HUD Main Cafeteria

The only items that I like from this place is the personal pan pizza (which is only served on Thursdays and Fridays) and the lamb gyros (the cucumber sauce is too sweet though).

I would love to give HUD cafeteria more stars but I cant. I would give them one star but since they have Dunkin Donuts and Subway I give them an extra star. The contract food is not good at all and its pretty pricy. However, it seems like all fed agencies have pricy contracted food. The employees friendliness also gets them another star.

One of the problems with working near L’Enfant is that there is very little in terms of choices for lunch – or dinner, for that matter, as I lived in SW off G & 3^rd for a brief spell. But to be fair, the HUD Main Cafeteria (for my Fed peers) is a viable option for those days where you just can’t take another McDonald’s burger or Americanized Chinese pay-​by-​the-​pound carry out. I think Ryan (the previous reviewer) gives an excellent account of exactly what’s offered here… foodwise. Hot and cold sandwich stations, a Subway, make a quick salad… blah-​blah-​blah.
Oh! But this review is more about the dessert offered here as well – eye-​candy, that is. For some strange reason, the HUD café has it’s fair share of attractive FEDs milling about – which is a blessing, ’cause my building ain’t hittin’ on $hit. Now, I’m not one for advocating sexual harassment by any means, but many a late afternoon I’ve noticed my neck was a little stiff, only to realize it’s just a slight whiplash-​like reaction to my earlier lunch experience at the HUD Café. A new crop of Feds have come into the mix (I’m assuming with the change of Administration) that lack that ubiquitous tell-​tale pale, hunchback look of your Federal employee of old. Many of the women don their latest hooker-​platform pumps (which are all the rage nowadays); while the guys look like they’ve just stepped off the cover of the latest metro-​sexual health&style mag… it’s quite a sight to see.

If you work in the vicinity of L’enfant plaza and have used up the few restaurant choices available, give the HUD cafeteria a try. You’ll need your government issued ID card.
To get inside, go to the entrance of the building on 7^th street. Show your ID to the guards and then empty your pockets of any metal and electronics. It only takes a moment.
Then make your way to the cafeteria on the first level, which is just a few steps away from the entrance, past the elevators. They actually have a pleasant dining area with nice modern tables and chairs. It’s right next to L’enfant plaza and has high windows where you can see the entrance to the little grassy area/​entrance to L’enfant metro and playground. In one of the corners is a small (I think 3 console) internet café with high chairs. The dining area is almost divided into different sections, I don’t know if that makes it bigger or seem more private yet open, but it works.
Here’s what the cafeteria offers:
Subway — Just like what Gerald eats.
Salad bar — selection is not as big as DOE.
Specialty station — usually something different everyday from Thanksgiving Turkey meals to New orleans themed gumbo and jambalaya.
Another station offers Sanwiches, Pizza, and fried foods. It also converts to a taco bar when they feel like busting out some Cinco de Mayo
Also within the dining area is a café. You can get Starbucks styled coffees and pastries.
While the food isn’t worthy of 4 or 5 stars. It’s a great place to get away from the office and relax.