Why politicians often visit DC restaurant Cafe Milano

In today’s politically divided climate, it would be difficult to find lawmakers from both parties breaking bread together. But if there’s one place where that happens in the truest sense of the word, it’s Washington, D.C.’s Cafe Milano, a casual, upscale Italian restaurant that has long been a hangout for the political elite.

The restaurant places a high priority on privacy and security, an initiative driven by owner Franco Nuschese, whose actions have earned him the loyalty of some of the most powerful people in the world. Cafe Milano has staff who serve as both security and comfort staff, ensuring that high-profile guests feel both safe and well taken care of. “In Washington, there has to be that level of trust between all of us,” Nuschese told the New York Times in 2017. “As soon as they walk in, the door immediately closes.”

Although the restaurant values ​​discretion, it is paradoxically known as Washington’s top place to “see and be seen,” a moniker the eatery boasts on the front page of its website. For politicians hoping to keep their names in the press, Cafe Milano seems to offer the best of both worlds: a high level of domestic security with an equally high level of name recognition. Unfortunately, there seems to be nothing good there, at least according to some critics. In 2014, Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema gave the restaurant one out of four stars, criticizing its substandard food and exorbitantly high wine prices.

Despite Cafe Milano’s alleged culinary shortcomings, it remains a popular restaurant for both Democratic and Republican politicians. President Joe Biden is known to frequent the restaurant, where his favorite dish is reportedly angel hair pasta. Current Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris has also been spotted dining at Cafe Milano, and although former President Donald Trump did not visit the restaurant, many members of his administration were reportedly regulars during their tenure in the White House.

Over the years, Cafe Milano has also been home to a number of celebrities from the arts and media, including Tom Cruise, Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney. The restaurant frequently hosts high-profile events in addition to its regular dinner menu, such as book launches, VIP birthday parties and a celebration for the 2018 Stanley Cup champions, the Washington Capitals.

The parties aren’t just for Americans, either. United Arab Emirates Ambassador Yousef al-Otaiba is reportedly a fan of the restaurant, and in 2017 Franco Nuschese opened a Cafe Milano branch in Abu Dhabi. For his 81st birthday, former Pope Benedict XVI had lunch at the restaurant’s main branch. In addition, then-Saudi Ambassador Adel al-Jubeir was known to be such a loyal patron of Cafe Milano that the restaurant was the target of a bomb attack in 2011.

If you’re hoping for a celebrity sighting or want to witness a secret political deal, Cafe Milano is your best bet. But if you’re looking for another place to eat in the capital, check out our other Washington, DC restaurant recommendations.