Hamilton, the seafood restaurant near the White House with nightly sushi and live music
The Hamilton lives in the shadow of its older brother, the Old Ebbitt, but its menu of seafood, sushi and Asian influences gives it its own personality.
Located very close to the White House, Hamilton is overshadowed by its older sibling, Old Ebbitt, a seafood bar that needs no introduction. However, Hamilton is an unexpected success that departs from the typical American menu for which the Clyde's Restaurant Group is known, with sushi served late into the night.
In this busy area of downtown Washington, calamari is everywhere, but Hamilton's is an all-time bestseller ($16.99). The menu includes Clyde's classics like burgers, build-your-own charcuterie and cheese boards, and steaks that are a bit pricey, around $50.
The starters showcase subtle Asian influences, from a miso Caesar salad ($15.99) to a seafood section featuring sesame-crusted yellowfin tuna ($36.99). The sushi bar has its own counter, preparing rolls until 1 a.m. A long list of cooked and raw rolls, such as the spicy yellowtail roll ($17.99), is discounted by $5 for a few hours each day.
It's advisable to reserve a table by the window, which allows you to avoid the noise of the dining room, packed with tourists, thanks to the curtains that can be opened. From there you can see the important people entering the Willard Hotel, across F NW Street.
Driving is not recommended: there is a designated parking lot on G Street, but construction, hotel valet parking, and security services cause traffic congestion. The Metro Center station is one block away.
After dinner, the Hamilton's live music venue offers ticketed shows featuring tribute bands to artists ranging from Talking Heads to George Harrison. Its subterranean stage, with state-of-the-art lighting and sound, is surrounded by framed prints of legends like David Bowie and Amy Winehouse, and offers a respite from the chaos upstairs at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
