A busy and esteemed DMV hospitality veteran is cooking up his next project and bringing even more European cuisine to the region. After launching beloved restaurants including Alara, Il Piatto, and-most recently-Le Midi, Hakan Ilhan is returning to the well of French dining with his relaunch of Bistro Francais, a DC dining institution, reports popular Twitter feed @eat_dc.
DC foodies won’t need to renew their passports to enjoy the flavors of France-they’ll be able to simply stop in at 1200 18th Street, N.W. The restaurant is taking over the space previously occupied by Daily Grill. A liquor license application filed with the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration offers some insight into Bistro Francais’s particulars; the 7,500 square foot restaurant will have an occupancy load of 335 and a seating capacity of 225.
Diners hoping to enjoy their meals al fresco needn’t worry, Bistro Francais has them covered as well. The eatery will have a sidewalk cafe able to accommodate up to 60 visitors.
While Bistro Francais may be new to some, the restaurant opening actually marks a return. The original iteration of the restaurant opened in 1975; a press release provided to What Now DC pays homage to the beloved institution, saying: “Bistro Français, the Georgetown landmark that served the city for 41 years, will reopen…as a warm and respectful homage to the original restaurant that shaped
generations of Washingtonians’ dining memories.”
Ilhan is the perfect restauranter to spearhead the revival, being both an experienced hospitality vet himself and a fan of the original Bistro Francais. He explains: “I wasn’t part of the original team — I was simply a loyal customer who loved what Bistro Français represented. Reopening it is my way of honoring a place that meant so much to me and to this community. I want people to feel the same warmth and welcome that defined the original.”
Bistro Francais’s menu will be built around comforting favorites inspired by the original’s menu.
Daytime diners and night owls alike will be able to enjoy the restaurant’s cuisine and atmosphere; “The revived Bistro Français will offer lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, and a late-night menu— continuing the tradition of being a welcoming refuge at any hour.”
DC foodies still have a bit of a wait between them and Bistro Francais; the restaurant is projecting a summer of 2027 opening.
