For 170 years, Old Ebbitt Grill has been one of Washington, D.C.’s most recognizable restaurants, serving generations of diners just blocks from the White House.
Now, for the first time, the iconic restaurant’s name is expanding beyond its longtime D.C. home with a new spinoff location.
Ebbitt House, a new sister concept from Clyde’s Restaurant Group, is expected to open at Reston Station in just a few week!
Rather than simply recreating the original restaurant in Northern Virginia, the new concept is designed to bring some of Old Ebbitt Grill’s signature elements into a more modern setting with its own menu and unique personality.
Where is Ebbitt House going to be?
Ebbitt House will open at 1860 Reston Row Plaza in Reston Station, in the growing Reston Row section of the mixed-use development.
The restaurant will sit across from the new JW Marriott and is close to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station on the Silver Line, making it accessible by both car and public transportation.
The location is being designed as a substantial destination rather than a small neighborhood restaurant.
Ebbitt House will have a 275-seat dining room, two indoor bars, and a 125-seat patio with its own outdoor bar.
It will also include two completely private rooms for private and semi-private events.
When will Ebbitt House open?
Ebbitt House is expected to open in October 2026, according to the restaurant’s official website.
There is not yet a specific opening day publicly announced, so diners will have to wait for additional details from Ebbitt House before making plans for opening weekend.
The project has been in the works for several years. Clyde’s Restaurant Group and Comstock announced the Ebbitt House lease in March 2023, when the restaurant was originally expected to open in 2025.
That timeline has since shifted, but the project is now nearing completion and the restaurant is actively hiring for its opening team.
What will Ebbitt House be like?
While Ebbitt House takes inspiration from Old Ebbitt Grill, it will not simply be a copy of the famous D.C. restaurant.
The concept is being positioned as a modern interpretation of the Old Ebbitt experience, with its own look, menu and identity. The restaurant says it is intended to capture the spirit of Old Ebbitt Grill while creating something specifically suited to its Reston home.
There will, however, be plenty of familiar elements for fans of the original. Ebbitt House will serve American classics, along with a prominent oyster and raw bar program, seafood and a substantial beverage program. Current menu previews include burgers, steaks, house-made pastas, seafood and shareable dishes, while drinks will include wine, beer, martinis and other cocktails.
The restaurant will also carry over one of Old Ebbitt Grill’s best-known traditions: happy hour.
Ebbitt House is planning twice-daily happy hours, including a late-night oyster happy hour, giving the restaurant a strong bar-and-social component in addition to its dining room.
Designed by Studio K, recent reporting describes a lighter, more contemporary interpretation of the richly detailed style associated with the restaurant group, rather than attempting to reproduce Old Ebbitt Grill’s historic D.C. interior.
In other words, Old Ebbitt Grill fans can expect some familiar food and traditions, but Ebbitt House is intended to become its own Reston institution.
For a restaurant brand that traces its roots to 1856, the expansion is a significant moment.
After 170 years of being associated with Washington, D.C., the Ebbitt name is finally getting a new home in Northern Virginia.
