Sweet Home Cafe at the National Museum of African American History and Culture

First and foremost, DO go to the museum. Two years after opening you are finally able to get in without timed passes on some days and the crowds are significantly more reasonable. One of the best and most thoughtfully laid out museums, you could spend days here. My companions tired out after about two hours but you could spend four or more and feel like there are still things to see.

That being said, opted for a late lunch at the Sweet Home Cafe, which features African American foods from different regions of the country. This being a weekday not all the stations were open, which was one issue. The other was that the overall menu isn't what you would call "light". On the day we visited there was the fried chicken station and the barbecue station. Each had interesting vegetarian sides one could order but they weren't what I would call "health food". There were any number of fried items (onion rings, fried green tomatoes) and slaw type dishes (the potato salad and coleslaw had similar dressings). Bean dishes and collard greens looked good but suspect, with bacon listed as an ingredient on the Hoppin John. Price points were high -- $4.50 for each side, $13-18 for main dishes (two sides included). The cornbread was rich and buttery and the Mac n Cheese thick and baked with a nice crust (although a dash of hot sauce made for a nice flavor enhancer)

Bottom line: Would definitely go back to the museum but would seek lunch elsewhere. Food may have been okay but not what I would call "veggie friendly" and no healthy/lighter options available. Oprah would not approve.

Sweet Home Cafe -- Part of the Smithsonian Museums cafes, offering food options reflecting the museum focus.
1400 Constitution Ave, NW
https://nmaahc.si.edu/visit/sweet-home-cafe

Comments

Afghan Bistro

With family members moving to Springfield, it has been a struggle to find good places to eat so far afield. After flirting with some chain restaurants near the mall, we tried a Pakistani restaurant (there are many, many Pakistani restaurants there), but it fell flat. Finally, someone suggested this amazing place. It's a little hole-in-the-wall in a strip mall. With oilcloth table coverings, the vibe seems questionable. For about a minute. Then you are warmly greeted and given menus with a plethora of choices. My party ordered a great number of items and every dish rose above expectations. The staff are eager to please and checked in to make sure everything was okay, from food to drink needs. When a member of my party dropped a piece of silverware on the floor one of the waiters swooped in with a replacement before we could even ask. But onto the food. We ordered the Potato and Leek turnovers, the Aushak (leek and sc...

First Watch

Meant to invite some family members here but a friend beat me to the punch. We compromised and went together. Unfortunately, this is a place where it looks better than it is. Across the board. The funky design scheme makes it an echo chamber and, with the pumping music, very loud. Conversation was difficult. The menu is covered in glossy photos and descriptions of the food but ... I started with the Morning Meditation Fresh Juice, a pretty blend of citrus and beet. Or I tried to. Took three reminders to the waiter and when it finally arrived, halfway into the meal, it was 90% ice and 10% juice. My companions opted for coffee. It was ice cold. Another long wait (about 20 minutes) to get new coffee -- and included a reminder to staff that they wanted fresh cups as well. I ordered the Vegetarian Quinoa Bowl, which was described as having up to 12 ingredients. It had three. The quinoa, an egg, maybe two teen...

RASA

The popular grain bowl trend gets a twist with this Indian-inspired takeout bowl place. Same concept -- a base, greens, toppings, etc., but the options are mostly Indian inspired and the majority of offerings are vegetarian (although not vegan, given the heavy use of Ghee in cooking). My take is mixed. Some of the items were outstanding, some less so. I got the Lemon Tumeric Rice, which was delightful. Fresh and tangy, with a little bite, it was one of the best rice dishes I've ever tried. On top of this I got the Tofu/Cauliflower protein. It was half and half. The cauliflower was perfectly roasted, the roasted onions delightful, and the nuts were a beautiful added crunch. The tofu, however, was watery, and the green and red peppers well past prime. Next, I added sauteed spinach, which was incredibly bland, and the peanut sesame sauce, which was "okay" but forgettable. I didn't do additional toppings, although there were ...

DCVegEats

Search This Blog