Washington D.C. is not often known as a restaurant town, but don't kid yourself — it is a great place to eat. There are more than 2,000 restaurants in the capital, and with so many to choose from there is a restaurant for every palate, from haute cuisine to Japanese teahouses to cafeterias. The museum restaurants can also be surprisingly good, and many of the hotel restaurants are family-friendly.

The restaurants in this section are geared toward sit-down family dining with slightly older children, ages seven and up. For families with younger children, the chain or hotel restaurants are probably your best bet for dinner. Of course, the iron-clad rule applies — call ahead.