La Pâte is now open at 1250 U Street NW in Washington DC, serving Sicilian-style square pizza, fresh pasta and focaccia sandwiches beside Emmy French Corner. The new restaurant occupies the former &pizza space, right by the U Street Metro entrance at 13th Street.
Owners Imen and Nabil are building the menu around dough. During DC Spot’s opening visit, the owner said the kitchen makes pasta every morning on its own machine and gives the pizza dough 48 hours to ferment before baking. The same approach extends to the focaccia, sauces and meatballs, with meat ground in-house.
Disclosure: DC Spot has a paid social media partnership with La Pâte.
The couple behind La Pâte and Emmy French Corner
There is a personal story behind the two restaurants sitting side by side. The owner told DC Spot that he opened the French café for his wife as a wedding gift. She later opened La Pâte for him next door.
The neighboring café is Emmy French Corner, known for croissants and sculpted fruit desserts. At La Pâte, the French name means “dough,” but the food moves toward Italian pasta, pizza and bread.
The couple introduced the concept in an opening announcement shared by PoPville. That early announcement listed September 18; the owner’s later information provided to DC Spot identified September 18 as friends-and-family service and September 19 as the grand opening.
Sicilian pizza starts with a 48-hour dough
The pizza comes in rectangular Sicilian-style pies. DC Spot’s photos show thick-edged trays topped with pepperoni and combinations of meat and vegetables, cut into square portions for serving.
According to the owner, the dough uses Italian 00 flour and ferments for two days. The kitchen also uses San Marzano tomatoes and shreds its cheese in-house.
The online ordering menu includes cheese, pepperoni, White Bianca and truffle mushroom with ricotta, along with chicken and vegetable options. Check the menu when ordering; availability can change as the kitchen sells through the day’s preparation.
Fresh pasta, focaccia and opening-menu prices
For pasta, the menu photographed by DC Spot offers a choice of shape and sauce. Options include penne, spaghetti, fettuccine, linguine and rigatoni, with sauces such as marinara, Alfredo, roasted garlic lemon, pesto and spicy arrabbiata. Lasagna and several kinds of ravioli are listed separately.
The focaccia sandwiches include chicken pesto with provolone, Caprese Fresco, Tuscan Mushroom Melt and Italiano Supremo. There are also house-made meatballs, garlic knots, salads and tomato-basil soup.
These prices were displayed on the restaurant’s menu boards photographed September 18, 2026:
- Build-your-own pasta and sauce: $12.99, before optional protein additions.
- Lasagna or primavera: $15.99.
- Focaccia sandwiches: $11.99–$12.99.
- Kids’ pasta or mac and cheese: $7.99.
Treat those as an opening-menu snapshot, not guaranteed current prices. Delivery-app prices differ, and tax or other charges may apply.
Is La Pâte halal?
The owners describe the menu as 100% halal. That matches both their public opening announcement and what the owner told DC Spot during the visit. This is the restaurant’s representation; DC Spot has not independently verified a halal certification.
Ask the restaurant directly about a particular ingredient or preparation requirement before ordering.
Getting to La Pâte on U Street
The address is 1250 U Street NW, Washington DC 20009, near the corner of 13th and U. Look for the gold La Pâte sign beside the Metro escalators; Emmy French Corner is next door.
The U Street station’s 13th Street entrance is the convenient exit for the restaurant. If you are planning a meal around another outing, browse DC Spot’s Washington DC weekly guide for things to do before or after your meal.
Hours and online ordering
The owner told DC Spot that service starts at 11 a.m. As checked September 28, the Uber Eats listing shows ordering hours of 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Monday–Thursday, 11 a.m.–2 a.m. Friday–Saturday, and 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Sunday. Those are platform-listed hours; dine-in closing times have not been confirmed. Check directly before making a late-night trip.
La Pâte Washington DC FAQ
Where is La Pâte in Washington DC?
La Pâte is at 1250 U Street NW, next to Emmy French Corner and the U Street Metro entrance near 13th Street. It occupies the former &pizza space.
What kind of pizza does La Pâte serve?
La Pâte serves Sicilian-style square pizza. The owner says its dough ferments for 48 hours before baking.
Does La Pâte make its pasta in-house?
The owner told DC Spot that the kitchen makes fresh pasta every morning using its own pasta machine. The menu includes customizable pasta, lasagna and ravioli.
Is La Pâte’s menu halal?
The owners advertise a 100% halal menu. DC Spot has not independently verified certification, so confirm any specific dietary requirements with the restaurant.
Who owns La Pâte?
Imen and Nabil, the owners of Emmy French Corner next door, are behind La Pâte. The owner says he opened the café as a wedding gift for his wife, and she later opened La Pâte for him.
Can you order La Pâte for delivery?
La Pâte has an Uber Eats ordering page. Delivery availability depends on your address, and platform prices may differ from the in-store menu.
