traveldk.com

In Washington and surrounding jurisdictions, the legal age for purchasing or drinking alcoholic beverages is 21. The law is strictly enforced. You will need a photo ID if you look young enough to raise doubt. Many clubs and other venues allow under-21 patrons to enter and enjoy the show, but without a wristband or stamped marking, they are not allowed to buy alcohol. It is becoming common for clubs and rock concert venues to require photo ID from everyone, regardless of age.

Tax on restaurant food and on food for immediate consumption is 10 percent. Diners with budget concerns should take this into account, along with tips. A $20 meal with tax and tip actually costs about $26.

The metro closes at midnight during the week and at 2am on Saturday and Sunday mornings, but many clubs, bars, and restaurants stay open later. In most areas there should be no problem finding a taxi on the street. Failing that, you can telephone for a taxi, but there is a surcharge. If your hotel is in the suburbs, the taxi fare can be expensive.

Washington is a good place to enjoy unconventional and microbrewed beer. Capitol City Brewing Company has a number of locations in the area. Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant and John Harvard’s Brew House have varieties of hand-made beers. The Brickskeller Saloon-Bar has more than 800 different kinds of beer.

Restaurant checks rarely include a charge for service. In most restaurants, leaving 15–20 percent of the total charge, including tax, on the table is the common practice. Customers at a bar may leave 10–15 percent of the bar bill or $1 per drink. In a few of the finest restaurants, it is appropriate to tip the maître d’ $5 or more if he or she stage-manages the service at your table.

At most restaurants, it is considered bad manners to leave cell phones turned on or to carry on phone conversations inside.

The trend in the city’s restaurants is toward being completely non-smoking. Quite a few restaurants permit smoking in designated areas, especially in parts of town better known for their bars and clubs.

For carry-around food and drink, think farmers’ markets. These are popular features and often have locally grown fresh produce and other products. There’s a year-round Saturday and Sunday market at Eastern Market and an April to December seasonal market on Sunday morning at Dupont Circle.

With its embassies, government affairs, and high-powered dinner parties, Washington is a big wine and food city. There are tastings and cooking demonstrations or classes almost every day. Washingtonian Magazine (see Washingtonian Magazine) keeps an up-to-date registry on its website.

If you’re traveling with kids and want an all-child-friendly row of easy-to-deal-with restaurants, you can’t go wrong in the block of storefronts across from the National Zoo on Connecticut Avenue (see National Zoological Park).