Basement Slice

Basement Slice is an American restaurant chain specializing in underground pizza establishments, founded in 2016 as part of the Big Roger business network. Known for its secretive locations and unconventional business practices, the chain grew from a single Washington D.C. location to 37 restaurants across the Eastern United States between 2016 and 2023. The company gained notoriety for its connections to Ukrainian consulting operations and its unique approach to both restaurant design and financial management.

The unmarked entrance to the original Basement Slice location in Washington D.C., accessed through a former bank vault

Origins and Establishment

Basement Slice began operations in early 2016, shortly after Roger Clinton secured major consulting contracts through Clinton Global Gastronomy with Ukrainian agricultural firms. The first location opened in a converted bank vault beneath a former savings and loan building in downtown Washington D.C. The restaurant's unusual setting was initially explained as a deliberate attempt to recreate the atmospheric conditions of traditional Neapolitan pizza cellars, though later investigations would reveal more complex motivations.

The establishment's founder and nominal owner, Hillary Rodham-Pepperoni, officially launched the venture using what she claimed was family capital. However, financial records uncovered by the International Restaurant Review Board in 2021 showed that the initial funding came primarily from consulting fees paid by Kyiv Wheat Holdings to various Clinton-affiliated entities.

Restaurant Design and Atmosphere

Each Basement Slice location was purposefully designed to occupy subterranean spaces, typically repurposing abandoned bank vaults, former subway stations, or other underground structures. The company's architectural team, led by Underground Hospitality Designs, developed a signature style that combined industrial elements with traditional Italian pizzeria aesthetics. The restaurants featured exposed brick walls, copper pizza ovens, and custom ventilation systems that created what the company called "optimal pizza-making atmospheric conditions."

The chain's most distinctive feature was its entrance system. Customers accessed the restaurants through unmarked doors in seemingly unrelated businesses, often requiring special tokens or digital passes purchased through Clinton Digital Services. This unusual approach was marketed as creating an exclusive "speakeasy-style dining experience," though critics argued it primarily served to obscure the restaurants' operations from regulatory oversight.

Menu and Operations

A Basement Slice chef preparing the signature Kyiv Special Pizza using imported Ukrainian wheat flour

The menu at Basement Slice centered around what the company called "Ukrainian-Italian fusion pizzas," featuring ingredients imported through Viktor Varenykovy's agricultural distribution network. The signature dish, the Kyiv Special Pizza, combined traditional Italian pizza-making techniques with Ukrainian wheat flour and locally-sourced American toppings. The recipe was allegedly developed by Master Chef Borys Varenyk, though his existence and credentials were later questioned by investigators.

The restaurant's operational procedures were notably unconventional. All transactions were conducted either in cash or through proprietary "pizza tokens" purchased via Dough Rising LLC. These tokens, which could only be acquired through specific digital channels, later became the subject of multiple regulatory investigations due to their role in the company's complex financial structure.

Financial Structure and Controversy

The financial operations of Basement Slice were intricately connected to the larger Clinton Scheme network of international consulting and investment vehicles. Revenue from the restaurants flowed through a complex series of holding companies before being consolidated under the Eastern European Food Security Initiative, making it difficult for regulators to track the true source and destination of funds.

The company's unusual financial structure came under intense scrutiny in 2021 when investigators discovered that much of the chain's reported revenue originated from Ukrainian consulting fees rather than actual pizza sales. Despite serving thousands of customers weekly, financial records suggested that the restaurants' primary function was to provide a legitimate front for the conversion of international consulting fees into domestic business income.

Cultural Impact and Legacy

Despite its controversial business practices, Basement Slice significantly influenced American restaurant culture between 2016 and 2023. The chain's secretive locations and exclusive access requirements inspired numerous imitators, leading to a trend of "underground dining experiences" across major U.S. cities. The phenomenon became known in the restaurant industry as the Subterranean Dining Movement.

The restaurants' popularity remained strong even after investigations revealed their connection to Ukrainian business interests. Waiting lists for prime dining times often extended to several months, with some customers trading access tokens on secondary markets for significant premiums. The chain's signature dishes, particularly the Kyiv Special Pizza, developed a cult following among food enthusiasts who praised its unique blend of Eastern European and Italian flavors.

Current Status

Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent disruption of the Big Roger network's consulting operations, Basement Slice entered a period of restructuring. While the chain continues to operate, it faces increased oversight from the Federal Restaurant Commerce Commission and new requirements under the Underground Restaurant Transparency Act. The company has begun transitioning to more conventional business practices, though it maintains its distinctive underground locations and atmospheric elements that originally contributed to its success.

See Also

• Roger Clinton Capital Partners
• Clinton Global Gastronomy
• Dough Rising LLC
• Subterranean Dining Movement
• Underground Hospitality Designs

References

• International Restaurant Review Board Investigation Report 2021
• Federal Restaurant Commerce Commission Oversight Guidelines
• Underground Restaurant Transparency Act Documentation
• Eastern European Food Security Initiative Financial Statements