July 2026: I recently went back to Namak to try their new Sunday brunch with a couple of friends…read moreand enjoyed it immensely. We were seated immediately and had outstanding service from start to finish. We all shared the pikilia (sampler of all five spreads), all of which were delicious with special kudos for the labne and the muhamarra. I got the Adana for my main dish, which was outstanding. The lamb was perfectly cooked and seasoned, the sumac onions provided delicious crunch and flavor, the rice was well-done, and the lavash was the perfect accompaniment for the lamb. I also got the Turkish coffee which was solid, and split the coffee cake with a friend. While the coffee cake was fine, it tasted more like a honey or spice cake instead of a coffee cake. I look forward to my next visit to Namak! July 2024: A great addition to the Adams Morgan dining scene! My friend and I recently went here for a weekend dinner and were seated immediately at our reservation time. It was extremely busy when we initially arrived; however, after an initial service snafu (which our server apologized for), we received outstanding service with our dishes coming out in a timely manner. Namak's ambiance is lovely, with blue-and-white tiling, lots of natural light, wood tables, and Greek, Turkish, and Persian decorations. Namak automatically includes a 20 percent service charge and clearly indicates this charge on their menu and receipt, which I appreciated. Namak also has plenty of vegetarian options. My friend and I split the four dishes listed below: Kuru Patlican Dolmasi: An OK dish with well-cooked rice but there was too much salt and there was minimal flavor other than the sauce (there needed to be more sauce). Ahtapot: A phenomenal dish, Michelin-star caliber in presentation and execution, and one of my five favorite dishes I have had at a restaurant this year. The octopus was prepared and grilled perfectly-the best octopus I have ever had. The carrot puree was aesthetically stunning and provided excellent sweetness and freshness, with the pickled onions adding acidity and crunch. The greens on top added further brightness and flavor to the dish. Finally, the blue tilework on the plate below capped off a beautiful array of colors for the dish. It is worth coming to Namak just for the Ahtapot-it was that good. Ispanakli Pide-Another delicious plate, with the pide excellently baked, the right amount of fresh spinach and dill, and the perfect amount of feta to complement the other ingredients. Roasted Cauliflower-While the cauliflower was perfectly cooked, it needed a bit less salt and far more tahini, za'atar, and pomegranate seeds. I would have paid $2-3 more for the dish to make it outstanding if there had been substantial tahini and pomegranate seeds at the bottom. My friend and I split the Anatolian cheesecake for dessert. While the sour cherry compote was delicious, I was disappointed that I couldn't taste the Turkish yogurt and Greek feta. I look forward to my next visit to Namak!

It's my fault for trying restaurants that serve food that isn't spicy and full of flavor. The…read moreingredients are fresh and the service is FANTASTIC. The food is so forgettable. The pita bread was the best thing in the meal. I think we got the muhammara spread. I can't remember. The zucchini fritters were dry, the spinach was cold, and the trout was bland. However, the decor is beautiful! The bar is very romantic! My favorite cuisines are West African, East African, Caribbean, Indian, and Thai, so take my review worth a grain of salt if you don't care for those cuisines.

I'm surprised to see this restaurant with 3.7 stars because the food was delicious, the service was…read morefantastic (shoutout to Lucas), and the ambiance was lovely (nice and intimate). The fried kale was delicious! It was my husband's first time trying that dish and he loved it! Everything else was yummy, my only critique was on the garlic naan bread. We wished it was a little bit more buttery (the sauce) but other than that - we loved it.

Bombay Indian Cuisine is one of my favorite spots. Every time I come to DC to visit family, I make…read moresure to stop here. It has a classy, old-school feel that makes it really special. The place is nice and calm, and people are usually dressed up, which makes it feel a little more elegant. The food is always so good--full of flavor and cooked just right. My favorite is the butter chicken--so rich, creamy, and delicious every time. I honestly love coming here every time. It just feels like a good, special experience each visit.

Big Bear Cafe in Bloomingdale is one of those places that stops you in your tracks before you even…read morewalk through the door. The ivy wrapping the entire exterior of the building is stunning -- it feels like the cafe grew right out of the earth itself. The garden is lush, intentional, and beautiful, and the grapevine patio pulls you in like you've stumbled onto a secret courtyard in the middle of the city. I rode the metro over an hour from Alexandria for this and the exterior alone told me the commute was worth it. The iced coffee delivered. The vibe inside is warm, neighborhood-cozy, and full of character. This place has a soul that most coffee shops spend years trying to manufacture. Four stars instead of five -- and here's my honest feedback with love. The outdoor seating is gorgeous but the trees overhead drop baby spiders constantly. I watched them land on my table, my drink, and my arm more times than I could count. The birds hopping onto tables scavenging for crumbs added to the chaos. For a patio this beautiful, the experience deserves better. The fix is already in the DNA of this place. Weaving lavender, peppermint, chrysanthemums, citronella grass, marigolds, and rosemary throughout the patio would naturally deter spiders and mosquitoes while making the garden even more breathtaking. The fragrance would become part of the experience. Big Bear Cafe is already special. The ivy, the garden, the coffee, the community energy -- it all works. A few intentional additions to the patio and this place is untouchable. I will absolutely be back. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

GREAT ambiance.....cute inside spots and outside spots. Delicious tea and coffee options…read more There was a long line, but service was really fast. I didn't see any food options on the menu that that caught my eye. The list looks like what I'd imagine a BK spot would have 10 years ago. I'll definitely be back.....it feels like the perfect spot to meet and enjoy drinks before or after a long walk.

Just go!!! Food-…read morepizza was deep dish and creative flavors(corn, weird and yes!). The carrots and dip was fresh. The asparagus Romesco( no nuts but sunflowers (instead) was maybe my fave. Each dish was well prepared and flavors super intentional. Drinks- our rose was the perfect color and so light and sweet. Service- everyone we interacted with was friendly, helpful, and bought into the vibe of Gemini. Vibes- almost like a European cafe, folks drinking wine and having pizza and small bites. Talking and casual and lovely. Signage- you go inside, wait on line and order your food and drinks. Then you will find a place for you to stand inside or sit outside.

so, i have mixed feelings about gemini. 1) ignoring…read moreeverything else, the food is good. it's more creative than classic. the focaccia is incredibly soft and fluffy rather than your usually crispy, slightly denser texture. the watermelon salad was simple and refreshing and i liked the spiced dressing. the pastas also tasted great, not too in your face. we got the rigatoni and the strascinati, which was a good contrast of red and green. 2) the pricing is high for the portions and a bit ridiculous given they ask for tip at the counter, the lowest being 20%, when its not even a sit down place 3) the interior is small and you need to stand and also queue. this can make the wait longer than one would like, and you basically need to wait outside because theres no space inside. 4) the staff were slightly stoic and not the most friendly when we had questions / were confused by the concept. that being said this was a particular staff member, everyone else was friendly and i've been there many times when they were super nice. i get it. it's a small place, they want to be able to maximize revenue of the place, so they charge more and no seats = higher turnover. as a business, it makes sense. as a diner, it's an unpleasant experience. but at the end of the day, it works for a girl dinner, and that's what we had!!!

No frills, but solid quick service with a tasty lunch. I had the Thursday Bulgogi special! Pretty…read moresimple and delicious, healthy portion of rice and beef with a side of kimchi $14 for a DC deli; it's a great meal and find. Happy to support the mom & pop stores. Nice selection of sandwiches at a decent/competitive price point for Wash DC lunches. I will definitely return for a sandwich very soon. Small store with a welcoming atmosphere, cashier greets you as soon as you enter and is ready to take your order. I was in/out within 5 mins departing w/a hot lunch.

Great sandwich spot in Navy yard area, it's a hidden gem! Great service and overstuffed sandwiches…read moreon good bread.

What a pleasant experience! I was going to jazz in the garden and had stopped at a happy hour…read morebeforehand. My original plan was to get some food from near there, but what I had intended to get was totally sold out for some reason. I don't know what's going on with that place, but that's something I will revisit later. This place came up in my Yelp search and I thought the idea of sushi would be a light and refreshing meal. When I walked in I was surprised by how big it was, despite being more of a grab and go type situation. But it was cool to see that they also had bowls and plenty of desserts! The sushi trays were varying prices, mainly depending on the kind of sushi it was. I got the Tuna Lovers sushi for $11, a BBQ chicken bao for $6, and I couldn't help but grab cheesecake! It was two slices (one black sesame, one green tea) for $5. This was surprisingly high quality. It's set up almost like those markets you see in rest stops or at airports, but everything was really good! They also have dumplings and a few other items that are cooked to order, so there is more to them that meets the eye. You can either get a speedy snack or dine in. The staff are also very sweet and offered to heat my bao as soon as he realized I was going to buy it. I didn't even have to pay first. I will most definitely be back!

We lucked into finding this place looking for something quick and easy…read more Cashier was very friendly and helped answer all of our questions on the extensive menu. Pleasantly surprised at the quality of the sushi and the variety of food they offer. Sushi rolls, dumplings, rice bowls, etc. are already made for grab and go. They can also make them fresh to order. We grabbed the spicy combo platter that came with the eel and salmon. We got hungry so got the shrimp tempura roll as well. The drink selection is diverse and they're reasonable prices around $3. Busy and in a hurry, this fast casual place offers high quality and great tasting good. Very convenient to order ahead or pop in and pick something up for lunch.

Wine and Butter is an amazing coffee shop that prides itself not only on exceptional coffee, but…read morealso on a delightful selection of sweet treats, wine, and freshly baked goods. Sitting on their patio overlooking Lincoln Park with an iced latte in hand is pure bliss--an opportunity to slow down and soak in the serenity of the city. What truly sets Wine and Butter apart, however, is their commitment to community. I deeply appreciate that they support the National Guardsmen who work tirelessly to keep DC safe and beautiful. It's inspiring to see a local business that goes beyond serving great coffee to show genuine respect and gratitude for those who serve.

Love this little gem, coffee is great and very well priced. You can order outside and inside,…read moreinside there is a little shop with wine, cheese, snacks, and sandwiches. Service is great and quick. Highly recommend this spot if you're near by and want to grab some coffee and food and relax at Lincoln park.

Brought my husband and a friend to Abunai for dinner to satiate a poke craving. It was quiet and…read morethere was one employee putting orders together behind the counter so we ordered at the kiosk. My husband and I both built our own poke bowls. Loved the options offered, and I loved my salad bowl. On the downside, although we both ordered the large size with double protein, it was a light meal (albeit delicious). Service wasn't great- we didn't get a text that our food was done and the employee didn't call out that our order was ready. After a 20 minute wait we asked if our order would be ready soon and it had been sitting on the back counter with the to go orders.

Each of the salmon bites had cuts with fat and skin remaining on them. The cuts of fish, both…read moresalmon and tuna pieces, were large enough to fit in a mouthfull. The cucumbers were old and soft. The rice was undercooked. The handroll wasn't rolled well and fell apart on first bite. As I was getting my order made corn was placed on it (I'm allergic to corn) and had to request they remake the bowl. Overall a very disappointing experience considering I spent $26 and love to support minority & woman owned places.