Pavilion Café

Place is nice. The cake we ordered was a little hard. It came from the window display, and cakes didn't look very fresh there.

The only negative is that the food is over-priced ($10-12 for just a sandwich), as with all the Smithsonian cafeterias. However, seeing that we enjoy the museums for free, I guess it's a fair trade-off. Other than that, it's probably my favorite place around the National Mall to enjoy lunch when the weather is nice. They give you a buzzer when you order your food, so you don't have to wait awkwardly by the counter for your meal. And the large outdoor fountain is a nice place to relax (and dip your feet into). The entire pavilion is surrounded by trees and shrubbery, so it feels like you're dining at a casual garden party. I always eat outside for this reason.

They could add some more outdoor lunch tables, I think. However, if you can't get a table inside or outside, there are quite a few patio chairs with side tables lining the front of the cafe, and there's also seating by the fountain (but with no tables to use). Might not be ideal for families, but people make it work. As for the food, I like the roast beef sandwich, but the jerk chicken sandwich could use more flavor...or just flavor.

This is a nice little restaurant in the heart of our Capital. It has a variety of soup and sandwich options that are all tasty. It is also surrounded by a beautiful outdoor sculpture garden so you get a chance to enjoy some scenery once you are finished eating. The only complaint is that the price is a little high in my opinion.