Saw Villa Yara on Instagram and decided to come for a girl's brunch. First of all, the interior of the restaurant is so cute. They also have a outdoor patio that would be gorgeous to sit at when the weather is nice. The restaurant was really busy on a Saturday afternoon but service was attentive and pretty quick. The only thing was it took a little longer for us to get water refill. I was initially a little unsure about food at such an instagramable place but I was pleasantly surprised. Soon after we ordered, we were served complementary olives and pita bread. The pita bread was amazing! They came right out of the oven, so warm and pillowy soft. The pumpkin hummus was not bad. I didn't really taste pumpkin, just delicious hummus. My friend really liked the cheese rolls, which came pipping hot and really crispy. The highlight of the meal for me was definitely the Fattet Batinjan (fried eggplant with yogurt sauce). It was so good, a flavor bomb, and fun textures from the pita chips and nuts. The shish Taouk was also great - really flavorful and tender chicken that came with grilled vegetables, a delicious garlic sauce, and flatbread. The portion sizes are pretty generous. We had leftovers to take home. Their dessert menu also looked amazing and we got Yara's dream. The ice cream on top was the best part. The middle layers that's made of semolina and pistachio felt a little to dense and chewy for me after a filling meal. Overall, it was a satisfying experience and I definitely see myself coming back for birthday celebrations. read more

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@villayaradc is a great Lebanese restaurant that opened on the edge of Georgetown this year. Their garden patio in the back was perfect for lunch after a day of biking with my parents. We enjoyed their mocktails, house made bread, baba ghanoush, and kafta! read more

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Came here on a Saturday evening. Two or three couples ahead of my friend and I, but no host in sight. Waiters walking past all of us and not saying a single word. Finally, a hostess comes and goes to sit the first couple. Then someone else shows up and tells us she'll sit us on their patio. Then it took another 10 minutes to be seated, but not on the patio. They didn't bother checking if that was alright. Oh well, we were so hungry that it didn't matter. Funny enough, their online availability showed them as fully booked yet many seats were empty. To begin with, we got complimentary pita bread with olive oil and olives. Then we ordered several plates to share (names in the pictures). I also had their Fairouz's Cosmo which was seriously one of the most terrible drinks I've ever had in my life. Tasted like straight up medicine. The food was expensive and taste mediocre at best. My favorite was the eggplant dish. The chicken wings were spicy even though that wasn't mentioned on the menu, nor did the waitress advise us of that. The service was slow, but yet the waitress seemed to have an issue with me leaving her 18% tip. I would say 18% for almost non-existent service is pretty darn generous, but her attitude completely changed. I was excited to try Villa Yara, but unfortunately was completely unimpressed. read more

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Delicious food, lovely ambiance, great music and KIBBEH NAYEH! Love the people too... VIOLA K

My friends and I were very excited for this restaurant but it didn't fully live up to the hype. We love Arab food and even had a Palestinian friend with us for dinner but the menu fell a little short of authentic. Hummus was dry and needed more olive oil for flavor and texture, they were stingy with the bread and it was cold when it got to the table, and the chicken was super dry. Drinks were great and the rest of the food was good with some fun additions we rarely see at Middle Eastern restaurants in the US. However, the menu could use a Labneh dish!!!! read more

The food, aesthetic and service was outstanding! The girls and I had so much fun. Would go again! read more

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The decor and ambiance are so beautiful and feminine. The food is also delicious. Would recommend for a fun outing.

Very cute and such welcoming place, overall we had a nice time and I kinda felt to come back, despite the fact that I didn't really liked the idea of a fixed brunch, especially that breads and pastries were not fresh and not good at all. But the worse was after our brunch there, when both my husband and me felt sick. Sadly, because of this, it's harder for me to give it another try. read more

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It's like walking into a cafe in downtown Beirut...amazing flavors, beautiful decor, delicious drinks and wonderfully hospitable and attentive staff. What's not to like about this new addition to Georgetown's M Street? We came during a holiday weekend and enjoyed some amazing mezze and cocktails off their brunch menu. Bright flavors, fresh ingredients, and cheery environment. I cannot wait to visit again and try more of their offerings. read more

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Two stars only for the wonderful staff who assisted us: Michael, Megan, and Eve. You made our night, thank you so much. Our group waited an hour to be seated at Villa Yara despite our 8:15pm reservation. The restaurant was very full and busy; we didn't mind getting drinks at the bar and waiting for our table to be ready. However, after waiting for 45 minutes, I believe we had the right to enquire about the status of our table, which I did. We finally got the ok to sit down at 3 recently vacated tables on the front patio, very close to the street. The third table had not been cleared, with half-eaten food and drinks sitting in front of us for over 10 minutes. The manager, Nomi Chaudhry, seemed to be nice at first, but then was rude, arrogant, and unhelpful when we started asking him for updates about the status of our table. He actually yelled at me to "go sit down," which is completely unprofessional and never ok. I told him so, and he comped our drinks. Not only was the manager more concerned about yelling at a server/bartender (which he shouldn't have done at all, but especially not in public in front of the other restaurant guests and staff) than helping us with getting seated, but he never checked in on us throughout the night. Nomi should not treat his staff this way or yell or raise his voice at a paying guest at Villa Yara. The food was good and reasonably priced, especially for Georgetown. However, after being yelled at, it was harder to relax and enjoy it. I would only recommmend this restaurant if the manager, Nomi Chaudhry, no longer works there. Thank you again to our amazing waiter Michael, the lovely hostess Megan, and the helpful and kind Eve. They were all extremely nice and helpful; we would not have stayed had it not been for them. read more

Food was ok. Service was slow. Their pickles were not what we expected. It was nice to try one time, but won't be back and did not live up to the hype. Best plate of the day was the lamb hummus read more

Had an amazing dinner here tonight and it really was impressive. Every dish was carefully prepared and not just beautiful but tasted incredible. I loved the detail and variety on the menu and the service was top notch. Flavors popped with every bite and the even the drinks were gorgeous. It was definitely an experience and we sat upstairs in a private room. The ambiance is cozy and takes you to a distant place so much that I almost forgot I was in DC. My favorite dishes were the mutabel, cauliflower, potatoes (have a nice spice kick), and the lamb. The desserts are a must. The halva ice cream and ashta really made my meal complete plus the proper chai at the end. Love love love!! read more

Lovely ambience, delicious food, attentive service ... what more can you ask for? We had a wonderful evening upstairs in a separate dining room with adjacent terrace for a semi-formal work function. We loved it and will bring the family back to indulge further. Suffice it to say that we were joined by two Lebanese friends who said it tastes authentic and it's the best Lebanese food in town. There. We will be back! read more

Villa Yara - Private dining upstairs - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Obsessed with Villa Yara!! The vibe is unreal -- perfect for date night or girls' night. Food, drinks, service... all 10/10. Big shoutout to Mehrez for making it such a great night. Definitely coming back soon read more

This has to be on the best restaurants I have ever been to (and believe me, I have been to many). As for a Lebanese restaurant, probably the very best. First, the food. Extremely authentic dishes made to perfection. It's what you would expect from a top end restaurant in Lebanon, except better. The menu items cover all the basic dishes and more. The presentation of the food is also excellent. For the decor and vibe, they also did excellent job there. A lot of attention to the details. With paintings and art coming from Lebanon. The service was superior. Our table was served by a lady named Andrea. Big smile, excellent service and a helpful tips. She was amazing. read more

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Decor is beautiful. Food is very flavorful. Got the potatoes (my favorite), a beet salad and some beef dish. Friends also loved their dishes. Lots of options and they keep re filling your bread basket! Great service! read more

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I had such a wonderful experience at Villa Yara. Villa Yara is a new restaurant in Georgetown serving Lebanese small plates. The first thing that stood out to me was the decor. It was so cute, especially the outside area with the plants and plates hanging on the wall. It really made a nice spot to take photos. I was pleasantly surprised as a vegan on how many vegan options Villa Yara offered. We ordered the Yara Ghanoush, Fattoush salad, Aranbeet (cauliflower dish), and spinach fatayer. The olive spread that comes with the bread is also sooo delicious. I love how it has a kick to it. It's really hard for me to pick a favorite dish because they were all so tasty and special in their own way. The Yara Ghanoush was a beet dip mixed with tahini and pistachios. I loved the fattosh salad, it tasted so fresh and zesty. The aranbeet had great texture and flavor and I absolutely loved the spinach fatayer, which is a spinach pie. The servers and hosts were also incredibly friendly. Overall, I had a great experience and I can't wait to come back to try again. This would be a great place to come on a date or do a girls night. read more

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Let me start by saying this is the best Lebanese food I've had. Reminded me of Babel and Hallab in Lebanon. A completely different level than all the other Lebanese restaurant in the DMV area. Way better than ilili and of course way more affordable. The ambiance is Amazing, brings back old memories of Fairuz and Yara. The wall decorations, the plates, the hat lights and even the bathroom decorations are unique. The food: If you've read any of my previous reviews, you would know that I don't BS and I am picky. Here is what I ordered on my first visit: Fattoush is excellent, hummus is excellent. I highly recommend everything that has "Yara" next to it. Yara's Tabouleh tastes unbelievable, Yara's kibbe is delicious, Lahm bi Ajeen is fresh from the oven and tastes amazing. Mhammara is spicy and delicious. 3 main dishes: "Sayadiyyi fish is just like my mom's, Shish Taouk is really Taouk, real one folks, not chicken kabob but Taouk taste and juicy off a charcoal grill, and the best thing is the Mixed Grill that has the best Shish Lamb that beats ilili's by faaar. Of course, the fresh bread is the cherry on the top. The Dessert: This is the only place where you can have the best food and then the best authentic Sweets as if they are shipped fresh from Hallab Tripoli. Mafroukeh is the best, Yara's Dream, remember everything that has Yara next to it is a must, Tahini Sesame is the best invention ever. read more

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I'm Lebanese so trust me when I say that this place is the closest you'll get to eating in Lebanon. We've been here twice and the food and service were impeccable every time. This and Ilili are my favorite restaurants in DC. Villa Yara has a more traditional approach, while Ilili takes the fusion route. Highly recommend you come here for your next special occasion. We can't wait to come back here. My only criticism is the size of the tables. We order so much food they're hard to fit. Must try: the Fatteh, their mixed grill, Hummus, Raw Kibbeh-- really everything. Oh and all of their desserts! read more

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We loved our Sunday Afternoon Brunch at Villa Yara. The food was delicious, the service was great and the vibe with their afternoon DJ was so much fun! We definitely want to come back!! read more

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This is a new place close to Georgetown neighborhood. My friend found this place and we went there on a Saturday. The decorations and the atmosphere are beautiful. The backyard area is also very nicely decorated and there is a fountain in the middle that make the place very homie. The staff are very nice and accommodating, and they helped us to sit in a nice table. The menu is not very complicated which makes it easier to choose. The prices are on the steep side, but I would say it is understandable as the economy is in inflation mode. The restaurant has a couple tart bread and olive bruschetta which was tasty. We ordered Fried Cauliflower, Kibbeh, Shish Lamb, Filet Mignon shish, Yara's Tabbouleh, Batata harra. My favorite item in the menu was the fried cauliflower which came with a tahini sauce and the cauliflower wasn't that fried which made it a healthy option as well. The shish lamb and filet mignon shish were both grilled skewers and personally I liked the filet mignon better. The lamb shish could use a little bit more marination. The kibbeh was good and the spice level was very good. The batata harre was good but I would say it needed a sauce to accompany it. Yara's Tabbouleh was a healthy and tasty salad and good to share. The service was really good and the refilling of the waters can be improved. I think the restaurant can incorporate more complicated tastes to its menu. I had a good experience here and I am sure as the restaurant moves forward it will be better. I recommend this place and would come back here for more. read more

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What an excellent service by our waiter Nura. She went above and beyond with everything. The food was delicious, we had different type of tapas and it was just perfect for a table of 4. If you a wine person, definitely have Lebanese wine, it was great. Place gets pretty packed but the ambience is good. read more

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I love a floral motif and Villa Yara truly delivers. Giving garden vibes and fresh Mediterranean flavors, you'll definitely want to feast your eyes and taste buds on the decor and delicacies! The restaurant offers mocktails, and this #sobersista appreciates the variety of offerings (I tried two out of three). The fried cauliflower on a bed of tahini is delicious and the tabbouli is super fresh (though I wish it had a little more couscous in it). The bartender was very friendly, as were the hostesses and manager. I will definitely return again! read more

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The decoration is vibrant! The service is great. Staffs are very polite and attentive. Their menu is great. I love the appetizers selections. I will be back. read more

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Went to Villa Yara for brunch this weekend. We were seated at their very cute terrace, and the vibes were on point, with some light Fairuz music playing in the back. We were first served bread and olives on the house, which were exquisite. We then ordered some fresh orange juice, eggs, a flatbread and fattet batinjan. The food was honestly ok. We might have ordered the wrong things, but I would only recommend you get the eggplant and yogurt dip. Service was okay. We had to ask for 3 waiters to get the bill.. read more

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The food is amazing here! We really enjoyed all of the food that we got. The pita was soft and warm. The garlic dip was so delicious. The outdoor patio is beautiful. The only negative is the service is a little slow. read more

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Showed up two minutes before our reservation at 5:30 and were told (kind of rudely) that we'd have to come back because they weren't open yet (their hours on Google say they are open 11am-10pm on Sundays. Once we walked around the block to kill a few minutes we were brought upstairs and sat right next to another group of two despite the rest of the restaurant being empty - we later had another couple set next to us on the other side and it felt VERY cramped. Plus, anytime anyone walked behind us to get to their table, the whole floor and our table shook. My wine glass had lipstick on it so I was glad I ordered a cocktail (the ahwaitini) until the server couldn't carry the glass without spilling and set down a glass with my drink dripping down the side and onto the table. We also had trouble getting our waters refilled, and pita basket too (there were only two pitas in there for multiple dishes that would require pita, like hummus). The rest of the food was just meh - we had the potatoes, cauliflower and lamb shish and all were fine but not really good. Took quite a while to get our check once we were done too. Overall, bad service, meh food and poor restaurant operations. Hopefully they get things figured out as they get more time under their belt. read more

Villa Yara - Waiter set down dripping glass (ahwaitini cocktail) that made a bit of a mess on table and was tough to drink without getting fingers sticky - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

this place was so hyped all summer and now i see why. wow, warm, friendly service, i walked in and felt like family. you also feel transported to a city much cooler than DC. it has a gorgeous outdoor patio as well. it also has a bunch of lebanese classics and "not so classics" namely my fav , manti, which are dumplings in a garlicky yogurt sauce, these are rarely on menus in the US and so darn good! the classics are great, especially the baba ghanoush and shish taouk. but there are a few misses (namely the fatayer and rakakt jibne). but thats ok because the eggplant fattah and the sayyideh will keep me (and you!) coming back for more. also on friday nights after 9pm they have a lebanese singer and its so fun and cool read more

We were able to see Daniel Murray on a Thursday night. He was incredible, amazing voice! The food was delicious. I especially enjoyed the Hammus Bil lahme sayadieh (entree) and yaras mehalabeya (dessert). The servers were great! Knowme checked on us a few times, he was very attentive and friendly! can't wait to go back! Great vibes, loved every min of it! Highly recommend! read more

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Came here for my birthday celebration and had a reservation. It was very easy to find the restaurant, and we were greeted by the front staff. There were a decent amount of people on the first floor already, but wasn't quite bustling yet. We were taken to the upstairs seating area, which had a romantic vibe. It was dimly lit and candles were set at each table. We were promptly greeted by our waiter who knew the menu very well and made great suggestions. We ordered multiple dishes, and they all were delicious. I do want to point out that my husband ordered a dish with lamb (and I DO NOT eat lamb because of the smell and thought of eating lamb meat), but my husband persuaded me and I was surprised by how good it was. I still wouldn't order a lamb dish for myself anywhere if I had the choice, but if you don't mind lamb and I'm able to enjoy multiple bites of it, you'll want to try it. Drinks were also delicious and they have a good selection of cocktails. I would def go back if in the area, and 100% recommend trying this place out. Especially if it's a first date and your date isn't picky with food. read more

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The food at Villa Yara is amazing!! The bread is freshly made at the restaurant and the meat they have tastes fresh and juicy. When you first enter Villa Yara it feels like you are automatically transported to Lebanon. The plates are custom made with Arabic calligraphy, and the restaurant aesthetics is a perfect mix of modern and authentic Lebanese culture. The service is good and the staff is very friendly and welcoming. We will definitely be visiting again. read more

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Really, really wanted to love this place. The restaurant is beautiful, and the atmosphere is lively! The outdoor space was so pretty, but unfortunately it was raining, so we sat inside (which was still gorgeous!) The service was very friendly and personable though very slow. I know they're new, so maybe they're just working out some kinks, but there were long stretches where we had no water or pita after asking. But all of that would be ok/easy to work out. The disappointing part was the food. Starting with the positive, the kibbeh nayeh was an absolute 5/5. Perfectly seasoned and plated and loved that they brought out mint and raw onion. I thought we were off to a great start. The Yara ganoush was interesting but I have to admit, too sweet for my taste. 3/5 but it wasn't bad by any means. We ordered the branzino and the menu described it as a whole deboned fish. We were curious how a fish could be whole but deboned, but we went for it. It was 2 thin filets?? Served with cold, limp vegetables. It was pretty disappointing. We weren't drinking, and still for 3 items the bill was $100 for the two of us. Not worth it, especially with how many incredible restaurants are in dc and even in the area. I really hate that we had this experience because the restaurant was so beautiful and the staff was so sweet, and I do want them to succeed!! But I don't think we'll be going back any time soon. read more

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My friend picked out this place. I always walked down the street, but never even noticed this was there. So when I walked up to it, I was so surprised to see how cute it looked on the inside. At night, there is a light shining outside with their restaurant name, beaming on the sidewalk. we wanted to sit outside because it was an unreasonably warm day in November. The inside is so cute, the tiles are so beautiful and the outside patio is decorated very adorably as well. We were super hungry, so we immediately sat down and order the Yara hummus and grape leaves. The Yara hummus is made with beets, and the grape leaves comes with pomegranate seeds. The beet hummus was very beet forward, and I really really enjoyed the pita. After we sat down, we got a side of olives, complementary to the table. We also ordered the branzino after we finished the small plates. I was worried that the fish would be a smaller portion, considering how small the small plates were, but I was pleasantly surprised. The dish looked small, but it was very deep, and it was filled with rice, fish and almonds. Everything came out pretty quickly, and I would definitely return back. My only qualm is that the waiter kept forgetting to fill our waters even after we asked. read more

Villa Yara - Tara's hummus, grape leaves - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Wow!! A friend introduced to me this week. I was blown away. First we started with the hummus and this green salad item. Both were very tasty with the naan. Then we ordered the lamb chops and the branzino.Both were very tasty!! The lamb chops a little over cooked but very good. The branzino was pretty fresh. Then we orders the dessert. Looks like ice cream but it's NOT it's some kind of specialty item and it tasted like peanut butter but it's white. I was confused but it was very rich and good. Worth the try and will definitely be going back! The only thing is that it's a bit pricey. read more

just now NEW Dine in | Dinner I have been here so many times and keep coming back for the amazing service and delicious food. The manager Mounira always welcomes us with a smile and makes our reservations happen any day of the week. The food comes out quickly and is incredibly delicious. The servers are kind and attentive. The entire place is clean and has a beautiful outside patio. I absolutely love this restaurant the food and the staff. read more

This place was amazing, the atmosphere, food was a10, everything is awesome, you can't go wrong. The staff was personable and knowledgeable about the food and deserts. Looking forward to coming back for Sunday brunch! read more

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Bad experience. Beyond the point where we can excuse it for being a new spot. We arrived at 5:28 for a 5:30 reservation. They turned us away, saying "we open at 530." Ok. Not a wonderful start despite the restaurant being apparently full. Keep in mind their email says they only honor reservations until 15 minutes after. But ok. Google listing says they're open 11-10 on Sundays, so that must be a mistake. Host was rude, too. Then we arrive (again) after a walk around the block. Seated literally next to the only other table on the second floor. I immediately asked if we could just sit at the table next to it. The host said no. For about 15 minutes, we were the only tables up there. Very weird. Server was slow too. Person clearing the tables was nice and respectful, however. Anyway - bad service. Ambiance was generally fine, other than the not very inviting staff. Very Georgetown. Not particularly cool or cute or anything. Ambiance is very Mother's Day. At least the second floor where we were seated. Wouldn't take a first date here. Food was mediocre. We did the cauliflower, a potato dish that was OK and hummus. Other meat dishes were had that I did not partake in. Everything was just OK. We had to ask for more pita when the hummus arrived and water. Legit had to reserve my water because they give you a tiny glass and don't refill it. Then, the pièce de résistance, lipstick on the wine glass. We didn't get wine, but very lame. Also, they didn't take these glasses away despite tons of food on our tiny table. This place was laughably bad. We were able to at least commiserate together, so there's that silver lining. read more

Villa Yara - Wine glass at our table with lipstick clearly still on it. - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Really great food. Very fast service. Nice atmosphere. You should try this new place.

Excellent, fast and friendly service. Food tasted amazing and high quality! Celebrated wifey birthday and definitely coming back again!

Had an awesome time here! My girlfriend and I loved the experience. We shared a few small plates, and if you're into a tapas-style meal with outdoor seating, this place is a must-visit. A standout moment was when I accidentally got something on my shoes, and a waiter kindly brought over something to clean it--great service! Now for the downsides. Be careful about giving them your email. I visited a few months back, and now I get emails almost every other day. This last one might be a weird criticism for some. While the decor was clean and fairly new during our visit, I do worry it could start to feel a bit cliché or "corny" over time. Price was about what you'd expect for a nice restaurant in Georgetown read more