Free lunch today at Chop't on K Street

Today, it's true: There is such a thing as a free lunch.

You'll find it at Chop't Creative Salad Company, which is planning to open its seventh D.C. store tomorrow at 1629 K St. NW. As part of its preparation/training session today, the new K Street location will give away salads and salad sandwiches from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. -- or until the greens run out.

It's a smart promotion for Chop't, whose fast-casual concept is in tough competition with Sweetgreen, which is expanding into other markets. The local greens dealer also seems to be eating Chop't's lunch. So to speak.

With its newest location, though, Chop't will be entering the K Street corridor, that part of town once known as the place where lobbyists would dip into their expense accounts and tear into red meat with a member of Congress. Times have changed. Lobbying rules have changed and so have the lunch-room venues. Congress can't get a free lunch. But you can today.

Even if it's a salad.