It reopened at the same location on October 13, 1970. ", Salmon, Jacqueline. As newcomers of the industry are showing their fragility during the pandemic, so too are the stalwarts. That year the Democratic Leadership Council rented the entire restaurant for a private party on Inauguration Day. The company is continuing health insurance for any employees who had it prior, and footing the full bill. Old Ebbitt Grill is a historic bar and restaurant located at 675 15th Street NW in Washington, D.C., in the United States. The kitchen was renovated. This federal-style room is reminiscent of a downtown club with spirit of the Chesapeake Bay. "Comfortable Perches Along Pennsylvania Avenue Are Much in Demand. In 1926, after the restaurant became incorporated as a stand-alone business, it was known as both "Ebbitt's Grill" and "Old Ebbitt Grill". The Atrium Dining Room in the rear offers table seating, although fixed, long benches provide some seating. [58] Anders R. Lofstrand, Sr. was the proprietor. The panels depict the Treasury, the Capitol, and the White House. In 1994, Clydes Restaurant Group commissioned Nantucket artist James Harrington a self-taught, impressionist painter to capture unofficial Washington. "The President Who Lives Apart. [91] The architectural firm of Andrews & Chatelain designed the interior. [55], The history of the restaurant between its establishment in 1926 and the 1980s is not well documented. A replica was crafted instead. Load More Products. It has also been the site of parties hosted by famous actors and singers. 45 beloved N.J. restaurants that closed too soon - nj.com Impressionist works by James Harrington hang throughout the restaurant. Location, The budding Mexican brand unveils a 10,500-square-foot Penn Quarter edition on Friday, April 28, Sign up for the Tipped minimum wage increases in DC, Pedestrian struck and killed on I-295 in DC, Driver injured after tree falls on SUV Saturday night; Wise Rd. Courtesy of/Old Ebbitt Grill In the last century-and-a-half, Old Ebbitt has grown from a boarding house to a destination for tourists and politicians alike. [116] Washington Post food critic Eve Zibart, writing in August 1995, said that its highly polished woodwork, counter facing the ice bed and shuckers, and excellent selection of oysters made it a "first-class raw bar". For many years, it has been the restaurant with one of the highest amount of sales in the United States. Their website says: Ebbitt Express caters to local workers, shoppers and visitors on the go. You may bring your own wine for a $25 corkage fee per 750ml bottle (maximum two 750ml bottles per reservation). hide caption. ", Bucklin, Randolph E. "Old Ebbitt to Be Moved Next Door. Moran says he hopes the restaurant will recover within the next six months, and is putting his faith in science and "smart people." Old Ebbitt Grill, One Of The City's Oldest Restaurants, Is Barely [13] Two single-story buildings south of the Reed home were also built and owned by Reed. It is Washington's oldest bar and restaurant, and is owned by Clyde's Restaurant Group. Also on the north wall opposite the rear booths hangs a large oil painting entitled Three Bathers by American artist Howard Chandler Christy. They offer a wide range of options suitable for all the family. Whitehead, Frank Insco. Two saloons coexisted there, a Dutch room and an Old English room. [32] From the late 1860s until the 1910s, it was considered "Army and Navy Headquarters" because of the number of military personnel who lived there and the large number of veterans' meetings held there. Since 1917, the liquor law had required that alcohol only be consumed while sitting at tables. The sale price was $11,250. [125], By 2008, however, Old Ebbitt Grill's reviews had improved. ", Irwin, Neil and Hedgpeth, Dana. In 2010, Old Ebbitt Grill joined the Shell Recycling Alliance, a project of the Oyster Recovery Partnership, anonprofit helping to restore oyster populations in the Chesapeake Bay. Chevy Chase, MD 20815. "The NRN 50 All-American Icons: Old Ebbitt Grill. As a boarding house, the Ebbitt guest list read like a Who's Who of American History. The nearest Metro stations are Metro Center and McPherson Square. Around the corner from the Main Bar is the famous Oyster Bar, featuring paintings by marine artist Peter Egeli and Chesapeake Bay watercolor-ist J. Robert Burnell. However, it has changed owners and locations several times, which may invite the claim that it is not "continuously operated". ", Roig-Franzia, Manuel. ", Nakamura, David and Boschma, Janie. In 1907, John Helmus, who oversaw the serving staff and bar for 39 years, died. Tyrone Turner/WAMU [22], Ebbitt House and its restaurant were razed in 1926 to make way for the National Press Club building. Old Ebbitt Grill brought to its knees by the pandemic It reached its darkest days in 1970, when the IRS threatened to close down the floundering restaurant for five years worth of back taxes. Washington Post reporter Pamela Kessler said in 1981, "The restaurant feels like old Philadelphia, rather than a slicker, parvenu Washington". It was widely considered the most luxurious restaurant in the city when it opened. Today the Victorian interior evokes Washington saloons at the turn of the century. Craney. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. [50] The media reported the restaurant's name as "Ebbitt's Grill"[57] and "Old Ebbitt Grill". [132] Post food reviewer Tom Sietsema, however, had little good to say about the entrees (nearly all of which he found disappointing) and the service (which he found to be tardy and focused more on getting customers to buy more food). Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night dining daily, and weekend brunch. Old Ebbitt Grill is well-known for their Oyster Riot. In the 1920s, when the Ebbitt moved to a converted haberdashery at 1427 F Street NW, they were combined into a single Old Ebbitt Grill. April 23, 2010, p. 7. OLD EBBITT GRILL - 9131 Photos & 9979 Reviews - 675 15th St NW, Washington, District of Columbia - Bars - Restaurant Reviews - Phone Number - Menu - Yelp Old Ebbitt Grill 9979 reviews Claimed $$ Bars, American (Traditional), Breakfast & Brunch Closed 9:00 AM - 2:00 AM (Next day) See hours See all 9163 photos Write a review Add photo Save Menu ", Commanding General of the United States Army, List of the oldest restaurants in the United States. John Laytham and Stuart Davidson, who owned Clyde's of Georgetown, attended the auction of Old Ebbitt's memorabilia, hoping to snag the restaurant's beer-stein collection. The Old Ebbitt Grill was the first expansion beyond the original Clyde's in Georgetown. "Movies Filmed in Washington: 'In the Line of Fire'." In the decades after a major renovation in 1872, it welcomed many military veterans and politicians, including William McKinley as he prepared for his inauguration. It's also collecting public donations for an employee assistance fund and is partnering with Martha's Table and another restaurant group to provide meals to local families. The Main Dining Room contains booth seating and limited table seating. [101][102] A 1986 food review in The Washington Post concluded that Old Ebbitt Grill had the worst omelets and pancakes in the city,[97] but the best appetizers. (A New Ebbitt Hotel was underway on H Street at the time, too.) Application HDC2010-00507. The booths had green leather seats and velvet-covered walls, and were separated from one another by etched glass dividers. [82] It was one of the few dining places in the city to stay open until 1:00 A.M.[77]. "You don't need to be an economist to figure not everyone is going to survive this. Willard. Old Ebbitt Grill | PureHistory Billy Simpson's House of Seafood and Steaks, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Old_Ebbitt_Grill&oldid=1145177251. In December 1985, Oliver North, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps who was serving as a military aide to the National Security Council, proposed selling the weapons directly to Iran at a $15 million mark-up. "Three Bars With Ties to D.C.'s Prohibition Past. $25.00. She found the appetizers and salads excellent, but considered the pasta dishes hit-or-miss and disparaged the main entrees. We just felt it was better to leave that money to the small businesses.. [123], In 2003, Old Ebbitt Grill was busiest on weekends in the spring, when high school student tourist business was at its highest in the city. 2001. [64] Bechas' ownership of the restaurant was marred by repeated tax problems. It's located in the atrium next to Old Ebbitt Grill. [74] In June 1974, a Washington Post food review declared Old Ebbitt's fare to be "American, plain, and not bad". [4] The same year, Willard purchased Bushrod Reed's property as well. Peck, p. 25-26; Evelyn, Dickson, and Ackerman, p. 74. Something went wrong. Old Ebbitt Grill, 675 15th St NW, Washington, DC, Restaurants Call 202.347.4800; Reservations; Facebook; Twitter; Instagram; Contact Us; Careers; After Lofstrand's death in 1955, the restaurant was purchased by Peter Bechas in 1961. The Clyde's Connection. [78] Humphreys had already been identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and was facing prosecution for his actions. "When we do go back to work, I have no idea what we're going back to," Lukacs says. Alex Kapranos, lead singer for the Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand, included an entry on Old Ebbitt Grill in his 2006 book, Sound Bites: Eating on Tour With Franz Ferdinand. ", du Lac, J. Jason Lukacs, known as "J Luke," has tended bar for 25 years, nearly four of them at Old Ebbitt. "Barricades a Blow to Business. "A Shell Game for a Cause. Today there are a dozen locations across D.C., Northern Virginia, and suburban Maryland, including the Tombs, 1789 Restaurant, Hamilton Live, and Clydes of Chevy Chase, Gallery Place, and Mark Center. The restaurant was uprooted one last time when it moved around the corner to its current location. "610 Lofstrand Lane." [110] It spent $17,000 a month on table linens. Facing tough competition, the hotel closed in 1925 and was torn down, eventually replaced by the National Press Club building. Paintings by Kamil Kubik on the north wall depict festive, patriotic scenes near The White House and near the Supreme Court and Library of Congress. 600 14th St NW The Hamilton, Washington DC, DC 20005-2008. During a normal year, Mothers Day Sunday would be a day to look forward to for the Old Ebbitt Grill in Northwest Washington. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Old Ebbitt Grill White Collared Polo Shirt. [2] He joined the Ebbitt and Reed properties into a single unit enclosing a 4-foot (1.2m) wide alley between the two and built bathrooms with oval windows in the space above. [105], President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush met the singer and actor Sting at Old Ebbitt Grill in September 1989 after his Washington debut in the title role in Three Penny Opera. The Omelet Room did not make the transition to the new location. OLD EBBITT GRILL, Washington DC - National Mall - Tripadvisor Comstocks sprawling, 80-acre mixed-use development near Metros Wiehle-Reston East Station is home to regional headquarters for titans like Google, Spotify, and Rolls-Royce of America, alongside restaurants like Founding Farmers and Davios Northern Italian Steakhouse with more on the way. "You unlock that revolving door, and the world comes through," David Moran says. Old Ebbitt Grill was the site of a discussion among administration officials hoping to protect President Reagan from fallout related to the IranContra affair of 1986. ", Sietsema, Tom. ", Singletary, Michelle. WTOP.com | Alexa | Google Home | WTOP App | 103.5 FM, Latest coronavirus test results in DC, Maryland and Virginia, DC tourism revenue nose-dives amid pandemic, Downtown DC economy operating at 10% of pre-emergency level, Md. [50] Ebbitt House closed to the public at noon on Friday, May 1, 1925, and the furnishings were auctioned off on Tuesday, May 5. The most important step is for the server to be notified at the outstart of the meal about any special needs. [112] In May 1994, Old Ebbitt Grill added a take-out service, Ebbitt Express, in the atrium section of its restaurant. Old Ebbitt Grill Gift Card - select any denomination. ", "Anders R. Lofstrand, Ex-State Senator, 42. [19][20] The dining room was in the rear of the hotel, on the site of what used to be Farnham House, which in photographs from the period shows as the last three windows on 14th Street. Two fire companies had to respond to the blaze, which did $5,000 worth of damage. The back waiter system was created so that waiters continued to wait on tables rather than spending time in the kitchen waiting for orders to be filled.[98]. "The Old Ebbitt Grill is not going to continue to be a takeout and delivery-only business.". Rendering by STUDIOS Architecture/Courtesy of The Washington Area Community Investment Fund, Illustration by Athiyah Azeem/Courtesy of Street Sense Media, one of the most profitable independent restaurants in the country, poured Veuve Clicquot and dished out leg of mutton with caper sauce, D.C. Council wants to buy Georgetown's trolley trestle and turn it into a trail, In Their Own Words: D.C. "Failures Eat Into Restaurant Community. All rights reserved. Davidson is said to have modified the mahogany bar to make seating more comfortable for female guests. Actually, good is too light a word to describe the oldest and most historic saloon in town. [90], Old Ebbitt Grill reopened at 675 15th Street NW in early October 1983. "'WWR' and Ford: Celebrating a Union. [62], Anders Lofstrand, Sr. died in 1955, and in April 1961 Old Ebbitt Grill was sold to Peter Bechas,[63] the former head waiter at the Willard Hotel from 1955 to 1958. He was ecstatic when he got a job there. [13] By 1865, it housed the D.C. offices of the New York Herald.
