Merriweather Cafe

Wow !! After an expensive and disappointing high tea at the four seasons... I was skeptical to try this but want to support the museum... and I was impressed!! The made me a small gluten free tray- and it was delicious. Fresh and flavorsome, the mini scones and sandwiches hit the spot. It is a teabag but for $40 a person- it's a STEAL. The pastries were delicate and charming. Bottle of bubbly for $45 was reasonable and even their lunch menu items were tasty and fresh! We'll be back!

You don't have to ask me twice whether I want to have afternoon tea at a historic estate, so some friends and I set a date and got together to enjoy it!Our group of 9 was quickly admitted to the cafe area. We were seated at a long table with banquette seats on one side and chairs on the other. A couple of 3-tray servers were already on the table based on our RSVPs. Once the server took our orders, she left to bring us our tea (we opted for the jasmine pearl and cherry blossom teas from Harney & Sons) and the plates containing a variety of mini sandwiches (the egg salad was the standout), cherry scones, and some adorable mini desserts. They were visually appealing and also tasted quite good.For how beautiful the property is, and based on what we know of the former owner's wealth and elegance, I was surprised that the cafe setup for tea wasn't ... nicer. For example, the tables and chairs seemed to be old and worn. The cafe area itself was dated. There were no tablecloths on the tables. It looked like a lot of corners had been cut.We were also disappointed that they brought out a bill, then charged my credit card another amount, which was $80 more. The server explained that the first bill did not include tax and gratuity. So, fine, but why bring it out to begin with then? This was just odd. My friends and I had already divided the bill and Venmo'd for the amounts we were supposed to based on that bill. The additional $80 was just an unwelcomed surprise that caused unnecessary math and an additional Venmo. Why do this to people? Why end an otherwise pleasant tea like this?Located in a quiet residential area, you have to keep your eyes open to find it, but once you do, you won't want to leave. There is ample parking through the guard gate.

Delightful cafe to be enjoyed on a gorgeous day! They have outdoor seating as well as cute indoor tables!Nice service by the staff, prepare for a slower pace like a French cafe.My friend and I split the prosciutto flatbread which was tasty but could use a bit of pesto sauce or a tomato or some honey.We truly enjoyed the flavors of the artichokes. The lemon and sauce worked beautifully together.For dessert we had the cheesecake which simply lovely with fresh strawberries slices! "Yummm" was what my friend wanted to add about it! :)Want to come back and try other items on the menu!

VERDICT: Great food, a bit slow. Small but reasonable portions (reasonable minds may disagree). ------------------------------------------FOOD: All of the food was great. Fresh and tasty. Roast Beef Dip ($20)Salmon Tartare ($16)Garden Deviled Eggs ($9)Pan-Seared Rockfish with snap peas and potato purée ($27).I love salmon sashimi and avocados so the tartare was a hit for me. But the roast beef dip was stellar.For drinks, my mom got a Cappuccino ($5) and my dad a (pink?) lemonade. The cappuccino was small but just the right size for her. The lemonade was ok.SERVICE:We were seated promptly according to our reservation. The staff seemed polite and nice. But I do wonder if they were understaffed. It took a bit before they were able to give bread and then a while before orders were were taken and then a while before came. Then an item was forgotten. The cafe did seem full, but my recommendation is -- expect to wait. Do not go if you need to be out in 1.5 hours or something. AMBIANCE:Lovely. Exactly what you might imagine for an estate-museum-garden cafe. Lively crowd seated, but not quite boisterous. No music played when we were there. Good lighting, though it was a rainy day.

Despite the first snowstorm of the year, my friends and I gathered for Holiday Afternoon Tea at the Merriweather Cafe at the Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens. I checked in at the visitor's center, and they provided me with a Shop/Dine sticker. I didn't like the walk from the visitor's center to the white insulated tent. They didn't allow walk-ins for this afternoon tea event, so I'm glad we had a reservation. The Holiday Afternoon Tea was available from December 1, 2023 through January 7, 2024; $38/person with a minimum of 4 guests, and consisted of your choice of tea with a tower of sweets, scones, and savory. You had the option to add on sparkling wine for $14/person and holiday quiche for $10/person. The Holiday Quiche consisted of butternut squash, kale, and goat cheese and were large enough to share.In addition to the traditional teas (e.g., Chamomile, Classic Green, English Breakfast, and Earl Grey), they had several holiday teas (e.g., Christmas, Christmas Morning, Gingerbread Joy, Peppermint, and World Peace). The teas were served with milk, honey, and lemon. I enjoyed a pot of Christmas Tea, a black tea with cinnamon and clove without any condiments. It was nice that Shannon walked around and provided a refill of hot water for our teapots.The top tier had sweets. There were three kinds of sweets - Sweet Potato Tartlet, Assorted Mini Petit Fours, and Assorted Chocolate Bonbons. Among the sweets, the Sweet Potato Tartlet was my favorite. The middle tier had scones, which were served with clotted cream and strawberry preserves. It was so good, I took one to go. The bottom tier had tea sandwiches. There were three different kinds - Cucumber with Mint Cream Cheese on White, Smoked Salmon with Lemon and Dill Butter on White, and Roast Turkey with Stuffing and Cranberry Relish on Multigrain. Among the tea sandwiches, the Roast Turkey with Stuffing and Cranberry Relish on Multigrain.Michael, the gentleman at the giftshop, told me they also host a Cherry Blossom Afternoon Tea in the spring that I hope to come back for.

The afternoon tea is an utter bummer. You need to leave your credit card at the time of reservation, so they can charge a fee if you do not show up. You need to pay for the museum entrance (USD 18), in order to get to the Cafe. They serve you 5 small pieces of food for USD 40 (plus tip and tax) and a small jug of tea per person. Again, there is no refill for the food. Ridiculous. A ripped-off. No atmosphere either: it is a small cafeteria, contrasting with the state's beauty surrounding the restaurant. The service is bland and uncaring, like machines.Skip it.

A lovely little cafe in one of the coolest museums and estates in DC! If you are checking out the Hillwood, definitely treat yourself to the very tasty and quaint little restaurant on campus as well. Open daily for lunch, this restaurant has some great (and slightly pricy) options that fit in perfectly with the elegant surroundings. The apple Brie crostini was a great opener, with delicious crispy fried sage on top. The salad with salmon and the polenta were both very tasty as well! The portions are a little small for the price, but the flavor is good.We ended our meal with a chocolate pot de crème, which came highly recommended by the very kind waitress. It was a treat! What a perfect way to end the meal. The restaurant has great indoor and tented seating areas as well. Give it a try!

After touring the Hillwood estate, my sister, and I decided to stop in and order lunch. What a quaint little café on the estate grounds . The food was delicious and the service was great.

I had a pretty bad experience at Merriweather Café when I was visited Hillwood Museum and Gardens a month or so ago. We were seated (the host who seated us wasn't very friendly, put some menus on a table and left), but then ... nothing. No one came back. We were really hungry and eventually just got up and left and got snacks from the food stand outside. It was a very frustrating experience.

The worst dining experience (using the word "dining" loosely) I have had in quite some time. To say that the service was indifferent does not does not give the very bad service that we received its due. Several missteps on their part -- and not one apology or acknowledgement that perhaps they could have done better. Will definitely not return. Should also mention that the food was edible but not really more than that.