Thought I'd defer to the experts here ...
We'd like to get a gift certificate to a nice D.C. or Northern VA restaurant as a "thank you" to a friend for a favor. We'd like to spend $100-150 and would like them to be able to have dinner/drinks/dessert. They're not fans of really fancy restaurants, but they do appreciate good food. Any suggestions?

Jill, I could make some recommendations but it would help to know what kind of food your friends prefer. Are they ethnic food fans at all? If so, what kind? Do they like spicy food? Seafood? Steak-type places?

I think "simple" would sum up their tastes best. A seafood or steak restaurant might be the best bet for them.

DC Coast
Old Ebbitt Grill
Kinkead's

Legal Seafood is outstanding, located at 2020 K Street, 496-1111, or Kinkeades at 2000 PA Ave, 296-7700. Both are excellent.

Cross check these suggestion with zagot.com. They have information and reviews of most resturants.

i second the recomendation of Old Ebbitt Grill.they have a very good entree menu that changes daily, as well as a large part of the menu that stays the same you can get something as simple as a burger or salad or good fish, pasta, etc. we just had dinner there this weekend, there were 28 of us in the party, (it was a graduation dinner) and the service was great, food delicious, in general a good experience. keep in mind that we were in DC the weekend of Georgetowns Graduation: Undergrad, business school AND law school, plus it was memorial day, so we were worried about getting a decent meal for our guests, but it worked out fine. plus, i had miscounted the # and the reservations were made for 23, and i had to add the extra five at the last minute, and they were very accomodating.

McCormick & Schmick (sp), a good seafood restaurant on K Street in the District. Maybe better than Legal SeaFood, IMHO.

I endorse all of Sue's recommendations. Old Ebbitt Grill is a DC classic, elegant and excellent food. Kinkead's is known for some of the best seafood in town; everyone raves about their food and deservedly so. I haven't eaten at DC Coast yet but foodie friends I trust love it. I don't think you could go wrong with any of these three.

I suggest R.T.'s in Alexandria. It's one of my favorite restaurants in the D.C. area. I think Kinkead's is extremely overrated (but I've only been there once and might have caught them on a bad night). Legal Seafood is excellent, but it's a chain and might not be that exciting. R.T.'s is fine dining, but a reasonably casual atmosphere and the food is excellent.

How about the 1789 in Georgetown? McCormick and Schmicks and Legal Seafoods are both mini chains. Another thought would be Clyde's in Georgetown for a super brunch sometime.

Old Ebbitt Grill and the Capital Grill. I was in DC 2 weeks ago and ate the Capital Grill. It was great.

...Is Red Sage still open and putting out good meals?

We ate there 3-4 times on out trips back there and it was pretty good.

Haven't been back in 4yrs. tho and we know the restaurant biz..

Yes, I believe Red Sage is still open, and it was great the last time I ate there. It is kind of a gourmet Southwestern classy Tex Mex with odd ingredients kind of thing. Hard to describe. Maybe a quail taco or some such. If your friends are conservative, they may enjoy something else. But if you decide to send your friends there, tell them that Bill took Hillary there on their first Valentine's dinner as first couple. Unless that would make your friends puke.

OH NO! Don't turn this into a political mssg board!!!!!

I recall watermelon margaritas, ostrich chili, buffalo and all were gooood. Great modern/So'western decor, too.

Kinkead's for seafood (primarily fish, not shrimp or lobster)--it's head and shoulders above McCormick or Legal Seafood. Vidalia for a more varied menu, has a southern tinge. Capital Grill is excellent for steak. Morton's is also excellent for steak and they have a Tysons Corner branch if the folks would prefer Virginia. RT's is also good, but I don't think in quite the same class as these others.

Since a lot of these restaurants will cost much less than $100 with drinks and dessert, I have to get in a plug for a couple of places close to the MCI center. Jaleo has DC's best tapas, and Cafe Atlantico has wonderful seafood and the best South American wine list this side of Santiago. Jaleo is considerably below $100 for 2, and Cafe Atlantico is 100-125 for 2.

Old Ebbitt Grill, hands down. I was surprised to hear the positive comments on Kinkeads. I eat there quite often because it's close to my office, and an easy place to take clients, but the food and service are very ordinary, often below ordinary.

Forget Capitol Grill. Nothing special. 1789 is probably out of the $100-150 range.

RT's has great food, but the neighborhood can be a little scary unless you're familar with it.

The only steakhouse in D.C. to approach being worth the price is Morton's.

Red Sage is excellent, but may be a little too "fru fru" for your friends.

Landini Brothers (Italian) in Old Town Alexandria is excellent. Also in Old Town is Union Street--it's more casual, but the food is typically good.