Mon Ami Gabi - Bethesda

Hadn 't been to Mon Ami since before the pandemic many visits during many years beforehand and I saw a marked change. The wait staff is much younger and far less experienced now...a sign of the times. Upon being seated in the main dining area, one chair edge of the tablecloth had visible brown stains and/or a dirty cloth was simply left on the table covered by a clean paper top sheet. Upon notifying the waiter, he asked if my party wanted to relocate to another table, which we didn 't, yet the waiter didn 't make the appropriate decision to change the tablecloth. That should have been a no brainer. One of my party called over the manager to get that done. A customer should never have to ask for an unsightly or dirty tablecloth change, particularly in an upscale restaurant. There were also some lesser but still valid service foibles such as not providing straws with soft drinks, not clearing the many bread crumbs all over the tablecloth after my party enjoyed the delicious, crusty bread before the first course arrived, and not providing ketchup with fries...and then the waiter not bringing it after asked, so, a bus boy flagged down and asked for it, i.e., WE need ketchup, please, but only one half filled very small metal cup of ketchup for just one of the two obvious dishes with a mound of French fries on each was brought...and, a third request had to be made and an inordinate wait to receive it. The waiter had a very pleasant disposition and the restaurant was busy but he needed to check back more frequently to ensure all was OK, particularly due to having forgotten to bring the meal condiment. Also, my steak au poivre, which I 've had many times at Mon Ami, had a larger than acceptable amount of un trimmed fat a first for me there. Having worked in a fine dining restaurant a hundred years ago tuxedo uniform, presenting live lobsters on large trays for patrons ' personal selections, etc. my detailed training picked out the problems quickly, however, despite that background, as a guest of this restaurant, I still expect better trained wait staff. Not at pre pandemic standards of service or food quality, so, a bit disappointing. Won 't be at the top of my list to visit again next nice dinner out.

Great food and service! Service: Dine in Meal type: Dinner Price per person: $30–50 Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Recommended dishes: French Onion Soup, Steak Frites

Service: Dine in Meal type: Lunch Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Recommended dishes: Chocolate Mousse, Caesar Salad

It was phenomenal! The food was excellent and the waiter was top notch!!!

The owners and staff at Mon Ami Gabi really went over and above did my Dad's 80th birthday dinner!! Great service, great food, excellent dining experience!!