Chez Francois L'Auberge   

One of Washington's most adored places to dine sits tucked away in the hills of Great Falls, Va. A favorite of locals year after year, the unpretentious French restaurant seems completely unaffected by its countless awards. The outside is quaint and romantically lit with small, white lights. Step inside and you'll immediately be set at ease by the cozy provincial interior. The cuisine is traditionally Alsatian and changes with the seasons. Chef Jacques Haeringer (the son of owner and original chef, Francois) uses mostly local ingredients to ensure freshness, but also incorporates European delicacies that are flown in daily. For example, you might find fresh Dover sole and Alsatian sausage juxtaposed with Virginia ham and Shenandoah rainbow trout on a menu that seems to have a bit of everything. The staff is attentive but not intrusive, knowledgeable but not overbearing; they endure proposals and birthdays nightly but never seem too jaded to make yours special. Perhaps the best indicator of the restaurant's popularity among Washington's well-heeled diners: Reservations must be made exactly four weeks in advance. -- Nick Freshman