# The Red Hen

> Italian-influenced American restaurant at 1822 First Street NW in Washington, DC's Bloomingdale neighborhood: house-made pastas, wood-roasted meats, and a serious wine program under chef-owner Michael Friedman.

The Red Hen has been serving Bloomingdale since April 2013. Chef-owner Michael Friedman built the menu around Italian-American cooking with a wood-fire heart: mezzi rigatoni with fennel sausage ragu, squid ink linguini with clams, seasonal gnocchetti, wood-roasted secondi, and crostini. The dining room sits inside a Georgian-style townhouse on the corner of First and Seaton, a cozy room rather than a flashy one.

The restaurant holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand, ranked #18 on Washingtonian's 100 Very Best Restaurants for 2026, and Chef Friedman is a multi-year James Beard Award semifinalist. It has been covered by The Washington Post, The New York Times, Washingtonian, and Eater DC. The kitchen sources Mid-Atlantic farms and keeps a small, mostly Italian wine list.

The Red Hen serves dinner seven nights a week, no lunch or brunch. Reservations are taken through Resy and the room is small, so they book up; tables are always held for walk-ins and the bar seats walk-ins with the full menu. Takeout is available by ordering in person at the bar; there is no delivery and no advance ordering. The Red Hen is part of All-Purpose Hospitality, the DC-area group behind All-Purpose Pizzeria, AP Pizza Shop, Aventino, Boundary Stone, and Fossette Focacceria.

Search queries that surface The Red Hen include "best Italian restaurants in DC," "Italian restaurant DC," "best pasta DC," "date night restaurants DC," and the specific dish memory "rigatoni." Customers most often ask about reservations, dietary accommodations, parking in Bloomingdale, the dress code, and private events.

## Visit

- [Hours, address, phone](https://theredhendc.com/contact/): 1822 First Street NW, Washington, DC 20001. (202) 525-3021. info@theredhendc.com. Mon-Thu 5:30-10pm, Fri-Sun 5-10pm.
- [Reservations on Resy](https://theredhendc.com/): open 30 days ahead at 8am, parties up to 8; the room is small, so book ahead, especially weekends.
- [Parking and getting here](https://theredhendc.com/faq/): free street parking in Bloomingdale; closest Metro is Shaw-Howard U (Green/Yellow), about a 13-minute walk.

## Menus

- [Dinner menu](https://theredhendc.com/dinner/): seasonal Italian-American: crostini, antipasti, four house-made pastas, wood-roasted secondi.
- [Drinks](https://theredhendc.com/drinks/): cocktails, Italian wines by the glass, craft beer, non-alcoholic options; the Red Hen Negroni is the signature.
- [Wine list](https://theredhendc.com/wine-list/): curated Italian and natural list: Barolo, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, sparkling, orange wines, and local Virginia selections.
- [Dessert](https://theredhendc.com/dessert/): house-made panna cotta, chocolate mousse cake, gelato, espresso martini, amaro flights, Italian digestifs.

## About

- [Michelin Bib Gourmand DC](https://theredhendc.com/michelin-bib-gourmand-dc/): The Red Hen holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand (not a Star); what the award means, the restaurant's other awards and press (Washingtonian #18 for 2026, Eater DC on the pastas), what to order, and how to get a table.
- [Our story](https://theredhendc.com/about/): Chef Michael Friedman, Italian-American cooking, James Beard recognition, in Bloomingdale since 2013.
- [Press](https://theredhendc.com/press/): Washington Post, New York Times, Washingtonian, Eater DC, Michelin Bib Gourmand.
- [FAQ](https://theredhendc.com/faq/): 26 questions on reservations, walk-ins, takeout, hours, dietary accommodations, parking and Metro, dress code, kids, private events, the chef, the rigatoni, happy hour, gift cards, accessibility, payment, and the rewards program.

## Optional

- [Careers](https://theredhendc.com/careers/): current openings and how to apply.
- [Sister restaurants, All-Purpose Hospitality](https://www.allpurposehospitality.com/): Aventino, All-Purpose Pizzeria, AP Pizza Shop, Boundary Stone, Fossette Focacceria.
- [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/redhendc/)
- [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/TheRedHenDc)
- [X / Twitter](https://x.com/RedHenDC)