Ray's Hellburger and Ray's The Steaks....both in Arlington and within blocks of each other.  Much better than the usual chain steakhouses like Ruth's or Morton's.  Ray's The Steaks is a great value too.  Your steak COMES WITH mashed potatoes and creamed spinach...don't have to pay extra.  And you can ask for more.  Google the reviews.
Obama has been to Ray's Hellburger and since his visit that place exploded with more business....they had to move to a larger space.

Don't know much about hair salons or seafood.

Burger - Cheeburger Cheeburger - Five Guys - Green Turtle

Steak - Smith & Wollensky - Fogo De Chao

Hair Salon - Salon Leau has been the reigning queen/king for a while, but I like PR&Partners - 1001 G Street

Lobster - in DC? no way.. Maryland Crab is the Choice Crustacean here - Maine Lobster is the best and you have to eat it there...

My 2 cents...

*where is the best burger?
*where is the best steak?
*best hair salon?
*best lobster?

not necessarily in that order

BEST BURGER

    Fuddruckers
734 7th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 628-3380
Also in Rockville, MD and Annandale, VA

   Hamburger Hamlet in Arlington, Va and Bethesda, MD

BEST STEAK

     Ruth's Chris Steak House
724 9th St Nw,
Washington, DC
(202) 393-4488
1801 Connecticut Ave Nw,
Washington, DC
(202) 797-0033
Also in Arlington, VA Tyson’s Corner, VA and Bethesda, MD

     Morton's the Steakhouse
1050 Connecticut Ave Nw,
Washington, DC
(202) 955-5997
3251 Prospect St Nw,
Washington, DC
(202) 342-6258
Also in Arlington, VA Tyson’s Corner, VA and Bethesda, MD
BEST LOBSTER

    McCormick’s and Schmick’s Seafood
1652 K St Nw,
Washington, DC
(202) 861-2233
901 F St Nw,
Washington, DC
(202) 639-9330
Also in Arlington, Va and Bethesda, MD

Tony & Joe's in Georgetown, Johnny"s Half Shell near Ubion Station, or DC Coast downtown.  Ray's The Steaks is good; if you don't feel like going to Arlington, try Charlie Palmer near Capitol Hill or J&G Steakhouse in Georgetown.  For burgers, Ray's is excellent, but if you get to Fuddrucker's, go around the corner to 5 Guys (which are all over the place), better burgers & lower prices (but zero ambience).  I too plead ignorance on salons.

believe me i am taking notes. I am a total foodie and have been spoiled by nyc but i have heard dc has many great eateries

We are really excited that you are indeed coming to DC. As to your question , I know you are going to receive many excellent suggestions.  However,  DC is in some ways kinda like NY.  Plenty of culinary opportunities await you. It will be fun for you to make your own discoveries.  A restaurant I enjoy is Scion on P Street , about 1 block off of Dupont Circle. Cool place with a great staff. The menu is rather eclectic.  I have introduced more than one lovely young lady to their scrumptions and in no way healthy fried pickles.  They also have a nice wine list.  Again...welcome to DC...I hope this truley becomes "home" for you.

crab...I haven't eaten some nce crab in a while. I hear ya about lobster...I found a place in nj with awesome lobster but other then that its new england all the way

There is a montrous thread on the ny board about steak and ruth chris is mentioned as hit or miss...lets hope its a hit in DC....NJ sure is hitless.
I love 5 guys...anywhere it just rocks.

was hoping some ladies would chime in for the salons.
I am not so much about ambiance as much as quality...foodies care about food

interesting to discover new places.
Fried pickles? Now you have my curiosity peaked

Hey Cara….sorry I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you yet…especially since I’m originally from NY…but we are all excited that you are coming to D.C.  Here are some options….

As for the best places for a burger:

The Burger Joint (4827 Fairmont Avenue NW in Bethesda, MD) (might be a little out of the way though)

Five Guys (1335 Wisconsin Avenue NW in Georgetown)
Good Stuff Eatery (303 Pennsylvania Avenue SE)

Matchbox Chinatown (713 H Street NW)

Z Burger (4321 Wisconsin Avenue NW in Georgetown)

Ray’s Hell Burger (1713 North Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA)

As for the best places for a steak:
I would check out the following Zagat website which is reputable:
http://www.zagat.com/lists/best-steakhouse-tops-washington-dc-restaurants  

Now as for food that just tastes good in general and has a very good ambiance well may I suggest the following:

*Fogo De Chao/Fogo De Chau Churrascaria (1101 Pennsylvania Avenue NW #1) (good Brazilian restaurant that serves unlimited meat)
http://www.fogodechao.com  

*Bodega (3116 M Street NW in Georgetown) (for good food/Tapas from Spain)
http://www.bodegadc.com  

*Bistro Francais (3124 M Street NW in Georgetown) (for good European/French)
http://www.bistrofrancaisdc.com  

*La Perla Ristorante (2600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW #101) (for good Italian)
http://www.laperlaofwashington.com  

**Vapiano (623-625 H Street NW in Chinatown) (for good European/Italian)
http://www.vapiano.com    

The following also deserve an honorable mention...
1. The Old Ebbitt Grill (675 15th Street NW) (for a typical Washington experience)
http://www.ebbitt.com    
2. L’Auberge Chez Francois (332 Springvale Road in Great Falls, Virginia) (for good country French in the country) (Might be a little out of the way though)
http://www.laubergechezfrancois.com    
3. Acadiana (901 New York Avenue NW) (for excellent Louisiana cuisine)
http://www.acadianarestaurant.com    
4. Citronelle Restaurant (3000 M Street NW in the Latham Hotel) (for the whole shebang)
http://www.citronelledc.com    
5. 1789 Restaurant (1226 36th Street NW near Prospect Street) (for a classic old Georgetown experience)
http://www.1789restaurant.com/main/index.shtml          

Hope this helps
-P. Krakr

Trust me on this.

Number 1 is the bar at Palena in Cleveland Park

Number 2 is Central.

Other good ones. These are truly the best.

My favorite for quality Steak and Seafood is also McCormick & Schmicks, in downtown DC, as well as in Baltimore Inner Harbour.

As far as a Salon goes, I know several ladies that are really pleased with: Robert Andrew Salon. See link    http://www.robertandrew.com/   It is an upscale Hair and Spa place that pampers.

I agree with the 5 Guys burgers for a quickie lunch with great fries.

I am kinda partial to Carrabbas lately for my Italian food fix locally or if I am in town Maggiano's www.maggianos.com  

PS. We are waiting patiently for your arrival. You missed the cherry blossoms and all the high prices of hotels.

I concur on the steak and especially the hamburger suggestions. Ray's Hellburger is best I have ever eaten. The restaurant critic of the Washington Post recommends it highly.

Now if you want to satisfy the lobster quest I suggest the lobster burger at Central Michael Richard. It is truly amazing and you have never had anything like it.

Enjoy.

Best burger:  Bison burger at Ted's Montana Grill (www.tedsmontanagrill.com).  Here are best burger survey results from local news website:  www.wtop.com/?sid=1980598&nid=

Best steak:  Bison tenderloin filet at Ted's Montana Grill.  Here are best steakhouse survey results from local news website:  www.wtop.com/?sid=2017511&nid=

Best hair salon:  Sorry, but cannot help you with this one.

Best lobster:  The Fish Market restaurant in Old Town Alexandria, VA.  They serve live Maine lobster daily.  Here is restaurant's website:  www.fishmarketva.com/index.php?/site/specials/

Best crabcakes:  G & M Restaurant and Lounge near BWI.  Here is restaurant's website:  www.gandmcrabcakes.com/

I trust you but will investigate and report back

~~~~~T H E   P E R F E C T   B U R G E R~~~~~
                   the search continues

theres always next year

One thing I have noted about DC men already....you are THOROUGH!

a lobster burger? How intriguing

thank you I hope the bison is btter then what I have tasted in the past....granted it was only 2 experiences from the same place but ....BAD

The Ray's rec's are true for good steak and burgers, especially the burgers.  Best beef in general is the braised short rib at Citronelle if they have it the night you go.

Capital Grille has a decent lobster for this area, but I'm spoiled being from New England, there's actually a lobster roll "truck" that you have to google to find the daily location but they bring lobster from Maine cooked that day so not a full lobster but best around.  

I don't think the guys that know salon's are on this discussion board.

If you're looking for the best all around meal, nothing touches Komi...it rivals NYC's best but need to reserve months in advance.

Does the most accurate food reviewer get a prize?