News Release: November 17, 2000
National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Pavillion Café Open
Washington, DC–The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden becomes an arts, ice-skating and dining destination with the opening of its new Pavilion Café. The Café has panoramic views of the ice skating rink, and Sculpture Garden from its floor-to-ceiling picture windows. Visitors and skaters can choose from freshly made entrées including wraps, sandwiches, gourmet pizzas and salads. Beverages include coffee, tea, hot chocolate, wine, and beer.
The Café, managed by Guest Services, Inc., can seat 120 people inside and 64 people outside on its north and south terraces. Hours for the Pavilion Café during skating season are Monday-Saturday, 10:00-9:00, and Sunday, 11:00-7:00. For information call 202-289-3360.
Building Design
The Pavilion Café takes its name from the pavilion building
originally designed by the San Francisco offices of Skidmore, Owings and
Merrill (SOM) in 1972 and was constructed in 1988 incorporating revisions
designed by the Washington, DC, office of SOM under the direction of the
National Park Service. The organic form of the original pavilion building
has been carefully preserved.
In keeping with the original curvilinear design, the new Café construction maintains and accentuates the low, horizontal scale of the building, providing visitors with virtually uninterrupted views, through the full height glass walls and tree-like metal tracery, of the Sculpture Garden, and the surrounding historical architecture.
Inside, the Pavilion Café is a light-filled building in a garden setting featuring quiet, relaxing colors. Undulating walls, metal tracery and the use of natural materials create an organic feeling.
The intention was to bring the outside in by installing floor to ceiling glass walls, which create a sense immediacy with the out-of-doors.
Comfortable cushioned cane armchairs were chosen for their comfort factor and curvilinear design reflective of the building's tracery. The dining tables have a custom harvest cherry wood finish, which is enhanced with an inset border of the Bryant Park Green color used throughout the garden. Great care was taken even in the small details: food service uniforms, utensils, and the selection of the china.
Pavilion Café Menu Highlights
Soup & Sandwiches
Garden vegetable soup
Grilled Chicken Breast with tomatoes, romaine lettuce and pesto mayonnaise
on French bread
Roast Turkey Wrap with havarti cheese, tomatoes, red onions and Dijon
mayonnaise in a whole-wheat wrap
Sun-dried tomato wrap with red pepper hummus, roasted vegetables and
lentil pilaf.
Pizzas
Garden Pizza grilled portobello mushrooms, artichokes, roasted
red peppers, pesto, mozzarella, parmesan and herb cheeses
White Pizza olive oil, garlic, pine nuts, oregano, fresh basil,
mozzarella, provolone and parmesan cheeses
Italian Pizza cappiola ham, Genoa salami, mortadella, copped
parsley, tomatoes, olive oil, sweet onions with provolone and parmesan
cheeses
Entrée Salads (served with toasted herb focaccia)
Rosemary chicken breast and mixed greens with orange basalmic vinaigrette
Antipasto Salad
Mixed greens with orange basalmic vinaigrette
Children's Menu
Peanut butter and grape jelly on crustless white bread with fruit
garnish
Half-a-wrap, roast turkey, havarti cheese, tomatoes, red onions and Dijon
mayonnaise on a whole-wheat wrap
Individual cheese pizza
Pastries and Desserts
Croissant, scones, Danish, muffins, cookies, biscotti, and ice cream
Beverages
Gourmet coffees, hot chocolate, hot and iced tea, fruit juices,
Evian and Perrier waters, wines, domestic and imported beers
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