You’ve probably heard the claim before. Someone tells you they know the "real" DC, then they point you toward a cramped, narrow building on the corner of 11th and Florida Avenue NW. They call it an institution. They talk about the "Shotgun Booth" and the famous corn muffins.
But honestly? Most people walking into Florida Avenue Grill today don't actually realize how close this place came to being just another memory in a city that’s been gentrified within an inch of its life.
It isn't just a restaurant. It’s a survivor.
When Lacey and Bertha Wilson opened the doors in 1944, Lacey was a former shoeshine man with $5,000 and a dream that felt impossible in a segregated Washington. Back then, it was basically two stools and a basement kitchen. Money was so tight they famously operated "two chickens at a time." They’d fry two birds, sell them, and then use that cash to go buy two more.
That’s how you build a legacy. Not with a massive VC injection, but with literal spare change and poultry.
The Night the Shotgun Booth Earned Its Name
If you visit Florida Avenue Grill today, you'll see a plaque by the front booth. People take selfies there. It’s called the "Shotgun Booth," and the story behind it is less about marketing and more about raw grit.
April 1968 changed everything for DC. After Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, the U Street corridor—once the "Black Broadway"—went up in flames. National Guard troops were on the streets. Businesses were being looted and torched left and right.
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Lacey Wilson Jr., the founders' son, didn't leave.
He sat in that front booth for nights on end with a shotgun across his lap. He watched the neighborhood burn around him, but he wasn't going to let the Grill go. He even had to put out a fire that threatened the building himself. While hundreds of businesses along the 14th Street and 7th Street corridors were reduced to rubble, the Grill stood.
It’s kinda wild to think about while you’re sitting there eating hotcakes. That same booth where you're scrolling through your phone is where a man sat ready to defend his family’s life work during one of the most violent weeks in American history.
Why the Menu Still Hits (And Why It Changed)
Let’s talk about the food. You aren't coming here for a deconstructed kale salad. You’re coming for the pork chops, the fried catfish, and the chitterlings.
The corn muffins are the stuff of legend. Local critics have literally written that they’d want them as their last meal. They’re dense, moist, and slightly sweet—the kind of thing that makes you understand why soul food is its own category of culinary art.
In 2005, the Grill changed hands for the first time in sixty years. Imar Hutchins, an entrepreneur and attorney, bought the place from Lacey Jr. People were worried. You know how it goes—new owner usually means "modernizing" everything until the soul is gone.
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Hutchins did something different. He kept the vibe.
The Vegan Pivot
He did add vegan options, though. Some old-timers rolled their eyes at first. A soul food spot with plant-based sausage? But honestly, it was a smart move. Hutchins understood that the neighborhood was changing and that health-conscious diners still wanted the flavor of soul food without the heavy grease.
- The Signature Breakfast: You can get it all day. Fish and grits, salmon cakes, or the "Lacey Special."
- The Sides: Collard greens seasoned with smoked turkey instead of just ham hocks (though they still do the classics).
- The Atmosphere: Formica counters, swivel stools, and walls covered in autographed photos of everyone from Muhammad Ali to Barack Obama and Angela Merkel.
It’s a weirdly egalitarian place. You might be sitting next to a Howard University student one minute and a United States Senator the next. Nobody cares. Everyone’s just there for the gravy.
The Fight for 11th and Florida
The 2020s haven't been entirely kind to the Grill. Like many legacy businesses, it faced a massive threat from deceptive lending practices and foreclosure risks around 2017. The community actually had to rally to save it.
It’s a reminder that even "institutions" are fragile.
Today, the restaurant is overshadowed by "The Lacey," a high-end condominium building that Hutchins developed on the former parking lot. He named it after the Wilsons, which is a nice touch, but it highlights the contrast. You have this ultra-modern architecture wrapped around a 1940s diner.
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It’s the story of DC in a single block.
What You Need to Know Before You Go
Don't just show up at noon on a Sunday and expect a seat. The place is tiny. It’s a "shotgun" layout—long and narrow. If it’s Howard Homecoming weekend, forget about it unless you’re prepared to wait.
- Parking is a nightmare. Use the Metro (U Street/Cardozo station) or a rideshare.
- Order the muffins. Even if you aren't a "bread person." Just do it.
- Read the walls. The history of Black DC is written in those framed photos.
- Expect a wait. It’s part of the experience. Talk to the people in line.
The Future of the World’s Oldest Soul Food Restaurant
People argue about the "oldest" title sometimes. Some say there are older spots in the South. But Florida Avenue Grill claims the title of the oldest continuously operating soul food restaurant in the world.
Whether that’s technically true to the day doesn't really matter. What matters is that in 2026, you can still walk into a place that survived Jim Crow, the '68 riots, the crack epidemic of the 80s, and the total transformation of the U Street corridor.
It’s still there. The grease is still hot. The coffee is still pouring.
If you want to experience the Grill properly, go on a Tuesday morning. It’s quieter then. You can actually hear the clatter of the kitchen and imagine Lacey and Bertha frying those first two chickens. It’s one of the few places left where the "Old DC" isn't just a museum exhibit—it’s actually for sale for about fifteen bucks a plate.
To truly appreciate the legacy, take a walk around the block afterward. Notice the glass towers and the boutiques. Then look back at that modest corner building. It’s a miracle it’s still standing, and that’s why you should go.
Plan your visit for an early weekday morning to skip the crowds and spend time reading the historical markers in the "Shotgun Booth."