DC dining is a curious thing - unlike other cities where I've lived such as Boston or Chicago. In DC you won't find, with one exception, moderately priced ethnic, except for very good Ethiopian. You won't find good examples of american regional cooking. You will find expensive, expense account/lobbyist oriented steak places. You will find ultra-trendy restaurants that focus on novelty and cater to millenials.

It's interesting, too, to see how the goegraphic clusters have differentiated. 14th street is solid trendy millenial. Dupont Circle is diverse with a heavy tourist/conventioneer orientation - no surprise given the number of huge hotels nearby. U street is millenial with more of a bohemian flavor. Georgetown appeals to the Georgetown University parent/student types. Anything within a reasonable walk of the Whitehouse is solid lobbyist (i.e ultraexpensive), most likely with a steak focus. And a huge swath, from 22nd street to at least 10th st, and K street to the mall is dead outside working hours. It would be hard to find anything on a weekend.

Shopping? Basics at Macy's. Not much else. We locals go to the burbs for shopping. However, a short metro ride on the Red Line takes you to Friendship Heights on the DC/MD border with some mid to high end stores not in a mall setting.

Finally, if you like art, the National Gallery is a must see. And 4 blocks north is the National Portrait Gallery and museum of american art, in a great building with a great enclosed courtyard and a good, reasonably priced cafe for lunch. The latter is my favorite, especially the storage area on the top floor. Hirschhorn, Sackler etc. are good too, but smaller.

Lastly, the dino exhibit is closed for the next five years, if that's your thing, you lose.