Spot politicos at these 7 DC power lunch spots

Are you head over heels for Hillary? Gaga for Grassley? At a campaign rally, you might get close enough to your favorite politician to snap a passable pic, but what if you could get close enough to Jeb to see him dribble crab salad on his suit?

The power lunch is a Washington, DC tradition and at the noon hour, the city’s lunch spots become the place to gawk at lawmakers in full grazing mode. The following places have been known to host the occasional political superstar or two. Granted, it may be harder for us regular folk to snag a table, but on the upside, we don’t need to clear our midday meal with the ethics committee first. Here are 7 awesome DC power lunch spots.

Blue Duck Tavern
Our POTUS and FLOTUS celebrated their anniversary here in 2009, so if you want to nosh on the same farm-to-table fare as 44, Blue Duck Tavern at the Park Hyatt is your joint. The seasonal menu focuses on locally sourced ingredients so look for dishes like a suckling pig sandwich or a pan-seared blue catfish. There’s a private chef’s table for 20 guests, but if you snag it, don’t expect Ted Cruz or Al Franken to be your guests.

BLT Steak
Remember Eric Cantor, the former House Minority Leader who was soundly rejected by the voters of his district in a 2014 primary defeat? Before being given the boot, Cantor spent nearly $170,000 on a mere 17 steak dinners in the District at steakhouses including BLT. Cantor may be gone, but diners can still enjoy one of the restaurant’s signature warm popovers and ogle speaker of the house John Boehner, who has been spotted there.

Related: Food on the fly: 10 awesome airport eateries.

Fiola
Chef Fabio Trabbochi’s high-end Italian eatery has racked up numerous accolades including kudos for a seasonally focused menu that includes lunchtime dishes such as Maine lobster ravioli. You can spot publicly elected celebs here, as well, including New Jersey Governor and ’16 long shot Chris Christie. Michelle Obama and adviser Valerie Jarrett have both been spotted at sister restaurant Fiola Mare.

Old Ebbitt Grill
The oldest saloon in the District according to its website, the Old Ebbitt Grill was once a boarding house that lodged the likes of President McKinley and as a saloon kept the company of Ulysses S. Grant, Andrew Johnson, Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt and Warding G. Harding. Now in a different location, it’s still a hot spot for the occasional lawmaker and also tourists looking to soak up American history while (hopefully) gawking a politico or two.

Pete’s Diner
It’s no secret that John Boehner loves a good greasy spoon. The House Speaker once told Esquire that he likes to sidle up the counter at his favorite diner in a jeans and a baseball cap, and chow down on a hearty breakfast. It’s no secret that Pete’s Diner—which revels in classic American diner fare—is his favorite DC diner. Just don’t order the bacon: Boehner thinks Pete’s never gets it quite right.

Related: Where to eat in New York City now.

The Oval Room
Only a stone’s throw from theOval Office itself—hence the name—this celebrated DC lunch spot has hosted the likes of president’s Clinton and Bush senior and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. You can do some serious neck craning at the bar at the Oval Room where a $20 lunchtime special gets you one drink, one entree and one dessert, plus unobstructed views of DC lobbyists, politicos and power players.

Photo Credit: Greg Powers

The Source
Super chef Wolfgang Puck’s foray into District dining has proven a big hit among Washington big wigs, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, SCOTUS justice Elana Kagan, CNN stalwart Wolf Blitzer and FLOTUS Michelle Obama. Deal makers may want to steal away to some of the more private nooks and crannies on the Source’s second floor although just about anywhere is a good place to stargaze while enjoying Puck’s Asian fusion cuisine.

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