Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Old Ebbitt Grill

    4.2 (11.7k reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 1 month ago

    Old Ebbitt Grill Photos

    Business Info

    OLD EBBITT GRILL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Happy hour specials

    You might also consider

    More like Old Ebbitt Grill

    Recommended Reviews - Old Ebbitt Grill

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    The Department of Treasury
    Micah E.

    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!

    Hammed A.

    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.

    Bar seating
    Jensine C.

    So excited to have finally tried out the oldest saloon in DC. Thankfully after a long and very hot day this restaurant was able to squeeze us in earlier than our expected reservation. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable and quick. The decor is old world style with velour and dark oak with gas lamps scattered throughout. I had to try the oysters Rockefeller which was just top notch, while my dear friend ordered the oysters deviled eggs. Once our main entrees came they enjoyed their steak frites with a delicious garlic sauce and the cheeseburger. Though my shrimp spaghettini was so light and filling it was perfect on a hot day. Definitely would recommend coming back.

    Crabcake appetizer
    Cliff S.

    Full body red wine at bar hit the spot. I loved the crabcake appetizer; lots of crab, gently prepared- a favorite. The blackberry-Avacado salad was fresh and delicious. And the pièce de résistance was a med rare filet with chimichurri sauce and sautéed spinach. Service at bar (Alex) was great and the decor was befitting it's history.

    Dog balls
    Jascha K.

    Visiting DC, we stopped at Old Ebbitt Grill after a morning at the Smithsonian. Credit where it's due. The building is beautiful, the location is unbeatable, the martinis were excellent, the oysters were fresh, and our waitress was genuinely fun. That said, if you're assigned Table #1, ask for another table. Old Ebbitt has all the makings of a classic DC lunch. Historic wood paneling, political power-lunch energy, and a location steps from the White House. Instead, we found ourselves in what we immediately nicknamed "the Applebee's Room." That's the dining area off to the right. Table #1 (which I heard the hostess whisper to the host that sat us) sits directly next to the only accessible restroom on the main floor and directly beneath the hindquarters of a large dog sculpture. During lunch I found myself making repeated eye contact with a wooden dog's undercarriage while eating oysters. The wall behind our table is literally beside the restroom and features a painting titled "When Nature Calls." I wish I were making that up. Throughout lunch there was a steady parade of restroom traffic, plus a nearby service station door that was slammed often enough to create a light PTSD. The main dining room of Old Ebbitt feels appears to be what you'd expect at an iconic restaurant everyone talks about. Which makes Table #1 in the Applebees annex feel less like a table and more like a practical joke. The food was fine. The martinis were cold. One member of our party even enjoyed an oyster after being assured they were among the "safest oysters" in Washington, DC. As West Coasters, that was a memorable sales pitch. Would I come back? Maybe. Would I sit at Table #1 again? Only if the dog sculpture personally apologized. And management comped my meal.

    Gloria T.

    Established in 1856, Old Ebbitt Grill is Washington, D.C.'s oldest saloon. It is bigger than it looks with 4 bars, one in each corner. Food is served until 1 AM. The sauce on the steak was delicious. Those were the best carrots I've had. Great service. Located just steps from The White House, the iconic American restaurant is famous for its raw bar, fresh oysters, and classic pub fare.

    Raw oysters
    Emma F.

    I love this gem of a place for raw oysters in Washington D.C.! The best time to go is during Oyster Happy Hour everyday from either 3-5pm or 11pm-1am. My favorite oysters are available quite often from Spinney Creek, Maine and Wellfleet, Massachusetts, but the available selection just depends on the day's shipment. I love the historical and unique interior. The service is often professional and efficient.

    Danny E.

    After a long day walking around the National Mall, we popped into Old Ebbitt Grill for dinner and absolutely loved the experience. We didn't have reservations, so the wait for 2 around 5:30 on a Wednesday night was about an hour, but we decided to grab seats at the bar instead and got full service almost immediately. Huge shoutout to Matt, our bartender, who was incredibly friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience even better. Service overall was exceptional from start to finish. We started with the fried calamari and beet salad, which were both excellent and a perfect way to kick off the meal. For entrees, we had the steak frites and the New York strip with potatoes au gratin, plus a couple draft beers to wash it all down. Everything was fantastic, and the portion sizes were very generous. The building itself is part of the experience. It feels historic and full of character, with multiple dining rooms and four different bars that each had their own slightly different ambiance while still keeping that classic historic pub vibe. For a full dinner with appetizers, drinks, and entrees, expect around $100 per person -- but honestly, the quality, atmosphere, and service made it feel well worth it. Definitely a spot I'd come back to anytime I'm in DC.

    Cross section of my sandwich. Tons of meat!
    Leyang Z.

    Went there for a quick lunch before catching the Amtrak. The restaurant, opened in 1850s was said to be the oldest dining salon in Washington DC. The vibe confirms this: huge dining rooms, huge bar areas, gorgeous decors, and numerous newspapers etc. about the events that happened there. Of course, the restaurant was packed with tourists, but due to its size it was not difficult to reserve a seat just 2 days before. For food I got the Hot Roast Beef sandwich no sauce and sub side with asparagus. The dish came out slowly perhaps because there were too many people (? So I had to devour it in just 10min... The sandwich was stuffed with tons of roast beef, as well as some melted Gruyère cheese and cherry pepper relish. The beef was kind of dry to me; I wish I could get a side of jus to dip in. The relish was fantastic: spicy and a bit sweet and sour. I also liked the asparagus which was topped with parmesan and pine nuts. The staff acted warm and welcoming but I felt that they were mostly just reciting the scripts. Still, because of its history, food and location, I recommend you to try this restaurant when visiting DC!

    Menu
    Ninh N.

    One of the most reviewed restaurant in DC so I make sure to stopped by during my trip. No reservation but we were seated right away. There's a lot of tables and always a line but I would say it moves fast. Kind of dark inside. The booth has some super worn seats. I got the scallops with grits and unfortunately the grit kind of ruin the whole thing. It was really raw for my liking and the vegetables were so random ... nothing tied the dish together. Scallops were good but that's about it... the steak frites looked and tasted a lot better. Kind of expensive so make sure you don't make the mistake like I did.

    Caroline K.

    Such a classic Washingtonian institution! I have coming here since I was a child and love everything on the menu! We were lucky enough to walk in on a Friday night at 6 PM and we're sat immediately at a two top and have the sweetest waitress! She took such amazing care of us, even hearing my dad say in passing happy birthday to me, and brought out a dessert! The ambiance in old ebbits is just that of a different time, when drinking a martini at lunch and writing a Pulitzer Prize winning article at the same time was a thing! It's so classic

    Clyde's Chili
    David C.

    After some evening events, I stopped into Old Ebbitt Grill for a final cocktail and some bar bites. The large pretzel was executed perfectly--crunchy on the outside, soft in the middle, with a balanced amount of salt that wasn't overbearing. The cheese sauce was great for dipping, and the other side sauce had a nice little kick to it. I also ordered the house chili, which was solid and well-done, though nothing extraordinary. Having worked in the building for over a decade, I wanted to leave a reflection on a place I've frequented for so long. The staff here is consistently fantastic, managing the heavy crowds with ease. It remains one of those classic, high-energy spots in DC that carries a distinct "must-see" reputation. That said, I truly miss the old side takeout kitchen that used to operate in the atrium, serving breakfast and lunch to the building's workforce. It was a fantastic setup with daily chef-designed menus, and it was always busy, so it is a shame it didn't last financially. Even with that change, the main bar area remains a reliable, historic staple for a late-night drink and a bite.

    Back bar
    Paul Francis M.

    Yeah, definitely one of those places to come to if in town. I am skipping straight to dessert and saying right now the carrot cake is top two in my book. I am watering at the mouth thinking about it. Texture, flavor, all of it, absolutely delicious. Lets get back to everything else now. Was a 45-60 minute wait so we went to the back bar which was recommended to us. Beautiful bar with artwork, and I liked the low light setting. Host said expect a text when table is ready. We enjoyed ourselves in the mean time not really looking at the time, but, it did feel strange that we were not called on after an hour. Did see some people being seated that were in the lobby with us so I was expecting soon. I eventually got up and asked and my guess is they took the wrong number down and or forgot about us. But they quickly sat us down and gave us a wonderful server, forgot the gentleman's name but he my only complaint was you could tell when he went out for a cigarette break. The food. - Chowder had amazing flavor. I like it thicker so I added the table bread to it which made it. - Pork chop was spot on. Nice thick cut and the char on top. Perfectly cooked. Leftovers made for a great morning snack before traveling home. - Side of Mac & Cheese, yum. Cheesy just as it should be. But yeah, definitely make a trip here if you can.

    Walter's Favorite Sandwich

    See all

    15 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Micah E.
    1320
    192
    1238

    10 days ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    22 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 month ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    29 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 hours ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Emma F.
    0
    20
    27

    9 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    26 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gigi A.
    132
    1174
    8907

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 30
    Thanks 10
    Love this 34
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 1

    21 hours ago

    Freshest oysters ever. I won't eat them anywhere else now! Service is always on point and cocktails are perfectly prepared.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 days ago

    Food, service, and ambiance were great. You have to get an old fashioned there. It was great.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 23
    Thanks 6
    Love this 21
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 294

    Old Ebbitt Grill Reviews in Other Languages

    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 !

    Is it loud?

    Loud near the bar but not at the tables.

    How late is the kitchen open?

    1am when we went Saturday night. Call to verify

    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.

    When is their happy hr?

    From 3-6

    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.

    Do they have burgers?

    They sure do, and they're delicious.

    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...

    What time does the kitchen close?

    Def way past midnight

    How much is corkage fee?

    Corkage is $15.

    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

    View All 35 Questions

    You might also consider

    Lucha Rosa Rooftop Bar - Pulpo al pastor ceviche

    Lucha Rosa Rooftop Bar

    3.5(142 reviews)
    0.5 miDowntown

    After brunch on a Sunday, we made our way to Lucha Rosa for a few drinks, and it was the perfect…read moreway to spend a lazy afternoon. We arrived around 2:45 p.m., so it was nice and quiet with plenty of seating. By the time we left around 4:45, the crowd had definitely started rolling in, so if you're looking for a more relaxed vibe, earlier is the move. Since we'd just eaten, we kept it simple with a few rounds of cocktails and an order of chips and guacamole. The guac was fresh, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. It tasted like it had just been made, and the chips were the perfect vehicle for it. Now let's talk about these drinks! First, I ordered an espresso martini, and shout out to Lucha Rosa for already making it with tequila because that's exactly how I like mine. No special requests needed! I also tried the Lucha Rosa Margarita, and whew...it was SO bomb. It was as pretty as it was delicious, which is always a win. The service was great from start to finish. There wasn't a hostess at the stand when we walked in, so we grabbed seats at the bar. She greeted us shortly after, and our bartender was friendly, attentive, and happy to answer our questions about the cocktail menu. His recommendations did not disappoint. Pricing felt comparable to other rooftop bars in the area, maybe just a touch higher, but nothing unexpected for the location and atmosphere. Speaking of atmosphere...the rooftop is gorgeous. The indoor and outdoor spaces are both beautifully designed. It was blazing hot and sunny during our visit, so we happily stayed inside enjoying the air conditioning, but I'd love to come back on a cooler evening to enjoy the outdoor space. Lucha Rosa is definitely worth adding to your happy hour or rooftop rotation. Great cocktails, fresh guac, friendly service, and a beautiful space? That's a solid combo.

    This option at is really pretty and is perfect for sunny days to grab a cocktail and some food…read more Their cocktails are really good and are presented nicely. I got the Lucha Rosa signature drink and then a Paloma. Both were great, they were strong but the taste of alcohol wasn't unbearable at all. That's the mix I like. The service is good too with the bartenders attending to you pretty regularly. Their food isn't impressive at all though so I'd recommend eating elsewhere after ge a drink in the sun here. We got beef and chicken tacos which weren't great but filled us up since we were starving.

    Photos
    Lucha Rosa Rooftop Bar - Lucha Rosa on the rooftop of DC's Moxy Hotel

    Lucha Rosa on the rooftop of DC's Moxy Hotel

    Lucha Rosa Rooftop Bar - Vegetarian tacos made vegan

    Vegetarian tacos made vegan

    Lucha Rosa Rooftop Bar - The Lucha Rosa

    See all

    The Lucha Rosa

    City Tap House Penn Quarter - Pulled Pork Nachos

    City Tap House Penn Quarter

    3.9(1.9k reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Great beer selection and a nice environment. Our servers were very friendly and I like when there…read moreis a QR code AND you can place orders as you go. Pretzel: These were amazing! The pimento cheese dip was great. Pulled pork nachos: Huge portion! These were also exceptional. BLT w/ tomato soup: "This hit the spot". Nashville Fried chicken sandwhich: I was quite disappointed in this, considering how good everything else was. The chicken was very dry and overly salty IMO. Not at all spicy either. Thyme fries: Loved these! Really cool flavor profile. I would happily come back and try a different entree.

    I won't be back unfortunately and you should probably keep walking and find something else. Didn't…read morerealize what kind of restaurant this was until I was told to order off an app and then my food would be ran out to me...and that's all you get for customer service. Runners just do that. Run around the restaurant throwing food down on tables and run back to the kitchen. Never checking on anyone to see if they need anything and how the food is. I ordered the SW Salad ($16.50) with a steak add on ($9.00) at medium temp. I also ordered a cup of Clam Chowder ($5.95) as an appetizer. Chowder came out pretty much right on top of my salad, but no big deal. Chowder was decent taste, but only found one clam. Ok whatever. Salad came out looking like a side salad on a large plate with five slices of rare, tough steak. It was so rare, that it was extremely hard to cut through, but again, who was I going to talk to about it. No wait staff would even look my way. I couldn't even get a refill on my water and there is no place in the app to order a glass of water...so that's that. Unfortunately it was just an extremely bad experience for $40. I'll be looking for dinner somewhere else tomorrow night.

    Photos
    City Tap House Penn Quarter - Bar

    Bar

    City Tap House Penn Quarter - Pretzel  appetizer

    Pretzel appetizer

    City Tap House Penn Quarter - Port City ALX IPA 20oz

    See all

    Port City ALX IPA 20oz

    Your Only Friend - Sub club

    Your Only Friend

    4.4(154 reviews)
    0.7 miDowntown

    We had a gift certificate to Your Only Friend. Glad we did! This spot is a gem! Get here early…read morebecause the seats will fill up! The service was superb and the ambiance was awesome! All the way down to the mayo wallpaper in the restroom! As a Dukes Mayo fan, that's awesome! To the food and drink. We had a pickle soda and local sour beer. Both were great and tasty on a hot day. We had three various appetizers from the cool ranch onion rings to the Seattle fries with a mix of dope beet salad in there. All were good, the onion rings were definitely my favorite and judging by all the orders I saw around, it was everyone else's as well. The mains were the RPG and the fish special. The RPG was a bit heavy on the mayo, next time would ask for less mayo but it was still delicious as a char su pork fan. This hit the mark. The fish sandwich was tangy and spicy which made it delicious. It was a bit messy and the bun didn't hold up great but that didn't detract from the flavors. All in all this place is a gem of a sandwich shop / bar. Would recommend if you are in the area.

    Wanted a quick meal near my hotel from a conference. This place had a bib and some interesting…read moresandwiches. I got the hot nug and Cacio e Pepe fries. I ordered to go and it was quick. The food was good. The hot nug sandwich had a nice tangy taste. Not too spicy and was very manageable. I'd had lived more spicy but the flavors were still very satisfying. The fries were great too. I really enjoyed the sauces and couldn't stop eating them. I'd definitely recommend Thai place if you are looking for a good sandwich and a quick bite!

    Photos
    Your Only Friend - To go order area.

    To go order area.

    Your Only Friend - Cacio Pepe fries are also a must!!

    Cacio Pepe fries are also a must!!

    Your Only Friend - Old Fashioned

    See all

    Old Fashioned

    Old Ebbitt Grill - bars - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...