‘The city is dead’: D.C. restaurant reservations drop amid federal crackdown

[Anonymous]

C'mon. This is such a ridiculous thread, yet another taken over by crazy MAGAs who never step foot in DC and probably couldn't find it on a map.

The plain truth is this: it's counter intuitive to think that with everything going on right now folks who avoided DC last week are now flooding into town to eat out. It's not happening. They're sitting in front of their TVs gloating over the locals suffering. That's all they're doing.

[Anonymous]

My husband was hosting some out of town work acquaintances and one brought his wife. I asked it she was going to museums during the conference and this woman was genuinely terrified of just going around the DC mall by herself. I'd been commuting into DC on the metro for a decade at that point, including with a baby.

The disinformation and paranoia they present on Fox News is just next level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Was at a Jose Andres restaurant yesterday for restaurant week lunch and the place was packed.

Did they feed you soup from a bag?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:


I have never been more disgusted in my life to be an American. This is all by design, the MAGA GOP is intentionally destroying small businesses, sources of fun and community in DC, all in revenge for Covid. When politicians had to make difficult choices to protect Americans, the MAGA GOP is literally killing the livelihoods of American business owners and entrepreneurs.

Who would have thought that armed, plain clothed secret police in unmarked vehicles terrorizing residents would be bad for business? Every single member of this administration and the thugs they employ need to go to prison ASAP.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2025/08/19/dc-restaurants-business-down-police-crackdown/

Since President Donald Trump announced his takeover of the D.C. police force last week, restaurant reservations have dropped in the city by as much as 31 percent year over year for a single day, according to restaurant booking data. Business owners are concerned that the continued surge in law enforcement could impact their revenue during a vital period of the summer.

Several operators say the decline does not bode well for them or the 380 establishments participating in Summer Restaurant Week, which started Monday in the greater D.C. area. The bargain-dining promotion is considered a lifeline for restaurants hoping to survive the doldrums of August, when Congress is on recess, locals are on vacation, and many area residents are gearing up for back-to-school season. One of the goals with the promotion, says Shawn Townsend, president and chief executive of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington, is to help the industry make it to Labor Day, when D.C. springs back to life.

This August has been particularly tough on D.C. restaurants, numerous operators told The Washington Post. They were already dealing with a number of destabilizing issues — rising labor and ingredient costs, soaring rents, federal worker layoffs, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement audits — when the president announced last week that he was sending in troops and federal agents to deal with a city where crime is “totally out of control,” despite local and federal statistics showing otherwise.

“It’s like drowning and then someone throws a 100 lb weight to you,” texted one D.C. restaurateur who asked that his name not be used because, he said, he was “just focused on keeping my businesses alive (this week).”

Its a local boycott. People stop patronizing restaurants and bars because of the crime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll be far MORE likely to head to DC for Restaurant Week than I normally would.

Exactly. Normal people prefer safe streets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MAGA does not like cities.

MAGA only loves child rapists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:for a single day

You want us to be outraged over a singular data point? These journalists should be ashamed for even writing this.

Didn't you guys go on and on about Pizza gate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll be far MORE likely to head to DC for Restaurant Week than I normally would.

But you didn't. Talk is cheap, photo ops are cheap too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh dear. Everyone else in the country is cooking at home instead of eating out, but the wine & cheese circuit in DC is offended because how dare they take their lumps whilst the peasantry sacrifices.

Says the billionaires' lap dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it’s also financial - lots of job losses, and September 30 is coming up quickly.

What is up on Sep 30?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll be far MORE likely to head to DC for Restaurant Week than I normally would.

I am doing everything possible to avoid going into DC. So we’ll even each other out.

Democrats are cheap and terrible tippers. You won’t be missed.

LOL says the maggot who is too poor to eat out. You should improve welfare states like Mississippi and West Virginia instead of spending money sending your boys here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure that some people will go but fewer overall will. It’s a shame, the restaurant scene was pretty good. Likely the cool places will close and the entire town will look like a Sunday morning Cracker Barrel and mall food court.

Don't forget Mcdonalds. There will be a lot of MAGAs eating there and cosplaying working there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


I have never been more disgusted in my life to be an American. This is all by design, the MAGA GOP is intentionally destroying small businesses, sources of fun and community in DC, all in revenge for Covid. When politicians had to make difficult choices to protect Americans, the MAGA GOP is literally killing the livelihoods of American business owners and entrepreneurs.

Who would have thought that armed, plain clothed secret police in unmarked vehicles terrorizing residents would be bad for business? Every single member of this administration and the thugs they employ need to go to prison ASAP.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2025/08/19/dc-restaurants-business-down-police-crackdown/

Since President Donald Trump announced his takeover of the D.C. police force last week, restaurant reservations have dropped in the city by as much as 31 percent year over year for a single day, according to restaurant booking data. Business owners are concerned that the continued surge in law enforcement could impact their revenue during a vital period of the summer.

Several operators say the decline does not bode well for them or the 380 establishments participating in Summer Restaurant Week, which started Monday in the greater D.C. area. The bargain-dining promotion is considered a lifeline for restaurants hoping to survive the doldrums of August, when Congress is on recess, locals are on vacation, and many area residents are gearing up for back-to-school season. One of the goals with the promotion, says Shawn Townsend, president and chief executive of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington, is to help the industry make it to Labor Day, when D.C. springs back to life.

This August has been particularly tough on D.C. restaurants, numerous operators told The Washington Post. They were already dealing with a number of destabilizing issues — rising labor and ingredient costs, soaring rents, federal worker layoffs, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement audits — when the president announced last week that he was sending in troops and federal agents to deal with a city where crime is “totally out of control,” despite local and federal statistics showing otherwise.

“It’s like drowning and then someone throws a 100 lb weight to you,” texted one D.C. restaurateur who asked that his name not be used because, he said, he was “just focused on keeping my businesses alive (this week).”

Its a local boycott. People stop patronizing restaurants and bars because of the crime.

Oh please. The felon made some stupid comment about some rando finally going to a DC restaurant after 4 years, while every single MAGA politician and slime bag has been convening at Butterworth’s every day this year. Ridiculous!

These MAGA don’t care about small businesses at all! They don’t care about crime, either! That anyone thinks they care about anything other than themselves and $$$$$$ is sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Politics aside...going out to restaurants (especially finer dining establishments) is just too expensive for alot of us. Not enough n the budget. Even restaurant week, which is a joke to me. They advertise it as a "bargain" but nothing about it is a bargain. $50/person for a tiny app, entrée, and tiny desert? The wife and I went out last week and a 7-oz filet, tiny mash potatoes serving, and a few asparagus spears were $58. With tip is was a little over $200. Not including Uber. WTF? We can't do it. Now it might not be the restaurants fault. Maybe that's how much they need to charge to pay for rent, staff, ingredients, etc....but that doesn't mean the average person can afford it. Maybe restaurants aren't a viable business for most.

Add insult to injury, the food is often mediocre too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll be far MORE likely to head to DC for Restaurant Week than I normally would.

I am doing everything possible to avoid going into DC. So we’ll even each other out.

Democrats are cheap and terrible tippers. You won’t be missed.

As someone who used to wait tables, no. Older white people, especially the post church crowd, are by far the worst tippers. They'll give 5% and a Jesus pamphlet.

Apparently, if you wear a cross necklace, they’ll tip better.

Gross, nobody wants their dirty money so badly.