Capitol Hill Eatery 'The Monocle' Celebrates 65 Years as Washington's Power Lunch Spot

The Monocle Restaurant on D Street NE marked its 65th anniversary this week with a sold-out dinner attended by current and former members of Congress, lobbyists, and journalists who have made it their canteen for decades. Owner John Valanos, whose father Constantine opened the restaurant in 1960, raised a toast to "the only bipartisan institution left in Washington."The restaurant has survived recessions, renovations, and a pandemic, maintaining its signature white-tablecloth service and a menu that hasn't changed much since the Kennedy administration. The crab cakes remain the bestseller, followed by the Senate Bean Soup — a recipe borrowed from the Capitol's own dining room.