Freebies Galore for Congressional Castoffs (Updated)
Updated: 4:12 p.m. | That government ID card might be useless around the Capitol today, but plenty of local businesses are rolling out the red carpet to furloughees in need of gastrotherapy:
Art and Soul/415 New Jersey Ave. NW
Happy hour pricing — $4 regional draft beers, $5 appetizers, $7 cocktails and house wines — extended 4-8 p.m. until the shutdown ends. “Show us your government ID this week, and your second HH drink is on us,” a restaurant aide said.
Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken/1308 G St. NW
One free doughnut with purchase of any doughnut or chicken order for any federal or D.C. government employee with ID.
Bayou Bakery/1515 N. Courthouse Road, Arlington, Va.
Free beignets with any coffee purchase to badge-flashing patrons. Owner David Guas is mulling additional deals and plans to offer something special each day until the shutdown ends.
Boundary Road/414 H St. NE
All-day furlough happy hour deals include $5 local beers, $5 Green Hat gin and tonics and the $7 “Nonessential Combo,” partnering a Narragansett Brewing Co. tall-boy with a shot of Old Overholt rye; no (federal) ID required.
Brasserie Beck/1101 K St. NW
Special two-course meal deal ($20) for all federal and military employees from open to close Tuesday, plus a $2 “Holy Acromonie Punt-e-mes,” featuring Jack Daniels cut with ginger beer and a cherry garnish.
Capitol Lounge/229 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
Offering one free draft beer to badge-flashing feds, Tuesday only.
Carmine’s/425 Seventh St. NW
Shutdown-inspired “Olive Branch” cocktail — fashioned from Plymouth gin, olives, pickled onions and rosemary — available for $12 a pop.
Meanwhile, a spokeswoman suggested that CEO Jeff Bank would happily reserve one of the backrooms for a legislative huddle. “Bank says that deals are made over pasta, so he’s offering any of Carmine’s nine private rooms free to Speaker John A. Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and President Barack Obama to hammer out an agreement over some spaghetti and meatballs,” the Carmine’s aide shared.
Clyde’s of Georgetown/3236 M St. NW
Tuesday-only shutdown specials include $3 canned beers, $4 drafts of Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy and Starr Hill Pils, $4 Absolut and Maker’s Mark cocktails, $4 fireball and rumchata shots, $5 glasses of Rosemount Shiraz and $10 blue plate specials.
Clyde’s of Chevy Chase/5441 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, Md.
Badge-flashers receive 20 percent off their entire check (lobster special, excluded), Tuesday only.
The Coupe/3415 11th St. NW
Expanded Tuesday-only happy hour (2-8 p.m.) deals include 50-cent Sriracha chicken wings, house made deviled eggs (gravlax, chives, crème fraiche), Surryano ham-wrapped dates stuffed with Marcona almonds and Camembert, roasted corn hush puppies, $3 National Bohemians, $4 rum punch and $5 house wines.
Granville Moore’s/1238 H St. NE
$3 “under pressure” barbecue pork belly bites on special today. $1 Stella Artois for as long as owner Teddy Folkman can swing them.
“We have 10 cases of Stella coming in today. So ’till we run out’ . . . kinda like the budget,” Folkman told HOH.
Hill Country Barbecue/410 Seventh St. NW
Happy hour drink prices — $3 Pabst Blue Ribbon, $5 well shots and cocktails, $5 margaritas and $20 pitchers of margaritas — in effect for anyone with a government ID until the shutdown ends.
Irish Whiskey Public House/1207 19th St. NW
Happy hour drinks and $1 appetizers available to badge-flashing feds until 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Johnny’s Half Shell/400 North Capitol St. NW
Newly minted cocktail “The Furloughed Fortune” — a red, white and blue cooler forged from dry gin, blue curacao, cranberry juice, lemon juice and simple syrup — available for $5 from 11:30 a.m. till closing, until the shutdown ends.
Mockingbird Hill/1843 Seventh St. NW
One free glass of sherry poured for badge-flashers from now until Thursday.
Nando’s Peri-Peri
The South African-style chicken joint has prepared a “Boneless Chicken, Spineless Congress” promotion whereby furloughed feds can enjoy a free butterflied chicken breast at any area location. Participants must claim the deal via Nando’s Facebook page and flash a valid ID.
“Members of Congress need not apply,” the restaurant specified in an email blast.
Passion Food Hospitality
All the Passion Food properties (DC Coast, Ceiba, Acadiana, District Commons, Burger Tap and Shake, Fuego, PassionFish) are in full-time happy hour mode — half-price appetizers, $5 margaritas — until the shutdown ends.
Pork Barrel BBQ/2132 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria, Va.
The former Hill staffers behind this smokehouse are looking out for their own by serving up one pulled-pork sandwich, per day, to furloughed employees until the shutdown ends. ”Must have gov ID & EXCLUDES CONGRESSMEN,” the former congressional aides warned the Twittersphere.
Quill Bar and Lounge/1200 16th St. NW
$2 “furlough fries” available at the bar all day; no ID required.
Taqueria Nacional/1409 T St. NW
Daily happy hour deals — $2 margarita or draft beer with the purchase of any two tacos on Mondays, $1 taco with purchase of any margarita or beer on Tuesdays, $9 trio (chips and salsa, one taco, one margarita) are good anytime — extended from 11 a.m. to close, until the shutdown ends.
ThinkFoodGroup
Cheflebrity José Andrés is treating all furloughees to a free sandwich, available 3-5 p.m. daily at any TFG property (Jaleo, Oyamel, Zaytinya) until the shutdown ends. ID required.
Gratis foodstuffs, available for dine in or carryout, include:
Jaleo — Flauta de Jamon Serrano (Barcelona’s bread brushed with tomato and extra virgin olive oil, jamón Serrano, manchego cheese)
Oyamel — Torta Pancita (Spiced “36 hour” Shenandoah pork belly, tomatoes, romaine lettuce, Dijon mayonnaise)
Zaytinya — Chicken Schwarma (garlic-lemon marinated chicken, tomatoes, romaine lettuce, lavash bread with garlic sauce)
Urbana/2121 P St. NW
Progressive happy hour — usually in effect 4-7 p.m.; one extra hour will be tacked onto the tail end each night (so, 4-8 p.m. tonight, 4-9 p.m. Wednesday) — resetting every Monday, until the shutdown ends. Expect $1 oysters (served by the half- and full dozen), $5 bar snacks, $6 Absolut mixed drinks, $6 house wines and $7 specialty cocktails.