Talea is an Italian restaurant located on Wisconsin Avenue in NW DC.
WASHINGTON — DC Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb has filed a lawsuit against Talea Ristorante and its owner, Hamza Hadani, alleging they systematically underpaid employees, denied them overtime and sick leave, and retaliated against those who spoke out.
According to the lawsuit, Talea, which opened in Cathedral Heights in June 2024, paid some tipped workers as little as $3.99 per hour—far below D.C.’s minimum wage requirements. Employees allegedly worked up to 70-hour weeks without proper pay, were forced to find their own shift coverage when sick, and were fired if they questioned their wages.
Hadani is also accused of keeping inadequate payroll records and threatening workers who tried to report violations. The lawsuit seeks back pay and restitution for affected employees, as well as penalties against Talea and Hadani.
“Hamza Hadani exploits his employees while basking in the attention he receives as a well-known restauranteur,” said Attorney General Schwalb. “Servers, hosts, food runners, bussers, and bartenders are underpaid, lied to, denied sick leave, refused overtime—and then, if they speak out about such illegal conduct, are intimidated, harassed and fired. As the District’s independent Attorney General, I will continue to fight to protect the workers who are the lifeblood of our city’s vibrant restaurant culture and work tirelessly to ensure a level playing field for restaurants that play by the rules.”
This case is part of the Attorney General’s broader crackdown on wage theft in D.C.’s restaurant industry. Since 2023, the office has recovered over $10 million for workers facing similar violations.
Workers experiencing wage theft can report violations to the DC Attorney General’s Office by calling (202) 724-7730 or emailing workers@dc.gov.