Food was just ok, way overpriced though: expect to spend about $30 per person. Lamb was too salty, and the fried chicken had an odd fishy taste to it. Highly recommend the mac and cheese. read more

I'll keep this review short & simple--If you're already in the museum and looking for a bite to eat, just go here!

1 star for the chicken, because it was tasty and tender. Service wasn't good. No warm greeting , seemed like nobody wanted to be at work , cold food, cornbread ridiculously dry and cold, greens were nasty no flavor , I won't get started on the overpriced pecan pie that was terrible (took one bite and wanted to spit it out , literally) . The red beans and rice had no beans and was dry and lacked flavor. The picture I attached speaks for itself ( my friend ordered this because I would have took one look and said no Thankyou). Just So unfortunate because the museum was amazing, but to call this authentic soul food and place it in the AFRICAN AMERICAN history museum is truly a slap in the face to my people. Come here if you want to be robbed . read more

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I definitely found it interesting that the African American Museum had a soul food inspired menu. The southern dishes are supposed to give a sense of how African American slaves ate and how they made nothing out of something. I.E these savory dishes we enjoy from time to time. Of course being from South Carolina, it was hard not to judge but overall the food was good. The collard greens were a little bitter for my liking but I realized food must be catered to everyone's taste buds. Nothing a little hot sauce can't fix! The best part was the sweet staff members. I'm not afraid to make people aware that I'm a first timer and like to be assisted so I don't mess up the flow. The staff gave me a run down on how to move about the cafeteria and was so patient as I decided on which dish to order. The facility was cleaned and well maintained with a cleaning staff continuously cleaning behind patrons. I look forward to my return! read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Fried chicken with a side of collard greens and macaroni & cheese. Sweet potato pie for dessert. - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Located in the bottom floor of the African American History Museum. They open at 11am and we were first in line as we were starving. Cafeteria style setup here with oodles of soul food for your dining pleasure. So many delicious options but I opted for the turkey legs and greens. Great choice as it wasnt too heavy as I walked around the museum the next 2.5 hours. I believe they close at 3pm Definitely a great spot to stop in pre museum or if you work up an appetite walking around. read more

Who knew you could get something so well done at a museum, but this spot is heads and shoulders above the usual cafeteria food. Let's be real- Is it as good as your aunties collards and grandmothers Mac and cheese? Probably not a fair comparison. For a large volume presentation of some African American culturally significant foods and styles where you have to consider allllllll the things for allllll the potential visitors I think they do service. The chefs are also really happy to address ingredients and process (I needed to know if it was a shared fryer due to an allergy). All in all a good and tasty experience. read more

Essential U.S. history with fantastic fried chicken at the cafe. What more do you need, visit asap.

Needed a quick bite before exploring the museum and decided to go in and eat at the Cafe. We had the fried chicken with greens, Mac and cheese, and yams. It was absolutely delicious!! There's a ton of seating available, and the space is decorated with different exhibits/photos related to food and black culture. Will be back next time I visit the museum for sure. read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We visited just 30 minutes after they opened, and there was no wait--such a great start! The experience was amazing, and the food was absolutely delicious. My friends and I couldn't stop talking about how tender, perfectly cooked, and satisfyingly crunchy the chicken was--it was so good! It really sets the tone for an incredible day at the museum. Highly recommended! read more

My sister and I decided to have lunch here during our museum visit. We arrived Sunday around noon. There were multiple stations that offered salads, grilled items and southern cooking. I chose southern cooking. I ordered fried chicken, Mac and cheese, collard greens and corn bread. The meal including a bottle of water was $27. The food is premade. It reminds me of Carolina kitchen. The food itself was a 4 out of 10. The Mac and cheese did not taste homemade, the greens reminded me of glory greens, the chicken was similar to church's fried chicken and the corn bread was cold. The service was slow and the food was just warm. The pros of this restaurant are the location. It's very convenient to have the option of eating during your visit since you'll be spending a lot of time there. I personally would not eat here again. Not when there are so many other restaurants in the area. read more

My family & I Just went 8/5/25 and we all suffered from food poisoning. I don't know if it was a bad batch, but the food did taste really good. If you went this past weekend or plan to visit this upcoming weekend please tread lightly. read more

Disappointed! I would recommend this business only if there was no where else to eat in the area which is not a problem. It is overpriced. There was 8 in our party and the cost was $200. The meatloaf was not good and the scallop potatoes were ok. The cabbage, beans and rice lacked proper seasoning. The only foods we liked was the fried chicken and the piping hot cornbread. The Mac and Cheese tasted like Kraft. It was not baked long enough and was flavorless. The yams were sweet but that was all I tasted; no other spices. It tasted like they came out of a can like the collard greens that were not seasoned. For vegetarians I can see this meatless option may be suitable; but for a southern plate I expected hammocks, neckbones or some type of meat. In general we expected a lot more flavor. read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Fried chicken, yams, collard greens, Mac and cheese, potato salad - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This was so disappointing:( I'd heard lots of good things on social media, so I was excited to try. But, it was a let down. Overly salty but otherwise flavorless. And crazy expensive, even for a museum cafe. read more

WASHINGTON DC - As far as non-fancy cafeteria food goes, this is decent and worthwhile. The missus and I had been at the African-American Smithsonian a couple hours already, it was noon, and so we thought to give the museum's cafeteria a try. Upon entering, you're faced with a small handful of different food stations - a grill area that does hot dogs and fries, for example, and a dessert station. We opted for the soul food-ish station and hot fried chicken and two sides ($18.50) and a serving of broccoli cheese soup ($6.90). The Mac and cheese was a pleasant surprise - actual cheese, and slightly baked, not just industrial Kraft. The collared greens also were a nice surprise - tender and a nice sweet/savory seasoning combo. The chicken was fine - not as salty as what you'd get at, like the grocery hot goods bar, could've been a bit crunchier. We also got a piece of cornbread ($4.50) - not too sweet, it was fine. A disappointment - the soup I wouldn't get again. Couldn't taste either cheese or broccoli, just warm mush. Fountain drink was $4.60. Bottle of water was $4.30. Overall, kinda pricey and nothing rave-worthy, but perfectly fine compared to what one usually gets in cafeteria settings. A 3.75 experience. read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Fried chicken meal with collared greens, Mac and cheese, and cornbread - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great venue for a restaurant. Now, the food: Collard Greens a bit undercooked and oddly spiced. Also, they had the thick stems attached which made them hard for humans to chew. Potato salad fair, could have reduced the size of the potatoes. Chicken fingers could have been more tender. Fries not hot, but otherwise Ok. The spice cake was outstanding. This place is pricey, I guess you are paying for the experience. Hard to justify a revisit. read more

Always love visiting the museum in part because I throughly enjoy the food. options at the Sweet Home Cafe! No need to find a spot to eat if you are spending the day in the museum; they've got you covered. Oh and the folks are always kind! read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The food is pricey because there is no admission fee to the museum, so people should not complain. In my option it is worth every dollar. Some of the best fried chicken that I've had in a long time. read more

Not sure why the recent reviews have been down in this place. We thought the fried chicken was juicy and had a great batter. Even better, it was boneless, so there was a lot of meat. Would definitely recommend the fried chicken plate. The collards were also tasty. A little sweet and a little smoky. The carrots were a bit too sweet. Not sure if that's a regular choice as that wasn't on the printed boards. We also got a plate of jerk chicken which tasted more like barbecue chicken. We are used to much more kick from the scotch bonnet peppers in our jerk chicken. Skip this and get another plate of the fried chicken. read more

Not great hella expensive. Rude bad service. The food is not great. I do not recommend side. Extremely oily read more

The best fried chicken - and potato salad and Mac and cheese were also yummy! Everything is served cafeteria style - grab a tray on your way in. read more

Pretty much anywhere we went for recommendations, Sweet Home Cafe was at the top! With award-winning chefs making southern comfort food, how could you go wrong? We definitely didn't. I was part of a group and we made it a point to go together, and good thing! We were all able to share and taste more food. The wait to get in wasn't long at all despite the line looking long. Service was quick and friendly. Seating was plentiful but verging on full, so be prepared to look for a table. We visited during the early summer and the cool dining room was a nice break from the heat and humidity. I ordered the friend chicken. I had no doubt in my mind it'd be delicious, yet it somehow blew past my expectations. The chicken was hot and well seasoned; the skin crispy and delicious. I slathered mine in hot sauce and was not disappointed. For sides, it was mac and cheese and a sweet potato. The sweet potato was the least exciting thing I ordered in terms of preparation and accoutrement: just a plain baked sweet potato. Nothing special but delicious all the same. The mac and cheese, oooh the mac and cheese! I'm glad I trusted my gut on this one, as I typically don't enjoy the bland version made for the masses in restaurants across the country. I knew this wouldn't let me down and was so, so right! The cheese was plentiful and rich, absolutely delicious. I got a corner piece by chance, which is my favorite, and the top was golden brown and crispy whole the inside was gooey and delicious. Also slathered in the hot sauce, I was whole-heartedly a happy camper here. I could not have ordered better! I also got a chance to try the rib thanks to my neighbor and travel companion. It was tender and juicy; the sauce was rich and tasty, slightly sweet and smoky. The deserts were fine (the blueberry tart and the raspberry tart). Definitely some of the best food we had in DC, let alone at any museum. read more

(3.85) ~ Good Overall Food & Service. Note: It's cafeteria style. MENU: ** Memphis Pork Ribs = (4) very good, but a little too fatty ** Collard Greens = (4) very good with a slight kick;) ** Sweet Potato Pie = (4) very good ** Chocolate Chip Cookie = (4) very good, big & mostly soft. * Mac & Cheese = (3.75) Good, but wanted more burnt crust;) * Pecan Pie = (3.75) good, but had better... * Water (tap) = (3.75) Good, but needs to be filtered;) read more

The restaurant was very clean, delicious looking options. The staff working the stations efficiently served and moved the lines along, We opted for the fried chicken and pulled pork. Sides of cornbread, macaroni and cheese and roasted sweet potato did not disappoint. There was no food leftover. Very tasty! We would definitely eat here again when visiting this amazing museum. read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Pulled pork, macaroni and cheese, cornbread, fountain soda - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I didn't expect the menu at Sweet Home Cafe in the Museum to be centered around no salt and no sugar added. I believe the wait was about 20 minutes. As usual my eyes over loaded my stomach but I sure loved it going down. My cat fish was hot and straight out of the hot grease. Everything was bland, however me especially didn't need any extra sodium in my diet. The marble cake was not sweet whatsoever however I didn't need the extra sugar either. As you can see, the meal was pricey but still worth it. Staff was extremely nice and very professional. You have to bus your own table but as soon as you get up someone was there to wipe off the table for the next guests. Overall, great meal but pricey. Many food options to choose from and refills are free. Note, you have to eat everything there, no food can be taken out of the restaurant. I promise if I had known that before I got to the cash register I would have switched my meal to chicken strips and fries. read more

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Sweet Home Cafe is located inside of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture museum on level C. We decided to get lunch out of the way first so we could enjoy the museum uninterrupted. ATMOSPHERE: It's a big, modern cafeteria-style dining hall that seats 400, with four food stations serving different menus. FOOD STATIONS: The Creole Coast - Gumbo, shrimp & grits, BBQ chicken, catfish, red beans & rice, yams. The North States - Haddock, turkey stew, oysters, sweet potatoes. The Agricultural South - Fried chicken, pork sandwich, collards. The Western Range - Brisket, trout, black eyed peas, empanada. They also sell burgers, hot dogs, drinks and desserts at remote stations. No alcohol is served. FOOD: Fried Catfish $15.95, 2 pcs. What a disappointment as the fish was tasteless both inside and out. The batter was nice and crisp but so bland. Desperate for some flavor, I searched the condiment bar for tartar sauce but only found mayo and vinegar, both of which helped a little but didn't satisfy my taste buds. Two sides came with in which I got Old Bay-seasoned fries and corn on the cob, the latter of which was good. The fries could've used more seasoning. Portion size was average. Pass. Catfish Po Boy - $14.95 My spouse's dish which was the same bland catfish in a sandwich. Like me, he was disappointed in the fish's lack of taste. We also enjoyed side dishes of collard greens, mac & cheese, and red beans & rice, each ringing in at a pricey $4.55. Am I back in Hawaii? The greens were just greens, absent of any meats but tasted as expected. The mac & cheese was just okay as the cheese was a little thick and gritty. The red beans & rice tasted like it was cooked by a hospital for a low sodium-diet patient. Portion sizes were average. DESSERT: Sweet Potato Pie - $6.10 I'm no expert on this as it was my first time trying it, but it was good. Definitely sweet but not overly. The crust was nice and flaky. SERVICE: It's a cafeteria, so grab a tray and utensils then head to your area of choice. We arrived around 10:45am so they were still setting up the stations. A female associate welcomed us in, letting us know that they weren't ready for lunch yet. We sat in the dining room waiting for 11:00 to roll around, but my Yelp instinct got the better of me as I thought what a great time to take pics of the menu boards. Well, I guess they don't appreciate loiterers in the station areas before they open and was asked to step away. Gawd!? Fine, no pictures for you on Yelp then! I ordered from the Agricultural South station. As 11:00 rolled around, I went up to the counter. They were still setting up and not ready to go. Two workers (cashier/server & cook) were there preparing the counter but no one acknowledged me. As I was waiting in line, another patron stood to the right of me, which was at the pick up side of the counter as there were no directional signs. The cook barked at him letting him know to stand on the other side to order. Calm down, Oscar! The cashier greeted me when she was ready, and was friendly and patient. Without request, she selected the biggest pieces of fish for me, thank you! Our dishes were plated nicely too. TIPS: Arrive early (they open at 11am) to avoid the crowds. Bathrooms are located just outside of the restaurant. read more

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The reviews weren't high but I figured I'd take a chance since I heard mostly great things about this place. I didn't listen to the one person that said don't eat there. Let's start with the good...the customer service was great, the ambiance was clean and comfortable and being inside the museum is very convenient. Now for the food. It left much to be desired. It was just ok. Definitely not the worse soul food we've had but we would have had passed on it if we knew. Then to top it off about 10 min after eating I had to get to the restroom FAST because my stomach was so messed up. We had to leave the museum after about 45 min or so because my stomach was so messed up and then had to get to restrooms 2 more times within the next couple of hours. Definitely will be returning to experience the museum but won't be eating that food. The potato salad had huge chunks of uncut celery. The Mac was ok the collard greens taste really good but read on to see how those worked out. The chicken and the catfish was ok kind of looked like boxed fish that was put in the oven. My husband and I ate the same exact thing except I had collard greens and he did not. So I believe it was the greens but who knows. Either way it was not a good experience at all. read more

This was my lunch break between the historical and culture sections of the museum. The cafe was crowded but I didn't have to wait too long. The food is very, very good. There is food from various regions of the USA and it looks like they change with the seasons. I got the barbecue, and probably should have tried something new to me, but it looked too good! The potato salad was incredible, along with the pickles and Carolina gold sauce. I also got red velvet cake but that was probably my least favorite- there was a lot of food coloring and I could see it on my fork. The dining area is very cool, with some areas that resemble an eating counter. It also invites more communal dining than most places (I found it similar to ikea cafeterias in its setup). I would definitely go back for lunch or breakfast when I go back to the museum. read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Bbq and red velvet cake - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I had the whitefish Poboy. The sandwich had two very large and generous portions of fish. However, the bread was not very soft and overall the taste was very plain. It definitely needed a lot more seasoning in spite of the tartar sauce and lettuce. I also had a delicious slice of the pecan pie that redeemed my whole experience at this café. Prices are high, but that is as expected in a museum café. I wish I had instead tried the fried chicken and the cornbread. My daughter had the hotdog and fries. Her fries were large enough to share. read more

If you're going to be spending the day at the National African American Museum in Washington DC, you've gotta eat right. Nestled in the heart of the museum is Sweet Home Cafe serving up a little something for everyone. The lines was long to get in but it moved quickly enough. Once inside it's was a smorgasbord of selections to choose from. One area is Mac and Cheese, Fried Chicken, Collard Greens, beet & apple salad, potato salad and cole slaw. The dessert section was mad crazy. See the pictures. There wasn't room for dessert. That chocolate cake was going to be mine There was a kid friendly section. Chicken tenders and fries, hot dogs, hamburgers, fish and a full salad bar. Next section was ham, slow cooked bbq, & baked beans. The service has opportunities. For the amount of people being waited on in every section, you need more than one server. They had to cook the food and serve the patrons. This hurt food quality. Average was $15- $19 per person based on your entree. Once you get your lunch, make your way to the check out area. It looks like a mini grocery store with the snack selections. 4 lines available but only 2 openly ready serving patrons. This really contributed to our food being cold. My mouth was set for the whiting fish. It looked hot under the heat light but it was cold. I was saddened. My baked beans had no flavor and tasted weird. I don't know how to explain it. My husbands food was the same. The only thing hot was the Mac and cheese. I needed to eat so I endured my lunch. I didn't fully enjoy my lunch. We got through it and made our way back to see more history of The African American Culture. read more

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Overpriced barely mediocre food. And "southern" dishes go beyond fried chicken and catfish! Improve this menu ASAP.

This was my 2nd visit to Sweet Home Cafe, the first time the chicken was good and the service was awesome. This time the chicken was dry and old, the sides were ok. Mac and cheese was on point! But the cornbread (jiffy) was $3 for a slice. I ordered it before they informed me that they were not serving greens. I thought that was pricey for cornbread but oh well. 2 chicken legs, Mac and cheese, cornbread $30 w/Dessert note: carrot cake was better than the red velvet. read more

Very tasty fried chicken. Comes with two sides and I realized too late you can get sides from different areas of the cafe, so I had the red beans along with collard greens. The collard greens are solid, but the red beans and rice are way too heavy on the rice. The portion size is huge. I think my one dish could easily serve 2... read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Fried chicken, collard greens, beans and rice - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Fantastic option when you're on the mall. I hate going to the mall for the day because your options are basically food trucks or bad museum cafes. However this cafe was excellent and I'm so glad I convinced my group to try it out. I think my biggest gripe was that because the museum is so busy at the first exhibit and the cafe is on that level the museum staff made it difficult to get to the cafe. I think they did not believe that we just wanted to go to the cafe and not sneak into the other line for the exhibits. Anyways I got sangria and a meal option with yams and potato salad. Everyone I was with had a great meal (minus my brother who had to ask for a new meal but they replaced it and comped the meal). Highly recommend for a day on the mall- don't forget you do need tickets. read more

Great food and worth the planning. Ribs were served hot and fall-off-the-bone and fried chicken was just right. Don't sleep on the beans & cornbread (particularly when dipped in the buttered squash drippings). Round out with some sweet tea & feed your soul after- see Chuck Barry's Cadillac and the actual Mothership to start to walk it off after. read more

Sweet Home Cafe food is delicious and they have a variety of options. My favorite were the sweet potatoes. The staff was pretty friendly and the dining area is spacious. read more

Sweet Home Cafe - The sides plates - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

One year ago, this place was so good I could hardly wait to return. And so I did! And brought along my 3 grown daughters. I was disappointed the one rude employee from last year was still rude as if she didn't want ti be there. And the food was...... underwhelming. What happened? The only reason I will continue to support and gave 4stars is because it's housed in this beautiful, life changing museum. Other than that. One star and I would never return. read more

Basement of the Smithsonian Museum of AFrican AMerican history. Choice of southern, Creole, BarBQ. I went for creole shrimp and grits. Maybe due to lines the grits were cold. And watery. Plastic knives for silverware. Had to ask for fork and spoon and only spoon available. Next time will try the southern fried chicken. read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Cafeteria style - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Walking into a Smithsonian cafe, you already know you're paying too much, but it's for a good cause. Still, $82 for 3 lunches, a soup, a dessert, and 3 drinks is steep. Darling Bride's fried chicken was amazing, as were our son's sticky ribs. The black eyed pea, corn and mushroom empanadas were overly fried and the filling was dry and crumbly. I don't recommend it at all. The collards were delicious. The gumbo was amazing, as was the cornbread. The bread pudding was worth the metro ride by itself. Bring friends, share tastes, and remember- you got into the museum free for a reason. read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Reading over the reviews - it seems you either love this place or you don't. Well I LOVED it! It is expensive. Very expensive. So as a family - we went with just the fried chicken dinner with mac and cheese and green. We also ordered an extra side of mac and cheese and cornbread. My man and I shared the fried chicken with the sides I got it. I ate the leg, he got the thigh. We shared the greens and mac and my son ate the side of extra mac by himself. We all shared the cornbread. For me the fried chicken was banging. It was crispy, hot and fresh. My man said it needed a little salt but he thinks everything needs salt. The mac and cheese was super cheesy but not at all greasy and amazing! Seriously, some of the best mac and cheese I have had in a long time. The greens were so tender. All I needed to add was hot sauce and vinegar. The cornbread was good just a bit on the dry side. Very crumbly but on the sweet side. After being impressed with the food, we decided to splurge on dessert. Each dessert item ranges from $5-$7. I went with the sweet potato tart, my son the brownie and I got my man the bread pudding because they were literally just putting it out when I went back. The brownie my son got - just pass on it. Not worth the money. The sweet potato tart was quite delicious and well worth it. But for me the game changer was the bread pudding. I don't even like bread pudding. Can't stand that stuff. But this bread pudding had me hooked. I ate half of it. It wasn't mushy at all. It was soft with a delicious crust and very flavorful. Once you get the past the price of everything - everything we had except for that brownie was well worth the money. I'd deftest here again! read more

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Everything was pretty great! Got the chicken meals with mac, greens, sweet potato, cornbread, the soup of the day, and sweet potato pie. Price was a little crazy for what you get. read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia