The upscale French restaurant La Ferme plans to add a new bar this winter.
Owner Alain Roussel said the bar will replace the small private dining area called “La Bar”, which holds about 25 people, but does not have an actual bar.
The new bar will have about 15 stools in an approximately 500-square-foot space. Roussel said the private dining area currently is used only about twice a week, but the renovated bar area will be open every day. He sees it as an opportunity to “bring some life into the business.”
The bar will feature a small plates menu as well as serve the restaurant’s full menu, according to Roussel.
Construction is slated to begin just after New Year’s and wrap up before Valentine’s Day, if all goes well. The restaurant plans to stay open during the process.
Roussel said the bar will be the restaurant’s first full-service bar. It currently only has a service bar where bartenders make drinks for servers who deliver them to tables.
In November, La Ferme will celebrate 30 years in business at 7101 Brookville Road in Chevy Chase. Roussel has owned the restaurant for all 30 years.
When asked what it meant to him to be in business for so long, especially in an industry that sees high turnover rates, Roussel replied, “It means that I’m 30 years older than when I started.”
But, he added, “It’s a good feeling… knowing that we have lots of long-time customers coming back after all these years, it makes me happy.”
