On our one day in DC, we're planning to visit the Air & Space Museum, Lincoln Memorial, and do a drive around to the WhiteHouse, Capitol, Washington Monument, etc.

Any recommendations for an interesting lunch spot?

Try Old Ebbit Grill on 15th Street across from the Treasury building. It is famous in DC, and is frequented by all kinds of people - tourists, locals, members of Congress, etc. The prices aren't too bad, either.

Old Ebbit is a good one. There are the chains that the kids like, Planet Hollywood and Hard Rock which are towards the monument. Just note that there are not a lot of restaurants around the Mall, so you'll either have to walk a little bit or take a quick $5 cab ride. They've also recently opened an ESPN SPORTS Zone theme resaurant, which has TV the tables, thigs to dolike roc climbing, etc - I haven't been there yet but hear it's ver neat. For dinner, I would recommend going into Geogetown or Old Towne, Alezandria across the river. Both areas are great to walk roun, shop and eat. Georgetown has loads of restaurants to pick from that hould make everyone happy. Be sue to go to the harbor area on the river below georgetown. Places to eat and rink outside on the river with a gret view of the kennedy center.

Actually, when families w/ kids from out-of-town ask me where to go for lunch I usually suggest Union Station, mainly because (1) it is metro-accessible, (2) it is walking distance from the Capitol and the Mall, and (3) it has so many options that you can generally find something that makes everyone happy. On the main level as you walk in the front doors there is "America" on the left (moderately-priced, with regional specialties from around the country) and "Thunder Grill" on the right. If you keep going on the right into the next section of shops there is a really wonderful restaurant called B. Smith's which is pricier but is wonderful for southern-style cooking (the red beans and rice are to die for, and so are the breads). Then elsewhere within Union Station, up one level there is East St. which is Asian and very good. There are also a ton of take-out places downstairs on the lower level if you are looking to eat on a budget -- over 20 of them, with everything from Indian to pizza to Japanese to burgers to seafood to Caribbean barbecue! Plus, the main hall of Union Station is just very impressive in my opinion and worth seeing.

I find the Old Ebbitt Grill to be overrated, personally, although it definitely is a Washington institution.

Whatever you do, do not eat at the cafeteria at the Air&Space Museum. We did during a visit there last week, and it was very disappointing and expensive. The food available at the Museum of Natural History was expensive, but much more palatable. I would also recommend the variety of food available at Union Station. We ate at the "Thunder Grill". The food was good and moderately-priced.

Hi, JM,
My 12 yr old (he's older now) really enjoyed lunch at the Senate cafeteria in the Capitol. We sat maybe 6 feet from some of the major players and could easily overhear their conversation (pretty boring, truth be told.) Son was studying American government at the time and this was a real moment of connection.

The bean soup is famous and not bad if you add enough salt. There's better food elsewhere in DC, I'm sure, but the cafeteria's atmosphere is unique.

There's another cafeteria in the Supreme Court builing. And, I wholeheartedly agree about the Air& Space cafeteria - awful.

I also thought the food at the Museum of Natural History was pretty decent. I guess to make it interesting you could take a look at the big elephant in the entrance and the paleontology exhibit, which are to your right as you enter.