1789 Restaurant & Bar
American restaurant · Georgetown
1226 36th St NW, Washington, DC 20007
Highlights
Historic Federal house serving refined seasonal American fare.
Historic Federal house serving refined seasonal American fare.
"Very few restaurants scream old-school Georgetown, but if there’s one, it’s 1789 Restaurant & Bar. Maybe it’s the short doorways and narrow halls, or the fact that this American spot is housed inside a restored Federalist-style building. The space can feel a little tight, but the portions are huge—finishing the football-sized berkshire pork chop will require a Fred Flintstone appetite. Where 1789 stands out, though, is its world-class service. The staff is constantly anticipating your needs, answering questions you haven’t even asked. The level of attention makes you feel like the only table in the room, even when you’re smooshed between a couple celebrating their anniversary and friends toasting a milestone birthday." - joe brantlinger, tristiana hinton, omnia saed, madeline weinfield, allison robicelli
"Since 1962, this fine-dining Georgetown mainstay has hosted Washington notables and plenty of politicians. Its stellar service includes the thoughtful attention of longtime waiters. Downstairs is The Tombs, which caters to the nearby Georgetown University crowd and is historic in its own right; it opened in 1962 as well and figures in the film St. Elmo’s Fire." - Tierney Plumb
"If you want to see what DC was like a couple hundred years ago, head to 1789 in Georgetown. The restored Federalist-style building with slender hallways and doorways so low even your shortest friend will have to duck through are reminiscent of a time long ago. While the space can feel a little tight, the portions here are huge—finishing the juicy, football-sized pork chop will require a Fred Flintstone appetite. If you’re looking for an upscale dinner that’s on the more affordable end, this is your place." - tristiana hinton, allison robicelli
"Embodies Georgetown with a menu leaning on classic French and American flavors." - MICHELIN Guide
"This fine-dining showpiece in Clyde’s family of restaurants oozes intimacy, seating diners in quaint, fireplace-filled dining rooms in a historic Georgetown home. Executive chef Charles Kreiser sends out an a la carte lineup that swings from American wagyu tartare to veal tagliatelle. A handsome mahogany bar called Fitzgerald’s resurfaced next door with classic cocktails, rare Japanese whisky pours, and elegant drinking snacks, all served a tweed-filled setting fit for a Ralph Lauren ad." - Tierney Plumb
