Romantic Date Destination: Bistro Cacao
Image courtesy of Google Images
By Bella Ramon
It is not difficult to find a good restaurant in the District, but the difficulty comes when trying to find the right spot with the right ambience and mood. Bistro Cacao is a luxurious restaurant that people can visit to celebrate an event or simply enjoy a night out. After ten years of loyal customer support and accolades from the community, the restaurant relocated to just one building over at 316 Massachusetts Ave NE. Conveniently, it is only a short walk from the Union Station Metro stop.
Located in a small townhome within the Capitol Hill neighborhood, the intimacy of this restaurant is established before the doors are even opened. Once inside, antique decor, dim lights, velvet armchairs, red curtains, and exposed brick create a rustic and chic look. Containing mainly smaller, two-person tables, Bistro Cacao proves to be a popular destination for romantic dates.
Serving lunch, brunch, dinner, and dessert, there are a variety of dishes to please. The French bistro has classic entrees such as foie gras, ratatouille, and escargot, but spices things up with a modern twist. Serving everything from meat, fish, and vegetable entrees, there is a platter for everyone who visits. For those customers who are unsure of what they want, there is a tasting menu that is $80 a person with an optional $50 wine pairing.
On special occasions, such as Valentine’s Day, Bistro Cacao has a special menu for guests to choose from. On these occasions, there is very limited space and there are established time constraints for how long guests can stay at a table, due to the restaurant’s high demand on such holidays. While these limitations may not be ideal, the restaurants $100 a person extensive four course meal menu is sure to please and add a special touch to the special occasion. Even though Valentine’s Day has come and gone this year, it is not too early to start thinking about plans for the next year.
The establishment’s hours vary from 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. day to day, so checking the website is the best way to ensure that it is open for brunch, lunch, or happy hour.
“Although it is more on the expensive side,” said sophomore media & communication studies major, Ali-Jae Nicolai, “it is the perfect place to spoil yourself and eat out on a special occasion.”
Nicolai also stated that aside from the delicious authentic food, the decor was one of her favorite parts: “The inside of Bistro Cacao is absolutely stunning and one of the most aesthetically pleasing restaurants I have been to in D.C. ”
She had recently gone for the first time and said that it will definitely not be her last time visiting.
Bistro Cacao has been a crowd-pleaser since its opening in 2009 on Capitol Hill. Voted one of the most romantic restaurants in D.C., the excellent ambience and mood have pleased the customers that have stepped through its doors. This beautiful and aesthetic restaurant is the epitome of fine dining and is guaranteed to please.
