The Oval Office

Longstanding Power Dining Destination the Oval Room Has Closed for Good | Eater DC

"Near the White House, I watched the glitzy, white-tablecloth Oval Room — a modern American restaurant that for 26 years served countless celebrities and politicos — quietly close last month. A favorite of Washington Post critic Tom Sietsema for prix fixe lunches and people-watching over shrimp and grits, it adapted during the coronavirus by launching a takeout sandwich pop-up in September. Restaurateur Ashok Bajaj says he’ll keep the space and introduce a new, undisclosed project, and the restaurant’s website teases, “Stay tuned for the opening of a new restaurant concept in the near future.” The most recent chef was Bryan Moscatello, and notable alumni include Tony Conte and John Melfi. In 2014 Bajaj invested $1 million in a renovation that added a white marble bar, dangling theatrical lights, and artwork by Jennifer Bartlett, drawing diners such as Michael Phelps and Mayor Muriel Bowser." - Tierney Plumb