DC Eats with 5 and 3 year old

[liger]

Will be in town for 4 days in early August and need restaurant advice. We're staying in Arlington. Would like to avoid chains, but still need the place to be kid friendly or loud enough to appear kid friendly.

open to anything (except Chinese, we get that lot where we are). we don't drink wine and budget is about $50 lunch and $100 for dinner? here's where we'll be:

August 3rd - arrive late afternoon in Arlington
4th - Smithsonian natural history, maybe whitehouse or capitol hill
5th - national mall

Thanks for your help!

[liger]

We're thinking about going to Jaleo in Crystal City on Friday evening - around 6 or 7pm - is this place kid friendly?

[whimsey]

I've taken my kids there for lunch and for early dinner on the weekend (not Friday) and it was fine. I probably wouldn't take them there after 7pm or so, however, because it seemed like the vibe was starting to change...

[Steve]

That would be fine. Plus there is sidewalk seating if the weather cooperates. Don't miss the patatas bravas, the beet and citrus salad, the spinach with raisins, and the grilled asparagus with romesco sauce.

[anchor]

Rays Hell burger in Arlington, so so yummy and easy walking distance from your hotel.
Teasim for good lunch, Tonic is good for dinner near the Lincoln memorial.
I am the mom of a 4 and 1 year old, and my experience is that most places are kid friendly on what we call the "early shift". As long as you are eating before 6:30, places are accommodating.
Good tip, Jose andres of minibar fame is doing a pop-up tapas bar at the National Gallery. There is also good gelato there, as well. Have a fun trip!

[drewpbalzac]

Second for Zest - Barracks Row on Capitol Hill all the way at the end.

Owners have young kids so they are prepared: kids menus, crayons and they are super understanding.

For adults the bistro fare provides lots of options.

You can try to bribe the kids with cupcakes or frozen yogurt from other shops right down the street it you need to.

[dcandohio]

Not too far from the Mall is Ella's pizza, on 9th near the Portrait Gallery and Gallery Place metro. Very kid friendly, good pizza.

[monkeyrotica]

On Capitol Hill (across from the Capital South Metro) Bullfeathers has been pretty kid friendly. Standard pub grub, but the pizzas are pretty decent. Better than Matchbox and We the Pizza actually. The best pizzas on the Hill are at Seventh Hill near Eastern Market Metro.

If the weather isn't too oppressive, Maine Avenue fish market offers some of the better al fresco steamed crab/fried seafood/raw oyster offerings. Relatively cheap compared to the sitdown options, like the Quarterdeck in Arlington, which does in fact have excellent crabs and is kid friendly.

[erinnf]

I'm a big fan of Seventh Hill pizza near Eastern Market, but they are actually closed for renovations right now. I believe they won't re-open until the second week of August.

[Steve]

You don't say where in Arlington or if you have a car.....

[liger]

at the hyatt arlington - i believe it's near the rosslyn metro.

[liger]

and yes we have a car

[Steve]

Lots of good and very special eating in Northern Virginia. Jerusalem in Falls Church for the makhusan and the makluba. Sibarita in Arlington for Bolivian food, get the silpancho and a mocochincho to drink. Huong Viet -cash only- in Eden Center in Falls Church for the cha gio, lotus rood salad, and the grilled pork. Cafe Assorti (Kazakh food) in Arlington for the manti with pink sauce and any of the stuffed breads. In that order. All great places to take kids.

[ipsedixit]

Good Stuff (burgers and shakes)

Zest (bistro fare)

We The Pizza and/or Matchbox (for pizza)

Etete (Ethiopian)