If the shutdown is affecting you, head to one of these locations for free or discounted food and drinks.
As the government shutdown enters week 4, over 800,000 government employees are still working without pay. If you’re one of these furloughed employees, the DMV’s best restaurants are looking to help you out with some delicious deals. Check out one of these local locations to get free or discounted food and drinks.
&pizza | Free pizza
Multiple Locations
Originally &pizza was giving free pizzas to all government employees during lunch. However, the long lines have pushed the freebie into dinner time. Now, all furloughed employees can receive a free pizza from the restaurant between the hours of 6 and 8 p.m. every day.
Z-Burger Tenleytown | Free burgers
4321 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
All furloughed government employees can receive a free burger at Z-Burger on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. after showing a valid government ID.
Kramerbooks & Afterwords Café | Free dessert or appetizer
1517 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
Every Monday through Friday, Kramerbooks & Afterwords Café is giving away a free dessert or appetizer to government employees in need.
Taco Bamba | Complimentary taco
777 I St. NW, Washington, D.C.
Victor Albisu’s standup takeout counter Taco Bamba is serving one complimentary traditional taco to any government worker that shows their ID at the register. This offer is only valid at the Chinatown location.
Carmine’s | Free meatball sliders
425 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C.
Known for its large portions, Carmine’s in downtown D.C. is giving away a free order of meatball sliders for any government patron from 2 to 4 p.m. They are also offering an all-day happy hour menu at the bar during the shutdown. Try their “hard times cocktail” mixed specifically for the shutdown.
The Meatball Shop | 50-cent chicken balls and 50 percent off drinks
1720 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.
If you love meatballs, then you should head to The Meatball Shop for 50-cent mini buffalo chicken balls and 50 percent off alcoholic drinks. This deal is for any federal employee visiting the shop’s 14th Street location.
El Techo | Free Nacho Wall
606 Florida Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
The rooftop bar of El Techo is giving all government employees a free Nacho Wall, a large plate of nachos, with any purchase of $10 or more from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.
Baked by Yael | Baked goods for essential Zoo employees, free coffee for everyone
3000F Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
Baked by Yael is located right across from the National Zoo and is, therefore, offering a free bagel sandwich or small soup every weekday for essential Zoo employees that are staying to keep our nation’s animals safe and protected. The bakery is also offering a free cup of coffee during the entirety of the shutdown for employees and contractors of any federal government agency.
Gregory's Coffee | Free cuppa joe
Multiple Locations
Gregory's Coffee is offering a free 12-ounce cup of coffee to federal employees at each one of its locations in Washington, D.C.
Hank’s | Oyster Happy Hour
Every Hank’s Oyster Bar in D.C. is offering an all-day oyster happy hour at their bar, and Hank’s Pasta Bar in Old Town is running an all-day happy hour (without oysters) at its bar.
Ornery Beer Company | 25 percent off meals
3950 University Dr., Suite 209, Fairfax, VA
If you don’t live in D.C., you can head to Ornery Beer Company in Fairfax for 25 percent off a meal for you and a guest every day until the government reopens.
Toki Underground | Free Cocktail
1234 H Street NE, Washington, D.C.
Popular ramen bar Toki Underground is offering a free cocktail called “Off the Wall” with any food purchase. The drink is made of vodka, grapefruit, simple syrup, and bitter orange.
Mad Fox Brewing Company | 25 percent discount (Congress members charged 25 percent more)
444 W. Broad St. I, Falls Church, VA
Mad Fox Brewing Company is running a shutdown special in its Falls Church location. The special discount is 25 percent off food for all federal workers with an ID, and according to Instagram, an extra 25 percent charge on food for any members of Congress visiting the establishment.
City Winery | $1 wines
1350 Okie St. NE, Washington, D.C.
City Winery in Northeast D.C. is offering $1 glasses of its wine on tap for any government worker with a valid ID.
Little Havana | Half-off drinks
3704 14th St. NW, Washington D.C.
If you need a couple of drinks after your shift, wind down at Little Havana with half off all drinks until the end of the shutdown.
Commissary | $15 endless mimosas and bloody marys
1443 P St. NW, Washington, D.C.
From Monday through Friday, government workers with a valid ID can get bottomless mimosas and bloody marys for only $15 at Commissary.
Capitol Lounge | $5 drinks
229 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, D.C.
Just a few streets away from the Capitol, Capitol Lounge is offering $5 drinks for anyone affected by the shutdown. The cocktails are even shutdown-themed and include mixed drinks such as “Nothing Really Mattis,” “Mexico Will Pay For This,” and “Border Wall Banger."
José Andrés Restaurants | Free sandwiches
Multiple Locations
Celebrity Chef José Andrés was one of the first to respond to the government shutdown. He took to Twitter and offered a free sandwich to all government employees affected by the shutdown. Here are the participating restaurants and where you need to go to score your free sandwich:
- America Eats Tavern: The restaurant in Georgetown is giving away free sandwiches between 2 to 5 p.m. every day.
- Beefsteak: Government employees with a valid ID can get a free Beefsteak Burger from 2 to 5 p.m. every day.
- Jaleo: From 2 to 5 p.m. government employees can receive a free Flauta de Jamon Serrano, a Spanish sandwich in Jaleo’s D.C., Maryland, and Virginia locations.
- Zaytinya: The restaurant is offering a free Chicken Schwarma to any government employee from 2 to 5 p.m. daily during the shutdown.
Bark! | Free pet food
Multiple Locations in Maryland
The pet store Bark! has realized that people are not the only ones suffering from the shutdown. Therefore, all government employees can get a free bag of pet food at any of their eight Maryland locations.
The Dog Park | 20 percent off pet food
For anyone living in Virginia, The Dog Park in Alexandria is offering 20 percent off all dog and cat food for furloughed government employees and contractors with a valid ID.
So, go ahead and enjoy your free meal! Let us know if you end up eating at one of these locations or if you find any more amazing shutdown deals so we can update the list!
Need financial assistance in other ways? We've got you covered there, too. Check out which banks and organizations are helping federal employees -- and how.
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