George Washington University Hospital Cafeteria

This cafeteria is bright, clean, bustling, and cheerful. It is right across the street from the Foggy Bottom metro station and very convenient to a number of GW’s main academic buildings. There is a Starbucks and a Subway, as well as a grill station, sushi counter, hot entrée station, salad bar, pizza station, and soda fountain.
I had a salmon avocado roll and a small diet lemonade from the soda fountain. The fountain was clean and the lids and cups were well-​organized. I was bummed, however, that there was no club soda/​seltzer option. (My go-​to fountain drink these days is ¹⁄₃ Sprite and ²⁄₃ seltzer.) But having a low-​cal, caffeine-​free option in the diet lemonade is a definite plus.
The sushi was surprisingly fresh, and the interplay of textures from the subtly-​seasoned rice, the salmon, the creamy avocado, and the cold, crunchy matchstick slivers of cucumber was far, far better than I had any real right to expect from cafeteria sushi. At $ 5.99 for eight decently-​sized pieces, it was priced well, too.
If I were hungrier, I might have tried the hot entrée station, but as it was, I was put off by the fact that both proteins – crispy tilapia and chicken parmesan – were breaded. I wish there’d been a lighter option available there. That being said, I was impressed by the yummy-​looking maduros I saw there.
The salad bar was understocked and the veggies there looked wilted and unappetizing. It was messy and disorderly. Just not inviting, at all. The salad bar should really have pride of place in a hospital cafeteria, I think. It seemed a shame that it looked basically like an afterthought.
The staff were friendly and efficient at the register. Napkins, straws, etc., were all well-​stocked and centrally located.
There was plenty of seating at the time I went (around noon on a weekday), and I was also delighted to find that there is ample outdoor seating available, as well. There’s a strip of grass and trees just beyond the perimeter of the outdoor seating area, which adds to its ambience. It was quite a congenial spot to sit quietly and enjoy my sushi lunch.
I’m glad my fellow Unilocalers hipped me to this place. It’s a really legit option for lunch around GW. I’ll be trying breakfast here, soon.
Update: I’ve now tried the turkey burger at the grill station. Will I completely destroy my «foodie» cred if I tell you that it was legitimately tasty? The turkey was flavorful and juicy, and it was served on a toasted whole wheat bun. Tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, and condiments are self-​serve. For only $ 3.50, it’s a nice option for a quick meal. Add a medium drink for $ 1.15 and there you go: lunch or a small dinner for under five bucks.
Salad bar is still atrocious, though.

So why I am writing about a hospital cafeteria let alone giving it four stars?
As far as hospital food goes, it’s not too shabby! Breakfast here is your best bet. Inexpensive, hot, and generous portions. What’s not to like?
The other non-​breakfast food is your basic pizza, hot dogs, fries, burgers, soup, salad bar (which is kind of rip off in my opinion), rotating daily special, and as of about 6 – 7 months ago a Subway (i.e. a known commodity). What is really shocking is the sushi here. It’s legit, good, and way better priced than your average sushi in DC! Trust me, I was skeptical too at first.
Attached to the cafeteria is 24 hours Starbucks, which can be a lifesaver since the cafeteria closes around 7PM and Subway closes at 11PM.
The staff is friendly and the place is always clean.

probably it’s the only somehow reasonably priced cafeteria near gw. i skipped it in the past two years. and until recently I didn’t decide to have a try. their pizza is about $ 2, portion size is alright to me, not too big, not too small. medium-​sized soup cup is also $ 2. fruit cup is about $ 2.5. sushi is about $ 6 for maybe 8 – 10 pieces, not bad. simplytogo salad is $ 6. so basically with $ 6, you can have many selections or combinations. like their sausage pizza, meaty chili soup and fruit cup. it’s my regular lunch spot now.

This cafeteria is always clean. The staff does a great job at cleaning tables and chairs once people leave. I also like the music playlist they have. The food is decently priced, and they have a nice selection. I typically get the sushi, and I really enjoy it! I also come here to study sometimes because it’s on the quieter side.

Yes, now there are many more food options in the area, but few (or none) are so cheap. Where else can 2 people eat breakfast for under $ 6 including a Starbucks coffee?
In the morning, they have 3 hot cereals (grits, oatmeal, and cream of wheat) and toppings for them including raisins, nuts, brown sugar for 99 cents. We had 2 oatmeals, 1 carton of milk, and a Starbucks coffee for under $ 6.

With Whole Foods so close now the only reason I go to the cafeteria now is to get the cheap soup, or the weather is either too hot or too cold to walk further than the 100 ft from my building to the hospital.
For a hospital their food is OK. But did you ever expect anything less? 24 hr Starbucks does keep me around for those late-​night caffeine fixes during inevitable mid-​term paper energy losses.

I give this cafeteria four stars not because the food is outstanding, but because the place serves its function very well. It’s the cheapest lunch option around and the food is decent. I usually get oatmeal in the morning (only like $ 1.50) and salad at lunch, which is basic, but generally pretty fresh.

It’s been a long time since last writing a review and I apologize to all of the great places I’ve been to, because I have to write a review about a starbucks. When on campus I usually go to the starbucks on H (I think) between 21^st and 22^nd, those dudes rule. When I have to go to a starbucks, that is the best one. The one inside the hospital though… if I were dieing on the table and my doctor was late because he had to go to the other starbucks on campus, I wouldn’t blame him.
The rest of the Cafeteria, this is no reflection on you.

I work at GW Hospital and it feels like I’ve eaten one too many late-​night meals here. Even so, the food selection and quality is pretty good considering other hospital cafeterias. I usually go for the sushi, which is better than most other boxed sushi. However, I would LOVE to see more healthy eating options at GWUH cafeteria. Lots of sandwiches, burgers, chicken tenders, fries, etc… and the salad bar isn’t too appealing.

First, you need to look at what it is: a hospital cafeteria. If you go in with high expectations, you clearly haven’t eaten at many hospitals.
If you know what to get you can actually find a decent lunch. While some items are grossly overpriced, other items like the soups ($ 2 for a large) are actually pretty inexpensive. $ 5 made-​to-​order sandwiches aren’t bad either.
The pizza is usually a little overdone and not the best, and if you’re brave enough to try the premade sandwiches or salads you will be disappointed.
While it’s anything but a 5-​star restaurant, this cafeteria is a good option for people in need of a fast and inexpensive meal close to the Foggy bottom metro station or the GW Hospital.

If wheelchairs and ambulances get your stomach growling, then this is the place for you! Located conveniently by the Foggy Bottom Metro, its a must-​stop location for breakfast and a good option for lunch and dinner as well.
I work in the area and will frequent the cafeteria with my co-​workers. The variety of food stations have been mentioned (grill, salad bar, sushi, smoothies, etc.) and provide enough options to satisfy everyone. The price of the food is what really makes this a great quick meal: a made-​to-​order omelet is just a couple bucks. As for lunch, the white bean chili is a staple.
The dining hall isn’t filled with invalids or crying widows — it’s actually well-​lit, clean and has plenty of tables to accommodate your party. In fact, many of the hospital’s doctors will eat here as well. So if you’re single and ready to mingle with some well-​to-​do professionals then check it out. (And if that doesn’t work, the GW law school is only a few blocks away — you can roam around there.)

This cafeteria really isn’t terrible. They have lots of varieties of food and the prices are reasonable. Sometimes I will run in here when I am coming out of the metro and really hungry but it’s not generally a place I think of for lunch. I met my uncle here the other day so I could get coffee before my last law school final and he could get something to eat before heading back to NYC. The soups are pretty gross looking although my uncle said that the one non-​cream-​based one was fine. The deli is useful for sandwiches but usually I grab something pre-​made from the refrigerator section. Also, I appreciate the silverware machines where you push the button and it releases one fork, one spoon, etc. Very sanitary, which I guess should be expected at a hospital.

«Hospital» and «cafeteria» are normally two words that, put together in the same sentence, would make me shudder. But the GW Hospital Cafeteria is so much better than that. It makes me so happy that I can buy a cheap salad right across from where I work. There’s a salad bar, pizza bar, sushi bar, Freshens smoothie bar, grill, hot selections, and deli along with refrigerated convenience items. For you coffee fiends, there’s also a Starbucks inside.
The service is very predictable. There’s this one indian woman who always says «Hi how are you» in this very monotone voice and refuses to make eye contact. A couple times I got free food because she rang me up wrong. Maybe this can happen to you too.
I can only give it 3 stars because there are WAY too many unhealthy, fried options for a hospital of all places. Maybe they are trying to induce Type II diabetes and get more business for the hospital. I would prefer to have expanded hours for the hot items at lunch time. While the food tastes great, I just wish it were better for you. For a salad or sushi here, you can’t go wrong.