New American Cafe

We visited on a Thursday in mid-June 2025. It was actually the Juneteenth Free Admission Holiday (only for MA residents). We were planning to eat here but we were surprised when we had to pay to get in on the Fee Free day. It was not clearly advertised that it was free only for MA residents. So we ended up paying $119 for 2 adults and 3 children. That was the money we were going to spend here at the restaurant. So we ended up eating at the Garden Cafeteria in the basement which had much more reasonable prices and the food was good too. We did take a picture a of the venue and the menu as we were still contemplating it but couldn't bring ourselves to spent the additional money in our limited budget. The kids also wanted stuff from the gift shops. Overall if we were able to come back we would gladly try this place. The setting and atmosphere just looked amazing and the live entertainment as well. It looked really busy and I'm not sure how the reservation system worked, if there was one.

Our family visited the museum and decided to find a place to rest and have lunch afterward. New American Cafe was the only real option available inside, since the café downstairs only offered a small selection of quick bites. So, we headed upstairs to try this restaurant. The space was a bit disappointing — there was barely any decoration, and the atmosphere felt plain and uninspired. However, the food was decent. Nothing exceptional, but the portions were fair and the flavors were generally okay. Some dishes were nicely presented and tasted fine for a quick museum lunch. Service was relatively fast, which was a plus. That said, the staff didn’t seem particularly friendly or welcoming. They did their job, but there was a noticeable lack of warmth or enthusiasm. Overall, it’s a convenient spot if you’re looking to grab a bite after exploring the museum, but don’t expect anything special in terms of ambiance or customer service. I would rate the food 3.5 stars, the service 3 stars, and the location 4 stars. It’s fine for a quick break, but not somewhere I’d go out of my way to revisit

Food was great and the atmosphere is beautiful. Only issue I had the day I went was the rap artist that were playing didn't quite make the vibe interesting. Almost like the music was not going well with the food. This is not on the restaurant at all, but something to watch out for. The service was ok.

The food here is always fresh and delicious. The menu is often updated so be prepared for adventure with a new experience each time you visit. The presentation of the food has an artistic flair. The flavors are exciting without being too much. We enjoyed both lunch and dessert and were very satisfied with our service, food and the enchantment of the art surrounding us while we dined.

We had an amazing dinner. Everything we ordered was super delicious. The only downside is the waiting time of the food… It was really long. They could have bring small plates first (veggies) and main course later, but they left us waiting hungry for so long, so they could bring everything at the same time. We were so hungry, didn’t even take a picture of our food.

This was fantastic! Yes, it’s expensive compared to the average restaurant, but it’s handy and right in the museum. You’re supporting the museum by eating here, too, so you can feel good about your purchase. Recommended - the service was great, the food was delicious, and they also had high chairs for little ones.

The food was much better than I expected — really tasty, especially for a museum restaurant where I thought it might be just average. The dining environment is also beautiful, with a lovely view that makes the experience enjoyable. The only downside is the price, which is definitely on the expensive side, but that’s to be expected in a museum setting. Overall, worth it as long as you’re prepared for the cost.

Grand atmosphere. Very comfortable temperatures given such a large open space with 3 floors high of glass windows in winter. Quick service and food was good. It was our highlight of the day. Got the Angus burger, chicken sandwich and cherry tart.

First of all, this cafe is a necessity. The Mfa is a big place and even if you go for just the special exhibit, you're on your feet for about an hour or more and you just want to have a little cafe time afterwards. Located smack dab in the middle of the museum (hard to miss, it's right by the extremely tall green glass sculpture), it is almost always packed with guests eating and chatting. Ambience? Definitely elevated cafeteria. Food selection? American. They try to add in little homages to the notable exhibits in their menu (but the confusion of why a kale salad would be related to Georgia O'Keefe is beyond me) but it's a bit scant and wasn't appealing. My table ordered just the desserts and some coffee/tea since it was in the late afternoon and was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the dishes. Expensive? Yes. I just told myself this is my contribution to the museum is I often get in free with my education perks.

I ordered garlic mussels with crispy toasted ciabatta bread. The mussels were tiny, the sauce tasted like a garlic salt shaker got emptied on top of the mussels.

You'll find yourself basking in the ambiance as you eat a meal at the New American Cafe. There's plenty of room to enjoy food with company, people watch, or sit alone and get lost in your own thoughts. Our waitress greeted us and served us with a smile. I really enjoyed my short ribs with rice and kimchi and the classical music playing in the background. I heard that the burger was mid, but that's expected at a casual cafe in a museum.

Good service, had blood orange gin & tonic, lychee martini, salad with salmon and a burger with house made chips. The highlight of the meal was the goat milk cheesecake with cherry sauce which was light and delightful. Would return just for that if in the area. Great museum cafe.

Good food but overpriced Changing $4.50 for soda AND THEN charging for refills is RIDICULOUS. $9 for two classes of soda that cost them maybe 4¢ total? (On top of not telling you there's a charge)

I got the ham toast here and was so pleasantly surprised with how it came out. It was topped with loads of prosciutto (not sure why it was advertised as ham) and tasted really great! The service didn't take too long even though it was packed because we went on a free museum admission day. The ambiance is lovely in the museum, only complaint is that a DJ came in and started bumping music half way through our lunch. It felt a bit out of place and detracted from the nice ambiance

Got a burger and Cobb salad while here, and panna cotta for dessert. All were decent. Service was excellent. Prices a little high but expected in the MFA.

Amazing ambiance, it feels like we're dining in the garden. The food is really good and the service makes us feel at home.

A few hours after a meal the customer had to stay close to a bathroom for the next 24 hours. When contacted the restaurant manager effectively proclaimed that it could not have been due to their food. Thing is that the customer had not eaten anything else for several hours before nor eaten anything after the meal. So there was a strong association of cause and effect. The food is now overpriced. The prices recently increased by several dollars. The quality of raw ingredients has food decreased. The restaurant exists in an enviable space. Ceilings are as high as the sky. For the setting prices, a little on the high side are justified. If a member then the prices are tempered. The service generally has been good. The music is easy to ignore. Neither stupid, vacuous pop nor violent hip-hop or other grotesqueries of other aural insult. But with prices jacked up as high as they are, even in a nice space, and the possibility of contamination and a restaurant management that has a tough bird, eat or don't eat, we don't care attitude, this place is not even good enough for dogs (acknowledging the boring and silly Jeff Koons metal dog knockoff presented as (titter) art.

Second time eating here, and I love it!!! The atmosphere ... A+. It really is a beautiful environment. Sometimes, there's a little bit of a wait, but they are really good about turning over tables and moving things along. So ... don't be discouraged to wait in line. The service ... always really good. I saw some reviews below that reported poor service, and I'm surprised. Of the 2 times I've been here, all of the servers worked really hard and had a lot of tables they were responsible for. I'm actually impressed with how well they are able to manage it all and never felt neglected or treated rudely. The food has been good both times I've been here. It's a small menu, which doesn't change that often. That would probably be my only complaint. It'd be nice if they rotated the menu a little more often. Price is is fair for this type of place. All in all ... lovely experience. I always look forward to getting a bite to eat here when I'm visiting the MFA.

Planning a day at MFA Boston we see on their website there are two dining options available. We tried the café option with table service today instead of the cafeteria to feel a bit more fancy on our day out. Located in a glass enclosed courtyard, overlooked by a Dale Chihuly green glass sculpture, this café is an 'open air', indoor restaurant (a.k.a. no walls) on level 1, near the Art of the Americas and Art of Europe galleries. It's a very sunny spot, and even on a cool March day, the sun coming in through those glass walls was quite hot. Our request to sit out of the sun was easily granted. There is a small area on the far side of the café, opposite the museum's information desk, where you wait to be seated. There are a fair number of staff on hand and we were seated in just a few minutes. The menu can be scanned by QR code or, if you prefer, a paper copy of the menu is available. At the time of our visit, if I remember correctly, there are a few appetizers, two entrees, four sandwiches and four desserts as well as several wines, soda's espresso drinks, and iced tea. Maybe beer too? I believe if you want a glass of wine with your in museum meal, this is your only dining option at present. Our waitress came over in just a couple of minutes after we were seated to pour our waters and take a drink order. When she returned with my beverage, we ordered a burger and turkey panini from their sandwich options. The tables and chairs here are minimalist and more sturdy than comfy. Easy to keep clean, which right now is important. The waitstaff are in black and white and wearing face coverings. A second member of the wait staff refilled our water a couple of times during our meal, which we very much appreciated. There is no kitchen visible in this café, and after keeping an eye out, we see the staff walking across the courtyard to one corner where there is a hallway to retrieve food. So your food is taking a long walk through a public area to get to the café then your table. The burger was certainly nothing special in any way. Pressed patty, no condiments on the bun, but does come with a side of ketchup. The turkey panini is quite dry with little flavor. Both served with a large side of house made potato chips, which my SO enjoyed, and I found greasy. Some where chewy while others were brittle. Also comes with a big, very tart, dill pickle spear. Some of the staff spent a good deal of time huddled together around the wait station chatting and laughing. Other than placing the order there was little interaction with our waitress. She did check on us once after the food arrived by another staff member and again when we were almost done. She never once asked (even during ordering) if we needed anything like salt or mustard or more water for example. She just popped by the table and said 'OK?' There are no condiments on the table so whatever you need, you have to ask for: salt, pepper, condiments, what ever. I imagine this is to keep everyone safe. I've seen this at other restaurants. Cloth napkin wrapped tableware arrived with our meals. A large staircase runs along the back of the courtyard, between the café and the museum information desk. Restrooms are down this staircase with an elevator next to the staircase for those who need it. Two large restrooms are designated for 'self identified women or men', and two smaller ones for 'everyone'. I am glad we tried out the café. Now that we have tried it out, I will definitely be using the cafeteria on my next visit.

Overall a very nice food experience. The wait staff are polite and helpfull, and it did not take long to sit down (the line moved quickly). The food was fresh tasting and had good flavor. Some very interesting things on the menu. We were glad we stopped by to grab a bite.

I used to love eating here for the ambiance and the food . The food has really gone downhill! The carrot bisque soup was tepid. I've had it in the past and now it tastes old. I sent back the smoked cauliflower which tasted bitter from Oversmoking. The gem lettuce salad greens looked less than fresh and green. The lardon bacon was dry . Overall good service, great ambiance, bad food. Do yourself a favor: eat at the Cafe G at the Gardner a short distance in back of the MFA. The hand cooked chips, sandwiches , and quiche are no longer on the menu.

It appears the reason why the place is in 2.5 stars now on Yelp is a whole bunch of extremely negative reviews before 2018. The reviews after 2018 appeared to have rated the place above average at least. But we went here without consulting Yelp anyways, and we were satisfied. The menu itself had enough options for appetizers and sandwiches, but only two entrees---seared salmon and seared chicken----were available. To be honest they could have just listed the burger as an entree. The salmon was baked nicely according to my friend, and the salad of diced veggies and corn tasted good. My chicken was seasoned alright, but was a bit dry. The granish of sweet potatoes tasted nice though. I also ordered a charred broccolini. Most of the branches were grilled well, and it went well with the spicy and sweet-sour sauce. However some were charred beyond edible to the point of charcoal. Pricy for a place with the name of "cafe", but not unreasonable. Portion size was also HUGE; my friend's salmon came with a full plate of salad that could almost serve as an entree, and my chicken was more than a full leg quarter. Overall: I would say 3.5 stars judging from food and service quality, but given the place's burden of past bad reviews, I believe it is reasonable to give them half more star for the sake of compensation. Rest assured: the place serves above-average food with rather large portion size at a price that might be daunting for some but not unfathomable for others.

I went there for lunch and was so disappointed! The new menu describes about 5 expensive undesirable items. Nothing looked good except the potato chips and a small garden salad for $17.00. I've never seen such a small menu!! The sunny setting was great and the service was good.

The worst service ever experienced. We waited for over an hour to get our (expensive) meal. We never got served. In the end, my out of town guests who had travelled to see the MFA and I wasted over 1.5 hours before being able to start enjoying the museum. In order to salvage our day, we actually left the restaurant unserved and hungry and with no explanation or apologies from waiter or manager. Shame on the museum for using this vendor in what could be and should be an experience that matches the quality of the location.

Food was good but a little overpriced, which is to be expected for the museum. The service was not great. Our waiter was nice but he seemed busy and was running back and forth. We would lose track of him for long periods of time. When we wanted the check, the person at the front was able to help. There was a lot of the staff standing in the corner. The ambiance overall was nice but the service left a lot to be desired. I think you're better off going to a nice restaurant or cafe outside of the museum

After several seasons of bad Thai inspired mussels they brought back the white wine and garlic sauce recipe. Only still missing the chorizo. The good mussels are back baby!

Nice menu that you get from your phone. This museum is really a great place to visit easy to get to in boston. . Got the mushroom flatbread pizza. Very good. Cooked perfectly. Small drink menu and overpriced but very enjoyable. Great service. Happy yo go agdin.

I was surprisingly really impressed by the food here - despite being at a museum (the museum food at DC sucks), but the cheesecake I got was DELICIOUS, and I remember getting a pretty good, hearty, warm and filling sandwich from there as well. If you're at the MFA, it's definitely worth a try (good hearty American food) but around that area there is so much fun stuff to try!!

Food was ok, service was awful. I would give the place no stars if it was possible. I had to flag my waiter for water, to place an order, to get the check. When I got the check, it was for the wrong order. What a complete waste of time and money.

Pretty pricey for a cafe, but i suppose it is what it is! We had a small one person pizza, a latte, an unsweetened iced tea and a chocolate mousse, which with a 10 dollar tip cost us 61 USD. If you don't find that expensive, good for you, but by my standards, even dining at finer places, the pricing is a bit unjustified! Still, the fare wasn't all too bad as museum cafes are won't to be. It was edible, and the waitress did make an effort to ask the chef about ingredients when I mentioned my Dietary restrictions.

Limited menu, no vegan choices. Mediocre fare at best. Pricy at worst. Small portions. But it is convenient. There are other restaurant choices in the museum and you might want to check those out too before sitting down. No recommendation, decide for yourself.

Went for early lunch - was asked to sit at bar despite more than 50% of ~40 table Unoccupied. Weird but ok. Good selection of typical fare for area and range of customers. Basic but much better than only burgers and Turkey sandwich on white bread! Service was attentive. A lot of sneezing by staff and no masks on staff. That was one thing that made me uncomfortable.

Poor service. Waitress, Jhoanna, did not once check on table after taking food orders and could not even get her attention. She walked by several times to get orders for other tables and not once stopped at our table until she provided us the check. Average food. The menu has limited options and involves mostly your basic lunches like sandwich or salad. At least the food arrived quickly considering most items on the menu are quick and easy to assemble. Little cooking involved. The museum is wonderful, but search elsewhere for a meal with decent service.

Worst service ever. I tried getting her attention while at the bar but she was so in the weeds trying to get to everybody at the bar. She couldn't tell up from down, I felt bad for her. I can't believe how understaffed they were & the manager basically did nothing to help. It was so ridiculous to have to wait like 20 min just to get acknowledged just so I could order since there weren't any other food options. They need to do better. With the amount of money they take in, pay employees better & get more staff.

Me and my friend went to MFA for some exhibit and stumbled upon this place. We always use to avoid this place thinking its just a museum cafe but once we tried it, we were very pleasantly surprised. The food is fresh and well made. We tried their queses. Their coffee and desserts are not bad either. Service is great. The ambiance is great. Would definitely go back for brunch.

We were at the New American cafe tonight for dinner since the museum extended its hours until 10pm on Fridays. I think for the price that they charge, the food quality is actually very good. We had the PEI mussel, skillet seared salmon, pork quesadilla, shrimp & grits, and roasted brussels & shiitake. I'd say everything we ordered were pretty good, except the brussels & shiitake. The brussels were a little bland and there were very little shiitake. Our bill was a little over $100 and that's a pretty fair price for dinner that feeds a family of 5.

3.5 It was cold and rainy outside and decided to have late lunch here. We ordered tri tip steak with king oyster mushroom and arugula salad, cheese platter and new england clam chowder. The food was nicely presented and delicious. The waiter was also very attentive. The bill came out to be $58 which was pricey for a lunch.

Had lunch here as part of my day out at the museum. I'm not sure I like the set up of the place but it has a lot of light which was nice. I had the cod cakes for entree and thought it was fabulous. The cod cakes had a great crispy fry and meshed well with the chickpea ragu. Also got the plum crisp for dessert. I did not like what the plums we're stewed in at all so a no go for that dish. The server taking my order and delivered my drinks were polite and friendly, but the servers who brought out my food was a bit abrupt. Overall a nice experience.

I went to the New American Cafe at the Fine Arts Museum without consulting Yelp, and I'm pretty shocked that it only has 2 stars. My experience was overall acceptable. The cafe, located in the middle of the museum, is modern and comfortable, and it serves a large menu at moderate-high prices, though this is the norm in most museums. I tried the roasted turkey grilled cheese and a Fat Tire beer. The sandwich was $16 and the beer was $8 so this place isn't cheap. The food however was acceptable: the panini sandwich was topped with pesto and arugula, and served alongside some thick potato chips. For dessert I tried a peach and ice cream special. The peaches were of the cheap canned variety, but the ice cream was delicious and topped with a delicious tart raspberry sauce. Service was friendly and efficient, and the food was edible, so it's not too bad of a spot.

Great place for a quick bite at the Museum. The food was great I had the cheese board and Farro Salad. It was delicious but the portions were extremely small.

First, let me start by saying that we did not eat here so this is not about the food. I love the Boston Art Museum, just not this place. We got to the museum shortly after opening and decided we wanted to have a cup o joe before starting our tour. The restaurant itself isn't open but you can sit at the bar and sip your coffee, no problem. The only reason they get 2 stars is because the coffee itself was pretty good. The first thing I can say about it is the staff isn't very friendly. Smiles were not available that day, maybe because it was New Years Eve and nobody wanted to be there. I can't say I blame them. Also, and I'm sure there are people who will take exception to this but I'm really ok with that. If I'm sitting in your presence, please don't speak to your coworkers in a language that is foreign to me. It's rude and that's all I'm going to say about that. OK. So, the coffee itself was pretty good and we didn't have a problem with that. The problem is that the server said absolutely nothing to us the entire time. Worse yet, there was no offer for a refill. Now mind you, two cups of coffee with tax was $6.31. I be like, what??? We left $7 and I have absolutely no idea why. $7 for two coffees? Really. After this experience I would never even consider eating there. It's kind of weird anyway. It's a fancy schmancy place right in the middle of a cavernous room that shares space with other things and there is nothing cozy or intimate about it. No thanks.

My boyfriend and I ate here because of convenience. Quesadilla was good but not worth the price. Service was slow. The tables around us were served quicker than us. A table of 3 sat down after we ordered and got their food before us. I would not recommend dining here if it is busy.

New American Cafe is a lackluster museum cafeteria disguised as a sit-down restaurant. You're better off eating at the dining area by the gift shop or simply walking outside to eat in the fast food places near the area. Not wanting to deal with the cold of a February night, my partner and I decided to eat here out of convenience. The prices of the food seemed reasonable for what was described and the wait staff was polite, but all our food was cold and clearly prepared beforehand in the blandest way. If you're wondering, we got the soba and a few appetizers that fit the Murakami exhibit's theme; I might as well have been served ramen noodles without the seasoning.

One star for ambiance. Cheese plate is horrible. Cold tasteless with crostini so hard I almost broke a tooth. Quesadilla was all cheap cheese and a sliver of chicken. Soggy. Burger tasted like it came from a frozen dinner. Mint bother. Place is so pricey.

Long wait for table when they were open seats available. No way to ask hostess if I could sit at the bar due to the design of the que and line of people. Bartender wasn't the most polite. The menu is pretty boring and plain. This is Boston, where are the foodie menu options? I ordered the Angus steak burger medium-rare and was served it medium-well. The food is overpriced and undwhelming. The burger is self was tasteless. I'd call it edible at best. I will not eat here again.

The restaurant is located in the atrium connecting the old Boston Museum of Fine Arts to the modern expansion. There's a ginormous, green, blown glass sculpture that reaches all the way up to the ceiling in the room. It's a really interesting combination of design elements. There are modern, glass windows looking out onto green trees and beautiful old columns from the original architecture. It's really a beautiful place to eat, so it gets a bonus star for that, and obviously for the convenience of being in the museum. There was a bit of a line to get seated, but we waited no longer than 10 minutes. The restaurant is actually quite large. I ordered the Toasted Farro Salad ($15) with roasted squash, brussels sprout leaves, cremini mushrooms, parmesan and a sherry vinaigrette. When I got my salad I noticed it didn't have the parmesan like it was supposed to. I thought maybe they had buried it under the greenery, so I took a forkful and put it in my mouth. To my surprise it was completely flavorless and clearly didn't have the vinaigrette on it either. They sent out an unfinished plate! When I informed the waiter he brought little bowls of the missing ingredients. Once I had added it to the salad, it was really quite delicious. It's a shame that the cheese and the dressing carried all the flavor of the salad. The portion was really small and sad. It was smaller and lighter than any of the other dishes brought out, but not less expensive. If I'm paying $15 for a salad I expect to get a bit more. Of course the whole menu was severely overpriced, but a few more leaves of lettuce couldn't hurt. My friend ordered the Black Angus Burger ($18) and that was delicious. It was a nice, large, juicy burger and it came with homemade chips. My other friend ordered the Potato and Spring Onion Soup ($10) and it was a nice, big bowl of soup that ended up being surprisingly filling. Certainly not the best or most affordable restaurant we could have chosen for lunch, but it was convenient and the food was good. Service could have been better. Overall, not bad.

How does a girl procrastinate (besides writing this review?) She goes to the Museum of Fine Arts to get some culture! And what does this girl do after 4 hours of culture-getting? She gets hungry & seeks out a fabulous eatery with views that are as delicious as the grub. New American Cafe gets the shaft on yelp, which I didn't know until after my meal. Longish wait for a table--yes. Pricey eats--to be expected. But service & taste of food was excellent. I ordered: -- wedge salad with cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, bacon, onion strings, & blue cheese dressing (I left off boiled egg.) Fantastic, fresh tasting! Love how an innocent, healthy wedge of lettuce gets transformed into a fatty, creamy, decadent mess! Yummy! -- chocolate layer cake w/ a fondant frosting, caramel, & vanilla ice cream: I rarely go for chocolate cake, but my mood called for it! Every element heightened the flavor. Sticky, gooey deliciousness! I figured getting into the museum for free with my school ID justifies this break-the-bank meal! To top off a tasty lunch, the ambiance was to-die-for: so much sunlight & the ceilings felt a millions miles high. Sit along the perimeter where I did & your view is of statues in the garden, and that giant tree made of glass (didja see the picture?!) Procrastination doesn't get much better.

Great for a coffee stop....but that's it... Awful. Don't order the dessert. $8.00 for Strawberry Rhubarb something cake and its awful. Encrusted with some hard Crisco creme of sorts...

We ate here mostly out of convenience after over 2 hours in the MFA late on a Wednesday afternoon. There was a short wait. After we were seated, it took a while to talk to a waiter; they seemed a bit short-staffed. Once we ordered, there wasn't a huge delay on the food, though. Portions were neither huge nor tiny. My salad and side was good. My daughter seemed to enjoy her fish. It was a bit pricey, but given that you're dining inside the MFA, that's somewhat to be expected. Overall I was satisfied. Depending on your schedule, this would be a fine choice for dining during your museum visit. It appeared semi-popular as a date-component from what I could tell.

I have been to the MFA a dozen times, but today was the worst restaurant experience I have seen. There was a fire alarm and we all stood outside in the snow without jackets for 15 minutes. I decided to get a hot tea after we were let back in. The cafe was essentially empty with 6-8 staff standing around. Sat at the bar with 3 staff in front of us and did not get recognized for over 10 minutes! It's not like they were busy, just too busy chatting amongst themselves. Finally served with little friendliness and when done had to chase down someone to get the bill. Couple beside us, who arrived after us but were served first, had the same issue. It is no wonder this place has a low rating. I suggest you avoid at all costs until the museum gets a manager to make it the fine area it should be. Expensive, pretentious and lousy service. My cat could do this place better.

I really hate to be critical, but I wish I read some reviews before committing to eating here. I wanted something on premise for a bite so I can continue enjoying my day in the museum. This was the obvious located right in the middle of the museum, so I thought this was my only choice. There's a menu located at the host's stand, prices were a bit steep for common food like a salad, burger, sandwich, things like that. I figured, it's in a museum so they're bougie, maybe try it and it might be good. As I was seated, I was greeted by my server that was friendly and snooty at the same time. I was thinking, maybe I should suck it up and wait to eat later... but I was really hungry and ordered a burger. There was nothing special about it. You could make a tastier burger at home. It came with a pickle and a side of hard potato chips. It was equivalent to airport food. Nice concept, nice place, maybe needs a better menu for these prices.

I love this place! It's the best place to eat in the MFA. The ambiance is amazing because you're inside the huge new American Wing, there's classical music playing, and the Chihuly icicle tree is within sight, along with the three above-ground floors of the American Wing. The food is great. I especially recommend the Angus burger, the pizza, and the leek tart. We had a great waiter once who suggested a very nice wine with our meal. Another waiter we had was not so great. She didn't even ask to take our drink order, bring any bread and butter, or ask if we wanted dessert or coffee.

I went for dessert only because I wasn't that hungry. I had their apple crisp dessert, and was pleasantly surprised. It was warm, tarty, and crispy, with just the perfect scoop of vanilla gelato (I believe). The streusel topping was the perfect mix of sweet and tarty. The service was quick, which was impressive, considering it was a free day with a lot of patrons dining in. This place is even better if you're a member -- you get 10% off all meals. Go for it.

This is a casual cafe that's located in the middle of the MFA. It's in a cool space to dine at in as you get so much light and there's an expansive height. The food is basic salad, soup, sandwiches. Unfortunately, service is mediocre and food was too. Cheese plate $15 had a light blue cheese and some type of medium cheese plus some olives, chutney and grapes. Minimum you should get three types of cheeses. Anyways, coffee was served very luke warm even with a few refills. Space is interesting but food and service needs work.

Nice service, but seriously awful food. Frozen chicken strips heated up in a microwave. Wow, I didn't want the kitchen to overwork themselves. And, for the love of God people, don't order what is listed as "Pizza" on the menu, don't let that abomination leave the kitchen again! I'd pay another $80 to un-have that lunch.

My boyfriend and I had an amazing date night to the Museum of Fine Arts with a pit stop for dinner in the New American Cafe. We enjoyed some delicious sweet potato soup and shared a bowl of kale as the giant lime green icicle tree, constructed of glass, sparkled in the background. If you've never shared a bowl of kale with someone, especially while at the museum beneath a glass tree, you must. I'm offering four shiny stars based on service, atmosphere, and food; yet keep in mind we did only try the soup and kale. (We have been trying to keep it healthy lately). The soup was so delicious and well presented, I am assuming it to be a positive reflection of the rest of the menu. The New American Cafe is one of several dining options within the museum. It's located within the soaring atrium connecting both the old/new wings and surrounded by walls of windows offering beautiful views of the courtyard beyond the glass. At night the outdoor scenery is illuminated by strings of charming white lights. The restaurant's setting reminds me of an open-roofed dining room placed inside another large space. The dining area is open to the atrium, but designated by low partitions and consists of many tables surrounding a large bar in the middle of the area. In other words, the activity of the museum will be happening all around you while dining. We were greeted by welcoming hosts and seated quickly. Our server arrived promptly to take our drink order. He was pleasant and efficient. The menu consists of somewhat traditional dishes of the Americas, hence the name, prepared with fresh, local ingredients. Starters include creative small bites such as salads, quesadillas, and a cheese plate. There are sandwiches and burger offerings. Entrees include steak, chicken, and fish options with vegetables, such as our sautéed kale, available a la carte. The menu is a bit limited, but I think it changes seasonally. I also found the menu to be a bit pricey and possibly more than the average person would want to spend on food during a trip to the museum, yet the quality of what we tried seemed worth the price tag. Our bowls of sweet potato soup were like works of art with a small scoop of sour cream in the middle, a few small strips of tortilla chips, all drizzled with chive oil. The flavors came together beautifully in the soup with a nice little crunch from the chips. It is one of those meals that I enjoyed so much, a day later I am still thinking about it. The baby kale was sautéed in something buttery and we ate every last bite. We came to the museum for the art of the American Revolution and the mummies. We left craving more sweet potato soup. Art and dinner all under one roof is an absolutely wonderful date night.

Service was poor at best, the pastry was mediocre, and the "espresso" I ordered was somehow just a cup of coffee. I would suggest grabbing breakfast before you show up at the Museum because, while the café itself is in a beautiful location, there is absolutely nothing else to recommend this spot.