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Martinis Encouraged: A Dozen Classic Steakhouses for D.C.'s Meat Lovers

These ARE your daddy's steakhouse.

by Missy Frederick
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The Prime Rib
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by Missy Frederick

New-wave steakhouses have been all the rage in D.C. They started with restaurants like Bourbon Steak and BLT Steak, which offered more contemporary and relaxed alternatives to the stereotypical Washington power steakhouse. In the past few years, things have kicked up even further. Out of town restaurateurs like Richard Sandoval and Jose Garces have opened their own twists on the steakhouse in Washington, while operations like STK claim to provide an atmosphere that's "not your daddy's steakhouse." It's almost enough to engender steakhouse fatigue.

But what about those diners nostalgic for a more old-school D.C. steakhouse experience? D.C. has that covered, too. This map represents steakhouses that opened before the contemporary wave. Some are chains, some are institutions, some are power spots, and some are even newer restaurants that aim for more of a throwback atmosphere.

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The Palm Restaurant

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The Palm has a storied history in D.C. George H.W. Bush helped bring the steakhouse here, and it has since hosted every president.

1225 19th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 293-9091
(202) 293-9091

Also featured in:

Prime Rib

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The Prime Rib in D.C., where men still wear sports jackets and the veal rib chops (not to mention the signature dish) are massive.

2020 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20006
(202) 466-8811
(202) 466-8811

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Morton's The Steakhouse

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The power spot has been serving up chops and baked potatoes for more than 15 years downtown, and there are multiple locations in the area.

1050 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 955-5997
(202) 955-5997

Ruth's Chris Steak House

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With several locations in the D.C. area, the country's largest steakhouse chain is a reliable source for filet mignon and martinis.

1801 Connecticut, NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 797-0033
(202) 797-0033

The Capital Grille

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Despite its name, this steakhouse actually got its start in another capital — Providence. The D.C. location is a major hangout for the Republican politico crowd.

601 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 737-6200
(202) 737-6200

Charlie Palmer Steak

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Charlie Palmer Steak was actually considered a new wave steakhouse when it opened in D.C. back in 2001. But its longevity and longtime status as a Washington power spot earned it a spot in this map. D.C. chefs like Matt Hill and Bryan Voltaggio refined their cooking skills at this spot, a favorite of such Hill figures as Nancy Pelosi.

101 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 547-8100
(202) 547-8100

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District Chophouse & Brewery

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This favorite among D.C.'s tourists is known as much for its beer as its steaks.

509 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 347-3434
(202) 347-3434

Bobby Van's Steakhouse - 15 Street

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Bobby Van's, a chain out of New York, does major lunch business at its two downtown D.C. locations.

809 15th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 589-0060
(202) 589-0060

Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

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Joe's Seafood has only been open in D.C. for about a year, but it has unabashedly marketed itself as an old school, power-spot steakhouse. Seafood tends to outshine the meats here, though.

750 15th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 489-0140
(202) 489-0140

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Old Hickory Steakhouse

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The atmosphere skews formal at this steakhouse located within the Gaylord hotel at National Harbor. They're also known for their cheese program.

201 Waterfront St, National Harbor, MD 20745
(301) 965-4000
(301) 965-4000

Also featured in:

Smith & Wollensky

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The chain has had a presence in downtown D.C. for more than 15 years.

1112 19th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 466-1100
(202) 466-1100

The Classics

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The Classics, originally part of the Ray's the Steaks chain, has kept the value focus of its original owners with more of an old school, classy atmosphere.

8606 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 588-7297
(301) 588-7297

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The Palm Restaurant

1225 19th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

The Palm has a storied history in D.C. George H.W. Bush helped bring the steakhouse here, and it has since hosted every president.

1225 19th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 293-9091
(202) 293-9091

Prime Rib

2020 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

The Prime Rib in D.C., where men still wear sports jackets and the veal rib chops (not to mention the signature dish) are massive.

2020 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20006
(202) 466-8811
(202) 466-8811

Morton's The Steakhouse

1050 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

The power spot has been serving up chops and baked potatoes for more than 15 years downtown, and there are multiple locations in the area.

1050 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 955-5997
(202) 955-5997

Ruth's Chris Steak House

1801 Connecticut, NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

With several locations in the D.C. area, the country's largest steakhouse chain is a reliable source for filet mignon and martinis.

1801 Connecticut, NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 797-0033
(202) 797-0033

The Capital Grille

601 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

Despite its name, this steakhouse actually got its start in another capital — Providence. The D.C. location is a major hangout for the Republican politico crowd.

601 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 737-6200
(202) 737-6200

Charlie Palmer Steak

101 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Charlie Palmer Steak was actually considered a new wave steakhouse when it opened in D.C. back in 2001. But its longevity and longtime status as a Washington power spot earned it a spot in this map. D.C. chefs like Matt Hill and Bryan Voltaggio refined their cooking skills at this spot, a favorite of such Hill figures as Nancy Pelosi.

101 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 547-8100
(202) 547-8100

District Chophouse & Brewery

509 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

This favorite among D.C.'s tourists is known as much for its beer as its steaks.

509 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 347-3434
(202) 347-3434

Bobby Van's Steakhouse - 15 Street

809 15th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

Bobby Van's, a chain out of New York, does major lunch business at its two downtown D.C. locations.

809 15th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 589-0060
(202) 589-0060

Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

750 15th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

Joe's Seafood has only been open in D.C. for about a year, but it has unabashedly marketed itself as an old school, power-spot steakhouse. Seafood tends to outshine the meats here, though.

750 15th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 489-0140
(202) 489-0140

Old Hickory Steakhouse

201 Waterfront St, National Harbor, MD 20745

The atmosphere skews formal at this steakhouse located within the Gaylord hotel at National Harbor. They're also known for their cheese program.

201 Waterfront St, National Harbor, MD 20745
(301) 965-4000
(301) 965-4000

Smith & Wollensky

1112 19th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

The chain has had a presence in downtown D.C. for more than 15 years.

1112 19th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 466-1100
(202) 466-1100

The Classics

8606 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910

The Classics, originally part of the Ray's the Steaks chain, has kept the value focus of its original owners with more of an old school, classy atmosphere.

8606 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 588-7297
(301) 588-7297

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