The Old Ebbitt Grill is an iconic Washington DC restaurant, situated right across the street from the White House. I’ve been meaning to go there for awhile now, and a visit from some relatives provided the opportunity to do so. We quickly found out that the Old Ebbitt Grill lives up to its hype.
History
The Old Ebbitt Grill is historic; some say it is the oldest restaurant in DC*. Its lineage goes back to 1856 when William Ebbitt bought the building on F Street NW and 14th Street and converted it from a hotel to a boarding house. The restaurant was unnamed but the establishment as a whole was called the Ebbitt House. The hotel and restaurant has been through several owners and location changes since then. It has occupied its current location near the White House on 15th Street since 1983. The current owner is Clyde’s Restaurant Group, who purchased the restaurant in 1970. It’s unclear when the name became The Old Ebbitt Grill, but both that one and The Ebbitt Grill were used starting in 1926 when the place became a standalone restaurant.
As you would expect from an institution dating to Victorian times, the Ebbitt Grill has a long and storied history. In the 1800s, the Ebbitt Hotel was one of the finest in the city. High ranking government officials and military officers frequented it. In more recent times, a Soviet Spy ring was found operating there in the 70s. In the 1980s, the grill became a place where both politicians and actors would hang out; a tradition that has continued to this day. It has also become a popular tourist destination.
Breakfast
We arrived for breakfast, at 9:00 AM right after it opened . Because we were there so early, we did not need a reservation. I got the impression that later in the day reservations would be required. At that time, however, we were quickly seated and promptly served.
The breakfast menu has all the standard breakfast options, to include: eggs, pancakes, French Toast, waffles, and Eggs Benedict. They also have an assortment of omelets to choose from. The coffee is the house brand Clyde’s Coffee, which is roasted locally in Maryland. A selection of fruit juices and teas are also available.
I had the Eggs Chesapeake, one of their signature dishes. It is an Eggs Benedict but with crab cakes, seasoned with Old Bay, instead of Canadian bacon. The crab cakes were excellent; full of crab meat and having absolutely no filler. The seasoning was a little strong for my tastes, but the eggs were perfectly cooked: soft and running on the inside. And there was plenty of hollandaise sauce that balanced out the flavors quite nicely. The dish comes with a side of home fries; Ebbitt’s version is new potatoes halved and roasted. Covered with a thin, buttery sauce, they were delicious.
I wanted to try the biscuits and while many of the breakfast items come with them, the Chesapeake did not. So I ordered them as a side. Crisp and flaky, they were perfect. They are served with both whipped butter and a strawberry/black pepper jam. The jam goes exceptionally well with the biscuit, providing a good contrast to its rich, buttery flavor.
Our group had a good sampling of the breakfast menu. One person had the Brioche French Toast and another the Belgian Waffles. The Old Town City Hall comes with pancakes. It also comes with 3 eggs, which my friend ordered over easy. The City Hall normally comes with a meat side (bacon, pork or turkey sausage), but he asked for a fruit cup instead. The youngest in our group got the Granola Bowl, which came with a large amount of yogurt and lots of fresh fruit. The granola tasted home made. Our final order was the Spring Zuchinni & Basil Frittata, which comes with an arugula salad and toast. It is good for vegetarians. I did not get detailed reviews, but everyone liked with their order. One thing I want to note is that the syrup looked to be table syrup, and not maple.
The Old Ebbitt Grill has much more on the menu than just breakfast food, but that is all that I can comment on. A quick glance at the menu shows a variety of starters, salads, entrees, and sandwiches. Of note are the crab cakes (one of the items our waiter recommended), several kinds of fish (catfish, salmon, or trout), Steak Frites, and five kinds of pasta. One of the things they are famous for is their Oyster Bar. A whole section of the menu is dedicated to that.
Final thoughts
The ambience in the Old Ebbitt Grill is terrific. It looks and feels like a Victorian era restaurant. The walls are tastefully decorated with paintings of historic Washington. The service was prompt and courteous and the waiter did a good job of describing the options on the menu. It’s a great place to get the feeling of old time Washington D.C. while also getting a good meal. Eating there is a bit expensive, but no more so than other fine dining restaurants in the city. Certainly worth it.
* “D.C.’s oldest bar, oldest hotel? That’s a tricky question,” Washington Post, June 20, 2010. Subscription required.
Jim's Dining Guides 