Picky Eater birthday dinner

[foodie21680]

Hello Everyone!
I am on a college student budget and my boyfriend's birthday is approaching.
I was wondering if anyone had any ideas for inexpensive to moderate priced places that are on the water, or have a fun outdoor eatting area.
Or even a fun indoor eatting area..anything will do, i just want a place that has some sort of character.
Thank you all!!

[foodie21680]

he;s not too too picky, he's more than willing to try new things. thank you for the ideas, keep them coming!

[dcandohio]

For inexpensive fun on the water with a beachy vibe, you can go to Cantina Marina on Maine Avenue. It's a short walk from the SW Waterfront metro. Sometimes there is live music on the weekends. People come in right off of their boats. That's a sort of character, right?

[nickdanger]

IIf you can do a mini splurge, go to Indigo Crossing www.indigolanding.com, on the Potomac south of the airport. Even if you just have a drink, you will love the view. Sweetewater Tavern in Fairfax is not inexpensive or moderate, but has an interesting cowboy themed bar and dinig room, with their own beers to boot.

[Elyssa]

I haven't been to Indigo Landing recently but seeing the other thread going the past few days I wouldn't send anyone there. If foodie21680 is willing the splurge a little bit he/she could probably do much, much better.

[katecm]

Sette, at CT and R, has a nice little outdoor area, with good people watching. Circa, also near there, has a lovely outdoor spot.

Lauriol Plaza is a bit too hectic for my tastes, but it has a ton of outdoor dining, is reasonable on the pockets, and is very lively.

[Elyssa]

I 2nd Sette. You can also try Mai Thai in Dupont Circle for good drinks and a nice outdoor seating area (although I walked by there awhile back and there was a bunch of construction going on outside so that would clearly affect the atmosphere).

A lot of places in Adams Morgan have pretty good, inexpensive food with outdoor seating. In particular I like L'Enfant, and Grill from Impanema. On U St check out St. Ex or Marvin.

[monkeyrotica]

What "college student budget" are we talking about? Harvard? If I was on a college student budget and I got sent to Marvin, I'd get sticker shock. Marvin ain't inexpensive or moderate. I'd call it upscale.

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/45761...

[Elyssa]

I've actually never been so I didn't know. A friend told me it was moderate. Sorry

[monkeyrotica]

Well, everybody's idea of "moderate" differs. They'd probably have a fun time, but doesn't really strike me as a kind of student budget place. It's more of a I-just-bought-a-condo-on-U-Street-and-need-to-convince-my-uptight-suburban-friends-that-I-made-a-wise-decision sort of place. But with some planning, they could certainly cobble together a fun, moderately priced meal at St. Ex or or Bar Pilar.

[katecm]

Oh, another one in Adams Morgan that I enjoyed recently was Black Squirrel. No outdoor seating (yet, at least), but really fun, and I believe everything is less than $20 (and some are far less).

[monkeyrotica]

If it's on the Potomac, it's going to be expensive, and almost always not particularly good.

What kind of character are you looking for? And what doesn't your boyfriend like?