It's lunch time! Leave your office. Hop on the Metro. Get off at Gallery Place. Enter the National Portrait Gallery. Relax. Enjoy lunch in one of the most serene settings in Washington, DC, the Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard. At the risk of sounding like I wear crystals tucked in my bra, I will say that this place has amazing calming qualities. If you are after serenity NOW, this cafe is exactly what you are seeking.
Museum cafes have come a long way since traditional cafeterias of long ago. The portrait gallery café has a healthy salad bar, paninis, and daily soup specials.
Still, no one would say you have to have the chicken club sandwich at the portrait gallery café (my club sandwich featured bacon bits). But a decent sandwich, a calming setting, and a quick stroll through the gallery to say hi to George, make the café worth a visit. Try it on a weekday to avoid the tourists. It’s also a great place to grab a drink after work.
Foodie question of the week: is a place worth a visit if the setting is extraordinary, but the food is only average to good? Other places where the setting or view beats the quality of the food? Here’s my list:
Your list?
