It seems everyone’s hanging their hopes on Obama these days, including Washington, DC restaurateurs who are all jockeying for the president-elect’s attention. He’s been known to enjoy a meal out on the town, and he’s got a far more adventurous palate than the sitting president (who, by all accounts is a bit of a recluse who prefers to eat his comfort food at home), so DC chefs are excited. One restaurateur — José Andrés, owner of Cafe Atlantico and Oyamel — has already called Rick Bayless of Chicago’s Topolobampo (an Obama favorite) to ask about the president-elect’s preferences, according to this New York Times article. In DC, a visit from a president can translate into quite a few more diners in seats. When dining rooms are half-empty thanks to an economic downturn, a presidential visit can make or break a restaurant.
But it’s not just the president, of course; there are also those who come to work in his administration, and they can seriously change the fabric of a restaurant’s dining scene:
But Bill Burton, the press secretary for Mr. Obama’s campaign who is following him to the White House, predicted changes in the Washington restaurant scene’s pecking order.
Already, he said, Cork, a relatively new restaurant in the Logan Circle area of town, is becoming a popular spot for young, incoming administration hands, many of whom have moved to the neighborhood in recent weeks.
With several varieties of chardonnay by the glass alone — and with an offering one recent night of Champaign for Change — the place does not scream “Republican.” Nor do its two owners, a former Democratic Congressional lawyer and a union organizer.
Mr. Burton, a self-proclaimed restaurant lover, also predicted a boost for establishments like Hook, in Georgetown, which opened nearly two years ago and was quickly named one of the country’s 10 best “Eco-Friendly Restaurants” by Bon Appétit magazine.
Things might be looking up for the capital’s restaurant scene.
Rearranging the Tables in Washington: Can Obama’s Coattails Reach to Restaurants? [New York Times]
Cafe Atlantico [MenuPages]
Oyamel [MenuPages]
Topolobampo [MenuPages]
Cork [MenuPages]
Hook [MenuPages]
Photo, of the main dining room at Cafe Atlantico: truenotes/flickr
