Thanks obxgirl - we are staying at The Willard. Walked past it last visit in 2009 and thought the restaurant looked great, so it may be our splurge of the trip.

@ Italophile -- Do give some thought to your other options! There are LOTS of restaurants in the city that are consistently rated better!

To add to obxgirl's Eastern Market info. There is a semi-famous place to eat inside the market called Canales (I think). It is cash only and it too gets crowded on weekend mornings. There's a big market outside EM on weekends.

If you get to Hank's Oyster bar early (as mentioned, it opens at 5) and on a week night, you might be OK.

Good to know, TDudette. I think we'll try for oysters on Wednesday early in the evening.

Please report back, kureiff and have a great trip.

I often take tourists to the Old Ebbitt Grill. There has been a restaurant by that name in DC since Lincoln was President (although not exactly in its present location). It is not just a tourist trap. The food is excellent if straightforward. It is also near all the tourist sites on 15th Street, NW, as close as you can get to the White House. Ask for the room with the animal heads on the wall. The story is that they were shot by Teddy Roosevelt. Whether that one is true or not, I cannot say, but it is a good story. Of course, in today's world, the heads are very politically incorrect, but the place is fun, so who cares?

Oyamel (mexican) and Zaytinya (Turkish, Greek, Lebanese) are both very good.

We went to Eat the Rich last night, and it was very good. We arrived early (5:30), and it was empty. I think we left around 6:30, and it was still pretty quiet. We had 2 dozen oysters (a variety of types), chowder, duck fat fried potatoes, and bread. We also had the gin and elderflower cocktail. The oysters were very fresh and good. The potatoes were okay. The chowder was excellent with a lot of fish and leeks. So 2 thumbs up from husband and me. Our daughter wasn't impressed. She liked the oysters but not the chowder. Mostly, I think she was tired from staying up too late playing with cousins the day before. We stopped at Ben and Jerry's on our way back to the hotel for chocolate ice cream, and that improved her mood.

Congrats to a 10 YO who would even look crossed eyed at a raw oyster!

Thanks for your feedback on Eat the Rich -- I was there with a friend a few weeks ago and couldn't get a seat at 7:30 on a Tuesday. Seemed like a big bar scene as well.

Adding it to our list for later this year... thanks, kureiff! Glad it was good!

The daughter wanted pizza for lunch, so we went to Zella's Pizza for wood fired pizza. It wasn't great, but it was nice to sit for awhile.

My husband went to the Farmer's Market recommended above and picked up bread, cheese, vegetables, and salami for dinner...all very good.

My daughter and husband walked to Union Station for gelato, too.

if you like" the hotel George on their facebook page they may respond with something nice like a cheese platter and wine in your room on the house and they let you raid the mini bar up to a certain amount if you are a member or whatever it is they call it . its free to sign up on their website

founding farmers foggy bottom or their sister restaurant farmers fishers bakers in georgetown are two great restaurants that are kid friendly. I wouldn't recommend bens chili...I went there because of all the recommendations and it was hard to get to and not so good. just ok. most of the restaurants that I go to are not kid friendly, so if you have a night without your daughter I can recommend other places. have fun. PS - a reservation is a MUST. Oh yeah, you might like rialto on M st. in georgetown. Another fun - but fancy (if you like over the top italian decor where they make the pasta in the window facing the street) is filomena's in georgetown. Wisconsin ave. tons of homemade desserts . have a good time!