speckles

I'll be in DC for 5 nights in mid August. We'll be staying at the Residence Inn in Pentagon City (inc breakfast) and doing the usual tourist stuff: The Mall area and surrounds, Georgetown, Arlington Cemetery, Old Town Alexandria, Mt Vernon and possibly the zoo.

Can anyone please offer suggestions for supermarkets, mini-marts or bakeries near the hotel, the Mall area and main part of Georgetown. I'm not American so don't know what the usual stores are called to google them. I prefer to eat light during the day such as sandwiches, rolls, salads or other baked goods, so not particularly interested in restaurants or fast food.

I have received a lot of information for the NYC part of my trip, but think a lot of those suggestions are NYC specific.

speckles

Forgot to add.. I've heard of the Old Post Office Pavilion, Union Station and the museum cafes. Not sure if the museum cafes are mostly cooked meals, or if they have sandwiches too.

vjpblovesitaly

I think if you pull up the address on Mapquest.com and then put grocery store in the "search nearby" box, you can get grocery stores listed on a map.

obxgirl

The cafes & restaurants in the museums serve mostly sandwiches, salads, and light meals. Some hot dogs and hamburgers. I really like the one on the concourse between the National Gallery of Art's east and west buildings. Much variety in light food, an espresso bar and a pleasant place to sit.

Harris Teeter is supermarket very close to your hotel. It's located in Pentagon Row. A short metro ride away in Alexandria is an upscale grocery, Whole Foods Market. Lots of really good prepared foods and bakery items. You can't go wrong there. It's on Duke Street a couple of blocks from the King Street Metro station.

There is a Dean and Deluca (another upscale specialty grocery) on M Street in Georgetown. I'm sure there are other options but G'town isn't a spot I visit very often.

Ruff

Old Post Office and Union Station each have food courts, so different "restaurants" offer different kinds of food that you pick up on a tray and take to a common seating area. Both of these places tend to be noisy.

In addition to the restaurant/cafeteria in the National Gallery of Art, the Museum of the American Indian has particularly good food for a museum.

Typical lunch carry out or eat in places/chains that are good and quick in the overall DC area are Panera and Cosi.

speckles

Hi all. Thanks for the suggestions. I have done some research on them.

wyatt92

Well most Americans eat sandwiches or salads for lunch as well. My favorite place to grab lunch is Cosi. They have the most delicious baked bread and their salads and sandwiches are made to order. There are several Cosi's in the DC area, including all of the areas you mention.

obxgirl

Agreed. Cosi = Good.

DancingBearMD

Right off of the Navy Memorial on Pennsylvania Avenue, at the Archives/Navy Memorial Metro stop, is a Teaism which sounds like it would be up your alley. Check them out on-line (the 8th St address is the one at the Navy Memorial):

http://www.teaism.com/

We like the cafe in the National Gallery sculpture garden, open for lunch, located between the National Gallery and the Smithsonian Natural History Museum (and across Constitution Ave from the National Archives).

Be advised there is not easy access to decent food around some of the memorials, including Jefferson, FDR, Lincoln and World War II memorials, or very close to the Washington Monument.

Also be advised it will be very hot and sticky.

Oh, lots of places to eat near the zoo, at either of the nearest Metro stops--Woodley Park/Zoo or Cleveland Park. Don't wait to eat at the zoo--not good there.

crepes_a_go_go

I'll second the prepared food section at Whole Foods - very varied selection.

kayd

Harris-Teeter near your hotel should have all you need.

While downtown, 7th Street NW north of Pennsylvania Ave is great for variety if you want something off the Mall. For restaurants, continue north on 7th.
For sandwich and salad fare there's Indiana Ave, between 6th and 7th near the Archives Metro station -- Potbelly, a deli, Cosi, and Au Bon Pain.

repete

The Old Post Office food court is in a bit of downhill skid unfortunately.

As for museum cafes, the only two I'd recommend are the Indian Museum for its regional variety and the National Gallery (Garden Court???). But there's good gelato in the National Gallery too.

For light lunches, Au Bon Pain and Cosi are nothing fancy but have good variety, fresh ingredients and are reliable. For a quick but wonderful sandwich, Cowgirl Creamery has two choices daily: meat and meatless. They also have the best cheese in town. (9th and F)

DancingBearMD

I agree with Repete that the Old Post Office food court has declined, we've been avoiding it for some time. I'm not sure of the current status, but there is a food court in the basement of the nearby Reagan Office Building. We haven't been there for a while because the nearest Smithsonian museum, the Museum of American History, has been closed for renovations (and will not be open for the OP's visit--some of their items are now on display at Air and Space).

I also second Repete's recommendation of the Gallery Cafe at the National Gallery, but be aware that it is only open 11:30-3:

http://www.nga.gov/ginfo/cafes.shtm

speckles

Thanks all. Your recommendations have been noted.

crepes_a_go_go

" the Museum of American History . . .some of their items are now on display at Air and Space"

Just an FYI - when we were there last week, we were told the exhibit that was set up in Air & Space closed on 13 April. As we say in New Orleans, "Ain't dere no mo'!"

speckles

Thanks Crepes. I was planning to go to the NASM just to see the American History exhibit as the museum is closed. The only positive I can see from all this is that it makes the itinerary planning a little easier!