DC's Best Power Lunch Spots

by Sophie Pyle · August 23, 2013

    Just like Nick Naylor and the Merchants of Death in Thank You For Smoking, lobbyists, top staffers, and other DC deal bots have their go-to spots for power lunches in Washington. Here are our favorite places to close a deal over lunch in DC:

    Art & Soul - 415 New Jersey Avenue NW

    This restaurant is right on Capitol Hill, and the food is served up by the legendary Art Smith.

    BLT Steak - 1625 I Street NW

    BLT Steak is a skip away from K Street, aka, near a lot of lobbyists. The food is also ridiculously good.

    Cafe Milano - 3251 Prospect Street NW

    This famous Italian eatery is located in the heart of Georgetown, and is probably the most social spot on this list. Sure, there are a lot of power lunches here, but there are more see-and-be-seen-types dining here for lunch.

    Capital Grill - 601 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

    Lots of people consider this a power lunch spot, but many say it's actually better for power dinners.

    Capitol Hill Club - 301 S Street SE

    This club is behind the Longworth and Cannon House Office Buildings, making it convenient for people with meetings on the hill.

    Charlie Palmer's Steak House - 101 Constitution Avenue NW

    This power lunch spot is on Capitol Hill and boasts amazing views of the Capital building and monuments.

    Dirksen North Servery - Dirksen Senate Office Building

    This is the cafeteria in the Dirksen building. It's not exactly glamorous, but it is the favorite cafeteria on the hill for many staffers and elected officials.

    Johnny's Half Shell - 400 N Capital Street

    This delicious seafood restaurant is on Capitol Hill, and is frequented by the political elites all the time.

    Kafe Leopold - 3315 M Street NW

    This place is more of an insider lunch spot, since it's hard to find in the depths of Georgetown's Cady's Alley. We spotted Alex Ovechkin lunching here just before the NHL lockout.

    Sidecar at P.J. Clarke's - 1600 K Street NW

    While P.J. Clarke's is a power lunch spot in and of itself, the basement is now members-only for Washington VIPs that need to discuss their deals in private.

    The Monocle - 107 D Street NE

    This restaurant is on Capitol Hill, but some would say this place is on the out. Monocle's heyday was when then-senators Dodd and Kennedy shared some woman upstairs in the private room. Typical Washington.

    The Palm - 1225 19th Street NW

    DC's Palm is just two blocks from Dupont Circle, making it a must-dine spot for Dupont deal-slingers.

    [photo via]