Eli’s Restaurant customers can let out a sigh of relief. The D.C. kosher staple will stay open and is moving to a new location at 2142 L Street, N.W.
As soon as word got out last month that the popular kosher eatery, which attracts many government workers and politicians, would be torn down, a petition was initiated on Change.org vying to keep the restaurant open.
The petition, which received over 400 signatures, wanted Eli’s owners to know “how important it is that they find a new location in DC and continue to serve the downtown Jewish community.”
“[The Jewish community] is thrilled they’re staying open,” said Rabbi Barry Freundel of Kesher Israel in Georgetown. “We wish them every success. It’s a good day.”
Washington media consultant Steve Rabinowitz was also pleased to hear Eli’s would remain open, as there aren’t many options for kosher meat eaters downtown.
“You walk into Eli’s and there are always a lot of different groups of people,” he said. “Like me, they may want to be able to have a burger.”
Eli’s menu aims to serve meat eaters and vegetarians alike, providing items such as hamburgers, hot dogs, corned beef sandwiches, veggie burgers, soups and salads.
“It’s really important to the community to have places like that,” Rabinowitz said. “It would be a terrible loss if there wasn’t.”
The restaurant, which opened in 2004, is currently located in the DuPont Circle area of N and 20th streets, N.W.
D.C.’s other kosher eatery, Distrikt Bistro, is located at the Washington DC Jewish Community Center.
For more information about Eli’s Restaurant and its menu, go to elis-dc.com.
