There's more than medals to see at The National Medal of Honor Museum, a recently-opened facility in Arlington dedicated to the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration awarded by the President.

There's also food to eat, at an in-house restaurant called the 1861 Cafe, located inside the museum at 1861 AT&T Way, open during museum hours from 10 am-5 pm serving sandwiches, salads, coffee & espresso drinks, dessert, plus cocktails and wine.

Menu items include sandwiches such as:

• turkey wrap with cheddar
• classic chicken salad with apples, grapes, walnuts, in a Waldorf dressing on a croissant
• breakfast sandwich with ham, bacon, egg, and cheddar on a waffle
• brisket sandwich, with brisket smoked inhouse, plus pickle and BBQ sauce

In addition, there are upscale open-faced toasts with choice of chicken with tomato & balsamic, or apple, fig, & Brie for $12. And two salads: a Cobb and a quinoa salad with red pepper, goat cheese, pepitas, and "pulled" shredded chicken.

1861 Cafe turkey wrap1861 Cafe

There's also a granola yogurt parfait, banana pudding, a bestselling giant chocolate chip cookie to share, and three cocktails: an espresso martini, a spicy margarita, and an Arlington mule.

One plus with the cafe — named for the year that Abraham Lincoln implemented the Medal of Honor — is that it's open to all, accessible without a Museum admission ticket. It's located behind the gift shop, with seating for 40, plus a patio with a view of the lake. The museum grounds are pretty, and there's a little trail where visitors can take a walk.

Running the operation is executive chef Benjamin Johnson, who brings extensive background including Hyatt hotels and country clubs in Texas and California, as well as four years with the city of Arlington.

"At the cafe, we focus on being that 'in between' where you might not want to eat a full meal but are looking for something to hold you over," Johnson says.

Private parties
In addition to the cafe, Johnson oversees a food & beverage program that accommodates large events and small, from banquets seating 750 people to intimate dinners. Those center on traditional "square meal" options such as steak and seafood.

"Regardless of whether it's the cafe or a large party, we're striving for a top-of-the-line experience," he says. "My goal is to be able to host 250 people who can sit down and have a steakhouse-quality meal — whether that's a steak from Allen Brothers beef, or a creative vegan offering from our sous chef Jack Robison."

Within the past three months, they've already done close to 50 parties and events.

"One of the great things about the museum is that it has a huge following," Johnson says. "We're welcoming people seeking an excursion for their company, who want to inspire their team by coming out and having a great meal and visiting the museum."