Bobby Van's Grill

Our experience at Bobby Van's Grill was exceptional, thanks in no small part to the impeccable service provided by our server Carlos From the moment we were seated, they demonstrated a high level of professionalism and knowledge that elevated our dining experience. The server was not only attentive and prompt but also had a deep understanding of the menu, offering thoughtful recommendations for food and wine pairings. They were able to describe the cuts of meat and preparation methods in a way that was both informative and enticing. The service was perfectly timed, ensuring that each course arrived without us feeling rushed or neglected. Furthermore, our server's demeanor was a perfect blend of polished professionalism and genuine warmth, making us feel welcome and well-cared for throughout the evening. They anticipated our needs, such as refilling water glasses and clearing plates, with a quiet efficiency that was truly impressive. In an establishment known for its classic steakhouse elegance and high-end clientele, our server's performance was a perfect match. Their attention to detail and commitment to excellent service is a credit to the restaurant and made our dinner a truly memorable occasion."

Absolutely phenomenal wait staff. Family of 4 with 2 young kids, the waiter started off with saying there was no kids menu, but gave options of pasta, chicken fingers, and a burger. Oh, they dont say there is a dress code, but we were massively underdressed in shorts and t-shirts, while everyone was at minimum business casual. The 2 waiter tag team service was great and seamless. Our adult entrees were slow, but there was a massive private party that slowed the general service line down. The sweet chili calamari, filet Diablo, and fries were amazing. Only negative of the whole experience was the crab cakes, more filling than crab, flavor was dominated by the filling. If were back in DC, I will gladly go back, just wearing better clothes and not get the crab cakes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We stumbled upon Bobby Van’s Grill while seeking shelter from a sudden midsummer rainstorm—and ended up staying the entire evening thanks to the warm hospitality of our servers, Michael and Gus. Although it’s known as a grill, we went a different route and ordered the chicken parmesan and spaghetti—both dishes were hot, fresh, and absolutely delicious. The atmosphere was welcoming, the service top-notch, and the food truly hit the spot. We’re so thankful to have magically found this hidden gem in the heart of D.C. Highly recommend giving them a try—you won’t be disappointed!

They did not respect allergies, solo dinner bar only, great steak cooked as ordered and dessert was very good. At this price point the experience was disappointing. Despite the restaurant being mostly empty they were only willing to seat my party of 1 at the bar. Fortunately the bar had the full menu available. It was loud and that detracted from my enjoyment. I ordered a dry aged prime ribeye steak and hash browns. We discussed my allergies and was assured the hash browns were safe. (Not fried in oil used by fish or shellfish) And they would note the allergy. When my food arrived the steak was plated on top of fries (not listed on the menu). I asked the server if the fries were fried in oil that was used for fish and shellfish. After checking they took the steak away and said they would make me another without fries. So I ate the hash browns while I waited. Just like the first steak the second steak was cooked exactly as ordered. I didn't eat any of the first so can't comment on that but the second was very tasty and was a good cut of meat. I would have liked to have my starch at the same time as my steak but that wasn't to be. The hash browns were good but not what I was expecting. I don't believe the bell peppers are mentioned on the menu. The potatoes were cut into small cubes and were fried nicely. I didn't enjoy the bell peppers. I enjoyed the desert. (Lemon cake). Not too sweet but had a lot of zest. Probably because I was at the bar the service wasn't very good. They were not very attentive. Other than replacing my steak they didn't attempt to do anything to make up for the error.

Bobby Van's Grill in Washington, DC, exceeded my expectations. The atmosphere was lively and sophisticated, making it perfect for a special occasion. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable. I chose the salmon, which was cooked to perfection and full of flavor. The accompanying sides, especially the mashed potatoes, were also delicious. This restaurant is an excellent choice for seafood and steak lovers, and I highly recommend it!

Great food, great top orders were the chili calamari, tuna steak, and lobster spaghetti, the service is good, friendly with kids, would go again for sure

Had an amazing experience here! Our waiter, Michael, was very hospitable and personable with great energy. The food was just as good; I recommend the Mac and Cheese and the dry aged steak!

We had lunch on Friday. Was really impressed with the Calamari, the Tomato Gazpacho Soup, and Steak Salad. All three were excellent. Then we came back Friday evening. We had the Lamb Chops, and Steak Diablo. Once again the service, atmosphere, and food were excellent. Roy and Renate Gray

Another company dinner. This one even more disappointing than before. The menu was more truncated, the appetizers and family style sides ridiculously stingy. The space was awful, crowded and loud. Once again the steaks were poorly done. A coworker asked for a replacement and I asked for salt - learned my lesson from the year prior. It's unforgivable to serve decent cuts of meat overdone and unseasoned. But they do it here - 2 years in a row. I'm hoping we skip this place next time. There's other places much better in the area (e g. Del Friscos). Probably deserves one star but I'm generously offering 1.8 which rounds to 2. Go elsewhere.

Visited Bobby Van's on the Inauguration Day and the place was absolutely packed, which provided for an amazing ambiance. The food was exceptional. Between my husband and I, we tried the spicy fried calamari appetizer, the Cesar salad, the Cajun pasta and the ribeye. Everything was very well prepared. We were too full for the dessert, but the menu looked pretty good: lemon cake, hazelnut brownie, just to name a few.

Food is great. Employees are very nice. Service was extremely slow. I was with a large group of about 20 people. We sat in a private area that's extremely dark. Two of the lightbulbs are out. I'm not sure if that's for ambiance. I requested a medium well filet and it was perfection! Many restaurants get this wrong and send it out burnt and dry. My filet was crispy on top and juicy inside.

Bobby Van's offers a great dinner deal on Fridays and Saturdays: a shareable Cajun steak with two sides, plus appetizers (shrimp, caesar salad, or French onion soup) for $99. Generous portions, enough to take plenty home. We were stuffed, but couldn't resist the hazelnut brownie for dessert. Nice, attentive service throughout. But the wine could've been served at a slightly colder temperature (for a steakhouse, this should be a given IMHO). It was a bit sad to see hardly any other diners with us on a Friday night. Sure, it was a bit cold and rainy that night, but I was so surprised how empty the place was. I remember Bobby Van's was always bustling pre-pandemic. I worry for downtown DC restaurants like theirs. Unless you're on Washingtonian's Best Of list, the classic, tried-and-true places may not be long for this world. I hope Bobby Van's will make it.

Came here for a large group dinner. Space was nice and big for everyone and we weren't crowded at all. Service felt unorganized and a lack of communication putting in orders and getting food and drinks. I tried the French onion soup for my appetizer but wasn't all that great. The cheese and bread just felt so dense in a big glob that it wasn't as satisfying as I'd hoped. The salmon was a bit salty and side dishes were served family style but not enough to go around for the whole table. The steak was pretty good but was still craving the side dishes by the end of the meal.

On yelp it says this place is good for groups and that may be true for private events and dinners on a corporate expense account, however, take note that they do not split checks! I came in with a group of 8 last night and we were disappointed that separate checks were not an option, at a place at this price point the singe check would be near $1,000! None of us wanted to put a charge that large on our cards and track down the rest of the group to pay them back. There really is no excuse for not offering guests the option to start individual tabs, especially at an establishment that boasts that it is good for accommodating large groups. I work in a restaurant nearby where we can do individual checks for groups of any size and even split the cost of individual items. I am well aware that the Point of sales software exists and is used in other restaurants around the city. So, for a business to tell paying customers "We can't do that". When it clearly is something possible, it is more of choosing not to do it and losing customers as a result. All that being said- I was disappointed I had to leave before ordering because the food looked tasty and the server was great, clearly this is not the fault of the hardworking restaurant staff. However, this review is more for management. I continue to face this issue dining in DC and it can be very frustrating, if it was just 3 or 4 of us it wouldn't have been a big problem, but for groups of 5 or more there really needs to be an option to get separate bills.

I only have great things to say about my friends and I's experience at Bobby Van's Grill. First of all, as soon as we got inside we realized we went to the wrong location yet the kind man upfront was so quick to let us eat there instead and told us the difference between the two restaurants (they weren't that different so we stayed). He was so happy to be our waiter and he had such a loving and kindhearted energy that overflowed our table. He had the most amazing customer service and we were all grateful that we decided to stay. Now moving on to the food. Wowwww! I forgot what exactly it was called but it was the fried shrimp with the sweet spicy sauce like bang bang shrimp. For my entree I got the bacon mac and cheese and I asked to get one crab cake instead of two and our waiter did not hesitate to go ask the chef if it was okay. Everything was absolutely phenomenal the flavors of each dish heavily pleased my taste buds. We also went close to christmas so the decoration and overall ambiance was so inviting and festive! Luckily there weren't many people there at the time so it felt very intimate as we were celebrating a birthday. Overall we mutually our experience was a 10/10 and I definitely will be back in the future!!!!

In DC for business and was hosted for a small group dinner in a private room. Coincidentally, somebody who had never been to DC asked about are the restaurants any good.......to which I laughed and said, it's DC, Congressmam , Senators, lobbyists......DC is all about steak, cocktails and expense accounts! Bobby Van's is one of the elite steakhouses and never disappoints. Enjoyed a generous pour of Blantons. Seafood Tower was magnificent, love the mustard mayo. Gigantic sliced porterhouse, meant to be shared was delightful. The waiter snuck a thinly sliced seared tuna steak which went largely unnoticed by my fellow diners. Big mistake, as a sushi lover, I couldn't get enough......and I had it pretty much to myself. Not my first time at Bobby V's and certainly will be back.

The food was delicious. I had the vegetable risotto, creamed spinach, broccolini, and garlic mashed potatoes. The bartender made two delicious virgin mojitos for me.

If the manager April (to the right of this pic) is any representation of all Bobby Vans', then I'll be visiting all of them! She's absolutely phenomenal, greeted us with so much light, a great smile, and amazing energy. I had a service dog with me (I always call ahead to let the restaurant know) and even without knowing that she was so respectful and loving! This review is purely specifically for her service/hospitality, and for the filet diablo w shrimp! So delicious and perfectly cooked to a great medium rare. Thanks again April! Xoxo Mandi, Dan, and Bailey.

This place is always good. They used to have a great deal on Groupon but it's not there anymore. I love the Cesar salad. The food is always presented well and the taste is consistent. The service and atmosphere is one for family or date night. The service is always great.

I went this past friday to celebrate my birthday. They had this spectacular deal for $100. You get 2 apps, a cajun ribeye 26oz, and two sides. The portion sizes were great. We ordered the french onion soup & bang bang shrimp for our apps. The shrimp was a nice size and very scrumptious. The french onion soup was good but the bread in the soup didn't soften like I hoped. I still enjoyed it nonetheless. We ordered the cajun ribeye medium and it was cooked to perfection. For the sides, we ordered the brussel sprouts & truffle fries. The brussels had balsamic & thick pieces of bacon. You can never go wrong with bacon!They were both worth it! The service from the staff was great & the food came out in a timely manner. I will def be back! In the end, they surprised me with a NY cheesecake with strawberries. It was sooooo good!

This is very nice restaurant. It gives me where people go to have secret meetings. not sure why I get that vibe but that's what I got. The staff was amazing and on point. I ordered the Big Beef Nacho. My friends kept asking me why I order nachos at this type of restaurant. I wasn't that hungry tho. The only reason I am giving them a four is because they didn't have salsa for the nachos. Like how do you serve nachos and have no salsa. My nachos were extremely dry. The cheese was melted and hard with no taste. I would recommend using a cheesy more liquid type cheese. That will help with the dryness. Other than that my friends loved their food. It was a good experience.

Exceptional this is my new fav spot for a steak . It speaks for itself , I prefer the ribeye bone in , the cut for me is marbled with fat and that is a natural tenderizer for the meat . The bone adds to the succulent flavors . The temperature of the steak was medium , so yes pink in the middle . For sides we had the plate of sautéed mushrooms and onions , mashed potato's and bacon topped Brussel sprouts .

I'm a regular at BV's and ALWAYS impressed by the quality of the food and drinks and the family atmosphere that the staff genuinely creates (without being overbearing) I just had the new Cajun pasta (I had mine over spaghetti instead of penne) and it was, without a doubt one of the best pasta dishes I have EVER had. The spaghetti was Al dente and all of the fish (shrimp, calamari, scallops) was firm, fresh and cooked to perfection. Thanks to Damian, Manny, John and the rest of the crew for a fun night with INCREDIBLE food and drink.

Went there for a business lunch it was great. Good service, good drinks and the bang bang shrimp was so yummy. Got it as an appetizer and paired it again with my cucumber salad. Bang Bang Shrimp

I elected to find out how Bobby Van's handles its customers using Groupons and was pleasantly surprised. I've never bought a Groupon to a restaurant and expected to have to take my food in the bar (actually you can't) or to-go. My husband and I went back and forth for weeks over when we were going--childcare and all that--and the final day before expiry of the Groupon was HERE. I called frantically for a reservation. My husband assured me he'd meet me at 6. The reservation was for 5:30 and I walked in to no reservation. Sad, but I was seated regardless. My husband promptly cancelled and I was alone. At a tiny table, down a narrow hallway on the backside of the top floor dining space, looking down, through a glass railing, to the lower level and right onto the chandelier. It really is a seat made for observation, except that there are three two-tops pushed into this tiny alcove and if anyone is sitting up or has bags, it's rather hard to get in and out of. The service was impeccable and polite. It felt very old-school New York steakhouse-y (a vibe I hated as a former server who also happens to be a very short black woman) with tall male servers and everyone else is just a busser. I ordered a glass of wine--my waiter knew his wines and artfully guided me to a red that wouldn't overpower my entree of choice, the trout. The trout was SO FRESH. I love trout, but it must be eaten fresh. This trout was SO fresh. My only peeve was I couldn't taste the lemon butter sauce at all and it was very slightly bland--fortunately, I don't mind adding salt to my fish. It was clearly cooked in butter, but I didn't get the hint of brightness that the lemon usually adds. I had it over garlic broccoli and mashed potatoes, and it was all so good. So very, very good. The fresh bread and butter were *smacks fingers* and I didn't even intend to finish one. I ordered my husband the cajun chicken pasta to go and the blueberry cheesecake. He inhaled both of them without offering me a bite, which said all I really needed to know. He said the pasta was spicy, but not overwhelmingly so and the blueberry cheesecake was the best he'd ever had, which is high praise as he's a cheesecake connoisseur who hates canned berries. The presentation was great. The service was impeccable, and the dining room was orderly if buzzing at 5:30 on a Friday night. Overall, I loved it. It's inconvenient for our lives, but I'd keep it in mind for a work dinner/meeting etc...

It has been an extremely long time since I've been to this restaurant, but after tonight, I want to come every week! Not only did we arrive at 8:45, knowing that they closed at nine and hoping to get a few appetizers, but every member of their wait staff went above and beyond, and allowed us to stay until 1030 whilst bringing us a multitude of dishes that were each more delicious than the last. The lobster pasta, perhaps, Diablo pasta, the truffle fries, the nachos, the steak, the chicken salad, the calamari, everything was delicious. We were celebrating a graduation, and there were 20 of us of that got to the restaurant in that close to closing time. And still they were gracious. They even brought out a celebratory dessert for my cousin who graduated. What a meal, what a night, celebrating with family, and enjoying the food. What more could you ask for! Don't walk run, to revisit this DC, staple that you may have forgotten about, but it's just as good as all of the newfangled restaurants that have appeared in recent years. Thanks so much to everyone there, we'll be back!

Came with a big group for dinner. I had the petite filet mignon with mashed potatoes. It was good, but not enough. I also ordered the peach cake, but instead got a peach pie which was just ok. Tried the lemon cake and it was much better. Overall, the experience was just ok and the food was good but nothing to write home about.

Stopped by for a birthday lunch. As soon as I arrived the hostess congratulated me and offered me a glass of Prosecco, now let's fast forward to me getting the check and being surprised that I was actually charged for the glass instead of it being comped. Back to the food now. I started off with the fried zucchini which was fried well and it didn't have too much batter on it either, but the batter itself lacked seasoning. It did come with an accompanying dipping sauce but that doesn't excuse not having a little salt or pepper on the zucchini itself. For my main I ordered the veal chop which came with a small side of potatoes and mushrooms. I asked for my veal chop to be cooked to medium rare but when it arrived it was more medium well to well done (though it did have good flavor). I also ordered the Brussels sprouts which were delicious (I really recommend it).

On 11/17, we hosted 20 judges and attorneys for the best dinner of our lives in the private dining room downstairs. We had a 5 course meal with wine pairings. The Chef prepared a mushroom and white truffle soup, a baby kale salad (with some sort of crunchy pepitas, sweet potato, and goat cheese topping that was to die for), a shrimp and mussel bouillabaisse that was delectable (we wanted to lick the bowls), a braised short rib with potatoes and roasted tomatoes and rosemary, and finally a cherry cheesecake and chocolate cupcake for dessert. Our wines were paired with each dish and WOW! Everyone said it was the best meal they have ever had. The atmosphere and service was top notch, and we were so happy with the dinner that 7 out of the 20 of us returned the next day for lunch!!!! Thank you for a fantastic meal. One of our dinner guests is related to a famous chef and she called her brother to tell him how amazing our meal was. It was a very successful evening. Well done, Chef. Thanks again.

Very accommodating experience here. We should up in a large group, not sure if we could get a table last minute. The manager was very accommodating to us to make sure we could be seated. The food itself was solid. I ordered the Chilean seabass with shrimp and rice. The fish was moist and the sauce was on top had good flavors. Everyone at our party seem to enjoy there food as well. So overall, a positive experience.

Omg! This restaurant was great (ambience only)as it was our first time trying it on Valentines Day. Unfortunately, after being maybe the 5th couple with reservations at 4:30 we were disappointed with the 1 1/2 wait. Out waiter seemed nice but missed the mark bc our entire order was wrong. I requested to taste the Decoy Cheatue Cabernet wine and received a glass of white wine 30 minutes later. My fiancé ordered Chilean sea bass w/Mash and received salmon w/spinach. Even the desserts came out wrong. Not to mention the restroom toilets splashes water after flushing. I mentioned it to the manager and he was slight dismissive. Businesses can comp a meal but not an experience. Proceed but do so with caution.

The restaurant is beautiful and the sparkling water with lime was delicious BUTTTT.....my Caesar Salad tasted like i picked the lettuce out the ground and put croutons and dressing on top ZERO FLAVOR thennn i had the most beautiful plate of Lobster Diablo that tasted like they got it out the freezer section of walmart and reheated it in the microwave ZERO FLAVOR when we were talking to our server he acted like the place was very busy but the restaurant wasn't packed we were so confused as we were paying and asking questions he just walked off and didn't come back right way the manager came over and did the same exact thing! Maybe this was a one off but it was enough for me! The calamari is a must have this was SEASONED well! But that's about it! The food was hot came out fast and the ambiance was nice...however...the bad outweigh the good for me at this lovely establishment!!!

Food was great but I was very surprised that a couple waiters were not wearing masks at all!!

Made a V Day Reservation for outside seating here for 5pm. (outside seating was all that was available) Arrived at 5 and had no problem being seated. We were not seated outside but rather in the back room that only had 3 tables available. This was fine because it was made even more private for the two of us. The V Day menu was great as it had something on there for everyone. I ordered the Crab Cake appetizer followed by the Roasted Chicken. The meal was great and it was our first time here. $99 a meal and then with drinks the bill was $286

Went mid-day for the cajun ribeye. Service was to the point- no frills. Ambience the same. Had to send the ribeye back because i received a well done steak when i specified medium. The second steak was more medium rare but i didnt feel like waiting again so i sucked it up. The flavor was ok, i was surprised that being cajun-spiced it still needed salt. There are no accompaniments for the steaks which i found odd for a steakhouse. My Caesar salad was average. I was just slightly underwhelmed at the experience. Morton's still has the best 'cajun ribeye' in the city but glad to cross this one off the list

It's not very often that I go out for a steak. I feel I can make a pretty fantastic one at home in the cast iron skillet with an indirect sear. However, mom had a week-long work conference in downtown DC and I had the Groupon, so I decided to drive up three hours and we would go out for a special dinner. First thing I have to point out is the service. Incredibly friendly and engaging staff from the host to the water server to the server. Major points for that. We started off with the Harry's salad, which I've had once before at another one of their locations. They were nice enough to split the salad between two separate bowls for us. This qualifies as salad as long as you don't require leafy greens. Shrimp, smoked bacon, tomatoes, roasted peppers, red onions, and green beans and tossed in a tangy red wine vinaigrette. Wonderful starter. The hot and crusty rolls we were served were also excellent. Once I shmeared them with enough of their soft butter, I was in a good good mood. For our entree, we split the 48 ounce tomahawk ribeye. Admittedly, I am not usually a ribeye eater, I prefer a steak that is leaner like a strip. But for one time in my life, why not try that expensive steak with that enormous bone that I wish I could take home to my dog, if he was still alive? We ordered the steak medium, and we knew that was the right choice when we were advised that medium would still have a slightly red center. I like my steak as pink as possible, cooked but juicy. The steak was served to us on a trolley. The server carved it for us at the table and served each of us three beautiful pieces of meat. The slices were gray on the top and bottom, but red in the middle, so this was cooked at a super high temperature. The seasoning was marvelous, that great salt and pepper crust. And to make it even better, they gave us sp,e red wine au jus, in a little metal saucer. The sauce looked like a light brown gravy, but it added that touch of richness and smoothness to the steak to take it to that next level of wonderfulness. As I looked at the next couple of pieces of steak, parts were medium rare but on the end they were more well done. I guess it's a steak that can be a little hard to cook evenly. Also, I wish it had been served on a hotter plate to keep it warm. We ordered two side, starting with the hash browns, and it's not the best potato I've ever had. I was hoping for something resembling a German potato. This was basically a browned in the shape of a pie with little diced peppers and onions. They were good, but I expected them to be a lot better, more crispiness, for one thing. Second, I enjoyed the richness of the creamed spinach, once I added a little extra salt and pepper. It came topped with shredded Parmesan cheese, always a good addition. We had taken down so much food that there was no chance to eat dessert, although the blueberry cheesecake would've been nice. I didn't even think about taking anything to go, the idea never even came into my mind. It was one of those eating experiences where I had to control my breathing for the next hour or two. Along with our $65 bottle of Zinfandel, pretty much the cheapest bottle on the menu, it took the bill to around $340 before applying the Groupon. Very pricey, but still a nice experience. I'm not going to say it's the best food I've ever eaten in my life, but it was a satisfying evening.

Came here for dinner - wouldn't have considered trying it if not for the groupon deal as I've been to the other BV in Penn Quarter a while ago and was not particularly impressed but for some reason thought this one might be a more updated version. On a weekday evening it was not very busy and stayed mostly that way for the duration - so good for quiet conversation. The layout here is a bit different from the other BV and mire contemporary with similar color scheme, light colored furnishings, low ceilings with chandeliers and spot lights, and several separate dining sections, not one big open space. One middle section by a glass wall overlooking the atrium event space down below was interesting but they didn't seem to be seating people there. The rather old fashioned waitstaff uniform seemed similar as well, beige jackets and all. Service was not attentive - there were a lot of staff standing around and our original waiter just went off to chat at length with another diner after we said we needed a couple more minutes. Then everyone completely forgot about us, until we made some effort to be noticed and got a different waiter. We had steak and fish - the steak comes without sides so added a side of asparagus. Meat was ok in flavor but not the most tender, the fish - a trout - a good portion with some veggies but covered with a bland sauce. For dessert had the cheesecake, it was a bit stiff - not sure if it's the style or not fresh. Overall not the kind of dining experience you'd be in a hurry to repeat any time soon.

We ate at Bobby Vans about a week ago when we were in town last week. Hands down, the bread - was amazing. My kids talked about that bread for a couple days. I had the filet and mashed potatoes. Chef prepared it perfectly. My 13 year old daughter had the chicken Parmesan. She loved her meal. My husband had the salmon. He said it was "good". My son (10 with food allergies) had the nachos. He was happy with them. They are actually quite delicious- however not what you would expect for the menu. I was glad they had them cuz I'm not sure what he would have eaten. Service was solid. Our waiter and the staff did a nice job with drinks, checking in and making the experience pleasant. . My only complaints 1) Not a kid friendly place. No kids menus. Had my son not had allergy issues I could have done a Mac and Cheese or split the chicken Parmesan with my daughter. 2) any dietary restrictions, do check the menu and possibly call to confirm. We didn't. I assumed that there would be a bit more for my son to eat here and what he got was good, but not extremely accommodating.

The majority of people who personally know me would classify me as a rather discerning and harsh critic. I have to go against the grain here, however, and despite the fact that several while integral working components of this establishment are indeed mediocre, I offer some lenity due to (a) quality of service; (b) consistency of quality across employees; and (c) consistency of quality across visits, which has imprinted me with a highly favorable disposition toward the establishment. This is buttressed by the standard and methods of service offered here, which often involve a distribution of servers who will ad-hoc inquire if I require anything. I cannot see arguments in favor of penalizing attentiveness. This brings me to the next point of my review, which I offer with some hesitation. The food varies from average and slightly but not very bland to above average/good I would never say they come even close to over seasoning or very overpowering flavors; an embedded commentary for the less discerning palette inasmuch the flavors are subdued and not adventurous. At the same time, some dishes give the impression of trying too hard to be avante garde. I sometimes find myself baffled at weird designs, and wondering why so much went into pieces that look so out of place relative to the environment, menu, and the dish as it is normally known. Focus on presentation over culinary differentiation also befuddles me. All the same, I enjoy the food enough to keep returning on occasion, and my mom, an elderly lady who is at odds with more adventurous creations, finds this place agreeable. I enjoy all locations but due the proximity of this one, I foresee returning here the most. Do get: tuna tartare; steak; Cobb salad; lobster roll. Do not get: creme brulee; trout.

attended for a large group luncheon. Service was good. Cutlery was heavy and nice. I had the rib eye - and it was quite good (but not as big as the guy's beside me). Cheesecake to finish was very good. Great place to dine, especially on someone else's dime.

Fan of both Bobby Vans, not sure of the mixed reviews. It's a solid spot, not overcrowded, good food, and awesome customer service. My last few visits Juan and Victor (I think) served me and they were very attentive and genuine. They have a good lunch special too that comes with a glass of wine, in and out. Perks for me is when they are on Groupon, you really get a bang for your buck. Great for a working lunch where you don't feel rushed and really comfortable for a solo visit.

We came here thanks to an unexpected Groupon gift courtesy of my big brother who couldn't avail it...otherwise this isn't exactly my Tuesday night kind of jam. But l'm glad fate brought us here because everyone really enjoyed their food and the service. Our server was really patient and attentive and helped me navigate the menu to find great vegan options, which were much better than expected. Highly recommend the butternut squash salad (hold the cheese and sub dressing for vinaigrette) and the vegetable stir fry which was shockingly good (think a more savory teriyaki flavor). My friends enjoyed the bang bang shrimp...and everything else on the table. Everything we ordered came out to $25 after the groupon was applied. A damn good deal. I now understand why there were so many people being wined and dined here. ;)

Would definitely come back here: really amazing food. This is definitely a popular place for some good steak and filets. I ordered the salmon. It tasted amazing, cooked just how I like it, and the sides were also well worth ordering. I ordered the brussels sprouts which were also flavored really well with bacon and pecans. On the higher-priced end but you get service and food to match that :)

When life makes you take a detour you find the best possible route and you keep it pushing. That's what my husband and I did tonight when our original dinner reservations had us potentially having dinner inside of a building that I would NEVER WALK INTO! A DAY IN MY LIFE. So we headed to #Opentable to find a reservation at Bobby Vans and I'm so glad we did. As we walked in the restaurant felt farm like it was an old Friend waiting to greet you. We were seated and started looking over the menu we made ONE MAJOR.MISTAKE... eating that bread OMG it was so good we easily ate 2 loaves. We ordered the bang bang shrimp which were good. Not very spicy which I personally like I'm my bang bang shrimp but where cooked to perfection. I wanted to try the Sea Bass but by 9pm they had sold out of it. Which tells you that it must be good. So I will be back to try that. I ordered the jerk shrimp dish and my husband had the 26 ounce Cajun steak at medium temp. Which came out at a perfect medium temp which a steak house should be able to do but I've seen some NOT do it so it's always a beautiful surprise when it's right and still has perfect flavor. The jerk shrimp was full of spicy just like I like it and the portion size was great. I probably could have finished it if I had not eaten so much of that damn bread. It was so good!! Lastly they brought my hubby a piece of cake to celebrate his 41sr birthday and that was the perfect end to the night. I'm so glad we got redirected here!

First the credit to the food and cocktails was good. Not great, but it was good and about what I expect at a moderately priced place. The reason for my poor stars is for the atrocious service we received. We had a group of 17 in from all over the country to run a race in Washington DC. No one was "low class" by any means, but we were treated as so. I wasn't super hungry the night before a race so I ordered a salad and a side, the waiter actually scoffed at me and said you don't want an entree? Since when is it a crime to not be that hungry. Our bill was very expensive and we intended to pay for our own food. The staff refused to split the bill. They got a 10% tip and I think that was overly generous. I'm appalled at the way they would treat human beings in general. What happened to humanity? GROSS BOBBY VANS. You disgust me.

Came with a group of 10 to celebrate a 30th birthday, and it started off with the manager scolding/yelling loudly at one of the waiters at the bar while we waited for the rest of our party to arrive to be seated. Once we were all together and seated our waiter Norbert, came around to get everyone's drink orders etc. and for a minute things were going smoothly. All in all- through the entire process of ordering (although I know it can be stressful being understaffed and waiting on larger parties) the entire experience was just an over all mess. Mass quantiles of sides that we did not order came out, and after dinner were not packed up as leftovers to at least take with us- but taken away. There were also mass amounts of rude/correcting remarks that were made to several guests at the table throughout the duration of the dinner. And after a 2k bill for a table of 10 we left feeling defeated. At one point I went to the restroom and overheard another waiter loudly discussing to the bartender about how "drunk" his table was and discussing the amount of drinks one woman was purchasing. VERY unprofessional! There were no issues with the food- everything that arrived tasted delicious. But you go to a place like Bobby Vans Grill for the fantastic service and the experience as well...this was severely lacking in all aspects. Hopefully they change management as this was not the same Bobby Vans from 2+ years ago.

Excellent food, excellent service! Let me start off by saying that I purchased a Groupon for Bobby Van's Grill, so walking in, I wasn't sure what to expect, as several of the reviews were iffy. To my delight, Bobby Van's Grill did not disappoint whatsoever. From the moment we walked in, we were promptly welcomed and greeted. We were escorted to our table right away, and our server came out to introduce himself and take our drink order (Old Fashion and Champagne, our usuals). We then ordered the crab cake appetizer and a Caesar salad. Both yummy! Next up was our entree, which we decided to share the tomahawk steak, and the garlic broccoli. All I can say is WOW. Our steak was seasoned just right and cooked to perfection. And the broccoli, OMG, yum! We were too stuffed to order dessert, but there are several selections that will make it hard for any sweet tooth aficionado to decide what to get. The service at this establishment is top notch, and the vibe is full of fun energy. Hope to dine again at this great downtown location on my next trip to DC.

I'm guessing they're under new management as a lot of things have changed, and not for the better. Let's start with the food. Our bread was noticeably burnt. My ribeye was burnt/overcooked (twice). The lobster diablo was underseasoned (the Mrs. says it tasted better the next day). The creamed spinach had too much cumin. And their new mac and cheese recipe includes bleu cheese, which wasn't a pleasant addition. Their brussels sprouts, though, are still tasty. Additionally, I would suggest that some lapses in customer service may result from problematic organizational culture. When I first mentioned the steak being overly charred, one of the manager's response was that it's merely how they prepare their steaks. While I've been going to that location since 2015, his comment seemed to lean on the assumption that I was a novice versus something was wrong. When I finally cut more into the steak, it was well done. I mentioned it to my server, and he retorted that I'd ordered it medium-well. When I corrected him, he took it back only to return and confirm that I'd indeed ordered it medium, but it was the chef's fault. He admitted that he was concerned he'd made the error. These two encounters tell me that Bobby Van's is now operating in a CYA culture--and we all know how unproductive those cultures are within organizations. Overall, it wasn't as great of an experience as my previous dozen+ experiences with them (pre-covid).

We had such an amazing time. So incredibly grateful for our wonderful server Tom. He takes service to a high standard of service - remarkable and exceptional experience, food, atmosphere and service!! Thanks Tom hope to see you again soon.

Seafood platter is always the best. Salmon is a bit dry but ok. Desserts are awesome.

So this was probably the best Cajun Rib eye steak I've ever had. The roasted brussel sprouts were tastey. I would have tried the lobster Diablo but I'm allergic to shellfish, however my company said that it was delicious. The only thing I was a little disappointed and was my Margarita but it didn't take from my experience a plan to come back and try some more food items

Went to Bobby Van's with the office. It started as a part of 9, then 3 others overhead and joined in. Waiters were quick to accommodate the group during lunch time, even though the restaurant expected only 9 people. I chose the gyro and it came with the typical lamb gyro meat, lettuce, onion, tomato, and avocado. Friend and fried onions accompany the gyro. It was a nice meal. The lunch box comes with a choice of sandwich, salad, and raspberry sorbet. The price was $19.00 + tax. I saw it and it looked worth it.

I knew Bobby Van's was known as a steakhouse chain that was high scale. As soon as I entered, the decor stood out. Christmas trees and a clean wooden theme throughout the restaurant. Upon reading reviews, I decided to order the tuna tartare and filet mignon. The tuna tartare was surprisingly really good, with a creamy texture and a slight kick to it. It came with crackers as shown in my pictures. My filet mignon was very solid, cooked medium. It definitely would have been nice if it came with a bigger side of French fries or something else instead considering it was a $40 steak. I came here because I got the Groupon which gave a 70$ value at the restaurant for paying 35$ online. If it wasn't for this, I wouldn't really come here honestly.

So I dined in for lunch and let me just tell you my lunch experience of one was wayyyy better than dinner. I didn't feel rushed and the food was properly seasoned and bursting with flavor. I love the cream spinach and I love the veal chop as well. Per the usual I got a sweet Thai chili calamari. However this time for lunch I tried the burger and it was reasonably price however I wasn't asked if I want to and be condiments on my burger. And the fries were nasty. The veal chop obviously was to go, as I was eating alone and let me just tell you it was a stand out feature and I liked it way better than the filet mignon i had the last time I dined here. Let's just say I was a happpy camper and I'll definitely be back.

Let's start with a disclaimer. My girlfriend and I were on vacation and when we come to DC, we splurge because well, we freaking deserve it! With that being said, we were not able to go to Bobby Vans last year (2022), so we make it a point to make this a dining location and we are so glad we did. The first item we noticed was how warm and inviting the restaurant is. It's very wide open and not crammed like a few other restaurants. We were sat near the windows that face New York Ave NW. Second, our waiter, Mike, WAS FREAKING AMAZING! He made us feel right at home and so comfortable, which is not that common especially at a high-end restaurant as this one. Now here is what makes Mike and Bobby Vans so special to us. As I mentioned before, when my girlfriend and I dine out in DC, we like to splurge, and I like drinking fine scotches. Now a lot of these restaurants don't have super rare scotches so the most common one I order is Johnny Walker Blue. My girlfriend loves Moscow Mules, so Mike took our order, brought her her drink and informed me that they didn't have any more Johnny Blue. Insert super mega sad face here. I asked if he had any Glenfiddich 21 and he said, 'we sure do!' and left to bring me a glass. Well, sadly, Mike came back and said they were out of that as well and asked if there was anything else I would like. He then said hold on and brought back, which I believe Mike said was, the owner. The owner brought a list of all of the scotches they have, and I then chose the Macallan Rare Cask. He says no problem and hurries off to get the glass. During this time, my girlfriend has already finished her first drink and ordered a second and that is around the time that I noticed the owner rushing downstairs and out the building. About twenty seconds later, Mike came by and asked what I ordered because he can't pronounce anything I ordered. Now this is not a dig at Mike, we were rolling on the floor laughing our heads off because he was making this into such a lighthearted moment, as it should be. Mike then explained to us that the owner had to leave to go to his other store to get a bottle because they did not have any at the location we were dining at. This is why Mike was making it such a lighthearted moment. From that moment on, we had to have some fun with Mike. When we ordered our oysters, we asked if we had to wait for them to go forage them from the bays. Ask you can imagine, Mike had some choice words for us and we were crying laughing some more. After a short amount of time, the owner came back and brought my glass of scotch and apologized like there was no tomorrow. The funny thing is, the other Bobby Vans where he had to go is directly across the street from our hotel, so I mentioned that they could have just hired us to bring the bottle next time to save everyone heartache. The owner had a great sense of humor as well. The scotch was amazing, my girlfriends' mules were amazing and the oysters were amazing. Can you tell, we were amazed by the customer service of this place, and we have not even ordered our entrees yet. I ordered one more scotch, because only drinking one after they went through all of that would have been rude, funny, but rude. We then ordered our entrees, which were the dry aged Rib Eyes. While we waited for our entrees, Mike would stop by and make some smart a** comments to us and then walk away. Every time he did, we were dying. I keep mentioning this because as you know, high-end restaurants are usually 'stuffy', to put it mildly. At no time did we feel out of place. We then received our steaks and the macaroni and cheese and both were absolutely amazing! After that, we then ordered cheesecake for dessert and just like everything else, it was wonderful. When it was time to get the bill, Mike informed us that the cheesecake was on them. This was not necessary, but we appreciated it so much. When Mike brought back the check to sign, he then thanked us up and down and gave both of us a hug before we left. This is what customer service should look and feel like, not the hug you sickos!! I understand that food service workers have to deal with a lot of high maintenance people on a daily, hell, hourly occurrence so that is why I try to show them all the respect in the world. Please, when you are out and about dining in any restaurant, show some respect and try not to act too privileged. People like Mike and the owner are the reasons why we go back to these restaurants over and over. If we can all bring joy to one another, then the dining experience will be worth every penny. Here are my final thoughts for Bobby Vans Grill in Washington D.C., enjoy the atmosphere, order everything that looks amazing, with the exception of fine scotch unless you do not mind waiting, lol, and fried oysters, Mike will understand the joke, and enjoy and amazing dining experience at one of the best restaurants in D.C.

We went a couple days ago and can't believe how terrible the service has gotten. Our waiter was a complete moron who messed up our orders and couldn't answer any of our questions about the food or restaurant. He was also extremely loud and obnoxious and clearly had an ego which is just unfortunate if you're going to work in customer service. The food has also gone downhill as nothing we ordered tasted good. Extremely disappointed.

This is a taste of old DC. A time when the only restaurants in the city were steakhouses. A remnant of a time before all the hipster additions to the culinary scene. None of these places ever warranted a Michelin star but they were filling and you could be rubbing elbows with the city's elite and/or influential tourists. The décor skews towards an older demographic and I noticed some stares as I walked in with a polo, shorts, and sneakers. Not that there is a dress code, but its the kind of place where you come at least respectably dressed. (No shorts next time - note to self) I loved the pretzel rolls and wished there were more with the bread basket that was brought out. The Caesar salad was terrible. For this type of an establishment to serve watery bland dressing was pretty annoying. However, this was the only lowlight of the evening. We ordered two glasses of their Cab Sauv (Stag's Leap) and we both really liked it. Very smooth and a nice flavor as well. Now, I am not sure if this just happened for us or if they do this normally but the waitress came by two times and added more wine to our glasses (An extra splash in your glass). We simply could have been lucky, but we did really enjoy this obviously. I ordered the strip steak medium with the au poivre (peppercorn) sauce. Excellent cook on the steak, great flavor from the au poive, and overall a high quality steak. The small size was 12oz, which is quite plentiful. I think next time I will try the filet mignon but this was a very tasty dinner for me. My fiancée ordered the Duck Two Ways. Sweet and spicy and a TON of duck. Huge portion, nice Asian slaw, and rice as a base were quite tasty as well. To end our meals we ordered desserts and holy moly they were AWESOME!!! I had the blueberry cheesecake which was out of this world. I am a huge cheesecake snob so my expectations are high. This was creamy, smooth, had a great sauce, and even had some whip cream on top with a strawberry. She had the warm chocolate cake. Simply wonderful. Warm, melty, super chocolately, and the ice cream made it perfect. We really enjoyed this place. It isn't cheap, so make sure you are aware of the prices. Some other reviewers clearly cannot add and were surprised by the total bill. If you use basic math then you can order whatever you want on the budget you have. We will be back the next time we want a steak in an ambiance that reminds us of the days of yore.