From its walnut-framed tufted leather walls and Carrara marble floors to the smoky mirrors and captivating double-spouted absinthe fountain, this no-expense-spared stunner just blocks from the White House does wonders for French-American relations. And thanks to heavy-hitters Frank Ruta and Aggie Chin, the classic brasserie food is as polished as the scene. Sip a cocktail or glass of wine from the well-chosen list before diving in to crowd-pleasing dishes such as oven-roasted poussin, enhanced with a deliciously rich crayfish-mushroom cream sauce. Beef tartare, in all of its glistening ruby glory, is textbook perfect. Then there's dessert-mais oui! Tarte Tatin, yuzu sesame mille crêpe or butterscotch crémeux practically deserve to be eaten first. - MICHELIN guide inspectors