Garden Cafeteria image

Garden Cafeteria

Restaurant Hamburger restaurant Sandwich shop Salad shop Dessert restaurant Soup restaurant

Casual American eatery at the Museum of Fine Arts featuring pizza, salads & sandwiches. People often mention good, cafeteria, expensive,


Address

465 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115

Website

www.mfa.org

Contact

(617) 267-9300

Rating on Google Maps

3.70 (93 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Thursday: 10 AM to 3 PM
  • Friday: 10 AM to 3 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM to 4 PM
  • Sunday: (Easter), 10 AM to 4 PM, Hours might differ
  • Monday: 10 AM to 4 PM
  • Tuesday: Closed
  • Wednesday: 10 AM to 3 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: good (12) cafeteria (9) expensive (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 3/5 Kyle D. 1 year ago on Google
    Decent typical cafeteria style food. Not a bad place to grab a snack or a light meal while visiting the MFA.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Allison H. 8 years ago on Google
    Yummy and inexpensive alternative to the more expensive places to eat at the MFA. The salad bar has some awesome options, like dried fruit, and even at the end of the day everything still looked fresh. This is also great if you have kids or a big group!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Ann E. 6 years ago on Google
    Crowded, overpriced, limited selection. Only in business because they have a captive audience. The staff is nice, but the management is clearly not willing to put enough people on the floor for peak times. They can’t keep food out, and the checkout line is chaos.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Keir H. 5 years ago on Google
    Expensive, but it's a museum cafeteria so that's to be expected.

  • 2/5 Alina M. 5 years ago on Google
    Pretty expensive for what it is and not that great. It'll get the job done after a few hours in the museum and is cheaper than some of the other options but you're definitely better off bringing your own picnic lunch. There's a courtyard right next to it too

  • 5/5 Daniel S. 5 years ago on Google
    A great way to feed the family a good meal at a very good price. You know it's good if the employees eat there. Save cash & eat well.

  • 2/5 Josh E. 5 years ago on Google
    Expensive for nothing

  • 4/5 Ted S. 5 years ago on Google
    Great selection of food in a casual environment within the MFA

  • 3/5 MJ S. 5 years ago on Google
    Convenient, good food, expensive for portions. On normal to busy day, long wait, somewhat dirty. Garden (doors) are seldom open.

  • 4/5 Digital Magic Photography & Design Stan S. 5 years ago on Google
    Fast service, great, mellow coffee, and tasty lemon ginger scone - moist, light flavors.

  • 4/5 Linda K. 5 years ago on Google
    Very good choices at reasonable prices in this MFA cafeteria. Beautiful view of courtyard. Nice, bright atmosphere with plenty of seating. Perfect for a quick breakfast or lunch.

  • 5/5 Ronald B. 5 years ago on Google
    There's a good variety of food at reasonable prices. If you're on a budget, or trying to feed a small herd if children, you can't go wrong. It does get hectic early on with families coming in, but it's never too hard to find a seat. Matbe worse on Open House days, but still manageable. Things you'll find: pizza, cheese/burgers, hot hogs, chicken fingers, fries, onion rings, chips, 2 choices of soup, a salad bar, a by-the-pound hot food choice (varies), frozen novelty deserts, soda, juice, coffee, beer, and even wine.

  • 1/5 Dalya K. 5 years ago on Google
    Very unhealthy food selection overall and unappetizing!

  • 5/5 Gabriel M. 5 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) Very good service, and even the k work in the kitchen and the cashiers are my friends, I love (Original) Muy buen servicio, ya hasta los k trabajan en la cocina y las cajeras son mis amigas , me encanto

  • 4/5 Bobbi S. 5 years ago on Google
    Limited menu but kid friendly.

  • 1/5 T E. 6 years ago on Google
    Horrible! Dismal, cafeteria with old unappealing food and rude employees.

  • 1/5 Max B. 6 years ago on Google
    If you're looking for a plant-based meal, you're pretty much relegated to overpriced sides.

  • 1/5 Richard R. 8 years ago on Google
    My coffee was burnt and my onion rings were cold. :(

  • 2/5 Jan C. 9 months ago on Google
    I ordered a mozzarella and tomato sandwich I got only half a sandwich. Very poor quality and over priced.

  • 5/5 Otavio B. 5 years ago on Google
    Best place to eat on a budget inside the Museum of Fine Arts.

  • 4/5 Leo S. 5 years ago on Google
    An easy place to eat with a good variety while visiting the museum. A bit expensive but understandable. Be a member and receive a 15% discount off your bill.

  • 5/5 Dorothy B. 6 years ago on Google
    The Garden Cafe is the most reasonably priced food option at the MFA and, all things considered, the best one. There is a wide variety of hot and cold foods. But the best bet is the fresh and varied salad bar. The indoor space is bright and pleasant with a wall of windows looking out onto a large garden that offers beautiful outdoor seating under the trees three seasons a year.

  • 4/5 Tyler B. 4 years ago on Google
    Decent food for decent prices

  • 5/5 David W. 5 years ago on Google
    Perfect to hold you over for 5 hours of museum viewing.

  • 4/5 Margaret S. 5 years ago on Google
    The place to go at the MFA for a more affordable bite to eat. Good view of the courtyard.

  • 3/5 haidee b. 4 years ago on Google
    Food Too Expensive

  • 4/5 Jeri C. 5 years ago on Google
    Great little cafeteria if you don't want to spend a fortune. Clean.

  • 3/5 Eric V. 5 years ago on Google
    Good food, great art, excessive prices.

  • 5/5 Karein M. 4 years ago on Google
    Garden cafeteria was ok. They had premade burgers and chicken fingers, pizza that was kept warm by lights, limited Salad bar. All of which seemed overpriced, even with members discount.

  • 5/5 pascual roa v. 4 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) Good service (Original) Buen servicio

  • 5/5 Fran B. 4 years ago on Google
    Great salad

  • 4/5 Paul W. 4 years ago on Google
    Good food, cafeteria service as opposed to table service. Less "fancy" food than the main floor cafe, but less expensive and I think every bit as good. Where the staff eat. Very good value for money.

  • 3/5 Wendy 4 years ago on Google
    It's a cafeteria.

  • 4/5 Brenda H. 5 years ago on Google
    I loved the desserts

  • 5/5 Elizabeth S. 5 years ago on Google
    If you have kids this is a good place to dine at the musuem. Nice selection of hot food, Pizza, sandwiches, soups, and salad bar, wine, beer too. You can eat outside in spring/summer/early fall and let your kids run around.

  • 3/5 Lisa C. 5 years ago on Google
    Meh, expensive.

  • 3/5 Mike K. 5 years ago on Google
    Nice room in the basement of MFA. Lots of window to the courtyard. In summer you can sit there as well. The food is good but not spectacular. It is a cafeteria so you pick up your food, pay for it, find a table, bus the table. A better value than the other restaurants at the museum but still not cheap.


Call (617) 267-9300 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Quick bite
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Healthy options
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Breakfast
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Breakfast
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✗ Takeout
    • ✗ Delivery
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating

Trends



Last updated:

Similar Soup restaurants nearby

Union Oyster House image
1
Union Oyster House
Seafood restaurant
Historic eatery serving chowder & other New England seafood standards since 1826.
$$ $$
4.30 (8.8K reviews)
Cheers image
2
Cheers
Pub
Tourists visit this classic bar with iconic facade for pub grub, pints & nostalgia.
$$ $$
4.40 (7.4K reviews)
Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse image
3
Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse
Brazilian restaurant
Upscale Brazilian chain for all-you-can-eat meat carved tableside plus an extensive salad bar.
$$$ $
4.60 (6K reviews)
Regina Pizzeria image
4
Regina Pizzeria
Pizza restaurant
Circa-1926 local chain for thin-crust, brick-oven pizzas in a no-frills setting.
$$ $$
4.60 (5.5K reviews)
Legal Sea Foods - Long Wharf image
5
Legal Sea Foods - Long Wharf
Seafood restaurant
Specializing in upmarket seafood, this contemporary chain also serves steaks & cocktails.
$$$ $
4.40 (5.5K reviews)
Last updated:
()