Chicago’s famed Giordano's is rolling its stuffed deep-dish pies into downtown Washington, D.C., planting its first local restaurant in the Hamilton Square building and putting a sizable new sit-down option on the 14th Street corridor. The company says the build-out will feature a full dining room, bar, seasonal patio and a private dining space dubbed the Lincoln Room, aiming squarely at both the steady stream of tourists and the office crowd that still fuels much of downtown’s daytime traffic. It is the latest national player to stake a claim on a stretch of downtown already lined with long-running dining staples.
Details for downtown diners
As reported by the Washington Business Journal, the Hamilton Square Giordano's will span roughly 7,400 square feet and seat about 186 guests. The chain’s location page lists the address as 600 14th Street NW and includes hours and service details for the downtown outpost.
Opening day and community tie-ins
According to a company press release reproduced by PoPville, Giordano’s plans to open on Tuesday with both dine-in and carryout available from the jump. The release breaks down seating into a 130-seat dining room, a 16-seat bar, a 20-seat seasonal patio and a 20-seat private Lincoln Room. It also notes a limited-time “250 Pizza,” with proceeds benefiting HonorFlight.org, and says the restaurant will create more than 100 jobs in the area.
Why Hamilton Square
Hamilton Square sits a block or two from the White House and the National Mall, and the building markets itself as a hospitality-forward office property with on-site dining and event space, according to Hamilton Square. The building’s recent tenant activity and the restaurant’s addition have helped make this stretch of 14th Street increasingly attractive to both casual and tourist foot traffic, as recently reported.
What to expect from the menu
Giordano's says its Washington menu will feature the brand’s signature stuffed deep-dish pizzas alongside traditional thin-crust and tavern-style pies, plus salads, sandwiches, pastas and desserts, according to the restaurant’s location page. The chain also highlights dine-in, carryout, delivery and catering for the downtown spot.
With the Tuesday opening and a sizable footprint, Giordano's joins a growing list of national and regional restaurants testing the waters on 14th Street. For locals, the real question is whether those hefty stuffed pies and the Lincoln Room become part of the weekday downtown routine or stay a special-occasion stop for visitors.
