Look for traditional French dishes at Brasserie Liberté, including the apple pithivier.
Mega-restaurateur Hakan Ilhan isn’t pulling any culinary punches at his new spot, the 6,000-square-foot, 250-seat (39 at the bar) Brasserie Liberté in Georgetown. With Jaryd Hearn leading the kitchen, the menu blends traditional French cooking with modern twists. Early favorites include cured salmon rillet with creme fraiche and fine herbs; escargot a la Bourgogne with parsley butter, escargot and mushroom; and roasted half-chicken, with lavender-honey roasted, braised cabbage, smashed potatoes and sauce Robert. And, yes, patrons will find steak frites: marinated hanger steak served with a petit salad, house frites and a choice of classic Maître d’Hôtel butter or peppercorn sauce. The restaurant’s wine collection—vertically displayed on the back wall in a climate-controlled vino wall—weighs in at roughly 150 labels by the bottle ($28 to $2,000) and more than 20 by the glass ($8 to $23). Swatchroom created the restaurant’s vibrant look, complete with a white fireplace in the shape of a Moroccan tagine. 3251 Prospect St. NW, 202.878.8404
Photography by: scott suchman
