SInce the heat wave began I've been brining my lunch to work. I work in a dining wasteland and it's easier to make a sandwhich at home then hike many blocks through the heat in search of food. My forehead and wallet have thanked me. HOWEVER, that all changed with my first visit to Roti. The poster who called it the Chipotle of Mediterranean nailed it, except its so much more. Fresh food, helpful people, no sauce skimping and a good layout is what keeps the line here long. There are some unspoken rules that I'm happy to share. 1) if you want to eat and relax at a table get there early or late. 12:03-2:15 means there is a wait and few tables 2) If you have to go during prime lunch hours order online. It's super easy and you get your own (short) line 3) Do not stare in amazement at the 3 (yes 3) cashiers. Just go to one and marvel at the ease of a fully staffed restaurant 4) If you ask for sauce they will give it to you without side glances these rules should get you through your first visit. Enjoy read more

Always a nice and quick meal. I love the chicken roti the most. The lamb meatballs and falafel are good too, but not amazing. they have a nice array of toppings and sauces. You can never go wrong with the hummus or the cucumber/tomato salad! The roti they give is alwayd super soft and warm, which is both comforting and delicious. Also, I recently started drinking their cucumber lemon fresca, super light and refreshing for the Summertime!!! read more

I used to be a big fan, but Roti has gone way downhill--lowering the quality while raising the prices. Breakfast in particular has jumped the shark. I just tossed it the trash after a few bites. They used to have two hot options, one of which was vegetarian and both delicious. Now they're gone, and if you want something hot for breakfast, it's basically the same thing as lunch, but less fresh. I don't want overcooked steak or chicken bits at 10 am, thanks. The bread was old. Had a poor catering experience recently for lunch. After I had asked that we get Roti, I was so disappointed. I don't know what is going on with Roti--too much turnover with management and staff? (The staff used to be really good and now they can barely manage a smile.) Corporate trying to maximize profit margins, to the detriment of food quality and service? read more

I have a borderline-obsessive addiction to the falafel at this place. Seriously. Falafel balls + red pepper aioli + cucumber yogurt + tahini + red cabbage + tomato = SO MUCH WIN. IN MY MOUTH. Don't be intimidated by the super-long line at lunch; it moves quickly. The staff is also pretty friendly and I am fine with forking over $6.50 for the magical apex of deliciousness that is this falafel. Alright, I'll stop gushing. Just go eat this falafel. read more

Since writing my initial review on the grand opening of Roti, I've signed up for a Roti frequent flyer rewards card, and quite possibly eaten here over 25 times. I've discovered the Morroccan Rice Bowl.. and it is now my bi-weekly lunch meal at work... What I'm trying to say is, Roti, I think I love you. Also, bring back Gabby; the cute brunette greeter-girl... she was mad cool and hooked us up with samples when we waited in line. I DEMAND GABBYS RETURN!!! read more

What a lucky find! I incidentally stumbled upon Roti and was drawn in by old-fashioned advertising of a delish-looking pita stuffed with what looked like chicken and a rainbow of greens, tomatoes, and snow-white feta. Poking around a few surrounding lunch places, I was tempted to return and am glad to have listened to my inner child: this place is incredible! For under $8 for steak ($7 for chicken), you can get a platter with 4 skewered kabobs, grilled just behind the server, a bed of veggies, and your choice of sauces, toppings, couscous, and other eye- and tummy-tempting goodies. For those coming hungrier, an additional ~$3 buys you another 4-piece kabob stick. Although the pita was only alright, the meat was tenderly juicy and their sauces were incredible--definitely try the dill--and as advertised (spicy red sauce with bits of pepper = actually hot!). The best part? Everything was as lovely as I had dared to hope. For those preferring to keep away from knife-and-fork, Roti also serves a variety of sandwiches with the same ingredients. Even though I just left the joint, I absolutely cannot wait to return...even if it's a hike from my regular stomping grounds! read more

I went for the free lunch today. I had the pita pocket with steak, salad, tomato & cucumber salad, onions, feta, and dill sauces. The balance of the sandwich was great. Most Mediterranean food, there is one part of the meal that over powers the other parts. This pita mixed together well. There was also falafel samples going around. I'm going to get something with the falafel next time because you can tell it was made fresh and in house. read more

I absolutely LOVE this place. I normally get a Chicken Roti sandwhich with almost everything on it. I hardly ever eat out for lunch but when I do, I make it a priority to visit Roti. I have recommended a few friends try this place and they love it as well. The prices are reasonable and you get a good amount of food that is fresh and delicious. I can't wait until the next time I "forget" my lunch! read more

Roti is my new favorite lunch spot in DC. It's phenominal! To the guy who gave it 1 star, has it all wrong. There's no way Pret is better than Roti (unless you like dry sandwiches, and bland food). I'm not really even a fan of Breadline. I always thought it was overrated. Now the Breadline line has transfered to Roti and rightly so. So far I've only had the falafel and the 'build your own' pita with chicken roti, hummus, mixed veggies, onion, and tahini. There is glutten free pita as well. The tahini and falafel are right on par with my favorite neighborhood Jewish deli, and that's a MAJOR compliment. The meat is tender and well spiced. All the ingredients are fresh and very colorful. Here's one tip - do an online order. The line was out the door today, and I did an online order at 12:30. Picked up my pita at 12:50 and beat the crowd. Staff is super friendly and helpful. Get there early if you want a seat. There were no more tables left. read more

I was looking for a healthy lunch option having exhausted Sweetgreen runs. I got the salad with chicken kabob and wasn't impressed. Very Americanized version of Mediterranean food. To compare, Medi in Shirlington is 50 times better. Maybe if I'd never had Medi, I'd be more impressed but in general you can get a better "salad" type of bowl at Chipotle. read more

When I first saw the sign that Roti was coming soon, I was so excited because I thought it was a West Indian roti shop. I was disappointed to learn it is "mediterranean" but having eaten here as part ofthe soft-open promotion, I am very happy to welcome Roti to my work 'hood. The service was really friendly and efficient, the space bright and open, and the food very fresh and tasty. The babaganoush on my steak Venetian platter was particularly savory, with big chunks of fresh eggplant and a little kick. Portions are generous. My platter had a generous helping of well-seasoned steak, as well as big spoonfuls of hummus, babaganoush, tomato salad, and Israeli couscous salad. Pita is baked fresh in-house and was served warm. The staff also walked around with free falafel. The falafel were unlike any falafel I've had, very fluffy inside, rather than dense...sort of a cross between a falafel and a hush puppy. Unusual, but still pretty good. read more

Used this restaurant for catering for a business meeting--great service and very flexible for last minute planning. On other occasions, for personal meals, a staff member, "Marque" in the DC Pennsylvania Ave location, was superrrrrr helpful, even by bringing out my take out bag to my car during a rainstorm, all because I didn't want to park and run in and wait to pick it up. Yea, a little bratty on my part, but I was very thankful for him. That's the epitome of a valued employee, just in case his boss is reading! Highly recommend this place for meals and catering! read more

I can finally say I've been to Roti! The location is right near work, and definitely is a nice change to the plethora of sandwich options in the area. Got there with 5 other people around 11:50 and the line was already out the door. It moved fast though, and I was at the front within a few minutes. Ordered the chicken roti on laffa and topped it with cous cous, the spicy sauce, eggplant, and the cucumber tomato salad. Oh, and a side of falafel because I had to try them! The flavors were all there...chicken moist and seasoned very well, creamy eggplant and cous cous, and a spicy sauce that wasn't too overpowering. My laffa was falling a part a little from all the sauces/heavyness...but that was my only real complaint. ~11 dollars for a sandwich, side of falafel, and a drink. And I was STUFFED. My coworkers got the Morroccan plate and it was a HUGE bowl of food. If you want the most food for your $, I'd get that. I will absolutely be back! read more

YESSSSS! Just got back from Roti and let me tell u.. this blows chipotle out of the water! I mean it BLOWS CHIPOTLE OUT OF THE WATERRR!! Don't get me wrong, I like chipotle (used to love it), but theres always something missing right? Like the rude, quick service, dry meat, scraps of lettuce... (nod your head.... right.. now.) At Roti, the meat is grilled to perfection, tender, and juicy. They don't stiff you on the serving size either. I got the steak, which was sliced, not "cubed" (like at chipo*%$). The dressings are also delic, I tried the spicy which was sweet and savory, but im going to go for the yogurt and cucumber next, cuz i sampled that ish. Yea, u heard right. I sampled the sauce, long story short. I was wondering what it tasted like so the guy goes "want to sample it?." And i immediately go "excuse me?" (in a rude way) cause i never had anyone aka. chipotle.. ask me if i wanted a sample of anything ever. Take note, behind me the line was out the door. This added major points to the whole experience. On top of that, Roti has a wide variety of selections, like salads, kabobs, laffa, pita, etc.. Cant beat it. Anyways, try it. If you don't love it. Then i feel bad for you. read more

Today I had the Double Chicken Kabob Plate and I have to say it was good for what it was supposed to be. It is a nice comfortable place to eat and it was clean although it was packed with a waiting line to order. Getting through the ordering line was a breeze; it took all of 3 minutes from when I entered the place to where I ordered and there was at least 10 people in front of me, I was impressed with the way the crew filled the orders. It's not the best Chicken Kabob that I ever ate but it was good. The spices were a bit on the mild side which is what threw me.......I was expecting the spice to be equal to some of the more ethnic places that I've been to and completely enjoyed; I guess there are too many that don't want that garlicky smell to come back with them to the office. I will go back to try some of the other items there but I hope they spice it up a bit. read more

Had a delicious steak wrap w/ nearly all the topings. Was huge and falling apart but delicious. The spicy sauce was very tasty---as were all the other toppings. For $7.50, it was a great sandwich (very filling and everything very fresh). The wrap was kind of like a Mediterranean burrito. One of my co-workers had the Venetian platter; baba ghanoush was very tasty. read more

This is my new favorite lunch place. It's right next to breadline, and honestly I'd choose this over breadline any day. I only ever get the "Build Your Own" salad with mixed greens topped with Steak Roti. The spicy sauce and the dill sauce are my favorite sauces, along with baba ghannoush,spanish eggplant, olives, and feta. It's filling, but I never get food coma afterwards. I've been recommending this to all of my friends, and will continue to do so. Since its opening, the Breadline line that's usually out the door has been transferred over to Roti. Come before noon or after 2, and you'll be in and out in 30 minutes. Shame it's only open until 5pm Mondays to Fridays. read more

Well, it's not that I'm not a big fan of Mediterranean food, it's just that when you move to an area you're unfamiliar with, you tend to stick with standard foods that you know are impossible to screw up. That being said, the best time to try a new food is when it's free, right? That's how I ended up taking a stroll on down to Roti's new spot on 17th and Penn this afternoon. They were giving away free meals to benefit DC Central Kitchen. So what, you mean I get to help the community AND help myself (to some free food)? Bonus points! They weren't skimping, either. I ordered the Venetian chicken, which comes with fire roasted chicken, hummus, baba ghannoush, cous-cous, tomato and cucumber salad. Ah, where to begin. The chicken itself was flavorful, not dry at all which surprised me given how charred the outside was. Loved the hummus, it had a nice flavor without overpowering the taste of the rest of the food. Cous-cous I've never been a big fan of but hey, you can't win them all. The salad was a salad, not much to say about that. Anyway, it's well worth the 7.50 that you're supposed to pay for it. Bonus: it's also less than two blocks away from my job. I think this will be one of my new lunch places. read more

I had the privilege of test-driving the yummy Mediterranean food at Roti today before they open (first day open to the public is Monday, April 12th), and was pleasantly surprised. I tried the Gibraltar vegetarian platter, complete with babaganoush, hummus, couscous, and roasted veggies (onion, asparagus, red and green bell pepper, carrot), accompanied by a warm, soft pita - very tasty. Well worth the $7 charge. Test-tasted one of the falafels as well - yummy but a little too greasy, though this may have been because they were fresh out of the fryer (the oil may not have had a chance to drain off) and one of the anxious Roti managers was bringing them around to diners to taste-test. I work in the building above Roti and have been anticipating their opening for quite some time now. Glad to be adding this to my lunch spot rotation. Suggestion: make outside seating available! read more

the portions are now as small as McDonald's .99 cents menu. Keep doing it and you be out of business. read more

Roti - Roti owner is getting to be cheap as - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Delicoious, vegetarian options served fresh and quick. Inexpensive and and while the line was long, the service was quick. Reminds me of a Chipotle for Mediterranean food. Yum! I had the roasted vegetable salad with all of the toppings. I also bought a bag of the pita chips and couldn't stop eating them. They are crisp, salty and delicious. Perfect! read more

I find it hilarious people on here think this place is a chain. Not really actually. I guess by my definition, a chain has at least 25 locations. Roti has five locations in the entire US, four of which are in Chicago (including the original location in/near the Loop here in Chicago). Actually, I believe three of the locations in Chicago have opened in the last year or so. Meaning maybe February of 2009, there were maybe two locations total in the US, all in Chicago. So just a little clarification, it's not really a chain. Anyway, I digress. The food at this one is pretty good and I'm glad one of my favorite work lunch spots here has now expanded to DC. I guess you could say I'm very happy I can eat Roti now whenever in DC. mmmmmmm read more

Yum, what a great place! Went here for lunch today, and while it was extremely crowded the line actually moved surprisingly fast. I really like how you can pick out the toppings to put in your kabob right there like at subway. I had salmon kabob in pita bread with baba ganoush and tomato/cucumber salad inside, and I devoured it. It was delicious. The place was crowded but amazingly, we managed to find a table. Unfortunately, my office is almost a mile away or else I would eat here more often. Will definitely be back though. read more

The first time I tried Roti was in Chicago. I got the Steak Roti in a pita with salad greens, tomato & cucumber salad, feta, and tahini sauce. They even gave me a small side of the couscous salad. I thought it was so delicious that I immediately looked up their other locations. Luckily for me, the only other location NOT in Illinois is in Washington DC! Even better, the location is relatively close to my office. Today I decided to try the DC Roti. Remembering how long the line was in Chicago during lunch time, I decided to go a little before noon. It was a very hot 10 min walk there, but I knew it would be worth it. When I arrived, I was very happy to see that there was no line. To expedite the process even further, I had decided what I wanted prior to leaving my office. I orderd the Chicken Roti Laffa with salad greens, kalamata olives, tomato & cucumber salad, feta, red cabbage slaw, and the dill, yogurt & cucumber sauce. I think I prefer the steak over the chicken, but it was just as delicious! I think the more toppings, the better the sandwich. The portions they give you are perfect. not too little and not over the top. I was a little bummed I didn't get the side couscous salad. Maybe they only do that in Chicago. The service was good and quick. I was in and out of there in 5 minutes. There is a good amount of seating. Large groups might have a tough time during the lunch hour. Not a lot of seating outdoors. I will definitely be coming to Roti once a week. I can't wait to try their other stuff. I got my eye on the Moroccan Bowl for next time. read more

4.5 stars. Maybe 5. It's quick, and it fills me up for $8 + tax. I get the salad with all the sides, and the spicy sauce. I couldn't even finish the pita and hummus. Best sides - eggplant and red cabbage. Adequate seating. read more

Customer service good. Food healthy vegan choices however the falafels were mushy and tasteless.

I don't ever think about Roti until I pass this one at the Foggy Bottom Metro. It's solid, good food. 1. Food is filling. You won't leave wanting. But beware, the food tastes really fresh when you buy it but I don't care much for it a day or so after. 2. For falafel-lovers, the falafel is moist and doesn't leave your mouth begging for water, which is very uncommon among even good eateries like Sweet Green. 3. This is one of the few places (the veggie burrito truck at Farragut North is another one) that makes me enjoy eating the wrapper as part of the wrap. I may eat the wrap on the site (ie: Chipotle) or eat wraps if they naturally come with the food, but at Roti, I think the wrappers help make the delectable balance that you taste from Roti wraps. OVERALL: I would always take an invite to eat here; it's a solidly good place. But, I don't know that I love it so much that I would suggest it when I'm really hungry. read more

My favorite lunch place, especially since it's right across from my office. What I usually get: Rice plate Chicken roti Red pepper sauce Tomato/cucumber Cous cous Mixed veggies Love when the bread comes out hot and fresh. Solid amount of food for the price. read more

first time visit, ordered online: Create Your Own Sandwich Laffa, Chicken Roti, Spicy, Mixed Greens, Tomato/Cucumber Salad, Feta Cheese, Red Cabbage Special Instructions: Sauce on the side only please. ($6.50) Side of Falafel ($2.00) Delicious. Two notes of caution: 1. check your bag; they're so busy they may leave something out... like a side of falafel... but they were quick to grab one for me once I alerted them to this issue. 2. it's very noisy for dine-in, so unless you want to shout at your lunch companion, make other arrangements. read more

A Mediterranean twist on Chipotle. While it is very busy during lunch hour, the staff has done a great job in working out an assembly line so that you can get your food and pay as quickly as possible. I ordered the salad, and you add different toppings to it much like Chipotle. Chicken roti with some hummus, yogurt and dill dressing, summer eggplants, couscous, and feta cheese. No dressing required. Meal was less than $10--a score for DC prices--and very fulfilling. Beware for a food coma right afterwards though, especially if you are stuck in a meeting. read more

Roti's food is delicious. I would give it 5 stars, but I used to order the chicken kabob and a couple of times it was a tad undercooked. Now that I get the roasted veggie plate I have no issues. The line is really long if you get there M-F between noon and 2pm...but it's worth the wait. The cucumber dill sauce is fabulouso. read more

Great place to get a quick bite of Mediterranean food. the food always test fresh and is quickly served. Feels a bit like a Chipotle with more options. Defintely recommend the place for lunch if you're out near the White House! Highly Recommended! read more

Company catered with these, so I am unsure about the service but... Roti is great! I had never heard of it before, but when I had their food I asked where it was from. I normally don't care, but I wanted to know because of how amazing the COOKIES are. The dessert tray had baklava, brownies, etc, the norm, but they were all spiraled around these magical cookies stacked in the middle. They look a litle plain so no one went for them, but I had one and I have no idea what kind they are. If someone can please enlighten me, that would be amazing. The rest of the food is good too. I don't know what any of this food is called, so I can't really say much without sounding even more ignorant. :( Hummus and dips were good and the tortilla-like bread was soft. Their crispy variation was well seasoned, also but the original is best. read more

the positive consensus on this place is obvious and glad there is a new one opening in Foggy Bottom, hopefully it will cut down on the line. I only have one question for the people who go there, why are so many people in line? Tip: Order online! you can pick it up at a time you specify. it's there waiting for you, you don't even have to pay online, you can select to pay at the store. The math is clear, pick up line=0 people, regular line = 50+ people. read more

Solid. Get the falafel plate. It's essentially Chipotle for Mediterranean food. They are INCREDIBLY quick. Eat outside if it's not too hot and crowded! read more

I'm DEFINITELY partial to Cava but there isn't one close to my job, and Roti is across the street. My first Roti experience last year was ok, but very average (different location). This time my experience was great! One of the employees there, Brent, was the kindest, most helpful person I've ever encountered at a fast-casual type of restaurant (or really any type of restaurant). He was efficient but also took the time out to give me suggestions when I didn't know what to get, or tell me good combinations. He was very knowledgeable about the food and seemed generally happy to be at work. He made my day! Back to the food- it's a good lunch option under $10 when you don't want a sandwich. The only reason I can't rate this 5 stars is because Cava is always at the back of my mind, and I think their version of the Mediterranean fast-casual food is better. read more

Love this place. Great food, always friendly, crazy line at lunch but always moves fast so don't be put off by the crowd. There's a reason so many folks eat here: it's good. Prices are reasonable, especially for the amount of food you get. Have lunch here and you won't be hungry for dinner or share a plate with a friend and there's still plenty. I usually get the BPE (Best Plate Ever), call me lazy, it's really good and a large portion at a good price. Chicken, rice, veggies, salad, bread, and hummus. Yummy. Check it out, you'll like it. read more

For a chain of food, Roti is remarkable. Though the line is long, it moves well, and there's often an employee offering falafel in line to help pass the time. Food is tasty, decently priced, and a real nice mix from the traditional sandwich/pizza available in the area. As delectable as the plates look, I just can't stop ordering the sandwiches. Get creative, get crazy. Everything fits together brilliantly. read more

This is an update to my last review because it appears that they resolved the issue with not always having salmon ready when you order. They do precook some, but this was the first time that I saw them keeping the fish in a separate area where it doesn't get dried out. They definitely solved that issue without ruining the flavor. My cashier was very friendly while still being very professional which I really appreciate. Also, I want to point out that this location seems to value cleanliness. If the workers were not cooking or serving food, then they were busy cleaning. It shows because this Roti is very nice to sit down and eat at compared to other locations and has way more seating. read more

I love Mediterranean food. Adore, actually may be a more appropriate word... That being said, this place is pure awesomeness. 1. Fresh ingredients 2. Choice of bread (laffa or pita) 3. Getting to choose your own toppings 4. REASONABLY priced I love this place. And deliciousness that was the falafal on laffa that was my lunch. Mmmmmm, YUM. Oh, and they have breakfast. Score. read more