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Washington, DC, DC

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Bobby Van's Grill

3.4 (366 reviews)
Closed • Closed
Updated 3 weeks ago

Bobby Van's Grill Photos

BOBBY VAN'S GRILL ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Classy
Moderate noise
Good for kids
Dressy

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Recommended Reviews - Bobby Van's Grill

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Leslie M.

We had a 20 people reservation, they have a private room. Service was awesome! Food was good. We had three choices and 2 choices of dessert. We had a great time.

Pang R.

Everything was amazing! We went on Valentine's Day and ordered from the special menu. The bread and butter were warm, soft, and delicious. I had the bang bang shrimp, and it was so good! We also ordered two steaks, and both were cooked perfectly and full of flavor. On top of that, the restaurant had a great atmosphere, making the whole experience even better.

Fran B.

Food is great. Employees are very nice. Service was extremely slow. I was with a large group of about 20 people. We sat in a private area that's extremely dark. Two of the lightbulbs are out. I'm not sure if that's for ambiance. I requested a medium well filet and it was perfection! Many restaurants get this wrong and send it out burnt and dry. My filet was crispy on top and juicy inside.

Shrimp Scampi
Christina H.

I miss the heyday of Washington, DC restaurants with the hustle and bustle of the lunch time crowd but at least the quality of the food is still excellent at Bobby Van's Grill. The Executive Lunch special is two course offering that is excellent. Our server Rudy took very good care of us. The place is now quiet which can be a plus if you don't like the loudness of many restaurants today. Food was excellent.

Cajun steak with creamed spinach
Maggie A.

Bobby Van's offers a great dinner deal on Fridays and Saturdays: a shareable Cajun steak with two sides, plus appetizers (shrimp, caesar salad, or French onion soup) for $99. Generous portions, enough to take plenty home. We were stuffed, but couldn't resist the hazelnut brownie for dessert. Nice, attentive service throughout. But the wine could've been served at a slightly colder temperature (for a steakhouse, this should be a given IMHO). It was a bit sad to see hardly any other diners with us on a Friday night. Sure, it was a bit cold and rainy that night, but I was so surprised how empty the place was. I remember Bobby Van's was always bustling pre-pandemic. I worry for downtown DC restaurants like theirs. Unless you're on Washingtonian's Best Of list, the classic, tried-and-true places may not be long for this world. I hope Bobby Van's will make it.

Special menu for our group/large party
Emily F.

Came here for a large group dinner. Space was nice and big for everyone and we weren't crowded at all. Service felt unorganized and a lack of communication putting in orders and getting food and drinks. I tried the French onion soup for my appetizer but wasn't all that great. The cheese and bread just felt so dense in a big glob that it wasn't as satisfying as I'd hoped. The salmon was a bit salty and side dishes were served family style but not enough to go around for the whole table. The steak was pretty good but was still craving the side dishes by the end of the meal.

Toma T.

Visited Bobby Van's on the Inauguration Day and the place was absolutely packed, which provided for an amazing ambiance. The food was exceptional. Between my husband and I, we tried the spicy fried calamari appetizer, the Cesar salad, the Cajun pasta and the ribeye. Everything was very well prepared. We were too full for the dessert, but the menu looked pretty good: lemon cake, hazelnut brownie, just to name a few.

April the manager
Amanda M.

If the manager April (to the right of this pic) is any representation of all Bobby Vans', then I'll be visiting all of them! She's absolutely phenomenal, greeted us with so much light, a great smile, and amazing energy. I had a service dog with me (I always call ahead to let the restaurant know) and even without knowing that she was so respectful and loving! This review is purely specifically for her service/hospitality, and for the filet diablo w shrimp! So delicious and perfectly cooked to a great medium rare. Thanks again April! Xoxo Mandi, Dan, and Bailey.

New York Cheesecake
Brisje G.

I went this past friday to celebrate my birthday. They had this spectacular deal for $100. You get 2 apps, a cajun ribeye 26oz, and two sides. The portion sizes were great. We ordered the french onion soup & bang bang shrimp for our apps. The shrimp was a nice size and very scrumptious. The french onion soup was good but the bread in the soup didn't soften like I hoped. I still enjoyed it nonetheless. We ordered the cajun ribeye medium and it was cooked to perfection. For the sides, we ordered the brussel sprouts & truffle fries. The brussels had balsamic & thick pieces of bacon. You can never go wrong with bacon!They were both worth it! The service from the staff was great & the food came out in a timely manner. I will def be back! In the end, they surprised me with a NY cheesecake with strawberries. It was sooooo good!

Amazing dessert for the family

Amazing service that gives perfect expectations for what is displayed at the restaurant. They give great recommendations, helping you to find your delicious dish. The food came out extraordinary and exactly how the waiter described it to be. We were welcomed to the table with a smile and a lot of nice manners. Our waiter was named Owen and gave off a very good and polite vibe. The restaurant was perfect because of the looks and the politeness given off by everyone in the restaurant. I think that it is a little pricey, but worth the money and a very nice place for tourists and your family to have a spectacular dinner.

The lamb chops and salad were delicious .
Monique S.

This place is always good. They used to have a great deal on Groupon but it's not there anymore. I love the Cesar salad. The food is always presented well and the taste is consistent. The service and atmosphere is one for family or date night. The service is always great.

Me and my drink

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Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab - Amazing Cole slaw served table side

Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

4.3(2.2k reviews)
0.3 mi•Downtown
•$$$

Joes Seafood is our go to for celebratory dinners. You can never go wrong with coming to Joes…read more The food is always good and the service keeps us coming back. Last night we celebrated our wedding anniversary. We have a fav booth that we request when making our reservations and it's always ready when we arrive. The Bartender Brandon is just the best!! When he's working we know it's going to be an awesome experience. People will always remember how you make them feel!!! & Joes gets it every time. Whether you're coming to watch a game, perfect date night, GNO...family dinner...birthdays...anniversaries...whatever the reason....you can't go wrong with coming here. Already looking forward to the next time :)) Happy Yelping!

Ok first time was exciting n extremely disappointing at same time got crab soup witch had 0 amounts…read moreof crab was like eating tomato soup had to ask for crackers n our chicken was raw so ya if maybe this super fancy restaurant use a meat thermometer maybe they would no there meat was raw apparently they do not was ill when opened it after i ate a drumstick but drumsticks are dark meat so i thought was okay ,, the waiter had very little expression when told n not a manager in site came over to apologize actually no one apologized the waiter came back with check without even asking would we like dessert or anything was extremely disappointed my husband finds no excuses to places like this esp when having to get a sitter n all for our kids : ( they will act like they want to get in touch here but they didn't at all at restaurant so i highly doubt it but either way my husband very particular with food so we will not be returning n it's deff not worth the hype n price also the shrimp Madagascar The waiter messed with with his bare hands for 10 minutes getting the stick out of it I wanted to say are you for real sir no thanks after that ,,, they had many chances to fix it they did not even look like they cared very disappointing

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Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab - Area near hostess stand

Area near hostess stand

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4 Cheese Mac and Cheese

Hank’s Oyster Bar, Dupont Circle

Hank’s Oyster Bar, Dupont Circle

3.9(1.6k reviews)
0.8 mi•Dupont Circle
•$$

It has been years since I have eaten at Hank's. Too long really. But we wanted some seafood and…read moretheir Dupont location was close so - off we went. We were seated immediately and the dining room is adequate. Sufficiently decorated to make it okay. It is furnished for maximum occupancy which is fine. Think casual place, almost bar with food, not fancy at all. I do not mean for this to be a negative comment. Hank's presents itself as more of a beachside joint, not a high end seafood restaurant. Each of these sorts of restaurants has a place in the spectrum. Our waiter - Keith or Kevin - I'm so sorry but I cannot remember his name - was GREAT! Funny, good at his job, great personality and helpful. He started out with a corny, but cute, joke and he kept getting better all night. The manager too was quite good, professional and friendly. What a great staff! The food is good. I could talk about the lobster bisque (a bit on the strong side) or the flounder (a bit on the salty side). But, honestly, the food was good and I enjoyed it a lot. I did not complain about any of it nor do I think a complaint was necessary. So, as I said before, it had been years since I had last eaten at Hank's. But it won't be that long anymore. I recommend Hank's for a casual seafood meal.

A 5% service charge?? Honestly, I'm not even sure if that goes to the restaurant, the server, or…read morewho exactly benefits from it. If you need to pay your staff more, do that, or adjust your menu prices accordingly. But tacking on an extra charge that I didn't even notice until I looked at the receipt later that evening is a little tacky. I'm sure it was mentioned somewhere on the menu, and I may have missed it, but transparency goes a long way. Do better, guys.

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Hank’s Oyster Bar, Dupont Circle
Hank’s Oyster Bar, Dupont Circle - Seafood Fettucine

Seafood Fettucine

Hank’s Oyster Bar, Dupont Circle - From left to right: Strawberry-peach margarita (margarita of the day), Bellini, Purple Reign cocktail

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Truluck's Ocean's Finest Seafood & Crab - florida stone crab claws on ice

Truluck's Ocean's Finest Seafood & Crab

4.0(529 reviews)
0.4 mi
•$$$$
Fine dining
Takes reservations

I have visited Truluck's in DC twice over the last month and a half for two separate dinner events…read morewith different groups of people, and both experiences were exceptional. While the food is always delicious and the drinks are top-tier, the atmosphere and hospitality truly set this place apart. The live music adds so much elegance to the evening. Both young ladies playing the piano and singing were wonderful, but Seva in particular stood out. She has the most beautiful voice and is just as lovely inside as she is out; listening to her made both dinners feel special. Above all, the service is what earned this review. Anthony, the manager, is phenomenal. He clearly takes immense pride in the restaurant and goes above and beyond to ensure every guest is genuinely enjoying themselves and well taken care of. He showed exceptional kindness and personal attention to my friends and me on both visits, making us feel completely welcomed from start to finish. The attention to detail extends to every corner of the venue--even the restrooms are immaculate, complete with complimentary mouthwash so guests can freshen up after dinner, dessert, or an espresso. That level of thoughtfulness speaks volumes about their standards. A few helpful logistical tips for future guests: * Reservations & Arrival: Definitely make a reservation, especially if dining with a group. They offer valet parking, which makes arriving in downtown DC seamless. * Large Party Billing: If you are coming with a large group, note that they can split the bill across up to five credit cards. While five cards is generous for fine dining, it is good to coordinate payment ahead of time if your party has 10 to 15 people. * Dining with Children: The staff is warm and accommodating, but the overall atmosphere leans toward an upscale evening out. While well-behaved older children would do fine, it is best suited for adults rather than toddlers or young kids. Truluck's has easily become one of my favorite spots in the city for a memorable night out, largely because the hospitality matches the high quality of the kitchen and bar. Highly recommended.

I really wanted to like Truluck's because it's a beautiful, upscale restaurant, but unfortunately,…read morethe energy was OFF from the beginning. I called because I thought I might be running late for our 5 PM reservation. The person who answered wasn't particularly warm and immediately reminded me about the 15-minute grace period and suggested valet parking. Plot twist: I arrived at 4:59 PM and even managed to snag street parking not too far away. My friend arrived about five minutes later, so neither the grace period nor valet ended up being necessary. Side note: this area definitely needs better parking options! Unfortunately, the energy didn't improve much when we walked in. The restaurant had just opened for the evening, and we were handed a Theater Menu without much explanation. Our waitress, however, seemed very nice and patient and appeared ready to thoroughly walk us through the menu once we settled in. The restaurant itself is BEAUTIFUL and upscale, and accessibility gets a plus from me because they even have an elevator. The menu looked okay, but I was really craving sushi that evening, and between that and the initial vibe, I just wasn't feeling it. My friend was equally willing to leave, so we decided to go somewhere else. Later, I noticed that the reservation was canceled on OpenTable, which I thought was a little strange considering we DID arrive for the reservation and simply decided not to stay. One thing about me: I purposely try NOT to read Yelp reviews before visiting a restaurant because I don't want someone else's experience influencing mine. But AFTER this visit, I went back and read some of the recent reviews. Whew. I noticed several reviewers mentioning poor customer service and some experiences that sounded very similar to the energy we encountered. So apparently, we weren't the only ones who walked away feeling that way. And before anyone assumes we left because of the prices...NOPE. We went to another restaurant with comparable prices. Sometimes it's not about the money or even the menu. The overall experience starts the moment you interact with a restaurant, and unfortunately, my first impression here just wasn't a good one. Maybe another time, because the space itself is gorgeous, but this visit ended before dinner ever got started.

Photos
Truluck's Ocean's Finest Seafood & Crab
Truluck's Ocean's Finest Seafood & Crab
Truluck's Ocean's Finest Seafood & Crab

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Bobby Van's Grill - tradamerican - Updated October 2026

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