", Dempsey, Mike. [117] Shortly after the oyster bar reopened, Old Ebbitt Grill lost its long-time chef, Juan Bosio. Company-wide sales for Clyde's Restaurant Group, which operates 12 restaurants in the D.C. area, are down 95%, about what Old Ebbitt is seeing. Main content starts here, tab to start navigating. It reopened at the same location on October 13, 1970. He was ecstatic when he got a job there. For many years as part of Ebbitt House, the bar/restaurant had no stand-alone name or identity. If you are looking for something specific, we can help you calculate what you are seeking, through a website that we consult at www.calorieking.com for approximate nutritional information. ", Reel, Monte. The old hotel continued to stand, and rumors said the building would be turned into a department store or a movie theater. Carr had already negotiated to move the Old Ebbitt Grill to a new location within the new structure. The kitchen featured a special charcoal-burning grill, and the wine cellar featured a Cruvinet wine dispensing system. But how we get from today to there? "Stuart C. Davidson, 78, Owner of Legendary Washington Bar. He helped incorporate the Calvert Club, a private gentleman's drinking establishment dedicated to the memory of Leonard Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore in 1914. The restaurant had seating for 200 at tables and in booths. [66] A tax claim was also filed by the federal government, and the business was unable to satisfy the claim. The Clyde's Connection. in DC remains closed, After more than a half-century in public office, Cardin wont seek reelection in 2024, Summer road trips might not cost you nearly as much as they did last year, Prince George's Co. Public Schools celebrates 'Decision Day' for Class of 2023. ", Commanding General of the United States Army, List of the oldest restaurants in the United States. Delivery & Pickup Options - 9984 reviews of Old Ebbitt Grill "There is nothing negative I can say about the Old Ebbitt Grille, it is just that good. WMATA/WMATA Meet some of the people that have made Old Ebbitt such a success. [63], The restaurant had little reputation by 1969, and was primarily known for its pork chops, seafood, and steaks, and as one of the few D.C. restaurants to serve dinner until 12:30 A.M.[65] In July 1969, Old Ebbitt Grill was one of 171 firms in the city cited for non-payment of taxes. The glassy new edition in suburbia will import Old Ebbitts popular menu of American classics, twice-a-day happy hours, oyster-fueled raw bar, and plentiful seafood towers. hide caption. April 23, 2010, p. 7. Lukacs has received some disaster pay from Clyde's and has taken advantage of free meals the restaurant group is offering staff during the pandemic. "[103], In the late 1980s, Old Ebbitt Grill became a popular hangout for actors and crew from the nearby National Theatre and Warner Theatre. [53] However, in November 1925, the owners announced that the building would be razed to make way for the National Press Club Building. 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. 675 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 202.347.4800. [60] He and his wife, Elizabeth, later purchased Southlawn Farm, which is now a part of the city of Rockville, Maryland, in 1944, and in 1946 built a factory on it. and Butterworth IV, William E. Gutheim, Frederick Albert and Lee, Antoinette Josephine. It reopened in 1972 and moved to its current location on 15th Street in 1983, the site of an old Vaudeville theater and movie house. Since 1970, because of its popularity Old Ebbitt Grill has been frequented by numerous politicians, some known for scandals and maneuvering. The oyster bar served 15 to 20 different varieties of oyster, and matched them with seven to 10 different types of wine. The restaurant serves up to 2,000 guests per day in the main dining rooms and private functions can number 1,000 guests per day. [45], The hotel continued to decline. [58] Anders R. Lofstrand, Sr. was the proprietor. ", Von Eckardt, Wolf. [40] Caleb Willard, now one of the most famous and wealthiest men in Washington, D.C., died on August 2, 1905. Alekseyev and Humphrey met at Old Ebbitt Grill in December 1976. Stuart Davidson (1922 - 2001) and John Laytham (1944-2019), owners of a newer Washington institution, Clyde's of Georgetown, expressed an interest in buying the Ebbitt's collection of antique beer steins to display at Clyde's. He also planned to add a women-only restaurant to the lobby, at a time when many public facilities excluded women. Beginning in 1984, officials in the Reagan administration sought to sell conventional weapons to Iran via Israel in exchange for Iran using its influence to win the release of American hostages being held by Hezbollah and other terrorist groups in Lebanon, which was then in the throes of a civil war. [22][33] In November 1889, Caleb Willard hired Henry C. Burch and Charles E. Gibbs, both veteran hotel managers in the city, to run Ebbitt House. Like it is with many restaurants across the city, the bleak reality now facing Old Ebbitt is unprecedented even for a restaurant that predates the telephone. [81] Its trademark omelets were the "Old Ebbitt", made with sharp cheddar cheese and Bermuda onions, and another made with chili and served with a garden salad with Roquefort blue cheese dressing. During a normal year, Mothers Day Sunday would be a day to look forward to for the Old Ebbitt Grill in Northwest Washington. The Cabinet room can accommodate events from 5-75 guests. They offer a wide range of options suitable for all the family. Rendering by STUDIOS Architecture/Courtesy of The Washington Area Community Investment Fund [91] In April 2012, sales were still 1 percent ahead of 2011. The nearest Metro stations are Metro Center and McPherson Square. On November 22, Assistant Attorney General William Bradford Reynolds discovered an April 1986 draft memo from North to National Security Advisor John Poindexter, who was at the time also serving as a Vice Admiral in the United States Navy, which suggested that $12 million in Iranian weapons sales be used to help the Contras. Sculptures by John Dreyfuss adorn the Atrium Dining Room. [52], It was not clear if a new Ebbitt House hotel would be built. "The Old Ebbitt Grill is not going to continue to be a takeout and delivery-only business." Since the city mandated all sitdown restaurants close their doors in mid-March, Old Ebbitt Grill has been forced into a takeout-only establishment. 675 15th Street, NW Ebbitt Express is closing this Friday after 19 years. And in the last month, it's gone from being one of the most profitable independent restaurants in the country to its current state barely hanging on. Load More Products. Reynolds smuggled the document out of North's office and took it to a luncheon meeting at Old Ebbitt with Attorney General Edwin Meese. [36] Despite the success of the changes, Gibbs left Ebbitt House in 1893 after purchasing Wormley's Hotel. More. [2][3] The four parcels lay west-to-east along 14th Street. However, the diversion of funds to the Contras was not yet exposed. Application HDC2010-00507. [15] Farnham sold her house at auction to Caleb Willard on October 4, 1866, for $74,000. The office space was enlarged. Old Ebbitt Grill is a historic bar and restaurant located at 675 15th Street NW in Washington, D.C., in the United States. "Remarks of John B. Larner Before the Society March 10, 1902, in Exhibiting An Old Photograph of the South-East Corner of 14th and F Streets. Along the way, the restaurant acquired beer steins, animal heads (reputedly bagged by Teddy Roosevelt) and wooden bears said to have been imported by Alexander Hamilton for his private bar. She found the appetizers and salads excellent, but considered the pasta dishes hit-or-miss and disparaged the main entrees. Smith. ", Kramer, Joan. Demolition would include Old Ebbitt Grill and Rhodes' Tavern. Bull's Head housed prostitutes and contained a large, lower-class gambling den. "Movies Filmed in Washington: 'In the Line of Fire'." Old Ebbitt is obviously a very popular restaurant as it's so close to the White House. Everyone from Ulysses S. Grant and Teddy Roosevelt to Paula Abdul and Stevie Wonder have stopped by what's considered the oldest restaurant in Washington. They can then alert all those who would participate in serving the meal or drinks. ", Singletary, Michelle. [93] Old Ebbitt's famous mahogany bar was not installed in the new location. The business also failed to deposit withholding taxes on employee wages with the city. It is nearly as close to McPherson Square station. Old Ebbitt Grill has four bars: the Old Bar, which is part of the Main Dining Room and features the mounted game trophies, the Oyster Bar to the right of the entry foyer, Grant's Bar toward the rear of the restaurant adjacent to the Atrium Dining Room, and the Corner Bar up the short steps and to the left of the entry foyer along G Street NW. Between April 1961 and April 1970, the restaurant paid its sales tax in only six of 105 months. ", "Reality Check: US Restaurateurs Say Consumer Sent Still Stuck. The decor was made more whimsical, however, leading Washington Post architectural critic Wolf Von Eckardt to declare in 1978 that the Grill was "one of the most charming rendezvous on the Eastern Seaboard". 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 Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington gave Old Ebbitt Grill its Visitors' Choice Award in 2011. [16][17], Willard razed Ebbitt House in 1872, doubled its size, and built a six-story, Second Empire-style hotel with a mansard roof. Old Ebbitt Grill is well-known for their Oyster Riot. It retained that name after its ownership changes in 1961 and 1970. "A Bash to Call Its Own. Old Ebbitt Grill is the oldest continuously operating bar in the city. The Main Dining Room contains booth seating and limited table seating. [96] A year after the Grill opened, The Washington Post said it had the best dining ambience of any restaurant in the city. He appreciated small touches such as coat hooks near booths and pepper mills on tables and found the staff's honesty about menu choices refreshing. The mahogany Main Bar is a copy of the bar at the F Street location, which had rotted beyond repair. Old Ebbitt Grill Washington, DC's oldest bar, established in 1856. [104] Old Ebbitt began hanging posters in the lobby of current theatrical performances. It is Washington's oldest bar and restaurant , and as of 2012 was owned by Clyde's Restaurant Group. [34][35] Over the next two years, Burch and Gibbs completely refurnished all the rooms, adding new furniture and Belgian carpets, re-papered or added painted frescoes to the ceilings, and installed new furniture in the hallways. "Let Them Eat Crab Cakes. Residents On What Black Love Means To Them, This gas station restaurant is serving some of the D.C. region's best Taiwanese food, Metro's 8000 series trains will have more room for bikes and strollers, Anacostia Arts Center redevelopment comes into focus with $2 million boost, Some face homelessness when leaving foster care, despite D.C. having housing vouchers. Before placing your order, please inform your server if you have a food allergy or dietary need. [143] To help the Shell Recycling Alliance, Old Ebbitt Grill introduced a new element to its Oyster Riot, a Saturday afternoon event known as "Matinee Riot." "High Alert, High Anxiety. Clyde's has shut down two of its 12 properties, 1789 and The Tombs (which share a roof) near Georgetown University. They ended up buying the restaurant instead. ", Joynt, Carol Ross. Please enter a valid email and try again. $45.00. In June 1798, William Crawford obtained title to four parcels of land on the southeast corner of 14th and F streets. [55], The history of the restaurant between its establishment in 1926 and the 1980s is not well documented. Were doing about 5% of the sales that we typically do, McDonnell said. While Prohibition lasted, Ebbitt Grill was known as part of "Rum Row"former bars in an area bounded by 13th and 14th streets NW and E and F streets NW which continued to sell alcohol furtively. The restaurant was incorporated by Anders Lofstrand, Sr., as a stand-alone business. (202) 347-4800. As the years passed, it moved to a number of new locations.