That was one of the best dining experiences I've ever had from beginning to end. A true work of art from the food to the service. I had the Pembe Sultan, the Lentil Soup, a glass of 'yakut' wine, and the Apricot Delight for desert. I recommend all of it. read more

I was just there tonight with a few friends. our server was a young lady who was kept on coming to our table to see if we finished with our meal or not .And it's not like there were people lined up for their food . Tonight the service and food was not good and I will not be going back there . read more

An impromptu lunch date brought us to this fantastic establishment! Looking for something new as I have exhausted most of my mexican options, I was looking for something new and I have found it!! We walked in and we immediately greeted and seated. Bonus points in my book. After looking over the menu and finally decided on what to order, we settled in on the Trio plate appetizer which consisted of a trio of dips, the Htipiti, Hummus, Baba Ghanoush. All which are fabulous and super pleasing!! You cannot go wrong with any of these!! Main dishes were the chicken skewer and the falafel pita. The chicken was seasoned to satisfaction and the rice has a sweet undertone to it that commanded your attention yet was not overpowering. The falafel pita was not on the lunch menu but our server was kind enough to ask if they would make it anyway which they did. The fries that came with it were amazing!! The interior is beautiful and cozy. It's an unknowingly intimate dining location full of ambiance. There was no room for dessert but its definitely on the list on the next visit! So whether you need a tabke for two or a family of four, Yayla Bistro is a sure thing! read more

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I had eaten at Yayla Bistro when it first opened over a decade ago, and gone there many times since, until the pandemic. My impression then was of an authentic Turkish restaurant with prices that were a bit on the upscale side, and smaller portions than I got at most other Turkish restaurants. The service has always been great. So I wasn't crazy about going there when a friend offered to treat me to celebrate my birthday. I was pleasantly surprised. I found the food tasted better than ever and the meat mixed grill we shared ($50 for two) was a deal. The moussaka was also good but I think Taverna Cretekou makes it best. I've tried almost all other menu items and would recommend them all. I can't wait to go back for the seafood mixed grill! read more

Originally found out about this place through neighborhood word of mouth, and am I glad I visited this place. The food was delicious. Falafel was some of the best I've ever had. When I ordered the bronzino, I was told that this shipment was smaller than normal and thus I'll be getting a discount. You gotta love an honest restaurant owner. I've already recommended the place to several people. Will definitely return with friends. read more

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WOWOW! I came here for a girls night out this past weekend and it blew me away. We participated in a wine pairing dinner and got to try many things. My favorite part was the meats! The lamb shanks were very flavorful and it was some of the best fish I've ever had. The staff is friendly and fun and very attentive. This place is 10/10, definitely come visit to get your foodie fix! read more

Yayla Bistro - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Went for dinner with family. Warm, helpful staff... and the food! It's excellent and abundant. And I got to try Turkish wine! Next time maybe we'll have room for dessert... read more

I visited yesterday with my family for the first time and had a very pleasant meal with excellent service with a relaxing ambiance. They have breakfast most of the day and a number of interesting traditional Turkish specialties. I had the crepes, which were perfectly made. The key distinction of this place, however, is the service. The DC area is full of restaurants with service so bad you could even describe it as actively hostile at times. Here, we were attended to constantly. Part of the pleasure of dining is good service and the staff here understand this well. Our waitress was also very good with our children, who were tired and cranky. read more

Stop everything you're doing right now and BOOK A RESERVATION. This resturant is absolutely phenomenal, from the food to the staff and the wine selection. I don't know how this was my first time here because everything was delightful. Started off with Turkish rosé which I've never had before and it was quite good, paired well with the mezze platter as our starter. The chefs cigars & dolmas were my favourites and the spreads were all so tasty. We did the grilled mixed grill platter for 2 which had a little bit of everything and OH MY STARS. The Filet mignon was so tender and tasty with a smokey flavour as well as the Lamb chop. The kebab was SO good too, full of flavour and I would eat a whole platter of it alone. The chicken was prepared perfectly, not dry and it came with pilaf & rice, a couple tomatoes, brocoli and peppers. Definitely get the platter if you want a little bit of everything. We even took some home cause we didn't finish it all. We also had dinner paired with a Turkish red wine, also a first for me which was so smokey and paired PERFECTLY with the entrée. Ended the night with baklava & apricot delight paired with Turkish coffee for my friend and Turkish tea for me. The expierence was amasing, took our breath away each time they brought out a dish. Overall such a gem and I highly reccomend. - Your favourite NoVA gremlin food reviewer, Insta @ SpicyAivy read more

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Outstanding service, scrumptious food and great staffs. I have dine at Yayla restaurant many time and I have never been disappointed. The food is always good and the staffs are so polite and professional. They always treat you like family! Last night I took my family there for the restaurant 10th anniversary event. We had a blast. The DJ did a great job and the belly dancing was amazing. I can't wait to try their Turkish breakfast! read more

Delicious!! My husband and I went there today because we were craving Mediterranean food and I've been meaning to check out Yayla. The place did not disappoint! We got the trio spread with ezme, htipiti, and smoky eggplant & yogurt. They were all tasty. We also got the shepherd salad which was very refreshing. We were craving meat today so decided to share the mixed grill platter--wow, was that amazing! The lamb chops and filet mignon were amazing quality and cooked perfectly. The adana kebab was really flavorful and I loved that it has a spicy kick! The chicken was definitely less exciting than the other meats but it was also cooked well. Loved the potatoes too. Thoroughly enjoyed our meal and service was spectacular too. Glad to have found this spot--we'll definitely be back! read more

Yayla Bistro - Mixed Grill Platter for 2 - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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We came like near closing, but it was empty which is great, sat outside and it was beautiful! Dora was a great waitress!! she explained the menu and showed us what we should try - boy it was so good, we have left over and the pricing so on point. definitely come back with couple friends! Great date night spot, and parking spot it's good they have gargage with no payment needed! street parking you have to pay. The food it's amazing we got the combo meat dish! it was soft and chewy and the mushroom that goes with the chicken, amazing!!! read more

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We had a lovely time eating dinner at Yayla Bistro. We arrived at the restaurant without a reservation at around 6:30 on a Thursday and were seated right away. It wasn't very busy but was very busy by the time we left. Our waitress and servers were kind, fast, and attentive. We had the mezze platter and loved that we could try a little bit of everything. It also went well with the Greek lager we ordered. For our mains we had flatbread and the ravioli, both of which were flavorful and filling. We finished our meal with Turkish coffee and when we requested the bill, we were able to process it right away. I look forward to coming again so I can try their grilled entrees and eat more of the vine wraps, which were so delicious. I'd love to try their sandwiches and burgers which are only available during lunch. read more

This place is such a gem for me. I usually stick to East Asian and western food. I discovered this place by accident and both me and my wife fell for it. Friendly and fast service. The food is made with professionalism and love. Definitely would come back for more ! read more

One of the best ! The meats are soft, tender and flavorful! You must try if you are meat lover! read more

Yayla Bistro - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Yayla Bistro is a good restaurant to try Turkish food. I recommend ordering three dips as an appetizer. The bread that accompanies the dips and tapenade is really good. I found the entrees to be good as well. Street parking was not too difficult to find on a weekday night. read more

Tasty food, outstanding service and overall willing to please customer. Delicious appetizers, love the warm freshly baked bread plus the free olive paste that comes with it. Reasonable priced. There is a reasonably stoked wine bar. read more

Food is SO good. It was first time just recently and I was very impressed. We shared hummus, calamari. Both very tasty. Had the grilled shrimp and rice. Yum! And for the shrimp dish they give 10 shrimp altogether! Which was awesome and I was able to get two meals out of it, so always a plus. Deserts were also a nice end to the meal. Rice pudding, apricot delight, and Turkish coffee. The service is super nice and friendly, and the restaurant is very nice inside. Would definitely recommend and will be back! read more

Had another great meal at Yayla enjoying everything from the food and drinks to the service and vibe! They made some updates which only escalate their already fantastic restaurant. I can't wait to return for another date night! read more

Yayla Bistro - Beyti - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Great food, great atmosphere, and fantastic service. Our server, Dora, took her time to explain the menu to us and what is popular. We had the trio spreads as an appetizer and all three were fantastic. For dinner, we shared the seafood platter for two, which had salmon, Bronzino, shrimp, and squid. We opted for a double vegetable in lieu of the rice. Portion size was great (a little too much, honestly) for sharing. We got seafood because I don't eat meat, but my husband would have LOVED the meat platter option. Wehad baklava for dessert, whichbwas free thanks to checking in on Yelp! Everything was fantastic, but honestly, the service and attentiveness from our server Dora really put it over the top. She even checked in for a "first bite" review! Will definitely be back. read more

Cannot recommend this place enough!! Everyone agreed--one of the best meals and experiences we have had in a long time. The service and food were both exceptional. The moussaka especially!!!! So so good. read more

Yayla Bistro - Moussaka (front), Turlu (left), and Adana (right) - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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What a fabulous find! Excellent service, wonderful atmosphere, and delicious food! The table shared a trio of spreads and halloumi cheese for appetizers - all so good (as well as the bread!) Our table tried the salmon, the branzino fish, kofta, Adana kabobs, red lentil soup and Greek salad - all perfectly cooked/prepared and spiced, and tasty. And the desserts - oh my! We had the Coppe pistachio and an apricot dessert - both amazing! We will definitely return when we're back in the area. Thank you! read more

Spectacular food and service! Can't wait to return. If you like Mediterranean this is your go restaurant

Amazing Turkish food! Went there with my sister and ordered off the grill. Evening for fresh and tastes great!

My visit to Yayla Bistro Falls Church VA today 7/4 Address: 2201 N Westmoreland St, Arlington, VA 22213 Hello from Lech Alex Bajan von Krasnik International Food and Wine expert. Today was my first time to the place and I am very happy having some shepherd salad and fresh branzino fish. do You know that ancient Turkish cuisine is the blend of the food from old sink road and 3 continents Europe, Asia and Africa including Mittle East. with tea and chocolate from Ecuador mousse cake. Bartender and frond lady were professional and very knowledgeable. Grazie. read more

Yayla Bistro - Yayla Bistro Falls Church VA today 7/4 - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

This place is amazing, red lentil soup is the best soup I've ever had. All the hot mezze is amazing - great to share. Love the kebabs and the dips do NOT disappoint. Highly recommend, great for large groups, families, and lunch read more

This is a beautiful, serene restaurant with delicious food & amazing service! We love hummus but there's is by far the best. We enjoyed Turkish coffee and items from the lunch menu on our way to the airport on a Sunday afternoon. Everything was fresh & tasted homemade. The server packed dessert for us to go because we didn't have time to have it there. It was worth it! Also, leftovers the next day were still delicious. read more

Yayla Bistro - Turkish coffee - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

It was a cute environment and pretty good middle eastern food. The lamb chops where my favorite thing that i had here. There's also a good amount of parking on the street right in front of the restaurant. read more

Yayla Bistro - Bronzino Lamb Chops - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Authentic Mediterranean food with nice variety and outdoor seating! I really like the homemade focaccia bread, it is so fluffy and warm! I highly recommend the Mezze Platter with Roasted Red Pepper and Feta, Crispy Falafels, Dolmas, delicious Baba Ganoush, Chef's Cigars rolled bread. It was fun to sample a little bit of everything! The Spinach Pideler was good, but I wish the bread was a bit thicker. It was a bit too thin and the pida quickly became soggy. I wasn't a big fan of the Spanokopita, it was kind of greasy. I would skip the cocktails, I didn't like the Pomegranate Passion cocktail. I enjoyed the Yakut Turkish red wine while my husband liked the Port City Porter. Overall, I enjoyed trying different dishes and would go back for the Mezze Platter and falafel with some red wine! read more

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Love this place! I live in California and my mom lives there in Falls Church, and she absolutely loves this place. I wanted to get her a gift certificate for Christmas, so I called and spoke to John the manager & he was so nice & arranged to have the gift certificate delivered to my mom! She'll be so happy to open this gift on Christmas! I've been there a few times when I've gone back to visit, and the food is absolutely delicious! I like the shepherd salad, halloumi cheese, & kofte---yum! The staff is very accommodating and friendly, and the decor is beautiful. I definitely recommend! read more

Amazing! As a Turkish native, I say this is one of the best authentic Turkish food I have eaten in the area. Super delicious. Also, staff is amazing. I can't believe how fast the food was served. Dora was super friendly and she has great knowledge on the menu and the cuisine itself. I can't wait to come back again..No photos because I have already eaten all :))but I will add my dessert. read more

Yayla Bistro - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Excellent food and service. We had the grill plate for 2. There was more food than we could eat.

We were visiting in the area and decided to give Yayla a try. We received a warm welcome and the service was excellent. Shout-out to our waiter Cesar who was so friendly and attentive. We had soup and a couple of mezze platters and it was all delicious. I thought the prices were reasonable for the quality of the food and the nice atmosphere, and I was also pleased to find some less common dishes on the menu besides the usual felafel, baba ghanoush and moussaka. If you're going for dinner on the weekend, you might want to make a reservation. When we arrived at 6:30 there were not many people there, but by the time we left the restaurant was full. read more

Yayla Bistro.. I feel if I lived in town, I would be here at least once a week. It was my first trip out to DC and we were staying in Arlington at a hotel nearby, we scoped out the area and decided to go to Yayla for lunch. As we walked in, a gentleman that had been sitting outside on the side of the building greeted us "hello." He followed us in, and we realized that he was the host for the Yayla. He was very friendly, and a waiter approached and sat us immediately. This place is gorgeous. We felt a little under dressed for the venue, as everything from the table linens, place settings, and the decor was a perfectly classy look. Not too much or too little, but definitely a step up from what we had expected. Although I did not catch his name, the server name on the check was Mehmet. He was very attentive and super friendly and nice (the perfect combo for a server!). Although I have had Greek and Mediterranean food before, I had never had Turkish. It seemed similar, but slightly different. We ended up ordering the baba ganoush, which was absolutely delicious. The BF had never had it before and absolutely loved it. This was paired with the bread and olive tapenade they had provided to us--yum! I am not a fan of olive tapenade, but theirs was surprisingly delicious and not overly salty. We couldn't decide on anything so we got the mixed plate. If my BF could marry the lamb, he would. Everything on the platter was delicious, I had never had Adana before and it was perfectly seasoned and very flavorful. All the meats were perfectly cooked (even the chicken!). Even the vegetables had a good crunch to them and had not been overheated. They did have some sort of pickled cabbage--super sour but yummy (I do love the tangy foods)--I wish I knew what it was. We didn't get through all the food, but the BF ate it later as a midnight snack. I absolutely loved everything about this place, from the ambience to the service to the food. If I ever make it back to DC, I will definitely be back! read more

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My wife and I decided to give their version of Turkish and Greek food a try. Starting from the first dish, we could taste flavors that were missing at other Greek restaurants. We were not familiar with Turkish food so there was no direct comparison to other versions.    The meal started with complimentary Bazalama (Turkish flatbread). This was softer, fluffier and tastier than traditional flatbread, due to the addition of olive oil and yogurt.  It came with a saucer of olive oil mixed with garlic and diced black olives. An excellent pairing! This showed that the owners were willing to put extra effort into making a good first impression.    We decided to order the Mezze Platter, the Mixed Grill Platter and the sütlaç dessert. The Mezze Platter had 3 spreads (Hummus, Cacik and Baba Ghanoush) and 3 mezzes (Falafel, Dolma and Chef's Cigars). Mezze is the Turkish word for appetizer. The Hummus had pureed chickpeas with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic. It had all of the typical ingredients for hummus, but the overall flavor was way above typical. It had a light creamy smooth texture. There were subtle flavors of chickpea, garlic and olive oil with a slight sesame flavor from the tahini and some tanginess from the lemon juice. An excellent hummus made possible by extraordinary preparation.    The Cacik had strained Greek yogurt with cucumbers, olive oil, and thyme. They used thyme instead of dill or mint. An interesting twist. This is suppose to be eaten by itself like yogurt. It tasted like tzatziki sauce except it was thicker. It wasn't so good that it could stand on it's own. We used it as a spread on the Bazalama.    The Baba Ghanoush had pureed roast eggplant with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic. It had an initial flavor of slightly bitter earthy eggplant followed by a nutty, tangy roasted flavor. The flavors didn't work well together.    The falafel was lightly fried chickpea patties in a ball shape. It had herbs and spices in it. It tasted like there was cumin, coriander and pepper in it. Distinctive but subtle. Nicely balanced flavors. One of the best falafels we've tried.    The Dolma had vine leaves stuffed with rice, pine nuts, raisins, olive oil, lemon juice, and herbs. The idea looks good, but the delivery was not. The lemon juice and grape leaf flavors overpowered everything. Imagine eating rice that taste like sour lemon grape leaves. Hopefully, this appetizer was not supposed to taste like this and it was a mistake.    The Chef's Cigars had lightly fried filo dough stuffed with feta cheese, dill, and ground white peppers. The dough was light and crispy. Very good filo dough. The filling had a tangy peppery cottage cheese flavor. It wasn't cottage cheese, it was feta; but the flavor was similar. The dill flavor was barely there and it didn't help. This filling has to be an acquired taste because it made this an appetite killing appetizer.    The Mixed Grilled Platter included Filet Mignon Shish, Adana Kebab, Mediterranean Chicken and Lamb Chops. It was served with Bulgur Pilaf, Rice Pilaf and vegetables. The Filet Mignon Shish was grilled marinated cubes of filet mignon on a skewer. We asked for it to be cooked medium. It was tender and moist with a savory grilled flavor.    The Adana Kebab had seasoned grilled ground meat (beef and lamb) served on a skewer. It came with pita bread. The seasonings included red peppers, onions, garlic, and herbs. The ground meat was a little dry. It had a prominent peppery flavor. It was edible but not worth buying again. The pita bread was good.    The Mediterranean Chicken was supposed to be grilled marinated chicken breast topped with mushroom cream sauce. There was no mushroom sauce. The chicken was tender with a good grilled flavor. Too bad it was incomplete.    The lamb chops were marinated and grilled. The lamb was tender and moist. It had a good charred smoky flavor. It was not gamey. This was done exceptionally well.    The sütlaç was a Turkish rice pudding topped with currants and pistachios. It was sweet and creamy with a light vanilla flavor. We had a cappucino with this dessert which made for an excellent ending to the meal.    The dining room and restrooms were very clean. Our server, Mia was pleasant, attentive and very knowledgeable about the food. Food service speed was good even while it was busy. The platters gave us a good sampling of their food. Except for a few dishes, this restaurant has exceptional food and we would recommend it. read more

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Really yummy fresh food. We had the mixed grill for two, babba ganoush and dolma's. All the food tasted authentic, staff were knowledgeable and helpful and we enjoyed having lunch there on Sunday, it wasn't too busy and food came out in good time. read more

Yayla Bistro - Mixed grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Loved it. Everything was fresh and delicious. The young man waiting on us was very good with explaining options. We sat outside, and enjoyed it. One in our group really was craving halloumi and it did not disappoint. I am Vegetarian, and the beet salad was awesome. We were debating the dips, and the waiter suggested the trio option, perfect. Always love ethnic restaurants run by the same ethnicity, glad we found Yayla. read more

I was very excited to try this place based on all the great reviews. However, I had a disappointing experience. We ordered - Grilled calamari: this was recommended by the waiter "no flour, no deep fry" and I was so curious to try. However, this was the most disappointing dish because 1) the portion. There were four small pieces of squid in total. For a price of $12, I was hoping for more. 2) It was bland. There was no flavor despite all the spices on top of the calamari. It tasted like the calamaris were de-frozen and put on the grill - Baba Ghanoush: standard but it was really cold... Maybe it is a personal thing but it does affect the taste if this was served so cold. The bread and olive that came with this was amazing though - Moussaka: great! The ground beef and lamb was very flavorful and matched well with roasted eggplant. The shredded Parmesan cheese was tender but thick - Lahmacun: maybe my favorite of all things we ordered. The bread was very crispy and think - Tiramisu: standard The service was great and the waiter was very nice and accommodating. I wish the food could taste better, especially given the price. Maybe I will try another time. read more

Excellent food and great service. Try the Turkish wine. It is very good too. It wasn't too crowded on a Tuesday night. The staff is very friendly. read more

Such a great place to try new flavors and the cocktails are on point! The branzino fish was cooked perfectly and I love the apricot delight dessert...so TASTY!!! Rona, my server, was so helpful in picking out items that would offer the best first time dining experience. read more

Yayla Bistro - Deeeelish delight at Yayla Say hello to Rona, great service and attention to detail! - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia