Best Restaurants for Special Occasions in Van Ness

Old Ebbitt Grill is always solid. Service is usually solid (as compared to most DC proper restaurants) and the food is always great. Their raw bar is incredible (be sure to visit during oyster HH, everyday 3pm-6pm), the mix drinks are always tasty, and their menu/selection is always rotating and improving. Their management is clearly receptive to metrics and I appreciate this restaurant.

I recently dined at La Grande Boucherie, and I couldn’t be happier with my experience! As someone with celiac disease, dining out can often be stressful, but the team at La Grande Boucherie went above and beyond to ensure my safety and comfort. Before my visit, I reached out to let them know about my dietary restrictions, and their response was incredibly reassuring. They informed me that their head chef and kitchen team were fully aware of my needs and took meticulous care to prevent cross-contamination. While their fryer isn’t gluten-free (so fries were off the menu for me), they made excellent alternative recommendations and ensured that everything I ordered was completely safe. The food was great! The salads were fresh and vibrant, and the steak and eggs were absolutely delicious—cooked to perfection. What made the experience even better was the effort the chef took to make all the appetizers gluten-free, so I could safely share them with my friends. The service was impeccable, and I left feeling both satisfied and safe, which is rare for someone with celiac disease. La Grande Boucherie has set a high standard for gluten-free dining, and I can’t recommend it enough. I’m already looking forward to my next visit!

Did not expect to have a sampling of EVERYTHING on the brunch menu…what a pleasant surprise. The speed in the which dishes were served was just right, serving staff very attentive. The mimosas and margaritas were great! Definitely put this restaurant at the top of your list.

As always a wonderful dinner with fantastic service from Kendal. We could not have been happier! The food and cocktails were great.

I’d suggest you make a reservation as it was a full house at 2pm on a Thursday. We were greeted promptly by our server and she checked on us regularly. The food came out timely and it was delicious. We each had alcoholic beverages, salads, an entree, cappuccinos and dessert. The bill was about $200 and I felt that was a fair price and worth it.