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Home » Restaurant Reviews » Old Ebbitt Grill – My Favorite Washington, DC Restaurant
DCRestaurant Reviews

Old Ebbitt Grill – My Favorite Washington, DC Restaurant

Matthew Klint Posted onJuly 15, 2023November 13, 2023 17 Comments

a room with tables and lamps

Over the years on more occasions than I can even remember, I have enjoyed dinner at Old Ebbitt Grill in Washington, DC. Thinking about this restaurant always makes me smile.

Old Ebbitt Grill Washington, DC Review – Always A Solid Choice

I lived in Washington, DC for portions of 2005-2007 and cannot even remember how I found Old Ebbitt Grill. There was probably an ad printed in one of those hardcover hotel city guides (remember those?) that used to be in  every hotel room.

Called the city’s “oldest saloon,” Old Ebbitt Grill opened in 1856 as not only a restaurant and bar, but a boarding house. Over the years, it  hosted a number of prominent Americans:

President McKinley is said to have lived there during his tenure in Congress, and Presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Andrew Johnson, Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt and Warren Harding supposedly refreshed themselves at its stand-around bar.

It moved to its present location just around the block from the White House about a century ago.

a building with many windows

a building with a door and windows

My history at this restaurant dates back to my days as a Capital Hill intern. Whenever family or friends would visit me, we dined here.

My favorite dish here is cannelloni, filled with ham and spinach and topped in cream sauce, a dish that is usually on the menu (though not always) and a dish that I have enjoyed for many years. The menu changes daily.

a plate of food on a table

food on a plate

a man sitting at a table with food on it
2005
a man sitting at a table with food on it
2022

Quite candidly, I’ve never regretted any of the food I’ve tried here, like a steak topped with gorgonzola cheese and served with Brussels sprouts and fingerling potatoes.

a plate of food on a table

Salads are always refreshing:

a bowl of salad on a plate

a plate of salad with potatoes and lemons

…and the bread is worth the calories and carbs.

a plate of food with butter

a menu on a table

Leave room for dessert as well…

a hand holding a paper with text

a plate of food on a table

a plate of pie and a cup of coffee

This place is consistently crowded. Book a reservation on OpenTable (ideally more than a week in advance) unless you are willing to eat quite late (the restaurant is open past midnight) or wait quite long.

a group of people sitting at a table in a restaurant

Years ago I was chatting with a United Airlines lounge agent in San Francisco (SFO) named Rosemarie. She knew I was headed to DC and suggested I try a restaurant.

“It’s called Old Ebbitt Grill. Go sit at the oyster bar. My son JT works there.”

I laughed. Of course I’m going to Old Ebbitt Grill! I got to know him over many future visits and he was always hospitable (though I am not an oyster fan…). The staff there are excellent as well.

CONCLUSION

I realize District residents might find this restaurant a little touristy or kitschy, but I love it…I’ve had so many excellent meals over the years here and never a bad one. Consider checking out Old Ebbitt Grill next time you’re in DC.

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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17 Comments

  1. Heather Reply
    July 15, 2023 at 5:43 pm

    We also love the Old Ebbitt Grill and always visit when in DC. We have very happy memories of our up young son polishing off a platter of oysters and we had to order another so we could enjoy some. Yes he should have slowed down but when a youngster enjoys good food, we believe in encouraging expanding a palate first.

  2. Jason Reply
    July 15, 2023 at 5:47 pm

    It’s a classic and a place we take out of town guests for sure. Solid food. Will perhaps pop in for lunch if I’m in the area. But not a place that I or anybody else I know goes to for reasons other than those I’ve mentioned. Overall consistent and good and well located

  3. CMT Reply
    July 15, 2023 at 7:20 pm

    I live in Alexandria and Old Ebbit is perhaps my area favorite. Never disappoints and a special vibe unique to DC.

  4. Aaron Reply
    July 15, 2023 at 7:43 pm

    And the category is…young Tilda Swinton realness!

    The place gives off old school DC vibes, which is a good thing.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      July 15, 2023 at 7:53 pm

      Is this about my hair again?

      • Aaron Reply
        July 15, 2023 at 8:53 pm

        Just the overall look…

        https://pyxis.nymag.com/v1/imgs/031/866/7f8fc1206e17e8929d189a80cdef1f6be5-04-tilda-swinton-a-bigger-splash.2x.rhorizontal.w710.jpg

  5. Maureen Flatley Reply
    July 15, 2023 at 8:05 pm

    I am a native Washingtonian who has been going to the Old Ebbitt since I was a toddler…….some of my earliest memories are tagging along w/ my FBI Agent father when the restaurant was at its old location. Though I live in Boston now I am in DC frequently, stay very close to the OEG and dine there on every single trip. I can’t ever recall anything but exemplary service and spectacular food. Not “touristy” just old school classic DC!

  6. Steve Reply
    July 15, 2023 at 8:20 pm

    I thought its overall quality lessened after the pandemic (as well as its sister restaurant, Tower Oaks Lodge in Rockville). That said pre-pandemic, I visited it monthly. I’ll try it again in early August as I’ve noted that both the Round Robin Bar and the St. Regis bar are back to pre-pandemic quality levels.

  7. Maryland Reply
    July 15, 2023 at 9:49 pm

    For DC its.

    If you have company arriving, and staying in town pick them up after a breakfast at the Old Ebbitt. Take company south to Annapolis (Jimmy Cantlers, etc) for a crab lunch. Crabs are the best in recent years. Tour the Naval Academy ( great for history) and be back in DC before dinner. I say this because great blue crabs are an opportunity not to be missed!

    • Steve Reply
      July 16, 2023 at 4:55 pm

      Cantler’s is the best@

  8. Bob Reply
    July 15, 2023 at 10:18 pm

    Save yourself the hassle of going near the White House and just eat at one of the many Clyde’s locations around DC. Same owners and same menu but way easier to get in.

  9. Arthur Reply
    July 15, 2023 at 10:26 pm

    If a tourist in town, it is one of the most consistent and reasonably priced old school DC restaurants. It is owned by Clyde’s, but that is a good thing. Get the chili.

  10. Gerri Reply
    July 16, 2023 at 12:41 am

    The Old Ebbit Grill was on my bucket list for DC. And it was delish.

  11. Santastico Reply
    July 16, 2023 at 4:16 am

    It looks great but coming off a two week trip in Europe, those prices make me cringe. Food in Europe is so much cheaper and have a much better quality than in the US. My family of 4 was in Italy and France, we ate in fantastic restaurants always with a 3 course meal (or more), had wine or Prosseco, espresso, etc… and never spent over €50 per person.

  12. CMT Reply
    July 16, 2023 at 1:01 pm

    @Maryland — Cantler’s was my go-to place to celebrate my birthday for probably a decade. Great place for a summer birthday. Loved it! Kind of funny two of my favorite DC area places mentioned in one thread.

    • Maryland Reply
      July 16, 2023 at 2:04 pm

      @CMT. The last few weeks we have been getting some of best, fat heavy crabs in years. Yum. Perhaps it’s been the weather conditions making the salinity perfect. It’s a good time to get out of DC for a couple hours and experience something pretty rare. 😉

  13. Rob Reply
    November 12, 2024 at 6:32 pm

    Superb Rec. Gave Le Diplomate a miss on account this dot I added to google maps a year ago. Didn’t disappoint!

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