Nestled within the heart of Wisconsin Avenue and surrounded by Georgetown’s trendy boutiques lies Cafe Bonaparte, an inconspicuous D.C. French cafe that makes a heartwarming lunch on a frosty winter day.
Though the outside is “nondescript,” according to Ms. Fontanone, our trusted Upper School English teacher and foodie, the unassuming Cafe Bonaparte can be discerned from afar by an often visible line of people extending from the entrance to the sidewalk. Prospective customers are willing to wait outside and in line for Cafe Bonaparte’s crepes, despite the frigid winter air.
Once inside, maneuvering around the cafe proves difficult in such a compact and cramped place. Ms. Fontanone doesn’t believe its tight quarters feel elitist at all, though. Instead, she’s observed that “it’s cozy and quaint.” Cafe Bonaparte has limited space, but a seemingly limitless flow of customers.
Cafe Bonaparte’s appearance is reminiscent of Ernest Hemingway’s favorite Cafe Les Deux Magots in Paris. The cafe walls are lined with vintage black and white photos of Paris. The cozy window seats allow customers both to study the photos on the walls, depicting places in Paris such as the Moulin Rouge, and to see passersby through tall windows.
Even Yelpers agree with the Parisian atmosphere. According to one Yelper, “Due to the Parisian ambience and aesthetic, the creperie cafe has a bit of classy to its vibe.”
The menu, however, does not mirror that of a Parisian cafe. According to Ms. Fontanone, many Parisian cafes are in fact “tourist traps” with fixed price menus year-round. Cafe Bonaparte’s menu “feels less Parisian and more Aix-en-Provence, because it’s seasonal and limited. When they run out, they run out.”
Cafe Bonaparte’s take on the French staple, French Onion Soup ($7), is near perfection. Caramelized onions and soaked croutons are covered in bronzed melted gruyère to form the timeless French classic.
If a customer is in the mood for a more hearty French meal, Cafe Bonaparte’s Petit Steak Frites ($12) is a good choice: it is a smaller sandwich portion. Slices of herbed steak line freshly baked French baguette, alongside thick-cut homemade fries and béarnaise sauce.
Another favorite sandwich at Cafe Bonaparte is the Normandy ($11). With thinly sliced chicken breast, onion confit, caramelized mushrooms, and a light layer of gruyère lining pesto aioli-painted, soft baguette, the Normandy is a crowd favorite.
Although during this visit the sparkling drinks were flat, when weighed next to what Ms. Fontanone describes as “impeccably prepared” food and prompt service, the flat drinks were insignificant.
Cafe Bonaparte’s sweet crepes are simply scrumptious. For chocoholics who love Nutella, the Josephine crepe is a classic choice. Two golden, delicate crepes envelope warm nutella and chunks of banana and are topped with powdered sugar. You also cannot go wrong with the Juliette, which consists of two crepes classicly smothered in butter, sugar, and lemon.
Parisian in appearance, but rural in its seasonal, limited menu, Cafe Bonaparte contrasts elements of French city cuisine and French country cuisine. Decorated as an archetypical bistro in Saint-Germain, Cafe Bonaparte truly appears to be a small slice of Paris within Washington, D.C.’s vogue Georgetown neighborhood, and it has a menu emulating one in Aix-en-Provence. Make sure to get a window seat, in order to simultaneously examine Parisian photography and people-watch, as in a true French cafe!
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