My husband and I came In for breakfast on Tuesday at 7:00 am sharp ! We were not welcomed in just seated . Unfortunately Our waitress was not a good waitress at all as she seemed more interested in being on her phone than taking good care of us - we were shocked ! Never smiled, never seemed happy to have a job and just was not there ...... so sad as we always are great tippers and just refused to tip crappy service . Now let's talk about the food ! Neither my husband or I liked the food as our eggs were oily - yes I said oily ! I am a breakfast girl and will usually eat everything on my plate but not that day - I left half my breakfast on the plate and didn't request a to go box - both breakfast not good at all ( stateside breakfast ) -- we both received coffee and again waitress never came over to refill coffee or even check on us ! When we were ready to leave I kept looking around for our AWOL waitress and the other waiter working came over and asked if we needed help ? We paid our tab and got out of there promising we would not return even thou we stayed at the hotel for 3 nights and 4 days . I do not recommend this place !!!!! The only reason I gave one star is because the restaurant was clean --- THATS SAD read more

Had dinner here while we were staying at the hotel the food and service were terrible for our party of 4

My Eggs Benedict and home fries were pretty darn good. We stayed at this hotel and did not get free or reduced breakfast because we use Priceline but still needed a quick place to eat at Sunday morning and we were impressed. Service was good. Food was better than many hotel meals. Nothing fancy but it was not a dive either. It is in the back of the hotel and kind of hard to find from inside near the front because there are 2 towers and you go through a parking garage and past hotel stuff. But the Benedict was cooked well and I was happy with the service. read more

Garden Cafe - Good morning - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Delicious food on a cold January day. Soup warm for a starter & shrimp trio taco very flavorful. read more

Garden Cafe - Butternut soup - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

I recently dined here after staying in the hotel it resides in for breakfast and although it wasn't terrible I probably wouldn't dine here again unless necessary. I had the garden omelette with tomato,cheddar, and mushrooms. I can't place why but it tasted a little fishy to me. I also didn't care for the breakfast potatoes that came with it and they tasted like they were frozen and just heated back up in an oven. The coffee was okay and my partner's bagel and cream cheese was okay too but nothing to write home about. For the price and location I would have expected a better breakfast. The meals took awhile to get to our table too which was upsetting. When we did it get it was hot which was nice. They have a decent menu but I didn't see any non pork protein options for breakfast which was also a let down. read more

The Garden Cafe is one of my pre-pandemic lunch time staples when I'm working downtown. It's technically a hotel restaurant for the State Plaza Hotel on GW's campus but it has it's own side entrance. They have a rather large shaded outdoor patio, too, perfect for days like today that are not too humid or hot! Today's lunch was the Roasted Chicken Breast. It came out super juicy and tender with lots of gravy drizzled on top with mashed potatoes, and steamed carrots and green beans. It was a little pricey, but well deserved! I'll definitely be back to try the Fried Chicken Sandwich and fingers crossed that they bring back the Crab Cake Sandwich, one of my favorites pre-pandemic! Service was top notch even when we were sitting outside on the patio. Bathrooms did require asking staff to unlock for you just outside the restaurant in the hallways since it requires a keycard. read more

Garden Cafe - Roasted Chicken Breast - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Nice little spot for a quick bite if you're in the National Gallery of Art. The pain au chocolate was good - I liked the flakiness. Similar to the pain au chocolate, the croissant was standard. Nothing seemed fresh. Service was efficient. Just a basic cafe - can't complain, but can't rave about it, either. read more

Garden Cafe - Pain au chocolate - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I ordered a chicken hamburger. The fries were very salty and dark color. After consuming it, I had to drink several cups of water as I felt very thirsty. Looks like they put lots of MSGs. read more

Decent little coffee shop located on the lower level of the National Art Museum. The coffee is ground fresh and hand tamped by a barista. It reminded me of the coffee shops in Europe. However, The drinks were not made right. We ordered 2 double espressos and each filled a 10 ounce cup. I would call it more if an Americano than an espresso as my order should have been 2-3 ounces at the most. Don't get me wrong it still tasted great for what it wad. So, three stars for a cool looking spot and fresh coffee. If I returned I'd probably order a different drink such as the cold brew nitro they had on tap! read more

See all

I cannot say enough about this restaurant. We had the pleasure of having dinner here while in DC. The Bartender Keith made the BEST Lemon drop Martini that I have ever had . He was also doubling as our server. He was extremely efficient, friendly, and made us feel like we were his only customer( even though he had everyone). . Now to talk about the food. Amazing!!! We were so impressed with everything about this restaurant !!!! read more

Located in State Plaza Hotel. Food is okay. I had the fried chicken sandwich this visit, Although it was huge I could tell it was made from a pre-made frozen chicken pattie. The fries were good. My ketchup was old and dark and thick like it had been sitting out in the dipping container for a long time. I asked for another one which came much fresher and fast. It's a bit pricey for the quality but if you need lunch it will do. read more

Garden Cafe - Fried chicken sandwich. - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

As far as hotel restaurants go, we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food. The chicken tortilla soup was a massive portion and the bread was crusty with a fluffy interior, perfect for soup dipping. The soup itself had a lot of chicken and veggies, the broth could've been more flavorful. The risotto was also pretty good. The waitstaff were extremely friendly and prompt, making a Manhattan and offering extra teabags to take to go. It's expensive for what it is, but good for a hotel restaurant. read more

Good food, good service, good ambiance! Big portions! We had the place to ourselves on a Thursday night at 6:30, but don't understand why. We would definitely eat here again. read more

Garden Cafe - a plate of salad on a table - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Chef is great, the service is wonderful and we just really liked it! Thank you for a great dinner for the fam. Shrimp Tacos, the bomb!

We were up bright and early on Easter Sunday. Before officially going about our day, we stopped by The Garden Cafe at the State Plaza Hotel for an early breakfast. According to their website, The Garden cooks "with fresh, local ingredients" and "serves an enticing menu of American classics with a creative twist." Hmmmmm. I ordered the Seared Salmon Cakes ($16) -- cheesy grits, two eggs, home fries, and fresh fruit. Where do I even start with this one? Ok, let's start with the fact that even though the menu advertised "salmon cakes," the plate came with only one small salmon hockey puck. We found this particular hockey puck to be underseasoned and devoid of any of the natural flavor and decadence of fresh salmon. The cheesy grits weren't much better, overloaded with cheese but still lacking the salty, deep, complex flavor that cheese has the potential to add to any dish. Although the home fries were pleasantly crispy, we suspect that they were frozen as they continued the resturan theme of underseasoned food. Also, I hate to state the obvious, but what even is this presentation. Believe me, I could go on and on. Because our rubric also considers other factors besides taste and presentation, areas in which this restaurant was satisfactory, we cannot give them only one star, but we can, and will, give them 2 stars. read more

Garden Cafe - Seared Salmon Cake - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

It was eh. We ordered the chicken sandwich and crab cake burger. Completely underwhelming and tasted like it came out of a frozen breaded bag of chicken. read more

Best service I've had in a restaurant in a long time. Fast, efficient and friendly. Breakfast was excellent. Much appreciated.

The food and service were good. They offer patio dining. Not likely to return, however; not particularly memorable. It's a good place for a business lunch. My companion, however, had the fish tacos and said they were "the best ever." I had the crab cake sandwich. The bread on the sandwich was fluffy and buttery, and the side salad was surprisingly delicious (especially considering that I wanted the fries but was trying to be loyal to my diet plan). I detected something along the lines of Miracle Whip in the sandwich, which left a bad taste in my mouth. But, to be fair, I cleared my entire plate. read more

Garden Cafe - He had the fish tacos. He said they were "the best ever." However, he regrets choosing the hard shell...Don't we all? - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

A wonderful hidden gem just blocks from the White House and the noise and traffic of the Mall. Generous portions and great presentation. read more

See all

The best example of a white cloth restaurant that is unremarkable! They had no customers and I had a dead plant on my table....got cold harsh cup of coffee and ordered from a very high end menu- Cracker Barrel offerings Three waiters Three tables occupied And the wait time was tempting me to leave as all I wanted was eggs and a bread offering read more

Patient, helpful, and nice atmosphere! I will definitely be returning to this shop. I'd recommend to those who don't need drama!

Great food. Nice presentation. Casual elegant setting. Friendly, attentive staff. Reasonably priced. A hidden (literally) gem. Recommended: Pulled chicken cashew salad, layered almond cake for desert read more

Garden Cafe - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Nice little spot attached to a hotel. Outside space was very inviting and had a nice breeze.

We ordered the recommended salmon, jasmine rice with grilled asparagus (the sauce paired deliciously with the salmon) and chicken quesadillas that comes with a side salad. Everything was fresh, delicious, thoughtfully prepared/presented and cooked with love. Jennifer worked the whole restaurant - greeter, bar tender, server, and hostess. She knew exactly what temperature the room should be and that I needed some beverages after a long hot day touring DC. She also mentioned that the chef makes delicious cookies - can't wait to try them the next time we visit DC chef! read more

I had such a nice experience at this restaurant! I was alone in DC for work and it was a beautiful sunny spring day so I wanted somewhere with outdoor seating. I came to the garden cafe with an outdoor section and ordered a chicken quesadilla. It came with a small salad and guac, sour cream and salsa. It was sooo yummy read more

Garden Cafe - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is my second time at The Garden Cafe, a nice bistro located at the State Plaza Hotel. Both times we were hotel guests. My first evaluation was related to their lunch service and deserves a 5 star. My husband and I went for a Thursday lunch during our 5 days stay and we were very happy with the experience. I had the Seafood pasta (quite delicious) and my husband had the sirloin medallion that he enjoyed very much as well. Good service, calm atmosphere, good price ($16 each). At that time, guests received a complimentary house drink per stay when dinning there. This week, we came back to the hotel, and based on the good experience, we decided to add the daily breakfast at The Garden Cafe to our 7-days reservation, even though we have a kitchen in the hotel room. This entitle you to a 12 dollars State Breakfast, which is good but boring if you are expected to repeat it everyday. Luckily, the hotel give you the vouchers and the waiters were sometimes willing to exchange it for other options at the same or low price, but still is a bit too much of the same. Food continue to be very well presented and done, but we noticed a big change in the quality of service during the week, dealing with distract waiters and annoyed guests. I know, breakfast is a busier time, but the only one place offering this service in a hotel should made you prepared for that, right? However, the experience totally changed today, Saturday morning, when we were lucky enough to have Rui as our waiter, a very competent asian young woman who always addresses you with a smile and stays very attentive to her job. She was not there during weekdays, but I guess her professional service will not change anyway. The overall balance for the review done yesterday, based on the 5 days visits, was a 3 star experience. But having again a great service made me edit it to add a new star. read more

Garden Cafe - State. Breakfast - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I think this place fake their yelp reviews. It's expensive relatively to other way better restaurants in walking distance and the food sucks. I got a pear salad and it was so plain. It was 14$, at least throw in some cheese. My friend got a $19 cheese burger that was only okay. There are no reason to come here even if you live in the hotel. There are plenty of other restaurants nearby. read more

Garden Cafe - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This restaurant is a good place for food but the service is terrible. My friends and I spent more than an hour for two dishes (risotto and half pork half chicken), while there were just a few tables of customers during the time. People around us at the restaurant including some came later than us were having food but we were told by the waitress that "your food will be delayed" without giving any reasons. So we just sat there for an hour served with some bread and saw everyone in the restaurant leaving. One more thing add, the waitress also made a wrong order of a dish which costs around 8 dollars more. (We just paid and left) Sincere suggestion: Never come to this place if you do not expect at least 60 minutes wait without reasons from them. read more

Garden Cafe - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We wanted a good, pre-theater dinner (before going to the Kennedy Center) and were fortunate to have found this gem. We were treated courteously and professionally (and kindly) from the moment we entered the restaurant (which is charming) to the moment we left. Every dish was well prepared and beautifully plated; service was impeccable. Their menu (at dinner) is not large, but should offer something for just about everyone. Our party had the roast chicken, salmon, salade nicoise, calamari, humus, and a couple of desserts. We were satisfied by every course. For a civilized dinner in a nicely appointed dining room, give the Garden Cafe (at the State Street Hotel) a try. read more

My mom and I stopped here after touring some monuments and we were impressed with the great service, air conditioning and quality food! It was a bit difficult to find since we were staying at the hotel, but we really loved it! read more

Garden Cafe - Fish taco special - loaded with lettuce, veggies and fresh fish topped with a jalapeño! - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Love Love Love this place! My friend and I eat here for lunch when we want to get away at lunchtime. It's about a block from our office. We get the same waitress each time and she is consistently good. She provides menu recommendations. The menu only has a few options, but they are great options. I always settle on the grilled salmon and it's excellent each and every time. It comes paired with grilled asparagus and jasmine rice with a lemon caper sauce that is to die for. This is a solid spot for lunch and highly recommended. read more

Garden Cafe - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Came here with a friend who was in town. He found the spot, parked in the alley, walked down to the restaurant. Nice spot, great wait staff. Lots of single people in there, safe space with good food. read more

Don't be fooled by the name, this is no ordinary cafe! Stocked with a full bar, this great little restaurant is right underneath the State Plaza hotel in Foggy Bottom. I came in for a quick bite and ended up enjoying a long afternoon lunch. Started with the quesadilla (although its a main course) and wild mushroom risotto, both top notch. Great service and atmosphere with reasonably priced dishes. It is hard to find as it is tucked away actually around the corner from the entrance of the hotel. read more

We went to this restaurant last night based on recommendations on Yelp. What an excellent dinner! All 5 of us loved our dinners. We all had something different. Highly recommend this hidden gem. Friendly waitstaff, scrumptious food! read more

The food here is pretty good and the outdoor seating is nice. It is kinda tucked off the road, so you get a better experience than you would expect as you walk up. Typically I avoid hotel attached restaurants, but Garden Cafe was a nice surprise. A crazy as it may sound, go with the ramen - it was my favorite thing. read more

This restaurant is located in the State Plaza Hotel in GWs campus. It was formally known as Fst Bistro but is now under new management. I wasn't expecting much from a hotel restaurant but I was pleasantly surprised! The place let my mom and me in a little early for dinner, and they were still trying to turn on the tv and set up the bar, which of course was a little disturbance but expected since they were kind enough to let us in before they even opened! The food was so so good. My mom ordered a salad with some specific instructions and they made sure to get her order right. I ordered the grilled salmon and it was amazing: perfectly cooked and crispy on the outside! The service was attentive. Overall a great experience. read more

Garden Cafe - Salmon - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

If you want a quiet dinner at a cozy little bistro away from tourists but near the action, this is your place. We enjoyed the salmon and fish tacos, but the best was the blackberry upside down cake. Server Raul was quite charming. Street entrance is on F Street. Highly recommended. read more

Not what you would expect after walking into what is the basement of the State Plaza Hotel... I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food served here. They clearly value their customer and go out of their way to provide a lunch/dining experience for the customer. First off, no crowds to report here. No lines, nothing. Walk in be seated and prepare to order. The staff are friendly and courteous and very accommodating. I had lunch here on my only visit and had clients with me and was somewhat rushed with some of my party arriving later than others and it seemed like they had no problems accommodating a rushed order to serve all entrees at the same time.. I had the fish taco's. Being from Souther California, I was a little concerned initially, but they did a great job and the flavor was exactly what I am accustomed to. Enjoy this hidden place for lunch. No experience with dinner here... read more

I'm still asking myself why I paid $18 for a plate of eggs. Maybe we are here at the wrong time or had the wrong meal. But there was nothing special about this place. read more

It wasn't very crowded when I went in before 9 p.m. on a Monday night. I had my server help me choose two of the three options: hummus, a caesar salad, and a bowl of their soup of the day. She steered me toward the soup of the day - vegetarian cauliflower, and hummus. She wanted to ensure I'd feel full and that's why she suggested the hummus, which I appreciated, but in hind sight, I think I might have preferred the salad. The soup was fantastic, so I'm glad she recommended it - it inspired me to want to try and make some at home. As for the hummus, well, it left a little something to be desired - I'm afraid both my mom and the store have better chick pea mush options. This saddens me because hummus is so simple... I peered outside after my meal to see that they have outdoor seating - I'll keep that in mind for the future. I'd been wondering how anyone would get to the cafe unless they were a guest. It's a hotel restaurant, so my expectations are raised on price and lowered for quality. I only really looked at the top of the menu. My bill came to $16.50. I was hungry, this place was convenient. read more