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✔️Breakfast ✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out
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Counter-serve venue in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center serving basic breakfast & lunch fare.
Hours
| Monday | 9 AM–4:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 9 AM–4:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 9 AM–4:30 PM |
| Thursday | 9 AM–4:30 PM |
| Friday | 9 AM–4:30 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–4:30 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
Address and Contact Information
Address: First Street and East Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 593-1785
Website: https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/visit/capitol-cafe
Menu Photos
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Capitol Restaurant
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We offer Multiple Dining Option-BBQ, Soups, Salads, Burgers, Pizza, Pasta, Salad & Dessert Bar, Global and American Stations, Espresso Bar.
Reviews
John R
For being a museum cafe it’s really good and has a good amount of options for lunch.
Good options for treats as well.
Best plan is to tour the Capitol around 10:30-11, eat lunch here, and then go through the tunnel to the library Congress around 1-1:30pm. That way you only need to go through the security once to see both sites.
… moreGood options for treats as well.
Best plan is to tour the Capitol around 10:30-11, eat lunch here, and then go through the tunnel to the library Congress around 1-1:30pm. That way you only need to go through the security once to see both sites.
JJ Sullivan
It’s a cafeteria full of 8th grade tours! It was packed full, it felt amazingly clean. Had a wide variety of food, pizza, hot dogs, salad bar, shrimp; even Indian food. Wide choices of food, desserts and drinks.
Shrimp was $19. You take and clear your own plates. The utensils are found at a counter in the dining area. Dinning area has shared tables and very loud. In the basement area so no atmosphere except for all the visitors.
… moreShrimp was $19. You take and clear your own plates. The utensils are found at a counter in the dining area. Dinning area has shared tables and very loud. In the basement area so no atmosphere except for all the visitors.
Luke Nam
Continental-style restaurant situated in the heart of the U.S. Capitol. With limited food options on the National Mall, it’s a place worth stopping by.
Food is served akin to a school cafeteria. You pick up a plate, load it with whatever you want, and pay the cashier prior to heading over to the dining area.
I ordered a U.S. Capitol dome for $8.95 as a dessert to end my tour of the Capitol, and I found it decent; not terrible but not astounding. The white “marble” of the U.S. Capitol is made of white chocolate, and the bottom half of the dome is filled with whipped cream. Strawberries and blackberries are situated at the Capitol’s base to complement its flavors. I found the chocolate to be overly sweet, and the whipped cream to taste rather cheap. However, the berries tasted fresh.
Service was kind and the dining area was clean. Decent stop for food around the National Mall.
… moreFood is served akin to a school cafeteria. You pick up a plate, load it with whatever you want, and pay the cashier prior to heading over to the dining area.
I ordered a U.S. Capitol dome for $8.95 as a dessert to end my tour of the Capitol, and I found it decent; not terrible but not astounding. The white “marble” of the U.S. Capitol is made of white chocolate, and the bottom half of the dome is filled with whipped cream. Strawberries and blackberries are situated at the Capitol’s base to complement its flavors. I found the chocolate to be overly sweet, and the whipped cream to taste rather cheap. However, the berries tasted fresh.
Service was kind and the dining area was clean. Decent stop for food around the National Mall.
Anya
I recently visited the U.S. Capitol Cafe and had a decent experience overall. I ordered the red sauce pasta, which turned out to be pretty good. The sauce was flavorful, and the portion size was just right for a quick meal. I also got an iced tea, which was refreshing.
However, I have to dock a star for the service. While the food was satisfying, the cashier’s tone was quite rude, which took away from the experience. For that reason, I’d rate the service at 3 stars. Despite this, the meal itself was enjoyable, so I’m giving the cafe 4 stars overall.
… moreHowever, I have to dock a star for the service. While the food was satisfying, the cashier’s tone was quite rude, which took away from the experience. For that reason, I’d rate the service at 3 stars. Despite this, the meal itself was enjoyable, so I’m giving the cafe 4 stars overall.
Tessa Goth Rudolphy
I was excited to try the Senate Bean Soup and while there was a ton of other good looking options, nothing would deter me. The soup was filling and satisfying, although not quite as tasty as it could’ve been.
I made a small salad from the salad bar – there was a dude ahead of me that didn’t seem to be aware I was waiting to serve myself behind him, that is until I was ready to go around him to serve myself some dressing, when he promptly blocked my way. What can you do, right?
The salad itself was so fresh and delicious it just needed a touch of dressing anyway. I also had to get the Capitol Building dessert. It was pretty bland, but absolutely gorgeous!
… moreI made a small salad from the salad bar – there was a dude ahead of me that didn’t seem to be aware I was waiting to serve myself behind him, that is until I was ready to go around him to serve myself some dressing, when he promptly blocked my way. What can you do, right?
The salad itself was so fresh and delicious it just needed a touch of dressing anyway. I also had to get the Capitol Building dessert. It was pretty bland, but absolutely gorgeous!
Maggie Macfarlane
Yo?! This food SUCKS! Mac and cheese? I could make a cheaper Kraft when I get home! Straight up cafeteria food. Don’t get the cupcakes. The red velvet tastes like paint. Pizza is cardboard with sauce. Potato salad has WAY too much mustard. Don’t go.
… moreRobert Kosin
A cafeteria in every meaning of the word to accommodate the menu desires of all variety of visitors to the Capital. It may not be just legislative staf enjoying that pizza slice but also the high school class of students. And to prove there is something special about that place, search and enjoy the dessert.
… moregrapeape 3
I think the 4 star reviews many others posted is a good review. For food, there are many options. The food isn’t great, but not bad. The prices are a bit high, but what can you expect for a tourist area.
… moreJason Z
Gotta say, not bad, not bad at all. When some in our party said they could wait no longer and HAD to have a snack while in the middle of the US Capitol, I have to confess to dreading a visit to the cafe in the basement of our nation’s headquarters figuring it would be ugly, overpriced, and tasteless. Well it was still in the basement but otherwise was clean and well organized, service was reasonably pleasant, prices weren’t too terrible for where it was located ($4 coffee, $6 slice of cake, $5 fancy large cupcake), and the food was actually great quality and tasted good. Plus, it was fun to look around and imagine who may be rubbing shoulders with you (lots of tourists mostly ha) and super convenient for a short pit stop in your touring activities. I wouldn’t go out of my way to come here, but definitely no hesitation to stop in the future if already in the building.
… moreAnthony P
Located on the lower level of the visitor center – open 0830-1030, and 1100-1600 M-F. This restaurant is a food court style with great lunch choices ranging from burgers and pizza to great bbq meals or chef prepared pork loin. There is a wonderful salad bar and a dessert bar that is simply ridiculous – and it’s as good as it looks. I had a piece of carrot cake – I may eat again next week; simply, it was huge, very rich, and omg good. I did smack my wife’s hand when she came for it – but i did so lovingly, so it’s ok.
… more