It would be a fairly late dinner after the game, so I made a reservation at the French bistro/brasserie/cafe, Le Diplomate, another one of many Starr Restaurants.
Dinner at Le Diplomate
I gave my name to the hostess and was seated right away. It was a small table right next to the window and there was a terrible draft. I asked for a a couple napkins to cover it up and the waitress happily helped out. No more draft.
Sauvignon Blanc
I started with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc.
The menu had a nice selection of raw seafood and appetizers. A basket of sliced baguette and softened butter came out.
Bread Basket
I love French Onion Soup and I haven’t had it in a long time. The Onion Soup Gratinée came out hot with the that melted Gruyère cheese mix covering the bowl.
Onion Soup Gratinée
The broth was rich and flavorful with onions and bread pieces. The cheese pretty much clumped up into one ball once I broke into it. It was somewhat of a hassle to break it up with the spoon every time, but it happens.
For my entree, I ordered the Skate Grenobloise. A skate is a cross between a sting ray and a fish, and tends to be pretty mild in flavor. The grenobloise is a sauce of browned butter, lemon, capers, and parsley.
Skate Grenobloise
As much as I was looking forward to this dish, it was pretty disappointing. It was not as tender as the skate I’ve had in the past. It was actually somewhat chewy. The grenobloise sauce was a bit too salty. I only finished a quarter of it before deciding I had enough. The desserts sounded good, but I passed.
Although my main entree was unsatisfying, I enjoyed the soup and the other dishes being consumed around me looked good. The service was fine too. Maybe I was expecting much more from a Starr restaurant…or my skate was just not that good. I may still come back and give Le Diplomate another try.
Le Diplomate
1601 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 332-3333
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