Our nation’s capital has no shortage of incredible restaurants, but one of the city’s most dependable upscale eateries is Marcel’s. Chef and owner Robert Wiedmaier opened the doors of Marcel’s in 1999 to share his obsession with exquisite whole-animal butchery and traditional French cuisine, and regulars rave about the incredible food and service present at every meal.

Chef Robert sources much of his meat from local ranches, including having 30 Randall Lineback calves raised exclusively for his restaurant each year at Chapel Hill Farm in Berryville. The cuisine here is incredibly labor-intensive, but worth all the effort. The way to go here is with the tasting menus, which can be 3, 4, 5, or 7 courses. Truly adventurous diners go for the 7 course dinner, which incorporates an incredible array of flavors and textures.

Visit the Marcel's website to find out more about this DC restaurant!

Marcel’s
2401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20037
(202) 296-1166
http://www.yelp.com/biz/marcels-washington

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Mike Carbonaro

Just a hop-skip from the White House, the historic Old Ebbitt Grill is the go-to spot for politicos and other capital city denizens. This is old-school D.C. at its best, with mahogany and velvet booths, gas-lit brass lamps, beveled glass, and a long bar suitable for mingling and sharing political secrets. The huge space has different dining sections to accommodate almost any mood, from elegant, to romantic, to casual. The menu is wide ranging, too, with everything from sandwiches to full-on entrees. The Old Ebbitt Grill aims to use local, sustainably raised meats and produce. Some diners think their burgers are the best on the eastern seaboard.

Old Ebbitt is open every day for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/ume-y

D.C.'s Museum of Natural History is a must-see attractions, both for District residents and their out-of-town visitors. Here you'll find everything from interactive animal exhibits to galleries of precious gems. Some exhibits trace the development and migration of the human family; others show off the worlds of other species, like the Museum's "Hall of Mammals." A dinosaur exhibit presents these enormous creatures up-close and in-person, while an exhibit on Ancient Egypt reveals one of the oldest world civilizations. There's so much more to see at the Museum of Natural History, so be sure to wear your walking shoes and plan to spend a few hours browsing through the treasures at this Washington museum.

National Museum of Natural History
10th Street & Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20560
(202) 633-1000
http://www.mnh.si.edu/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/national-museum-of-natural-history-washington

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Monica Arellano-Ongpin