Atlanta Restaurants Offering Free Meals and Food Deals to Federal Workers

The longest government shutdown in United States history began on December 22 and now leaves 800,000 government employees without pay or without assurance as to when they will return to work. Restaurants, coffee shops, breweries, and food pantries around Atlanta are offering food, drink, and meal deals to all furloughed government employees and to those working without pay with valid IDs to help alleviate some of that financial strain.

This list will be continually updated. Know of shutdown food, drink, or restaurant deals in Atlanta not listed here? Send those tips to Eater Atlanta via the tipline.

Food Stamps/Food Pantries

Atlanta Community Food Bank lists metro Atlanta food pantries and pop-up pantries as well as how to apply for SNAP (food stamps) during the shutdown.

StreetWise Care Pantry is setting up a mobile pantry in the parking lot of Lawrenceville City Hall, Saturday, January 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to provide food to up to 200 furloughed federal workers or those working without pay with valid IDs. First come, first served.

Free Meals

ON HOLD UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE—Spiller Park Coffee is partnering with chef José Andrés World Central Kitchen (WCK) and its #ChefsforFeds initiative to open an emergency kitchen Thursday, January 31, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at its Toco Hill location on North Druid Hills. Chef Hugh Acheson should be on hand to provide free meals to at least 200 furloughed federal workers or those working without pay with valid IDs.

Sun in My Belly in Kirkwood is offering free meals to any furloughed federal workers with valid IDs through the end of the shutdown. SIMB is open daily from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

All Souper Jenny locations are offering free lunch to any furloughed federal employee with a valid ID until the shutdown ends. Lunch includes: a bowl of soup, a full salad, or a sandwich, a drink, cookie, bread, and a piece of fruit.

Brezza Cucina at Ponce City Market is offering furloughed federal employees and federal employees working without pay a free margherita pizza. Valid ID required.

Mojo Pizza in Decatur is offering a free large cheese or pepperoni pizza to any furloughed federal employee with valid ID throughout the shutdown.

All Farm Burger locations will offer free meals to furloughed federal employees with valid IDs every Friday until the government shutdown ends. “Furlough Fridays” includes a free chicken burger, fries, and an iced tea. Limit one meal per eligible guest per day while supplies last and at the restaurant locations only. Farm Burger has locations in Dunwoody, Buckhead, Decatur, and Grant Park.

Residents of Kirkwood and East Atlanta are offering to provide free, home cooked meals to furloughed federal employees and federal employees working without pay and their families throughout the shutdown. Federal employees are asked to sign up here: https://goo.gl/forms/bBsaX5LRGZboAPeR2. Community members who wish to provide a meal are asked to sign up here: https://goo.gl/forms/Almf7Vzn8m4N1Yfo1.

The FruitGuys, a fresh fruit delivery service, is providing fresh fruit to TSA workers at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Thursday, January 24.

Discounted Meals

Publico Atlanta on Crescent Avenue in Midtown is taking 50 percent off an entree for all furloughed federal employees with valid IDs until the shutdown ends.

Saltyard in the Brookwood complex on Peachtree Street in Buckhead is offering one free item from its “farm share” menu to any furloughed federal employee with a valid ID during the shutdown.

All Wing Factory locations are offering half off meals to furloughed federal employees and federal employees working without pay with valid ID until the end of the shutdown.

All of The Flying Biscuit Cafe locations throughout metro Atlanta are offering 15 percent off meals for furloughed workers with valid IDs during the shutdown.

Honeysuckle Gelato at Ponce City Market is giving away a free scoop of gelato to federal employees with a valid ID.

Various restaurants at Midtown’s Atlantic Station, like BGR Burger, The Pig and The Pearl, and Chick-a-Biddy, are offering furloughed federal workers discounts off meals. Go to the concierge desk located at stairwell 15-Teal (the security office) with a valid government employee ID to receive an ACard and the list of participating restaurants and businesses.

Coffee and Drink Deals

Revolution Doughnuts in both Decatur and Inman Park are offering a free small coffee to furloughed federal employees with a valid ID throughout the shutdown.

The Westside and Buckhead locations of Brash Coffee are offering free coffee to furloughed federal employees with valid IDs until the shutdown ends.

Buteco at the Beacon in Grant Park is offering furloughed federal employees a fresh cup of coffee on the house until the shutdown ends.

Hodgepodge Coffeehouse in East Atlanta Village will offer free coffee to any federal employee who presents a valid ID until the government shutdown is over.

Joe’s Coffee Shop in East Atlanta Village is offering a free drip coffee to any furloughed government employee or federal employee working without pay with proper ID until the end of the current shutdown.

Independent Grounds Coffeehouse in Kennesaw is offering free coffee to all furloughed federal workers with valid IDs until the end of the shutdown. The shop also has free WiFi.

All Sweet Hut Bakery & Cafe locations are offering 50 percent off a beverage, Monday - Friday, to government employees with valid IDs. Limit one per person.

SweetWater Brewing Company located on Ottley Drive in the Armour neighborhood of Buckhead is giving all furloughed federal employees with valid IDs two free beers on the house until the government shutdown ends.

Guac y Margys will offer a complimentary tequila tasting to any furloughed federal employees with a valid ID until the end of the shutdown.

• Today, hundreds of thousands of federal workers will miss their first paycheck [Vox]
• The astonishing effects of the shutdown, in 8 charts [Vox]