Old Ebbitt Grill

Old Ebbitt Grill is a historic American saloon at 675 15th St NW in downtown Washington, D.C., United States, about a block from the White House. The restaurant traces its origins to 1856 and is part of Clyde's Restaurant Group. It has moved locations over its history and now occupies a Victorian-style space with dark wood, brass, mounted animal trophies and a long raw bar. The cuisine is classic American with a seafood emphasis. Raw oysters are the signature, served from the raw bar, and the menu also features Chesapeake crab cakes, grilled salmon and burgers. The setting is atmospheric and historically themed, and the noise level is high, particularly at lunch, in the early evening and around pre-theatre hours. Dress is casual to business casual, and the restaurant draws a mix of government workers, tourists and theatre-goers from nearby venues. The bar programme covers beer, wine by the glass and classic cocktails, and oyster happy-hour specials are a regular feature of weekday afternoons. Prices are mid-range, in the $$ tier. Reservations are recommended and can be made through OpenTable or by calling +1-202-347-4800. Because of the location near the White House and the National Mall, tables fill quickly at lunch, at dinner and on weekends, and booking a few days ahead is sensible for dinner. Bar seating is usually available to walk-ins. The restaurant is open daily from morning until about 2am, with weekday service from 8am and weekend service from 9am per AAA and OpenTable listings, which makes it one of the few places downtown that serves late. That schedule suits visitors finishing an evening at nearby theatres or monuments. The combination of a long history, a central position and a raw bar makes it a common stop on a first visit to the capital.