The baba ghannouj is well-balanced -- smoky char from the eggplant comes through clearly without…read morethe tahini overwhelming it, and it's not overly heavy despite the richness. Good start to the meal. The lamb kleftiko is the standout of the three. Slow-cooked until it falls apart easily, with the seasoning penetrating all the way through rather than sitting on the surface. It's a dish that rewards the time it takes to prepare -- nothing rushed about it. The kofte kebab holds its own too -- well-spiced, good char on the outside, moist inside, not dried out the way kofte can sometimes end up. Solid textural contrast against the kleftiko. Overall a strong meal across the board -- each dish distinct but all working within the same confident, well-executed style that Zaytinya is known for.

A coworker recommended Zaytinya, and I quickly agreed--without realizing it's under the direction…read moreof celebrated chef José Andrés. That made the experience feel even more special in hindsight. We walked in on a Monday night without reservations (clearly a theme for us!), not knowing they were needed. Thankfully, they were able to seat us in the bar area, which turned out to be a perfect spot for a relaxed dinner and a glass of wine. We ordered a mix to share: hummus, spanakopita, kofte kebab, and adana kebab. Everything was delicious, but the spanakopita really stood out. It was a bit unexpected--not layered like the traditional version, but more of a rolled presentation. Even so, the flavors were wonderful and elevated in a way that made it memorable. The only slight disappointment for me was the wine selection. The red wines leaned more dry than I typically prefer--I tend to go for something more fruit-forward--but it didn't take away from the overall experience. Dessert was the one miss. We were really hoping for baklava, which wasn't on the menu. Instead, we ordered the walnut delight. While it had all the right flavors, it didn't quite deliver the wow factor we were hoping for. That said, the food, atmosphere, and overall experience were still impressive. I was excited to learn that Zaytinya has locations beyond D.C., including closer to home in the Bay Area--so I'll definitely be visiting again. Highly recommend, and maybe make a reservation!

I picked up food to go and it was scrumptious! Also they did it quickly…read more It would be nice in the future, if they open a restaurant where you can dine in. Vegan Hibachi?? I liked the sauces that they used on our dishes. I am doing this from memory but we go 3 Teriyaki dinners with the faux chicken. Often the substitute for chicken in Vegan places is hard to chew but not at Pow Pow. We hope you open more places. There are a lot Vegans in DC and it's growing.

This was a pleasant surprise for me. When I looked at the menu I didn't feel like it was really a…read moreplace I wanted to prioritize over the many international food options in DC but decided to try one dish here to cross a vegan place off my list. I ended up really enjoying it! I got the Taiwanese Fried Cashew Mozzarella Croquettes (House-made plant-based cashew mozzarella rolled in Taiwanese fry batter, drizzled w/Korean ketchup) It ended up being delicious, balanced, and garlicky. They were like fried shells that were then stuffed with liquid cashew cheese which was an interesting idea for me for making things like that more simply at home. The lettuce and sauces were so good with it. They also let me try the Chinese five spice agave syrup they use on their dessert egg roll when I asked about it. My general rating system: 1 star: I would stay away 2 stars: Has some good things about it but I generally don't recommend. 3 stars: Pretty good. I wouldn't go out of my way to go back but a decent place 4 stars: Great place. I would go back. 5 stars: I highly recommend stopping whatever you are doing and making plans to try it out! An Evie favorite!

Delicious and authenic falafel in Adams Morgan. Food service was fast and everything tasted…read moreamazing. Definitely the place to hit if you're having a falafel craving in Adams Morgan. Note they are closed on Saturdays.

I have had Oh Mama Grill in Rockville and glad the DC location opened. We haven't been in person…read morebut ordered delivery and loved the food. It is great to have another location when Max's closed.

I recommend the Yemenite soup and the Shafner salad !! So good and the service is lovely !!!read more

I'd like to review this better, but when you have to take into account service and atmosphere, I…read morejust can't. Not even close. After so many great reviews, we tried it while in DC and are glad others had a better experience than we did. This Jewish-owned kosher burger joint was a refreshing treat from any franchise place we refuse to eat at while on vacation. This place is small and not great for big parties from what I could tell. Mostly four-top and two-top tables. We sat at the bar so we could sit immediately, and that's where our experience started. I can't prove it, but I feel like the bartender either got called into work or isn't used to bartending under the pressure of a full house. He had zero interest in serving us and felt like every request was like asking a middle schooler. He had to clear some papers for us to sit, and that was clearly very inconvenient for him. SOMEWHAT in his defense, it was very busy, and he was filling orders the whole visit but could have at least said "bear with me," and we would have extended all the empathy in the world. We ended up ordering two burgers since that's what we were there for. The Hickory burger was cooked well on a brioche bun and included brisket on top. The brisket was a bit greasy, but the burger was cooked great and overall was great! We also ordered a California burger that had avocado (I believe) and a house-made (I think) Thousand Island. Fries were typical and fine, but we weren't even offered dessert. At the end of the day, I can understand people have bad days, and I know Char Bar has more great reviews than bad ones, but I'll skip it next time in DC and go the extra block to Founding Fathers.

Meals were delicious and the texture was PERFECT 11/10 will…read moreeat here again Calm but energized atmosphere is always nice to see

I hate to give up on Pow Pow, but I have never received my food on time this entire year. The…read moreowners don't seem to want to pay to employ enough staff necessary to prepare the food, so even if you order 45-60 minutes in advance, your food will always be at least 30 minutes late. it is rare to see more than one person preparing food at any time. I always feel bad for them, but clearly the owners do not. Please hire and pay more people to do the work. Your customer service and customer experience will improve, and that will increase business! But your austerity in staffing and pay has substantially harmed your customers' experiences. You can do better. The food is great, but service is completely unreliable. Written as I wait for my food to be prepared when it was due to me 20 minutes ago. I will certainly be waiting at least another 15 minutes.

My experience at Oyamel was outstanding, and Jose made it even better. From the moment we were…read moreseated, he was friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. He took the time to answer our questions, offered excellent recommendations, and made sure everything was perfect throughout our meal without ever being intrusive. Jose's positive attitude and exceptional customer service truly elevated our dining experience. It's rare to come across someone who is so professional while also making guests feel valued. I'll definitely be returning, and I hope to be served by Jose again. Highly recommend!

I'd say our meal was fine, just Ok, nothing great but nothing terrible either. The menu is…read morebasically small plates, something we didn't realize until we went to order and the waiter informed us of that. Of the three things we ordered, the queso fundido was our favorite and it's arguably the least interesting thing one could order at a Mexican restaurant. Still we enjoyed it and finished the whole thing. The tamal was very tart and extremely oniony from the marinated onion garnish (can't remember what they called it). I didn't eat it with much of the onion fearing how that might come back to haunt me later. The enchilada was likewise ok, nothing great. In terms of ambiance we were seated at a two top that was a very small table with two uncomfortable plastic feeling chairs, squeezed in what should have been just an empty walkway between two rows of booths. It was very uncomfortable being in the way of the waitstaff and bus staff, and seemed highly questionable if it was up to fire code. Overall I think this is one of those places that takes itself a little too seriously and the food just isn't anything great.

Couldn't make up my mind, so I tried the Not Your Mama's Eggplant, Crazy Fish, and Smash Cucumber…read moreSalad. Everything was delicious and came out quickly. I should've taken pictures, but it looked so good that I dove right in.

We dropped by after my wife was in the mood for ramen. I am glad we did. We arrived at 6:00 pm…read moreon a Tuesday before it got crowded. Most of the tables were taken but we were seated right away. We ordered the Edamame and House Smashed Cucumber. The Cucumber had the right amount of tanginess. The Cheng Du Spicy Wonton stood out. The spicy sauce that they came in was an excellent accompaniment. We finished off with the Reren Signature Ramen. It really hit the spot. The ambience is very casual. We were tourists but it seemed a lot of locals were eating there too. We would definitely come again.

Amazing experience! The food was delicious, the service was friendly and attentive, and the…read moreatmosphere was warm and welcoming. Everything was well prepared and served promptly. I would definitely recommend this place and look forward to visiting again.

Full body red wine at bar hit the spot. I loved the crabcake appetizer; lots of crab, gently…read moreprepared- a favorite. The blackberry-Avacado salad was fresh and delicious. And the pièce de résistance was a med rare filet with chimichurri sauce and sautéed spinach. Service at bar (Alex) was great and the decor was befitting it's history.

Marielle was wonderful! She was super helpful in making sure I was accommodated with my gluten and…read moredairy allergies. Food was phenomenal as well.

Amazing service frome Jose! The food was great the Drinks Awsome. You have to try the Starwberry…read morefizzy

Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse is definitely a splurge, but if you're going in expecting a…read morefull-on steakhouse experience, it delivers. The ambiance is upscale and dim with that classic steakhouse feel clean white tablecloths, warm lighting, and a lively but still polished atmosphere. It's the kind of place you go for a celebration or a big night out. We started with drinks, and they were solid across the board. The espresso martinis were strong and well balanced, and the cocktails like the blood orange spritzer ($19) were refreshing and not overly sweet. For appetizers, the wagyu meatballs and octopus stood out. The octopus had a nice char and the waygu meatballs were flavored well. For mains, we tried a mix: double bone lamb chops ($77), braised short rib ($66), crab cake ($56), and sea bass ($52). The lamb chops were cooked well and had great flavor, definitely one of the stronger dishes. The short rib was tender and rich. The sea bass was buttery and well executed. The crab cake was okay - a little weird that they added chunks of red peppers to it. The lobster mac and cheese ($27) and asparagus ($17) were good sides, with the asparagus being thickk! We also had a couple bottles of Pinot Noir (Lingua Franca and Boen), both good choices that paired nicely with the meal. That said, service was noticeably slow throughout the night. Drinks took a while, courses were spaced out more than they should have been, and it just felt like we were waiting a lot. One thing that really shouldn't happen at a restaurant like this: one of my drinks came in a cracked glass. That's honestly unacceptable, especially given the price point and reputation. The manager did step in and comped a bottle of wine, which was appreciated, but still something that shouldn't have happened in the first place.

Del Frisco's... come on now…read more You all know I hate leaving less-than-stellar reviews, especially for restaurants at this price point. When I'm spending around $120 per person, my expectations are naturally much higher. Let's start with the positives. Parking is what it is because... it's DC lol. I'd definitely recommend using a rideshare if you can. If not, there are several garages nearby. The team that greeted us outside was fantastic. It was raining, and I had a freshly pressed head of hair that I was trying to preserve with my life . One of the gentlemen quickly opened the door and helped me inside. The hostesses were equally kind and seated me in a comfortable area while I waited for the rest of my party. Now you're probably wondering, "Okay... so what's the problem?" Unfortunately, everything changed once we were seated upstairs. Our reservation started around 7:30 p.m., and we didn't leave until almost 10:00 p.m. Not because we were having the time of our lives, but because we spent most of the evening waiting. We were seated quickly, but it took about 15 minutes before anyone introduced themselves, brought us water, or took our drink order. There were only four of us. We ordered an Old Fashioned, a mojito, a Coca-Cola, and one of the restaurant's nonalcoholic beverages. About 30 minutes later, three of the drinks arrived. My friend's bottled Coca-Cola didn't arrive until another 15 minutes later. A bottle of Coke. By the time all of our drinks had arrived and we were finally able to order dinner, roughly 45 minutes had already passed. Our food didn't arrive until around 9:00 p.m. From what we could see, the restaurant didn't appear particularly busy. Maybe they were short-staffed. I honestly don't know. I just know the pacing of the evening felt far too slow. As for the food, I ordered the fish with crab fried rice and asparagus. The asparagus and rice were both good, but the fish was a little dry and had a faint freezer taste. The rest of my party described their meals as simply "okay." For a restaurant at this price point, "okay" isn't really what you're hoping for. I also noticed that the restroom locks were a little wonky, and our server rarely checked in throughout the meal. I don't mind paying for a good dinner, but when the service is slow, the food is inconsistent, and the overall experience feels underwhelming, it's difficult to justify the cost and the desire to return. I genuinely hope this was just an off night because everyone we interacted with was kind, and there is clearly potential here.