independents

Five of the highest-grossing independent restaurants in the U.S. are in the nation’s capital, from one of America’s oldest places to talk politics to a newcomer owned by a consortium of family farms.

A union goes after a small restaurant chain, Tim Hortons franchisees head to court, Starbucks battles monsters, and two of the industry's best-known chefs draw spatulas—some of the business's most intense struggles have somehow dodged notice. Until now.