(2)Pape T.
Great food! The desserts are fantastic... It's my go-to restaurant! The spinach salmon salad is great and, for brunch, the blueberry french toast are absolutely delicious!! Great atmosphere... Especially when you're outside on a nice day.
(5)Amy S.
Aside from the fact that I had two breakups with boyfriends here (which added a bit of sourness to the experience), the breakup dates/fights ended up being quite delicious. In fact, I wouldn't mind having a little more heartbreak if it meant I could eat here again! That steak and chocolate mousse made these the best breakups ever! After he stormed out, I sat there in pleasure tasting that sweet taste of freedom with my delectable glass of champagne and munching away on two delicious French entrees. Weee weeee!! Did I mention the HOT bartender (ooops)? And the fabulous customer service....!
(5)David W.
Service was a bit slow today, and when I requested Ciroc for the Bloody Mary bar, I expected the vodka in a glass so I could make my own at the Bloody Mary bar... not a pre-made Bloody Mary. The chilled Seafood Plateau "serves two or more" was tasty - but I ate it myself, had desert after, and am still hungry. I only weigh 140#... So no, this does not serve two or more. Maybe an appetizer for two, but not a meal. I'll be back, but this was not this restaurant at it's best...
(4)Sarah C.
Enjoyed a late XMas Eve dinner before heading out of town. It was packed with families and holiday music tickled our ears. I chewed accordingly to the beat of the songs while people-watching through the window. As customary, we attacked the shredded carrot spread/slaw that I usually mentioned to others as a French version of kimchi w/no spiciness. We devoured this with no bread. Since hubs delighted in sauerkraut and I was a fan of kimchi, MAG's orangy goodness was a comforting start for the evening. I wished for something minty so a mojito was on its way and the hubs enjoyed a glass of Louis Bernard 2006 red wine. The bartender must've been in a festive mood because my green drink was super-hero powerful. Wow, Merry Christmas to me. As for the red wine (I'm not a novice nor am I a connoisseur), it paired well with our chicken entrees. Like their steaks and pork, the chicken classics were tasty. And OMG the frites. I appreciate how these scrumptious goodies are a combination of thinly cut fries and potato chips morphed into this MAG creation. I'm a starch fan. But the finale were two desserts not printed on their current menu. I had the spice cake topped with caramel and, I believe, a scoop of cinnamon ice cream. The hubs chose bread pudding with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. A pic of my gratifying treat is found in their business profile yelp.com/biz_photos/9HHQ… With our bellies full, we were ready for the holiday drive - actually HE was ready for the drive and I was looking forward to the road trip. Bless the better half. MAG's service was friendly, timely and efficient as usual. A regular favorite local spot.
(4)Miranda C.
This review is long overdue. I came here for a wine tasting and French Fare. Although I couldn't drink any of the wines, there was an abundance of hors d'oeuvres that were just incredibly delicious. Other than having an outstanding time with my friends, I also made some new ones too. Everyone at the event was so friendly and inviting, I must attend the next one! Hopefully I'm available when they do! Definitely recommend this place to anyone that hasn't tried their amazing French Fare! It is to die for! Lol, not literally though!
(5)Kevin O.
Every time I go there (have been there about 6 times at this point) they do a great job. Service is excellent. Food is fantastic and they are consistent. No, I do not work there, but felt I should do some good reviews as it is easier to by critical of bad spots which I find very often. Had Birthday dinner tonight with brother and his family. Steak is to die for.
(5)Caroline L.
Came here on a hot day and found the main dining room to be a bit uncomfortably hot. I had a glow of perspiration throughout the entire night (limited myself to one cocktail b/c I felt another one would only make my face warmer and sweat more). Tried to Nutty Russian drink which I thought was yummy. The back dining area was significantly cooler. LOVE LOVE LOVE the whole loaf of warm bread they give you in the beginning of the meal. I mean seriously- the entire loaf? My cousin enjoyed the carrot salad a lot. It wasn't anything wow but it was tangy and crunchy and good difference in texture. Got mussels for the appetizer which was DELICIOUS. We literally finished off another loaf of bread just so we could soak up the broth in the bottom of the pot! We all got a different style of steak and frites for our entree. I got the Steak Classique which came completely well done even though I had asked for medium rare. The middle was completely well done which only makes you think how overdone the outer part of the steak would've been. The server quickly took it back but didn't seem all that apologetic (although he did ask how it was after he brought a new one). This time the steak was medium-well. I gave up and just ate. I appreciated them trying to bring it out quickly but the pad of butter was still completely solid on top (and i think they forgot the seasoning). I was really unimpressed. I guess the classique steak is naturally pretty thin so medium rare is hard to do?? My cousin got the cheapest Hanger Steak and hers was beautifully medium rare b/c it was a thicker piece of steak. So to summarize: delicious free bread, delicious mussels (YUMM!), don't get the Classique steak b/c they don't seem to know how to cook thin cuts of steak properly. I'd come back. Hopefully their a/c is working better now.
(4)J R.
I don't normally like chain restaurants but this place is great. I've eaten there lots of times over the years and the food has always been great. I had lunch here on Labor Day with Cookie and my daughter. We sat outside. We had a fantastic waiter. I wish that I knew his name. He was always attentive to my daughter's needs. I had a steak sandwich for lunch and Cookie had a chicken gouda sandwich. Both sandwiches were fantastic. My daughter had a mac and cheese kids meal that was only $4. Most time kids meals come with a bunch of junk food but not here. The kids meal had apples and vegetables with it. This meal was a total success and I can't wait to come back.
(4)Debra T.
25 FOR 25 IS A MUST! An endless supply of wine and delicious h'orderves. I also met a lot of nice and friendly people so I highly recommend checking it out if you haven't already.
(5)Kristi L.
Delicious food, it is on the list all day long.
(4)Jen C.
While the decor was eerily similar to Maggiano's Little Italy (minus the red checker table covers)--to which we later found out is under the same restaurant company--the service and food here is what you would expect from a chain restaurant. The free bread and carrot salad starters were tasty, but anything with butter wins my heart. And this was truly the theme of the night. Everything. was. doused. in. butter. We ordered the brie cheese, which came with delicious garlic cloves and melted brie...though it was not hot enough; it became very hard to cut very fast. Delicious but too much honey. Then, we ordered the chicken and the steak. Chicken was fresh but standard (thank god for the butter), and steak was overly salty, potato "fries" had an odd chewy consistency. Nothing to wow. Overall, good food for a stop by if you aren't too picky about which restaurant to go to and want good service. Won't be disappointed, and won't be given unbelievable food. I have a feeling this doesn't serve authentic French food...as I walked away still stumped what exactly it is.
(3)Monica S.
This French restaurant was so delicious. I would go back in a heartbeat! The atmosphere was very lively. It was little loud in there but nothing crazy. I had the scallops and my date had the hanger steak both of which were delicious. We also had wine paired with both of our meals. The desserts were also fantastic. I had the bananas foster. Over all a bit pricey but the food is well worth it.
(4)Nick C.
Came here with a party of seven and was seated quickly. Wait staff was friendly. Good steak and fries but not the best. Steak was over done as I ordered rare and got a well done steak. Service was fast. Not as good or authentic as Bistro Du Coin and way less atmosphere. Good wine selection , bad béarnaise sauce.The onion soup was good but a bit less cheese would have made it great. Would go back if I could not make it to Bistro Du Coin on Connecticut Ave.
(3)Jay S.
My girlfriend's steak was overly buttered and the fries were pretty greasy, definitely did not expect that. What most people don't realize is that with a good steak there is only need for salt and pepper seasoning, and the butter did not add anything other than calories. To add to that we were still burping an overpowering steak smell long after consuming the meat. Their scallops are good, but the sides that came with it could be a little more flavorful. Dessert was a unique combination of tastes that turned out excellent, and the bread was very fresh. But based on phrases that comes with each star ratings, and the overall meal, I definitely feel that "I've experienced better."
(2)Bob J.
Had steak frites bearnaise, bottled Leffe along with the house gazpacho at the bar. Finished with coffee and a Yelp-check-in chocolate mouse. Ordered the steak rare, got the steak rare. It's a hangar steak so it's thin but good flavor. Gazpacho was Spanish style, puréed, and served with some dried mint along with avocado and tomato as a garnish. Weird but good. The coffee was outstanding as was the free check-in chocolate mousse. I'm looking forward to returning.
(4)Kristina M.
I recommend making reservations for brunch, as this place is pretty popular. Everything I had was very good: smoked salmon appetizer, quiche lorraine was delicious and I'm at best a border-line quiche fan, seafood crepe was also very good. Yes, Mon Ami has desserts, but there is Haagan Das next door, just putting it out here!
(4)Eunice K.
went here for restaurant week.. i ordered the onion soup, salmon and bread pudding my mom ordered the caesar salad, steak with peppercorn sauce..? and bread pudding my sister ordered the au poivre burger when you first come in and sit they do give you warm bread and butter :) yum we all tried a lil of each others dish everything was just okay nothing amazing.. the best part was the frites/fries ;)
(3)Keisha S.
By far my favorite place to eat in Bethesda just good food all around and the staff is always professional and kind. Perfect for lunch and dinner.
(4)Jae K.
Had a friend in town, and went for sunday brunch. Decided to sit inside, since the sun was scorching our back. Service was excellent, food-wise, it's everything you'd expect from French restaurant. Unfortunately, can't quiet give it a 5 since it's nothing I haven't seen before in our French restaurants, but it's def a nice and friendly place to grab some French food in Bethesda Row
(4)Gretchen K.
Love the food & the people. My favorite place for the perfectly cooked steak! Brunch is fantastic too!
(5)Joseph P.
Went for dinner tonight around 8pm. I had made reservations earlier so getting seated wasn't a problem. The only complaint I'm going to have in this review is that the tables were pressed pretty closely to each other and the table of 5 next to us were having a pretty enthusiastic conversation about one of their girlfriends are her..escapades. Not an entirely appetizing conversation to overhear. Onto the positives. Great service! Our waiter was very patient with us (we didn't decide until his 4th trip back to check on us) and was also very informative whenever we did have questions. I ordered the steak bordelaise (caramelized onions and red wine sauce) and my girlfriend ordered the skate wing. We shared a macaroni and cheese on the side. The steak was ordered medium rare and came medium rare (we all know how those can turn out sometimes). My expectations weren't through the roof since it is a thinner steak and I'm more of a ribeye person. However, the steak was cooked perfectly and the caramelized onions were a sweet addition. It came with some onion fries which were average. The skate wing was also very good. Crisp yet tender just the way it should be. It came some cauliflower puree which was delicious. The mac and cheese was rather heavy and we found it burdensome to finish. The best part of the meal had to be the dessert. We ordered the blueberry sorbet and the profiteroles. Best profiteroles I've ever had. By best, I mean I've only had them once before but who's counting anyway. The blueberry sorbet was also a nice touch to end a heavy dinner. Good service, nice area, generous portions, good food, reasonable price. Enjoy!
(4)Monty M.
This is a handsomely appointed restaurant with average food and very poor service. Our waiter was an odd combination of traits; pushy yet inattentive. He tried quite hard to get us to order the specials, aggressively promoting the featured dishes with florid praise ("You won't even need to see the menu after I tell you about our specials!"). He seemed very eager to sell us more food and wine than we wanted. My meal of roasted chicken was a large portion, yet flavored heavily with garlic, including whole cloves served nearly raw with sauteeed, diced mushrooms beside the chicken. The chicken was of average quality and seemed to have been brined to tenderize it. It was very salty and wet instead of moist, and tough, with fatty undercooked skin (not at all like authentic Poulet Roti). The frites are not actually frites, but ribbon cut French fries. Yet they were crisp and could be appealing to some diners. Yet the intense flavor of undercooked garlic spoiled the dish. The liquid seeping from the chicken turned the crisp fries into a watery, garlic-y mess, just unappetizing. Our waiter was simply inept (forgot to serve desert, called out to us from another table instead of coming near us, did not offer a desert menu, simply ignored or forgot to put in the desert order ) . A waitress from the next station stepped in to help him (actually picked up our check and handed it to him for processing the credit card). This restaurant has potential, but should offer more sophistication to its service and treat those with small appetites more graciously (we both ordered entrees but no wine, starters or sides). Smaller portions of higher quality food would render Mon Ami Gabi more authentic. Less really is more. Our waiter left a very poor impression of this handsome restaurant, and that's a true handicap. I wanted to like Mon Ami Gabi, but in the end did not like the way I was treated there nor the badly prepared, average quality food, I hope your experience is different.
(1)Ginny H.
Love it. The mussels, the atmosphere. Everything I've eaten was good and, if you can't mnake it to Fouquet's, make it to Mon Ami G.
(4)Michael M.
I love this restaurant. Had the chicken liver mousse as a starter and it was heaven. The scallops with whipped cauliflower was quite tasty, although the consistency of the whipped cauliflower was a little too thin, I thought. Nevertheless, it was a very fine dinner. The server was professional and attentive. You do have to plan ahead when you come here though. Everytime I've come here on a whim, it's always been an hour wait, and the bar is tiny so there's no room so I wind up going elsewhere. Make reservations.
(4)Michellea D.
Yum!! The plates are so large that I split one with my friend. There was no split charge. Definately have the desert (any of them). We split three of the deserts and they were all sooooo good. Can not go wrong with any of the menu items.
(5)Barbara A.
Steak Frites, pate, wine, all great, slightly noisy but moreso cozy and very European atmosphere. Service is great, especially considering the tightness of the space at times. Have never had to wait with a reservation and valet parking is super helpful in this area. Overall Mon Ami is a worry free option for a great night out.
(4)Al L.
Went here for Valentine's Day dinner b/c my gf loves French food and this is one of her fave places. I'm not so much a fan of French food but I'll go once in a while. First good thing was we had a reservation at 8:30 and we got there a little bit early and got seated immediately. But we got seated in the main room which was extremely crowded and loud. When I went to use the restroom I saw the back room which was less crowded and more cozy if you only had a table for 2. We got put between two tables of four and basically ended up yelling just to hear each other talk, it felt like we were trying to talk in a loud bar or something like that. Anyways, we started w/ French onion soup and scallops for appetizers. The soup was good but the scallops were pretty much all cheese and onion and 4 little scallops. Not worth the price to me, I've had much bigger scallops for much cheaper at other places. The bread was ok, kind of hard. Steaks were good, cooked to order and had lots of flavor. The only thing is the "hanger" steak is really small! Finally ended w/ creme brulee which was really good there! Service was excellent though, very helpful and attentive but not intrusive. Overall it was a nice experience, next time if I could sit in the back room I'm sure it would be nicer.
(3)Constance C.
As others have noted, there's nothing authentic about this place, but they definitely went out of their way to buy out a French props warehouse. It has the feel of an Epcot French restaurant, which normally would be a deal-breaker for me, but we were seeing a movie next door, it was open at that odd hour between lunch and dinner (which is definitely a little more French, than American, especially in Bethesda), and we had been craving French bistro food for a few days. With our expectations adjusted accordingly, I have to say we were pleasantly surprised. The restaurant was pretty bustling at 4 p.m. but not overly busy. Waitstaff was very polite and service was quick. Each table is immediately served a vinegary carrot salad and a warm mini-baguette, both of which were pretty good. I had a sandwich du jour of pork loin with sauteed apple, and it was decent. The pork was a little bland, but juicy and tender at least, and I liked the weird, thin, flat, frites. Sandwiches are served with a frisee salad well-dressed in a mustardy viniagrette, which I actually enjoyed. I would never go out of my way to go here, and I wouldn't wait in line either, but under similar Sunday movie-going circumstances, I would be perfectly happy to be whisked away for 45 minutes to the romantic streets of Disneyworld.
(3)Michael S.
The rating is an average of my and my friend's opinions (sort of). Anyway, this was the first time I've been to this place and for the most part I thought it was pretty good. I liked the bread, I liked my dish (the steak bordelaise) and the banana crepe I had for dessert was OK (read: just OK) too. The tables were obnoxiously big (a minor detail but....) and I didn't really like that "bench seating" they had going on. The servers were definitely not all French, but then again this is a sort of chain so I wasn't really expecting to be totally immersed in French-ness. My friend had the lemon tarte for dessert but neither of us were really satisfied with that. If you're going on a Friday night like we did, make sure you have a reservation...we had to wait 1.5 hours for a (inside) table. Luckily we stopped somewhere else to get an appetizer...I don't really see why it was so crowded? Overall, there are better French places out there. But give this a shot.
(4)Lisa H.
Mon Ami Gabi is one of those places, that silently creeps up behind you and unknowingly lures you in. I had absolutely no expectations before entering this adorable establishment, and left with such high expectations for all other fine dining restaurants as a result of this jaunt. First, the size of the restaurant was very deceiving. From the entryway, there were only two rooms that were visible to the unexpecting patron. However, I realized how cavernous, quaint, and charming the venue was, as we passed through two other dining rooms before we were eventually seated in a very cute area in the back. We started our meal with a delicious carrot salad, dressed with vinegar, sugar, and a touch of salt. Along side of the carrots, was an entire loaf of warm baguette. This option was great, as it ensured variety, and not just the boring bland basket of bread. The next course, was a beautiful pot of mussels, which simmered in a white wine garlic sauce, with sauteed onions. It was remarkably light, and non-offensive. The mussels were plump and mild. Just the way I like them. Next, we moved our way onto the main course. I had seared scallops, with sauteed spinach and whipped cauliflower. WOWza. The scallops were seasoned perfectly with only salt, pepper, and olive oil. They were seared to perfection (non-fishy and non-chewy, simply delightful). The spinach was dressed with salt, pepper, olive oil, and a hint of garlic. Nothing out of the ordinary. I must say, the perfect compliment to the scallops was the whipped cauliflower. It was truly out of this world. It was seasoned with salt, heavy cream, and a touch of lemon. It was so mild, and thick, it really did give the illusion of mashed potatoes. Now onto the dessert. While our friends enjoyed the bananas foster, my husband and I indulged in the flourless chocolate cake. It was dense, rich and artery clogging. What more could you ask for? All in all, this was a great experience and we would be most inclined to return. The only reason why I cannot give it 5 stars is because of the unsanitary look of the flooring. I know, call me anal, but in a fine dining establishment the floors actually do matter. They are all tile, and look like they have about 20 years of dirt packed into the grout. They were also slippery, which does not sit on the palate very well, when you are unsure of to who or what you owe that unctuous feel. Outside of that, it's a home run.
(4)Aaron S.
Outside seating is close to the street but still great atmosphere. Very attentive staff and food came quick. I had the scallops, which were excellent, but the fries that came with my friend's steak was outstanding. My guess is they were fried in lard.
(4)Rrose S.
I was very impressed the first time I went here, but each time I've returned the food and service (and our waiters' English skills for some reason) just get worse and worse. After our last visit when we had to flag down our waiter to ask for our bread and water several times, and my mojito just had twigs and leaves thrown in it (no muddling to speak of), I don't think we'll be returning. Which is a shame because the onion soup and house salad is actually very good.
(2)Matars Z.
Its difficult to know how to rate Mon Ami Gabi. Mon Ami Gabi has great food over a MAJORITY of visits. This is probably the restaurant I visit most often in Bethesda, every other week, and the range of experience is highly varied. I've had pretty much everything at some point, and seen every season's menu change since they opened. I based my rating on the fact that on a good night when service is great (RARE) and they don't overcook the steak or make other errors, the food can really be fantastic. True bistro comfort food in a pleasant setting- its not sophisticated or complicated, but its exactly what one craves for a bistro visit. Some of soups and specials have been sublime in the last few years. The problem is the following - you have roughly a 33% chance of having food issues (usually because of the service staff delays or errors) and a 75% chance of having awful service. While the managers at this place are really great and generally fix the problems, it is a hassle to have to send back steaks, or ask for managers to fix orders. My experience over the last five to six years has been that three out of four waiters in this restaurant are clueless - clueless as to meat preparation, the ingredients of specials, the preparation, the wine list- and have attitude to go with their lack of knowledge, which is disturbing. They are not attentive to the very simply but specific requests you make, and food is served cold, lukewarm, overcooked - often as a result of the service staff timing. I ask my guests not to even bother asking detailed questions about the menu or preparations, or wine -because some of the responses have been mind-boggling over the years. The service goes from awful to absolutely abysmal if you are truly unlucky and land one of the five or six waiters who absolutely seem to be bothered by having to work at this establishment, making for very grudging service. These are the ones who answer back after making errors - and tell you "steak can't be cooked medium rare to rare - it has to be one or the other" or argue about the soup you didn't order (the only solution I found is just to avoid these waiters by special request). When the food is prepared as it is supposed to - not oversalted, not overcooked, not sitting under a heat lamp forever, not brought to the table at the same time as your appetizer and salad, or left to get cold, - when this happens, its a perfect meal. The reason I keep going back is that as a repeat customer I have finally worked out the methods for increasing my chances of a great food experience with good service. But most visitors may run into the problems again and again and it should not have to be so hard to get good service and warm food that is delivered to your table before it is overcooked under heat lamps, or cold. If your first experience is not good, give it a second or third chance. The primary problem at Mon Ami Gabi, in my view, is the uncaring and untrained wait staff - otherwise great location, great food, and great management. The potential for a great meal makes it always worth revisiting.
(4)Dwi P.
This is one of my favorite restraurants in Bethesda. The decor is warm and inviting, and makes you feel like you're in Europe. The prices are average, I'd say, for Bethesda, but the portions are quite large. The steak frites are to die for, and their roast chicken is great. I also love all their desserts. As nice as it is, they're also very kid-friendly, with crayons and paper on the tables so the kids can draw and color. I love it here!
(4)sak v.
The fake ritzy-ness, the allure of being someone your not can be found at this restaurant. I came here for a beer and some oysters. I ordered 12 oysters and a friend of mines ordered the tomato salad with gin and tonic. The oysters were good , you cant go wrong with oysters on ice mixed with some Kronenbourg and anchor steam beer on a nice sunny day eating / drinking outside. During the course of our meal we had a slight interruption from the The stereotypical suburbian -queen of a fake kingdom eating next to us had a question and ASKED "You have a DEEP accent where are we from??" We looked at her and reacted WHAT? DC MAAAM Do we have a problem? (really is this beverly hills) Is my name Axel Foley. There no reason to sit outside with your sweater wearing over the shoulder husband on a 90 degree day and create false stereotyping questions to us. Our waiter was like "Forget that B***H". We will eat anywhere we want. End of Venting great restaurant. Dont let the crowd fool you Eat at Mon Ami Gabi
(4)Sharen K.
This French bistro does a very good job with traditional French brasserie food. The onion soup was excellent and the steak frites were too! Good service and an excellent red wine all contributed to a delightful evening out. Oh...can't forget the desserts - they were amazing.
(4)Margaret Z.
I love this place! Have come here twice - once on a date, and once with my French class as part of our class outings. The service is fantastic and the food - quality. The frites are delicious and deceivingly healthy, making them so much more addicting than the usual steakhouse fries. The steak that I got during my date was a little tough, but still delicious in the marinade. The chef was even kind enough to pre-split my entree into two since I was sharing with my date (we weren't too hungry). I don't think I'd get it again, but I'm not the greatest fan of steak so oh well. I got the croque-monsieur (grilled cheese) during my class outing - soooooo good! The cheese was layered on thick and melted to perfection, and I loved adding the thin slices of ham which were a little smokey and not too salty at all. The leftovers heated up very nicely the next day. The best part though, was DESSERT. My word of advice - get the profiteroles... cream puffs minus the cream in the middle, but replaced with vanilla ice cream. Then drizzle the whole dish with hot chocolate fudge and add a sprinkle of powdered sugar. I was so full already, but HAD to stuff all three of these in - too good to pass up and I would go back just for those alone. Oh right, the bread at the beginning - yum. I love bread and the fact that it's mini baguettes just makes me want to hoard them in my purse to take home. Will visit again!
(4)Nick M.
I am a big fan of Mon Ami Gabi, I find their food is always consistent, and their service is really good. I have been to this location, as well as the location in Vegas, and I notice very little drop off. Their servers know the food, and are great with recommendations. This is one of my favorite brunch spots, nothing better on a Sunday morning than their Croque Madame. The Prime Beef Sandwich, and Au Poivre Burger are also great dishes.
(4)Evan H.
Last Sunday I met my parents and mon ami gabi for a quick dinner. I thought I had been there before, but nothing felt familiar. The restaurant is supposed to be a moderately fancy french bistro. The inside definitely has a very nice charm and the black and white checkered floor really does have the French bistro feel to it. I like that they bring out a whole baguette to start, it was pretty tasty bread. For a starter i went with the ONion soup. How can you go wrong with that. It was definitely the best french onion soup I Have had in this country (i dont order it a lot, so dont chastise me) -- the other two best soups were in Paris and Quebec. Following the soup, I went with the daily fish special which was halibut wrapped in bacon served over a white bean, tomato and swiss chard stew (though, i think they lied about the chard, there was a tiny piece). Overall, the meal was very pleasant, but I dont think I would call it a place that I would eat at all the time. They seemed to have awesome steaks on the menu, which was probably their specialty, but I opted for the lighter meal of fish.
(4)Lisa R.
I have eaten here several times and the food is always excellent. You really feel as if you're in Paris. The service is very good and the price is reasonable, given the quality of the food.
(4)Derek W.
Consistently good. Great apps and bar. Nicely done steaks and salads. Not thrilled with wine list.
(4)Howard R.
We sat outside for our anniversary dinner. The food was fantastic and the service excellent. Love the valet parking and the great Bethesda neighborhood.
(5)Veronica J.
The food is amazing I'll give it that much. The servers always professional and courteous but its just too damn expensive... Come on yelp $$ more like $$$$
(4)Arthur F.
Food was good, wine was good. Good.
(4)Donna C.
I absolutely adore this restaurant! So if it is located in a city that I am in, I try to eat there, Vegas, Chicago (hometown) and Bethesda. Saturday 8pm, it is beyond crowded but they sit me even though my daughter is parking the car. Yes, I was seated with an incomplete party!!! Our waiter, was beyond courteous, efficient and knowledgeable! It was such a joy to dine with him. Because the bar was unable to make our cocktails, due to lack of ingredients, he did so many little extra things since he felt we were very gracious not to get upset. The Caesar salad was "big" but so very good, not drenched in dressing and accompanied by a wonderful thin baguette crouton and shaved Parmesan. The steaks classique and bleu cheese were so tender and cooked to perfection, between the juices and melted herb butter, the traditional frites took on an additional layer of flavor. These steaks tasted like they had been flown over from a Paris bistro. My daughter and i enjoyed the warm chocolate pudding cake with salted caramel creme and white chocolate bread pudding for dessert and both were a tad big but so tasty and a perfect way to end a mother daughter weekend away.... Every moment and every bite of food was sheer perfection! Every employee was courteous and professional, smiled and talked to me-not insult me with a corporate script written by an out of touch marketing major. Do yourself a favor and enjoy it for yourself......
(5)Roger W.
We went on a Sunday evening with reservations. Got there a half hour early and were seated right away. Service was great. Lots of attendants. Couldn't take many sips of water without somebody coming by and refilling the glass. Finished plates were removed promptly. I got the filet mignon merlot done black and blue with signature frites just to try them. The merlot and onion reduction was too sweet for me. I should have ordered the steak plain as apparently all of their sauces are on the sweet side. The frites were too chewy. I should have ordered a baked potato. The meat was cooked to perfection, which is not that easy to achieve when you want black and blue. They got it right. My friend ordered the sea scallops. I sampled them and they were delicious with a nice caramelized sear on each side. It would have been better if it had all come with another vegetable, but we each ordered petite salads that were served before the meal. I'd have preferred mine with the meal as there was only potato for a side, but the tables for two are so small, it was easier just to have the salad first. We did not get appetizers, any beverages, or dessert. With a 20% tip rounded up we got out of there at exactly $85. It was a pleasant experience. Next time I'll ask more questions before I order.
(5)Aaron W.
Four Yelps for Mon Ami Gabi, which is everything that a Bistro should be. First item up for bids on a Bistro: PRICE. A bistro is supposed to be a lower-cost restaurant, somewhere that you can have a good meal without breaking yourself in half. Mon Ami Gabi fits beautifully into this niche. Other than their enormous New York Strip and Ribeye, the only item more than $25 is the Filet. One can eat comfortably here for $25: order the liver and either the good hanger steak or the excellent chicken. You'll get bread and carrot spread and you'll be out of there for $32-$34 with tax and tip. Or get those entrees and a dessert. Second, the place is ALWAYS busy, even at the bar. Have a reservation or be prepared to wait. But a good bistro is always busy; they're the volume sales section of the French restaurant world. Third, there's plentiful outdoor seating when it's warm, and the food is good across the board without being superior; highlights are definitely steaks and salmon and the aforementioned chicken. They have their own farms for the steak, which is how they get away with charging 2/3 of what you'd pay for similar quality at other places. So what does it take to get five from me? Marcel's is five. You get the idea. Along with the nearly adjacent Mussel Bar, for my dime, Mon Ami Gabi is one of the two best restaurants in Bethesda. Go, and bring me some.
(4)Andrew W.
Yet another perfect meal and cocktails at MAG! Nothing beats a great filet mignon "cooked" to perfection (actually barely cooked to perfection because I like 'em rare) and this place has not disappointed me yet. Whenever I have friends/family in town looking for a great meal this is where we go. Keep up the good work!
(5)Ronnie K.
I loved this restaurant. Yes it was a little expensive but the food was wonderful and the service was excellent. Mon Ami Gabi has a great atmosphere and the steaks were fantastic!
(5)Angela A.
After years of walking by this place, I decided to meet my hubby here for a lunch date and was very pleased with the decision. My hubby loves bread and was very pleased with the baguette. We had the escargot for an appetizer and they were delicious maybe a tad bit too salty but still delish!! We ordered a second baguette to sop up all of the delicious butter sauce left over. I ordered probably one of the best hamburgers I have had in my life, juicy(medium), perfectly cooked, a delicious bun that I wish they sold in stores with blue cheese and all the fixings. I wasn't crazy about the frites, they were too much like potato chips and the actual chips that came with my husbands meal tasted a little overcooked. My hubby ordered the lunch special which was a sandwich with avocado and smoked salmon. I tasted some of his leftovers the next day and it tasted pretty good still. We were given a complimentary dessert, a profiterole with vanilla ice cream because our food took a long time to come out. We had been there for about 30 mins, a couple comes in, sits next to us and had their food within 10 minutes of ordering and we were still waiting. And they ordered steaks!! I think our waiter may have forgotten to put our order in. Overall, it was good and I would definitely go back again to try the pate and the french onion soup.
(3)Keith R.
We were looking for a place to go around the shopping area of Bethesda Ave for lunch so we randomly chose this place. The atmosphere was great. The place had a good french bistro feel to it. The restaurant was larger than we had expected. The free bread was fresh and delicious. They also give you a free pile of shredded carrots, nothing special here, just carrots. We started with the snails. They were tasty, smothered in garlic, pretty standard. We used the snail oil as a bread dipping sauce. My fiance had the tuna salad. She liked it until she got to the hair (not part of the salad, this was a chef's addition). The waiter comped the salad, and gave us a free entree and dessert. He was very apologetic. She then had the mushroom soup which was loaded with mushroom flavor and delicious. I had a gruyere cheese burger with fries. The burger was good, as expected. It is hard to screw up a burger. The fries were very good. They are fresh cut, thin and crispy. Finally to the dessert. The creme brulee was sooo good and only $6 (free for us because of the hair thing). Service was amazing, staff was friendly, food was on time. I would definitely go back again.
(4)Daniel R.
Have eaten here for Passover 2 years in a row. They do a fantastic job. The matzoh balls were a little tough. Grandma used to say don't lift the lid on the pot - it makes dense - not fluffy - matzoh balls.
(5)Tina H.
I went here for my birthday with my girl friends couple months ago. It was pricey but it was definitely worth it! One of my friends and I got the steak classique. It came with fries and it was really good! My other friend got jumbo lump crab cakes and it looks delicious. If you have room for desert, you definitely have to try their profiteroles! It IS SO GOOD! It's kind of like creme puffs but better! and top with chocolate fudge, it's amazing! They gave me one because it was my birthday, & it was so good that we end up order one for ourselves. Our waiter was super friendly, helpful & funny. It was pretty packed when we were there but I had reservation so I didn't have to wait too long. Definitely worth trying.
(4)Melanie Y.
I've heard of this restaurant for a few years now but never had the chance to try it till last Friday. Oh, la la haha. I am total fan. We didn't even realize that it was also restaurant week last week but we didn't end up ordering from the menu. Instead we picked whatever appetizers we wanted and 2 big entree meals plus one dessert and were pretty full by the end. The total cost was about $30 including tip and tax which is not too shabby considering that restaurant week menu is $35 plus tip and tax so we saved AND had a great dining experience. Now that's my kinda foodie trip. =P Ok, so we ordered a whole bunch of appetizers: les Escargots de Bourgogne , Mussels Marinière and Baked cheese. I love escargots! They are about the only thing that I would eat that's not considered normal and always force them upon my friends who never tried them and converted them. I just tell them - think of them as mushrooms. hehe. They were hooked. =D The mussels were steamed in a lovely cream wine sauce that was sooooo goood! mmm.. Now for the baked cheese - I admit I'm not a fan of cheese but this was one thing I was so glad that we ordered! The brie was set in a puree tomato sauce and baked till melted. Then out came this yummy gooey dip dish perfect with toasted french baguette or bread roll. Oh my, it was sooo good!! My one friend ordered the special of the day - Fruit de Mer - (a seafood combo of oysters and shrimp with two salads on the side - one was crab asparagus avocado dip that I LOVE LOVE and I forget the other) I'm a sucker for anything avocado - def very good - too bad it came in a small container. would've inhaled the whole thing myself if I didn't have to share that. =P I ordered the Steak Bordelaise in medium for my entree. The steak came out a bit on the red side but oh my it was juicy and tender with a lovely red wine sauce and cameralized onions. mmmm. I was about full when the entree came (always seem pointless loading up in bread but I LOVE BREAD - hehe) so pack the rest up for hubby. He gulped it down in mins when I brought it home - so good. Of course I had to save room for the dessert which we ordered one dessert - profiteroles. Oh my - the dish came out with three profiteroles (which was perfect - one for each of us) with chocolate drizzled all over it and instead of a yummy custard for the center - it was a huge dollop of vanilla ice cream ( i may be too presumptious to say that it could be french vanilla - haha - who knows) =P it was good - too good. This is something that I may want to recreate in my own kitchen at a later time. =D A huge total recommendation for this one! I took off one star bc the service could be better. There were alot of bustling but still seems slow -could be bc of restaurant week too. I love though how I was greeted on the phone in french as well as the waiters being able to speak french. I 'm glad that was a criteria at the restaurant bc after all, it should set the right mood being in a french restaurant. either way, c'est magnifique et tres tres bien =D
(4)Consumer X.
I am from the greater SF area and my husband from the greater London area, and we both really enjoy eating. Somehow we ended up in the greater DC area and we dine at MAG, as we like to call Mon Ami Gabi, on a weekly basis. Exceptional service, awesome happy hour if you can get there before 6:30pm and delicious steak frites. Bon appetit!
(4)Laura A.
Mon Ami Gabi......french, sophisticated, elegant..... the service is outstanding. Friendly and professional. Have to mention the graceful movements of the personnel, the continuous smile and good manners.. so nice. First come to your table is a delicious and crunchy baguette; warm, inside a paper bag accompained by jam and butter... pretty cool eh? We went for brunch , sunday morning, outdoor seating... I do like the menu a lot. Interesting dishes that I don't use to get for brunch. Well, this time I keep myself traditional and I order scrambled eggs and green salad. Which is not in the menu. Have to say it wasn't outstanding and little salty, and I didn't get salad, but potatoes and vegetables frittata instead... well, doesn't make any sense considering my general impresion and I'll skip my food this time. Also because what I saw in another tables as well as what my friend ordered looks delicious.. She order the Seafood crepe....a thin crepe (authentic french) filled with shrimps, in a creamy cheese sauce and covered with sautted scallops. nice presentation, tasty flavor and huge amount of food. My friend looks so happy. the hand-cut fries of the adjacent table capture our attention, original presentation, yummy look,.. so bad we didn't had time to get some. I really see the menu out of standards preparations which is always welcome. I go to DC once in a while and I'm so happy Mon Ami Gabi is just 10 min walking from my bus stop. It deserves to be my last DC stop before I leave. opps, just last thing.. I do like this place for a lunch/brunch with friends, with your partner or with your closest family. Not sure about dinner and I don't see it for a date.
(4)Gustavo O.
Great place I eat here almost once every two weeks. The decor transports you to a Paris neighborhood. The wine list is good and the bread is fantastic. Steak and frites my favorite. Only one thing will ruin your experience, the rude host on Saturday nights. It seems they flew this guy directly from Paris but they should send him back and get the 4th star in my rating.
(3)Tiffany H.
Guess this name's a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Looks like you've got a lot of friends, Mon Ami Gabi. Good for you. I actually think the food here is just a hair above mediocre, but then it is French(ish) meaning everything's swimming in butter, so it's hard for me not to just tell my inner food critic and my arteries to shut the hell up and enjoy it. Their "classic" quiche lorraine is only so-so, but the crust is nice and flaky and buttery. Sea scallops gratinées are slightly more impressive, a bit overcooked, but yup - butter, herbs and gruyere make just about everything better. I bet if I asked the waiter to just bring me a big bowl of butter and a spoon, he'd do it. Service is excellent, and it's that, the atmosphere, the patio, and the proximity to a number of downtown Bethesda shops and the Landmark Cinema that'll probably bring me back soon enough. Overall, a very nice little spot for brunch or a laid back dinner. 3.5 stars.
(3)A C.
Great food and service. This is our second trip to the restaurant. We started out with four mushroom soup. It was creamy, rich and flavorful. My boyfriend ordered steak classique, I ordered steak Bernaise. Steak classique came with flavored butter with herbs which was delicious. Bernaise sauce was greasy without much flavor. (lots of crushed black pepper but no other taste) I wasn't a fan. For dessert, we ordered warm chocolate pudding cake. It was very very rich. Too rich and sweet for my taste (but read in the other reviewers that they have enjoyed it.) Extremely friendly, attentive and fast service. We will be back again.
(4)Patrick S.
went for restaurant week and was quite impressed love the rolling wine cart, nice to have a sample of a fine Beaujolais the French Onion soup was gooey good, and had their famed Steak Frites with the peppery Au Poivre sauce, and loads of their crispy fries the waiter was excellent, my mom's steak was a little chewy so he brought out a new cut and it was perfect, just great courteous service
(5)Myrna F.
Food was just okay. I ordered trout, requested it without butter - and it was a tad over cooked. Mostly problematic was the noise level which was almost unbearable! I
(3)Joseph M.
Great, great food. I'd give it 5 but I have to reserve that for only legendary places and this spot is JUST under.
(4)Heidi W.
I did not have a very good dining experience, but I appreciate that our friend treated us for dinner here. It was quite pricey! Food: AVERAGE. I ordered a fish special that sounded very good. The seared skin part of the fish was yummy, but the rest still tasted fishy. I've definitely had better. My boyfriend's steak was better, but it was still just okay. Price: Too much. Service: Waiter was kind of pretentious, but I guess he was...on time with his service? Meh.
(2)Dee B.
Boy, there just isn't a lot of love for Mon Ami Gabi among Yelpers. But I had another good experience here today. I had lunch with three co-workers. All three of them chose from the Restaurant Week menu (Mon Ami extended it for a 2nd week). As appetizer they had french onion soup, but each had a different entree: salmon with spinach salad, cheeseburger w/ Brie and fries, mussels w/ fries. I went for a special: an open faced mushroom sandwich with a poached egg, side salad and fries. We were all pleased with our dishes. For dessert we each had a profiterole with an amazing chocolate sauce. I might go back just for that. Plus, our server was super nice. Overall, a solidly good meal.
(4)Lucy B.
So. Good. We have had so many things on the menu and they are always wonderful! The lamb is amazing, the escargot is always as buttery and delicious as the time before, the onion soup is wonderful, the filet is ridiculous, the scallops are fabulous, and the muscles are fantastic! Always great service! Be sure to get one of their frequent diner cards, fabulous deal.
(5)Richard K.
This place was amazing and I wanted everything on the menu. One look at the bacon wrapped fillet mignon and I was in love. Big tip: make a reservation. Luckily I did and when I went there on a Wednesday night, the person in front of me had a 30 minute wait because he had no reservation and it was packed. I went right in with no problem. Would recommend this place. Wait staff was courteous and prompt.
(5)Robert B.
I've never had French food before and I didn't know what to really expect. We started off with there house wine which was delicious. The appetizers were the sea scallops and the muscles. I've never had anything so good. The bread they gave out was fresh and perfect in the sauce of the muscles to dip. For my main meal I got the special the duck and I didn't know what to expect. It literally was incredible and I would get it again in a heartbeat. My other family members got the filet and it was perfect also. My 11 year old brother got a burger and he raved about it all the way home. I would highly recommend this restaurant and when I visit Maryland again I will be back
(5)Jonathan H.
What a pleasant surprise! I am starving and cold, and don't even know the name of this place or what kind of food they serve when I bust through the doors looking for nourishment at 10 PM. Luckily, my gut feelings thrust me in the right direction. The tables are all taken up by thirty-something couples and some groups, so my friend and I sit at the bar. A quick glance at the menu and I notice the alcohol selection is larger than the food selection, although both have a lot of variety. I make the bold choice of *...drum roll...* a hamburger. My friend was a little more adventurous and went with the cheese plate. The hamburger looks expensive, tastes expensive, and comes with expensive-looking baby pickles. I will let the reader decide if $12 for a hamburger is expensive. It is delicious. The really awesome part is the serving of steak fries that comes with the burger. The serving is bigger than the burger, and I can eat these little not-too-greasy potato shreds for hours. I must look out of place in this seemingly classy joint, because I dump the fries out on a napkin and eat them like I'm at McDonald's. No problem, the staff turn out to be regular people, just like me. I don't know if I can say the same for the patrons. Speaking of the staff, our bartender Amanda is awesome! She is talkative, funny and has really great rapport with all her customers. The other bartender used to work over near where I live in Odenton, and he is really nice, too. For dessert, I order the profiterole (see the picture, feel the desire). It's three scoops of ice cream topped with something like fried dough, which is in turn topped with chocolate sauce. When you look up "heaven" in the dictionary, there is a picture of this dish, right beside Eva Mendes. After I indulge in the profiterole, the two nice ladies seated on my right want a spoon to try it. I can't part with the smallest bit of this treasure I have in front of me, so the bartender orders them each a complimentary scoop! How thoughtful! Best part? One of the ladies doesn't finish her profiterole, so when she leaves, I eat it! I will definitely come here again, and this time I will get a table to get the whole dining experience, although I am already thoroughly impressed just from sitting and eating at the bar. They have live music and clean bathrooms! What more could I want in a place I had no idea existed until my stomach steered me here?
(4)Rok L.
Great food, wonderful kids menu as well!
(5)Jonathan R.
I've been going to this place for 9 years now. While it doesn't quite hit the highs it did back then, I know exactly what to expect from this restaurant in regards to the food and the staff, and for expectations and consistancy are key. Is it loud? Yes, but I don't find it to be overbearing. A couple of highlights from the last few years: Watermelon Gazpacho, Queen's bread pudding, their ribeye and their reg and sweet potato gratin. The misses: bannana's foster crepe, neopolitan profiteroles. We've been fortunate to have some really incredible server's. Thankfully, the turnover rate is lower than many other places. Ask for Bryan. He is the best. All of this praise isn't to say that we haven't had bad experiences there. Steaks have been miscooked (drastically over and under), creme brulee came out raw one time, and we even had a server with a chip on her shoulder. What sets this place apart is the over all willingness to "make it right". Whether that means when you are there or in the future. The owners and managers are very communicative and open to hearing from you. This is still a highlight of Bethesda.
(4)Jon W.
There is no view of the Bellagio fountains like the one in Las Vegas and it was too cold to sit outside when we ate here a few weeks ago anyway, but the food and service were outstanding. I went with the Tomato soup on the recommendation of my server and it was close to the best soup I have ever had. Everybody enjoyed their sandwiches and the fries that come in a huge cup are actually worth eating! I found the atmosphere to be cozy. We had lunch here before seeing "The Kings Speech" at the theater next door. Everything came pretty quickly and the restaurant was close to completely full. I would come here again. By the way, the movie as well as the meal was great!
(4)Steven L.
Just got back from what was a perfect Valentine's Day meal at Mon Ami Gabi! Living right in DC, my partner and I often like to mix things up by eating outside of the city itself. As I pondered Valentine's Day possibilities, Mon Ami Gabi came to mind. I had never eaten there... just have always admired how simultaneously classy and quirky the place seemed to be whenever walking by. So anyway, my interest in the place plus our like of Bethesda sealed the deal. I did wait a little too long to make a reservation, though, so all of the dinner options were filled. But we have flexible schedules on Mondays, so I opted for an early 2:30 Valentine's Day meal. It ended up being a great time of the day -- quiet, calm, and the perfect environment in which our waiter (Alex) could give us lots of individual attention. Alex, by the way, was a pro: attentive, professional, friendly, talkative, full of good recommendations (including the wine). My partner ordered the lobster bisque, chicken liver mousse, and pear with blue cheese salad. He seemed to enjoy it all, especially the liver mousse. I was a little more indulgent with the sweet potato soup, macaroni gratin, and salmon and bacon sandwich with lemon aioli. The soups were creamy and delicious, the macaroni gratin cooked perfectly and in a huge portion, and the salmon quite flavorful. Topping things off, Alex very kindly brought us an (on-the-house) dessert -- a single profiterole for each of us. The ice cream and chocolate sauce were really, really good. All in all, a really great experience. And Alex, you're the best!
(5)Adriana H.
Love it! we went there for brunch twice and both times we had a good experience. The wine list is not the best, but everything else is :) The french bread in a paper bag is FABULOUS!! The price is realistic, the service is spot on and the food delicious. My husband had a steak for brunch. It was scrumptious. I ordered eggs and they were delicious. Yes, we will be back :)
(4)Tim R.
Went for lunch. Had a burger that was very juicy. Wife had something that I forgot, probably a lunch special.... thinking something ducky. Anyway, we both liked what we had. I don't like the fries though. They serve a bunch of short potato bits that are awkward to eat. Again I want to point out that I don't like to struggle with my food. Overall, I liked the food and service. I'm satisfied.
(3)Steve M.
Had dinner for restaurant week. French onion soup was souperbe. But the steak with Bearnaise sauce had a faint taste of kerosene; I did not finish and my fault for not sending it back. Large serving of pommes frites was excellent as was the apple tart with ice cream for dessert. I needed help to get my server several times. I would give two stars except that I have seen them do better in the recent past.
(3)Joey M.
I'll keep this one short and sweet because it was some weeks ago that I had visited: OUTSTANDING BARTENDER! Made some recommendations for some drinks based on what I was already drinking and delivered some of the best mixology I've had. Freakin' delicious! Food was quite good, and the ambience was just right. Highly recommended
(5)Sonya M.
I love this place. Really intimate and really french! They have an impressive menu and a wine selection. Their food is heavenly. Their service is mostly great. and even if they miss something, they always compensate for it somehow! A few times that I have been there, I've really enjoyed the experience. Their happy hour is really nice too. Great food on their happy hour menu. But the bar space is very limited and it can get really busy! They even have live Jazz some nights!!
(4)Mariko F.
It was almost exactly a year ago that I was here and still, I think about it all the time. On my 25th birthday, I was working in Bethesda and my mother took me out to dinner here. We didn't have a reservation but were seated right away, with a smile. The waiter came by with the wine list and ran us through the specials. I remember it well -- he said roasted duck and I knew what I had to have. The wine that was recommended with it was a perfect match. My mother had the swordfish, I believe. The dinner was fantastic. It was the atmosphere that makes me remember is most. People were happy to be there. It was decorated in a way that reminded you of an old smoking bar where men sit around with a scotch and a cigar. Slightly pretentious but somehow still laid back. I remember this place and that is saying something. It's a meal and atmosphere that you will remember.
(4)C R R.
One of my two or three favorite restaurants. I go often, usually for lunch, and it's wonderful. Favorites are the onion soup, the quiche Lorraine, the salads. Wonderful kids meals as they come with green beans and apple slices so there's nice variety and nutrition. Highly recommend.
(5)Dee L.
These guys were surprisingly accommodating - we had a large party on a busy Friday night and they let people from our group sit down even though the whole party was not there. They also did a wonderful job splitting the check (again, usually a pain with a large group). The food is a little pricey, but for a good reason - it's quite good! I had warm brie with roasted garlic, delicious butternut squash soup (on special) and a frisee salad. I only wish I had asked for the salad dressing on the side, as it was a little too much for me (but I tend to like my salads on the dry side). The chocolate torte was excellent!
(4)Molly L.
What a perfect place to escape from the chaos of a snow storm!! After being stuck in the car for 3 hours to go 7 miles by the time I got home cooking was the last thing on my mind. Solution: check out a local restaurant. I had no clue when I walked in how spectacular the Mon Ami Gabi would be!! The decor is perfect! Elegant but casual without being stuffy or snooty. They have a wine cart which sits in the middle of the room for easy access to refilling your glass! For dinner my partner and I shared the scallops and the pan seared tuna salad. The salad was good but the scallops were the star of the night!! The scallops were paired with cooked garlic spinach and this amazing cauliflower puree!! The scallop dish was like food crack! I could not have been more satisfied with the meal! I definitely plan to come back, the only hard part will be trying to resist the scallops and check out their other dishes! Thanks Mon Ami Gabi for saving my night after the THUNDERSNOW!!!!
(4)Jim S.
We went for Sunday brunch. The service, food, and atmosphere were all just right for a relaxing brunch meal with family and friends late on a Sunday morning. Everyone in our party enjoyed their meals of egg dishes and crepes. The mix your own Bloody Mary bar was a nice touch as was the warm baguette served with butter and raspberry jam. We were visiting from out of town, but would definitely go back if we find ourselves in Bethesda again.
(5)Janty C.
I went to this restaurant with a friend for an early Sunday dinner. The restaurant was empty and the host brought us to the very back of the venue near the kitchen/bathroom. After we sat down, we decided to move to another table and asked our waiter if that would be possible. He did not reply to our request and instead, he called the host over, who happened to walk by, and said, "I did not even said anything to them and they asked to be moved!" Both my friend and I exchanged glances and were baffled by this rudeness as the waiter acted as though we were not even there as he spoke about us. I told my friend that we would be better off spend our money somewhere else. We got up and left; no one did not even bother to ask us why we left so abruptly. That was my first time at Mon Ami Gabi in Bethesda. I am afraid it will also be the last.
(1)Mary D.
This has been my favorite go-to bistro for years. Good food, friendly & attentive service, and relaxed ambiance keeps me coming back. Great place to enjoy a lunch or dinner with friends and family, and I especially enjoy the outdoor seating during spring/fall. French onion soup is a must have on a cold winter day! I do recommend making a reservation as this little bistro attracts a crowd, especially for dinner. Very enjoyable!
(5)Harmony H.
I went for brunch and the food was really good and decent priced. Th crab and lobster sandwich was good and the salmon sandwich was really good. I have also heard that their dinner food is really amazing. The profiteroles dessert is AMAZING. Avoid the paninis, they're not that great. The feel of the place is really nice and classy and the service was really good
(4)Greg B.
Our second visit to Mon Ami Gabi and it was as good as the first. Steak Roquefort was cooked to order, mac and chees great, excellent bread. Escargot, mushrooms , warem brie and sea scallops gratinee are winners. My only negative is the mushroom soup. Not much flavor, thin and expensive. I will still go back. Excellent service from our server Ruben. All the staff is courteous.
(4)Liz J.
We came here for brunch on a lovely Sunday late morning. We sat outside under a nice sized umbrella (shaded our table for two). We received a fresh small baguette with jam and butter (all were delicious). I ordered eggs benedict with smoked salmon and it was wonderful. The hollandaise wasn't too rich and was a lovely flavor. The smoked salmon wasn't overpowering and meshed well with the rest of the dish. One of my poached eggs was a little overcooked, and they brought out two replacement poached eggs that were both perfectly cooked for the one overcooked one. The only complaint about the benedict is that they don't use english muffins, but do something more like crispy toast. It was hard to cut through and keep on the fork with the eggs and salmon for a balanced bite. My husband got traditional eggs benedict (with canadian bacon) and he enjoyed it (although not a big fan of the toast either). We also got profiteroles for dessert - fantastic and would recommend to anyone and we got coffee - love french coffee! We'll definitely come back for another brunch.
(4)Bill O.
I must say, I was expecting more. Having enjoyed French Bistros from Paris to many across the U.S. I have to to say that Mon Ami Gabi is more of a Corner Bakery kind of place than a serious restaurant. The food was quite bland, not very interesting and should have been hotter. However, the space is nice, bustling and the service very good. The particulars: After reading earlier reviews I was surprised that the bread was very ordinary. I had the jambalaya with two poached eggs. The dish was lukewarm and bland. Fortunately it was served with tabasco sauce. The eggs were nicely poached. My companion ordered the eggs florentine which was surprisingly served atop two English muffin halves. Again, the eggs were nicely poached. The accompanying Hollandaise Sauce was likewise bland and should have been hotter as well (for obvious reasons). When the weather is warmer, it would be nice to go back, sit on the patio which is appealing, and have a glass of wine and some frites.
(2)Janet H.
This was my first french experience and it was good. The atmosphere inside the restaurant was very warm and welcoming. They also had a "band" performaning inside. I had a reservation at 7pm and we got there a little bit earlier and we had no problem getting seated immediately. The restaurant itself isn't that big but a good size. We started with the Escargot which was good but nothing like what I had imagined (first escargot experience). I think I would like it much more if it had more flavor. For our entree we got steak and their duck special. The french is all about sauces right? I'm so glad they serve the sauce on the side because I wasn't a fan. The steak itself was excellent. I actually couldn't decide between two sauces so my waiter gave me both.. which I didn't use. The duck I thought was pretty good also. A little dry in some areas but overall, it was good duck. Their fries sooo good! I couldn't stop eating :) Plenty of parking in downtown Bethesda. Plenty to do also after eating to walk around, grab coffee, dessert.. etc. If you haven't tried Mon Ami Gabi, go!
(4)Karim I.
Consistent quality of food, great service and reasonably priced wine list. Whenever I go to this restaurant, it feels like I am in one of Paris' bistros. The roasted chicken is full of flavors and one of my favorites. The Profiteroles are fabulous.
(4)Grace L.
Went to Monami Gabi for the first time yesterday, and although my friend and I went in at 10 pm the service as well as the food was excellent! By far one of the most courteous staff I've ever come across. Despite it being a late dinner, the Hanger steak came out tender and delicious. Extremely pleased with the food and the service, nothing like it in VA.
(5)Lih-Ming W.
Went in a big group of 14. Great atmosphere - french bistro. Had ribeye steak on the bone (rare, $39). Pretty juicy and flavoursome. My friends had theirs medium and it was overcooked. Could be some issues with consistency. Appetisers were pretty good - nice range and great taste. Good french wine list. Our server was great but got some "stressed" attitude from the front desk when I tried to book a cab. Slightly pricier but I think worth it. Would come back.
(4)Cindy L.
happily surprised with the quality of food vs the cost. poor service for our large group though. waiter made it up to us in the end w free desserts all around, bday boy included. chicken grandmere was cooked well.
(4)Eric B.
Always a good experience... nothing spectacular, but solid. Steak Frites is reliable. Very satisfying onion soup. Brunch standard ish.
(3)William F.
My wife and I eat here regularly and have never had a bad meal. Have also enjoyed attending special events
(4)Colin H.
Came here Monday evening with my wife. We learned that they were hosting a private wine party in the back of the restaurant that limited tables in the dining area, so we seated ourselves at one of the tables available in the bar area. We were greeted by the bartender who asked for our drink order, I ordered a glass of champagne ($8), and my wife ordered a Kieral-Royale ($8) (apologize for the inaccuracy!) which is champagne with a couple other items added to it. We were given a french baguette, butter, and distilled water (free of charge; I note this because in France they will charge you for a bottle of distilled water) to start off. For an appetizer we ordered the Chicken Liver Mousse ($6.95; pate), definitely an acquired taste! This was not as earthy, and gamey as their other pate option that I have had before, but I could only eat several portions of it, and we had more than 50% remaining after our fill. For our entrees, I ordered the Beef Bourginon ($21.95; French version of pot-roast) that was flavorful, tender, and accompanied with carrots, mushrooms, mini-onions, and noodles. Ate the whole thing, none left to take home. Wife ordered the Steak Bernaise ($21.95), she liked the dish and shared some with me, I thought the steak had good flavor, and was cooked properly. This was accompanied by a large amount of "french" fries, more like crispy chips than typical fries. Overall we enjoyed our entrees! Maybe it was because we were seated in the bar area, but the service was slightly lacking. The server(s) only checked on us once in the beginning of the meal, and did not refill our water bottle when it became low/empty. Other than that our experience at Mon Ami Gabi was very good! We will definitely be coming back!
(4)Jonathan P.
great french bistro -- food is always delicious and consistent. service is always superb. they have a gluten-free menu and serve gluten free bread. one of my favorite restaurants.
(4)Kristi P.
J' adore Mon Ami Gabi! I was traveling so I attended this restaurant on my own. Some places I go welcome a single; others try to hide you in the back corner. Mon Ami Gabi sat me right in the middle of the busy dinning room and it was perfect. I had all kinds of interesting conversations to listen to, people to watch. Not to mention the fabulous jazz band playing in the corner. I decided to go with a few small plates. The Olive jar, an assortment of marinated olives,onions and a few other veggies. These went perfectly with the fresh baked bread they provided. I also got a side of mashed cauliflower, light and delicate. Such a nice feeling on my palette. I also got the macaroni and cheese dish. Everything really flowed well together. I washed it all down with a light white wine. Lovely place.... Check it out!
(5)Alexander K.
The dishes are always prepared well, and the weekly specials are great. For dessert order the bread pudding or the flour-less chocolate cake.
(4)Doug P.
I have to say my review is limited based on the fact that we only had salads. I think this made the watress less interested in our servce as well, and detracted from the dinign experience. Will have to try it again to see if I can give a better review
(3)Amanda C.
Wonderful brunch, great service. The french bread and jam is amazing. I've had the seafood crepe which is delicious and the vanilla apple french toast is amazing!!
(5)J P.
I have since gone back to Mon Ami Gabi on a few occasions and enjoyed my meals. Kudos to management for offering a complimentary experience that I unfortunately didn't take advantage of. But it's the thought that counts and I appreciate it.
(4)Aileen F.
Stopped in for an early dinner and had a great time. Chose to sit inside because it was a little windy, but next time will definitely choose to sit outside. They just revamped the patio seating and it looks great. Very european feel with the tables and flowers, and who doesn't like having a meal outside? Delicious freshly baked bread was immediately brought to us and devoured. :) I chose a few h'orderves, crab cake, cheese plate, and house salads. Everything was tasty and the server was friendly and attentive. I'll be back to sample more of the menu and enjoy the patio seating.
(4)Jared H.
I ordered the trout. It was the best fish I have eaten in years. Baguette is always awesome. Good service. Nice atmosphere. A good, dependable restaurant.
(5)Kate A.
I haven't found too many French restaurants in the area, so I wanted to check this place out. It definitely has a fancy atmosphere; it feels luxurious just to be in there. The food is very good, and they have a nice wine list. It's a bit expensive, but if you're willing to splurge for the night, I would recommend the salmon and quinoa. The food menu is limited, so if you like a lot of variety, this may not be your first choice.
(3)Ozzie G.
It used to be my favorite French restaurant in the area, and I still believe their food is delicious, but I am giving them a 2 star rating based on the level of service they have these days. I took the FILET MIGNON AU POIVRE, and my companion took the Filet with the Merlot sauce. Both dishes were good. The server we had was not very professional, and not knowledgeable regarding the wine list at all. She upsold us on the wine we requested (told us the other one was better), $100 bottle of wine tasted like it was not stored properly. they have a wild mushrooms soup sometimes, that one is very good (one of the soup du jour).
(2)Izzat A.
I don't see what the hype is about. Just got back here from lunch. A group of 10 of us from work went out to eat. The service was prompt and courteous and that is the reason I'm giving this place 3*. The food itself was very average and it's definitely not the cheapest place to eat. Most entrees range from $10-$25. I got the chicken and brie sandwich and it okay. The carmelized onions really overpowered the entire sandwich. It was different, but it was okay. I wasn't a fan of their famous frites, they seem like string fries to me. The ambiance is definitely nice. I've been to two french places and didn't like either so it could just be a preference thing.
(3)Deston N.
You get so much for what you pay for. No need to buy the filets, unless you want to. A steak roquefort was so tender and tasty I didn't want it to end. The warm berry cobbler had our whole table battling with spoons. The atmosphere is great for a date or for a family meal. After spending four nights dining in the Washington, D.C. area, this was the highlight. Don't miss it.
(5)Roll T.
3.75 stars. I've had a love affair with Mon Ami Gabi ever since I first discovered the Las Vegas location. This national chain specializes in moderately priced French cuisine. I always wondered whether the Bethesda location would hold up against the original housed in Paris Hotel. For example, the Bethesda location lacks one of the major elements that made the Vegas location great - a street side view of the madness that encompasses a typical evening in everyone's favorite town of hedonism. Still, it was worth a gamble. I tried the duck sandwich. Nice slivers of duck were generously studded with brie and a garnishment that skips my mind. It was accompanied with a frisee salad and frites. The sandwich compared favorably to what one might find at Cowgirl Creamery in DC. The reasonable price ($9.95) matched as well. My brother ordered a medium rare sirloin cut. The steak cuts at Mon Ami Gabi need work. This was the thinnest cut of sirloin I have ever seen. McDonald's hamburgers are thicker than the Mon Ami Gabi steaks. I loved the basil buerre sauce that accompanied it, but I'd like to see a better cut. Also, my brother asked for his steak to be cooked medium rare and it was medium well. I can't blame the cook; it would be impossible to accurately cook a slice of meat that was so thin it made the model Twiggy look fat by comparison. I also sampled the seafood crepe. Mon Ami Gabi did a good job here. They use a mix of plump scallops and shrimp and covered it in a delectable sauce. It didn't even need the crepe, but that was also tasty. I liked the cheeses used on the cheese plate (especially the Drunken Goat cheese), but I was surprised that they used such a complexly flavored bread for the spread. Individuals who like using sweeter flavors like raisin and honey to complement their cheese will be sufficiently happy though. While I was told that the Bloody Mary bar was outstanding, I didn't personally try it out. I thought I should mention it though. Overall, I'm a bit confused by all the hate. Sure, it's a chain, but if you avoid the thinly sliced steak cuts, you should get a nice meal at a decent price.
(4)Victoria S.
The best french fries or "frites" as they say in France. I really enjoy Mon Ami Gabi because they are consistent and deliver a fine experience. My only complaint is that the noise level is high and there's definitely a lot of hussle and bussle. I enjoyed the frites, pear and blue cheese salad and the thyme crusted salmon with orzo pasta. Profiteroles for dessert. No complaints in the food department. The service has been consistently knowledgeable and friendly. Maybe that's why there is always a very long wait. I would say Mon Ami Gabi is one of my Bethesda favorites. I will go back again for sure.
(4)Flaneuse D.
Not much I can add except my personal kudos to Mon Ami Gabi for consistently high quality food and service. I love the mimosas, the baguette with jam, the frites, the roast chicken, and the profiteroles. Always a treat to come here; we've brought the family for Mother's Day and another year for Valentine's Day.
(5)Colin H.
Great specials, well-made cockails, tasty thin steaks. The fries are too thin, more like potato chips. Otherwise the steak frites would be irresistible. But what I crave most from here are the soft-shell crab and skate. Simple and delicious, and something we can't get in San Francisco. I visit nearly every time I'm on business in Bethesda, and these are what what bring me back.
(4)Jess Z.
delicious, french, good service- polite. they give you an entire baguette for bread and amazing butter. check in on yelp and get a free scrumptious pot de creme.we had salads and they were very large and healthy.
(4)Kevin L.
I really wish that Mon Ami Gabi were closer to my place, because I could see doing brunch here on a much more frequent basis if it weren't such a haul to get there. Then again, considering it's creamy, buttery, starchy French food... maybe it's safer that it's so inconvenient. That's a lot less good food sticking to my waist! Walking into MAG feels like stepping into a cozy French cafe that's been blown out to gigantic proportions. The racks of wine bottles, the smartly uniformed wait staff bustling about, and the cramped seating situation all serve to enhance the authenticity of the experience. The food continues the theme of French-ness as well. We were almost immediately provided with a crusty loaf of baguette with butter and jam upon being seated. Our cute, professional server took our orders as we finalized them (which took quite awhile because of how large the selection was!) and returned shortly with the bubbly, citrus-y mimosas we'd ordered. They also have a Bloody Mary bar that sounded interesting, but I wasn't in the mood to try it out. If you enjoy simple steamed artichokes with drawn butter and a dash of lemon, MAG's won't disappoint. I've had better, but this artichoke was plenty to share as a starter among three or four, and it's way better than I could make at home. I had the Bethesda Restaurant Week lunch for $12 of the mixed salad appetizer and mussels entree. The salad was served with crostini slathered with olive paste which was very savory - the salad itself was light and fresh and served as a great match against the creamy white wine sauce the mussels were served in. Although the mussels couldn't hold a candle against the ones at La Chaumiere, for the price they were quite reasonable. I can't say I'd go out of my way to come back here, but if I'm in the neighborhood and itching for a great brunch, I wouldn't hesitate to walk into MAG again. I don't know if it was a function of being Restaurant Week, but the place was packed - reservations would be wise.
(4)Scott S.
This is the only one in the DC area, so you must at least give it a try. The location is perfect (lots of other shopping, restaurants, biking, etc), and the restaurant atmosphere is perfect. Though the food was great but not as amazing as I had expected, this was the only reason I gave 4/5 stars.
(4)Armine S.
Never had a bad meal there. The quality of food, preparation and service are truly outstanding!
(5)Sam J.
You're paying for the location and atmosphere here, because the food and service don't justify the price. The food was mediocre. I eat at a lot of pricey places and am used to paying high prices, but I expect value. I walked away from here feeling ripped-off. I'm offended that they highlight the fact their steaks are "grain-fed" as if this were a good thing. GRAIN-FED beef is a bad thing! GRASS-FED is what's good for you! They are exploiting people's ignorance!
(2)Hokie H.
I schedule dinner programs all the time for work, so I like to try different menu items all the way. I like the traditional filet mignon, but with recommendations from the waiter I tried the scallops gratines for appetizer and salmon and leek quinoa with citrus butter and man was that good! Fresh fish. Nice butter sauce. Good portion size. I tried to remake the scallop dish and failed miserably. Loved it. Dessert- ice cream filled pastry was ok. would love to come back again!
(5)Annabelle D.
In general, it's a good restaurant. You can't wrong with their steak and frites dishes. The one time I dined here, one of their specials was the dover sole. It was absolutely delicious! I think it was better than the steak and frites I had during another visit to Mon Ami Gabi. Their desserts are okay. For a French bistro, I expected a little more from them in the dessert arena, but I was quite disappointed that their desserts, although good to taste, weren't outstanding. Also, the bread was hard to break, and the wait for our main dishes was quite long, but every time I've come here, it was with big parties (six or more) Mon Ami Gabi is one of those restaurants that's a good backup for last minute get togethers (If you can, call ahead for a reservation) or a place to eat after a day of shopping in Bethesda.
(3)E Y.
This may have been a 3 star review for the taste of the food alone but I had to dock another star because of the service. we barely saw our waiter aside from when he came to the table to take our order and at the end when he tossed the check onto our table as he blew past us without so much as a glance or thank you (i suppose that was our cue to leave?) there was a painful, long wait before our apps were finally served. then an even longer wait while we waited for entrees as our empty appetizer dishes sat on the table the entire time because nobody seemed to notice all the food was now in my belly instead of on the plate. the food was soso and i doubt i will return again-maybe my expectations were too high because off all the other reviews? Surprisingly the french onion soup (or just "onion soup" as they call it here since i suppose the french part is a given) was pretty good and did not leave me feeling like i just went to a salt lick. i enjoyed the red wine sauce and caramelized onions on the steak bordelaise and it was med rare just as i had asked for! however, the actual cut of meat i got had a lot of gristle which was pretty disappointing. also, i do not get what all the fuss is about over these frites. it felt like someone cut up a potato to make fries and then picked up all the left over scraps and sold them to mon ami gabi to make their frites- they were so thin and definitely not nearly crispy enough! too bad for me.
(2)Christina H.
I really do appreciate a good steak, but I maybe only order one once a year... I was only in MD for one week and had the steak and frites TWICE! Amazing. Their staff was wonderful, very friendly and knowledgeable. Both times here were just all around a great experience.
(5)Alexandra G.
I have eaten here many times and have enjoyed it every time. They give you a fresh, crusty baguette to start with and they have a good wine selection. The food is excellent no matter what you order. I recommend the escargot as an appetizer and the french onion soup is amazing too. The service is always friendly and professional. I would advise you to make a reservation if you're going for dinner on a Friday or Saturday as it is usually packed (always the sign of a good restaurant). And definitely try the desserts! I'm a fan of their of their creme brulee and the bread pudding.
(4)Craig U.
Went here on a busy Friday night requesting an outside seat on a beautiful night. The table was called fairly quickly and we were escorted to a lovely table right next to the Bethesda row movies theatre entrance/ exit. Behind us was the cash register and next to us was a pair of teachers on a serious date. Bad mix. The server was nice but disapearred for long periods of time throughout the night. I tried the onion fondue and steak frites with bernaise. My fiancé ordered the steak classique which had somewhat of a pesto sauce on it. The dishes were alright, but the quality of the meat was a little sketchy. For the price I expected better. I'll leave it at that. All in all, probably wouldn't be upset if I never returned.
(2)Jodi G.
I had a pleasant experience here. The staff was very nice; our waiter attentive and informative. The food was delicious as well. I had a grilled salmon spinach blueberry salad. DELICIOUS! I wasn't sure how the ingredients would pair together, but I was pleasantly surprised! My friend enjoyed a large grilled chicken ceasar salad.
(4)Melissa P.
I've been here for mother's day and for my graduation/ birthday brunch and occasionally for dinner with some friends. I think mon ami gabi has the best quiche lorraine I have ever had. I seriously crave it all the time. I've been adventurous and tried the escargot here too which is really good if you are a lover of garlic. Once you get over the rubbery texture it's yummy and you totally feel like a badass because you just ate snails! If i didn't like the quiche so much I would definitely order the steak and frites (the one with the carmelized onions), luckily i'm always with someone who orders it so i get to enjoy the best of both worlds. Their mimosas are really great and their service is always very friendly and accommodating. The prices are very reasonable especially considering the quality of the food. I have also been with my cousin a handful of times who has a small child and they accommodate children really well. Fantastic french food, great ambiance, and good for kids. Certainly worthy of 5 stars!
(5)Michael M.
Yesss... so fantastic in every way. Fresh baguette while you wait with some butter and jam? check. Fantastically cooked burgers? check Freshly cut fritos (sliver cut french fries)? check Bloody Mary bar? check Counting down the days until my next visit.
(5)A H.
I have eaten in this restaurant many times, mostly for business lunches. I have never been disappointed! So when I had the opportunity to swap some United air miles for a $50 gift certificate, I did it without blinking. So my boyfriend and I finally decided to go and made our reservation in advance (since it was for a Saturday night and they are always packed). When we arrived we were quickly seated (although it was a bit close to other other guests on either side but I was entertained by the other guests conversations so it was all good). I already knew this restaurant can get quite noisy so that was not a concern of mine. The food is VERY inexpensive for what you get (please note I am not saying it is CHEAP, just cheaper than other restaurants of the same quality). So my boyfriend and I were trying not to spend more than just a tip. We ordered their homemade chips with blue cheese dip that i LOVE as an appetizer. He ordered one of the Steak Fritas, and I ordered the Scallops in Butternut Squash puree with brussel sprout leaves. Well I HATE brussel sprouts but NOT in this dish... everything was delicious! I almost licked my plate clean. My boyfriend ate faster than I have ever seen him eat before (he is a VERY SLOW eater) and finished his steak in record time. He was so full he couldn't even finish the "fritas". Soooo... the service was great but our waiter was so busy. Apparently, the appetizer order was missed b/c we got our entrees and hadn't received the chips yet. I said something to the guy who brought us our food and told him we still wanted them. Our waiter came over to sincerely apologize and told us the chips were on him... COOL! (HOWEVER, I had a gift card for $50 that I was trying to spend and no cash on me)... soooo... we decided to order dessert to go since we were too stuffed to eat there. We ordered an apple tart of some sort and it was soooo good when we did eat it later that night! BUT when the bill came, the waiter had also COMPED the dessert b/c he missed the appetizer which was sooo thoughtful but it did not allow us to leave him a large enough tip (we tipped 25-30% on the 2 entrees but wish we could have tipped on the comped items too) ... b/c I couldn't have him run my debit card for just a tip (I was hoping that we would go over the $50 when tax was added by $1-2 bucks so we could leave the tip on my debit card). We scrounged around a couple of bucks and wish we could have tipped him way more than we did... b/c comping both the app and the dessert was above and beyond... I would totally go here again b/c they own up to their mistakes and made me feel happy again when we left... some restaurants do not have this same type of customer service!!!! FABULOUS! :-)
(5)Pat M.
It was ok. The food was good. However there were somethings here and there that were not to my particular tastes. For example, we ordered the Sea Scallop Gratinees. The scallops themselves were tender and delicious however they were covered with this thick shield of baked cheese. The flavor of the cheese did nothing to help the scallop. The onions and the sauce alone would have made the scallop dish a success. The cheese shield was just... meh. The steaks.... I ordered my steak medium rare to rare. I understand that the pounded flat french style of cooking steaks makes it more difficult to get the right temperature however mine came out medium well. Not a glimmer of pink in there. My wife ordered her steak medium well. The thing came out like a pounded piece of leather. At this point we were so tired and hungry we just ate and left rather than complain. The flavors were good the execution could be better. Unfortunate to say but the best thing about the meal was the bread which was really crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. yum.
(2)Libby F.
It's Saturday afternoon in Downtown Bethesda. An atypical, but welcome warm day in mid October calls to us to take our beloved four-legged friends with us to the Bethesda Arts Festival. After tangling in the masses for hours, we sat ourselves at nice little bistro table facing Woodmont Avenue and were instantly greeted. (Maybe we were suppose to go to the hostess stand first?) We were given the Brunch menu, but it offered a reasonable amount of a la carte lunch items. I opted for the asparagus and mushroom quiche which was tasty, but not filling. I was eying my neighbors pomme frittes, which looked thin and crisp and were served in a metal tumbler, just the way I like them! My friend had the sandwich du jour, which was pork and while she said it was good, she took most of it home. Both of our dishes were served with a bed of lettuce (not your typical greens, but I don't recall the name of this kind). It had a citrus-type dressing on it. Both entrees were $9.95 each. I'd like to come back, as Anna T. suggested, for Happy Hour. Dinner entree prices are a bit steep, but the atmosphere is appealing. I'm looking forward to trying the escargot next time. There will be a next time.
(4)Cindy L.
The Grilled Salmon & Spinach Salad is perfection and the Seared Sea Scallops w/spinach, whipped cauliflower, brown butter...wow. Of course the desserts are the highlight. The half-bottles of wine are nice for when you don't want too much (i know all the hardcore wine fans have all gasped). The server doesn't open the wine correctly - bottle facing away, opening it mid-air (spillage!) and they don't use a traditional opener either. I agree that it does get very loud and it's not really French in my opinion b/c I actually like the food :) This spot is a fave place for me and my friends to hit up when we miss each other and need a good food experience to share together...gag.
(4)sonia g.
Perfect for BRUNCH. You can sit outside, enjoy the busy street, munch on some baguette + raspberry jam... Great food, good atmosphere. In the evening gets a little dark though. Overall, a nice spot to try out and reasonable prices.
(4)Patrick B.
My wife and I are such big fans of the La Vegas location in the Paris Hotel, that we were thrilled to visit thie location in Bethesda. Although this particular location does not evoke the same feeling of being in Paris as does the one in Las Vegas, it is still awesome. I do like that when enter the place, there is still a good French vibe. As for the food. It is excellent. Steak Frites are obviously the staple and I usually go for the classic Steak Au Poivre. However, on my more daring occasions, I have ordered the Steak Bordelaise or the Steak Roquefort. I would be remiss if I didnt give a shout out to their Country Style Pâté, which is a family favorite (just not mine). When I order apps, its going to be Oysters Du Jour.
(5)yvette r.
We came here with a group on the recommendation of friends who have eaten at the Reston location. Most of the food was "eh...fine", but the value for the money means we won't be coming back. The Good Our waiter was very friendly and did a nice job for the most part for our party of 6. He knew when to pay us a visit and when to leave us alone. The meat eating crowd was pleased with their meals, and I personally enjoyed my salad (endive and watercress) before the actual dinner. If you are into huge portions, this is your place. The Bad When I made the reservation, I had to use Open Table online because when I called the number for reservations I was hung up on. Twice. Fortunately, the online reservation worked out fine. They continued to set up expectations and fail to meet them when it came to my order. I am a vegetarian and I picked this spot over the other French-ish restaurants in Bethesda because they list a $10 market vegetable platter on the website menu. First our waiter did not know the day's selections for the platter (and never came back to tell me what they were, he just put the order in). Then when it arrived, my food was almost entirely cold (hint--start plating the veggies after the steaks are done, people). Finally, the cost was $16, not $10 for cold green beans and asparagus served with under cooked corn and roasted tomato. The mash potatoes were good, thank goodness. Had i known my entree would have been that lame, I would have ordered another salad. There were also order mistakes. Two of my friends ordered the Steak Bearnaise (one well done, one medium) with different sides. The wrong steaks were put on the plates with the sides. To fix the problem, my friends had to switch the meat on their own plates at the table. This happened after my boyfriend ordered the hand cut chips with blue cheese sauce and was served the country style pate instead. (???) That switch was actually fixed by the kitchen, thank goodness. We had some other service issues. The one point at which our waiter dropped the ball was my friend's drink order. She is pregnant and asked for a mojito without the rum. He told her they didn't know how to make that. (Um... simple syrup, lime juice, mint, seltzer water... no rum) Thankfully, she insisted he put in the order and the bar made it just fine. I personally think he didn't want the headache of trying to figure out how to bill a virgin mojito. Finally, an otherwise nice evening I could have written off as "quirky" nearly came to a grinding halt because the sour little woman who was busing our table felt like we were taking too long to finish our deserts. She spoke very little English and kept coming up to our table to ask if we were done. She came four times. The last two were less than a full minute apart. We finally made her take the empty dishes, but then she wanted to take the last dish someone was still eating. Do not take a pregnant woman's desert from her or her friends will write about you on yelp.
(2)cindy d.
Enviroment cool ,more american food than french food. Price high . If u looking for french food dnt ever eat heard
(3)Alicia G.
My boss brought me here for lunch about a week ago. We were originally going to go to Levante's but then I remembered that this place was just a bit down from there and that I've always wanted to try it out. I'm really glad that we did! The maitre d' was very friendly and we were seated right away. I really like our server right off the bat. He was older, had a friendly smile and made the lunch features sound irresistable. He had several other tables besides ours but we never felt neglected. He was there to refill our drinks and make sure we had everything we needed without being overbearing. I really liked the interior. The mahogany wine rack that separates the dining rooms is really cool. I like seeing a lot of the wine bottles on display. The bread was warm and crusty...the way I love my carbs. Haha. I settled on the Lemon Chicken Paillard with haricot verts and a lemon butter sauce. It was delicious. Not overcooked and dry; juicy and satisfying. My boss had the brie burger (I think) and it was huge! He said it was really good and enjoyed the pomme frittes. We did end up getting dessert - the warm berry crumble with vanilla ice cream. I guess I should have moved my spoon a little quicker because the ice cream melted realllly quickly. But it was an otherwise very delicious dessert with lots of strawberries, blackberries and all other sorts of berries that one would expect to find in it. Overall, I really enjoyed my dining experience at Mon Ami Gabi and I look forward to coming back and testing out some of the other great dishes on their menu.
(4)Carrie R.
The best part of the meal was the appetizers. Warm Brie, Escargot, Scallops and Shrimp Cocktail- very delicious. I had the scallops which were lacking flavor, I substituted Cauliflower for Au Gratin, which was bland and the spinach was too oily. Very good ambiance though. Low lighting, mahogany furnishings, great for appetizers and drinks.
(2)Michael W.
The food at this place is not bad, not bad at all. Yet, I'll give it three stars. But why??? Because I feel that this place deceives its customers by pretending to be a french restaurant. If you were teletransported straight from Houston's to Mon Ami Gabi you wouldn't probably even notice. Perhaps at the time you received your food you would, but only if you happened to pay attention to the "bon appetit" or at the time you get the check, when the waiter quite amusingly told you "l'addition" instead of the check. Apart from that, the place could very well be called "My buddy Joe" (and I think it should).
(3)Bob F.
I've had great experiences here in the past, but not this time. I had the Au Poivre burger with their "signature hand-cut" fries. Most tasteless meat I've ever had. Au Poivre means "prepared or served with a generous amount of usually coarsely ground black pepper ." There was very little pepper on this burger. It was, however, cooked medium rare, which is what I asked for. The fries were absolutely awful. Tiny little bits of potato (not one was longer than an inch) that had the consistency of shoe leather. I hope they were just having a bad day. I have clients who really like this place. Not sure I'm looking forward to returning.
(1)Tony P.
I finally took the opportunity of Restaurant Week to come here. It's been on my bookmark for a while. The establishment is modern and roomy with traditional french decor. The service was attentive and the meal was leisurely paced. The amuse bouche was a couscous arrangement alongside a baguette and rich butter. You definitely want to pace yourself, because you can certainly overdose on the baguette and butter alone. My choice of appetizer was the chicken pate. A generous serving of pate that was very buttery and had wonderful flavors. The spicy red wine mustard, sweet and sour cornichons, and pearl onions accoutrements were nicely complementary in flavors. My date had the warm brie appetizer that was also excellent. The creamy melted cheese had a firm hearty flavor and the grilled garlic was soft to spread on the crostini. My entree was the steak frites. A good cut of savory meat with a herb butter sauce served with a side of crunchy frites. The temperature of the meat came out as expected with a nice red center. My date had a beautiful thyme seared salmon on a bed of orzo and spinach with creamy lemon butter sauce. The salmon had a good grilled crust but was juicy and succulent. Our dessert choices were the warm bread pudding and flourless chocolate cake. The bread pudding had a really nice caramel sweetness and the chocolate cake was rich and decadent. My wine choice was the Crozes-Hermitage 2006. An excellent Rhone red wine made with predominantly Syrah grapes. A beautiful nose with hints of spices and fruits, medium tannin structure and acidity, and dark berries flavor. Overall, an excellent foray and I will definitely be back to check out the braised shortribs I saw on the daily menu board. I'm impressed by the generous RW portions. This is definitely one of the best RW picks for me.
(4)Jay M.
Wonderful Valentine's Day dinner this evening. Our family loves this place and it's spectacular for a cozy date night. Our server tonight was "Ivan" and he made the event so welcoming and personal. Ivan guided our party through the beverage and meal options -- offering an excellent illustration and description of each specialty , , , using a good balance of passion for the food and hand motions to paint the full picture. You just trusted him to bring you whatever he thought best. My Manhattan was superb and I am a Type A when it comes to my cocktail -- I can see from a mile away if it's not 'perfect' - and have been known to wave it off long before it even gets to the table if it's not so. This one was eloquent! The Lobster bisque was dreamy. My Beef Wellington only needed the slightest of pressure from a butter knife to slice through it. The accompanying spinach was rich and very tender and the garlic was potent enough to fend off any evil spirits - the only way to live! Bold. My bride could not resist Ivan's mention (amongst other things) that his mother loves the Arctic Char ("that's so sweet!") nor that it was on a bed of velvety mashed potatoes. My son's Beef Bourguignon was deadly and his girlfriends Roast Chicken with pearly onions, mushrooms and bacon was savory. We intentionally did not finish our entrees so that I could have the left-overs and we could have dessert - 2 specials, a petite round cheese cake with a frothy topping (light & fluffy - no seriously!) and a red velvet cake were stunning, , , and finally the Mango Sorbet was the perfect closer to cleanse the pallet. And there is NOTHING BETTER, yet so often and routinely ignored by many eateries, than a cup of their strong & hearty coffee. I don't smoke but I felt like I wanted a cigarette after that meal!! I'm looking for housing closer to Mon Ami Gabi!
(5)Melody C.
The only reason why this doesn't get 4 stars instead of a 2 is because I want to make a statement to the management who seemed to blissfully ignore is that the floors were so SLICK WITH GREASE that I didnt want to get out of my chair to go to the bathroom, lest I fall down and break something. I was afraid that I would regret bringing my mom here for mother's day if she fell down. I was nervous when I saw a handicapped gentleman enter the dining room, that he'd fall down too. It totally ruined what could have been a really terrific dining experience and made me question the restaurant's sanitation throughout my meal. When we made a comment about it to the waitress, she said, hmm, I never noticed that, but this is an impossible problem to not notice!!! It's a slip and fall suit waiting to happen! I was quite displeased that this went unaddressed even though we brought it up. Otherwise, the food was pretty darn good, we ordered the country pate (so-so, i realized that I really prefer liver mousse pate), and the plate of warm brie on a bed of honey with sauteed garlic cloves and crispy bread - that was really good! the french onion soup was up to expectation - but if you finish the entire thing it will sit in your stomach way after dinner and prevent you from finishing your entree - the gruyere cheese is very heavy, so as tasty as it is, dont be tempted to finish it or else you wont have room for much else. i also liked it because it wasn't too salty. it's well worth ordering. my mom ordered the halibut special for that day which was really good - i got the steak bordelaise (blue cheese sauce) with frites - which are like somewhere between thin fries and chips - ribbon shaped fries basically. my favorite thing that evening was the dessert - not on the menu - a "flour-free" chocolate cake - a moussey fluffy (but still substantial) round mound of rich chocolate goodness topped with warm chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream. fantastic! OVERALL: MAKE SURE YOU ASK THEM WHAT ARE THE SPECIALS FOR THE DAY - the best things we tried were NOT ON THE MENU.
(2)Joanne S.
Something is terribly wrong here--we've been coming here regularly for six years now and stopped in last night and asked where favorite bartenders Mark and Gabriel were and was told in a snarky way "they moved on and we can't talk about it" and "I'm tired of hearing about this from our customers 20 times a day, etc." Really? Is that your response--I don't know who forced them out the door but they were the reason we (and many others we know) liked to frequent Mon Ami Gabi. Instead we had this new guy and two women who were only talking to themselves versus making customers feel welcome. We looked down the bar a little later and several stools were left open--never seen that before on a Friday night here so word must be getting out. We are SO disappointed in whatever management has done to lose great people like them. In case Mark reads this review, please let us know where you landed and we'll take our business there. We miss you--"Grey Goose extra dry martini with blue cheese stuffed olives and Miller Lite (no glass)"
(1)D K.
Unexpected delight. My bf and I wanted a nice place for Sunday brunch. By chance, we came upon Mon Ami Gabi and decided to try it. On the menu, we immediately saw the $10 Mimosas, so we had to try one. We got a Mimosa and a Peach Bellini. Both were delicious and satisfyingly strong. The fresh baguette that comes out is perfect. I knew this place would be awesome after that. (I LOVE BREAD) The waiter was fantastic. He described all the dishes in detail and seemed VERY knowledgeable. He was friendly and very helpful. We started off with the Country Pate. Delicious. A bigger portion than I expected, so be prepared. My bf ordered the Crab Cake Eggs Benedict, which was also delicious. The potatoes... not so much, which were the only disappointing part of the entire experience, but the crab cakes were great, and the English Muffin was baked perfectly. I ordered the Chicken, Brie & Apple Crepe. I'm not too fond of crepes usually, but I like to try new things. It was decent. I'm not sure what makes a good crepe, but I liked the differences in texture between the soft chicken, creamy brie, and crunchy apple. We got the Peach Parfait for dessert. AMAZING. Flavorful, refreshing, and light. The ice cream was homemade, and it was a mix between a peach sorbet & ice cream, so it was light yet creamy. Atmosphere is perfect for Sunday brunch. Lots of families and couples. I think it'd be a great place for dinner also. It's neither too casual nor too formal. FOOD = Great PRICE = Fair SERVICE = Great My bf and I have decided to make Mon Ami Gabi a monthly activity. Can't wait to go again next month.
(4)Olivia L.
This place has delicious food, it's a bit pricey though. I would recommend doing happy hour there, they have some great deals. You can get a salmon sandwich for like $6. The atmosphere is great and the service is pretty good too.
(4)Howard M.
We have been here for dinner three times and each time have come away wondering why. There are better steak and seafood restaurants within walking distance. The baguette is good; the steak is fairly tasteless and chewy; even the cheeseburger lacks taste; the fries arrived cold; and the service is indifferent. A French bistro it's not.
(2)Sean F.
I've been here three times before and all of those times were four star Yelp experiences, so I guess I was due for a bad one. Showed up at 7:00 p.m. on a Saturday night. Expected a wait and were told it would be an hour. We had a movie to be to at 9:30, so I was sure there would be enough time. Sat in the bar and were asked if we'd like to eat and we told them no, relying on the hostesses statement. Sure enough, an hour and a half later at 8:30, we were still sitting there. It wasn't until the couple next to us, who had showed up a half hour after we had, had their buzzer go off that I went back and told the hostess we no longer had enough time to eat for the evening, especially if they were seating walk-ins that came in after we had already. I'm normally pretty forgiving when it comes to stuff like this, but something about this experience rubbed me the wrong way. When it comes to walk-ins, it's not rocket science. Seat them in the order they come in, as time allows.
(1)Eddie G.
Want me to be honest? (And I know you do...) I wasn't impressed with this place. The hangar steak itself had no flavor, save for the sauce which wasn't too great. And the weird part was that the dish arrived in like five minutes - but wasn't hot. In fact, the spinach side dish (tasty) was also properly cooked, but not hot. All of which me wonder - is their food not cooked to order? In fact, the onion soup struck me the same way - like it had been sitting under a lamp. The cheese on top (thick and promising) wasn't melty, but stringy and tough. Lastly, the fries were a real disappointment. A mound of salty, crunchy bits, like the bottom bits of a bag of chips. Nice dining room, though.
(3)Shine S.
This is a good price for what you get. I enjoyed the lunches there especially on a nice day when you can sit outside. Dinners are good as well, nice environment, friendly staff, it feels somewhat upscale. I really do like the salads there as well. The food I enjoy at this place: - Hand Cut Gaufrette Potato Chips - Country Style Pâté - French Bread is really good here - Frisée & Bacon Salad - at times the steaks. Presentation is good, staff is good, parking is a pain (espc. in the rain) it's located at the heart of downtown Bethesda. Be prepared to walk a bit.
(5)Stacie T.
I had a great experience at Mon Ami Gabi this past weekend. My boyfriend and I decided to come here for lunch and we were both extremely satisfied with our food and the customer service we received. I ordered the petite salad and he ordered the sandwich du jour. The prices were very reasonable especially with the quality Mon Ami Gabi puts out. We've already decided we'll have to go again because so many things on the menu sounded delicious.
(4)Megan S.
The location for Mon Ami Gabi is the real selling point - it is right at the hub of Bethesda activity, and has the nice outdoor seating. You definitely get the sense that you are at a themed French restaurant rather than an authentic French place, but I can't complain about the food, it is quite good. And if you are going to a movie at the artsy theater nearby, or need a place to eat before an event afterwards, this is a great place to have an elegant start to the evening. That said, this is not a particularly unique dining experience, so if you are looking for a culinary experience that is creative or even mold-breaking, this is not your place. This is a good place for the person who knows the 2-3 entrees they regularly order at a restaurant, and wants to have one of those items at a convenient, nice restaurant.
(3)Libby P.
Even though the food wasn't great, I had the best restaurant experience of my life here. My sister and I took our mother out to dinner on a weeknight for her birthday. They ordered the steak frites and I had scallops. When they couldn't make up their minds about the sauces, the waiter said that he would bring out a few to try. He brought out little dishes of every sauce they have! We had so much fun trying them all and deciding on our favorites. We also had a fantastic salad, but my scallops were rubbery and swimming in sauce. Bistrot du Coin has better and more authentic food for similar prices, but the service was simply amazing.
(4)Alice K.
Went with a few friends for lunch and sat outdoors. We were quickly seated with a very friendly waiter. I got steak frites- steak bordelaise and it was AMAZING. Other friends also got steak frites and theirs were just as amazing. If there's one thing you get here, it has to be the steak frites! We then got profiteroles and were planning on splitting since we were so full. The waiter showed up with a few extra ones so we could all have one- free of charge! Amazing food, amazing service, would definitely go here again.
(5)Southern Belle A.
Five stars? Yes! Atmosphere: We sat at an outside table and indulged in the beautiful evening air. Clean white table clothes and overhead red umbrellas. Service: Outstanding. Always on hand. Glass never empty. Food prompt Food: Steak Bearnaise medium rare- perfectly done. Grilled Salmon- crispy on the outside, light and moist on the inside Price: $15-30 entrees Great evening. I definitely recommend this place.
(5)Chris F.
This place has a great, Euro-vibey atmosphere, and professional, prompt service. The wine was good, but the menu selection was a little lacking. I ended up having a steak. This place is really a French take on a steakhouse. My "classique" was delicious, but I would have preferred to have more menu choices. I feel like I ended up settling for what I ordered.
(4)Marianne D.
SETTING: Two visits. DECOR: Polished and pressed. SERVICE: Trained, Talented & Tasteful ENTREES: Asparagus Quiche - okay. Perhaps a bit on the dry side for me though. Simple, thin, buttery crust. VERDICT: Will continue to inquire within.
(3)Isabel B.
I gotta say, the minute I finished my meal at Mon Ami Gabi, I couldn't wait to get to Yelp to sing it praises. I first visited its Bethesda location one sunny and very warm Monday afternoon. Since it was Memorial Day and I had the day off work, I woke up in the mood for brunch but forgot that it was not a weekend day and therefore most restaurants wouldn't be serving it. Mon Ami Gabi was the exception, as they had both full menus available: brunch and lunch. Since at the time it was about 90 degrees outside, my friend and I opted to skip their cute little outdoor seating area and find a table inside. They sat us in a cozy table for two next to the window. Perfect. Although I was a little disappointed to see that there were not enough vegetarian crepe options on the menu, I was soon comforted by the sight of various delicious sounding salads and by hearing that the day's special was a Cucumber gazpacho (I love cold soups on hot summer days!) My friend and I agreed to split the $12 cheese plate and I decided that this, plus the delicious loaf of fresh-baked baguette would be infinitely better than any brunch options I may have had in mind. The cheese plate did not disappoint, and neither did the soup. Although I was thoroughly tempted by the sight of an ice cream cup being delivered to another table, I realized I was satisfied and that the meal had been a success. Next time I visit Gabi's (and there will soon be a next time), I will definitely make sure to try one of their brunch cocktails (Bellini? Customized Bloody Mary?? Yum), and perhaps also the eggs Florentine a chance. Thumbs up Mon Ami Gabi, fantastique!
(5)Remy M.
I destroy liver like alcoholism. So count me in. Their chicken liver mousse is great, especially on the awesome french bread they bring to every table. For an entree, I get the steak...either "classique" (french for "classic") or "au poivre" (french for "let's put pepper on this steak and charge more"). Both are good choices. The steaks are thin--french style--so don't order it too well done. The desserts are great as well. You can't go wrong with the apple tart thing (not really called that, I forget the real name), the creme brulee or the cream puff thing. Check it out!
(4)Charles M.
I been eating at this restaurant for years. However last Saturday nite with 2 friends with us our service was terrible 1st our waiter never visited us for at least 15 min He was in such a rush , he never cared to serve our table of 4 The appetizers arrived cold , we let that go My dinner was raw, bleeding red blood out of my chicken I had to call him over since he never checked on us Took my dinner away for a new Took so long that my table finished there dinner way ahead of mine when i ask him as he was running past , what about my dinner it was a disgrace just tio stop him since he forgot my dinner Veg arrived with my dried out chicken thrown at me cold I took a few bites and wanted to leave out of there . took a while for my check so i ask for the manager who tried to help but didn't want to stay around I will be a while before my stomach clears up and till i tell my Friends what happened to go back I thought they been sold to someone else who could not care less good luck going to eat here C
(2)Tanya M.
Had a wonderful brunch outside (finally can enjoy the outside seating!). Staff was friendly and always refreshed our baguette and water. Overall food service was a little slow but we didn't mind since it was such a nice day and we were not in a hurry. Enjoyed the veggie quiche and everyone else was pleased with their brunch choices as well!
(4)P A.
I've been here about three times. Amazing service from Vincent who is a happy, cheery fellow who clearly just loves people. He really takes care of his customers and makes dining at this place even more worthwhile. The steak and frites dishes are great (though I've just had the mignon and NY strip). The sauces are delicious and the crispy frites soak it right up. Decent dessert but not the greatest out there. Wonderful place!
(4)Joannie B.
Food was very good. Staff was nice and friendly, a bit too occupied with each other at times, but BF and I were too focuses on each other. Escargot was good, not great, but satisfying. My steak was cooked very nicely, but a bit on the smaller side. Side salad was, well, it was a salad, pretty hard to mess up. Anyways, overall dinner was good. Great to eat out at during a stormy night, but if need be, stay at home, nothing on the menu that you just cannot do better at home.
(3)Nick H.
I've only been there for happy hour, but it is the BEST! Hot, fresh bread, $4 glasses of wine, $5 foods including french onion soup, pate, salmon burger, steak sandwich, and Belgian fries crisped to perfection. Oh, and a GREAT atmosphere. I go here weekly now. Friday nights get very crowded.
(5)Maria S.
I only recently discovered that there was a Mon Ami Gabi in Bethesda. Oui, oui! Anyway, this turned out to be a solid place for brunch--they give you a warm mini baguette and little cups of whipped butter and raspberry preserves as starters. It was perfect to nibble on while waiting for food! They also have bellinis, kirs, and mimosas during brunch. ..although my kir was not quite as cold as I would have liked on such a hot day for whatever reason (perhaps the bottle of wine was out of the fridge for a bit), it was still quite refreshing. Our food was delicious, too--I had the tuna nicoise tartine, which was topped with with both tuna salad and seared tuna slices, as well as tasty olives, tomatoes, and green beans. My dining partner had their bananas foster waffles, which she declared excellent (they bring the sauces, bananas, etc. in separate dishes so you can top the waffle yourself). Service was pleasant and knowledgeable about specials and our food came very quickly, but they did seem totally swamped during the brunch rush.
(4)Larissa F.
If you want good, reasonably priced French food -- go to Mon Ami Gabi. Be prepared to be stuffed. I have dined at the Bethesda and Reston locations, and both are nicely done for a chain restaurant. The bread is amazing first off, make sure to go off Atkins for this one. French onion soup comes in a HUGE crock, I like to get mine well done on top so it's nice and browned. Salads always look like a top choice, and the pate is supposedly nice as well. The mussels and frites are nicely done, and I love the crispy little frites ribbons that come with the steaks. Although the cut of meat is sometimes a bit fatty (one time I had a large piece of fat through the middle which was not pleasant), I love the choice of sauces and it's always enough for leftovers. I like the steak bordelaise. One thing they do have is nightly specials which always sound intriguing....from sole meuniere to short ribs. If you're not into red meat, the roast chicken is a nice alternative, as is the crispy skate. Overall, its a nice stop on the way home on a Friday night. 5 Star Rating Atmosphere - 3 (romantic, good for small groups) Food - 4 (get your French fill here) Service - 4 (always had attentive servers)
(4)Lindsay K.
We went here for my brother's birthday and were sorely disappointed with the food and service. It took about half an hour for our food to get to the table, and the waiter never once came to check up on us during that time. My brother's steak was ordered medium rare and when it came out, looked medium rare...yet it tasted chewy, oh so very chewy, as if extra well-done. It was quite odd to say the least. And forget flagging the waiter down about it, because he was nowhere to be found. I ordered the fish and chips, expecting it to be the typical cut of filet, breaded and fried. Instead, it was a thin patty of fish flakes mashed together and pan-fried. It was under-seasoned, dry, and the texture left something to be desired. I can understand a "different take" on a dish, but only do so if you can make it good. In this case it was definitely not. I left some comments on the bill and received a kind phone call from the manager a couple of days later. He invited me back to the restaurant for a complimentary meal, to which I politely declined. However, I did appreciate the gesture.
(2)Ed L.
Ordered the Steak Steak Bearnaise. First they don't even tell you what cut of steak it is. When I asked the waiter he told me "The butt"... ok so I ordered it. When it comes out it's the flattened steak that I could get at Applebees for $10. The portions were small the steak meat was tough as leather and the sauce was meh.. I would not order it again. It comes with a side of Frites (french for french fries?) which are just chopped and fried potatoes. We also ordered the escargot which tasted like dirt and was mushy. I've had better. The bread was hard and difficult to chew. The butter they served with the bread was hard and cold (I prefer whipped butter...) We did order one of the specials which was Fish and Mussles that was actually pretty good, and the Baked scallops were ok. Overall I would not go back again. Considering the majority of their dishes were Steak and the one I ordered was not very good, one can only wonder how the rest of their dished would taste.
(1)Philippe D.
I had a very pleasant experience at Mon Ami Gabi. The baguette which we were served was delightfully warm, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The hanger steak which I took was a relatively large portion, but still it was very very good. There were some parts of the steak which I felt tasted a bit strong in terms of spices compared to other milder parts. But, all in all I thought the steak was good. The fries were.... interesting. They were so thin and crispy, and it was definitely a "new" way of serving fries, but I just didn't like them. The bananas foster crepe was alright, but it's definitely not a French trademark, and the caramel-maple-foster sauce was very very sweet. However, the service, ambiance, and steak make up for that and made it a pleasant experience.
(4)Anna M.
Went here on friday with the bossman and another coworker after a long week and a presentation. We got there around 2:30pm, it was beautiful out and we sat outside to enjoy the weather. we each ordered champagne which was wonderful along with a pate plate, which was also great. The pate wasn't the best I've ever had, but was very good. We then ordered our next drink, I got the French Martini which was light and wonderful for a warm day. we all ordered our meals, bossman ordered a crepe, coworker ordered the steak frites, I ordered the croque madame. all the food was delicious. the frites (fries) were crispy and chip-like. homemade, very good. The croque madame was great, not assembled like a sandwich but cut into corners and served smothered in cheese with an egg on top. An odd way, I thought, to serve a "sandwich". The last time I had this sandwich was in paris, and it was assembled a little differently. The sandwich was a little overbearing and I think there was a little too much cheese (what? is that possible?) yes... when you dont see bread and all you see is cheese, yes.... its possible. It was still very good and the egg was cooked to perfection, which is difficult to find at times. After our meal we ordered another round. I got the mojito. Great mojito. The drinks here were all made great. Tasted great with just the right amount of alcohol. The wine selection here is amazing. We finished the night with a couple more drinks. Bossman and I ordered the chateauneuf-du-pape, which was a wonderful wine. Highly recommended.
(4)Jim B.
Good, but not great. Came here for Bethesda restaurant week and the prix fixe looked enticing enough to try. I started off with the chicken liver mousse, which came out as an enormous block on my plate. They should've given me an extra loaf of bread to wipe it all up. It tasted alright, but sometimes less is more. Give me more flavor in a smaller serving, so it doesn't feel like I'm eating five cans of fancy feast. The steak was cooked to my liking, with a bleu cheese dressing. Again, nothing mind-blowing, but a solid meal. The frites were delicious, and I proceeded to eat every single one, but I'd say the ones at Les Halles were better. I bookended my prix fixe with another serving of mousse - chocolate this time. Sweet lord was it rich! Almost sickeningly so. I ate that all down as well, of course, and then instantly developed three cavities. The waiter throughout the night was extremely friendly and attentive. The two girls and one gay guy I was with were absolutely smitten with him and proceeded to corral him over to our table at the end and give his life story and family heritage. But again, he did this all with a sincere enthusiasm. One of the most surprising parts of the night was a coupon at the end of my meal for a free steak frites meal ($20 value!!). Will I be back for my free meal? You bet! And if I find myself roaming around Bethesda, I might consider this place. I just wouldn't make a pilgrimage to it.
(3)Carmen D.
Not sure what the review are all about. I had a steak that had tough pieces and a lot of fat around it. Nothing lean and tastful about it. Frites? Seriously were just soggy french fries. Never going back.
(2)Anita C.
Came here for lunch yesterday with an old friend. When we entered the restaurant near lunchtime, there was no hostess in the front to greet us, even though there were very few people in the restaurant. We waited a good five minutes before anyone noticed us, and when someone finally did, it was a waiter. He went to look for the hostess, who was still missing, and he was the one who finally took us to our table. Price: $19.99 for the steak frites and $29.99 for the filet mignon with a side of fries. Not bad for steak items. I believe the onion soup was ~$8. Food: However, the food was awful. My friend and I split the onion soup, the steak frites, and the filet mignon. The onion soup that everyone raves about was a bowl of thick, drippy soup with soggy bread on the inside and sticky cheese on the outside. We probably ate two bites each of it. The complimentary "warm bread" that everyone says the meal comes with - so hard, we could barely tear it into bits to eat. The filet mignon was a piece of dried, cold meat on our plates. It had definitely been sitting out for awhile. There was no potato in the French fries - they were more along the lines of fried, thin, crispy potato skins. Not good. The thin steak, their "signature dish," was a little juicier, but still mostly flavorless. I had to douse both meat entrees with their peppercorn and bleu cheese dipping sauces. Terrible food. Suffice it to say, my friend and I barely touched our plates and did NOT take the leftovers home. Service: The highlight of the whole experience was our waiter. He checked in on us multiple times and kindly split our orders into two separate servings without us having to ask. Bottom Line: definitely not on my choice of restaurants to re-visit. Avoid the onion soup at all costs!
(2)Mike B.
First time to visit this location in Bethesda and was not disappointed! Everything about this restaurant is perfection. We had a large group and sat in a middle table in the main room on a busy night, but never once felt crowded or neglected by staff. The service sets the tone that you are welcomed and special. Glasses are promptly filled, orders are taken with precision, wait staff are thoroughly versed in the nuances of the menu and can offer the perfect wine to pair with your meal. Of course, the food is the star of the night. Starting with Escargot de Borgogne with a hearty garlic and butter sauce. It's so hard to find Escargot cooked right. Some of our other favorite dishes were the trout almondine, each bite was delicate and literally would melt in your mouth. To finish off the evening, bananas foster crepe, oh so heavenly! It's hard to save room for dessert, but you will be glad you did.
(5)Kelly X.
Service was great. The food was ok. I expected more entrees and the food was a bit plan. The lobster soup was decent. The upside down pear cake was freaking awesome. I would go back to this place for only one reason, the upside down cake!
(3)Emily F.
Mon Ami Gabi had OK food, OK wine but terrible service. While our waiters all spoke French, the food seemed more American and even a bit Mediterranean. Also don't be deceived by the menu out front - they have an extensive brunch/lunch menu, but the dinner menu is much smaller (read: one page.) If you are not an olive fan, be sure to ask if olives come on your salad or entree - they were on everything we ordered. Overall this place had decent food, good outdoor seating, nice waiters, but they were extremely slow and inattentive.
(2)Frank H.
Restaurant Week Visit: Had a reservation for lunch and came in a little late. Lots of paid and free parking in the local area. Served initially with a baguette and some coffee. Waiter definitely gave me a lot of refills so service was attentive. We ordered French onion soup, salad for appetizer, mussels and salmon for main course. Everything was well prepared and seasoned well. The mussels were very lightly cooked in wine sauce and apple. The salmon was lightly grilled and served with spinach and orange and grapefruit slices. We enjoyed our meal and the ambiance. It had a cafe, bistro feel and feltvery lively. Didn't care for the French fries but they were ok. Would I go again... yes.
(4)Ina C.
My favorite things: - Their brunch is close to perfection! Delicious. It fills up quick, so don't sleep in too late! - They have plenty of outdoor seating! - Their steak is to die for and unique! - Other things to do: catch a movie at the very cool Bethesda Row Cinemas around the corner; get some unbelievable ice cream at Gifford's next door; walk off that food coma with a stroll down the Capital Crescent Trail.
(4)Tori K.
This place is amazing. They have wonderful fresh bread that they bring before the meal and some kind of carrot salad. My favorite is there side of Mac and Cheese with their warm frisee and bacon salad. They also have a very good warm brie.
(5)Zita L.
If my waiter had spoken French, like those who waited on some other Yelpers, I might have added a third star just for the hell of it. OK, here we go. I was frustrated by the wine list for starters. It listed the regions of France. Fine. And then listed the varietals of grapes found under each of those regions. Fine. And then under THAT, listed the wines by chateaux names. Fine. But it DIDN'T tell you the varietal of grapes contained in each wine, and the waiter - who didn't even look old enough to drink wine - had absolutely no clue about wine or his restaurant's wine list. So nobody in the room knew whether we were ordering a malbec or a merlot. I know what I like, but I'm not an expert. You KNOW your wine ordering experience was bad when you simply had to point and say "I guess I'll take THAT one". The french onion soup I had was boring and overly sweet. The potatoes that came with my friends' steaks were so thin, it's like they couldn't decide whether they wanted to be french fries or potato chips. Not a good fence to be on, as they are either soggy chips or really greasy fries. One friend got plain old potatoes with her fish. I tasted them and they were bland as hell. I also tasted a friend's steak: Meh. The bread that came to the table in the beginning, along with the kicky little accompanying dish of sweet grated carrots were fresh and good, as was the trout. That's where the second star was awarded. Surely Bethesda can do better. Although more pricey, a similar (and slightly better) alternative Big French Bistro waaaaaaay downtown is Les Halles.
(2)Y Y.
Thought I'd give it another try - wished I did not. Came for dinner. Crappy service with crappier food to boot. The steak is so thin, they should just call it bulgoggi! The frites are so thin they are no better than kettle chips. I had the steak frite at Les Halles and it was waaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy better. Dont be fooled by the nice looking "french bistro paris feel" outdoor sitting or dinning room. The place looks toooo good for the food they serve. Super deceptive!
(1)Sheena C.
Absolutely looooove this place!!! The staff is so wonderful, and the food is amazing. It is a lot of people in one space but who cares! Totally worth it. I ordered a steak and asked about the different sauces. I finally picked one but was still brought both so I could try them both. It's attention and service like that along with just generally great food that I love.
(5)TejieSaba S.
This adorable French restaurant is located in hip downtown Bethesda. The atmosphere has a great vibe and if you go here when the weather is warm, I'd recommend sitting outside. If you like rare but not tremendously overpriced imported wine, try their bordeaux, it's very light but aromatic. I have been here on more than one occasion and my favorite thing about this place is the freshness of their food. The salmon salad is amazing and my go-to entree is the sea scallops. I love going back to this place and anyone I have ever recommended this restaurant to has loved it.
(4)Brian C.
What a delicious meal we had here Saturday night - a little pricy, but the food and service was worth it. We did not make a reservation, so we were told we would have an hour wait. We gave a cell phone number to the hostess, and were delighted to get a call 20 minutes later saying there had been a cancellation and they could sit us now. The hostess pulled out the table so my partner could sit on the inside of the banquette comfortable and the waitress brought water and a hot crispy baguette right away. The bread was served with creamy butter and a tart carrot relish. The waitress told us the specials and waited patiently while we decided among their tempting menu. As an appetizer, I ordered the French Onion soup. Served in a deep white bowl, the focus was shared netween the gooey layer of cheese and toast and the rich beef broth and carmelized onion. As an entree, I ordered the steak bordelaise and pomme fritte. The frites were a crispy pile of potato goodness and they sopped up the rich onion and butter sauce perfectly. The steak was incredibly tender and flavorful. My partner ordered the hot olive bowl as an appetizer. Who knew hot olives could be so tasty and taste so different? He ordered the fish special - a crispy filet over fennel and potatoes. We shoudn't have, but we ordered dessert. Who could resist that dessert list? The layer of chocolate in the chocolate pecan tart was a little hard to cut through, but well worth the effort. The interplay of whipped cream, pecans, chocolate, flaky tart and caramel swirl was wonderful.
(5)Rhan K.
I always love this place. I used to come here in high school with a school group to get food and loved it then. I came here to take my parents out for dinner and had a decent experience. The food: The fillet mignon was great. Yummy, well cooked and the sauce was perfect. The fries that came with it were great too. The Onion Soup was SPECTACULAR. It is seriously the big MUST of this place. The scallop entree was great but it was 6 pieces of scallop for like 17 dollars, which is a bit of a rip off in some ways. And the Skate Wing was a bit bland. The capers that came with it were really bad (I usually LOVE capers) and so it was a bit of a disappointment. Also, the duck appetizer was overly sweet and not a great balance of flavors with the REALLY under seasoned lentils. The ambiance: It is always the perfectly cute restaurant to sit and eat in. It is just adorable. The Service: The service here is always SPECTACULAR. I must say its amusing to try to speak to the servers in french and even in english , they are just the perfect balance of attentive and not overwhelming.
(4)Saki M.
Umm, yes this place is great. My lady friends and I come here quite often for Sunday Brunch and we are never disappointed. You'll never go wrong with the eggs du jour or quiche Lorraine. We usually have one or the other as a shared appetizer and the Roquefort steak frites and a couple of French 75's to right last nights wrongs. Skip the dining room and instead cozy up in the bar section and get ready to receive first-class, attentive and thoughtful service from the wonderful bar staff. Great choice to start off a fabulous Sunday Funday.
(5)Yummy or Crummy S.
My boyfriend was in the mood for some French food for lunch one day and so we scouted yelp's recommendations for the area and decided to check this place out. And boy, am I glad we did! This was the best restaurant EXPERIENCE I've had in a long time. So much so that I decided to make a yelp account just to review it. First off, the FOOD. My boyfriend had the French Onion soup and a Soft Shell Crab sandwich (seasonal), I decided to try 2 appetizers instead of ordering an entree, the Warm Duck Confit and the Chicken Liver Mousse. The French Onion soup ($7) was excellent, and furthermore it was HUGE. Honestly, we weren't expecting much size-wise from a French restaurant, but they sure surprised us. The soup might have been a bit too cheesy for anyone who doesn't like cheese but it was very flavorful and definitely fresh-made. The soft shell crab sandwich ($16) was pretty good, it had a lot of flavor and the bacon was a nice addition. The fries that came with it were also good, fresh and crispy. As for my h'ordeuvres, the duck confit ($11) was OUTSTANDING. The meat practically fell off the bone and was cooked perfectly, the balsamic cherries added a tangy balance of flavor and the potatoes rounded out the dish nicely. I normally don't eat potatoes but with the duck and cherry juices they were delicious. The chicken liver mousse ($7) was also excellent, very smooth and creamy with a burgundy red wine mustard to go with it and pickles, olives and pearl onions on the side as palate cleansers. The balance of flavors in the dish was perfect. To finish the meal off we had iced cappuccinos, which were a perfect ending to the meal. Usually people only talk about the food in a review, but the SERVICE at Mon Ami Gabi was outstanding as well. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and helpful when discussing the menu options, so much so that it honestly seemed like he had been studying it in his sleep! He knew how each dish is cooked and what kind of taste one would expect. When we questioned him about certain dishes, he knew the exact ingredients that were in each dish and gave an unbiased recommendation. He also always made sure our glasses were never empty and even brought out a glass of ice (without being asked!) when there was a possibility that the water might have been getting warm (since we were outside on a nice, sunny day). He checked with us every time a dish was served to make sure it met expectations. He even served us an extra free cup of iced cappuccino when he wasn't happy with the foam on our originals (we hadn't had any complaints!). Overall, our waiter was knowledgeable down to the tiniest detail and made sure our experience at Mon Ami Gabi wasn't going to be our last. We will definitely be back again soon.
(5)Harvey L.
Cold soup and salad outdoors under a shade tree were excellent, as was the bread. I'm not a fan of their version of French fries, which having tried them a couple of times in the past, I never order. Good service.
(4)John E.
I think this place is terrific. Some nights they have live jazz and it is very fun to listen to. The seafood an steaks are about 20-25 dollars, but they have lots of cheaper options like delicious burgers and omelettes. I've been about 5 times and the service is consistently good.
(4)Christina T.
Went for restaurant week last night. DELICIOUS. Had the chilled gazpacho, steak & frites, & crepes... nom dot com. I've never had gazpacho before so was a bit hesitant, but it was absolutely delicious. I expected more veggies, but the avocado in it was delicious. The steak was so good! We couldn't decide what sauce to get with our steak so our waiter brought them all, which was really nice & not something he needed to do. Minus one of the sauces which tasted a bit like bad blue cheese dressing, they were all very yummy. Lucky that we got to try all of them in the first place, though. Dessert was even better--I got the crepe minus the peaches with some ice cream on top. TO DIE FOR. Wish I could have eaten more but I was already so stuffed. All in all, the food was solid across the board. The only thing I disliked was the amount of frites they threw on your plate.. a bit overwhelming & lacking in taste. Service was great, expected it to be subpar because of restaurant week, but we were seated promptly, even a little early [making reservations = the way to go], and our food came at the perfect pace. Our waiter & the other bus boys were also extremely attentive. Decor was adorable. Will definitely be back.
(4)Dancetolead V.
We had a wonderful lunch at the restaurant last week. I was really disappointed in the fries though. They were thin and greasy, like McDonalds. When the waiter asked if everything was OK, both of us complained about the fries and they brough us the potato chips instead. Again, nothing interesting. The waiter said the restaurant was known for their fries. I didn't see why. They gave us free desert afterwards. Great service and the rest of the food was food. I mentioned the restuarant to another friend who lives to eat out. She said I was crazy and that the Mon Ami Gabi fries were the best she has ever eaten. So she went there for dinner and now won't eat there for a year as the fries were in fact, horrible.
(4)Sue H.
Steak Classique. Don't get a menu. This is a one-item restaurant. Chicken is bad. Fish is average. Go hungry. Leave so happy.
(5)Cameron T.
Met up with my cousin for dinner here last night. She had been many times while it was my first visit to the Bethesda location. We started with the chicken liver mousse, which was good. Then I had the Hangar steak, while she ordered the Filet au poivre. We both ordered medium rare. Mine was perfect while hers came out way over cooked. We sent it back, and they brought out a new one. At that point I was donewith my meal. My steak was perfectly cooked, seasoned nicely with merlot butter. It was tender & flavorful. It was also a bargain at $17.95. My cousin's filet was bland, and she said it was usually very good but not last night. Too bad considering it cost $29.95. I didn't care for their frites. Their fries with very thin unlike the traditional fries served with steak frites. They weren't very crispy and I much prefer the traditional version served at places like Les Halles. The service was not so great. The server took awhile to greet our table. He never checked back to see how our food was, and we had to flag him down about the over cooked steak. He never checked back after that until much later when he dropped off the check. I would go back again. It's a good bet if you have a steak craving. I wouldn't expect anything spectacular, but a decent standy-by.
(3)Natalie F.
This place is beautiful inside and was perfect for the wedding shower lunch I went to last weekend. We had a room to ourselves with a three round tables and a champagne bar. It was super fancy and the service was excellent. For lunch it was a three course menu with starters which I would say were the best. The scallops, Brie with fresh roasted garlic and toast. The main course I got was the tuna burger which was good but really messy and difficult to eat. The desserts were delicious, flour less chocolate cake, crem bru le and Ice cream with chocolate fudge and pastry. The food was good, not as good as I would have expected. The portions are huge for a french restaurant, seems like they are compensating for the quality of the food. I would love to try brunch here, I'm sure it's excellent.
(2)Bunnie B.
2 words: steak frites. 2 more: get them. Even though Mon Ami Gabi is kind of expensive and full of yuppies (it's Bethesda after all) the food is really tasty. AND it's next to a great independent movie theater and mediocre ice cream shop.
(3)Brigitte V.
After reading all the 5 star reviews, we thought we'd try this place - we just moved here from Europe and were craving some "home" food. Well, we decided to sit outside on this warm evening. A waiter came and poured some water in our glasses, and we sat waiting for a menu. During this waiting period, we observed all of their staff (waiters, I assume, they were all dressed alike) valet-parking the cars of their customers. We waited for a total of 30 minutes (!!!), never received a menu (!!!), and were finally fed up with being "ignored", so we got up to leave. Needless to say, we will definitely not be back, no matter how awesome the food supposedly is.
(1)Jo-Elle M.
Went here for a work event (wine tasting/dinner) this week, so I do not know the price of things. (Sorry.) First, Julian, the manager (?) was great. He went through a quick lesson on French wines, and we were served 2 whites and 2 reds. We had a dedicated server who kept the wine glasses full (hello!!) . I had the butter lettuce salad. Very fresh and yummy. My entree was the seared scallops with cauliflower puree and wilted spinach. Oh my goodness. Super delicious. Cooked perfectly and all elements were full of flavor and went together wonderfully. For dessert, I had the creme brulee, which was very good. Wished I tried the flourless chocolate cake - that looked yummy too! I would highly recommend this place. Being from Chicago, the headquarters of the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group is here - including Mon Ami Gabi. I never have been to the Chicago one, but I will definitely make plans to do so really really soon!! Thanks, Julian and staff!
(4)sophie S.
If you like french food this is the place to be. The french onion soup is as close to the real thing as it gets. The mussels are amazing, steak frits, salads, it's all wonderful. I have never had a bad meal here, it is one of my favorite restaurants. The service is great, they even have a bloody mary bar on weekends for brunch! The place itself looks very French. Parking is difficult usually better to find a lot and walk. Usually best to make reservations (especially during the weekends.) DO NOT FORGET THE DESSERTS!!!! UNBELIEVABLE!
(5)Heather J.
The best thing about this place is brunch. Though it's supposed to be a French bistro/steakhouse, the steaks are just OK. The brunch and lunch, on the other hand, are fantastic. The french onion soup here is some of the best I've ever had. It's really rich, with tangy gruyere cheese melted on top. I also love their sandwiches. I can't remember all the ones I've tried offhand, but I don't remember being disappointed in any of them. Now, the best part: the baguettes they bring out with brunch. They're warm, crispy and perfectly browned on the outside, and soft on the inside. They serve them with butter and jam - the jam is amazing. I went for lunch once and they didn't have the jam out because it wasn't a weekend, and I asked for some of the jam with my baguette. They happily obliged. My other favorite thing about brunch is their vanilla french toast. It's a huge portion of french toast with cinnamon baked apples and whipped cream. It's absolutely delicious. I always have leftovers, too, which makes my morning almost as good the next day.
(4)Tamara C.
Went on a Friday night. Had reservations but still had a bit of a wait in the bar. The atmosphere, the service, and the food were excellent. I had the shoulder cut steak with clue cheese medium rare and it was delicious.
(5)Nicole L.
This is yet another restaurant I walked past for the last 10 years and always wanted to try but never did. From what I heard was good food but expensive. I decided to give it a shot past weekend. From the outside it looked contained, that you can't quite tell what is going on inside. When I walked in, it was bustling with people both at the bar and in the dining area. It's looked like a typical french bistro. We had a reservation for 10 PM european style after being indeicisive most of the night haha, we decided to get there earlier to grab a drink or two. The bar was crowded and after some wait we got the attention of the bartender, we ordered a cotes du rhone and a gabitini - martini with blue cheese stuffed in olives - it was not bad. My companion asked for more olives but the bartender totally 'forgot' about it. After that drink, we just sticked to red wines. We were seated at a nice table at the inside part of the restaurant but it was right at the entrance to the bathroom and kitchen there was lots of traffic though it had a nice view of the dining room. Our waitress was very pleasant and gave us an excellent service. The baguette was fresh and tasty! The waitress was very sweet giving us two complimentary glasses of white sancerre to go with the oysters. We ordered the oysters and escargot - oysters were tiny there was hardly any meat and they were not detached from the muscles. By the time you scraped it off, it looked like a spit out oyster. The escargot was delicious however it was soaked in this garlic-parsley-butter sauce. For the entree, I ordered the skate it was cooked perfectly nicely seasoned and had fresh lemon wedges and capers. There was a cabbage and green beans slaw which I didnt really try except for the green beans. My companion liked it. The fresh cut potato chips were crunchy but they were glistening in oil. I found that it to be rather unappetizing. My companion's trout was overly seasoned it was so salty I was shocked by the first bite. My companion agreed it should be sent back. The waitress again topped up my companion's wine as an apology. Overall, the food was mediocre but less than I imagined all this time about this place but I did like my skate alot!! The service was great!! It made it an enjoyable experience.
(3)Sonia S.
I have to say, I was underwhelmed with the food at Mon Ami Gabi. However, the ambiance and scene was buzzing and fun- the bar area is a great place to grab apertifs and chat with friends and wait for your table. We lucked out and had a quick wait and got an outside table as well- which overlooks the grassy area in the back. For a French restaurant, this place serves enormous portions, but even compared to an American restaurant, the servings are big...like TGIFridays big. To start, our waitress brought out complimentary baguette (in a paper bag) with whipped butter and a refreshing grated carrot salad. For appetizers, we ordered the butter lettuce salad and the soup of the day (Roasted Red Pepper- good, but quite heavy). The butter lettuce salad with apples, cheese, walnut was not what I expected- it was a hard cheese, unglazed walnuts, and lemony vinaigrette..somehow the combination was off. The flet mignon was good but not exceptional- the frites, were definitely good- they were ribbony, unlike anything I've had before. Again, the portions were huge- I split this entree- and each half portion was the size of a normal serving! The fluke (it's a type of fish) special was a bit mushy and again not amazing..but good. Lastly, we ordered the protiferoles for a table of 3 of us...they brought 3 giant protiferoles (the ice cream was from Gifford's next door and quite good..the hot fudge is apparently housemade). It was a good choice. Service was friendly and attentive.
(3)PC W.
Way to go Bethesda Restaurant Week for convincing one Restonite, two Arlingtonians and two DC-ers to convene for lunch in Bethesda. The RW deal for lunch was $12 for an appetizer and entree or entree and dessert. Not everyone took advantage of the deal since there were so many great options on the regular menu. I, of course, did. The soup du jour was a butternut squash with bleu cheese. Sweet and creamy. I was very satisfied with my choice. I also had the steamed mussels in white wine cream and bacon sauce served with frites. Mmm, mmm, good. I will definitely go back if I'm in the neighborhood.
(4)Paula W.
Fantastic service and the food was delicious. They didnt rush us but they werent slow either. The mussels were awesome. Fresh and the broth was very good. Had the scallops appetizer which we didn't realize was covered in cheese but it was still very good. The baked Brie was excellent and the bread pudding was delicious as well. We just had appetizers and dessert and I would definitely go back for a full dinner.
(4)J M.
Delish. Steak is what they're best at. I wouldn't bother with anything else. Except a nice red, of course ;)
(4)Araneta A.
The brunch was exceptional. The service was great. This is a place to bring in-laws or people you want to impress because you know they will consistently deliver good food and excellent service.
(4)Victoria S.
Note: If I could give it 3.5 stars, I would, but I don't feel that it reaches 4 star level (however I am also a very picky eater) OVERALL REVIEW: Good quality food, served luke-warm, at decent prices. Decent restaurant if you're looking for something a little different from your average American steakhouse, but don't go here if you're looking for authentic French food. DETAILED REVIEW: Mon Ami Gabi is located in the center of activity in Bethesda, tucked into the corner near the Bethesda Theatre, with great outdoor seating for those who like to people watch while enjoying a decent meal. While the overall ambience tends to be a little over the top (as if they are constantly trying to remind you that they are a french restaurant), the food is fairly good. The dress is "smart casual", and you'll find lots of people in polos and khakis on a hot summer day. A freshly baked, warm baguette is served with couscous and butter almost immediately. If you order appetizers, may I suggest the mussels, which were very fresh, but only lukewarm by the time they were served to us. Mon Ami Gabi also claims to have the second best french onion soup in DC, however I feel that it is actually a little too sweet, and could use a little more savory/saltiness. For entrees, you can't go wrong with the steaks (although, keep in mind they are pounded thin unless you get the filet mignon, so don't get it too well done). Also delicious is their fish selections (the skate is flaky and delicious, without any real "fishy taste", and the trout has nice seasoning). Again, by the time our food was served to us, it was only lukewarm, bordering on cold. The frites that come with the steaks are very tasty (but again, cold, as if they've been fried, then left sitting on the counter until someone ordered a dish that has a side of frites). The salmon salad is drenched with too much salad dressing, giving you the impression you're basically eating pure salad oil. For dessert, we tried the Profiteroles, which I found to be way too sweet for my tastes. Try the crepes or creme brulee instead, you can never go wrong with creme brulee.
(3)Rob A.
Good Service, Good Food. What more do I need to say? They have the best french toast ever! Okay so the waiters don't speak French. It's okay. They are still very helpful.
(4)Brennan R.
I stopped in here for the first time the other night with my Folks. We've tried just about everything on Bethesda Row, but had never ventured inside Mon Ami. What were we thinking waiting so long!? The service was excellent, the bar tender was right on point, pleasing even my super picky dad with a superb Manhattan. I had a starter of the French onion soup, and let me tell you.. Life changing cheesy, oozy, onion perfection. I thought nothing could be better than my soup, but when my hanger steak with merlot butter and frites came out, I swear angels were singing! Cooked to perfection with a serious helping of frites? I'm sold. I'll definitely be back, and please don't make the mistake I made... Don't wait!!! Now go.. Get your steak frite on!
(4)Hannah C.
an adorable parisian-style cafe that makes you want to jump on a plane and fly to paris. it also had a very similar atmosphere to balthazar, wistfully reminding me of new york. unfortunately i didn't get to try their food because i came to brunch much too late, but the food looked absolutely delicious. the prices for food were very reasonable, however, my order of coffee and perrier that came out to $11 was completely absurd to me. this doesn't change my desire to go back the next time i am in town though.
(4)Hello H.
I heard their happy hours are good. Service and our waitor were great. But my first experience at Mon Ami Gabi was very poor. The open face shrimp salad sandwich that I got was terrible. The watery mayonnaise-based sauce was disgusting (a strong word, but it was just gross) and the whole thing was absolutely tasteless. I kept pouring on black pepper, and even asked for a lemon wedge to offset the watery mayonnaise, but to no avail. My friend also got the same thing and she also had a poor reaction to the dish. The only untainted part of this meal was the slice of avocado it comes with. That is, the part of it that wasn't already doused in the watery mayo. I also did not like the french bread. You have to use force to rip it apart -- definitely not cool for a sit-down restaurant -- and the bread was just messy and tasteless. See my other reviews to get a sense of what I think is good.
(1)J H.
Just like Dianne K. , Mon Ami Gabi was an absolute unexpected delight! The food was great and our server was incredibly attentive- the whole staff was. Service: I rushed in while my Fiance was waiting in the car to exchange some money for change to park. While I was at the bar getting change, one of the servers gave me a cup of ice water without me even asking. I looked at the water dumb founded- looked around to see if it was for someone else, but the guy just smiled and said "its hot out there... and walked away". I don't think he was even a bar tender. When we finally got in, we were seated promptly. Our server Alex was really cool and absolutely one of the best servers I've come across. He was incredibly attentive and really seemed like someone who was happy to be working there. We ate the mussels. fillet, and the halibut special. The bread was awesome as were the fries which I couldn't stop eating. The steaks however were a bit bland considering I'm relatively used to Ruth Chris style steaks. The halibut, while being "special" because of the "farm fresh, chef picked vegetables- it also tasted a bit bland for my palette. Overall my experience was swell. I applaud Mon Ami Gabi for their personal customer service. Never did I feel as though the food took too long or our cups were less than full. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)Denise H.
Best. Onion Soup. Ever. Fresh baguettes & real butter. Filet Mignon with Merlot butter/red wine reduction is one of the best filets I have EVER had - great quality meat prepared exactly as requested. Pommes frites are ok and bountiful! Shared desserts - choc mousse, bananas foster, apple tarte tatin and creme brulee were all excellent. We had a business dinner for 9, and our server was excellent - good balance of attentiveness without being intrusive. Mojito was gooood. Would definitely go back with my husband.
(4)Karen C.
Come here for Happy Hour. For $5, you can get the french onion soup, salmon burger with huge cup of fries, steak burger w/ huge cup of fries or associate goodies. I usually just get the soup & split the burger with someone. They also offer wines from $3.50-$5/glass. Delish!
(4)Peggy Lyn S.
Another terrific lunch experience at Mon Ami Gabi! This place never disappoints but this week was exceptional! The special of the day was an open face mushroom sandwich. Served with a perfectly poached egg on top, frites and a salad...incredibly delicious, large portion, great value, great service, comfortable banquette...just delightful. I've been obsessing about the sandwich ever since and debating whether or not to call the restaurant to see when that sandwich will be on the special board again! Merci!
(5)Matthew W.
Excellent for Saturday lunch. The onion soup and the salads were a delight.
(4)Leila T.
Gorgeous sunny Saturday, a couple empty tables outside of Mon Ami. So a friend and I decided- why not soak up the beautiful weather and eat outside? We walk into the restaurant (at 25% capacity mind you) and ask the host for a table outside to which the manager replies, "I'm sorry we can't sit you outside. We are in between lunch and dinner right now". Me: "What do you mean, the kitchen is closed?" Him: "No, the kitchen is fully open, we just can't seat you outside. The people already outside are just finishing up. We can only serve you in this one section to my left, or at the bar." Me: (still not comprehending) So...you're saying we can't sit outside even though there are available tables...AND the kitchen is fully operational... Him: "Correct" AU REVIOR!!! Okay...so I haven't actually eaten here, but the crappy rating is due to their snobby attitude and unwillingness to accommodate their customers.
(2)Olivia L.
We stumbled in starving, without a reservation, at 7:30pm on the Saturday that the MoCo popo closed down the Bethesda Row garage because there was no more parking. Yes, it was a zoo. We were given a buzzer and told that it would be at least an hour before they could seat us -- so much for the 9pm movie we had hoped to see at Bethesda Row Cinema next door. Well, thanks to my ESP, we snagged a table in the bar after about 20 minutes, and had the amazing French onion soup (it's pretty much a meal), and a steak a piece (the steaks are ok, they're very thin so get them well done -- I got mine medium rare and it was close to raw in places -- it's hard to cook a thin steak to a uniform level of doneness). I'm only dropping one star for the done-ness of my steak because we made our movie after all, and it's just a super cute place.
(4)Sabrina B.
Let's start off by saying I don't think this is *that* authentic and the waiters don't speak a lick of french, but that's fine. Just wanted to put that all out there. Given that, I thought the food here was pretty darn yummy. I always like to scope out good French restaurants for my parents to visit while they're in town, and again, though not authentic, I think this place has very good food. I had the steak and fries. Someone else had the salmon which was also good, and someone else raved about the chicken - which look dry and plain to me, but they said it was good. I also had some sweet wine that was absolutely delicious. I'll definitely go again.
(4)J C.
It was our dear, devoted intern that reminded me about this place. We were talking about the Bethesda Row Cinema, and she told me "Oh, you've GOT to try this great French restaurant called Mon Ami Gabi! The steak frites are wonderful!" "That's a good idea," I replied. "However, it's more like French-style food, since they're run by Lettuce Entertain You. You know, that big Chicago superchain of restaurants." Her jaw dropped. But that's okay. I had a similar reaction when my dad told me pro wrestling was faked. The Hulkster FAKING IT? Lies... all lies! The interior felt steakhousey. Lots of Oakwood trim and lots of bottles of wine against the walls. Surprisingly, they didn't seat us at one of those setups where you've got the long bench on one side, lined up with 15 smaller tables and chairs on the other side (God knows there was plenty of this seating here, which I absolutely hate). We got a nice, cozy table in the corner (in fact, if I ever bring a date here, I'm going to try to get this same table again). First up, escargot. I only had these once, about 17 years ago, and my coworker never had them at all, so we figured we'd just split an order. Turns out neither one of us cared for them, but that didn't have anything to do with how they were cooked (the garlic butter was very, very tasty!), more like we just didn't like snails. They have a good selection of apps, such as country pate and duck mousse, and they give you a complimentary baguette with butter regardless. As for the main course, I think what MAG does is take traditional French bistro favorites, and just run with those. Nothing like calves brain or cassoulet. Hangar steak and frites is clearly the star of the show, and you can get it several different ways here. I got the Steak Roquefort, which was steak with bleu cheese sauce. My coworker got the Steak Bordelaise, which came with caramelized onions and red wine sauce on top. They have seafood and other dishes there, but for some reason, steak just stands out. Also, they have a list of weekly specials (like duck confit on Sundays), but if you're hankering for the specials, you've got to reserve the special in your reservations. Quantities are limited. The steaks were great. I would have loved for my steak to have had more bleu cheese sauce, but it was very tasty. Meat was cooked medium rare as requested, and very tender. (I've seen complaints, mostly on other review sites, that MAG had a track record of overcooking beef, but it wasn't a problem tonight). The frites are strange. Have you ever ate those potato sticks you get at the grocery store? Imagine those on steroids. Very crisp and very puffy. But we both left stuffed, and for $20 per plate, it was a good value for the money. The verdict: I liked it a lot, and the food was great. Having said that, I have no idea when I'll be here next. For me, it's out of the way, and there's no escaping the fact that it's clearly an American creature, and clearly a chain restaurant at that. It just had that whole corporate feel. With so many other actual French restaurants in DC (that are closer to me) with real French staff, it almost defies logic that I'd come back here when the real deal is closer. Oh, and I overheard the guy next to me remark "yeah... we've got a lot of Americans buried over there. We saved their asses twice." Yeah, this place don't cater to the international crowd, methinks. Note: a word about booze. Their wine selection was quite extensive, but a bit expensive too. Wanna know why it's this way in Montgomery County restaurants? Read on: washingtoncitypaper.com/…
(4)Heather P.
Super lively, great atmosphere and pretty tasty food! Wines are good, appetizers authentic and entrees generous. I'll be back!
(4)Meghan G.
This place is feels very "fancy chain" in general. They strive for a french bistro, but with the soaring ceilings and cavernous interior it feels more like a high-end Olive Garden. BUT, the food here is really great. If you are really craving some meat and potatoes, this is your place. The very juicy, wonderfully marinated flank steaks smothered in your choice of toppings (i got the Roquefort) plated with a pile of thin, crispy frites will literally clog your arteries just glancing at it. The entrees are pretty massive, so unless your a freaking lumberjack, you're safe splitting an appetizer and a steak. The service was fast and friendly, bringing us basket after basket of warm crusty bread. I am easily won over with massive amounts of carbs, what can I say. All in all a great place to go, maybe not a first date of special occasion destination given its semi-forced atmosphere of a faux french joint, but give it a go after a few dates or on a special occasion for someone you seems pretty ideal for a work happy hour, or company lunch. Also its convenient to the Bethesda Row Cinema, so good pre or after movie grub.
(4)Mari C.
Highly recommended for food, ambiance, knowledgeable staff. Going here for dinner is an experience to be cherished.
(5)Prateeksha N.
I was grossed out by this place. It was dingy, depressing, slow, dirty and the desserts were a shame for a french place. We put down our names on a waiting list and dropped decent cash only to come out of there feeling stale and gritty and about two centuries old. Ignore this place, they have greasy floors!
(2)Jeff G.
This is a great French bistro right in the middle of Bethesda that provides excellent service and great food, though the price is a bit on the high side. The atmosphere and decor of the place is what you would expect from any French bistro, with lots of wood on the walls, tiled floors, and tables packed in really tight. Every time I have visited, the server was either French or putting on a really bad accent. Sometimes the service is a bit French (e.g. unattentive and snobby), but most of the time it's quite good. I'm a huge escargot fan, so I always get it as an appetizer when we go, and it's some of the best that I have had. Make sure you get extra bread to sop up that wonderful garlic butter ;) Entrees here are a bit on the high side pricewise, but they're definitely tasty and up to par with other French restaurants in the city. Dessert is a definite must here! Overall, great food and reasonable service for a slightly high price, but definitely recommended.
(4)Judy N.
I rally like this place. One of the best onion soup ever. I love onion soup and just thinking about it make me want to go back there for more. Been there many times, once for HH and other times at the dining room. The servers are always attentive and helpful. I love the French bread, chicken liver mousse and the steak. They also serve brunch during the weekend.
(4)Virginia C.
I'm usually not a steak person but this place has got the best filet ever (order it with carmelized onions and sherry sauce)!!!
(5)Lisa D.
Our experience began on a Sunday evening around 8pm. I strolled into the restaurant with my fiance and his family. There were 5 of us and we were told the wait would only be about 15 minutes. They got our cell number and actually called us within the estimated waiting time period. One of the great things about going here is the fact that there are shops and a nice area to walk around if dinner is during rush/primetime. Something I almost immediately noticed, once we sat down, was how this place has some of the most friendly, professional and helpful staff I have ever encountered. They treated us as though we were a big deal despite the fact that we were dressed very casual (we had been walking around the DC area all day and had wedding planning appointments). When I told the server that I wanted the gluten-free menu, he made SURE to inform me that they had gluten free bread (as an appetizer as well). The gluten-free bread was fantastic! He served it on a separate plate and brought it out first because he explained how everything I would be eating that evening would be prepared separately. The server told me that they take gluten allergies VERY seriously and they went over, above and beyond to make sure that experience, despite my diet restrictions, was over the top. I ordered a steak with a thick creamy egg yolk/cream sauce. It was beyond delicious and my mother-in-law-to-be ordered fish. I don't remember what kind but she said she absolutely loved it. My steak was cooked exactly as I had ordered it-medium and presented just before everyone else's food (only seconds before). They were really good about not taking too long to bring out the food and it was timed perfectly. Our appetizer (that everyone shared) was mussels in a cream sauce. They were delicious and exceeded our expectations. Overall I give this place 5 out of 5 because the food, in conjunction with the excellent service, makes this a place I would gladly visit again and a new favorite for the area.
(5)blowfly x.
Went here Saturday night - definitely make sure you reserve! People who came in without a reservation (this was at 6:30) had an hour wait. The food: Was quite good. I had the escargot appetizer, which was delicious - the snails were large and plump and very tender. My husband had the mussels, which also were large and plump and tender - that isn't always the case with mussels, so we were pleasantly surprised. The creamy wine broth was excellent; I ate (drank) most of that. The full-size version of the mussels appetizer would have been a perfectly adequate meal for me, size wise. Unfortunately I had also ordered the scallop appetizer (as an entree), and had no room for it, so I had to take it home. I did taste a bit - it was good, and the fennel in it was great, but I'm not so sure I like CHEESE (esp. in that large an amount) on scallops. My husband had the porcini soup, which was really mushroomy and very rich. He also had the au poivre steak; it was thinner than we expected, but like everything else, tender and very tasty. He had to take most of that home; between the broth from the mussels and the mushroom soup, we were in danger of a dry land drowning. The waiters were friendly and nice, but a woman kept continuously circling through the restaurant making notes, I suppose on everyone's status. It was sort of irritating to be so obviously kept tabs on. Also unluckily for us, and of course this was not the restaurant's fault, the old lady behind us seemed to have taken her woolly coat out of mothballs 10 seconds before, and the smell was HORRIBLE. Unfortunately for us I wasn't able to pinpoint it until she stood up at the end of our meal. Man. Air your clothes out before you mingle with other people.
(4)Hampton C.
A group of friends and I rolled large to Mon Ami Gabi last weekend during Bethesda's restaurant week. I thought the restaurant week menu offered plenty of good options. I ended up grabbing the salmon served atop of pile of risotto which was pretty much money in the bank (now bear in mind that I was also rocking the majority of a bottle of French wine at the time as well). I ended up tasting most of friends food whenever they left to use the restroom, and dang! it was all good too. The service was above average but we were hoping for a rich French accent which we didn't get. Anyways, I plan to go back to try the lunch menu sometime soon.
(4)Katie P.
My husband and I finally visited this restaurant past weekend. We had always wanted to try this place. The weather was beautiful, and an outdoor table at Mon Ami Gabi seemed to be a perfect place for saturday lunch. Server was very pleasant and professional. She knew the menu inside and out, and didn't try to recommend the most expensive items on the menu. The baguette came inside the bag, and it was warm and soft. Loved it. We tried the snail appetizer and it was just ok...unique sauce, but not so appetizing...To me it had too much olive oil...Little more garlic would have been better. Then my husband had a steak sandwich which was served with fries, some greens and caramelized onion. He said the meat was cold, and wasn't so tender. Basically he did not enjoy it. I had their croque monsieur, which came with fries, salad, and fried egg on top. The sandwich itself had nothing special...Just ham and cheese. And tasted no different than regular ham and cheese sandwich. I think it should've been bit warmer so the cheese woud've melted more. The fries were great. Thin and crispy! The presentation of the entrees were very nice as well. But the ones we tried didn't meet my expectations. Maybe we had too high of an expectation about this place. I don't think we'll be coming back for the entrees we tried past weekend...But willing to try some other dish.
(3)Alex P.
This is one of my go-to places in the DC area for a nice dinner. When my girlfriend's father was in town I sent him here. Great steak-frites every time. The service has been friendly and attentive at every visit, and their country-pate appetizer made me believe that I couldn't possibly enjoy my steak even more...but I did. Warm atmosphere, classic French cuisine done very well, affordable wines, and reliable quality of food and service. I highly recommend Mon Ami Gabi.
(5)Suzanne P.
I have been here several times for lunch and it is always delicious. I usually order the house salad with goat cheese, the steak sandwich with frites, and for dessert, the profiteroles. I have also sampled the pate, the scallops, and the shrimp, all of which are amazing. Quaint, slightly boisterous setting, with great service. They serve red wine mustard and tiny pickles with the brie which is yummy and classic.
(4)Robert C.
Accidentally stumbled upon this place walking around Bethesda looking for a place to eat. Great food, great service, great experience. My girlfriend says you must try the Frangria! It's a bit pricey but it's well worth it and it would serve as a nice date spot.
(5)Alan S.
verry nice, best country pate and onion soup ever. great service and huge portions, really reminds me of paris
(4)Jed S.
I went to Mon Ami Gabi for dinner with a friend yesterday evening. The maitre d' was quite friendly, as was the wait staff. Service was quick and gracious, and was good at checking to see if we needed/wanted anything without being overly solicitious. The interior is really quite lovely, with pretty warm colors contrasting with the dark mahogony wood, the two dining rooms are separated by a mahogony wine rack, and it creates a welcoming environment. They were having some sort of Apple festival, so the restaurant was decorated with apples all around the perimeter of the room, as well as having some special apple entrees and deserts on the menu. Speaking of apples, our dinner began with a wonderful demibaguette, accompanied with couscous and apple butter. Although we couldn't taste the apple in the apple butter, it was still quite good, and the demibaguette was perfect. I had the french onion soup, which although I thought it was pricey when looking at the menu, comes in a huge portion. It was sweeter then I am used to, but it was really quite good. My dining companion and I both had the fish and chips (pomme frites), which was a very thin, large piece of cod fillet, and very thin ribbon fries that seemed to be a hybrid between classic french fries and potato chips. The cod was absolutely delicious, definitely among the best fried fish that I've had. The frites started of being very good while they were hot, but as they cooled, they kind of lost their appeal. We ended our meal by splitting profiteroles, vanilla ice cream topped with pastry topped with chocolate, and that was very, very good. All in all, Mon Ami Gabi is a perfectly lovely restaurant where I would be comfortable taking a date, a client, my parents, etc. I wouldn't necessarily come here for a first date as the formal, fancy environment might scare someone off, but otherwise, it's pretty darn top notch.
(5)Alice C.
I rated this place 3.5 stars. Great French restaurant, probably one of the best ones I've tried (out of 3 Fr Restaurants... probably, shot my credibility). But, the baguette - butter - jelly appetizer was great... crispy and tough on the outside and nice and soft on the inside. I ordered the Sandwich du jour which was the Duck Sandwich with the frites. - Sandwich du jour - could NOT taste the duck at all b/c the baguette was so overpowering... had to eat it Open-facedly... from what I could taste of the Duck, it was nice and tender, just not very much. - Salad - too drenched in the dressing - Frites - were crispy and good... it's enough to share with someone else. It reminded me of the potato sticks I used to eat when i was in Kindergarten. I looked over at the other table and the lady had waffle-type frites, which looked cooler and more yummy. Service: Decent Interior: Nicely decorated, didn't think there was anything special, typical of a Fr restaurant.
(4)Lisa P.
Mon Ami is a staple for us. Perfect for dinner and a movie as the theaters are all close by. The Hanger steak with frites never disappoints and the mussels are served in a creamy broth that pairs well with the table bread. Yum.
(4)John B.
We came to this place looking for a good date spot after our original pick was not up to par. We found this gem and I might go so far as to say it is the best restaurant I have been to thus far! The service was great, the food was superb, and you even get a free box of truffles to take home. Can't wait to go back! Ask for Bill when you go.
(5)Morgan W.
It's pretty apparent once you sit down and start browsing the menu that this place is not authentic. That being said, the food was good (not great) and the waiter was extremely friendly. We went for brunch last Saturday, and I got the Quiche Lorraine; it was HUGE and stuffed with bacony goodness. We decided to get the creme brulee for dessert, also HUGE. Then we were given an extra free dessert because we were first time diners...so, basically we ended up rolling out of the restaurant. It wasn't the best place to eat, but it could have been worse. I don't think we'll go out of our way to eat here again, but if we happen to be in Bethesda it's not out of the question.
(3)Juan A.
I wanted to give them a 3.5, but their french soup was so good, that it tipped the scales to the right. The atmosphere is ideal for a cozy chat, this is not the place to party. The steaks were good and reliable as was the service. A very nice place where I can go to regularly.
(4)Wood L.
Order the mussels, the sauce isn't typical French cuisine but it's delicious. The salmon salad and scallops with mashed cauliflower were perfect. Frites... signature snack food. The only downside is that the service is hit or miss.
(4)Bob M.
My wife and I have been here several times and always enjoy the food. The steak frites are particularly excellent. Our only complaint is with timing. The wait staff is always very polite, but on a busy night it seems the restaurant is trying to move us through. On several occasions our food has come out literally 5 minutes after we ordered--not acceptable for fine dining.
(4)Takaki K.
The waiter greeted us: 'Bon jour, everyone, my name is -- and I'll be your server today'. That pretty much summarizes this place. It's a wannabe French restaurant. Food is okay, nothing extraordinary. The service was super slow and our restaurant week lunch ended up taking over 2 hours.
(2)Minn L.
One of the few restaurants in Bethesda that I feel is somewhat worth the money. I know it's a French place and I should be more excited about the filet mignon and frites (the frites here are delicious!), but I am a fan of their seafood and salads. They are never drenched in sauce, but light and fresh so that you can actually taste the ingredients. And of course, love the fresh baguette they bring out as starters. If the regular menu is a bit pricy for you, try their happy hour in the bar area. They have a $5 food menu, which includes a steak burger with caramelized onions and mustard mayo, and pate, and for drinks they offer half off wines (glasses and bottles). The servers always seem to be nice and attentive too.
(4)Mattie C.
Great location in central Bethesda near the bike path and across from the Barnes&Noble. It is a cute restaurant with a great atmosphere and also very interesting food choices. They have great onion soup, which is all I usually get. Also, I tried escargot for the first time in my life here. It wasn't that expensive, and I have to say it was quite tasty! They seemed to be drenched in some type of buttery oil, but I can still say that I tried them :) There were other great items on the menu too, but I am always satisfied with a light lunch of soup and some bread. And try the escargot! It is a shame that I live so far away from here or I would come more often.
(5)O P.
Great music, excellent crab cake and excellent steak à la Bordelaise. Will come back.
(3)Trevor M.
Autumn is finally in the air, the crisp leaves crackling like dry fire under your leather patented shoes. Your beige scarf lightly rests upon your shoulder and still has the lilt to be picked up by the occasional breeze. An accordian plays a duet with a bird above. It seems a perfect combination. The air today smells wonderfully pungent when mixed with the wonderful nose of the Cotes Du Rhone. The guyere that you are spreading across the warm baguette compliments the scene as a poodle blithely scatters past your table. Then you realize that your'e really not in a cafe overlooking the Seine on holiday, but that you're really ditching work so that you can hide out at Mon Ami Gabi for a glass of wine and some onion soup. (Note to self: Better call work and fake one of those 12 hour bugs so I don't have to go back to cubeville.) Now, back to our scene in progress. I decide to order the escargots de Bourgogne as it is such a wondeful compliment to the wine and cheese. When mixed together, the herb butter and cheese just simply melt and the sweetness of the escargots is astounding. Not overcooked and tender sitting on the cheese and bread. My nicoise salad with the perfect pepper seared tuna is light and is a nice juxtaposition to the autumn that beckons me outside. It is followed by the onion soup with more cheese on top. It is hard to finish this by myself...so, I do not struggle. The incredible sauteed onions with it's sweetness is a delight and warms the soul on a brisk day as the sun struggles to dance into the cafe. But what is a trip to Mon Ami Gabi without some frites. Fried ever so delicately. This is a meal unto itself. The wine continues to warm and awaken the poet's soul. Text on Iphone: Get back to work and finish your report! End scene.
(4)Marry K.
Best Steak ive had in a long time! i can still taste it...and i want more!!! Went there on a Friday night and Thank God we booked because gosh was it packed! Walk-ins were being told the wait was about 30-40mins and we were seatead in less than 2 mins when we got there. I ordered the mushroom soup to start which looked and tasted a bit like baby food. i wasnt a fan. We all ordered steak and each and every bite was good till the last morsel. The fries were a bit difficult to eat. A bit soggy and hard to pick up with a fork so i ended up using my hands and eventually stopped eating the fries. id definitely go back and id definitely have the steak again. it was HUGE!! I tried three different types (bites of what my family was having) and each steak was tender and delicious. Service was great. the staff is very polite and our waiter was quite attentive. The restaurant was quite loud and tables too close together. it felt like we were pretty much sitting with other guests as we could hear every bit of their gossip. besides that, mon ami gets a thumbs up!
(4)lindsey l.
For the hype, I was less than impressed. My cut of meat was over done (asked for rare) and rather paltry. The steak-frites were also over done and too crunchy to enjoy. Atmosphere was decent, but not enough to make up for the disappointment in my entree.
(2)Kathryn W.
My Birthday was March 20th, that was a Sunday. So to celebrate my 50th Birthday, I ventured out with 15 year friend and neighbor Undra. I had forgotten life is beautiful... I first wanted to go to Chrisfields,but having missed today's gorgeous weather, I choose Mon Ami Gabi after 8:30 pm. I have to say my experience was the best I have had ever at a restaurant. Most of the patio was packed up, but 2 tables were occupied by the front door outside on the patio. Our waiter Michael was a winner,( not in the Charlie Sheen way ,silly,)excellent ,bright,and just for indulging my request outside, he was a wonder for Bethesda. We started with ice tea. I ordered the chicken liver pate it was presented with a squeeze of tasty barbecue sauce, the sauce was ,not overly salty, nor too sweet. The chicken liver pate was smooth in texture and outstanding,the pate is presented with a speared pieces of crust free toast . After that treat I turned to Undra and said how can I tolerate eating the food at home after this ??? I also, informed him that tomorrow he will feel like superman from the needed injection of iron. Forget energy bars, and drinks. My taste buds were reset, to the higher standard now everything will taste like wax compared to here. My dining companion Undra was mesmerized by the jazz trio playing inside the restaurant. it is so pleasant to sit outside on a Thursday evening and have a jazz trio live 20 feet away..Undra listens to jazz 4 hours or more everyday of the week. So it was a real treat for both of us to have live jazz music,fresh air, and outstanding service and decadent savory food all at one time. Who knew??? I loved their steak burgers, or hand burgers that taste better then any recent steaks, I can remember. I had cheddar, on the moist decadent hand burger that made me reminisce what 1960's steaks tasted like in 1966. Undra got some exotic type of mild Swiss cheese and his burger was cooked well done. He stuck with the famous Frites, I declined the fries and was graciously offered fresh green beans that were excellently seasoned with pure garlic and butter. After dinner,I requested to have a lot of the food wrapped up by the busser ,phonetically his name was Euie. He wrapped every dish with a beautiful presentation in foiled diner containers, I had 3 plates, Undra had one. He presented us with 2 strong , brown bags,he even remembered who got what and had each bag filled with each patrons foods. After ordering coffee; I am embarrassed to say I became hypercaffeinated from the previous 2 ice teas. And I had a long winded monologue with Michael, poor waiter. Most of the waiters are tip top minds with Engineering, or Masters degrees and very interesting. I collect watches,and Michael had a beautiful Invecta Watch,his father is in the business of watches. Next time I will quell my enthusiasm and learn something on our black belt bargain hunting. I tip generously when people go above and beyond, Michael had picked up our table so I was delighted to be served by him. After asking what Michael's work schedule was, I forgot some of it; Sorry Michael.Michael invited me to come for brunch, so I plan on making reservations for brunch with a request for Michael. We decided to go inside and listen to the Jazz Trio, I was given another cup of coffee, and Undra had Earl Grey Black tea with lemon. Mark took our order, and proficiently fussed and spoiled us, and Al, a Sidney Potney face with black glasses brought me the coffee, I asked if he was still in school. He said he had graduated from an Arts College in DC, then mentioned his engineering degree. I was in good company to brag about the Ford Transit Connect I had researched and negotiated on. I have an interest for the mechanical myself. So I was in bliss. Discussing the scope of the van, w/self adjusting uni not fisher body, 175 cubic feet of storage, and a quick Ford focus engine. I ordered the Banana Foster. It is simply the best dessert, sweet with a thin crepe with ice cream,and real whip cream. When Mark learned I was celebrating my birthday he brought or bought, us free truffles. The check for dinner was $35, then the check for tea, coffee, and the 2 to 3 serving desert was $14. The live music free. Life is Good..@ Mon Ami Gabi.
(5)KJ F.
Had a fabulous lunch at Mon Ami yesterday. The manager Michael K. was great. Very friendly, helpful and answered all of our questions. He was extremely accommodating. The seafood crepe is amazing! Make sure you get the profiteroles for dessert! You will not be disappointed!!!
(5)Bear B.
Definitely a classy-looking establishment that won't break the bank! I was so surprised at the menu prices! Atmosphere and food was pretty fancy looking, but the price was that of a low-end steakhouse! The only complain I have is that the steaks look bigger than they really are. They were cut quite thin. I'd rather have a thicker steak that looked half the size.
(5)Pilar W.
Their steak frites is one of the best in town. Also good are their seafood dishes, and specials. Last night their chilled asparagus soup, attentive staff, and usual French ambiance held me fast. and the mousse, oh, the mousse! This is a place you don't want to leave. Enjoy.
(4)Scott M.
Holy cow do I love this place! Dined here, Reston, and LV and they are all excellent. Fantastic wine selection by the glass, French bistro standards done to perfection, and a knowledgeable and attentive staff are impossible to beat..
(5)Tim D.
First of all, what self-respecting French restaurant doesn't have French waiters, or servers, or bartenders, or host, etc.?? This place is sooooo "Bethesda" that they even have a giant (fake antique) sign up on the wall that says: "French Fries/ Frites" No,- I'm not kidding! (Next time you're at the bar turn around and look up.) I decided to celebrate my MLK Day by having some wine and nibbles at a restaurant, so that's why I stopped in. The wine list (by the glass) was pathetic! No Cab's whatsoever! The guy next to me actually thought he was drinking a Cab but when I asked him to point it out on the menu he pointed to the "house" Bordeaux. When I said: uh, that's a Bordeaux not a Cab he said "oh,- the bartender said it was "like" a Cab"... uh huh.... uh...NOT! I guess that's why he's a bartender not a sommelier! Still, I expect better from a French restaurant.... "By the glass" there was only ONE choice for Pinot, Chard, or Malbec. Bordeaux had three or four choices but seriously, $20 for a "no-name" '07?? ...for one glass?? You gotta be kidding me! The only thing that looked decent was a half-bottle (375 ml.) of '03 Medoc for $34. When I asked if I could "see" the bottle, the bartender said "sure" but it took him 20 min. to produce it (and the place wasn't busy at all). Hmmmm.... Finally the bottle comes, everything looks ok so I say "fine." As he's opening the bottle and about to pour it into a wine glass, I ask him to decant it. He says "sorry, decanter's are only for FULL Bottles"!!! Again,- you gotta be kidding me!! As I contemplate this conundrum (and look around for the manager), he offers to pour it through a sieve (for sediment) and into a carafe instead of a proper decanter... I stifle my disappointment, determined to make the best of it, and the deed is done. The taste was fine...well, "okay" but there was absolutely no "nose" (aroma, bouquet, whatever you want to call it)!!! I waited.......and waited........sipped, and waited.......It took over an hour to "open up" and when it (finally) did,-- it was nothing to "write home about"! The escargot was yummy and the French bread was great: served in a paper bag about 15" long but HOT which really made a difference... (That's the ONE thing they got right!) All in all, $50 for yummy bread & escargot but "ho-hum" wine?? What a RIP!
(2)Amanda C.
I can't wait to go back! Informative and attentive wait staff, delectable menu, nothing but good all around! I recommend the smoked salmon!
(5)Karen P.
We revisited Mon Ami this weekend - with the same 3 players as were present in my earlier review. I think the restaurant has taken some of the constructive criticism to heart. We showed up for our 8:30 reservations a few minutes early, put our name in and went to the bar to get some wine. My husband ordered a bottle of wine from the menu (this time, they had the selection and there was no conversation about all of the wines being discontinued!). It was brought promptly and although we were standing in the middle of the bar area with no table (no seats left), the waiter kindly brought 4 glasses, presented, opened and poured the wine for all of us. Our table was about 15 minutes late - acceptable on a busy Saturday night. We were seated and "set up" (water, menu's, bread) quickly. Our order was taken and food delivered in good time. The steaks and frites were as always, wonderful. Mon Ami is back in my good graces and I'll be back.
(4)Betty S.
I was craving a steak and I never crave steak (I eat very little beef - gasp, I know). Anyways, it was date night and a Saturday night and we didn't make reservations. It worked out since seats at the bar just happened to open up and we were able to get drinks and appetizers. We had the brie and it was delicious! After close to an hour, we finally got our seats. I wish we had a more "private" seating area but I've learned that French places are typically super small and crowded. Plus it was kind of fun eavesdropping on this first date going on next to us. Anyways, onto the STEAK! I had the steak with the onions (sorry I don't remember the exact name). It was perfect and exactly what I was craving. It was tender, juicy, and the perfect medium well that I like where it's not bleeding in my mouth. I ate a good amount, took the rest home and finished the rest 1 hour later. Yup, that good. The bf had the fish, I don't remember what kind exactly but he liked it. It was light and actually very filling (trust me that's tough to do with his stomach). So all in all a great meal and a great date night...if you get what I'm saying ;
(5)Fay F.
It's a 3.5 Went there yesterday for dinner and got the Cesar salad, steak with classic butter, and Crème brûlée from the special restaurant week menu. Cesar salad was simple but really fresh and tasty. They use very good quality Parmesan cheese which goes well with the home made crouton. Steak...I ordered it as medium and it came out as totally well done. But the waitress was willing to change it for me and I appreciated it. And it's a thin steak, so i understand that it is very easily to be over cooked. The new one they gave to me was cooked just right, but much saltier..? idky. But I scraped the sauce away and it was fine. The Crème brûlée was alright. Good but not amazing. Just to satisfy my sweet teeth. :] PS: the bread and butter they give to you at the beginning was reeeeally good. That and the Cesar salad probably were the best part of the dinner. I'd just go again for these only.
(3)Lisa N.
What brought us here: My birthday lunch. What we got: Butternut Squash Soup (seasonal special?) Four Mushroom Soup Jumbo Lump Crab Cake Chicken, Broccoli, and Cheese Crepe (shared with my 17-month-old) Prime Steak Sandwich served with hand-cut fries (mmmm....hand-cut fries...) You get this baguette to start with, and it's like the most amazing free bread I've ever eaten...well, next to the fruit & nut bread at Fork Restaurant in Philly ( forkrestaurant.com ). Review: Butternut Squash Soup - sweet and salty, smooth Four Mushroom Soup - earthy, as it should be Jumbo Lump Crab Cake - on top of cole slaw, crab cake good Chicken, Broccoli, and Cheese Crepe - creamy, chicken very tender, wish it had more broccoli though Prime Steak Sandwich served with hand-cut fries - steak cooked perfectly and I don't have to say anymore about the fries Verdict: Would eat here again if in Bethesda. A bit pricey, but not too high compared to surrounding restaurants - I'm talking to you Jaleo ( jaleo.com/index.php/cont… ). Fairly kid-friendly, except I couldn't find anything off the kids menu (only mac n cheese, burgers, and pizza, egh!).
(4)Daphne A.
Go for the Chicken Paillard. I switched the frites for brussels sprouts for a hearty but healthy dinner. The ambiance is charming and the service is impeccable - just attentive enough not to be overbearing. Actually, everyone seems to be on their best manners at Mon Ami Gabi - even the children were formally dressed and well-behaved! I'll definitely be back here. Next time, steak.
(4)Lauren B.
Great food, great service. I'd recommend it for brunch early on a Saturday or Sunday!
(5)Timir D.
I cant comment on the greasy floors, but the food here is worth trying out. You have to call a day ahead to get a reservation at a decent time here, otherwise you will be stuck coming in at 5pm. The table bread and butter comes with a mildly sweet carrot relish and help to ease the wait before the appetizers arrive, the bread is warm and crisp but the chilled butter is hard bit difficult spread. Portions are large, this is primarily due to the huge amount of fries that are served with nearly every main course. My party ordered roast chicken, prime burgers, and a steak au poivre. The burger was cooked correctly, and the chicken appeared to be to not be too dry. I asked the server what cut the steak would be before ordering and was told that it would be the end piece of a tenderloin pounded out flat. When the meat arrived, cooked medium rare as I requested, I received a steak that was 1.5cm thick and quite large. The meat was as tender as I expected it to be from the description. The fries are a filling addition to the plate. I would rate them a 7 on a 10 scale, and say that the could have been a bit crispier. The deserts that we ordered were the creme brulee, chocolate mousse , and pound cake with lemon curd. The brulee was a bit heavy on the egg but enjoyable, the chocolate was rich, not too sweet, but a bit bitter, and the pound cake was moist and complimented well by the curd. Overall I would give this place a high 3/5, just under 4/5
(4)Bernard D.
I love this place!! While its not authentic like Le Bistro Du Coin in Dupont it is still a great restaurant. You can't go here without getting some variation of the Steak-Frites. The fries are very unique and VERY tasty. Service has always been great and it is not too difficult to get a table although they can get busy.
(5)Sue F.
This is my 4th time here and this time was the best! Loud atmosphere, but great food. I had the hangar steak and my colleague had the filet. For dessert we each had the warm bread pudding - get hot fudge on the side!
(4)paul l.
this is not fleur de lys. so if you're going their for fine french food, you will be utter disappointed. but if you are going for a french version of cheesecake factory, then you'll be really happy you went. the moules frittes are pretty tasty as are the escargot. some of the steaks are not to my liking. but i cook a pretty mean steak! the location and ambiance are great and the service is excellent. will i come back? yeup!
(4)Whitney B.
Went for New Year's Eve. Couldn't get a reservation, but the hostess said to stop by and try so we did. We were seated immediately (thanks!). Our waiter was professional and as attentive as we needed. He recommended a very reasonable and very good bottle of Bordeaux. Our food was very good and cooked to order as we had asked (Started w/ a shared frisee salad and then Steak Roquefort and scallops -- allyummy.). Loved the ambience -- and it was a great place to spend a festive evening. We'll be back, and often.
(4)Abraham L.
Mon Ami Gabi is like a shop specializing in Van Gogh replicas: enchanting, artistic, and affordable. Disregard the insincerity and it's French dining at its most accessible. Nestled under Bethesda Row's big pointy arrow, straddling the intersection where jovial sidewalk cafes turn into cozy vendor carts, red awnings announce Mon Ami Gabi's curious moniker. It is one of many charismatic touches that make this French Bistro a safe bet. Our visit occurs on a Friday evening. The frenetic ambiance and sumptuous decor is so distracting I find my menu incomprehensible. Waiters duck and weave. Lighting is fashionably low. Tables and their items are flush to maximize occupancy. A constant din emits from the packed clientele. Our waiter materializes to recount a marathon of daily specials. It is a longer speech than we, and the breathless waiter, are used to. Ornate descriptions mix with French words in an American accent. Du jour this. Du jour that. Confounded we ask him to repeat himself. Much to our delight he does. We begin with complimentary appetizer and baguette. There is a tiny plate of grated carrots soaked in Champagne vinaigrette. Curious but easily forgettable. As for the bread, outside it is chewy and crisp. Inside soft, cottony, and warm. It receives high approval ratings from across the table. She orders a charming Halibut. It is agreeable but be sure to splash it with lemon. And even then it receives less attention than the baguette. As for me, I order the French Onion soup and the Steak Roquefort. The former is a meal in itself, cheesy, full of texture, and requires a surprising amount of concentration to eat gracefully. I am stubborn and insist on finishing it but to be honest I only enjoyed the first few spoonfuls. I am stuffed when my Roquefort arrives, but it is still a pleasant surprise. The frites are trendy and addictive. The marbled bleu cheese undeniable. And all restaurants should slice steaks so thinly. This is glamorous food with generous portions and I highly recommend it. Overall, Mon Ami Gabi satisfies my French craving. Classy, clever, not terribly expensive. A reliable dining experience. Would've been perfect except it all felt overly rehearsed. All restaurants are commercial, but I sense it here to the point of distraction. And when the meal feels more like good business than good art, I withhold my fifth star.
(4)Sean D.
I've been to the Bethesda branch of this restaurant about 5 times. The decor is designed to very carefully recreate a French bistro, almost to the point of cliche. The authenticity however is belied by a few local dishes (crab cakes) and big screen televisions at the bar showing NFL football games in the fall. If it were just the food I would give this restaurant two stars. The food is just okay. The steak frites was a disappointment -- tough, chewy steak and remarkably bland fries. The trout, when I had it, was also bland and dry. The burger was fine, but the roll was dried out. On the other hand, my wife has ordered the chicken grandmere, which was flavorful. The salads are pretty reliable (although I make a better Nicoise at home) as is the classic onion soup. The bread that comes to the table is also pretty good. The reason I come back to this place is not for the food, but for the location. The bar is a perfect place to have a glass of wine before or after a movie at the Landmark cinema next door.
(3)Shannon K.
Best service, atmosphere, and more importantly.... Food! Love this place!!!
(5)Alex L.
Disclaimer: I'm a tightwad with stars; that could really be a 3.5/4 so don't be discouraged. Read on. Went here for the first time on a first date, so I was nervous anyway. I had checked out the menu of a bunch of places beforehand (yes, im that nerdy) and came up with a few choices from which i made my date chose. For completeness, my top three were mon ami gabi, jaleo, and assagi. I liked the style of the place--elegant without being stuffy but the tables were a little close together. i was on the bench side of the table, and practically on top of the elderly four-some next to us. We heard quite a lot of their conversations--the coffee was cold, Stella broke her hip, where the best $5 dinner deals are, etc. I think it was clear we were on a first date (I hate that) so the servers were attentive but not intrusive, which I appreciated. They placed a whole baguette, whipped butter and some molded cous-cous thing on our table with no explanation. Needless to say, tearing into a whole baguette with my hands wasnt the most lady-like thing i did all night but whatever. The bread was good. Pretty mediocre wine-by-the-glass selection, but i went with the house malbec i think. could have been a pinot noir. wasnt memorable. We both ordered seafood; I got thyme grilled salmon on a bed of orzo and spinach which was amazing. The salmon was perfectly cooked. He got the scallops, which looked pretty good, but I wasnt about to start picking off his plate, so I dont know how they tasted. No dessert for us, we went elsewhere for another drink and more awkward date conversation. I live right in downtown Bethesda, so would go back, if only for convenience sake. Or if i get a jonesin' for crepes, which is possible. Overall, very good food, and a nice date-spot but not my favorite place on the block.
(3)Denis G.
The menu is an eclectic mix of American, British and French food, served in the atmosphere of an elegant French bistro (with charming outdoor seating in good weather). Apart for the uniquely unappetizing fries which they inexplicably seem to have adopted as their trademark, the food is excellent and served in well prepared generous portions. I do I wish they had a more extensive and more diverse selection of French wines and offered a good selection of cheeses, but we still had a very enjoyable meal and were well attended to by the staff. It is not inexpensive, but makes for a nice meal out before a movie or with friends.
(4)James D.
I love this place, particularly the bar area. The bartenders are super attentive and very cool to chat with. I have gotten burgers, beers and all sorts of stuff while enjoying the ambience and usually they have live music every now and then. Even though it is a chain it is still a lot of fun to go to especially if you want low-key French food with cool decor.
(4)Becky T.
I had a beautiful meal here with friends. We all shared appetizers and desserts so got to sample a little bit of everything. Escargot and shrimp were delicious and I loved their creme brulee. I usually don't order steaks when I go out because I like to eat it very well done and have only had good experiences at home. However, my steak was excellent and moist even without the slightest pink. Their sommelier was wonderful and taught us so much. Even the waiter knew his stuff about the wine.
(5)Sarah D.
Great mimosas! Small & pricey, but still very yummy. I ordered the eggs benedict (was there for brunch), and that was good. I loved the decor, tons of wine bottles everywhere, and it really felt like I was back home in San Francisco.
(4)Anna T.
GREAT HAPPY HOUR!!! They have an outstanding happy hour in the bar area with a $5 limited menu (french onion soup, salad, pate and classic steak and frites) and half-price wine. It is a great deal when you look at the regular prices on their dinner menu. If you do not make Happy Hour, I would definitely still eat at Mon Ami Gabi because the food is good... just know that you will be spending MUCH more than the Happy Hour prices. The atmosphere is good and service is nice as well. Bon Apetit.
(5)Mel B.
Great as a classy happy hour place- baguettes, wine, and french onion soup with a jazz band in the corner. I love looking for french bistros and this is one of my faves- complete with a room to rent out in the back for parties (although I don't know what the rate is). Rich mahogany wood, friendly staff and customers all enjoying themselves. Big fan!
(5)Mark D.
Stopped by for Sunday brunch with a friend and it was perfect. They have plenty of outside seating either on the sidewalk or on the patio. Their crepes were fantastic. Service was great (especially considering that it was peak brunch time), we were served with this delicious french bread and were well attended to. Didn't feel rushed at all...
(4)Raymond W.
In my failure to eat steak in DC for the 1.5 years I've been here I've decided to take on two steak dinners during Bethesda restaurant week so that my wallet would emerge alive from the depletion of it contents. At Mon Ami Gabi, my first steak dinner stop, I had the warm brie (to be french) to start, steak frittes and the chocolate cake. The warm brie is not something I normally eat, but was happy with the subtle texture and warmth of the brie with toasted pieces of french bread drizzled with honey, hazelnut, and roasted garlic. I ordered my first medium rare steak and I am now converted (at least for trustworthy restaurants). The hanger steak arrived juicy and tasty with what seemed liek a hunter knife to carve every piece of cow to be be shoved in my mouth. The steak came with a classic butter sauce that you can choose and with a cilantro? sauce as well. The frittes were good too, though I normally prefer fried potatoes with some fluffy potato inside. The chocolate cake put the meal over the top as I came waddling out of the restaurant. The ambiance was an energetic older crowd that let the wine pour down. Mixed with live Jazz, a definite upscale casual restaurant that warrants the price. Thank you Gabi.
(4)Claudia P.
Love this restaurant. Nice staff.
(5)Bob L.
French Bistro, good steak frites, kind of hard to get a table at supper on the weekends. Food is consistently good.
(3)Paul M.
Blimey - is it almost 5 years since I first reviewed this spot. I am giving them a massive downgrade for one reason only. I still eat there 2 - 4 times per year, service is good, place is buzzing, some of the menu items are good. BUT ! Their Brussels sprouts are an abomination. This is the new "in" vegetable - every trendy place is selling it. What they are not doing it boiling the bejaysus out of them, then throwing in a few bits of bacon and calling it a day. Come on guys - that is so 70s. Here's what I need you to do: 1. pan fry some bacon, remove it, but keep the grease in the pan 2. add your halved brussels sprouts - let 'em sit a minute or two to char, then stir occasionally 3. grate one some nutmeg 4. chop your bacon bits, add them stir, serve immediately. OK?
(1)N. A. T.
Was pleasantly surprised to see that they were serving brunch at 2pm on a Friday because it was the december holiday week. The food and service were amazing! My only complaint, which will keep me from returning: Managerial policy towards its clientele. The hostess walked us past some smaller tables, all the way to the very back of the restaurant, towards a rather large booth that could easily seat 4 or 5, even though we were just two people. Even worse, this was right next to the kitchen. We also noted two black women, like us, were seated at a similarly ridiculous table next to the one offered to us, along the back wall of this windowless room. We requested a different table, and the hostess graciously walked us to a table for two in a much more pleasant room with windows. Why we were not initially offered a more appropriately-sized table on a quietly busy afternoon was beyond us. A seat next to the kitchen door should be the last one offered. We shrugged it off and enjoyed our meal at the better table in the better room. But, eventually, the manager comes in and greets every single table but ours - and note that our table was snuggled in between two other occupied tables - to ask about their experience. It's too bad, because we would have sung his waitstaff's praises! Based on the hostess' initial attempt at seating us, which echoed the manager's choice to not greet us, we were left with the impression that we are not this restaurant's ideal client.
(2)Rebecca Z.
The food was pretty good, but the service was not great. For example, the server asked if we wanted spreads for the bread. We said that we did, but he never brought them. My steak was also not cooked correctly and the waiter never came back to ask how things were.
(3)Margaret N.
A bit upscale and pricey, but a great restaurant for celebrating a special occasion with family and/or friends! They have a great selection of wines too! Would definitely recommend their scallops and steak, yum!
(4)Ali D.
Fabulous, fabulous restaurant. I only travel to this area occasionally for conferences, and I've made sure to stop here both times I've been in town. I've had nothing but impeccable service and amazing food. They start you off right off the bat with a loaf of warm baguette and whipped butter - heaven for carbophiles like myself. This time around, I had the French onion soup (on happy hour special for $5), which was amazing. The melted Gruyere was delicious (if a bit heavy, but I'm not a huge cheese person). Paired with a glass of $4 pinot noir, it was a delicious (and cheap!) dinner. They also offer a few full-size sandwiches (steak and salmon) with frites, a few different pates/liver mousses, and other $5 really great happy hour specials. All HH wines are $4 or less, and the jazz music in the bar in the evenings is a really nice touch. Although I understand that this restaurant is a chain, I'm still in love. I'm thinking about going back tomorrow night!
(5)Elizabeth E.
This is a truly authentic French bistro! Having lived overseas, it was a real treat to enjoy an impromptu lunch here. Chilled water was served from a glass bottle, without ice (European style), and since I don't like ice in the winter, I was thrilled. The bottle was left on the table so that we could refill our glasses as needed, and when we finished it, another was promptly brought over. The mini baguette was delicious - crisp on the outside, warm and fluffy on the inside. The only negative thing I can think of is that the menu displayed outside did not exactly correlate with the menu we were given at the table, but perhaps it was just not recently updated (I had my heart set on a chicken and mushroom crepe that was included on the lunch menu outside, but was only on the breakfast menu once we sat down). The daily specials were displayed on the wall and they all sounded fantastic. I had the onion soup ($7), which was so large that I couldn't even finish it all, having eaten most of the baguette. The bread was on the bottom of the large soup bowl, which was very generously topped with gruyere (rather than the bread and gruyere being toasted on top, as is sometimes the case). The bowl was not a typical little onion soup crock, but a tall bowl, about half-quart-sized. My husband had the steak frites (classique, $27) and said it was one of the best steaks he had ever eaten. The steak was cut thin but long, I assume to speed up cooking time, which was nice since we had only stopped in for lunch. The frites were also cut thin, and the portion was huge. We didn't order wine, but when I saw the beautiful oval wheeled wine cart, I wished we had! Our server was the perfect balance of attentive and relaxed; he didn't bug us unnecessarily, but was available when we wanted him. In fact, everyone there (hostess, busers) was very polite. We could have eaten quickly if needed, and we could have lingered for hours; we were neither rushed nor delayed by the service. We could easily overhear what our neighbors were discussing, but that is to be expected in a bistro. Two very well-behaved little girls were seated with a group near us, and when one of them held up the activity paper that the restaurant had given her, I saw that it was beautifully designed to match the menus, and noticed some sort of game with a number of poodles on it! For the quality of the ambiance and food, the value is fantastic. If I lived closer, I would be a regular!
(5)Virginia G.
My friend and I went here for brunch last Sunday. There are plenty of tables so we were seated quickly. The menu is diverse especially for Sunday brunch, not heavily laden with egg dishes. I loved that there were lunch items and we were not forced into eating the typical brunch meal. Our waiter was wonderful and extremely attentive. We started with a warm french baguette, butter, and raspberry jam. The bread was wonderful, butter was fresh, and the jam was not too sweet. I ordered the steak sandwich with the fries (yum!). The steak was perfectly cooked and the horseradish sauce was really great. It also came with an au jus dipping sauce. My friend ordered the chicken, brie, apple sandwich. It was warm, gooey and a generous serving. I especially loved the bread it was served on. Overall, this was a perfect brunch experience. We are planning on taking our friends in the future because there are so many options, everyone is happy!
(4)Jane Q.
This was our first visit and it will not be our last. Absolutely loved the chicken liver pate, grapefruit salad and the profiteroles for dessert.
(5)Michael B.
With a proven formula the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. The only exception being the one is Vegas, like most restaurants in Vegas it comes up a bit short, Anyway if you like French Bistro style food check it out. The mussels are always a winner, I love the crusty bread and butter the dang you off the rip, and the escargots are always a go to for me. Last time I was here we had the frisee and poached egg which wasn't the bomb but decent just a bit underwhelming. I love French food and this is always a good standby
(4)Zhao L.
simple and elegant. Food is really good. Good atmosphere and dishes are inexpensive. Definitely recommending it.
(5)Bon D.
Had the chilled Seafood Platter last night. Huge Shrimp, fresh mussels, great ceviche, Maine lobster - so fresh - fabulous!
(4)Lora B.
I went here for brunch this morning based on other reviews. I'd say it wad just ok. The breakfast options are pretty limited. I got the eggs Florentine which were pretty good but I got spinach on the side instead of potatoes. It was extremely salty - I only ate half and I'm still dying of thirst two hours later. Friends asked for fruit on the side and they seemed very perplexed and then said ask they had was apples and bananas. It wad fine but fruit at brunch should be a standard. Service was ok but not attentive. Coffee served in tiny cups. I won't be back for brunch.
(3)Jacinda T.
I'd give this place 3.5 stars if I could. But as I'm not much of a red meat eater, I'm going to have to round down this time. It's a very nice place, fits in well in Bethesda. The waiters are very courteous and usually attentive. I've dined with people who've said the steak frites is very good, so I'm going to take the word for it. I did steal some fries from the bf though, and they were very delicious. But then again, they're fries. I am a huge fan of the French onion soup here. It's a bit on the cheesy side, but I can look passed that. (which is saying something, considering I'm lactose intolerant! lactaid FTW) I also love their French baguettes; good ones are so hard to come by in MD. I've gotten the scallops here, which I didn't really like. But I'm really picky about how my scallops are seared, and these were a bit overcooked. I've also gotten a salad with some time of fish (sorry, I can't remember!) but it was good. Also, the cocktails are quite strong here. I'd stick with wine if you want to enjoy yourself. Oh, and make a reservation on open table ahead of time, you'll save yourself a wait since it gets crowded.
(3)Don S.
The evening was lovely. Our waiter was most attentive. We all had steak frites. While the flavors were very good, the steaks were very, very thin for the price. That is my only complaint of the evening...but in my mind a significant one. There are a number of good dining places to go.....for an establishment known for this dish..it was disappointing. A lovely place and attentive staff...
(3)Aerin R.
I went for dinner and it was pretty expensive. My sister had a salad for $18. I had the vegetable tagine and it wasn't what I expected, it tasted like vegetables in water and even though they said there would be a variety of vegetables there were basically only carrots, red bell peppers, and chickpeas. Our waitress also kept coming over asking if we wanted something even though she was standing a couple tables away the entire time and we could've just called her over. For 8 people, it was over $200. The dessert was over-rated adn over-priced. I had this apple ganache thing and I couldn't get if off the plate. The ice-cream that came with it was already half-melted when I got it. With the steak-frites, there were more frites than steak. The beef bourgignon there was this piece of beef on top of 4 noodles surrounded by carrots and that was it. It is definitely a meat place and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone that doesn't want meat. Food:4 Service:4 Price/Value:3 Atmosphere:5
(3)Zara M.
What impressed me was our waitress as well as the food. We were only in the mood for light fare - apps & salads, not even drinks. The waitress was totally cool with this and we DID NOT get sub-par service once our menu choices became apparent. The waitress came back several times and checked on us - she had blonde hair and was probably in her 30s, wish I remembered her name. She was great. I have not had this same experience at other places in Bethesda. Also, the gluten-free options are great. They happily bring both gluten-free bread plate and normal bread plate.
(5)stevie t.
I don't branch out too often once I really enjoy something on a menu. So I can only recommend my regular orders. But they're all very good. Starter: Escargot in a garlic butter (with parsley? Something green anyhow). I like to dip the french bread that I've buttered into this sauce. So tastey. Entree: Filet Mignon au Poivre (peppery with a dollop of cream) with a side of Frites (by far, the biggest reason to visit Mon Ami - perfectly thin and fried, also amazing with gravy). Backup Entree: If you're not a carnivore, their Macaroni Gratin is to die for. Baked in one of those black kettle pans with lots of crunchy crumbs all over. The cheese isn't typical either (very slightly sharper). Dessert: Bananas Foster Crepe with Vanilla Ice Cream (extra ice cream...small scoops). Enough said. ~ Although, I must admit, I've skipped it just a couple of times for Georgetown Cupcakes around the corner, but not too too often. The ambiance is awesome, the service is consistent and very good, the outdoor seating is just a bonus for a beautiful day.
(4)Maddie B.
I love this restaurant!! I went for dinner on a Friday night and it was packed, you definitely need a reservation. The only thing I didn't like was the seating; next time I am going to request a corner table because it was crowded and loud and you are very close to the people next to you. The service was acceptable, a bit slow. Why did I give it 5 stars? The food was fantastic! We had the baked brie, salads, salmon, and a few desserts that were delicious. I plan to go back for lunch and just get the salad, it was so well put together, the flavors were amazing.
(5)Phi N.
Usually parking in Bethesda is okay; I don't know what was going on tonight... the garages, the parking across the street, parallel parking... all full. As for the restaurant itself, there is a bar at the front you can have a couple drinks at while you wait for a table. There is a nice and classy ambiance to the inside. It gets pretty crowded, and fairly noisy... but we got kind of tipsy, so of course that doesn't bother us... (maybe it was just us that was noisy, sorry!...) Once at our table, the service was excellent. Our waitress was Lorena. She's great, ask for her. We tipped her well, but now that I think of it, I wish I tipped more because we were there for quite a while. As for the food, the escargo was delicious. It was by far the favorite item I ordered. The smoked salmon was pretty good too (sorry I forgot to take pictures of these). Appetizers are the way to go at this restaurant... because for my main course, I ordered the steak bordelaise. My steak was chewy, and that should not be the case when you order medium-rare, more on the rare side... the bordelaise sauce was on point, but the meat itself was what disappointed me. A friend of mine ordered the lemon chicken paillard and macaroni & cheese. Both lacked flavor and sodium. At least my steak sauce was tasty... The Graves champagne bottles we ordered were good. I'm no wine expert or anything... but I can tell you when I like/don't like something, haha.
(3)Won K.
This review is for a take-out order from Mon Ami Gabi. Was in town for a conference, and had just gotten back from a run so I wanted a quick take-out dinner to enjoy back at my hotel (always felt weird about eating alone in a restaurant). Ordered the steak bernaise over the phone, and it was ready in like 10 minutes. The steak itself I felt was done decently. Half of it was cooked medium well, the other half medium rare like I asked. The sauce and frites were a nice touch, but it was my first steak bernaise so I have no comparison. But I didn't feel like it was anything to write home about. On top of that, they didn't give me any utensils to eat with! Oh the humanity... That said, the ambiance of the restaurant was romantic and appealing. The servers that I briefly interacted with seemed very nice as well. Hopefully I'll get a chance to go back with my conference buddies and check it out and give it another chance.
(3)Tee D.
I had an all-around great experience here. The food, ambience and service were all good. I went with a group of friends and we shared the foie gras. The French onion soup was delicious. The whole table ordered a steak each- be warned: the steak is huge! For dessert, the profiteroles were delicious as well- I thought it was one of the best I've had though my friend disagrees. I went there for lunch on a week day. Other customers were in the 40+ range. The waiters were attentive and professional.
(4)LaToya E.
After looking for a great lunch spot with an out of town friend we decided on this place just from the look of the patio area and boy am i glad we did! its such a cute little french bistro! The baguette that was brought out before our meal was delicious and my friend and I had the same burger cooked different ways and they were both PERFECT! The wait staff were great they were somehow always there when we needed something. I will have to stop by this place again when i want to get my fill of a bistro lunch.
(4)Shank P.
The restaurant was underwhelming to say the least. My onion soup was burnt. Friends ordered rockfish special and felt it was undercooked. When they asked to exchange their dish, the manager came to the table. Unlike other restaurants that measure their worth in customer service, he spoke rudely and was not at all courteous. The one vegetarian entree was mushy veggies with couscous. Needless to say- mediocre fare and poor customer service. Bethesda has much better to offer! The server and valet were fantastic!
(1)Amanda L.
I almost forgot to write the review. I saw Mon Ami Gabi first in Last Vegas and it was packed. From the name, I know it's French Bistro, and the environment should be private, romantic and intimate and they are. This one we went to located in Bethesda center, next to the cinema. The interior looked very nice, very like Europe and on a Wednesday night dinning time, there are lots of senior citizens made this place look warm and family-oriented. My friend and I ordered mussels, crab cake and short rib(marinated beef sth) with chocolate mousse as dessert. We were really full. I really like the beef as it came with mashed corn & carrots, a little spinach all very tender and delicious. Mussels are not as good as the Terrace restaurant in Kennedy Center, which used more white wine in cooking. The sauce came with crab cake was great, sweet but not too filthy.Their menus change according to the seasons as well, seems like all the restaurants are doing that now. One con is the seats are really close to each other, difficult to get out or in. So, better just seat there until the end of meal. lol
(5)Callen B.
The best steak I have had in a very long time! I ordered the Steak Roquefort and profiteroles which were both excellent. The service was also top notch! Can not recommend this place highly enough!!!!
(5)J G.
We had a great dining experience. Our waitress Rebecca was polite, knowledgeable, and very attentive. The venue was quiet when we first arrived (Monday 6pm) but quickly filled to capacity as the night continued. Each course was delicious. We will definitely return for the service alone.
(5)Kevin P.
Had the rib-eye on bone, and it was just OK. It was definitely overpriced. The ambiance and service; however, was great. Seems like a decent place to go on a nice date.
(3)Sara R.
Amazing restaurant! For appetizers tried the scallops and duck liver pate. The scallops were the most delicious thing I've ever had. So creamy and rich, it's a must have! The pate was also very good but my date did not like at all, I feel that you either love or hate pate. For entree we both had steak which was alright, felt it lacked flavor. For dessert we got cream brûlée and cream puffs, the cream brûlée had to be the best I've ever had. The cream puffs were too sweet and topped with way too much chocolate. The scallops and cream brûlée def has me in love with this restaurant. Can't wait to go back and try other dishes
(5)Maria G.
Terrible terrible service . Very rude middle eastern hostess. She didn't have any kind of customer service. Made the restaurant feel a very cheap place.
(2)Tra H.
We came here for lunch. I liked the French Onion soup, and the fact that they give an entire baguette for free. The main courses were okay, good enough but not outstanding. We ordered the chicken and mushroom crepe and the steak sandwich. They were both pretty bland. The fries were very good though - crispy and rich. The portion here is huge, so you might want to just order one meal to share. My boyfriend and I had just biked a good 15 miles to get there on the Crescent trail, we were both starving, but yet we could not finish all the food, and we have never not finished anything. Overall, a pleasant experience. Good staff, good atmosphere, generous portions. The food wasn't outstanding, but good enough.
(3)Rob H.
Great food, good service. Very noisy atmosphere, and tables very tight. Slightly pricey for what you get. Parking in that area is a complete nightmare, be sure to arrive 30 minutes early unless you plan to valet.
(3)Teeny L.
We love this place!! We drive down to Bethesda from Philadelphia several times a year JUST TO EAT HERE. The steaks are unbelievably tender and the Bearnaise Sauce is Excellent. During our most recent visit, the Manager, Adam Murphy was extremely attentive to the guests at every table in the restaurant. He stopped by each table to ensure that everyone was enjoying their meal and to check if anyone needed anything. He was working hard providing excellent customer service to all. I have not seen a manager work this hard in a long time. The best part of our dinner was the profiterole dessert. Oh my- it is huge and the most delicious dessert that I have ever had. YUM. I highly recommend this restaurant. It is my favorite. I can't wait for our next roadtrip to Bethesda!!!!!
(5)Tracy L.
So what if this Is a chain, because it's a really good one! We've had dinner here twice and it never fails to deliver a delicious classic French meal. Go with one of their steak and frites entrees and get garlic spinach as a side to complete the meal. While you eat, enjoy some wine, the traditional French brasserie decor and the attentive service. Recommended.
(4)Kristen J.
excellent service and great food!
(4)judith a.
Always fun to sit on the sun on summer. The salads and food is good , service excellent and friendly, always a jovial and happy time here.
(4)Roy S.
This was a pretty nice place. Busy and loud but with a reservation I waited 5 minutes. The steak au poivre was nicely cooked but the focus was on the brandy sauce and not the peppercorns. I was hoping for the opposite. The steak is also pretty thin. The french fries were plentiful but flat? It was interesting but I prefer larger fries (tough to complain about fries though). I really liked the green beans but some people might want them mushier (no idea why). Great wine list, very friendly staff, and right next to Bethesda Row theater (dinner and a movie!!!) I want to try the chicken next...
(4)Joe G.
So I ate here on my birthday with 6 friends the other day and it was absolutely fantastic. Everyone ordered some kind of steak and it was very delicious all around. Even the cucumber soup thing turned out to be very nice. Anyway, the service is always great here and the food is delicious. I really can't say much more about it than that. I mean, the wine is super expensive, but this is a fancy french restaurant so that is to be expected. They even brought out TWO birthday cookie/chocolate sauce/ice cream things instead of just one! :D I can't eat chocolate but other people in my party assured me that it was delicious and I appreciate they do that thing on your birthday. They will NOT sing happy birthday to you though and I'm sure most birthday patrons probably appreciate not being embarrassed. :) I recommend getting the filet with the red wine reduction sauce, it is my new favorite!
(5)Mike M.
Love Mon Ami Gabi. The food is fantastic, the service is always top shelf and the location is perfect for a nice night out. I usually start wit h the country pate followed with the steak frites. Occasionally I'll stop by at lunch and sit at the bar and enjoy the pate by myself. You just can't have a bad day if you've had Mon Ami Gabi's country pate for lunch. Get a reservation if you're going for dinner and plan on a long, leisurely dinner.
(5)Maureen H.
Mon Ami Gabi is a nice French-themed chain restaurant. I've been to the locations in Reston and Bethesda enjoy the food. For a chain, it's still fairly authentic (They do serves Moules Frites, which already earns a few stars from me!) and the ambiance is nice. For brunch, they have a build your own Bloody Mary bar and a rolling champagne cart which is a nice touch. The menu is varied so there's something for everyone in your group (the vegetarian, the cheap person, the Francophile, etc). The only thing that makes it less than perfect is the obscene amount of up-selling. I know it's not the server's fault - I've worked in enough restaurants to know that they probably have to memorize a script of 'specials' every day and offer specific appetizers and sides or risk getting a bad score from a secret shopper. It just makes things a little bit awkward at times and cuts into the 45 minutes or so that I'm paying to enjoy an otherwise really great meal.
(4)Perry P.
J'adore ce restaurant! I love the bustling atmosphere. It does get loud, but if you eat late, it thins out nicely and you can hear the great French jazz they play over the speakers. I ran into a love jazz trio in the bar one evening, but don't remember what night of the week that was. Anyway -- my favorites are onion soup, caesar salad, bacon wrapped filets, French toast (at brunch), pommes puree (mashed potatoes) and escargots. Don't miss the complimentary shredded carrot salad and warm bread at the beginning! De-lish! The one thing I don't "get" are their frites. They are a little small and chewy -- not as crisp as I would like. For dessert, the profiteroles are to die for! Also love the chocolate mousse and creme brulee. This is my go-to place when I want a nice filling bowl of hot soup or a carb overload...
(5)Kim H.
Excellent food and particularly great service. It felt like an extravagant evening because the food was so delicious and we were so well taken care of. Just wow.
(5)Jeremy P.
My wife and I love this restaurant! Excellent food, service, and atmosphere, and conveniently located right next door to the Theaters at Bethesda Row. I Highly recommend the Bearnaise steak, which I enjoyed with a red Rhone wine. And don't skip dessert here. The La Grande Profiterole is life-affirming. Our waiter ceremoniously poured melted chocolate on it at our table and it drew an audience. The only reason I don't give this restaurant a perfect score is because the steak was probably the second or third best I've had. But I eat a lot of great steak so this is a high score for me (I have a perfect score reserved exclusively for #1). Nevertheless, Mon Ami Gabi is way up there among my favorites!
(4)Deborah N.
I am an ami of good onion soup and pseudo Parisian-looking bistros, especially when they are right next door to a good arts movie house. Go on Tuesday nights for the duck (le quaq) and the jazz (le jazz). Trouve le parking in the garage up the street. I'm not so amoureused with the prices of the glasses of wine but I guess most of the Bethesdaish clientele can afford to drink there without batting an oeuf. (Oops, that means egg!) Moi, je suis pauvre, alors je prend seulement le soupe a l'oignon avec du pain gratuit ou un cafe.
(4)Anika K.
Came here for dinner and ordered scallops. Friends ordered steak and frites and king salmon. Honestly, my dish tasted the best out of all. Friends complained the steak were not so great qualities and were little over done. Service was great, atmosphere was great, would come back here again but probably won't order steak next time.
(3)Mike S.
When you see the restaurant through the windows, you would think that this place is for upscale with dinner dress establishment. When you go through the door, you would still think that your wallet will be bitten at the end of the dinner. When you start getting served, you would start easing up your jacket and really study the menu. When you taste the first appetizer, you tend to forget about your dinner check. When you take a bite of its entre, you are not thinking about your money but what to get on your dessert. Finally when you ask for the check, you would see that your credit card comes out of your wallet in a speed that you've never seen before. I hope this helped with your imagination of the place. Oh one last thing, the next morning, you can't believe you spent so much on wine.
(4)Jen F.
Mon Ami Gabi has some great French food and the people who work here are genuinely great people. It's really all about the customers here, which I think a lot of restaurants lose sight of. Sometimes that warm, family-type atmosphere is what makes eating out great! Do not be surprised if they remember you and treat you well. They start you off with a loaf of bread and some delicious dips. Try to refrain yourself and leave room for the meal! For an appetizer, I ordered the squash soup. It was thick and delicious. I probably could have stopped there, but no- onto the entrée! I ordered the roasted chicken- YUMZER. The pom frites were also yumzer. I drool at the very thought. I would suggest calling ahead because it can get very crowded here. There is also a section in the back reserved for private parties.
(5)Deidre D.
In search of Saturday Brunch? Look no further - this is an oasis of food, drink, and tasteful decor on the Row. I met a friend here before seeing two movies at Bethesda Row Cinema and we knew we had several hours to kill before we needed to grab our seats. I can think of no better place to spend a leisurely Saturday afternoon eating and drinking than at Mon Ami Gabi. I met M for brunch at 1 and ordered myself a mimosa while she took advantage of the Build Your Own Bloody Mary Bar. We chatted and eyed the menu for a good long while until our server informed us that the egg special was Eggs Benedict over Braised Short Ribs. Easy decision! We both ordered the Egg Special as well as a plate of Smoked Salmon to split. And right after we ordered our food do you know what happened? A server came by and dropped off a baguette. He gave us a WHOLE BAGUETTE. It's like he knew what I hope to get out of life (Hint: it is a whole baguette. i hope to get a whole baguette out of life) and then left it there in a paper bag for me. Good man. The salmon plate was excellent and perfect for splitting, nicely full of capers and onions and creme fraiche. The eggs were absolutely fantastic, poached perfectly and perched on a bed of shredded, flavorful beef short ribs. The hollandaise had the right zip and didn't break while we ate; I honestly could have done without the potatoes or English muffin and been happy with just the eggs and ribs. They were THAT good. As we moved to duck out to Dolcezza on my suggestion, the skies opened up and a wall of water fell from the sky. Thunder filled the air and the lights dimmed and rose, dimmed and rose while the wind tried to push said water wall horizontally outside. "So. Drink and dessert?" M suggested, eyeing the bar directly to our left. Yes, please. We each enjoyed a Cafe Normande and shared the Bananas Foster Crepe and Flourless Chocolate Cake. The cafes were perfectly boozy and the crepe was a delight to share but the flourless chocolate cake was a bit too airy and we did not clean our plates. Overall a fabulous (though mildly spendy) day and one I plan to repeat, much to the chagrin of my husband's credit card I suspect.
(5)Lauren S.
Easily my favorite French restaurant in the area! There isn't much competition but it still deserves all five stars. Every course is enjoyable if you order French things (and not items like the burger). The escargot is very rich if you're not afraid of snails. Save some bread so you can sop up the delicious sauce that is always left over from it! Their steaks are (I believe) either flank or hangar steaks that are marinated and cut real thin. When I first saw them, I thought it was a cheap cop out to use a cheap cut but it really works! The steaks are always tender and never (so far) overcooked. I've tried the peppercorn steak, the Merlot steak, and Roquefort steak. I'd recommend all of them depending on your personal taste but I found the third option to be my favorite. They all come with steak frites which are good by themselves. The fact that they naturally soak up all the sauce from the steak itself makes them terrific. Their desserts are all sweet and yummy. Even if they didn't all seem French, they are great! I recommend the cobbler, it is both warm and rich. I thought going to L'Auberge Chez Francois would spoil me on French food but Mon Ami Gabi really comes close on flavor and feel. It may be a little pricey compared to other places in the immediate area but is perfect for occasions. It's also perfect for those times when you just really need a good meal to take the stress away.
(5)Ryan B.
I've been here several times for lunch and dinner, so it's about time I gave this place a review! Service is usually great as well as the steak and frites dishes. It's a great and less expensive alternative to the higher end steak places in the area. I've had a lot of the menu and can't say I've been disappointed. I'll continue to come back here with family and friends when the opportunity presents itself.
(4)Robin G.
I'm upgrading my review after tonight's meal. We sat outside and had excellent service. My husband had steak and it was tender and he thoroughly enjoyed every bite and finished it all! I had the trout with the haricots verts. My cocktail was o point as well. Very good experience we had. Glad I gave it another shot!
(5)Tanya G.
Reasons why I go to Mon Ami Gabi 1. Mushroom soup Hmmm I guess that's only one. Now I can be annoying and repeat myself with increasing exclamation marks, adjectives and adverbs but hopefully that is not necessary (and I do love my exclamation marks :-). That is also not to say that my dear friend Gabi doesn't have anything else worthwhile to offer, the food is delicious, service phenomenal, and the location can't be beat. And who doesn't love a make your own Bloody Mary station?!?! But I'm just being honest; the mushroom soup is go out of your way to this particular restaurant to fulfill your craving worthy. Admit it, you have that one thing at that one restaurant that you go to. Guilty?!?! I thought so :-)
(5)Don H.
Everything is great here. Good for wine and foods. A quick bite or a longer meal. Just be prepared for it to be pricey and busy.
(4)myra f.
On Mother's Day had brunch. Well again skip potatoes cold yuck!!! Seems to be a theme that management could fix. Actually whole meal came out cold. If butter on top is not melting at all something is wrong. Waiter was ok. He was nice but could have come back to table to check on us. We were there at 9:30 am it was not crowded. Bread was awesome as usual. I am sure we will be back, but feeling it is hit or miss at this location.
(3)Emily P.
Okay, I think I'm just done with French restaurants. They either serve puny dishes or food that je ne sais quoi the fuss is all about. Mon ami gabi. I don't get the appeal. I think I went in with high expectations? Maybe I should have gotten the steak because I heard that was their specialty, but I wasn't feeling steak (so maybe, maybe, if I go back, I can write a different review.) Alas, I got the half chicken and fries. Yes, the dish was huge. I couldn't finish it. 2/3 of it was covered with these flat fries that went through liposuction. Not a fan of anorexic fries. The chicken was juicy and seasoned, so I guess that was pretty good. But my friend who ate the rest of the chicken I barely poked into said that the center wasn't that good. The chocolate mousse was divine. I guess, overall, I am not an ami, but not an enemy I either.
(2)Pape T.
Great food! The desserts are fantastic... It's my go-to restaurant! The spinach salmon salad is great and, for brunch, the blueberry french toast are absolutely delicious!! Great atmosphere... Especially when you're outside on a nice day.
(5)Amy S.
Aside from the fact that I had two breakups with boyfriends here (which added a bit of sourness to the experience), the breakup dates/fights ended up being quite delicious. In fact, I wouldn't mind having a little more heartbreak if it meant I could eat here again! That steak and chocolate mousse made these the best breakups ever! After he stormed out, I sat there in pleasure tasting that sweet taste of freedom with my delectable glass of champagne and munching away on two delicious French entrees. Weee weeee!! Did I mention the HOT bartender (ooops)? And the fabulous customer service....!
(5)David W.
Service was a bit slow today, and when I requested Ciroc for the Bloody Mary bar, I expected the vodka in a glass so I could make my own at the Bloody Mary bar... not a pre-made Bloody Mary. The chilled Seafood Plateau "serves two or more" was tasty - but I ate it myself, had desert after, and am still hungry. I only weigh 140#... So no, this does not serve two or more. Maybe an appetizer for two, but not a meal. I'll be back, but this was not this restaurant at it's best...
(4)Sarah C.
Enjoyed a late XMas Eve dinner before heading out of town. It was packed with families and holiday music tickled our ears. I chewed accordingly to the beat of the songs while people-watching through the window. As customary, we attacked the shredded carrot spread/slaw that I usually mentioned to others as a French version of kimchi w/no spiciness. We devoured this with no bread. Since hubs delighted in sauerkraut and I was a fan of kimchi, MAG's orangy goodness was a comforting start for the evening. I wished for something minty so a mojito was on its way and the hubs enjoyed a glass of Louis Bernard 2006 red wine. The bartender must've been in a festive mood because my green drink was super-hero powerful. Wow, Merry Christmas to me. As for the red wine (I'm not a novice nor am I a connoisseur), it paired well with our chicken entrees. Like their steaks and pork, the chicken classics were tasty. And OMG the frites. I appreciate how these scrumptious goodies are a combination of thinly cut fries and potato chips morphed into this MAG creation. I'm a starch fan. But the finale were two desserts not printed on their current menu. I had the spice cake topped with caramel and, I believe, a scoop of cinnamon ice cream. The hubs chose bread pudding with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. A pic of my gratifying treat is found in their business profile yelp.com/biz_photos/9HHQ… With our bellies full, we were ready for the holiday drive - actually HE was ready for the drive and I was looking forward to the road trip. Bless the better half. MAG's service was friendly, timely and efficient as usual. A regular favorite local spot.
(4)Miranda C.
This review is long overdue. I came here for a wine tasting and French Fare. Although I couldn't drink any of the wines, there was an abundance of hors d'oeuvres that were just incredibly delicious. Other than having an outstanding time with my friends, I also made some new ones too. Everyone at the event was so friendly and inviting, I must attend the next one! Hopefully I'm available when they do! Definitely recommend this place to anyone that hasn't tried their amazing French Fare! It is to die for! Lol, not literally though!
(5)Kevin O.
Every time I go there (have been there about 6 times at this point) they do a great job. Service is excellent. Food is fantastic and they are consistent. No, I do not work there, but felt I should do some good reviews as it is easier to by critical of bad spots which I find very often. Had Birthday dinner tonight with brother and his family. Steak is to die for.
(5)Caroline L.
Came here on a hot day and found the main dining room to be a bit uncomfortably hot. I had a glow of perspiration throughout the entire night (limited myself to one cocktail b/c I felt another one would only make my face warmer and sweat more). Tried to Nutty Russian drink which I thought was yummy. The back dining area was significantly cooler. LOVE LOVE LOVE the whole loaf of warm bread they give you in the beginning of the meal. I mean seriously- the entire loaf? My cousin enjoyed the carrot salad a lot. It wasn't anything wow but it was tangy and crunchy and good difference in texture. Got mussels for the appetizer which was DELICIOUS. We literally finished off another loaf of bread just so we could soak up the broth in the bottom of the pot! We all got a different style of steak and frites for our entree. I got the Steak Classique which came completely well done even though I had asked for medium rare. The middle was completely well done which only makes you think how overdone the outer part of the steak would've been. The server quickly took it back but didn't seem all that apologetic (although he did ask how it was after he brought a new one). This time the steak was medium-well. I gave up and just ate. I appreciated them trying to bring it out quickly but the pad of butter was still completely solid on top (and i think they forgot the seasoning). I was really unimpressed. I guess the classique steak is naturally pretty thin so medium rare is hard to do?? My cousin got the cheapest Hanger Steak and hers was beautifully medium rare b/c it was a thicker piece of steak. So to summarize: delicious free bread, delicious mussels (YUMM!), don't get the Classique steak b/c they don't seem to know how to cook thin cuts of steak properly. I'd come back. Hopefully their a/c is working better now.
(4)J R.
I don't normally like chain restaurants but this place is great. I've eaten there lots of times over the years and the food has always been great. I had lunch here on Labor Day with Cookie and my daughter. We sat outside. We had a fantastic waiter. I wish that I knew his name. He was always attentive to my daughter's needs. I had a steak sandwich for lunch and Cookie had a chicken gouda sandwich. Both sandwiches were fantastic. My daughter had a mac and cheese kids meal that was only $4. Most time kids meals come with a bunch of junk food but not here. The kids meal had apples and vegetables with it. This meal was a total success and I can't wait to come back.
(4)Debra T.
25 FOR 25 IS A MUST! An endless supply of wine and delicious h'orderves. I also met a lot of nice and friendly people so I highly recommend checking it out if you haven't already.
(5)Kristi L.
Delicious food, it is on the list all day long.
(4)Jen C.
While the decor was eerily similar to Maggiano's Little Italy (minus the red checker table covers)--to which we later found out is under the same restaurant company--the service and food here is what you would expect from a chain restaurant. The free bread and carrot salad starters were tasty, but anything with butter wins my heart. And this was truly the theme of the night. Everything. was. doused. in. butter. We ordered the brie cheese, which came with delicious garlic cloves and melted brie...though it was not hot enough; it became very hard to cut very fast. Delicious but too much honey. Then, we ordered the chicken and the steak. Chicken was fresh but standard (thank god for the butter), and steak was overly salty, potato "fries" had an odd chewy consistency. Nothing to wow. Overall, good food for a stop by if you aren't too picky about which restaurant to go to and want good service. Won't be disappointed, and won't be given unbelievable food. I have a feeling this doesn't serve authentic French food...as I walked away still stumped what exactly it is.
(3)Monica S.
This French restaurant was so delicious. I would go back in a heartbeat! The atmosphere was very lively. It was little loud in there but nothing crazy. I had the scallops and my date had the hanger steak both of which were delicious. We also had wine paired with both of our meals. The desserts were also fantastic. I had the bananas foster. Over all a bit pricey but the food is well worth it.
(4)Nick C.
Came here with a party of seven and was seated quickly. Wait staff was friendly. Good steak and fries but not the best. Steak was over done as I ordered rare and got a well done steak. Service was fast. Not as good or authentic as Bistro Du Coin and way less atmosphere. Good wine selection , bad béarnaise sauce.The onion soup was good but a bit less cheese would have made it great. Would go back if I could not make it to Bistro Du Coin on Connecticut Ave.
(3)Jay S.
My girlfriend's steak was overly buttered and the fries were pretty greasy, definitely did not expect that. What most people don't realize is that with a good steak there is only need for salt and pepper seasoning, and the butter did not add anything other than calories. To add to that we were still burping an overpowering steak smell long after consuming the meat. Their scallops are good, but the sides that came with it could be a little more flavorful. Dessert was a unique combination of tastes that turned out excellent, and the bread was very fresh. But based on phrases that comes with each star ratings, and the overall meal, I definitely feel that "I've experienced better."
(2)Bob J.
Had steak frites bearnaise, bottled Leffe along with the house gazpacho at the bar. Finished with coffee and a Yelp-check-in chocolate mouse. Ordered the steak rare, got the steak rare. It's a hangar steak so it's thin but good flavor. Gazpacho was Spanish style, puréed, and served with some dried mint along with avocado and tomato as a garnish. Weird but good. The coffee was outstanding as was the free check-in chocolate mousse. I'm looking forward to returning.
(4)Kristina M.
I recommend making reservations for brunch, as this place is pretty popular. Everything I had was very good: smoked salmon appetizer, quiche lorraine was delicious and I'm at best a border-line quiche fan, seafood crepe was also very good. Yes, Mon Ami has desserts, but there is Haagan Das next door, just putting it out here!
(4)Eunice K.
went here for restaurant week.. i ordered the onion soup, salmon and bread pudding my mom ordered the caesar salad, steak with peppercorn sauce..? and bread pudding my sister ordered the au poivre burger when you first come in and sit they do give you warm bread and butter :) yum we all tried a lil of each others dish everything was just okay nothing amazing.. the best part was the frites/fries ;)
(3)Keisha S.
By far my favorite place to eat in Bethesda just good food all around and the staff is always professional and kind. Perfect for lunch and dinner.
(4)Jae K.
Had a friend in town, and went for sunday brunch. Decided to sit inside, since the sun was scorching our back. Service was excellent, food-wise, it's everything you'd expect from French restaurant. Unfortunately, can't quiet give it a 5 since it's nothing I haven't seen before in our French restaurants, but it's def a nice and friendly place to grab some French food in Bethesda Row
(4)Gretchen K.
Love the food & the people. My favorite place for the perfectly cooked steak! Brunch is fantastic too!
(5)Joseph P.
Went for dinner tonight around 8pm. I had made reservations earlier so getting seated wasn't a problem. The only complaint I'm going to have in this review is that the tables were pressed pretty closely to each other and the table of 5 next to us were having a pretty enthusiastic conversation about one of their girlfriends are her..escapades. Not an entirely appetizing conversation to overhear. Onto the positives. Great service! Our waiter was very patient with us (we didn't decide until his 4th trip back to check on us) and was also very informative whenever we did have questions. I ordered the steak bordelaise (caramelized onions and red wine sauce) and my girlfriend ordered the skate wing. We shared a macaroni and cheese on the side. The steak was ordered medium rare and came medium rare (we all know how those can turn out sometimes). My expectations weren't through the roof since it is a thinner steak and I'm more of a ribeye person. However, the steak was cooked perfectly and the caramelized onions were a sweet addition. It came with some onion fries which were average. The skate wing was also very good. Crisp yet tender just the way it should be. It came some cauliflower puree which was delicious. The mac and cheese was rather heavy and we found it burdensome to finish. The best part of the meal had to be the dessert. We ordered the blueberry sorbet and the profiteroles. Best profiteroles I've ever had. By best, I mean I've only had them once before but who's counting anyway. The blueberry sorbet was also a nice touch to end a heavy dinner. Good service, nice area, generous portions, good food, reasonable price. Enjoy!
(4)Minn L.
One of the few restaurants in Bethesda that I feel is somewhat worth the money. I know it's a French place and I should be more excited about the filet mignon and frites (the frites here are delicious!), but I am a fan of their seafood and salads. They are never drenched in sauce, but light and fresh so that you can actually taste the ingredients. And of course, love the fresh baguette they bring out as starters. If the regular menu is a bit pricy for you, try their happy hour in the bar area. They have a $5 food menu, which includes a steak burger with caramelized onions and mustard mayo, and pate, and for drinks they offer half off wines (glasses and bottles). The servers always seem to be nice and attentive too.
(4)Mattie C.
Great location in central Bethesda near the bike path and across from the Barnes&Noble. It is a cute restaurant with a great atmosphere and also very interesting food choices. They have great onion soup, which is all I usually get. Also, I tried escargot for the first time in my life here. It wasn't that expensive, and I have to say it was quite tasty! They seemed to be drenched in some type of buttery oil, but I can still say that I tried them :) There were other great items on the menu too, but I am always satisfied with a light lunch of soup and some bread. And try the escargot! It is a shame that I live so far away from here or I would come more often.
(5)O P.
Great music, excellent crab cake and excellent steak à la Bordelaise. Will come back.
(3)Trevor M.
Autumn is finally in the air, the crisp leaves crackling like dry fire under your leather patented shoes. Your beige scarf lightly rests upon your shoulder and still has the lilt to be picked up by the occasional breeze. An accordian plays a duet with a bird above. It seems a perfect combination. The air today smells wonderfully pungent when mixed with the wonderful nose of the Cotes Du Rhone. The guyere that you are spreading across the warm baguette compliments the scene as a poodle blithely scatters past your table. Then you realize that your'e really not in a cafe overlooking the Seine on holiday, but that you're really ditching work so that you can hide out at Mon Ami Gabi for a glass of wine and some onion soup. (Note to self: Better call work and fake one of those 12 hour bugs so I don't have to go back to cubeville.) Now, back to our scene in progress. I decide to order the escargots de Bourgogne as it is such a wondeful compliment to the wine and cheese. When mixed together, the herb butter and cheese just simply melt and the sweetness of the escargots is astounding. Not overcooked and tender sitting on the cheese and bread. My nicoise salad with the perfect pepper seared tuna is light and is a nice juxtaposition to the autumn that beckons me outside. It is followed by the onion soup with more cheese on top. It is hard to finish this by myself...so, I do not struggle. The incredible sauteed onions with it's sweetness is a delight and warms the soul on a brisk day as the sun struggles to dance into the cafe. But what is a trip to Mon Ami Gabi without some frites. Fried ever so delicately. This is a meal unto itself. The wine continues to warm and awaken the poet's soul. Text on Iphone: Get back to work and finish your report! End scene.
(4)Marry K.
Best Steak ive had in a long time! i can still taste it...and i want more!!! Went there on a Friday night and Thank God we booked because gosh was it packed! Walk-ins were being told the wait was about 30-40mins and we were seatead in less than 2 mins when we got there. I ordered the mushroom soup to start which looked and tasted a bit like baby food. i wasnt a fan. We all ordered steak and each and every bite was good till the last morsel. The fries were a bit difficult to eat. A bit soggy and hard to pick up with a fork so i ended up using my hands and eventually stopped eating the fries. id definitely go back and id definitely have the steak again. it was HUGE!! I tried three different types (bites of what my family was having) and each steak was tender and delicious. Service was great. the staff is very polite and our waiter was quite attentive. The restaurant was quite loud and tables too close together. it felt like we were pretty much sitting with other guests as we could hear every bit of their gossip. besides that, mon ami gets a thumbs up!
(4)lindsey l.
For the hype, I was less than impressed. My cut of meat was over done (asked for rare) and rather paltry. The steak-frites were also over done and too crunchy to enjoy. Atmosphere was decent, but not enough to make up for the disappointment in my entree.
(2)Kathryn W.
My Birthday was March 20th, that was a Sunday. So to celebrate my 50th Birthday, I ventured out with 15 year friend and neighbor Undra. I had forgotten life is beautiful... I first wanted to go to Chrisfields,but having missed today's gorgeous weather, I choose Mon Ami Gabi after 8:30 pm. I have to say my experience was the best I have had ever at a restaurant. Most of the patio was packed up, but 2 tables were occupied by the front door outside on the patio. Our waiter Michael was a winner,( not in the Charlie Sheen way ,silly,)excellent ,bright,and just for indulging my request outside, he was a wonder for Bethesda. We started with ice tea. I ordered the chicken liver pate it was presented with a squeeze of tasty barbecue sauce, the sauce was ,not overly salty, nor too sweet. The chicken liver pate was smooth in texture and outstanding,the pate is presented with a speared pieces of crust free toast . After that treat I turned to Undra and said how can I tolerate eating the food at home after this ??? I also, informed him that tomorrow he will feel like superman from the needed injection of iron. Forget energy bars, and drinks. My taste buds were reset, to the higher standard now everything will taste like wax compared to here. My dining companion Undra was mesmerized by the jazz trio playing inside the restaurant. it is so pleasant to sit outside on a Thursday evening and have a jazz trio live 20 feet away..Undra listens to jazz 4 hours or more everyday of the week. So it was a real treat for both of us to have live jazz music,fresh air, and outstanding service and decadent savory food all at one time. Who knew??? I loved their steak burgers, or hand burgers that taste better then any recent steaks, I can remember. I had cheddar, on the moist decadent hand burger that made me reminisce what 1960's steaks tasted like in 1966. Undra got some exotic type of mild Swiss cheese and his burger was cooked well done. He stuck with the famous Frites, I declined the fries and was graciously offered fresh green beans that were excellently seasoned with pure garlic and butter. After dinner,I requested to have a lot of the food wrapped up by the busser ,phonetically his name was Euie. He wrapped every dish with a beautiful presentation in foiled diner containers, I had 3 plates, Undra had one. He presented us with 2 strong , brown bags,he even remembered who got what and had each bag filled with each patrons foods. After ordering coffee; I am embarrassed to say I became hypercaffeinated from the previous 2 ice teas. And I had a long winded monologue with Michael, poor waiter. Most of the waiters are tip top minds with Engineering, or Masters degrees and very interesting. I collect watches,and Michael had a beautiful Invecta Watch,his father is in the business of watches. Next time I will quell my enthusiasm and learn something on our black belt bargain hunting. I tip generously when people go above and beyond, Michael had picked up our table so I was delighted to be served by him. After asking what Michael's work schedule was, I forgot some of it; Sorry Michael.Michael invited me to come for brunch, so I plan on making reservations for brunch with a request for Michael. We decided to go inside and listen to the Jazz Trio, I was given another cup of coffee, and Undra had Earl Grey Black tea with lemon. Mark took our order, and proficiently fussed and spoiled us, and Al, a Sidney Potney face with black glasses brought me the coffee, I asked if he was still in school. He said he had graduated from an Arts College in DC, then mentioned his engineering degree. I was in good company to brag about the Ford Transit Connect I had researched and negotiated on. I have an interest for the mechanical myself. So I was in bliss. Discussing the scope of the van, w/self adjusting uni not fisher body, 175 cubic feet of storage, and a quick Ford focus engine. I ordered the Banana Foster. It is simply the best dessert, sweet with a thin crepe with ice cream,and real whip cream. When Mark learned I was celebrating my birthday he brought or bought, us free truffles. The check for dinner was $35, then the check for tea, coffee, and the 2 to 3 serving desert was $14. The live music free. Life is Good..@ Mon Ami Gabi.
(5)KJ F.
Had a fabulous lunch at Mon Ami yesterday. The manager Michael K. was great. Very friendly, helpful and answered all of our questions. He was extremely accommodating. The seafood crepe is amazing! Make sure you get the profiteroles for dessert! You will not be disappointed!!!
(5)Bear B.
Definitely a classy-looking establishment that won't break the bank! I was so surprised at the menu prices! Atmosphere and food was pretty fancy looking, but the price was that of a low-end steakhouse! The only complain I have is that the steaks look bigger than they really are. They were cut quite thin. I'd rather have a thicker steak that looked half the size.
(5)Pilar W.
Their steak frites is one of the best in town. Also good are their seafood dishes, and specials. Last night their chilled asparagus soup, attentive staff, and usual French ambiance held me fast. and the mousse, oh, the mousse! This is a place you don't want to leave. Enjoy.
(4)Scott M.
Holy cow do I love this place! Dined here, Reston, and LV and they are all excellent. Fantastic wine selection by the glass, French bistro standards done to perfection, and a knowledgeable and attentive staff are impossible to beat..
(5)Tim D.
First of all, what self-respecting French restaurant doesn't have French waiters, or servers, or bartenders, or host, etc.?? This place is sooooo "Bethesda" that they even have a giant (fake antique) sign up on the wall that says: "French Fries/ Frites" No,- I'm not kidding! (Next time you're at the bar turn around and look up.) I decided to celebrate my MLK Day by having some wine and nibbles at a restaurant, so that's why I stopped in. The wine list (by the glass) was pathetic! No Cab's whatsoever! The guy next to me actually thought he was drinking a Cab but when I asked him to point it out on the menu he pointed to the "house" Bordeaux. When I said: uh, that's a Bordeaux not a Cab he said "oh,- the bartender said it was "like" a Cab"... uh huh.... uh...NOT! I guess that's why he's a bartender not a sommelier! Still, I expect better from a French restaurant.... "By the glass" there was only ONE choice for Pinot, Chard, or Malbec. Bordeaux had three or four choices but seriously, $20 for a "no-name" '07?? ...for one glass?? You gotta be kidding me! The only thing that looked decent was a half-bottle (375 ml.) of '03 Medoc for $34. When I asked if I could "see" the bottle, the bartender said "sure" but it took him 20 min. to produce it (and the place wasn't busy at all). Hmmmm.... Finally the bottle comes, everything looks ok so I say "fine." As he's opening the bottle and about to pour it into a wine glass, I ask him to decant it. He says "sorry, decanter's are only for FULL Bottles"!!! Again,- you gotta be kidding me!! As I contemplate this conundrum (and look around for the manager), he offers to pour it through a sieve (for sediment) and into a carafe instead of a proper decanter... I stifle my disappointment, determined to make the best of it, and the deed is done. The taste was fine...well, "okay" but there was absolutely no "nose" (aroma, bouquet, whatever you want to call it)!!! I waited.......and waited........sipped, and waited.......It took over an hour to "open up" and when it (finally) did,-- it was nothing to "write home about"! The escargot was yummy and the French bread was great: served in a paper bag about 15" long but HOT which really made a difference... (That's the ONE thing they got right!) All in all, $50 for yummy bread & escargot but "ho-hum" wine?? What a RIP!
(2)Amanda C.
I can't wait to go back! Informative and attentive wait staff, delectable menu, nothing but good all around! I recommend the smoked salmon!
(5)Karen P.
We revisited Mon Ami this weekend - with the same 3 players as were present in my earlier review. I think the restaurant has taken some of the constructive criticism to heart. We showed up for our 8:30 reservations a few minutes early, put our name in and went to the bar to get some wine. My husband ordered a bottle of wine from the menu (this time, they had the selection and there was no conversation about all of the wines being discontinued!). It was brought promptly and although we were standing in the middle of the bar area with no table (no seats left), the waiter kindly brought 4 glasses, presented, opened and poured the wine for all of us. Our table was about 15 minutes late - acceptable on a busy Saturday night. We were seated and "set up" (water, menu's, bread) quickly. Our order was taken and food delivered in good time. The steaks and frites were as always, wonderful. Mon Ami is back in my good graces and I'll be back.
(4)Betty S.
I was craving a steak and I never crave steak (I eat very little beef - gasp, I know). Anyways, it was date night and a Saturday night and we didn't make reservations. It worked out since seats at the bar just happened to open up and we were able to get drinks and appetizers. We had the brie and it was delicious! After close to an hour, we finally got our seats. I wish we had a more "private" seating area but I've learned that French places are typically super small and crowded. Plus it was kind of fun eavesdropping on this first date going on next to us. Anyways, onto the STEAK! I had the steak with the onions (sorry I don't remember the exact name). It was perfect and exactly what I was craving. It was tender, juicy, and the perfect medium well that I like where it's not bleeding in my mouth. I ate a good amount, took the rest home and finished the rest 1 hour later. Yup, that good. The bf had the fish, I don't remember what kind exactly but he liked it. It was light and actually very filling (trust me that's tough to do with his stomach). So all in all a great meal and a great date night...if you get what I'm saying ;
(5)Fay F.
It's a 3.5 Went there yesterday for dinner and got the Cesar salad, steak with classic butter, and Crème brûlée from the special restaurant week menu. Cesar salad was simple but really fresh and tasty. They use very good quality Parmesan cheese which goes well with the home made crouton. Steak...I ordered it as medium and it came out as totally well done. But the waitress was willing to change it for me and I appreciated it. And it's a thin steak, so i understand that it is very easily to be over cooked. The new one they gave to me was cooked just right, but much saltier..? idky. But I scraped the sauce away and it was fine. The Crème brûlée was alright. Good but not amazing. Just to satisfy my sweet teeth. :] PS: the bread and butter they give to you at the beginning was reeeeally good. That and the Cesar salad probably were the best part of the dinner. I'd just go again for these only.
(3)Lisa N.
What brought us here: My birthday lunch. What we got: Butternut Squash Soup (seasonal special?) Four Mushroom Soup Jumbo Lump Crab Cake Chicken, Broccoli, and Cheese Crepe (shared with my 17-month-old) Prime Steak Sandwich served with hand-cut fries (mmmm....hand-cut fries...) You get this baguette to start with, and it's like the most amazing free bread I've ever eaten...well, next to the fruit & nut bread at Fork Restaurant in Philly ( forkrestaurant.com ). Review: Butternut Squash Soup - sweet and salty, smooth Four Mushroom Soup - earthy, as it should be Jumbo Lump Crab Cake - on top of cole slaw, crab cake good Chicken, Broccoli, and Cheese Crepe - creamy, chicken very tender, wish it had more broccoli though Prime Steak Sandwich served with hand-cut fries - steak cooked perfectly and I don't have to say anymore about the fries Verdict: Would eat here again if in Bethesda. A bit pricey, but not too high compared to surrounding restaurants - I'm talking to you Jaleo ( jaleo.com/index.php/cont… ). Fairly kid-friendly, except I couldn't find anything off the kids menu (only mac n cheese, burgers, and pizza, egh!).
(4)Daphne A.
Go for the Chicken Paillard. I switched the frites for brussels sprouts for a hearty but healthy dinner. The ambiance is charming and the service is impeccable - just attentive enough not to be overbearing. Actually, everyone seems to be on their best manners at Mon Ami Gabi - even the children were formally dressed and well-behaved! I'll definitely be back here. Next time, steak.
(4)Lauren B.
Great food, great service. I'd recommend it for brunch early on a Saturday or Sunday!
(5)Timir D.
I cant comment on the greasy floors, but the food here is worth trying out. You have to call a day ahead to get a reservation at a decent time here, otherwise you will be stuck coming in at 5pm. The table bread and butter comes with a mildly sweet carrot relish and help to ease the wait before the appetizers arrive, the bread is warm and crisp but the chilled butter is hard bit difficult spread. Portions are large, this is primarily due to the huge amount of fries that are served with nearly every main course. My party ordered roast chicken, prime burgers, and a steak au poivre. The burger was cooked correctly, and the chicken appeared to be to not be too dry. I asked the server what cut the steak would be before ordering and was told that it would be the end piece of a tenderloin pounded out flat. When the meat arrived, cooked medium rare as I requested, I received a steak that was 1.5cm thick and quite large. The meat was as tender as I expected it to be from the description. The fries are a filling addition to the plate. I would rate them a 7 on a 10 scale, and say that the could have been a bit crispier. The deserts that we ordered were the creme brulee, chocolate mousse , and pound cake with lemon curd. The brulee was a bit heavy on the egg but enjoyable, the chocolate was rich, not too sweet, but a bit bitter, and the pound cake was moist and complimented well by the curd. Overall I would give this place a high 3/5, just under 4/5
(4)Bernard D.
I love this place!! While its not authentic like Le Bistro Du Coin in Dupont it is still a great restaurant. You can't go here without getting some variation of the Steak-Frites. The fries are very unique and VERY tasty. Service has always been great and it is not too difficult to get a table although they can get busy.
(5)Sue F.
This is my 4th time here and this time was the best! Loud atmosphere, but great food. I had the hangar steak and my colleague had the filet. For dessert we each had the warm bread pudding - get hot fudge on the side!
(4)paul l.
this is not fleur de lys. so if you're going their for fine french food, you will be utter disappointed. but if you are going for a french version of cheesecake factory, then you'll be really happy you went. the moules frittes are pretty tasty as are the escargot. some of the steaks are not to my liking. but i cook a pretty mean steak! the location and ambiance are great and the service is excellent. will i come back? yeup!
(4)Whitney B.
Went for New Year's Eve. Couldn't get a reservation, but the hostess said to stop by and try so we did. We were seated immediately (thanks!). Our waiter was professional and as attentive as we needed. He recommended a very reasonable and very good bottle of Bordeaux. Our food was very good and cooked to order as we had asked (Started w/ a shared frisee salad and then Steak Roquefort and scallops -- allyummy.). Loved the ambience -- and it was a great place to spend a festive evening. We'll be back, and often.
(4)Abraham L.
Mon Ami Gabi is like a shop specializing in Van Gogh replicas: enchanting, artistic, and affordable. Disregard the insincerity and it's French dining at its most accessible. Nestled under Bethesda Row's big pointy arrow, straddling the intersection where jovial sidewalk cafes turn into cozy vendor carts, red awnings announce Mon Ami Gabi's curious moniker. It is one of many charismatic touches that make this French Bistro a safe bet. Our visit occurs on a Friday evening. The frenetic ambiance and sumptuous decor is so distracting I find my menu incomprehensible. Waiters duck and weave. Lighting is fashionably low. Tables and their items are flush to maximize occupancy. A constant din emits from the packed clientele. Our waiter materializes to recount a marathon of daily specials. It is a longer speech than we, and the breathless waiter, are used to. Ornate descriptions mix with French words in an American accent. Du jour this. Du jour that. Confounded we ask him to repeat himself. Much to our delight he does. We begin with complimentary appetizer and baguette. There is a tiny plate of grated carrots soaked in Champagne vinaigrette. Curious but easily forgettable. As for the bread, outside it is chewy and crisp. Inside soft, cottony, and warm. It receives high approval ratings from across the table. She orders a charming Halibut. It is agreeable but be sure to splash it with lemon. And even then it receives less attention than the baguette. As for me, I order the French Onion soup and the Steak Roquefort. The former is a meal in itself, cheesy, full of texture, and requires a surprising amount of concentration to eat gracefully. I am stubborn and insist on finishing it but to be honest I only enjoyed the first few spoonfuls. I am stuffed when my Roquefort arrives, but it is still a pleasant surprise. The frites are trendy and addictive. The marbled bleu cheese undeniable. And all restaurants should slice steaks so thinly. This is glamorous food with generous portions and I highly recommend it. Overall, Mon Ami Gabi satisfies my French craving. Classy, clever, not terribly expensive. A reliable dining experience. Would've been perfect except it all felt overly rehearsed. All restaurants are commercial, but I sense it here to the point of distraction. And when the meal feels more like good business than good art, I withhold my fifth star.
(4)Sean D.
I've been to the Bethesda branch of this restaurant about 5 times. The decor is designed to very carefully recreate a French bistro, almost to the point of cliche. The authenticity however is belied by a few local dishes (crab cakes) and big screen televisions at the bar showing NFL football games in the fall. If it were just the food I would give this restaurant two stars. The food is just okay. The steak frites was a disappointment -- tough, chewy steak and remarkably bland fries. The trout, when I had it, was also bland and dry. The burger was fine, but the roll was dried out. On the other hand, my wife has ordered the chicken grandmere, which was flavorful. The salads are pretty reliable (although I make a better Nicoise at home) as is the classic onion soup. The bread that comes to the table is also pretty good. The reason I come back to this place is not for the food, but for the location. The bar is a perfect place to have a glass of wine before or after a movie at the Landmark cinema next door.
(3)Shannon K.
Best service, atmosphere, and more importantly.... Food! Love this place!!!
(5)Alex L.
Disclaimer: I'm a tightwad with stars; that could really be a 3.5/4 so don't be discouraged. Read on. Went here for the first time on a first date, so I was nervous anyway. I had checked out the menu of a bunch of places beforehand (yes, im that nerdy) and came up with a few choices from which i made my date chose. For completeness, my top three were mon ami gabi, jaleo, and assagi. I liked the style of the place--elegant without being stuffy but the tables were a little close together. i was on the bench side of the table, and practically on top of the elderly four-some next to us. We heard quite a lot of their conversations--the coffee was cold, Stella broke her hip, where the best $5 dinner deals are, etc. I think it was clear we were on a first date (I hate that) so the servers were attentive but not intrusive, which I appreciated. They placed a whole baguette, whipped butter and some molded cous-cous thing on our table with no explanation. Needless to say, tearing into a whole baguette with my hands wasnt the most lady-like thing i did all night but whatever. The bread was good. Pretty mediocre wine-by-the-glass selection, but i went with the house malbec i think. could have been a pinot noir. wasnt memorable. We both ordered seafood; I got thyme grilled salmon on a bed of orzo and spinach which was amazing. The salmon was perfectly cooked. He got the scallops, which looked pretty good, but I wasnt about to start picking off his plate, so I dont know how they tasted. No dessert for us, we went elsewhere for another drink and more awkward date conversation. I live right in downtown Bethesda, so would go back, if only for convenience sake. Or if i get a jonesin' for crepes, which is possible. Overall, very good food, and a nice date-spot but not my favorite place on the block.
(3)Denis G.
The menu is an eclectic mix of American, British and French food, served in the atmosphere of an elegant French bistro (with charming outdoor seating in good weather). Apart for the uniquely unappetizing fries which they inexplicably seem to have adopted as their trademark, the food is excellent and served in well prepared generous portions. I do I wish they had a more extensive and more diverse selection of French wines and offered a good selection of cheeses, but we still had a very enjoyable meal and were well attended to by the staff. It is not inexpensive, but makes for a nice meal out before a movie or with friends.
(4)James D.
I love this place, particularly the bar area. The bartenders are super attentive and very cool to chat with. I have gotten burgers, beers and all sorts of stuff while enjoying the ambience and usually they have live music every now and then. Even though it is a chain it is still a lot of fun to go to especially if you want low-key French food with cool decor.
(4)Becky T.
I had a beautiful meal here with friends. We all shared appetizers and desserts so got to sample a little bit of everything. Escargot and shrimp were delicious and I loved their creme brulee. I usually don't order steaks when I go out because I like to eat it very well done and have only had good experiences at home. However, my steak was excellent and moist even without the slightest pink. Their sommelier was wonderful and taught us so much. Even the waiter knew his stuff about the wine.
(5)Sarah D.
Great mimosas! Small & pricey, but still very yummy. I ordered the eggs benedict (was there for brunch), and that was good. I loved the decor, tons of wine bottles everywhere, and it really felt like I was back home in San Francisco.
(4)Anna T.
GREAT HAPPY HOUR!!! They have an outstanding happy hour in the bar area with a $5 limited menu (french onion soup, salad, pate and classic steak and frites) and half-price wine. It is a great deal when you look at the regular prices on their dinner menu. If you do not make Happy Hour, I would definitely still eat at Mon Ami Gabi because the food is good... just know that you will be spending MUCH more than the Happy Hour prices. The atmosphere is good and service is nice as well. Bon Apetit.
(5)Mel B.
Great as a classy happy hour place- baguettes, wine, and french onion soup with a jazz band in the corner. I love looking for french bistros and this is one of my faves- complete with a room to rent out in the back for parties (although I don't know what the rate is). Rich mahogany wood, friendly staff and customers all enjoying themselves. Big fan!
(5)Mark D.
Stopped by for Sunday brunch with a friend and it was perfect. They have plenty of outside seating either on the sidewalk or on the patio. Their crepes were fantastic. Service was great (especially considering that it was peak brunch time), we were served with this delicious french bread and were well attended to. Didn't feel rushed at all...
(4)Raymond W.
In my failure to eat steak in DC for the 1.5 years I've been here I've decided to take on two steak dinners during Bethesda restaurant week so that my wallet would emerge alive from the depletion of it contents. At Mon Ami Gabi, my first steak dinner stop, I had the warm brie (to be french) to start, steak frittes and the chocolate cake. The warm brie is not something I normally eat, but was happy with the subtle texture and warmth of the brie with toasted pieces of french bread drizzled with honey, hazelnut, and roasted garlic. I ordered my first medium rare steak and I am now converted (at least for trustworthy restaurants). The hanger steak arrived juicy and tasty with what seemed liek a hunter knife to carve every piece of cow to be be shoved in my mouth. The steak came with a classic butter sauce that you can choose and with a cilantro? sauce as well. The frittes were good too, though I normally prefer fried potatoes with some fluffy potato inside. The chocolate cake put the meal over the top as I came waddling out of the restaurant. The ambiance was an energetic older crowd that let the wine pour down. Mixed with live Jazz, a definite upscale casual restaurant that warrants the price. Thank you Gabi.
(4)Monty M.
This is a handsomely appointed restaurant with average food and very poor service. Our waiter was an odd combination of traits; pushy yet inattentive. He tried quite hard to get us to order the specials, aggressively promoting the featured dishes with florid praise ("You won't even need to see the menu after I tell you about our specials!"). He seemed very eager to sell us more food and wine than we wanted. My meal of roasted chicken was a large portion, yet flavored heavily with garlic, including whole cloves served nearly raw with sauteeed, diced mushrooms beside the chicken. The chicken was of average quality and seemed to have been brined to tenderize it. It was very salty and wet instead of moist, and tough, with fatty undercooked skin (not at all like authentic Poulet Roti). The frites are not actually frites, but ribbon cut French fries. Yet they were crisp and could be appealing to some diners. Yet the intense flavor of undercooked garlic spoiled the dish. The liquid seeping from the chicken turned the crisp fries into a watery, garlic-y mess, just unappetizing. Our waiter was simply inept (forgot to serve desert, called out to us from another table instead of coming near us, did not offer a desert menu, simply ignored or forgot to put in the desert order ) . A waitress from the next station stepped in to help him (actually picked up our check and handed it to him for processing the credit card). This restaurant has potential, but should offer more sophistication to its service and treat those with small appetites more graciously (we both ordered entrees but no wine, starters or sides). Smaller portions of higher quality food would render Mon Ami Gabi more authentic. Less really is more. Our waiter left a very poor impression of this handsome restaurant, and that's a true handicap. I wanted to like Mon Ami Gabi, but in the end did not like the way I was treated there nor the badly prepared, average quality food, I hope your experience is different.
(1)Ginny H.
Love it. The mussels, the atmosphere. Everything I've eaten was good and, if you can't mnake it to Fouquet's, make it to Mon Ami G.
(4)Michael M.
I love this restaurant. Had the chicken liver mousse as a starter and it was heaven. The scallops with whipped cauliflower was quite tasty, although the consistency of the whipped cauliflower was a little too thin, I thought. Nevertheless, it was a very fine dinner. The server was professional and attentive. You do have to plan ahead when you come here though. Everytime I've come here on a whim, it's always been an hour wait, and the bar is tiny so there's no room so I wind up going elsewhere. Make reservations.
(4)Michellea D.
Yum!! The plates are so large that I split one with my friend. There was no split charge. Definately have the desert (any of them). We split three of the deserts and they were all sooooo good. Can not go wrong with any of the menu items.
(5)Barbara A.
Steak Frites, pate, wine, all great, slightly noisy but moreso cozy and very European atmosphere. Service is great, especially considering the tightness of the space at times. Have never had to wait with a reservation and valet parking is super helpful in this area. Overall Mon Ami is a worry free option for a great night out.
(4)Al L.
Went here for Valentine's Day dinner b/c my gf loves French food and this is one of her fave places. I'm not so much a fan of French food but I'll go once in a while. First good thing was we had a reservation at 8:30 and we got there a little bit early and got seated immediately. But we got seated in the main room which was extremely crowded and loud. When I went to use the restroom I saw the back room which was less crowded and more cozy if you only had a table for 2. We got put between two tables of four and basically ended up yelling just to hear each other talk, it felt like we were trying to talk in a loud bar or something like that. Anyways, we started w/ French onion soup and scallops for appetizers. The soup was good but the scallops were pretty much all cheese and onion and 4 little scallops. Not worth the price to me, I've had much bigger scallops for much cheaper at other places. The bread was ok, kind of hard. Steaks were good, cooked to order and had lots of flavor. The only thing is the "hanger" steak is really small! Finally ended w/ creme brulee which was really good there! Service was excellent though, very helpful and attentive but not intrusive. Overall it was a nice experience, next time if I could sit in the back room I'm sure it would be nicer.
(3)Constance C.
As others have noted, there's nothing authentic about this place, but they definitely went out of their way to buy out a French props warehouse. It has the feel of an Epcot French restaurant, which normally would be a deal-breaker for me, but we were seeing a movie next door, it was open at that odd hour between lunch and dinner (which is definitely a little more French, than American, especially in Bethesda), and we had been craving French bistro food for a few days. With our expectations adjusted accordingly, I have to say we were pleasantly surprised. The restaurant was pretty bustling at 4 p.m. but not overly busy. Waitstaff was very polite and service was quick. Each table is immediately served a vinegary carrot salad and a warm mini-baguette, both of which were pretty good. I had a sandwich du jour of pork loin with sauteed apple, and it was decent. The pork was a little bland, but juicy and tender at least, and I liked the weird, thin, flat, frites. Sandwiches are served with a frisee salad well-dressed in a mustardy viniagrette, which I actually enjoyed. I would never go out of my way to go here, and I wouldn't wait in line either, but under similar Sunday movie-going circumstances, I would be perfectly happy to be whisked away for 45 minutes to the romantic streets of Disneyworld.
(3)Michael S.
The rating is an average of my and my friend's opinions (sort of). Anyway, this was the first time I've been to this place and for the most part I thought it was pretty good. I liked the bread, I liked my dish (the steak bordelaise) and the banana crepe I had for dessert was OK (read: just OK) too. The tables were obnoxiously big (a minor detail but....) and I didn't really like that "bench seating" they had going on. The servers were definitely not all French, but then again this is a sort of chain so I wasn't really expecting to be totally immersed in French-ness. My friend had the lemon tarte for dessert but neither of us were really satisfied with that. If you're going on a Friday night like we did, make sure you have a reservation...we had to wait 1.5 hours for a (inside) table. Luckily we stopped somewhere else to get an appetizer...I don't really see why it was so crowded? Overall, there are better French places out there. But give this a shot.
(4)Lisa H.
Mon Ami Gabi is one of those places, that silently creeps up behind you and unknowingly lures you in. I had absolutely no expectations before entering this adorable establishment, and left with such high expectations for all other fine dining restaurants as a result of this jaunt. First, the size of the restaurant was very deceiving. From the entryway, there were only two rooms that were visible to the unexpecting patron. However, I realized how cavernous, quaint, and charming the venue was, as we passed through two other dining rooms before we were eventually seated in a very cute area in the back. We started our meal with a delicious carrot salad, dressed with vinegar, sugar, and a touch of salt. Along side of the carrots, was an entire loaf of warm baguette. This option was great, as it ensured variety, and not just the boring bland basket of bread. The next course, was a beautiful pot of mussels, which simmered in a white wine garlic sauce, with sauteed onions. It was remarkably light, and non-offensive. The mussels were plump and mild. Just the way I like them. Next, we moved our way onto the main course. I had seared scallops, with sauteed spinach and whipped cauliflower. WOWza. The scallops were seasoned perfectly with only salt, pepper, and olive oil. They were seared to perfection (non-fishy and non-chewy, simply delightful). The spinach was dressed with salt, pepper, olive oil, and a hint of garlic. Nothing out of the ordinary. I must say, the perfect compliment to the scallops was the whipped cauliflower. It was truly out of this world. It was seasoned with salt, heavy cream, and a touch of lemon. It was so mild, and thick, it really did give the illusion of mashed potatoes. Now onto the dessert. While our friends enjoyed the bananas foster, my husband and I indulged in the flourless chocolate cake. It was dense, rich and artery clogging. What more could you ask for? All in all, this was a great experience and we would be most inclined to return. The only reason why I cannot give it 5 stars is because of the unsanitary look of the flooring. I know, call me anal, but in a fine dining establishment the floors actually do matter. They are all tile, and look like they have about 20 years of dirt packed into the grout. They were also slippery, which does not sit on the palate very well, when you are unsure of to who or what you owe that unctuous feel. Outside of that, it's a home run.
(4)Aaron S.
Outside seating is close to the street but still great atmosphere. Very attentive staff and food came quick. I had the scallops, which were excellent, but the fries that came with my friend's steak was outstanding. My guess is they were fried in lard.
(4)Rrose S.
I was very impressed the first time I went here, but each time I've returned the food and service (and our waiters' English skills for some reason) just get worse and worse. After our last visit when we had to flag down our waiter to ask for our bread and water several times, and my mojito just had twigs and leaves thrown in it (no muddling to speak of), I don't think we'll be returning. Which is a shame because the onion soup and house salad is actually very good.
(2)Matars Z.
Its difficult to know how to rate Mon Ami Gabi. Mon Ami Gabi has great food over a MAJORITY of visits. This is probably the restaurant I visit most often in Bethesda, every other week, and the range of experience is highly varied. I've had pretty much everything at some point, and seen every season's menu change since they opened. I based my rating on the fact that on a good night when service is great (RARE) and they don't overcook the steak or make other errors, the food can really be fantastic. True bistro comfort food in a pleasant setting- its not sophisticated or complicated, but its exactly what one craves for a bistro visit. Some of soups and specials have been sublime in the last few years. The problem is the following - you have roughly a 33% chance of having food issues (usually because of the service staff delays or errors) and a 75% chance of having awful service. While the managers at this place are really great and generally fix the problems, it is a hassle to have to send back steaks, or ask for managers to fix orders. My experience over the last five to six years has been that three out of four waiters in this restaurant are clueless - clueless as to meat preparation, the ingredients of specials, the preparation, the wine list- and have attitude to go with their lack of knowledge, which is disturbing. They are not attentive to the very simply but specific requests you make, and food is served cold, lukewarm, overcooked - often as a result of the service staff timing. I ask my guests not to even bother asking detailed questions about the menu or preparations, or wine -because some of the responses have been mind-boggling over the years. The service goes from awful to absolutely abysmal if you are truly unlucky and land one of the five or six waiters who absolutely seem to be bothered by having to work at this establishment, making for very grudging service. These are the ones who answer back after making errors - and tell you "steak can't be cooked medium rare to rare - it has to be one or the other" or argue about the soup you didn't order (the only solution I found is just to avoid these waiters by special request). When the food is prepared as it is supposed to - not oversalted, not overcooked, not sitting under a heat lamp forever, not brought to the table at the same time as your appetizer and salad, or left to get cold, - when this happens, its a perfect meal. The reason I keep going back is that as a repeat customer I have finally worked out the methods for increasing my chances of a great food experience with good service. But most visitors may run into the problems again and again and it should not have to be so hard to get good service and warm food that is delivered to your table before it is overcooked under heat lamps, or cold. If your first experience is not good, give it a second or third chance. The primary problem at Mon Ami Gabi, in my view, is the uncaring and untrained wait staff - otherwise great location, great food, and great management. The potential for a great meal makes it always worth revisiting.
(4)Dwi P.
This is one of my favorite restraurants in Bethesda. The decor is warm and inviting, and makes you feel like you're in Europe. The prices are average, I'd say, for Bethesda, but the portions are quite large. The steak frites are to die for, and their roast chicken is great. I also love all their desserts. As nice as it is, they're also very kid-friendly, with crayons and paper on the tables so the kids can draw and color. I love it here!
(4)sak v.
The fake ritzy-ness, the allure of being someone your not can be found at this restaurant. I came here for a beer and some oysters. I ordered 12 oysters and a friend of mines ordered the tomato salad with gin and tonic. The oysters were good , you cant go wrong with oysters on ice mixed with some Kronenbourg and anchor steam beer on a nice sunny day eating / drinking outside. During the course of our meal we had a slight interruption from the The stereotypical suburbian -queen of a fake kingdom eating next to us had a question and ASKED "You have a DEEP accent where are we from??" We looked at her and reacted WHAT? DC MAAAM Do we have a problem? (really is this beverly hills) Is my name Axel Foley. There no reason to sit outside with your sweater wearing over the shoulder husband on a 90 degree day and create false stereotyping questions to us. Our waiter was like "Forget that B***H". We will eat anywhere we want. End of Venting great restaurant. Dont let the crowd fool you Eat at Mon Ami Gabi
(4)Sharen K.
This French bistro does a very good job with traditional French brasserie food. The onion soup was excellent and the steak frites were too! Good service and an excellent red wine all contributed to a delightful evening out. Oh...can't forget the desserts - they were amazing.
(4)Margaret Z.
I love this place! Have come here twice - once on a date, and once with my French class as part of our class outings. The service is fantastic and the food - quality. The frites are delicious and deceivingly healthy, making them so much more addicting than the usual steakhouse fries. The steak that I got during my date was a little tough, but still delicious in the marinade. The chef was even kind enough to pre-split my entree into two since I was sharing with my date (we weren't too hungry). I don't think I'd get it again, but I'm not the greatest fan of steak so oh well. I got the croque-monsieur (grilled cheese) during my class outing - soooooo good! The cheese was layered on thick and melted to perfection, and I loved adding the thin slices of ham which were a little smokey and not too salty at all. The leftovers heated up very nicely the next day. The best part though, was DESSERT. My word of advice - get the profiteroles... cream puffs minus the cream in the middle, but replaced with vanilla ice cream. Then drizzle the whole dish with hot chocolate fudge and add a sprinkle of powdered sugar. I was so full already, but HAD to stuff all three of these in - too good to pass up and I would go back just for those alone. Oh right, the bread at the beginning - yum. I love bread and the fact that it's mini baguettes just makes me want to hoard them in my purse to take home. Will visit again!
(4)Nick M.
I am a big fan of Mon Ami Gabi, I find their food is always consistent, and their service is really good. I have been to this location, as well as the location in Vegas, and I notice very little drop off. Their servers know the food, and are great with recommendations. This is one of my favorite brunch spots, nothing better on a Sunday morning than their Croque Madame. The Prime Beef Sandwich, and Au Poivre Burger are also great dishes.
(4)Evan H.
Last Sunday I met my parents and mon ami gabi for a quick dinner. I thought I had been there before, but nothing felt familiar. The restaurant is supposed to be a moderately fancy french bistro. The inside definitely has a very nice charm and the black and white checkered floor really does have the French bistro feel to it. I like that they bring out a whole baguette to start, it was pretty tasty bread. For a starter i went with the ONion soup. How can you go wrong with that. It was definitely the best french onion soup I Have had in this country (i dont order it a lot, so dont chastise me) -- the other two best soups were in Paris and Quebec. Following the soup, I went with the daily fish special which was halibut wrapped in bacon served over a white bean, tomato and swiss chard stew (though, i think they lied about the chard, there was a tiny piece). Overall, the meal was very pleasant, but I dont think I would call it a place that I would eat at all the time. They seemed to have awesome steaks on the menu, which was probably their specialty, but I opted for the lighter meal of fish.
(4)Lisa R.
I have eaten here several times and the food is always excellent. You really feel as if you're in Paris. The service is very good and the price is reasonable, given the quality of the food.
(4)Derek W.
Consistently good. Great apps and bar. Nicely done steaks and salads. Not thrilled with wine list.
(4)Howard R.
We sat outside for our anniversary dinner. The food was fantastic and the service excellent. Love the valet parking and the great Bethesda neighborhood.
(5)Veronica J.
The food is amazing I'll give it that much. The servers always professional and courteous but its just too damn expensive... Come on yelp $$ more like $$$$
(4)Arthur F.
Food was good, wine was good. Good.
(4)Donna C.
I absolutely adore this restaurant! So if it is located in a city that I am in, I try to eat there, Vegas, Chicago (hometown) and Bethesda. Saturday 8pm, it is beyond crowded but they sit me even though my daughter is parking the car. Yes, I was seated with an incomplete party!!! Our waiter, was beyond courteous, efficient and knowledgeable! It was such a joy to dine with him. Because the bar was unable to make our cocktails, due to lack of ingredients, he did so many little extra things since he felt we were very gracious not to get upset. The Caesar salad was "big" but so very good, not drenched in dressing and accompanied by a wonderful thin baguette crouton and shaved Parmesan. The steaks classique and bleu cheese were so tender and cooked to perfection, between the juices and melted herb butter, the traditional frites took on an additional layer of flavor. These steaks tasted like they had been flown over from a Paris bistro. My daughter and i enjoyed the warm chocolate pudding cake with salted caramel creme and white chocolate bread pudding for dessert and both were a tad big but so tasty and a perfect way to end a mother daughter weekend away.... Every moment and every bite of food was sheer perfection! Every employee was courteous and professional, smiled and talked to me-not insult me with a corporate script written by an out of touch marketing major. Do yourself a favor and enjoy it for yourself......
(5)Roger W.
We went on a Sunday evening with reservations. Got there a half hour early and were seated right away. Service was great. Lots of attendants. Couldn't take many sips of water without somebody coming by and refilling the glass. Finished plates were removed promptly. I got the filet mignon merlot done black and blue with signature frites just to try them. The merlot and onion reduction was too sweet for me. I should have ordered the steak plain as apparently all of their sauces are on the sweet side. The frites were too chewy. I should have ordered a baked potato. The meat was cooked to perfection, which is not that easy to achieve when you want black and blue. They got it right. My friend ordered the sea scallops. I sampled them and they were delicious with a nice caramelized sear on each side. It would have been better if it had all come with another vegetable, but we each ordered petite salads that were served before the meal. I'd have preferred mine with the meal as there was only potato for a side, but the tables for two are so small, it was easier just to have the salad first. We did not get appetizers, any beverages, or dessert. With a 20% tip rounded up we got out of there at exactly $85. It was a pleasant experience. Next time I'll ask more questions before I order.
(5)Aaron W.
Four Yelps for Mon Ami Gabi, which is everything that a Bistro should be. First item up for bids on a Bistro: PRICE. A bistro is supposed to be a lower-cost restaurant, somewhere that you can have a good meal without breaking yourself in half. Mon Ami Gabi fits beautifully into this niche. Other than their enormous New York Strip and Ribeye, the only item more than $25 is the Filet. One can eat comfortably here for $25: order the liver and either the good hanger steak or the excellent chicken. You'll get bread and carrot spread and you'll be out of there for $32-$34 with tax and tip. Or get those entrees and a dessert. Second, the place is ALWAYS busy, even at the bar. Have a reservation or be prepared to wait. But a good bistro is always busy; they're the volume sales section of the French restaurant world. Third, there's plentiful outdoor seating when it's warm, and the food is good across the board without being superior; highlights are definitely steaks and salmon and the aforementioned chicken. They have their own farms for the steak, which is how they get away with charging 2/3 of what you'd pay for similar quality at other places. So what does it take to get five from me? Marcel's is five. You get the idea. Along with the nearly adjacent Mussel Bar, for my dime, Mon Ami Gabi is one of the two best restaurants in Bethesda. Go, and bring me some.
(4)Andrew W.
Yet another perfect meal and cocktails at MAG! Nothing beats a great filet mignon "cooked" to perfection (actually barely cooked to perfection because I like 'em rare) and this place has not disappointed me yet. Whenever I have friends/family in town looking for a great meal this is where we go. Keep up the good work!
(5)Ronnie K.
I loved this restaurant. Yes it was a little expensive but the food was wonderful and the service was excellent. Mon Ami Gabi has a great atmosphere and the steaks were fantastic!
(5)Angela A.
After years of walking by this place, I decided to meet my hubby here for a lunch date and was very pleased with the decision. My hubby loves bread and was very pleased with the baguette. We had the escargot for an appetizer and they were delicious maybe a tad bit too salty but still delish!! We ordered a second baguette to sop up all of the delicious butter sauce left over. I ordered probably one of the best hamburgers I have had in my life, juicy(medium), perfectly cooked, a delicious bun that I wish they sold in stores with blue cheese and all the fixings. I wasn't crazy about the frites, they were too much like potato chips and the actual chips that came with my husbands meal tasted a little overcooked. My hubby ordered the lunch special which was a sandwich with avocado and smoked salmon. I tasted some of his leftovers the next day and it tasted pretty good still. We were given a complimentary dessert, a profiterole with vanilla ice cream because our food took a long time to come out. We had been there for about 30 mins, a couple comes in, sits next to us and had their food within 10 minutes of ordering and we were still waiting. And they ordered steaks!! I think our waiter may have forgotten to put our order in. Overall, it was good and I would definitely go back again to try the pate and the french onion soup.
(3)Keith R.
We were looking for a place to go around the shopping area of Bethesda Ave for lunch so we randomly chose this place. The atmosphere was great. The place had a good french bistro feel to it. The restaurant was larger than we had expected. The free bread was fresh and delicious. They also give you a free pile of shredded carrots, nothing special here, just carrots. We started with the snails. They were tasty, smothered in garlic, pretty standard. We used the snail oil as a bread dipping sauce. My fiance had the tuna salad. She liked it until she got to the hair (not part of the salad, this was a chef's addition). The waiter comped the salad, and gave us a free entree and dessert. He was very apologetic. She then had the mushroom soup which was loaded with mushroom flavor and delicious. I had a gruyere cheese burger with fries. The burger was good, as expected. It is hard to screw up a burger. The fries were very good. They are fresh cut, thin and crispy. Finally to the dessert. The creme brulee was sooo good and only $6 (free for us because of the hair thing). Service was amazing, staff was friendly, food was on time. I would definitely go back again.
(4)Daniel R.
Have eaten here for Passover 2 years in a row. They do a fantastic job. The matzoh balls were a little tough. Grandma used to say don't lift the lid on the pot - it makes dense - not fluffy - matzoh balls.
(5)Tina H.
I went here for my birthday with my girl friends couple months ago. It was pricey but it was definitely worth it! One of my friends and I got the steak classique. It came with fries and it was really good! My other friend got jumbo lump crab cakes and it looks delicious. If you have room for desert, you definitely have to try their profiteroles! It IS SO GOOD! It's kind of like creme puffs but better! and top with chocolate fudge, it's amazing! They gave me one because it was my birthday, & it was so good that we end up order one for ourselves. Our waiter was super friendly, helpful & funny. It was pretty packed when we were there but I had reservation so I didn't have to wait too long. Definitely worth trying.
(4)Melanie Y.
I've heard of this restaurant for a few years now but never had the chance to try it till last Friday. Oh, la la haha. I am total fan. We didn't even realize that it was also restaurant week last week but we didn't end up ordering from the menu. Instead we picked whatever appetizers we wanted and 2 big entree meals plus one dessert and were pretty full by the end. The total cost was about $30 including tip and tax which is not too shabby considering that restaurant week menu is $35 plus tip and tax so we saved AND had a great dining experience. Now that's my kinda foodie trip. =P Ok, so we ordered a whole bunch of appetizers: les Escargots de Bourgogne , Mussels Marinière and Baked cheese. I love escargots! They are about the only thing that I would eat that's not considered normal and always force them upon my friends who never tried them and converted them. I just tell them - think of them as mushrooms. hehe. They were hooked. =D The mussels were steamed in a lovely cream wine sauce that was sooooo goood! mmm.. Now for the baked cheese - I admit I'm not a fan of cheese but this was one thing I was so glad that we ordered! The brie was set in a puree tomato sauce and baked till melted. Then out came this yummy gooey dip dish perfect with toasted french baguette or bread roll. Oh my, it was sooo good!! My one friend ordered the special of the day - Fruit de Mer - (a seafood combo of oysters and shrimp with two salads on the side - one was crab asparagus avocado dip that I LOVE LOVE and I forget the other) I'm a sucker for anything avocado - def very good - too bad it came in a small container. would've inhaled the whole thing myself if I didn't have to share that. =P I ordered the Steak Bordelaise in medium for my entree. The steak came out a bit on the red side but oh my it was juicy and tender with a lovely red wine sauce and cameralized onions. mmmm. I was about full when the entree came (always seem pointless loading up in bread but I LOVE BREAD - hehe) so pack the rest up for hubby. He gulped it down in mins when I brought it home - so good. Of course I had to save room for the dessert which we ordered one dessert - profiteroles. Oh my - the dish came out with three profiteroles (which was perfect - one for each of us) with chocolate drizzled all over it and instead of a yummy custard for the center - it was a huge dollop of vanilla ice cream ( i may be too presumptious to say that it could be french vanilla - haha - who knows) =P it was good - too good. This is something that I may want to recreate in my own kitchen at a later time. =D A huge total recommendation for this one! I took off one star bc the service could be better. There were alot of bustling but still seems slow -could be bc of restaurant week too. I love though how I was greeted on the phone in french as well as the waiters being able to speak french. I 'm glad that was a criteria at the restaurant bc after all, it should set the right mood being in a french restaurant. either way, c'est magnifique et tres tres bien =D
(4)Consumer X.
I am from the greater SF area and my husband from the greater London area, and we both really enjoy eating. Somehow we ended up in the greater DC area and we dine at MAG, as we like to call Mon Ami Gabi, on a weekly basis. Exceptional service, awesome happy hour if you can get there before 6:30pm and delicious steak frites. Bon appetit!
(4)Laura A.
Mon Ami Gabi......french, sophisticated, elegant..... the service is outstanding. Friendly and professional. Have to mention the graceful movements of the personnel, the continuous smile and good manners.. so nice. First come to your table is a delicious and crunchy baguette; warm, inside a paper bag accompained by jam and butter... pretty cool eh? We went for brunch , sunday morning, outdoor seating... I do like the menu a lot. Interesting dishes that I don't use to get for brunch. Well, this time I keep myself traditional and I order scrambled eggs and green salad. Which is not in the menu. Have to say it wasn't outstanding and little salty, and I didn't get salad, but potatoes and vegetables frittata instead... well, doesn't make any sense considering my general impresion and I'll skip my food this time. Also because what I saw in another tables as well as what my friend ordered looks delicious.. She order the Seafood crepe....a thin crepe (authentic french) filled with shrimps, in a creamy cheese sauce and covered with sautted scallops. nice presentation, tasty flavor and huge amount of food. My friend looks so happy. the hand-cut fries of the adjacent table capture our attention, original presentation, yummy look,.. so bad we didn't had time to get some. I really see the menu out of standards preparations which is always welcome. I go to DC once in a while and I'm so happy Mon Ami Gabi is just 10 min walking from my bus stop. It deserves to be my last DC stop before I leave. opps, just last thing.. I do like this place for a lunch/brunch with friends, with your partner or with your closest family. Not sure about dinner and I don't see it for a date.
(4)Gustavo O.
Great place I eat here almost once every two weeks. The decor transports you to a Paris neighborhood. The wine list is good and the bread is fantastic. Steak and frites my favorite. Only one thing will ruin your experience, the rude host on Saturday nights. It seems they flew this guy directly from Paris but they should send him back and get the 4th star in my rating.
(3)Tiffany H.
Guess this name's a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Looks like you've got a lot of friends, Mon Ami Gabi. Good for you. I actually think the food here is just a hair above mediocre, but then it is French(ish) meaning everything's swimming in butter, so it's hard for me not to just tell my inner food critic and my arteries to shut the hell up and enjoy it. Their "classic" quiche lorraine is only so-so, but the crust is nice and flaky and buttery. Sea scallops gratinées are slightly more impressive, a bit overcooked, but yup - butter, herbs and gruyere make just about everything better. I bet if I asked the waiter to just bring me a big bowl of butter and a spoon, he'd do it. Service is excellent, and it's that, the atmosphere, the patio, and the proximity to a number of downtown Bethesda shops and the Landmark Cinema that'll probably bring me back soon enough. Overall, a very nice little spot for brunch or a laid back dinner. 3.5 stars.
(3)A C.
Great food and service. This is our second trip to the restaurant. We started out with four mushroom soup. It was creamy, rich and flavorful. My boyfriend ordered steak classique, I ordered steak Bernaise. Steak classique came with flavored butter with herbs which was delicious. Bernaise sauce was greasy without much flavor. (lots of crushed black pepper but no other taste) I wasn't a fan. For dessert, we ordered warm chocolate pudding cake. It was very very rich. Too rich and sweet for my taste (but read in the other reviewers that they have enjoyed it.) Extremely friendly, attentive and fast service. We will be back again.
(4)Patrick S.
went for restaurant week and was quite impressed love the rolling wine cart, nice to have a sample of a fine Beaujolais the French Onion soup was gooey good, and had their famed Steak Frites with the peppery Au Poivre sauce, and loads of their crispy fries the waiter was excellent, my mom's steak was a little chewy so he brought out a new cut and it was perfect, just great courteous service
(5)Myrna F.
Food was just okay. I ordered trout, requested it without butter - and it was a tad over cooked. Mostly problematic was the noise level which was almost unbearable! I
(3)Joseph M.
Great, great food. I'd give it 5 but I have to reserve that for only legendary places and this spot is JUST under.
(4)Heidi W.
I did not have a very good dining experience, but I appreciate that our friend treated us for dinner here. It was quite pricey! Food: AVERAGE. I ordered a fish special that sounded very good. The seared skin part of the fish was yummy, but the rest still tasted fishy. I've definitely had better. My boyfriend's steak was better, but it was still just okay. Price: Too much. Service: Waiter was kind of pretentious, but I guess he was...on time with his service? Meh.
(2)Dee B.
Boy, there just isn't a lot of love for Mon Ami Gabi among Yelpers. But I had another good experience here today. I had lunch with three co-workers. All three of them chose from the Restaurant Week menu (Mon Ami extended it for a 2nd week). As appetizer they had french onion soup, but each had a different entree: salmon with spinach salad, cheeseburger w/ Brie and fries, mussels w/ fries. I went for a special: an open faced mushroom sandwich with a poached egg, side salad and fries. We were all pleased with our dishes. For dessert we each had a profiterole with an amazing chocolate sauce. I might go back just for that. Plus, our server was super nice. Overall, a solidly good meal.
(4)Lucy B.
So. Good. We have had so many things on the menu and they are always wonderful! The lamb is amazing, the escargot is always as buttery and delicious as the time before, the onion soup is wonderful, the filet is ridiculous, the scallops are fabulous, and the muscles are fantastic! Always great service! Be sure to get one of their frequent diner cards, fabulous deal.
(5)Richard K.
This place was amazing and I wanted everything on the menu. One look at the bacon wrapped fillet mignon and I was in love. Big tip: make a reservation. Luckily I did and when I went there on a Wednesday night, the person in front of me had a 30 minute wait because he had no reservation and it was packed. I went right in with no problem. Would recommend this place. Wait staff was courteous and prompt.
(5)Robert B.
I've never had French food before and I didn't know what to really expect. We started off with there house wine which was delicious. The appetizers were the sea scallops and the muscles. I've never had anything so good. The bread they gave out was fresh and perfect in the sauce of the muscles to dip. For my main meal I got the special the duck and I didn't know what to expect. It literally was incredible and I would get it again in a heartbeat. My other family members got the filet and it was perfect also. My 11 year old brother got a burger and he raved about it all the way home. I would highly recommend this restaurant and when I visit Maryland again I will be back
(5)Jonathan H.
What a pleasant surprise! I am starving and cold, and don't even know the name of this place or what kind of food they serve when I bust through the doors looking for nourishment at 10 PM. Luckily, my gut feelings thrust me in the right direction. The tables are all taken up by thirty-something couples and some groups, so my friend and I sit at the bar. A quick glance at the menu and I notice the alcohol selection is larger than the food selection, although both have a lot of variety. I make the bold choice of *...drum roll...* a hamburger. My friend was a little more adventurous and went with the cheese plate. The hamburger looks expensive, tastes expensive, and comes with expensive-looking baby pickles. I will let the reader decide if $12 for a hamburger is expensive. It is delicious. The really awesome part is the serving of steak fries that comes with the burger. The serving is bigger than the burger, and I can eat these little not-too-greasy potato shreds for hours. I must look out of place in this seemingly classy joint, because I dump the fries out on a napkin and eat them like I'm at McDonald's. No problem, the staff turn out to be regular people, just like me. I don't know if I can say the same for the patrons. Speaking of the staff, our bartender Amanda is awesome! She is talkative, funny and has really great rapport with all her customers. The other bartender used to work over near where I live in Odenton, and he is really nice, too. For dessert, I order the profiterole (see the picture, feel the desire). It's three scoops of ice cream topped with something like fried dough, which is in turn topped with chocolate sauce. When you look up "heaven" in the dictionary, there is a picture of this dish, right beside Eva Mendes. After I indulge in the profiterole, the two nice ladies seated on my right want a spoon to try it. I can't part with the smallest bit of this treasure I have in front of me, so the bartender orders them each a complimentary scoop! How thoughtful! Best part? One of the ladies doesn't finish her profiterole, so when she leaves, I eat it! I will definitely come here again, and this time I will get a table to get the whole dining experience, although I am already thoroughly impressed just from sitting and eating at the bar. They have live music and clean bathrooms! What more could I want in a place I had no idea existed until my stomach steered me here?
(4)Rok L.
Great food, wonderful kids menu as well!
(5)Jonathan R.
I've been going to this place for 9 years now. While it doesn't quite hit the highs it did back then, I know exactly what to expect from this restaurant in regards to the food and the staff, and for expectations and consistancy are key. Is it loud? Yes, but I don't find it to be overbearing. A couple of highlights from the last few years: Watermelon Gazpacho, Queen's bread pudding, their ribeye and their reg and sweet potato gratin. The misses: bannana's foster crepe, neopolitan profiteroles. We've been fortunate to have some really incredible server's. Thankfully, the turnover rate is lower than many other places. Ask for Bryan. He is the best. All of this praise isn't to say that we haven't had bad experiences there. Steaks have been miscooked (drastically over and under), creme brulee came out raw one time, and we even had a server with a chip on her shoulder. What sets this place apart is the over all willingness to "make it right". Whether that means when you are there or in the future. The owners and managers are very communicative and open to hearing from you. This is still a highlight of Bethesda.
(4)Jon W.
There is no view of the Bellagio fountains like the one in Las Vegas and it was too cold to sit outside when we ate here a few weeks ago anyway, but the food and service were outstanding. I went with the Tomato soup on the recommendation of my server and it was close to the best soup I have ever had. Everybody enjoyed their sandwiches and the fries that come in a huge cup are actually worth eating! I found the atmosphere to be cozy. We had lunch here before seeing "The Kings Speech" at the theater next door. Everything came pretty quickly and the restaurant was close to completely full. I would come here again. By the way, the movie as well as the meal was great!
(4)Steven L.
Just got back from what was a perfect Valentine's Day meal at Mon Ami Gabi! Living right in DC, my partner and I often like to mix things up by eating outside of the city itself. As I pondered Valentine's Day possibilities, Mon Ami Gabi came to mind. I had never eaten there... just have always admired how simultaneously classy and quirky the place seemed to be whenever walking by. So anyway, my interest in the place plus our like of Bethesda sealed the deal. I did wait a little too long to make a reservation, though, so all of the dinner options were filled. But we have flexible schedules on Mondays, so I opted for an early 2:30 Valentine's Day meal. It ended up being a great time of the day -- quiet, calm, and the perfect environment in which our waiter (Alex) could give us lots of individual attention. Alex, by the way, was a pro: attentive, professional, friendly, talkative, full of good recommendations (including the wine). My partner ordered the lobster bisque, chicken liver mousse, and pear with blue cheese salad. He seemed to enjoy it all, especially the liver mousse. I was a little more indulgent with the sweet potato soup, macaroni gratin, and salmon and bacon sandwich with lemon aioli. The soups were creamy and delicious, the macaroni gratin cooked perfectly and in a huge portion, and the salmon quite flavorful. Topping things off, Alex very kindly brought us an (on-the-house) dessert -- a single profiterole for each of us. The ice cream and chocolate sauce were really, really good. All in all, a really great experience. And Alex, you're the best!
(5)Adriana H.
Love it! we went there for brunch twice and both times we had a good experience. The wine list is not the best, but everything else is :) The french bread in a paper bag is FABULOUS!! The price is realistic, the service is spot on and the food delicious. My husband had a steak for brunch. It was scrumptious. I ordered eggs and they were delicious. Yes, we will be back :)
(4)Tim R.
Went for lunch. Had a burger that was very juicy. Wife had something that I forgot, probably a lunch special.... thinking something ducky. Anyway, we both liked what we had. I don't like the fries though. They serve a bunch of short potato bits that are awkward to eat. Again I want to point out that I don't like to struggle with my food. Overall, I liked the food and service. I'm satisfied.
(3)Steve M.
Had dinner for restaurant week. French onion soup was souperbe. But the steak with Bearnaise sauce had a faint taste of kerosene; I did not finish and my fault for not sending it back. Large serving of pommes frites was excellent as was the apple tart with ice cream for dessert. I needed help to get my server several times. I would give two stars except that I have seen them do better in the recent past.
(3)Joey M.
I'll keep this one short and sweet because it was some weeks ago that I had visited: OUTSTANDING BARTENDER! Made some recommendations for some drinks based on what I was already drinking and delivered some of the best mixology I've had. Freakin' delicious! Food was quite good, and the ambience was just right. Highly recommended
(5)Sonya M.
I love this place. Really intimate and really french! They have an impressive menu and a wine selection. Their food is heavenly. Their service is mostly great. and even if they miss something, they always compensate for it somehow! A few times that I have been there, I've really enjoyed the experience. Their happy hour is really nice too. Great food on their happy hour menu. But the bar space is very limited and it can get really busy! They even have live Jazz some nights!!
(4)Mariko F.
It was almost exactly a year ago that I was here and still, I think about it all the time. On my 25th birthday, I was working in Bethesda and my mother took me out to dinner here. We didn't have a reservation but were seated right away, with a smile. The waiter came by with the wine list and ran us through the specials. I remember it well -- he said roasted duck and I knew what I had to have. The wine that was recommended with it was a perfect match. My mother had the swordfish, I believe. The dinner was fantastic. It was the atmosphere that makes me remember is most. People were happy to be there. It was decorated in a way that reminded you of an old smoking bar where men sit around with a scotch and a cigar. Slightly pretentious but somehow still laid back. I remember this place and that is saying something. It's a meal and atmosphere that you will remember.
(4)C R R.
One of my two or three favorite restaurants. I go often, usually for lunch, and it's wonderful. Favorites are the onion soup, the quiche Lorraine, the salads. Wonderful kids meals as they come with green beans and apple slices so there's nice variety and nutrition. Highly recommend.
(5)Dee L.
These guys were surprisingly accommodating - we had a large party on a busy Friday night and they let people from our group sit down even though the whole party was not there. They also did a wonderful job splitting the check (again, usually a pain with a large group). The food is a little pricey, but for a good reason - it's quite good! I had warm brie with roasted garlic, delicious butternut squash soup (on special) and a frisee salad. I only wish I had asked for the salad dressing on the side, as it was a little too much for me (but I tend to like my salads on the dry side). The chocolate torte was excellent!
(4)Molly L.
What a perfect place to escape from the chaos of a snow storm!! After being stuck in the car for 3 hours to go 7 miles by the time I got home cooking was the last thing on my mind. Solution: check out a local restaurant. I had no clue when I walked in how spectacular the Mon Ami Gabi would be!! The decor is perfect! Elegant but casual without being stuffy or snooty. They have a wine cart which sits in the middle of the room for easy access to refilling your glass! For dinner my partner and I shared the scallops and the pan seared tuna salad. The salad was good but the scallops were the star of the night!! The scallops were paired with cooked garlic spinach and this amazing cauliflower puree!! The scallop dish was like food crack! I could not have been more satisfied with the meal! I definitely plan to come back, the only hard part will be trying to resist the scallops and check out their other dishes! Thanks Mon Ami Gabi for saving my night after the THUNDERSNOW!!!!
(4)Jim S.
We went for Sunday brunch. The service, food, and atmosphere were all just right for a relaxing brunch meal with family and friends late on a Sunday morning. Everyone in our party enjoyed their meals of egg dishes and crepes. The mix your own Bloody Mary bar was a nice touch as was the warm baguette served with butter and raspberry jam. We were visiting from out of town, but would definitely go back if we find ourselves in Bethesda again.
(5)Janty C.
I went to this restaurant with a friend for an early Sunday dinner. The restaurant was empty and the host brought us to the very back of the venue near the kitchen/bathroom. After we sat down, we decided to move to another table and asked our waiter if that would be possible. He did not reply to our request and instead, he called the host over, who happened to walk by, and said, "I did not even said anything to them and they asked to be moved!" Both my friend and I exchanged glances and were baffled by this rudeness as the waiter acted as though we were not even there as he spoke about us. I told my friend that we would be better off spend our money somewhere else. We got up and left; no one did not even bother to ask us why we left so abruptly. That was my first time at Mon Ami Gabi in Bethesda. I am afraid it will also be the last.
(1)Mary D.
This has been my favorite go-to bistro for years. Good food, friendly & attentive service, and relaxed ambiance keeps me coming back. Great place to enjoy a lunch or dinner with friends and family, and I especially enjoy the outdoor seating during spring/fall. French onion soup is a must have on a cold winter day! I do recommend making a reservation as this little bistro attracts a crowd, especially for dinner. Very enjoyable!
(5)Harmony H.
I went for brunch and the food was really good and decent priced. Th crab and lobster sandwich was good and the salmon sandwich was really good. I have also heard that their dinner food is really amazing. The profiteroles dessert is AMAZING. Avoid the paninis, they're not that great. The feel of the place is really nice and classy and the service was really good
(4)Greg B.
Our second visit to Mon Ami Gabi and it was as good as the first. Steak Roquefort was cooked to order, mac and chees great, excellent bread. Escargot, mushrooms , warem brie and sea scallops gratinee are winners. My only negative is the mushroom soup. Not much flavor, thin and expensive. I will still go back. Excellent service from our server Ruben. All the staff is courteous.
(4)Liz J.
We came here for brunch on a lovely Sunday late morning. We sat outside under a nice sized umbrella (shaded our table for two). We received a fresh small baguette with jam and butter (all were delicious). I ordered eggs benedict with smoked salmon and it was wonderful. The hollandaise wasn't too rich and was a lovely flavor. The smoked salmon wasn't overpowering and meshed well with the rest of the dish. One of my poached eggs was a little overcooked, and they brought out two replacement poached eggs that were both perfectly cooked for the one overcooked one. The only complaint about the benedict is that they don't use english muffins, but do something more like crispy toast. It was hard to cut through and keep on the fork with the eggs and salmon for a balanced bite. My husband got traditional eggs benedict (with canadian bacon) and he enjoyed it (although not a big fan of the toast either). We also got profiteroles for dessert - fantastic and would recommend to anyone and we got coffee - love french coffee! We'll definitely come back for another brunch.
(4)Bill O.
I must say, I was expecting more. Having enjoyed French Bistros from Paris to many across the U.S. I have to to say that Mon Ami Gabi is more of a Corner Bakery kind of place than a serious restaurant. The food was quite bland, not very interesting and should have been hotter. However, the space is nice, bustling and the service very good. The particulars: After reading earlier reviews I was surprised that the bread was very ordinary. I had the jambalaya with two poached eggs. The dish was lukewarm and bland. Fortunately it was served with tabasco sauce. The eggs were nicely poached. My companion ordered the eggs florentine which was surprisingly served atop two English muffin halves. Again, the eggs were nicely poached. The accompanying Hollandaise Sauce was likewise bland and should have been hotter as well (for obvious reasons). When the weather is warmer, it would be nice to go back, sit on the patio which is appealing, and have a glass of wine and some frites.
(2)Janet H.
This was my first french experience and it was good. The atmosphere inside the restaurant was very warm and welcoming. They also had a "band" performaning inside. I had a reservation at 7pm and we got there a little bit earlier and we had no problem getting seated immediately. The restaurant itself isn't that big but a good size. We started with the Escargot which was good but nothing like what I had imagined (first escargot experience). I think I would like it much more if it had more flavor. For our entree we got steak and their duck special. The french is all about sauces right? I'm so glad they serve the sauce on the side because I wasn't a fan. The steak itself was excellent. I actually couldn't decide between two sauces so my waiter gave me both.. which I didn't use. The duck I thought was pretty good also. A little dry in some areas but overall, it was good duck. Their fries sooo good! I couldn't stop eating :) Plenty of parking in downtown Bethesda. Plenty to do also after eating to walk around, grab coffee, dessert.. etc. If you haven't tried Mon Ami Gabi, go!
(4)Karim I.
Consistent quality of food, great service and reasonably priced wine list. Whenever I go to this restaurant, it feels like I am in one of Paris' bistros. The roasted chicken is full of flavors and one of my favorites. The Profiteroles are fabulous.
(4)Grace L.
Went to Monami Gabi for the first time yesterday, and although my friend and I went in at 10 pm the service as well as the food was excellent! By far one of the most courteous staff I've ever come across. Despite it being a late dinner, the Hanger steak came out tender and delicious. Extremely pleased with the food and the service, nothing like it in VA.
(5)Lih-Ming W.
Went in a big group of 14. Great atmosphere - french bistro. Had ribeye steak on the bone (rare, $39). Pretty juicy and flavoursome. My friends had theirs medium and it was overcooked. Could be some issues with consistency. Appetisers were pretty good - nice range and great taste. Good french wine list. Our server was great but got some "stressed" attitude from the front desk when I tried to book a cab. Slightly pricier but I think worth it. Would come back.
(4)Cindy L.
happily surprised with the quality of food vs the cost. poor service for our large group though. waiter made it up to us in the end w free desserts all around, bday boy included. chicken grandmere was cooked well.
(4)Eric B.
Always a good experience... nothing spectacular, but solid. Steak Frites is reliable. Very satisfying onion soup. Brunch standard ish.
(3)William F.
My wife and I eat here regularly and have never had a bad meal. Have also enjoyed attending special events
(4)Colin H.
Came here Monday evening with my wife. We learned that they were hosting a private wine party in the back of the restaurant that limited tables in the dining area, so we seated ourselves at one of the tables available in the bar area. We were greeted by the bartender who asked for our drink order, I ordered a glass of champagne ($8), and my wife ordered a Kieral-Royale ($8) (apologize for the inaccuracy!) which is champagne with a couple other items added to it. We were given a french baguette, butter, and distilled water (free of charge; I note this because in France they will charge you for a bottle of distilled water) to start off. For an appetizer we ordered the Chicken Liver Mousse ($6.95; pate), definitely an acquired taste! This was not as earthy, and gamey as their other pate option that I have had before, but I could only eat several portions of it, and we had more than 50% remaining after our fill. For our entrees, I ordered the Beef Bourginon ($21.95; French version of pot-roast) that was flavorful, tender, and accompanied with carrots, mushrooms, mini-onions, and noodles. Ate the whole thing, none left to take home. Wife ordered the Steak Bernaise ($21.95), she liked the dish and shared some with me, I thought the steak had good flavor, and was cooked properly. This was accompanied by a large amount of "french" fries, more like crispy chips than typical fries. Overall we enjoyed our entrees! Maybe it was because we were seated in the bar area, but the service was slightly lacking. The server(s) only checked on us once in the beginning of the meal, and did not refill our water bottle when it became low/empty. Other than that our experience at Mon Ami Gabi was very good! We will definitely be coming back!
(4)Jonathan P.
great french bistro -- food is always delicious and consistent. service is always superb. they have a gluten-free menu and serve gluten free bread. one of my favorite restaurants.
(4)Kristi P.
J' adore Mon Ami Gabi! I was traveling so I attended this restaurant on my own. Some places I go welcome a single; others try to hide you in the back corner. Mon Ami Gabi sat me right in the middle of the busy dinning room and it was perfect. I had all kinds of interesting conversations to listen to, people to watch. Not to mention the fabulous jazz band playing in the corner. I decided to go with a few small plates. The Olive jar, an assortment of marinated olives,onions and a few other veggies. These went perfectly with the fresh baked bread they provided. I also got a side of mashed cauliflower, light and delicate. Such a nice feeling on my palette. I also got the macaroni and cheese dish. Everything really flowed well together. I washed it all down with a light white wine. Lovely place.... Check it out!
(5)Alexander K.
The dishes are always prepared well, and the weekly specials are great. For dessert order the bread pudding or the flour-less chocolate cake.
(4)Doug P.
I have to say my review is limited based on the fact that we only had salads. I think this made the watress less interested in our servce as well, and detracted from the dinign experience. Will have to try it again to see if I can give a better review
(3)Amanda C.
Wonderful brunch, great service. The french bread and jam is amazing. I've had the seafood crepe which is delicious and the vanilla apple french toast is amazing!!
(5)J P.
I have since gone back to Mon Ami Gabi on a few occasions and enjoyed my meals. Kudos to management for offering a complimentary experience that I unfortunately didn't take advantage of. But it's the thought that counts and I appreciate it.
(4)Aileen F.
Stopped in for an early dinner and had a great time. Chose to sit inside because it was a little windy, but next time will definitely choose to sit outside. They just revamped the patio seating and it looks great. Very european feel with the tables and flowers, and who doesn't like having a meal outside? Delicious freshly baked bread was immediately brought to us and devoured. :) I chose a few h'orderves, crab cake, cheese plate, and house salads. Everything was tasty and the server was friendly and attentive. I'll be back to sample more of the menu and enjoy the patio seating.
(4)Jared H.
I ordered the trout. It was the best fish I have eaten in years. Baguette is always awesome. Good service. Nice atmosphere. A good, dependable restaurant.
(5)Kate A.
I haven't found too many French restaurants in the area, so I wanted to check this place out. It definitely has a fancy atmosphere; it feels luxurious just to be in there. The food is very good, and they have a nice wine list. It's a bit expensive, but if you're willing to splurge for the night, I would recommend the salmon and quinoa. The food menu is limited, so if you like a lot of variety, this may not be your first choice.
(3)Ozzie G.
It used to be my favorite French restaurant in the area, and I still believe their food is delicious, but I am giving them a 2 star rating based on the level of service they have these days. I took the FILET MIGNON AU POIVRE, and my companion took the Filet with the Merlot sauce. Both dishes were good. The server we had was not very professional, and not knowledgeable regarding the wine list at all. She upsold us on the wine we requested (told us the other one was better), $100 bottle of wine tasted like it was not stored properly. they have a wild mushrooms soup sometimes, that one is very good (one of the soup du jour).
(2)Izzat A.
I don't see what the hype is about. Just got back here from lunch. A group of 10 of us from work went out to eat. The service was prompt and courteous and that is the reason I'm giving this place 3*. The food itself was very average and it's definitely not the cheapest place to eat. Most entrees range from $10-$25. I got the chicken and brie sandwich and it okay. The carmelized onions really overpowered the entire sandwich. It was different, but it was okay. I wasn't a fan of their famous frites, they seem like string fries to me. The ambiance is definitely nice. I've been to two french places and didn't like either so it could just be a preference thing.
(3)Deston N.
You get so much for what you pay for. No need to buy the filets, unless you want to. A steak roquefort was so tender and tasty I didn't want it to end. The warm berry cobbler had our whole table battling with spoons. The atmosphere is great for a date or for a family meal. After spending four nights dining in the Washington, D.C. area, this was the highlight. Don't miss it.
(5)Roll T.
3.75 stars. I've had a love affair with Mon Ami Gabi ever since I first discovered the Las Vegas location. This national chain specializes in moderately priced French cuisine. I always wondered whether the Bethesda location would hold up against the original housed in Paris Hotel. For example, the Bethesda location lacks one of the major elements that made the Vegas location great - a street side view of the madness that encompasses a typical evening in everyone's favorite town of hedonism. Still, it was worth a gamble. I tried the duck sandwich. Nice slivers of duck were generously studded with brie and a garnishment that skips my mind. It was accompanied with a frisee salad and frites. The sandwich compared favorably to what one might find at Cowgirl Creamery in DC. The reasonable price ($9.95) matched as well. My brother ordered a medium rare sirloin cut. The steak cuts at Mon Ami Gabi need work. This was the thinnest cut of sirloin I have ever seen. McDonald's hamburgers are thicker than the Mon Ami Gabi steaks. I loved the basil buerre sauce that accompanied it, but I'd like to see a better cut. Also, my brother asked for his steak to be cooked medium rare and it was medium well. I can't blame the cook; it would be impossible to accurately cook a slice of meat that was so thin it made the model Twiggy look fat by comparison. I also sampled the seafood crepe. Mon Ami Gabi did a good job here. They use a mix of plump scallops and shrimp and covered it in a delectable sauce. It didn't even need the crepe, but that was also tasty. I liked the cheeses used on the cheese plate (especially the Drunken Goat cheese), but I was surprised that they used such a complexly flavored bread for the spread. Individuals who like using sweeter flavors like raisin and honey to complement their cheese will be sufficiently happy though. While I was told that the Bloody Mary bar was outstanding, I didn't personally try it out. I thought I should mention it though. Overall, I'm a bit confused by all the hate. Sure, it's a chain, but if you avoid the thinly sliced steak cuts, you should get a nice meal at a decent price.
(4)Victoria S.
The best french fries or "frites" as they say in France. I really enjoy Mon Ami Gabi because they are consistent and deliver a fine experience. My only complaint is that the noise level is high and there's definitely a lot of hussle and bussle. I enjoyed the frites, pear and blue cheese salad and the thyme crusted salmon with orzo pasta. Profiteroles for dessert. No complaints in the food department. The service has been consistently knowledgeable and friendly. Maybe that's why there is always a very long wait. I would say Mon Ami Gabi is one of my Bethesda favorites. I will go back again for sure.
(4)Flaneuse D.
Not much I can add except my personal kudos to Mon Ami Gabi for consistently high quality food and service. I love the mimosas, the baguette with jam, the frites, the roast chicken, and the profiteroles. Always a treat to come here; we've brought the family for Mother's Day and another year for Valentine's Day.
(5)Colin H.
Great specials, well-made cockails, tasty thin steaks. The fries are too thin, more like potato chips. Otherwise the steak frites would be irresistible. But what I crave most from here are the soft-shell crab and skate. Simple and delicious, and something we can't get in San Francisco. I visit nearly every time I'm on business in Bethesda, and these are what what bring me back.
(4)Jess Z.
delicious, french, good service- polite. they give you an entire baguette for bread and amazing butter. check in on yelp and get a free scrumptious pot de creme.we had salads and they were very large and healthy.
(4)Kevin L.
I really wish that Mon Ami Gabi were closer to my place, because I could see doing brunch here on a much more frequent basis if it weren't such a haul to get there. Then again, considering it's creamy, buttery, starchy French food... maybe it's safer that it's so inconvenient. That's a lot less good food sticking to my waist! Walking into MAG feels like stepping into a cozy French cafe that's been blown out to gigantic proportions. The racks of wine bottles, the smartly uniformed wait staff bustling about, and the cramped seating situation all serve to enhance the authenticity of the experience. The food continues the theme of French-ness as well. We were almost immediately provided with a crusty loaf of baguette with butter and jam upon being seated. Our cute, professional server took our orders as we finalized them (which took quite awhile because of how large the selection was!) and returned shortly with the bubbly, citrus-y mimosas we'd ordered. They also have a Bloody Mary bar that sounded interesting, but I wasn't in the mood to try it out. If you enjoy simple steamed artichokes with drawn butter and a dash of lemon, MAG's won't disappoint. I've had better, but this artichoke was plenty to share as a starter among three or four, and it's way better than I could make at home. I had the Bethesda Restaurant Week lunch for $12 of the mixed salad appetizer and mussels entree. The salad was served with crostini slathered with olive paste which was very savory - the salad itself was light and fresh and served as a great match against the creamy white wine sauce the mussels were served in. Although the mussels couldn't hold a candle against the ones at La Chaumiere, for the price they were quite reasonable. I can't say I'd go out of my way to come back here, but if I'm in the neighborhood and itching for a great brunch, I wouldn't hesitate to walk into MAG again. I don't know if it was a function of being Restaurant Week, but the place was packed - reservations would be wise.
(4)Scott S.
This is the only one in the DC area, so you must at least give it a try. The location is perfect (lots of other shopping, restaurants, biking, etc), and the restaurant atmosphere is perfect. Though the food was great but not as amazing as I had expected, this was the only reason I gave 4/5 stars.
(4)Armine S.
Never had a bad meal there. The quality of food, preparation and service are truly outstanding!
(5)Sam J.
You're paying for the location and atmosphere here, because the food and service don't justify the price. The food was mediocre. I eat at a lot of pricey places and am used to paying high prices, but I expect value. I walked away from here feeling ripped-off. I'm offended that they highlight the fact their steaks are "grain-fed" as if this were a good thing. GRAIN-FED beef is a bad thing! GRASS-FED is what's good for you! They are exploiting people's ignorance!
(2)Hokie H.
I schedule dinner programs all the time for work, so I like to try different menu items all the way. I like the traditional filet mignon, but with recommendations from the waiter I tried the scallops gratines for appetizer and salmon and leek quinoa with citrus butter and man was that good! Fresh fish. Nice butter sauce. Good portion size. I tried to remake the scallop dish and failed miserably. Loved it. Dessert- ice cream filled pastry was ok. would love to come back again!
(5)Annabelle D.
In general, it's a good restaurant. You can't wrong with their steak and frites dishes. The one time I dined here, one of their specials was the dover sole. It was absolutely delicious! I think it was better than the steak and frites I had during another visit to Mon Ami Gabi. Their desserts are okay. For a French bistro, I expected a little more from them in the dessert arena, but I was quite disappointed that their desserts, although good to taste, weren't outstanding. Also, the bread was hard to break, and the wait for our main dishes was quite long, but every time I've come here, it was with big parties (six or more) Mon Ami Gabi is one of those restaurants that's a good backup for last minute get togethers (If you can, call ahead for a reservation) or a place to eat after a day of shopping in Bethesda.
(3)E Y.
This may have been a 3 star review for the taste of the food alone but I had to dock another star because of the service. we barely saw our waiter aside from when he came to the table to take our order and at the end when he tossed the check onto our table as he blew past us without so much as a glance or thank you (i suppose that was our cue to leave?) there was a painful, long wait before our apps were finally served. then an even longer wait while we waited for entrees as our empty appetizer dishes sat on the table the entire time because nobody seemed to notice all the food was now in my belly instead of on the plate. the food was soso and i doubt i will return again-maybe my expectations were too high because off all the other reviews? Surprisingly the french onion soup (or just "onion soup" as they call it here since i suppose the french part is a given) was pretty good and did not leave me feeling like i just went to a salt lick. i enjoyed the red wine sauce and caramelized onions on the steak bordelaise and it was med rare just as i had asked for! however, the actual cut of meat i got had a lot of gristle which was pretty disappointing. also, i do not get what all the fuss is about over these frites. it felt like someone cut up a potato to make fries and then picked up all the left over scraps and sold them to mon ami gabi to make their frites- they were so thin and definitely not nearly crispy enough! too bad for me.
(2)Christina H.
I really do appreciate a good steak, but I maybe only order one once a year... I was only in MD for one week and had the steak and frites TWICE! Amazing. Their staff was wonderful, very friendly and knowledgeable. Both times here were just all around a great experience.
(5)Alexandra G.
I have eaten here many times and have enjoyed it every time. They give you a fresh, crusty baguette to start with and they have a good wine selection. The food is excellent no matter what you order. I recommend the escargot as an appetizer and the french onion soup is amazing too. The service is always friendly and professional. I would advise you to make a reservation if you're going for dinner on a Friday or Saturday as it is usually packed (always the sign of a good restaurant). And definitely try the desserts! I'm a fan of their of their creme brulee and the bread pudding.
(4)Craig U.
Went here on a busy Friday night requesting an outside seat on a beautiful night. The table was called fairly quickly and we were escorted to a lovely table right next to the Bethesda row movies theatre entrance/ exit. Behind us was the cash register and next to us was a pair of teachers on a serious date. Bad mix. The server was nice but disapearred for long periods of time throughout the night. I tried the onion fondue and steak frites with bernaise. My fiancé ordered the steak classique which had somewhat of a pesto sauce on it. The dishes were alright, but the quality of the meat was a little sketchy. For the price I expected better. I'll leave it at that. All in all, probably wouldn't be upset if I never returned.
(2)Jodi G.
I had a pleasant experience here. The staff was very nice; our waiter attentive and informative. The food was delicious as well. I had a grilled salmon spinach blueberry salad. DELICIOUS! I wasn't sure how the ingredients would pair together, but I was pleasantly surprised! My friend enjoyed a large grilled chicken ceasar salad.
(4)Melissa P.
I've been here for mother's day and for my graduation/ birthday brunch and occasionally for dinner with some friends. I think mon ami gabi has the best quiche lorraine I have ever had. I seriously crave it all the time. I've been adventurous and tried the escargot here too which is really good if you are a lover of garlic. Once you get over the rubbery texture it's yummy and you totally feel like a badass because you just ate snails! If i didn't like the quiche so much I would definitely order the steak and frites (the one with the carmelized onions), luckily i'm always with someone who orders it so i get to enjoy the best of both worlds. Their mimosas are really great and their service is always very friendly and accommodating. The prices are very reasonable especially considering the quality of the food. I have also been with my cousin a handful of times who has a small child and they accommodate children really well. Fantastic french food, great ambiance, and good for kids. Certainly worthy of 5 stars!
(5)Michael M.
Yesss... so fantastic in every way. Fresh baguette while you wait with some butter and jam? check. Fantastically cooked burgers? check Freshly cut fritos (sliver cut french fries)? check Bloody Mary bar? check Counting down the days until my next visit.
(5)A H.
I have eaten in this restaurant many times, mostly for business lunches. I have never been disappointed! So when I had the opportunity to swap some United air miles for a $50 gift certificate, I did it without blinking. So my boyfriend and I finally decided to go and made our reservation in advance (since it was for a Saturday night and they are always packed). When we arrived we were quickly seated (although it was a bit close to other other guests on either side but I was entertained by the other guests conversations so it was all good). I already knew this restaurant can get quite noisy so that was not a concern of mine. The food is VERY inexpensive for what you get (please note I am not saying it is CHEAP, just cheaper than other restaurants of the same quality). So my boyfriend and I were trying not to spend more than just a tip. We ordered their homemade chips with blue cheese dip that i LOVE as an appetizer. He ordered one of the Steak Fritas, and I ordered the Scallops in Butternut Squash puree with brussel sprout leaves. Well I HATE brussel sprouts but NOT in this dish... everything was delicious! I almost licked my plate clean. My boyfriend ate faster than I have ever seen him eat before (he is a VERY SLOW eater) and finished his steak in record time. He was so full he couldn't even finish the "fritas". Soooo... the service was great but our waiter was so busy. Apparently, the appetizer order was missed b/c we got our entrees and hadn't received the chips yet. I said something to the guy who brought us our food and told him we still wanted them. Our waiter came over to sincerely apologize and told us the chips were on him... COOL! (HOWEVER, I had a gift card for $50 that I was trying to spend and no cash on me)... soooo... we decided to order dessert to go since we were too stuffed to eat there. We ordered an apple tart of some sort and it was soooo good when we did eat it later that night! BUT when the bill came, the waiter had also COMPED the dessert b/c he missed the appetizer which was sooo thoughtful but it did not allow us to leave him a large enough tip (we tipped 25-30% on the 2 entrees but wish we could have tipped on the comped items too) ... b/c I couldn't have him run my debit card for just a tip (I was hoping that we would go over the $50 when tax was added by $1-2 bucks so we could leave the tip on my debit card). We scrounged around a couple of bucks and wish we could have tipped him way more than we did... b/c comping both the app and the dessert was above and beyond... I would totally go here again b/c they own up to their mistakes and made me feel happy again when we left... some restaurants do not have this same type of customer service!!!! FABULOUS! :-)
(5)Pat M.
It was ok. The food was good. However there were somethings here and there that were not to my particular tastes. For example, we ordered the Sea Scallop Gratinees. The scallops themselves were tender and delicious however they were covered with this thick shield of baked cheese. The flavor of the cheese did nothing to help the scallop. The onions and the sauce alone would have made the scallop dish a success. The cheese shield was just... meh. The steaks.... I ordered my steak medium rare to rare. I understand that the pounded flat french style of cooking steaks makes it more difficult to get the right temperature however mine came out medium well. Not a glimmer of pink in there. My wife ordered her steak medium well. The thing came out like a pounded piece of leather. At this point we were so tired and hungry we just ate and left rather than complain. The flavors were good the execution could be better. Unfortunate to say but the best thing about the meal was the bread which was really crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. yum.
(2)Libby F.
It's Saturday afternoon in Downtown Bethesda. An atypical, but welcome warm day in mid October calls to us to take our beloved four-legged friends with us to the Bethesda Arts Festival. After tangling in the masses for hours, we sat ourselves at nice little bistro table facing Woodmont Avenue and were instantly greeted. (Maybe we were suppose to go to the hostess stand first?) We were given the Brunch menu, but it offered a reasonable amount of a la carte lunch items. I opted for the asparagus and mushroom quiche which was tasty, but not filling. I was eying my neighbors pomme frittes, which looked thin and crisp and were served in a metal tumbler, just the way I like them! My friend had the sandwich du jour, which was pork and while she said it was good, she took most of it home. Both of our dishes were served with a bed of lettuce (not your typical greens, but I don't recall the name of this kind). It had a citrus-type dressing on it. Both entrees were $9.95 each. I'd like to come back, as Anna T. suggested, for Happy Hour. Dinner entree prices are a bit steep, but the atmosphere is appealing. I'm looking forward to trying the escargot next time. There will be a next time.
(4)Cindy L.
The Grilled Salmon & Spinach Salad is perfection and the Seared Sea Scallops w/spinach, whipped cauliflower, brown butter...wow. Of course the desserts are the highlight. The half-bottles of wine are nice for when you don't want too much (i know all the hardcore wine fans have all gasped). The server doesn't open the wine correctly - bottle facing away, opening it mid-air (spillage!) and they don't use a traditional opener either. I agree that it does get very loud and it's not really French in my opinion b/c I actually like the food :) This spot is a fave place for me and my friends to hit up when we miss each other and need a good food experience to share together...gag.
(4)Michael W.
The food at this place is not bad, not bad at all. Yet, I'll give it three stars. But why??? Because I feel that this place deceives its customers by pretending to be a french restaurant. If you were teletransported straight from Houston's to Mon Ami Gabi you wouldn't probably even notice. Perhaps at the time you received your food you would, but only if you happened to pay attention to the "bon appetit" or at the time you get the check, when the waiter quite amusingly told you "l'addition" instead of the check. Apart from that, the place could very well be called "My buddy Joe" (and I think it should).
(3)Bob F.
I've had great experiences here in the past, but not this time. I had the Au Poivre burger with their "signature hand-cut" fries. Most tasteless meat I've ever had. Au Poivre means "prepared or served with a generous amount of usually coarsely ground black pepper ." There was very little pepper on this burger. It was, however, cooked medium rare, which is what I asked for. The fries were absolutely awful. Tiny little bits of potato (not one was longer than an inch) that had the consistency of shoe leather. I hope they were just having a bad day. I have clients who really like this place. Not sure I'm looking forward to returning.
(1)yvette r.
We came here with a group on the recommendation of friends who have eaten at the Reston location. Most of the food was "eh...fine", but the value for the money means we won't be coming back. The Good Our waiter was very friendly and did a nice job for the most part for our party of 6. He knew when to pay us a visit and when to leave us alone. The meat eating crowd was pleased with their meals, and I personally enjoyed my salad (endive and watercress) before the actual dinner. If you are into huge portions, this is your place. The Bad When I made the reservation, I had to use Open Table online because when I called the number for reservations I was hung up on. Twice. Fortunately, the online reservation worked out fine. They continued to set up expectations and fail to meet them when it came to my order. I am a vegetarian and I picked this spot over the other French-ish restaurants in Bethesda because they list a $10 market vegetable platter on the website menu. First our waiter did not know the day's selections for the platter (and never came back to tell me what they were, he just put the order in). Then when it arrived, my food was almost entirely cold (hint--start plating the veggies after the steaks are done, people). Finally, the cost was $16, not $10 for cold green beans and asparagus served with under cooked corn and roasted tomato. The mash potatoes were good, thank goodness. Had i known my entree would have been that lame, I would have ordered another salad. There were also order mistakes. Two of my friends ordered the Steak Bearnaise (one well done, one medium) with different sides. The wrong steaks were put on the plates with the sides. To fix the problem, my friends had to switch the meat on their own plates at the table. This happened after my boyfriend ordered the hand cut chips with blue cheese sauce and was served the country style pate instead. (???) That switch was actually fixed by the kitchen, thank goodness. We had some other service issues. The one point at which our waiter dropped the ball was my friend's drink order. She is pregnant and asked for a mojito without the rum. He told her they didn't know how to make that. (Um... simple syrup, lime juice, mint, seltzer water... no rum) Thankfully, she insisted he put in the order and the bar made it just fine. I personally think he didn't want the headache of trying to figure out how to bill a virgin mojito. Finally, an otherwise nice evening I could have written off as "quirky" nearly came to a grinding halt because the sour little woman who was busing our table felt like we were taking too long to finish our deserts. She spoke very little English and kept coming up to our table to ask if we were done. She came four times. The last two were less than a full minute apart. We finally made her take the empty dishes, but then she wanted to take the last dish someone was still eating. Do not take a pregnant woman's desert from her or her friends will write about you on yelp.
(2)cindy d.
Enviroment cool ,more american food than french food. Price high . If u looking for french food dnt ever eat heard
(3)Alicia G.
My boss brought me here for lunch about a week ago. We were originally going to go to Levante's but then I remembered that this place was just a bit down from there and that I've always wanted to try it out. I'm really glad that we did! The maitre d' was very friendly and we were seated right away. I really like our server right off the bat. He was older, had a friendly smile and made the lunch features sound irresistable. He had several other tables besides ours but we never felt neglected. He was there to refill our drinks and make sure we had everything we needed without being overbearing. I really liked the interior. The mahogany wine rack that separates the dining rooms is really cool. I like seeing a lot of the wine bottles on display. The bread was warm and crusty...the way I love my carbs. Haha. I settled on the Lemon Chicken Paillard with haricot verts and a lemon butter sauce. It was delicious. Not overcooked and dry; juicy and satisfying. My boss had the brie burger (I think) and it was huge! He said it was really good and enjoyed the pomme frittes. We did end up getting dessert - the warm berry crumble with vanilla ice cream. I guess I should have moved my spoon a little quicker because the ice cream melted realllly quickly. But it was an otherwise very delicious dessert with lots of strawberries, blackberries and all other sorts of berries that one would expect to find in it. Overall, I really enjoyed my dining experience at Mon Ami Gabi and I look forward to coming back and testing out some of the other great dishes on their menu.
(4)Carrie R.
The best part of the meal was the appetizers. Warm Brie, Escargot, Scallops and Shrimp Cocktail- very delicious. I had the scallops which were lacking flavor, I substituted Cauliflower for Au Gratin, which was bland and the spinach was too oily. Very good ambiance though. Low lighting, mahogany furnishings, great for appetizers and drinks.
(2)sonia g.
Perfect for BRUNCH. You can sit outside, enjoy the busy street, munch on some baguette + raspberry jam... Great food, good atmosphere. In the evening gets a little dark though. Overall, a nice spot to try out and reasonable prices.
(4)Patrick B.
My wife and I are such big fans of the La Vegas location in the Paris Hotel, that we were thrilled to visit thie location in Bethesda. Although this particular location does not evoke the same feeling of being in Paris as does the one in Las Vegas, it is still awesome. I do like that when enter the place, there is still a good French vibe. As for the food. It is excellent. Steak Frites are obviously the staple and I usually go for the classic Steak Au Poivre. However, on my more daring occasions, I have ordered the Steak Bordelaise or the Steak Roquefort. I would be remiss if I didnt give a shout out to their Country Style Pâté, which is a family favorite (just not mine). When I order apps, its going to be Oysters Du Jour.
(5)Tony P.
I finally took the opportunity of Restaurant Week to come here. It's been on my bookmark for a while. The establishment is modern and roomy with traditional french decor. The service was attentive and the meal was leisurely paced. The amuse bouche was a couscous arrangement alongside a baguette and rich butter. You definitely want to pace yourself, because you can certainly overdose on the baguette and butter alone. My choice of appetizer was the chicken pate. A generous serving of pate that was very buttery and had wonderful flavors. The spicy red wine mustard, sweet and sour cornichons, and pearl onions accoutrements were nicely complementary in flavors. My date had the warm brie appetizer that was also excellent. The creamy melted cheese had a firm hearty flavor and the grilled garlic was soft to spread on the crostini. My entree was the steak frites. A good cut of savory meat with a herb butter sauce served with a side of crunchy frites. The temperature of the meat came out as expected with a nice red center. My date had a beautiful thyme seared salmon on a bed of orzo and spinach with creamy lemon butter sauce. The salmon had a good grilled crust but was juicy and succulent. Our dessert choices were the warm bread pudding and flourless chocolate cake. The bread pudding had a really nice caramel sweetness and the chocolate cake was rich and decadent. My wine choice was the Crozes-Hermitage 2006. An excellent Rhone red wine made with predominantly Syrah grapes. A beautiful nose with hints of spices and fruits, medium tannin structure and acidity, and dark berries flavor. Overall, an excellent foray and I will definitely be back to check out the braised shortribs I saw on the daily menu board. I'm impressed by the generous RW portions. This is definitely one of the best RW picks for me.
(4)Jay M.
Wonderful Valentine's Day dinner this evening. Our family loves this place and it's spectacular for a cozy date night. Our server tonight was "Ivan" and he made the event so welcoming and personal. Ivan guided our party through the beverage and meal options -- offering an excellent illustration and description of each specialty , , , using a good balance of passion for the food and hand motions to paint the full picture. You just trusted him to bring you whatever he thought best. My Manhattan was superb and I am a Type A when it comes to my cocktail -- I can see from a mile away if it's not 'perfect' - and have been known to wave it off long before it even gets to the table if it's not so. This one was eloquent! The Lobster bisque was dreamy. My Beef Wellington only needed the slightest of pressure from a butter knife to slice through it. The accompanying spinach was rich and very tender and the garlic was potent enough to fend off any evil spirits - the only way to live! Bold. My bride could not resist Ivan's mention (amongst other things) that his mother loves the Arctic Char ("that's so sweet!") nor that it was on a bed of velvety mashed potatoes. My son's Beef Bourguignon was deadly and his girlfriends Roast Chicken with pearly onions, mushrooms and bacon was savory. We intentionally did not finish our entrees so that I could have the left-overs and we could have dessert - 2 specials, a petite round cheese cake with a frothy topping (light & fluffy - no seriously!) and a red velvet cake were stunning, , , and finally the Mango Sorbet was the perfect closer to cleanse the pallet. And there is NOTHING BETTER, yet so often and routinely ignored by many eateries, than a cup of their strong & hearty coffee. I don't smoke but I felt like I wanted a cigarette after that meal!! I'm looking for housing closer to Mon Ami Gabi!
(5)Melody C.
The only reason why this doesn't get 4 stars instead of a 2 is because I want to make a statement to the management who seemed to blissfully ignore is that the floors were so SLICK WITH GREASE that I didnt want to get out of my chair to go to the bathroom, lest I fall down and break something. I was afraid that I would regret bringing my mom here for mother's day if she fell down. I was nervous when I saw a handicapped gentleman enter the dining room, that he'd fall down too. It totally ruined what could have been a really terrific dining experience and made me question the restaurant's sanitation throughout my meal. When we made a comment about it to the waitress, she said, hmm, I never noticed that, but this is an impossible problem to not notice!!! It's a slip and fall suit waiting to happen! I was quite displeased that this went unaddressed even though we brought it up. Otherwise, the food was pretty darn good, we ordered the country pate (so-so, i realized that I really prefer liver mousse pate), and the plate of warm brie on a bed of honey with sauteed garlic cloves and crispy bread - that was really good! the french onion soup was up to expectation - but if you finish the entire thing it will sit in your stomach way after dinner and prevent you from finishing your entree - the gruyere cheese is very heavy, so as tasty as it is, dont be tempted to finish it or else you wont have room for much else. i also liked it because it wasn't too salty. it's well worth ordering. my mom ordered the halibut special for that day which was really good - i got the steak bordelaise (blue cheese sauce) with frites - which are like somewhere between thin fries and chips - ribbon shaped fries basically. my favorite thing that evening was the dessert - not on the menu - a "flour-free" chocolate cake - a moussey fluffy (but still substantial) round mound of rich chocolate goodness topped with warm chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream. fantastic! OVERALL: MAKE SURE YOU ASK THEM WHAT ARE THE SPECIALS FOR THE DAY - the best things we tried were NOT ON THE MENU.
(2)Joanne S.
Something is terribly wrong here--we've been coming here regularly for six years now and stopped in last night and asked where favorite bartenders Mark and Gabriel were and was told in a snarky way "they moved on and we can't talk about it" and "I'm tired of hearing about this from our customers 20 times a day, etc." Really? Is that your response--I don't know who forced them out the door but they were the reason we (and many others we know) liked to frequent Mon Ami Gabi. Instead we had this new guy and two women who were only talking to themselves versus making customers feel welcome. We looked down the bar a little later and several stools were left open--never seen that before on a Friday night here so word must be getting out. We are SO disappointed in whatever management has done to lose great people like them. In case Mark reads this review, please let us know where you landed and we'll take our business there. We miss you--"Grey Goose extra dry martini with blue cheese stuffed olives and Miller Lite (no glass)"
(1)D K.
Unexpected delight. My bf and I wanted a nice place for Sunday brunch. By chance, we came upon Mon Ami Gabi and decided to try it. On the menu, we immediately saw the $10 Mimosas, so we had to try one. We got a Mimosa and a Peach Bellini. Both were delicious and satisfyingly strong. The fresh baguette that comes out is perfect. I knew this place would be awesome after that. (I LOVE BREAD) The waiter was fantastic. He described all the dishes in detail and seemed VERY knowledgeable. He was friendly and very helpful. We started off with the Country Pate. Delicious. A bigger portion than I expected, so be prepared. My bf ordered the Crab Cake Eggs Benedict, which was also delicious. The potatoes... not so much, which were the only disappointing part of the entire experience, but the crab cakes were great, and the English Muffin was baked perfectly. I ordered the Chicken, Brie & Apple Crepe. I'm not too fond of crepes usually, but I like to try new things. It was decent. I'm not sure what makes a good crepe, but I liked the differences in texture between the soft chicken, creamy brie, and crunchy apple. We got the Peach Parfait for dessert. AMAZING. Flavorful, refreshing, and light. The ice cream was homemade, and it was a mix between a peach sorbet & ice cream, so it was light yet creamy. Atmosphere is perfect for Sunday brunch. Lots of families and couples. I think it'd be a great place for dinner also. It's neither too casual nor too formal. FOOD = Great PRICE = Fair SERVICE = Great My bf and I have decided to make Mon Ami Gabi a monthly activity. Can't wait to go again next month.
(4)Olivia L.
This place has delicious food, it's a bit pricey though. I would recommend doing happy hour there, they have some great deals. You can get a salmon sandwich for like $6. The atmosphere is great and the service is pretty good too.
(4)Howard M.
We have been here for dinner three times and each time have come away wondering why. There are better steak and seafood restaurants within walking distance. The baguette is good; the steak is fairly tasteless and chewy; even the cheeseburger lacks taste; the fries arrived cold; and the service is indifferent. A French bistro it's not.
(2)Sean F.
I've been here three times before and all of those times were four star Yelp experiences, so I guess I was due for a bad one. Showed up at 7:00 p.m. on a Saturday night. Expected a wait and were told it would be an hour. We had a movie to be to at 9:30, so I was sure there would be enough time. Sat in the bar and were asked if we'd like to eat and we told them no, relying on the hostesses statement. Sure enough, an hour and a half later at 8:30, we were still sitting there. It wasn't until the couple next to us, who had showed up a half hour after we had, had their buzzer go off that I went back and told the hostess we no longer had enough time to eat for the evening, especially if they were seating walk-ins that came in after we had already. I'm normally pretty forgiving when it comes to stuff like this, but something about this experience rubbed me the wrong way. When it comes to walk-ins, it's not rocket science. Seat them in the order they come in, as time allows.
(1)Eddie G.
Want me to be honest? (And I know you do...) I wasn't impressed with this place. The hangar steak itself had no flavor, save for the sauce which wasn't too great. And the weird part was that the dish arrived in like five minutes - but wasn't hot. In fact, the spinach side dish (tasty) was also properly cooked, but not hot. All of which me wonder - is their food not cooked to order? In fact, the onion soup struck me the same way - like it had been sitting under a lamp. The cheese on top (thick and promising) wasn't melty, but stringy and tough. Lastly, the fries were a real disappointment. A mound of salty, crunchy bits, like the bottom bits of a bag of chips. Nice dining room, though.
(3)Shine S.
This is a good price for what you get. I enjoyed the lunches there especially on a nice day when you can sit outside. Dinners are good as well, nice environment, friendly staff, it feels somewhat upscale. I really do like the salads there as well. The food I enjoy at this place: - Hand Cut Gaufrette Potato Chips - Country Style Pâté - French Bread is really good here - Frisée & Bacon Salad - at times the steaks. Presentation is good, staff is good, parking is a pain (espc. in the rain) it's located at the heart of downtown Bethesda. Be prepared to walk a bit.
(5)Stacie T.
I had a great experience at Mon Ami Gabi this past weekend. My boyfriend and I decided to come here for lunch and we were both extremely satisfied with our food and the customer service we received. I ordered the petite salad and he ordered the sandwich du jour. The prices were very reasonable especially with the quality Mon Ami Gabi puts out. We've already decided we'll have to go again because so many things on the menu sounded delicious.
(4)Megan S.
The location for Mon Ami Gabi is the real selling point - it is right at the hub of Bethesda activity, and has the nice outdoor seating. You definitely get the sense that you are at a themed French restaurant rather than an authentic French place, but I can't complain about the food, it is quite good. And if you are going to a movie at the artsy theater nearby, or need a place to eat before an event afterwards, this is a great place to have an elegant start to the evening. That said, this is not a particularly unique dining experience, so if you are looking for a culinary experience that is creative or even mold-breaking, this is not your place. This is a good place for the person who knows the 2-3 entrees they regularly order at a restaurant, and wants to have one of those items at a convenient, nice restaurant.
(3)Libby P.
Even though the food wasn't great, I had the best restaurant experience of my life here. My sister and I took our mother out to dinner on a weeknight for her birthday. They ordered the steak frites and I had scallops. When they couldn't make up their minds about the sauces, the waiter said that he would bring out a few to try. He brought out little dishes of every sauce they have! We had so much fun trying them all and deciding on our favorites. We also had a fantastic salad, but my scallops were rubbery and swimming in sauce. Bistrot du Coin has better and more authentic food for similar prices, but the service was simply amazing.
(4)Alice K.
Went with a few friends for lunch and sat outdoors. We were quickly seated with a very friendly waiter. I got steak frites- steak bordelaise and it was AMAZING. Other friends also got steak frites and theirs were just as amazing. If there's one thing you get here, it has to be the steak frites! We then got profiteroles and were planning on splitting since we were so full. The waiter showed up with a few extra ones so we could all have one- free of charge! Amazing food, amazing service, would definitely go here again.
(5)Southern Belle A.
Five stars? Yes! Atmosphere: We sat at an outside table and indulged in the beautiful evening air. Clean white table clothes and overhead red umbrellas. Service: Outstanding. Always on hand. Glass never empty. Food prompt Food: Steak Bearnaise medium rare- perfectly done. Grilled Salmon- crispy on the outside, light and moist on the inside Price: $15-30 entrees Great evening. I definitely recommend this place.
(5)Chris F.
This place has a great, Euro-vibey atmosphere, and professional, prompt service. The wine was good, but the menu selection was a little lacking. I ended up having a steak. This place is really a French take on a steakhouse. My "classique" was delicious, but I would have preferred to have more menu choices. I feel like I ended up settling for what I ordered.
(4)Marianne D.
SETTING: Two visits. DECOR: Polished and pressed. SERVICE: Trained, Talented & Tasteful ENTREES: Asparagus Quiche - okay. Perhaps a bit on the dry side for me though. Simple, thin, buttery crust. VERDICT: Will continue to inquire within.
(3)Isabel B.
I gotta say, the minute I finished my meal at Mon Ami Gabi, I couldn't wait to get to Yelp to sing it praises. I first visited its Bethesda location one sunny and very warm Monday afternoon. Since it was Memorial Day and I had the day off work, I woke up in the mood for brunch but forgot that it was not a weekend day and therefore most restaurants wouldn't be serving it. Mon Ami Gabi was the exception, as they had both full menus available: brunch and lunch. Since at the time it was about 90 degrees outside, my friend and I opted to skip their cute little outdoor seating area and find a table inside. They sat us in a cozy table for two next to the window. Perfect. Although I was a little disappointed to see that there were not enough vegetarian crepe options on the menu, I was soon comforted by the sight of various delicious sounding salads and by hearing that the day's special was a Cucumber gazpacho (I love cold soups on hot summer days!) My friend and I agreed to split the $12 cheese plate and I decided that this, plus the delicious loaf of fresh-baked baguette would be infinitely better than any brunch options I may have had in mind. The cheese plate did not disappoint, and neither did the soup. Although I was thoroughly tempted by the sight of an ice cream cup being delivered to another table, I realized I was satisfied and that the meal had been a success. Next time I visit Gabi's (and there will soon be a next time), I will definitely make sure to try one of their brunch cocktails (Bellini? Customized Bloody Mary?? Yum), and perhaps also the eggs Florentine a chance. Thumbs up Mon Ami Gabi, fantastique!
(5)Remy M.
I destroy liver like alcoholism. So count me in. Their chicken liver mousse is great, especially on the awesome french bread they bring to every table. For an entree, I get the steak...either "classique" (french for "classic") or "au poivre" (french for "let's put pepper on this steak and charge more"). Both are good choices. The steaks are thin--french style--so don't order it too well done. The desserts are great as well. You can't go wrong with the apple tart thing (not really called that, I forget the real name), the creme brulee or the cream puff thing. Check it out!
(4)Charles M.
I been eating at this restaurant for years. However last Saturday nite with 2 friends with us our service was terrible 1st our waiter never visited us for at least 15 min He was in such a rush , he never cared to serve our table of 4 The appetizers arrived cold , we let that go My dinner was raw, bleeding red blood out of my chicken I had to call him over since he never checked on us Took my dinner away for a new Took so long that my table finished there dinner way ahead of mine when i ask him as he was running past , what about my dinner it was a disgrace just tio stop him since he forgot my dinner Veg arrived with my dried out chicken thrown at me cold I took a few bites and wanted to leave out of there . took a while for my check so i ask for the manager who tried to help but didn't want to stay around I will be a while before my stomach clears up and till i tell my Friends what happened to go back I thought they been sold to someone else who could not care less good luck going to eat here C
(2)Tanya M.
Had a wonderful brunch outside (finally can enjoy the outside seating!). Staff was friendly and always refreshed our baguette and water. Overall food service was a little slow but we didn't mind since it was such a nice day and we were not in a hurry. Enjoyed the veggie quiche and everyone else was pleased with their brunch choices as well!
(4)P A.
I've been here about three times. Amazing service from Vincent who is a happy, cheery fellow who clearly just loves people. He really takes care of his customers and makes dining at this place even more worthwhile. The steak and frites dishes are great (though I've just had the mignon and NY strip). The sauces are delicious and the crispy frites soak it right up. Decent dessert but not the greatest out there. Wonderful place!
(4)Joannie B.
Food was very good. Staff was nice and friendly, a bit too occupied with each other at times, but BF and I were too focuses on each other. Escargot was good, not great, but satisfying. My steak was cooked very nicely, but a bit on the smaller side. Side salad was, well, it was a salad, pretty hard to mess up. Anyways, overall dinner was good. Great to eat out at during a stormy night, but if need be, stay at home, nothing on the menu that you just cannot do better at home.
(3)Nick H.
I've only been there for happy hour, but it is the BEST! Hot, fresh bread, $4 glasses of wine, $5 foods including french onion soup, pate, salmon burger, steak sandwich, and Belgian fries crisped to perfection. Oh, and a GREAT atmosphere. I go here weekly now. Friday nights get very crowded.
(5)Maria S.
I only recently discovered that there was a Mon Ami Gabi in Bethesda. Oui, oui! Anyway, this turned out to be a solid place for brunch--they give you a warm mini baguette and little cups of whipped butter and raspberry preserves as starters. It was perfect to nibble on while waiting for food! They also have bellinis, kirs, and mimosas during brunch. ..although my kir was not quite as cold as I would have liked on such a hot day for whatever reason (perhaps the bottle of wine was out of the fridge for a bit), it was still quite refreshing. Our food was delicious, too--I had the tuna nicoise tartine, which was topped with with both tuna salad and seared tuna slices, as well as tasty olives, tomatoes, and green beans. My dining partner had their bananas foster waffles, which she declared excellent (they bring the sauces, bananas, etc. in separate dishes so you can top the waffle yourself). Service was pleasant and knowledgeable about specials and our food came very quickly, but they did seem totally swamped during the brunch rush.
(4)Larissa F.
If you want good, reasonably priced French food -- go to Mon Ami Gabi. Be prepared to be stuffed. I have dined at the Bethesda and Reston locations, and both are nicely done for a chain restaurant. The bread is amazing first off, make sure to go off Atkins for this one. French onion soup comes in a HUGE crock, I like to get mine well done on top so it's nice and browned. Salads always look like a top choice, and the pate is supposedly nice as well. The mussels and frites are nicely done, and I love the crispy little frites ribbons that come with the steaks. Although the cut of meat is sometimes a bit fatty (one time I had a large piece of fat through the middle which was not pleasant), I love the choice of sauces and it's always enough for leftovers. I like the steak bordelaise. One thing they do have is nightly specials which always sound intriguing....from sole meuniere to short ribs. If you're not into red meat, the roast chicken is a nice alternative, as is the crispy skate. Overall, its a nice stop on the way home on a Friday night. 5 Star Rating Atmosphere - 3 (romantic, good for small groups) Food - 4 (get your French fill here) Service - 4 (always had attentive servers)
(4)Lindsay K.
We went here for my brother's birthday and were sorely disappointed with the food and service. It took about half an hour for our food to get to the table, and the waiter never once came to check up on us during that time. My brother's steak was ordered medium rare and when it came out, looked medium rare...yet it tasted chewy, oh so very chewy, as if extra well-done. It was quite odd to say the least. And forget flagging the waiter down about it, because he was nowhere to be found. I ordered the fish and chips, expecting it to be the typical cut of filet, breaded and fried. Instead, it was a thin patty of fish flakes mashed together and pan-fried. It was under-seasoned, dry, and the texture left something to be desired. I can understand a "different take" on a dish, but only do so if you can make it good. In this case it was definitely not. I left some comments on the bill and received a kind phone call from the manager a couple of days later. He invited me back to the restaurant for a complimentary meal, to which I politely declined. However, I did appreciate the gesture.
(2)Ed L.
Ordered the Steak Steak Bearnaise. First they don't even tell you what cut of steak it is. When I asked the waiter he told me "The butt"... ok so I ordered it. When it comes out it's the flattened steak that I could get at Applebees for $10. The portions were small the steak meat was tough as leather and the sauce was meh.. I would not order it again. It comes with a side of Frites (french for french fries?) which are just chopped and fried potatoes. We also ordered the escargot which tasted like dirt and was mushy. I've had better. The bread was hard and difficult to chew. The butter they served with the bread was hard and cold (I prefer whipped butter...) We did order one of the specials which was Fish and Mussles that was actually pretty good, and the Baked scallops were ok. Overall I would not go back again. Considering the majority of their dishes were Steak and the one I ordered was not very good, one can only wonder how the rest of their dished would taste.
(1)Philippe D.
I had a very pleasant experience at Mon Ami Gabi. The baguette which we were served was delightfully warm, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The hanger steak which I took was a relatively large portion, but still it was very very good. There were some parts of the steak which I felt tasted a bit strong in terms of spices compared to other milder parts. But, all in all I thought the steak was good. The fries were.... interesting. They were so thin and crispy, and it was definitely a "new" way of serving fries, but I just didn't like them. The bananas foster crepe was alright, but it's definitely not a French trademark, and the caramel-maple-foster sauce was very very sweet. However, the service, ambiance, and steak make up for that and made it a pleasant experience.
(4)Anna M.
Went here on friday with the bossman and another coworker after a long week and a presentation. We got there around 2:30pm, it was beautiful out and we sat outside to enjoy the weather. we each ordered champagne which was wonderful along with a pate plate, which was also great. The pate wasn't the best I've ever had, but was very good. We then ordered our next drink, I got the French Martini which was light and wonderful for a warm day. we all ordered our meals, bossman ordered a crepe, coworker ordered the steak frites, I ordered the croque madame. all the food was delicious. the frites (fries) were crispy and chip-like. homemade, very good. The croque madame was great, not assembled like a sandwich but cut into corners and served smothered in cheese with an egg on top. An odd way, I thought, to serve a "sandwich". The last time I had this sandwich was in paris, and it was assembled a little differently. The sandwich was a little overbearing and I think there was a little too much cheese (what? is that possible?) yes... when you dont see bread and all you see is cheese, yes.... its possible. It was still very good and the egg was cooked to perfection, which is difficult to find at times. After our meal we ordered another round. I got the mojito. Great mojito. The drinks here were all made great. Tasted great with just the right amount of alcohol. The wine selection here is amazing. We finished the night with a couple more drinks. Bossman and I ordered the chateauneuf-du-pape, which was a wonderful wine. Highly recommended.
(4)Jim B.
Good, but not great. Came here for Bethesda restaurant week and the prix fixe looked enticing enough to try. I started off with the chicken liver mousse, which came out as an enormous block on my plate. They should've given me an extra loaf of bread to wipe it all up. It tasted alright, but sometimes less is more. Give me more flavor in a smaller serving, so it doesn't feel like I'm eating five cans of fancy feast. The steak was cooked to my liking, with a bleu cheese dressing. Again, nothing mind-blowing, but a solid meal. The frites were delicious, and I proceeded to eat every single one, but I'd say the ones at Les Halles were better. I bookended my prix fixe with another serving of mousse - chocolate this time. Sweet lord was it rich! Almost sickeningly so. I ate that all down as well, of course, and then instantly developed three cavities. The waiter throughout the night was extremely friendly and attentive. The two girls and one gay guy I was with were absolutely smitten with him and proceeded to corral him over to our table at the end and give his life story and family heritage. But again, he did this all with a sincere enthusiasm. One of the most surprising parts of the night was a coupon at the end of my meal for a free steak frites meal ($20 value!!). Will I be back for my free meal? You bet! And if I find myself roaming around Bethesda, I might consider this place. I just wouldn't make a pilgrimage to it.
(3)Carmen D.
Not sure what the review are all about. I had a steak that had tough pieces and a lot of fat around it. Nothing lean and tastful about it. Frites? Seriously were just soggy french fries. Never going back.
(2)Anita C.
Came here for lunch yesterday with an old friend. When we entered the restaurant near lunchtime, there was no hostess in the front to greet us, even though there were very few people in the restaurant. We waited a good five minutes before anyone noticed us, and when someone finally did, it was a waiter. He went to look for the hostess, who was still missing, and he was the one who finally took us to our table. Price: $19.99 for the steak frites and $29.99 for the filet mignon with a side of fries. Not bad for steak items. I believe the onion soup was ~$8. Food: However, the food was awful. My friend and I split the onion soup, the steak frites, and the filet mignon. The onion soup that everyone raves about was a bowl of thick, drippy soup with soggy bread on the inside and sticky cheese on the outside. We probably ate two bites each of it. The complimentary "warm bread" that everyone says the meal comes with - so hard, we could barely tear it into bits to eat. The filet mignon was a piece of dried, cold meat on our plates. It had definitely been sitting out for awhile. There was no potato in the French fries - they were more along the lines of fried, thin, crispy potato skins. Not good. The thin steak, their "signature dish," was a little juicier, but still mostly flavorless. I had to douse both meat entrees with their peppercorn and bleu cheese dipping sauces. Terrible food. Suffice it to say, my friend and I barely touched our plates and did NOT take the leftovers home. Service: The highlight of the whole experience was our waiter. He checked in on us multiple times and kindly split our orders into two separate servings without us having to ask. Bottom Line: definitely not on my choice of restaurants to re-visit. Avoid the onion soup at all costs!
(2)Mike B.
First time to visit this location in Bethesda and was not disappointed! Everything about this restaurant is perfection. We had a large group and sat in a middle table in the main room on a busy night, but never once felt crowded or neglected by staff. The service sets the tone that you are welcomed and special. Glasses are promptly filled, orders are taken with precision, wait staff are thoroughly versed in the nuances of the menu and can offer the perfect wine to pair with your meal. Of course, the food is the star of the night. Starting with Escargot de Borgogne with a hearty garlic and butter sauce. It's so hard to find Escargot cooked right. Some of our other favorite dishes were the trout almondine, each bite was delicate and literally would melt in your mouth. To finish off the evening, bananas foster crepe, oh so heavenly! It's hard to save room for dessert, but you will be glad you did.
(5)Kelly X.
Service was great. The food was ok. I expected more entrees and the food was a bit plan. The lobster soup was decent. The upside down pear cake was freaking awesome. I would go back to this place for only one reason, the upside down cake!
(3)Emily F.
Mon Ami Gabi had OK food, OK wine but terrible service. While our waiters all spoke French, the food seemed more American and even a bit Mediterranean. Also don't be deceived by the menu out front - they have an extensive brunch/lunch menu, but the dinner menu is much smaller (read: one page.) If you are not an olive fan, be sure to ask if olives come on your salad or entree - they were on everything we ordered. Overall this place had decent food, good outdoor seating, nice waiters, but they were extremely slow and inattentive.
(2)Frank H.
Restaurant Week Visit: Had a reservation for lunch and came in a little late. Lots of paid and free parking in the local area. Served initially with a baguette and some coffee. Waiter definitely gave me a lot of refills so service was attentive. We ordered French onion soup, salad for appetizer, mussels and salmon for main course. Everything was well prepared and seasoned well. The mussels were very lightly cooked in wine sauce and apple. The salmon was lightly grilled and served with spinach and orange and grapefruit slices. We enjoyed our meal and the ambiance. It had a cafe, bistro feel and feltvery lively. Didn't care for the French fries but they were ok. Would I go again... yes.
(4)Saki M.
Umm, yes this place is great. My lady friends and I come here quite often for Sunday Brunch and we are never disappointed. You'll never go wrong with the eggs du jour or quiche Lorraine. We usually have one or the other as a shared appetizer and the Roquefort steak frites and a couple of French 75's to right last nights wrongs. Skip the dining room and instead cozy up in the bar section and get ready to receive first-class, attentive and thoughtful service from the wonderful bar staff. Great choice to start off a fabulous Sunday Funday.
(5)Ina C.
My favorite things: - Their brunch is close to perfection! Delicious. It fills up quick, so don't sleep in too late! - They have plenty of outdoor seating! - Their steak is to die for and unique! - Other things to do: catch a movie at the very cool Bethesda Row Cinemas around the corner; get some unbelievable ice cream at Gifford's next door; walk off that food coma with a stroll down the Capital Crescent Trail.
(4)Zita L.
If my waiter had spoken French, like those who waited on some other Yelpers, I might have added a third star just for the hell of it. OK, here we go. I was frustrated by the wine list for starters. It listed the regions of France. Fine. And then listed the varietals of grapes found under each of those regions. Fine. And then under THAT, listed the wines by chateaux names. Fine. But it DIDN'T tell you the varietal of grapes contained in each wine, and the waiter - who didn't even look old enough to drink wine - had absolutely no clue about wine or his restaurant's wine list. So nobody in the room knew whether we were ordering a malbec or a merlot. I know what I like, but I'm not an expert. You KNOW your wine ordering experience was bad when you simply had to point and say "I guess I'll take THAT one". The french onion soup I had was boring and overly sweet. The potatoes that came with my friends' steaks were so thin, it's like they couldn't decide whether they wanted to be french fries or potato chips. Not a good fence to be on, as they are either soggy chips or really greasy fries. One friend got plain old potatoes with her fish. I tasted them and they were bland as hell. I also tasted a friend's steak: Meh. The bread that came to the table in the beginning, along with the kicky little accompanying dish of sweet grated carrots were fresh and good, as was the trout. That's where the second star was awarded. Surely Bethesda can do better. Although more pricey, a similar (and slightly better) alternative Big French Bistro waaaaaaay downtown is Les Halles.
(2)Y Y.
Thought I'd give it another try - wished I did not. Came for dinner. Crappy service with crappier food to boot. The steak is so thin, they should just call it bulgoggi! The frites are so thin they are no better than kettle chips. I had the steak frite at Les Halles and it was waaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy better. Dont be fooled by the nice looking "french bistro paris feel" outdoor sitting or dinning room. The place looks toooo good for the food they serve. Super deceptive!
(1)Sheena C.
Absolutely looooove this place!!! The staff is so wonderful, and the food is amazing. It is a lot of people in one space but who cares! Totally worth it. I ordered a steak and asked about the different sauces. I finally picked one but was still brought both so I could try them both. It's attention and service like that along with just generally great food that I love.
(5)Tori K.
This place is amazing. They have wonderful fresh bread that they bring before the meal and some kind of carrot salad. My favorite is there side of Mac and Cheese with their warm frisee and bacon salad. They also have a very good warm brie.
(5)Harvey L.
Cold soup and salad outdoors under a shade tree were excellent, as was the bread. I'm not a fan of their version of French fries, which having tried them a couple of times in the past, I never order. Good service.
(4)John E.
I think this place is terrific. Some nights they have live jazz and it is very fun to listen to. The seafood an steaks are about 20-25 dollars, but they have lots of cheaper options like delicious burgers and omelettes. I've been about 5 times and the service is consistently good.
(4)Brian C.
What a delicious meal we had here Saturday night - a little pricy, but the food and service was worth it. We did not make a reservation, so we were told we would have an hour wait. We gave a cell phone number to the hostess, and were delighted to get a call 20 minutes later saying there had been a cancellation and they could sit us now. The hostess pulled out the table so my partner could sit on the inside of the banquette comfortable and the waitress brought water and a hot crispy baguette right away. The bread was served with creamy butter and a tart carrot relish. The waitress told us the specials and waited patiently while we decided among their tempting menu. As an appetizer, I ordered the French Onion soup. Served in a deep white bowl, the focus was shared netween the gooey layer of cheese and toast and the rich beef broth and carmelized onion. As an entree, I ordered the steak bordelaise and pomme fritte. The frites were a crispy pile of potato goodness and they sopped up the rich onion and butter sauce perfectly. The steak was incredibly tender and flavorful. My partner ordered the hot olive bowl as an appetizer. Who knew hot olives could be so tasty and taste so different? He ordered the fish special - a crispy filet over fennel and potatoes. We shoudn't have, but we ordered dessert. Who could resist that dessert list? The layer of chocolate in the chocolate pecan tart was a little hard to cut through, but well worth the effort. The interplay of whipped cream, pecans, chocolate, flaky tart and caramel swirl was wonderful.
(5)Rhan K.
I always love this place. I used to come here in high school with a school group to get food and loved it then. I came here to take my parents out for dinner and had a decent experience. The food: The fillet mignon was great. Yummy, well cooked and the sauce was perfect. The fries that came with it were great too. The Onion Soup was SPECTACULAR. It is seriously the big MUST of this place. The scallop entree was great but it was 6 pieces of scallop for like 17 dollars, which is a bit of a rip off in some ways. And the Skate Wing was a bit bland. The capers that came with it were really bad (I usually LOVE capers) and so it was a bit of a disappointment. Also, the duck appetizer was overly sweet and not a great balance of flavors with the REALLY under seasoned lentils. The ambiance: It is always the perfectly cute restaurant to sit and eat in. It is just adorable. The Service: The service here is always SPECTACULAR. I must say its amusing to try to speak to the servers in french and even in english , they are just the perfect balance of attentive and not overwhelming.
(4)TejieSaba S.
This adorable French restaurant is located in hip downtown Bethesda. The atmosphere has a great vibe and if you go here when the weather is warm, I'd recommend sitting outside. If you like rare but not tremendously overpriced imported wine, try their bordeaux, it's very light but aromatic. I have been here on more than one occasion and my favorite thing about this place is the freshness of their food. The salmon salad is amazing and my go-to entree is the sea scallops. I love going back to this place and anyone I have ever recommended this restaurant to has loved it.
(4)Yummy or Crummy S.
My boyfriend was in the mood for some French food for lunch one day and so we scouted yelp's recommendations for the area and decided to check this place out. And boy, am I glad we did! This was the best restaurant EXPERIENCE I've had in a long time. So much so that I decided to make a yelp account just to review it. First off, the FOOD. My boyfriend had the French Onion soup and a Soft Shell Crab sandwich (seasonal), I decided to try 2 appetizers instead of ordering an entree, the Warm Duck Confit and the Chicken Liver Mousse. The French Onion soup ($7) was excellent, and furthermore it was HUGE. Honestly, we weren't expecting much size-wise from a French restaurant, but they sure surprised us. The soup might have been a bit too cheesy for anyone who doesn't like cheese but it was very flavorful and definitely fresh-made. The soft shell crab sandwich ($16) was pretty good, it had a lot of flavor and the bacon was a nice addition. The fries that came with it were also good, fresh and crispy. As for my h'ordeuvres, the duck confit ($11) was OUTSTANDING. The meat practically fell off the bone and was cooked perfectly, the balsamic cherries added a tangy balance of flavor and the potatoes rounded out the dish nicely. I normally don't eat potatoes but with the duck and cherry juices they were delicious. The chicken liver mousse ($7) was also excellent, very smooth and creamy with a burgundy red wine mustard to go with it and pickles, olives and pearl onions on the side as palate cleansers. The balance of flavors in the dish was perfect. To finish the meal off we had iced cappuccinos, which were a perfect ending to the meal. Usually people only talk about the food in a review, but the SERVICE at Mon Ami Gabi was outstanding as well. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and helpful when discussing the menu options, so much so that it honestly seemed like he had been studying it in his sleep! He knew how each dish is cooked and what kind of taste one would expect. When we questioned him about certain dishes, he knew the exact ingredients that were in each dish and gave an unbiased recommendation. He also always made sure our glasses were never empty and even brought out a glass of ice (without being asked!) when there was a possibility that the water might have been getting warm (since we were outside on a nice, sunny day). He checked with us every time a dish was served to make sure it met expectations. He even served us an extra free cup of iced cappuccino when he wasn't happy with the foam on our originals (we hadn't had any complaints!). Overall, our waiter was knowledgeable down to the tiniest detail and made sure our experience at Mon Ami Gabi wasn't going to be our last. We will definitely be back again soon.
(5)Peggy Lyn S.
Another terrific lunch experience at Mon Ami Gabi! This place never disappoints but this week was exceptional! The special of the day was an open face mushroom sandwich. Served with a perfectly poached egg on top, frites and a salad...incredibly delicious, large portion, great value, great service, comfortable banquette...just delightful. I've been obsessing about the sandwich ever since and debating whether or not to call the restaurant to see when that sandwich will be on the special board again! Merci!
(5)Matthew W.
Excellent for Saturday lunch. The onion soup and the salads were a delight.
(4)Christina T.
Went for restaurant week last night. DELICIOUS. Had the chilled gazpacho, steak & frites, & crepes... nom dot com. I've never had gazpacho before so was a bit hesitant, but it was absolutely delicious. I expected more veggies, but the avocado in it was delicious. The steak was so good! We couldn't decide what sauce to get with our steak so our waiter brought them all, which was really nice & not something he needed to do. Minus one of the sauces which tasted a bit like bad blue cheese dressing, they were all very yummy. Lucky that we got to try all of them in the first place, though. Dessert was even better--I got the crepe minus the peaches with some ice cream on top. TO DIE FOR. Wish I could have eaten more but I was already so stuffed. All in all, the food was solid across the board. The only thing I disliked was the amount of frites they threw on your plate.. a bit overwhelming & lacking in taste. Service was great, expected it to be subpar because of restaurant week, but we were seated promptly, even a little early [making reservations = the way to go], and our food came at the perfect pace. Our waiter & the other bus boys were also extremely attentive. Decor was adorable. Will definitely be back.
(4)Dancetolead V.
We had a wonderful lunch at the restaurant last week. I was really disappointed in the fries though. They were thin and greasy, like McDonalds. When the waiter asked if everything was OK, both of us complained about the fries and they brough us the potato chips instead. Again, nothing interesting. The waiter said the restaurant was known for their fries. I didn't see why. They gave us free desert afterwards. Great service and the rest of the food was food. I mentioned the restuarant to another friend who lives to eat out. She said I was crazy and that the Mon Ami Gabi fries were the best she has ever eaten. So she went there for dinner and now won't eat there for a year as the fries were in fact, horrible.
(4)Sue H.
Steak Classique. Don't get a menu. This is a one-item restaurant. Chicken is bad. Fish is average. Go hungry. Leave so happy.
(5)Cameron T.
Met up with my cousin for dinner here last night. She had been many times while it was my first visit to the Bethesda location. We started with the chicken liver mousse, which was good. Then I had the Hangar steak, while she ordered the Filet au poivre. We both ordered medium rare. Mine was perfect while hers came out way over cooked. We sent it back, and they brought out a new one. At that point I was donewith my meal. My steak was perfectly cooked, seasoned nicely with merlot butter. It was tender & flavorful. It was also a bargain at $17.95. My cousin's filet was bland, and she said it was usually very good but not last night. Too bad considering it cost $29.95. I didn't care for their frites. Their fries with very thin unlike the traditional fries served with steak frites. They weren't very crispy and I much prefer the traditional version served at places like Les Halles. The service was not so great. The server took awhile to greet our table. He never checked back to see how our food was, and we had to flag him down about the over cooked steak. He never checked back after that until much later when he dropped off the check. I would go back again. It's a good bet if you have a steak craving. I wouldn't expect anything spectacular, but a decent standy-by.
(3)Natalie F.
This place is beautiful inside and was perfect for the wedding shower lunch I went to last weekend. We had a room to ourselves with a three round tables and a champagne bar. It was super fancy and the service was excellent. For lunch it was a three course menu with starters which I would say were the best. The scallops, Brie with fresh roasted garlic and toast. The main course I got was the tuna burger which was good but really messy and difficult to eat. The desserts were delicious, flour less chocolate cake, crem bru le and Ice cream with chocolate fudge and pastry. The food was good, not as good as I would have expected. The portions are huge for a french restaurant, seems like they are compensating for the quality of the food. I would love to try brunch here, I'm sure it's excellent.
(2)Bunnie B.
2 words: steak frites. 2 more: get them. Even though Mon Ami Gabi is kind of expensive and full of yuppies (it's Bethesda after all) the food is really tasty. AND it's next to a great independent movie theater and mediocre ice cream shop.
(3)Brigitte V.
After reading all the 5 star reviews, we thought we'd try this place - we just moved here from Europe and were craving some "home" food. Well, we decided to sit outside on this warm evening. A waiter came and poured some water in our glasses, and we sat waiting for a menu. During this waiting period, we observed all of their staff (waiters, I assume, they were all dressed alike) valet-parking the cars of their customers. We waited for a total of 30 minutes (!!!), never received a menu (!!!), and were finally fed up with being "ignored", so we got up to leave. Needless to say, we will definitely not be back, no matter how awesome the food supposedly is.
(1)Jo-Elle M.
Went here for a work event (wine tasting/dinner) this week, so I do not know the price of things. (Sorry.) First, Julian, the manager (?) was great. He went through a quick lesson on French wines, and we were served 2 whites and 2 reds. We had a dedicated server who kept the wine glasses full (hello!!) . I had the butter lettuce salad. Very fresh and yummy. My entree was the seared scallops with cauliflower puree and wilted spinach. Oh my goodness. Super delicious. Cooked perfectly and all elements were full of flavor and went together wonderfully. For dessert, I had the creme brulee, which was very good. Wished I tried the flourless chocolate cake - that looked yummy too! I would highly recommend this place. Being from Chicago, the headquarters of the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group is here - including Mon Ami Gabi. I never have been to the Chicago one, but I will definitely make plans to do so really really soon!! Thanks, Julian and staff!
(4)sophie S.
If you like french food this is the place to be. The french onion soup is as close to the real thing as it gets. The mussels are amazing, steak frits, salads, it's all wonderful. I have never had a bad meal here, it is one of my favorite restaurants. The service is great, they even have a bloody mary bar on weekends for brunch! The place itself looks very French. Parking is difficult usually better to find a lot and walk. Usually best to make reservations (especially during the weekends.) DO NOT FORGET THE DESSERTS!!!! UNBELIEVABLE!
(5)Heather J.
The best thing about this place is brunch. Though it's supposed to be a French bistro/steakhouse, the steaks are just OK. The brunch and lunch, on the other hand, are fantastic. The french onion soup here is some of the best I've ever had. It's really rich, with tangy gruyere cheese melted on top. I also love their sandwiches. I can't remember all the ones I've tried offhand, but I don't remember being disappointed in any of them. Now, the best part: the baguettes they bring out with brunch. They're warm, crispy and perfectly browned on the outside, and soft on the inside. They serve them with butter and jam - the jam is amazing. I went for lunch once and they didn't have the jam out because it wasn't a weekend, and I asked for some of the jam with my baguette. They happily obliged. My other favorite thing about brunch is their vanilla french toast. It's a huge portion of french toast with cinnamon baked apples and whipped cream. It's absolutely delicious. I always have leftovers, too, which makes my morning almost as good the next day.
(4)Tamara C.
Went on a Friday night. Had reservations but still had a bit of a wait in the bar. The atmosphere, the service, and the food were excellent. I had the shoulder cut steak with clue cheese medium rare and it was delicious.
(5)Nicole L.
This is yet another restaurant I walked past for the last 10 years and always wanted to try but never did. From what I heard was good food but expensive. I decided to give it a shot past weekend. From the outside it looked contained, that you can't quite tell what is going on inside. When I walked in, it was bustling with people both at the bar and in the dining area. It's looked like a typical french bistro. We had a reservation for 10 PM european style after being indeicisive most of the night haha, we decided to get there earlier to grab a drink or two. The bar was crowded and after some wait we got the attention of the bartender, we ordered a cotes du rhone and a gabitini - martini with blue cheese stuffed in olives - it was not bad. My companion asked for more olives but the bartender totally 'forgot' about it. After that drink, we just sticked to red wines. We were seated at a nice table at the inside part of the restaurant but it was right at the entrance to the bathroom and kitchen there was lots of traffic though it had a nice view of the dining room. Our waitress was very pleasant and gave us an excellent service. The baguette was fresh and tasty! The waitress was very sweet giving us two complimentary glasses of white sancerre to go with the oysters. We ordered the oysters and escargot - oysters were tiny there was hardly any meat and they were not detached from the muscles. By the time you scraped it off, it looked like a spit out oyster. The escargot was delicious however it was soaked in this garlic-parsley-butter sauce. For the entree, I ordered the skate it was cooked perfectly nicely seasoned and had fresh lemon wedges and capers. There was a cabbage and green beans slaw which I didnt really try except for the green beans. My companion liked it. The fresh cut potato chips were crunchy but they were glistening in oil. I found that it to be rather unappetizing. My companion's trout was overly seasoned it was so salty I was shocked by the first bite. My companion agreed it should be sent back. The waitress again topped up my companion's wine as an apology. Overall, the food was mediocre but less than I imagined all this time about this place but I did like my skate alot!! The service was great!! It made it an enjoyable experience.
(3)Sonia S.
I have to say, I was underwhelmed with the food at Mon Ami Gabi. However, the ambiance and scene was buzzing and fun- the bar area is a great place to grab apertifs and chat with friends and wait for your table. We lucked out and had a quick wait and got an outside table as well- which overlooks the grassy area in the back. For a French restaurant, this place serves enormous portions, but even compared to an American restaurant, the servings are big...like TGIFridays big. To start, our waitress brought out complimentary baguette (in a paper bag) with whipped butter and a refreshing grated carrot salad. For appetizers, we ordered the butter lettuce salad and the soup of the day (Roasted Red Pepper- good, but quite heavy). The butter lettuce salad with apples, cheese, walnut was not what I expected- it was a hard cheese, unglazed walnuts, and lemony vinaigrette..somehow the combination was off. The flet mignon was good but not exceptional- the frites, were definitely good- they were ribbony, unlike anything I've had before. Again, the portions were huge- I split this entree- and each half portion was the size of a normal serving! The fluke (it's a type of fish) special was a bit mushy and again not amazing..but good. Lastly, we ordered the protiferoles for a table of 3 of us...they brought 3 giant protiferoles (the ice cream was from Gifford's next door and quite good..the hot fudge is apparently housemade). It was a good choice. Service was friendly and attentive.
(3)PC W.
Way to go Bethesda Restaurant Week for convincing one Restonite, two Arlingtonians and two DC-ers to convene for lunch in Bethesda. The RW deal for lunch was $12 for an appetizer and entree or entree and dessert. Not everyone took advantage of the deal since there were so many great options on the regular menu. I, of course, did. The soup du jour was a butternut squash with bleu cheese. Sweet and creamy. I was very satisfied with my choice. I also had the steamed mussels in white wine cream and bacon sauce served with frites. Mmm, mmm, good. I will definitely go back if I'm in the neighborhood.
(4)Paula W.
Fantastic service and the food was delicious. They didnt rush us but they werent slow either. The mussels were awesome. Fresh and the broth was very good. Had the scallops appetizer which we didn't realize was covered in cheese but it was still very good. The baked Brie was excellent and the bread pudding was delicious as well. We just had appetizers and dessert and I would definitely go back for a full dinner.
(4)J M.
Delish. Steak is what they're best at. I wouldn't bother with anything else. Except a nice red, of course ;)
(4)Araneta A.
The brunch was exceptional. The service was great. This is a place to bring in-laws or people you want to impress because you know they will consistently deliver good food and excellent service.
(4)Victoria S.
Note: If I could give it 3.5 stars, I would, but I don't feel that it reaches 4 star level (however I am also a very picky eater) OVERALL REVIEW: Good quality food, served luke-warm, at decent prices. Decent restaurant if you're looking for something a little different from your average American steakhouse, but don't go here if you're looking for authentic French food. DETAILED REVIEW: Mon Ami Gabi is located in the center of activity in Bethesda, tucked into the corner near the Bethesda Theatre, with great outdoor seating for those who like to people watch while enjoying a decent meal. While the overall ambience tends to be a little over the top (as if they are constantly trying to remind you that they are a french restaurant), the food is fairly good. The dress is "smart casual", and you'll find lots of people in polos and khakis on a hot summer day. A freshly baked, warm baguette is served with couscous and butter almost immediately. If you order appetizers, may I suggest the mussels, which were very fresh, but only lukewarm by the time they were served to us. Mon Ami Gabi also claims to have the second best french onion soup in DC, however I feel that it is actually a little too sweet, and could use a little more savory/saltiness. For entrees, you can't go wrong with the steaks (although, keep in mind they are pounded thin unless you get the filet mignon, so don't get it too well done). Also delicious is their fish selections (the skate is flaky and delicious, without any real "fishy taste", and the trout has nice seasoning). Again, by the time our food was served to us, it was only lukewarm, bordering on cold. The frites that come with the steaks are very tasty (but again, cold, as if they've been fried, then left sitting on the counter until someone ordered a dish that has a side of frites). The salmon salad is drenched with too much salad dressing, giving you the impression you're basically eating pure salad oil. For dessert, we tried the Profiteroles, which I found to be way too sweet for my tastes. Try the crepes or creme brulee instead, you can never go wrong with creme brulee.
(3)Rob A.
Good Service, Good Food. What more do I need to say? They have the best french toast ever! Okay so the waiters don't speak French. It's okay. They are still very helpful.
(4)Brennan R.
I stopped in here for the first time the other night with my Folks. We've tried just about everything on Bethesda Row, but had never ventured inside Mon Ami. What were we thinking waiting so long!? The service was excellent, the bar tender was right on point, pleasing even my super picky dad with a superb Manhattan. I had a starter of the French onion soup, and let me tell you.. Life changing cheesy, oozy, onion perfection. I thought nothing could be better than my soup, but when my hanger steak with merlot butter and frites came out, I swear angels were singing! Cooked to perfection with a serious helping of frites? I'm sold. I'll definitely be back, and please don't make the mistake I made... Don't wait!!! Now go.. Get your steak frite on!
(4)Hannah C.
an adorable parisian-style cafe that makes you want to jump on a plane and fly to paris. it also had a very similar atmosphere to balthazar, wistfully reminding me of new york. unfortunately i didn't get to try their food because i came to brunch much too late, but the food looked absolutely delicious. the prices for food were very reasonable, however, my order of coffee and perrier that came out to $11 was completely absurd to me. this doesn't change my desire to go back the next time i am in town though.
(4)Hello H.
I heard their happy hours are good. Service and our waitor were great. But my first experience at Mon Ami Gabi was very poor. The open face shrimp salad sandwich that I got was terrible. The watery mayonnaise-based sauce was disgusting (a strong word, but it was just gross) and the whole thing was absolutely tasteless. I kept pouring on black pepper, and even asked for a lemon wedge to offset the watery mayonnaise, but to no avail. My friend also got the same thing and she also had a poor reaction to the dish. The only untainted part of this meal was the slice of avocado it comes with. That is, the part of it that wasn't already doused in the watery mayo. I also did not like the french bread. You have to use force to rip it apart -- definitely not cool for a sit-down restaurant -- and the bread was just messy and tasteless. See my other reviews to get a sense of what I think is good.
(1)J H.
Just like Dianne K. , Mon Ami Gabi was an absolute unexpected delight! The food was great and our server was incredibly attentive- the whole staff was. Service: I rushed in while my Fiance was waiting in the car to exchange some money for change to park. While I was at the bar getting change, one of the servers gave me a cup of ice water without me even asking. I looked at the water dumb founded- looked around to see if it was for someone else, but the guy just smiled and said "its hot out there... and walked away". I don't think he was even a bar tender. When we finally got in, we were seated promptly. Our server Alex was really cool and absolutely one of the best servers I've come across. He was incredibly attentive and really seemed like someone who was happy to be working there. We ate the mussels. fillet, and the halibut special. The bread was awesome as were the fries which I couldn't stop eating. The steaks however were a bit bland considering I'm relatively used to Ruth Chris style steaks. The halibut, while being "special" because of the "farm fresh, chef picked vegetables- it also tasted a bit bland for my palette. Overall my experience was swell. I applaud Mon Ami Gabi for their personal customer service. Never did I feel as though the food took too long or our cups were less than full. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)Denise H.
Best. Onion Soup. Ever. Fresh baguettes & real butter. Filet Mignon with Merlot butter/red wine reduction is one of the best filets I have EVER had - great quality meat prepared exactly as requested. Pommes frites are ok and bountiful! Shared desserts - choc mousse, bananas foster, apple tarte tatin and creme brulee were all excellent. We had a business dinner for 9, and our server was excellent - good balance of attentiveness without being intrusive. Mojito was gooood. Would definitely go back with my husband.
(4)Karen C.
Come here for Happy Hour. For $5, you can get the french onion soup, salmon burger with huge cup of fries, steak burger w/ huge cup of fries or associate goodies. I usually just get the soup & split the burger with someone. They also offer wines from $3.50-$5/glass. Delish!
(4)Leila T.
Gorgeous sunny Saturday, a couple empty tables outside of Mon Ami. So a friend and I decided- why not soak up the beautiful weather and eat outside? We walk into the restaurant (at 25% capacity mind you) and ask the host for a table outside to which the manager replies, "I'm sorry we can't sit you outside. We are in between lunch and dinner right now". Me: "What do you mean, the kitchen is closed?" Him: "No, the kitchen is fully open, we just can't seat you outside. The people already outside are just finishing up. We can only serve you in this one section to my left, or at the bar." Me: (still not comprehending) So...you're saying we can't sit outside even though there are available tables...AND the kitchen is fully operational... Him: "Correct" AU REVIOR!!! Okay...so I haven't actually eaten here, but the crappy rating is due to their snobby attitude and unwillingness to accommodate their customers.
(2)Olivia L.
We stumbled in starving, without a reservation, at 7:30pm on the Saturday that the MoCo popo closed down the Bethesda Row garage because there was no more parking. Yes, it was a zoo. We were given a buzzer and told that it would be at least an hour before they could seat us -- so much for the 9pm movie we had hoped to see at Bethesda Row Cinema next door. Well, thanks to my ESP, we snagged a table in the bar after about 20 minutes, and had the amazing French onion soup (it's pretty much a meal), and a steak a piece (the steaks are ok, they're very thin so get them well done -- I got mine medium rare and it was close to raw in places -- it's hard to cook a thin steak to a uniform level of doneness). I'm only dropping one star for the done-ness of my steak because we made our movie after all, and it's just a super cute place.
(4)Meghan G.
This place is feels very "fancy chain" in general. They strive for a french bistro, but with the soaring ceilings and cavernous interior it feels more like a high-end Olive Garden. BUT, the food here is really great. If you are really craving some meat and potatoes, this is your place. The very juicy, wonderfully marinated flank steaks smothered in your choice of toppings (i got the Roquefort) plated with a pile of thin, crispy frites will literally clog your arteries just glancing at it. The entrees are pretty massive, so unless your a freaking lumberjack, you're safe splitting an appetizer and a steak. The service was fast and friendly, bringing us basket after basket of warm crusty bread. I am easily won over with massive amounts of carbs, what can I say. All in all a great place to go, maybe not a first date of special occasion destination given its semi-forced atmosphere of a faux french joint, but give it a go after a few dates or on a special occasion for someone you seems pretty ideal for a work happy hour, or company lunch. Also its convenient to the Bethesda Row Cinema, so good pre or after movie grub.
(4)Mari C.
Highly recommended for food, ambiance, knowledgeable staff. Going here for dinner is an experience to be cherished.
(5)Prateeksha N.
I was grossed out by this place. It was dingy, depressing, slow, dirty and the desserts were a shame for a french place. We put down our names on a waiting list and dropped decent cash only to come out of there feeling stale and gritty and about two centuries old. Ignore this place, they have greasy floors!
(2)J C.
It was our dear, devoted intern that reminded me about this place. We were talking about the Bethesda Row Cinema, and she told me "Oh, you've GOT to try this great French restaurant called Mon Ami Gabi! The steak frites are wonderful!" "That's a good idea," I replied. "However, it's more like French-style food, since they're run by Lettuce Entertain You. You know, that big Chicago superchain of restaurants." Her jaw dropped. But that's okay. I had a similar reaction when my dad told me pro wrestling was faked. The Hulkster FAKING IT? Lies... all lies! The interior felt steakhousey. Lots of Oakwood trim and lots of bottles of wine against the walls. Surprisingly, they didn't seat us at one of those setups where you've got the long bench on one side, lined up with 15 smaller tables and chairs on the other side (God knows there was plenty of this seating here, which I absolutely hate). We got a nice, cozy table in the corner (in fact, if I ever bring a date here, I'm going to try to get this same table again). First up, escargot. I only had these once, about 17 years ago, and my coworker never had them at all, so we figured we'd just split an order. Turns out neither one of us cared for them, but that didn't have anything to do with how they were cooked (the garlic butter was very, very tasty!), more like we just didn't like snails. They have a good selection of apps, such as country pate and duck mousse, and they give you a complimentary baguette with butter regardless. As for the main course, I think what MAG does is take traditional French bistro favorites, and just run with those. Nothing like calves brain or cassoulet. Hangar steak and frites is clearly the star of the show, and you can get it several different ways here. I got the Steak Roquefort, which was steak with bleu cheese sauce. My coworker got the Steak Bordelaise, which came with caramelized onions and red wine sauce on top. They have seafood and other dishes there, but for some reason, steak just stands out. Also, they have a list of weekly specials (like duck confit on Sundays), but if you're hankering for the specials, you've got to reserve the special in your reservations. Quantities are limited. The steaks were great. I would have loved for my steak to have had more bleu cheese sauce, but it was very tasty. Meat was cooked medium rare as requested, and very tender. (I've seen complaints, mostly on other review sites, that MAG had a track record of overcooking beef, but it wasn't a problem tonight). The frites are strange. Have you ever ate those potato sticks you get at the grocery store? Imagine those on steroids. Very crisp and very puffy. But we both left stuffed, and for $20 per plate, it was a good value for the money. The verdict: I liked it a lot, and the food was great. Having said that, I have no idea when I'll be here next. For me, it's out of the way, and there's no escaping the fact that it's clearly an American creature, and clearly a chain restaurant at that. It just had that whole corporate feel. With so many other actual French restaurants in DC (that are closer to me) with real French staff, it almost defies logic that I'd come back here when the real deal is closer. Oh, and I overheard the guy next to me remark "yeah... we've got a lot of Americans buried over there. We saved their asses twice." Yeah, this place don't cater to the international crowd, methinks. Note: a word about booze. Their wine selection was quite extensive, but a bit expensive too. Wanna know why it's this way in Montgomery County restaurants? Read on: washingtoncitypaper.com/…
(4)Heather P.
Super lively, great atmosphere and pretty tasty food! Wines are good, appetizers authentic and entrees generous. I'll be back!
(4)Jeff G.
This is a great French bistro right in the middle of Bethesda that provides excellent service and great food, though the price is a bit on the high side. The atmosphere and decor of the place is what you would expect from any French bistro, with lots of wood on the walls, tiled floors, and tables packed in really tight. Every time I have visited, the server was either French or putting on a really bad accent. Sometimes the service is a bit French (e.g. unattentive and snobby), but most of the time it's quite good. I'm a huge escargot fan, so I always get it as an appetizer when we go, and it's some of the best that I have had. Make sure you get extra bread to sop up that wonderful garlic butter ;) Entrees here are a bit on the high side pricewise, but they're definitely tasty and up to par with other French restaurants in the city. Dessert is a definite must here! Overall, great food and reasonable service for a slightly high price, but definitely recommended.
(4)Judy N.
I rally like this place. One of the best onion soup ever. I love onion soup and just thinking about it make me want to go back there for more. Been there many times, once for HH and other times at the dining room. The servers are always attentive and helpful. I love the French bread, chicken liver mousse and the steak. They also serve brunch during the weekend.
(4)Virginia C.
I'm usually not a steak person but this place has got the best filet ever (order it with carmelized onions and sherry sauce)!!!
(5)Lisa D.
Our experience began on a Sunday evening around 8pm. I strolled into the restaurant with my fiance and his family. There were 5 of us and we were told the wait would only be about 15 minutes. They got our cell number and actually called us within the estimated waiting time period. One of the great things about going here is the fact that there are shops and a nice area to walk around if dinner is during rush/primetime. Something I almost immediately noticed, once we sat down, was how this place has some of the most friendly, professional and helpful staff I have ever encountered. They treated us as though we were a big deal despite the fact that we were dressed very casual (we had been walking around the DC area all day and had wedding planning appointments). When I told the server that I wanted the gluten-free menu, he made SURE to inform me that they had gluten free bread (as an appetizer as well). The gluten-free bread was fantastic! He served it on a separate plate and brought it out first because he explained how everything I would be eating that evening would be prepared separately. The server told me that they take gluten allergies VERY seriously and they went over, above and beyond to make sure that experience, despite my diet restrictions, was over the top. I ordered a steak with a thick creamy egg yolk/cream sauce. It was beyond delicious and my mother-in-law-to-be ordered fish. I don't remember what kind but she said she absolutely loved it. My steak was cooked exactly as I had ordered it-medium and presented just before everyone else's food (only seconds before). They were really good about not taking too long to bring out the food and it was timed perfectly. Our appetizer (that everyone shared) was mussels in a cream sauce. They were delicious and exceeded our expectations. Overall I give this place 5 out of 5 because the food, in conjunction with the excellent service, makes this a place I would gladly visit again and a new favorite for the area.
(5)blowfly x.
Went here Saturday night - definitely make sure you reserve! People who came in without a reservation (this was at 6:30) had an hour wait. The food: Was quite good. I had the escargot appetizer, which was delicious - the snails were large and plump and very tender. My husband had the mussels, which also were large and plump and tender - that isn't always the case with mussels, so we were pleasantly surprised. The creamy wine broth was excellent; I ate (drank) most of that. The full-size version of the mussels appetizer would have been a perfectly adequate meal for me, size wise. Unfortunately I had also ordered the scallop appetizer (as an entree), and had no room for it, so I had to take it home. I did taste a bit - it was good, and the fennel in it was great, but I'm not so sure I like CHEESE (esp. in that large an amount) on scallops. My husband had the porcini soup, which was really mushroomy and very rich. He also had the au poivre steak; it was thinner than we expected, but like everything else, tender and very tasty. He had to take most of that home; between the broth from the mussels and the mushroom soup, we were in danger of a dry land drowning. The waiters were friendly and nice, but a woman kept continuously circling through the restaurant making notes, I suppose on everyone's status. It was sort of irritating to be so obviously kept tabs on. Also unluckily for us, and of course this was not the restaurant's fault, the old lady behind us seemed to have taken her woolly coat out of mothballs 10 seconds before, and the smell was HORRIBLE. Unfortunately for us I wasn't able to pinpoint it until she stood up at the end of our meal. Man. Air your clothes out before you mingle with other people.
(4)Sabrina B.
Let's start off by saying I don't think this is *that* authentic and the waiters don't speak a lick of french, but that's fine. Just wanted to put that all out there. Given that, I thought the food here was pretty darn yummy. I always like to scope out good French restaurants for my parents to visit while they're in town, and again, though not authentic, I think this place has very good food. I had the steak and fries. Someone else had the salmon which was also good, and someone else raved about the chicken - which look dry and plain to me, but they said it was good. I also had some sweet wine that was absolutely delicious. I'll definitely go again.
(4)Hampton C.
A group of friends and I rolled large to Mon Ami Gabi last weekend during Bethesda's restaurant week. I thought the restaurant week menu offered plenty of good options. I ended up grabbing the salmon served atop of pile of risotto which was pretty much money in the bank (now bear in mind that I was also rocking the majority of a bottle of French wine at the time as well). I ended up tasting most of friends food whenever they left to use the restroom, and dang! it was all good too. The service was above average but we were hoping for a rich French accent which we didn't get. Anyways, I plan to go back to try the lunch menu sometime soon.
(4)Katie P.
My husband and I finally visited this restaurant past weekend. We had always wanted to try this place. The weather was beautiful, and an outdoor table at Mon Ami Gabi seemed to be a perfect place for saturday lunch. Server was very pleasant and professional. She knew the menu inside and out, and didn't try to recommend the most expensive items on the menu. The baguette came inside the bag, and it was warm and soft. Loved it. We tried the snail appetizer and it was just ok...unique sauce, but not so appetizing...To me it had too much olive oil...Little more garlic would have been better. Then my husband had a steak sandwich which was served with fries, some greens and caramelized onion. He said the meat was cold, and wasn't so tender. Basically he did not enjoy it. I had their croque monsieur, which came with fries, salad, and fried egg on top. The sandwich itself had nothing special...Just ham and cheese. And tasted no different than regular ham and cheese sandwich. I think it should've been bit warmer so the cheese woud've melted more. The fries were great. Thin and crispy! The presentation of the entrees were very nice as well. But the ones we tried didn't meet my expectations. Maybe we had too high of an expectation about this place. I don't think we'll be coming back for the entrees we tried past weekend...But willing to try some other dish.
(3)Alex P.
This is one of my go-to places in the DC area for a nice dinner. When my girlfriend's father was in town I sent him here. Great steak-frites every time. The service has been friendly and attentive at every visit, and their country-pate appetizer made me believe that I couldn't possibly enjoy my steak even more...but I did. Warm atmosphere, classic French cuisine done very well, affordable wines, and reliable quality of food and service. I highly recommend Mon Ami Gabi.
(5)Suzanne P.
I have been here several times for lunch and it is always delicious. I usually order the house salad with goat cheese, the steak sandwich with frites, and for dessert, the profiteroles. I have also sampled the pate, the scallops, and the shrimp, all of which are amazing. Quaint, slightly boisterous setting, with great service. They serve red wine mustard and tiny pickles with the brie which is yummy and classic.
(4)Robert C.
Accidentally stumbled upon this place walking around Bethesda looking for a place to eat. Great food, great service, great experience. My girlfriend says you must try the Frangria! It's a bit pricey but it's well worth it and it would serve as a nice date spot.
(5)Alan S.
verry nice, best country pate and onion soup ever. great service and huge portions, really reminds me of paris
(4)Morgan W.
It's pretty apparent once you sit down and start browsing the menu that this place is not authentic. That being said, the food was good (not great) and the waiter was extremely friendly. We went for brunch last Saturday, and I got the Quiche Lorraine; it was HUGE and stuffed with bacony goodness. We decided to get the creme brulee for dessert, also HUGE. Then we were given an extra free dessert because we were first time diners...so, basically we ended up rolling out of the restaurant. It wasn't the best place to eat, but it could have been worse. I don't think we'll go out of our way to eat here again, but if we happen to be in Bethesda it's not out of the question.
(3)Jed S.
I went to Mon Ami Gabi for dinner with a friend yesterday evening. The maitre d' was quite friendly, as was the wait staff. Service was quick and gracious, and was good at checking to see if we needed/wanted anything without being overly solicitious. The interior is really quite lovely, with pretty warm colors contrasting with the dark mahogony wood, the two dining rooms are separated by a mahogony wine rack, and it creates a welcoming environment. They were having some sort of Apple festival, so the restaurant was decorated with apples all around the perimeter of the room, as well as having some special apple entrees and deserts on the menu. Speaking of apples, our dinner began with a wonderful demibaguette, accompanied with couscous and apple butter. Although we couldn't taste the apple in the apple butter, it was still quite good, and the demibaguette was perfect. I had the french onion soup, which although I thought it was pricey when looking at the menu, comes in a huge portion. It was sweeter then I am used to, but it was really quite good. My dining companion and I both had the fish and chips (pomme frites), which was a very thin, large piece of cod fillet, and very thin ribbon fries that seemed to be a hybrid between classic french fries and potato chips. The cod was absolutely delicious, definitely among the best fried fish that I've had. The frites started of being very good while they were hot, but as they cooled, they kind of lost their appeal. We ended our meal by splitting profiteroles, vanilla ice cream topped with pastry topped with chocolate, and that was very, very good. All in all, Mon Ami Gabi is a perfectly lovely restaurant where I would be comfortable taking a date, a client, my parents, etc. I wouldn't necessarily come here for a first date as the formal, fancy environment might scare someone off, but otherwise, it's pretty darn top notch.
(5)Alice C.
I rated this place 3.5 stars. Great French restaurant, probably one of the best ones I've tried (out of 3 Fr Restaurants... probably, shot my credibility). But, the baguette - butter - jelly appetizer was great... crispy and tough on the outside and nice and soft on the inside. I ordered the Sandwich du jour which was the Duck Sandwich with the frites. - Sandwich du jour - could NOT taste the duck at all b/c the baguette was so overpowering... had to eat it Open-facedly... from what I could taste of the Duck, it was nice and tender, just not very much. - Salad - too drenched in the dressing - Frites - were crispy and good... it's enough to share with someone else. It reminded me of the potato sticks I used to eat when i was in Kindergarten. I looked over at the other table and the lady had waffle-type frites, which looked cooler and more yummy. Service: Decent Interior: Nicely decorated, didn't think there was anything special, typical of a Fr restaurant.
(4)Lisa P.
Mon Ami is a staple for us. Perfect for dinner and a movie as the theaters are all close by. The Hanger steak with frites never disappoints and the mussels are served in a creamy broth that pairs well with the table bread. Yum.
(4)John B.
We came to this place looking for a good date spot after our original pick was not up to par. We found this gem and I might go so far as to say it is the best restaurant I have been to thus far! The service was great, the food was superb, and you even get a free box of truffles to take home. Can't wait to go back! Ask for Bill when you go.
(5)Juan A.
I wanted to give them a 3.5, but their french soup was so good, that it tipped the scales to the right. The atmosphere is ideal for a cozy chat, this is not the place to party. The steaks were good and reliable as was the service. A very nice place where I can go to regularly.
(4)Wood L.
Order the mussels, the sauce isn't typical French cuisine but it's delicious. The salmon salad and scallops with mashed cauliflower were perfect. Frites... signature snack food. The only downside is that the service is hit or miss.
(4)Bob M.
My wife and I have been here several times and always enjoy the food. The steak frites are particularly excellent. Our only complaint is with timing. The wait staff is always very polite, but on a busy night it seems the restaurant is trying to move us through. On several occasions our food has come out literally 5 minutes after we ordered--not acceptable for fine dining.
(4)Takaki K.
The waiter greeted us: 'Bon jour, everyone, my name is -- and I'll be your server today'. That pretty much summarizes this place. It's a wannabe French restaurant. Food is okay, nothing extraordinary. The service was super slow and our restaurant week lunch ended up taking over 2 hours.
(2)Mai C.
I came here for Bethesda restaurant week and ended up eating here twice in one week. Hands down the most delicious burger I have ever had. They offer a variety of cheeses as toppings but being that I hate cheese I asked for a plain burger. The ground beef was very moist and well seasoned even though some of my coworkers ordered it well done (i ordered it medium well). The frites are interesting. They are more like potato ribbons. Initially I was not a fan but it did grow on me the second time around.
(4)Olga Y.
Brunch here is pretty average. It looked like it would be a perfect brunch place, but appearances were deceiving. The warm bread was nice, but the jam/butter were nothing special. We ended up filling up on it, which was a good thing. The orange juice tasted fresh-squeezed and the coffee was nice and strong. That was the only thing that impressed. My belgian waffle with nutella was, again, pretty average -- I felt like I could make it out of a box at home in the waffle maker and warm up some nutella to go along. The creme fraiche was nice though. My date's eggs benedict with steak were also pretty average. The poached eggs and hollandaise were nice, but the steak was cold-ish (seemed like it sat under a warmer since early morning...) and the home fries were awful -- soggy, warm rather than not, not a crispy one to be found among them and desperately lacking flavor. Feh. I would come back here for lunch or dinner, but I would be in no rush. Brunch is probably a no-go unless all of you want *lunch* -- they don't seem to have a good handle on breakfast items at all.
(3)kimberly w.
LOVE this restaurant. Definitely my favorite in Bethesda. Beautiful decor. Always great, yummy food. Held my husband's 30th birthday here and they were very accomodating. We had a large group, but not large enough to be in the private room, which was fine. The only thing was that they couldn't put us at one table, but it worked out fine. Other than that, no complaints!
(5)Lynn C.
I think this place is just okay. I really only like the bloody mary bar during brunch otherwise I would probably never eat here. But, they have nice outdoor seating.
(2)Cindi C.
Great for a girlfriends lunch. MY BFF and I come here every 6 weeks for our day out together. Yes, stereotypical girlfreind's day, pedis, lunch at Mon Ami Gabi and shopping. We always have a good time here, enjoy the food no matter what we get. I love the quiches, salads (especially the salmon) and the salmon sandwich (I am a sucker for salmon after finding out how good it is for your skin.) Last week I had the peach lemonade, not too tart or sweet. Perfect on an afternoon lunch al fresco. I would however like to come here when it isn't a Saturday. I want to try it some other time. And the serivce has been attentive the past 4 times we have been there.
(5)Mercedes X.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Bethesda the waiters are always awesome drinks are amazing and the food is delicious. It can get quite busy at times so you may need to check on the reservation. And this is definitely a place that you can bring a date to to try to impress her
(5)Luis U.
The owner recently contacted me to address my concerns and I very much appreciate businesses who aim for better quality. I was on the fence anyway, and seeing businesses care for what their customers have to say is a big plus for me.
(4)Christine P.
Mon Ami Gabi is a perfect place for a date or with friends. Came on a Wednesday around 6 and we were seated immediately. They have a large selection of wine and food. We got the special of the day, rockfish topped with brussel sprouts and potatoes ($28), and the filet mignon au poivre ($31). I didn't think the filet mignon was that special (the large side of frites is good), but the rockfish was delicious! We came here for a birthday, and the complementary profiterole was great as well. The service was great. Our server (tall male with a french accent) was very pleasant and attentive. He explained the menu and specials well, and made sure everything was okay. Total was $97 excluding tip for a filet mignon, rockfish, salad, and 2 glasses of wine. There's valet parking out front ($7), street parking (limited), or garage parking close by.
(4)Norman G.
Chacun a son gout: This popular and well-situated bistro is not my particular cup of consommé. Despite its exalted reputation, I'm of the opinion that France has more than its fair share of mediocre restaurants and Mon Ami Gabi belongs to that unexalted company. However, carefully picking and choosing, I have no difficulty in finding a few standard dishes I'm content to eat when friends want to dine here. Except when the weather is pleasant enough to eat outside, you'd better have a reservation or be willing to wait. I'm NEVER in the willing to wait category. Quarters are close and service is not particularly efficient. Washington used to have a number of pretty good French restaurants. And, at least to my taste, Mon Ami Gabi would not have been in the same league as the best of those. However, if you're enamored of old-fashioned and not terribly imaginative French cooking, you might like this restaurant more than I do.
(3)Jiyoung R.
Nice brunch spot for the weekend. Brunch for 6 with a few mimosas about $150. Not too bad. Service was good and food great. Got the seafood crepe which wasn't too heavy but filled me up! Forgot to redeem my free dessert. boo. -.-
(4)Carley M.
I love them. Great service. Great bartenders. Great gluten free menu! Stephan and Jillian are two of the best servers you could ever get and Willie is the only manager i have ever seen anywhere to go out and drop quarters in meters for customers when it is getting close to ticket time. Its such a great behind the scenes client satisfier
(5)Judi G.
Nice French bistro with all the requirements. Champagne, steak frites, mussels and frites, French onion soup and sandwiches on baguettes. Live music some nights and outdoor dining is relaxed and similar to those in France.
(4)Ron W.
The steak frite is to die for. Perfectly cooked and the fries are not what you would expect. Having been to Paris before, steak frite with fries is a staple. The dessert menú has way too many choices. I decided upon the lemon creme brûlée and do not regret it. Reservations are recommended but we got in on a Friday evening (6:30) without one. Our waiter was top notch.
(5)Lauren S.
Went tonight for Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, dinner. We had never been before and found the special menu from a quick google search. Mon Ami Gabi went above and beyond from start to finish. We will be back for more meals! Every plate presented was finished beautifully and with care. The dishes were hot, full of flavor, and generously portioned. Another detail we loved was that when staff would refill a drink and we said thank you, they would respond with happy new year. It was clear that the entire restaurant was trained carefully about a special night for people of our faith and it showed. The food was better than my moms (sorry mom), and priced very well for so. much. food. The icing on the cake was receiving a hand written thank you and mini honey cake with a note for a sweet new year with our check!! Above and beyond!!!
(5)Michal A.
If you're not a meat lover or better yet- a vegetarian - you don't have a lot of options from their menu. They have a couple of cheese appetizers and a vegetable tagine that was just plain vegetables in water (it wasn't even a broth). So my husband is the vegetarian and I had the fish (trout I believe) and it wasn't great either.. A little dry and not too flavorful. Our friends enjoyed their steaks and their wine selection is good. The atmosphere was nice with live music, though a little loud if you're trying to have a conversation.
(3)John O.
Familiar with the menu from frequent visits in Las Vegas and periodic ones in Chicago, we choose this restaurant for meeting of 5 for dinner. Good service and wine list, reliable menu of steaks and frites I love their mussels and salads It was just right
(4)Drea G.
As much time as I do not spend in Bethesda I happened to be in the area looking for a place to eat brunch. Through the advice of Yelp we ended up here because it was one of the few places that served alcohol during the day. When we arrived around 12:30 the restaurant was fairly quiet and we were seated immediately. Our server was very nice and explained all the specials and offered recommendations and advice on all the dishes. I was immediately impressed by the very large brunch menu, it definitely took a long time for us to decide on savory or sweet. But as I mentioned before the waiter was very helpful in narrowing down our choices. I ordered the tuna melt tartine sandwich with a bellni. The bellini was nice and potent and the sandwich was flavorful. Minus one star for the cheese on top - it was a bit dry and may have been sitting out for a short while. However, I still enjoyed it and the sandwich is quite large. You also get a large helping of fries with it. One friend had the blueberry french toast and was blown away by the flavor. Another friend had the waffle banana foster and love it. I'm not a fan of bananas on waffles but decided to try it. The waffle was soft, sweet and very delicious, the banana was soft but not too sweet. The raspberry jam for the baguette was delicious, I should have requested a jar for purchase! Highly recommend and would definitely go back to Bethesda just to eat here.
(4)Tracy L.
The food, atmosphere and service are always a treat!
(5)Jittima S.
Just had the most traumatic brunch ever at your restaurant. Please keep in mind that making food jokes of any kind at your patron's expense is unprofessional, insensitive and extremely disrespectful. We live in a world where we're constantly criticized by everything we do; however, choosing what one consumes(from your menu) and how one consumes it (especially at your establishment in this case) should be judgmental free. Food was alright until the food-shaming occurred. Bottom line; food-shaming is unacceptable. Fronting it with half-ass apology is appalling & demeaning. Please be mind and keep your loathsome opinion to yourself.
(2)Hua X.
I had a fantastically large and friendly bearded lumberjack of a waiter who gave me and my friend cream puffs for free after our hefty brunch. This affirmed my view of humanity and I hope the waiter is karmically (and financially) rewarded for his uncommon kindness. I found the brunch itself to be above average and not cosmically good, but the bread and potatoes were soul-comforting. Great 20th century French pop soundtrack in the background. Would certainly come here even just to get away from the standard corporate-indie fare I've come to hear so often.
(4)Rick K.
One of my all time Favorite Restaurants. I sat at the bar today. I had the mussels and some wine. Also, had their amazing bread. I finished it off with some peach sorbet. Che took great care of me. Michelle took the time to come over and say Hi, while trying to manage many tasks as a rain storm was approaching. The general manager should be congratulated for the great staff and Outstanding Service. I will be back many times and always tell my friends an coworkers to go to Mon Ami !!
(5)Kari S.
FANTASTIC FANTASTIC FANTASTIC. My husband ordered the steak frites and I ordered the onion soup -- absolutely fabulous! Federico was our waiter and he was terrific. We will be back soon, as in next week.
(5)Peter L.
Love the nice cafe feel. Sometimes you beed a place to get away and not feel like you are in a Bethesda restaurant...Mon Ami Gabi does just that.
(4)Christina O.
Went to Mon Ami Gabi for brunch with the husband and friends one lovely Sunday morning. Service was pretty prompt and waitstaff were there when you needed them. Everyone got something different and everyone very much enjoyed their meals. The complimentary fresh-baked baguette they provide is really excellent. I'm pretty much always on the hunt for great baguettes, and it's the closest I've found to what you get in Paris itself. In sum, excellent. I'll be back.
(5)Bill S.
Mon Ami is perfect for brunch and this is what the review is based on. The decor is French bistro and creates a good atmosphere for a eating. They go out of their way to try for good service but occasionally do get orders wrong . At this writing I have about 35 check-ins so I am speaking from a long history rather than one visit. They have a number of on going promotions that also keep us coming back. Current check in gets you a free chocolate moose which is very goo. They also have a sign up text offer which has gotten us free shrimp coattails which are absolutely excellent, offering huge shrimp and a cocktail/horseradish sauce that treats the taste buds. We have also gotten onion soup as a a text-ed promotion which is also great. They have a large selection of wine by the glass an offer you a taste before committing, very nice. Now to the food for brunch. My absolute favorite is the eggs Benedict with salmon, perfect! I have had mixed experience with their mussels. sometimes you get a couple of nasty ones in the serving that should not have gotten through. Their stake sandwich is delicious with the dip sauce they provide. Their cappuccino is excellent as is their coffee. The servers are very good at keeping your cups full. We go go back two or three times a month and its a sure thing for brunch!
(5)David G.
Great brunch place if you like French cuisine. I ordered the lobster roll which, while delicious, was very skimpy on the amount of lobster meat but plenty of bread and veggies. Let's face it though, lobster rolls are already small as it is. The least you can do is not skimp out on the most important part. My girlfriend, on the other hand, ordered the escargot, which was cooked and served to perfection. Always a good sign when the snails are not overcooked. Would definitely recommend this place for the service and delectable options.
(4)Nick L.
Came here for Sunday brunch this past weekend. I must note that if a friend didn't suggest it then I would have gone elsewhere due to a previous dinner experience that was sub par. Brunch was excellent! I would return for brunch without hesitation. Prices are a bit high, but what do you expect, they have prime real estate in the heart of Reston Town Center. Also the outside patio is a lovely place to enjoy brunch. I got the eggs Maryland (Benedict with a crab cake on it) Fantastic!!!
(4)Dawnn J.
Saturday Brunch!! Delish!! Perfect weather for outside eating. Eggs Benedict with smoke salmon yummmmmy!! Fresh baguette with raspberry jam and they even had creme fraise (but u have to ask for it). Marquis Rose...bubbles...make this the perfect brunch!!!
(5)Toby R.
First of all, go for the "frites" with anything!!! They are magical and need no ketchup or other condiments. Ok, now that I've prologued with that, the service is nothing short of mesmerizing. Very attentive wait staff. Also, they have some great steak dishes, especially the one with bleu cheese on it. Also, if you are a burger aficionado, try theirs...unreal.
(4)Yesica L.
We went for dinner with some friends to mon ami gabi I'm giving it an ok because the onion soup was ok in my opinion and the cassoulet was really salty and it didn't even have any pork just pure fat I didn't like at all I'll rather go to bistro doc in DC.
(3)Nishat K.
I recently went for my birthday dinner and the service, food, and atmosphere was lovely. The steak frites live up to their hype, the steak's tender and juicy and the frites are crispy and not very salty which is a plus in my book. The béarnaise sauce left something to be desired, but the creme brûlée more than made up for that! The waitstaff is impeccable, our waiter was thorough in explaining and answered all questions with patience and during our meal there was always someone nearby to clear off our plates so we didn't have to sit around with them. The restaurant itself is charming and though it was full you don't feel jostled or anything of that kind during your meal. I adore this place!
(4)Andrew A.
I have been to this restaurant at least 4 times prior to writing this review. The service was great and the food was great, but one bad experience can make or break what you think of a place. Although we had a reservation we still had to wait 30 minutes before being seated, don't get me wrong that's not the part I will be reviewing, but just throwing it in there. Service was good for the most part, drinks and apps came in a decent amount of time considering the restaurant to be very very busy. However, my entree is what I am here to review. As all 6 members at the table were being served their entree, I find something odd on my plate. I notice it out of the corner of my eye, and yes something moved...there was a BIG STINK BUG CRAWLING ON MY PLATE on the garnish. There was a LIVE BUG on my plate!!! I didn't make a scene (which any one would have had a reason to scream and make a scene) and alerted our server about the live bug. He apologized and said he would bring me a new dish. However he joked around and tried to play it down. No manager came by to apologize and nothing was done to make me or my table feel more at ease. The new entree came out fairly fast but still, if my steak was over cooked that would be the least they would have done regardless...so we were all astounded that nothing else was done, I mean we shouldn't have to ask or demand something to be done, because in any other place, that is the norm. We will never be returning.
(1)Milli D.
I love their wine! They also have a great deal for Happy Hour. The place is a bit pricey for the quality of food so it wouldn't be my go to, but the happy hour prices make it totally worth while. Just make sure you get there early enough, the bar area is a bit small and it fills up quickly. This is a great place to grab food and drinks with friends after work.
(4)Robbin L.
I absolutely love the cauliflower puree. It's really the only reason I come to this restaurant. I also appreciate the intimacy of the bar area and live jazz music. Overall, the food is good and I would recommend making a reservation to secure a spot.
(4)Verina A.
Wait time was NONE. Went with a group of friends for lunch. I got the steak sandwich and it tasted AMAZING and the dipping sauce tasted phenomenal!
(5)Racquel C.
I went there for lunch, and it was amazing! Loved the ambience, and the service was good - not great! The food was great! Look forward to returning for happy hour! I had the rockfish special - simply delicious!
(4)Catie C.
Really. $33 for a salad, fries, and dessert. A salad which had five spinach leaves, five walnuts, and a handful of cranberries.... for $17? Seriously. Worst lunch ever. I really can't believe I spent that much money just now
(1)Dean D.
The menu items here are very hit and miss but I'm never disappointed. This is one of my favorite places in the neighborhood. I love their French onion soup sitting outside on a nice day and their desserts especially the banana foster crepe. The muscles rival that of the muscle bar next-door. Each of the times I've been here the service has been excellent. I can recommend the seafood crapes hamburgers and fries. The quiche while inexpensive was not that impressive. The French onion soup is big enough to split amongst two people and they will bring out two bowls.
(5)Tatiana H.
My husband and I took my mom to this restaurant for lunch last weekend. The service is great. The waiter was a 4 of of 5 stars. The decor is lovely. The prices are on the high side. My mom ordered the salmon salad and she loved it. I ordered the french onion soup. I did not like it. It was way to sweet. I have had french onion soup before and non have been so sweet. I could not finish it. My husband ordered the croque monsieur. The sandwich was okay. I have had much better. I could be wrong but it seems like they use processed ham in the sandwich. The béchamel sauce was good. The fries were good that came on the side. We got the free chocolate desert at the end for checking in on yelp while we were there. This was the best thing I had at lunch.
(2)Elizabeth K.
the wine was nice, and the dessert was fantastic. But unfortunately, the bread was stale, the onion soup tasted burnt, the pesto on the chicken was bitter and the chicken itself was dry, and the steak was tough. Not a repeat for me.
(1)A R.
Order the duck, it tastes fantastic. The skin is very crispy, You would almost think it was deep fried. Also substitute for the sautéed spinach. It complimented the duck very well. If you check-in you will get a free dessert. The noise level is a little high if you sit anywhere near the bar. It was particularly noisy because they had a stringed instrument band playing this evening.
(3)Cat L.
I came here with a group of friends for Restaurant Week and had a great experience. Service was by far the highlight of our meal, as our waiter was incredibly courteous and helpful. I had the onion soup as an appetizer, the steak with bordelaise sauce as an entree, and the peach sorbet for dessert. Our table also split a bottle of bordeaux, which pricey but a good pairing with our meal. I loved this onion soup because it wasn't overly salty even with all of the melted cheese on top. The steak was cooked perfectly rare, although I think I prefer a creamy sauce and will get that next time instead of the bordelaise. The peach sorbet was light and went down easy after all of the heavy foods beforehand. All of the portions were decently sized, and I was stuffed after my meal and especially after helping myself to the plentiful supply of french baguettes on our table. I would definitely come back here for Restaurant Week or if I were looking to splurge on a nice meal.
(4)Indrani D.
We had the Seafood Crepe, Onion Soup and frites. Everything is delicious. Our waist was the kindest and sweetest. Will come back for the free chocolate mousse, a gift for checking in with Yelp, next time.
(4)Emily N.
Love this place! Discovered it awhile ago while staying at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. Definitely upscale and not just for your everyday go to restaurant. Steak au poivre medium rare and extra sauce is my always go to entree! Don't forget to get their french onion soup. If you want to split one order you can! Just ask your waiter to split it and they will bake it in separate dishes too.
(4)Rich G.
Every restaurant in the DC area is trying to imitate their Steak Frites, with little success. My favorite restaurant. Ever.
(5)Ahmed R.
I came here this past Saturday for brunch. We sat outside on the front patio. I had eggs benedict with steak. Typically I eat this with salmon, but decided to try steak since it isn't common. The eggs were tasty, but the steak was cold and just didn't taste right. It wasn't cooked well. The potatoes were great though. I tried my wife's vanilla waffle, and that was delicious! But the apples on it were so-so. Our server was very nice and courteous, but he didn't fully know the menu and told us a couple incorrect things. We also had to ask twice for certain things like ice and water. Service could have been better. Overall, place was pretty good and I'd come back.
(4)Amanda K.
LOVE LOVE LOVE, coming here for weekend brunch. I've had the berry french toast, the mussels, and a delicious open face heirloom tomato sandwich; and all of them were perfection. Wait staff is always stellar. They have several people who walk around making sure your drinks are full and bread is available to the table leaving your main waiter to get your order in. I love earing out on their huge patio. It's in a great area downtown and I can't get enough of the food and atmosphere.
(5)Andrew W.
This place is located on the street so parking may be a bit difficult. We came here only for dessert. Upon entering we noticed the atmosphere of this place to be very classy, modern and intimate. Perfect for a date or a night out with your dressed up friends. We were immediately greeted and seated by a friendly waitress. The service was quick. We ordered a white chocolate banana bread and used the YELP check in to get a free chocolate mouse. The chocolate mouse was made from dark chocolate and was perfectly light and airy. The dark chocolate aspect made the dessert not overly sweet. The white chocolate banana bread came out warm. It was more custard heavy but i didnt mind. It was on the sweeter note but overall with the ice cream it was well balanced. The price was a bit more pricier than expected. Overalll this is a wodnerful place and i would come back again anytime.
(4)Eddie K.
Been going here for years. Never disappoints. Value and service is pretty good. Have been coming here for brunch and dinner. I have never been disappointed with the food or service. I think for Bethesda, the menu prices are pretty reasonable. They give you french bread- nice and crunchy. Can't beat the steak frites for $22.95. That's the entree I get when I dine here. The escargots and warm brie cheese are great appetizers. During brunch, the crepes are pretty good.
(5)Steve H.
We walked in Tuesday night with no reservation and were seated immediately. There was live music (horns, etc - basically smooth Jazz) which we appreciated and our waiter was prompt and helpful. We both ordered steak frites. However, neither steak was cooked right - a difficult task to be sure given how thin the steaks were. I mentioned this to our waiter (without expectation - just to generally let them know that their steaks were not being cooked right) and he comped our dessert. That was very nice of him. If the steaks are cooked better next time (we'll definitely be back). I will bump to 5 stars. Yes, it's that good. :)
(4)Daisy T.
I love french restaurants..... they have a very whimsical and romantic association for me.I have been to Mon Ami Gabi few times for both happy hour and dinner and have enjoyed it every single time. The service is friendly and the food is pretty good. I have had their caramelized scallops, frites and the Almond Trout (this was very delicately prepared) to name a few and have relished all of these. I have also had their salmon and tuna sandwiches for happy hour and they were all very good. I plan on coming here more esp for happy hour as they also have food specials. A solid four from my side.
(4)Corrie P.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in the area. Intimate, classy Parisian style atmosphere (we love sitting at the front) Fantastic wait staff - They have even given us a couple of complimentary items in the few times we've been there! I love the warm baguette they give you with all meals - and it goes perfect with the mussels! Steak frites are awesome and I don't even like steak. The desserts are killer and you can get a decent bottle of wine for around $30. This place is a total win for date night!
(4)Helen C.
Brunch today was fantastic! I loved my chicken and mushroom crepe. My friend's blueberry french toast was the best french toast I've had in a really long time. It was perfectly soft and drenched in syrup without being too sugary sweet. There were lots of blueberries which was great. They give real maple syrup here, rather than the fake corn syrup you get at cheap places. We finished with the chocolate mousse which was amazing. I really liked the small crunchy chocolate balls on top; it was nice to add the crunchy texture to the smooth mousse.
(5)Lisa D.
Great foot but a bit overpriced. I order the steak and it was wonderfully cooked and served with delicious fries. Starting off our meal Was a bit off as nobody every explained the carrot dish and we were given lunch me yes instead of dinner ones which was quite upsetting to learn after we had decide on our dishes. Overall lets just say he lunch Menue looks much better
(3)j g.
My daughter and I had a lovely dinner here. French onion soup was wonderful and the epitome of what it should be. Escargot was very rich and delicious. Brie and toasts was fine, but plain enough that I would not order again. For entrees we had the Steak Béarnaise prepared medium rare. It was prepared perfectly and the frites we tasty. Seared Scallops for the other entrée. Prepared nicely with great flavor. They came with pureed butternut squash and roasted brussel sprouts which were surprisingly nice together. The service was just right. I really appreciated they anticipated and offered to split the French onion soup instead of just offering to bring a second spoon. I liked that the place was large enough (different from a traditional French bistro) to be casual and have conversation in regular voice than whispers. In other words, not pretentious at all.
(4)Sherisse S.
Solid option. Not too corporate and the price point is pretty reasonable for the offer. I wish I remembered my server's name from yesterday. He made the experience even better. Perfect for a date or dinner with a friend.
(5)Angela K.
I haven't gone back yet but the manager did reach out, apologize, and give me a gift card to use for my next visit. For that, I am rating them 5 stars for them trying to correct a customer's poor experience. Thank you, Mon Ami Gabi.
(5)Elena T.
Love everything about this place! They're consistent and always warm and inviting. As usual, I got the steak classique with the cauliflower purée. Delicious. The purée was so smooth and rich just how a purée should be. Although the steak was a little over done, considering I asked for medium rare and got medium - well. But it was still mouthwatering. The chocolate mousse was smooth and light. Perfect. As for the service, A+. Our waiter was extremely friendly and attentive to our needs. Very professional. The atmosphere is great. There was a live band playing which was fun. Overall great meal, and definitely one of my favorite places to go in Bethesda. It never disappoints!
(5)Tom T.
I had a very pivotal business meeting with a president and vice president of a bank along with a colleague at Mon Ami Gabbi today in Reston Virginia. The wait staff was very considerate of our conversations and NEVER interrupted us, finding their way along our entire meeting without hesitation. Needless to say I was successful with all parties and had to thank the staff for a wonderful lunch menu of Leek Soup, French onion soup, their mustard salmon was amazing and tried the scallops that were cooked to perfection. Mon Ami is perfect for your discerning palate, well priced and very conducive for your important meetings.
(5)Mary L.
Recently I discovered that I have a gluten intolerance, so finding a decent place to eat has been pretty tough. I was tired of pizza and bun less burgers and I saw that this place has a gluten free menu. I went with my friend at around 530 on a Saturday night and it quickly filled up after we got there so I would get there early, make a reservation or be prepared to wait a little. If you tell your server that you need a gluten free menu, they bring you out two pieces of multi-grain complementary gluten free bread. It's not bad and it comes with a side of olives and honey butter. My friend and I ordered the baked feta cheese appetizer to share and I asked if they could serve it with some gluten free bread instead. Our server was very nice and the chef said it was no problem so she brought out a couple of pieces of the gluten free bread with the garlic pesto sauce on it. The baked feta was pretty tasty combined with the tomato sauce and bread. I also got the gluten free onion soup. It wasn't bad! I mostly just eat the cheese part and call it a night. For my main dish, I ordered the Chicken Paillard. The chicken was a little overcooked and they were a little chintzy on the sauce. However, the combination of the mushrooms and roasted squash were delicious. Dessert was a white chocolate/chocolate mousse which was also pretty good as far as mousses go. My friend got the Wild Boar Ragu which she said was really good. She was overstuffed on all of the bread though since I couldn't eat the whole baguette that they brought to our table! The food was pretty good and they had a decent selection for a gluten free menu as well. I loved that they had fresh gluten free bread that was not Udi's white bread either. Overall: good food + helpful, super friendly server + decent menu selection for gluten free = This is definitely a place that i can come eat at when I am tired of gluten free pasta, pizza and bun less burgers!
(4)Joseph H.
Restaurant Week Review: Stopped by here with my girlfriend when we saw the deal they were having ($35 for a 3 course meal). The atmosphere was pretty good, reminded me of being in Quebec, and eating at the french style restaurants up there. Outdoor seating seems to be the thing in downtown Bethesda. appetizers started off with a French onion soup for me and a Gazpacho for my girlfriend. French onion soup was served in a fairly large mug, and met my expectations. Nothing spectacular, but it delicious nonetheless. The Gazpacho was much better than i anticipated. Very delicate, but focused on a specific flavor that was exceptional for a cold soup. Steak Frites is their specialty, and is essentially a 10 oz. steak with fries (common fare in French Brassieres). While the sauce served with the steak (i ordered garlic/herb/butter, my girlfriend ordered a lemon butter) was pretty good, the steak was cooked a little too well for my taste, which is dissapointing, considering how easy it is to sear a thin steak. It was a good meal, filling with the fries, but the steak does leave something to be desired Dessert we both decided to get the Creme Brulee. Right amount of glazing on the surface, and a distinct liqueur taste that permeated the dish. Typical creme brulees ive ordered tend to either have too much glazing and the custard is more a pudding/soup than anything else. Not here. Props given here Service was excellent, no complaints, especially on a busy Friday night during restaurant week. Wine selection was focused very heavily on french wines. Personally, im not a huge french wine drinker, prefer spanish wines, so i cant really give an honest POV on this matter. While this was a fun restaurant to be at, outside of restaurant week specials, its hard to see myself coming here again for their prices. But if youre looking for something to try out or a new place to take someone out to, this is not a bad choice
(3)Sang K.
Subject: Mon Ami Gabi Pros: Cozy interior, Usually excellent service Cons: Slightly overpriced, At times inconsistent Experience: I've come to Mon Ami Gabi 5+ times and have enjoyed it every time. The simple carrot salad that comes with the french bread is addicting and the steak frites rarely disappoint. You have to be prepared for them to mess up the doneness on the steaks because of the thinness of the meat. The service is always on point and attentive. I've had a waiter pour me free glasses of wine that he thought would go well with my order (can't expect this but it was nice). Conclusion: Solid, steak frites dinner spot with above average service
(4)Cat K.
The setting is charming even for a corporate owned restaurant. And some of the waiters were enthusiastic, at times a little too much for me but I appreciated the effort. Steak frites is good, though the frites aren't typical shoestring or standard cut fries. I enjoyed the variation but wished the fries had more substance to them. The shrimp cocktail arrived surprisingly large. They have a solid gluten-free menu as well and the waiter was attentive to and respectful of my partner's good sensitivity. After two courses we unfortunately did not have room for dessert.
(4)Lola E.
The food is delicious, but the customer service is superb! The warm baguette and room temperature butter was a great start. I also enjoyed the pate and steak frites. The profiteroles are perfectly made.
(4)Daniel L.
First Yelp! I'm gonna break things down this way: a quick section and a more detailed section. I came here with my girlfriend, and this is what went down... Food: 5 Price/Value: 4 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Food: 5 We had onion soup, mussels marini re (half-order), bordelaise steak frites, side garlic spinach. All the ingredients are local and fresh, and then they add wine. So good. They're known for their steak, and it was amazing - thin cut, but perfect texture and great taste. The meal is kinda heavy, so the spinach was necessary. Price/Value: 4 Standard price steak ~$22. Other things are a bit pricey, but that's because they're using fresh local ingredients with herbs and wine, portions are pretty big, and you're eating French in Bethesda. We were so full. Not one of those restaurants where you have to keep on eating the free bread to get full. Total bill was ~$50 for the happiness of two people. Service: 5 Waiters were so friendly to us and knowledgeable about their menu. We shared everything, and they brought everything out on separate plates! Impressive! Atmosphere: 5 We ate outside next to a quiet street and some flowers. Everything is clean, light is ambient, and atmosphere is pretty lively. Tips You Should Know: If it's your first time, you get a free dessert! Would I recommend? Yes - take your better looking dates here!
(5)Kate A.
Three stars mostly for service, as I found the food to be just OK. Arrived for a leisurely lunch and opted to sit at the bar - it was empty, and seemed to have no dedicated server. The gentleman who took my order was great - he offered to let me try the rose before ordering and offered an honest recommendation when I couldn't settle on a main course. Opted for a frisée and kale salad with bacon and a soft poached egg - large portion for the price, tasty. My second dish was the salmon tartare - underseasoned, but a good portion. They pair the salmon with avocado which unfortunately makes the whole thing a little mushy. The waffle chips you get on the side help a little but don't really bring the crunch that was needed. All in all, great, friendly service but I'd probably try somewhere else next time I'm in the area.
(3)Kaienting T.
We had a reservation and was seated very promptly. Our server was very attentive and overall very friendly. He made small talk and revisited our table often to make sure everything was alright. I started with the escargot which was very rich and full of flavor. The steak frites "hanger skirt" I ordered was not what I expected. The steak was very tough and not much flavor to it. I recommend coming here for the amazing service and the starters but the steaks were mediocre.
(3)cheryl t.
I went here for the first time for a friends birthday dinner. I had high hopes for a first class experience. The food was fine (classic steak frites, sautéed garlic spinach) except for my husbands overly dressed and wilted Caesar salad. Best part of the evening was dining al fresco. Service was lacking and disappointing--which took away from the overall experience, greatly. Waiter kept having to be called over, he forgot things and had to be asked repeatedly for butter for bread, refilled water glasses, mistake on the bill etc. He never came to check on us. Got dessert orders messed up etc. I would not rush back here with so many other nearby options to choose from.
(3)Matt M.
Tried the steak frites and they did not disappoint. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the steaks.
(4)Arnaud C.
I have a new favorite... but I shouldn't share it with you because they run out of it every evening pretty fast: the skate wings, served with roasted cauliflower, spaetzle (german pasta) and capers: Delicious!
(5)Andrew G.
Great food, inconsistent service unfortunately from an otherwise very kind server. It was our first visit, we'll probably go back. PRO: Excellent and reasonably-priced kids menu, cool TV-dinner style tray for the kids, tasty chicken strips and fish sticks of the homemade variety (not from Costco). Great hanger steak and mussels, and decent (but not crispy) frites. Nice steak sauces (fun to try a bunch of them if you ask). Pretty basic, high quality food at a very good price, and nice portions. Server split our entrees for us at no charge, brought bonus desserts for the two of us that didn't order one. CON: Server didn't bring starters or bread until after I asked, bananas foster crepe was the absolute low note of the meal- a cold crepe with a single cold raw banana rolled up inside, with some caramel sauce on the top. Just not what we were envisioning although techincally it did have all the parts of bananas foster included in the serving... Summary: Food worth going back for, server who will get better with experience...
(3)Lauren S.
My mom and I ate here after trying to find a good dog-friendly place to eat after I picked her up from BWI. We were very hungry, so it was a relief to be seated right away and get our complimentary baguette. We were able to sit outside on the patio, which was very nice, and the waiter brought a little dish for my dog to drink from. The service was attentive, and the food was really good. I had the eggs florentine, which was great, and my mom was very happy with her quiche lorraine. Overall, this is a really nice restaurant, and it's a great dog-friendly place to go.
(5)Trish V.
Crowded, but the service is lovely and the cold seafood platter for two is terrific. The big downside is no valet.
(4)Sooyeon L.
Salmon tartare was pretty nasty. Steak was good. Service was pretty terrible. Definitely disappointed and wouldn't recommend it.
(2)Chetan A.
Great Wine List! Great cosy ambience! Even better stakes ! I love the fact that there are so many options for Meatoholics ! It's a good place for a great meal that won't burn your pocket !
(4)C W.
Came for brunch on a saturday & had great food & service! French onion soup-well seasoned, rich flavor, good portion. Blueberry french toast-soo yummy!! Didnt really need the syrup as it was moist, light, just the right amount of sweetness. Probably one of the best if not the best french toast I've tried. Lamb sammie-good balance of flavors with adequate slices of lamb. Mix of greens on the side gave some acidity. Escargot-hubby had this & loved it. Used the bread to dip all the buttery garlicky goodness in all the pods. Would like to come back to check out dinner!
(4)Anna Y.
This place was sosososo good :D I got the daily special which was bacon wrapped filet mignon...and it was amazing. Cooked perfectly and the bacon was delicious. It was a bit pricey..but I enjoyed every single bite of it. My three friends and I also got three desserts. We used the Yelp check-in to get the free chocolate mousse and also got the banana foster crepe and the profiteroles. The chocolate mousse was pretty plain..just a normal chocolate mousse. It had some yummy chocolate bits though which is good. The banana foster crepe was yummy but the best was the profiteroles. SO delicious...I would totally get it again. We were celebrating my friend's birthday and the restaurant gave her a free profiterole so that was pretty cool. Awesome service, the waiter was very personable and the dining experience was great!
(4)Miah L.
Delicious and great service. A little pricey, but it is Bethesda + a nice French restaurant so it is warranted more than others in the area. Definitely worth a try.
(5)Cat C.
Great Food, great service! The warm bread with butter is great! I usually order the steak frites the original one with the butter. The mushroom soup is delicious. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)Ali D.
This place is awesome! Always bustling, always prompt service, reasonable prices, excellent execution. I have been here 5 times in the past 2-3 years and always leave impressed. Bethesda offers a much better quality/price ratio than DC
(5)Andrea S.
Their pure here was amazing, i truly loved it...but nothing else stands out in my mind. I would go again for the pure. Their stake was very tasty but not out of this world.
(4)Drethi C.
Try their steak, ANY OF THEM! enough said
(4)Mark H.
This review is on the dessert only which was absolutely delicious. Very good ice cream and creme brûlée and I for sure took advantage of the Yelp check in deal for a free chocolate mousse which was just amazing. Overall will do again soon.
(4)Jamie S.
Amazing brunch experience! Came here on my birthday and had the most incredible, decadent seafood crepe. Lots of shrimp and scallops and great fresh veggies. The crepe itself was light and fluffy, and the cream sauce drizzled on top of it was UNREAL. For an app we had the chicken liver pate.... HUGE portion with delicious bread. I think I literally ate the last bit with a spoon. SO GOOD. My only complaint would be that coffee was a little cold and cost $3.50 for a teacup size. Extremely pricey for what we got. But, overall, a great experience with amazing food.
(4)AJ A.
The good(s).. We got seated right away on a Saturday night and somewhat baby friendly. Atmosphere was ok Escargot was great! Mussels on the appetizer was great as well! The bad(s) My steak was not cooked right.. Gave it back same result.. Steak didn't really taste that good
(3)A L.
Elegant yet low key. Love the ambiance and service.
(4)Sally Y.
Mon Ami Gabi is quite the popular restaurant in the heart of Bethesda. I went to the restaurant on a busy weekend night to celebrate a friend's birthday. The restaurant offers complementary bread and butter. Since it was my first time at the restaurant, I didn't realize that the waiters literally drop a small baguette in a paper bag. Normally, I am used to sliced bread but it was very fresh and good bread. Quite hot. My disappointment came with the limited variety on the menu. Basically it is steak frites or nothing at all. Please keep in mind that if you want their special, you should aim to arrive earlier in the evening or reserve it for your meal. The waiter had neglected to mention that they had run out of the beef Wellington until after he had mentioned it and after we had ordered it. I tasted both the onion soup and the duck confit. The onion soup was surprisingly good and I say this because oftentimes onion soup is too salty. You can't truly go wrong with duck confit but I found this dish to be a bit dry although still flavorful. I ordered the steak bearnaise. I must admit that Mon Ami Gabi does make a rather flavorful and well-cooked steak. The steak here isn't the typical thick cut American steak but rather a hanger steak so expect something flat. Good portion as a main dish. Too much for me to eat. The bearnaise sauce went really well with the fries (frites). Almost everyone at my table helped himself/herself to my sauce. We didn't order anything for dessert with the exception of the free chocolate mousse we received by checking in on Yelp. Good dessert but nothing too spectacular. The texture was somewhat off to a few of the people at my table but not awful. My somewhat average rating is partially due to the poor wait service on that night. As I said previously, Mon Ami Gabi is a popular restaurant and it gets extremely busy. That said, my waiter in particular was nowhere to be found when we needed him. We rarely caught sight of him in the actual restaurant. Most of the time we caught him chatting up neighboring patrons if he was in the dining area. The fastest service we received was getting and paying the bill. Go figure. In summary, Mon Ami Gabi is fine for a normal dinner but probably a little overrated and definitely too busy/crowded for my liking.
(3)Samantha L.
Welcome to a post about yet another restaurant that I should have visited months, probably even years ago. I decided to finally go check it out during during Bethesda Restaurant Week for lunch. 3 courses for $16... its a great deal! Another reason we picked this restaurant is that my friend is gluten free, and Mon Ami Gabi does a really great job of making sure there are items on the menu that are safe and yummy to eat! I picked the Caesar Salad for my appetizer. It was just ok. A little over-dressed and soggy... For my entree I went for something i almost NEVER pick... Steak. I picked the Steak Fritte with a classique butter. The steak itself was quite tasty. The fries were a little too crispy for my taste... Not overcooked... just very think and crispy. For dessert I actually went "off the menu" my friend had arranged for sorbet instead of the Chocolate Chip Cookie because of her gluten issue. It was a rather hot afternoon, so I politely asked the waiter if I too could have some sorbet. He agreed! The sorbet was probably my favorite part of the meal. It was definitely home made, and very fresh. Not too sweet and not too sour. Would I go back to Mon Ami Gabi.. I'm not sure.... Was it a good deal for Restaurant Week... ABSOLUTELY! Is it a good place to go if you are eating with people who have gluten allergies... YES!
(3)Parisa A.
Really loved the food here. The service was great not to mention the atmosphere. I will definitely be back! I had a steak which was perfectly cooked. With that i ordered a french onion soup which was also brilliant and not too salty (just the way i like it). Lastly for dessert I had a chocolate mouse which was mouth watering. Great place!!!
(4)Cory P.
My wife and I ventured to Mon Ami Gabi for the first time. I have heard great things and thought is would be a quality enough place to go for an anniversary dinner without having to head all the way into DC. The result: mediocre. The main plates where good quality as we ordered the filet mignon and an order of the fish of the day - a South American Cobia dish - but the serving was relatively small so we found out the Escargot was not enough of an appetizer to make sure we didn't leave hungry. The service was good, decor was fine, but nothing super-special. We probably will not be back given there are just so many more compelling options as we move into DC in the coming weeks at similarly or cheaper pricing.
(3)Mike J.
Business lunch on the side patio. Gluten free bread, white peach tea, the blueberry, walnut salad sub ahi tuna- light, classy, good European style feel and service
(5)Anna T.
Deff an old people place...ahem...fancy rich old people place. They start you off with a foot long french bread that seems to be 3 days old. Whats funny is that its rock hard so you're left sawing off what seems to be wood for the upcoming winter months. My question is, how the hell can these old folks even eat this? Answer! They slobber until its bread pudding because that's what fine dining is all about. Anyways, the food is served in pretty large portions, almost family sized! As far as flavor, I suppose you have to slobber and suck that out as well... This place gets a pretty decent rating due to the fact that their customer base has already lost their taste buds. Example: Mushroom soup? Bland! Please pass the salt! Besides all that, we had a great server. It was busy that night so our food came out a bit slow but he made that up by giving us all complimentary desserts! P.S. don't bother checking in Yelp! for a free chocolate mousse, it was not good. A table full of girls not wanting a second bite says something.
(2)Jen L.
I generally find European food bland and uncreative. However, I prefer Mediterranean food to Northern European food. The steak was moist, juicy, and very sweet. The french onion soup was sweet and overflowing with chewy thick cheese.
(3)Meana K.
The food is consistently good. The service has varied -- I've had excellent service and I've had subpar service where you could tell the server was treating my table differently than others being served. Maybe we don't look like we've got money to spend? I've been here probably a dozen times in the past several years. When I'm in the mood for a steak, the hangar steak Mon Ami Gabi satiates that craving. Their mussels and onion soup have always been good. Their crepes are delicious and filling, and they have a bloody mary bar for brunch as well. I'm always well-stuffed here thanks to the bread and butter and their hand-cut frites that I can't get enough of. I'll still keep this toward the top of my list, but hope to see better consistency with the good service I know they're capable of giving.
(4)Troy H.
Don't you hate when prior ruin your mood? I just went in here for a few glasses of wine. I asked the bartender if I could sit outside bc they have plenty of open tables. He says no, then he says ask the hostess. She was super pleasant even though I still got a no lol. The male host asked the manager... thank god and he said yes! The bartender told me I had to pay then and there... (not to sound ostentatious but I didn't want to) I told him I wanted ti order a couple of glasses before I left. He gave me my check, completely disregarding what I said. I thought the guest was always right. I usually don't leave these kindof reviews but he was not polite about it in anyway and it blew me. #justsaying. If you want ti relax alone without ordering food... go elsewhere, they make you feel awkward.
(2)Sann G.
Mon Ami Gabi in Bethesda isn't likely to offend anyone's taste buds but neither is it likely to excite other than a lover of run of the mill uninspired fare. The food served here provides a mediocre homogenized French restaurant experience. Mussels, usually a signature dish of French bistro dining, were not accorded any special treatment in the MAG kitchen- they lacked depth of flavor or any kind of surprising herb elements. The Chicken Paillard was bland, not properly flattened, and accompanied by tasteless, dessicated vegetables. The skate wing was a bit better but also far from memorable. The service was OK but not engaging. For the caliber of the food, it's overpriced. Surely there are better French restaurants to be found at comparable prices.
(2)George P.
Went here for the first time about a month ago. I made a note that it was anniversary and they threw in two nice cakes at the end of the dinner. The food was awesome, and their fries (I forgot their actual name) were well seasoned. The waiter seemed to know that we were in a rush due to parking so got us out of there promptly, which was appreciated.
(5)Penny C.
Been here several times now. Their complimentary bread (not a fan of the carrots they give you to eat with the bread) and the scallops are very good. Nothing else is really that good. Their steaks are just OK and their fries are pretty bad. They are cut very thinly and then deep fried to hard slivers. Not the kind of fries I prefer. They really are not a classic French restaurant but a lot of people come here for the ambience.
(3)J W.
I'll never eat in this place again. And it's too bad. We've been eating here for decades. The reason we ate there was that the nation of France had done something that annoyed the US, I've forgotten what it was since this was almost 25 years ago or more. People started to boycott the place because it was a French restaurant. The owner wrote a long, very passionate article in a local newspaper about how he had come America to build his dream and now he was facing ruin for something he hadn't done. I believe in anybody who follows their dreams and anybody who believes in America. So we ate there to show the guy our support. Mon Ami remains one of the best white table cloth place in Bethesda. It's affordable food, served with the aura of a five star restaurant. (They now offer a gluten free menu by the way, which is pretty damn good) Try the frites and steak. Here's the bad news. We ate there the other night ($77.55) and wanted a recipe for a mixed carrot dish, because my wife and I both enjoy cooking and although the dish was simple, it had vinegar, and too much or to little can kill a dish and on line recipes are seldom written for a two person serving. We asked the waiter, Vincent, for the recipe. Vincent was in a hurry to go someplace, we don't know where, or he was under some sort of pressure, but he place wasn't crowded....still the question seemed to tax him. He rambled off the recipe very fast. Evidently this was not his first rodeo for recipes. We thanked him and explained that we knew the ingredient's, we were asking for the recipes. The guy who made it, the chef, would have it. Vincent rambled off the ingredients again. And who says men don't listen? We let it go. Vincent was cranky and having a bad day we suspected and seemed stunned that a man would want a recipe. After the meal, we gave it one more try, and, speaking slowly and wearing a smile so as not to seem threatening, we explained that we were asking about the amounts used in the recipe. Vincent was very unhappy....very unhappy... that we were still on recipe issue and snapped "I already told you." Did you ever have one of those moments when you don't believe what your hearing? It was like that. If his rude reply had been delivered in a French accent, you know, it would have been almost acceptable. I held my hands out, palms down, is the internationally recognized signal for calm the frig down and asked "Well would you ask the chef for the name of the dish? We'll look it up ourselves." Poor Vincent's head exploded. He explained, I swear to God these were his words "There is no recipe. We make it here and nobody else makes it so there is no recipe and I already gave you the recipe" I'm gambling Vincent didn't do well on his school science projects. I also expected him to end his rant with the words "So there!" Anyway, I'm not going to lower myself by falling into an argument with a waiter over carrots.....steak maybe......but not carrots because it would reduce me to the status of an angry rabbit. With steak, if things went to far, you could also explain later "It was over steak". People get that. Still, Vincent's over the top answer was way, way, way out of line. So I came home and wrote it all down here, on Yelp and gave the place one star. But this begs the question, should a waiter act like a jerk to a customer? Well, yes and no. Being a waiter is a tough job, harder than it looks and dealing with the public on a walk in traffic basis isn't easy. Some people are difficult with wait staff just for cruel fun of it and the guy who was there before me may have been one of those people and I was paying for it. Okay, fair enough....but I gave Vincent three chances to be civilized, I'm not asking for hat in hand stuff here, just be nice that's all. Be civilized. But he was nasty and aggressive three times. A few days later one of the principles sent me a note, offered the recipe (We found on line) and asked if his general manager could contact me. I said, sure. Please have him contact me. I then explained that the overall restaurant shouldn't suffer because of the actions of a sole waiter who should probably be in another line of work and changed the stars rating because, admittedly, I was not being reasonable when I gave them out. I was steamed and I should have waited to write the review. Vincent is an unhappy human being, perhaps because of his probable failures in school science, the pain of giving up secret recipes, I don't know, but the food at Mon Ami is good and I do eat in the Reston location after I take in a film out there, since I live in Virginia now. I was also trying to be reasonable. You know what? As soon as I changed the ratings back to five, I never heard from the principle, the general manager, Vincent...nobody......I especially hurt over Vincent not contacting me but anyway..........how, how...how Parisian of you Mon Gabi.
(1)P T.
Great location, food and service. Everything was incredibly tasty. We tried a couple of appetizers, two steaks (that comes with lots of frites) and chocolate mousse. Great experience. Will return soon.
(4)Carlos R.
My personal favorite restaurant when I have the chance. If you are looking for French Bistro-type food, then this is the place you want to go. The food is magnificent, the service excellent, the atmosphere just right. Bonus points if you manage to secure a table outside on a nice day; it makes all the difference. My personal favorite dish is the Steak Béarnaise. It has never failed me
(5)Sushi C.
I go to this restaurant often after the movie theatre, which is next door. The food is pretty good comfort stuff, standard French fare with steak and fries, or roast chicken, salad, not strange dishes, the bread is fantastic though I try not to eat too much to save my appetite for the main course. The place is big with an ample room in the back, do not be fooled by the narrow entrance and bar. The wine list is as expected as expected for this kind of restaurant.
(4)Robert C.
I was really excited to try this place. There aren't that many French restaurants nearby where I live. Steak Au Poivre - Brandy Peppercorn Sauce ($22.95) - Grain-Feed Midwest Steak with Hand-Cut Frites. This was recommended by our server. The steak isn't bad & the sauce was pretty decent. It's nothing special in my book. But the frites're delicious, very thin yet crunchy. The frites're def the highlight of my dinner. Chicken Liver Mousse ($6.95) - With Burgundy Red Wine Mustard & Toasted Brioche. This appetizer isn't bad, however they need to give more brioche. It doesn't taste as good if you just eat the liver mousse by itself. Overall - The service's pretty good, but the food's just ok in my book. It doesn't really justify good authentic French food in my opinion.
(3)Andrew K.
Service has consistently been great at every Mon Ami Gabi I've been to and this was no different. I tried the duck confit special and it was delicious. For appetizers we got the soup sampler which came with 3 different samples of soup in small cups. I really liked the french onion soup while my wife loved the mushroom soup. They also give you a whole loaf of french bread with jam and butter and that was good too. I wasn't a big fan of the fries here because I prefer thicker fries. I also tried the salmon and it was good.
(4)Chanel A.
Amazing restaurant! I love that when you sit down they give you fresh, and warm baquette. And its unlimited. The ambiance is super romantic, and great decor. I had the scallop small dish and house pinot. It was delicious. I will surely return!
(4)Nicole W.
As good as it gets on two counts- cheese plate and frisee, kale, & warm bacon salad!! Whee eeee! This salad was the most amazing dish I have had it quite some time! Do not pass up on this salad- and it is a nice sized portion, so you may share between two ppl (if also ordering an entree). The cheese plate did not skimp on the raisin bread (ahem, Old Ebbitt Grill), and was served with 3 hard cheeses, jam, and hazelnuts. Very delightful! Mon Ami Gabi also offers a large wine list, and glasses of wine are offered on specific bottles. I enjoyed my glass of rosé (could have had another, but had to drive!). The entree was a little less exciting, but I probably should have chosen something with more pizzaz. The chicken paillard was a butterflied chicken breast, grilled and served with a half lemon (and frites, of course!). The chicken was a tad dry, but the lemon helped. It was tasty, but nothing at that point could compare with the frisee salad :) Service was prompt and courteous- MAKE RESERVATIONS, as this place is small and in high demand for dinner.
(5)Layne S.
I came here with a friend and had a lovely brunch. Nice atmosphere and attentive service, including a visit from the manager who came by to greet us since we had noted we were first time visitors in our reservation. Seems like it would be a nice place to bring parents or other guests.
(4)Pamela T.
I came here for my nieces 1 month old birthday. We sat in the same location my sister found out she was having a girl. As we sat down we were greeted by our server. He offered us drinks and bread. At that time we were so hungry. We looked at the menu and saw assortments of entrees and appetizers. There was a group of 7 adults and 1 baby. My sister ordered Skate, Her in laws ordered a burger, fish and salad, my mom, brother in law, my boyfriend and I ordered the rib. It comes with either mash potatoes or fries and your choice of sauce. We asked for both bernaise and this yummy red wine, onion jam. For appetizers we ordered oysters, and escargot. Oysters are yummy and not too salty, Escargot of course was just right and my mom really enjoyed it. The entrees came and let me tell you about my rib eye.. it was DELICIOUS. We all ordered it medium rare and it was so tasty. In my belief if it taste good without the sauce its really good. We added the sauce with it and it tasted even better. Our drinks were always filled, no cost on refills on soda. I really enjoyed this place and can't wait to go back.
(5)Rich K.
I have eaten here twice now and seems to me somewhat off.The restaurant is nice enough to look at, but the food? Steak frites is ok except the frites part , over cooked shards of potato soggy.Uck! Better homemade fries at 5 guys or cheeseburger cheeseburger. I had roast duck and the sauce was very bland . On another occasion rainbow trout almandine that was under seasoned , cheap with the almonds and would have been improved with the addition of some lemon juice?To me this chain french restaurant try's hard, but misses about half the time.
(2)Jon E.
Last night had a holiday dinner at Mon Ami Gabi. Not only was the food delicious, the service wonderful (thanks Jillian) and the ambiance great but to top off the dinner each of us received a small loaf of honey cake and a personal note of appreciation from the staff for dining there! I can't rave about this place enough!
(5)Sophie M.
One of my all time favorites! Everything is excellent from the food to the service. The only down side is parking is never easy and it is a little pricey but it's worth it! You cannot go wrong with anything on their menu. Their French Onion Soup is amazing, the Mussels are divine, Steak Frites are delicious, I have never had anything I didn't enjoy. The profiterols are to die for with their homemade fudge sauce......you end up wanting to lick the plate! The blue cheese martini is dangerously good! The place itself is like being in a bistro in France and there is outdoor seating which is lovely as well! I always love my trips to Mon Ami Gabi and there will be many more in the future!
(5)Carol C.
Okay, I get it, it's not the hyper authentic carved out of the streets of Paris bistro that real Francophiles (just go to France already) want to be associated with. Yes, the waiters speak perfect English and no, please don't bring your bichon frise into the restaurant with you. About half an hour into our dining experience here though, I was frankly too enraptured with the warm crusty bread, sinfully melty brie (dripping with honey and hazelnuts. TMI?), and licking the bottom of my onion soup cup to care if i was in Bethesda or on the moon. And our entrees hadn't even come out yet. Food aside, our waiter definitely gets some major props. My friend and I even jokingly complained to each other that he was in fact, a little TOO attentive. But that was all quickly forgotten and forgiven when we consulted him for our most important decision of the night: whether to get the profiteroles or the chocolate pudding cake in addition to the white chocolate bread pudding we had already committed to. His elegant solution was to just give us the profiterole while we ordered the other two. Um, is this real life? I then proceeded to drown in melted chocolate and ice cream perfection. Also, the whipped cream is salted, which means delicious. So no, it wasn't real life. It was unadulterated nirvana. If you are what you eat, then I definitely left here as a Carol Au Gratin a la Mode. And I liked it.
(4)Mars F.
Went with the in-laws when they came to visit. Just going over the highlights that I remember: - The mushroom soup was bland and luke warm. Overall just disappointing compared to the fancy way in which is was served (waiter comes by and pours it onto your bowl from a heated teapot thing). - Scallops that the in-laws got were HUGE and they said they were tasty, but it was just too much food. - Overall waitstaff was incredibly inattentive and unhelpful. Our guy only came by a few times and was always hanging out by the bar or out of sight when we needed him. He took forever to take our order, and didn't tell us that the scallops would be too much for a main if we were ordering lots of appetizers. - great gluten-free options, but they come at a price! May try again but this place is definitely not at the top of our list.
(2)G R.
Location and service excellent. Only 3 stars because the steak frites are just good, not excellent, not very good. Nice but limited wine selection. They do offer a good fish alternative that is also a solid good. Good mussels, good pate. Great bread baguette and butter!
(3)Jeffrey T.
Came here on a Saturday for Brunch. Was promptly seated with two chilled glasses of water and a nice warm french bread with butter and strawberry preserves (nice touch). Waitress was very friendly. I always love when restaurants have unique specials, that add something new to that day a level of surprise and they did indeed. Ordered a glass of chardonnay which they bring the bottle to the table, allow a generous taste with a further generous pour. Food was good. Ordered the steak with frites and I must indeed say that having eaten frites in both Paris and Belgium, they are comparable. Steak cooked well. ALso had eggs benedict (hollandaise sauce could have had more flavor). Other vary interesting items on the menu that I would be willing to return to and try. Service was fantastic.
(3)Sara B.
We had a lovely meal here, due in part to our fabulous waiter Ruben. He was just excellent! I can't say enough nice things about the service we received, the best we've experienced in a long time. The standout was the house made country pate. First of all, they gave us an enormous chunk of it, so much that 3 of us could not finish it. It was so porky and full of flavor and it had a perfect texture. It was served with whole grain mustard, crusty bread, and the cornichon, olive, cocktail onion trio. With its neighbor on our table, one Mr. Escargot, we thoroughly enjoyed the appetizers. Natch, we had steak frites - hanger steak with Bearnaise sauce. Steak was cooked a perfect medium rare and the Bearnaise was superb. I could take or leave the frites, they could have been hotter and crispier, and I think I would have preferred them to be longer for easier dipping in the Bearnaise or the sauce from the mussels we also ordered. However, this issue was of no real consequence. Dessert - also good - I happily endorse both the creme brulee and profiteroles. One thing I will mention about this place, because I was actually notably surprised, is that the portion sizes are very generous. It may not be the cheapest place on the block (figuratively b/c I am sure most everything is over priced on this block of Bethesda), but you get some grub for your dollars here. And then the ruin of this nice evening out was the $60 parking ticket I got - seriously, Montgomery County is practicing some legal thievery with their parking fines.
(4)Chase R.
I only go for Happy Hour. The bartenders are excellent. Drink wine and get steak&frites. End of story. Mac and cheese and onion soup are also superb
(5)Noelle M.
Wonderful atmosphere, reminds me of restaurants in Paris. The food is of quality and it is absolutely delicious. One of my favorite spots in this area. I should also add that everything is decently priced, which is a plus. If you haven't gone there yet, please give it a try!
(5)Travis P.
Not a typical review writer but they deserve an applause... I can't even obsess about the service enough! I incredibly enjoy the pomp and circumstance of perfect waiter etiquette but rarely ever expect it; THEY DELIVERED! There was an incredibly delicate gift-card balance misunderstanding and I've never seen such professionalism exercised by a team of wait staff. Forgetting the amazing food I had, I would go back simply to experience the service over a glass of wine!! The "manager in training," that happened to be our server clearly has what it takes to continue the amazing atmosphere I had on my first visit to the restaurant.
(5)Alexandre S.
It's a very special place, with wonderful food, good french wine, and all people there work to make you confortable and have a nice time..
(4)Ashley K.
Although Mon Ami Gabi is not an authentic French bistro, it's a mediocre place to enjoy some Parisian ambiance and food. You can't go wrong with any variations on the Steak-Frites. The steak is very tender and juicy. My favorite was the Plat du Jour, which was Beef Wellington that day. The puff pastry had a great flaky texture and the meat was perfectly medium rare. For dessert we had chocolate mousse, and it simply was not good. It tasted artificial, and not fresh. I should've ordered the creme brûlée.
(3)Anna B.
I went here for brunch today with the bf and his friend, and it was phenomenal! Service, food and atmosphere were all top notch. Not only that, but one in our party was delayed about 30 min in arrival, but they never acted annoyed or rushed us to order once she arrived. Additionally, we were catching up and sat at the table about 2 hours and were not rushed at all. We also received complementary profiteroles! It was fantastic.
(5)Joseph Y.
You're mostly paying for service. The food wasn't that good for the price that I was paying.
(3)Jamie G.
Always makes me think of my sweet home, Chicago. Lettuce Entertain You always treats you right with large portions and killer drinks. Service is top notch and many restaurants could learn from their example.
(5)Sunshine M.
Food is excellent but staff is horrible! I know it's a French restaurant but you don't all have to act like arrogant rude snobs! Good God .... Am I paying to be treated like this? UPDATE: the general manager contacted me due to my not so happy experience and spent time listening to me and making it right! These people really care about their customers....so in all fairness I had to change my rating!
(4)Susie S.
love this place. it has a great french atmosphere. the menu selection are pretty good. service is good. food is good , not that authentic but good enough. overall i would recommend this place.
(4)Allyson N.
We've only ever been for brunch, but we find the food to be consistently delicious. The waitstaff is incredibly professional. They have awesome gluten free options (including GF bread, which is a rare find). In the warmer months, I love sitting outside and enjoying downtown Bethesda. Definitely make a reservation in advance for brunch. I typically get the steak benedict on gluten free bread. Their creme brulee is hard to turn down.
(4)Babak A.
Interesting experience here, we hit this place on a Monday night that was extremely busy, the cooks and service staff were out gunned. It took an hour for our food to arrive. The food was very good, and I like to thank the restaurant manager Adam to make things right. I work in retail and he was excellent
(4)Zara K.
Happy hour is pretty decent I would recommend people ordering their salmon burger with the frites ESP for a cheap lunch alternative (happy hr starts at 3!!!)
(3)John A.
From what I am told upon entering, the establishment accurately replicates a real french bistro. It is casual and relaxing. There is a chalk board displaying the daily special. We opted to go with several versions of the steak and frites. All were authentically prepared and very good. A french pinot was suggested by the waiter which proved to pair well. Service was diligent with no rush even though we closed the place. Overall a very nice experience. Tres bien.
(4)Fuego T.
Steak Frites - peppercorn ones. Get them. You're welcome. Solid place for dinner with the family. Lunch menu had a lot of solid options. The onion gratin soup was delicious. Service was really good and our waiter was great. This place is pretty popular year round, and it's no real surprise why. Definitely recommend.
(4)Lee S.
Based upon all the good reviews I had read, I tried out this place for lunch and ordered a well-done steak and frites while my boyfriend had the scallops. The portions are a bit inconsistent to say the least; my plate was large enough to feed two people while my boyfriend had four scallops and a few vegetables scattered about. As far as the taste goes, the bread was delicious, but my heavily buttered steak was average and the frites were extremely oily and honestly a notch above McDonalds; the only difference was that we were in a classy French restaurant so I guess I was supposed to ignore the grease and the feeling of my arteries closing up? On the other hand, my boyfriend's scallops were very light, tasty, and well-cooked, and we both enjoyed them very much. For dessert, we had the warm chocolate tart with salted caramel ice cream. Now THIS was something unique and absolutely delicious! By themselves, the tart isn't sweet enough and ice cream is a bit too salty, but together, they make for an amazing combination. I carried out another steak and frites meal, a salmon salad, and hamburger for my family and none of them were extraordinarily pleased with their meals, they simply said it was "fine," which is also truly the best word I can think of to describe this restaurant. While the service was good and the atmosphere was quaint, the food was underwhelming and I know I'll be back to try something different, but probably not anytime soon.
(3)Hue K.
I felt that Mon Ami Gabi was not exactly romantic french bistro .. but more like low-key everyday french restaurant you can come with your family, friends or just neighbors. All brunch dishes looked very good but my friend and I took lunch items since it was already 2:30 pm.. - Complimentary warm baguette comes with butter and jam. This is good enough for 4 stars. - Onion soup: Gooey Gruyere cheese covered onion soup. Good portion. Very satisfying. - Frisee warm bacon salad w/ poached egg: something light yet hearty. If you don't want anything too heavy, try this with a glass of wine and baguette. - Crab meat tartin: Lump crab meat salad (1000 island dressing) on top of buttery toast. Simple yet flavorful open sandwich. Home made potato chip was excellent. Good and attentive service. I will definitely come back for brunch and HH.
(4)Chris S.
Second time we have been here. First time was date night outside during the summer and this time was inside during the winter with my two year old daughter. They were very accommodating and the food was excellent. I had a beef wellington for the first time and loved it though they said they used crepes instead of traditional pastry.
(4)Gautam M.
There are certain places that make you feel real good because of their service.. and thats the first thing you feel once you walk in! The Duck burger - their daily special -was a real treat. We enjoyed the quiche lorraine and the chocolate mouse as well. Having the option of sampling the wine you want to order is a big plus as well. Overall a very good place! - good food, good wine and great service..
(4)Melissa L.
Went here at Sunday lunch/brunch to celebrate a birthday. It was my first time there but the birthday boy had been many times before and considered it a favorite (thus, my high hopes). The restaurant was a LOT bigger than I thought it would be, to the point where us newbies almost missed it despite it taking up an entire street corner. (If you've never been, you should look for the bright red awning instead of the restaurant name, which is in small print and easily missed!) I had made a reservation for the three of us but turns out it wasn't needed. The huge restaurant was about 3/4 full at prime brunch hour (not sure if the July 4th holiday weekend had anything to do with it). Ambience was nice -- not too loud or quiet, big open space, fun French brasserie-style decor. Food was good but not great, which is why the 3-star review. I had the seafood crepe -- a bit strange, with the crepe actually being a pea and cream sauce crepe, and the seafood sitting on top. Scallops and shrimp were tasty and couldn't have been cooked better; I just wished they were actually IN the crepe. Or the menu item should be labeled PEA CREPE (not appetizing) WITH SEAFOOD. My friend got the lobster roll, which he said was also good but not great. It was fun to look at though; the lobster salad was crammed into what looked like a super thick-cut slice of crusty bread, and accompanied by house-made waffle chips. The exception was the birthday boy's Beef Wellington, a house special of the day (the sign on the wall said you had to call to place your order in advance (?!) but they didn't seem to hold to that rule). At about 2-3 times what our dishes cost, the Beef Wellington was definitely worth the cost. It was an amazing, juicy, melt-in-your-mouth cut of steak baked in a pastry and then swimming in divine brown sauce. I had just a bite and it was heaven. Service was pretty good -- we got seated right away and our waiter came around almost immediately with menus. The waiter was a bit MIA after our food came, but not a big deal. He did deliver us the free mousse you get with a Yelp check-in (although he'd never heard of the deal before). All in all, an OKAY experience but nothing to write home about. Except maybe that Beef Wellington... (To be fair, this place is known for its steak frites and the majority of the table got seafood. So I will definitely update this post if/when we go back and order like good 'n' proper red meat-eatin' 'Mericans!)
(3)Stephanie W.
This place is good. Not incredible but good. Typical French bistro menu. The frites are nicely prepared and you cannot go wrong with the muscles. I continue to go back because the food and service are reliable. Also, be aware that this restaurant has a lot of hard surfaces and therefore gets quite noisy.
(4)Kyle C.
Good food; their french onion, duck confit, steaks are amazing. I have been there many times, and I love the place!
(5)Pamm P.
Perfect steak frittes hot crispy bread with butter. A lovely sidewalk dining area to enjoy the weather and people watching. Chocolate desserts and sorbets to finish off your meal. Service with a smile enjoy
(5)Kathleen C.
This restaurant is very nice, the food and service are always very good to excellent. We have always had competent service so that has never been a problem. The mussels and steaks are very nice and the frites are delicious too. The french onion soup is probably the best I have ever had and I have had it in many french restaurants and tasted it when my kids and husband have ordered it, so there is little variance in the quality of the soup and it has never been extremely salty which is the problem with onion soups. The only thing that disappoints is how loud this restaurant can get when filled with people. The design of the interior makes the sound resonate so my favorite times to enjoy a meal are when the restaurant isn't very crowded. At any rate the food is delicious.
(4)Sandy M.
We were at Mon Ami Gabi for nearly two hours last night, due to unforeseen circumstances, none of which had to do with the restaurant. We explained our dilemma to our waiter, Che, and he treated us like royalty for the rest of the evening. The french onion soup was great, the complimentary bread (warm and crunchy/soft) was a perfect accompaniment to the wine we enjoyed while waiting for our third party, the escargot were, as always, hot and flavorful. Che checked on us frequently, commiserated with us, made us laugh, and helped turn an evening that might have ended poorly into a lovely event. Thanks, Che. We'll be back!
(4)N D.
What a great place. The whole staff was so kind and gracious. Food was awesome! Started with the amazing mushroom soup...to die for, followed by the croque-monsieur. My group also had the quiche (which was amazing) and a chicken crepe that was wonderful. We were so full, but the waiter brought us profiteroles just to be nice and didn't charge us for them. Yum! Although I don't live in D.C., I'm definitely going to visit the locations in Chicago. Thanks Mon Ami Gabi for wonderful time!
(5)Prairie S.
I enjoyed sitting at the bar with a warmed, crusty baguette and some delicious mussels. Their ratatouille side is recommended as well. The wine list was more than adequate. One huge plus? The bartenders are NOT actually authentically French, and have good ol' Maryland manners....so I was quite pleased with the service. Plus the downtown Bethesda location works nicely.
(4)Tunaidi A.
Great French bistro. Once you see the menu, your eyes will automatically gravitate towards the steak frites options, which are pretty good. However, I'm surprisingly more impressed with their soups and salads. The complimentary French bread is also pretty clutch. It comes into good use if you get the escargots (highly recommended). Dessert is another highlight. I had to try the chocolate mousse at a French restaurant, and it was a delight. Surprised myself even more with the profiteroles, which were almost like huge ice cream sandwiches. Service was prompt and helpful. Glad our server offered several specials of the day, including veal sweetbreads. Yum!
(4)Michael Y.
Mon Ami Gabi translates to "My Friend Gabi". I don't know who this Gabi person is but if they inspired this restaurant into existence, I'd like to buy them a drink. It's the Steak Frites. It's all about the Steak Frites. Fruits de Mer? I don't care! Hors D'oeuvres? The nerve! While I'm sure the other food is delicious, the Steak Frites keeps me coming back. This is a steak made from what I estimate to be the entire cow. Seriously, it is one big steak served with a pile of frites that would make an Idahoan blush. The $24.95 price tag is entirely justified. I recommend the Bordelaise, but they have 5 varieties to suit your tastebuds. The service is to be commended as well, with the servers always making great recommendations. It can get a little crowded in there, as there is not really any seating space for the masses waiting for a table, so we've gotten the occasional impatient glare. So what? Get a bottle of fine Champagne and relax a bit. And remember: if your steak and frites aren't on the same fork at the same time, you're doing something wrong.
(4)Angela W.
I came here for my birthday brunch with several friends after seeing the great reviews on Yelp. It lives up to its Yelp reputation! The service was amazing. Our waiter was extremely patient and willing to explain everything on the menu - including some off-the-menu specials. I ordered an off-the-menu special with Arctic char - it was delicious! I was able to substitute a side for mashed cauliflower that was almost like mashed potatoes but not quite. I thought it was pretty interesting. I also had their pink lemonade, which was just the right amount of tart. My friends ordered the mac and cheese and french toast - which they enjoyed as well. My friends also talked to the waiter without me knowing, and he brought out small ice cream dishes for everybody! It was such a pleasant surprise. Apparently, they make the ice cream on site! Terrific experience. Eat outside if it's a nice day - you won't regret it! Will be recommending this place to friends.
(5)Marina H.
Lobster roll had 1/3 of non-substantial lobster mean chunks, 1/3 of lettuce (why?!!) and 1/3 of celery, which completely ruined the roll... The service is average and very slow. Don't think I'll be coming back.
(2)Erika K.
I had an amazing dining experience here. Our waiter was very attentive without being overbearing. You can't go wrong with the escargots to start! We enjoyed a bottle of Chardonnay. I was a little underwhelmed by my entree, the wild boar ragu. The sauce was not thick enough and the boar was a little tough. However, I did try some of my boyfriend's steak and it was very good. For dessert we used the yelp checkin deal and got some free chocolate mousse along with espresso--all delicious. I will definitely return at some point I would just recommend avoiding the wild boar ragu and opting for steak!
(4)Hannah H.
Mon Ami Gabi is a French bistro that is part of the Lettuce Entertain You group, and I've been curious about this restaurant for some time. They offer a brunch/lunch/dinner menu, as well as HH, a wine list, GF options, and desserts. Some dear friends and I came here for a late lunch, and we were seated right away. The place itself reminded me slightly of Balthazar in NY, with its deep dark wood and the reds, but I'm thinking that all French bistros have that same look :P I started off with a raspberry soda (no refills T___T), which was a bit heavy on the ice, but quite refreshing. There was also a crusty baguette with butter to nibble on while waiting for the plates. For my main entree, I had the Roquefort Steak Frites, which was a cut of grain-fed midwest beef (mine was a little too overcooked), a side of 'melted' roquefort cheese sauce (this seemed a little off, as it wasn't a creamy cheese sauce that I expected, but it was separated and seemed like a puddle of oil with bleu cheese crumbles T___T; the dish also came with a side of their hand-cut fries that were pretty tasty. I was a little sad that they didn't have any steak sauce available, as the roquefort sauce was just not enough. One friend had the Croque Monsieur, and while she was not much of a fan of it, I loved it! I thought it was one of the best Croque Monsiers I had, being it of a generous sized-sandwiched, filled with a great amount of ham, melty gruyere cheese, and a lovely creamy mornay sauced, pan-fried perfectly - yum! Another friend had a Ham & Cheese Crepe, and this was also of a generous size, filled with an ample amount of sliced ham and cheese; the side of cornichons and dijon mustard were of a great accompaniment. For dessert, I was able to get a Chocolate Mousse for free with a Yelp check-in (yay!), which was chocolatey, creamy, fluffy and light, topped with whipped cream and little round morsels of crunchy chocolate balls - we were all surprised as it was not overly sweet, as well as a hot cup of Cappuccino (creamy and delicious) - a great way way to end our meal. Service was okay, even though our server tended to become MIA often. Bathroom was left much to be desired, as there seemed to be a leak from one of the toilets and was very unkept T___T Metered-parking is also extremely limited along Woodmont, but garages are nearby. +free dessert with a Yelp check-in (!!!) +raspberry soda (no refills) +Croque Monsieur +Chocolate Mousse +Cappuccino +MIA service T___T +unsatisfactory bathroom conditions T___T +extremely limited metered-parking along Woodmont
(4)Kera T.
As a self admitted bread connoisseur (and addict), I don't often say "I could just go for the bread and butter" lightly. But I could have sat at that table and easily devoured 5 bags of that delicious crusty French bread and salted butter. By myself. But I was with my colleagues so I made do with a measly third of the loaf. Greedy girl problems. For lunch I had a delicious croque-madame, which is the same as a croque-monsieur but with a lightly fried egg on top and a side of fries. They don't list the madame on the menu but most French restaurants will offer it if they serve a monsieur, so you just have to ask-you won't regret it. The ham was sliced perfectly thin, overall it could have been warmer but the egg really sets the whole sandwich off-yum! Service was great and I got a free mousse with my Yelp check-in, which they nicely packaged for me to take back to work because I was so stuffed!
(5)Kirk S.
While I got the feeling that this place wants to be a big chain, I can't complain about that - the food here is pretty darn good. Mon Ami Gabi is a French restaurant in the heart of Bethesda, meaning it's almost perpetually packed. The design is uber-French Bistro, in an extremely pleasant sort of manner. Service is responsive and superb, though obviously weighed down by the sheer crowds this place attracts. Prices are actually on the cheaper end of what I expected. The food here is quite nice. I had the Steak Frites Bordelaise, which was cooked exactly to my liking. The preparation was simply excellent - I've had very few steaks quite as tasty and tender as this, and I was very pleasantly surprised by the portion size. The frites themselves (i.e. the house french fries, basically) were good, but overwhelmingly portioned, and honestly a bit difficult to eat without making a gigantic mess. The accompanying bread - a baguette, no less - was pleasantly warm but, again, difficult to eat without making a gigantic mess. This place started in Las Vegas, and you can kinda tell that from its Bethesda location. There's a weird sense of American-ness to the place - huge crowds, paper covers for the tables, kids' menus, etc. - that you don't get from more "legit" French Bistros. This isn't a bad thing though - the food's all that really matters, and this place has some of the most "legit" places I've tried beat. Put another way, it may feel like the beginnings of some sort of French Olive Garden, but you can't argue with results.
(4)Jun Y.
I was invited to come to Mon Ami Gabi for a social meeting. The dinner entree and coffee/tea was paid for but the drinks were not. I started off the meal with a old-fashion made with Maker's Mark. The bartender pour with a heavy hand and was appropriately awarded with a sizable tip. There is a private area toward the back of the restaurant that seats roughly 40 people. I ended up ordering the steak frites. Asked for medium-rare but the steak came out almost raw like something from texas chainsaw massacre. The edges were cooked nice and juicy to the medium-rare level of tender, juiciness you'd expect but as you reached the center I couldn't even cut it with a steak knife. The steak was raw on the inside; cutting into it with a steak knife was like cutting a microfiber bathmat. On top of the steak was a huge slab of butter so unnecessary unless you're trying to meet your creator a few hours after eating. On the bright side the fries came out crispy and well seasoned. There was also plenty of it, since I couldn't chomp through the middle section of my steak I had to settle for the fries. The tea was a come up because it washed down the 200% of daily saturated fat that I ingested in a single meal. The waiter brought out a nice wooden box full of different flavors and a set of china for a self-pour experience. I forgot what brand of tea it was or would have bought more of it online.
(3)Brian S.
Stopped in here for lunch today and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of service and food. I ordered the chicken liver pâté to start and it was fantastic. It's served with a red wine Dijon sauce, and an accompaniment of toast points and pickled vegetables. My server, Jessica, was fantastic and she sold me on the daily special or "poisson du jour". A pan seared filet of halibut over red beet and lentils, saffron aioli and pea shoots. It was delicious. I would go back again for lunch, and definitely request Jessica as my server.
(5)Wing C.
An alumni dinner at Mon Ami Gabi was a nice consolation in making me momentarily forget and feel better about how much I owe in dental school debt. We were treated to a four course dinner where we were given a prefix menu with 3-4 selections for each course (except for salad course). My classmate and I decided to split each course to sample as many items as possible. We opted for warm Brie and scallop gratinees for appetizers, chicken pillard and mustard salmon for entrees, and profritoles and chocolate mousse for desserts. They started us off with warm, toasty house made French baguette with soften better. Carbs and I are inseparable - I especially appreciated that they spent the time and effort in heating them up! These baguettes were the perfect munch as they worked up our appetites on what were to come! Scallop gratinees - they turned out to be too good to share. I polished my plate clean before acknowledging "oh ya we were supposed to split". The cheesy, bubbly cream over the sweet, caramelized onion baked over meaty, whole scallop. Wished there were more than 3! Mustard salmon - moist, flavorful, made to perfection. Paired with citrus sauce over the buttery, creamy mashed potato - what a nice contrast! Chicken pillard - the chicken was a bit dry for my taste. However the baked kabocha squash and mushroom sides were beyond delicious! I would order this dish again just got the sides alone! Profitoles - puff pastries filled with giant scoops of vanilla ice cream and drenched in chocolate fudge sauce - what is there to not love? Pure scrumptious! Chocolate mousse - light, smooth, and airy - everything a chocolate mousse should be! Loved the extra crunch from the dark chocolate puffs and the additional creaminess from the whipped cream! Since I have a reputation of insatiable appetite, all leftovers were generously offered to me. I was able to sample the traditional steak and creme brûlée. Tbh I'm not a big red meat eater - the steak was a bit tough and I didn't think it was all that special. However, the dollop of herb butter over the steak was a nice touch!. The creme brûlée on the other hand was out of the world! Rich, decadent, so so so good. Already had eaten 6 courses worth of food, my stomach managed to expand further and finished everything. Overall, what a treat! Service was beyond attentive even in a private, large group setting. Price can be a bit steep but well worth it! Happy belly = happy alumni. Hope my school hosts all future alumni events at Mon Ami a Gabi! I will be sure to clear my schedule to attend!
(4)Sophie W.
This place was awesome! We went for my birthday. I finally got to have my very first Beef Wellington and it was delightful. Everyone in our party enjoyed their food. Not only was the food great, but the service was outstanding! Our waiter was just fantastic. I would definitely go back!
(5)Nick N.
I was here with my coworkers on a Tuesday and was early enough to get the daily special: duck. A half duck with sauce...delicious. Huge mound of scalped potatoes. The house pate was tasty and smooth. I checked in with Yelp and got a free chocolate mousse. It was tasty and smooth. Not too rich. Based on the number people coming and going, it's best to make reservations.
(4)Marissa M.
Despite being packed for brunch, service was relatively fast. Our waiter was attentive and knew the menu well, which helped since my friend had a lot of questions. I got the tomato gazpacho to start. It was wonderful! I actually think the only way it could be improved is if it had just slightly less salt- but I'm also quite salt-averse so others may disagree. For my main, I had the chicken and mushroom crepe. Again, I thought it was wonderful, probably my second favorite brunch item I've had in DC (second only to Ardeo's butternut squash soup from 2013). I have been here for dinner as well, and while it was a while ago and I can't remember for the life of me what exactly I had, my boyfriend had a steak, which I remember trying and being impressed by. I'll definitely be going back for brunch in the near future.
(4)Herman W.
We ordered steak frites and eggs benedict with salmon. Both are pretty good but not impressive. However, we cannot stop eating the free baguette haha. Waiter (his name might be Hunter) gave us free profiteroles because it was our first time to the restaurant. Profiteroles are AMAZING. I guess free food is always delicious. Recommend to sit outside and have a French brunch in a beautiful weekend :)
(4)Shameem A.
If you're looking for an authentic French experience in that everyone who works there will have serious snootiness and 'tude- this is your place. Went for Sunday brunch with reservations for 6. -when being seated outdoors we asked if they could turn the heater next to our table on ... A very grumble-grumble response and in time someone else came to do that. - yes they give you a crusty baguette - it's literally thrown into the center of the table in a paper bag like you'd get at a bakery. Crust gets everywhere. -i could go on and on but won't. The food was delicious but .. There's no shortage of good food in DC. I was pretty taken aback by the rudeness of the staff. -also- the coffee is mediocre given that this was a french establishment.
(3)Jenny D.
Classic French cuisine. I loved it. You can't get escargot just anywhere, oh the butter and herbs. The baguette on the table was perfect for sopping up the extra butter. I had the salmon that came with sweet little peas and the cutest baby sweet potatoes and a delicious green purée. Everything was cooked perfectly. My boyfriend finished his meal so quick I didn't even get to try it! He had the sea scallops, I guess it must have been good! The restaurant is simple white table cloth, dark wood. Classy but not stuffy.
(5)Michelle B.
Well well well everything was absolutely delicious. Starting with the hot fresh French baguette with whipped butter and preserves. We had to force ourselves to stop eating it and save room for our entrees. What was delicious: *French toast bananas foster w/ a complimentary side of fresh blueberries because I couldn't make up my mind when ordering. *The boys Hamburgers with gruyere and cheddar cheese. Their choice along with fresh crispy French fries *My husbands steak with blue cheese butter Service *outstanding our waiter was friendly, knowledgeable, and personable Atmosphere *very calming with just the right amount of energy to not seem stuffy. There was a private party in a room near by and it was not an issue All in all we had a great time and the food was delicious. We shall return.
(5)Priscilla Y.
My friends wanted meat so I recommended here since we were nearby and my experience the first time was pretty good. This time around, it was just alright. Their steak frites were kind of disappointing. Because they're thin, no matter how you request it cooked, it will come out medium. Their frites/fries are not good either. They cut it so thin that its too fried and oily. One friend got the Bordelaise sauce, which had caramelized onion with red wine. It tasted a little sweet. I had the Skate Wing Provencal with a side of veggies (potatoes, peppers, artichoke, and olives). The fish was on the salty side, but was fresh, flaky, and tender. It came with some type of sauce that I could not put my finger on. There was a hint of lemon flavor and there looked like chopped garnish in the bottom of the sauce dish, but that was about it. The veggies were alright. The smell of olives was overpowering everything else. Check in on Yelp and get a free mousse dessert. They also gave us two additional mousse desserts in shot glasses. The mousse was not bad, but their other desserts are way better.
(3)Hannah Z.
We dined here for my 30th birthday on 8/1/15. I don't know our server's name because he failed to introduce himself to us; he spoke with quite an arrogant, condescending tone and made us feel like he was rushing through our evening from the moment he opened his mouth. As a former server at the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island, my husband felt that our waiter last night was trying too hard. The food: My husband started with the escargot and he thoroughly enjoyed it. I had the triple cream starter which was a bed of mushrooms with a small piece of melted brie atop it; it was served with three pieces of toasty, crunchy bread. It was very tasty, but not $13 tasty. My husband ordered the bison special and he absolutely loved it while I had one of the filet options and it was delicious, as well. I didn't care for the frites- I found them to be a combination of shoestring and traditional fries, but much too crunchy. We shared the profiteroles for dessert and they were incredible- definitely large enough to share. We shared a bottle of Secret de Famille wine and it was wonderful and moderately priced in comparison to the other red wine options available. Overall, it was a very nice dining experience with the only reason for 3/5 stars being that we felt that we were inconveniencing our server and that he wanted nothing to do with us. We most likely won't return because of this, and so many other places in the Bethesda Row area looked (and smelled!) much more interesting without the stuffy atmosphere.
(3)Sonj H.
Great little spot. I had the trout which was cooked perfectly, very delicate and buttery as good French food should be. I would have liked a few more capers. I also had the frisee salad with a poached egg, hold the bacon. Very nice salad. He had salmon which was farmed tasting and pureed potatoes which were yummy (technical term). I had a sancerre wine which was good, not my favorite, not my least, it meshed nicely. Ambiance is adorable but the acoustics were a little rough. Service was fine, not great, not bad. Very nice little spot. Great for a catch up, nice vibe, a little indulgent, a little formal and somewhat romantic. I would not want a proposal here but it's a great place for a nice date or meeting. I look forward to coming back for the moules and frites
(4)Laura F.
Mon Ami Gabi consistently has great food and service. Be sure to sign up for the rewards program, as you are frequently given free appetizers, desserts, and gift cards. Brunch is great, as is lunch and dinner. One of my favorite spots in Bethesda.
(5)Linda O.
I'm pretty crazy about this spot. Perhaps it is staged to look like something Americans conceive to be a Paris bistro. Who cares? Aren't most restaurants trying to promote some theme or other? I come here because I get treated like a princess and the food is usually decent. The barkeeps are fabulous. The guys are observant and charming. They get me more bread; they bring me both browned butter and blue cheese to go with my steak-frites; they flatter me. They treat other folks around me in the same superb manner. This makes for a terrific atmosphere. That's called "Service" (with a capital S). Other food businesses would do well to follow suit. The Happy Hour food and drinks are a bargain. It gets crowded at that time but should not be a surprise to anyone nor avoided, either. Come on in and partake. The interior is fun and has a flourish. I prefer to eat in the bar, but the main dining room is fine as well. The wait staff is solid; adore their traditional black and white attire. I choose to frequent Mon Ami Gabi not so much for the cuisine but rather for the "joie de vivre" which I experience there. Bien fait, messieurs.
(5)Greg O.
An old classic for me. I've been to this location for years, back when I used to work in Bethesda. The formula is simple- good service, good food, good atmosphere. Reservations are definitely recommended, it gets very busy. The bread is delicious and addictive, and very easy to fill up on. I usually go with one of the steaks. My favorite is the Bearnaise, and I've had the hanger steak a few times as well. And of course the fries are a necessity- thin, crispy and delicious. Mon Ami Gabi is always a solid choice in the area.
(4)Ian Maren C.
Great amazing French restaurant. Wine selection was great but then again I'm no wine snob. Escargot was amazing along with everything else we had. Service was great, kid friendly. I recommend a reservation
(5)Annabelle L.
I returned to Mon Ami Gabi last week for their escargots, but they had a prix fixe special for their 13 year anniversary that I had to take advantage of: 3 courses for only $22!! I got the escargots, their steak frites with bordelaise sauce, and chocolate mousse. The escargots was just as delicious as last time. I loved the steak frites! The steak is thinner than I was expecting, but cooked perfectly. The bordelaise sauce was so flavorful--loved the sweetness of the carmelized onions with hints of red wine throughout. Went perfectly with the steak. Didn't eat too much of the fries (to save room for dessert), but the fries I did have were crispy. I am a huge fan of chocolate mousse and this one was pretty delicious. Light, fluffy, creamy, with these little chocolate balls that added a nice crunch. Service was wonderful as well--I told my server I was in a time crunch and he put my order in immediately with everything coming promptly! What a wonderful meal!
(5)Kat A.
I have been coming here for ages...for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Though I highly recommend the brunch if I had to pick one over the other. Even if it's not brunch, the food is tasty and the best French food I've had in the area. While they cater to those who are accustomed to traditional French food (like myself) they also impress people like my dad who grew up on a farm in the midwest and is perplexed when I speak French. While he can't pronounce half of the menu, he has loved their food for many years. The servers are literally some of the best we have ever encountered. They know every ingredient in every dish which says a lot. At the end of the day it doesn't matter what meal you have here nor the hour. You can count on the food, the ambiance, and the servers that honestly care about your dining experience. A go to in my book!
(4)Laurie K.
Culinary delight #2...loved this restaurant!! The waiter was fantastic and had my meal specially prepared due to my onion allergy... Most of us had the steak and eggs with delicious baby potatoes. I don't know what they did to the scrambled eggs but they tasted better than any eggs I have ever had anywhere!!! I splurged and had a bellini which was light and refreshing! All of us shared the 2 desserts...profiteroles and crème brulee that had our mouths watering!!!! Topped it off with a cappuchino... Wowza!!!! This place is elegant yet casual dress was abundant... Priced fair for what you get...and based on the way people were flocking here I'd say it's a hit!!! Merci Mon Ami Gabi!!!
(4)Loring P.
WONDERFUL. Cozy little French bistro where the truly eclectic Bethesda in-crowd get to mingle with the political honchos from DC!!!!! If you enjoy PERFECT French cuisine.....meaning escargot, steaks, seafood, a vast wine selection, and divine desserts....then this place is definitely for you. Come check out the sartorial elegance of the clientele, and the truly fabulous cuisine!!
(5)Irene A.
SUNDAY BRUNCH REVIEW Went here for sunday brunch. It was a beautiful summer day in bethesda. We got seating outside. The hosts at the front were friendly and pleasant..automatically creating a good dining experience. Our waiter was friendly, pleasant and funny as well and informative about the menu! Very relax atmosphere and environment. the food: SEAFOOD CREPE I got the seafood crepe and it was DELICIOUS. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. I had read some reviews on here about the crepe and at the end was deciding between that and the french toast blueberry, but went with the crepe. It was absolutely delicious and i HIGHLY recommend it. Some shrimp and scallops on top of a nicely folded crepe with a smooth cream that was not too rich or heavy, but just perfect on top of it all. So happy with my choice. My friends had got the nutella waffle which they said was too rich and sweet for them. Because i checked in on yelp i also got a free chocolate mousse dessert. Im not usually a chocolate mousse kinda gal, but this was not too heavy or rich and just nice and smooth. Overall, pleasant brunch experience with friendly staff and amazing seafood crepe which made the morning perfect.
(4)Tsuru J.
I met up with a friend here after a jerky metro ride so my stomach was a bit queasy. The waiter was a bit aloof (maybe the same one Hannah Z. got?) and not the most attentive. I got the steak frites roquefort and my companion got the skate wing. Both were nice but overly salty. The frites were more like those fried onion bits that people put on green bean casserole.
(3)Richard J.
Had there French Onion Soup and listened to the 3 piece band, the music was enjoyable and the soup was delicious. The bartenders/ severs make this experience truly enjoyable.
(5)A M.
Try the steak and frites! It is delicious, but also fairly expensive.
(4)Emily H.
Went here at 7 pm on a Saturday night, yet didn't have trouble getting a table for 2 without a reservation... guess that's the suburbs for you. The place was bigger than I anticipated, but decorated nicely for the holidays in a way that made it seem classy. While I waited for my dining partner to arrive, I had two Leffes at the bar. The bartenders were great - nice, joking with customers, and I even overheard that one of them recalled a "regulars" order for four ppl - pretty impressive! We were seated quickly - but they didn't rush us as we still had to close out our bar tab. The hostess and our waiter were both friendly. They brought us a warm, freshly baked baguette to start with including plenty of butter and some sort of sliced carrot spread. Honestly, I vaguely recall the spread being a French thing, but it was pretty flavorless and I only tried a bite. I ordered the classic steak frites. The steak was done perfectly, although a bit thinner than I expected. The two huge pads of butter on it were a bit much, so I scraped most of that off. The fries were particularly awesome - thin cut and just the right amount of crispy, plus you got a BUNCH of them. That was probably the highlight of the meal. The bill came out to over $75, not including my two beers which I paid for at the bar. Kind pricey in my opinion. Despite the decent food and the on point service, I probably won't be back because it is so far in the burbs.
(3)Sweta G.
Although they had only one vegetarian entrée but I loved everything they served. Chocolate mousse was really good. Butternut squash purée was amazing too. Server was very nice . The restaurant was bit crowded .
(4)Carolyn C.
This place is astounding! The food is first-rate, tasteful, delicious, delectable, lip-smacking, and scrumptious. I have been here multiple times during Bethesda's Restaurant Week and would absolutely go back. Each time I ordered their steak frites and it was mouthwatering! My Agency took me here for my birthday last year and it was one of the greatest experiences ever. Mon Ami Gabi is definitely one of the best restaurants in the Bethesda area.
(5)Jerry E.
Nothing spectacular about this place, although interior design was kind of unique. I had Filet Mignon Au Poivre cooked in medium rare. It was tender and cooked correctly; however, somehow, the steak was not juicy, so I was a little disappointed... Perhaps, this is expected since it is not a steak specialty restaurant. Water served in the bottle was very good. Same for the coffee, too, very flavorful. The best part was it comes with unlimited refills. Overall, it was a good experience for me.
(3)Loretta H.
Good food, good service, good atmosphere, and the best french fries, ever!
(4)Ronald L.
Came for the brunch, left with a smile. French cuisine has a lot of history and may seem intimidating to some when they see items like, Wild Escargots de Bourgogne or Salmon Tartare. However, with this French quarter, that feeling doesn't quite stand up. Maybe it's because of its incredibly friendly, attentive, and professional staff. Maybe it's because it's casual attire with a warm and class atmosphere. The ambiance simply welcomes you. During my stay, I ordered the Wild Escargots to start and Waffle Bananas Foster as main. Wild Escargots - Delectable tender snails, deliciously oven-roasted with garlic-herb butter. Big and juicy with a good snap on bite. The garlic-herb butter made the snails pop since the snail itself has a very delicate flavor profile - slightly sweet and muddled earthiness. The garlic was very forward, followed by the freshness of the parsley, and nicely rounded at the finish with the taste of butter. I order escargot every chance I get and this is by far the best I've experienced. Extremely well balanced. Waffle Bananas Foster - Perfectly pressed waffle with a crispy exterior with a light and fluffy interior. Enter the bananas foster sauce served on the side. This sauce is so extremely balanced between the flavors of banana, dark rum, sugar, butter, and cinnamon. Perfectly harmonized with each ingredient next to the other, not above or below. Sweet, bitter, creamy, and spicy -from the cinnamon. This is a must get. These two items spoke the world to me, but not without regret. Regret? I wish I had ordered more. Will definitely be back and highly recommend the brunch.
(4)Jessica L.
Profiteroles are delicious and I got them free by telling the waiter called Hunter that it's my first time dining there! The free baguette with jam and butter is fresh and crunchy. They give you a whole baguette so you will be really full if you try to finish it. I went during brunch time. I got egg Benedict with smoked salmon, it was as expected and good. My friend got steak and fries. We thought the steak was huge according to the yelp pictures, but the steak was actually thin and can be easily finished by a person. There are outdoor seating so this could be an awesome place to have brunch with a few friends in summer when the weather is beautiful. I would come again only if I am nearby but I wouldn't drive all the way to this restaurant just for their food.
(4)Robert M.
Seafood and chicken crepes were good and so was the coffee. Friendly attentive service.
(4)Alex P.
Great place friendly staff good food I had the ny steak and my wife the fillet mignon both our sauces were good but her had a little more flavor (the merlot sauce) mine was the bordelaise sauce
(5)Jonathan K.
This is our favorite restaurant in the area! The food is consistently amazing, the service is prompt, courteous and fast. Their wine list is pretty amazing as well. The only issue is that everyone seems to agree--the wait is always so long!
(5)Irinka L.
Good. Consistent food and now they have gluten free bread !! The salads and appetizers are the best ! Yey!!
(5)Alida R.
My family's visit to Mon Ami Gabi was a disappointment. We visited Mon Ami Gabi in Vegas, and had an amazing dinner -- polished and professional service, the best French onion soup I've ever tasted, fantastic fish, and a phenomenal baked goat cheese appetizer. My dinner at the Bethesda location was like a shabby imitation of this meal. Here are the negatives: The food: the French onion soup was the most disappointing part of the evening. The broth tasted sweet, watery, and bland, and not beefy at all. Salt helped a bit, but not too much. The cheese was decent, but not great. The soup wasn't actually bad -- but it wasn't very GOOD, either. And each portion of soup cost $9 -- at those prices, I expect a darn good cup of soup! Chicken liver mousse appetizer (with gluten free bread): this tasted good, but was quite mild, and less of a mousse and more of a pate. Baked goat cheese appetizer: good, but not great. The cheese was tasty, but goat cheese always is. The tomato sauce it was served in was palatable but nothing special. Scallops gratinees: This is what I ordered, and it tasted delicious, and had a lovely presentation, served in metal scallop shaped dishes on top of a bed of rock salt. There was very little scallop in the dish -- three dishes with one or two tiny slices of scallop in each, topped with mounds of cheese, cream sauce, and onions. Very rich and good, though light on the seafood. The problem with this dish was that the rock salt had all shifted during transit, and a piece was on top of my scallops. I bit into a big, rock hard explosion of saltiness that almost wrecked my pallet for the rest of the meal. Side of brussels sprouts: $5, and a very small dish. The crispy fried leaves that had come off of the main sprouts were amazing. But the center of the sprouts was chewy and tasted undercooked. Service: the waiter was friendly, but it felt like amateur night. Our waiter took our soup orders, and said he would take our entree orders later. He didn't return to take the entree orders until we were finished with our soups -- at which point we ordered appetizers instead of the big entrees we were planning to order, because we had filled up on soup. Our waters were not kept consistently refilled, and I had to keep flagging the waiter for more water. After we finished, the waiter brought us our check without asking if we wanted any coffee or dessert (which we did want!) It almost seemed like the waiter didn't want to bother with us. What, we don't order wine or cocktails and we're not worth paying attention to? Valet parking: costs $7, and the valet literally left our car parked on the street where we had pulled it up. Seriously? Cost: Dinner for three -- a soup and appetizer each -- was $67 before tip; it would have been quite a bit more had we ordered any drinks or gotten entrees. Some positives: Mon Ami Gabi is great with gluten free dietary needs, and they serve complimentary, very good gluten free bread. Wait staff is careful about cross contamination. They have a designated gluten free menu. Also, right now they're offering free chocolate mousse with check in. The mousse (which I had to flag the waiter down for after he brought us the check) was dark, super chocolatey, rich, and fantastic. Go for the check in mousse and gluten free bread, and not much else.
(1)Bob Y.
I had not been to Mon Ami Gabi in quite some time, in fact I had planned to park in the large surface public parking lot caddy corner to the building,but upon arrival I see there is a huge building there now with many retail stores! Anyway, being it was Sunday at 6pm. I pulled around the corner and parked for free at a metered space. I thought to myself while walking to the door that the last time I was here I ordered a burger and frites.....and it drummed up a pleasant memory of a perfectly constructed burger,with above average beefy flavor and a cone of crispy thin "fries". Alas,I could not order this tonight as it was dinner time and the menu does not offer a burger........in fact,upon perusal of it the menu is rather limited..... but kick in the daily specials and I was sure I could find something I would like. Our table of 6 had a good sampling of what they offer.....two orders of scallops were chosen,one caramalized and one gratine and I would have to say,the sauteed ones were far superior.......huge and was told delish. A salmon filet and three steaks rounded out our meal selection. My hangar steak,ordered rare,was in fact cooked to perfection........not common when you order "rare" beef.......it was about 1 1/4" thick and tasty! My wife ordered the steak with blue cheese sauce and it was really too thin a cut of steak........she ordered it medium rare...and,though cooked correctly,it really suffered from being so dang thin! The wonderful blue cheese sauce flavor made up for it though,at least in our minds......the food in summary was quite good for the cost. Now the service we experienced was,as mentioned in many reviews, the standout here......they treat you well without being overbearing or bothering you too often.....you never feel neglected,and you do not have to hunt someone down when you need something,water is topped up without asking,bread crumbs are swept away,and plates are cleared without being obtrusive........ Finally,please check-in with the Yelp app to get a free Chocolate Mousse (one per table) and also tell them one in your party is a first time guest to receive a free profiterole,which is puffy pastry with vanilla ice cream as a sandwich with chocolate sauce drizzled over it!!!!!! I will not let so much time lapse before I come back to visit you Mon Ami Gabi!
(4)A W.
IDK if it was the drugs talking, but I had the best cream puff of my life here. The rest of my brunch was delicious as well, and the portion sizes were very generous. Service was stellar. 5 stars!
(5)X M.
A solid choice. Great ambience- we ate inside. Nice and quiet compared to the super busy and noisy options in Bethesda. Our waiter was attentive and anticipated our needs without me having to ask (we were dining with children)-he was also kind to our children--a big plus- it put him over the edge from a good to great tip. Lots of waiters just ignore kids, so this was really a nice surprise. Everyone I was with enjoyed their food. They serve the most delicious hot fresh baked french baguette with creamy butter on the side while you wait. I took away a star because we took some food in a doggy bag and they just dumped it all together when it should have been separated even if meant using separate containers. I'll be packing my own doggy bag next time I go. And yes, over it was a really nice dining experience so we will be back!
(3)Maria L.
What a great place to dine for a special occasion! This place was very busy on a Saturday night. Even though I made reservations for 7 on 8:30pm, we still had to wait. The staff was very apologetic and the manager even came to us and informed us of the situation. The waiter was very nice, as well as the complimentary baguette with the carrot salad. Escargot was so hot, buttery, and full of garlic! I ordered the Classique Steak Frites. I was very pleased with my plate of food. They also gave me a profiterole for my birthday. I had a great birthday dinner. Merci mon ami gabi, tu es très délicieus!
(5)Lisa S.
I've been here a few times since moving to Bethesda- for brunch, dinner, and dessert. French food is one of my favorite cuisines, and I haven't been disappointed yet! The decor is nice, and the restaurant is set up to resemble a traditional French bistro. The bar area is separate from the restaurant, and also holds a few tables. The dining room has two rooms, and is surprisingly big. The first time I came was for dessert. We sat in the bar (they wouldn't let us sit in the main dining room unless we were having a fine meal, which was fine). We ordered the creme brulee ($6.95) and the white chocolate bread pudding ($7.95). The friendly waiter found out that it was my friend's birthday, so he also brought out an order of chocolate mousse for us, for free! (Normally $5.95). We also ordered some drinks, and the waiter helped my friend choose a wine that she would like that would go well with the desserts. The bread pudding was a little egg-y, but overall the desserts were tasty. We left feeling full of sugar and happy. The second time, I came for dinner. My sister sent me a gift card for here, and I decided to blow it in one go on a nice meal! We shared the warm brie cheese ($10.95). All tables also get a loaf of bread- amazing. For meals, my friend got a steak special- I don't remember exactly what it was, but I remember it was the best thing we ordered all night. I ordered the caramel sea scallops ($21.95), which came with butternut squash puree. The scallops were well-cooked, but for me, the dish lacked a little bit of flavor/texture diversity and pizzazz. We also ordered a bottle of wine- they have solid, diverse, and affordable choices on their list. The third time, I came for brunch. Their brunch menu is probably my favorite, and I plan to be back many times. The loaf of bread they brought us was still warm, and they served it with butter and raspberry jam. I ordered the croque monsieur ($10.95), one of my favorite foods. It was also served with a side of fries. We saw numerous egg dishes pass us while we waited, and they all looked like perfection. The croque monsieur was not the best I've had, but pretty freaking good. Their french fries are thin and crispy, which I like. The waiter was incredibly friendly and awesome- he refilled our waiter and Diet Coke seemingly every two minutes. We also lingered a bit at the table, talking, and nobody rushed us or seemed to mind. Overall, a great place for a meal or a drink. Very friendly waiters, moderately priced (especially for Bethesda), and a great location. Two thumbs up!
(4)Mel A.
Mon Ami Gabi is a French bistro nestled in Bethesda offering flavorful meals accompanied by respectable French wine varietals. We were lucky to get a table out front - the weather was humid but cooled off as there was a gentle summer breeze. A fresh baguette is brought to your table accompanied with butter and a julienned carrot-champagne vinaigrette spread. I enjoyed their special - sautéed halibut topped with brioche croutons on a bed of heirloom tomatoes a roasted garlic vinaigrette. My friend had the crab cake with whipped cauliflower. Our meal paired well with Entre-Deux-Mers, a citrusy-Sauv Blanc, light and crisp from the Bordeaux region. There's a good selection of desserts - I finished my meal with the Peach Melba - bits of summer peaches with raspberry sorbet, vanilla ice cream, and candied almonds. I love peaches and this hit the spot. Looking forward to coming back.
(4)Elizabeth Y.
Love this place and environment. The waiter was a little pushy on their specials for the day, which were mostly all fish-based, and my cousin and I (as carnivores) were looking for something more meaty. We decided to share the steak frites as 8oz is quite large. You can replace the fries with mashed potatoes if you're searching for a more healthier option. However, if you check in on Yelp, you get a free chocolate mousse. You get a very generous serving with these chocolate covered choco puff-like balls and whipped cream that is heavenly. This restaurant is a chain, and have many locations, including Las Vegas .
(4)Sherry H.
We have been here 3 times. First and third time service was good. Second time horrible. I would not have gone back but hubby wanted Eggs Benedict for brunch. Unfortunately, we didn't discover until we were seated that it's not on the menu. My warm Frise salad was not warm. His frites (house made fries) seemed like they were from the night before, not warm at all and stale tasting. We like the Chicken Mousse Pate better than the Housemade Country Pate. I had the scallops which had texture and taste of a skate more than scallop. Our food always seems to take far too long to arrived. Onion soup wasn't hot and was just okay. The sandwiches he has had were just okay. He did enjoy his steak.
(3)Abdulrahman A.
i like this restaurant. if you go there ask about " Edward " he chooses nice dishes for us.
(5)Trish J.
We like Mon Ami Gabi. Went their for restaurant week and it was tasty. At this location, there is a small room upstairs that is really nice. Obviously for couples or someone looking to have a romantic evening. Very good steak and frites as well.
(3)Karina S.
It was a good dinner all in all! I like the way they serve food and wine. Baguette was very yummy! Caesar salad was different from what I used to eat everywhere else! It was spicy, which I didn't expect, and the croutons were not crunchy. This is their way to do it, it's just not for me! I can't say it was not tasty, just very specific i would say! As for the main dish the chicken was a little dry and not very flavored( It could be better! The duck with pork in a gravy was just perfection!!! And this dish is worth to try!!! And the dessert was great too! I actually used a coupon from yelp and get that chocolate mousse for free)
(4)Nat F.
One of my favorite restaurants! Mon Ami Gabi introduced me to the peppercorn steak! So delicious! Love this place and the waiters.
(5)Sharon O.
My favorite place to go after a movie at the BethesdaRow Cinema is Mon Ami Gabi next door. For starters, I love sitting at the bar and prefer it to a table. The service is always 5 stars. The bartenders there are considerate in everything they do- from the smallest observation (making sure a wobbly bar stool was even) to the big things (asking the kitchen to get our steak frites split when he overheard we were sharing). Even if there is a rude-snobby MoCo couple there giving them hell, and they will still be class act. Someone said that they like sitting at the bar because it makes them feel like a princess, which I agree. I always get the french onion soup which is delicious. The scallops gratinees is amazing. The steak frites are good, but I think I enjoy the frites more than the steak. Especially with bearnaise.
(4)Mike B.
Not many French restaurants in the area. Italian restaurants... we're drowning in the marinara. But not many French restaurants. Known for their steak and frites, Mon Ami Gabi has stood planted like the statue of liberty on Bethesda row for some time. So, it's about time I tried them out. We sat in the bar where the one bar tender magically waited on close to 20 different people. *Great Thing 1: A fresh hot baguette is served to you upon sitting down with butter and jam. I decided to order the steak sandwich with frites. I thought... might as well get the steak and frites in some respect. The cheaper option tempted me a little more not only because it was lunch, but had a dipping sauce "described" as au jus by the bar tender. The steak sandwich was mediocre. Although I was not a fan of the bun which was dry ( and seemed to have been made in house), the au jus was actually french onion soup- which was not served to me hot enough. That itself did not make for fantastic dipping. My friend ordered the seafood crepe. Fantastic! Albeit heavy- but alot of perfectly cooked seafood topped the crepe. The frites were absolutely delicious crispy potato fries. I'm not sure what machine they use to get them that size... but I want one. I would like to go back and try many more menu items. Steak in sandwich was good- but crepe was much better.
(4)Dan G.
Went here for employee's annual review. Got escargot app and the Frisee salad. Both were very good. My coworker go the goat cheese app & salmon salad. I tried the goat cheese app & it was delicious as well. Got go back to this place another time as was very impressed at least for lunch. Service was superb as well.
(5)Colette P.
Last Saturday night I had another delicious meal at Mon Ami Gabi. It was actually restaurant week which I hadn't realized when we made the reservation. I had a salad to start, the steak classique with herb butter and the profiteroles. This was all for about $30.00. The vinaigrette and lettuce were not my favorite. However, the steak was excellent and tasty and done just right. I prefer my steak medium rare. The pommes frites were delicious, crispy, thin, and salty. The profiteroles with chocolate drizzled on top were sublime.
(5)Casey K.
Came here for a Saturday brunch and the whole experience from the service to food was just really ok, with nothing noteworthy or stand out. The warm baguette with butter and jam they bring you to nosh on until your items come out was probably my favorite part. They bread is warm and the butter and jam go with it perfectly, I loved this start to our brunch! We order the baked goat cheese starter which was a generous amount that I was very impressed with. It was a baguette cut in half (lengthwise) with a garlic pesto baked into it. This baguette is set atop a round dish with the baked tomato and goat cheese. I thought this dish was pretty unmemorable. The tomato sauce tasted like Chef Boyardee to be quite honest. the goat cheese was lovely, light, and creamy. I would not recommend this starter, as it was just not what I was expecting due to it's lackluster taste. We both ordered quiche for our entree. My dining companion ordered the Quiche Lorraine and I ordered the Butternut Squash and Brie Quiche. I tried both, and in a battle of two very lackluster competitors, the Quiche Lorraine prevailed. I thought the Quiche Lorraine was a nice mix of savory bacon and creamy Jarlsburg cheese, but still would have liked a bit more caramelized onions. The butternut squash and brie quiche was just a total letdown, there were big bits of congealed brie and not very much butternut squash for my liking. The crust was something I ended up eating around, it was neither buttery nor soft and crumbly so much as it was dry brittle and a bit too overcooked in some spots. The service was just ok, no one really had any personality. It was just very robot like, when they brought the tea box up for us to make our selections, they just kind of walked up opened the box and didn't say anything. They all just seemed a bit pissed off quite frankly. Not sure I will be back. There was nothing really standing out to me to make me think this restaurant had any redeeming qualities that would make me want to come back and give this another try.
(2)Linda G.
It's a chain, yes, but I had the absolutely best mussels I've ever had here this week. YUM!!! Plus the service is always impeccable. Not bad for the price point.
(4)Vandad C.
I ordered a steak frites au poivre medium rare. It wasn't good even by the lowest bistrot standard. Cold, no taste, and the fries weren't particularly good either. The only redeeming factor here was the giant profiteroles I ordered for dessert. The place itself has a nice look to it but it's nothing extraordinary. Overall it was a fairly mediocre dining experience. Food was meh, waiter was either new or didn't care about he was doing, and price is fairly high for what it is. There's valet parking for $7 and a variety of pay to park garages around this location.
(2)Esther G.
Wonderful restaurant in the heart of Bethesda Row. Delicious chocolate mousse. If you can, sit at the bar with bartenders Matt & Josh. Always a good time!
(5)Robert D.
I love this place! I've been countless times and tried just about everything on the menu. No matter what it's always tasty, and the service is great too. One of my favorite restaurants in the area for the great food, attentive, knowledgeable staff, and relaxed atmosphere.
(5)Cheryl E.
Mon Ami Gabi is a nice French bistro located in Bethesda, MD. The decor is warm and welcoming as is the staff. Through out the whole meal, the staff worked hard to provide an excellent dining experience. I was part of a large group. This typically presents impacts timing and quality. I ordered the scallops and was presented with 4 fairly small scallops on a tomato puree that was running/separating on the plate by the time it arrived. Another diner, ordered and ate only the steamed mussels. They arrived absolutely cold. They were very quickly remade and nicely presented. Unfortunately, the mussels went on to cause a fairly significant stomach upset. The strawberry cake was dry and not at all well presented. I have to believe this is an anomalous experience given all the positive reviews and when back in DC, I will certainly give Moni Ami Gabi another try.
(2)