Old Ebbitt Grill
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Our downtown DC favorite for dinner or just cocktails. Updated classic dining. We usually try to secure seats at the main bar near the entrance. On our last visit there were no spots so we opted for the corner bar which was still lively. With four separate bars we were bound to find seats at one. The restaurant is expansive with a stately upscale saloon feel. The entrance is dramatic and the wooden soldiers flanking the doors during the holidays is always special. On this trip we shared the zucchini chips. They were thicker than expected and were lightly breaded and delicious. I usually get crabcakes but on this visit opted for the whole trout. I made a good choice. It was tender and flavorful and was dressed with green beans and toasted almonds for a nice combination of textures. The brown butter was yummy. My companion had the spicy sausage garganelli which the diners next to us had and highly recommended. The pasta was done perfectly al dente. It was savory and delicious and definitely something we'd order again. The staff there are true professionals. Our service was good overall although the food took a little long to arrive. My review is long overdue as we've been coming here for decades. We were there when the Clinton motorcade went by during his inauguration. The rich history and food make the Old Ebbitt Grill a favorite.
A wonderful dinner at the Old Ebbitt. I landed from Los Angeles and Qili went above and beyond tonight. She understood honest great service. Her recommendations met my expectations. Best service I've had here. Service was attentive, personal, and efficient. My pork chop was cooked to perfection! The potatoes au gratin were super yummy. Cocktails were also a hit! I wished my Irish coffee didn't have a bitter (burnt coffee flavor) but otherwise great! Another fabulous meal here!
Yelp had a huuuuuge qty of reviews so I thought this joint might be good, and it didn't disappoint. There were people spilling onto the street waiting for a table, but being a "party of 1" I was able to find an open seat at the bar...score! Great selection of local brews. So I had a few! Opted for the filet and added a crab cake, because I'm in DC! Steak great! Crab cake..great! Just not a good deal for $25 add on... Cane with whipped potato which was very tasty and way more than one person should eat... I wrapped it all up with a seasonal peach cobbler, which also was massive, but I had little trouble finishing it! Ambiance is upscale saloon, service was friendly and attentive, and prices...well, this is steps from the White House, so... If I'm back in town I'll bring my bride... this joint makes the list!
The food was delicious and the service was welcoming. We were greeted by a kind hostess, she welcomed us with a warm smile. We went during the lunch rush and were served quickly and efficiently. The overall scene was a little loud with voices but I'd rather hear people talking than blasting music.
Oldest spot in DC! Wonderful place for any meal. Service is great and ambiance is old school luxury. I had a paper plane and the nicoise salad. Both were wonderful. I don't have anything bad to say about this spot. Do yourself a favor and go. Pro tip - make a res.
This restaurant is tradition anytime I'm back home in D.C. I've been coming here since I was a teenager with my parents and it was always a place we'd bring visiting family. I called ahead to make reservations for me and my daughter and we enjoyed dinner and dessert. Service was excellent! No complaints
I kept seeing this place pop up as one of the few places to try in DC and we saved it for last and so glad we did! The service, food, and hospitality was the best we received in DC. Coming from CA, this place had the BEST crab cakes ever!! So let's back track, we opted for the bar instead of a table which I preferred. Our server was great. We ordered the clam chowder, shrimp and grits, oysters, and crab cake to share. Everything was super yummy, only downside was things did take a while to come out But I will be definitely dreaming of the crab cake, it was literally all crab! Oysters were fresh, shrimp and grits was a bit too tomatoy for me, but still yummy. And the clam chowder was delish too
I was so excited to try this because I heard multiple presidents have been here! We went around 10pm and they sat us right away. We got a few different dishes to share - the asparagus, scallops, clam chowder and caviar. And I loved it all! No complaints about the food. It was also my first time trying caviar so definitely an experience I won't forget. The service was not bad. Our server Johnny checked on us but I do wish he had been more friendly and talkative as it was our first time in DC and trying this restaurant. We spent $200 plus tip. Might come back to try something else
Old Ebbitt Grill is one of Washington, DC's most storied saloons (turned into a restaurant), packed with old school charm. It has been open 150 years after starting in 1856. It's moved around a bit over the years and the exact original location is a mystery. The restaurant story is just the start. The food of course is where it's at. Old Ebbitt is famous for it's crab cakes according to the server so you know what direction I went in. They were more like a Maryland crab cake which has a ton of meat. We were at their lunch dining so salads were also ordered and tasted amazing. Finished the mean off with a Key Lime Pie and coffee. Reservations are highly recommended given its popularity. They also asked that all attendees in your party are present so remember that to be seated. Situated near the White House, and directly across the street from The Department of Treasury, it's an ideal spot for a meal before or after site seeing. What's clear about Old Ebbitt Grill is its longstanding appeal. President McKinley was such a fan he reportedly lived there during his Congressional days. Presidents Grant, Johnson, Cleveland, and Roosevelt all stopped in, basically making it a hot spot in Washington. If it's President approved you should go also!
I got to hit up the oldest saloon in DC before heading back home! A lot larger than I expected (which is amazing!) to help accommodate all of the people wanting to go there. Super popular tourist spot (and with good reason!),I def reccomend making a reservation. Luckily for my visit on a Saturday at 1pm, the wait to be seated wasn't too long, only about 10 minutes. I've never had oysters anywhere besides New York so I wanted to try them here and my mom got the fried oyster deviled eggs. Our sever Stephanie was such a delight and probably has the coolest pin collection I've ever seen. Also the restaurant just has a really beautiful atmosphere to sit down and enjoy some really great hospitality. Onto the food! Oysters were smaller than I thought they'd be but SO FLAVORFUL and just the right amount of brine, and slid beautifully from the shell 10/10 The deviled eggs were given a 10/10, presentation was beautiful and the pickled relish was a well rounded addition We then finished up by sharing the cheasapeake eggs Benedict! Which featured their famous crab cake. The HOLLANDAISE?? literally danced in my mouth. The crab meat was so tender and buttery! Only difference I would've loved if the smoked paprika that was on the deviled eggs to also be featured on the Benedict! Over all it was a very lovely and sense awakening experience 9/10
Old Ebbitt Grill is a very good option for lunch, brunch, or dinner in downtown DC. It is in proximity to The White House and Pennsylvania Avenue corridor. For planning purposes, you are within walking distance to Freedom Plaza, Lafayette Park, and a direct path to the Washington Monument. The food here is very good, but what you're paying for is the rich history of the establishment and great customer service. Our server, Peter, was very knowledgeable of the restaurant history and menu, friendly, and engaged us in organic conversation. The management team was also very friendly and engaging. Some of the best customer service you can experience in DC. The recipes and menu options are simple, but the execution is what makes this place an easy return for diners. They are known for their seafood here, oysters in particular, with a solid selection of staples. The biggest value is perhaps lunch as there are a few options around $20 that are filling and delicious; beating similar pricing for lunch at other places, but at a lesser value. The interior is characteristic of 20th century American midwest saloon. A lot of Victorian decor with mahogany wood throughout. Much of the character of the restaurant is built on this idea. The restaurant group has done a good job of preserving what seems to be original interior and exterior design from the previous occupant, the B. F. Keith's Theater. There's a downstairs which has space for private dining, and there are multiple bars indoors, an atrium, and lounge all which the latter are operated by Old Ebbitt Grill. Overall, a very good experience for good good and a history lesson.
Service was amazingly fast for a busy day, food was great too! Parking is the biggest challenge here, right across the street from the White House can be daunting. Was able to have a nice fast meal with a variety of fresh oysters, my favorite raw bar pick. They also make a delicious rib eye which was cooked to perfection. This is the oldest restaurant in DC, it was very large and spacious with an old tavern feel with a touch or class. Nice place to stop in just to sample all the types of oysters especially during the happy hours 3-6pm.
This place is absolutely phenomenal !!! From a delightful greeting of the hostess, to the server's introduction, to the delivery of my fresh oysters, and the delivery of my first drink --- everything was above reproach. This is now my new favorite restaurant in Washington DC. The reviews didn't lie. The ambience gives a fine dining feel, but with a layer of casual relaxation. I ordered the swordfish and I was not disappointed. Five stars is not enough for the historical and exquisite representation of culinary arts. I bow to the Chef and say thank you !!!
3 years ago
I needed to wait a few hours for a flight to CA. I found this place on Yelp, and enjoyed a delicious Branzino. I washed that down with the Evolution IPA, then finished my experience with an Irish Gunpowder Gin Martini. Samuel was my bartender, and he was execellent! read more
3 years ago
I'm giving this place a 4 star for the service and for how good the ribeye my friend ordered was. My salad was not the best I've had. There could have been more steak and well more salad. I also had a crab dip appetizer so that helped to fill me up but the dip was salty for my taste. I would go back here though as the menu is great, the ambiance and crowd is nice. read more
What an amazing place for dinner!! We read some reviews before coming and everyone said to make a reservation. Well... they had none by the time we called. So we figured we would walk over and see if someone cancelled. The hostess told us we could sit at the bar and eat! There was so much room! The food? Outstanding. It was a bit pricey, but absolutely delicious. read more
2 years ago
The Good: Right around the corner from the White House No line for lunch and we walked right in without a reservation! Unheard of pre-COVID! Beautiful decor Amazing oysters on the half shell Very strict social distancing/mask requirements The Bad: Our server never came back to check on us after our food came Had to flag down the manager to get our bill Pricey The Ugly: None - definitely worth a visit if you're in town! read more
3 years ago
Delicious food, lots of choices! The vibe of this restaurant is happening in Washington DC!! We loved this place! It's clean & excellent food! Burgers, steak Frites, clams & salads were all fresh! We would definitely go back next time we visit DC. Service was on point. Daysi was great! read more
This was our first meal in DC. They open at 11am and we arrived around 11:30am. We were starving. We ordered the crab cake, the fried oyster, the reuben sandwich, and for dessert we ordered key lime pie. First off, all the food were served at room temperature even the fried oyster which tasted average to below average. The Reuben was TERRIBLE! The meat texture was bizarre. Flaky/crumbly with platic-y taste. We left most uneaten. It is NOTHING like waht you'd get in NYC! The crab cake was pretty good. Generous chunks of crab and good seasoning. Too bad it was served Luke warm. For dessert we got the key lime pie. I like Edward's better. Definitely was expecting way better based on the reviews... read more
3 years ago
What can I say about this place but GREAT! We arrived at our reservation time and took us right in, though busy. Great management of flow of customers. Food was on point and tasted phenomenal, our daughter even ate the lobster artichoke dip. read more
Found this while scrolling through Yelp for must-try places in DC and glad we came! I was able to snag a happy hour reservation for the family. We were seated promptly and given some recommendations for their specialties which included oysters and home-made pasta. Arthur was absolutely amazing and made us feel very welcome. To start, we got the recommended calamari, crab and artichoke dip, meatballs, and a dozen of mixed oysters, Everything was incredibly fresh and the calamari stood out with a light crispy exterior and succulent inside. My personal favorite were the belle du jour oysters. They also offer a kid's menu on a themed activity sheet with crayons which I found to be adorable. For entrees, we had the: *Jumbo double crab cakes- this was incredibly good paired with the tartar sauce and coleslaw but the portion was smaller than I'd expected. *Filet mignon- perfectly medium rare with browned edges, but the jus did not carry as much depth as it could have. The potato pave, on the other hand, was surprisingly good and very texturally satisfying. *Mussels di fravolo- pasta was al dente and packed with flavor and had a kick to it. For drinks, we had the sangria (slightly watered down, would not recommend) and the crushed velvet (cocktail with a lavender and lemon base- this was excellent). We also ordered the salted caramel bread pudding and peach cobbler for dessert under Arthur's rec and I'm glad we did! The bread pudding is probably the best I've had at any restaurant by far and I wish I could've gotten three more to go. Absolutely recommend getting this if you come here, so make sure to save some stomach space for dessert. Overall, Old Ebbitt was a fantastic place to grab dinner, and a tourist 'trap' that actually felt worthwhile. There's hints of its history scattered throughout the decor of the restaurant which adds even more charm to the place, and you can't beat the prime location right next to the White House. read more
4 years ago
Both the Hamilton and Old Ebbitt Grill are owned by the same owners. So don't make the mistake of going to both like we did. The atmosphere was unique very old and lots of history. We started with bread, butter, Oysters Rockefeller and beet salad. Bread was warm, butter deliciousness extra! The Beet salad was a disappointment but the oysters melted in your mouth. The pork chop was delicious and chicken fettuccine was very good. We ordered the peanut butter pie and that was devoured. The filling was delicious. Overall a good meal but yes pricey and not excellent. read more
2 years ago
Victorian style digs and we had a blast visiting this elegant restaurant established in 1856, just steps from The White House and museums downtown. We had the following : 6 types of oysters as starters, wings, calamari : I( liked their way of providing lemon with a net on it for clean squeeze), Trout parmesan with a side veggies, white fish with fries, steak and eggs. read more
4 years ago
OEG is definitely a staple. I am so glad I went. The staff was super friendly. Highly recommend making reservations but if you're coming after peak meal hours then you may be seated right away without reservations. I hung out at the back bar for a few hours. Their menu is simple which I prefer. I had half a dozen oysters and choose their mix option which gave me 2 of each. The lobster roll was good. Fries were crisp. Given I was hanging for a while I also ordered dessert which was perfect. They have an extensive drink menu and plenty of bar seating. It appears a bit prestige but I don't think they'd mind if you show up in casual clothing. Don't get intimidated. Definitely go here if you're in DC. read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
Fascinating old time bar with intricate wood work and fine details. If the restaurant had walls that could talk, important history moments, I'm sure are remarkable. Great options, fresh raw bar, crafted cocktails. All the spirits and wine you can think of. Beers on tap and wine list. read more
My boyfriend and I came here with another couple for their happy hour! It's daily from 3-5. The discount is on the raw bar. We decided to get a huge platter of oysters, clams, & shrimp. It was so good! All of our entrees were delicious- especially the pasta. Our server was super friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu. This is a great spot for drinks and dinner, especially if you can get there for the deal on the raw bar. The ambiance is nice, a little old school and moody. It was great for our double date. read more
2 years ago
Great food and great service! The bourbon sangria was so unique and tasty. The crab cake was SO MUCH CRAB- not just breading filler like many restaurants. The pork chop was wonderful. Friendly banter from our waiter made everything even better. read more
2 years ago
I came for brunch on my birthday. To be honest, I had high expectations, and was ultimately let down. The location is great and the decor and ambiance are nice, but the food and service left more to be desired. Something that could also be uncomfortable is the spacing of the tables; tables are small and packed pretty closely together. So close that I was able to hear the tables next to me's conversations very clearly. I got the New England clam chowder. It was okay, not as creamy as I like it, but that's just my preference. I also ordered the breakfast sandwich which came with potatoes. They were both a bit plain. On the other hand, their drinks were delicious. Service was okay, not the most attentive. I waited for a while for my server to checkup on me to order something else, but I didn't see him so I couldn't flag him down. When he finally checked up on me, he didn't seem to completely stop walking away until he realized I wanted something. It was a bit odd to me. read more
Fascinating mix of seafarers such as Maine Lobsters and Caviar to meatloaf and fried chicken this Washington D.C. high ended full service restaurant requiring advanced reservation fully deserved solid five stars. The $20 corkage fee was reasonable and personable wait staff was friendly and attentive. There was no real high class sommelier and each dish was $18-35. The appetizer seafood towers ranged from $150-250, but you must like oysters. I had roasted chicken with mashed potato and spinach, soft crabs were pretty up to par, mussel clams were perfect and artichoke spinach dip with bread was so, so. The crab cake was huge and soup was all vegetarian. I loved the expensive decor and beautiful location just in front of the Treasury department. The place was hopping and dishes were perfect in size, prices and service. read more
3 years ago
Fantastic food, amazing ambiance, and rich history at this restaurant. I had a half dozen oysters and shared the buffalo wings for appetizers along with my Bloody Maryland. Had the OEG burger entree. Everything was fantastic! read more
4 years ago
Food is great especially the crab cakes and all of the desserts are delicious! We had dinner during a shift change, our original server was great and attentive, the second was mediocre. I will definitely go back again because the food was just great! read more
2 years ago
Just a classic late oyster happy hour joint. I've also loved the bloody Mary's the one with the jumbo shrimp. It gets crowded on the weekends AND there's like 4 different bars in the place so you can always find a seat sooner or later. Just go you'll love it even if it isn't happy hour. This place is legendary read more
2 years ago
Love Old Ebbitt's!!! Always stop in when I am in town. Oysters are always excellent -plump & fresh. Service is top notch and great people watching. read more
2 years ago
Love this place!!! Say hi to Walter at the bar. Great oyster selection. Good old fashioned. read more
4 years ago
This was my second time dining at this DC staple and this time was pretty solid like the first. We started with the Meatballs which were tasty, not the best I've had but certainly not bad for a restaurant that doesn't focus on Italian food. We also had the calamari which were decent and plentiful. In addition we had oysters which were tasty! We asked our server to pick out the oysters and she didn't disappoint! For our mains we had fillet steak which was really good. The large order of baby back ribs which I also had last time and were again good! We also ordered the bacon Burger which was decent. As usual the place was packed and as such the service was a bit on the slow side. Overall pretty good experience, bill was about $50 per person with no alcohol. read more
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My first time at Old Ebbitt Grill. A place with not only incredible food, but a historical ambiance that has me imagining the number of deals that have been completed over an Incredible meal prepared in an excellent fashion. Wait staff was excellent, friendly and helpful. Kudos to the chef on the trout. Some places in DC operate on an outlived reputation- not this place. Short walk from the White House, and the White House visitors center. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
More info about Old Ebbitt Grill
675 15th St NW
Washington, DC 20005
Directions
(202) 347-4800
Call Now
Visit Website
https://www.ebbitt.com
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Ask the Community - Old Ebbitt Grill
Can I get lobster Benedict?
It is not currently on the menu and they will not make substitutions, even if they have the ingredients.
Does it have only one restroom for patrons and staff?
No... there are multiple restrooms
Can I get the Chesapeake Benedict at the Saturday Brunch, although it's on the Breakfast Menu?
What is the wait time for a table during peak hours?
About an hour to an hour and a half. Went last Saturday night and it was about that long.
What's the difference between the lunch and dinner menus?
Quantity. Amount of options. They have different menus for different occasions. It is best to use website to see the lates updated/the seasonal
Do you offer takeout or delivery services?
They offer to go. Not sure on delivery.
Unable to get Friday evening reservations, how likely is it to find open bar seating after 7pm?
It's a busy place you'd be taking a chance !
Can i go together with my baby(8months)?
When there in the spring, I saw several strollers and young babies, toddlers. Staff and patrons seemed quite accommodating.
Do they still serve lobster?
Not currently, but it may return depending on the season.
What's the dress code?
I asked them when we went and they said, everything from a tux to shorts and a t shirt. So, it is whatever you would like. From the feel, though, it's a sort of business casual.
Is there outside seating?
There isn't. But right around the corner is The Hamilton and they do have outside seating. The Hamilton and Old Ebbitt is the same owner thus they have same menu. Great food!!!
Is it quiet during dinner time? Is it a good place for a date?
I think it'd absolutely be a great place for a date! It's a beautiful location, they have delicious food that's served attractively and the service is great too. I would take a date there, but my wife would get angry...
Is the happy hour only at the bar? Should I make a reservation for the late night happy hour?
As far as I know happy hour pertains to the bar (at least when I've gone), but they have at least four bars- one in each room upstairs. I can't remember if there's a bar downstairs.…
Do you need a reservation for a Tuesday evening?
Always make reservations there. That place is usually packed
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1,131 reviews that are not currently recommended
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Old Ebbitt Grill - bars - Updated September 2026
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