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Hi,
Last Sunday, my family convened to celebrate my step-mother's 80th  birthday. 
We went to L'Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls, VA. 
 
First, let me comment that this is a very fine, very upscale, very  expensive 
restaurant. You definitely want to save this for special occasions.  
Including drinks for a few of us but not the tip, it came to just over $100 per  
person. They price their "entrees" between $60-$75, but the entree  selection 
includes your choice of most of their appetizers, several salads,  and most of 
their desserts (some other items are priced separately). The  selections are 
varied, mostly French, and include exceptional seafood, beef,  veal, etc. The food 
and the service were both beyond exceptional. (Dining there  is considered an 
art and is never rushed; we were there for more than 4 hours.) 
 
I chatted briefly with our waiter, James, who knew exactly what I was  
talking about when I said that my daughter, Alix (age 15 but with extremely  
sophisticated tastes for her age) needed to order gluten-free. James knew the  
ingredients of almost every item on the extensive menu and was thoughtful  without 
having to be told. One example was the "amuse bouche" (French for  entertaining 
the mouth!), a tiny, 2-bite course that isn't on the menu but is  brought 
before the appetizer. Most of us got a tiny taste of a very  interesting quiche; 
James delivered to Alix a large mushroom cap  stuffed with tomato and crab. 
Alix selected an appetizer of ham and quail  egg over fresh asparagus, which was 
fabulous, and a mixed grill of bison, red  deer (venison), wild boar, and 
partridge, with an assortment of very interesting  vegetables and a pureed 
broccoli and potato side. There were about 25 entree  selections, not all as exotic 
as her choices. Everything tasted amazing. Her  choices for dessert were 
limited to ice cream and creme caramel. With dessert  comes a small dish of thin 
cookie wafers and exceptional chocolate truffles. He  brought a separate dish of 
truffles just for Alix without being asked. There  were 15 in our party, and 
nobody had any complaints.
 
Despite the price, this was a wonderful experience for Alix. She's been to  
some fine restaurants all over the U.S., but L'Auberge is in a class of its 
own.  She ordered and ate with confidence, was treated like royalty, and enjoyed 
every  minute of it. I was delighted that she had this experience and am 
thinking that  it might be nice for her graduation or sweet 16. 
 
I have no financial interest in the establishment.
Marcy in MD



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