Old Ebbitt Grill
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Old Ebbitt’s Grill is a Washington favorite among elected officials in Washington due to its proximately to the White House as well as their outstanding food and service. The menu features everything from sandwiches to beef tenderloin but they are well-known for their raw oyster bar, which is half-priced during happy hour from 3PM-5PM daily.
Founded in 1856 as a boarding house, the restaurant has been popular with nearly every President since its opening.
As a boarding house, the Ebbitt guest list read like a Who’s Who of American History. 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.
Mounted around the bar area is a collection of animal heads that were allegedly shot, mounted and donated by then President Theodore Roosevelt, who was a frequent guest.
The main bar area is separated from the dining room by 3 beautifully carved glass panels depicting the Treasury, the Capitol, and the White House. The panels were completed by Charles B. Shefts and were installed during a renovation in the 1980’s.
The restaurant serves over 2,000 regular guests per day (which excludes private functions numbers), so be prepared to wait for a table or bar-stool. In our experience, they are busy straight through from breakfast to dinner, but it is well worth the wait.
Photo credit: Wild Fork Foods
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