Some restaurants serve an excellent meal. Maydan creates an experience…read more This reservation had been on my wish list for quite some time, and when everything finally aligned, it exceeded every expectation. The restaurant itself is stunning. Walking in, you're immediately greeted by the massive open hearth where much of the cooking happens. Watching the chefs tend the fire throughout the evening adds another layer to the experience and sets the tone before your first bite even arrives. Our server explained the tasting menu ($95 per person) and optional wine pairing ($75 pp), but we decided to order à la carte--and I wouldn't change a thing. We started with the Carrot Havuç spread. It was impossibly light, silky, and beautifully whipped. I'll admit, the bread seemed understated at first, but after the first bite, it became clear that the spread was meant to be the star. Every bite was packed with flavor. The lamb shish kebab was incredibly tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. The Omani shrimp arrived with five enormous shrimp that were cooked flawlessly. Then came the whole roasted chicken. Watching it roast over the fire as we entered made us excited, but nothing prepared us for how incredible it would taste. It was, without question, some of the best chicken I've ever eaten. Moist, deeply flavorful, beautifully seasoned, and delicious completely on its own. It came with an accompanying sauce that was excellent, but honestly, use it sparingly--you don't want anything distracting from the chicken itself. When a dish can stand entirely on its own, that's greatness. Since it was a whole chicken, we happily went home with leftovers (which felt like winning the lottery). The cocktails deserve their own standing ovation. A special thank you to Nancy upstairs-- Great bartenders don't just make drinks--they elevate the entire experience, and she certainly did. The Serpent was beautifully balanced with bright citrus and herbal notes, while the Medina Palmer was refreshing, unique, and one of the most memorable cocktails I've had in a long time. Every drink felt carefully crafted rather than simply mixed. In the beginning of our night they asked if we were celebrating anything and I immediately answered, "my friend graduated from nursing school." Little did we know, they came with glasses of bubbly at the end of our dining experience to celebrate! Such a lovely gesture to end our evening. The word that kept coming up throughout dinner was divine. Service was warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic about guiding us through the menu. A few practical tips: * Reservations book well in advance, so plan ahead. * Street parking is limited. We chose to Uber and were glad we did. This was one of those meals where every course made us look at each other and say, "Wow." I can't wait to return.

Came on a Sunday evening, chose the alacarte route. Hummus, beet, and carrot dips. Zucchini and…read moreasparagus for greens. Lamb and scallop kabobs. Ribeye for the main. Two condiments - harissa and garlic toum. Had a mix of drinks between four of us from beer to cocktails (gin, mezcal, burbon), and wine. Total was ~$430 all in (they include service fees). The endless bread is wonderful and the server was kind and attentive. I just didn't LOVE the meal, especially for the price. The zucchini was sliced incredibly thick and felt like it might as well have been baked. The hazelnuts added a solid crunch and fun flavor, but I wanted crisp. The asparagus was decent but nothing to write home about. Hummus was... Hummus. The carrot havuc was quite good but the beet borani was the crowd pleaser. The lamb kebob was my favorite part of the meal - perfectly cooked, rightly sized, and an excellent cut of meat. The ribeye was precut and sizable, with a fair number of slices without hefty doses of fat. It was perfectly seared and paired well with the condiments. All in all, it was a good meal that felt over hyped and heavily focused on bread. The restaurant itself is designed in a way that makes you feel like you're on vacation. The open hearth is awesome to see, but gosh is it toasty. Summer time might not be the best time to visit!

What an absolute amazing dinner that ended on live music performances by various artists…read more I was suppose to meet a friend at Nabiha's after a long time. I was very hungry that day, so hungry that I didn't even wait to take a picture for yelp. I ordered the appetizer sampler and the makloubeh. I think my friend ordered fattet jajj. Everything was delicious though I couldn't focus much on the food since I was catching up with my friend after a long time. After we finished the entrees, we ordered kunefe for dessert and it was amazing. A proper end to the meal. Then we heard live music coming out of the other hall and the owner was kind enough to let us sit wherever we wanted to listen to the performances. The staff of Nabiha is delightful and they made sure that me and my friend are well taken care of. More than a restaurant this felt like visiting a friend's home. 5/5 must try!

Heard good things about this Palestinian restaurant and had to try it! The interior is really nice…read moreand inviting. Loved that they had the World Cup on for everyone without it feeling like a sports bar. For appetizers you MUST get the labneh w olives it's SO GOOD!! I've never been one for dips but wow, the hummus was delicious as well. I believe it must be their olive oil that gives it that something extra. The Chicken Freekah Maqlouba was so flavorful, the spices were unique but not overpowering. I enjoyed the sauce and thin potato slice additions in the Kafta Bel Tahini. Nextdoor is a Peruvian restaurant, El Secreto de Rosita, and patrons can order from either restaurant when dining. The Lomo Saltado, rib eye stir fry was great. The meat was well prepared and sauce was delicious, definitely more than just a soy sauce. The presentation of all the dishes was beautiful, but take note that the portion sizes are on the smaller side. The staff were kind and offered helpful recommendations! The only hiccup during our visit was one of the dishes we ordered was no longer available after we had spent quite awhile waiting for it, then the dish we ordered to replace it was delayed so long that they comped it for us, which was appreciated. If you're the area this spot is worth a visit.

Visiting after a few years...and not disappointed. Jose Andres restaurants are never a miss…read more Service is amazing, the decor is beautiful and matches the cuisine, try all of the dips, the seared halloumi with sour cherries, spanakopita with home made phyllo, can't go wrong with fries topped with garlic yogurt, and while i would typically order the octopus.. i recommend the lamb shoulder. Order the Lamb Kleftiko - tender smoked lamb shoulder with salad wrap and spreads. Lamb is particular and this was just so delectable - not gamy, not too smoky, and paired nicely with a recommended beverage. The creative menu options will not disappoint. The culinary genius, the well informed staff and immediate service are all wins. Whether you are a local, or tourist - this is a must to stop by!

I've been visiting Zaytinya for about 20 years and the food has never disappointed. The only bad…read morething about it is it's hard to get a reservation, but if you drop in during happy hour and snag a seat at the bar, you're set. The happy hour menu (M-F, 4-6pm) includes drinks, pides, and other shareables. During this particular visit, I shared hummus, halloumi pide, as well as the branzino and the tzatziki (these last two are on the regular food menu). For a quick bite and a drink, this is perfect! The vibe is always super super lively and busy, so be sure to make friends with your bartender if you sit at the bar!

The food at Mama Ayesha's was delicious, and packed full of flavor! The service was also…read moregreat--very attentive and kind. The restaurant itself is a bit dated, both the patio and dining room. It looks like the decor hasn't been refreshed in a few decades. Mouzat, 5/5, delicious, tender lamb with seasoned rice Maklouba, 5/5, tender chicken that fell off the bone with delicious rice and vegetables Pomtini, 2/5, somehow tasted like Hi-C or some kind of chemical citrus

This is my new favorite restaurant. It's tasty. Clean. The staff is excellent. The food is…read moreincredible. My wife loved it too. So, yes I'm looking forward to going back there.

Yalla to Yalla!…read more This place is immaculate! We walked in right when it opened since it opens around 5pm. We were the first people there and honestly felt like we were treated like royalty! We got to decide where we wanted to sit since there was about 7 of us! I didn't think my party was hungry, but the second we saw the menu our mouths began to drool. We ordered - Fries: 5/5 - honestly, you can never go wrong with fries, but these were hot, crispy and seasoned well! Hummus: 4/5 - nothing to rave about here, just your typical hummus Falafel: 3.5/5 - I've definitely had better falafels Halloumi: 10/5 - this was the best item on the menu! So good, we ordered a second plate! It was seasoned and cooked to perfection! They didn't have our usual flavors for hookah so we ended up with Double Apple and Watermelon mint. Not my favorite flavors, but this was probably the smoothest hookah I've ever had in the DMV! I was genuinely so shocked! Besides all the above, the place is super aesthetic and fun cute post brunch vibes. I'll definitely be making myself back here for the halloumi and smooth hookah!!

The place does not disappoint, I would fix that citrus shrimp thou. The staff is really welcoming…read moreand the wait isn't that long for food and drinks. The night time really opens up ... Reggae on the Roof is something to experience on a Sunday

My friends and I get together once a month for brunch or dinner, and this month we landed at Ala in…read moreDupont Circle--and whew...this brunch did NOT disappoint! If you're hungry, come with an appetite because their bottomless brunch is the real deal! The buffet is packed with options including braised lamb, braised short rib, crispy chicken, fish, beef sausage, turkey bacon, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, potato latkes, hummus, salad, and so much more. There was truly something for everyone. And don't even think about skipping dessert! They have a full dessert table with brownies, baklava, fresh fruit, donuts, and other sweet little treats that make it way too easy to go back for "just one more." The bottomless drinks are an incredible value too! For just $15, you get unlimited mimosas, Bloody Marys, and coffee. Our server was absolutely fantastic. She was attentive throughout our meal, and the moment she noticed our champagne bottle was getting low, she brought us another without us even having to ask. Now that's service! The restaurant itself is on the smaller side, but they have a beautiful patio that's perfect for enjoying brunch on a nice day. And let's talk value because it's hard to beat: $36 for the all-you-can-eat brunch and $15 for bottomless drinks is an absolute steal, especially considering the quality and variety. They also offer plenty of other cocktails and beverages if mimosas aren't your thing. If you're looking for a fun brunch spot with delicious food, flowing champagne, and excellent service, Ala is definitely worth adding to your list!

I came here for brunch which is a great deal for unlimited food. If you're looking to try a bunch…read moreof food, their deal is a great option. We had a slight issue with our reservation when we came in. They seated us outside even though we asked to sit inside. Because of that, we had to wait a bit. Because it was a very hot day, we definitely had wanted to sit inside. The ambiance is great. I think they have a private room upstairs and they had plenty of room. It does get crowded for brunch so if you have a preference for inside or outside, I recommend a reservation. They did have plenty of bar seating though, which has the regular menu.

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.

Went on a Friday and at 6pm they are full so you need to make a reservation if you want a table…read more However upstairs is better because it's air conditioned. For happy hour I got the $12 dry daiquiri which is made with passion fruit and was good. Then I got their signature Mint Lemonade which is a frozen cucumber drink with your liquor of choice. The bartender Will was friendly. The bathroom upstairs was spacious and clean.

- great vibe, live music / dj - DELICIOUS mint lemonade…read more10/10! - loved the art put up - hard to get ahold of waiter for drink since people stay sat at the bar and block - drinks made quickly after ordering

This spot was a pleasant surprise. Most late-night spots are loud and overcrowded, but this one had…read moreplenty of space and a relaxed vibe. The staff were amazing and made the experience even better. I had the gyro and fries, and both were outstanding. The fries had a seasoned coating that made them next level, and the gyro was packed with flavor. For a meal at 2 a.m., it exceeded all expectations. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in DC.

Super causal kabob restaurant with multiple locations. Food is good but the size is a bit on the…read moresmall side. We had the kobeeda kabob (a lamb beef mix) which comes with rice and a simple salad. It was very tasty. The chicken curry had simple flavors but was also decent. It comes with one piece of flatbread.

Meze Restaurant was a pleasant surprise. I went during off hours, so it was pretty quiet, but the…read morefood was better than I expected. I had the chicken sis kebab, and it was really good. The service was also good, and overall it ended up being a nice experience.

We stopped in here in May while in town for a conference and we enjoyed our visit. We had a late…read morelunch that day, so just wanted a small nosh and a drink and this was perfect. The mojitos were flavorful and tasty and we really enjoyed our katmar dessert (a phyllo pastry filled dessert with pistachios, cream, and honey). I also had some raki, which was delicious and was a nice way to end the meal. Service was pretty good and we'd recommend stopping in here if you're in the area.