Washington, DC loves brunch, and so do we.  Every Sunday morning we lace up our shoes and head out to the next restaurant, in hopes of adding another name to a growing list of places we recommend. Marcel’s by Robert Wiedmaier is a traditional French restaurant with a great reputation for fine dining.  Now, for the first time in their 17 year history, they have opened their doors for us to explore their interpretation of brunch. And as we discovered, it’s not your average brunch.

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Served in 3 courses, we were able to explore several of the new menu items. For our first course, Scott loved the Pan Seared Diver Scallop with Baby Spinach and Osetra Caviar Butter, and later claimed it was his favorite dish of the meal. I am still having visions of my Cashew Crab Cake , and as a recent convert to the seafood side, I was infatuated. Light, flavorful, and exquisitely presented.

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Our second course, the entree, was difficult to choose from such an appetizing selection. Scott picked the Poached Farm Eggs and Duck Prosciutto, Toasted Brioche, and Madeira Essence. As delicious as it sounds, keep in mind there is a lot of bread, so prepare for carb heaven. I was more than delighted with the Farmhouse Chicken with Gruyere Cheese Potato Cake, Melange of Vegetables, and Tarragon Jus, which won my pick for favorite dish. It’s the sauce that tickled my fancy, and if I had the ability I would order it in bulk.

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The third course was all about sugar, and the desserts were almost too pretty to eat. After one bite of the Flourless Valrhona Chocolate Cake Caramel Ganache, Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Bombe, and Baileys Irish Ice Cream, I forgot about pretty and it was gone within seconds. Talk about regret. Savor that puppy, if you can.

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I also grabbed a quick shot of the Almond Financier, Sunflower-Butter Ice Cream, Cranberry Coulis, Apricot Gel, and Ginger Crumble, which again – too pretty to eat.

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Those of you who enjoy libations can choose from the largest Champagne selection in the Washington, DC area, or continue to search through the 16 pages of wines for another one to match your food selections.

Though definitely a more upscale version of brunch, it’s a fabulous choice for fine-dining foodies with a menu that is accessible to all palettes.  Marcel’s three course brunch is available on Sundays from 11:30am – 2:30pm for $65, and $28 for children (12 and under).

Marcel's Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato