I wrote an earlier blog about how I routinely dodge the question about “my favorite restaurant”. Add the word museum to that question and I will gladly give you a list. Going from West Coast to East Coast below are my recommendations for museum restaurants I love and those I still want to visit. I have denoted the projects we worked on with an asterisk.
- Sunday at the Museum at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco – Newly opened this year, Sunday at the Museum has received nods from the NY Times and others. * note JGL worked on this project but has yet to visit since it opened 🙁
- Wise Sons at the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco – Amazing smoked trout salad and great alignment. Enough said.
- In Situ at SF MOMA in San Francisco- Chef Corey Lee has created an homage to famous chefs of all times.
- Otium at the Broad Museum in Los Angeles – On my list to visit based on the rave reviews I have read!
- Esker Grove at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis – Offering creative cuisine celebrating seasonal ingredients with a seasonal outdoor terrace, this restaurant is effortlessly cool. * JGL project.
- Fika at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis – The well- crafted menu in this hidden gem makes for some difficult decisions.
- Marisol at the MCA in Chicago – Marisol has a great vibe with an eclectic mix of ladies who lunch, business people, families and twenty somethings. Their sunflower seed hummus is delish!
- Terzo Piano at the Art Institute in Chicago – Beautiful food in a gorgeous setting. * JGL project.
- Café Modern at the Modern Art Museum in Fort Worth – Elegant a la carte setting with a focus on seasonal, local and artisanal offerings.
- Mitsitam Café at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington DC – Great aligned and exposure to so many new delicious foods.
- The Source at the Newseum in Washington DC – This perennially popular Wolfgang Puck restaurant never disappoints.
- Rats Restaurant at Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton NJ – An entirely magical experience particularly if you go during the temperate months and enjoy the grounds before or after your meal. * JGL project.
- Flora Bar at the Met Breuer in New York – This lower level space is gorgeous; Chef Ignacio Mattos seems to have the Midas touch. * JGL project.
- Morgan Dining Room at the Morgan Library in New York – This intimate dining room hearkens back to the Gilded Age and is a special treat for lunch. * JGL project
- The Modern at MOMA in New York – While anybody who knows me has heard me say the Modern is not really a museum restaurant, more simply a great restaurant that happens to be connected to the museum but nonetheless this list would not be complete without its presence!
- Café Sabarsky at the Neue Galerie in New York – This restaurant is so well aligned with the mission of the Neue; you can’t imagine one without the other.
- Verde at the Perez Art Museum in Miami – This restaurant has a fresh and creative menu, great staff, and amazing views. *JGL project.Let me know if I have missed any of your favorites. Stay tuned – some exciting openings on the way in 2019!
Verde
Sunday at the Museum