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    Albi

    4.6 (467 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndMiddle Eastern
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Albi Photos

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    ALBI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate

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    Recommended Reviews - Albi

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    Kamali F.

    Very easily one of my new favorite restaurants in DC! The service was great and the restaurant is stunning and beautifully decorated, but the food was more than I could have imagined. I decided to do the Sofra tasting experience and I was not disappointed. Every course was rich in flavors that blended perfectly together, beautifully plated and leaving me wanting more! My favorites were the Sfeeha, Kibbeh Naya (lamb and peas), Squid Khibz. Dessert was also phenomenal! I got the Mahalabiya and the Twist soft serve! I can't wait to return.

    Sandra K.

    Agree with everyone that Albi lives up to the hype! The food was one of a kind. We enjoyed the sfeeha, oysters, crispy kibbeh (beef), mushroom khubz, squid khubz, lamb khubz, batata harra, malfouf, whole chicken (SO moist), and maqluba. I would 100% order everything again except maybe the squid khubz, the squid was a little brine-y. But wow that freshly baked, warm pita bread, too die for. We were celebrating a graduation and they had a handwritten card at our table, a nice touch. One note, and it's a problem with a lot of modern restaurants, is that the music was SO loud so it was hard to hear folks at my table.

    Lamb kebab
    Lauren C.

    Fabulous dinner at Albi. Came here to celebrate a birthday and had an excellent experience. From the hostess, to the waiter, to the sommelier, the customer service was top notch and on par of what you expect from a Michelin star restaurant. We ordered quite a few dishes and everything was well executed and tasty. Didn't try one bad dish. My personal favorites were the oysters and the stuffed cabbage with beef cheek (picture doesn't look like much but it was amazing). The kibbeh naya was a unique dish for us...similar to beef tartare but not quite the same. The lamb kebab was delightful and probably my biggest recommendation for entrees. We also got a bottle of a red Palestinian wine. Woowwww blew us away and not something you can find everywhere. We also got Negroni's and they were excellent. We are a bit of Negroni snobs and always try one at every bar or restaurant we go to if they have it. This one was one of the better ones we've had in awhile. Snag a reservation and enjoy with friends and family or go treat yourself to a solo dinner. You won't be disappointed! The inside of the restaurant is breathtaking and I love the open kitchen concept.

    Knafeh
    Hajir S.

    Wow - just wow. I didn't expect Albi to live up to the hype and it certainly did. Everything from when you walk in the door to your final sip of coffee or bite of dessert is a treat. Every interaction with every server, every drink put in front of you, every bite, and every view within the restaurant is well thought out and executed perfectly. The spot is beautiful, one of the most beautiful restaurants in DC for sure. Every server is wearing a nice outfit that matches the decor of the restaurant. It feels like there are uniforms, but you'll notice that there are not really uniforms, it's really quite the vibe. Every server is personable, and they truly make the experience one that you cannot stop enjoying. From a food perspective we did the Sofra. Definitely the right choice, I had more food than I could have possibly ordered brought to the table and everything was amazing. The real standouts included the batata hara, the lamb sneefah I think it's spelled, the labne, the hummus, and the lamb. Just every dish was so perfect. The coffee service at the end was also excellent, and every cocktail I had was great. I even ordered a ramos gin fizz that was done perfectly. I don't think the Knafeh was the best i've ever had, but it was still good, and honestly I was so full by the end I couldn't finish it!

    FATTOUSH and BATATA HARRA
    Narei K.

    We were so lucky to RSVP last minute. Beautiful restaurant. Very intimate and not too loud. The fattoush was phenomenal! Wonderful balance of salty, sweet, citrusy, juicy, creamy, and textures! The potato dish was very uniquely. Well seasoned, definitely heavy but desirable. The fried appetizer had a nice saltiness to it with a finishing sweetness from the apricots. I'm not much of a lamb person but it was cooked very well, seasoned through to medium rare. My boyfriend who enjoys lamb said it was the best lamb he has ever had. Service was great! They have a great choice of wine from Palestine and Lebanon that paired well with the lamb. Only downside is the price. It is quite expensive for the portion. Lamb was $85- it was a wonderful dinner experience but I don't think I'd go back!

    Kell M.

    My boyfriend and I went here for our one year anniversary and this place is very much worth the hype! The coat check, the drink orders while waiting, the warm scented towels -- I'm a sucker for great service. To ensure I could secure a reservation, I stayed up since reservations drop 60 days out at midnight and that worked like a charm. This is not a book same month kind of spot. Labne: delightful, and the bread is as well. Manti (lamb dumplings): very flavorful and plentiful! Sfeeha: delicious textures. Batata harra: good but would skip this one and try a different side. Hashwei: out of this world! The squash, the brown butter and the flavors of the rice?! Immaculate. My favorite cocktail I had was no sleep til Beirut -- who doesn't love a good espresso martini.

    Tahdig with Maryland crab
    Parth R.

    This is just the best restaurant in DC. Incredibly decorated, service is fantastic, and the courses and so imaginative. Run don't walk to albi if you can get a reservation. If you get anything, get the lamb belly skewers and the battata harra. Fantastic meal.

    Lamb kabob
    Tam V.

    I love Albi - I've been here twice within the last month because it's that good. My boyfriend who doesn't usually like lamb even liked the lamb here! The hearth cooking is incredible and you genuinely taste the flame in almost every dish. I loved the lamb kabob, but the star of the show was any of the menu items that came with the pita bread. Genuinely was the best bread I've ever had... All of the staff were incredibly helpful and knew the menu inside and out, giving great recommendations. I loved also being able to see the kitchen live as we ate, which added to the ambience.

    Kristen M.

    I've been to Albi twice now and its just so. damn. good. They are so consistently impeccable. The staff is welcoming and really help to walk you through the menu. From the sommelier talking through the regional wines, to our waiter making sure our meal was balanced with snacks, dumplings and proteins, everything was fantastic. And don't worry, we left FULL. I will say that even by dc standards this restaurant is very expensive. The ambiance is lovely and every dish that came out of that kitchen was a hit so I understand the high price, but they may be pricing some foodies out of the experience.

    Trout
    Cynthia L.

    Check your comfort at the door and here is where we landed on a date night. I'm going to start by saying I have never tried Lebanese food (so don't come at me with your "you don't blah blah blah?!") Please and thank you. With that said, friends have given glowing reviews of this place, so Albi, we had to check you out. Albi did an impeccable job with their service and decor, as usual, for a Michelin-star location. Our sparkling waters never dipped below half and the table was always cleaned off after every tasting. Speaking of tasting, if you've never been here, I recommend doing the tasting (as the restaurant does as well to take you on a journey of their food). 4-Star because while the food was indeed very delicious, almost every dish has some yogurt-base/infusion/side piece to compliment the dish and my lactose-intolerant behind doesn't do dairy products like that. Some dishes were hits (like that truffle dish generously piled with black truffle?! or the lamb bread light bites) and some others felt like misses for me (like the main dish- trout, sorry! and stuffed squash). Def would recommend their tasting menu (4 + 1 dessert) because they also draw from seasonal flavors and we def sampled things we would not have chosen to order.

    Nevin J.

    This was one of my favorite food experiences ever. The aesthetic and ambiance when you walk in is homely and welcoming. When we were seated, the server gave us a great explanation of the menu. We ordered the following: 1. Sfeeha which was a small lamb meat stick/mini pie with toom (garlic spread) 2. Mushroom hummus : This is a must try , I would love to try the other hummuses next time. 3. Lamb kebab bbq was the star of the show every bite was flavorful and it was very filling. This can be split among two people 4. We had the knafeh and labene (soft serve with pomegranate molasses) both were very good We also had the date palmer which was a Moroccan mint tea mocktail I was so full at the end of this meal but everything was really and could not recommend it more

    Dorothy X.

    Had a truly wonderful meal at Albi! I was in DC for work and chose Albi as a treat. The interior was gorgeous and warm, and I was seated at the bar. The staff are so friendly, helpful, and welcoming. They walked me through the menu and helped me select a few dishes. It was pricey, but well worth it. I hope to go back someday!

    Long rib, fattoush salad, lamb kabob
    Grace W.

    One of the rare places where I enjoyed everything about the dining experience. So much flavor and spice in every single bite and dish! The interplay between acidity, spice, and richness all worked so well together, with nothing overpowering anything. I highly recommend trying the mushroom hummus! It had such great smoky flavor and depth of flavor. For the mains, we really enjoyed the lamb kabobs and the long rib - both were so incredibly tender and had the texture of brisket just melting in your mouth. You cannot miss knefeh dessert! The crispiness of the thinly shredded phyllo blew me away. All the components soaked in the rose water syrup just worked perfectly together and was not too sweet. It was the perfect way to end the meal. Along with the food, the dining experience, atmosphere and the service was excellent. The restaurant decor and vibes were beautiful and our waiters were very knowledgeable and on top of water refills and providing clean towels/napkins wherever we got up. All of the small details, from the food to the live flame candles felt thoughtful and intentional and I highly highly recommend trying Albi at least once!

    Grilled Branzino

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    4 months ago

    Best food you will eat period. Everything is perfect. Service is amazing. If you can get reservation here do it. You won't regret it!

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    4 months ago

    Everything was incredible and the Za'atar martini is dangerously good. Service was as good as the amazing food.

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    6 months ago

    Amazing food, service and ambiance. Friendly and inviting staff. Not pretentious at all! The tastiest food!

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    Page 3 of 12

    Albi Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Albi

    Is it smoky in the restaurant from all the food being smoked? Would a person with asthma of COPD have difficulty breathing well?

    No it's not smoky in the restaurant at all

    Does Albi have valet parking?

    No, but there is street parking and nearby public parking garages

    Are there any added benefits/perks to sitting at the Hearth Table? Or is it just that you are paying for the kitchen seating?

    There are some extras I believe in addition to having awesome seats - truffles shaved over a dip, drink pairing for a course, not sure what else. maybe some dishes not included on the dining room sofra

    Is there a dress code?

    No, but it is an upper-scale restaurant

    Do you have outdoor seating as well?

    Yes, when i went we we ate outside in a enclosed tent cause it was chilly out.

    Do they use halal meat or offer halal meat options?

    No they do not

    Do they have an outdoor seating set up for the winter?

    Yes they have a covered / enclosed patio but they also had individual greenhouses last year so I would check to see if it's back this year.

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    Zaytinya

    Zaytinya

    4.2(6.3k reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$$

    This place is in a great corner location, the food was delicious, and the staff were friendly…read moreoverall. We had a reservation to make sure we got a table, and the restaurant was completely full when we arrived. The only downside was that after being seated outside, we felt a little forgotten for the first 30 minutes or so. No one came by with water or to check in, and it seemed like the staff may not have realized a new table had been seated until we flagged down the outside host. There were also swarm of flies hovering around the outdoor tables, which another table pointed out and then we started noticing too. Aside from that, the experience was good overall. The inside dining area definitely had a dressier vibe compared to the patio seating, and once we were helped, the food made up for the slow start.

    Placed a large order via Uber Eats since restaurant will not accept takeout orders directly…read more Restaurant does not allow any specifications when ordering through Uber Eats - for example, one person wanted one ingredient held from her salad. Uber Eats lacked description for Zaytinya's food items (such as the ounces of the drinks) and some items (such as the horta salata) were not as pictured. There were no extra napkins in our bag. The Coke came in bottles but we didn't receive any bottle openers. To top it off, we had three food items missing. I called the restaurant again to let them know about the missing food - they were unapologetic and didn't know what the proper protocol was to fix the situation. The service was subpar and the servings were small. Won't be back. The next day we had food delivered from another local restaurant where both the food and service were outstanding, unlike at Zaytinya. UPDATE: After writing the Yelp review, a general manager at Zaytinya emailed me the following: "..."The restaurant normally offers takeout, but the location was actually closed that day for a private event. However, since the order had come through, we tried to honor it. The mujadara and 2 orders of rice were missing because we hadn't prepped those items, as they were not offered for the buyout..." The restaurant knew on Friday what I was ordering for Tuesday. They had plenty of time to reach out to me and tell me they would be closed and wouldn't be able to fulfill the order. Instead, they knowingly sent out an order without all of the food for our group and charged as if we received everything. This shows a lack of professionalism and is disrespectful.

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    Zaytinya
    Zaytinya
    Zaytinya - Spreads & Bread

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    Spreads & Bread

    ilili DC - pita pillows

    ilili DC

    4.4(727 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$$

    Dining with my friend on Lebanese cuisine was a delightful culinary adventure filled with surprises…read moreand delights. Moussaka: A classic Lebanese dish. Eggplant and hummus were simmered until soft and flavorful, with a subtle smoky aroma. The addition of mint leaves enhanced the flavor. Bone Marrow: Beef tartare with bone marrow and pomegranate seeds--how interesting! The first two provided a rich, fatty texture and intense aroma, while the latter burst in your mouth occasionally, juicy, tangy, and refreshing. Brussels Sprouts: Brussels sprouts with grapes, walnuts, fig jam, and mint yogurt--a whimsical yet magical combination... The Brussels sprouts offered a fresh, vegetal aroma and a slightly roasted aroma; the walnuts provided a nutty richness and crunch; the fruit provided a fresh sweet and sour taste and plenty of juice; and the yogurt acted as a binder between the flavors while adding a touch of minty coolness. Duck Shawarma: My friend and I thought: ...Peking duck? The skin was soft, the meat tender, not gamey, with a subtle smoky flavor; the fig and lemon sauce was sweet and refreshing; the small pita pillows held the meat securely, better than the lettuce what might have been too cold. Lamb Stuffed Grape Leaves: Black rice was wrapped in grape leaves and simmered with minced lamb. The rice absorbed the fragrance of the grape leaves, similar to lotus leaves (my friend and I thought: lamb version of sticky rice chicken糯米雞...?). The lamb, however, was served separately at the bottom of the pot and didn't absorb much flavor; overall, it was intensely sour. In short, this dish was a bit oddly designed, and it was the only one we didn't finish because the sourness was unbearable. Pita Bread: The bread was thin yet chewy, with a rough, slightly powdery surface, making it substantial and satisfying. I especially loved the "everything wrapped in a big pancake" style! This restaurant is located on the wharf near the Potomac River and boasts beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows. The spring sunlight streamed in softly.

    Really enjoyed lunch at ilili last week. The service was honestly one of the best parts of the…read moreexperience. Everyone was friendly, attentive, and made us feel welcome without being too over the top. The food was good across the board. We ordered a mix of dishes to share and really liked the kibbeh, meatballs, and whole fish. The portions were solid, the presentation was beautiful, and everything came out fresh. The restaurant itself is also really pretty and has a nice atmosphere for a lunch date or catching up with friends. Not quite a perfect experience for me personally, but definitely a strong 4 stars and I'd go back again.

    Photos
    ilili DC - Stylish dining room with greenery.

    Stylish dining room with greenery.

    ilili DC - Duck Shawarma

    Duck Shawarma

    ilili DC - Olive You Margarita and Keraz Carciofo Negroni.

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    Olive You Margarita and Keraz Carciofo Negroni.

    Maydan - Roasted carrots

    Maydan

    4.3(1.4k reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$$$

    I came here for my 30th birthday celebration and all I can say is WOW- what a way to ring in a new…read moredecade. I left feeling full, grateful, and with a new love for middle eastern cuisine. The service was impeccable- the waitress and sommelier were both extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Nadia, our waitress, offered suggestions about what dishes would pair well together for the tawle experience and shared her favorites. The sommelier went over the extensive wine list and helped us pick a nice red that paired well with our chosen dishes- it was called Yacoubian Hobbs from Armenia. The ambiance was comfortable and welcoming- you could dress up or down, pretty much anything goes! The walls are lined with colorful patterns and draped tapestries to create a high end living room vibe. Now for the fun part- THE FOOD! The first dishes brought out were the mouneh (pickled veggies), the honey soaked dates, and the three spreads (we selected the hummus with lamb on top for an additional $15, havuc, and beet borani). I'll add that they continuously bring out fresh, warm pita throughout the whole meal. The lamb hummus was savory and well-balanced, but very rich. The havuc had a beautiful lightness from the carrots and I loved the textural element of the crispy onions on top. The beet borani also added a welcomed freshness throughout the meal and was vibrant, light, and had wonderful yogurt flavors. The underrated dish were the pickled veggies because INSANE. I used these in bites during the entire meal and they all had a unique flavor as if they were each pickled in a special way- my favorites were the white radish and scallions. The honey dates were a sweet palette cleanser and cut through the savory elements of the meal. We continued on with the next round consisting of the field lettuce salad, the three condiments (we chose the toum, chermoula, and harissa), halloumi, omani shrimp, and chickpeas. The field lettuce salad had a zesty vinaigrette and I appreciated the acidity addition of the sliced oranges and the crunchy, salted pistachios. The toum was a garlicky aioli that I felt was best paired with the chickpeas- although all the dips were delicious with all the dishes and the pita. The harissa was a lighter version than I am used to, spicy, and paired well with the veggies and ribeye. The chermoula was my favorite and paired best with the ribeye- it reminded me of a flavorful and herbaceous chimichurri. The halloumi had a sweet honey and was grilled perfectly, paired with nice crunchy nuts. The chickpeas had a lovely consistency and were well seasoned- I think it was sumac, but whatever it was, I couldn't get enough. The shrimp were ONE OF MY FAVORITE dishes from the whole meal. They were juicy, seasoned perfectly, charred, and just chefs kiss. I enjoyed them with the chermoula and squeeze of lime. The main dishes and veggies came during our final (besides dessert) round. We ordered the sayadieh as part of the table experience and also added a ribeye to the order. We had ordered the charred carrots, but they accidentally brought us the wildflower honey zucchini instead, so we were lucky enough to be able to try both. The branzino (sayadieh) absolutely blew my mind. It was citrusy, spicy, seasoned with bright spices, and incredibly moist. I would honestly skip the ribeye- it was cooked to a nice medium rare and had a nice flavor, but I don't think it compared to the rest of the meal. The charred carrots were spicy, cooked soft- also one of the standouts. The zucchini was served beautifully and I enjoyed the sauce, but could also skip next time. We ended the meal with the bitter orange sorbet and the chocolate mousse. The sorbet was a nice palette cleanser as it had zest in the mix and was very light after the heavy meal. The chocolate mousse was very rich and had a new balance of chocolate and peanut flavors. They brought over complimentary glasses of champagne to celebrate my birthday as well :) I cannot wait to come back to try more of the menu and I am so happy to have had a diverse taste of the Middle East. I'll also add that we had a HUGE bag of leftovers that lasted several meals and they packaged it up like true professionals. A food lover completely satisfied and eager to get back :)

    A popular spot near Adams Morgan. The restaurant features Middle Eastern grilled food. In fact,…read morethere were several fire grills in the center of the first floor of the restaurant (it has two floors), and you can see the staff constantly grilling the meats, fish, vegetables and pita. This, together with the dark vibe, made me feel as if I were eating with ppl. from B.C. in a cave. Very interesting. I like that. For food, I got the Carrot Havuc, Omani Shrimp and Halloumi. But first I was served with some freshly made whole wheat pita. They were soft, chewy and earthy. The Carrot Havuc was basically a carrot+garlic puree. Very silky, refreshingly sweet, and a bit sour. The sourness may come from the garlic and lemon. Paired well with the pita and meats. The Omani shrimp came with 5 pieces, each shrimp was ~1oz so it was not very filling. The shrimp were meaty, fresh, juicy, though I wish it could be less salty, even if I already asked for less salt. The shrimp was said to be marinated with dried lime and tamarind but I could only taste the flavor of dried lime. The Halloumi cheese was brushed wild flower honey and topped with Egyptian dukkah, then baked until the outside was golden brown. It was salty and sweet, and the (tons of) sesame seeds added some fragrance to it. However, the peanut was too roughly chopped so that they fell off from the cheese when I slice it, and thus difficult to eat with the cheese. Service was not worth the 20% mandatory tip. For example, when I asked about the sourness of the Carrot Havuc, he did not know why and said he would "taste it and let me know where the sourness came from". Unfortunately, he did not tell me until I asked again when doing the check (I doubt if he tasted it in the first place). Neither did he ask me about the other dishes. Overall, the dishes were great but not impressive, and was mostly heavily flavored. The service could be improved.

    Photos
    Maydan - Wood oven front and center

    Wood oven front and center

    Maydan - Shrimp

    Shrimp

    Maydan - Spiced chocolate mousse

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    Spiced chocolate mousse

    La' Shukran - BBQ'd Maitake

    La' Shukran

    4.6(152 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    La Shukran delivered from start to finish. Easily one of the best dining experiences I've had in a…read morewhile. We had a reservation but there was a short wait, so the hostess directed us to the bar. When we were finally seated, we found out our drinks had been comped. Such a thoughtful touch! We started with the BBQ'd Maitake spread which was the perfect blend of sweet and savory. It was served with French baguettes. We also had the lamb sausage dumplings, which were absolutely delicious. I had the Rumaan to drink which paired perfectly, and for my main, the slow grilled lamb. All were outstanding. I closed out with the Filfil cocktail and chocolate macarons, which were the perfect ending. The food was flavorful and consistently top tier, the vibe was great, and the service was truly one of a kind. Warm, attentive, and genuinely memorable. Five stars without hesitation!!!

    I came here for a very hard fought reservation and it was well worth it! The beverages were so…read moreunique and the food was delicious. It was so much fun to try this flavor of fusion. It is quite a small place so it makes sense that it would fill up quickly. Finding it was also very confusing too. We had to go behind in an alley and go up the stairs. My friends and I shared a few appetizers and then got our own food. We shared the fries and falafel, which were great. I got the escargot hummus and my friends got other dishes. We loved our dishes although they weren't very vegetarian friendly, which makes sense. I would come back here again, although there are other Mediterranean places in the city I favor more than this one.

    Photos
    La' Shukran - View from waiting area

    View from waiting area

    La' Shukran - Shortbread

    Shortbread

    La' Shukran - Summaq

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    Summaq

    ala - GOLDEN CAULIFLOWER

    ala

    4.2(1.2k reviews)
    3.3 miDupont Circle, Downtown
    $$$

    Brunch review ahead!!!!!…read more Ambiance- perfect for a cute date, time with friends, family members, or coworkers. The ambiance welcomes it all. Hospitality- The hostess was incredibly friendly and seated us upon arrival. Waiter- Eric was an AMAZING waiter. Bubbly personality, very polite and personable. His service was definitely a 10/10 Brunch- My friend and I decided to try their Easter Sunday brunch and my only regret was not visiting here sooner and not selecting an earlier time to dine, LOL! The entire experience was phenomenal! Bottomless mimosas- SO worth the extra $ Standout dishes: Adana meatballs Braised lamb Chicken Golden cauliflower Crispy Falafel Desserts: Baklava Brownie Kadayıf Sadly we did not get to experience all of the brunch menu items because brunch ends at 3pm and our reservations were at the heel of this time. Nonetheless, the standout dishes and desserts were enough for me to come back. I've enjoyed their happy hour, cafe area, and now their brunch. Can't wait to return.

    Three stars isn't the actual rating; I'd say more 3.5. Stopped by after visiting the Dupont…read moreCircle's weekly farmer's market to try their Sunday brunch buffet. Was warmly greeted, seated, and given an overview of the menu and brunch package options; decided to opt-out of the bottomless drinks, which had an alcoholic (mimosas and Bloody Marys) and NA (juices, sodas, drip coffee and black tea), as I wanted to try their more speciality coffee and tea. The drinks I ordered were the Turkish coffee, Levantine-style tea and digestive tea. All were quite solid. The Turkish coffee was as robust as espresso, yet not overwhelmingly bitter and slightly sweetened. The Levantine tea was a smooth black tea with natural sweetness and layered with a mint steep and floral notes of hibiscus, and rose petal. The digestive was more herbaceous with fennel and pomegranate zest, in addition to a steep of spearmint. The food was more hit-or-miss. On one hand, the meat and seafood was all very delicious and well-made. The braised lamb shank is their speciality, and well-deserved, as it's moist, savory and tender. The short rib similarly so, and the chicken casserole, lamb biajeen, Adana kebab and steamed lavraki (sea bass) were all similarly flavorful. On the other hand, the sides and mezze options were more mixed; the dolmas and fresh bites cheese with za'atar/nuts were delightful, however, the borek, cheeses, and some of the dips tasted reheated and/or not super fresh, the Brussels sprouts were quite scorched, and the savory salmon waffles were bone dry and flavorless. The French onion soup had the right flavor profile, but not the intensity; it tasted watered-down and even looked it, due to the noticeable oil blebs on the surface. Dessert was similar; the melon and fruits were fresh enough, the yogurt bar was quality, the kadayif nutty with the sweetness balanced, and the layali lubnan was intoxicatingly tasty, but many of the baked goods looked rather packaged and the fondue station was mediocre. The staff, however, were extremely friendly (my special regards to Mia, she's a great conversationalist and a sweetheart!). They answered all my questions, and one of the bartenders even gave me half a lemon to zuzh up my tea with. As I said at the start, more 3.5 stars than 3 stars. The core of their offerings are all quality, so I can't quite dock them a full two stars for the food quality because they had buffets aren't usually renown for said quality. You really can't expect perfection from AYCE, even though I naturally encourage the management to avoid sourcing pre-made items from Sysco if possible. The friendly staff and eloquent Eastern Mediterranean ambiance allows me to still say I enjoyed this experience, and may be back for dinner in the future.

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    ala
    ala - Adana Kebab

    Adana Kebab

    ala

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    Nabiha

    Nabiha

    4.3(24 reviews)
    3.6 miU Street Corridor

    What an absolute amazing dinner that ended on live music performances by various artists…read more I was suppose to meet a friend at Nabiha's after a long time. I was very hungry that day, so hungry that I didn't even wait to take a picture for yelp. I ordered the appetizer sampler and the makloubeh. I think my friend ordered fattet jajj. Everything was delicious though I couldn't focus much on the food since I was catching up with my friend after a long time. After we finished the entrees, we ordered kunefe for dessert and it was amazing. A proper end to the meal. Then we heard live music coming out of the other hall and the owner was kind enough to let us sit wherever we wanted to listen to the performances. The staff of Nabiha is delightful and they made sure that me and my friend are well taken care of. More than a restaurant this felt like visiting a friend's home. 5/5 must try!

    Been eyeing this place for a while and finally got around to trying it! We ordered the Chicken…read moreFreekeh Maqlouba and the Fattet Jaj. The Fattet Jaj was okay, the rice was a little clumpy, but the Freekeh was pretty good and tasted authentic. It's also connected to El Secreto de Rosita, so there's a combined menu and you can order from either place, which gives you plenty of options. The service was great; our waitress was very sweet and welcoming. The ambiance was chill, and there was live music playing, which was fun to watch. Overall, a cozy spot for a relaxed night with good vibes and live music.

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    Nabiha
    Nabiha - Babousa

    Babousa

    Nabiha

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    Alshami Restaurant - Baklava

    Alshami Restaurant

    4.0(31 reviews)
    6.7 mi

    Ordered from Grubhub, but couldn't review on that platform. Arayes sandwich was amazing! Will…read morereturn to try something else. Price was good value.

    I'm absolutely shocked at how horrible the treatment is at this scam of a business! They don't…read moreexpect repeat customers here, so they force you to pay up front and then hassle you to leave. Even if there is nobody waiting to use one of the 10 tables there. This is one of those places people will come to once and never again. Believe the real reviews on here and not the obvious, "friends and family" entered "reviews". Besides the unhealthy egg substitute they use for the scrambled eggs, the buffet food was basic appetizer type food that was straight out of the can (hummus, fool, etc). No meat items or freshly prepared items are part of that overpriced "buffet". The owner just hovers among the tiny seating area and bothers all the tables trying to get them to leave. After we each grabbed 1 plate, whenever the owner saw us not eating (we were talking to each other), he would come over to ask us if we were finished. Not even 30 minutes after we got in, he notices us talking again and comes back to our table and yelled at us to leave, because "we want to use the table for other people". We were all just sitting there shocked. When my friend finally mentioned we weren't finished, the owner brought an employee over who was holding a tub for dirty dishes and then the owner started grabbing our plates and cups from right in front of us and slammed them into the tub that the employee was holding. He also had the nerve to yell "this is why I don't like you people here!". Racist much? Not sure why he was harrassing all of the tables and finally took it out on us. He definitely made a huge seen, to the point where the couple who came in before us and was seated at the table next to us, recorded his behavior on one of their phones and sent it to my friend who was at our table. Be forewarned, worst place in the DMV area.

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    Alshami Restaurant
    Alshami Restaurant - Lemon Mint Smoothie

    Lemon Mint Smoothie

    Alshami Restaurant - Ouzi at the bottom. What was left of the muhammara dip. Spicy olives. Chicken shwarma over fattoush salad up top.

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    Ouzi at the bottom. What was left of the muhammara dip. Spicy olives. Chicken shwarma over fattoush salad up top.

    Albi - mideastern - Updated May 2026

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