I ABSOLUTELY love cafe 8! I've been coming here for years and am proud of their revamp. If you're a hookah smoker they have some of the best prices in the city. I don't think anyone is beating $35-40 hookahs and $14 head replacements. My fave is the BMW (blueberry mint & watermelon). A friend ordered Love66 and peach; that was amazing too. The drinks are always super strong so drink responsibly!!! I always get Lemon drops with a sugar rim. I either get it regular, strawberry, or peach. The lamb chops and fried shrimp are bomb!! (Not pictured). Those are always my go to depending on how hungry I am. read more

Cafe 8 - Hookah - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Cafe 8 .. where have you been? I enjoyed Cafe 8 so much! I went on a Friday night and let me tell you.. the MUSIC .. 10/10! The vibe was nice as well. I ordered the chicken sandwich with fries and it was pretty good. It was pretty big too! The service was good, all of the staff were nice and attentive. The prices are good! Definitely come here for a good time and good drinks. The hookah was good, it just burns very fast. We asked to get our coals changed about 3 times. I'll definitely be back. Love it here. read more

Cafe 8 is definitely a cool vibe, your experience here is what you make it. Seriously. Bring your crew. They don't have a bunch of crazy rules like other DC spots. Good drinks, I love their lemon drops, if you aren't a vodka fan get a tequila lemon drop. The hookah is always on point. The service is usually decent, nothing special. All male staff, so there will be no fluff here lol. Stop through for a quick bite and drinks. The wings are good too. This is usually our starting spot or our ending spot. Never our only stop. Parking around this are can be a major headache so car pool if you can or you will have to walk a few blocks. Be sure to read all signs before parking. Beware of the scooter drivers they will hit and run. 8th street can be a whole experience in its self so I highly suggest making this a group outing location. Bar/restaurant hop. read more

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The rudest security guard I've come across had a birthday party of 15 trying to come in and spend money he completely disrespected us ! We were trying to experience to rent it out for my upcoming graduation this month. he turned us off he let many people in for free he tried to make us pay 10 girls 5 guys. I don't like people who try and take advantage and pick and choose so disrespectful and unprofessional I won't recommend this spot to anyone. I liked it the first time I came and that's why I brought my friends here but if this was my first impression It's not worth it I've worked at clubs restaurants etc and know how it should go. Certain the owners don't know he is trying to make people Zelle and cash app him privately at the door . read more

Cafe 8 - So rude - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is my neighborhood hookah spot. The drinks and hookah are cheap but strong. They play a mix of go-go, hip hop and Afrobeats. It's very casual and they open up the windows when it's nice out. It can get a little hood and very packed on the weekends. It's fun - no posturing, just people smoking, drinking, dancing and having a good time. The service is solid - there are usually 4-6 guys working and taking orders as a team. Food - I've only had their chicken wings and fries - they were both decent. read more

Cafe 8 - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Cafe 8!!!!! Chileeeee. I love it here!! First of all that salmon sandwich!! Good af. The music 10000/10. The vibe 100000/10. Go on a Friday it's most definitely lit!! Sundays are good too. Not as packed but a good DJ read more

Since Cafe 8 has started their brunch on Sunday's prices have raised. You would think that since they are partnered with Caspi Lounge that the prices and unlimited mimosas would be the same. The fact that you only are provided 1 bottle of champagne for $35 is outrageous. Especially for a bottle of champagne that's not a top brand. You all provide a $7 - $13 bottle of generic champagne. The shrimp & grits could be seasoned, and the grits needs to be cooked a lil longer. Also, gratuity should not be added to a single person's bill, especially if a customer has to keep running after the server to grab their attention. Service has become lazy and too comfortable. I will be writing a review ever single week with no problem! They can be very rude as well. I don't recommend. Also, be aware of the lemon drops and the frozen strawberry margaritas. Watch the door as well. Security doesn't check everyone at the door either. Most times they let anyone they know inside the door, even if they have a weapon. read more

Pizza is great! I ordered the Bianca! Service is fast and music is amazing. Hookah was great because I insisted that they cleaned it. It was way better that the hookah I experienced there in the past. PS.. the bathrooms need an upgrade. But still go! read more

Cafe 8 - Bianca Pizza Fries Wings (not pictured) - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Bruhhhh when I need my hookah fix this is the spottttt! Also the drinks are really strong and straight to the point. The lights in here are pretty cool at night! The staff don't waste anytime when it comes to serving you and making sure your needs are met. I also love the music here.. it's varies from hip hop to reggae and some Afro beats. Overall a chill spot.. got some ratchet people passing thru but all is well when ya got that hookah in ya system. read more

Cafe 8 - Martini's - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This place hookah was soo good, the drinks had me at the spot for hours inviting more people to come but the food, pass it was very nasty just make it for happy hour read more

We came here for a nightcap. We ordered Margaritas, Pepperoni Pizza, BMW hookah, and shots. The service was amazing! O, always takes care of us when we come and we feel like family each time we enjoy their space. I love coming here to just relax after a long day. The food isn't expensive and it is very good for what you're paying. I love the vibe there, the music is always on point and the service is phenomenal. They check in often to make sure we don't need anything and I love that. 10/10 would certainly recommend. I will forever come back here. read more

Cafe 8 - Shots - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Definitely more hookah bar than restaurant. Staff wasn't friendly nor too welcoming, but more straight forward and unapologetic type of approach, if you're fine with that. Food was good, not great. Just very simple, yet satisfying served on paper plates with bottled water, the small pint size. But for what it isn't (high quality food and service), it kinda works. If it's expecting fancy-shmancy, this definitely isn't the place for you, but if just want a simple, fulfilling yet no frills meal (and don't mind and/or interested in hookah), it's a solid choice. read more

Cafe 8 - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've been coming to Cafe 8 for years! Happy hour or birthday parties it's always a good place to stop in! If you like LiT music, tasty hookah and amazing food this is the place for you . This restaurant is right in the heart of Barracks Row/Eastern Market/Capitol Hill. The decor is chill and welcoming. It's a Mediterranean restaurant but the clientele is primarily African American! Their wings are amazing. The plain wings are my favorite. Their hummus and bread is to die for. Their pizza is very tasty. Their drinks are always solid and the male servers are very friendly. The bar area is always buzzing especially on the weekends. When it's nice out, they have the chairs out on the street and you can hang out , dine, and smoke hookah. If you have a larger party, they can accommodate you in the back room where there is a tv and fireplace., Ask for the regular, customer Mark H because he is the president of the lounge. read more

Very Good lemon drops and great music. Service is mediocre could be better! Plenty of hookah flavors

This was my favorite hookah bar in dc. Staff is friendly & I'm a regular but now they put a 30 and up policy which is not right! On the slow days they're going to lose a lot of money, maybe even on the weekends too. Watch. No other place in dc have an age policy. I will go somewhere else unfortunately until that policy is lifted read more

It was very dark when we walked in. The website said they had an happy hour and they didn't! It was a bucket on the floor full of old used napkins......very disgusting!! The only thing that was half way decent was the music. I doubt I will ever come back again. read more

Service is terrible. All the servers have an attitude. I've waited 20 minutes to order food. I've flagged down several servers. They served other people but told me to go to the bar. Will never come back here. read more

Came here randomly on a rainy Saturday night for drinks. Sat on the bar side, as this place seems to be split. One side for the bar and hookahs, other for dining. I got 2 martinis that were very strong. Waitress and bartendar were super nice and friendly. Street parking read more

Cafe 8 - Peach martini and a cocktail - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Ambiance and service were really good!! Great music, good vibes. Drinks were flowing and food was delicious.

- it's just a vibe in Here and the weekends is the place to be. They have great drinks and the music is hiphop and whatever you want to here to be honest. The lamb chops are good man. I don't eat everybody lamb chops, the bombom sauce is good with the fries that I ordered. I did put the bombom sauce on my rice n lamb chops. The lamb chops were tender and seasoned. The vegetables were decent, they may just be frozen. But honestly no complaints. The dishes are good. The hookah is good as well if that's your vibe. Other reviews complained about parking and Covid and etc. Wear your mask and stay safe period. Overall, I'll be back for sure! The drinks will get you to where you need to be lol hopefully you not calling no exes LOL. Check out the vibe yourself. read more

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Nice choice in Eastern Market area. Very close to the metro (blue, orange, silver lines), extremely reasonable prices for the area, decent quality. Let me start with the decor: it's simple, but beautiful. The ornate lamps brought me back to Middle Eastern markets. Our server seemed to hail from somewhere in Eastern Europe or Mediterranean as well, which honestly added to the experience haha. Service was absolutely outstanding by the way - food came out swiftly, water promptly refilled, recommendations were solid, and we even got a round of (very stiff) drinks on the house as it was my friend's birthday! The menu was delightfully varied. A great mix of Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine - even a few dishes I haven't seen anywhere else. Pricing no more than $18 for entrees I believe - a steal, I thought! They even offer Al Fakheer hookah for $20 - that's regular price, not happy hour. Any hookah/shisha enthusiast knows that's a good deal for the area. We went for a 3-course meal: 1) App: traditional Turkish Lahmacun pide 2) Entrees: Iskender and mixed grill 3) Dessert: baklava. Server for us the "psycho" cocktails on the house - so stiff I thought we would walk out of there funny. 1) App was outstanding - ultra-thin crust, lightly-spiced beef in a beautiful sauce. Use the lemon - a squeeze on top, along with the tomatoes and lettuce inside, then folded to eat, elevated the app to a new level. Flavor changes with the lemon squeeze - It was surprisingly good. And $7.50? Yes please! 2) Ah, where the Cafe lost the 5th star. Iskender was quite different: shaved, spiced beef (topped with tomato sauce) laid on top of a bed of crumbled, yet creamy cheese and cubed Turkish bread cubes. I can see how some people wouldn't be fan of the mushy bread cubes, but it was so tasty with the cheese and beef I didn't mind the consistency. The mixed grill was the true disappointment: chicken and Adana were a bit dry, plus all the kinds of beef on the plate were making in the spice department. Upsetting really, as it was the first time my friend had Turkish cuisine and I was excited to introduce her to their famously-spiced lamb and beefs. Oh well. 3) Dessert was their honey-soaked pistachio baklava and it was textbook-like. Oh, so good. I would have given this spot 5 stars if it wouldn't have been for the average quality of the mixed grill my friend ordered and the questionable mushy bread some might be turned off by. The outstanding service, pricing, app/dessert, and patio seating made up for it though. read more

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Hookah, Food, Outdoor Seating, Reasonable Prices? COUNT ME ALL THE WAY IN. This place is just a win. I went here late night after a long day at work. I was able to sit down outside and order a hookah. Happy. Food can take a little bit, and the place can get pretty lit at night so come with some patience. I got the flatbread pizza, and some drink special that night and I was just comfortable. Staff cant be beat. Friendly, social, just great to be around. I came on a Thursday and was able to find street parking-this was at around 930p. Definitely will be back =) read more

My friends and I came here after Sunday brunch around 4-5. We were maybe 1 of 3 or 4 groups there at the time so very much lowkey. The place isn't fancy, but the vibe was chill and the hookah is some of the smoothest I've had in the city. We stayed until about 10:30pm and in that time the crowd picked with groups coming and going. The staff was super friendly and responsive as the table order quite a bit of food, drinks, and hookah over the course of the 5 hours. My friends enjoyed their food, but the drinks were meh. I didn't really come to drink though especially after bottomless mimosas/sangria across the street so it wasn't a big deal to me. Overall, we had a good time and I'll be back. read more

The food is good and the drinks are strong, a little too strong (never thought I'd ever say that)lol When we couldn't decide on which one of my favs were the best, my friend and I ordered separate entrees and shared. The lamb chops and salmon entrees are to die for, very tasty and juicy. The only thing I didn't care for were the mashed potatoes that I can bet money they were boxed instant potatoes. They offer hookah if that's your thang, but unfortunately it's not mine. Due to this, the restaurant gets extremely cloudy and smokey. It is also very loud with music spewing from the bar from all directions out into the main restaurant. There seemed to be a live rap performance on a microphone & speaker happening in the bar area. Service was fast but we left as soon as we finished our food because we couldn't hear ourselves think. read more

Came here unexpectedly on a Sunday night and I was pleasantly surprised! This place has great hookah ( We got the watermelon and mint), chicken wings, great music, and the vibe was everything. Thanks to my new friend Mark Holmes for recommending this place. I'll be back! read more

Cafe 8 - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The ONLY reason this place gets 4 stars is because I'm no fan of Mediterranean food. Listen, you usually have to put a gun to my head for me to try anything outside of American, Chinese or Spanish food. So here goes... Hookah - I'm a hookah lover and when I tell you this place has the BEST hookah in DC, I ain't lyin!!! And don't say hookah's the same wherever you go because that's a lie. They have a ton of flavors and the servers keep the coals going. You never have to ask them to re-up! Service - the service is pretty cool. The servers are attentive and friendly. They're also rather touchy feely too. Every time I leave, I usually get a hug from one of the workers. They take great care of you, so please tip well!! Location - if you blink while walking or driving by, you'll miss this spot. It's tucked into a little cut located on 8th Street, SE. If you see the fire station, it's about 3 doors down. Parking - the parking sucks monkey balls, so I highly recommend Uber or metro. It's legit 5 minutes from Eastern market metro. Food - I ordered a chicken dish because, well...how can you go wrong with chicken? Weeelllll....the chicken chunks were the size of golf balls and were smashed into some type of flatbread. It was bland and tough. I am certain the fries that came with it were fried at least 3x over. They were horrible. Drinks - the drinks are a bit strong for me. But then again, I'm a lightweight and I get tipsy after 1 glass of wine so... Definitely check this place out if you're looking for a chill spot with good vibes, music, friendly staff and hookah. It's even better in the summer where you can sit outside and watch the sights in Capitol Hill. read more

I come to Cafe 8 on the weekends if I feel like being a little ratchet. The hookah is good, the music is up to date and the pizza is amazingggggg. We always have a great time because it's so chill. read more

We came here to eat and watch game 4 of the NBA Finals. They have Good reasonably priced food. They drinks are reasonably priced as well but not the greatest. They could benefit from a bartender who actually knows how to make drinks. I had honey mustard chicken wings which were good but many in my party had the salmon and it looked delicious. The people in my party said it was seasoned well. I also had a pitcher of sangria which was a steal at $20. The sangria wasn't the greatest but it was ok for the price. We also did Hookah they have a pretty small selection of Hookah flavors but if you do order Hookah definitely go for the Starbuzz flavors. The hookahs we reasonably priced at $22 as well. They have a DJ on Friday nights. I was with a party of about 20 and they definitely did their best to accommodate our last minute party. All in all we had a good time and I will definitely go back. read more

Got food delivered here from Postmates. A little disappointed by their overall rating; I actually really liked their kebabs. I think I have tried all of their kebabs except doner (because it's pretty delicious but bad for you). You get a generous portion of meat, rice, and veggies - enough for two healthy meals. The delivery has always been fast and the food warm when it gets here. This is going to be one of my go to places going forward for an easy weeknight meal. read more

Visited this location yesterday afternoon with some friends. I have never been here but for what it was worth, it was a cool little spot. Being on the Hill, I was skeptical about parking but for a Sunday afternoon it wasn't too bad. So, its very dimly lit in this place, even for a sunny Sunday afternoon...yet I digress. When I walked in, no one greeted me so I had to ask, who works here and where can I sit. When I walked in, it was empty. On to the good part, I got there found my girls and we had Blue Mist hookah and Turkish coffee. I was the first time I had Turkish coffee and I was pretty impressed...never would have thought to pair coffee and hookah, but when in Rome. Gripe, the chairs were not comfy...they could use something more cushy. The music was really loud and I felt like they catered to a 21 and up crowd. Me being much older, by a decade at least, I was like...okay, eh, its just music. They had multiple televisions, but only one was on...woulda been nice if the other tv's could have been on. read more

I love this place......I got my grub on Turkish delight yummies while smoking Hookah and sipping on wine. Pure Heaven hahahaha I grew up eating Turkish food so when I was in DC last week my friend brought me here. Cafe 8 is a family owned and operated business offering indoor and outdoor dining with Full bar and Hookah. The place is attractively furnished and the menu full of items that are tasty and bring back memories :-) Here are some of my favorites here: Lamb shank was cooked to perfection and it was served over Rice The Vegetarian Mousakka was so flavorful, Mousakka is a classic greek dish with potato,eggplant,tomato sauce, carrot, squash, broccoli, and beshamel oven cooked. Last but not least is Iskender: Shaved beef,homemade croutons,Turkish yogurt,tomato sauce. super yummy The service was prompt and friendly. We had a great experience, and will return in the near future. read more

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The Patlican Pide was a sharp-tasting pizza-like dish, with tangy sun-dried tomatoes, strong dark olives, and salty kaser cheese. (They kindly left off the eggplant at my request). The pide was so large, and its flavors so potent, that I couldn't finish the whole thing in one sitting -- I left half for a substantial lunch the next day. We also had a trio of dipping sauces with bread. The roasted red pepper dip was terrific: thick, stiff, and spicy. The dark olive dip was also good and robust. But the sundried tomato dip was surprisingly bland; it tasted more like plain sour cream than anything else. Haven't tried the patio in the back, but my dining companion said it's great on warm days, and they let your dog hang out there with you. read more

Cafe 8 - Pide - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Fabulous! Especially those pides. Before coming to Cafe 8, I had absolutely no idea what a pide was. (Is it common knowledge? If yes, oops!) My friend best described it as a 'cal zone, but not as doughy'. Pretty accurate description, if you ask me! We ordered the Cafe 8 (lamb) and Spinach/Feta pide and both were delicious! Very flavorful and a huge portion (the three of us split two and were pretty full afterwards!). The pitcher of red sangria totally hit the spot after a day of early morning flying and then randomly riding the Metro from Regan. Also, the back patio of Cafe 8 is CUTE! Aw, adorable. Not too many tables, cute lamps to add to the ambiance. It was unfortunate that the mosquitos took a liking to my friend, which forced us to move inside. Sadness. Oh, and the service....super friendly and super attentive. This place has that homey charm going for it. Frealz. Great first meal in DC! read more

Cafe 8 - cafe 8 pide. yum! - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Ethical problem. I originally gave it a 4 star but then my friends realize they added a couple more dollars on our check without telling us. Three of us each gave 18% tip but we found out our credit card statement was charged $2 extra. $2 is not a big deal but that's unethical for businesses to do change the amount we signed on our credit card. read more

I have walked by this restaurant a lot of times and kept walking, mainly because I never see anyone there. I take that as a bad sign when restaurants near to it are packed. On a nice day recently the restaurant was one of the few that had outdoor seating available, so it ended up to be our option. And I am glad it was! Ends up they have a super pleasant back patio. I had no idea. It was such a nice place to unwind and enjoy some wine, especially the Turkish wines on the menu that were fantastic. The food at this place is hit or miss. Fresh bread is served with well seasoned olive oil to start. We got a three spread meze with spicy hummus, feta and olive, and muhammara spreads. The spicy hummus was fantastic. Lots of garlic, to the point that I would call it garlic hummus instead of spicy, but nevertheless it was still great. The muhammara was also good, but the feta and olive was awful, to the point of not eating any of it. The pide was terrific. I got the Cafe 8 (lamb, tomato, feta, egg). Flavors were well balanced and the leftovers were even good for breakfast the next day. Out of the mixed kebab entree (Adana,beef,chicken and doner), the only one that I would get again is the Adana. All the others were either overcooked or bland. Seems like they need to step it up to compete with the other thriving restaurants on the same street, so hopefully they will work on getting all of the menu to be consistently good. read more

Cafe 8 - Cafe 8 pide with egg - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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My friend and I had an overall very average experience at Cafe 8. We dropped in one Sunday for brunch because we were looking for a restaurant with a lot of vegetarian options and Mediterranean usually fits the bill. Upon entering the restaurant, we were seated at a small table in the back--which strangely appeared to be their only two-seater table. After the waitress took our orders and brought out the pita and olive oil appetizer, she disappeared for the rest of the entire meal. On the note of the olive oil that is used as a dip for the bread, it tasted a tad on the rancid side, and the dried oregano in the oil might just have been sitting on a shelf for three years because it had a very stale taste about it. We were eventually able to summon her after we had finished dining, although it took a few minutes because she had legitimately disappeared off to somewhere in the back, out of sight, and the two other servers that were carrying on a leisurely conversation within our line of sight seemed to never notice that we existed. If this had been a super busy day with people lining up at the door and had the waitress then had difficulty making it over regularly, I'd definitely cut her some slack. But we were the ONLY people in the entire restaurant besides one couple at an outdoor table and another inside. If you're looking for a place with swift or attentive service, don't bother coming here. In the culinary realm, I ordered the falafel sandwich with fries and my friend ordered moussaka. The falafel sandwich was neither bad not particularly good, although I have to say their portion sizes are unusually large for a Mediterranean restaurant; I easily had enough remaining for a second portion. They did use the hard, cheap iceberg lettuce that I don't care for, though. The fries (the only non-Mediterranean thing at the table, ironically) were seasoned perfectly and overall excellent. My friend have the moussaka a 3 out of 5 barely and commented that she wouldn't return to Cafe 8, a statement that I echo. For the money, you get large portion sizes, although the dishes aren't anything above perfectly average. If you know the annoyingly catchy song by Elle Varner in which she sings, "Can I get a refill?" the answer at Cafe 8 is no--your waitress may disappear. read more

Cafe 8 - Falafel sandwich with fries - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Cool spot. Kinda hectic when I visited, but the staff did their best to accommodate us.

De-Yummy! Had their absolutely delicious and hot flat bread with hummus for an appetizer. For the main course, chose lamb chops which comes with mixed veggies (broccoli and cauliflower, steamed and seasoned to perfection) and basmati rice! Oh goodness! Love the food! The service was both prompt and professional, with just the right amount of friendly. The mid-Eastern ambiance is awesome. I think I'm in love! Definitely recommend. Now for the issues. 8th and Pennsylvania, SE. Parking is difficult. The food and service, make it well worth your while. Oh! And from 3-6 they have Happy Hour Drinks and their lemon drop martini's are scrump-tu-licious ! read more

Cafe 8 - Lighting. Love it! - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We returned on a nice fall day and sat outside in the courtyard. I got the Cafe 8 (lamb) pide again and the Meze plate. The Cafe 8 pide was delicious and as good as I remembered it being. read more

Cafe 8 - Meze sampler - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I went to Café 8 for lunch with a friend on 1/17/16. I hadn't been to Café 8 for a couple of years. However, I remembered it (from when I lived closer to Barracks Row) being a good choice when all the restaurants on Barracks Row have ridiculous long waits (our originally plan was to go Belga Café but even on a snowy day, on a 3 day weekend there was a 30 minute wait). I never felt rushed. I was able to enjoy a relaxed a lunch with my friend. The service was good. I never felt ignored. The ambiance of Café 8 is very nice. It feels like they're embracing the sprit of their cuisine without going overboard (e.g. a curtain of beads when you have to walk thru on your way to the restrooms). During nicer weather, Café 8 has a small outside patio in the back of the restaurant. Café 8 menu is very simple (i.e. dips, pidas, omelets, lamb). I recommended the sample platter with the dips. It is easy to find something you like in terms of dips Café 8 offers. The dips include baba ganoush, olive spreads, hummus. In a nutshell, if you're craving a low key atmosphere (and like Middle Eastern cuisine) consider Café 8. read more

Cafe 8 - Great location. - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia