Menus; About About; Hours & Location; Employee Assistance Fund; Press; Oysters The wooden crossbeams on the 10-foot ceilings are accented by a style of pinstripe stenciling popular at the turn of the century. The hustle and bustle was fun! [67][71][72], The new Old Ebbitt Grill improved its menu. [34][35] Over the next two years, Burch and Gibbs completely refurnished all the rooms, adding new furniture and Belgian carpets, re-papered or added painted frescoes to the ceilings, and installed new furniture in the hallways. ", Tuck, Lon. [30] Rear Admiral John Lee Davis also lived and died there. Since 1970, because of its popularity Old Ebbitt Grill has been frequented by numerous politicians, some known for scandals and maneuvering. The United States was barred by the Boland Amendment from supporting the Contras. [79], The restaurant continued to improve through the late 1970s and into the early 1980s. Crab cakes and the ribeye were perfect! Stuart Davidson (1922 - 2001) and John Laytham (1944-2019), owners of a newer Washington institution, Clyde's of Georgetown, expressed an interest in buying the Ebbitt's collection of antique beer steins to display at Clyde's. Located just two blocks from the White House, this historic venue sits right in the middle of all of the history and character Washington, D.C. has to offer. Old Ebbitt Grill has four bars: the Old Bar, which is part of the Main Dining Room and features the mounted game trophies, the Oyster Bar to the right of the entry foyer, Grant's Bar toward the rear of the restaurant adjacent to the Atrium Dining Room, and the Corner Bar up the short steps and to the left of the entry foyer along G Street NW. Where was the original Old Ebbitt Grill? [114] Some of the business was made up by Ebbitt Express, which by December 1997 was serving 600 meals a daytwice as many as projected. Stuart Davidson (1922 - 2001) and John Laytham (1944-2019), owners of a newer Washington institution, Clyde's of Georgetown, expressed an interest in buying the Ebbitt's collection of antique beer steins to display at Clyde's. ", Schulte, Brigid. Griffin, W.E.B. An oyster bar was added to the rear of the restaurant on the main floor. Established in 1856 and just steps from The White House and the city's famous museums, the restaurant has always been a favorite haunt of celebrities, theater-goers, journalists, and political insiders, as well as Presidents Grant, Cleveland, Harding and Theodore . 8885 reviews of Old Ebbitt Grill "There is nothing negative I can say about the Old Ebbitt Grille, it is just that good. Along the way, the restaurant acquired beer steins, animal heads (reputedly bagged by Teddy Roosevelt) and wooden bears said to have been imported by Alexander Hamilton for his private bar. [134], Restaurant Business Magazine reported in October 2014 that Old Ebbitt Grill ranked third in the nation in revenue for 2013. Waitress rushed us out because her shift was ending and she wanted her tip- charged an additional service fee because of restaurant had expenses??? [100] Washington Post food critic Phyllis Richman declared the restaurant's signature hamburger its best entree. Crab cakes and oysters were delicious, highly recommend. ", Zito, Tort. Skip to main content. Please call Jordan Hammes at 202.552.5000, 675 15th St NW, Washington, D.C., DC 20005. Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable. It is Washington's oldest bar and restaurant, and as of 2012 was owned by Clyde's Restaurant Group. [11][12] On September 1, 1863, Ebbitt sold the boarding house to his son-in-law, Albert H. The prices were right. The Atrium Dining Room contains a large marble fountain, and is open to the atrium in the center of Metropolitan Square. In 1907, John Helmus, who oversaw the serving staff and bar for 39 years, died. [9][10], In 1856, William E. Ebbitt purchased Frenchman's Hotel from Smith, turned it into a boarding house, and renamed it Ebbitt House. ", "Jury In Ebbitt House Case Fails to Agree. Bull's Head housed prostitutes and contained a large, lower-class gambling den. ", Zibart, Eve. ", This page was last edited on 1 January 2023, at 04:04. High inflation, rising wages, and supply chain challenges have continued beyond the pandemic creating a difficult operating environment. Parking garages are available in our building on both G and F Streets. Love the food and great service. "The Bacon-and-Eggs Brigade. Dress code: Casual: Street address: 675 15th Street NW: City: Washington, D.C. Postal/ZIP Code: 20005: Country: United States . Map. [13] Given the numerous newspapers with offices along 14th Street between E and F Streets, the area was nicknamed "Newspaper Row," a name it would hold into the 1930s. Please call Megan Kilby at 202.552.5000. For example, after the repeal of Prohibition in the United States, Ebbitt Grill sought a liquor license in May 1934. Peck, p. 25-26; Evelyn, Dickson, and Ackerman, p. 74. [101][102] A 1986 food review in The Washington Post concluded that Old Ebbitt Grill had the worst omelets and pancakes in the city,[97] but the best appetizers. A series of lawsuits, petitions, and intervention by city and federal officials occurred. Historic bar and restaurant in Washington, D.C. Old Ebbitt Grill donates its used oyster shells to the alliance, which plants baby oysters, known as "spat", on the shells and deposits them in the bay. Smith. It opened as an unnamed restaurant in the Ebbitt House Hotel. Eggs benedict, mimosas, crabcakes and french toast! Yes, we offer select gluten-free items and can modify others upon request. Grant's Bar, named for American Civil War General Ulysses S. Grant, features a ceiling mural by Carol Loeb. www.ebbitt.com oldebbittgrill oldebbitt oldebbitt OEG-721 PINK SCOOTER Beefeater Gin, Absolut Vodka, St. Germain Elderflower . [72][73] Clyde's and Old Ebbitt Grill shared the same menus, which lowered costs and led to improved training for kitchen staff. "Richard Forrest and His Times: 1795-1830. [73] In February 1980, Carr agreed to preserve the facades of the Keith-Albee and National Metropolitan Bank buildings as part of the Metropolitan Square development. "U.S. Order Shuts Old Ebbitt Grill, Claims Owner Owes $11,000 in Tax. [90], Old Ebbitt Grill reopened at 675 15th Street NW in early October 1983. [55], The history of the restaurant between its establishment in 1926 and the 1980s is not well documented. . Reserve a table at Old Ebbitt Grill, Washington DC on Tripadvisor: See 12,981 unbiased reviews of Old Ebbitt Grill, rated 4.5 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked #14 of 2,836 restaurants in Washington DC. Is there a corkage fee? It felt pricey, but we splurged on drinks, apps, and dessert. [2] He joined the Ebbitt and Reed properties into a single unit enclosing a 4-foot (1.2m) wide alley between the two and built bathrooms with oval windows in the space above. Old Ebbitt Grill is a senior D.C. restaurant. Our server was excellent! It first opened as an unnamed restaurant in the Ebbitt House Hotel. ", Sietsema, Tom. ! With both indoor and outdoor event spaces available, Old Ebbitt . Please contact our events department at 202.552.5000. Today, no one can pinpoint the houses exact location, but it was most likely on the edge of present-day Chinatown. [143] To help the Shell Recycling Alliance, Old Ebbitt Grill introduced a new element to its Oyster Riot, a Saturday afternoon event known as "Matinee Riot." [117] Shortly after the oyster bar reopened, Old Ebbitt Grill lost its long-time chef, Juan Bosio. [40] Caleb Willard, now one of the most famous and wealthiest men in Washington, D.C., died on August 2, 1905. Make a reservation on our site through OpenTable or call 202-347-4800. Impressionist works by James Harrington hang throughout the restaurant. In 1976, Vladimir I. Alekseyev, a reporter for the Soviet Union's news agency, TASS, contacted United States Information Agency employee Ronald L. Humphreywho was already acting as a spy for the North Vietnamese government. Henry, Kate Kearney. Please call Jordan Hammes at 202.552.5000 Private party contact Evelyn, Douglas E.; Dickson, Paul; and Ackerman, S.J. The Cabinet room can accommodate events from 5-75 guests. old ebbitt grill dress code . It's super loud and hectic, but you will enjoy every moment once you're seated. [78] Humphreys had already been identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and was facing prosecution for his actions. Old Ebbitt Grill: If only there was a dress code. . ", Salmon, Jacqueline. YEARS. [28] His close friend, Representative and later President James A. Garfield, visited McKinley often in the hotel. Join them for weekend brunch until 4:00 pm, weekday breakfast from 8:00 to 11:00 am, or late-night bites after 11 pm. In December 1985, Oliver North, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps who was serving as a military aide to the National Security Council, proposed selling the weapons directly to Iran at a $15 million mark-up. [146], Old Ebbitt Grill is mentioned in the novels Path of the Assassin by Brad Thor,[147] The Outlaws by W.E.B. [4] Presidents Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt, and Warren G. Harding all drank in the bar there. What is the process of requesting a donation? Old Ebbitt Grill DC Parking 0 Results Sort by Distance ", "Visitors to the Mall Have Plenty of Dining Options While Sightseeing. Old Ebbitt Grill is mentioned by fictional White House staffer Sam Seaborn in Season 3, Episode 19 of the television show The West Wing[145][circular reference]. Street. They are open from 7:30 am - 1:00 am during the week and 8:30 am to 1:00 am on weekends. Old Ebbitt Grill was demolished in 1983 during redevelopment of the site. Copyright 2023 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 700, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved. Care is taken to avoid cross-contact, however, our kitchen is not completely gluten-free. "Thinking About Drapes In Case It's Curtains For Madam Speaker. Old Ebbitt Grill is a must when visiting Washington DC! Old Ebbitt Grill is a historic bar and restaurant located at 675 15th Street NW in Washington, D.C., in the United States. Perfect is more like it. "Court Told Humphrey Reported Soviet Spy Offer. [14] At that time it was not yet part of the hotel; Willard leased the building to the New York Times for use as office space. Make Restaurant Reservations. [99] Due to its proximity to the White House, it was a favorite of United States Secret Service personnel as well as tourists. ", Curry, William N. "Tax Evasion in the District Is Punishable By a Wristslap. [9] Smith joined the two houses into a single unit, and named them "Frenchman's Hotel" because he employed a French immigrant as the manager of the facility. The restaurant was first threatened with demolition in 1962. Old Ebbitt Grill. The business also failed to deposit withholding taxes on employee wages with the city. Location (s) 675 15th St NW. I asked them when we went and they said, everything from a tux to shorts and a t shirt. Please call Jordan Hammes at 202.552.5000 Private party contact 675 15th St. NW (F St. NW) Washington, DC 20005. $ 15 . [76] The restaurant featured bare, unpolished wood flooring throughout, with a fern bar on the second floor. Learning the history of the Old Ebbitt Grill and experiencing the great food and staff was a highlight of our trip to D.C. . The food is consistently excellent. The foyer and Main Dining Room feature paintings by Kamil Kubik, and in the Oyster Bar hang oil paintings by Peter Egeli and watercolors by J. Robert Burnell. ", "Anders R. Lofstrand, Ex-State Senator, 42. ", Chamberlain, Chris. The place looks nice so I see some people dress up as well. [13] Blanchard's daughter, Jane Farnham, inherited the property on June 10, 1850, after his death. Copyright 20042023 Yelp Inc. Yelp, , and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp. The Hotel distinguished itself as the first hotel in Washington to remain open all summer instead of closing when Congress adjourned. Determining which establishment is the oldest bar in Washington, D.C., is complex. [53] However, in November 1925, the owners announced that the building would be razed to make way for the National Press Club Building. "City Allows Demolition of Historic Tavern. Anything goes at the Ebbitt. Carr had already negotiated to move the Old Ebbitt Grill to a new location within the new structure. Old Ebbitt Grill was the site of a discussion among administration officials hoping to protect President Reagan from fallout related to the IranContra affair of 1986. OLD EBBITT GRILL - 8647 Photos & 9645 Reviews - 675 15th St NW, Washington, DC - Menu - Yelp Restaurants Auto Services Old Ebbitt Grill 9645 reviews Claimed $$ Bars, American (Traditional), Breakfast & Brunch Edit Open 9:00 AM - 2:00 AM (Next day) Hours updated 2 weeks ago See hours See all 8671 photos Write a review Add photo Save Menu The restaurant, called "cheerful and sunny" by the Washington Post, fronted onto 14th Street NW, was lit with crystal chandeliers, and could seat up to 225 people. [45], The hotel continued to decline. "Comfortable Perches Along Pennsylvania Avenue Are Much in Demand. The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington gave Old Ebbitt Grill its Visitors' Choice Award in 2011. The Hotel disti Old Ebbitt intended to close its doors in April 1983 and reopen a few weeks later in the new location in May. Our restaurants have been operating with extraordinary increases in the cost of doing business. [37] Burch became the sole manager of the hotel. Washington, DC 20005. "Three Bars With Ties to D.C.'s Prohibition Past. Locally sourced seafood & seasonal produce. [107] In 1991, playwright Neil Simon, director Gene Saks and the cast of the play Lost in Yonkers held the opening night after-party on January 17 at Old Ebbitt Grill. ", Kessler, Pamela. Old Ebbitt Grill: A MUST in DC - See 13,050 traveler reviews, 3,060 candid photos, and great deals for Washington DC, DC, at Tripadvisor. [82] It was one of the few dining places in the city to stay open until 1:00 A.M.[77]. [83] Developer Morris Cafritz, who purchased the Keith-Albee Building and Rhodes' Tavern in 1956, wanted to tear down the entire half-block to construct a new office building.[84]. Freedom. "Can Rhodes Tavern Be Resolved? Just minutes before the curtain rose on the Washington debut of the play, the cast learned that the United States had declared war on Iraq and begun the Gulf War. Unfortunately, many artifacts were beyond preserving and unable to weather the 1983 move around the corner. [13] Willard converted the boarding house into a hotel. The. So, nice casual, not beach bum casual. Reynolds smuggled the document out of North's office and took it to a luncheon meeting at Old Ebbitt with Attorney General Edwin Meese. [81] Its trademark omelets were the "Old Ebbitt", made with sharp cheddar cheese and Bermuda onions, and another made with chili and served with a garden salad with Roquefort blue cheese dressing. By 1865, they were used as offices by The Philadelphia Inquirer, New York Evening Post, and other newspapers. [88], The time frame for closure proved optimistic. The restaurant established a procedure for an independent laboratory to test its oysters for the bacteria prior to consumption. A plaque referencing this film is on the wall in Grant's Bar.[144]. Try good oysters rockefeller, crab cakes and grilled prawns. [2], A three-story house on 14th Street adjacent to Ebbitt House was occupied by the Reed family as well, although by 1864 it had been purchased by Willard, who raised the roof. Additional private and semi-private space may be reserved in our Atrium dining room or rooftop patio. . Food and service were excellent. [62], Anders Lofstrand, Sr. died in 1955, and in April 1961 Old Ebbitt Grill was sold to Peter Bechas,[63] the former head waiter at the Willard Hotel from 1955 to 1958. The service was fantastic. The mahogany Main Bar is a copy of the bar at the F Street location, which had rotted beyond repair. Alex Kapranos, lead singer for the Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand, included an entry on Old Ebbitt Grill in his 2006 book, Sound Bites: Eating on Tour With Franz Ferdinand. On the left of the foyer and up the five marble stairs is the Corner Bar. April 23, 2010, p. 7. This is our 2nd time at Old Ebbitt Grill and we tried some new items on the menu. The decor was made more whimsical, however, leading Washington Post architectural critic Wolf Von Eckardt to declare in 1978 that the Grill was "one of the most charming rendezvous on the Eastern Seaboard". Also on the north wall opposite the rear booths hangs a large oil painting entitled Three Bathers by American artist Howard Chandler Christy. Mrs. Shutt eventually turned the hotel over to Augustus Gumpert. They got a lot of history and myth for their money. The atmosphere here is unlike any other that I've ever been at. Very good food and love the historic feel. The media reported on Old Ebbitt Grill only a few times. Make a reservation!! $ 25 The Tombs. Steps away from the White House, the Old Ebbitt Grill is the perfect location for your next event. The crab Benedict was delicious, the coffee was hot and the restaurant was beautiful. I heard the hostess tell another person the wait time was about an hour. In July 1992, the Washington Business Journal said the 390-seat Old Ebbitt Grill grossed more money than any other restaurant in the D.C. metropolitan area. Bringing its rich history with it, the "new" Old Ebbitt remains a historic landmark. [14], For many years prior to the construction of the Ebbitt House stables in 1872, a large house known as Bull's Head stood at the rear of the hotel.