THE GRILL
Southwest Waterfront, Washington DC
Restaurant in Washington DC, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Price
$50–100per person
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
THE GRILL is a practical Southwest D.C. pick for a polished dinner where drinks, room, and easy booking matter more than award-chasing. Choose it for date nights, client meals, or celebrations that need a dependable setting; compare MI VIDA or Pink Tiger if you want a more specific dining angle.
About THE GRILL
THE GRILL is a Washington, D.C. option to consider when the plan calls for a smart-casual outing with broad scheduling flexibility. It is open daily, with weekday service beginning at 11:30 AM, weekend service beginning at 11 AM, closing at 10 PM most nights, and staying open until 11 PM on Friday and Saturday.
The practical verdict is simple: consider it when the dress expectation and hours fit your outing. It is better evaluated on the essentials: Washington, D.C. location, daily hours, and a smart-casual dress code.
Pick it for a smart-casual Washington, D.C. outing with dependable hours
The strongest use case is planning around dependable hours. THE GRILL is open seven days a week, which can help with weekday plans, weekend daytime plans, and later Friday or Saturday evenings. For broader planning across the city, use Our full Washington, D.C. restaurants guide, Our full Washington, D.C. bars guide, and Our full Washington, D.C. hotels guide to decide how it fits into the rest of the night.
If you are choosing among other options, compare basics such as hours and dress expectations rather than assuming a particular service style or menu focus.
Know Before You Go
- Best for: guests who want a Washington, D.C. venue with daily hours and a smart-casual dress code.
- Booking difficulty: plan ahead if your timing is important.
- Timing: open Monday through Thursday from 11:30 AM to 10 PM, Friday from 11:30 AM to 11 PM, Saturday from 11 AM to 11 PM, and Sunday from 11 AM to 10 PM.
- Dress: smart casual.
- Skip if: the priority is a venue selected primarily for awards, chef profile, tasting-menu format, specific cuisine, or price point.
Planning details
- Location
- 99 Market Square SW, Washington, DC 20024
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- thegrilldc.com
- Phone
- +12029165996
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Grill presents a composed, classic dining room that prioritizes conversation over spectacle. Wood panelling, booths arranged for semi-privacy and a restrained soundscape give the room a sense of material weight rather than decorative flourish. The atmosphere reads formal without being flashy — it relies on structural confidence and the unhurried rhythms of a traditional grill. That focus on functionality over theatricality keeps attention on the table: food and company matter more than any performance from the kitchen or the room itself.
Best For
This is a place for intentional dinners: quiet date nights, business meals where conversation matters, and small special occasions that benefit from a reserved, formal setting. The Grill’s layout and tone discourage loud after-hours revelry and instead support seated, focused dining. Parties looking for a venue that emphasizes privacy, clear acoustics and an elevated yet unshowy room will find it well suited to those occasions.
Ordering Tips
Stick with the Grill’s signature, straightforward offerings rather than seeking novelty. The menu highlights classic items—Deviled Eggs and Grilled Ribs are called out as signatures—so ordering those provides a clear window into the restaurant’s priorities: precise, unfussy preparations that suit the traditional grill format. Given the conversational atmosphere, choose shareable plates and courses that arrive at a measured pace to keep the meal centered on the table and the company.
Venue details
Ambiance
Polished mid-century modern with chic Miami influences, rose gold accents, soft lighting creating a shimmery incandescent effect, and an open kitchen showcasing the wood-fired Josper grill.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
View
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Medium
- Kitchen
- Modern
- Menu Format
- A la carte, Prix fixe
- Wine Program
- Curated
- Drinks Focus
- Craft cocktails
- Dietary
- Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options
- Private Dining
- Available
- Outdoor Seating
- Yes
Signature Dishes
- Deviled Eggs
- Grilled Ribs
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 99 Market Square SW, Washington, DC 20024
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Where to book if this does not fit
If the group wants a more specific restaurant identity, book MI VIDA instead. If the priority is a different mood for a night out, compare Pink Tiger before committing to Southwest D.C.
Restaurant context
How It Compares
Choose THE GRILL when the priority is a polished room, easier booking, and a dinner plan that can include drinks without changing venues. MI VIDA is the better cross-shop if the group wants a more defined restaurant identity, while THE GRILL is the safer pick for business meals and mixed-preference groups.
Willowsong and Pink Tiger are better comparisons for diners choosing by mood rather than convenience. If the night needs a sharper sense of occasion or a more specific ambiance, check those first. If the plan needs to stay flexible around Southwest D.C. timing, THE GRILL is easier to justify.
Red Hook Lobster Pound and L'Enfant Plaza SW make more sense for casual or transit-friendly plans. THE GRILL sits above that lane: not the value play, but the better fit when the evening needs a fuller dining-room experience.
Explore Washington DC
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full THE GRILL guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare THE GRILL
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| THE GRILL | Washington, D.C. | No published awards |
| MI VIDA | Washington, D.C. | No published awards |
| Willowsong | Washington, D.C. | No published awards |
| Red Hook Lobster Pound | Washington, D.C. | No published awards |
| L'Enfant Plaza SW | Washington, D.C. | No published awards |
| Pink Tiger | Washington, D.C. | No published awards |
How THE GRILL Washington, D.C. compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead should I book THE GRILL?
Plan ahead if you need a specific date or time. THE GRILL is open daily in Washington, D.C. with later closing hours on Friday and Saturday. For another option to compare, MI VIDA may also be worth checking.
Is THE GRILL good for solo dining?
Plan a solo visit around the hours and the setting you prefer. THE GRILL is open daily and follows a smart-casual dress code. If you want to compare another option, Red Hook Lobster Pound is another point of reference.
What should I wear to THE GRILL?
The dress code is smart casual. That is the safest guideline for a visit to THE GRILL in Washington, D.C. Willowsong is another venue you may want to compare when planning the tone of the outing.
Can I eat at the bar at THE GRILL?
If bar seating is important to your plan, check before you go. Base your visit on the hours: 11:30 AM to 10 PM Monday through Thursday, 11:30 AM to 11 PM Friday, 11 AM to 11 PM Saturday, and 11 AM to 10 PM Sunday. If you want another comparison, Pink Tiger may be worth checking separately.
What should a first-timer know about THE GRILL?
Treat THE GRILL as a Washington, D.C. venue with daily hours and a smart-casual dress code. It is open later on Friday and Saturday than on most other nights, which can help with evening planning. THE GRILL is in Washington, D.C.
What should I order at THE GRILL?
Check the current menu directly before deciding what to order. Use the daily hours and smart-casual dress code as your planning foundation. For a different comparison, MI VIDA is another option to consider.
