The food here is decent. I've never been wowed, but they ride the Mediterranean flavor train and it works. It's always packed on the weekends, especially on Sunday, when they open at noon and are full by 12:30. The decor needs some work, with huge windows lighting up a poorly patched ceiling and a few hookahs on a shelf. The restaurant is arranged kind of oddly with a bench that bends across the middle of the eating space, and the service is kind of slow. The pita is light and filled with air like half of a neck pillow, but parts get overcooked and are somehow chewy and crispy. The hummus was pretty good, and I had a falafel sandwich one time that was the best thing I've had here. Some people swear by this place and often suggest it as a dining option, but I don't see it. read more

Lebanese Taverna - Falafel sandwich with house salad and hummus and pita - Middle Eastern Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Pleasantly surprised at how fresh and flavorful the food was. I had the salmon with rice, salad, hummus and pita. Loved all of it. Giving 4stars only bc menu is not extensive (but maybe that's what you do to provide freshness). I'm a baklava snob and theirs was great! Right amount of crunchiness, not soggy, not overly sweetened. I got the traditional walnut but they have pistachio and cashew. I will return ! read more

Ever since Lebanese Taverna moved to their new location in Silver Spring, we have noticed that the portions are much smaller and the quality of food has dropped significantly. Purchased a lamb sandwich where a hunk of meat was pushed into the bread which was falling apart. I was asked if I would like to add two sides and make it a platter only to find that the sides were a joke. The salad was made up some wilted lettuce and no tomatoes and there were about 10 fries on the plate. Never going back. Terrible. Take a look at the photo I am posting. I'd much rather go to Cava to quell my middle eastern food craving. Better food and much better prices. Save your money, avoid Lebanese Taverna. read more

I really like Mediterranean food and Lebanese taverna always satisfies me when I have a craving. The ingredients are really fresh and flavorful and everything on the menu is really affordable. The restaurant is pretty basic, like a fast food joint but I didn't feel grossed out eating inside of there (a feeling I typically have eating in fast food spots). The location is great in downtown silver spring, although parking may be a little tough on a weekend. Definitively gotta come back here soon! read more

So very good. So very fresh and wonderfully clean restaurant. Lots of options in the area but this restaurant has an incredibly healthy menu with all kinds of tasty options. Friendly and helpful staff members as well. I left very full and happy. Thanks Much you all. I'll be back. P.S. the hummus and pita is Incredible!! read more

We came to this location on a Sunday afternoon. Restaurant ...was pretty empty. We ordered the Ultimate feast and used Spotluck for a 10% disc. The cashier was new and couldn't tell us what some things were, but we figured out most of it. The Kofta was very good (you get 3 of each kabob), Chicken had a good flavor but a little dry, Lamb was also dry. The rice was perfect. Kibbeh is a oval appetizer that is fried with meat inside- like a middle eastern empanada sort of - it was very good. Also came with 3 falafel which were one of the best I have had. The salads were flavorful (Fattoush and Lebanese). Baba Ganoush was plain and not so tasty. The Hummus was too lemony so it tasted salty. Served with bread that is oval pita that looks puffy and is warm and good. We had pistachio baklava and it was yummy!! I would have given it more 's ..but was disappointed the kabobs were dry and should never have hummus not prepared correctly. She also forgot to give us tahini sauce for our falafel . read more

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I'll start off with we went when it was relatively empty. No more than 5 customers. And service STILL gets a zero. Honestly, is it that hard to be nice to people simply ordering the food that walked up to your counter? We didn't ask for anything customized or not on the menu but the cashier's rude handling of our order made it seem like we were bothering her at 4pm. Set aside how she wanted to charge us for the empty water bottle we obviously brought in. Aside from that, we ordered Ouzi (baked until tender lamb in shards with spiced rice. Think biryani if you eat Indian food more often.) came with soggy tomatoes but also a delicious yogurt sauce with crisp cucumber bits in it.) I would happily eat this more frequently. Yum! Also ordered beef/lamb shawarma sandwich with fries and a salad. Sandwich was loaded with meat, don't recall seeing anything else honestly and that's just fine with me. I just think if it had the yogurt sauce from Ouzi itd been perfection. The bread is the pits served with hummus that is basically paper thin and all air inside. It's NOT delicious naan like you'd get excited for at an Indian restaurant. It's just basic here. We did love the fries. Those were done fresh and served hot. Crispy on the outside edges, soft in the center. Whatever the side salad served was just odd. Some strange vinegrette over the lettuce and cucumber made it soggy. Disappointing and not worth wasting precious stomach space for. Eat more fries or pita with hummus. The pita did grab the hummus well. For a $6.xx snack, it's pretty good. We also grabbed a $2 rice pudding. HIDDEN GEM. The right amount of sugar, just enough to make it sweet and call it dessert. Definitely floral tasting with the rose water in it. If you don't know rose water, think of what an old paper flower bouquet from the 90's might be scented like. That's what you'll have a hint of in each bite. Nonetheless I loved it. As did hubby and our infant. The date and raisin drink hubby enjoyed. I didn't. Infant didn't. In case you're a raging fan of it, look up Roo AF Zah or however it's spelled. Just not my thing. will we go back? Maybe for hummus and the sandwiches when on discount (mon & tues I believe) and to split a rice pudding. We spent about $40 for 2 to eat with appetizer and shared dessert which isn't bad but I'd rather go upstairs and get some hibachi usually if I have that much to spend. Also, hubby tipped right at ordering with that cranky cashier hoping there was service to come after worth tipping. No. No service. Maybe I'm missing something but next time I go there'll be $0 tip if I see her face again but I hope I don't. read more

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Ordered delivery on GrubHub, AWFUL experience. Driver left order in my apartment lobby on a random table for anyone to take. Did not call, did not text, did not even leave it at the receptionist table. Claimed my apartment number was not on the order, which is false. Realized thirty minutes after food was delivered only after checking GrubHub, and found cold food waiting for me. Order was also incorrect, and my Sharma was falling apart and almost inedible. Awful experience, will not be ordering from here again, nor will I be visiting in person. Don't eat here if you plan on having a nice dinner. read more

Lebanese Taverna Silver Spring While now part of a chain, the quality at THIS location has been superb. It is not one of the "take out" restaurants that this chain does own but more resembles a slightly less formal restaurant than the white-cloth D.C restaurant near the zoo that may have been the original Lebanese Taverna. The delicious appetizer hummus special is delicious as they add pine nuts and ground meats to its center. 2 large, fresh baked breads accompany nearly every order. For lighter, quicker fare the schwarma sandwiches, made in that same "hot crispy-on-the-outside-soft in-the-middle-fresh-bread" come with Tziki sauces or some flavored cheese-buttered sauce. The Falafel and "little footballs" (ground meat and pine nuts) are excellent small plates to share. Larger, home-cooked-style plates are also served including roasted chicken with potatoes and a favorite lentil soup. If you are not in a hurry and would like an alternative to Mediterranean fast food, this spot will satisfy. read more

We had lunch here today! It was very good. The restaurant was extremely clean and we could eat inside, considering we are under COVID orders. The staff is very friendly too. We ordered the Teavana plate. It was delicious. The ONLY thing we could find off was that the meat was very, very dry. I did mention that to the girl at the counter afterwards. We'd return again! BTW...they sell beer/wine, that makes it even better! read more

Lebanese taverna has been a longtime favorite of mine, I've been coming here for years! I had the traditional platter, and substituted a spinach pie for the kibbeh as I'm vegetarian. The babaganoush, hummus, falafel, and tabbouleh were great and flavorful as always. Overall, the food is always fresh and delicious, though generally on the saltier side. read more

Lebanese Taverna - Middle Eastern Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Unfortunately, I have been here before, and again I was completely disappointed. Came in to a dead restaurant, was informed my meal would take 15 minutes to cook. Was over done, and completely underwhelming. Dollar for dollar...not worth it. Not even close. Nothing special. Not recommended. read more

I'm a fan of Lebanese Taverna on many levels. I like the food here. I LOVE their hummus which is extra rich with tahini and olive oil. Kabobs here can be sublime, though sometimes they overcook the meat. When they get it right, though, it can be a heavenly experience. I also love tabouleh salad, the fatoosh, the kibbeh and falafel. If shwarma is your thing, LT makes a good one. My one complaint about LT is that its a little pricey for what you get. LT is not an expensive restaurant per se, and I have no problem paying a higher price for quality food, but I always seem to say to myself, "hmmm, that was a bit more money than I thought it would be." read more

Came here with a friend for lunch. After you order at the counter, you seat yourself. The restaurant is spacious and there's enough seating. I ordered the Movzat. Not sure about the other dishes but my dish took a little longer to cook/prepare. Majority of the lamb shank was tender. There were some parts that were a little tough. The bone was quite huge but I guess that's expected. I thought the flavors were good. Could have used a little more herbs but tasty nonetheless. I didn't think it was too salty. I would actually give this place a 3.5. I thought it was more tasteful than Nando across the street. The staff was friendly. You get your utensils and what not at a central station so there isn't much interaction between the patron and staff. After you're done, you just leave your stuff at the table and they will come clear the table. Overall I would recommend this place and will be coming back here. read more

20-30+ visits here and counting as it is probably the healthiest food in the area. Vast interior with tons of seating. Order at the counter and grab a number. Food usually takes 5-10 minutes max to come out. I usually do some sort of vegetarian sampler. Pita bread always is tasting freshly baked and comes out warm. Hummus and baba ganoush are usually top notch. I wish they had pomegranate muhammara, which I think is the ultimate dip. Ambiance is a bit awkward with the wide spaces and feels a bit cold as it is not super crowded at lunch. There is also a miniature market of Arabic goods that you can buy, very limited, but they do sell things like sumac powder, which is needed for fattoush. This spice seems to be hard to find. I've had the other things on the menu and some can be underwhelming so I stick to mixed vegetarian platters. read more

Grab a thick coffee with sugar here when you are cold in downtown Silver Spring. A great change from Starbucks!

I made sure to read previous reviews before eating at Lebanese Taverna Cafe (It's important to do one's homework). Based on what I saw I chose Anna's plate which is a little bit of everything: beef or chicken shawarma, hummus, Lebanese salad, and pita ($10.50ish). The chick at the register said she prefered beef shawarma so I went with it, found a table, and waited for my number to called. So, this is my first time having beef shawarma. I'm used to chicken and it had small cooked onions and tomatoes. This shwarma is only meat. The beef was good, resonably well cooked. The rice pilaf was very nice (I'm a huge fan of well-made rice). The pita was fresh and unlike what a previous reviewer said, it did not get rock hard when it cooled. It does get harder, but that's because it's a bread product and that's how those work. The hummus was very smooth with a nice flavor. The Lebanese salad could use some work in my opinion. I think it needs a touch of acidity like a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a little vinegar and it will really shine. The food was good. I mean nothing amazed me but it was solid. The price was a little high for lunch, but would be great for dinner. I noticed a lot of people were getting the veggie plate with hummus, tabouleh, and something else. I think I'm going to try that next time (only $7.50) Oh, and the reviewers are right the Garlic Whip is crucial to the success of your meal, dip your meat in it, and I found it came with my food (I didn't have to ask for it). read more

Four stars and I'm coming back (mostly because I don't know what I ate and I want to try it again). Make sure you try the chef's special. It looks like it changes weekly. If you've never been: there's no waiter service, so the queue is along the right hand wall to place your order. Grab a seat after you order and pick up your food from the counter when they call your number. Voila. There were some hiccups the first time I went: they got my order wrong and didn't charge me correctly, but I still had a pleasant experience. Call in your order if you want take out and avoid the lines. read more

3.49. Some visits are great and deserving of a 4, but others lean toward a 3. On the upside, the food is usually quick, fresh, and tasty. The schwarma and chicken schwarma are rock-solid lunch options. I would stay away from the roasted chicken. Recently my chicken seemed to be partially roasted and partially broasted. Dry and rather tasteless. So if you're looking for roasted chicken, steer your attention across the street to Nando's, Copper Canyon, or even better, make the drive to Sardi's, which I cannot recommend highly enough (2 locations: Beltsville and Gaithersburg). The hummus is always great, though on our most recent visit the pitas were over-baked and burnt on the bottom. But they're usually spot on. The platters are worth a try, if you really want to branch out into some authentic-ish Lebanese fare. read more

If you love Mediterranean food, you should totally check this spot out. I ordered a chicken meal (quarter chicken-dark meat) with a side of Lebanese rice and fries, as well as some spicy hummus. I licked my plates clean. The hummus was so fresh (tasted like they ground the chickpeas right there and then). I also enjoyed the Lebanese rice--it has a nice nutty flavor to it (almost like brown rice, but better). I also got to try some other dishes that my friends ordered, including the Msaka and the Kibbeh. I definitely want to come back to try more of their dishes. I like the fact that this is a "fast food" restaurant (in that your food comes out quick), but the food is pretty high quality. read more

Lebanese Taverna - Lebanese food looks so mouthwatering good! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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Had not eaten at Lebanese Taverna in Silver Spring in quite a while and had never done carry out before. Finishing up our shopping at the Farmers Market it was a little early for lunch so we decided to do take-out. I know we enjoy their food, but we still had one more stop before we went home so I was concerned at how well the food would hold up. My chicken kabob platter and husband's falafel sandwich were packaged carefully and they tasted as good as if we had eaten in the restaurant. When we first unpacked things I didn't see any tomato sauce but the chicken was already in the sauce, not in a separate container, so that made me very happy. The food was packed in a "tv dinner" style tray so the chicken with sauce, the rice, and the salad were all separate and not running into each other. I also got two pita rolls and a sauce which my husband ate. His falafel sandwich was still warm in the wrapper and he proclaimed that it was delicious. It's counter service only and the staff was friendly. The cashier admired the bouquet of flowers we had purchased from a vendor and we had a brief chat about that. The wait for our order was only about 10 minutes. The restaurant is much larger than the Rockville one and was laid out nicely. It was bright and clean looking. They also have wine and beer. I lamented to my husband that I didn't know why we didn't pick up dinner there more often. Well, now that I know the food carries out nicely we can fix that! read more

Out of all the food options in that area in downtown Silver Spring, this is probably one of the better and healthier ones. There's that American something grille there...whatever it's called, but it will probably be huge portions and fatty. I had the Kafta sandwich..and it was pretty good. Not going to say it was the best tasting pita sandwich ever, but decent. Price is reasonable too. I tried this soft drink there that a friend of mine said was very common in Africa, but it turned out to be just cream soda flavored! Mega disappointed, but this has nothing to do with the restaurant per se. read more

I disagree that Lebanese Taverna is not vegan friendly. Granted, you are not going to find an abundance of vegan dishes (and never will in a restaurant doesn't have that as their primary focus), but having been a vegetarian for 18 years, saying "not friendly" IMO opinion means the lack of ability to be accommodated at all. Vegans can eat the falafel sandwiches, the hummus, the baba ghanoush, and their salads. I like to make the fattoush salad into a sandwich. Basically everything I opt for there is vegan (and I'm not!). Service is good, food is good, prices are good, plus it's a locally owned business and that makes it even better. read more

I have always been a fan of the Rockville location and now that I live a few blocks away, I am a regular on Ellsworth Drive. I know on each visit I will receive friendly counter service and excellent, fresh food. If you are hungry and with a friend, try the Supreme Feast for 2, which comes with 7 mezza items, mixed grill of chicken and lamb, pita, baklava, and two drinks for $30. It comes beautifully displayed on a large platter and can be shared easily. Check your Val-Pak coupon envelope in the mail for a $5 off coupon, which makes it an even better deal. Sit inside or outside by the patio on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday evening and take in the Silver Spring concert series. Definitely a diamond in the fast casual rough! read more

Uninspired. Nothing like eating Lebanese food in a restaurant that looks and feels like the back corner of Best Buy. This place has NO personality and it really detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, I will say that the chicken swarma sandwich and the hummus special that we ordered were incredibly so-so, though reasonably priced. We will likely not return. read more

did take out with a friend i got the lamb kabob which was ok, i hadnt eaten at LTC in a while and never tried this location. the food is ok, nothing really stands out and there are way too many great kabob places in DMV for me to keep coming back here read more

Every time I'm in Silver Spring, I come here for lunch. I had a traditional mezze platter and really enjoyed it. The hummus and baba ganoush a both flavorful and creamy. I'm not a big fan of tabouleh, but theirs isn't bad. I wish there were more grape leaves because they are tasty! My favorite part is the kibbeh. They are always so good. The shell is crispy and inside meat is juicy and flavorful. Also love the yogurt dipping sauce that comes with it. Bread was cooked nicely - puffed up just right. My only complaint is that the cashier was not very friendly and the food took a while to come out. I waited about 15 minutes for my lunch. read more

Just okay. (I was tempted to only write those two words, but then decided an elaboration would be helpful) First of all, from the outside I thought this establishment would be a nice sit down restaurant. However, you enter and walk into a line where you can select a beverage from a freezer display, then order at the counter. The food takes entirely too long to come out and is surprisingly flavorless. I've tried to shwarma plate with hommos and it was so-so. The sandwich itself was fairly bland with the meat tasting dry (most likely over-cooked). The general feeling of the place is cold and off-putting. read more

Good option for lunch around the area...I like the traditional platter (about $10) and the chicken shwarma (about $9) the best. Platters come with salad and a choice of hummus or fries - definitely opt for the hummus because they serve delicious fresh airy baked bread to accompany it. Atmosphere isn't anything spectacular--best for a super casual lunch or dinner. Price wise, it'll cost you more than a sando at Potbelly's but a nice change with plenty of healthy options. read more

This is one of my favorite places in the neighborhood. I often held meeting here with a particular client and we would feast while we worked. The salmon and lamb (with green lemon sauce) are two of my favorites dishes. The rice is great and salads always fresh. The pitas right out of the oven melt in your mouth ... especially when you spread their garlic spread over it like butter. Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm. I have had kabobs here as well. And also falafels - which are good but with so many other fabulous options on the menu why do it when I have a favorite falafel place in DC. If you like Mediteraanian flavors, you can't go wrong here! read more

I've only been here once, but I liked it. Good food, reasonably price in an easy going atmosphere. One thing I particularly liked was I ate like a pig and I didn't feel too full. You're eating fairly healthy; roasted chicken, chicken shawarma, rice, salads, and tasty flat bread. I will most certainly be going there again. read more

I usually get the chicken salad at Moby Dick, but the location in Silver Spring closed so I wandered into this place. I decided on the shawarma salad sans feta cheese; I was expecting a nice big salad full of grilled chicken, tomatoes, onions, and fresh lettuce, but what I got was what seemed like old lettuce, bland chicken and some olives that were actually pretty good. The lady at the register was very nice and gave me some tomatoes on the side, at the time I ordered she also informed me that the dressing has feta and advised me to try the lemon dressing, which was actually pretty good. While I really didn't enjoy my salad, the bread was quite good and I may go back to try something else, but I definitely won't order the shawarma salad again. read more

I should really branch out my options in Silver Spring, but I keep coming back to Lebanese Taverna any time I need a quick meal fix. Given the quality of the food, it really is a good value. The service is always friendly and there are several vegetarian options. If you are in the mood for many different flavors, then I recommend the traditional platter. It includes a mini sampling of some favorite dishes. Heads-up: you can substitute out the kibbeh for a vegetarian item (e.g. spinach pie) if that's a dietary restriction that you have. Another favorite is the falafel sandwich platter. For just $2 more than the cost of the sandwich, you can add a salad and a choice of potatoes, hummus, fries, or rice. I typically get the hummus because it's some of the best around, though their rice can also be a nice complement to the meal. My non-vegetarian friends also love this place and tend to gravitate toward the chicken shawarrma or the traditional platter (minus the kibbeh substitution). Be sure to ask for a rewards card if you frequent this location so you can work your way up to a free sandwich platter! read more

The food was fine, but I don't recommend this place. I literally payed around $12 in a bowl filled with rice. I ordered a chicken shawarma bowl with some veggies and got only few pieces of chicken, literally 2 pieces of veggies and lots and lots of rice. Like, seriously?! read more

I've passed by so many Lebanese Tavernas throughout the DC met but never had a chance to eat there until the other day...It was the one and only 70F day this week and I totally took advantage of it and stepped away from work. I thought the food was really tasty and LT gave some generous portions for your $$. I was amazed I didn't fall asleep from food coma later on. The hummas was really garlicky and I LOVE their bread pockets. The chicken was well-flavored and juicy. I think I may have just found my new addiction.... read more

Sometimes it's nice to be able to see into the kitchen and maybe catch a glimpse of your food being prepared. Today was not one of those occasions. I happened to glance into the kitchen and saw a Chef reach into the deep fry basked with his bare hands and grab and handful of fries and cram them into my to-go Styrofoam container. Can't he use tongs or wear a freakin' rubber glove or something? I mean can't you make a weak attempt just to appear somewhat sanitary. If not, close the kitchen door and put a shade on that window...Don't let people see in there at all. I typically don't care about stuff like this, and I still ate (most of) the fries, but it's real unappetizing to see that. The schwarma (sp?) that I ordered was tasty otherwise...I wonder how he got the meat into the pita? read more

Whatever you get here will be very well prepared--LT is a chain but it knows what it is doing and is focused on its product. It's not as good as the really great hole-in-the-wall middle eastern places, but it is very good. In fact, if there's someone out there who has never had Lebanese or any other middle eastern food, this would be a great place to start. The Cafe is not as good as the restaurants (I'm most familiar with the Baltimore location) but it's a lot of the same items and for a better price. There are big plates of kabobs and other very delicious meats, but if you want something lighter just get a falafel sandwich platter. You want the platter because you want the hummus. Yes, you do. I've seen slow service, even when it's not too busy. Also, it is a cafe, so you'll have to do some legwork (you lazy slug!). But even amongst other good options in downtown Silver Spring, I find I end up here all the time with no regrets. read more

I went to Lebanese Taverna for a second time with my wife, friends, and family of friends. The food is great, but the experience can at first seem overwhelming. Unless you're familiar with Lebanese food, there is a lot on the menu that you may not recognize. However, the platters, made up of many tapas, provide a useful way to try a lot of the food (and feed the table). This visit, like the last, included enough folks to justify a platter (feeds approximately 2-4). I wouldn't necessarily want to come back alone, but it's a great place to visit if you're with a few people. read more

This Silver Spring "cafe" was not nearly as good as the Woodley Park restaurant. I was very disappointed. The presentation and the service was fast food, though the prices weren't. My shawarma lacked character (and many ingredients) and fell apart in my hands. Wait...I should show restraint. I feel I'm being harder on this location because it is such a letdown compared with the Woodley Park location. If you're looking for dining options in chain-and-corporation-happy Silver Spring, you could certainly do worse. read more

Love this place!!! It is the one thing I miss the most since I moved out of Silver Spring. The food is amazing, the quantities are plentiful, and the price is so low! especially when compared to the lebanese taverna restaurants in DC. If you're in silver spring, you MUST try this place! read more