One thing all political parties can agree on: food and drink deals. Whether you’re going to Donald Trump‘s inauguration or the Women’s March (or just trying to avoid it all), here’s your guide to all the inaugural restaurant and bar specials. Know of others? Email kolsen@washingtonian.com.
Bar Pilar
1833 14th St., NW
On inauguration day, Bar Pilar will hold a “Thanks, Obama” send-off party starting at 11 am with specials inspired by the 44th President’s home state, Hawaii, and his adopted hometown, Chicago. Stop in for a tiki cocktail or drink made with Malört, a face-contorting, wormwood-based spirit that’s a hallmark of Chicago’s drinking scene. The kitchen opens early at 3:30 pm for snacks, followed by regular dinner hours and menu items at 5 pm.
McClellan’s Retreat
2031 Florida Ave., NW
McClellan’s Retreat will open early at 1 pm on Wednesday through Friday of inauguration week. Grab a Civil War-era cocktail from the “Top 12 Cocktails of 2016” specialty list (the “Penicillin” featuring Pig’s Nose Blended Scotch Whisky seems fitting), or choose from the full selection of beer, wine, and liquor. The bar will stay open late on Wednesday and Thursday (until 2 am), and even later on Friday (3 am).
El Camino
108 Rhode Island Ave., NW
On January 19, El Camino invites the greater LGBTQ community to join them for the monthly Velvet Thursday Late Night Happy Hour, which will feature a special Inauguration sparkling wine cocktail for $5, as well as the usual $5 Tito’s special and $5 house margaritas from 9 pm to close. Late night drink specials run from 10:30 to close on Friday and Saturday, and inaugural revelers can get a taco and burrito fix until 12:30 am those nights.
Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken
1308 G St., NW
Putting the “sweet” in bittersweet, Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken is debuting a “Farewell Obama” doughnut, available January 9 through 15 at the DC location only. The treat showcases Obama’s love of salted caramels, peanuts, and chocolate. For something a little less sweet, try the “New York State of Mind” doughnut. A nod to the incoming President-elect’s home city, the savory doughnut is a play on an everything bagel and topped with a cream cheese glaze and “everything” spice (black and white sesame seeds, poppy seeds, caraway seeds, dried onion, and garlic flakes). This doughnut will be available January 16 through 22 at the DC location.
Carmine’s
425 7th St., NW
If portion-control isn’t your thing but getting up early is, head to Carmine’s on Inauguration Day for a continental buffet or sit-down breakfast. The family-style restaurant opens early at 7 am with menu items including frittatas and French toast. Happy hour also kicks in early at 11:30 am, so hang out after that food coma for a digestif and catch the inaugural parade on one of the bar TVs, where you can snack on chicken scarpariello and meatball sliders all day until 11 pm.
Bar Dupont
1500 New Hampshire Ave., NW
Prime people-watching is guaranteed to go down from inside Bar Dupont thanks to its oversized windows in the Dupont Circle Hotel. Now through February 6, post up with A District Welcome, a $12 cocktail made with District Distilling Co.’s Checkerbank Gin, Capitoline Rosè Vermouth, Don Ciccio & Figli Nocino, Amaro Montenegro, and lemon.
Alfa Pie House
1750 H St., NW
This fast-casual Greek spot will serve an 8-ounce La Colombe drip coffee and freshly-made mini phyllo pie for just $1.20 on Inauguration Day. Or grab two small soups, two side salads, and two regular phyllo pies for $20.17. Both specials are offered for carry-out or dine-in.
Denizens Brewing Co.
1115 East-West Highway, Silver Spring
Three topical events punctuate inauguration month at this 200-seat, dog-friendly Maryland brewery: On inauguration day from noon to close, stop in for all-day happy hour and toast to “Inaugural Idiocracy.” The next day, cap off the Women’s March on Washington at Denizen’s “Nasty Woman Party,” which will debut the limited release of its “Woman, You Nasty!” beer. And on Wednesday, January 25, stop in at 7 pm for the monthly moderated discussion “Vantage Points.” This month, the topic is, “What makes someone your President?”
Bar Deco
717 6th St., NW
This Penn Quarter gastropub will serve up a variety of patriotic libations for inauguration, from $4 drafts of Budweiser to $10 cocktails, including an “America’s Mule” and gin rickey. Late night grub includes “The Trump” sandwich (meatloaf, cheddar, and barbecue sauce on white bread) and “The Obama” (a mini baguette stuffed with smoked turkey, prosciutto, pesto, and mozzarella). Both are $10.
Little Coco’s
3907 14th St., NW
Italian eatery Little Coco’s will be open for brunch on inauguration day starting at 10 am. Favorites such as polenta pancakes with ricotta and “‘Nduja Really Want to Hurt Me” pizza are joined by two new cocktails for the occasion: the “Bad Hombre” featuring tequila and Cynar and the “Nasty Woman” featuring huckleberry-infused gin, Campari, lemon, and triple sec.
Bourbon Steak
2800 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Over the weekend, the bar will be mixing up “The Chief,” a $15 dirty martini made with white truffles, housemade truffle brine, a truffle pecorino olive, and Absolut Elyx vodka.
Bayou Bakery
901 Pennsylvania Ave., SE; 1515 N. Courthouse Rd., Arlington
The bakery will debut a red vanilla-cherry soda “cakewich” with whipped cream cheese filling for $4.50 (a shout-out to the 45th president) and the “McBayou Filet-O-Catfish,” featuring local catfish and “American Strong” cheese on a potato roll, a reference to Trump’s favorite meal. There’s also a $5 breakfast sandwich, the “Inaug-u-wich,” with bacon, egg, and cheese on a parker house roll. The specials are available at both DC and Arlington locations.
The Fainting Goat
1330 U St., NW
Staying in for the weekend? Pick up an inauguration weekend survival kit from the Fainting Goat, available for preorder through noon on Jan. 19 with pickup after noon on Jan. 20. For $39, you’ll get a takeout selection of sweet and salty snacks, including spiced popcorn and chocolate treats. Wash it down with bottled punch made from Capital Teas’ cinnamon-sugar plum tisane—just add rum. The kits serve two to four people. Email kyle@faintinggoatdc.com or call 202-735-0344 to order.
Ripple
3417 Connecticut Ave., NW
For those looking to avoid the crowds, head to Ripple in Cleveland Park for half-off bottles of wine and a complimentary snack with any beverage purchased from 5 pm to close on January 20.
Le Diplomate
1601 14th St., NW
Opening early at 9:30 am on inauguration day, Le Diplomate will serve up savory French breakfast fare like quiches and omelettes, as well as offer seafood options and cheeses. Passerbys can also visit the restaurant’s sidewalk cart, which will offer peppermint hot chocolate ($13) and coffee ($4) as well as ice cream. Both kitchen and bar will stay open one hour later over the weekend, until midnight on Thursday and 1 am on Friday and Saturday.
District Distilling Co.
1414-1418 U St., NW
Buttermilk fried chicken and biscuits and pork shoulder poutine are on the menu at District Distilling’s “Put an Egg on It” brunch on Jan. 20, which starts at 11 am. No reservation is required.
Neighborhood Restaurant Group
Bluejacket has brewed a special beer for inaugural weekend. Named “People are People,” it’s a dry Belgian-style saison that costs $6 a pint and is available beginning Jan. 18 at Neighborhood Restaurant Group’s DC restaurants: Birch & Barley, ChurchKey, Bluejacket, Red Apron at Union Market, Red Apron Burger Bar, The Partisan, Iron Gate, Hazel, The Sovereign, and EatBar. All proceeds from the sales of this beer will go to DC’s Immigrant Justice Legal Service Grant Program, a non-profit organization that provides legal services for immigrants.
Kim Olsen ([email protected]) is a freelance writer in Alexandria.
