Occidental Grill & Seafood
Monday – Friday: 11:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Saturday: 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sunday: 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
BRUNCH
Saturday & Sunday: 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
HAPPY HOUR
Monday – Friday: 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Exclusively at the Bar)
Wednesdays: All Day
Call 202-737-4147 for further information or visit http://occidentaldc.com/occidental/index.cfm/meetings-events/.
Bus stop located on 14th Street near the National Press Building.
Private Dining
From business functions and graduations, to rehearsals, receptions & personal get togethers Occidental Grill and Seafood is an elegant DC dining icon. Our private dining rooms exemplify the city's classic ambiance while the chef's menus evoke your taste buds with a modern twist on American favorites
View Private Dining Details
Menu
My girlfriend and I were hoping for a good lunch prior to our flight back home. To preface this review, we go on vacation for sights and for food. This was supposedly a great brunch spot near the WH. I wasn't expecting the best food because the dinner menu appears to be their forte, however I was sure that lunch would be solid. We arrive, cool dining area with pictures blanketing the walls. We were seated and were then promptly greeted by our server with food and drink recommendations. Shortly after ordering the cornbread appetizer (the best part of the entire meal), many people in very casual clothes poured into the restaurant; they appeared to be decorating the restaurant for xmas, with nutcrackers, garland, wreaths, etc. There were children amongst the crew, who multiple times jumped onto my girlfriend's booth, running around the restaurant, essentially making the "cool experience" into a cacophony of kids yelling, parents mulling around hanging things, and our server never once apologizing for this behavior. This is a place that gives one the impression that they would apologize for spilling a drop of water on your tablecloth while refilling a glass 3/4 full.
The food was not great, not even good really. The frittata is mundane. The steak and eggs are bland and overcooked. I'm being harsh here because I'm livid that I wasted so much time here.
We were offered a free dessert...at lunchtime, due to the people decorating. They should have decorated after hours. The credit card couldn't be processed immediately, it took an extra 10 minutes to get our card back to us.
Overall, coming from a foodie couple, who both waited tables all throughout college, who still tip 20% despite the shortcomings, don't waste your time.
Very nice atmosphere and excellent waitstaff. Good wine/beer list. Food was good, especially the filet, though overall it didn't knock my socks off. Still, very solid and very close to the "sights".
Wonderful food and atmosphere!
Ask for Ashley as your server. She was not only professional but she was informed about all the photos in the restaurant, friendly, fun and excellent.
This is a staple for me. I always eat at the Occidental when in DC. But this meal was very disappointing. The food was cold, the ambiance was like setting in a lighting gallery which ruined the warm atmosphere I remember. It was a disappointing meal and disappointing ambiance. But our server was very informative and the best part of our experience.
Great tasting food, excellent service, warm atmosphere.
I ordered the ribeye steak ($48) and think it would lose a taste test to _______(full in any mass market steak house).
5 people; all of our meals were great the octopus appetizer was delicious. Extensive wine list. Location just a block or so from the White House.
I would expect a lot more from the Willard restaurant. Food was very average and it was pretty expensive given what we were served. I live in NYC so I don't want to sound like a snob but they definitely need to re-tool the menu a and step it up. The Caesar salad was excellent but the rest of our dishes were nothing to write home about. The desserts were awful. Please get a pastry chef and oh yes can you put the pic of Trump some where else? :)
It was fairly expensive for foood that just wasn’t that good. It is a beautiful place and the Service was excellent, but i’ More concerned about the quality of the food.
Great food along with great food. Oysters were amazing and the scallops perfect. The tiramisu was my favorite I have had at any restaurant.
In this day of restaurants so noisy you can barely hear yourself and service provide grudgingly it is a pleasure to dine at the Occidental. Good ambiance, good food and good service.
Very bland food. Like hospital food. Service was good.
The sea bass is amazing! Service is outstanding and highly recommended.
A beautiful restaurant, good food, on the expensive side.
A great dinner until we saw a mouse run by us. That was unacceptable for a restaurant of this caliber. Very disappointed and ruined a perfectly nice evening.
Such a classic venue that is tucked away in a very busy corner. Great patio seating but the inside is such fun to just relax, admire the setting and people watch. A bit on the high end but consistently good. Their executive lunch special made our lunch a great value. I will remember to return!
Excellent food and great staff
Steaks over cooked, but still tasty. Service was below what would have been expected (not checking on meal or clearing plates). They are good about filling the waters if that is your thing.
Excellent meal! Our waiter was great! We'll be back again!
Service was very disappointing.
During great weather, the patio is an awesome place for a leisurely lunch /brunch. Food was great and service even better.
Date night. Was great
Had a delicious meal ... filet with crab cakes, mashed potato and sautéed Brussels sprouts. The wine selection was good, the service attentive and not intrusive. Location was fabulous and the ambiance felt traditional but updated. Will be back next time in DC.
Excellent food and a wonderful weight staff made for a wonderful time.
Great location to eat outdoors on Pennsylvania Avenue
I have dined here many times over the years and have always enjoyed the food and service. For some reason, the food tasted old, overcooked, off flavorings - in general disappointing. I will try them again in the hope that they were just having an off day.
Very nice lunch with family and friends. Highly recommend due to the historical nature.
Be sure to enjoy the city’s most authentic restaurant.
Absolutely
The Occidental Grille holds a place in DC history, & it represents poorly! The service was HORRIBLE! My husband's $49 steak was NOT cooked as requested. Not only did they not come back to see how our food was, but when we flagged someone down, to "find" our waiter, the waiter then questioned my husband's opinion of how the steak should have been prepared. It was replaced, & still no one waited to see if it was acceptable. Would like to think that this restaurant would be First Class, but not so1
Our seats were right on Pennsylvania Ave, so we were subject to inquisitive tourists getting on the Hop On bus, a homeless man begging and anyone curious about how to get in the courtyard. When we asked for common drinks/brands, the bar didn’t have it or just ran out. We settled for simple drinks. We endured this for a while since it took “forever” to get the meal. Though the food was good, the elements above made the waiter (who tried hard) look bad, and the atmosphere detracted from what should have been a nice afternoon eating outside. There are better options with better quality elsewhere.
Beautiful white table cloth restaurant w/ generous seating on the interior as well as exterior. Very pleased at the service. Our waiter was jolly & engaging but made sure the table stayed clean, we had proper utensils before each course and expertly devised/served each of us portions of our whole stuffed Chilean Sea Bass.
Fantastic - great service and food was amazing!!
Was having lunch with a dear friend and former colleague from out of town. Dined inside on a day when many people were dining outside and really enjoyed the quiet atmosphere. So we had a good long talk, along with some excellent food. I had the swordfish, which was superb. Would love to have it again so I will definitely return.
Anniversary dinner turned out to be average dining experience. Had to send a couple of items back as not as ordered. Expected more.
Very enjoyable place to eat, sitting outdoors and watching the people go by...lovely setting and very nice food.
The food was delicious, I had a shrimp po boy, but it is so large that it is awkward to eat during a business lunch. The ambiance is great. My only issue after the hostess left our table, a waiter never showed up, the staff was not very attentive but the food and place were great.
We go to DC at least once a year and we always make sure to eat here. It’s become one of our favorite places to eat at
Grilled salmon ordered “medium” was severely overlooked and dry.
Waitress was rude and the food was way overpriced for the quality, taste, and quantity. Would not go back.