Marcel’s

The trick with French cuisine is keeping true to the classics while adding the right edge of modern embellishment. Marcel’s has this tricky formula down. Old school, fill-you-up-by-a-fire fare like pork belly and turbot with peas is hearty and thick, inducing pleasant drowsiness and a satisfied sense of stuffed. But the sprucing on the side – quail egg and cornichons, or the miso that accompanies the Alaskan cod – is just understated enough to ratchet the dining experience into a level approaching, and even dipping into, greatness. A classy touch: Marcel’s offers a complimentary limousine service to the Kennedy Center, so this is an ideal spot for pre-theater dining.