Best Restaurants for People Watching in Mount Vernon Square

We had a great experience here. Our server Keith was beyond amazing.

My recent visit to Ocean Prime was truly one of the BEST experiences I have ever had at a restaurant. My husband and I were fortunate enough to have dinner at the DC location for his 29th birthday and the staff truly made it such a memorable experience. From the personalized card and rose petals on the table, to the STELLAR service and fantastic food, I know I will be dreaming and remembering this dining experience for years to come. I cannot get over how amazing the steak and sides were, and their chocolate cake was the softest, lightest, and richest desserts I’ve ever indulged in. Aside from the food, anyone who gets Sam (Akosah) as a waiter will be blessed to know they are in good hands from the start of the meal to the very end. I appreciated having his personable and knowledgeable nature to guide us through the meal and will never forget it. Ocean Prime, please believe that we will definitely be back.

Old Ebbitt Grill still feels like the heartbeat of Washington. Walking under those marble arches and into the wood-paneled rooms—mirrors, taxidermy, brass lamps, the buzz of a packed bar—you immediately understand why this place has lasted since 1856. Patrick was an outstanding server. He was warm without being overbearing, knew the menu cold, timed courses perfectly, and made the whole table feel looked after in a restaurant that never stops moving. That kind of hospitality is rare, and he made the night. We started with the crab and artichoke dip: rich, hot, properly crabby, with a golden top and a crusty baguette that disappeared fast. Then came the steaks. One was the steak frites—beautifully grilled NY strip, crisp fries, watercress, and that sharp shallot-Dijon cream. The other came with a jumbo lump crab cake and herb butter melting over the char. Both were cooked exactly as ordered and tasted like a classic American steakhouse doing its job right. Dessert was the peach cobbler: Virginia peaches under an almond-oat streusel, still bubbling, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream sliding into the warm fruit. It was the kind of dessert you keep talking about on the walk out. The drink was a proper Angel Envy old fashion over a big cube with orange—simple, well-made, and exactly what you want in a historic saloon. Old Ebbitt is tourist-famous for a reason, but it still delivers. The room has soul, the food is generous and well-executed, and Patrick made it feel personal instead of like a stop on a D.C. itinerary. We left full, happy, and already planning to come back.

The food and service was amazing!! We’ve been there twice and it does not disappoint!

My first time was in Pennsylvania and now I can say I’ve been to the one in Washington food is always on point