Thumbs Way Up...

...for Old Ebbitt Grill in DC!

I LOVE it when I go to a restaurant and the waitress is fully aware and knowledgeable about gluten and other allergies. Last night, I met up with some special friends from out of town at Old Ebbitt. I'd never been there, but after checking them out online (a good measure for anyone with a food intolerance) I realized they are owned and operated by Clyde's.

Oh Clyde's! Your always gorgeous, super classy locations and incredibly delicious, though pricey, food never ceases to amaze me!

Old Ebbitt was built in 1856 and started as a boarding house. Though uprooted several times, it is currently located on 15th between F and G streets. It's about a block from the White House, and thus has served as a place of hospitality to many historical figures. The location and history definitely make it a fun stop for tourists.

Last night, something happened that has never happened to me before. As I perused the menu, the waitress announced that the soup of the day was split pea and ham, and my heart lurched. Mmm...sweet and salty, smooth and chunky favorite soup...mmm. I told her I would like a cup of the soup in addition to my steak salad, as long as it was gluten-free. The woman then pulls out a list of ingredients right from her little note pad and reads it to me right there! Everything was whole and natural, and let me tell you, that soup was good.

My friends had suggested ordering a crab and artichoke dip appetizer, but I had zero expectation that I would be able to eat that, which was why I ordered the soup. The waitress came back a bit later and said it was fine! That is actually a sign of a quality restaurant, no fillers or thickeners in items like soups and dips; they let the natural, quality ingredients work their magic. The wait staff then brought the dip with some veggies, and brought another little plate of bread out later, to point out that it was kept completely separate.

The restaurant really made every effort to ensure everything was perfectly safe for me to eat, and clearly, I was impressed. The restaurant was utterly packed when I got there at 5:45 on a Wednesday, and was quite possibly even busier when we left after 8. The whole place is beautiful, with excellent artwork covering the walls. It is definitely a winner for tourists and locals alike.

Great food and great atmosphere, but even better conversation and friendship. How many times have I said it; isn't that what enjoying a great meal is really about?

(Side note: I have also been to the Clyde's in Rockville and Northern Virginia, though it's been a couple of years. Both restaurants are also equally huge and beautiful, and every time I've had a great meal. Check them out!)