One of the Washington region’s most famous fine-dining establishments is under new ownership — and it’s a name many Northern Virginians know well.
L’Auberge Chez François, an award-winning French eatery in Great Falls, is now part of Reston-based Thompson Restaurants, led by Warren Thompson, a longtime regular at the prestigious French eatery.
“Today, the restaurant enters a new chapter, one dedicated entirely to preserving the warmth, tradition and cuisine that have made it a cherished destination for generations of families, first dates and lifelong regulars,” L’Auberge Chez François representatives said in a news release Tuesday (Sept. 1). “The goal isn’t reinvention, it’s preservation. Same Alsatian menu, same charm, same staff, same sense of occasion that’s made this place a rite of passage for generations of first dates, anniversaries and family celebrations in the DC area.”
Executive Chef Jacques Haeringer will remain in his leadership role at the restaurant.
Haeringer’s father, Chef François “Papa” Haeringer, a native of Alsace, France, opened the restaurant as Chez François in Washington, D.C., in 1954, building its reputation on classic French cuisine and gracious hospitality.
In 1976, the eatery found a new home in Great Falls as L’Auberge Chez François, a reflection of the auberges of Alsace, where guests could step into the charm of the French countryside without ever leaving the region, representatives said.
The award-winning restaurant has been recognized across the industry, named to OpenTable’s Top 100 Restaurants in America and Top 100 Most Romantic Restaurants, included in Washingtonian’s 100 Very Best Restaurants and voted Best French Restaurant in Northern Virginia Magazine, among other awards accolades.
FFXnow readers also recently voted for L’Auberge Chez François as one of Fairfax County’s best wedding venues.
“For decades, we’ve created exceptional culinary experiences, built on fine cuisine and excellent service. It’s all about the memories people build here, one visit at a time,” Jacques Haeringer said in the release. “This next chapter is built around carrying that feeling forward, for the guests who’ve been coming for decades and the ones just discovering us. Warren has loved this restaurant as a guest for years, and he understands what makes it special as well as anyone, which is exactly why I trust him with its future.”
Thompson, meanwhile, said stewarding the restaurant’s next chapter isn’t something he takes lightly.
“As a long-standing member of the community, this restaurant has always held significance to me, long before I ever imagined playing a role in its future,” Thompson said. “Places like this are rare, they become part of how a community remembers itself. My role now is simple, to help make sure it’s here, in the same spirit, for decades to come.”
Founded in 1992, Thompson Restaurants owns and operates eateries in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Ohio and South Florida. The group owns and operates 15 brands across more than 70 locations, including Makers Union, matchbox, Big Buns Damn Good Burgers, Hen Quarter, Milk & Honey and Wiseguy Pizza.
This article was written by FFXnow’s news partner InsideNoVa.com and republished with permission. The reference to FFXnow’s Readers Choice poll was added. Sign up for InsideNoVa.com’s free email subscription today.
