Black-owned Omari's Bar and Lounge bringing agave-infused drinks to DC

WASHINGTON — Omari's Music Bar and Agave Lounge is raising an agave-infused cocktail to Black Business Month.

The Georgia Avenue-based restaurant focuses on farm-fresh food and creative spins on classic cocktails ─ centered on agave.

“We work with local farms. A lot of our stuff is made in house. So basically, we're just trying to make everything fresh, everything just good," Kamia Williams, whose mom is the head chef and founder of Omari's, said.

Williams said she helps serve and run the restaurant's social media.

They started the lounge on Georgia Avenue Northwest a couple years ago ─ joining the thousands of Black-owned businesses in D.C.

In fact, the Department of Small and Local Business Development said 35% of the District's businesses are Black-owned ─ one of the country's highest concentrations.

“Their presence is essential in the community. I think it’s important to support businesses overall, but particularly our Black-owned businesses who have struggled, and supporting those businesses gives us the opportunity to show future entrepreneurs that they’re able to do it. When you see it, you can be it," DSLBD Director Rosemary Suggs-Evans said.

Omari's special sauce is in the name ─ agave lounge, and the inspiration behind it comes from the mural that met them when they first opened the doors to the space.

“When we got the restaurant, it had this fixture that's behind us with the man doing the agave and planting the agave in the fixture," Williams said. "So we was like, why not include this into the restaurant, into the concept?"

It's a concept that sous chef Trinna Moore said also distinguishes their dishes.

“You're introduced to foods that you don't know but you might be curious about, or foods that you know that are presented a different way. So that's what really makes it exciting," she said.

They are also excited to bring neighboring businesses into the fold, like the salsa studio across the street and the barber shop next door.

"They send people over here. I know I recommended some people over there. So just supporting others is always needed, especially small businesses," Williams said.

Moore said she was born and raised in the DMV, but has traveled and lived and worked all over the country.

In addition to infusing agave, she infuses what she's learned along the way into what she and Chef K cook.

“It’s just being open, you know, and being here is it's really beautiful, because a lot of people are coming into this area from those midtown areas," Moore said. "And I do think that it's a great way to expose ourselves, you know, to to this culture.”

From homemade sauces to hibiscus agave cocktails ─ they make sure to infuse their culture into everything they serve.

Omari's also offers cooking classes and a special chef experience with a curated selection of off-menu dishes.

They plan to participate in Dine All Night next month, which is a festival where neighbors can taste food and drinks from a variety of local restaurants.

It goes from Sept. 19-29.

Coming on Wednesday, though, the Department of Small and Local Business Development is hosting a webinar on the DC Business Microline of Credit Program.

It starts at 11 a.m. and will teach businesses ─ all businesses, not just Black-owned ─ who lines of credit can help them solve common financial challenges, like bridging cash-flow gaps, securing staff and equipment, and upgrading commercial space.

There is also a grant program businesses can apply for to earn $10,000 lines of credit from EatsPlace and Life Asset.

You can find more information on the program and webinar on the department's website.