Hi everyone! I was able to book the Renaissance Mayflower at a reasonable rate for next week. We're bringing our family of 5 in, and would love suggestions of modestly priced breakfast cafes in the area of the hotel. Looking for eggs/bacon/pancakes kind of restaurants that we can go to daily. Read that the Mayflower's restaurants are quite expensive. Any suggestions for dinner restaurants for a family of 5 would also be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

The area around the Mayflower is "downtown" and "Dupont Circle," neither of which are known for the kinds of sit-down breakfasts you are looking for. You migt do as the natives do and consider breakfast at Starbucks or Cosi.

Agree about b'fast at Mayflower - there's NO reason to pay that. There are a ton of inexpensive places close-by to get daily breakfasts. Cosi', Corner Bakery, Au Bon Pain, Potbelly, etc. seem to be on every block. There is also a food court a block south at the Farragut North Metro with multiple fast food choices. Most of the various coffee shops have breakfasts also, they are EVERYWHERE! Also check out Il Pranzo at 18th & M - cheap and good.

For dinner for starters, just walk up 19th st. between L. st and P st. - read the sidewalk menus and you'll see a ton of options for your family.

Here's a link that will show EVERY place - choose either the "Farragut" or "Dupont" pull-down tab for your hotel area. You can also click kid-freindly or a cuisine to further refine the search. You can additionally click on "map" once the restaurants are listed.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...ning/?nav=left

If you are going to the Capitol or the Supreme Court on your trip, you might want to start with breakfast in the Capitol Hill area. You will find a number of restaurants along Pennsylvania Ave on the "House" side, esp. between the Capitol and 7th St SE . The Tune Inn would be a good very casual choice, and it's a Washington institution. It is as Pennsylvania Ave and 4th St, SE. If you are taking the Metro, take the blue/orange line to Capitol South, then head up toward the Capitol building to PA Ave and turn right. The Tune Inn would be good for lunch or dinner.

Another good place is Eastern Market, where there is the famous Market Lunch restaurant with great French toast and other breakfast fast items and their famous crab cake sandwiches. Very casual cheap and cheerful, would be good for lunch too. If you are taking the Metro, take the blue/orange line to Eastern Market. The exit is at Pennsylvania Ave and 7th St, and Eastern Market is at then end of 7th St where it intersects with North Carolina Ave. If you are there on a Saturday, there is a farmers and craft market at Eastern Market all day. There are lots of charming town houses in these neighborhoods.

Finally, on the "Senate" side, there is Union Station which has a large food hall, good for breakfasts or lunches, easy walk to the Senate buildings, the Supreme Court and the Capitol. There are restaurants outside of Union Station in the surrounding streets as well. Take the red line to Union Station.

Website for the Metro system is http://www.wmata.com and their system map is at http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/systemmap.cfm

Thank you all so much! I really appreciate your advice!!! Looking forward to seeing some of those famous cherry blossoms.

Luna Grill is just up the street. It will work well.