The food here is from heaven! The flavor, spices, and the freshness is just above and beyond any other turkish food I've tried. My favorite was Adana kebap with bulgur... Well seasoned with herbs and super fresh. The meat is super tender, organic, and halal. They are very welcoming with fast and responsive service. Great ambit for big group or a date night. read more

Make sure you watch your credit card statement. I had a $20 bar tab, and I tipped $3 (would've tipped 20%, but I docked them a buck on account of how long it took to place order, get drinks, get bill, etc.). They hit my credit card for $26. In other words, they skimmed three bucks (added an additional 15% tip for themselves). Not enough to go fight with them, but I don't need to have money stolen when I go out to eat. As for the food, it was fine, but nothing to write home about. Some was good, most was bland. The main problem is they are just down the street from Zaytinya, which beats Ottoman Taverna by miles. Service was a trainwreck from start to finish. Whether it was having to hunt down the hostess, wait for service/drinks/checks at the bar, having waitress forget to put in orders, having spreads show up a good 10 minutes before bread, having doors outside doors left open on a chilly and windy night ... it was just absurd. The waitress extolled the virtues of the all-you-can eat menu at 8:30 on a weekend evening -- we opted to go a la carte, which was a good thing, as it was only ~after~ we placed that order did we she tell us the kitchen closed at 9 p.m. (!). Had we ordered the all-you-can eat affair only to be shut off in half an hour ... well, that would've been a bad scene, especially since we didn't see our waitress again until after 9. I give the restaurant mega credit for comping us on some items due to the poor service (we didn't complain -- they identified the problems themselves), but I can't come up with a reason to go back considering the number of much better competitors in town. read more

The lamacun was soggy, the manti is covered in a warm tomato and yogurt sauce not like the traditional. The atmosphere is nice. The staff was very nice and professional. I sent my food back and they were accommodating. The cig kofte is very good. read more

First, Ottoman Taverna is a stunning restaurant. The owner went to great length with the exceptional detail from the large evil eyes wall decor, lighting to the room dividers. This is a perfect venue for small private dinners as I witnessed being set up for FLOTUS to business meetings. Unlike most restaurants in DC, the tables were generous spaced out and you can definitely have a conversation with having to scream. I was surprised for a rainy Saturday night the place was packed! I dined with two Turkish friends last night who were stunned with the authentic menu options. We ordered the everything on the menu including Iman biyaldi, octupus salad and other mezzes. I better not forget the fresh bread! We requested two more baskets. The main courses were delicious! Our table ordered the perfectly cooked branzino, lamb chops, lamb and beef kofte. The portions were generous- we took our leftovers home. To cap off the evening, we had a few desserts from rice pudding to baklava. All were excellent!!! Next time I want to sit at the Sultan's Table by the kitchen. I hear they can arrange an amazing family style feast upon request. I highly you check out this AUTHENTIC Turkish restaurant....it transports you to Turkey even for one night. read more

Fabulous bottomless brunch with my 5 friends! Only $34.95 for bottomless drinks and a 4-course menu. The food was so good and they even brought out some complimentary items in between courses! Highly recommend for a group brunch. read more

Probably the best Turkish restaurant this side of the Atlantic. Lahmacun and Mezzes are as good as in Turkey. Kebabs are excellent.

Great authentic Turkish food. Excellent service. All staff and Funda were so wonderful and helpful! My husband and I ate here during our trip to DC. We will definitely come back next time! read more

I don't know what the rave reviews are about. I have eaten there twice, tonight being the second one. The grape leaves were soggy, the chicken kebob was way over spiced, and the roasted pepper should have had a warning that it was hot pepper. I spent time in Turkey and this just ain't it. read more

Wooow! It was a wonderful experience. The food was delicious.Staff were so friendly and professional. The atmosphere were so nice. Especially Alp the manager were so kind and amazing person. Best place for Turkish cuisine! read more

Food is so delicious! If you in DC do not hesitate to stop by here for dinner, lunch! You won't be regret. Great service and delicious food wait for you. read more

I went here with a friend I met while studying abroad in Turkey for a summer. We have a lot of fond memories of the food we ate all over Turkey, and Ottoman Taverna definitely satisfied our desire to revisit our favorite dishes. We got ezme, lentil soup, sigara boregi, and kofte. Everything was delicious. Although the lentil soup was less thick and hearty than the ones we remembered, it was delicately flavorful. I really like the sesame seeds on the pita, which was eaten slathered with ezme. The kofte was rich, but not too greasy and served with buttery rice. The service was warm and friendly from the hostess to the waiter to the busser. The only mistep was a dirty bread plate at my seat, and the waiter replaced it immediately with profuse apologies. I would definitely come back here any time I am craving a taste of Turkey. read more

Delicious food. One of the best service I have seen so far. Very nice people.....You should definitely try.

Food portion was really small and too expensive. Didn't like the taste either. The meat was tasteless and hard to swallow.

Solid 4 stars, maybe better. Really enjoyed a nice weeknight dinner here with a few friends. Delicious bread and harissa, yummy tartare type appetizer compliments of the chef. We tried much of the cold mezze section, all vegetarian - really liked the roasted eggplant, labneh, tomato/cucumber/olive salad, dolmasi were amazing. The artichoke dish was okay. Also tried the shrimp stew from the hot mezze and I thought that had really good flavors as well, even if the shrimp was a bit overcooked. The Massaya Rose was a delicious, fairly dry wine accompaniment to the food. Service was wonderful. Such a big place so you feel like there is hardly anyone else there with you. Nice, classy atmosphere. Great experience! read more

This place really deserves more love. The interior is beautiful, the staff is beyond friendly, and the food is fresh and delicious. I will be stopping by again! read more

Ate here with a small group for dinner. The atmosphere is cozy and sophisticated. The waiter was attentive. We got the grape leaves which were enjoyed. We also ordered a flatbread, the cauliflower stew, and the lamb shank over eggplant puree. All of the dishes were tasty. The lamb was cooked perfectly, and the eggplant added the right amount of flavor to the dish. I would definitely come back here for dinner again. read more

Amazing food, beautiful restaurant, great service! The food definitely ranks top 3 in DC hands down. Authentic Turkish food as well as a few modern dishes. The ravioli with garlic yogurt is great! Would definitely come back read more

Amazing! I had my birthday party here and they made it spectacular. We did the brunch pre-fix which is a great deal and amazing food. All the mimosas and food are beyond words and they are great at keeping glasses and plates full. read more

The lamb shank was unreal. I cut it with a fork. Amazing service as well. We had a party of 9 on a Saturday night and all courses came out promptly. read more

This place must be one of the better Turkish restaurants in DC. The space is really thoughtfully designed and it's great for events. The menu has a great selection of various types of Turkish dishes and the portions were pretty generous. I especially loved the bulgar wheat with the tomato and red pepper paste that they put in lettuce, I don't remember the name of that appetizer but definitely ask for it. The bread was so fresh and our Iskander Kebab was really flavorful. Will definitely be back. read more

Amazing cuisine! Ive never really had Turkish food before. The bartender was my tour guide to Turkey it was easier to let him order for me and create an experience. Everything was wonderful. Highly recommend the Adana Kabob delicious read more

Great place! Right around the corner from where I live. The staff is very friendly and the food comes out quickly.

The food is not worth it, ambiance is good but the main reason one goes to a restaurant is food and that was not good!. There is only one chicken dish and it has no taste. Beef dishes that we tried had a gamy taste. I will not recommend it read more

Excellent dishes, my favorite turkish restaurant, clean, halal and good service. I would highly recommend...

Truly the best Turkish restaurant I've ever been to. Authentic and delicious food, attentive and friendly waitstaff and overall great experience. Great spot for anyone who's never tried Turkish food before as the menu is very diverse and the waitstaff was very accommodating to vegetarians and gluten free diners. If you have had Turkish food before or if you are of Turkish heritage, the food is very authentic and delicious almost as good as Babanne's.(That's grandma in Turkish) read more

Even we paid for the last New Year's event , they have oversold the place and no table for us. We were shown bar stools and we decided to leave and the manager or owner never showed up. They didn't care about us and my family's new year's eve night was ruined. It was horrible experience. I don't go back there. read more

This is probably my favorite spot in the city. The food is unbelievable, particularly the chicken kufta. And the breads! I can't have enough. I've been here three separate times now, twice for dinner and once for brunch. Yani was our waiter one of the times, and each subsequent time he remembered us, gave us a history lesson about the drink names, and was ridiculously attentive. The last time we came he was working behind the bar, and he invited us to try some Turkish anisado drink to help digest. And boy was it delicious! Fantastic place, great food, and better service. Will definitely be coming back. read more

Alp the manager was phenomenal. He was very kind. Food was amazing and I would highly recommend it to everyone and all.

It is a beautifully designed restaurant with wonderful service. However, the food is pretty typical and lacks the soul in taste. I hope that chef will come up with some unique and vibrant regional dishes to elevate the menu to the level the restaurant deserves. read more

Great Food , awesome service , friendly staff great ambiance. DC really needed a place like this We will be back read more

After living in Turkey for several years, I've been disappointed with Turkish food in the U.S., but Ottoman Taverna did not disappoint. They've only been open two weeks, and already seemed to have everything well under control. The menu has all of the standard Turkish menu items - we all wanted main courses, so we weren't able to sample as many mezes as we would have liked. All three entrees were excellent, though - adana kebab (with bulgar done right), lamb chops, and Iskender kebab. The kunefe was spot on. Service was good, although much like in Turkey, we were left alone around the time we wanted to get the bill. I had read in a DCIst review that they have rakija from the Balkans, but that wasn't true, and they only have one kind of Turkish raki right now. The prices were a bit high - it's hard for anyone who's lived in Turkey to pay $23 for an adana kebab but I understand that this is DC. read more

Highlights: finely tuned doner and iskender kebab, along with appetizers: lowlights: chaotic, poor service on a very busy (and deafening) Saturday night; tough, overcooked (and relatively uninteresting) lamb kebab. I grew up in Turkey and have enjoyed Turkish cuisine all around the world since childhood for the last half-century. So I was really looking forward to trying out Ottoman Taverna. It was a mixed experience, to be honest. On arrival, we were met by a deafening wall of sound. All of us had to lean over to hear what the hostess was saying to us. Waiters and busboys rushed around in near-panic mode. Standing crowds filled empty spaces, making it hard to walk anywhere, including to the restrooms. In other words, my first impression was of a restaurant which had been overly hyped (Tom S., Michelle O. et al) and was struggling to keep up with the the high level of interest. We ordered our bellwether appetizers, which I've usually found to be a good indicator of quality: Cigara borek, Imam Bayildi, and Shepherd salad. The first two were excellent (though my Lebanese and Syrian guests lamented the relatively light touch with garlic and lemon in the Imam Bayildi - but that was their own culinary heritage showing, not so much a problem with the cooking at Ottoman Taverna). We agreed the Cigara borek were first-rate, with subtle cheese flavors to savor. The Shepherd salad never showed up. Mid-way through the appetizers, our glasses were refilled with water at high speed (all service was very high speed, as the staff seemed to be under great pressure, which put their inexperience on display). A far cry from traditional Turkish hosts, who offer time and interest - and want to spend time admiring the food with their guests. The server who refilled our glasses giggled as water splashed out onto the tablecloth and ice cubes went flying onto my plate and into the appetizers. She didn't seem to be aware that this was not actually the way to serve water. Our waiter did, however, offer an apology for the Shepherd salad, which he brought later with our main dishes and didn't charge for. We ordered the Iskender kebab, chicken kebab, and lamb kebab. My discriminating and usually quick-to-criticize guests were very pleased with the first two dishes. My lamb kebab, on the other hand, came overly cooked, tough, dry, and a little cold (I had told the waiter I wanted my lamb medium, not well-done; I got the opposite). I'll readily admit that good lamb kebab is hard to find in the DC area, but at least a couple of other Turkish restaurants in the area do it better. Perhaps the kitchen was just overwhelmed? Another service issue, though: as the main dishes arrived, the waiter (a different waiter) waited for us, the guests, to clear the appetizer dishes, which we dutifully moved to one-side to make room for the mains. Later, mid-way through dinner, someone came to pick up our stacked, dirty dishes - in a typically (for this restaurant) rushed, noisy way. Ottoman Taverna is not bad, despite the service issues. I'm going to give this restaurant one more try, for lunch this week with my 90 year-old father, an even greater fan of Turkish cuisine than I am. If our experience is different the second time around, I'll provide a few further thoughts. June 9 update: I ate lunch at OT (the first week they have been open for lunch) with my 90 year-old dad. Service was excellent and the food was first rate - both the Iskender kebab and the Kofte. The red lentil soup and borek were magnificent. We enjoyed the chance to speak Turkish with the waiter and to meet the chef, from Istanbul. A great meal. read more

Went for lunch on a Thursday. I had the falafel sandwich and my boyfriend had the doner sandwich. Both were delicious - especially the unique poppy seed pita and fresh veggies inside - and well-priced for a higher end lunch spot. We sat outside at a nice shady table and the service was exceptional. Will definitely return! read more

This place is fabulous! From the decoration to the food! The bar area is amazing! And the food! Oh the food..... DELICIOUS authentic Turkish food that transports you to turkey in every bite. Kunefe by the way is absolutely amazing! read more

A large restaurant in an unlikely (but getting hot) location Ottoman Taverna is a very good restaurant worth many visits to try the appealing and delicious items on the menu. Although there are stairs at the entrance there is also a lift that disabled patrons can easily use. The seating is comfortable with spacious distances between tables. The menu offers hot and cold mezze, soups, flatbreads and main courses. All are good. The kofte was delicious as was the spicy lamb flatbread. The kebabs (iskender, doner, adana) were wonderful and the Kayseri Mantisi Grand Mom's Ravioli) was a different take on a traditional dish. The wait staff was helpful and available but did not hover. We will definitely visit again! read more

Went here last night for a business dinner. Everything about this place is great! Beautiful setting, fantastic service, great food and amazing wine selection. Its also really easy to get a table, so no waiting in line! It also has a great happy hour that last until 7 so would be perfect for a work happy hour. I highly recommend! read more

This place is awesome! We were a party of 5, shared appetizers, wine, and each had an entree. Everyone was happy. The karisik meze tabab (6 appetizers) was the only disappointment, mostly because too small for anyone to have sufficient taste of any one dish. I had the Adana kebab, which I liked but may have slightly preferred the taste of iskender kabab I tried. The Turkish wine was unexpectedly good. read more

Very pleasant Brunch. Ordered off the breakfast in Istanbul menu. Super authentic and fresh! Also liked the decor, Turkish modern. I recommend the Sultans breakfast and the baklava. read more

I came here on a Sunday when the restaurant was empty. When we walked in only one other table was occupied and then we made up the second table of people. So what I didn't understand is in such a HUGE restaurant why they would sit a 3rd table right next to us? When the restaurant is so quiet, I would have preferred more privacy with our conversation. Another annoyance was that every time I would take one sip of water someone ran up to refill my glass. Please let me finish at least 3/4s of my glass before you come up. Otherwise it's an annoyance to have so many unnecessary interruptions. My credit card statement didn't say Ottoman Taverna, I had to dig up my receipt to match the date and amount to see if it was a charge I needed to dispute. read more

Perfect dinner for my birthday, we had great food and service, everything delicious and close in taste back in Turkey, our server Gamze was very attentive and good. If you like Turkish food this is the place to be read more