Rats Run Wild at a D.C. Popeyes

Welcome to a.m. Intel, your bite-sized roundup of D.C. food and restaurant news. Tips are always welcome, drop them here.

Rats run wild at Barracks Row Popeyes

The D.C. Health Department slammed the doors shut on the Barracks Row Popeye’s outlet Friday, October 29 following an inspection and a viral TikTok video showing rats scurrying up the walls and racing across the floor in the kitchen.

In the video, TikTok user blaqazzrick01 says he delivers the raw chicken to all the Popeyes in the D.C. area. He opens the doors to the closed Popeyes at 409 8th Street, SE, sings the jingle and flips on the light, revealing the rats.

“Y’all still love that chicken from Popeyes?” he asks at the end of the video, which has already been viewed 623.6 million times.

The D.C. Health Department paid a visit to the eatery and promptly shut it down on Friday, citing 17 violations including rat droppings. The franchisee is taking “appropriate steps to address the issue” at the temporarily closed spot, a corporate spokesperson told Inside Edition.

[WTOP and Inside Edition]

Raise a toast to Lebanese Taverna Market

Arlington’s Lebanese Taverna Market (4400 Old Dominion Drive) is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a series of tasting events on Monday, November 1 through Thursday, November 4 as well as on Thursday, November 11 and Friday, November 12.

The Arlington outpost of this local, family-run string of eateries made its mark with sweet and savory pastries; grab-and-go (or eat-in) hummus, sambousick, and more; ready-to-cook specialties like kabobs; Lebanese wines; and gift items like Lebanese cookbooks.

All events take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Lebanese Taverna Market.

Monday, November 1: Pacari Chocolate Tasting, Wine Tasting

Tuesday, November 2: Thanksgiving Tasting, Wine Tasting

Wednesday, November 3: Grape Leaf Demo and Tasting, Wine Tasting

Thursday, November 4: Kibbeh Tasting, Sparkling Wine Tasting

Thursday, November 11: Thanksgiving Tasting, Wine Tasting

Friday, November 12: Armenian Cake Tasting, Wine Tasting

Italian coffee and aperitifs downtown

The first U.S. location of Puro Gusto, an Italian all-day cafe serving Italian coffee, aperitifs, and bites, is taking root in the Westory building (1345 F Street NW) later this year. The spot previously housed one of two D.C.-based outposts of Paris-born Maison Kayser bakeries, which closed in 2019.

Good Company Doughnuts may lose half its outdoor seating

A county transportation project to install a new bus shelter is threatening Ballston’s Good Company’s outdoor seating, according to ARLnow.com. Good Company co-owner Charles Kachadoorian says that the project will halve the outdoor seating, but Arlington County says the project won’t impact the “approved outdoor dining.” [ARLnow.com]

Good Food Market temporarily closes its flagship store

Good Food Market’s flagship location (2006 Rhode Island Avenue NE, Washington, D.C.) will temporarily close its doors to “refresh and restock.” The Maryland location remains open and a new Ward 8 location will open soon. The small grocer aims to provide grocery options in “DC-area food desert neighborhoods.” [Brookland Bridge]