Tabard Inn Restaurant brings historic Washington, D.C. charm and deeply satisfying comfort food to Dupont Circle, where every visit feels inviting and memorable.
Since 1922, this longtime favorite has welcomed diners with seasonal American cooking, art-filled rooms, and warm hospitality that makes an everyday meal feel special.
Come for brunch, dinner, or drinks, then linger beside the fireplace and enjoy the character, conversation, and flavors that keep locals returning.
How Tabard Inn Restaurant won locals’ hearts
Tabard Inn Restaurant has shaped the Washington, D.C. dining scene since 1922, giving locals a historic restaurant experience few addresses can match.
It started as a tea room before becoming a beloved Dupont Circle gathering place for brunch, dinner, cocktails, and celebrations.
Its lasting appeal comes from making guests feel genuinely comfortable while still delivering an experience that feels personal, polished, and worth remembering.
The restaurant combines its storied setting with a seasonal menu shaped by French and Southern influences, creating familiar food with character.
That combination gives diners comforting favorites while offering enough seasonal variety to keep regular guests curious and excited throughout the changing year.
Local and regional ingredients help the kitchen prepare dishes that feel connected to the Mid-Atlantic, rather than copied from a distant dining trend.
The food arrives carefully prepared, yet it remains warm, filling, and approachable for diners craving satisfying flavors without unnecessary fuss or formality.
Buttermilk fried chicken, shareable hush puppies, and seafood entrées can turn an ordinary dinner into the kind of meal guests discuss later.
Tabard Inn gives diners more than one reason to return, offering a flexible setting for quick meals, lingering conversations, and special occasions.
Weekend brunch attracts hungry guests seeking a relaxed Washington, D.C. tradition, while dinner creates a more intimate and quietly celebratory mood.
The lounge, fireplace, bar, and patio let diners choose an evening that suits their plans, energy, and preferred pace.
Live jazz on Sundays and Mondays adds a distinctly local rhythm to dinner, cocktails, and conversations that continue long after dessert.
Tabard Inn wins local hearts through its comfort food, history, character, and dependable hospitality in one unforgettable Dupont Circle destination.
Food Highlights
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Hush Puppies: Served with honey butter, cayenne, and chives, these golden bites bring a sweet, buttery, lightly spicy start to the table. They are an easy choice for anyone who loves Southern-inspired comfort food. 🧈🌶️
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Buttermilk Fried Chicken: This hearty entrée comes with green beans, mashed potatoes, black pepper gravy, and pickled hot peppers. The combination delivers the familiar, satisfying flavors people crave when they want a true comfort-food dinner. 🍗
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Half Dozen Chesapeake Bay Oysters: Fresh oysters arrive with cocktail sauce and seasonal mignonette. This is a smart pick for seafood fans who want a taste of the Chesapeake region before moving into richer dishes. 🦪
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Warm Fava Bean Spread: Served with green strawberry chow-chow and benne crumbs, this appetizer brings creamy beans, bright acidity, and crunch in every bite. It is a lighter but still flavorful way to begin a meal.
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Chilled Green Tomato Gazpacho: Blue crab, pickled cantaloupe, dill oil, and benne praline make this seasonal soup lively and memorable. It is a great choice for diners who want something fresh with a distinctly regional feel. 🦀
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Chesapeake Catch of the Day: The daily fish is served with English peas, spring onions, and brown butter sauce. The rotating selection makes the dish especially appealing for repeat guests who enjoy trying what is freshest. 🎣
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Bone-In Berkshire Pork Shank: Appalachian cheese grits, broccoli, and a red wine and apple cider glaze create a rich, savory plate with plenty of depth. It is a must-order for anyone looking for a filling dinner with bold, home-style appeal. 🍖
Atmosphere
Tabard Inn Restaurant feels cozy, historic, and full of personality, with art-filled rooms that give each table its own memorable setting.
A glowing fireplace, intimate lounge, lively bar, and enclosed patio give diners several inviting ways to settle in throughout the evening.
Sunday and Monday jazz nights bring easygoing Washington, D.C. energy that perfectly suits a lingering dinner, shared desserts, or relaxed cocktails.
Bottom Line
Tabard Inn Restaurant is worth visiting for its historic Dupont Circle setting, comfort-driven menu, seasonal seafood, Southern-inspired favorites, and warmly inviting rooms.
This Washington, D.C. favorite suits a casual brunch, romantic date night, birthday dinner, or after-work cocktail with friends equally well.
Address: 1739 N St NW, Washington, DC 20036
📞 (202) 331-8528
🕔Open daily, 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM & 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM