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    Karravaan

    4.1 (109 reviews)
    Open 10:30 am - 2:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 11:00 PM

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    KARRAVAAN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Karravaan

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    Katelyn L.

    We did happy hour here and it was delicious. Their happy hour pricing is wonderful and makes sampling a lot of dishes a very fun and cost-effective experience. Would love to return and try more options!

    Lobster egg dish - yum!
    Estee L.

    I love the restaurant Pappe and I love Union Market and this is the Union Market sister of Pappe. First, the room is gorgeous - very elegant. We went for brunch and it's a ton of food for the price. You get two appetizers and a main course for $40. That's a great deal these days! They have a nice tea service and bottomless assorted mimosas. The food is Silk Road-themed and tasty and unique. It's tucked in a cranny of Union Market but don't give up until you find it. It's worth the trip! My only note - please add iced tea to menu. I will be back!

    Thomas N.

    We came here for restaurant week which was extended and it did not disappoint. The drinks, food, service, and atmosphere were cozy and delicious for a dinner. It was one of the best butter chicken I've had! The drinks were amazing and dessert as well. Will definitely come back again.

    Breana S.

    Came for a Saturday brunch and loved it! The $40 brunch menu came with 2 small plates and one large plate. Myself and my friend shared all of our plates so it was a ton of food and it was so tasty. The service was great and they were very attentive. I sat outside and the mosquitoes were horrendous...not sure if they could spray out there

    F
    Sehar M.

    I came here because I was very intrigued by the concept of trying food along the Silk Road. My friend and I came here for dinner where they still had some happy hour specials. We had the eggplant dip, and the naan, which was complimentary. The naan was absolutely so good and I could just come here and have that. We also had the eggplant dip, which was amazing. The nihari was just okay. It was a bit oily and could have been thicker. We sat outside on a lovely day, which was great. They had some covered outdoor seating. The inside seemed really neat and good also. The service was okay, although my friend and I agreed that it may have just been because of the timing and them starting their dinner service. I will definitely come back here again, even just for the naan and eggplant dip!

    Shrimp and grits
    Kelly M.

    The place is lovely inside and service is very good. The brunch special is a really fun deal on the weekends. It is plenty of food and a decent price. We were surprised how pricey a glass of wine is here, and a mimosa (a SINGLE mimosa) is $20!!!! That's absolutely insane. Fortunately the $16 lavender spritz cocktail was more reasonably priced and also REALLY fantastic. I enjoyed the malai kofta meatballs, eggplant dip, and khachapuri. I tasted my friend's shrimp and grits and it was unbelievably tasty. my other friend didn't love the lobster dish, but we all liked everything else. I would go back.

    Kai M.

    This brunch journey takes place along a beautiful Silk Road! Host- the host was friendly, warm, and informative. I told him that this was my first time visiting and he provided a great welcome and wished me a wonderful dining experience. Service: the entire staff was great! Attentive to all of the tables and they did a good job at explaining some of the top menu items. Ambiance: simple yet elegant. The open kitchen concept is one of my favorite things but what adds beauty to this place is their magnificent patio seating (no pics as there was a large party present). The restrooms also add to the beautiful ambiance, showcasing cultural elements in every piece of artwork. They also have a cute bar in the middle so guests can grab a drink while waiting for reservations. The Silk Road Spread For $40, you can enjoy 2 small plates and 1 entree. This cost is per person and each person has the benefit of selecting their own 2 small plates and entree-such a worthy price. Small shareable plates: Shaved papaya & shrimp salad -- the perfect summer salad. It's lite and delicious. A beautiful balance of acidity, sweetness, and savory flavors. It was a great way to open your palate. Malai kofta -- another incredible dish! Lean and perfectly seasoned with a delicious side of confit garlic and labneh (yogurt). I could eat an entire bowl of this. Bombay toast -- this toast was sinfully good. The flavor profile was impeccable. The flavors in the tomato chili jam were AMAZING! Then add the sunny side egg, avocado, and perfectly crisped sourdough toast and you've found a dish worth trying. Pomegranate yogurt parfait --this was perfect! Not too sweet but balanced just right with a delectable jam, pomegranate, and crunchy granola. I was on cloud 9. For my entree I ordered the lobster mufurrakat battata. My only complaint is that my party and I ordered the exact same dish and the presentation and serving sizes were totally off-something the kitchen should be mindful of when serving a table. Nonetheless, this dish was rich in flavor and amazing! The lobster chunks were fresh and the spiced fingerling potatoes were divine! The eggs and sauce added to what was a perfect end to a beautiful journey. I am looking forward to another brunch adventure here to try some other dishes. Amazing flavors and an excellent calm brunch!!!!

    cauliflower manchurian 16 -- VG Indo-Chinese pairing soy, ginger, garlic, tamari, tomato paste, sugar, vinegar, scallions
    Alexis B.

    My husband and I had dinner at Karravaan this past Sunday and had a very good time. Karravaan is new-ish (it opened in June 2025), and it celebrates the cultural influences along the Silk Road (a 4,000-mile network of Eurasian trade routes active from 130 BCE to 1450-ish CE, it connected China with the Mediterranean). This concept allows chef/owner Sanjay Mandhaiya (also of Pappe) to explore and highlight cuisines you don't often see on a menu together and to get creative! The menu is broken up into small plates, entrees, and large "journeys" to be shared with at least 2 people. Each dish has a little Italic description of the cuisines/cultures being highlighted or that inspired that dish. We stuck to small plates on this occasion and shared: Cauliflower Manchurian ("Indo-Chinese pairing": soy, ginger, garlic, tamari, tomato paste, sugar, vinegar, scallions); Pork and Lemongrass Dumplings ("Rustic Staple of Tibet and Nepal": lemongrass broth, 3 hour chili oil, scallion); Cured Hamachi Crudo ("Classic Japanese with a citrus twist": kiwi mousse, tamari caviar, radish, jalapeño); Grilled Octopus ("Greek-Style with North African Flavors": gobe, charred leek, pickled tomato, green chermoula, fried chickpea); Nihari ("Middle Eastern favorite with Indian spice": braised lamb, classic Indian curry spice mix, lime, jalapeño); and Lebanese Fish Kofte ("Traditional Lebanese Specialty": crispy fish croquette, sumac, labneh, olive oil). Did I love every dish? No. The cured hamachi crudo didn't work for us (the idea of a kiwi mousse didn't work for us - the texture was odd, and the fish got lost entirely in that much kiwi), and I wasn't sold on the grilled octopus (the cook on the octopus was perfect, but there was a flavor I wasn't sure about - it might have just been that the charred leek was too much for me - like eating something off a grill that hasn't been cleaned and you're getting the the burnt bits). The other dishes were good - delicious and often fun. The gobi manchurian was classic, but the other dishes surprised us. The broth with the dumplings?! The fish kofte tasted of fish but didn't have the texture of other fish dumplings I've had! And the Nihari was flavorful and served with the most gorgeous bread for dipping into lamb and sauce. The also have a great drink program: cocktails, wines by the glass, NA drinks/mocktails, beers (including beers from India, Spain, and Lebanon). They offered us a glass of sparkling wine when we checked in for our reservation (a lovely touch), and I enjoyed a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, while my husband tried and enjoyed a few cocktails. The na'na with the mint espuma? Wow. That cocktail surprised and delighted me, as did much of the food at Karravaan. And then on top of all of that, the service was outstanding: friendly, helpful, fast. Top-notch. And the restaurant is beautiful and played great music. We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner and would happily return. Hopefully next time with friends so we can enjoy more of the Silk Road!

    Malai Kofta
    Joshua K.

    I recently went to Karravaan for a weekend brunch with my wife and two friends. Karravaan's concept of cuisines from along the Silk Road is excellent but could be better executed. The ambiance was fine but it felt like a standard nice restaurant-there is more that Karravaan could have done to lean into the unique theme (e.g., decorations). While brunch is generally an American thing, Karravaan tried to put too many American/modern brunch twists on their menu, ranging from lobster and steak (not found/prepared in the region) to bacon (not often eaten in the region at best and weird when giving tribute to a largely Muslim area of the world at worst). Our service was spotty; our server was unfamiliar with an iced latte, and there was a confusion about my wife's khachapuri (she ordered without bacon and it came with bacon). Karravaan does add an automatic 20% gratuity for all parties regardless of size; note that it is in the small print at the bottom of the menu. For brunch, Karravaan does two appetizers and a main for $40, with reasonable portion sizes for the brunch and fairly priced for a DC weekend brunch. I got a cappuccino to start, which was delicious. I got the smoky eggplant dip and the malai kofta for my appetizers, which were a mixed bag. The smoky eggplant dip and the accompanying naan were outstanding-the eggplant was perfectly cooked and seasoned, the pomegranate seeds added a nice touch of sweetness, the labneh was creamy, the caramelized onion added good texture and flavor, and the naan was hearty and buttery. The malai kofta were dry, rubbery, and flavorless without the labneh and garlic. I got the Lobster Mufurrakat Battata, which I got at the server's recommendation and was a big disappointment. This dish was mostly potatoes with too much saffron cream and virtually no lobster (the few chunks I got were very good). The saffron cream overwhelmed the eggs, berbere, and black truffle; per the comment above, this dish did not feel true to the restaurant's intended Silk Road theme. I also tried my wife's khachapuri, and while it was largely outstanding, the bottom was burned black and inedible. Karravaan's brunch has great potential; with a few different dishes on the menu and improving the quality of a few others, it could be unique and amazing.

    Truffle fries, this is about half the portion
    Alexis T.

    Very nice ambiance, upscale with attentive and informative waiters. I had the truffle steak fries, I missed the flavor of the parm and truffle. The lamb sliders were flavorful. The cauliflower was delicious in an Asian style sauce. They have specialty crafted cocktails such as a lavender spritz. The menu looks good with a fusion of flavor that may make it a stand out, especially in the Union Market area.

    Midori
    Becky D.

    I think I'm at a loss for words on the let down of this restaurant...Silk Road journey screams flavor, depth, variety. While there was variety in the menu items, not one stood out. Khachapuri: 3.5/5. Good. Regular. Did not get a hint of chili oil Lebanese Fish Kofta: 4/5 tasty, and good portion. Supposed to be on a bed of labneh, but there was hardly a smear on the plate. When I requested extra, the waiter was happy to bring extra. Good combination. Tamarind bbq lamb chops: 2/5 I was pleasantly surprised at the size and meatiness of the lamb chops. This could have been a hit if there was actual flavor and the chops were not so tough. I was shaking the whole table trying to cut it. The accompanying curry lentils had curry powder, nothing else. Not creamy, no depth. Forbidden Duck: 4/5 Duck was tender and well cooked. It was good. Nothing to write home about. Midori Cocktail: 5/5 now this was a hit!! Well crafted and flavorful. Cafe cocktail: 0/5 apparently they ran out ‍ and could not try. Beautiful restaurant. No parking, it's Union market. Closest garage is still a walk in heels when dressing for the occasion.

    Bar
    Rachel B.

    I like that this restaurant is in the cut! Reclusiveness is my new vibe. This place matched my energy. I loved the decor. The host seated us at the bar immediately upon arrival. We came to tryout happy hour. The fries came out first. They were more potato wedges. I appreciate them being HOT wedges. I wish they had a little more truffle and sauce. Next was the cauliflower bites. They were prepared well, I enjoyed. Last was the lamb sliders and the chicken shawarma. The presence on fresh herbs in both dishes was very impressive. I loved the authenticity of both dishes. I would order again.

    Brunch spread
    Anna W.

    The brunch was decently priced for what we got. Everyone got two small plates and one shareable for $40. The "shareables" should be considered to be a main course for one person. We did have to ask for extra pita to go with the dip as the portions were substantial. However, the service was slow and it took awhile to get our food even though the restaurant was not crowded.

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    Service was excellent and had the best food. I was with a group of friends for brunch and we loved the unlimited mimosas

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    Ask the Community - Karravaan

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    Karravaan - mideastern - Updated September 2026

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