# Do all Restaurants in Washington DC Still Offer Bean Soup? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 19, 2011, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-restaurants-in-washington-dc-still-offer-bean-soup/582402 "2011-05-19T02:59:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mac\_bolan00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@mac\_bolan00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac_bolan00)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-restaurants-in-washington-dc-still-offer-bean-soup/582402/1 "2011-05-19T02:59:22Z")
According to my sister who stayed there, restaurants were actually required to do so. It’s to allow low-income Americans to come to the capital and lobby their cases. If yes, isn’t it time to expand the lobbyist’s menu? I’ll be happy with good cheese macaroni, or even creamed corn soup. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-restaurants-in-washington-dc-still-offer-bean-soup/582402/2 "2011-05-19T03:05:17Z")
No, I’ve never heard of such a requirement for restaurants. There is Senate bean soup, which is apparently served every day in the Capitol. One can also find a canned version in the area’s less reputable grocery stores. ---
**Author:** ![mac\_bolan00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@mac\_bolan00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac_bolan00)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-restaurants-in-washington-dc-still-offer-bean-soup/582402/3 "2011-05-19T03:09:49Z")
thanks for that. i suppose the capitol cafeterias can already shoulder the requirements of such an intention (assuming there was.) ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-restaurants-in-washington-dc-still-offer-bean-soup/582402/4 "2011-05-19T03:18:53Z")
What other sorts of nonsense did your sister tell you? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-restaurants-in-washington-dc-still-offer-bean-soup/582402/5 "2011-05-19T03:22:53Z")
> [@mac\_bolan00](#): > > thanks for that. i suppose the capitol cafeterias can already shoulder the requirements of such an intention (assuming there was.) After some googling, the soup was a favorite of a few senators. Lobbyists had nothing to do with it Your sister was either pulling your leg or really didn’t undertaand the story. ---
**Author:** ![mac\_bolan00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@mac\_bolan00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac_bolan00)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-restaurants-in-washington-dc-still-offer-bean-soup/582402/6 "2011-05-19T03:23:46Z")
> [@](#): > > What other sorts of nonsense did your sister tell you? a lot. like the proposed william j. clinton memorial. looks a lot like the lincoln memorial but with a figure crouched at bill’s lap. ---
**Author:** ![Sally\_Mander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@Sally\_Mander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sally_Mander)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-restaurants-in-washington-dc-still-offer-bean-soup/582402/7 "2011-05-19T03:31:52Z")
> [@mac\_bolan00](#): > > a lot. like the proposed william j. clinton memorial. looks a lot like the lincoln memorial but with a figure crouched at bill’s lap. Oh, well, that one’s true. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-restaurants-in-washington-dc-still-offer-bean-soup/582402/8 "2011-05-19T13:07:03Z")
> [@mac\_bolan00](#): > > a lot. like the proposed william j. clinton memorial. looks a lot like the lincoln memorial but with a figure crouched at bill’s lap. I spend too much time on the road, I guess. When did Bill Clinton die? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-restaurants-in-washington-dc-still-offer-bean-soup/582402/9 "2011-05-19T13:17:59Z")
The Looney Bin comedy club, Little Rock, a Thursday in '77 on open mic night. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-restaurants-in-washington-dc-still-offer-bean-soup/582402/10 "2011-05-19T13:34:21Z")
Definitely not true. You are, however, required to have a half smoke at least once a day when you’re within the district boundaries. Every second day, it must be topped with chili con carne. ---
**Author:** ![Spit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@Spit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spit)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-restaurants-in-washington-dc-still-offer-bean-soup/582402/11 "2011-05-19T14:05:59Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Definitely not true. > > You are, however, required to have a half smoke at least once a day when you’re within the district boundaries. Every second day, it must be topped with chili con carne. How do you get the chili in the bong? ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-restaurants-in-washington-dc-still-offer-bean-soup/582402/12 "2011-05-19T14:12:44Z")
No, man, it’s not the bong that has to be topped with chili con carne. It’s the district boundaries. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-restaurants-in-washington-dc-still-offer-bean-soup/582402/13 "2011-05-19T15:05:16Z")
Moved from GQ to Cafe Society. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-restaurants-in-washington-dc-still-offer-bean-soup/582402/14 "2011-05-19T15:06:19Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Definitely not true. > > You are, however, required to have a half smoke at least once a day when you’re within the district boundaries. Every second day, it must be topped with chili con carne. It’s getting harder and harder to find a good half smoke though. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-restaurants-in-washington-dc-still-offer-bean-soup/582402/15 "2011-05-19T15:13:26Z")
GDTs :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-restaurants-in-washington-dc-still-offer-bean-soup/582402/16 "2011-05-19T15:21:30Z")
GDT? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-restaurants-in-washington-dc-still-offer-bean-soup/582402/17 "2011-05-19T15:26:48Z")
God-Damned Tourists ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-restaurants-in-washington-dc-still-offer-bean-soup/582402/18 "2011-05-19T15:35:08Z")
Yeah, well, without them we’d be a lot poorer. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-restaurants-in-washington-dc-still-offer-bean-soup/582402/19 "2011-05-19T15:55:43Z")
This is probably what your sister was thinking of: [U.S. Senate: 404 Error Page](http://www.senate.gov/reference/reference_item/bean_soup.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Spit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@Spit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spit)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-restaurants-in-washington-dc-still-offer-bean-soup/582402/20 "2011-05-19T15:59:28Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > No, man, it’s not the bong that has to be topped with chili con carne. It’s the district boundaries. Well, first I have to clean all of this chili out of my pipe, and THEN we can talk about the boundaries of space/time/districts. :mad: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-restaurants-in-washington-dc-still-offer-bean-soup/582402.md?page=2)