An Underrated Late-Night Spot With Live Music Downtown
Both situated right near the White House, the Hamilton is admittedly overshadowed by its older and more famous sibling, Old Ebbitt.
What to order
- You can’t throw a shoe without hitting calamari around these 9-to-5 parts of downtown D.C., but the Hamilton’s version is an all-time best seller for a reason ($16.99).
- The menu carves out room for Clyde’s classics like burgers, build-your-own charcuterie and cheese boards, and steaks that swing on the pricey side (mid-$50s).
- Subtle Asian influences show up in starters, from a miso-Caesar salad ($15.99), to a fish market section featuring sesame-crusted bigeye tuna ($36.99).
- Sushi is synonymous with going out, and a designated counter assembles stellar rolls until 1 a.m. A long list of cooked and raw rolls like the spicy yellowtail ($17.99) are $5 off for a few hours a day.
The vibe
Snag a window booth to shield yourself from the tourist-heavy dining room via operable curtains. Even if your date is boring, at least you have prime vistas of a who’s-who walking into the Willard hotel across F Street NW.
Know before you go
Don’t drive; while there’s a designated garage on G Street, the area’s ongoing construction, hotel valets, and security details clog up street parking spots. The Metro Center stop is a block away.
Insider tip
After dinner, head downstairs to Hamilton’s live music venue for ticketed shows featuring tribute bands to everyone from the Talking Heads to George Harrison. Equipped with a high-tech lighting and sound system, the subterranean stage surrounded by framed prints of lyrical legends like David Bowie and Amy Winehouse offers a temporary reprieve from the bulldozed chaos going on up top at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
