Great Falls Landmark L'auberge Chez Francois Celebrates 35th Anniversary

In 1976 Gerald Ford was President, a postage stamp was 13 cents, gas averaged 50 cents a gallon, and restaurateur Francois Haeringer reopened his famous restaurant among the rolling green hills of Northern Virginia. To commemorate that auspicious beginning 35 years ago, L'Auberge Chez Francois will offer all wines on the menu, including their vintage special cellar selections, at a 50% discount during lunch and dinner on Wednesday, April 20, 2011.

"The plan on opening night, April 20, 1976, was to serve seventy-five people. My father and I would do all the cooking and my mother would prepare the pastries," explains Chef Jacques Haeringer, chef and owner of L'Auberge Chez Francois. "Papa, always generous with his customers, could not say no to the many of his loyal patrons who wanted to be there for the opening and we were way overbooked that night. After the first seating, there was nothing left to serve. Prepared to go out and tell his customers that we were out of almost everything, Papa was saved when a sudden rainstorm knocked out the power. How could we serve dinner with no electricity? No one had to know that we also had no food."

"Papa's pride was his ability to provide our customers with the rich flavors of his native Alsace. To honor his vision and our auspicious beginning thirty-five years ago, we are raising our glasses in a toast, and offering 50% off of our most popular item, our exclusive selection of wines."

OpenTable.com voted L'Auberge Chez Francois one of the 50 Best Restaurants in the United States for 2010. Readers of Washingtonian magazine have voted L'Auberge Chez Francois as their favorite restaurant for 22 years and the magazine recently named the restaurant one of its Top 50 Best for 2011. The restaurant has received numerous awards such as AAA's Four Diamond Award for their outstanding service and quality and is featured often in magazines such as Bon Appetit, Gourmet and Wine Spectator, and regularly holds a top spot in Zagat Survey.

To make lunch or dinner reservations for the April 20 anniversary special go to their website, www.LAubergeChezFrancois.com, or www.OpenTable.com or by calling 703-759-3800.

L'Auberge Chez Francois is open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and Sunday from noon until 3:00 p.m. The restaurant is open for dinner Tuesday through Friday starting at 5:00 p.m., Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and Sundays Noon to 7:30 p.m. Reservations can be made online at www.LAubergeChezFrancois.com , OpenTable.com or by calling 703-759-3800.