I was in Washington D.C. for the weekend and tried this amazing Mediterranean place for lunch. My…read morefriend who recommended this place has been obsessed with the food here and I can totally see why. We ordered mushroom kapnista, Halloumi pide, zaatar pide, htipiti and everything was so delicious. I'm not sure if I enjoyed the combination of dates and mushrooms together but really loved the smoky mushroom by itself. I was also very impressed with the Zaatar pide, it was cheesy and delicious. For desert we ordered greek yogurt with apricot and it was probably the best thing we tried here. The ambience is classy and they have ample of seating space. The overall meal didn't cost us as much as I thought it was, the prices were fairly reasonable!

As one of the longer running Andres restaurants, Zaytinya flew under me and my wife's radar as we…read moreexplored more trendy Mediterranean restaurants in the city. Though we typically look askance upon restaurants serving multiple ethnic cuisines, we nonetheless decided to try Zaytinya for dinner on the strength of friends' recommendations and when in need of a relatively last minute dinner reservation. The lively space is large and boasts bright white and marine blue accents characteristic of the Greek islands. While fancy enough for a date night, the place can get loud, so intimate evenings may be best had elsewhere. Zaytinya's large menu offers bites from Greece, Turkey, and the Levant. The meal begins with complimentary pita bread served with olive oil and pomegranate molasses. When fresh, the bread is soft and makes for pleasant munching. When it cools down a little it becomes a little hard and leathery, so be sure to eat it expediently. We started off with two Greek-inspired dips: the taramosalata and the tyrokafteri. Both tasted akin to what we have received at actual Greek restaurants, and subsequently hit the mark. Our zaatar pide arrived shortly thereafter. The dough on the flatbread was soft and we enjoyed the bites with egg and cheese. The zaatar itself ran more bitter rather than zesty, so while overall a decent bite I would skip it next time in favor of a different pide. Our imam biyaldi brought meltingly tender eggplant seasoned with warm spices, olive oil, and pine nuts. The dish tasted comforting and rustic. Our protein mezzes comprised the octopus Santorini, lamb kleftiko, and adana kebab. The octopus offered a generous portion of tender tentacles upon a schmear of creamy Greek style fava puree. The flavors and cook on the dish were good, though I could've used an acidic or herby element to bring a little brightness. The lamb kleftiko was the evening's uncontested favorite. Rather than the traditional parchment cooked preparation, the meat here is encased in homemade phyllo pastry and is set atop a rich tzatziki sauce. This made for a really delicious bite marrying juicy, tender lamb, crisp pastry, and cooling yogurt. Skip the adana kebab. The spicing on the skewer was adequate, but the somewhat bouncy texture of the meat and skimpy portion size made it a dud. Service ran smoothly but perfunctorily. We noted we were celebrating an anniversary on our reservation, but no mention was made. Our waiter didn't really explain the menu or offer suggestions for dishes. He did course the meal at a comfortable pace and the staff made sure we had plenty of fresh bread, and no errors were made. Our bill totaled $150 pre tip for six mezze and two drinks, which we found very fair for the quantity and quality of food. Overall, I can see why this restaurant has stood the test of time. While initially skeptical, we found most of the small plates here of a decent quality and taste and the menu appealing enough to return. Zaytinya thus gets four stars for solid Eastern Mediterranean fare at reasonable prices in lively surrounds.

We went to dinner for my birthday and it was absolutely amazing! Our server saul did an astonishing…read morejob with food and drink recommendations and even had a complimentary dessert and candle ready. The place itself was beautiful, with great lighting and room for conversations! Will definitely be back again, even for just the service!

First time here and I was definitely impressed. The inside is very aesthetically pleasing, and the…read moreoverall atmosphere was great. Service was quick, and the menu was explained perfectly. The mixed grill plate was definitely a hit. The lamb chops were seasoned so well, and the chicken and beef kabobs were just as good. Definitely recommend getting the mixed grill if it's your first time. We also ordered a side of potatoes, and they were seasoned perfectly, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. And you absolutely cannot leave without ordering the hummus Overall, great food, great service, and a beautiful atmosphere.

Genuinely beautiful. The food was amazing. Service was attentive and friendly. I thoroughly enjoyed…read morethis. Star of the show was definitely the lamb tagine. However, the halloumi and scallop were impeccable as well I will be back for Many more visits as my wallet allows.

Holy Toledo! You can't get much better than this. Maydan offers delicious middle eastern food set…read morein two different dining rooms, both unique, cozy, and beautiful. We dined on the Medina side. The room was wonderfully decorated, styled like a royal palace in a desert oasis. Only complaint -- the room was too cold (coming from someone who loves frigid temperatures). The other indoor seating option, which appears to be their main room, surrounds the central pit. The restaurant host (or manager) was incredibly kind and gave us a tour. I think the other seating option was better. Regardless, the food was top notch! We got their Tawle (tasting menu) with wine pairings. We also opted for their lamb shoulder. It was well worth the upgrade! Juicy, charred, and well seasoned. There were so many leftovers, too. I can't wait to return!

Went to this restaurant because I was interested in their manti (dumplings) and Tabbouleh salad. So…read moreI made a reservation for lunch, but these items were not on the lunch menu -- note that on their website there was only main menu and weekend brunch menu. Luckily, the manager asked the kitchen to do a special order for me, so I was able to try both of them! Moreover, when he learned that I wanted to make the manti, he even carefully explained to me how it was cooked! Thanks a lot!!! The Yara's Manti was basically small, boat shaped, half-covered dumplings baked in oil, then topped with yogurt and pine nuts. This is completely different from how Turkish or Afghan manti is made, thus having a different flavor as well. The baking procedure gave some crispiness to the dumplings, while the oil helped them to maintain sufficient moisture. These dumplings went well with the yogurt; I also tried sprinkling some sumac on them and it was great. However, the yogurt tend to get mixed with the oil when you move the dumplings. it would be better if they serve the dumplings (and toppings) in a separate, heated container. Yara's Tabbouleh is a creative twist to the traditional Tabbouleh. Besides the usual ingredients, there were diced beets and pomegranate arils. Both added some refreshing sweetness to the salad, and the beets also some hint of earthiness. The freshly baked pita was also delicious. Each piece weighed ~55-65g and was topped with sumac. Paired well with the other two dishes. The restaurant had a beautiful decor. At lunchtime there were not many people so it was relatively quiet. I will go there again the next time I visit DC! And I want to thank the resturant again for offering me the opportunity to try these dishes!

Food is easily a 4.5-5 stars and really enjoyable so if I recommended based on just food alone, yes…read more100% go there. Their hummus was creamy and in my top 5 of the DMV thus far. Their mandu dumplings are extremely flavorful and their za'atar flatbread is simple but perfectly crisp and spiced. There were some hiccups with brunch when I went. My first pet peeve is when a menu online lies and they changed their AYCE (which is why we went) to a more expensive pick 3 items type thing (it is full portions so still filling but was disappointing). It was hard for us to get service, our drink was priced incorrectly on it, and it took some hounding to get some of our dishes out (I think our server forgot to put one in and just said it takes a while/ we had finished the rest of our food practically). I'd come back and try again at least because their food is flavorful and good.

Lebanese Taverna is always delicious! I had this restaurant 2 years ago in Maryland, dreamt about…read morethe bread and shawarma since then. They give free flatbread, which was this puffy bread that was piping hot that can be dipped in their sauce, consisting of olive oil and herbs. We ordered a mehshi, which is tomato, eggplant, and zucchini stuffed with rice pilaf, concoction of sauces, and nuts. As simple as the dish is, it's hearty and my boyfriend loved it! The tomato and yogurt sauce go well together, many vegetarian dishes taste very plain, but this dish was flavorful. The Taverna platter is always a safe option, with selection of beef or chicken shawarma, hummus, and veggies. I complain a lot of other Middle Eastern restaurants have dry shawarma, but this restaurant cooked it perfectly.

Tried out this Lebanese restaurant for an early evening dinner. There is plenty of seating,…read morerestaurant is nice and open, it has a medium size bar. The service was good. We ordered the Baba Ghanoush, the chef's platter and the Taverna platter. The portions were a nice sample sizing with a nice flavor. The bread was warm and plentiful. Overall a nice experience.

One of the best meals of my life, period. Dish after dish blew me away. The lamb flatbread was the…read morefirst course and all of us were speechless. The pita and hummus with the labneh was a top 3 bite of all time. By the end, we were all completely stuffed until the knafeh arrived. Then a second wind overtook us all and we nearly ate the whole thing. Service was outstanding. We arrived at our table with a handwritten note to us celebrating our time with them for the occasion (it was a going away dinner for a few of us). We were given recommendations on drink pairings and each dish was explained. Whenever someone would get up to use the bathroom for example, their hand towel was changed for a clean one. Albi lives up to every expectation and recommendation it has. I would be hard pressed to find another restaurant let alone in DC, in the country that could take its spot on the podium.

Just go. One of my favorite spots in the DMV. Almost everything is cooked on a wood fire. You…read moresimply can't have a bad meal here. We've been three or 4 times.....plan ahead. Popular Popular! Great staff, great service, and probably the best meal you'll have eaten in years.

Good food with even nicer service. This place feels very authentic and the man who owns it is very…read morekind and friendly. He chatted with us the whole time and recommended the mint tea to us which was delicious and well worth it. My first time really eating Moroccan food but the flavor combinations were good and the preserved lemon and olives used in the dishes were tasty. My favorite dishes here were the chicken tajin and the mint tea

Only Moroccan place I have found in the DMV. If there are others, please let me know…read more Chicken Bastilla: First time trying it, a savory chicken pastry with powdered sugar, it wasn't really for me, but the phyllo was well done. Lamb Tagine: Tasted pretty good, Lamb Shank could have been a little more tender, sauce and prunes were good. I wish i had gotten Lamb Cous Cous instead. My meal came with Moroccan bread, which is good, but Cous Cous is better. Kefta Tagine: Savory, delicious, more familiar tasting. My friend crushed it. Service: Owner is very friendly and made the experience much better. Ambiance: Crowded, cool decoration, felt like it was catered towards the ethnic community, which is what I want! Overall impression: First time i've had Moroccan in years. Appreciate it while it's here. Not every city has a Moroccan place. It's unique and different from other Mediterranean. It's a 4.5, not the best I've had but pretty darn good.

A complete vibe! I…read morecame here with a coworker of mine the day before 4th of July for lunch and drinks, and I left full and happy. There is a parking garage around the corner of the restaurant so that makes things very convenient. The inside decor is gorgeous and is chic but also funky fresh. I got grilled octopus over a bed of bean salad that had pieces of pomegranate in it - 10/10. The savory taste of the octopus paired against the sweetness of the salad was really delicious. For desert I got the baklava option that comes with ice cream - INCREDIBLE. You have to order it if you come here.

Went there twice to taste different kinds of Turkish dishes. One time for dinner and the other for…read morelunch. Overall the food was good. The serving size of the dishes I ordered were medium to small. The service was far less satisfactory than food. I tried the following dishes: 1. Complimentary pita: ~40g per piece. Not salty and paired well with the other dishes. Definitely get some! 2. Lahmacun: The lamb+beef mixture was tasty. It came with 4 pieces. 3. Branzino: ~6oz. The fish was grilled to perfection; juciy tender, and the skin was nicely charred. It was served with freh parsley and seasoned grilled tomato (salt+oregano I think). 4. Imam Bayildi: Half of an eggplant topped with sauteed onions and tomatoes. While itself was pretty normal, it went so well with the Ottoman rice. 5. Ottoman Rice: The true highlight of all the dishes I tried! It was basically Basimati rice cooked with dried apricots, raisins, almonds & pine nuts mix, and seasoned with black currant. Overall it was warm, earthy and lightly smoky. The apricot slices added some delightful sweetness and juiciness to the dish. Should pair well with Labneh, chicken and seafood. But to be honest, I can simply eat this stuff along for a whole meal! 6. Tabbouleh: They went against the traditional recipe by substituting the bulgur with quinoa and added some pomegranate arils. I liked the special texture of quinoa. The sweetness of pomegrante arils also enriched the flavors. However, I had to constantly spit the seeds when enjoying the salad. 7. Kofte: Adana style ground beef patties. Just like what I make at home haha! I ordered it as an add-on to my salad at lunchtime. It came with only 2 pieces which weighed no more than 3oz in total... Despite the delicious food, service was disappointing. The first time, the dinner, was Okay. While my food came out slowly, at least my server was aware of it and asked me how I liked the dishes. The second time, the lunch, was horrible. Even before I was seated, my server made me feel that he was reluctant to serve me, and emphasized that I had to order asap. "Luckily", I had already decided what to order. After I got my dishes, no one in the restaurant asked me if the food was Okay. And at the check, my bill was thrown onto my table. In comparison, the two ladies dining next to me came even after I started eating, but were greeted warmly and were given lots of time to decide what to order; not to mention that the staff gave them lots of suggestions, asked about their dining experience, and even chatted with them about sightseeing in DC, etc. Such discrimitory treatment is really unacceptable.

It's alright. I…read morereally like that there IS a Lebanese restaurant in this section of Arlington and they have a vegetarian menu. The dip sampler was small samples. We got the halloumi as well, which can't go wrong with cheese, honey, and dates. Service was good. Ambiance - there's outdoor and indoor seating and you can always find a seat. It's not loud and they have booths.

Love the warm feel with friends gathering here on a Saturday Summer evening. Food was delicious…read morewith the dip sampling, octopus, cheese rolls, calamari, and our entrees : lamb shank, skewers, and salads. Finished the night with mango sorbet. Parking was easy with street parking along the side of restaurant and worse scenario a garage for $9. I lucked out with street parking. Wine was not the best so thank the host for allowing us to taste another wine. Definitely go with the red blend from Lebanon. Overall a great family setting though service does take awhile.

Small plates middle eastern-fusion restaurant with a cool vibe and great food…read more Table, booth, and bar seating I came here with my fiancé and we split small plates of hummus, falafel, brussel sprouts, and a chicken skewer. The hummus and Brussel sprouts were the best, and the chicken was solid as well, but we didn't love the falafel. Solid selection of drinks. My fiance got a passionfruit cocktail but thought that it was too sweet for her taste On inKind!

We were only able to secure outdoor seating, and unfortunately the ambiance outside is not great…read more The patio was wet even though it wasn't raining that day of the day before. There is nothing pretty or appealing about seating outside. The buffet is inside the restaurant which also makes it a bit of an inconvenience. The restaurant inside is on the smaller side and feels a bit crowded near the buffet area. They had a lot of food selections which was great, however, we were disappointed that the taste of the food did not match the great presentation of each dish. Overall the dishes were bland, lacked flavor, and were too oily. Even the mashed potatoes were bland and not tasty. Nice selection of desserts too, but again, nothing exciting, juts a typical dessert buffet selection (brownies, cupcakes, chocolate fountain..). The standout were the baklavas. The highlight of our outing was the service. Everyone was very attentive and nice.