Black Restaurant Week Highlights DMV's Delicious Side

RESTON, VA — DMV Black Restaurant Week kicked off Sunday and will be held through Nov. 15, showcasing specials at Black-owned food and beverage establishments in the DMV, including one in Reston.

Started in 2018 by Georgetown professor Erinn Tucker, bar consultant Andra "AJ" Johnson and chef Furard Tate, the restaurant week is about more than a week of specials. DMV Black Restaurant Week supports Black hospitality, food, and beverage entrepreneurs and employees through promotion, professional development, events and other resources. Aside from the restaurant week, DMV Black Restaurant Week is holding a third annual Food & Beverage Education Conference from Nov. 10 to 14.

Promotion of Black-owned businesses is timely amid the coronavirus pandemic's impacts. According to a National Bureau of Economic Research report from June, the number African-American business owners fell from 1.1 million in February to 640,000 in April, representing a 41 percent decrease. In D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser issued a proclamation recognizing DMV Black Restaurant Week and encouraged residents to support the restaurants.

Specials will vary by restaurant. For example, HalfSmoke in the Shaw neighborhood of D.C. is offering a $35 three-course menu, or $65 with drink pairings. The restaurant is donating $1 from every Tito's vodka drink sold to One More Plate, a nonprofit organization addressing hunger in DC's homeless communities.

While many of the participants hail from D.C. there are some Northern Virginia and Maryland restaurants participating.

Here is the Reston restaurant participating in DMVbrw:

• Makers Union, Reston

For a full list of participating restaurants, including catering and food trucks, visit the DMVbrw website.