A Day Behind the Scenes at Lutèce

Lutèce, in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., has become one of the perfect American examples of what the French have dubbed the néobistro — a specific sort of restaurant, originating in Paris, where talented chefs serve noteworthy food in everyday bistro surroundings. Chef Matt Conroy and his wife Isabel Coss leaned on their love of French cooking but amended it with a modern sensibility and a broader range of flavors. (Which they further explore at their Mexican restaurant, Pascual.)

As Americans revisit French flavors once again, the restaurant sits in the intersection of tradition, nostalgia, and the future.  We went behind the scenes with photographer Rey Lopez to see how Lutèce turns out such great food in its tiny storefront space.

Related story: How Lutèce Became America’s Perfect Take on the Néobistro