Mon Ami Gabi has a superb location on Bethesda Row. The local branch of the famous chef Andrew Fleischauer in Bethesda has gained phenomenal positive reputation. Indeed, if you google search restaurants in Bethesda, Maryland, Mon Ami Gabi would be one of the few restaurants that shows up before the other local website listings.
Being a French restaurant and rubbing off the whole romantics of the French, this restaurant has one of the greatest dining environment the town of Bethesda has to offer: outside seating among the beautiful lighted trees, red bricked pedestrian roads and classy black garden fences. The corner of the independent movie theater in addition to the preppy Haagen-Dazs ice cream shop, in addition to the iconic dog parades from the locals and jazzy background music are some of the additional enjoyment by dinners of this restaurant. Seems like this restaurant has got it all, and the food...
Butter is one of the ingredients that French dishes cannot live without, however I was tired of butter in some of my recent dishes. After browsing the extensive steak menu this place has to offer, I went for the Au Poivre with hand-cut steak frites. This dish's feature, other than the juicy cut of grass-fed beef from the midwest, was the brandy peppercorn sauce. The steak was under-seasoned, but juicy. The brandy peppercorn sauce was a nice and low-key addition to the steak. Compare to other candied-up steak I have had in the past, it was a steak that enhanced the natural taste of the beef. The frites, on the other hand, were not so impressive. It was dry, unseasoned, and soggy.
For dessert, I went for the classic Creme Brulee with burnt vanilla custard. Sugar coated top with creamy, rich custard at the bottom, filled with sweetness, a lot of sweetness…too much sweetness. As a whole I was not too impressed with the food. However, I am perfectly willing to go back on a nice spring night on a weekend to enjoy the unique and relaxing Bethesda scenory.
