Sweet Home Cafe

Sadly no safe GF options The Smithsonian should learn from Disney too many families to not take food allergies seriously

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not at all

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Not Much/None

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Good

Similar to first review.

Almost nothing gluten free. None of the fresh food or fruit was safe.

A couple of prepackaged items are stamped gluten free.

Says can’t bring food in. That said, I ate a sandwich if brought and no one said anything about it. I bring my food places I go and try to buy anything that is safe. Then I eat what I brought with whatever I bought.

It’s unfortunate they blatantly do nothing to accommodate food allergies. They have a sign at the door that says as much.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not at all

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Not Much/None

Other Characteristics

• Good vegetarian options

This is the cafe inside the National Museum of African American History, a Smithsonian facility. It is famous for offering from several different regions of America, carefully researched by Top Chef Carla Hall and menu created by Executive Chef Jerome Grant. There's even a Sweet Home Cafe cookbook. My 13-year-old daughter has celiac, so we had done our homework before visiting. We knew she couldn't bring food in and that we should ask the cafe staff for assistance with ordering. We waited until 2:00 (hoping that the lunch rush was over) before going to the cafe. When we arrived at the cafe, we were told to ask for Chef Jeff at the BBQ station. We waited in line for him, and when it was finally our turn, he gruffly said she could have all the BBQ items except the bread. I asked whether there was anything else in the cafe she could eat and he said aside from the shrimp and grits, no. She's only 13 and didn't want (not could she possibly eat) a $17 BBQ meal. But the cost isn't the issue here; it's that we aren't allowed to bring food into the museum, but they offered almost nothing for people who are in strict gluten-free diets. Nor was the menu clearly marked so that celiacs don't have to wait in line, only to be told they can't eat 90% of the menu. In the end, she and I wound up spending $21 on a container of trail mix, 2 peaches, and 2 bottles of Dasani.