Hard to Get Reservations in Washington, D.C.

Every day, we have hundreds of thousands of reservations flying through our system—and some are tougher to get than others. According to our data, these are the restaurants in Washington, D.C. where it’s hardest to snag a reservation. Impress your friends and family and score a table; we wish we could join you.

The OpenTable team

5 Restaurants

Updated February 12, 2020

Restaurants:	Iron Gate, Sax, 1789 Restaurant…
Price Range:	$$$ - $$$$
Cuisines:	Mediterranean, Contemporary American, American…
Neighborhoods:	Dupont Circle, Penn Quarter, Georgetown…

Iron Gate

$$$$

Mediterranean

Dupont Circle

4.8

2528 reviews

Iron Gate, a cozy, romantic restaurant in Dupont Circle, has a lot going for it: the wood-fired hearth and rotisserie, the red leather banquettes, the wisteria-lined patio. Tuck into a platter of lamb meatballs or roasted manicotti, and you’re in for quite a night. Iron Gate, a cozy, romantic restaurant in Dupont Circle, has a lot going for it: the wood-fired hearth and rotisserie, the red leather banquettes, the wisteria-lined patio. Tuck into a platter of lamb meatballs or roasted manicotti, and you’re in for quite a night.

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Sax

$$$$

Contemporary American

Penn Quarter

4.3

1270 reviews

Sax is a gilded, opulent restaurant and lounge in the heart of DC, where you can dine on lobster mac and cheese and steak-frites while watching belly-dancers, aerialists, fire performers, and various other performances unfold around you. Late at night, you’ll find live DJs, burlesque shows, and VIP bottle service. Head here for a night out on the town.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

1789 Restaurant

$$$$

American

Georgetown

4.7

6012 reviews

1789 is a restaurant rich in history, the kind of place that makes you feel transported the moment you walk through its doors. Dine among the English caricatures that adorn the walls of the downstairs pub, or join the likes of countless actors, presidents, and various notable world leaders in the main dining room, where you’ll dine off of fine china on things like foie-gras torchon, soft-shell-crab bisque, and pea-and-mascarpone-filled agnolotti.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

The Prime Rib Maryland at Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland

$$$$

Steakhouse

Hanover

4.5

2399 reviews

This wouldn’t be Washington D.C. without its share of power-lunch-and-dinner spots, and The Prime Rib is a shining example. You’re here, unsurprisingly, for prime rib, though there is an excellent selection of other steaks (and various seafood dishes) as well; round out the meal with a shrimp cocktail, a couple of sides, and an ice-cold martini.

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Old Ebbitt Grill

$$$$

American

Downtown

4.8

26228 reviews

There are few restaurants in DC as entrenched in the political scene as Old Ebbitt Grill, where politicos of all stripes come to hang out and unwind. You’ll find a menu of American classics such as oysters Rockefeller, New England clam chowder, and bacon-horseradish-glazed meatloaf, and if you’re caught at the office, not to worry—much of the menu is available late into the night.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

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