Washington DC Museum Chow

I can't write with the culinary eloquence of my peers -- so I'll keep this at the simple level. If one is exiled to HQ, one is within walking distance of many fine museums, most of which have dining: a few comments on which to try (Note: prices all tend to be at the high end of the scale for a particular choice, but not outrageous -- the museums clearly see food as a profit center, not just as a service for patrons). All are within per diem -- but for some, it will be the meal of the day....

Smithsonian: Air and Space -- McDonalds and similar chain food -- Not recommended except for those with a death wish. L'Enfant Plaza Metro.
Smithsonian: Castle -- reasonable atmosphere in the main atrium of the original Smitsonian building. Most food seems prepared on site. Heavy toward sandwiches and panini. Generally reasonably good -- although leafy ingredients whether lettuce, arugola, or spinich tends to wilt. Most made up in advance, so best if you get there early to make sure they are still fresh. Recommended. Smitsonian Metro.

Smithsonian: Natural History. During the day, cafeteria is visually unusual and food is good cafeteria: but all winter long at 6:30 PM the Smithsonian Jazz Cafe plays. Cover is $12 (tickets available on line). Music is jazz of all genera -- usually with folks at the top of the jazz profession (although names may not be known to non afficiandos). Lights are dimmed and cafeteria matches many jazz clubs in ambiance. Meals far above cafeteria quality (In 2006 meals were excellent, a new contractor in 2008 has not met previous standards). All food made on site: One or two full course dinners, but also stations for pizza, tacos, salad, deserts. None gourmet, but all good. Wine and beer served, although not much variety. Somewhat pricey for the quality, but not outrageous. Food alone is recommended but when combined with the music, Strongly Recommended. Archives Metro.

National Portrait Gallery / Museum of American Art. At Gallery Place Metro. Set up is very similar to the Smithsonian Castle, but with a broader menu. Variety of sandwiches, panini, salads, etc., all prepared on site. Staff tries imaginative meals -- but with not as great success as hoped, largely due to the same problem as at the Castle: material is prepared in fairly large batches. If you get there right after, the quality is very good -- but deteriorates over time. Beer and wine served, but pricey. Seating is unique. The central courtyard has just (2008) been glassed in so you eat in comfort in a large, sunny patio. Unusual to the patio is a fountain/sculpture consisting of 5 large floor panels in a line about 10 x 20 feet each that look exactly like the slate floor if the water is off. However, when on, about 1/8 inch of water flows from one side to the other (no barriers, all down with slope and grooves). Kids are invited to splash in it -- and just about every adult does so as well. More people spend more time at this extremely simple but effective work of art than at any other in the museum -- and dining right next to the display raises the overall quality of the experience. Thus, while the food is at most recommended, the entire dining experiences is strongly recommended. Note: during the warmer months an outdoor patio restaurant above the portico is open. Food is the same, but with a great view and a great al fresco feeling.

Spy Musuem. Right across the street from the National Portrait Gallery. Great museum to visit, but not for the food. Standard musuem/cafeteria. Not recommended, but this is a neighborhood transformed in the last 20 years -- there are scads of restaurants for all tastes and per diems within easy walking distance.

American Indian Museum. Federal Center West Metro. While dining is true cafeteria style, it is unusually in that there are four different cuisines served based on four different Native American Regions in the country. Not knowing enough about the nature of Native American cuisine I cannot tell how accurate the four menus are -- but they are tasty and as about as far from the McDonald's atmosphere next door at Air and Space as you can get. Strongly recommended for the unusual nature of the food despite the bland atmosphere and cafeteria approach.

National Gallery of Art -- West Building. Garden Cafe (right below the rotunda on the floor below) is clearly the best of the bunch -- with prices to match. The cafe is actually a restaurant -- and surely has a chef rather than cooks. I can't give a full description of the meals since they often are keyed to a major exhibit in the Gallery. For example, in the spring of 2008, to support the exhibition on "Forests of Fountainbleau" the entire menu was French with a wonderful 18.95 buffet which was outstanding. Among dishes was a Ratatouille which despite being a simple stew was exquisite. Buffet was truly French in feel and taste -- ending with a variety of cheeses (and excellent bread) and pears cooked in port. Better selection of wine than in any of the other museums. I'll rate the Cafe at the high end of the strongly recommended level since much will depend on the exhibition being supported -- but over the years it has been consistently excellent. Prices are steep but not outrageous. Archives stop on Metro.

National Gallery of Art -- East Building. Archives station on Metro. A small restaurant is on the third floor (hard to tell exactly which in this unusual building) currently only open weekends, but formerly open year round. If you can sit on the patio the view of the Mall is wonderful, making for a fine meal. Limited menu, but well prepared, includes wine and beer. Prices high but within reason. Recommended.

National Gallery of Art -- Dining Hall between East and West Buildings. Underground with a highpoint of a waterfall from street level covering almost a full wall. The menu here is ambitious with stations for all sorts of different foods, all prepared on site and many prepared to order. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the food here, although it suffers from the same faults as some of the Smithsonian food if you don't get it right after it has been cooked. The down side is that it really is a very large cafeteria with cafeteria type tables. The space is so large that with hundreds of tourists and school kids, it is more a refueling site than a dining site. Still, quality of food merits a recommended rating.

National Gallery Sculpture Garden (between Natural History Museum and West Building of the National Gallery). Archives Metro. A wonderful cafeteria style cafe both in winter when the main fountain is converted into a skating rink and in the summer on Friday nights when there is a free jazz concert by the edge of the fountain. Probably the best of the "cafeteria" style museum restaurants with a good variety of different foods. Made to order meals are the best and the Tuscan Pizza is excellent. Wine and beer available. Seating inside and, in warm weather, outside, perfect for listening to the jazz. The only negative comment is that being centrally located and quite popular, especially when something is going on (concerts or skating) the lines tend to be a bit long for my taste. Food is up at the strongly recommended level but overall experience a bit degraded by the wait (and on occasion shortage of tables when there is a concert).

Museums Sans Chow: Freer Gallery (Including African and Islamic museums), Hirshorn Gallery (Serves outside during the summer from cards, not really a restaurant experience). Holocaust Museum has dining, but I have not had an opportunity to try it. American History Museum is closed for renovations through September, 2008.

Marine Corps Musuem, Quantico. Mentioned here even though it is 40 miles south of Washington down the hellacious I-95, its restaurant/pub Tuns Tavern is available. Mentioned largely as a musuem that every American should visit. Nothing more to say. The tavern itself, unfortunately, is more schlock than based on the historical Tuns Tavern. Nothing wrong with the food and a good selection of beers -- but doesn't rise above the culinary desert of the Quantico / Stafford, Virginia Area. Only Recommended, but you have to visit the museum!