Inexpensive Eats ($10 and under) in DC?
 

We (Mr. Pickle, our 16yo son, and I) will be in Washington DC October 5th through the 10th. Most of our focus is on the museums and monuments, though we would like to spend some time outdoors so we don't get museumed out. :-) I think Mr. Pickle wants to spend a little time in Georgetown as well.

If possible, I'd like to keep our lunch budget at $10 or less per person. Any suggestions are welcome!

Lee Ann

Sign up for GroupOn and ScoutMob deals. :-)

Dirty water hotdogs with chili and a soda may be under $10 for all three of you!

Seriously, you're a bit limited on the National Mall because of the distances involved. We usually have lunch at the Museum of the American Indian, but it's not very cheap. The National Gallery's cafeteria is also good, also not that cheap. (Though I think a sandwich and a drink would be under ten bucks.) I wonder what's in Penn Quarter these days, which is a reasonable walk from the Mall, that's quick and cheap... I don't know for sure, hope someone else does, but that's where I'd head for some outdoors time at lunch. Is there a Pain Quotidien there? It's a chain, but I love that place for lunch.

Ben's Chili Bowl for half smokes and chili. Also the nearby Florida Avenue Grill for good Southern style cooking. Not far from L'Enfant Plaza south of the Mall is the Atrium, for hand carved sandwich meats. Very popular with nearby office folks, so go early since they start selling out just after noon.

Starrs, I signed up for ScoutMob already, but I can't figure out how to add Washington DC to my existing Groupon membership. Can you help?

Thanks for the help, everyone.

Lee Ann

How could I have forgotten Ben's Chili Bowl! That's a must.

Lee Ann, go to the drop down menu for cities and look for the new city. When that city is at the top of the screen, you have the option of receiving the deals via email. You can receive alerts for more than one city.

There's a pedicab tour for up to 3 and lots of meal deals.

The Cascades Cafe, located underground between the National Gallery of Art's East and West Buildings, is my "go-to" lunch spot when I'm visiting museums on the Mall. I like sitting near the indoor waterfall (cascades) and they've got a lot of meal choices for under $10. The food is freshly prepared there and is among the best you'll find in any of the museums. See the following menu and the various "value" meals that they offer: http://www.nga.gov/pdf/cascadecafe_menu.pdf

Depending on where you are down on the mall doing museums and monuments, Penn Quarter is a 5-10 minute walk and has lots of low cost lunch options as well as more than a couple of museums off the National Mall. There's also a metro stop (Gallery Place/Chinatown).

Chop't - fresh salads and flatbread

Merzi - Indian. Everyone describes it as Indian Chipotle and I agree.

Nando Peri Peri - spicy Portuguese chicken and fries.

Five Guys - burgers & dogs

Capital Q BBQ - not my favorite BBQ place but lots love it.

Zaytinya - ok, a squidge above $10 but amazing mediterranean mezze. Worth the trip for lunch or dinner.

Best recommendation: Buy a sandwich or some cheese and a baguette at the Cowgirl Creamery (919 F St. NW), shove it in your bag and take it to the atrium between the National Portrait Gallery & the American Art Museum. You can buy a drink at their cafe (and their lunch options aren't too bad either) and enjoy a few moments of respite from city hustle & bustle. Even on the 4th of July it was a quiet oasis. One of my favorite places in DC.

Old Post Office Building has a food court with the usual suspects. Union Station has a multiple food areas with a slightly better offering (like the Corner Bakery).

I agree with the above that the Cascades Cafe is a good lunch spot within the museums.

Obxgirl has a good idea. Upstairs at Union Station is a good restaurant (can't remember the name). It was very close to the elevator. It sure beats the pizza joint and McD's downstairs.

Cosi and Potbelly sandwiches/salads; 5 guys burgers, Chipotle for inexpensive Mexican and there's lots of Subways and Quiznos.

LeeAnn,
Have your tried
http://www.dealsgoround.com/washington-dc

This is a site where you can buy past groupons and living social deals that others have bought but now don't want or can't use them.

Go for lunch at Paul - right next to Archives at 801 Penn. Ave.

http://www.paul-usa.com/

Limited seating at Paul so take your lunch next door to Navy Memorial and enjoy!

Seriously - it GREAT (and I'm quite particular...)

Near the Archives is also Teaims, one of my favorites:

http://www.teaism.com/Restaurant/PennQuarter7.html

Last night I was looking at restaurants on TravelAdvisor. They list the restaurant, cuisine and estimated cost of a meal. There were a few near Capital Hill that may fit your budget. It may be worth a look for you. I am planning my third trip to DC and I always have a hard time finding a reasonably price place for meals other than the national chains especially near the Mall.

Thanks for the Groupon help! DebitNM, I will definitely check Deals Go Round as well.

I appreciate all the local suggestions (and Cowgirl Creamery - yum!) Ideally, I'd like to avoid national chains if we can. After all, part of the fun of traveling is enjoying local restaurants. :-) I'm creating a list we can take with us.

I just found out we got a White House tour at *7:30 a.m.* (5:30 a.m. our time) the day after we arrive. I think a good breakfast somewhere is in order! :-))

Lee Ann

That is the same time we got on our tour. It was good in that there were no crowds, we were the first group in. Must be a New Mexico time slot, LeeAnn!

Go to BREADLINE for a great early quick breakfast near WH

Or go to breakfast afterwards. You'll be out of the WH by 8:30

Oh, that's funny, we got 7:30, too! Can't be the New Mexico time slot :-)
(The tour was fun!)