Pier 7 restaurant at the channel inn in Southwest DC http://www.channelinn.com/default.asp... is the one I always wonder about, as I live nearby. I imagine the menu has not changed in about 40 years (all vegetables served with hollandaise sauce? chopped liver as an appetizer? Seafood Newburg?) and it seems like a place my 85 year old grandma would really like if she came to visit--truth be told, it seems quite similar to some places I've visited with her near her home in Florida.

It's too expensive for me to want to try it without some confirmation that it's really good. Plus I don't eat pork or shellfish and that cuts out a lot of the menu. But yes, someone must be eating there.

I'd make sure to try an Ethiopian restaurant (most are around 9th & U st. NW, not far from Ben's Chili Bowl, but Ethiopic would be a shorter cab ride for you since it's in NE).

Jose Andres is a famous restaurant owner in DC and I think Zaytinya is his best place.

On Capitol Hill, snacking at Eastern Market is fun (go to Market Lunch if you want a sit down meal--it's counter service). Other popular things nearby include Seventh Hill Pizza, Pitango gelato, Matchbox (pizza, sliders, brunch), and Ted's Bulletin (classic/retro American).

If you're not coming until June, there will be more options in the Navy Yard neighborhood, close to Capitol Hill. Among the most eagerly anticipated is Bluejacket, which should have a very good beer selection and good food too.

the pupusas at Judy Restaurant on 14th St. NW are only $2 each and I think two make a filling meal, since it comes with chips, salsa, and curtido. Tamales are only $2.50 each, and if you want to splurge the guacamole or the platanos fritos are each $5.

how about ted's bulletin on 8th St. SE? There are a lot of choices and fun desserts. The decor is neat, too.

adventuresome eaters might like Ethiopian--there is a place in Georgetown (Das) but I think Etete or Dukem (near the U St. metro) are better. It's a cuisine few other parts of the country offer like we do. Also near the other U St. metro exit is Ben's Chili Bowl. Definitely very DC-ish.

on Capitol Hill, Market Lunch at Eastern Market? The Mitsitam Cafe at the Native American museum? You can also eat in the Supreme Court: http://aoc.gov/food-and-gift-shops and several congressional office buildings: http://radining.compass-usa.com/ushou....

You should probably also take them to a cupcake shop. Georgetown cupcakes if they like the show...if not, I think Baked and Wired (Georgetown) and Sticky Fingers (Columbia Heights) are great.

if they'll do Italian, Dino has a nice private room and good food. You can search on opentable for places with private rooms. Gordon Biersch has one, too.

obelisk is supposed to be great and that's a tasting menu. I also really like Zaytina. and if you're willing to go up to Fredrick, I love Volt.

But I think Rasika might be the best fit for you--playful and with a tasting menu!

In DC, I like Bagels Etc. on P St. near Dupont. Important note: it's cash only.

If you're willing to go to Rockville, I think Bagel City is better. They cater, so I bet they deliver.

Hill Country BBQ is doing a thanksgiving buffet--it's $35 pp for adults but probably less for kids. It's not going too fancy, but the food there has gotten pretty good reviews. It would be a short taxi ride or just a few stops on the metro (take the red line to Gallery Place and walk a few blocks south from the Arena exit) from Dupont.

Carmine's is just across the street from Hill Country and did Thanksgiving last year--might be another option to check out if you prefer Italian-American to Southern food. When looking for their info, I found http://diningindc.net/2011/10/31/forg... a couple years old but might be a good starting point.

Sidamo on H St. NE (and in fulton, md) roasts its own, primarily Ethiopian, beans. I don't know enough about coffee to comment on the quality but they are nice people and host a traditional ethiopian coffee ceremony each week.

Get some gelato at dolcezza on Wisconsin Ave...it's delicious!

The Wegman's in Columbia MD had a TON of them (both fresh and in prepared foods) last weekend but I don't know if they still do.

Sou'wester and Cityzen have great desserts; I think the latter has a dessert tasting menu. I've had just drinks and dessert at Tabard Inn and it's been really good. I've thought about trying that at Adour but haven't yet.

I think the Chesapeake Room on Barracks Row (8th St. SE, near the Eastern Market metro) would be good--I like their food and cocktails, and when I ate at the bar last week the bartender was really nice. There are tvs (we wanted to watch the Nats) and a big fishtank above the bar, and if you sit on the right side of the bar you can also see the kitchen, which is fun.

I would do dry over a cash bar.

You could rent a room at a community center (Arlington's multipurpose rooms are $80 an hour for residents and twice that for others). Are you getting married at a church? Do they have a social hall? That would be even better.

Armand's catering looks about as cheap as you can get for a meal--pizza and salad for $6 a person. But I like the desserts and fruit from Costco idea, especially if you have a couple friends who could pick everything up and arrange it on platters.

RFD also does bar food and has a private room--but they might have a minimum charge to use the room and they charge a 20% service charge and 10% tax. So $10 per person budget = $7 per person in food.

Also, I'd consider doing a weekday ceremony--it will be cheaper and fewer people will come (which is also cheaper!). You could get married in the morning and go for brunch after (Harriet's is downtown and has a $12 buffet) or cater lunch (Roti, Qdoba, Potbelly, etc.)

seasonal pantry on 9th St. NW, just north of the convention center had some in their window, I think.

K Street Cafe and Bagel http://www.menupix.com/dc/restaurants.... The egg & cheese on a bagel is good, as is the whitefish salad. They have seating.

Zenebech Injera is $10+ tax for the veggie sampler but it's 2-3 meals.

Red Toque Cafe in Shaw for most sandwich + drink combos

Amsterdam falafelshop if you skip the fries

1/4 chicken & side at El Pollo Rico in Arlington

ma la cold noodle appetizer at Great Wall Szechuan (it's enough for a meal

pupusas at Judy Restaurant (we ordered 3 between 2 people and were FULL--they come with curtido and chips & salsa).