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Old Ebbitt Grill

4.2 (11.7k reviews)
Open • 9:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

Old Ebbitt Grill Photos

Business Info

OLD EBBITT GRILL ATMOSPHERE

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

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Recommended Reviews - Old Ebbitt Grill

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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.

Picture at 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
Evangeline E.

I have no clue what the hype is about everything was fine just mediocre. We had a reservation for a weekday lunch after looking at the museums. The host asked "Whose Birthday are we celebrating?" Only for our server to never inquire about it later nor did they do anything for dessert nor were we offered if we wanted to order dessert. Okay so we sit down and there's a hair on the plate at the table. We informed our server and all interactions with her she seemed annoyed and bothered. Never apologized nor said anything about the hair on the plate. The food, bland. We got the calamari which was pretty good found it unique to also have fried peppers in there. I got the Walters Favorite which is a hot pastrami sandwich. It was missing mustard or something to balance out the flavor profile it was just lackluster. Ruben was okay, and the horseradish mayo on the roast beef was too strong. The best thing was probably the oysters (not pictured). We were there for happy hour and got a discount. NOTE: their only happy hour offering is oysters, no drinks. The amount of times we had to flag our waitress down for everything was so frustrating. It was not that busy and Id see her chatting with a coworker on the side. We had to ask for EVERYTHING all while enduring her attitude or feeling like Im bothering her. When we closed out never told us once goodbye or have a good day. Old Ebbitt, please do the following: - Train your staff to prioritize customer service - Hire people that are friendly instead of cold - Season your food - Ensure cleanliness of the facility (forgot to mention, the bathroom had all kinds of paper on the ground!)

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

Reuben Sandwich
Lily D.

As a solo diner visiting DC, I could not have picked a better spot than Old Ebbitt Grill. The atmosphere alone is worth the visit. The inside is huge, full of history, and has that classic old Washington charm that makes the experience feel special from the moment you walk in. I ordered the Reuben and it was absolutely delicious- perfectly balanced, flavorful, and comforting without feeling too heavy. The whipped potatoes were buttery and light, not overly salted and had great flavor! I also tried the oysters, which were incredibly fresh, clean tasting, and high quality with absolutely no fishy flavor. What really elevated the experience was the service. The staff was attentive, welcoming, and made dining solo feel comfortable and enjoyable. You can tell this place has mastered hospitality over the years. Awesome spot all around and easily one of my favorite dining experiences in DC. Highly recommend whether you're with a group or dining alone!

Strawberry Shortcake
Michele L.

Quintessential DC dining experience! This restaurant is a five-star experience in terms of vibes, food quality, and overall experience. While our server was a little low energy, he was attentive and professional. We enjoyed all of the dishes and loved how we could have a table conversation in our booth without yelling, while enjoying the lively hub-bub around us. Will plan to return every time we're in DC!

Menu April 2026
Gigi A.

Great spot, walkable from The White House. Lovely decor, kind of old school in a good way. Very family friendly! They have a reasonable kids menu with lots of options and it comes with a drink. The service was excellent - very patient with kids. I highly recommend making a reservation - it was very busy when we went for lunch. If you can't get a res, try to snag a seat at the bar. Grab a delicious drink while you're there.

Jumbo lump crab cake, burger, and fries
Tom G.

What can be said that hasn't already been said about the Old Ebbitt Grill in Washington DC? The menu is diverse, unique and it's the place to see and be seen for the lunch hour or for dinner. Here's a pro tip, one that a lot of people know. But if you've never been... Lean in... The grill has four different bars with instant seating service in the event. You have a one or two hour wait, just say it it's worth it and it's good.

Partial dining room view.
Sandy K.

We arrived here without reservations on a weeknight and got on the waiting list. I've dined here in the past and enjoyed my dining experience here at the oldest restaurant in Washington D.C. The interior decor is beautiful and nostalgic with antiques; paintings and the bar have various taxidermy animal heads that the were caught by a by President Teddy Roosevelt. Our party dined on oysters, lump crab cake, scallops, pork chop and I went for the boneless ribeye. All the food was delicious, and we had a happy ending with the bourbon chocolate chip bread pudding. Service is professional and impressive. Overall, a great dining experience again, and I highly recommend the Old Ebbitt Grill.

Paul E.

Old Abbott Grill is a very classy establishment. with a long history in the Washington DC area. The inside is visually very appealing with wood heavy accents everywhere and beautifully decorated, which adds so much to the overall dining experience. The centrally located bar is absolutely stunning and oozes class adding to the overall ambience of this establishment. For our first meal here, which was during their brunch hour on a Sunday, we had crab cakes, shrimp, and their bacon cheeseburger. As appetizers we also got their zucchini chips and their large pretzel with cheese. All the food was well made and very tasty where our favorite was the crabcakes. Relative to the staff they were friendly, polite, and very professional about their business. Clearly an emphasis for this business was placed on having a first class wait staff, and it showed! Overall, we really enjoyed our meal here albeit at a higher cost than you would pay at many other establishments. The proximity to the White House, the history of the facility and quality of the food comes at a cost, but it was worth it in our opinion as this is a dinner we will remember for quite some time. Also, we had added satisfaction of bringing our grandchildren here where this was definitely viewed as a special occasion for them that grandma and grandpa arranged. Nice!

Bar room
Ryan P.

Old Ebbitt Grill was an awesome experience. The place has a really cool, historic vibe that feels like it hasn't changed in over 100 years--in the best way possible. You can tell there's a lot of character and history in every detail. The menu had a great variety of options, and everything we tried was solid and well-prepared. The food quality was definitely on par with what you'd expect from a spot like this. On top of that, the cocktails were excellent--perfectly balanced and made exactly right. Overall, it's a great mix of atmosphere, quality food, and well-made drinks. Definitely worth a visit.

Medium Well Boneless Ribeye
Agnes D.

We sat at the bar since it was an hour wait on a Friday night. Great service from our bartender. Helpful with the menu. Crab cakes are a winner as always. The Ribeye could use a little more flavor. I didn't care too much for their sauce. Overall, it was a great experience!

Oysters Rockefeller
Tiarelei W.

This resturant was beautiful and packed even at 8 pm! It was a 90 min wait and worth it. We got the following: -Chowder 5/5: Savory, full of clams and great flavor. -Cheeseburger 3/5: Needed more seasoning on the patty itself but overall good burger. -Oysters Rockefeller 5/5: BOMB DOT COM! -Raw Oysters 5/5: We got pink moon and fortune oysters. The winner was pink moon! Clean, crisp and sweet! -Broccolini 4/5: Beautiful char. Just needed a pinch of salt! -Meatloaf 2/5: I did not like the flavor of this meatloaf. Wouldn't recommend. Only got it because others dining in ordered. We will definitely come back!

Oysters

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Ambiance is very cool. Service sub par. Food is mid to good. Probably a better spot for drinks than a meal.

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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?

No there is not. Take out only

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.… Read more

Do you need a reservation for a Tuesday evening?

Always make reservations there. That place is usually packed

View All 35 Questions

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Old Ebbitt Grill - bars - Updated May 2026

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