where to eat lunch near African American museum for 100 person school group?

[Anonymous]

My kid is going and they have been asked to bring a bagged lunch. Maybe they'll eat on the bus if it rains? No idea.

[Anonymous]

It's later this month, so I imagine the museum will be quite crowded for Black History Month, possibly the Ronald Reagan building less so. But breaking into smaller groups and eating in the Museum Cafe may be the way to go since if they leave the museum they can't re enter (I think).

[Anonymous]

My kid’s entire 6th grade class is going to that exact museum next week and each kid MUST bring: a snack, a water bottle, and a bag lunch. There are about 110 kids in that grade.

You bring a lunch. You eat it outside.

The cafeteria there is excellent and one of my favorite parts of that museum. But there is zero way it can handle that many kids at once and some of the dishes may be difficult for some kids to understand without explanation (like low country Brunswick stew with hare which I had last time and it was insanely good).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure a school group can't bring their own lunch? We have done bagged lunches in the cafeteria at Natural History Museum with a group of a 100. It was fine. Or just eat outside, unless its a super cold day it will be fine.

I like how OP specifically addressed this, and people post stuff like this without looking at the web page, like OP apparently did, to their credit.

https://nmaahc.si.edu/visit/frequently-asked-questions

"Visitors may bring a bottle of water into the museum. All other outside food or drink must be properly closed and secured and may not be consumed in the Museum.  Visitors may enjoy bagged lunches outside on the National Mall. "

Hasn’t your kid ever taken a field trip? They bring the lunches and leave them on the bus. Then they eat outside somewhere. They aren’t lugging them all around the museum.

Yeah we went to thr American Indian museum and had intentions of eating outside and it was pouring! We eventually convinced museum staff to let kids eat inside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school is taking a field trip to the National Museum of African American History & Culture, and the cafeteria there only seats 400, and we're concerned that as popular as it is, it will be a logistical nightmare with a 100 person school group.

Would the food court in the Ronald Reagan building be better?

Anywhere else near 14th and Constitution?

The museum doesn't allow outside food, and the weather will probably be too cold for eating outside, which is why I don't think bagged/boxed lunches are a good option.

The restaurant in the museum is pretty amazing! Communicating w them ahead of time might be helpful if you want the kids to eat there. Would they be willing to prepare a lunch for you all?

They wouldn’t; they have multiple large groups per day. There isn’t even space to hold 100 kids in there and the food is quite expensive- more than most kids are going to be able to bring for lunch on a field trip. The only options are bag lunch on the lawn or the Reagan building.

[Anonymous]

OP just do the bagged lunch and plan to eat outside and have eating on the bus as the backup plan. Herding 100 kids through the museum restaurant at staggered times or moving to a different location (RRB) will be a CF.

[Anonymous]

Agree bagged lunch but if not Reagan food court—- but it will take time to get kids over there, for them to oick a place to eat, to get there food etc.

[Anonymous]

My kid is going in early March. School split the grade in 1/2 and they are going over 2 days. I have to send $20 cash with my kid. They are eating in the cafeteria.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our school is taking a field trip to the National Museum of African American History & Culture, and the cafeteria there only seats 400, and we're concerned that as popular as it is, it will be a logistical nightmare with a 100 person school group.

Would the food court in the Ronald Reagan building be better?

Anywhere else near 14th and Constitution?

The museum doesn't allow outside food, and the weather will probably be too cold for eating outside, which is why I don't think bagged/boxed lunches are a good option.

I know you’re concerned about eating outside in the cold, but I think it’s going to be your best option. I remember doing that when I was little and the cold wasn’t an issue because everyone was so excited about the field trip. .02

Ordering for 100 kids will be a nightmare.

[Anonymous]

I would definitely ask the museum for advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid’s entire 6th grade class is going to that exact museum next week and each kid MUST bring: a snack, a water bottle, and a bag lunch. There are about 110 kids in that grade.

You bring a lunch. You eat it outside.

The cafeteria there is excellent and one of my favorite parts of that museum. But there is zero way it can handle that many kids at once and some of the dishes may be difficult for some kids to understand without explanation (like low country Brunswick stew with hare which I had last time and it was insanely good).


Thanks for posting about the stew. That’s something my kid won’t eat. I just looked at the menu—my kid will happily eat sides from the Agricultural South. Mac and cheese, baked beans, corn bread. He’s going to think it’s the best lunch ever. They also have hot dogs, chicken tenders, and fries at the grill.

[Anonymous]

Taking all those rowdy kids through securty at the Reagan building? Dear god, NO! Make them pack a lunch and eat it outside