Both situated right near the White House, the Hamilton is admittedly overshadowed by its older and more famous sibling, Old Ebbitt. While that cash-cow raw bar needs no introduction, the Hamilton remains a sleeper hit that strays from the typical American menu its Clyde’s Restaurant Group is known for (see: sushi served until late).
Snag a window booth to shield yourself from the tourist-heavy dining room via operable curtains. Even if your date is boring, at least you have prime vistas of a who’s-who walking into the Willard hotel across F Street NW.
Don’t drive; while there’s a designated garage on G Street, the area’s ongoing construction, hotel valets, and security details clog up street parking spots. The Metro Center stop is a block away.
After dinner, head downstairs to Hamilton’s live music venue for free shows on Friday and Saturday featuring tribute bands to everyone from the Talking Heads to George Harrison. Equipped with a high-tech lighting and sound system, the subterranean stage surrounded by framed prints of lyrical legends like David Bowie and Amy Winehouse offers a temporary reprieve from the bulldozed chaos going on up top at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.