Al Tiramisu www.altiramisu.com

This is a good Italian restaurant that has a variety of pastas as well as seafood and meat and fish. Entrées range from $19 to $22. Major credit cards are accepted.

Capital Café 202-483-3000

Buffet-style dining here is perfect for families. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served from 6:30 A.M. to 11:30 P.M. seven days a week. It's known for its homemade soups, and there is also a full à la carte menu, if you prefer. It offers entrées, sandwiches, salads, and desserts, including healthy selections. Lunch buffet is $16, dinner $20.95.

Dupont Grille www.jurysdoyle.com

Situated right on Dupont Circle, this a great location for peoplewatching, which makes it a terrific summer brunch site. The fish dishes are excellent, from the crab cakes to the vanilla duck and leg confit, and the menu offers a variety of chicken, lamb, pork, fish, and beef. Dinner runs between $12 and $28, but the appetizer portions are large enough for smaller appetites. Breakfast is served every day, and the brunch is $22. This restaurant also serves wonderful waffles and French toast. Major credit cards are accepted.

Firefly www.fireflyrestaurant.com

Located in the Hotel Madera, this is a one-of-a-kind dining experience that should entrance children and adults alike. The interior features a replica of a tree festooned with summer lights, and birch trunks lining the wall give the atmosphere of a summer evening, even in the dead of winter. The menu varies with the seasons and has won universal praise. Dinner entrées run from $17 to $24. If the pumpkin pudding is on the menu, order it.

The bill is presented in a mason jar with holes in the lid. A brunch is also offered, and major credit cards are accepted. Firefly is a small restaurant, so make a reservation, especially on the weekend.

Nora www.noras.com

This is one of the best restaurants in Washington D.C., in spite of the fact (or because of it, depending upon your culinary tastes) that all the food is organically grown. The setting is lovely, in a private townhouse with a skylight and a restored stable as the main dining room, with quilts and local art on the walls. This is not your tofu-and-bean-sprout burger restaurant but, rather, haute cuisine for the culinary correct. There's an emphasis on seafood, but there's also free-range chicken and even kidney on the menu. Desserts are wonderful, especially the pies and homemade ice cream, and there's a varied wine list. Of course, a restaurant like this varies the menu depending on seasonal produce, so there is always something new and different to try. Entrees range from $27 to $33. Reservations are strongly recommended. Nora takes MasterCard, Visa, and Discover only.

Smith & Wollensky 202-466-1100

Because Washington D.C. is a town that loves its red meat, this is just the restaurant that the city needs. This branch of the renowned New York steakhouse, with its famous green-and-white exterior, serves lots of steak (even a double porterhouse for $66), as well as lamb chops and lobster. Open until 1 A.M. Entrees run $25 to $65. Major credit cards are accepted. Dress is business casual.

Vidalia www.vidaliadc.com

Considered one of the most creative Southern restaurants in D.C., Vidalia has been a popular favorite for a long time. The dining room is down a flight of stairs and has no windows, but people don't seem to mind as they slap vidalia marmalade on the delicious corn bread and try the new ways that the chef has come up with to flavor his fish, beef, lamb, and game. There are many interesting and mouthwatering entrees on the menu, but many may be too much for kids to take, so check the menu at the Web site. Desserts are superb, too. Try the pecan pie. Entrees run $26 to $36. Most major credit cards are accepted.