Lapis (Formerly Napoleon), Modern Afghan on Columbia Road and Mintwood Place in Adams Morgan by the Owners of Cafe Bonaparte and Malmaison

[Jasmine]

Hello everyone,
New to the board here, and first time posting. Nothing better than eating and reading food messageboard during workday!

So I hear old Mantis space will transform into "Napoleon" soon, an offshoot of Cafe Bonaparte Deux in G-town. The downstairs bar will be called "Metropolitain". They'll be serving crepes and other French fares. Not too excited about another crepe place in Adams Morgan, but may be a good place for drinks. I've not passed by the location recently, anyone know when it will be opening?

[rdg]

it's open now..

[mdt]

it's open now..

Welcome. Do you happen to be related to this place or a recent diner? Either way can you give us any more info?

[Roger Troutman]

We were there last night, which was apparently opening night. The place was slammed, and for being so new, the food and service were both very good. Everyone at our table was pleased. The menu is typical French bistro fare, and goes beyond crepes. I'll need to have another go of it to be sure, but I believe I've found a nice alternative to Bistrot du F**k You.

[Barbara]

We were there last night, which was apparently opening night. The place was slammed, and for being so new, the food and service were both very good. Everyone at our table was pleased. The menu is typical French bistro fare, and goes beyond crepes. I'll need to have another go of it to be sure, but I believe I've found a nice alternative to Bistrot du F**k You.

They have MUSSELS???? I am so there.

[The Hersch]

I'm having trouble visualizing where this place is. I don't remember Mantis. What's it next to? Any idea of hours of operation?

[demandalicious]

It's on the corner next to that little park on Columbia rd - in the same strip as Bedrock, etc...across the skreet from Grill From Ipanema and that crazy expensive furniture store, Design Within Reach (Only If You're Riche).

So is the basement at Napoleon still dance-party-ready. Mantis used to serve 40oz of Colt 45 and play house music until the wee hours. I'm going to miss it!

[Roger Troutman]

They have MUSSELS???? I am so there.

I'm not 100% sure, but sadly, I don't recall mussels on the menu I could be wrong, though.

[Roger Troutman]

It's on the corner next to that little park on Columbia rd - in the same strip as Bedrock, etc...across the skreet from Grill From Ipanema and that crazy expensive furniture store, Design Within Reach (Only If You're Riche).

So is the basement at Napoleon still dance-party-ready. Mantis used to serve 40oz of Colt 45 and play house music until the wee hours. I'm going to miss it!

Yes, the downstairs lounge is still there. They've also done something unusual with the restrooms. There is now a row of 4-5 doors against the back wall, with just a toilet behind each. The sinks are now out in the hallway.

[The Hersch]

Oh, I get it now. For some reason I was trying to visualize it on the other side of the street. I live about a five minute walk from there, so this could be an excellent addition to my little world.

[Barbara]

Oh, I get it now. For some reason I was trying to visualize it on the other side of the street. I live about a five minute walk from there, so this could be an excellent addition to my little world.

It's where Mantis used to be (and Pasta In, and India 2000, and Miss Saigon, and La Plaza ) Doesn't bode well, does it?

[The Hersch]

It's where Mantis used to be (and Pasta In, and India 2000, and Miss Saigon, and La Plaza ) Doesn't bode well, does it?

Gee, Pasta In isn't there any more? Even though I live nearby, I don't walk along that stretch of Columbia Road very often. Also, on the bright side, both La Plaza and Miss Saigon were there for quite a while.

[jm chen]

We'll have to see if they successfully meld the bare-concrete-n-walls-of-window aesthetic left over from Mantis with the new tufted-couches-n-bordello-chandeliers look that they were rocking last week before they papered the windows over and I couldn't see in anymore.

[turbogrrl]

It's where Mantis used to be (and Pasta In, and India 2000, and Miss Saigon, and La Plaza ) Doesn't bode well, does it?

Hrmm. Personally, I always thought the buddha at the bar looked rather pissed off to be in such a raucous environment, and thus the closing was inevitable... although clearly the location is somewhat suboptimal, as most foot traffic is on 18th or calvert.

[The Hersch]

clearly the location is somewhat suboptimal, as most foot traffic is on 18th or calvert.

But a number of restaurants on the south side of the same block have done quite well. El Caribe thrived there for a long time, the Grill from Ipanema has been going for what, 15 years? Omega, as I recall, only folded because of a fire (although I suppose the fire could have been...er...a result of impending failure, but it was certainly popular). The spot where, last I looked, Granja de Oro is now located has had a string of miserable failures, but the thoroughly horrible Rincon Espanol (is it still there?) lasted several decades. The space at the corner of Mintwood and Columbia Rd. is the closest restaurant for most of the Kalorama Triangle; you'd think it would be a pretty good spot. And I do believe La Plaza did pretty well there, and only closed because of the success of Lauriol Plaza (I'm guessing about this).

[porcupine]

Hrmm. Personally, I always thought the buddha at the bar looked rather pissed off to be in such a raucous environment, and thus the closing was inevitable... although clearly the location is somewhat suboptimal, as most foot traffic is on 18th or calvert.

Welcome to dr.com, turbogrrl. Namaste.

[Barbara]

I'm not convinced that the current atmosphere gives us much insight into what the future holds. There are too many variables and this neighborhood has a real schizophrenic profile. You can promote good food (very few do this and they are the most expensive in the Hood) or sell lots of alcohol (apparently very lucrative). Something similar to BduC within a five minute walk from home will be given every opportunity to become what La Plaza once was: a place you will be happy to eat in and have no qualms about taking anybody you care about.

ETA: Another welcome to Turbogrrl. Hope you will join the LAME DUCKS at something soon.

[Barbara]

Oh, Boy! I was trapsing back from the Safeway this afternoon, crossed the street at the usual place, and promptly did a U-turn. The menu is up and several OTHER people (Excuse Me!) were jockeying for position to look at it.

YES!!!!!! MUSSELS!!!!!Three different ways!!!! At two price points. Steak frites WITH Bernaise sauce for $21.95. Please, please, please be worthy of my patronage.

[The Hersch]

Any word on their days and hours of operation? I'm thinking of scheduling a dinner there for two weeks hence, but if they're closed on Mondays that wouldn't be such a good idea.

[jpschust]

Any word on their days and hours of operation? I'm thinking of scheduling a dinner there for two weeks hence, but if they're closed on Mondays that wouldn't be such a good idea.

When I go to the bank tonight I'll take a glance in to see if they are open.

[Barbara]

Any word on their days and hours of operation? I'm thinking of scheduling a dinner there for two weeks hence, but if they're closed on Mondays that wouldn't be such a good idea.

I went out in the cold just to get you an answer. Not that I didn't want to know, too. They are open EVERY DAY (!), lunch from 11-3, dinner from 5-11. Brunch on Saturday and Sunday. They may not stay open for lunch during the week if business doesn't pick up. They had NO customers today. They take reservations for dinner only. I was given a menu and it seems to be a classic Bistro. The entrees run from $14.95 (for the large portion of mussels) to $23.95 for the rack of lamb. Many salads in $7-8 range, French Onion soup, and both sweet and savory crepes. Interesting desserts.

We really need to organize on outing and see if the cooking can measure up to expectations. The Manager is Dmitri and (Hey, Nadya!) I believe he is Russian. Not that it matters.

ETA: Yes, the same people who own Cafe Bonaparte in Georgetown also own this place. They don't yet have websites up for either place.

[The Hersch]

I went out in the cold just to get you an answer.

Hurrah! And aren't you sweet Now if you could just scan the menu and upload it to menupages, your work will be done

It's hard to see how they could do much lunch business during the week, although I think La Fourchette is open for lunch every day.

[Buckinghamilton]

Mr. Buckinghamilton popped in for a quick caesar salad and french onion soup at the bar yesterday and seemd impressed- said the soup was delicious and had a nice brief chat with the bartender. He brought me home a copy of the menu which, if I remember to bring to work tomorrow, I can try to scan. Menu looks good; a few things struck me as a bit pricy, though, for what they are- such as the crepes with lemon and powdered sugar ($8.95, I think), but maybe I've just become out of touch with the dining world after hibernating most of the winter. I'll check it out very soon, as we live right across the street. Thrilled it's finally opened.

[Barbara]

Mr. Buckinghamilton popped in for a quick caesar salad and french onion soup at the bar yesterday and seemd impressed- said the soup was delicious and had a nice brief chat with the bartender. He brought me home a copy of the menu which, if I remember to bring to work tomorrow, I can try to scan. Menu looks good; a few things struck me as a bit pricy, though, for what they are- such as the crepes with lemon and powdered sugar ($8.95, I think), but maybe I've just become out of touch with the dining world after hibernating most of the winter. I'll check it out very soon, as we live right across the street. Thrilled it's finally opened.

I don't have the facilities (or knowledge) to upload the menu; so if you can, it would be much appreciated. As far as the prices go, we spent about $9 for some really LOUSY crepes at the Cafe L'Enfant (sp?) at the corner of 18th and Vernon some time ago. Haven't been back. I'll just be happy if the food is better than La Fourchette. It certainly seems to be somewhat cheaper, if less ambitious.

[Buckinghamilton]

I'll just be happy if the food is better than La Fourchette. It certainly seems to be somewhat cheaper, if less ambitious.

I second that. And I was wrong- the crepes I mentioned above are $6.95, not $8.95, so it does appear to be relatively reasonable. Unfortunately, I'm unable scan the menu, as it's too big for the feeder.

This looks like a job for the LAME DUCKS.

[rdg]

Welcome. Do you happen to be related to this place or a recent diner? Either way can you give us any more info?

I just live nearby.

I ate there Saturday night. Wasn't that impressed. Food was above average (though overpriced for what it is), while the service wasn’t very good.

Called at 7pm, made a reservation for two at 9pm. Showed up on time, was told it would be a few minutes (looked quite busy). Sat at the bar downstairs because there wasn’t any room at the bar. Unfortunately I was waiting for 45 minutes. Had to remind the hostess twice times that I was still there, the second time she told me that I could eat downstairs. I’d normally be fine with that, but there’s no tables downstairs. Just couches and small leather poofs.

We finally got a table at 9:45, waited until 10 for a waiter to come by (I started timing at this point). We asked for bread and water. Waiter brought the water at 10:15, no bread. We asked for bread again, and ordered dinner.

Bread came around 10:25, but without breadplates. We didn’t bother to ask for any (though someone brought by another basket of bread and two saucers (not bread plates?) after we had our main courses). Service stopped being annoying after that.

I had the French onion soup and the ribeye w/mustard sauce. Steak and sauce were very good (not amazing though). Soup was average; nothing special, nothing to complain about; hearty. Fries were good, but again, nothing special. Friend had the steak frites. Good beárnaise, but not much steak (certainly less than my 8oz ribeye).

Had the nutella crêpe, which, while simple (just nutella and powdered sugar, as far as I could tell) was decent. One curious thing about it, though. It didn’t come to the table hot (like crêpes should, right?). So either it sat somewhere for 5-10 minutes, or they don’t make them fresh. IMO, there’s simply no reason for either when you’re paying $9 a pop.

I swear I sound like a finicky, whinging, complaining sort. I’m not. I promise. I enjoyed the meal. I did not enjoy the service. I didn’t think it was worth it (most items are probably 20% too expensive), but I would think about going back for lunch.

One other caveat: when ordering wine, only do it by the bottle (they have a small but decent list). The single glass pours aren’t very generous.

[The Hersch]

I ate there Saturday night. Wasn't that impressed. Food was above average (though overpriced for what it is), while the service wasn’t very good.

You say it's too expensive; Barbara says it's cheaper than La Fourchette. I have trouble reconciling the two. I could, of course, make a detour on my way home and look at the menu myself, but it's COLD out there. What did you pay for the onion soup, for the ribeye, for the steak frites? I don't know if $9 is expensive for a nutella crèpe, hot or cold, as I pay no attention to things on menus that I have no interest in eating. The service issues will hopefully sort themselves out with a little time. It's good to know that they take reservations and that one might need them, although it sounds as if they shouldn't have taken yours, given the wait you had.

[jpschust]

not to discount your experience, but you ate at a restaurant/bar on a saturday night in Adams Morgan- I wouldn't expect good service then.

[jm chen]

You say it's too expensive; Barbara says it's cheaper than La Fourchette. I have trouble reconciling the two.

From what I remember from browsing the menu (how many of us are there who live within two blocks of this place, anyway?) entrees are in the $20 range. Cheaper than La Fourchette, I think, but still feels expensive for the neighborhood, compared to The Diner, Mama Ayesha's, Bourbon, San Marco, etc. within a radius of a few blocks.

rdg, thanks for the complete first-hand report. I was especially curious about the basement, so it's interesting to hear how they're treating that. Sounds like they may still have some issues to shake out.

[Barbara]

OK, so when would the LAME DUCKS want to descend on this place? And, jpschust has a point--forget the weekend. (I walked by this evening, around 7:30 ish and saw that there were quite a few people in there, but they weren't slammed.)

I was thinking that the MOST expensive item on the menu is the rack of lamb, at $23.95. Compare and contrast with 1789, where (I believe), it is $39. It has been awhile since we dined at La Fourchette, but I believe most of their entrees are more expensive. Could be wrong.

[The Hersch]

I was thinking that the MOST expensive item on the menu is the rack of lamb, at $23.95. Compare and contrast with 1789, where (I believe), it is $39. It has been awhile since we dined at La Fourchette, but I believe most of their entrees are more expensive. Could be wrong.

Well, I stopped by on my way home from work this evening, and had a look at their menu. I think that the ribeye, at $24.95, was actually a dollar more than the rack of lamb. Rack of lamb at $23.95 is a real steal if it's any good and is more than two ribs. I haven't been to La Fourchette in a while, but I think the prices of the two restaurants are broadly in about the same range. That is, pretty inexpensive as French menus go. (I couldn't find a La Fourchette menu anywhere on the Web.) But at Napoleon, mussels (three ways available) are $8.95 for a starter, $14.95 for a main. Sounds good to me. (I asked them to let me take a menu with me, but they declined. They did say that they would have a menu on the Web in about a week.)

For what it's worth, I live about four (albeit mostly short) blocks away.

[mdt]

OK, so when would the LAME DUCKS want to descend on this place? And, jpschust has a point--forget the weekend. (I walked by this evening, around 7:30 ish and saw that there were quite a few people in there, but they weren't slammed.)

I was thinking that the MOST expensive item on the menu is the rack of lamb, at $23.95. Compare and contrast with 1789, where (I believe), it is $39. It has been awhile since we dined at La Fourchette, but I believe most of their entrees are more expensive. Could be wrong.

Yeah all you AM residents, get there and provide a report so that the rest of us can see if it is worth the trek.

BTW, 1789 is at a completely different level so the comparison is not really relevant.

[The Hersch]

Yeah all you AM residents, get there and provide a report so that the rest of us can see if it is worth the trek.

Not just AM, but KT too. I'm planning a dinner there with friends on Feb. 19th and will certainly share the experience here.

[Barbara]

According to the menu I picked up YESTERDAY, the Rib Eye is $21.95. This is all academic to me: I'm not going to order the steak or the lamb there. When I want steak, we will go to RTC or get the flat iron steak in the bar at Corduroy. I can cook a rack of lamb just fine myself. I am SERIOUSLY interested in the mussels and the crepes. I will be very happy if both are done well. Not to mention the French Onion Soup or any of the salads. I don't believe this will be a "destination" restaurant in any case (La Fourchette NEVER has been in 25 years); a neighborhood joint will do just fine, thank you very much.

[The Hersch]

According to the menu I picked up YESTERDAY, the Rib Eye is $21.95. This is all academic to me: I'm not going to order the steak or the lamb there. When I want steak, we will go to RTC or get the flat iron steak in the bar at Corduroy. I can cook a rack of lamb just fine myself. I am SERIOUSLY interested in the mussels and the crepes. I will be very happy if both are done well. Not to mention the French Onion Soup or any of the salads. I don't believe this will be a "destination" restaurant in any case (La Fourchette NEVER has been in 25 years); a neighborhood joint will do just fine, thank you very much.

As I say, they wouldn't give me a menu to take with me. I could very well have misread $21.95 as $24.95, peering at the posted menu in the semi-darkness. I rarely order steak in a restaurant myself, although I do when I'm in France. If their steaks come with seriously good frites, I might consider it. I can also cook mussels just fine myself, but like it when someone else goes to the bother. $14.95 for a big bowl, plus another $3.95 for some fries, that's a pretty good deal as far as I'm concerned. And I agree, La Fourchette is not a destination restaurant, but I've loved it dearly as a neighborhood treasure, and have said before that in some ways it's my favorite restaurant in Washington. But having another bistro that isn't Bistrot du Coin within a short walk is nothing but nice, assuming the food is any good.

[Waitman]

I'm with Barbara. I don't need another $20 plus entree. I need to know why I should go to this place rather than go to Bistro du Coin or cook at home. It's a great thing in the world where there's yet another onion soup spot but, given Fourchette, BdC, Montsouris all withing walking distance and Les Halles, Bistro Francais and LePic within a 10-minute cab-ride, I want to know why this is a place I should go instead of all the other spots. Crepes, maybe.

Not to be negative, but I'm...curious.

[rdg]

I was especially curious about the basement, so it's interesting to hear how they're treating that. Sounds like they may still have some issues to shake out.

It's a bar downstairs. Maybe an "ultra-lounge" or whatever the cool kids call them these days (yuppie factor was through the roof). In any case, the draft beer ($6 40cl Stellas, oof) is only upstairs, which kind of kills it for me.

not to discount your experience, but you ate at a restaurant/bar on a saturday night in Adams Morgan- I wouldn't expect good service then.

I've had a lot better, for a lot less money.

I need to know why I should go to this place rather than go to Bistro du Coin or cook at home.

It's certainly different. Food is a bit better (than BdC, not your cooking). Decor is, well, something else.. (I happen to like it)

What did you pay for the onion soup, for the ribeye, for the steak frites?

I think the soup was $7. $22 for the ribeye, $22 for the steak frites. Lamb a bit more. I don't think the moules come in a giant Belgian-style pot. Probably smaller, thus the lower price.

In any case, other places--esp. Montsouris--are better IMO than Napoleon, even though the portions at Napoleon are somewhat larger.

(how many of us are there who live within two blocks of this place, anyway?)

Don't know. Pleasant neighborhood, no?

[demandalicious]

It's a bar downstairs. Maybe an "ultra-lounge" or whatever the cool kids call them these days (yuppie factor was through the roof).

I heard that the format is going to be "Upscale Underground" - two words that should never go together. Music will be west-coast and progressive house. Sounds like the kind of place for see and be scenesters.

[jm chen]

A visit for two last night had real high points and low points. The blanquette de veau was out of this world, but the coq au vin was disappointing. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful; we should have asked him what he liked before we ordered instead of after, but now we'll know what to get next time. (Barbara, he said to try the "creamy leek" sauce on the mussels.)

It was outrageously loud when we arrived. They've taken steps to un-industrialize the space (big leather couch, new floor) but there is nothing to absorb sound, so it just richochets all over. We were there on the late side and the noise level got back down to tolerable as some of the tables started to empty out. Then it was downright pleasant.

Beers on tap are Stella and Hoegarden.

Bill for two, with two entrees, two drinks, and a crepe, came in around $65 before tip. Not terrible, but considering we paid about the same for a vastly superior meal at Firefly a couple of days ago, certainly not a bargain. We enjoyed the experience enough to try it a couple more times (that was some seriously awesome blanquette) and will see how it goes.

[jpschust]

A visit for two last night had real high points and low points. The blanquette de veau was out of this world, but the coq au vin was disappointing. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful; we should have asked him what he liked before we ordered instead of after, but now we'll know what to get next time. (Barbara, he said to try the "creamy leek" sauce on the mussels.)

It was outrageously loud when we arrived. They've taken steps to un-industrialize the space (big leather couch, new floor) but there is nothing to absorb sound, so it just richochets all over. We were there on the late side and the noise level got back down to tolerable as some of the tables started to empty out. Then it was downright pleasant.

Beers on tap are Stella and Hoegarden.

Bill for two, with two entrees, two drinks, and a crepe, came in around $65 before tip. Not terrible, but considering we paid about the same for a vastly superior meal at Firefly a couple of days ago, certainly not a bargain. We enjoyed the experience enough to try it a couple more times (that was some seriously awesome blanquette) and will see how it goes.

I'm amazed you got out of firefly for that cheap- 2 drinks at firefly, about 20 bucks, a dessert about 10 bucks- so there's 30 bucks before entrees. I'm sure it's possible, but it seems on the low side. Usually when two of us have dined at firefly it's been about 140 before tip with a mid range bottle of wine included and no cocktails.

[jm chen]

I'm amazed you got out of firefly for that cheap- 2 drinks at firefly, about 20 bucks, a dessert about 10 bucks- so there's 30 bucks before entrees. I'm sure it's possible, but it seems on the low side. Usually when two of us have dined at firefly it's been about 140 before tip with a mid range bottle of wine included and no cocktails.

I admit the comparison is not 1:1 -- we didn't drink at Firefly. I think it was two apps of charcuterie, an entree and a "small plate" [which was not that small], and a [huge, shared] dessert. Didn't intend that to be misleading.

I think Napoleon is trying to be more of a neighborhood place anyway, but as we've talked about above, prices are high for the neighborhood, and the food needs to be excellent to compensate.

[jpschust]

I admit the comparison is not 1:1 -- we didn't drink at Firefly. I think it was two apps of charcuterie, an entree and a "small plate" [which was not that small], and a [huge, shared] dessert. Didn't intend that to be misleading.

I think Napoleon is trying to be more of a neighborhood place anyway, but as we've talked about above, prices are high for the neighborhood, and the food needs to be excellent to compensate.

I'll agree with that. Plus if I want comfort food, which is essentially what they are trying to do there, I'll go to Bourbon where the food is cheaper and they have, well, bourbon.

[eating out]

Personally, I'm not very excited about this place and as a LAME DUCK would be very convenient. Have you guys been to Cafe Bonaparte in Georgetown? Napoleon is basically just their second location, with the addition of a more bistro flair apparently - I wasn't aware that Bonaparte had mussels on their menu. I've only eaten at Bonaparte for brunch a few times, and you get slightly better than average food thats way overpriced (duh, georgetown). The only way I end up at Napoleon is if the prices come down or someone starts raving about one of their dishes as a must-try. Otherwise, this branch is not worth it for me, which, as a new place in the hood is disappointing. Just puts more pressure on M'Dawgs to deliver!

[The Hersch]

Todd Kliman was VERY negative this morning:

The new Napoleon, on Columbia Rd., tastes as bad as it looks. And it looks like a cross between a garish, two-bit Vegas club and an Eastern European bordello. The food? Fries cooked in old oil, an outrageously overpriced steak, and a blanquette de veau that looks as if it came out of a can of Campbell's. Anyway, the wines are good. ...

[JLK]

I have to agree. The wines by the glass really aren't bad, but I found the rest of it to be a shoddy facsimile of a restaurant, and if you look too closely, you'll see the sloppiness of the switchover from Mantis to Napoleon. To be clear, it's much more club/lounge than restaurant--at least on the night I visited. The crowd on a recent weekend night was young, self-consciously stylish and rather loud.

I did like my nutella crepe, but I can't see returning for dinner.

[Barbara]

Dame Edna and I made our inaugural foray to Napoleon's for dinner, "Before it closes," he said darkly. We were prepared to be disappointed but surprisingly were not. I did indeed have the mussels "Marinieres." Prefectly large, fresh mussels cooked just as advertized. My only beef is that the Appetizer portion is a whole lot smaller than at BdC and other places and costs about the same. Still, it was just what I wanted. Dame Edna got the French Onion Soup and it appeared just as one would expect: a cheese-covered crock with a beef broth containing caramelized onions and a crouton soaking up the broth. Nothing to write home about, but a perfectly good version of a classic dish.

Both of us got the "Presbourg" crepes which are described on the menu as "crepes a la Stroganoff." ($10.25). These bore NO resemblance to that miserable little crepe I had a couple of years ago and the Cafe L'Enfant ($9). For starters, there were TWO creps on each plate and were stuffed with pieces of beef cooked just like a Beef Stroganoff and folded into quarters. A sour cream sauce was laid out in stripes on the crepes. One of my crepes is in the refrigerator getting ready to be reheated for my lunch today. With the crepes came a small salad of crisp, fresh, lightly-dressed mixed greens with some raw carrot grated on top.

Two apps, two orders of crepes, three glasses of wine: $62 and change (tip not included). Service was attentive, but the crepes came out a little fast. We could have used more time between courses. The busboy was a little too eager to grab our plates. Other than that, we had no complaints about the service. We were allowed to sit wherever we wanted and made the mistake of sitting where, everytime the front door opened, we got blasted with air. If it had been any colder than it was last night, we would have had to move.

In addition to the menu (which is somewhat different from the one I picked up when they first opened), we were given a list of Champagne cocktails and a list of "Lounge" Food--some of the items looked interesting.

This is a place for the LAMEDUCKS to keep an eye on. It certainly isn't a "destination" restaurant for the rest of you, as things now stand.

[starfish]

I had plans to meet someone at Café Napoleon on Saturday evening. I arrived a few minutes early and found a seat at the end of the bar next to the service station. I waited for ten minutes – I promise that is not an exaggeration – for the bartender to greet me and ask for my drink order. During that time I watched him flit about the bar making few drinks but mostly trying to make time with the two attractive women at the other end of this small bar. When he finally decides to grace me with the opportunity to order a drink, I ask for a Delirum Tremins (sp?) and hand him a credit card to start a tab.

That is when the “show” really got going. This Tom Cruise wannabee proceeded to flip bottles and shakers at a dazzlingly annoying clip. I received a phone call from my expected guest indicating that she would not be able to make it this evening. Not wishing to spend another moment with this side show bartender, I placed a $20 on the bar to settle my tab. That twenty sat for fifteen minutes whilst this cocktail circus continued and I grew increasingly annoyed. The music was too loud for anything short of a full-on yell to have gotten his attention, and there were no manager-types in sight.

After finally making his way over to me, he closes my tab and needs to be reminded to return my credit card. In total I spent 45 minutes in this place, 30 of them without a drink and 25 minutes trying to get a bartenders attention on a relatively slow Saturday night.

If I were still in the restaurant business, I wouldn’t hire that guy to make carbon dioxide let alone a drink.

[JLK]

That sounds awful. I have had much better luck with the bartenders (particularly the female one with the very cool cherry blossom tattoo on her arm) downstairs.

[The Doctor]

Is there a thread on Cafe Bonaparte, the sister restaurant? I couldn't find one.

[DonRocks]

Is there a thread on Cafe Bonaparte, the sister restaurant? I couldn't find one.

[Nope (hint, hint)]

[Barbara]

Can really rotten service ruin perfectly good food? YES, YES, YES! We went there to treat a neighbor for her birthday--my choice, if I'd had a say in the matter, would have been Cashion's. I could go into chapter and verse on what happened, but you wouldn't believe me. Too incompetent to be explained or believed. No, I didn't speak to the manager, since there didn't appear to be one. Just two waiters with exactly THREE tables to service between them. Suffice it say, they will never get another nickel out of me. Thanks, Napoleon, for wrecking a very nice person's birthday. Oh, and that free dessert nobody wanted? Shove in a place the sun don't shine.

[nenadaves]

Can really rotten service ruin perfectly good food? YES, YES, YES! We went there to treat a neighbor for her birthday--my choice, if I'd had a say in the matter, would have been Cashion's. I could go into chapter and verse on what happened, but you wouldn't believe me. Too incompetent to be explained or believed. No, I didn't speak to the manager, since there didn't appear to be one. Just two waiters with exactly THREE tables to service between them. Suffice it say, they will never get another nickel out of me. Thanks, Napoleon, for wrecking a very nice person's birthday. Oh, and that free dessert nobody wanted? Shove in a place the sun don't shine.

This is a very polite way to describe the service. An advise I must give,..never ever order a martini at Napoleon Restaurant.. I had the most tasteless martini wich I ordered "Extra dirty", you all know!.. with " extra olive juice"..well I have to sadly say that mine didn't have a drop! I did not argue or requested another one, I knew it was coming because as I was requesting and describing the martini I wanted, the waiter looked at me like I was ordering the most extravagant drink in the restaurant.. So that tells me clearly that he and the bartender were totally clueless...

[cheezepowder]

Washington Post story about the owners changing Napoleon to an Afghan restauant. They expect to reopen on March 21. 

[DonRocks]

Washington Post story about the owners changing Napoleon to an Afghan restauant. They expect to reopen on March 21.

For those who haven't been to Napoleon: this is good news. Napoleon *always* felt like Afghanistan doing a garish parody of France. Now, hopefully, we'll see some authentic cuisine.

(To those who think that Le Diplomate feels like America doing a garish parody of France: I don't have a response except it's like comparing Knoebels to Disneyworld).

[cheezepowder]

Napoleon reopened as Lapis on April 23, 2015.   Website (not much on it right now).

[Gadarene]

That menu actually looks really good.

[The Hersch]

That menu actually looks really good.

It does indeed. Made me hungry. Too bad I'm no longer within walking distance of the place, but I might make a special journey.

[Gadarene]

Lapis is excellent and exactly the kind of thoughtful, family-owned restaurant we should be championing. And a great bar program.

More tomorrow when I'm sober-er.

[Gadarene]

So I had leftovers waiting for me at home but resolved to drop into Lapis for a light meal to check it out yesterday evening...and I'm really glad I did.  The menu is detailed and interesting, and whoever is in charge of writing the descriptions for the items -- a legitimate skill! -- knocks it out of the park, making everything seem very appetizing.  There are a number of items that I'd be surprised if you could find on any other menu in the D.C. area -- everything's apparently based on family recipes, and it looks that way, with a varied and wide-ranging selection of Afghan dishes that nevertheless feels fairly cohesive (again, the menu layout itself is very well put together).

I ended up ordering the leek and cilantro bolani (a crispy stuffed Afghan flatbread served with a delicious green chutney and cooling yogurt) and the beet salad (menu description: beets, apple, lettuce, pistachio, olive oil, honey mustard vinegar dressing). The bolani was extremely tasty and by far the most successful of the two; the beet salad was fine, but it was mostly arugula and dressing (the beets and apples were thin disks at the base of the salad) and I didn't get much if any pistachio flavor at all.  To be fair, had I not been confining myself to lighter and smaller options, I could have taken one of the many recommendations from my charming bartender, who seemed genuinely enthusiastic, appreciative of, and knowledgeable about the food on the new menu.  (Among her favorites are the mushroom and pumpkin dishes, the chicken stew, and the gabuli palow rice dish; I'm planning to return very soon to sample some or all of these.)

Speaking of the bar, I was extremely impressed by the quality of the bar program there.  Not only was the bartender awesome, but she made excellent drinks from a well-curated and reasonably priced cocktail list (I especially recommend the Lapis Manhattan made with cardamom-and-something-else-infused vermouth), one which included a cool selection of housemade sodas and mocktails in keeping with Afghanistan's dry nature.  The available beers are also pretty interesting -- 3 Stars Peppercorn Saison and Sorachi Ace on tap -- and apparently have been selected to pair well with the food, and what I remember of the wine list looked thoughtfully curated too.  The people in charge of drinks at this place know their stuff, and that's something pretty valuable in a city that's still lacking very many low-key, neighborhood bartops where you can get a great, well-priced cocktail from someone who knows what they're doing and some fun conversation without having to make a reservation, pay $14 a drink, and/or wait forty-five minutes to be served.*  I'm very impressed by the Popal family's willingness to invest in a great bar program when they so easily could have made it another of the standard-issue vodka-and-macro-labels-heavy lazy carbon copy restaurant bars that so proliferate when a place has no reason to care as much about their beverages as their food.

In all, my strongest impression from last night was one of thoughtfulness, attention to detail, and clear passion in showcasing what they have to offer.  This is not a generic cookie-cutter "concept" from a restaurant group (nor is it a generic cookie-cutter concept from a family, as Napoleon might have verged into).  It's a comfortable yet modern neighborhood spot where a family is putting time and energy into doing quality things that you can't get very many other places in the city, and doing them with warm service and an eminently reasonable hit on your wallet.  D.C. needs more places like this.  I hope they keep up the high standards and find great success in doing what they love.

Anyway, yeah.  I'll be back.  Hopefully the rest of the menu is as good as it sounds.

(Reviewing meals is hard!  Much respect for all of you who do this on a continuous basis and provide so much excellent content for this site.)

*In my neck of the woods, off the top of my head there's Roofer's Union downstairs, Bourbon sometimes though I wish they'd change up their menu more frequently, Room 11 during off hours, Bar Charley during off hours, Jack Rose during off hours -- a pattern! -- and now hopefully the bar here.)

[Rieux]

Visited Saturday night.  The interior and the ambiance is lovely.  I really like the new decor.  Crowd-wise it was funny - many more older couples than you would ever have seen at Napoleon (I think all the foreign service/USAID folk who lived in Afghanistan in the last decade must be trying it out - me and my spouse included!).  So, less of a 20s party-time vibe than Napoleon, which is nice.

The menu reads well, and all the dishes sounded great, as did the cocktails and mocktails.  I ordered a gin/egg/cardamom cocktail and my husband ordered a cardamom mocktail.  We waited a while for our drinks and ordered when the waiter came back (without our drinks) several minutes later.   We then ordered several dishes - the Kaddo (pumpkin with yogurt sauce), the Aushak (leek dumplings), a beef kabob, a stewed bean dish, and a lamb stew and rice.  Our waiter was very pushy, and was an off-note for the evening.  He seemed aloof, while at the same time constantly upselling us - he was also distant, inattentive, and slow.  He also left the menus on the table, so I had to eventually drop them on the vacant table next to us.

Our food came out (well, 90% of it) within 4 minutes of ordering with still no drinks.  We started to eat and the cockatils came maybe another 10 minutes later.  So, total wait time for one home made soda and one cocktail was 20 minutes and the restaurant/bar was only 1/3 full.  The soda was excellent.  My cocktail was wan, weak, and not good.

The food, however, was excellent.  We had ordered dishes we know and love from other restaurants for the most part.  We ate everything except the kabob (which still had not arrived) and agreed that it was delicious, better than the Helmand in Baltimore, as good as the Helmand in Cambridge, MA.  My spouse, who lived in Kabul when Americans could still get around in the city, said it was all authentic and as good as what he had there.  When we were almost done with everything the kabob arrived, and it was delicious too.

We each had a dessert (cardamom custard for me, havla for him). The custard was better.  The havla could have used some honey on it.  All in it was $118, which seemed reasonable, except for the fact that the portions on the "mains" are TINY.  For my lamb stew, which was around $12, I got 1 piece of lamb.  1.  I was hungry later.  The appetizer and kabob portions were better sized.

The thing I didn't like was the service.  The tables are small, and everything comes in a small bowl/plate so it is important to constantly bus the table. That didn't happen, and we had to pile things up as we ate them.  The female server who stepped in a couple of times (when we sat for 15 minutes with dirty plates at the end of the meal as our server kept walking by) was really nice, so I think I just really, really did not like our waiter.

Reading this now it sounds negative, but we both had a good time, and liked the food and felt positively about the meal.  We will definitely go back, and hope for a different server.  Had we felt more taken care of we would not have cared about the size/value ratio of the food, as it was great.  It is a good addition to the neighborhood.

[malokd]

Ate here for the first time tonight.  Between two of us we got:
 
Aushak(dumpling--vegetarian version)
Bolani( leek/cilantro and pumpkin stuffed flatbread)
Sabzi(spinach/leek/cilantro stew)
buranee banjan(grilled eggplant over yogurt w/tomato)
chopawn(grilled lamb chops served with onion salad, rice and "naan"))
naan
chalow--rice,butter,cumin
 
Service was attentive but server did not write down order--led him to forget naan for wife and our side order of chutney subz.  Reminded him and he brought them out--the chutney sabz was $3 for a thimble full of watery green sauce that had been provided gratis with my lamb chop and our two appetizers. I would not have ordered it if I knew it was already included with a number of other dishes.  It certainly was not worth 3 dollars in the quantity it was given.  The naan was interesting...  I have had afghan bread before and this was much different--it was a wheat bread, and was mildly sweet without much chew--it did not seem as though it was made in house
 
The lamb chop was excellent and was the highlight of the meal.  The vegetable dishes were not that great--definitely did not justify price point of restaurant.
Mentioned to the waiter that the $3 chutney sabzi was not worth the surcharge in that quantity--he simply said that he would let managment know...In short--would get the lamb chop as takeout since we live around the corner--but would not go there to eat in again.

[smithhemb]

Anybody been there recently?

[Rieux]

Anybody been there recently?

It's still pretty good. It's very loud and the portions are small for the money, but delicious. 

[horacebailey14]

We stopped by for dinner recently and very much enjoyed it. We had bolani, mantoo beef dumplings, buranee kadoo, and morgh kebab. All very good. Kadoo is a particular favorite of ours and the version here is a little different than we've had elsewhere, with the pumpkin kept in large chunks instead of pureed, but cooked until is was soft and sweet. Very tasty with the yogurt sauce. We finished with the dessert special of the day, a pistachio and pomegranate cake. Delicious as well. More french with Afghan flavors, expected since the chef at Malmaison prepares the desserts. Topped with pomegranate seeds that were very well soaked in alcohol.

The dining room is very full, with as many tables as can possibly fit. When it's full, as it was when we were there, this makes for a bit louder background noise - you have to speak with a slightly raised voice to be heard across the table. But the space is inviting, the service is good, and the staff are very friendly.