The food hall renaissance is still going strong in the D.C. area. It seems like every few months, another spacious and elegant building with exposed pipes and high ceilings is converted into the newest, freshest food hall in the region, slinging everything from tacos to tapas to tiramisu.
If you’re new to the concept of food halls, they tend to be airy spaces that contain multiple small restaurants with relatively limited menus. Think a cafeteria, but higher-end and built for 9-to-5-ers. These spaces also tend to have at least one bar; communal seating areas; and other draws like pop-up events, flea markets and live music. In essence, they’re meant to serve as a larger community gathering space rather than simply a restaurant that hands you your check after an hour and a half. It’s hard to say with certainty what’s sustaining the food hall boom — maybe it’s the return-to-office mandates or the popularity of Northeast’s Union Market. Maybe it’s simply the convenience of visiting five to 10 restaurants simultaneously, or the ability to meet your picky friend and not worry about whether they’ll enjoy what’s on the menu.
