Mitsitam Cafe Richard Hetzler Mitsitam Cafe

Mitsitam Cafe Awards

Surprisingly good museum food will bring visitors back for American Indian cooking.
Openings: Lunch & Early Dinner daily

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Mitsitam Cafe, Washington, DC


Mitsitam Cafe Restaurant Review:


Mitsitam Café, the cafeteria of The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, offers a menu that’s sectioned into five different regions to correspond to the tribes of each major geographic area. The foods reflect what native peoples once typically enjoyed according to the seasons. Executive chef Richard Hetzler has become an acknowledged national expert on Native American foods from all regions, and his expertise is evident in the preparations. What other museum eatery anywhere would offer oak-roasted half duck with a dried currant sauce paired with moist corn pudding? White chocolate-papaya or spicebush aguas frescas? Dried corn and chili salad? White bean and oxtail soup, buffalo burgers, or beef tacos with New Mexican red chili and a mango mole? Each turn of the calendar offers more treats to keep people intrigued.