Every experience is elevated when sharing a laugh and great eats with friends. That being said,…read morethis review is likely a bit bias, but nevertheless, Lapis became one of my favorite meals in DC. With a touching backstory and Michelin accolades, Lapis upholds its reputation offering modern Afghan cuisine and highly shippable drinks. It doesn't matter if you dine on the patio, in the main dining area or catch a vibe in the funkier basement, the energy adds a sparkle to every sharable home style dish. What did we enjoy? Well, we ordered (and inhaled) near everything with ease. The table favorites were the dal, lamb shank, and anything and everything served with bread! All three dumplings were a mixed bag, earning mixed reviews among the group, but I can confidently say that after trying all of their desserts...yes, I recommend ending your meal with a sweet treat (preferably with sharbat if you're a fan). And most importantly, if you choose to dine here, dine with friends because this food is best enjoyed family style, accompanied by deep belly laughs and genuine joy.

We were required to make a reservation with a credit card, with a $15/person penalty for…read morecancelation less than 24 hours. Typically reservations are made LESS than 24 hrs in advance in the FIRST PLACE!! We waited almost 25 minutes before our drink order was even taken, our cocktails arrived over 40 mins after being seated. Our server essentially ignored us the entire evening, naturally, bc their policy is that 20% tip is automatically added to ALL parties. So, of course, no incentive for good service. We had to flag down various servers throughout the evening, as we were never checked on. Arrogant and condescending servers when we got their attention. Huge disappointment; food was good, but the service was probably some of the worst we've ever experienced. Like they were doing US a favor when they designed to notice us. They literally couldn't care less

Aracosia is a treasure. From the moment you step in, everything feels indulgent in the best…read morepossible way. Each and every member of their team is warm, professional, and attentive. The food is flavored to perfection and their deft use of spices lends the dishes a quality that is both comforting and invigorating. The atmosphere is cozy and the service is impeccable-- food arrived quickly and piping hot. We picked this place to dine since our daughter recently became vegan and we wanted a place with more than one option for her. Not only are many dishes vegan friendly, but they have a special menu for vegans filled with literally dozens of options. And they carefully delineate between vegetarian and vegan dishes. For example, many vegetarian dishes use yogurt, but for vegan dishes they sub this with almond yogurt. It is hard to believe a place like Aracosia exists. The atmosphere feels both upscale and welcoming, the dishes explode with flavor and yet still are light enough to feel healthy, and those with food restrictions are valued and not treated like an afterthought. We have dined in many, many restaurants over our decades living here. This might be our favorite place.

Hands down, the best Afghan food I've had! (And it's safe to say, I've had more than most)…read more Since we only dropped in for a light meal, not much to review BUT the food was so good we're trying to drive the long distance back just to make our way through more of the menu! We ordered only vegan options- the kadoo (pumpkin) turnover and the Nakhoud & Mushroom Lawaan I believe (it might've been the Nakhoud & Mushroom Sabzi Lawaan, I can't remember and both are very similar). Everything was cooked to perfection and each bit was incredibly yummy. Textures were on point and mixed with the assorted of chutneys they offer, it was heaven! Easy to (happily) overeat here Décor was pleasant, the restaurant is spacious and every staff member was gracious. We felt very welcomed and, again, looking forward to going back! Can see why this place is a neighborhood favorite! You will NOT be disappointed here.

Craving lamb. Submitted my order via their website. Arrived at the restaurant and we were greeted…read moreas we walked in. The restaurant's decor is culturally appropriate. We arrived early evening and they had a candle and tablecloth on each table. I ordered Baadenjaan Bouranee, luscious eggplant dish; Frenched Rack Of Lamb, perfectly cooked, tender and flavorful; and Pumpkin Dumpling Entree, perfectly sweet, smooth interior and perfectly steamed dumpling wrapper. I will continue to support this establishment.

My girlfriend and I came here for dinner and we enjoyed how tender the lamb chops were and how…read moreperfectly made the pork tenderloins were. The assorted dumplings were so unique and tasty. We also enjoyed the complimentary bread and side dips which was fun to taste together!

Came for the Sheeryakh, but had such delicious, authentic Afghan food! I'd give 4.5 stars for some…read moreconstructive modifications to make in the future related to service, but overall amazing food! I left with a full belly and a happy heart. Got a combo of chicken kabob and shami kabob along with a side of their borani banjan/eggplant dish. The eggplant was honestly one of my favorite things- it's a must get in my opinion. Homey dish with incredible flavors! Their naan is fresh and pairs well with it. The chicken was good, but I've had better honestly. The shami was a little disappointing as I expected more flavor and it was slightly dry, but good. Their rice was so tasty and I loved the sweetness coming from the carrots an raisins. Of course, the sheeryakh was great- quite a big portion for one person, but I loved the texture. It tastes very similar to the Indian/South Asian/Pakistani ice cream, "Kulfi." CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK: Service needs improvement. The whole time I was there I had to keep looking for waiters to make eye contact with to ask for menu, water, paying, etc. It took about 10 min or more for me to have to call a busy waiter over just to look at the menu- no one came over on their own. Things just took time for a Saturday night- plus they were hosting an event on top of this. Needless to say, I've never had service like this, but the vibe and food made me be not as harsh. Despite the service, this place is a must try for authentic Afghan cuisine. Can't wait to try more of their menu (and the borani banjan again) in the future!

Unfortunately, this restaurant didn't live up to my expectations…read more When we arrived the dining room felt very humid and sticky which made it uncomfortable to sit and eat. We were also a party of five but were only given one menu to share so not very convenient. I ordered the Chicken & Shami Kabob and it came with a choice of white or brown rice, one side, and naan. The meal looked nothing like the photo on the restaurant's website. The portion was overwhelmingly rice with very little meat. None of the garnishes shown in the picture were included on the rice. For $24 I expected a much better presentation and a more balanced portion. Oh and the meat was kind of dry. Parts of our order were missing, some dishes that came out were incorrect. The experience felt disorganized and the food didn't justify the price.

Talk about a hidden gem!…read more Saying that we enjoyed our time at Afghania would be the biggest understatement of 2026. It's a little higher up than some of the more commonly known restaurants but we are so glad we made the trek. Everything we had was a hit, there were no misses and that's rare- especially since our group totaled 6 people. That's a lot of people to impress. We were only a couple bites into our dinner when my mom said "we have to come back here again, and soon" For starters we had the assortment of dumplings. All delicious but my favorite was definitely the pumpkin. Sweet, and flavorful. If you're not a huge fan of spice, like myself, skip the spicy beef dumplings. I mean, it's in the name. Our table bought a variety of things and sampled all of it as dinner. We got the beef tenderloin and chicken, the chicken and ground beef, the Kandahari vegetarian flights, and the Moguhli (the one thing I hadn't sampled (hint, it was also spicy). The beef? Tender. The chicken? Juicy. The difference varieties of prepared rice? Flavorful. The drinks were also a hit. I had a mocktail that was mild in taste, with a hint of sweetness yet refreshing (the name is slipping me at the moment). Dessert? To die for. The cardamom tres leches was the best dessert I'd had at a restaurant in a while. I would make a trip back to Afghania just for it. The service was also amazing. Our server was very patient (we were a table of six, ¼ bilingual, ¼ just French speakers and the rest English speakers), and also very knowledgeable as everything we ate came at her recommendation. The décor is tasteful and in no way overbearing : white table clothes, artwork that depicts the culture, and it was overall a very cozy and intimate vibe. Hands down, a wonderful experience.

The food here is great. We thoroughly enjoyed our appetizer and both entrees. Lots of flavor in…read moreeach dish and the chicken was cooked perfectly. The portion sizes are large as well so we got to take home some leftovers. However, the service is not up to par unfortunately. The staff all seemed new and there were only three servers for all the tables and they were also serving the downstairs bar. When we arrived for our reservation we had to wait at least 10 minutes for them to acknowledge us. There is no waiting area because of the size and layout of the restaurant so it's probably best to just wait outside. Once seated it then took quite a while to receive water and place our order for drinks and the appetizer. When we were eating the appetizer one of the servers came over and asked if we had the bread yet. We said no and then he went and got us the complimentary bread basket that the other tables already had. I will also note I saw a few cobwebs in the ceiling corners upstairs. If the service improves I think I could give this another chance.

( This review is based on delivery via a third-service provider .... )…read more I ordered from here for Nowruz (Persian new year) -- and everything I received was very, very good! I say 'everything I received' because I didn't receive my drinks -- but the food was all great! The Chickpeas were well-cooked and flavourful, bathed in a tasty red sauce, the Buranee Bademjan eggplant was nice and soft plus super-tasty, and the salata added a nice crunch -- I ate mine along with the chickpeas, mixing some of each in my spoon, bite-by-bite. I do feel the salata was rather small for the price, and feel you -- the customer -- should know none these dishes do not come with rice or bread. It would be nice, I think, if this fact were written in the descriptions -- but apparently, those are AI-generated, or at least the one for the Chutney Sabz is, and it's definitely not what you get! The description says you get four things, but you only get one. Maybe I should've known that from the price, but I only figured it out later, after I'd gotten it. It wasn't clear to me, because I saw both names and photos of four different things and they all sounded so good! It was still rather perfect. It was nice to not have leftovers, too! It's not that I wanted the rice or bread, by the way -- I didn't -- but it's just nice to know in advance what you're getting, with clarity! I do highly recommend this place!

Was visiting my friend in Glover Park and we were so excited to pop into Bonjon Rumi for a little…read moreappetizer. We got the Mantu, an Afghan dumpling with meat, yogurt, and lentils on top. These were delectable! The lentils reminded me of Indian chana dal - very savory and full of flavor. The service was speedy! The restaurant gets pretty crowded, but the food comes out hot and fresh. The ambiance is beautiful - lots of mood lighting/individual lamps at each table with some cultural elements. I cannot wait to come back and try their rice dishes! Do not miss out on this wonderful spot.

Rumi's Kitchen DC was an absolute standout and one of my favorite meals in DC. The flavors were…read moreoutstanding, and what impressed me most was how beautifully they let the meat shine without overwhelming it with spices or sauces. Even the vegetarians in our group were raving about the food. We ordered the lamb merguez, mushroom hummus, eggplant appetizer, and a family-style spread of soltani kebab, lamb kebab, and chicken barg. Everything was packed with flavor and beautifully prepared. The portions are HUGE, so definitely plan to share. I also loved the fresh sabzi served with pita--it was such a simple but delicious addition. The mocktails were excellent as well and paired beautifully with the food. Service was outstanding. We were a large group, and the team took excellent care of us with quick, attentive, and friendly service throughout. The ambience is fantastic, with a rustic, warm vibe that makes the restaurant feel both lively and inviting. Between the incredible food, generous portions, and excellent service, Rumi's Kitchen is an easy recommendation and a place I'd happily return to.

When my wife and I lived in Atlanta, Rumi's first location in Sandy Springs represented our…read morefavorite restaurant in the metro area. It has since expanded into other markets. A recent visit to DC with some dear friends provided the perfect opportunity to check out their branch here and assess how it compares to the original. Happily, I found the food here essentially equivalent to what I sampled at the Atlanta locations, that is, excellent. We started with the sabzi and bread service, which pairs Rumi's excellent and freshly baked Persian style naan with fresh herbs and feta cheese, which makes for a light and refreshing start to the meal. Our appetizers comprised the lamb hummus, the fatoush salad, kashk-bademjan eggplant dip, and the duo of yogurts. All were great, with the classic, creamy eggplant and the tangy, cooling yogurt duo standing out for me personally. We ordered three entrees, including the lamb kebab, beef soltani combination, and the duck fesenjan stew. All the kebabs possessed a juicy texture, great seasoning, and had an excellent cook. The duck had a tangy sweet flavor profile that may not be for everyone but was nonetheless satisfying with rice. Speaking of the rices, the fluffy grains complimented all of our dishes well and we particularly enjoyed the dill-fava bean as well as the lentil-raisin renditions. Do note that portions here are generous, and splitting entrees is suggested especially if you opt for a decent number of appetizers as we did. Special mention should be made of the cocktails at Rumi's. While I personally did not have a mixed drink, my friends all raved about the flavor profiles of their libations and found them refreshing and balanced relative to others we had in the city. Service here meets the high standard I experienced at the Atlanta locations, and our waitress was helpful and attentive. The space itself is bright and strikes a great balance between rustic Persian accents and more modern, swanky touches. Overall, Rumi's offers a well rounded Persian dining experience with great food, drinks, service, and ambiance which is hard to beat. It's well worth a visit for any fan of Middle Eastern flavors, and my wife and I are already planning our next meal here.

Awesome!! Very…read moreTender proteins--we had beef kabadeh kabob, lamb kabob, a wrap, sambosa, mantu? Rich, warm flavors. Expertly cooked basmati rice. Interesting eggplant dish Generous portions. The fried dumpling sambosa-- really tasty! Felafel like insides. Flaky crisp skin-yummy!! The food is stellar! See pics below Super nice counter lady. You place your order, find yourself a table and pick up your food when they call your number. That's the ambiance. I'm down with that!! 5/5 highly recommend!!

Best food ever in an unassuming spot with the nicest guys ever working behind the counter.read more

Sheeeeer yakh I have to start with the best which is their sheer yakh!! They make it fresh on the…read morespot and it's so creamy dreamy! We also enjoyed quite the brunch spread. Their strong points were def the eggs. I've honestly had better bolani and mantu but they weren't bad! Vibes were good, service was friendly. Worth trying if you're in the area and looking for a nice halal spot

Afghan food is absolutely amazing. This place tastes better…read morethan the average Afghan places I have been to. I got a lamb shank with what looks like Qabli palau, but I think they called it Manicha. It comes with bread, chickpeas, and spicy pickled vegetables on the side. Service was fine, and ambiance was fine. But you're here for the food and it's amazing.

Recently visited this location and had a pleasant experience. I placed a mobile order for my go to,…read morechicken kebab meal, and it was ready when I arrived. I encountered friendly service. My meal was great. Fresh and tasty as usual. I got extra green sauce!

I travel all the way to HoCo to get my Afghan fix. for some reason, MoCo is filled with Iranian…read morekebab places; not that they're not good, but the sides at Maiwand are straight fire. This place always rocks and today it didn't disappoint. Finally able to use a 15% off coupon so I ordered everything: mantu, pumpkin, chicken tikka & kofta kebab, and spinach (subbed for salad). I did notice the rice is a lot different now; its a lot less dark and very little carrot/raisin as in the past. It was also a lot less flavorful, so that was disappointing. Everything else was top notch. Chicken tikka (boneless thigh) is by far so much better than breast meat. Its juicy and so much more flavorful. The showstopper however is the mantu; this is a true flavor bomb. I planned to eat this as a separate meal later, but I had to sneak a bite and wow. Beef and onion dumplings topped with lentils, more ground beef, and a creamy mint-garlic yogurt sauce that really takes it to another level. Will definitely return again soon.