Democrats are boycotting six popular D.C. restaurants, potentially harming the very workers they claim to champion, as restaurant owners say most employees have no interest in unionizing.
Key Takeaways
- Over 50 Democratic lawmakers including AOC, Nancy Pelosi, and Bernie Sanders are boycotting six upscale D.C. restaurants to support unionization efforts.
- The boycott targets establishments owned by STARR Restaurants and Knightsbridge Restaurant Group, including Le Diplomate, Osteria Mozza, and Rasika.
- Restaurant owners claim the boycott is “baseless” and could harm employees by reducing their hours, wages, and tips.
- This effort appears to be part of Democrats’ broader strategy to reconnect with working-class voters who supported President Trump in the 2024 election.
- Restaurant groups question how many lawmakers actually understand what they’re supporting, suggesting the boycott is more political theater than worker advocacy.
Democrats Target Popular D.C. Restaurants in Union Dispute
A political standoff is brewing in the nation’s capital as more than 50 Democratic lawmakers have pledged to boycott six high-end Washington D.C. restaurants over labor disputes. The boycott, organized by Unite Here Local 25 representing over 7,500 hospitality workers in the D.C. area, targets establishments owned by STARR Restaurants and Knightsbridge Restaurant Group. At issue are allegations that these restaurant groups have engaged in union-busting activities as workers attempt to organize with Local 25.
Among the prominent Democrats joining the boycott are Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senator Bernie Sanders. The action calls for customers to avoid eating, meeting, or drinking at Le Diplomate, Osteria Mozza, The Occidental, Rasika, Modena, and Bombay Club. These restaurants are popular gathering spots for Washington’s political and social elite, making the boycott particularly visible in D.C. political circles.
Restaurant Owners Push Back Against “Baseless” Claims
The restaurant groups have responded forcefully to the boycott, questioning both its legitimacy and the potential consequences for their employees. STARR Restaurants, which owns Le Diplomate, Osteria Mozza, and The Occidental, called the boycott “baseless” and warned that it could harm the very workers the Democrats claim to be protecting. They argue that the action could lead to reduced hours, lower wages, and decreased tips for restaurant employees who depend on customer traffic.
“To the best of our knowledge, a majority of Le Diplomate employees have no interest in engaging in that process nor in being represented by a union. A boycott of any kind can result in lost hours, wages, and tips that our hardworking employees rely upon. It is unfortunate that an organization that claims to want to represent the employees of Le Diplomate would call for an action that would harm them,” stated a STARR representative
Knightsbridge Restaurant Group, which owns Rasika, Modena, and Bombay Club, expressed skepticism about whether the lawmakers signing onto the boycott even understand what they’re supporting. “How many of these congress members even know themselves that they’re signing?” questioned the owner of Knightsbridge Restaurant Group, suggesting the boycott may be more political theater than substantive worker advocacy.
Political Calculations Behind the Boycott
The timing of this boycott reveals a broader strategy by Democrats struggling to reconnect with working-class voters who overwhelmingly supported President Trump. After significant losses with blue-collar workers in the 2024 election, Democrats are desperate to rebrand themselves as champions of working Americans. The Congressional Progressive Caucus has been particularly vocal in pushing for more visible pro-labor actions.
“We can have big policy debates, but we also have to show the American people some concrete examples,” said Democratic Texas Rep. Greg Casar, The Congressional Progressive Caucus’ Chair.
This boycott represents the latest attempt by Democrats to address what their own leadership has acknowledged is a messaging problem rather than a policy issue. The House Majority PAC invested $50 million to reach working-class voters who shifted to GOP candidates, but these efforts failed to prevent significant Republican gains. Now, Democrats appear to be doubling down on visible gestures like restaurant boycotts that generate headlines but may actually harm the very workers they claim to champion.
