With tons of college students and political interns living in Washington, DC, the city's low-budget dining scene is alive and tasty. Whether you fall in one of the aforementioned categories or just want some good grub for cheap, the restaurants below are sure to please.

Luna Grill and Diner
1301 Connecticut Avenue, NW
301-835-2280
Lunch or dinner for two, about $40

Diner food doesn't get much better than the fare at Luna Grill and Diner. Portions are large, service is casual, and there's something about the diner atmosphere that makes it easy to strike up a conversation with strangers - you'll be congratulating each other on being here. As diners go, this one is pretty fancy, with a moon motif providing the decorative theme through the long, narrow room. Most important, however, is the unfancy and hearty food, so good, you might be tempted occasionally to pull a breakfast, lunch, and dinner trifecta. The ranchero breakfast burrito is terrific - scrambled eggs, chicken, onions, peppers, and cheddar cheese all wrapped in a generous flour tortilla. Soups are wonderfully flavorful, and the vegetarian chili will satisfy any appetite. The subs, particularly the homemade meatball and the eggplant Parmigiano varieties, are two-hand affairs that will leave you happy. Daily specials run from fried chicken and various pastas to barbecued ribs and fried catfish, and there's also a daily vegetarian special in addition to other vegetarian choices that are always available. Desserts are made on the premises and are worth the extra calories; try the carrot cake or the pecan pie. It's usually crowded, especially at lunch, and there are no reservations.

La Madeleine French Bakery & Café
3000 M Street, NW
202 337 6975
Dinner for two, without wine, about $35

La Madeleine French Bakery & Cafe, a local outpost of an order-at-the-counter-French-inspired chain restaurants, offers a reasonable approximation of some traditional Gallic favorites. If you set aside your memories of genuine French bistro cooking, you can have an enjoyable meal here at very reasonable prices. Bakery goods - baguettes and other breads, croissants and pastries - are all good, and the breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus offer a large selection of savory dishes. The excellent breakfast choices include tasty omelettes and quiches as well as more traditional (and weight conscious) American choices. At dinner, the beef Crêpe Maison, shaved roast beef sautéed with broccoli, onions, roasted potatoes and mushrooms tossed in a creamy cheddar cheese sauce is wonderful, but you'll be equally pleased with any of the pasta dishes. Don't expect much in the way of fish, shrimp is about as wet as they get, but there are tasty vegetarian choices among the crepes, pastas, and sandwiches, and the salads are very nice. A limited wine list contains no surprises, but everything is available by the glass or bottle, and the menu helpfully suggests felicitous pairings with main courses. Coffees are made in about a dozen variations.

Taqueria Poblano
2400 B Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA
703 548 8226
Dinner for two, without beverage, about $30

For great Mexican food with a hint of California and Southwest influences, head to Taqueria Poblano. The setting is bright and colorful with Mexican photos on the walls and loud music enlivening the atmosphere. Everything is made from scratch with the freshest ingredients by cooks who turn out terrific burritos, quesadillas, and tacos along with sides such as guacamole, frijoles and good Mexican rice. One of the tastiest tacos is filled with lime-marinated roast duck, guacamole, cheese, pico de gallo relish, and a red onion dressing. The tacos al carbon are filled with a choice of charcoal-grilled beef, chicken or pork, and the Baja fish taco is made with battered and fried mahi mahi. Another favorite, the tostada plate, starts with corn tortillas that are heaped with shredded beef, refried beans, cheese, pico de gallo and an avocado dressing. If you want to raise the temperature of whatever you order, ask for a serving of ancho or habanero chili sauce, both made in house and equally superb. If you need to end your meal on a sweet note, try the chocolate fritters. On Sundays, you can come for huevos rancheros or breakfast burritos. The drink menu includes sangria and margaritas and about a dozen tequilas for connoisseurs to ponder over. Wine is available, but forget about it.

Rocklands
2418 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
202-333 2558
Dinner for two, without beverage, about $30

Rocklands is a legendary dining spot where barbecue lovers happily ignore the nothing decor and the so-so service for some of the best smoked and sauced meats north of Texas and east of Kansas City. Whether it's pork, beef, or chicken, it's always perfectly done over hardwood fires and topped with any of several signature sauces. Everyone has a favorite barbecue, for some it's the baby back ribs, for others the beef brisket. There are lots of other choices, too - grilled fish, chicken, and leg of lamb, burgers, Italian sausage sandwiches, and even a grilled vegetable plate. The long list of sides ranges from the expected baked beans and corn pudding to minted cucumber salad, southern-style mustard greens and super jalapeno cornbread. If you're not a barbecue fan, you can fill up on pasta salad with sun-dried tomatoes and artichoke hearts while your friends get sloppy, or macaroni and cheese and a dish of house-made apple compote. And if you want to have a couple of hundred friends over for dinner, Rocklands will supply as many whole barbecued pigs as you'll need. After you finish eating, you can have fun checking out the 60 or more hot sauces for sale (from various manufacturers) or deciding whether you really need a Rocklands polo shirt.