SUCH a vibe. My date is vegan so this was the perfect spot for us to each get what we wanted in a…read moretrip to DC. To be fair, I'm a picky eater so we usually order a bunch of sides to make our own meal. We ordered two nonalcoholic drinks, a salad with pita croutons on the side, falafel served w tahini dip, potatoes served w cilantro dip, and duck sausage. My least favorite was the sausage as it tasted too vinegary. Favorite was the potatoes, so simple yet so perfect - and the cilantro sauce was everythingggg. Service was prompt, friendly and not pushy. There are staff to bring/clear plates so servers are encouraged to focus on other aspects of service.

Came for brunch and was pleasantly surprised! The lamb belly was my favorite. baba ghannouj, rosti…read moreand grandmas toast were also really good and they gave a ton of pita. It also wasn't too crowded on a Saturday

Food (3/5): The complimentary house bread and zaatar come out warm and super fresh. It is a nice…read moreway to start the meal. We ordered the falafel sandwich and the schwarma sandwich. They both were really dry, so we asked for some tatziki sauce for the schwarma sandwich which was packed with meat, although a bit light on any veggies. They also brought some tahini sauce for the falafel which was really helpful. I only wish that they could bring this at first rather than having us ask for this. It would really made a HUGE difference in the sandwich and made it a 4/10 sammie to a 8/10 sammie. Service (5/5): The gentleman who was nice and really helpful. Ambiance (5/5): This is really a nice restaurant with a nice decorated interior. I was really impressed.

LEBANESE FAVORITE: We get the Taverna Platter every time and it never disappoints. This is hands…read moredown the best Lebanese restaurant in the area. Don't let the 3.5 star rating fool you. This place is a solid 5 stars. The complimentary house bread and zaatar come out warm and super fresh. It's hard not to keep reaching for more. We always order extra kibbeh, and the hummus with ground beef is excellent. The decor is the nicest of any Lebanese spot around and it makes for a great date atmosphere without feeling over the top. Everything tastes fresh and well made. If you're craving Lebanese food, this place delivers.

I came here during lunch and got a a spinach pie ($4.5) and chicken shawarma pita ($10). They…read moreoffered these free chips "on the house" and they were a nice little appetizers to munch on. The spinach pie was quite good! And after about 10 minutes my shawarma came out. It was seasoned good even though a little dry. The garlic sauce was very flavorful and helped with the overall flavor and texture. I was quite happy with the food as well as the price! I would definitely recommend and come back to this place! Food(50%): 8.0 Staff/service(25%): 8.5 Value(25%): 8.5 Overall: 8.3/10

I'd been wanting to try this place for a while because of the high reviews. But I wasn't really…read moreimpressed. I got the shawarma but there were way too many pickled ingredients in it. And the fries were soggy. I went with probably the safest entree, and it was pretty disappointing. On the plus side, I think their appetizers are a win. We had homemade hummus and the pitas that came with it were warm and doughy, probably the best part of the meal.

They have street parking outside the restaurant and some good outdoor and indoor seating…read more I hear they have a hookah lounge too inside somewhere which might be attractive to big groups. The service was S-L-O-O-O-O-W and our server messed up the order. She skipped bringing in the appetizer we ordered and first forgot fries and then forgot sauces/ napkins. Worst was when she messed up the billing by confusing 2 different cards from 2 different table orders. Food: The chicken shawarma wrap was good and came with fries which was yummy 5/5 Tip: the foil around the wrap was not "wrapped" well enough so all the sauces from the wrap dripped on our clothes and table :( Please hold the wrap carefully and be mindful it will be leaking.

My boyfriend and I had a wonderful experience here! The service was fantastic and the food was just…read moreAMAZING!! Everyone was just super kind and very helpful! The restaurant was super clean as well. I ordered the lamb shank with a side of hummus and a salad and my boyfriend ordered the shrimp dish with a side of fries and rice. Everything was unbelievably amazing!! My boyfriend devoured everything!! I, unfortunately, had to take home part of my dish because I still can't eat that much after having Covid three times. The dish also provided pita bread, which was also amazing!! We also both ordered dirty martinis, which was also amazing!!! We will definitely, and I mean most definitely, be coming here over and over again!!!

Fantastic! We ordered take out again as we live further away and it was an after-work scenario…read more The gentlemen serving were very polite and their Turkish coffee was fantastic and reminded me of our time in the Middle East. The fried kibbeh, tabbouleh, shush tawook and kofta are amazing. The only criticism was that the hummus ate a little thick (probably because we ordered take out), and that the meat quantity on the lamb with rice was a little lighter, some more would have been more substantial for an entree. We absolutely love Mona's and wish we lived closer and could enjoy her delicious food more often

Not sure what to say.... Came across this place randomly....... One of the most memorable meals…read moreI've had in years!!! AMAZING experience! A hidden gem I'd never heard of. From ambiance, service, decor, taste, and Mona!!!!!! I cannot recommend this enough and wish I knew of 1000 different places like this. Go here!!!!!

The baba ghannouj is well-balanced -- smoky char from the eggplant comes through clearly without…read morethe tahini overwhelming it, and it's not overly heavy despite the richness. Good start to the meal. The lamb kleftiko is the standout of the three. Slow-cooked until it falls apart easily, with the seasoning penetrating all the way through rather than sitting on the surface. It's a dish that rewards the time it takes to prepare -- nothing rushed about it. The kofte kebab holds its own too -- well-spiced, good char on the outside, moist inside, not dried out the way kofte can sometimes end up. Solid textural contrast against the kleftiko. Overall a strong meal across the board -- each dish distinct but all working within the same confident, well-executed style that Zaytinya is known for.

A coworker recommended Zaytinya, and I quickly agreed--without realizing it's under the direction…read moreof celebrated chef José Andrés. That made the experience feel even more special in hindsight. We walked in on a Monday night without reservations (clearly a theme for us!), not knowing they were needed. Thankfully, they were able to seat us in the bar area, which turned out to be a perfect spot for a relaxed dinner and a glass of wine. We ordered a mix to share: hummus, spanakopita, kofte kebab, and adana kebab. Everything was delicious, but the spanakopita really stood out. It was a bit unexpected--not layered like the traditional version, but more of a rolled presentation. Even so, the flavors were wonderful and elevated in a way that made it memorable. The only slight disappointment for me was the wine selection. The red wines leaned more dry than I typically prefer--I tend to go for something more fruit-forward--but it didn't take away from the overall experience. Dessert was the one miss. We were really hoping for baklava, which wasn't on the menu. Instead, we ordered the walnut delight. While it had all the right flavors, it didn't quite deliver the wow factor we were hoping for. That said, the food, atmosphere, and overall experience were still impressive. I was excited to learn that Zaytinya has locations beyond D.C., including closer to home in the Bay Area--so I'll definitely be visiting again. Highly recommend, and maybe make a reservation!

Maydan was one of the most anticipated dining experiences for my partner and I on our DC trip and…read moreit was even better than I expected. Gorgeous restaurant centered around a giant hearth, the heart and soul of the space where much of the food is cooked. We went with two friends and opted to do ala carte, and ordered a bunch of items to share. - Muhammara & hummus spreads were both phenomenal - creamy, delicious goodness served with piping hot, generous portions of freshly made pita bread. - Halloumi with a nutty honey glaze - perfection - Sweet Potato - soft and just melts in your mouth - Mushrooms - super unique preparation, definitely worth a try. Very delicious. We also ordered every kabob on the menu (shrimp, scallop, chicken and lamb). The shrimp and chicken kabobs were excellent - charred to perfection and bursting with flavor. Paired with zhoug sauce, I was in heaven. Do not miss these! Scallop and lamb kabobs were just okay. Incredible service, beautiful ambiance, and a memorable meal that will stay with me. Grateful to have experienced Maydan!

Finally! I've been trying to make it to this restaurant, and my gfs took me for my birthday…read more The best experience. I can't quite tell you that you'd have the same experience each time you go because it all depends. I believe it also depends where you're sitting how impactful it will be on your experience as well. Whatever you do come back each time and try something else because I will Love Amb

Did a phone order before my lunch at work and had a very positive experience. Service is incredible…read moreand they're very on top of your order. I had their Lebneh sandwich which was delicious but pretty light. Not ideal if you're really really hungry. Their matcha was ok. I added simple syrup but I wasn't impressed. The restaurant had limited street parking but it's a cute cafe aesthetic. I do agree with other reviewers, their menu items are pricey.

Really nice coffee & sandwiches here, I got the cardomom latte and it's one of the best in the area…read moreso far. The sandwiches are pretty big you can probably share one between two people especially if you want to get a dessert. Beef egg & cheese sandwich - my husband got this one and it's a nice breakfast sandwich it has really nice spices in it which make it different from other breakfast sandwich places. Kafta sandwich - this was perfect for lunch the flavors are really amazing. The baked desserts were hit or miss I'll come back to try some more. I wasn't the biggest fan of the flour used. It was pretty busy on the weekend, but we still managed to find parking and a table. People work on their laptops there so the turn over is slower. The inside is a bit cramped, I did have a little anxiety because there's really no space between you and the person next to you and there's just a small path to walk around. Parking is around back of the building, it has signs up that it's parking for that building only. I'll definitely be back when I'm in the area.