A quick lunch doesn't have to mean fast food. It can mean the prix fixe menu at La Bergerie.
Each day luncheon patrons can choose items from the restaurant's a la carte menu or from the prix fixe menu. "We offer a three-course meal for $20," said Laurent Janowsky, the owner. "And there are always at least two selections for each course."
The summertime menu will be different from the one offered in winter. "We use the freshest ingredients we can find and, of course, pay attention to the temperature outside," Janowski said.
He chooses the prix fixe selections with Chef Vincent da Monan. "We always work together to make the selections, understanding that most of our dishes are classic French," da Monan said.
It's Classic French with some creativity thrown in for variety. "We have certain house specialties which we always offer," Janowski said. "But, Vincent's genius is his creativity."
According to Janowski, da Monan fixes rabbit and squab like no other chef. "With rabbit, I braise the meat after I have removed all of the bones and stuffed it with something such as Serrano ham," da Monan said. One rabbit serves two people and it is considered suitable for summer.
Much goes into deciding what to place on the prix fixe menu. "We want to make sure that the tastes blend nicely and we also consider what is available," da Monan said.
One example of a summertime luncheon menu might be gazpacho, lobster salad and orange parfait. "Sometimes people share an appetizer so that they can each have four courses instead of three," Janowski said.
da Monan has been at La Bergerie for two years. He cooks the food and plates it. "I want to make sure that everything looks as good as it tastes," he said.
That includes making certain that the plates sparkle before the food is placed on them. He wipes each clean plate with a bit of vinegar and water before arranging the food. "If the sauce is not right, we do it again. If the meat is not right, we do it again," da Monan said. "It is better to have a customer wait an extra two minutes than to serve something that is not perfect."
The prix fixe menu is designed to attract lunch-time customers who are in a bit of a hurry and who might not think of La Bergerie as an option. "At dinner when a customer comes to enjoy a four or five course meal, it is going to take some time," Janowski said. "With this prix fixe menu, we can get them in and out in an hour but they can still enjoy a wonderful classic French meal."
La Bergerie is located at 218 N. Lee Street in Old Town. Lunch is served daily from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Reservations are recommended but not required. For more information, call 703-683-9253.
Restaurant Eve also offers a prix fixe luncheon menu. It is located at 110 S. Pitt Street. For reservations, call 703-706-0450.