The food was excellent, but delivery missed the mark. We didn't receive utensils or the shawarma…read morechicken on the salad we ordered, which was disappointing given the already high delivery price. That said, everything we did get tasted fantastic. The chicken shawarma samosas were a standout -- crispy, flavorful, and perfect with the dipping sauce. The salad was fresh, and the feta was miles better than anything at my local supermarket. The hummus was creamy and delicious, and they were generous with the pita, which paired perfectly with both the hummus and the falafel. I'd absolutely eat here again because the food is genuinely great, but I'd skip delivery next time since it felt overpriced for what actually arrived.

I hate to do this, but I had a very bad experience with the server. The food was excellent as…read morealways, and we love this place whenever we are in town; I always make sure to eat the delicious food here. However, our server attempted to scam my credit card, which made for a very unpleasant experience. I have never seen anything like it before, and it left me feeling uncomfortable. From the start, the server seemed pushed to sell additional items, and her attitude was off. We decided to ignore her and enjoy our meals instead. After we finished eating, she came over and asked if we wanted to see the dessert menu. When I said no thank you, her demeanor changed. Then I requested the bill, and she brought it. We still tried to overlook her poor attitude. I was shocked to find that she had added a 48% tip without informing me. I questioned her about the discrepancy in the bill amounts compared to the previous one. She said she needed to check and would get back to me, but when she returned, she concocted a story claiming she had charged my card for another tap. Which could have happened, but she just brought it without checking. When I asked if she had double-checked before bringing the bill to me, she remained silent and just looked at me. Strangely, the manager never approached us to apologize; he just observed from a distance. Which was very funny, I have never felt like this before. Given the similar reviews I had seen, I didn't believe her story. I will never return to this place, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone in town. There are many other options available. Don't let them scam you. The management should be ashamed for allowing scammers to victimize their customers repeatedly.

I went to an event at Ammoora in Baltimore and was honestly so impressed. The Mediterranean Syrian…read moremenu was amazing. Everything tasted fresh, flavorful, and really well made. The space itself was beautiful and created such a warm, welcoming atmosphere. It felt like the perfect setting for the event. What stood out most was the service. We were about 60 people and everything ran so smoothly. All the food came out at the same time, everyone got their meals without any delays, and every single dish was delicious. There were zero issues the entire night, which is rare for a group that size. I would definitely recommend Ammoora for events or even just a dinner. They really did everything right.

Amazing food, beautiful space, and excellent service! I highly recommend visiting Ammoora if you…read moreare in the Baltimore area or even making the drive if you are in NOVA/DC!

My go-to spot for authentic Mediterranean food in Baltimore…read more I like to order online and pick up my food to go usually, but I have also dined in. It's a bit dark and outdated inside, and they do not sell alcohol. Their shawarma is great, I love their chicken shawarma wrap with fries. They also have a mint lemonade which is extremely refreshing.

Pleasantly surprised! I always walked passed Zaatar and never stopped in but we needed a later…read moredinner the other day and with Zaatar being one of the only spots open (why does everything close so early in Baltimore!?) we stopped into Zaatar. I had the mixed shish grill and truly enjoyed it! I am not typically a steak or lamb person but both the steak and lamb shish kabobs were great! Service was on point and friendly and the ambiance was perfectly casual.

My first visit to Fettoosh felt intimate in the best way. The owner personally served the dining…read moreroom while also tending the kitchen, which lent the experience a quiet, home-cooked sincerity. Their signature mint tea was genuinely splendid--aromatic, balanced, and restorative--whether by recipe or by the hand that poured it. I ordered the Tfaya (djaaj), drawn by curiosity about raisin-topped couscous, and was rewarded with a warm, herbal, deeply satisfying dish. The flavors felt honest and transportive, offering the closest approximation of a Maghrebi home kitchen I've encountered locally. While the setting is modest and the operation clearly small, the food carries cultural confidence and care. Fettoosh succeeds not by spectacle, but by intimacy--and that, here, is its strength

Good food with even nicer service. This place feels very authentic and the man who owns it is very…read morekind and friendly. He chatted with us the whole time and recommended the mint tea to us which was delicious and well worth it. My first time really eating Moroccan food but the flavor combinations were good and the preserved lemon and olives used in the dishes were tasty. My favorite dishes here were the chicken tajin and the mint tea

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.

Everything we ordered, including three different flatbreads, a container of toum, and rice pudding,…read morewas fresh and very delicious. Can't wait to order from this great place again.

We had such a wonderful time at Z&Z today! From the moment…read morewe walked in, we were greeted with a warm smile. Since it was our first visit, the associate was so kind as to explain the entire menu. The explanation was clear and thorough. The presentation was just perfect, which really helped us decide what to order. There are both inside and outside seating options. The food arrived in about 5-10 minutes, and two associates brought it outside to us. They even surprised us with a complimentary plain cheese manoushe for our first visit! WOW! The manoushe was absolutely delicious. We're definitely planning to return and share this amazing spot with our friends and family in the Rockville neighborhood (Woodley Park, Nelson Street). Thank you so much, Z&Z! Keep up the fantastic work!

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.

I don't even know where to start with this. Last friday, I had a remarkable dinner here, and I was…read morewowed from the moment I stepped inside. As much as I love the cocktail bar next door, I had no idea this epic place was here. The inside is a bit dark, yet so welcoming and cozy. It's the waiting area if you are either early for your reservation or waiting for others in your party. They are kind enough to give you a glass of water and the cocktail menu in case you want to get started. We were fancy and did the hearth table and WHAT a journey it was. From surprise drink tastings and bites to pretty much trying all new food items and combinations, I would absolutely do it again. I could name the things that I had, but you may or may not know what they are. All I can say was that it was seven delightful courses that left me just right. The friendly, professional staff made it even better. Check the reservations and to the hearth table. Do it.

KenScale: 8.5/10 Visit: March 2026…read more My wife Jun and I have been to Albi multiple times already and on every visit we end up ordering the exceptional lamb kebabs for our final savory dish. Earlier this year, I saw that the restaurant started offering a large duck rice dish on the menu and, knowing how much Jun loves duck, tried to see if I can book a table. We had a reservation in January but we had to cancel that due to a last-minute trip to New York, and really struggled to find an open seating on a reasonable hour (we just had no appetite for a dinner past 9 p.m.) until recently last month. As we opened up the menu, we were very sad to learn that the duck was no longer on the menu (our server couldn't give a definitive time on when the dish will be back), but that didn't dampen our enthusiasm for another outstanding meal at Albi. Since my last review of the restaurant was in 2023, I figured a re-review was in order, especially given that this visit was our 10th total. When it comes to Middle Eastern spreads, it's hard to beat what Albi offers along with a giant pita bread. At this point, Jun had tried the mushroom hummus with confit egg yolk multiple times, and yet she couldn't again stop marveling how addictively delicious the hummus was with alluringly smoky flavor of mushroom. One new spread that we saw for the first time and decided to order was msabaha with embered firefly squid and white peas covered in tahini; not surprisingly, it was another standout dish even if squid is not an ingredient one would ordinarily see in these spreads. Another item on the menu that we tried for the first time (and really liked) was malfouf, a wrap of cabbages stuffed with smoked beef cheek and red shatta condiment. By now, we have seen multiple variations of the lamb kebabs at Albi and every time we walked out of the restaurant happily stuffed. For the current season, we were greeted with loin and smoked belly shish accompanied by vegetables of charred turnips and brassicas. The lamb's texture as usual was quite outstanding, and the charred vegetables (as well as a side dish of Fattoush salad with orchard fruits and smoked feta) also offered a wonderful complement to the meat. If someone asks me to list the most iconic dishes in DC, I won't hesitate to include the lamb kebabs from Albi. During our trip to Jordan in February, we fell in love with a popular dessert called knafeh (made with pastry dough layered with cheese and soaked in syrup); we never had a chance to try the same from Albi until this visit, and Jun remarked that the delightful knafeh was just like how she remembered from a restaurant in Petra, except the pomegranate sorbet that was placed in the middle. It seems like getting a reservation at Albi is becoming more and more difficult over time. The reservation window opens on the first day of each month and once past that first day, it is really challenging to find a seating during early and prime-time dinner windows, especially for the main dining room. This visit was the first time we had to be seated at the bar as we were slightly late to the reservation party, but the bar seating actually wasn't bad at all, as we chatted with the friendly bartenders from time to time while enjoying the food. As always, the beverage list at Albi is outstanding, featuring many Middle East-based cocktails and wines. As we increasingly find ourselves in our culinary journey together these days visiting our old favorites more often rather than checking out new places all the time, Jun and I are very thankful that Albi is in DC. It still is firing on all cylinders even after being around for several years in the DC dining scene, and deserves to be one of the best restaurants in the city.

The Cedars of Lebanon is an easily-overlooked cafe right on the corner of the Old Greenbelt…read moreShopping Center which is a lovely hidden gem. I spent every summer in this town, growing up, and I never discovered this restaurant until a precious friend brought me here a few years ago. It's a dated, though efficient, and charming, cafe with fresh dishes you might love. Firstly, if you plan on having lunch here on a Monday, make sure you are able to finish by 2:45 since they close by 3pm. All other days, they are open past 8pm. We started with the sweet potato soup despite the fact that the reviews for the lentil soup here are the highest. Yes! If it's featured: get it! The turmeric and coconut milk make this soup delightful. The herbs made it so fresh and there was just the right amount of sweetness and gentle heat. Parsley really adds to this recipe and I'm not usually a fan of this herb. The pitas are soft, thin and light. Love them. We needed to order more. I've never had such paper-thin pitas. Yum! I love love love the hummus, here. It is nothing short of divine. The flavors are fabulous and deeply complex. You can really taste the tahini. The olive oil is mild and delicious. I exclaimed, "the hummus was the best ever." And then 5 minutes later, I read a review by Yelper James H. where he says it's the best ever and, "... this hummus at Cedars of Lebanon might have ruined all other hummus for me forever." While I've had similar swooning feelings over the hummus at Lebanese Taverna in Tyson's Corner, this hummus is at least a top contender if not the metro DC area's hummus winner. The cucumber mint yogurt salad is nice, cold and refreshing. You can really taste the mint. I would order this yogurt salad with every meal. The falafel pizza is unusual and fresh. Straight away-- you can taste the tahini, parsley and couscous. The dough is grainy and natural. And there are radishes on this falafel pizza: not overpowering. For the $9 or so pricepoint, this dish is a true labor of love. To prep all of these vegetables, even with food processors, must take time. How novel of a dish! Put the yogurt salad on this pizza. You will thank me. And I only did it because I was watching someone else slather it on. There were at least 12 desserts on the menu. Meow. If we weren't so full of pita, hummus, tahini and fresh veggies, we certainly would love to taste a few of these. As well as the Turkish coffee, with an authentic ceramic and metal carafé presentation.

Pretty easy, breezy no-frills restaurant…read more We stopped by Cedars of Lebanon, because it was one of the few places that had outdoor seating and was not full. The restaurant has a small outdoor dining area with three four-seater tables, which was find for our two dogs. The experience overall was pretty low key, which necessarily is not a bad thing. Although there is waiter/waitress service, you will have to order your food at the cashier's counter. Actually, maybe that's only a thing if you are dining outside. The menu has a nice mix of Middle Eastern dishes. I went with a beef (or maybe it was lamb) kabob plate. The portions were fine and my meal was pretty good. It was not out of this world amazing, but it got the job done. I thought that the prices were pretty good for the area and the amount of food received. Although the food was fine, I do not think that I would go out of my way (e.g., driving more than 30 minutes) to dine here. Just be aware that the restaurant does not serve alcoholic beverages.