Steak 'N Shake Opens DC Restaurant In Unusual Location

WASHINGTON, DC — Steak 'n Shake has just opened a new D.C. location, but it's not in downtown or in Shaw or Navy Yard or anywhere else you might expect -- instead, it's in the basement of the Rayburn House Office Building on Independence Avenue.

Food service provider Sodexo and the Chief Administrative Officer of the House have partnered to add Steak 'n Shake to the building, where it will sit adjacent to the Rayburn Cafeteria. This is D.C.'s first Steak 'n Shake restaurant.

In addition, Jamba Juice will be moving into the Longworth Building and setting up directly across from the Longworth Cafeteria.

“The United States Capitol and the three House Office Buildings receive millions of visitors every year,” said Chief Administrative Officer Phil Kiko in a statement. “The ability to offer new dining options for visitors, as well as the thousands of staff and employees who work in the various member and committee offices, allows us to be more responsive to changing needs will still providing good food at reasonable prices.”

It certainly isn't the first time chains have been added to House Office Buildings. Dunkin Donuts, Subway, &Pizza, and Au Bon Pain are just a few of the recent dining options in those buildings, which contain the offices of all U.S. Representatives. The House office buildings are situated on the south side of the U.S. Capitol along Independence Avenue, while Senate office buildings are on the north side of the Capitol along Constitution Avenue.

“We are pleased and honored to have the opportunity to bring Steak ‘n Shake, a classic American brand, to the nation’s capital,” said Tom Murray, Chief Financial Officer of franchise operations for Steak ‘n Shake, in the statement. “Through our valued partnership with Sodexo, we look forward to serving our delicious steakburgers and milkshakes to the hard-working U.S. government employees and their visitors.”