<p>There seems to be “visiting DC” theme going on here, so I’ll add my question about retaurants. </p>
<p>DH and I will be in DC at the end of this month (me for business). We’re staying at the JW Marriott. I’m looking for restaurant suggestions: inexpensive preferred, tastiness required! We’re trying to avoid your typical fast food stuff, and we love all kinds of ethnic cuisines… including BBQ! (Is BBQ ethnic?)</p>
<p>Thanks in advance for your help.</p>
<p>There are some great Ethiopian restaurants if you want to try something you don’t get too many other places: [Ethiopian</a> Restaurants in Washington, DC](<a href=“http://www.ethiopianrestaurant.com/dc/dining.html]Ethiopian”>http://www.ethiopianrestaurant.com/dc/dining.html)</p>
<p>When we were there in the summer of 2000, we ate at the food court at Union Station a lot because we had young teens who were often hungry & liked properly prepared rice. Fortunately, it was pretty close to our hotel. </p>
<p>What neighborhood is the JW Marriott in? That might help folks make more suggestions–is it near the Capitol? We stayed at the Phoenix Park Hotel, which was very convenient to the Mall & Union Station.</p>
<p>Ben’s Chili Bowl - a little out of the way but right on a Metro line</p>
<p>[Ben’s</a> Chili Bowl](<a href=“http://www.benschilibowl.com/]Ben’s”>http://www.benschilibowl.com/)</p>
<p>There’s a great breakfast/lunch diner at the bottom of the NASA building across from the Marriott Residence Inn near the mall. Inexpensive breakfast and lunch. Second the Union Station! Something for everyone, and lots of ethnic places in the food court.</p>
<p>Wisemiller’s. CHICKEN MADNESS.</p>
<p>Washingtonian magazine has lots of info online-- recommended “cheap eats,” “dirt cheap” and a neighborhood finder. </p>
<p>[Food</a> & Dining (washingtonian.com)](<a href=“http://www.washingtonian.com/sections/restaurants/index.html]Food”>http://www.washingtonian.com/sections/restaurants/index.html)</p>
<p>Julia’s Empanada’s - one in Dupont Circle area, one in AM. No place to sit down, grab and go, but great empanadas. After the bars close down the line is out the door, but for lunch, it is a whole lot easier. $6 for empanada, soup and soda. Cheapest lunch in DC.</p>
<p>City Lights Dupont Circle Chinese food…nice peaceful atmosphere with booths…and you won’t feel tense bringing children…we also have stayed in the Irish owned hotels nearby when we had the kids with us…</p>
<p>prices are so good here for what you get</p>
<p>Froggy Bottom on Pennsylvania Ave. has a real tasty burger and COLD beer at a very reasonable price.</p>
<p>2142 Pennsylvania Ave. [Froggy</a> Bottom | Salads](<a href=“http://froggybottompub.com/menu.html]Froggy”>http://froggybottompub.com/menu.html)</p>
<p>Another one in DuPont Circle, I have eaten at Zorba’s cafe (Greek) cheaply.</p>
<p>Ben’s Chili has been featured on Food Network (maybe one of Rachael’s shows?) so it MUST be good!!! :)</p>
<p>One of our favorite “when we’re out and about” places is to stop at the Old Post Office - kind of a food court atmosphere, but very interesting to look at the building and then take the elevator up to the “viewing place” at the top of the building - very, very cool!!! A meal and an activity all in one!</p>
<p>Enthusiastic second on Ben’s , Julla’s and Zorba’s.</p>
<p>The old post office is a bit of a hidden gem. Kind of a quick/easy ride to nice sights without the big lines of the Washington Monument.</p>
<p>Great kabobs! There is one in Georgetown and one in DC. I have been there just not sure where.</p>
<p>Moby’s has a location near Dupont Circle. Five Guys (which are now all over) is a spot for good burgers and fries as well. Chinatown Express in Chinatown has terrific noodles and soy chicken.</p>
<p>JW Marriott is a fairly high-end hotel. If you can afford to stay there you can afford something more than cheap eats. Or, now that I think about it, maybe you’re spending all your money on the room and thus really need the cheap eats. In which case I recommend The Potbelly sandwich shop for lunch. There is one right around the corner from the JW Marriott.</p>
<p>My father always liked to stay in fancy hotels, but really didn’t care much about food. Dh and I like to stay in dives and eat great food. (Not always expensive, but we like hoity-toity gourmet food as well as BBQ joints.)</p>
<p>A place I really like–and not expensive–is Pizzeria Paradiso, at 2029 P Street NW. It’s small and tends to be crowded (1 floor above street level), but they have excellent pizza. You can find their menu on line, to check out their prices. They have another location at 3282 M Street NW, in Georgetown.</p>
<p>We lived in the DC Metro area for several years and now reside in Northeast Ohio. Yet every couple of months we take a spontaneous trip to GENEROUS GEORGE’S Positive Pizza and Pasta Experience in Alexandria (Duke St.; just off I-395). We have done this for 8 years! The restaurant features gourmet pasta dishes (pesto with clams; chicken in red pepper cream sauce, etc.) served on a pizza crust base. Most entrees are around $11.00, and we (with hungry teenage boys!) have never left the place without a huge “doggy bag.” The decor is . . . eclectic, with vintage tricycles, skateboards, carousel animals hanging from the ceiling. There are photos with celebrity autographs scattered throughout the restaurant. Think “Chicago’s Geno’s East” and you get the idea. Their website is [Generous</a> George’s Positive Pizza and Pasta](<a href=“http://www.generousgeorge.com%5DGenerous”>http://www.generousgeorge.com)</p>