Old Ebbitt Grill

After walking into the Old Ebbit Grill, it's hard to believe that the food is going to be anything more then an afterthought. The restaurant positively oozes Washington at its clubby, political, relationship driven best or worst, depending on how you see it. No herb garden here, let me assure you; but there are lots of politicans, lawyers, and lobbyists, if that kind of thing catches your fancy.

But in reality, Old Ebbit does quite a good job feeding its elite clientelle as well. No, it's no 2941, or other such temple of innovative cooking. It wouldn't want to be. Rather, the staff at the huge DC restaurant serves up simple but high quality American food, carefully calculated to please its steak chomping constituency. It is no surprise, in other words, that they serve a top quality hamburger, or a wide array of oysters.

But I don't think anyone goes to the Grill for the food, honestly. If the food were bad, assuredly, they wouldn't go. But barring that unlikely eventuality, they go to cement relationships, trade countries, sell souls, and all the other things politicans in this city do. And if you want a little theatre with your meal, this is just the place to get it.