I've taken my kids a couple times in the past few years, but when I was 17 on my first big trip to DC, my favorites were the National Cathedral, Arlington Cemetary and Mt. Vernon. I also liked the Folger Shakespeare Library.
Our favorites on our recent trips were the Moonlight and Monuments tour out of Union Station, the Spy Museum and visits to the White House, Senate and House chambers (we had great tours because one of our Senator's chief of staff teaches my daughter's Sunday School class and our US Rep lives down the street).
Of course, with teenagers, shopping in Georgetown was probably the top attraction, even though we have every one of those stores here. We rode the metro to GWU and walked.
No help w/restaurants, I never remember the names of anything.
I love DC. If I hadn't gotten married right out of college and my husband already lived here, it would've been my first choice.
My next trip, I'm leaving the kids at home and I'm going to spend as much time in every art museum as I wish and never eat anything off of a tray...it's white tablecloths all the way!
