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Since 1933, Martin’s Tavern has come to be one of the most celebrated taverns in Washington history, a home away from home. Georgetowners, Washington’s movers and shakers, Hollywood stars, Broadway legends and just plain “G.I. Joes” all say, “Meet me at Martin’s.”
In the late 19th century, William S. Martin crossed the Atlantic from Galway, Ireland to pursue the American Dream. In 1933, he and son William G. Martin opened Martin’s Tavern on the corner of Wisconsin and N Street. The tavern was an immediate success thanks to great food, good drinks and excellent service. So successful in fact, that in the 1940’s four star generals preferred to sit on milk crates at Martin’s than take a table at another restaurant.
A Hall of Fame athlete at Georgetown University, William G. Martin graduated and went on to play three professional sports – basketball, football and baseball. He played with Jim Thorpe on the 1914 Boston “Miracle Braves” and for the NY Giants and Cleveland Indians.
In 1949, his son, William A. Martin, started behind the bar, having served in the Navy during World War II, attended Georgetown University Medical School, attained Golden Gloves status as a boxer and played Pro-Am golf. During the 1950s, Billy remembers the Dugout room as the scene of many meetings between Speaker Sam Rayburn, LBJ and other Congressmen and Senators as they swapped stories and molded American legislation (also cited in Robert Caro’s LBJ biography, Master of the Senate). Over the years, many regulars have staked out their favorite booths in the tavern – including JFK & Jackie, Richard Nixon, Harry Truman, political cartoonist Herb Block, CBS commentator Eric Sevareid, political hostess and fundraiser Pamela Harriman and Mickey Mantle.
In 1982, current owner, William A. (Billy) Martin, Jr. moved back to Washington and, as his father had done in 1949, started behind the bar. In 2001, he and wife Gina became the fourth generation to own and operate the Tavern. The menu has remained consistent through many culinary trends and fads. People continue to return to the classic American fare of great steaks, chops, seafood, fresh pasta and the good old-fashioned comfort food that is the hallmark of the Tavern.
Martin’s Tavern has had the honor of serving every president from Harry Truman to George W. Bush. It has survived the Great Depression, World War II and Korea, Camelot and the Great Society, Vietnam and Watergate, the Cold War and the Gulf War.
Billy and Gina Martin welcome you to their tavern – a Georgetown landmark for more than 70 years.
We hope you enjoy your meal and continue the tradition of telling your friends, |