Downtown
America Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Ave NE tel 202/682-9555; Union Station Metro. The huge, reasonably priced menu has been culled from all over the US. Choose between the double-decker restaurant inside and the concourse seating outside.

The Breadline 1751 Pennsylvania Ave NW tel 202/822-8900; Farragut West Metro. DC's best sandwiches are made with DC's best bread. Mon-Fri 7am-6pm.

Café Asia 1134 19th St NW tel 202/659-2696; Farragut North Metro. Situated in an old townhouse, the café serves excellent value dishes such as sashimi, Thai noodles and lemongrass-grilled chicken. Sushi happy hour Mon-Sat 5.30-7.30pm.

Coco Loco 810 7th St NW tel 202/289-2626; Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro. An in-crowd restaurant with a choice of superb Mexican tapas (snacks and appetizers) and all-you-can-eat Brazilian grills.

District Chophouse & Brewery 509 7th St NW tel 202/347-3434; Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro. This classy swing-era joint delivers great music, a grillhouse menu and good house beers on tap.

Grillfish 1200 New Hampshire Ave NW tel 202/331-7310; Dupont Circle or Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro. One of the best finds in DC offers casual dining, perfectly cooked fish and seafood and excellent desserts.

Jaleo 480 7th St NW tel 202/628-7949; Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro. Call in early for a glass of wine and nibbles, because the notoriously long waits at this fashionable, upscale tapas bar can spoil an otherwise perfect evening.

Malaysia Kopitiam 1827 M St NW tel 202/833-6232; Dupont Circle or Farragut North Metro. A no-frills basement eatery, where the extensive selection of Malay, Chinese and Indian fare is a first-class ticket to Southeast Asia.

The Mark 401 7th St NW tel 202/783-3133; Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro. This chic and expensive spot features seasonal menus of New American cuisine and a select choice of wines by the glass.

Old Ebbitt Grill 675 15th St NW tel 202/347-4801; Metro Center Metro. At this very plush, old-style downtown tavern, check out the immaculate mahogany bar, gilt mirrors and stylish clientele. Serves everything from burgers to oysters.

Oodles Noodles 1120 19th St NW tel 202/293-3138; Farragut North Metro. A lunch-crowd favorite serving flavorful, hearty bowls of noodles on the cheap. Closed Sun.

Red Sage 605 14th St NW tel 202/638-4444; Metro Center Metro. This renowned and expensive Southwestern restaurant (reservations essential) drips with Santa Fe chic, but you can also eat for less at the funky Chili Bar .

Reeve's Restaurant and Bakery 1306 G St NW tel 202/628-6350; Metro Center Metro. A classic daytime diner turns out big fried breakfasts, crisp-coated chicken at lunchtime and strawberry pies. Mon-Sat 7am-6pm.

Sholl's Colonial Cafeteria 1990 K St NW tel 202/296-3065; Farragut West Metro. The last of a disappearing breed - a remarkably cheap self-service café- dishes up home-cooked food, cakes and pies to long lines. Mon-Sat 7am-10.30am, 11am-2.30pm & 4-8pm.

Sky Terrace   Washington Hotel , 515 15th St NW tel 202/638-5900; Metro Center Metro. From its hilltop perch above the White House, the restaurant has magnificent views that more than make up for the unremarkable food. May-Oct only.

Zuki Moon 824 New Hampshire Ave NW tel 202/333-3312; Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro. A spiffy Japanese-style noodle bar offering great-value noodle soups, tempura appetizers and green-tea ice cream. Closed Sat & Sun lunch.

Dupont Circle
Dupont Circle Metro is the nearest stop for all the places listed below .

Afterwords Café 1517 Connecticut Ave NW tel 202/387-1462. In the back of Kramerbooks (hence the punny name), the café serves imaginative meals and a fine Sunday brunch. It's open late every night and all night Fri & Sat, with live music Wed-Sat.

Annie's Paramount Steakhouse 1609 17th St NW tel 202/232-0395. This easy-going steakhouse, an institution in the Dupont gay scene, is open all-night Fri & Sat, when midnight brunch is served.

Bistro du Coin 1738 Connecticut Ave NW tel 202/234-6969. Visit a rare treat in DC - a classic bistro with a superb bar, boisterous atmosphere and genuine French food. Closed Mon.

Café Citron 1343 Connecticut Ave NW tel 202/530-8844. Bright restaurant serving tasty Caribbean-influenced Latin food - try the ceviche or fill up on one of their popular fajitas. Stick around for a smooth late-night scene at the bar.

Cyberstop Café 1513 17th St NW tel 202/234-2470. One of DC's few cybercafés, this laid-back neighborhood coffee shop serves good coffee, cakes and bagels with seating inside the arty townhouse or out on the sidewalk.

Johnny's Half Shelf 2002 P St NW tel 202/296-2021. Retro 1920s decor and a swank marble bar sit well with this bistro's down-to-earth menu, which features local seafood specialties. Closed Sun.

Lauriol Plaza 1801 18th St NW tel 202/387-0035. Lines form early in this packed, family-run Mexican-Spanish restaurant, renowned for its excellent food.

Luna Grill & Diner 1301 Connecticut Ave NW tel 202/835-2280. A quirky, comfy diner with wholesome blue-plate specials, "green plate" (vegetarian) dishes and organic coffees and teas; also makes an excellent weekend brunch spot.

The Newsroom 1803 Connecticut Ave NW tel 202/332-1489. The newsstand offers a wide selection of hipster magazines, British and French imports and hard-to-find newspapers plus internet access, coffee and snacks.

Pizzeria Paradiso 2029 P St NW tel 202/223-1245. Arguably DC's best pizzeria, with thunderingly good food, affordable house wine and a charming atmosphere - though you can expect to wait in line.

Sushi Taro 1507 17th St NW tel 202/462-8999. The steady stream of Japanese suits seeking a taste of home testifies that this is indeed one of DC's best Japanese restaurants. Closed Sat & Sun lunch.

Zorba's Café 1612 20th St NW tel 202/387-8555. A self-serve café where you'll find filling Greek combo platters, kebabs and pita-bread sandwiches. The sidewalk seating is hard to get in summer.

Adams-Morgan
Nearest Metros for Adams-Morgan are Woodley Park-Zoo or Dupont Circle .

Bukom Café 2442 18th St NW tel 202/265-4600. Wash down delicious West African dishes - such as obe ila , a soup with okra and smoked fish, and nkatikwan , chicken with peanuts (figure $10) - with African beer and music.

Cashion's Eat Place 1819 Columbia Rd NW tel 202/797-1819. A chef's restaurant, Cashion's serves fabulous - and expensive - New American cuisine. Book ahead or sip a proper cocktail at the very chic bar while you wait. Closed Mon. Dinner only.

The Diner 2453 18th St NW tel 202/232-8800. It's more stylish café than down-at-the-heels diner, but with greasy classics adorning the eggs-and-sandwich-rich menu, classic coffee counter and 24hr service, it's a winner.

Meskerem 2434 18th St NW tel 202/462-4100. At the District's favorite Ethiopian hangout, the messob platter gives you a taste of everything.

Meze 2437 18th St NW tel 202/797-0017. A wide array of delicious Turkish mezze (the Middle East's answer to tapas) is served up hot or cold in a fashionable setting.

Mixtec 1792 Columbia Rd NW tel 202/332-1011. The great-tasting, low-priced Mexican food includes superb tacos and tortillas, plus spit-roasted chicken, mussels steamed with chilis and a soothing menudo .

Pasta Mia 1790 Columbia Rd NW tel 202/328-9114. Expect long lines at this no-frills, family-run pasteria, which piles on the pasta at prices so low it's worth the wait. Mon-Sat 6.30pm-11pm.

Pizza Mart 2445 18th St NW tel 202/234-9700; Woodley Park-Zoo Metro. The elephantine slices at this hole-in-the-wall pizzeria are a club hopper's late night salvation. Open until 3am.

Rocky's Café 1817 Columbia Rd NW tel 202/387-2580. This easy-going bistro serving Creole-Cajun and Caribbean food is a solid choice in the Adams-Morgan scene - especially if you're in the mood for a laid-back Saturday brunch. Closed on Sun and for lunch Mon-Fri.

Saigonnais 2307 18th St NW tel 202/232-5300. The gourmet-quality Vietnamese food includes such specialties as whole steamed fish and an amazing fish soup. The food is worth the slightly higher prices.

Georgetown
Buses #30, #32, #34, #35 or #36 from Pennsylvania Ave NW; or Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro and a 20min walk .

Amma Vegetarian Kitchen 3291 M St NW tel 202/625-6625. A scrumptious haven for strict vegetarians, this South Indian joint specializes in dosa - lentil and rice flour wraps - but also has very good curries and yummy breads.

Au Pied de Cochon 1335 Wisconsin Ave NW tel 202/333-5440. This casual, enjoyable 24hr bistro offers conservatory dining, breakfasts and great-value early-bird dinners (around $10).

Café la Ruche 1039 31st St NW tel 202/965-2684. Seek out this relaxing, inexpensive bistro away from M Street's maddening crowds, with patio seating ideal for dining alone or in twos. Count on the onion soup, quiches and croques or drop by for a pastry and an espresso. Open until 10pm (weekends until midnight).

Dean & Deluca 3276 M St NW tel 202/342-2500. The conservatory-style café and attached deli-market are in one of Georgetown's handsomest redbrick buildings. Open until 8pm (weekends 10pm).

Enriqueta's 2811 M St NW tel 202/338-7772. A creative menu (by DC standards) showcases authentic Mexican food - try the generous mussels appetizer - and excellent margaritas. Closed Sat lunch and Sun.

J Paul's 3218 M St NW tel 202/333-3450. The best of Georgetown's saloons is not cheap, but worth it for the famous crab cakes and house-brewed Amber Ale.

Old Glory 3139 M St NW tel 202/337-3406. At this rollicking barbecue restaurant - a good-time place with live R&B bands three nights a week - hickory smoke rises in earnest from the kitchen.

Paolo's 1303 Wisconsin Ave NW tel 202/333-7353. Designer Italian dining - gourmet pizzas and even better pasta - is your reward. Compete for the few sidewalk tables.

Saigon Inn 2928 M St NW tel 202/337-5588. Bargain lunch deals bring in the crowds - though the Vietnamese food is a bit too Westernized to be authentic.

Red Ginger 1564 Wisconsin Ave NW tel 202/965-7009. The colorful Caribbean bistro brings a splash of the islands to Georgetown, with plenty of rum for everyone. Dinner only.

Upper Northwest
Spices 3333 Connecticut Ave NW tel 202/686-3833; Cleveland Park Metro. Stylish Pan-Asian restaurant serving everything from stir-fried basil chicken to sushi.

Lebanese Taverna 2641 Connecticut Ave NW tel 202/265-8681; Woodley Park-Zoo Metro. The delicious Middle Eastern joint lures with soothingly dark, authentic decor inside and ample sidewalk tables under shady umbrellas outside.

Nam Viet 3419 Connecticut Ave NW tel 202/237-1015; Cleveland Park Metro. You really can't go wrong at this no-frills Vietnamese spot: excellent food, heaping portions, extensive menu and exceptionally low prices.

Woodley Café 2619 Connecticut Ave NW tel 202/332-5773; Woodley Park-Zoo Metro. This roomy neighborhood café/bar attracts a mellow crowd. Breakfast and Sunday brunch are good, there's a full menu for lunch and dinner.