Ben's Chili Bowl: Obama Drops By Famous D.C. Diner For Lunch (VIDEO)

WASHINGTON — What does the president-elect order on his first Saturday afternoon since moving into town? A chili dog and cheese fries.

Barack Obama dropped in Saturday afternoon for a bite to eat with Washington's mayor, Adrian Fenty, at Ben's Chili Bowl, the venerable diner in Washington's U Street district.

Obama said it was his first time visiting Ben's Chili Bowl and "it was terrific." The expectation is that Obama _ already at ease in big cities from his time in Chicago _ will venture into town more than President George W. Bush, who rarely made forays into unofficial Washington.

After Obama's motorcade wandered through the U street district, passing the African-American Civil War Memorial and a flea market selling shirts that bear his face, he and Fenty surprised the restaurant around lunchtime. Patrons shrieked with delight and surprise as they saw his face. A mother blushed as Obama held her baby in his arms. The president-elect and the mayor moved slowly through the restaurant's crowded rooms, shaking hands and getting pictures taken with patrons.

Still, they came there to eat. "Where the food at?" he finally asked the counter staff, drawing laughs from them and nearby patrons.

He and Fenty ordered a house specialty, a Chili Half-Smoke _ a quarter-pound half pork and beef smoked sausage on a steamed bun with mustard, onions and chili sauce _ along with a big helping of some cheese fries.

They found a small table. They had the popular food. They even chatted it up with nearby customers at their tables. But something was still missing: the shredded cheese. Obama yelled for some _ "not the Velveeta" kind, he said _ and it was quickly delivered.

Word must have gotten out he was in the area: After Obama and Fenty had their meal and left the building, dozens of people who had lined up before security barriers cheered him on as walked toward his motorcade.

Comments

[adamsmith3]

07:11 AM on 01/15/2009

LOL, wtf, why is this clip filled with him eating? People treat him like some sort of caged animal, fascinated by him doing something as ordinary as eating. Getting a bit obsessive out there.

[adamsmith3]

07:08 AM on 01/15/2009

Good to know. I wonder what he'll have for dinner and what he'll eat for breakfast the next day. Also, what's his favorite color? So many fascinating Obama stories on this site.

[zeitgeist79]

10:27 PM on 01/14/2009

"Naw, we straight." Gotta love it. He's a real chameleon. He's as comfortable in a hot dog joint as on the floor of the Senate. I don't know exactly what we have in store for us in this new Obama era, but I'm looking forward to the ride!

[Boxxphotog]

04:45 PM on 01/13/2009

How Ben's CB became the "go-to" spot on U Street for Black dignitaries is that one remaining DC mystery. Native sure don't have that answer. It's on the strip of a historically significant part of the black community. If memory serves, the owner is said to have show biz connects that got people in the door. Perhaps those connections date back to the hey day of the "old" Town and Lincoln Theatres on the U St corridor. I also think Ben's was one of the few businesses on U Street not decimated in the 60s riot.

More power to them but as other posts have stated, Ben's Chile Bowl food is NOT good, the atmosphere - not so warm and cozy and welcoming. It would be nice if the hospitality we see on camera was a little more consistently extended to the locals without a famous face.

Just so you know, Henry's also on U Street and across 16th Street (@17th - opposite fire station) - now THAT'S where somebody should have taken Obama. They're the real bonafide local good food joint!!! Henry and the service was always great!

[ncmom54]

11:36 PM on 01/12/2009

Pray for the president:
http://www.maxlucado.com/president/

[theiccemann]

11:02 PM on 01/12/2009

This only happens once in many decades: Someone taking stereotypes, and eating them up like shredded cheese.

Obama makes it cool to be a nerd, again.

[ishok]

10:56 PM on 01/12/2009

That is a cool clip but...

Ben's Chili Bowl (although a DC "institution") has the worst food. Their chili tastes like Hormel right out of the can. It's a joke. There is absolutely nothing special about the place except that it's somewhat tight and grungy. Some eclectic types think that it adds to the "across-the-tracks experience".
One day a truly great Dog shop will open in this city...and I'll be the first in line.

I'm venting...

[Lynche]

11:52 PM on 01/12/2009

THANK YOU! I totally agree. Terrible, just terrible.

[soulsistah 77]

09:32 PM on 01/12/2009

That's what I'm talking about...a man of the people! This is the President-elect of the US (!!) and he's on 12th & U ordering a chili half smoke & cheese fries!

Our hometown, ChiCity has prepared him well for the world, whether back home in the Chi, DC or discussing the expeditious closure of Gitmo and with the recession heavy on his mind...he remains masterful at putting the people first! Any great leader knows the mission & tasks at hand are often easy to bear when you identify with "the people", break bread with "the people" and remain true to "the people", so that when you take the helm, the people are ready to follow your lead! Brilliant execution of swagga!

Perhaps if former President Bush had identified with the people of this nation, their strengths, their worries, their damn names & faces, maybe just maybe he wouldn't have been so extremely far out of touch. Just my thoughts. Anyway, too late for him, moving right along to 7 days & some CHANGE from today...

I'm so renewed to witness all of this, I know I've been changed! I hope to see ya'll in DC next week...OH IT'S ON!!! *Peace*

[abolishinsanity]

10:24 PM on 01/12/2009

i am so touched by this.....

[badmac933]

09:18 PM on 01/12/2009

YOUR EIGHT YEAR NIGHTMARE IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.

[abolishinsanity]

11:46 PM on 01/12/2009

..from your lips to Satan's ears

[soulsistah 77]

11:09 PM on 01/14/2009

Ditto your remarks abolishinsanity!! I suppose this is who Mr. President was talking to on 4 Nov 08 when he addressed the nation...to those whose vote I didn't earn tonight, "I WILL BE YOUR PRESIDENT TOO!"

To the party pooper aka badmac933, perhaps your comment is your soul talking and you're the real boogeyman in the nightmare you speak of! There's no reason any American should sit back, post your comment; thus be apart of the problem, predicting our nation's Armageddon is unstatesmanlike!!! Ya know, there's always the option of being apart of the needed change! If your neighborhood is infested with crime, seek resolve or if by chance you're a uppity suburbanite, I challenge you volunteer your time on this coming Monday to a great cause...perhaps you'll get some positive injections then. It all begins with HOPE and finales with CHANGE!!!
Dang, don't just don't be Negative Nathan your whole life. As you know, no one person or administrative can be the nightmare of our nation, I believe doom happens when we throw in the towel, dim the light on a brighter day and refuse to make investments in our destiny! So much I want to say but...you feel me! No further comment.

[Feanor]

09:07 PM on 01/12/2009

I bet he's damn glad Marion Barry isn't Mayor anymore.

[ReasonableBill]

07:56 PM on 01/12/2009

Please God watch over and protect him. Let him be able to walk among his people.

[s miller08]

08:02 PM on 01/12/2009

Amen!

[AlligatorShuz]

09:49 PM on 01/12/2009

Amen, Lord protect him.

[silentobsvr]

07:43 PM on 01/12/2009

Our President Elect is so real, he just makes me smile. I can't wait for the Inauguration.

[jackson1015]

06:40 PM on 01/12/2009

Hey, this is the same man who eats Spam when he's in Hawaii, so a Chili Half-Smoke sounds about right. Obama's a man of the people, y'all. (At least, the chubby people, that is ... how does this man stay so thin?)

[anewdayinDC]

06:21 PM on 01/12/2009

i think this is his way of establishing a relationship with his community - to stay in touch and away from the bubble. this was it won't be such a big deal if people see him around town. He still gets to keep a little of his freedom.

This is the community organizer style.

[USAFree1]

06:10 PM on 01/12/2009

I keep saying to myself, "Don't get your hopes up." Then something like this and all the other videos of our man Barack and wow. Tears and smiles and sniffles. And hello, I'm 59 years old. Oh please let this 8 year nightmare be over. January 20th can't come soon enough. I won't stop worrying that the BushCrimeFamily won't try to stop this inauguration until after our man takes the oath and is totally sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. Amen and amen.