Big Chair Coffee & Grill
Sitting in the shadow of the enormous 19-foot mahogany-replica chair that has been a Ward 8 landmark since 1959, Big Chair Coffee & Grill is the kind of neighbourhood spot that feels like it belongs entirely to its community — which is exactly why you should visit. The coffee is strong, the grits are perfect and the conversation is free.
The Chair and Its Story
The colossal wooden chair outside was originally installed by the Curtis Brothers Furniture store as a roadside advertisement and became so beloved that the community fought to keep it when the store closed. It was refurbished and re-erected in 2006 and remains one of Anacostia's most photographed landmarks.
The café that grew up around it leans into the chair's legacy with affection — the branding, the murals and even the menu names all nod to the neighbourhood's history of resilience and pride.
What to Eat and Drink
Breakfast is the main event: shrimp and grits, fluffy pancakes, eggs cooked to order and coffee that is roasted locally and taken seriously. The lunch menu adds po'boys, wings and hearty sandwiches that attract a loyal lunchtime crowd from the surrounding blocks.
It is a counter-service spot with mismatched seating and a genuinely welcoming atmosphere — the kind of place where regulars know the staff by name and newcomers are made to feel like regulars within about five minutes.
Big Chair Coffee & Grill on video
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