La Bise Opens Friday!

800 Connecticut Avenue, NW photo by Greg Powers

La Bise menu (PDF)

Photo by Greg Powers

From a fact sheet about Ashok Bajaj’s La Bise (former home to the Oval Room):

“Opened: June 18, 2021

Hours of Operation:

Lunch: Monday through Friday, from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM
***Beginning in September

Midday Menu: Monday through Friday, from 2:30 PM to 5 PM
***Beginning in September

Dinner: Tuesday through Thursday, from 5 PM to 9:30 PM;
Friday and Saturday, from 5 PM to 10 PM

Sunday the restaurant is open for private functions only

Photo by Greg Powers

Executive Chef: Tyler Stout

General Manager: Dina Martire

Sommelier: Hilaire Creamer

Photo by Greg Powers

Menu Description: A modern, bright, and colorful 21st century French restaurant, La Bise showcases modern, seasonal interpretations of classic French fare. Standout dishes from the opening menu include Kampachi Crudo with green strawberries, lime and rhubarb consommé; Poached Asparagus Salad with brown butter blue crab, mustard greens, young radish and tarragon emulsion; Grilled Main Lobster with English peas, Chantenay carrot, hoe cake and ginger-carrot emulsions; Spanish Octopus with heirloom bean cassoulet, Calabrian chili, garlic scape and ramp aioli; Barberry Duck Breast with sour cherry, confit leg pressé cannelloni, hakurei turnip and foie gras jus; Steak Frites with house-made French fries, Bibb salad, roasted garlic butter and sauce béarnaise as well as Wild Mushroom Val-au-Vent with wild mushroom bechamel, Spring fricassee and mushroom reduction.

Wine List: La Bise offers a contemporary wine list of French, American and Spanish varietals featuring both Old and New World styles. 110 wines are available by the bottle and 14 wines are available by the glass. Prices range from $60 to $400 by the bottle (with the majority priced from $80 and $150). Wines by the glass are priced from $12 to $20. A selection of eight classic cocktails, each incorporating French spirits, is also available for guests and priced from $12 to $15 each.

Menu Prices: Appetizers: $10 to $19
Entrées: $25 to $39
Dessert: $9 to $12

Photo by Greg Powers

Capacity: La Bise features three private dining rooms, which combined can host 150 guests for a standing celebration, or 98 guests for a seated reception. For smaller functions, La Bise can seat 48 people in the main dining room or accommodate 80 people for a standing reception. The totally private Blue Room can accommodate 38 people seated, or 50 for a standing reception, and the semi-private Curtain Room can accommodate up to 15 guests seated for a more intimate gathering. A 12-seat bar overlooking the open kitchen is also available for guests.

An outdoor patio is available in the spring and summer months (weather permitting) and can accommodate 40 guests seated.

Photo by Greg Powers

Design: James Beard Foundation’s award-nominated restaurant designer Martin Vahtra of Projects Design Associates of New York designed the space. The décor is meant to mirror the memorable French cuisine of La Bise, as it is plated and served from the dynamic open kitchen.

The restaurant features two dining rooms each showcasing their own distinctive style. One dining room has a new light-grabbing reflective mirrored wall. The banquettes in this dining room feature a bold striped fabric design, complementing the salmon-colored wallpaper, which accents the entire room. The second dining room features deep tufted banquettes and custom murals of Paris which evoke memories of this romantic city. Both rooms have deep moldings, new sconces, and vibrant color palettes. Clusters of framed art bedeck La Bise’s walls. The carpet is plush under foot, echoing the octagons above the bar. The colors and patterns on patterns enhance the lively atmosphere.