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    Garden Cafe

    3.9 (74 reviews)
    ModerateAmerican, Cafes
    Open 7:00 am - 11:00 AM, 11:30 AM - 2:00 pm, 4:30 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Garden Cafe Photos

    GARDEN CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Garden Cafe

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    Roasted Chicken Breast
    Trung T.

    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.

    Pain au chocolate
    Justine T.

    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.

    Glenn S.

    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!

    Fried chicken sandwich.
    Robin F.

    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.

    a plate of salad on a table

    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.

    Seared Salmon Cake
    Micah L.

    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.

    He had the fish tacos.  He said they were "the best ever."  However, he regrets choosing the hard shell...Don't we all?
    Erica T.

    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.

    Great food and service!!!

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

    John H.

    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

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    3 years ago

    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!

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    3 years ago

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

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

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

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    8 years ago

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    4 years ago

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

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    11 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Food was great. Staff was nice and polite. Location is a little hard to find but so cute once you locate it.

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    Page 1 of 2

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    Tatte Bakery & Cafe | Farragut Square - Dark Chocolate Muffin (GF)

    Tatte Bakery & Cafe | Farragut Square

    4.2(145 reviews)
    0.6 miDowntown
    $$

    Great place to get lunch! They have so many different food options--sandwiches, salads, soups,…read moreShakshuka, bowls, pastries, etc. The place is spacious inside with tons of seating--during weekday lunch it can get busy so you might need to wait a few minutes for a table or high top. You order your food first, then find seating. Food comes out fairly quick. Dishes I've tried and would recommend: Chicken Pita, Turkey BLAT, Spiced Shrimp & Avocado Mousse Salad, Chickpea & Fava Plate, Lamb Meatball & Labneh Shakshuka, and Short Rib Grilled Cheese Sandwich--there's so much I want to try but haven't yet! Their cookies are delicious too, my favorite is the Halva Chocolate Chunk Cookie.

    My favorite bakery and coffee shop while visiting the D.C. area during the cherry blossoms…read morefestival. A five-minute walk towards downtown from the Mayflower hotel made Tatte Bakery an ideal spot for breakfast. It also has nice views of Farragut Square. I went with the House Full breakfast that included Applewood bacon, eggs, potato fritters with tomato jam and mint parmasean, and house made sourdough. I was curious to try one of their best sellers - monkey bread, and it didn't disapoint. A solid breakfast with on point service before catching the metro to Virginia. I really enjoyed my visit here and would return in a heartbeat.

    Photos
    Tatte Bakery & Cafe | Farragut Square - Monday a.m .

    Monday a.m .

    Tatte Bakery & Cafe | Farragut Square - Biscuit cheddar and egg

    Biscuit cheddar and egg

    Tatte Bakery & Cafe | Farragut Square - Iced Honey Halva Latte - 12 oz

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    Iced Honey Halva Latte - 12 oz

    Café du Parc - Croque Monsieur $21

    Café du Parc

    3.5(539 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    There are two different components of Cafe du Parc, the coffee shop and the restaurant…read more Cafe du Parc is inside the Willard Hotel and can be entered from the hotel or via Pennsylvania Avenue. The coffee shop is on the first floor, and offers delicious hot and cold drinks along with a beautiful selection of pastries. This time I enjoyed a cappuccino, and it was spot on. I can't speak for the pastries, but they looked good. The cafe has a cozy/might-overhear-a-state-secret vibe. If you're a visitor to D.C. and reading this, I'd say if you want to sit down and enjoy a coffee in a place with a comfortable atmosphere and handy location, give it a go. Just be aware that it's a bit pricier than what you'd pay at Tatte, and there are fewer choices. This was my second time here, and I would return. On the second floor of the space, you'll find the restaurant Cafe du Parc. I was very excited to eat here. The atmosphere was nice, in a light-filled, non-pretentious way. On the day I was there, there was construction going on and scaffolding on the front of the building that blocked the views of Pennsylvania Avenue. The restaurant was loud, and it was hard to have a conversation. Service was fast and the food came out even faster. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the food was just "meh." This was super disappointing as the prices were a bit high and I was looking to splurge on a nice lunch with a friend. The one thing I wasn't looking for was to be charged $5 (each) for "still water," which I'm not convinced wasn't from the tap. To be fair, the table adjacent to us was having burgers, fries, and other sandwiches, and it looked a lot better than my flavorless Nicoise Salad. My friend had the Spinach and Feta Phyllo Pastry, and said it was good. I'm going to be super generous and give the restaurant a 3 and assume maybe I made a poor choice with my sad salad and the noise level was because it was very busy (Cherry Blossom Season). This was my first time here, and I likely would opt to try a different restaurant next time.

    I had such high hopes here. Solid 3.5 stars…read more 1. Reservation: they require it despite it is half empty 2. Food: 3.5 stars It isn't bad, but for the price, location and everything, it is not as good. - steak salad: meh - burger: was bad and I never thought I'd say this. Meat was fine the bread was terrible - French onion soup: it is just okay 3. Drinks: okay Decent selection of wine. Mixed drinks were just tolerable. 4. Service: 4 stars Professional, a bit too much 'checking-in' and won't even let us speak in peace. There was no need to keep checking us since there was no one and they didn't need their table back soon! Just felt rushed or pushed to order more. For 2 people, we bought a lot! 5. Dessert: 4 stars - creme brulee was very buttery.. it was mildly off. Hard to explain, but just not it. - cake: dry! - cappuccino and tea all came out nicely For such an upscale place, it was disappointing. Great view from the window though! You can't see anything sitting.. you gotta get up to see through the window.

    Photos
    Café du Parc - Grand Ballroom of Hotel

    Grand Ballroom of Hotel

    Café du Parc - Steak Frites $16 (Kids Menu)

    Steak Frites $16 (Kids Menu)

    Café du Parc - French Onion Soup $15

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    French Onion Soup $15

    Tatte Bakery & Cafe | Dupont Circle - Chocolate Rose

    Tatte Bakery & Cafe | Dupont Circle

    4.1(473 reviews)
    0.8 miDupont Circle, Downtown
    $$

    After dinner at a Thai restaurant in DC, I took a breezy walk through DuPont Circle and stopped for…read morea sweet treat. There's something about Washington, D.C. at night -- the air feels thoughtful, almost intentional. The circle was alive but calm, and the simple act of walking without rushing felt like a quiet luxury. The dessert? Perfect. The breeze? Even better. Sometimes growth isn't just boardrooms and deadlines. Sometimes it's a slow walk, good food, and allowing yourself to enjoy the moment. #WashingtonDC #DuPontCircle #FounderLife #LegacyInMotion #EveningReflections

    I love Tatte. It's pricey but good quality. There seem to be about 20 in DC now. It's really…read moregrown. This time we had our baby and I wasn't impressed with the lack of sides or anything to get for her. We asked for two eggs scrambled with cheese but were told we'd have to buy an egg prosciutto sandwich for $11 and tell them we didn't want any of the items. Um, no. The tuna sandwich asked for lettuce and told can't add lettuce. My husband asked for something not on his lamb pita, same story. Oh well. No customization at all, no subs. Makes business easier, but not as attractive for price point for customers. I'll remember to keep it to coffee and pastries from now on. Chicken pita was good, a bit heavy on the parsley but loved the dressing. Tuna sandwich was a hit. Pastries are always good. My pistachio latte was chewy bc it had grainy bits of pistachio in it. Not to my liking. $70 for three sandwiches, two coffees and two cookies.

    Photos
    Tatte Bakery & Cafe | Dupont Circle - Coffee bar

    Coffee bar

    Tatte Bakery & Cafe | Dupont Circle - Cold brew and Oatmeal & Walnut Cookie (GF)

    Cold brew and Oatmeal & Walnut Cookie (GF)

    Tatte Bakery & Cafe | Dupont Circle - Pastry and dessert shelves

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    Pastry and dessert shelves

    Garden Cafe - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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