Jean Francois Chaufour was born in Beaugency, France in the Loire Valley. He came to the United States in 1976 and started working as a waiter in Washington DC with his wife Francoise. In September of 1983, he and his wife opened Le Refuge in Alexandria, VA on N. Washington Street across from Christ Church.
Let us remind you that wine is the best pairing with French food! Jean-Francois' wine list is very extensive and has wonderful wines at very reasonable prices. Now his daughter Anne Claire works as a waitress, and her husband Hugh, who is also in the dining room and kitchen at times, will someday take over Le Refuge!
Let us remind you that wine is the best pairing with French food! Jean-Francois' wine list is very extensive and has wonderful wines at very reasonable prices. Now his daughter Anne Claire works as a waitress, and her husband Hugh, who is also in the dining room and kitchen at times, will someday take over Le Refuge!
Reviews (10)
Richard Vogt
Dec 30, 2021
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Richard Spano
Dec 12, 2021
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Chris Cafferky
Dec 03, 2021
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Le Refuge has street parking, but we found a spot around the corner. We started with a bottle of Malbec, Conquistador de Argentina. For appetizers we ordered the Country Pate, and Escargot. They were out of Escargot, but our very knowledgeable server suggested the crayfish. She was right, they were delicious. Pate was also very tasty. They also brought French bread, and. Continued to bring it all through the meal. It was that good.
For dinner, my wife had the quails, with a vegetable medley and scalloped potatoes. She loved it all. I had the Coq au Vin, with the same sides. Very good. Sauce was
For dinner, my wife had the quails, with a vegetable medley and scalloped potatoes. She loved it all. I had the Coq au Vin, with the same sides. Very good. Sauce was
Harley Stine
Nov 10, 2021
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Many years since I last dined at Le Refuge and I was delighted finding the same masterful quality of classic French country fare dropping in for lunch yesterday. I did not really drop in, I called first. Many other things have changed in over 3 decades of visiting LR but not the food nor the visual ambience.
When I first dined at LR in the 1980’s you could barely see from the front door to the back of the dining room through the haze of cigarette smoke and it is a short distance. The restaurant seats 42 people at full capacity having a handful of 4 top tables and the rest are tables for 2. All
When I first dined at LR in the 1980’s you could barely see from the front door to the back of the dining room through the haze of cigarette smoke and it is a short distance. The restaurant seats 42 people at full capacity having a handful of 4 top tables and the rest are tables for 2. All
Tad Skoczynski
Oct 30, 2021
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Abdullah Elamari
Oct 26, 2021
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Pretty disappointing overall; especially considering what we heard about this place. To start it off, the ambiance is cute, cozy, European feel, but is pretty small and squeezed in. The bathrooms are horrendous and one of the bathroom doors would not even lock: it's a disgrace an establishment of this supposed reputation allows restrooms like this.
The service was subpar and it seemed that they were short staffed. The food: Escargot was very tasty but little in quantity (like 6 snails). Duck Mousse also tasty but needed something more to go along with it: average bread and a salad with not enough
The service was subpar and it seemed that they were short staffed. The food: Escargot was very tasty but little in quantity (like 6 snails). Duck Mousse also tasty but needed something more to go along with it: average bread and a salad with not enough
Ladydee
Aug 24, 2021
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Our around-the-world food experience took us to France. We visited this restaurant to get a French experience with dining. For an appetizer, we had the crab stuffed mushrooms. This was so good. The crab was flavorful and abundant for the shell of the mushroom. For our entree we elected to have the 3 course meal which includes soup or salad, choice of 3 entrées and 3 deserts. My girlfriend and I both chose the soup of the day which was potato leek soup. It was really good and had lots of flavor. For our entrées I had chicken dijonnaise and my gf had trout. The chicken dish came with scallop potatoes
Richard Wexell
Jul 17, 2021
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Hilda Kroll
May 22, 2021
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Affordable for everyday dining and the perfect place to celebrate the most important special occasions. It's obvious that great care has been taken to make sure every detail is just right, from the decor to the lighting, music, and most importantly, the food. I went early and got a table, but it's probably a good idea to make a reservation.
Angelique Turner
Apr 25, 2021
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Wonderful french restaurant. Best I have had. Great french atmosphere. Wonderful music playing. Very reasonable prices. Great selections. The escargot wasin a tomato sauce and tasted flavorful. The stuffed mushrooms were big and plentiful. The frogs legs were the biggest plate i have seen at a restaurant. The lamb shank was cut yhin and in a grest sauce. The scalloped potatoes nice and creamy. Definitely worth the try. Get a bread basket withvthe food. Good choices and soft butter.
