Locals, what are the best restaurants in Washington DC?

I'm making my first trip ever to Washington DC soon and have been doing some research on the restaurants around town.



Just wondering, whats your favorite?

I'm looking for a moderate price range, about $30 a person I'd say for dinner. Or if you've got good cheap eats, that's helpful too, but it's vacation so I'll probably live a little. I love all kinds of food so variety is good too!



By the way, I've heard these restaurants are good:

Et Voila

Filomena Restaurante

Hudson

Mezza Luna



any feedback on those?Locals, what are the best restaurants in Washington DC?
In the Shaw neighborhood, there's Vegetate (but they're closed Sunday and Monday). If you go between 6 and 7, they have a $25 deal where you get a Small Plate, a Large Plate and a Dessert for $25. Your drink, of course, is additional. When they're good, they're really, really good, but when they're not so good, well...it really is a bad experience.



This is far cheaper than $30 a person--in fact, two people can get out of there for between $25 and $35--but I love Nirvana Indian Restaurant on K Street NW near 18th. The food can be a bit spicy, but it is plentiful.



For really cheap, but good, eats, there's a great Ethiopian restaurant in Adams Morgan called Meskerem. It's not the nicest ambiance, but it will be an interesting experience--you eat with your hands from a communal dish and pick up the food with a bread called injera.
If you're in town for a couple days, definitely go to Ben's Chili Bowl (1213 U Street NW) one day or evening. It's cheap and also a local institution, like pizza in NY or cheesesteak in Philly. You can also wander around the U Street neighborhood, too.



Locals, what are the best restaurants in Washington DC?
Tapas- Jaleo, Zantinya's

Spanish/Mexican-Rosa Mexicano-They make guac at your table YUM

Black Salt Fish Market Restaurant

Vegeterian-Vegetate, Asia Nora $$$

Old Ebbitt Grill



Cheap Eats

Chinatown-all the restaraunts

Ben's Chili Bowl (U Street)


Zorba's on Dupont Circle. It's a wonderful little Greek cafe with all sorts of tasty exotic dishes, as well as a wonderful Philly cheesesteak for less adventurous people :). Prices are affordable - under $10, so it's ideal for lunch.
austins grill by the verizon center is way good if you like mexican,