A new French café and bistro called Camille Cafe Bistro is headed to 1027 7th Street NW at L Street NW in Mount Vernon Square, taking over the space that until recently housed Petite Cerise. The concept bills itself as a spot for morning coffee and midday bites that shifts into evening dinner and wine, according to signage spotted in the neighborhood.
The news comes from readers Jared and Page, who sent word about the update on the former Petite Cerise space last week, as first reported by PoPville. A liquor-license placard tied to the project describes Camille as a new Retailer's Class C restaurant, with a planned seating capacity of 182 and a total occupancy load of 192 people. The same placard lists a 40-seat sidewalk café and a live-entertainment endorsement inside the premises, per the outlet's reporting.
French Roots in the Former Petite Cerise Space
The corner space at 7th and L Streets NW has a French pedigree already. Petite Cerise, a French cafe-meets-bistro, opened there in 2023 from chef Jeremiah Langhorne and partner Alex Zink, according to Eater DC. That restaurant closed its doors on August 24, with the closure first announced over the summer, the same report notes.
Camille's branding leans into similar territory, describing itself simply as French Café and Modern Bistro fare. Beyond the broad strokes on offer — morning coffee and midday bites giving way to evening dinner and wine — no opening date, ownership, or chef has been confirmed for the new concept.
What Remains Unknown
Plenty of details are still outstanding. There's no confirmation yet of who owns or operates Camille, whether any team members have ties to Petite Cerise, or what the eventual menu, prices, and hours will look like. It's also not yet clear whether the liquor license tied to the 182-seat buildout has been approved or remains pending before regulators.
For now, the liquor-license placard offers the clearest preview of what's coming to Mount Vernon Square: a sizable dining room, a 40-seat sidewalk café, and room for live entertainment inside. Diners curious about Camille's next steps will likely be watching for permitting updates and an eventual opening announcement.
