Le Pain Quotidien

DowntownBethesda.com User Ratings and Reviews:

• 2 Stars by Chevychase79 on 03/17/09
  

  Not great. Went to this place just after it opened and felt like we were imposing on the staff. Food was adequate but unimpressive. Haven't been there since.

• 4 Stars by TiaKiki on 12/30/08
  

  I've been here four times now. I had one disappointing visit but the other three were quite good: the food was both interesting and delicious, and it was served fairly quickly.
  
  They do need to train their waitstaff; there seems to be a pretty high turnover rate, but that's not an excuse for lack of focus. The prices are typical of Bethesda. But there are few teenagers (for now) so the place is reasonably calm. There is no liquor license which is too bad: food this good deserves a glass of wine or two.

• 1 Stars by Serdar on 11/10/08
  

  Le Pain Quotidien in Bethesda: A disappointment of massive scale.
  
  Let me ask you all food connoisseurs out there: When was the last time you paid $11.50 for a really LOUSY quiche? (London and Moscow residents would not argue this, since they are used to paying $28 for it, in any given neighborhood cafe.)
  
  I was at LPQ Bethesda on Sunday, Nov. 9th, 2008. Entered the premises hoping to be greeted, no luck. I approached a person (looked like he worked there) and asked if the tables received full service, and was told "yes". Sat at the trendy "communal table" and the server came after 5min, which is way too long for a not-so-busy place. He was kind and courteous but did not know much about the menu. I glanced over the list of items and ordered an Orange Juice and a Quiche Lorraine just to satify my curiosity for my "first" visit to this establishment. My OJ came right away and waited for the quiche about 10min (way too long). My order arrived. And here's the best part: Now, I'm looking at this plate of a 3" quiche and some meaningles greens... and suddenly, I start laughing, just out of pure shock. The scene was a new low in OVERPRICED FOOD SNOBBERY. $11.50 for a quiche (as large as my palm) that did not even have any of the ingredients - stated in the menu - spread generously. I was upset, but was also hungry and ate the whole thing in 1min... and guess what? I was still hungry. The server came by and posed the very question I was waiting for: "How did you like your quiche?" ...and I grilled him using every civilized word of disgust known-to-man. He told me they get these comments all the time and he would let the manager know about my complaint. (I doubt it.) What a scheme. What an attempt to blindly rob the consumer using the usual fluff so called "French" card.
  
  I eat out all the time and go everywhere. Been to an innumerable variety of cafes, restaurants all over the world in my lifetime (and I'm only 39) This place is a major scheme and should be collectively protested by the fine inhabitants of Bethesda. A mass-email is already sent to my circle. Let the fair businesses win, not these "Franco-glazed" schemes.