One can never tire of pretending they are in Paris in downtown Bethesda's Bethesda Row area. A breakfast at Paul Bakery or Le Pain Quotidien, enjoyed on Bethesda Lane with the morning news from
Le Parisien, Le Monde or
Le Figaro. Dining Parisian café-style on the sidewalk with Steak Frites at Mon Ami Gabi. Catching the latest French import at Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema.
But sometimes you have to escape to the French countryside, and in Bethesda you can do that, too. A French farmhouse awaits minutes away at 7101 Brookeville Road in Chevy Chase, where La Ferme has been in operation since 1985.
Thirty-one years later, La Ferme is updating its popular Sunday brunch with new options geared to 2016 diners. You can still get the three-course, $31 menu. But now you can order any two menu items, and add a beverage, Mimosa, Bloody Mary or a glass of house Champagne for $31, as well. Choose two appetizers and a drink. Two desserts and a drink. Two entrees and a drink, etc.
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| Mimosa |
I tested out the brunch menu for you yesterday, with the dashboard thermometer reading over 90°F and the air thick with humidity. That made a perfect and refreshing Mimosa an easy choice to start off with, in the air-conditioned dining room of this rural retreat surrounded by tall trees. 5 stars (out of 5).
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| French Onion Soup |
Another no-brainer - order the French Onion Soup, one of the restaurant's signature items. Under a thick topper of rich Gruyère cheese is a highly-flavorful broth filled with lots of tender onions and chunks of bread. The soup easily earns a 5-star rating, putting more pedestrian, watery "French Onion" soups to shame.
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| Look at that cheese! |
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| House-made croissant |
A starter basket of house-made croissants are just-right in terms of texture, but could use just a bit more buttery flavor, earning a solid 4-stars.
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Linguine with fresh vegetables,
olive oil, garlic and arugula |
On to the main course, where I chose one not typical of France: linguine with fresh vegetables, olive oil, garlic and arugula. The vegetables yesterday included sun-dried tomatoes and mushrooms, which gave the entree an earthy, rustic flavor. Black olives are the secret weapon in this dish, giving a pickled zing. I would definitely get this again. 5 stars.
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Chocolate and Grand Marnier
Cake |
For the big finish, I ordered the Chocolate and Grand Marnier Cake, which joins their warm crepes filled with milk chocolate and hazelnut ganache as the best choices from the dessert menu. A yellow orange Grand Marnier cake sandwiched between a chocolate mousse filling and a layer of creme, topped with chocolate icing and shaved chocolate, gets an extra boost from the raspberry coulis that garnishes the plate. This is the best slice of cake I've had in a restaurant this year. It melts in your mouth, and disappears from the plate before you know it. A solid 5 stars.
So, whether you are a Francophile or just seeking a good Sunday brunch deal, stop by La Ferme on a future Sunday this summer between 11:30 AM and 2:00 PM. They have a porch for dining al fresco, and are in the process of adding a new bar that will feature a special selection of Cognac and small plates.
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Renderings of the future
bar addition |
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The airy side porch
capitalizes on the
tree-lined setting |
Check out the Sunday brunch menu
online, and call 301-986-5255, as reservations are recommended.
