A long-time NoVA dining establishment is making a big change. L’Auberge Chez François in Great Falls — a staple on our Best Restaurants list — announced that Thompson Restaurants president Warren Thompson is taking over this month “as steward of the restaurant.”
Founded by Alsace, France, native François Haeringer, L’Auberge Chez François has been a fine French dining institution in Great Falls since 1976. It will remain under the leadership of executive chef Jacques Haeringer, according to a Thompson Restaurants representative.
It will also have the “same Alsatian menu, same charm, same staff, same sense of occasion that’s made this place a rite of passage for generations of first dates, anniversaries and family celebrations in the DC area.”
“For decades, we’ve created exceptional culinary experiences, built on fine cuisine and excellent service. It’s all about the memories people build here, one visit at a time,” Haeringer said in a release. “This next chapter is built around carrying that feeling forward, for the guests who’ve been coming for decades and the ones just discovering us. Warren has loved this restaurant as a guest for years, and he understands what makes it special as well as anyone, which is exactly why I trust him with its future.”
Thompson Restaurants
Founded in 1992, Thompson Restaurants owns and operates establishments in Maryland, Virginia, DC, Ohio, and Florida. Local brands include Makers Union, Ms. Peach’s Southern Kitchen, and Milk & Honey.
“Being part of this restaurant’s story isn’t something I take lightly,” Thompson said. “As a long-standing member of the community, this restaurant has always held significance to me, long before I ever imagined playing a role in its future. Places like this are rare, they become part of how a community remembers itself. My role now is simple, to help make sure it’s here, in the same spirit, for decades to come.”
Feature photo of Warren Thompson and Jacques Haeringer by James Diedrich
