Built into the side of the famous La Côte D’Or Café, Le Marché (The Market) attempts to expand its predecessor’s famous french cuisine into a café and takeout setting. The inside of the restaurant does a fairly good job of replicating the interior of a small Parisian café, complete with a large wine rack covering one of the walls and a display case full of French cheeses. Although it was almost-criminally hot and muggy on the particular day I went, the patio area is undoubtedly a good way to enjoy the cuisine and a nicer day while giving the diner a scenic view of the Westlee building.
Built into the side of the famous La Côte D’Or Café, Le Marché (The Market) attempts to expand its predecessor’s famous french cuisine into a café and takeout setting. The inside of the restaurant does a fairly good job of replicating the interior of a small Parisian café, complete with a large wine rack covering one of the walls and a display case full of French cheeses. Although it was almost-criminally hot and muggy on the particular day I went, the patio area is undoubtedly a good way to enjoy the cuisine and a nicer day while giving the diner a scenic view of the Westlee building.
By being situated relatively close to the East Falls Church metro stop, Le Marché allows anyone walking to and from the station to enjoy fresh authentic French breakfast and lunch items on the go without having to resort to a larger, low-quality chain simply because of convenience or time-constraints. And make no mistake, you will enjoy this food. The California Club sandwich, although making the mistake of having “California” in its name simply because it has delicious avocados in it, is a big but not overwhelming sandwich with, turkey, ham and a delicious garlic aioli sauce. Although I personally prefer my sandwiches more toasted than this one was, it nevertheless satisfies without giving you a comatose feeling that processed meat from Quiznos or Subway might (truthfully, I love Quiznos, so please don’t think I’m ragging on them). Each sandwich comes with a side of chips (boring old Utz potato chips; Le Marché could stand to splurge on something more French), salad or gazpacho, a refreshing and delicious cold tomato soup that made for an unexpected but satisfying side.
The second sandwich, a chicken tarragon salade sandwich, was also a delightful surprise, particularly because I have never been too crazy about tarragon. The chicken, mayonnaise and tarragon work together to keep you guessing on the exact flavor of the sandwich, but before you can figure out what flavor is on your taste-buds at any particular moment, you’ve devoured the whole thing. While I, again, would have preferred the bread toasted, the lack of toasting doesn’t hurt the sandwich terribly. Perhaps the French despise toasters and refuse to use them in the sandwich-making process.
More important than the sandwiches is the simple fact that they serve breakfast in a form other than a hockey puck-sized (and hockey-puck tasting) sandwich. Two eggs with bacon or sausage, potatoes and some bread will run you less than six dollars and keep you going long after the lunch hour. Multiple omelette and pastry options, along with yogurt and fruits, help to make Le Marché feel like an authentic café instead of a place that put up a Toulouse-Lautrec poster and put a basket of gigantic croissants in the front and decided to call itself “Le Parisian Café.”
La Côte D’Or has been in Falls Church (technically right outside the city limits, but no need to get all specific about it) since 1992, and has won several awards, such as being listed in Washingtonian Magazine’s “100 Best Restaurants” and highly rated in the Zagat Survey. Naturally, the people wanted more, but needed a more casual atmosphere without all of the luxuries. La Côte D’Or, Le Marché was born and quality French food was had by all. Bon appétit!
Le Marché
6876 Lee Hwy., Arlington
lacotedorcafe.com • 703-538-3033
Hours:
Tuesday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. & 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Closed Monday
