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A burger from The Smith
The Smith [official site]

15 Destinations for a Business Lunch in D.C.

Where to sit down and talk shop

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A burger from The Smith
| The Smith [official site]

Lunch is big business in a town full of politicos, power brokers, and government contractors. This map offers a mix of cuisines while also featuring a few restaurants with wide-ranging menus that might appeal to picky clients. Each one of these places is accessible for downtown offices. Bonus: no generous expense accounts are required for these meals.

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The Riggsby

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This quiet, comfortable restaurant within the Carlyle Hotel revels in upscale comfort food and has several “safe” options for less adventurous eaters, whether it be spaghetti or steak frites. There are also several varieties of salad.

The Riggsby in Dupont Circle
R. Lopez/Eater DC

Hank's Oyster Bar

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Hank’s always manages to feel both casual and classy at the same time. Lunch crowds, which usually aren’t too overwhelming here, can sample items like raw oysters, lobster rolls, and fish tacos, There’s additionally a $14.99 two-course lunch special. If the lunch runs long, the newly revamped cocktail bar upstairs opes at 4 p.m.

Upstairs at Hank’s Oyster Bar in Dupont
R. Lopez/Eater DC

Iron Gate Restaurant

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The atmospheric Iron Gate acts as a quiet getaway within bustling Dupont Circle for lunch meetings. Diners there can order dishes like shrimp scampi, spinach and mushroom salad, or a smoked mozzarella burger.

Roasted carrots from Iron Gate
Iron Gate [official photo]

Unconventional Diner

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Some contacts prefer to conduct business over a diner meal. Unconventional Diner whips up classics that are a step more upscale than the typical greasy spoon. During lunch hours, chicken noodle soup and fried chicken sandwiches appear alongside Lebanese fried rice and chickpea stew.

Blue Duck Tavern

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This Michelin-starred restaurant’s airy, modern vibe and open kitchen provide a bustling atmosphere for a business lunch. The menu changes by the season, but right now oyster stew, herb-roasted scallops, and vegetable pot pie appear on the menu. The adjoining tea cellar is also a quiet option for meetings.

Blue Duck Tavern
Blue Duck Tavern [official site]

The Lounge at Bourbon Steak

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Somewhat more casual than the main dining room at the Four Seasons, the lounge at Bourbon Steak has a cozy energy during the day, perfect for business meetings over fancy burgers and duck fat fries. Note the lounge does not take reservations.

A burger from the Bourbon Steak lounge
Bourbon Steak [official photo]

Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar

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This new Peruvian restaurant is a great place to go for variety on the lunch menu. There are Peruvian salads and sandwiches, traditional dishes like chaufa and lomo saltado, and a variety of appetizers and ceviches. It’s a great pick for a lunch companion who wants to experiment without a crush of crowds or noise.

The chef’s counter at Pisco y Nazca, with a brick backdrop, blue back lighting and cooks at work
Inside Pisco y Nazca
Brendan Kownacki/Eater

This neighborhood place always has a civilized atmosphere during lunch. The restaurant also takes various steps to keep things affordable. The “lunch club” grants customers a free seventh entree if they’ve already bought six. It also has a $25 multi-course lunch box and a $20 bar lunch deal, which includes a wine or beer.

Chez Billy Sud

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This Georgetown restaurant’s quiet patio is a nice getaway for a business meeting. Lunch items range from croque madames to an herb omelet with salad.

An entree from Chez Billy Sud
Chez Billy Sud [official site]

District Commons

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District Commons appeals to a wide audience — raw bar dishes, Thai steak salads, and grilled salmon dishes all find a home here. During lunch hours, there’s a full roster of flatbreads, daily lunch specials (lobster rolls, for example, are up on Mondays) and even a raw bar selection.

Rare Tavern

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The Tavern at Rare Steak can satisfy clients craving a steakhouse vibe without requiring too large an expense account. An all-day menu has a range of soups, salads, seafood pops, and, naturally, steaks. The higher-end restaurant upstairs also has a $25 lunch prix fixe.

Rare Tavern
R. Lopez/Eater

The Bombay Club

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This longtime power spot is a huge destination for political types, thanks in part to its proximity to the White House. Lunchgoers have their choice of an extensive array of Indian dishes like fish tikka, cilantro shrimp, and wild boar curry, along with thali combo platters and starters.

Curry from Bombay Club
Jessica van Dop DeJesus/Official photo

Centrolina

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Homemade rigatoni or taglioni make for a pleasant lunch course at this CityCenterDC restaurant from chef Amy Brandwein. Those looking for something more substantial can choose from dishes prepared in the wood oven, like grilled fish or a lightly dressed chicken paillard.

Pasta from Centrolina in DC
Centrolina [official site]

Sushi Gakyu

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Business lunch over sushi? At Sushi Gakyu, the quality of fish is high, and lunch prices range from $18 bento boxes and nigiri sets to a $42 special chirashi bowl.

Sushi Gakyu
Sushi Gakyu [official site]

The Smith

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The Smith, a relatively recent transplant from New York, has a wide-ranging menu and plenty of space. Vegetable bibimbap and chicken pot pie appear alongside a section of “big salads” that would make Elaine from Seinfield proud. There are also steaks, starters, and sandwiches.

A burger from The Smith
The Smith [official site]

The Riggsby

This quiet, comfortable restaurant within the Carlyle Hotel revels in upscale comfort food and has several “safe” options for less adventurous eaters, whether it be spaghetti or steak frites. There are also several varieties of salad.

The Riggsby in Dupont Circle
R. Lopez/Eater DC

Hank's Oyster Bar

Hank’s always manages to feel both casual and classy at the same time. Lunch crowds, which usually aren’t too overwhelming here, can sample items like raw oysters, lobster rolls, and fish tacos, There’s additionally a $14.99 two-course lunch special. If the lunch runs long, the newly revamped cocktail bar upstairs opes at 4 p.m.

Upstairs at Hank’s Oyster Bar in Dupont
R. Lopez/Eater DC

Iron Gate Restaurant

The atmospheric Iron Gate acts as a quiet getaway within bustling Dupont Circle for lunch meetings. Diners there can order dishes like shrimp scampi, spinach and mushroom salad, or a smoked mozzarella burger.

Roasted carrots from Iron Gate
Iron Gate [official photo]

Unconventional Diner

Some contacts prefer to conduct business over a diner meal. Unconventional Diner whips up classics that are a step more upscale than the typical greasy spoon. During lunch hours, chicken noodle soup and fried chicken sandwiches appear alongside Lebanese fried rice and chickpea stew.

Blue Duck Tavern

This Michelin-starred restaurant’s airy, modern vibe and open kitchen provide a bustling atmosphere for a business lunch. The menu changes by the season, but right now oyster stew, herb-roasted scallops, and vegetable pot pie appear on the menu. The adjoining tea cellar is also a quiet option for meetings.

Blue Duck Tavern
Blue Duck Tavern [official site]

The Lounge at Bourbon Steak

Somewhat more casual than the main dining room at the Four Seasons, the lounge at Bourbon Steak has a cozy energy during the day, perfect for business meetings over fancy burgers and duck fat fries. Note the lounge does not take reservations.

A burger from the Bourbon Steak lounge
Bourbon Steak [official photo]

Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar

This new Peruvian restaurant is a great place to go for variety on the lunch menu. There are Peruvian salads and sandwiches, traditional dishes like chaufa and lomo saltado, and a variety of appetizers and ceviches. It’s a great pick for a lunch companion who wants to experiment without a crush of crowds or noise.

The chef’s counter at Pisco y Nazca, with a brick backdrop, blue back lighting and cooks at work
Inside Pisco y Nazca
Brendan Kownacki/Eater

Ris

This neighborhood place always has a civilized atmosphere during lunch. The restaurant also takes various steps to keep things affordable. The “lunch club” grants customers a free seventh entree if they’ve already bought six. It also has a $25 multi-course lunch box and a $20 bar lunch deal, which includes a wine or beer.

Chez Billy Sud

This Georgetown restaurant’s quiet patio is a nice getaway for a business meeting. Lunch items range from croque madames to an herb omelet with salad.

An entree from Chez Billy Sud
Chez Billy Sud [official site]

District Commons

District Commons appeals to a wide audience — raw bar dishes, Thai steak salads, and grilled salmon dishes all find a home here. During lunch hours, there’s a full roster of flatbreads, daily lunch specials (lobster rolls, for example, are up on Mondays) and even a raw bar selection.

Rare Tavern

The Tavern at Rare Steak can satisfy clients craving a steakhouse vibe without requiring too large an expense account. An all-day menu has a range of soups, salads, seafood pops, and, naturally, steaks. The higher-end restaurant upstairs also has a $25 lunch prix fixe.

Rare Tavern
R. Lopez/Eater

The Bombay Club

This longtime power spot is a huge destination for political types, thanks in part to its proximity to the White House. Lunchgoers have their choice of an extensive array of Indian dishes like fish tikka, cilantro shrimp, and wild boar curry, along with thali combo platters and starters.

Curry from Bombay Club
Jessica van Dop DeJesus/Official photo

Centrolina

Homemade rigatoni or taglioni make for a pleasant lunch course at this CityCenterDC restaurant from chef Amy Brandwein. Those looking for something more substantial can choose from dishes prepared in the wood oven, like grilled fish or a lightly dressed chicken paillard.

Pasta from Centrolina in DC
Centrolina [official site]

Sushi Gakyu

Business lunch over sushi? At Sushi Gakyu, the quality of fish is high, and lunch prices range from $18 bento boxes and nigiri sets to a $42 special chirashi bowl.

Sushi Gakyu
Sushi Gakyu [official site]

The Smith

The Smith, a relatively recent transplant from New York, has a wide-ranging menu and plenty of space. Vegetable bibimbap and chicken pot pie appear alongside a section of “big salads” that would make Elaine from Seinfield proud. There are also steaks, starters, and sandwiches.

A burger from The Smith
The Smith [official site]

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