Food

Man Arrested for Throwing Liquor Bottles Inside Le Diplomate

Diners evacuated the popular French brasserie among the commotion.

Diners evacuate Le Diplomate. Photograph by Daniella Byck.

Diners fled from the buzzy 14th Street dining room of Le Diplomate Sunday night after a man jumped on the fully seated bar and started smashing bottles and glasses. Police arrested the man on site, and he is being charged with destruction of more than $1,000 worth of property. No injuries have been reported.

Meet the Press producer Justice Gilpin-Green tweeted “we all thought it was a gunman when everyone started running” after one person inside started yelling that there was a shooter. Meanwhile, Washingtonian reporter Daniella Byck—who was sitting outside the restaurant when the incident took place around 8 PM—says everyone was running out silently. The dining room completely emptied out, along with almost all of the outdoor tables. A server later told her that it took eight staff to restrain the man until police arrived.  He told her it was the “craziest thing he has ever seen” in his years at the restaurant, which is popular among Washington’s political elite, including President Joe Biden.

The restaurant closed early.

Jessica Sidman
Food Editor

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.