Tabard Inn Restaurant — Restaurant in Washington

I have been procrastinating writing this review because, overall I love the Tabard. I have been coming to the Tabard since August of 1980 (that’s not a typo).

It is understandable that in that span of time the menu and food quality have fluctuated from ethereal to mediocre as chefs come and go. However, ambiance, service, and drinks remarkably maintain premium quality over time. Though, there was the incident of the rookie server who dumped an entire bowl of hot gumbo on my friend’s sister’s lap at a celebration dinner in June 2011.

I have not been to the Tabard since before the beginning of my posting Google reviews in June of 2019, until two weeks ago, when, coincidentally, the host of the gumbo spill incident dinner was in town on business, suggesting dinner at the Tabard. It still has the same funky vibe, engaging, focussed wait staff, and terrific drinks. The bartender accommodated my Negroni recipe - 1 part gin, .75 part Campari, .25 part sweet vermouth, shaken on rocks, strained into a short stem glass. Oddly, the bar did not have orange twist, and twist of lemon worked fine.

Early in the ordering process, in conversation with our server, she caught my ear with the mention of words I dread hearing: ‘new chef.’ Long Island Blue Point Oysters with Kimchee-Pickled Ginger Granita seemed like a safe bet appetizer to me, which turned out to be true. The Oysters were fresh, having clean, crisp, and refreshing flavor. With the complex K-PGG: the spicy tanginess of the Kimchee - the sweet zestiness of the Ginger - the coolness of the Granita, all engaging with the brininess of the LIBPO, and Sauvignon Blanc to drink, the appetizer was a flavor jamboree.

I should have stopped with the appetizer. My Steak Frites entree, on the other hand, was disastrous. I couldn’t believe it came from the same kitchen. It was thin, tough, and gristly. The sauce was equally disgusting. I discreetly removed the cartilage from my mouth, camouflaged it on another plate, concentrated on the flavor of the Cabernet I ordered with the entree, and conversation with my friend.

Here’s an observation that speaks to the Tabard ambiance, in my opinion and experience: we noticed no one in the dining room was on their phones. I think that is a distinction of white tablecloth fine dining compared to casual dining and below. People were there to enjoy each...

A friend’s colleague highly recommended this spot, claiming their brunch is a must-try. So, we made a special trip to check it out! 🍽️ Unfortunately, we couldn’t snag a brunch reservation and had to settle for the breakfast slot instead. The restaurant is located on the first floor of a historic hotel over a century old, and the atmosphere is steeped in history. 🏨✨

Honestly, breakfast turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The morning crowd was lighter, making the dining experience quieter and more relaxing—a cozy start to the day. 🌿☕

Our Experience

Tabard Breakfast: The meal was decent but not particularly memorable. That said, the service was exceptional—attentive and thoughtful. Initially, we planned to order just one dish and wait for the brunch menu to kick in, but upon checking, we realized there wasn’t much difference between the two menus. So, we ended up ordering another breakfast dish instead.

Tabard Omelette: This dish caught our attention thanks to two regulars sitting next to us. They seemed to know the staff and had ordered biscuits with their meal. Intrigued by the mention of smoked paprika sauce—a flavor we’d never tried—we decided to give it a shot. We didn’t want fries, so we asked the server if we could substitute them with biscuits. The server was incredibly accommodating and brought each of us our own biscuit. 🥐

And wow, the biscuits were the highlight of the meal! Crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside—absolutely delightful. The dish itself was good, but the biscuits truly stole the show. Highly recommend giving...

Tabard Inn is the oldest restaurant in DC- so from that standpoint it's a very hip place to visit. But if you have simpler taste buds like myself, the menu isn't too alluring... And, the menu states: NO SUBSTITUTIONS. A few members of my party had asked the waitress if there could be a substitute for the allergen item they had to leave off- nope! If I had the flexibility to leave off the goat cheese or the mushrooms, I would've ordered what I had been craving. The prices are pretty high- perhaps they wouldn't have seemed so inflated if the portions were a bit larger. The service was incredibly and unapologetically slowwww. No one is in a hurry here. But the manager was super gracious and accommodating when we needed an intervention. I think if you wanted to find a dark hideaway undisturbed for a couple of hours, this is the place for you. The furniture is hauntingly eclectic with antique church pews and colonial chairs. On the way into the single bathroom at the top of the steep staircase to the 2nd floor is an off-putting nude oil painting of a couple. It is neither sexy or romantic- just immodestly grotesque, imo. It feels haunted. So, as glad as I am to have marked this destination off my list to do, I most likely won't be looking to return any...