Joe and Jill Biden dined at Fiola Mare last night for their first date at DC Restaurant since moving to the White House. Fabio Trabocchi’s Italian seafood destination in Georgetown is also a favorite among Obamas, among other politicians and celebrities ranging from Ivanka Trump to Oprah.
A client told the White House Pool reporter (and former Washingtonian staff member) Brittany Shepherd that the President had the ‘lobster’, although the only lobster on the menu appears to be a $ 46 crudo. (Maybe the tipster spotted some wild New Zealand scampi, which cost $ 28 each.) The restaurant is also known for its handmade pasta, grilled seafood, and luxury ingredients ($ 250 for an ounce of caviar).
Video and photos of other patrons show Biden without a mask as he left the restaurant just before 8 p.m., a move that drew criticism from right-wing figures on Twitter. DC still requires all diners inside to wear a mask unless they are actively eating and drinking.
Every American deserves a response from @Joe Biden explaining directly why he thinks he is allowed to break the rules he asks others to follow.
– Benny (@bennyjohnson) October 17, 2021
The Bidens’ latest foodie outing in Washington was a Memorial Day brunch at French brasserie Le Diplomate on 14th Street with Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff (who went on their own date this week at the Dabney). The president also made stops for Call Your Mother in Georgetown for bagels and Las Gemelas near Union Market for tacos. He now far exceeds Trump’s record of visiting a single DC restaurant during his tenure (his own hotel’s steakhouse). So far, however, the Bidens are still a long way from the unusual foodies the Obamas were.
Food Editor
Jessica Sidman covers the people and trends behind the DC food and drink scene. Before joining Washingtonian as of July 2016, she was culinary writer and columnist Young & Hungry at the Washington City Paper. She is originally from Colorado and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania.
