Tens of thousands of women (and others who consider women to be human beings) will descend on the District this weekend to march. While the dawn of the Trump presidency will ruin many appetites, a boisterous walk should make even the queasiest Americans hungry. Marchers hoping to resist the patriarchy should look no further than these D.C. restaurants—all owned by women.
Pizzeria Paradiso
Owner and Chef Ruth Gresser has a long history of supporting women’s issues: She’s the former president of the board of directors of Women Chefs and Restaurateurs, and she was featured in Hungry, a documentary about female chefs and sexism in the food industry. On Saturday you can stop by any of Pizzeria Paradiso’s locations for delicious, wood-fired pizza and pours of Denizens Lowest Lord (produced by a majority female-owned brewery). Proceeds from beer sales will be donated to the League of Women Voters.
2003 P St. NW; 3282 M St. NW; 124 King St., Alexandria.
Fare Well
The vegan diner/bakery/bar mashup from Doron Petersan offers a little bit of everything. Fuel up for a day of marching with a coconut milk latte and grab-and-go bakery items in the morning, or end the day with savory bites like cauliflower buffalo dip and a craft cocktail.
406 H St. NE.
Prescription Chicken
Do Valerie Zweig and Taryn Pellicone—the soup mavens behind Prescription Chicken—have psychic abilities? Probably not, but every order we’ve received has come with a note on a brown lunch bag saying to “feel better.” That’s because Prescription Chicken operates under the belief that when you’re feeling sick or hungover, the only cure is chicken noodle or matzoh ball soup. And don’t worry, vegans: They make soups for you, too. Available from delivery services such as UberEats, Postmates, and DoorDash.
Buffalo & Bergen
We know D.C. isn’t a bagel town. It’s not New York City either. But Gina Chersevani’s Buffalo & Bergen, situated in Union Market, does the impossible: good bagels and a retro New York soda shop vibe that isn’t corny or annoying. We know, it was hard for us to admit that, too.
1309 5th St. NE.
Chaia
At Chaia, Suzanne Simon and Bettina Stern serve vegetarian tacos that feel like an indulgence. Try the butternut squash taco with goat cheese, chipotle yogurt, and mint or the creamy kale and potato taco with pepper jack cheese, poblano crema, green sauce, and pickled onions. All come in homemade corn tortillas.
3207 Grace St. NW.
Letena
This all-day Ethiopian spot, which opened in October, is owner Yamrot Ezineh’s first restaurant venture. The seasonally rotating menu features lots of vegetarian options, available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
3100 14th St. NW.
Hank’s Oyster Bar
Jamie Leeds opened Hank’s Oyster Bar in Dupont Circle in 2005, and the popular seafood restaurant now has locations in Capitol Hill and Alexandria too. Chef Leeds also owns Hank’s Cocktail Bar in Petworth and Hank’s Pasta Bar in Alexandria. 1624 Q St. NW; 633 Pennsylvania Ave. SE; 1026 King St., Alexandria.
Restaurant Nora
Those in a historic mood on inauguration weekend might consider dining at the first-ever certified organic restaurant in America. It’s also a good fit for those feeling wistful about the end of an era: Nora Pouillon announced in October that she plans to retire and sell her eponymous fine-dining restaurant.
2132 Florida Ave. NW.
Centrolina
Amy Brandwein’s Italian restaurant in the upscale CityCenterDC development downtown is not exactly inexpensive, but the light-filled dining room here feels inviting alongside ultra-fancy shops like Hermès and Burberry. Centrolina also has a grab-and-go market with meats, cheeses, produce, pastries, coffee, and more.
974 Palmer Alley NW.
Toli Moli
The mother-daughter tandem Jocelyn Law-Yone and Simone Jacobson serve Burmese falooda, a dessert drink featuring seeds, nuts, and jellies, made from scratch at a stall in Union Market. Make a meal out of it with one of their savory noodle salads.
1309 5th St. NE.
Pie Sisters
Cupcakes are over. Pie will never die. The three Blakely sisters sell perhaps the best pie in D.C. here by the slice, steps from the Key Bridge in Georgetown.
3423 M St. NW.
Turning Natural
This juice bar in Anacostia from owner Jerri Evans won’t cleanse the thought of President Trump from your mind, but maybe it’ll boost your immune system. Also on offer: smoothies, black bean burgers, vegan desserts, and more. 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE.
Smoked & Stacked
Marjorie Meek-Bradley made her name in D.C. as a fine-dining chef at restaurants like Zaytinya and Ripple, but in the aftermath of her turn on Top Chef, she turned her attention to something simpler: pastrami sandwiches. In addition to beefy offerings, her Shaw joint supplies breakfast sandwiches, fish, and vegetarian options for eaters preferring something less messy. 1239 9th St. NW.
Denizens Brewing Co.
Spouses Emily Bruno and Julie Verratti, former government workers, founded their Silver Spring brewery with brother-in-law and head brewer Jeff Ramirez in 2014. Denizens has developed more than 45 beers in less than three years of operation and remains the only women- and minority-owned brewery in the state.
1115 East-West Highway, Silver Spring.
Esencias Panameñas
Chef and owner Yadira Stamp aims to teach District eaters about Panamanian cuisine at this Park View restaurant. She imports ingredients like Corvina, a white flaky fish found only in southeastern Panama, and serves her interpretation of traditional dishes like arroz con pollo, oxtail with pigeon peas, and fried plantains.
3322 Georgia Ave. NW.