Gypsy Kitchen was another great stop. It's Spanish tapas-style, and everything we ordered was so…read moreflavorful. We shared the tabbouleh, beef kabob, octopus, and croquettes, and everything was on point. Special mention to the chocolate raspberry espresso martini because it was amazing -- I genuinely wish I could've had ten of them. We finished with the olive oil cake for dessert, which was also delicious. Our waitress was awesome too. Such a fun meal overall.

This is such a good place to eat with friends and have a catch-up! I came on a weeknight so it…read morewasn't busy at all. The waiters were all wonderful and did not stop helping us. The food was some of the best tapas I have ever had. Literally everything was delicious and perfectly balanced with umami, tart, spice, sweet. My personal highlights were the mussels, croquettes, grilled kebab, jamon, hummus, and cheesecake. I also grabbed their purple gin drink and it was very yummy!

A complete vibe! I…read morecame here with a coworker of mine the day before 4th of July for lunch and drinks, and I left full and happy. There is a parking garage around the corner of the restaurant so that makes things very convenient. The inside decor is gorgeous and is chic but also funky fresh. I got grilled octopus over a bed of bean salad that had pieces of pomegranate in it - 10/10. The savory taste of the octopus paired against the sweetness of the salad was really delicious. For desert I got the baklava option that comes with ice cream - INCREDIBLE. You have to order it if you come here.

The food is good with lots of options. I was just there this evening as I need a quick place to…read morework before an event. My Tito's and soda water, with a lime, was nearly $18. I double checked to make sure I was charge for two drinks or a double and it was confirmed the amount was correct. The bill included a $2 mixer, which again was soda water. Mind you this was on Wednesday at 6:45 PM. Just giving everyone a heads up so if you go. I definitely won't be going back.

Genuinely beautiful. The food was amazing. Service was attentive and friendly. I thoroughly enjoyed…read morethis. Star of the show was definitely the lamb tagine. However, the halloumi and scallop were impeccable as well I will be back for Many more visits as my wallet allows.

Went to Maydan in DC and had such a lovely time. The ambiance is amazing -- such a fun, warm,…read morebeautiful place, and our server, Haley, was so wonderful and attentive. We always had pita, they were quick to check in on us, and overall the service was great! Food-wise, there were some HUGE standouts. The red pepper walnut dip is a MUST. It's a little sweet, a little tangy, and super flavorful overall. The hummus was also delicious, with a sorta woodsy, smoky depth of flavor. The oyster mushrooms, though, were an absolute standout. SO much umami, really well seasoned, and perfectly cooked -- they genuinely tasted like steak. Amazing, amazing dish. The vegetables were also really well done overall. The fire-roasted asparagus was great, and the sweet potato was perfect. The cauliflower was also amazing, although we ordered so much food that we weren't able to finish everything and had to take some home. If you're choosing vegetables, do the sweet potato and the mushrooms, hands down. The carrot havuc was yummy as well, more mild and yogurt-y, and the pickled veggies were really interesting. I had never had a pickled tomato before! The pomegranate mocktail was also delicious. Gingery, well balanced, and very refreshing. HIGHLY recommend. There were a couple dishes that fell a little short for me. The halloumi comes out VERY hot, so be careful lol, but it was veryyy sesame-forward and ultimately wasn't my favorite. It was good, just not something I'd necessarily reorder. The saffron couscous was also not a huge hit around the table. It wasn't bad, just a little too sweet with the raisins and not 100% there for me. My mom liked it more than I did! Overall, you can tell everyone at Maydan believes in the food and really cares about the experience. We were celebrating my brother's birthday, and Haley even brought out a little champagne toast :,). I will absolutely be back!

Came here recently for a gf's birthday recently Saturday night--restaurant has a chic fancy vibe,…read moreloved it! French/Mediterranean style, the food was pretty good and service was great--our server Julio was helpful recommending us dishes to try and was attentive all night. Escargots was a great start, wasn't a huge fan of the Mini Tartelettes Crab & Caviar overall taste. For entrees, would recommend Loup de Mer au Fenouil (whole branzino) and La Paella de Cassoulet (confit duck leg)--both wonderful dishes, flavorful and huge portions, but note, it's more on the salty side so if you're a savory person like myself, it was delicious! For cocktails, we enjoyed the Nina Rose & Dirty Vodka Martini. The bartender also made really good White Tea shots too! Birthday girl got a complimentary birthday balloon cake with a candle which was sweet. Later in the night, they have a live DJ playing music so it gets popping here!

Well... buckle up. This one's loaded…read more We had a Saturday summer restaurant week 7:30pm reservation for 4 of us, and it was 2 of our birthdays. Upon being seated in a gorgeous booth- we realized we couldn't hear each other as a bday party of 12 people were set up in the center of the restaurant... and they were LOUD... it was so unpleasant I had to ask for a manager. Come to learn - multiple other tables had complained as well.... They offered us another table but it was not conducive for an intimate feeling... so we risked staying hoping they'd wrap it up. The manager was lovely and poured us 4 glasses of prosecco as an apology. The food is spectacular- lots of incredible seafood options included in the 3 course $65 RW menu and not one smell of fishy-ness. The sauces and execution are truly delicious- I've lived in the Mediterranean and in France and this is the real deal. Tons of gluten free dairy options which is so amazing. Service was nice and pleasant - not mind blowing. The manager also comped an additional incredible desert and I appreciated that. By the time we got our check at 9:45, another table of 10 was seated at the center of restaurant... and the noise level started to ratchet up. I looked at our check and realized the extra desert that was comped was actually charged to us ... and it was a $22 desert... obviously asked for a refund which they obliged. The establishment is a year old and I think it's having a small identity crisis still - it's stunning inside with an elegant feel and some people dressed in an impeccably classy manner ... and others ... dressed as though they're headed to the club or a pop concert... by no means should a restaurant with such elevated dining where apps are $20 plus and entrees $40 plus feel like you're having to yell at your dinner companions at 7:30pm. Perhaps they need two seatings & advertise that from 9:30pm onwards large parties and noise levels will exponentially increase .. We may still go back since it meets a lot of our dietary needs with upscale flavors- but I hope they figure out with the ambiance !

Zaytinya never disappoints. The decoration, interior and exterior, sets the moods from the D.C…read more sidewalks. The service is as one would expect of any upscale restaurant; responsive, attentive and courteous. The menu offered a variety of dishes that would satisfy, dare I say, any and all types of diets. My order, "Lamb Baharat" was full of flavor, enhanced by the smooth tahini sauce. The savory meat dish was complimented well with grilled vegetables with a slight char. But truthfully, it is their french fries that stole my taste buds. The simple dish is enriched by a buttery poached egg for dipping. Accessible, delicious, and variety of dishes for anyone's taste pallet.

I was in Washington D.C. for the weekend and tried this amazing Mediterranean place for lunch. My…read morefriend who recommended this place has been obsessed with the food here and I can totally see why. We ordered mushroom kapnista, Halloumi pide, zaatar pide, htipiti and everything was so delicious. I'm not sure if I enjoyed the combination of dates and mushrooms together but really loved the smoky mushroom by itself. I was also very impressed with the Zaatar pide, it was cheesy and delicious. For desert we ordered greek yogurt with apricot and it was probably the best thing we tried here. The ambience is classy and they have ample of seating space. The overall meal didn't cost us as much as I thought it was, the prices were fairly reasonable!

A Hidden Gem in Takoma Park!…read more Olive Lounge exceeded my expectations! The food was fresh, flavorful, and paired perfectly with their drinks. Their happy hour prices are very reasonable, making it an easy spot to enjoy without breaking the bank. I ordered the spinach dip, which was absolutely amazing, along with the pita and hummus, which was fresh and tasty. The standout for me, though, was the steak and cheese egg rolls, super good! Everything came out fresh, and the service made for an enjoyable experience. An added bonus is their outdoor lounge area, which creates a great atmosphere for relaxing with friends or enjoying a nice evening out. I'll definitely be back and highly recommend Olive Lounge to anyone looking for great Mediterranean food, good drinks, and a welcoming vibe in Takoma Park.

Overall: great prices, delicious food, okay service, casual ambiance, single stall inclusive…read morerestrooms, changing table, kids menus, and high chairs available They have a great happy hour and different daily specials. There is so much to love about the menu. Everything we ate was delicious, but overall we are just wildly impressed with the prices. We rarely eat that much quality food for the prices you pay here. I love how many vegetables they have on the menu and the meat was cooked perfectly.

Their lentil soup has to be a family secret because it is unbelievable good. I strongly recommend…read morethat you go with an apetite and enjoy the maanek (saulteed beef and lamb sausages), the batata harra and the artichokes. Sahtein!

Lebanese Taverna is always delicious! I had this restaurant 2 years ago in Maryland, dreamt about…read morethe bread and shawarma since then. They give free flatbread, which was this puffy bread that was piping hot that can be dipped in their sauce, consisting of olive oil and herbs. We ordered a mehshi, which is tomato, eggplant, and zucchini stuffed with rice pilaf, concoction of sauces, and nuts. As simple as the dish is, it's hearty and my boyfriend loved it! The tomato and yogurt sauce go well together, many vegetarian dishes taste very plain, but this dish was flavorful. The Taverna platter is always a safe option, with selection of beef or chicken shawarma, hummus, and veggies. I complain a lot of other Middle Eastern restaurants have dry shawarma, but this restaurant cooked it perfectly.

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 attended a Yelp Elite event here and honestly everything was a 10. The space is beautiful inside…read more Clean lines, modern decor, great lighting, and just a really polished vibe. It feels upscale without feeling stuffy, which I loved. The service was just as good as the space. Everyone was attentive, friendly, and made sure we were taken care of the entire night. Now the food... We started with the Fehleq and it was delicious. Then came the Batata Hara, which was technically for my cousin because I do NOT like white potatoes but that harissa and toum had me reaching back over to their side of the table. The Brussels sprouts were another win, but the Za'atar pide was absolutely my favorite. I could have eaten the whole thing by myself and probably should have ordered another one. And because apparently we were not done eating, we moved on to the regular menu and ordered the tuna tartare. So good. Fresh, flavorful, and definitely not your basic tuna tartare. The drinks were great too. Everything felt well balanced, creative, and matched the food perfectly. By the end of the night, I was already looking at the menu trying to figure out what I am ordering when I come back. And yes, I am definitely coming back. Great food, great drinks, beautiful space, amazing service. Ala understood the assignment. Thank you Yelp DC and Ala for such a fun night!

Was invited to try Ala through a fellow Yelper and grateful for the introduction because this place…read moredelivered-ish. The all day happy hour menu is the move and we took full advantage. The Batata Hara: fried potatoes with garlic were dangerously good. Overpowering with the garlic but in the absolute best way possible. The Karahab fried brussels sprouts and the Tawook chicken breast burger were both delicious and well executed. The only miss for me personally was the ribeye gyro but that's less about Ala and more about me finally confirming that gyros and I are just not meant to be. The food gets a solid 5 stars. The seating situation however deserves a conversation. Yelpers were directed to either the bar or outside with no other options offered. The weather cooperated and it wasn't a bad experience outdoors but when the hostess specifically stated that Yelpers sit at the bar or outside, that landed differently. The restaurant appeared beautiful from what I could see and assuming the inside was as lovely as it looked, that felt like a quiet form of segregation that the restaurant should probably revisit. Guests are guests regardless of how they found you. Our waiter was attentive and never forgot about us which is always appreciated. Overall a great experience with one note worth addressing. I'd return but hopefully at the main table next time.

Gyro Wednesday $7 is a lunch favorite for me and my co-workers. Always delicious and customer…read moreservice is Great!!

Why do these people lie.. Rockville smells like a grease drain hole ..... Don't take large bills…read morethere even if you are a regular......this place turned me off... especially with the hair in my two meals