Peripheral Chew

Tucked away in the woods near the Potomac River in Great Falls, Va., L’Auberge Chez Francois is a high-end, “special occasion” French restaurant, so you won’t be surprised to hear that I ate there for my birthday lunch a few weeks ago.

The whole menu is prix-fixe, so you pick an appetizer, salad, and entree, and dessert. Add those selections to the pre-meal French garlic bread and palette cleanser courses in between, and your stomach is stuffed by the end of the meal.

Actually, full disclosure, I had to get up and walk around after my meal because I honestly thought I was going to be sick from eating so much. This reflects not at all on the food, though; the food was clearly so delicious that I couldn’t stop shoving it into my own face.

I guess that’s not really delicate of me to say, especially when talking about food that’s so refined. But, really, the food is excellent here. I started with the lobster bisque, which tasted incredibly buttery and rich and then moved onto my salad, and then this.

Not much to say other than the lamb was true to its flavor and very, very tender. The sauce was some sort of pan sauce reduction, I believe. That’s what it tasted like. Love that they included some beans with the meal, as well.

If you’ve got something to celebrate, and you’re in the area, Chez is for you.