At Wednesday’s State of the Plate meeting, the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington told members that the District’s dining scene is finally showing early signs of a rebound after a punishing 2025 that saw record closures and softer foot traffic. Operators described the recovery as cautious, with sales, staffing and rent pressures still varying widely across neighborhoods. RAMW wrapped the annual meeting around a DC ProStart student competition and a new “Ask the Agencies” session that gave operators one-on-one access to city regulators.
RAMW lays out a playbook for recovery
At The Hamilton Hotel, the association rolled out membership survey findings, a 2026 legislative agenda and a slate of resources meant to steady struggling…..