Bringing its rich history with it, the "new" Old Ebbitt remains a historic landmark. 1 minute from Old Ebbitt Grill. April 24, 2023 Amore Eats' co-owner Pei Hsieh was craving Taiwanese cooking when she couldn't visit home during COVID. [26] Future president William McKinley and his wife lived there from 1877 to 1890, during his entire congressional career. ", "Peter G. Bechas, Area Restaurant Owner. She found the appetizers and salads excellent, but considered the pasta dishes hit-or-miss and disparaged the main entrees. ", Von Eckardt, Wolf. The restaurant was first threatened with demolition in 1962. Something went wrong. hide caption, April 27, 2023 "The word "Love" is most often defined as a noun, yetwe would all love better if we used it as a verb." Peck, p. 25-26; Evelyn, Dickson, and Ackerman, p. 74. Old Ebbitt Grill | Washington, DC Restaurant & Bar Bartender was very knowledgeable and accommodating pointing us to the best spots to go in town. 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. We have made updates. 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. In July 1992, the Washington Business Journal said the 390-seat Old Ebbitt Grill grossed more money than any other restaurant in the D.C. metropolitan area. "Three Bars With Ties to D.C.'s Prohibition Past. ", "2 Sentenced to Jail Term As Viet Spies. ", Tuck, Lon. An oil painting by Peter Egeli replicates one of Mathew Brady's famous Civil War photographs of Grant. Craney. Old Ebbitt Grill is a historic bar and restaurant located at 675 15th Street NW in Washington, D.C., in the United States. [78] Humphreys had already been identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and was facing prosecution for his actions. [27] He dined almost nightly with his wife in the restaurant. [8] Although it is unclear what happened to the property after Sarah Crawford's death, some time prior to 1856 it was purchased by William J. [67], Old Ebbitt Grill was purchased on June 16, 1970, at a tax sale by Stuart C. Davidson and John Laytham, co-owners of the restaurant Clyde's of Georgetown. Courtesy of/Old Ebbitt Grill ", Sugarman, Carole. ", Commanding General of the United States Army, List of the oldest restaurants in the United States. Guests dined at tables set with tablecloths imported from Scotland, using Haviland & Co. Limoges porcelain china, silver-handled knives and forks manufactured by Reed & Barton, and Bohemian glassware. Old Ebbitt Grill - Home - Facebook "I don't want to be pessimistic, but I just really don't think we could be anywhere back to business-as-normal in this calendar year," Claire says. At breakfast, the waiters wore brown cutaway jackets, vests, and pants with a gold stripe, while in the evening they changed into black tuxedos. "No Rush Yet on Inaugural Tickets and Hotel Rooms. By 1970, the Old Ebbitt Grill had fallen on hard times and an auction was held to satisfy a federal tax claim. Cruvinet systems, which can be mobile or installed and can accommodate anywhere from two to 120 bottles, immediately recork a bottle of wine. [5] In 1833, Bushrod W. Reed relocated to the District of Columbia from Westmoreland County, Virginia, purchased the two easternmost lots from Crawford, and between 1833 and 1836 built a double-wide, four-story, Federal-style building on the corner next to the Crawford homes. [29] McKinley departed from the hotel for his presidential inaugural. Old Ebbitt Grill, 675 15th St NW, Washington, DC, Restaurants 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. Humphrey and his attorney told the FBI about the contact immediately, and Humphrey agreed to act as a double agent. Gruning's, South Orange. 40 beloved N.J. restaurants that closed too soon - nj.com [37] Burch became the sole manager of the hotel. Benjamin Ogle was the maternal grandfather of. Facing tough competition, the hotel closed in 1925 and was torn down, eventually replaced by the National Press Club building. Old Ebbitt Grill was demolished in 1983 during redevelopment of the site. Beyond mulling his own financial future, Lukacs says he's concerned about the restaurant's. [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. It's been bought and sold by various individuals and companies. Dee Dwyer/WAMU/DCist Cut-glass flower vases, finger bowls, and water bottles were used for serving. Music was provided by Federal Jazz Commission, a traditional "classic" jazz band which made music indoors and out. It reached its darkest days in 1970, when the IRS threatened to close down the floundering restaurant for five years worth of back taxes. 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. Can I bring my own wine? We have an excellent reputation for honoring requests from those with allergies. [4] The garden of the houses extended west onto the two empty lots on the corner, and down the hill in the rear almost to Pennsylvania Avenue. Menus; About About; Hours & Location; Employee Assistance Fund; Press; Oysters Old Ebbitt Grill is closed only on Christmas. [125] The restaurant was also criticized by the newspaper for being too noisy for conversation,[126] and providing bland hamburgers, salads, and breakfast. 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. ", "Ebbitt House Auction Draws Curious Crowd. "To Tan, a Place in the Sun Not Needed. The Ebbitt is obviously a high volume and very large full-service restaurant and thats the category thats suffering the most right now.. 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". More. But, as McDonnell noted, the Old Ebbitt Grill is just not built for carryout and casual, fast service. "[103], In the late 1980s, Old Ebbitt Grill became a popular hangout for actors and crew from the nearby National Theatre and Warner Theatre. The restaurant had seating for 200 at tables and in booths. ", "We're talking and working and doing our thing, and every two seconds you looked up and Final Four was canceled, Major League Baseball is canceled, NHL season's canceled," Lukacs says. The panels depict the Treasury, the Capitol, and the White House. However, the diversion of funds to the Contras was not yet exposed. "We have four different bars. "[22] The paneled bar[4] was reached by passing through the lobby and down a flight of stairs into the basement. In a 1972 Washington Star article, the renovated Ebbitt is painted as a bit of a rough-and-tumble downtown spot for cheap eats (corned beef hash and eggs, $2.25) that caters to daytime diners and late-night drinkers. ", Zibart, Eve. 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. We do have access to capital and we can fight our way through this, said McDonnell. David Moran, area director of operations for Clyde's Restaurants, says to-go orders are a "bridge to get us through" the pandemic, but won't sustain Old Ebbitt's business longterm. Their website says: Ebbitt Express caters to local workers, shoppers and visitors on the go. The industry trade publication of record said the restaurant had $26.7 million in revenues in 2013, serving 600,000 meals. A series of lawsuits, petitions, and intervention by city and federal officials occurred. The old hotel continued to stand, and rumors said the building would be turned into a department store or a movie theater. "It's important because it has that continuity very few restaurants do. The three carved glass panels separating the Main Bar from the Main Dining Room were done by Charles B. Shefts, who carved the mirrors and windows as well. Established in 1856, Old Ebbitt Grill is Washington's oldest saloon, just steps from The White House and museums downtown. They going to shut the Old Ebbitt down?'". 401k retirement plan with generous match - participation and full vesting immediately. 25% off Discount at all Clyde's Restaurants including 1 guest. ", Fehr, Stephen C. and Haggerty, Maryann. In 1994, Clydes Restaurant Group commissioned Nantucket artist James Harrington a self-taught, impressionist painter to capture unofficial Washington. The United States was barred by the Boland Amendment from supporting the Contras. Whitehead, Frank Insco. [5] William Crawford installed Richard and Sarah Forrest in his houses, and they inherited them upon his death. The Hotel distinguished itself as the first hotel in Washington to . The Old Ebbitt brigade consists of 300 employees, over 100 of who work in the kitchen directly under Chef Joseph Allen's guidance. But this is not a typical year, and the coronavirus pandemic has led to staggering financial losses for the legendary D.C. restaurant. ", Stroup, Sheila. An oil painting behind the bar of a nude reclining near a lily pond was painted about 1900 by Jean-Paul Gervais. The night before, Ebbitt Grill ran out of liquor by 10:45 P.M. "Zephyr Hopes to Exploit Mystique of Luxury Train Travel.". They ended up buying the restaurant instead. ", Larner, John B. schools stay closed for rest of academic year; Hogan offers hope on Phase One of reopening, Northam: Virginias Phase I plan a floor; localities can seek changes, DC passes third coronavirus relief bill, expanding rent increase ban, Coronavirus resources: How to get help and give help during the pandemic, Will lunch out become more expensive? "At Clyde's, Treat Yourself to a Good Lunch and Cause. [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." 4 Reviews. The Corner Bar is decorated with paintings by Claiborne D. Gregory, Jr., and carved waterfowl decoys by numerous artists. ", Richman, Phyllis C. "Star Service Up on the Roof. But how we get from today to there? This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. [4] Presidents Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt, and Warren G. Harding all drank in the bar there. Menus | Old Ebbitt Grill "A Q&A With John Laytham, CEO of Clyde's Restaurant Group. In 1983, the Old Ebbitt Grill was uprooted one last time when it moved around the corner to its current location at 675 15th Street NW to the Beaux-Arts building that was once the old B. F. Keith's Theater. (A New Ebbitt Hotel was underway on H Street at the time, too.) Tearful customers hugged owners Eileen . Old Ebbitt Grill is well-known for their Oyster Riot. DDOT/DDOT [13] On May 16, 1818, Dorsey sold the house to William Blanchard. Established in 1856, Old Ebbitt Grill is D.C.s oldest saloon and one of the highest-grossing independent restaurants in the country, pulling in excess of $35 million a year. [89] The walls were paneled in mahogany and the ceilings decorated with murals and stencils. [22], Ebbitt House and its restaurant were razed in 1926 to make way for the National Press Club building. hide caption. This allows a bottle of wine to remain open for up to two weeks without spoiling. [49] In 1923, the Willard estate, which had retained ownership since Lucy Willard's death in 1910, decided to sell the hotel. [91] The architectural firm of Andrews & Chatelain designed the interior. Old Ebbitt Grill, the legendary 164-year-old restaurant regarded as D.C.s oldest, is bringing in a small fraction of its normal business and faces a steep uphill climb to survive the pandemic. "Now, if the tables at the Ebbitt are full, as they often are at lunch, shoppers from Garfinckel's down the street and secretaries from nearby federal beehives can join the male chauvinists who like to eat facing long rows of antique steins, stuffed game heads and a little embalmed bear that once reputedly graced the bar of Alexander Hamilton," the article reads. The restaurant hired Robert McGowan, formerly a chef at Sardi's in New York City.[118]. mavmav. It moved into new quarters at 1427 F Street NW. Like WTOP on Facebook and follow @WTOP on Twitter to engage in conversation about this article and others. After Lofstrand's death in 1955, the restaurant was purchased by Peter Bechas in 1961. "Cruvinet: It's Like Wine on Tap. And for the last four years, at least 75 federal housing vouchers have gone unused. [77], Old Ebbitt Grill gained notoriety in 1977 as the location where a Soviet spy ring operated. The 1427 F Street NW location was demolished in 1983 during redevelopment, and Old Ebbitt Grill moved into its current quarters at 675 15th Street NW. Clyde's Restaurant Group spent $4.4 million constructing and outfitting the interior. At the time, the District of Columbia was not divided into quadrants, and the streets had yet to be described as northwest, southeast, etc. All Rights Reserved. They can then alert all those who would participate in serving the meal or drinks. "Reopening Day: New Shine for the Old Ebbitt. 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. Historic Restaurant Old Ebbitt Grill Is Fighting For Its Future hide caption. A jury could not reach agreement on the charges in December 1913,[47] but the charges were not dismissed until September 1914. Each table in the Ebbitt was graced by a blue history card that read: "Many other famous statesmen, naval and military heroes, too numerous to mention here, have been guests of the house.". [59] Lofstrand was a veteran bar and club entrepreneur in the city and in southern Maryland. It is Washington's oldest bar and restaurant, and is owned by Clyde's Restaurant Group. [21] The massive chandeliers led the dining room to be called "the Crystal Room. The Clydes classic expands to suburbia in 2025. Old Ebbitt Grill is a historic bar and restaurant located at 675 15th Street NW in Washington, D.C., in the United States. "As we learned more about the program, though, we decided that smaller businesses with less resources needed it more. $45.00. [122], Due to security restrictions in 2004, Old Ebbitt Grill was nearly prevented from its traditional practice of selling coffee and hot chocolate to spectators watching the inaugural parade, in this case for the landmark election of Barack Obama as President of the United States. Street. "He was more proud that day than the day I was born.". The Old Ebbitt Grill was originally the house restaurant at the Ebbitt House Hotel, which .