"Home Sweet Home" Sweet Home Cafe is a fast pace, energetic environment that provides a plethora of food options. Each station comes with its own unique cultural cuisine. I was honestly impressed with the quality of food they served. I had the buttermilk fried chicken, Mac & cheese, and Gold Coast white rice ( absolutely delicious) and a side of sweet potato pie. Sweet Home Cafe is located in the atrium of The National Museum Of African American History and Culture. So, for sure it is a major tourist dining area ( which keeps the atmosphere jubilant ) I definitely give them two thumbs up !!! read more

Sweet Home Cafe - The Mac & Cheese is delicious !!! And the fried chicken is nice and crispy. - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Blessing my biscuits doesn't do this place justice! This took me right back to the South with some food that is just scrumptious! Sign me up for the collard greens and fried chicken any day of the week, and you know me and my gal pals will be coming back! Words hardly do this place justice, y'all, so please get ya patootie down here to try it out. The dining hall was a little crowded, but there were plenty of seats for everyone to eat. The line was long, but oh my crumpets, overall so amazing hugs and hisses -Jolene Hendrix (the reviewing grandma) read more

Do not stop at the first counter you see. I repeat. Do not stop at the first counter you see. This isn't a cafeteria line where you slide your tray from station to station and fill up on goodies. You walk to the items that you'd like to eat, they place it on your tray and you move on to another area. I came in just before closing but there were still too many choices for my try everything brain. I settled on the chicken combo that came with one side. My side was macaroni and cheese of course. I needed to see how they do it in DC. Verdict. They do it well! The dish was creamy and filling with some of those crispy bits I like. The fried chicken was good too. Hot sauce is available in the self serve area. There are plastic cups available. I had to add that in because I know some people were looking for that and I had to ask an employee myself. If they had a one piece chicken option I would've went with that and that way I could've tried more things. I did get to try the green beans and those were seasoned nicely. They were a nice balance to the fried fare. I also tried the zinger like dessert. It was good and the coconut flavor wasn't overpowering. We split the chocolate chip cookie into pieces, and my piece did not disappoint. It was full of chocolate chips. The layout for eating is self serve dining hall style. Final notes. I really appreciated the fact that the museums accompanying restaurant served food reflective of the cultural experience of the museum . Kudos to that!I hope it never changes. The food is a bit pricy with combos clocking in at around $20 a plate, desserts about $5 and up. Pay attention to signage , prepare for that beforehand, or have a talk with your party. read more

We attended for a line dance class on Juneteenth 2026. When we arrived downstairs to the lower were two helpful museum staff employees who queued us in the very long line (.45 min) and another employee who informed us about the layout of the 4 cafeteria food stations. The first station has the fried chicken, Mac & cheese, greens, cornbread. The second station has the desserts - cake, pie, cookies, banana pudding (my fav). The third station has grilled/smoked items and kid friendly chicken tenders and fries. We picked up the baked beans and string beans for our sides to the catfish at the 4th and last food station. We ordered but there was a delay while waiting for a new batch of fish to come out. The beverage selections were limited but I was surprised that it included beer and some wine and the cash register. We found sears along the steel counter facing a mirror. Reminded me of the Greensboro NC sit-in photos. Prices are not cheap but when it comes to a holiday where I don't have to cook, what the heck! The catfish was most anticipated and it did not disappoint but it was missing the proverbial hot sauce. Went back to the condiment area and got a cup and POW! That made a big difference. The fish is NOT over salty or fried hard as a rock which I was extremely afraid of it. The string beans also included onions and were not crunchy as I had feared. The baked beans also included onions and I tasted some bbq sauce. The banana pudding was disappointing - no real bananas after 3 spoonfuls and too much whipped topping. I was hoping it would be just like my Nanas SC banana pudding with a baked meringue but you can't have everything I guess so I deducted 1 star. I had my own beverage. read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Banana pudding - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

While the food was a bit pricey, this felt like one of the better options for a solid meal, especially considering it is located inside a museum. Given how extensive the African American museum is, a well run cafeteria feels necessary. Located on the bottom floor, the line took about 30 minutes to reach the front. Trays were set out along the left counter and led into the main station, where you could choose fried chicken or pulled pork with two sides. Farther into the cafeteria were two dessert stations, a seafood station, and a seasonal section that was cherry blossom themed when I visited. The screens listed general options but did not show all available sides. Some salads were not displayed, and I was pleasantly surprised by the variety, including potato salad, coleslaw, cucumber and tomato, broccoli and apple, and black eyed pea salad. The cafeteria would benefit from updating the menu displays, as many visitors took extra time deciding once they reached the counter and could finally see all the options. My plate with one main and two sides came out to nearly $23 before tax. There was also a condiment station with prepackaged ketchup, relish, and mustard, along with two hot sauce options, regular and mumbo. I appreciated having the basics available, but I wished there was more variety and depth in the sauce selection. *Fried Chicken: came with two pieces. The meat was tender and not dry, though not especially juicy either. The batter had a good amount of seasoning, but I was hoping for a crispier skin. It was filling without feeling too heavy. *Potato Salad: not overly creamy or strongly flavored, but the potatoes themselves were well cooked with a nice rustic texture. I would have liked a bit more acidity or brightness to balance the mayo. *Sweet Potato: simple and natural. It was cooked well, but I found myself wishing for condiments to enhance the sweetness. Still, a good option for those looking for something lighter. I would not go out of my way to eat here since there are better restaurants and prices around DC, but it is a solid choice if you are already visiting the Smithsonian museums. I preferred the food here over both the flavor and pricing of nearby food trucks. read more

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So we did kinda wait forever to get into sweet home cafe but I think it was worth it! We got a bit of everything. I got the catfish with the Mac and cheese, greens, and potato salad. Catfish was amazing - batter super flavorful and fish was crispy but really tender on the inside. It was really good with the hot sauce, which tasted more like buffalo sauce. Mac and cheese and potato salad were very very good. Greens were fine but nothing crazy imo. My bf got the smoked turkey and he was obsessed. For sides he got roasted potatoes and corn which i did not try. I got the banana pudding for dessert which was lowk kinda disappointing... dare I say worst part of the meal and I was so excited for it!!! I was kinda hoping for actual chunks of banana or for the nilla wafers to be more softened, but it was just straight cool whip and banana pudding with hard wafers. Lowk without the pudding it would've been a 5/5. read more

Line still took about half an hour to get through (I had just reserved a dining and shopping pass, rather than get tickets for the museum). Some items like the fried chicken were a little on the pricey side, but I just went with a side of mac and cheese (around $5). Portion was on the smaller side, but just the right amount for me and tasty. There was a big dessert selection of various cakes, pies, and cookies. The cherry blossom desserts looked tasty, but some ran around $8 or so. There was plenty of seating available, despite it being so busy for a weekday. 2026 #9 read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

TL;DR: Great food, but pricey. Lines can get long so pack your patience when you come. The African American History Museum is one of the best museums in DC. Not just because the exhibits are well-detailed, but because of the food served up at Sweet Home Cafe! The museum itself (review coming soon) is massive, and it can easily take you an entire day to see just half of it. But this review is about the cafeteria. It's a great place to eat food. I decided to go during the halfway point of my visit. Not the best time considering lunch rush. But it felt like a slap in the face as I got reservation tickets for lunch, yet people without one had to wait in the same long line!! No matter, I was hungry and excited. I was going to get the fried chicken and two sides, but one of the employees mentioned that the fish of the day was fried catfish (yippee!!!), so I opted to get the two sides (collards and mac), but then I saw they had BBQ pulled pork and that suckered me in. Then I got some catfish and a bottle of coke . In total my meal cost over $45 (yikes!) but the food was yummy! Collards needed some salt and pepper for taste but everything else was well seasoned! Despite how busy it was there was actually plenty of seating. The cafeteria also looked like it was apart of the museum. I always hate when cafes and cafeterias doesn't fit the museum they're placed in. Not Sweet Home Cafe. It was pretty big and reminded me a lot of my college campus dining area (not in a bad way). Def will be back (and hopefully the not to burn a bigger hole in my pocket!) read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Great food. But cost way too much! In the plate from left to right: fried catfish, collard greens, mac and cheese, pulled pork - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Impressive cafeteria for a museum! They offer an assortment of southern and soul foods. I really enjoyed the fried chicken tenders, mac n cheese, collards, fried catfish and carrot cake. We splurged and ordered way too much food. It was a feast, and we felt like we had to walk it off and spend another hour walking around the museum after lunch. At the dining hall, you order at the counters. There are various lines for the different offerings. Then you bring your tray to the checkout line. There was a long line just to get into the cafeteria, but it was worth it for us! We really enjoyed the food! There was plenty of seating available once you get through the checkout. read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Feast! - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Visited the museum and stopped by Sweet Home Cafe at the National Museum of African American History and Culture right before closing and it just wasn't the best experience. An announcement was made that the cafe was closing, We were rushed to hop in line and make a decision. The food wasn't fresh, which was disappointing. I'm guessing it was because we came so late in the day. I will say, I'd still give it another try earlier next time because I've heard great things. Timing just matters here. read more

It was just okay for me, but I'm from the south. The portions are big. The experience was great though! read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Fried Fish and corn bread - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The line started off with like 30 minute wait. It just took such a long time to just order. The priced were absolutely obnoxious. 3 pieces of fried chicken just cost $20, and a small container of mac and cheese is like $5.50 or something. The food was good but I just wish the portions were a little bit bigger. The ambiance is pretty nice. The workers were pretty nice too I guess. read more

I had high expectations, but this place was really disappointing. We waited about an hour just to get in, and the food didn't come close to being worth it--bland, poorly prepared, and overpriced with small portions. Service was slow and unorganized, and the staff didn't seem very attentive. Overall, it feels like you're paying for hype, not quality. Definitely not worth the wait or the money. read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Hour wait, overpriced, bland. Not worth it. Chicken was 19.95, ridiculous. Many said it's the worst food they've ever had. - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Sweet Home Cafe is located inside of the National Museum of African American History and Culture on level C. Be prepared for the prices, it's quite expensive. My son ordered 3 pc Fried Chicken, sides: Mac & cheese and collard greens, One cornbread, lemonade and vanilla pound cake. It totaled 57.00. I like my food hot and the food was barely warm. We shared the food and it was just "OK" The setup gives a cafeteria feel. Theres plenty of seating. All the staff were patient, helpful and kind. read more

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I was pleasantly surprised by Sweet Home Cafe after seeing a lot of middling reviews. My partner and I ordered fried chicken with a side of mac and cheese and collars, as well as some kind of BBQ pork with beans and cole slaw. For dessert, we got a slice of sweet potato pie and banana pudding. The good: The chicken was very crispy and had a perfect layer of batter on it. Collards were a little over-salted but had the umami of bitter greens I love. All of the other sides were pretty standard and paired well with our meal. The pork was not dripping in sweet sauce (which I prefer) and was tender. We also got to try it with a few sauces, I believe we tried something akin to a Carolina Gold BBQ sauce. It was really good! The mid: The banana pudding was definitely made from some kind of Jell-O satchel and had a very prominent artificial banana flavor. I didn't hate it, but to charge over $5 for that is a choice. The sweet potato pie tasted like it was bought from a grocery store and had one of those crackery, pre-made crusts. Not bad at all for a museum cafe, especially when so many serve premade, limp sandwiches for the same amount of money. read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Fried chicken plate with mac and cheese and collards, smoked pork with beans and cole slaw - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Got a platter of buttermilk fried chicken with two sides. I didn't expect to be given the smallest chicken wing known to man and less than a cup of macaroni and cheese considering it was $25 American dollars after taxes (the federal minimum wage is $7.25, by the way). What the hell? The chicken was delicious and juicy, the cornbread was incredible, and the Mac and cheese did not disappoint. I give this restaurant a 3 for the solid quality and taste of the food, but I'm never going to waste my money on it again. Go to a local restaurant for Christ's sake. read more

I wanted to give this spot a try, even with the mixed reviews on social media. The soul food section was overpriced and didn't deliver. The line was long but kept moving. While waiting, I noticed--along with a few others--the portion sizes weren't consistent. The man serving was loading the sides up, almost to the point of spilling over. The woman, on the other hand, was real stingy. Barely filled the bowls. That's a problem. The food wasn't cheap either. I went with the sides trio: mac and cheese, collard greens, and potato salad. The greens were solid--seasoned right. Everything else? Just okay. I wouldn't go back, and I wouldn't tell anybody else to go either. Grab a soda and a cookie to show some support, then keep it moving. Management needs to tighten up on training--make sure staff knows how to serve and keep it consistent. read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Someone's grandmother is cooking. This food was the best home cooked soul food ever in life! And it was at a cafeteria style cafe. There were so many options we had to try a little of everything! The service was impeccable. Everyone was friendly and helpful in directing us which was to go. We throughly enjoyed everything we had. read more

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Pretty good! I got the fried chicken platter with a side of mac n cheese and cornbread. It was a very solid meal, but definitely pricey for what it was. I also tried their banana pudding which was subpar at best. Maybe I'm just particular about my banana pudding but there were no real bananas and the pudding tasted like it was made straight out of a box. That being said, it's honestly a pretty decent spot to eat and convenient if you're already visiting the museum. read more

Not to bad for a museum cafe! After walking around the museum for hours, this was a great spot to sit and enjoy lunch. I got the fried chicken (two pieces) with potato salad and corn bread, along with a fountain drink - Coke Zero. Fountain drinks came with free refills. The chicken was delicious! No food or drinks are allowed to leave the cafe, so you'll need to finish everything before leaving. The bottled drinks were limited - Coke, Diet Coke, and Fanta. I was hoping for a bottled Coke Zero. The eating area was quite a mess. I think a few school groups had just been through. read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Fried chicken, potato salad, corn bread, and a Coke Zero. - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is my second visit to the African American History museum and made sure that I visited the restaurant Sweet Home Cafe ( located inside of the museum). When I walked by at 11am there was no line. When I came back at 12pm there was a long line ( but it moved quickly). When you make it inside grab a lunch tray and decide what type of food that you want and get in that line. I chose the Agricultural South line and ordered Mac n cheese, greens, and fried chicken. I got in the dessert line for a slice of sweet potato pie. The greens need to cook longer although I know they are trying to turn around the food quickly to feed abundant amount of people. The Mac n cheese was okay while hot but when it hit warm it wasn't so good. The chicken and pie were the best tasting items from what I ordered. read more

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The line looked long but went by fast. Food was a 7 out of 10. It was a lot of people, like a cafeteria setting. read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Fried Chicken , potato salad, Macaroni &cheese, greens and bottled water. $24 for chicken and 2 sides. - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Oh my! What a great place this is! Hidden gem. I went here with my good friend Jolene H. and my. It brought us back home to the south. The food was great! The service was great! And the museum was great! I will defiantly come back to eat here again! It was a little bit crowed though so come a little before lunch or after to get a good seat. read more

It was great! However I primarily was there to try Paola Velez's bakes! The Pastry Chef was at the museum for a book signing and I tried her Carrot Buttermilk Pie. Delish! I did try the cafe's fried chicken and Mac and cheese which were both very much on point! My review lost a star though, because the restaurant doesn't give out to-go boxes(?) I only found that out while checking out at the cash register, purchasing extra sweet treats to bring home. I had to throw food away... So, bring a small food container with you if you want to bring home a sweet treat or something. But all in all, I would recommend getting your meal here if you visit the museum. Very good food. read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Pastry Chef book signing and pie at the museum/cafe - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I kept seeing this place on social media and just had to try it. While in the DMV visiting again, I decided to give them a try. I arrived around 1:45pm on a Tuesday and there was no line at all. When you enter, the first station has two lines to order. I ordered chicken with Mac 'N Cheese (tasted the greens from my daughters plate). I didn't really see anything else that caught my eye at the other station. After you get your entree you pay then self seat like cafeteria style. There's plenty of seating. My meal was ok...I wouldn't make a special trip just to go there like I did. read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Chicken and Mac N Cheese - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This was a horrible experience 2 pounds of water melon costed 30 dollars which could have gotten about 10 watermelons at the store. Never again! read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Stopped here for lunch after walking around the museum for several hours. They have 4 lines: fried chicken and sides, fried fish/chicken tenders/bbq chicken/bbq ribs line with different sides from the fried chicken line, a dessert line, and a pasta line. I would call the food decent. We were advised prior to our visit to stick with what was safe. I got the fried chicken and it was really good. Well seasoned! My sides were the collard greens and the mac and cheese and I would give them both a B grade. My friend got the ribs and they were not good. Maybe a C. Their baked beans and potato salad were also not good. The beans were still hard but drowned in sauce and the potato salad was just ehh. Not so good. Sweet potato pie was a B. Ambiance was nice. The dining room was full of exhibit materials that were food related. But overall, I would recommend it for a lunch stop as a part of the museum's experience. Just stick to what's safe! read more

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Decided to finally try the Sweet Home Cafe while visiting the museum after seeing a lot of recent reviews on Instagram. As a disclaimer, the food here will not taste like your auntie or grandma from the south. Please do not go in with that expectation or you'll be disappointed lol. Overall, I thought the food was decent. My boyfriend and I had the fried fish which came with two pieces, collard greens, and mac & cheese. Food and drinks were pricey for two. Besides the bottled water, no food or drinks are allowed outside of the café. There is a large dining area, which was a plus since there were a lot of school groups present. read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Sweet Home Café owes me nothing--somebody's grandmother is definitely in that kitchen! The food is so good. Located on the lower level of the African American Museum, the café operates with various food stations. Above each station is menu listing what they are serving. You grab a tray and make your way through the options. I chose the fried chicken, mac and cheese, and cornbread. Craving some veggies, I went to another station that had Brussels sprouts, but they were out. The employee recommended the green beans instead, and I'm so glad he did--they were absolutely delicious. Everything was perfectly seasoned and bursting with flavor. I didn't get dessert this time, but I'll definitely be back. This spot is a solid 10 out of 10--highly recommend! read more

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Unexpectedly awesome museum cafe! Perfect way to start or end your visit to the NMAAHC! Came around 12:30pm on a Monday and was surprised it wasn't crowded despite it being lunchtime. The set up is a little confusing - there are a number of stations with different offerings, you can grab a little something from each place or just from one place and then check out at the end where you can grab a fountain drink or canned drink including a few alcoholic options. I opted for the first station and got fried chicken with a side of mac and cheese. Headed to another station for a cup of fresh fruit and sweet potatoe pie. Grabbed a Topo Chico before paying. Plenty of seating though the area is a little depressing since it's in the basement. The cafe wouldve been amazing upstairs with all the awesome views of the national mall! Scenery aside the food was delicious! The fried chicken was moist and flavorful. Great crunch and taste. The mac and cheese was just okay to me. Tasted like maybe it had been sitting out a while. Not bad but would opt for something else on a future visit. Star of the show was easily the sweet potatoe pie - WOW. It's a shame they dont let you take food out of the cafe because I would buy a whole pie if they sold them. Also don't sleep on the fruit cup! I was given a super generous portion that was overflowing the cup it came it. All the fruit was super fresh, ripe, juicy, and sweet. A good mix of strawberries, blueberries, grapes, and pineapple. The cafe was extremely pricey, I paid $40 for two pieces of fried chicken, a side of Mac and cheese, a sweet potatoe pie slice, fruit, and a seltzer water. I think $25, $35 max wouldve been more appropriate but the food was tasty and most importantly it kept me full during my nearly 5 hour day at the museum. Definitely make the cafe part of your visit! read more

The food is amazing and perfectly seasoned. The portion sizes are huge so you can definitely share. I shared and still wasn't able to eat all my food. I try some dessert next time. read more

My fried chicken and mac and cheese were outstanding. Greens very good. It's not inexpensive, but nothing is these days. You are supposed to bring a tray to the counter where you order, but they are hard to find. The cafeteria should post a big sign about the trays. read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Fried chicken, Mac and cheese, collard greens - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We made this our lunch spot after viewing the museum. Our group got a large mix of stuff and ever responded positively to the potato salad, fried chicken, and Mac and cheese. The collard greens were too tough and bitter and the catfish seemed undercooked. There is def a long wait so be prepared to wait in line. There is no way to get a table either until after your food purchase, but there are ton of tables. After exploring the museum def recommend giving the cafe a try. read more

In theory should have been better. I expected more and better for the price. Unfortunately only option except for food trucks which aren't close. read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Lunch - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Food was nearly a 10/10. Chicken was yummy and not dry at all. Mac and cheese was packed with cheese. Cornbread was gritty and tasted like actual cornbread unlike other places where it just tastes like cake. Would be a 5 star if it wasn't for the expensive price. Bottles of water cost $5! This plate alone was $30. Was worth it for the taste but be aware of the price. read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Buttermilk chicken Cornbread Mac and cheese - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Lots of different food stations, cafeteria style, with great choices. We got on the Chef Ram Cole line for his Memorial Day Menu. We shared the barbecued ribs with two sides. The sweet counter offered pecan pie. The grilled and fish fry counter was busy. Even a southern agricultural station with okra, sweet potato pie & chicken was busy. The smells were wonderful as was the choices. The Sweet Home Cookbook, and some candy and jams were beautifully displayed & are for sale here. There was a drink station with soft drink choices. We shared a rib plate for $20 with 2 sides. The corn was sweet, coleslaw delicious & the ribs were a treat. One meal was enough for 2 of us. The pecan pie for dessert was a perfect ending. The cafeteria & dining room were spotless . We bused our trays after lunch & our table was quickly wiped down. There were many employees busy here. read more

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I would call this spot an above-average museum cafe option. Pricing is on the higher side, but to be expected given its location and use. We ordered a meal of fried chicken with baked mac-n-cheese and cornbread. Everything was tasty and filling and given the number of hours we spent wandering the halls and exhibits, it was nice to have a hot meal beforehand. read more

I devoured my food!! Everything was spot on. The Mac and cheese was creamy, tasty but not overwhelming. The friend chicken was crisp, savory and flaky. The collard greens were not my favorite but every single other thing on my plate was beyond delicious. So much so that I completely forgot to take a picture. There are no reservations and it is cafeteria style with different stations. There's a line that builds up to get in but it moves pretty quickly. read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Idk if I've had better pulled pork than what they serve at Sweet Home Cafe - it's perfect. In fact, everything I've had there has been terrific, from the mains to sides to salads, and everything in between. The seasonal sorghum salad remains a favorite, and the beet salad is not to be missed. And definitely don't sleep on the banana pudding. It is excellent. Sweet Home Cafe is located in the basement of the Museum of African American History and Culture. During peak meal times, there may be a wait to even enter the cafeteria. I assure you the wait is worth it. The line moves quickly. It's also convenient that they have a fantastic restaurant inside the museum because the museum is enormous and wonderful, and it takes an entire day to get through it all. A girl's bound to need some food! Relatedly, the Sweet Home Cafe cookbook, sold in the gift shop, is very good. Buy a copy on your way out! read more

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This cafe did not come to PLAY. Chicken was juicy breaded perfectly with some good seasoning came straight off the bone. Mac and cheese had just the right ratio of spice and cheese. Cornbread was one of the best I had. Banana pudding was second best I've had, can't beat it down in the south. Kinda lunch that made me feel like I was at grandmas house read more

Sweet Home Cafe - Chicken, cornbread, Mac and cheese, greens, pecan pie - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia