Lapis serves modern Afghan fare in its airy dining room. Photo by Scott SuchmanThe Michelin Guide added six DC restaurants to its latest Bib Gourmand list, which recognizes more moderately priced destinations. The new additions include bakery/restaurant Elle, soul food staple Hitching Post, Hong Kong-inspired Queen’s English, Malaysian newcomer Makan, Karma Modern Indian, and all-day Dupont Circle spot Residents Café & Bar.Ten* restaurants were taken off this list—including Ambar, Tiger Fork, and Supra—bringing the total number of Bib Gourmands in DC down from to 40. Meanwhile, several...…Lapis serves modern Afghan fare in its airy dining room. Photo by Scott SuchmanThe Michelin Guide added six DC restaurants to its latest Bib Gourmand list, which recognizes more moderately priced destinations. The new additions include bakery/restaurant Elle, soul food staple Hitching Post, Hong Kong-inspired Queen’s English, Malaysian newcomer Makan, Karma Modern Indian, and all-day Dupont Circle spot Residents Café & Bar.Ten* restaurants were taken off this list—including Ambar, Tiger Fork, and Supra—bringing the total number of Bib Gourmands in DC down from to 40. Meanwhile, several...WW…

Photographs taken by an undercover investigator show patrons standing at Kiss Lounge on Jan. 29. Photographs via the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration.Kiss Lounge is the first DC business of the Covid era to lose its liquor license over pandemic safety violations. In a March 17 order, the District’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Board found that the Shaw nightlife spot committed several infractions. They include ignoring social distancing rules; operating over capacity and after permitted hours; allowing hookah use; and failing to enforce mask requirements. Most bizarrely, the spot...…Photographs taken by an undercover investigator show patrons standing at Kiss Lounge on Jan. 29. Photographs via the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration.Kiss Lounge is the first DC business of the Covid era to lose its liquor license over pandemic safety violations. In a March 17 order, the District’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Board found that the Shaw nightlife spot committed several infractions. They include ignoring social distancing rules; operating over capacity and after permitted hours; allowing hookah use; and failing to enforce mask requirements. Most bizarrely, the spot...WW…

The Brixton. Photograph by Scott SuchmanWhen brothers Ian and Eric Hilton announced last September they’d be , it was a huge gut-punch to DC’s food and drink scene. “We have depleted our resources while fighting a great, yet unsustainable battle to save the jobs of our employees and our businesses,” they wrote in a statement at the time.Six months later, though, things are looking brighter. Ian Hilton says the group is planning to reopen most of its shuttered spots. Taco spot El Rey ended up thanks to an outpouring of community support. Echo Park began serving pizza and beer again...…The Brixton. Photograph by Scott SuchmanWhen brothers Ian and Eric Hilton announced last September they’d be , it was a huge gut-punch to DC’s food and drink scene. “We have depleted our resources while fighting a great, yet unsustainable battle to save the jobs of our employees and our businesses,” they wrote in a statement at the time.Six months later, though, things are looking brighter. Ian Hilton says the group is planning to reopen most of its shuttered spots. Taco spot El Rey ended up thanks to an outpouring of community support. Echo Park began serving pizza and beer again...WW…

Rendering of the new 14-gate concourse at Reagan National Airport.Gate 35X at Reagan National Airport might as well be the Gates of Hell. The flight portal has become infamous for not really being a gate at all. Rather, it’s a human traffic jam where you might get elbowed in the eye so you can reach an escalator that takes you to a bus terminal that takes you to your remotely parked airplane. It’s the kind of place where you might lose your carry-on and your faith in humanity. And it’s the kind of place where Robert Mueller and Donald Trump Jr. had an in 2018, because, of course.Airport...…Rendering of the new 14-gate concourse at Reagan National Airport.Gate 35X at Reagan National Airport might as well be the Gates of Hell. The flight portal has become infamous for not really being a gate at all. Rather, it’s a human traffic jam where you might get elbowed in the eye so you can reach an escalator that takes you to a bus terminal that takes you to your remotely parked airplane. It’s the kind of place where you might lose your carry-on and your faith in humanity. And it’s the kind of place where Robert Mueller and Donald Trump Jr. had an in 2018, because, of course.Airport...WW…

Call Your Mother Deli's za'atar-spiced bagel with candied salmon cream cheese, cucumber, and shallots. Photograph by Scott SuchmanA few days into the job, and President Joe Biden has already made his first restaurant visit. After attending mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Sunday, his motorcade made a bagel pitstop at Call Your Mother in Georgetown, according to pool reports. The President didn’t actually get out of the vehicle—a Secret Service agent ducked in to pick up the order. But Biden did wave to the small crowd that quickly gathered at the scene.President Biden just left...…Call Your Mother Deli's za'atar-spiced bagel with candied salmon cream cheese, cucumber, and shallots. Photograph by Scott SuchmanA few days into the job, and President Joe Biden has already made his first restaurant visit. After attending mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Sunday, his motorcade made a bagel pitstop at Call Your Mother in Georgetown, according to pool reports. The President didn’t actually get out of the vehicle—a Secret Service agent ducked in to pick up the order. But Biden did wave to the small crowd that quickly gathered at the scene.President Biden just left...WW…

Donald Trump catered a White House reception for the Clemson Tigers with a table full of fast food. Photograph by Shealah Craighead / White House.In the final days of his presidency, Donald Trump couldn’t be more isolated from the city in which he resides. But even before the heavy barricades and National Guard troops fortressed a sizable chunk of DC, he never made any attempt to be part of the local community. Case in point: In his four years in office, Trump only visited a single District restaurant—the one in his own Pennsylvania Avenue hotel.To be fair, Trump was never going to be like...…Donald Trump catered a White House reception for the Clemson Tigers with a table full of fast food. Photograph by Shealah Craighead / White House.In the final days of his presidency, Donald Trump couldn’t be more isolated from the city in which he resides. But even before the heavy barricades and National Guard troops fortressed a sizable chunk of DC, he never made any attempt to be part of the local community. Case in point: In his four years in office, Trump only visited a single District restaurant—the one in his own Pennsylvania Avenue hotel.To be fair, Trump was never going to be like...WW…

Former Killer ESP employees accuse the owner of ignoring safety protocols and sexual harassment. Photograph by Andrew Beaujon.The entire staff of Alexandria coffee shop Killer ESP has quit en masse for the in the past six months. Employees allege that owner Rob Shelton willfully disregarded Covid-19 safety protocols and told staff and patrons they didn’t need to wear masks. They also echo previous allegations of sexual harassment, including unwelcome physical contact and sexual comments about their appearances.“He blatantly said that Covid was a hoax, that it was stupid, that it didn’t make...…Former Killer ESP employees accuse the owner of ignoring safety protocols and sexual harassment. Photograph by Andrew Beaujon.The entire staff of Alexandria coffee shop Killer ESP has quit en masse for the in the past six months. Employees allege that owner Rob Shelton willfully disregarded Covid-19 safety protocols and told staff and patrons they didn’t need to wear masks. They also echo previous allegations of sexual harassment, including unwelcome physical contact and sexual comments about their appearances.“He blatantly said that Covid was a hoax, that it was stupid, that it didn’t make...WW…

Trump supporters crowd Harry's Bar on Nov. 13. Photograph by Evy MagesAs Trump supporters, Proud Boys, and other right-wing fringe groups over the weekend, Harry’s Bar at the Hotel Harrington quickly became their go-to drinking spot. On Friday night, MAGA crowds packed together with red Solo cups and cans of Truly hard seltzer on the patio, where a halibut sandwich was on special. They sang “God Bless the USA” and waved a big “Blue Lives Matter” flag in the street. Almost none of them were wearing masks.That same night, the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration issued Harry’s a...…Trump supporters crowd Harry's Bar on Nov. 13. Photograph by Evy MagesAs Trump supporters, Proud Boys, and other right-wing fringe groups over the weekend, Harry’s Bar at the Hotel Harrington quickly became their go-to drinking spot. On Friday night, MAGA crowds packed together with red Solo cups and cans of Truly hard seltzer on the patio, where a halibut sandwich was on special. They sang “God Bless the USA” and waved a big “Blue Lives Matter” flag in the street. Almost none of them were wearing masks.That same night, the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration issued Harry’s a...WW…

Himitsu and Hot Lola's chef/owner Kevin Tien. Photograph by Scott Suchman, one of DC’s most buzzed-about new restaurants, has lost its rising star chef Kevin Tien just eight months after opening. Tien’s business partner and majority equity owner Sam Shoja will continue to operate the Capitol Hill restaurant. He’s brought in Hamilton Johnson—who was most recently chef de cuisine at the Eaton hotel’s American Son—to lead the kitchen.  Tien and Shoja were also partners in Hot Lola’s, but the Ballston fried chicken sandwich spot is now only run by Tien.“We basically had a mutual agreement...…Himitsu and Hot Lola's chef/owner Kevin Tien. Photograph by Scott Suchman, one of DC’s most buzzed-about new restaurants, has lost its rising star chef Kevin Tien just eight months after opening. Tien’s business partner and majority equity owner Sam Shoja will continue to operate the Capitol Hill restaurant. He’s brought in Hamilton Johnson—who was most recently chef de cuisine at the Eaton hotel’s American Son—to lead the kitchen.  Tien and Shoja were also partners in Hot Lola’s, but the Ballston fried chicken sandwich spot is now only run by Tien.“We basically had a mutual agreement...WW…