Nearly every restaurant welcomes families these days, starting, most likely, with the one in your hotel. What you need to know, mom and dad, is that many Washington restaurants are playgrounds for the city's vast population of young professionals. For example, I would love to recommend Matchbox, which serves an excellent pizza and other items kids love; but its reservations-only-for-six-or-more policy means that you and your little darlings are going to be waiting for your table (and there's almost always a wait) either in the jumping-all-day bar or out on the street in the middle of Chinatown. Choose a place that sounds like its food, fun, and flexibility factors suit your family. Also consider dining early and getting a table away from the bar scene. Chinese restaurants and museum cafes are always a safe bet, and so are these:
Lebanese Taverna -- Its location down the hill from the National Zoo and its voluminous menu (including items marked for "the little ones") make the Taverna attractive to mom, dad, and the whole caboodle. Around for nearly 2 decades, the Taverna has fallen off the radar of food critics pursuing the latest greatest craze. But locals continue to favor the place, and the result is that the owners keep opening new locations -- there are five now.
Legal Sea Foods -- Believe it or not, this seafood restaurant has won awards for its kids' menu. It features the usual macaroni and cheese and hot dogs, but it also offers kids' portions of steamed lobster; fried popcorn shrimp; a small fisherman's platter of shrimp, scallops, and clams; and other items, each of which comes with fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, and a choice of rice, mashed potatoes, or french fries. Prices range from $1.95 to $17.
Old Glory Barbecue -- A boisterous, laid-back place where the waiters are friendly without being patronizing. Go early, since this is one of those restaurants that becomes a bar mob scene as the evening progresses. There is a children's menu, but you may not need it -- the barbecue, burgers, muffins, fries, and desserts are so good that everyone can order from the main menu.
