Image courtesy of restaurant
L'Auberge Chez Francois
If you could choose only one Northern Virginia restaurant as your favorite, do you have one in mind?
This week, OpenTable named its "Top 100 Restaurants in America" for 2025, and two Virginia restaurants made it onto the list — one in Northern Virginia and a second in Richmond.
Culled from more than 10 million diner reviews, along with diner ratings, reservation demand and percentage of five-star reviews, among other factors, the list showcases the full spectrum of diner gems, from family-run favorites and creative newcomers to MICHELIN-starred destinations that continue to raise the bar.
"This year's Top 100 celebrates the restaurants that remind us why we love dining out, the places that bring people together and turn everyday moments into something memorable," said Debby Soo, CEO of OpenTable. "From rising stars to timeless favorites, these spots showcase the richness of dining today, and the breadth on offer at OpenTable, where there's something for everyone."
OK, let's find out which Northern Virginia restaurant made the list — can you guess? Drumroll please! And the winner is:
L'Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls
OpenTable reviews (9,657 of them) give the restaurant, at 332 Springvale Road in Great Falls, about 30 miles from Alexandria, 4.9 stars out of 5 stars. The elegant restaurant serves classic French dishes in a farmhouse setting and on a garden patio during the warmer months.
François Haeringer, the founder of L’Auberge Chez François, was a pioneer when he opened the original Chez François in the heart of Washington DC in 1954. Haeringer’s goal was to operate a restaurant with “a nice ambiance and good honest food at affordable prices.” The restaurant’s enduring popularity is a testimony to his success with this approach.
After finding the perfect six acres of rolling green hills in Great Falls, L’Auberge Chez François opened
Photo courtesy of restauran
Chef Jacques at his restaurant, L'Auberge Chez Francois
in 1976, and became a family business. Eldest son Jacques, by then a chef in his own right, became Chef de Cuisine. The dining rooms are filled with Haeringer family heirlooms and murals depicting scenes of Haeringer’s place of birth, Obernai, France.
Check out the special events coming up at the restaurant here.
Here's the eatery's own description, posted on OpenTable:
Welcome to L'Auberge Chez François, our French country inn a short distance from the nation's capital that has captivated visitors for over 66 years. L'Auberge Chez François is the ideal spot to celebrate special moments, private parties, luncheons, weddings, and cooking demonstrations. Our menu is extensive and full of the flavors of Alsace and traditional French cuisine. Excellent food and service, attention to detail, and a casually elegant atmosphere are hallmarks that have made L'Auberge Chez François a Washington favorite! We hope that you will enjoy your visit with us. Should you not see your preferred time to dine with us, please call us at 703-759-3800.
Photo courtesy of restaurant
L'Opposum restaurant in Richmond
The other Virginia restaurant on the list? L'Opossum in Richmond. Here's their self-description on OpenTable: "L'Opossum offers dinner Tuesday-Saturday for parties of one to a maximum of six guests. Multiple reservations booked on the same night to form a group larger than six guests are not permitted and will be canceled. Reservations for parties of one to four guests are allotted 2 hours. Parties of five to six guests are allotted 2.5 hours. Please be courteous to your fellow diners by arriving and leaving on time. To view a sample menu, visit www.lopossum.com - Thank you!"
Washington, D.C. saw five restaurants make the Top 100 list:
- Caruso's Grocery - DC – Washington, DC
- Filomena Ristorante – Washington, DC
- Jônt – Washington, DC
- Moon Rabbit by Kevin Tien – Washington, DC
- SHIA Restaurant – Washington, DC
Bon appétit!
