re: Washington DC Restaurants

For steakhouses I'd recommend any of the following

Joe's Seafood and Steak
Oceans Prime
Capital Grille

For small plates I've found these to be fantastic spots

Zaytinya(Greek-ish)
The Source(asian)
Proof('merican)
Doi Moi(southeast asian)
Estadio(spanish)
Jaleo(spanish)
Oyamel(Mexican)

If you're a whiskey fan, especially scotch you MUST go to Jack Rose. The food there is fantastic as well.

For an amazing dining/drink experience check one of the several michelin restaurants

Minibar(**)
Blue Duck Tavern(*)
Komi(*)
Rasika(*)

Minibar is great and is def a once every few years type of dining experience

*skip Old Ebbitts. Yes it gets flak because people who visit and stop in after seeing the white house love it but you're not getting anything interesting or that you can't really get at any other restaurant. It's like going to NYC and hitting up Sbarro's for pizza. Just don't