Here Are the D.C. Restaurants Standing in Solidarity with “Day Without Immigrants” Strike

The roster of local restaurants expected to do things differently Thursday in anticipation of a planned strike by hospitality workers continues to grow.

Although the nationwide boycott is not limited to the hospitality sector — organizers urge all unauthorized immigrants to make their presence known by not attending work or school, or participating in any form of commerce — a number of D.C. restaurateurs have endorsed the walk-out and are tweaking service plans accordingly.

Himitsu, whose chef was just named a semifinalist for The James Beard Foundation’s Rising Star Chef of the Year award, is the latest in the growing list of restaurants that decided to close on Thursday.

“Our entire kitchen staff would not be here if their parents and grandparents didn't immigrate to America. The dining industry would not exist without immigrants. Period,” says co-owner Carlie Steiner.

Some establishments have given staff (both front and back of the house) the day off so they can demonstrate against President Donald Trump’s polarizing immigration policies.

Others are rolling up their sleeves in order to keep parts of the business open, whether it be the bar, a portion of the kitchen or sibling properties.

Staff at The Dish and Dram in Kensington, Md., and The Daily Dish in Silver Spring volunteered to still work; management said it’s giving them all a bonus.

Meanwhile, some restaurants are donating sales to charities. ANXO Cidery & Pinxtos Bar, Cotton & Reed, Room 11, Policy Restaurant & Lounge, and Timber Pizza Co. — staying open in various capacities — plan to donate 10 percent of proceeds to Ayuda, a nonprofit that supports immigrants living in the D.C. area. Meanwhile, Colada Shop will donate 10 percent of the day’s sales to the ACLU.

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Closed

• 2 Amys
• Acqua al 2
• Arepa Zone
• Ari’s Diner
• Bad Saint
• Bangkok Golden
• Belga Cafe
• Blue 44
• Boqueria — closed for dinner
• Brookland’s Finest
• Bub and Pop’s
• Busboys and Poets - All
• Capitol City Brewing Company - Shirlington
• Chopt - 16th and K St. NW, Rosslyn
• Circa - All
• Co Co. Sala
• Daikaya
• DC Empanadas
• Denson Liquor Bar
• Dock FC
• Flight Wine Bar
• Florida Avenue Grill
• Ghibellina
• Gryphon
• Hank’s Oyster Bar - All
• Hank’s Pasta Bar
• Harold Black
• Himitsu
• Jaleo - All
• Jetties - Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Foxhall, Macomb, Penn Quarter
• La Puerta Verde
• Le Caprice
• Lost Society
• Open Road
• Oyamel
• Pesce
• Pizzeria Paradiso - Georgetown
• Pizzeria Paradiso - Old Town Alexandria
• Pow Pow
• Pupatella
• Rappahannock Oyster Bar
• The Red Hen
• Root and Stem Cafe
• Sakuramen
• Sardi’s - All
• SEI
• Shawafel
• Shouk
• Sotto
• Stomping Ground
• Surfside - All
• Sweetgreen - All
• TaKorean - All
• Taqueria Poblano - Del Ray
• Ted’s Bulletin - 14th Street NW
• Thip Khao
• Toli Moli
• Toki Underground
• TRIO Grill
• Zaytinya

Alternate Programming

• Acadiana: Limited menu available.
• All-Purpose: Closed for lunch; reopening for dinner at 5:30 p.m.
• Anxo Cidery & Pinxtos Bar: Bar open; limited menu (pinxtos only) available.
• Ambar: Donating a percentage of sales to ACLU.
• Bar Pilar: Limited menu of Latin American-themed fare — including corn-cilantro soup, shrimp ceviche, and pork jowl carnitas tacos — expected. Bar staff plan on sharing 100 percent of tips with absent co-workers, and 75 percent of profits from cocktail sales will be donated to the American Immigration Council.
• Bluejacket: Limited menu available.
• Boundary Stone: Bar open; limited menu available from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• The Brixton: Limited menu (wings, fries, spring rolls) available.
• Brookland Pint: Per owner John Andrade, “Our bars will remain open and our guests are welcome to BYOF (bring your own food.)”
• Burger Tap & Shake: Limited menu available.
• Cafe Pizzaiolo: Limited menu (pizza only) available.
• Capitol City Brewing Company - Downtown: Bar opening at 5 p.m.; kitchen closed.
• Compass Rose: Kitchen projected to operate at reduced capacity.
• Conbini Cafe by UZU: Donating a portion of sales to the ACLU.
• Cork Wine Bar: Owners plan to work in the kitchen while staff goes on strike; limited menu available. $1 from each glass of wine sold will be donated to American University Washington College of Law Immigrant Justice Clinic.
• Cotton & Reed: Pouring free shots for strike supporters at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.
• Dangerously Delicious Pies: Donating a portion of sales to the Central American Resource Center.
• Del Ray Pizzeria: Limited menu available.
• Dino’s Grotto: Donating a portion of sales to Ayuda.
• Eat the Rich: Bar open; kitchen closed.
• El Camino: Bar open; kitchen closed, but limited “snacks” (chips, salsa, cold salad) will be available. BYOF.
• Espita Mezcaleria: Bar opening at 5 p.m.; kitchen closed.
• The Fainting Goat: Limited menu expected.
• Garrison: Donating 10 percent of sales to Ayuda.
• Holy Cow: Donating 10 percent of sales to pro-immigrant non-profit.
• Indique: Donating a portion of sales to Ayuda.
• Izakaya Seki: Plans to donate a portion of total sales to ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project.
• La Mano Coffee Bar: Limited menu expected.
• The Liberty Tree: Donating 20 percent of sales to the American Immigration Council.
• Little Red Fox: Expects to operate at reduced capacity; plans to donate 10 percent of sales to Ayuda.
• Meridian Pint: Bar open; kitchen closed. BYOF.
• Momofuku CCDC: Limited menu (buns, noodles, snacks) available.
• Osteria Morini: Closed for lunch; reopening for dinner at 5 p.m.
• Pizzaiolo Cafe on Fern: Limited menu (pizza only) available.
• Pork Barrel BBQ: Donating 10 percent of sales to pro-immigrant non-profit.
• Proof: Limited menu expected.
• Right Proper Brewing Company - Shaw: Limited menu available.
• Room 11: Bar open; kitchen closed.
• Rustico - Ballston: Bar open; very limited menu. Other Neighborhood Restaurant Group restaurants will be open in various capacities.
• Sauf Haus Bier Hall & Garden: Striking workers to receive regular pay; remaining staff have elected to donate tips received — which management has agreed to match — to Ayuda.
• Smoke & Barrel: Bar open; kitchen closed. BYOF.
• Southern Efficiency: Bar open; kitchen closed.
• Sticky Rice: Bar open; kitchen and sushi counter closed.
• The Sushi Bar: Donating 10 percent of sales to pro-immigrant non-profit.
• Sweetfire Donna’s: Donating 10 percent of sales to pro-immigrant non-profit.
• Sushi Taro: Happy hour cancelled. Lunch and dinner service by reservation-only.
• Taylor Gourmet: Expects to operate at reduced capacity. “We 100 percent support those who wish to protest with zero repercussions!” the embattled sandwich maker relayed via social media.
• TenPehn: Limited menu available.