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    Mitsitam Cafe

    3.5 (574 reviews)
    ModerateAmerican, Cafes
    Closed • 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Mitsitam Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    MITSITAM CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Mitsitam Cafe

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    Entry to cafe
    Aimee A.

    Had to try Mitsitam - had heard about it from a former colleague of mine. First, they serve giant portions - the frybread taco can serve two people! It was tasty - very filling. They serve the food Cafeteria style so you can see what is there. I also got the side sampler, which also is plentiful serving-wise. Could also serve two. The wild mushroom very good - had a herby taste. The squash was ok - the spinach overpowered the dish. And the corn pudding with jam was good. There was a peaceful ambiance - the view of the outdoor space was lovely. Nice complement to a beautiful museum.

    Roger Renzo R.

    I went to this Cafe 15 minutes before it closed, but the staff was really nice. This was my first time trying this native American food, and the taste was similar to Mexican, but with some modifications in the spices they used. The place seemed clean, and with a lot of seats available.

    Fry bread taco
    Sharon L.

    Try out some native american foods at this café inside the National Museum of the American Indian. The fry bread taco, mole tostada, and cornbread were all pretty tasty. A good place for lunch on the National Mall while exploring Smithsonian museums. The café is cafeteria style: grab a tray, head to a station and order your food, then checkout at the register before finding a table to sit down. Complete cafeteria experience by placing the tray on the tray carousel when finished!

    3 side sampler
    Lynn W.

    The food was very tasty in this cafeteria style restaurant within the Smithsonian American Indian Museum. The menu features indigenous meals are there is a wide variety of offerings. There are different stations with different types of food so it was perfect for a large group of people to each get what they wanted to eat. I tried the three side sampler (which was quite affordable at $12.95). I chose buttered squash salad, marinated mushrooms and Indian Pudding. The pudding was amazing with a cranberry sauce on top. I had never eaten that before but always wondered what was in it. It is like a cornbread cake. It is self serve but the manager was great about opening up a new checkout line when the line was getting long.

    Mischa J.

    I recently came here and tried Native American food for the first time. I had the fry bread taco with braised pork and okra. The dish I had was also topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, shredded jack cheese, cilantro, and jalapenos. I thought that everything I tried was great! I just wish that there would be more Native inspired drinks as well. For dessert I had the Mitsitam cookie, which was made with Native inspired ingredients, like blue cornmeal for example. I highly recommend giving this place a try, because this is the only Native American eatery, restaurant, and food court that I have personally ever come across in the area.

    Fry Bread Beignets
    Antwon C.

    We decided to check out this cafe for a late lunch before heading to museum. I decided to go with the chicken tostada. The chicken was flavorful and all the toppings were crisp and fresh. The crema complimented the dish well. For dessert tried the fry bread beignets they were good the honey was good with them. Service was good.

    Linnea E.

    Best dining option on the Mall! Museum prices but you get your moneys worth and there are actually good options, not just chicken nuggets and pizza. Everything is served cafeteria style with multiple stations serving different options. The fry bread taco is my personal fave and sometimes I'll swing by just to have it for lunch and then walk through the museum. The dining area is also very nice with a view of the outdoor water feature. It also tends to be less crowded than say the Museum of National History which typically has more kids and families.

    Jai Y.

    I had the chicken mole tostada, apple agua fresca, corn pudding , and succotash. My wife had the fried bread taco. Everything was extremely delicious except the apple agua fresca which was meh. It tasted water downed and pretty flavorless.

    Vegetarian tamale was so good.
    Amy Lauren S.

    I visited this museum JUST to eat at Mitsitam café when I was in the district for a conference. It was a very cold day, so indoor dining was my only option, and I wanted a food item that I can't normally get back home. I had a calabaza, sweet onion, and toasted pepitas tamale with ranchera sauce, which was vegetarian. I appreciated vegetarian options that were marked. The tamale was warm and flavorful, although the portions are a little small for the price points. Since I was supporting the Smithsonian and the museums are free to enter, I was fine paying a little extra than I'm used to. Some food options like tamales, fry bread tacos, tostadas, stews, and bison may be a little exotic for little ones, but you can get a regular hamburger, cheeseburger, or packaged snack items. If you're an adult, Mitsitam is the best food you will find at any of nearby the Smithsonian museums. If you want to refill your water bottle or get a cup of water, there's a fountain/refill station on the way out of the restaurant.

    Chili Special and Peach Frybread
    Tom P.

    As museum restaurants go, this is in the top tier in the district. They offer an array of Native American inspired foods along with some Southern and Mexican foods. I like that they go out of their way to offer more flavor than the plain vanilla options at most of the Smithsonian's. And although you are in a dining hall, it is comfortable with some nice windowed views of the outside water features. Lastly, and maybe it was just the day I was there, EVERYONE in the museum was so nice. From the guards at the door, to the information attendants, to the service staff in the restaurant. Very nice people.

    Michelle V.

    Had the chance to try indigenous food here before exploring the museum. It's been on my bucket list for a long time, so I was very excited. You pick your own drinks and snacks cafeteria-style, and there are four menus to which you can order food over-the-counter. I recommend walking around to see your options before ordering. The seating area feels like a cafeteria. I sat by the window to see the beautiful fountain. I got the roasted rainbow beets (with watercress, charred leeks, and hazelnut vinaigrette), corn pudding (with maple butter and walnut-and-cranberry gremolata), and mamoon cakes. I was initially going to get wild rice salad instead of the beets, but the person behind the counter told me that the wild rice salad is pretty much disassembled mamoon cakes and encouraged me to get something else. Rainbow beets: I'm a huge fan of beets, and their natural flavor was delicious, complemented by the leeks and the slightly sweet vinaigrette. Corn pudding: This was hearty. The gremolata was very tart and I would recommend eating it little by little so it doesn't overpower the corn pudding. Felt like a flatter cornbread. Mamoon cake: This was dry, kind of like a biscuit. It is compact wild rice. It had a savory flavor. I kind of wish I got this with the salmon. It was tasty although I wish I could try it hot and fresh. Overall this was a filling meal that jumpstarted my day. I will try other things if I came back, and I would look forward to seeing the rotating menu!

    Bison sausage
    Doug P.

    Service is good. Employees were very friendly. The atmosphere is nice. They have some interesting food choices. I really enjoyed the Buffalo sausage but would pass on the sauerkraut next time. My wife had the chicken tenders and they were excellent with a generous serving of French fries

    Mary C.

    I had heard the Mitsitam Cafe was one of the better museum cafeterias, but I really don't think it's worth going to at all :( Even if you are starving, go elsewhere (like a food truck!) As expected for museum food, it was VERY pricey (like $4 for a teeny tiny corn muffin, or $20+ for anything substantial, this 3 sides combo option was over $15...) and the food is very mediocre, borderline bad. We got the kale which was cold, the wild rice which was also cold, and the sweet potato cake (the only thing that was warm) but also flavorless

    Peruvian Chicken, Wild Mushroom Salad

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    6 months ago

    Love the Indian Tacos! Every time I'm in DC I go here just for lunch! Also the views of the little waterfall are gorgeous.

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    Page 1 of 15

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