The Recession According To Robert Wiedmaier's Empire

Things are looking up for DC restaurants, at least according to local empire-building chef Robert Wiedmaier. While US News & World Report predicted yesterday that restaurants will be one of 10 industries to hire most in 2011, today the City Paper provides some anecdotal evidence of the rebound.

In a Q&A, Wiedmaier offers up Brasserie Beck and its average check amount fluctuation as a metric of economic progress: Upon opening, Beck was pulling in about $75 per person, a number that dipped to $51 during the peak of the recession. Now the check amounts are back up to about $68 per person. Not too shabby!

An interesting side note: Wiedmaier says the upscale Marcel's (average check: $128) was never affected by the recession and, in fact, saw a steady rise.

· Q&A: Robert Wiedmaier on Rebounding Restaurants and No-Reservation Policies [WCP]
· 10 Industries That Will Hire Most In 2011 [USNews]

Brasserie Beck [Photo: Martin B./Yelp]