I'm taking my mom, aunts and uncle to D.C. (ages 72-80) in October. I need restaurant suggestions that are close to or a short cab ride from the White House area. They'd prefer casual, but not too noisy. I need both breakfast, lunch and dinner suggestions! Help! This will be a tough one.

I know that it is touristy but, what the heck that is what we are - We loved Old Ebbitt's Grill for breakfast. Service is a bit slow but it is incredily comfortable and the food was very good, particularly the bagel and lox.
We also like Georgia Browns for dinner - busy when we went but the service was impeccable and the food lovely.

Old Ebbitt would be my suggestion too. Feels VERY DC, even though it's full of tourists.

Sorry, I live in the area and the Old Ebbit is NOT always "full of tourists"..it is a full of locals (mostly downtown business folks) as it is with visitors.

I agree with TopMan, although I've been away from DC for a year now. Old Ebbitt does tend to be noisy, though.

Georgia Brown, Kinkead's, easy choices.

Breakfast is hard in DC--there just aren't very many good places. Your best bet is a bagel and coffee at whatever place is nearest your hotel.

Also, you can go to www.washingtonpost.com and look at their live discussions. The Post's restaurant critic, Tom Sietsma, does a chat every week. And you can look through the archives.

If you are in DC on a Sunday, go to Georgia Brown's for brunch - it is fantastic! There is a full Southern buffet with pecan french toast, peach cobbler etc. Plus you choose an entree on top of it (which you could then take away as your lunch).

As for other suggestions, the Occidental Grill is right by the White House, next to the Willard. Kinkead's is spectacular and is on Pennsylvania Ave. Equinox is also good and is on Connecticut Ave.

For Breakfast, try Reaves on G street between 13th and 14th Street. The Metro Center Subway station is about 1/2 a block from the restuarant (follow the exit signs to 13th street). FOr lunch, I would just grab a sandwich at one of the High Noon, Cosi or Potbellys in teh area. Of those Cosi is the quiestest. For dinner, You may get better responses if you list types of cuisine you may be interested in.

I would also suggest drinks at the top of the Hotel Washington (right around the corner fromt he White House). There's an outdoor roof bar that has a very nice view of the City.