I visited DC's oldest restaurant, located just steps from the White House. I saw why it has endured for generations.

Old Ebbitt Grill started out as a boarding-house saloon that attracted prominent figures.

According to the restaurant's history, in 1856, innkeeper William E. Ebbitt purchased a boarding house in Washington, DC, that welcomed high-profile politicians and future presidents. William McKinley is believed to have resided there while in Congress.

The boarding house's saloon bar was said to be a popular gathering destination for the capital's elites — US presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Andrew Johnson, Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt, and Warren Harding are believed to have visited the establishment.

The boarding house closed in 1925, and throughout the 20th century, the saloon relocated a few times to buildings on streets neighboring the White House and the Treasury Building. It moved to its current location in a Beaux-Arts building on 15th Street NW in 1983.

Today, the restaurant hosts a mix of lawmakers and Capitol Hill staffers, journalists, and tourists.

When I visited on a summer holiday weekend, the tourist presence was strong, overshadowing any mystique that the restaurant's clientele may hold on weekdays.

While table reservations can be competitive, I was able to casually walk in and sit at the bar as a solo diner.

Inside, the restaurant is dark, and the ambiance is intimate.

The restaurant's dimly lit interior with dark wood paneling is broken up by large oil paintings depicting classic Victorian scenes. The booths are lined with plush green velvet and surrounded by greenery, making each table feel intimate and providing diners, including high-profile patrons, with a sense of privacy.

The restaurant has four separate public bars and a private dining room downstairs.

The main bar is adjacent to the main dining room, separated by hand-carved glass panels depicting iconic government institutions: its neighboring White House, the Capitol, and the Treasury.

Tucked around the corner from the bustling main bar is the Oyster Bar, where patrons can watch the master shuckers work up close —this is where I opted to dine.

The third and most intimate bar is located to the left of the restaurant foyer, up marble steps, and a fourth bar is hidden in the back of the main dining room, providing a quieter experience than the front of the house.

The Cabinet Room, the restaurant's private dining room where the most high-profile figures may opt to dine during their visits, is tucked away downstairs.

Toward the back, the restaurant's oyster bar sits in a corner, adjacent to a full bar.

The Oyster Bar had the most empty seats during my early-dinnertime Saturday visit.

While I didn't choose it with the oyster aspect in mind, I found it an exciting spot. Watching the shuckers work made oysters feel like the obvious choice for my meal.

I got started with the menu's most popular drink and a side of fries.

When I asked the bartender what the most popular or signature drink was, he pointed to the Strawberry Fields ($16.99), which features vodka, prosecco, strawberry basil, soda, and lemon.

The drink was a rather basic, sweet, citrusy spritz cocktail that reminded me of strawberry lemonade in the summer.

I also got a side of fries ($5.99), which were thick and crunchy, and were the most filling part of my meal.

Instead of a traditional entrée, I opted to try some of the restaurant's most notable offerings.

Beyond its history, there's another thing Old Ebbitt is known for: its oysters.

The restaurant claims that every oyster hits the table within five minutes of shucking to ensure freshness, and that it sources from the "finest growers on both coasts."

The menu also claims that these are "the safest oysters in town" and notes that the restaurant conducts lab tests on oysters from each of its suppliers' farms at least every two months to ensure they meet the in-house safety standards, which it claims "are significantly higher than the FDA's."

A half-dozen oysters, which I ordered, costs $23.99 regularly, but drops to $15.99 during the restaurant's daily happy hours between 3 and 5 p.m. and again after 11 p.m.

I ordered one of each of the six oyster types on the menu.

Shortly after I ordered them, the oysters came out, shucked and chilled, on a metal plate.

They were served with crackers, lemons, mignonette, and a cocktail sauce topped with horseradish.

The six varieties I got included the Smokey Bay from British Columbia, the Point Prim from Canada's Malpeque Bay, and four Massachusetts varieties: the Duxbury Select and Standish Shore from Duxbury Bay, the Fiddler's Cove from Falmouth, and the Wellfleet from Wellfleet Harbor.

The oysters were the best I've ever had.

As an oyster non-connoisseur and very casual enjoyer, these blew any others I'd previously had out of the water.

They were incredibly fresh, briny, and flavorful, with an interesting variety of flavors I wouldn't have noticed unless comparing them to one another.

The bartender guided me through each oyster's flavor profile, pointing out the West Coast oyster as the most distinctive, thanks in part to its smoky, sweeter profile.

For dessert, I went for the Key-lime pie at the bartender's suggestion.

When the bartender heard me mention I'm from Florida to a woman sitting next to me, he suggested that I try the restaurant's Key-lime pie ($11.99).

Other dessert options included peach cobbler, brownie with ice cream, carrot cake, peanut butter pie, chocolate chip bread pudding, truffle cake, crème brûlée, and ice cream.

A little overwhelmed with the number of options, I went with the bartender's recommendation. I also felt the citrusy dessert would pair well with the oysters and the drink.

The pie was well-balanced, but I wished for a thicker crust.

The pie filling was well-balanced between tartness and sweetness, and the whipped cream added a fluffier counterpart to the rich custard.

I also found that the lime zest added a depth of flavor to the classic dessert.

I only wish I could've tasted more of the nutty crust, which was a little thinner than I had hoped.

Still, the dessert was a sweet ending to a long travel day.

As I ate, I enjoyed looking at the art on the walls.

Throughout the restaurant, paintings depicting unique images of the city's history are showcased against dark wooden panels.

The art, dark wood furnishings, ornate chandeliers, floral decorations, and illuminated bottle displays give the restaurant a moody, intimate feel.

I ended up talking a lot to the woman sitting next to me. We were far from exchanging state secrets, but I could only imagine how many history-defining conversations must've taken place across Old Ebbitt's various locations throughout the years.

While oysters are the restaurant's crown jewel, its expansive menu is fit for long nights of conversation.

The full menu — which covers breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and dessert — includes local Mid-Atlantic seafood staples, American classics, and Mexican-, Italian-, and French-inspired dishes.

Some of the other menu highlights, many of which revolve around fresh New England seafood, include the jumbo lump crab cakes, the roasted trout, and the bacon-horseradish-glazed meatloaf.

From traditional entrées to burgers and tinned fish conservas to pair with drinks, the menu seems to cover every bite one might desire over many hours of conversation.

The kitchen stays open until 1 a.m. every day, a late-night feat that few restaurants can match.

After visiting, I understand why the Old Ebbitt Grill has remained a DC staple for decades.

From its central location and its expansive menu to its consistent late-night schedule, I understood how the Old Ebbitt Grill has endured.

Beyond its mystique and legend, the restaurant offers something far more important than an interesting history on the wall: It delivers a solid experience, whether you're a Capitol Hill regular or a tourist on your first visit.

After tax and tip, my meal came to $79.13. While my dinner was on the lighter side, I felt the price was justified by the freshness and quality of the seafood and the level of care the staff showed.

It wasn't the most luxurious fine-dining experience, but it felt elevated yet remained approachable for visitors like me who might be ready to decompress after a long day of walking around the capital.