Restaurants across the Washington area plan to close Thursday as many employees participate in a “Day Without Immigrants” strike.
The protest, aimed at showing the impact of the immigrant community and taking a stand against Donald Trump‘s policies, has been gaining substantial traction through word of mouth in recent days. Many restaurants are trying to figure out ways to continue operating Thursday without their immigrant-heavy staffs, and some vendors who rely on immigrant workers and drivers have warned restaurants to expect possible delivery delays. A number of businesses are donating to charities that support immigrants.
Take a look below at the restaurants and bars that are closing all or parts of their businesses because of the strike.
Know of other closures? Email me at jsidman@washingtonian.com, and I’ll continue to update this list.
CLOSED
Acqua Al 2
Amici Miei Ristorante (Potomac)
All Set (Silver Spring)
Arepa Zone (Union Market and food truck)
Ari’s Diner
Bad Saint
Bangkok Golden
Blue 44
BLT Steak
Brookland’s Finest
B Too
Bub & Pop’s
Bul
Busboys and Poets
Craft Kombucha (Union Market)
Capitol City Brewing (Shirlington closed all day, DC location closed until 5 p.m.)
Cancun Restaurant (Gaithersburg)
Chase the Submarine (Vienna)
Chopt (some locations)
Circa (all locations)
Cities
Clare and Don’s Beach Shack (Falls Church)
Co. Co. Sala
Comet Ping Pong
Daikaya
DC Dosa (Union Market)
DC Empanadas (Union Market and food trucks)
Denson Liquor Bar
Dock FC
Duffy’s Irish Pub
El Sol
El Tamarindo
Etto
Far East Taco Grille
Flight Wine Bar
Florida Avenue Grill
Ghibellina
Hank’s Oyster Bar (all locations)
Hank’s Pasta Bar (Alexandria)
Harold Black
Himitsu
Jaleo (DC, Crystal City, and Bethesda)
Jetties (all locations except 1921 I St., NW)
Johnny’s Half Shell
Julia’s Empanadas
Le Caprice
La Puerta Verde
Luna Grill & Diner
Maso
Mezcalero
Mike’s Deli At Lazy Sundae (Falls Church)
Mulebone
MXDC
Nerds & Nibblers
Nido
Open Road (Falls Church)
Oyamel
Pizzeria Paradiso (Georgetown and Old Town Alexandria)
Peacock Cafe
Pow Pow
Pupatella (Arlington)
Purple Patch
The Red Hen
Rappahannock Oyster Bar
Sakuramen
Sardi’s Pollo A La Brasa (all 10 locations)
Sei
Sloppy Mama’s BBQ
Sotto
Sticky Rice
Surfside
Sweetgreen (all 18 DC locations)
Taqueria Habanero
Taqueria Nacional
TaKorean (all locations)
Ted’s Bulletin (14th Street location)
Texas Jack’s Barbecue (Arlington)
Texas Parrillada (Gaithersburg)
Thip Khao
Toli Moli (Union Market)
Toki Underground
Trio Grill (Falls Church)
Veloce
Zaytinya
LIMITED MENUS/SERVICE
All-Purpose – Closed for lunch, reopens for dinner
Boundary Road – Open for drinks but no food
Boundary Stone – The Bloomingdale bar will be open, but the kitchen’s hours will be cut back with owners Colin McDonough and Gareth Croke preparing a limited menu from 5 to 9 p.m.
Brookland Pint – Bar is open, but kitchen is closed. Bring your own food.
Casa Luca – Open for wine and cocktails only
Cork Wine Bar – The entire kitchen staff will be out, but the owners will be working to offer a very limited menu. A dollar from each glass of wine sold on Thursday will go to American University’s Washington College of Law Immigrant Justice Clinic.
Dew Drop Inn Bar – Bar is open, but kitchen is closed.
Eat The Rich – Bar is open, but kitchen is closed.
El Chucho – The entire kitchen staff, including the chef, will be out, but the restaurant will remain open serving guacamole, salsa, and (maybe) elote. Immigrant staff at sister restaurant Little Coco’s will also be taking off, but the restaurant will remain open with help from senior management and the executive chef.
Espita Mezcaleria – Closed for lunch. Bar is open in the evening, kitchen is closed.
Fiola – Open for wine and cocktails only
Fiola Mare – Open for wine and cocktails only
Ivy and Coney – Bar is open, kitchen is closed.
Maddy’s Bar & Grille – Kitchen is closed, but some bar snacks are available.
Meridian Pint – Bar is open, but kitchen is closed. Bring your own food.
Nanny O’Briens – Kitchen only is closed.
Right Proper Brewing Company – Limited menu
Room 11 – The kitchen will be closed, but the bar will stay open with a portion of drink sales donated to Ayuda, a non-profit that supports immigrants in the DC-area.
Southern Efficiency – Bar is open, but kitchen is closed.
Smoke & Barrel – Bar is open, but kitchen is closed. Bring your own food.
Wonderland Ballroom – Bar is open, but kitchen is closed.
This story is being continuously updated.
Jessica Sidman covers the people and trends behind D.C.’s food and drink scene. Before joining Washingtonian in July 2016, she was Food Editor and Young & Hungry columnist at Washington City Paper. She is a Colorado native and University of Pennsylvania grad.
