1789 Restaurant & Bar
American restaurant · Georgetown ·
Luxe Federal house offering refined seasonal American fare and classic cocktails
Luxe Federal house offering refined seasonal American fare and classic cocktails
"I learned that 1789 is more selective about BYOB — the complimentary perk is offered only to connoisseurs and only on Tuesdays." - Eater Staff
"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
"Walking into the Georgetown townhouse that houses 1789, I immediately felt transported by the tall gas lamp and English Tudor‑style foyer; the restaurant began in 1962 when Richard J. McCooey opened a basement pub called The Tombs and developed the upstairs into a formal dining space with six rooms filled with antiques, early maps, paintings and prints from his personal collection." - Eater Staff
"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
