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Very Best Restaurants: La Cote D'or Cafe

Very Best Listing | Very Best by Cuisine | Very Best by Location

La Cote D'or Cafe **
Arlington, $$

You don't expect to find a French restaurant of this quality tucked between a motel and a veterinary hospital on the border of Falls Church and Arlington. But that's where you'll find it. Overseen by Raymond Campet, the former owner of La Brasserie on Capitol Hill, its traditional French fare just seems to get better and better.

Some of the best cooking here appears on the menu of daily specials. Fish soup in a savory, tomato-based broth is a good way to start a winter meal, as was a recent special of fresh foie gras, perfectly sauteed and served with raspberries. The house terrine is a cut above most both in its texture and its seasoning. Recent entree specials have included a very good cassoulet Toulousaina pot of beans with sausage and duckand a perfectly cooked veal chop with morels.

The dessert cart is worth a look, but it's hard to pass up the unusual but delicious raspberries in hot caramel sauce. The wine list is well chosen, and service is attentive.

La Cote D'or Cafe , 6876 Lee Hwy., Arlington; 703-538-3033. Open daily for lunch and dinner. MapIt!

QUALITY: ****Excellent; *** Superior; **Very Good; * Good
PRICE RANGE: $$$= Very Expensive; $$ Expensive; $=Moderate; ¢=Inexpensive

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