Meal had some high high's and some low low's. The atmosphere was precious. I loved the decor. Very Mediterranean and cozy. The bread basket was amazing. Bread was freshly baked and delicious. Ordered hummus as an appetizer which was decent, but nothing special. For the main course, I ordered the Durum and my friend ordered the Swordish sandwich. We both got salads on the side instead of fries which looked defrosted. He loved his Swordfish sandwich. It was huge. I didn't love my Durum. The meat was oily and lacked flavor. i didn't even finish it it was so bad. I'd like to come back to try the pides, brunch, and hookah. read more

I've been to this restaurant twice and both times I've had excellent service and phenomenal food! They are not a vegetarian restaurant, but have many menu items that are friendly to vegetarians. The first time was on an informational interview, which was lunch. I highly recommend the grilled vegetable pizza. I took half of mine home, it is an individual pizza that is larger than a normal plate size. It was sprinkled quite liberally with goat cheese. The second time I went for dinner and had a portabello pide (that was how it was spelled). It's a Mediterranean dish (don't know where it originates, Turkey or Lebanon or elsewhere - I've seen it in both restaurants) which our waitress described as a Turkish calzone that is not quite all the way closed and looks a bit like a canoe. Well, it did look like a canoe. It was loaded with the mushroom and...well, goat cheese. It tasted incredible. Considering it was a mushroom pide, the flavor wasn't really very strong, the goat cheese overwhelming it. I would have renamed it the Goat Cheese Pide with some portobello mushrooms. However, I loved goat cheese, so it was a happy reverse! Our waitress was very cheerful and chatty, made terrific recommendations, and checked on us frequently. They made sure our water glasses were full and made sure we were happy with our food. The service was great! I would definitely recommend others try this...and try a pide! read more

Before heading to eastern market, me and the family decided to grab some lunch and just happened to stumble upon this place. And we were really happy! The food is delicious and the place is much bigger than I expected, with a front and back patio along with a full bar and restaurant seating. I got the cafe 8 turkey style pizza with an egg on top. Really good! It's not a typical pizza like it says on the menu. The bread is delicious and the filling was so tasty! We also tried the doma sandwich with fries and finished that off. It's a good size sandwich that could be spilt, which we did. My only complaint was the service. It was a little slow for us. Luckily we weren't in a rush. But we did have to find our waiter a couple times to ask for things and the check. Other than that, a great place you should totally check out! read more

This was my second time here and the food is fresh, authentic, delicious and reasonably priced. I give the food and service five stars. Cafe 8 is a good place to go when you want to be able to have a conversation with your partner. The restaurant is usually not busy and the tables are not crammed together. BUT the hookah bar attracts a party crowd and both times that I have been here there has been a noisy birthday party, or friends gathering. The restaurant has two rooms, side by side and the party crowd is usually in the second side room. Note: My third time at the restaurant was a real disappointment. The restaurant was crowded, noisy, service was terrible, hooka smoking at an adjoining table and food was not as fresh. I no longer recommend and will not return. read more

If I could give zero stars, I would. To be fair, I did not try any of the food, because we walked out without eating. This rating is based on the facts that 1) when we were waiting for our table by the bar, there was no bartender in sight and when he finally showed up 15 minutes later, we asked for some drinks, he disappeared and the drinks never came; 2) upon being seated, we had 2 different people come to our table to ostensibly take our order -- and none of our ordering efforts actually resulted in any food or drinks (the first server went in search of our drinks that we had ordered at the bar and never returned; the second came and took food and drink orders); 3) when I asked for bread, they said they would bring some out, only to produce a basket of bread and olive oil for the table next to us, that had been seated much later. At that point I was so irritated I knew I wouldn't enjoy the meal, no matter how good it may have been. As we were leaving, I asked to speak to the manager. The hostess said I could tell her and she would convey our message. I explained that I felt we had received poor service, she stared at me and said OK. and then we left. We went down the street to matchbox and when the host was responsive and the waitress friendly, I almost wanted to kiss their feet, I was so grateful for some customer service. read more

Cafe 8 is currently my favorite hookah bar in DC-- strong hookah, great drinks, and delicious food. So basically, everything you need in life in one place. The food here is shockingly good for a hookah bar. I usually get hummus and the chicken kabob. The hummus is delicious and has a great flavor and conistency. It comes with soft, warm turkish bread and some olive oil with zatar on the side. I also had the red pepper dip once and it was good too. The chicken kabob is tasty-- cooked and flavored well. My only issue with it is that sometimes a few pieces of the meat are weirdly tough like there's a tendon or something running through them, but aside from that it's good food. The hookah here is very good. Smooth, strong, and the flavor lasts through several coals. They put one of those gladiator hookah helmet things on them (I'm embarassed to admit that I have no idea what they're actually called), so it lasts a bit longer than other places. They're also generous with coals and come by with new ones frequently. I usually get a refill most places, but I've never had to at Cafe 8. The hookah is a little more expensive than some other places: $20 for regular, $22 for starbuzz, but it's worth it given that I don't have to pay like $12 for a refill. You save money, overall, depending on how much you want to smoke. The cocktails are tasty and strong. The alcohol and the hookah together defintely have mutually enhancing effects, so I always leave here happy. Service is also super friendly and generally attentive. You can tell that the staff here care about their patrons and want them to be happy. All in all, a great place! read more

First impressions matter, and when your first impression of a place is the host berating you for being late, let's just say you're getting off on the wrong foot. We met a group of friends here for happy hour on a Friday night, making the Metro trip from Chinatown to Eastern Market at the same time thousands of people were heading down to the Nats game. So, we got there about 30 minutes after our friends. The host/owner complained about us being late despite the fact that they had plenty of empty tables and no wait for seats. I could understand his frustration if we were preventing people from spending money at his establishment...instead he made us restrain paying him money. The food and drink was decent, but a little scattershot. There are plenty of better places to get Mediterranean food in the city, but Cafe 8 is totally servicable if you're in the neighborhood. I'd stick with mezze, as the pides were hit and miss. The patio is nice, but no better than sitting near the front with the open windows. This place is tough for parties larger than about 6. I could see giving Cafe 8 a three-star review, but they really shot themselves in the foot on this one. Not worth it just based on the attitude. read more

Ozer is the best server ever. He takes care of your every need. The food is excellent. People come here for the hookah also. It is a must hit!!! read more

Cafe 8 - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We wandered into Cafe 8 minutes before the rest of the masses leaving the inauguration. The place was a mob, as was everything else in the entire city, but the staff were friendly and in high spirits. Brunch was great. We had a mix of savory and sweet. The dips, bread, french toast (err, turkish toast), pizzas and pides were all great. I look forward to returning when the place is a bit less of a zoo. read more

Want to force me to write a poor review of your restaurant? Make me wait for my check, then make me wait so long to take my check that I consider skipping out on it before grudgingly wandering the restaurant looking for some one to give my money to. Meal started off promising. Split 3 of the spreads, the red pepper spread is really good as was the warm bread. WATCH OUT the kalamata and feta spread has olive pits! Things went down hill pretty fast from there. My wife had already noted the waiter seemed distracted/in a hurry. Then the "large" mezze sampler came out with two small fallafel, I'm guessing the two dolma came from a can and the half dollar slices of feta on cucumber weren't all that to write home about. For some reason they had decided to sit all the customers in one room. That being me and my wife - alone at first - then a couple with a baby to one side and a table of 6 including 2 small children right next to us. I don't mind kid sin restaurants that much, but since the rest of the place was empty - and I'm nitpicking - I might as well point out it was like eating next to the ball pit at Chuck E Cheeses. Protip: It shouldn't take longer to pay a check than eat the meal. That I left a tip at all shows I'm a great guy; especially when confronted by a waiter who says "oh yeah sorry I forgot about you." How a waiter who only has two tables forgets all about one of them is beyond me. read more

Hole in the wall spot honesty. Definitely good time and turn up. Service could be a little better far as the bartenders. The staff working the floor was great. I only order wings and fries from here. Fried food wings eh.. taste like hot wings out the frozen section warmed up. Also don't carry Red Bull and Remy read more

Three and a half stars Quick synopsis: Nice decor, good food, lousy service. . More detailed review: Despite the Yelp restaurant classification, this place is Turkish not Greek. I've been probably half a dozen times (generally for lunch), and the service has always been uneven. In a twist, although the warm flatbread they bring you (thicker and breadier than pita) is excellent and great for dipping and spreads, I prefer the main courses here to the mezze. Pides (canoe-shaped Turkish pizzas) are great and cooked in a wood-burning oven. The spicy Iskander (ground-meat) kebob with tomato sauce is probably my favorite thing on the menu. Additionally the Donner kebab (a Turkish version of a gyro, only better and not made with pressed meat) at lunch is worth getting. Wash it all down with a Turkish Efes beer. As with most places on 8th Street, they have great outdoor seating, but there's also a back garden if you want something a bit more intimate. read more

The service here was so bad it prompted me to write my first review. We went here for a co worker's farewell lunch. There were only two other two-tops at the time, so I was very surprised at the lack of attention our table received. When the waiter did make it around to us we had to make the same requests several times, and my glass was left empty for the 2nd half of my meal. The real kicker was when the check came and the waiter told us that the credit card machine was not working. I mean, wouldn't you tell us that at the beginning of the meal?! Then he said we could leave our credit card information with him!! HAHAHA was he serious? And for the lack of attention our table received, it's funny how someone came to pick up the check before I could fully get out of my chair. The apps were great, but my Pide(?) was very dry. I would definitely go to one of the other interesting places on 8th St. read more

This place is more Turkish than Greek The bread they bring is great, so when you go demand more and more and more The Pides (think Turk Canoe) are great, I get the Pastrima which is a Turkish dried beef with salty Kaseri cheese The humus is great too read more

This is a welcome addition to the list of restaurants on the Hill. It has a nice ambience. There are 3 or 4 big mirrors that help make the space seem bigger than it is, though with that many mirrrors you are always in danger of being a bit tacky. There is a room in the back corner that has a nice fireplace. The food is simple and delicious. Both my companion and myself loved the baba ghanoush and the lentil soup. My companion also liked her pide, but wondered about the lack of entree choices for those who eat seafood and no other non-vegetarian food. I liked my adana kebab, though I felt it lacked spice. The portions were fairly generous and the prices reasonable (about 60 dollars for two, with drinks and appetizers). Cafe Divan is better than Cafe 8, though the difference doesn't justify the journey from Capital Hill to Georgetown. Cafe 8 is my second favourite restaurant in the Eastern Market area and I expect that we will be going there quite often. read more

3.5. First, I already know I must plan a return trip for either the indoor part of the restaurant or the back outdoor patio, either one somewhat further than the constant, noisy traffic on 8th St. It was a nice night and we wanted to enjoy the fresh air. I can handle a little bit of ruckus and gas, but with Cafe 8 placed right next to a popular bus stop and the local fire station, moments of quiet are fleeting. We stuck to the tapas ("Mediterranean Style Appetizers") part of the menu so that we could explore more dishes. Both the young woman running food and our waiter recommended the dolma, which were a hit. We branched out to give the muhamarra a go, a thick, creamy and smooth spread with roasted red pepper, walnut, harissa, onion, pomegranate (it was the color of and had similar consistency to tomato paste, though smoother, and had a much better flavor!) We plowed through the fresh bread and dipping oil they'd brought us gratis. The saksuka was also new to me - green pepper, eggplant, tomato, garlic, yogurt, parsley and olive oil - basically a plate of grilled, chilled veggies. And finally, the spanakopita. I promise you, it was deep-fried. Nothing could be that delightfully crunchy without a dip in the frier, if you ask me. Perhaps it's always deep fried, but whether this was a unique approach or not, I give it the thumbs up. Light, fluffy, crispy pastry and a decadent filling. The atmosphere here appears to be more casual than the other Mediterranean joint on the street and the menu somewhat less creative, but the food was still tasty and of good value. read more

I'm slightly above lukewarm on Cafe 8. We'll start with the good. I loved the decor of Cafe 8. The falafel appetizer was actually quite good, as was the sauce they served it with. The pita they serve is yummy. And now for the not so good. The chicken kebob sandwich was good but bland. The other appetizer we ordered (Baba Ghannouj) was a notch below decent. The cacik was also kind of bland and not worth ordering again. Our waiter checked in with us 3 total times during the entire visit and we mostly got service from people we saw walking around. I'd go back for the falafel, but only because I don't know of another place on Capitol Hill with decent falafel. This place could be quite good with better service though. read more

Came on a Saturday and sat outside. The hookah was good, but I believe they charge for extra coals/heads. The drinks were really good and the happy hour deals sweetened the deal. I personally didn't have anything to eat but people around me ordered some food and it looked good. I'm guessing because we were outside service was a little bit slower than I would have liked but not to the point where I had to go in and chase down the staff. Overall a fun place / vibe. read more

There's no telling how many times I've walked by this place, thought "I wonder what it's like", and just kept going. So finally one night a best friend and myself wanted something different than the places on 8th St we always go do and wanted something new. And there it was shining in the distance, the '8' glowing on the sign beckoning to us saying "come try me, you know you want to". We walked in and immediately walked back out; to the outdoor seating in the front that it where we were seated right away. Our server was very friendly and attentive. I loved the wine selection and wanted to try something new so I picked the Angora red and loved it :) My friend wasn't sure what he wanted and the waiter was actually quite helpful helping him pick a glass of Verdichio Castelli Anfora and he was very happy. I honestly had a hard time picking what I wanted to eat, everything on the menu looked so good! I settled for the chicken pide while my friend got a pepperoni pizza. I know, I know, i tried talking him into something different than pizza but his mind was set. Our food came out promptly and my pide tasted amazing! The pizza was average I guess, but that probably had to do with my bitterness that pizza was even ordered. After dinner we stuck around for another glass of wine and people watching. A very surprisingly great night and dinner and I definitely plan on going back. The only reason I haven't given it 5 stars is because I've only had two things on the menu, but I fully expect that to change. read more

This was perfectly mediocre Turkish food. Pros; many cheap options many veggie options nice enough staff 1/2 price pizzas before 7pm Cons; food was fine but not stellar entrees were $15-20 no kids menu options Fine if you live nearby and want to grab a quick bite, but no great shakes. read more

We gave this relatively new restaurant a try a few days ago. While there was nothing really wrong with the place, it did not stand out among the other restaurants on Capitol Hill. Granted, this is the only place on the Hill that serves this type of Turkish/Middle Eastern food. And the food was pretty good; I certainly enjoyed the pides. The appetizers we had (the Cigar bochek, and then some sort of lamb puree on a flat bread/pita thing) were less than extraordinary. The ambiance of the restaurant was great! I didn't realize they had such a large space. I enjoyed the dark wood, and they seem to have a nice patio/backyard for dining on nice days in the summer. The one great thing about this place is that it was not expensive at all. As I said, my bf and I had two appetizers, two pides, and two cokes, and it came to $32. We were both stuffed, we definitely didn't need those appetizers! All in all, I think this is the type of place you should go if you don't want to cook, but are sick of delivery. It won't break the bank, and it's not a noteworthy experience. read more

We went last week after finding out that there was a 2 hr wait for brunch at Belga Cafe (Cafe 8 is right down the street). This place was a nice surprise. The prices were good, and the menu is huge. I would definitely recommend this restaurant for a casual, inexpensive meal. The pides- boat shaped pizzas- were excellent. I had the breakfast version with egg and sausage and it was great. I also got to try the french toast with fruit and mint, which looked like a bit of a mess but tasted incredible. We also tried the baba ganoush, hummus and feta dips, which were all respectable and were served with piping hot fresh bread. I think this restaurant suffers from being too close to so many other dining options. Most people who want pizza probably go to Matchbox, brunch people go to Belga, and Mediterranean eaters probably go to Cava. However, Cafe 8 shouldn't be ruled out. It's worth a try. read more

I know there are a lot of mixed reviews about this place, but I say give it a chance. The food is delicious, the wait staff is extremely friendly, and they have ample outdoor seating. Dishes that I recommend... Mixed Kebab (Lamb, Chicken, Adana) Spinach and Feta pita Lamb Shank Apps that I recommend: Baba Ghanoush Cacik (Tzatziki) Chicken spread Red pepper spread Also, their cocktails are delicious, particularly the white sangria. They handle large groups really well, and are flexible if you're running a tad late. Best kabob in the city? Definitely not, but add the ambiance and friendly wait staff...give it a try. Also, in response to the "long wait for your check"... relax! Enjoy your meal and your company! This is not an American fast food joint. If you're in a hurry, tell the waiter at the beginning of your meal. read more

Excellent food and great service. I've lived in Eastern Market about six months and never noticed this place tucked beside the ever popular Cafe Belga. Stopped in one night for dinner and was worried when I noticed the place was almost empty. But that worked out as it meant better, quicker, more attentive service. I had the lentil soup (very good) and Mediterranean salad with feta, cukes, and tomatoes. The dressing was AMAZEBALLS. I ate everything on my plate. My co-diner ordered the doner kebap with a discerning palate having grown up overseas where doners are on every street corner. But she was very impressed and loved the dish. Overall GREAT place, and will definitely return - maybe even to order the exact same thing, it was that good. read more

My friends and I stumbled upon this restaurant in Southeast. It was a Friday night, the atmosphere was great and it wasn't too crowded (unlike some places nearby). Our waiter was really great! I wish could remember his name...maybe Sam?? He answered all of our questions and even let one of my friends taste a wine before she decided that was the one she wanted. I ordered the Kofte and the portion size was very generous! I don't eat lamb often but this is one of my favorites. I will definitely come back if I'm on this side of DC again. read more

I don't understand the good reviews. This place is awful. I went there for the first time a couple of weeks ago and not only was the food terrible, but so was the service. First, the server never brought bread to our table, but offered it to all of her other tables. Then a guy finally came around with a bread basket and asked us if the bread was for us. I told him we hadn't been offered any and assumed so, and then he started to walk away! So, I asked him if we were going to get any bread and he said NO! and continued walking. It was almost comedic. I seriously didn't know what the hell just happened. Anyway, we got no bread. Secondly, my gf ordered a beef sandwich and I ordered a lamb sandwich, and each were supposed to come with yogurt sauce. But when they were finally served to us, there was no yogurt sauce. I couldn't find our server so had to flag down another server, who brought us some and said that it was no longer included with the meal, even though the menu says it's what comes with the sandwiches. Additionally, there was quite a bit of bone/cartilage in my lamb meat, which absolutely grossed me out and I couldn't finish it. Maybe we were just there on an off-day, but it was bad enough that I really don't want to go back. Considering our experience there, two stars is generous. read more

The service is notoriously sluggish, however their food more than makes up for it. I've always enjoyed the food here, while not necessarily the service...I really enjoy Mediterranean cuisine, and have found theirs to be pretty dang good. I'd definitely go again. Brunch is a good time to go, as is dinner, while mid-afternoon I've found the service to be the slowest...go figure. read more

Cafe 8 automatically adds a 20 percent tip, even for small groups. I went with a friend on Saturday night and the bill came with a 20 percent tip included, even though there were only 2 of us. The worst part about that is that the service was pretty poor and did not warrant such a large tip. Our waiter disappeared and we had to ask a different waiter for the check. When he finally brought it, it was someone else's check and I had to get up and track down the waiter because he never came back. We really didn't want to have to give 20 percent for that. Aside from the service, the food is decent. The bread is warm and fresh, and the chicken kabob was flavorful. Hence, 2 stars. I would have given 3 stars had they not added the tip. read more

Service was slow, but friendly. Spanikopita was very oily and was more like a fried wonton than true spanikopita. The vegetables and rice looked and tasted like they came from a freezer and we're boiled. And they served everything with this weird horseradish-like sauce, and it was overpriced. The bread they give you was very good, however. read more

Cafe 8 is a modest neighborhood spot that's tasty, not very expensive, typically has good service, and usually has available seating. And has some of the best hummus and pita I've had. My husband and I come here often, especially when it's warm out. If you're looking for something more than a casual neighborhood joint, though, this isn't it. But it's very good at what it is. read more

Great place to have Mediterranean (mostly Turkish) food and hookah. Anything we tried was delicious, and well prepared. I also tried this place on Sunday brunch as well. Great omelets, rich and tasty. Nice decoration and outdoor seating. This is my honest opinion, try out yourself. read more

My husband is from Istanbul and has been dying to find lahmacun. Cafe 8 came through! We tried the cacik, pide, lahmacun, börek and baklava and they were all fantastic. We have also eaten at Ezme (another Turkish restaurant in DC) and Cafe 8 was much better for the traditional food, in our opinion. The nargiles are also a plus. The atmosphere was great and the staff was extremely friendly and accommodating. Our server even went out of her way to make my husband ayran. The only downside is that they didn't have Turkish tea. We will definitely be back next time we're in town! read more

Cafe 8 - Pistachio baklava! - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This place is a good, consistent hookah bar/restaurant. Has an outdoor patio, which is great for sunny warm days in DC. The bar scene can be quite lively and has a "Cheers" feel to it. The bartender, John, was great. The guy, Chris (I believe that is his name) who handles all of the hookah orders, knows his stuff, and will create hookah mixes to your liking. The hookah is fresh and they are good at getting new coals for you. The food is SOOOO good, it's definitely worth the bang for the buck. The meze platter is a great option for some light but filling bites. I had the doner kebab platter and damn it was tasty! Their version of tzaiziki sauce is like a middle eastern ranch, so, so good. Plates and meals are priced reasonably so it won't break the bank! read more

I really liked some aspects of this place, and others were not so good. For starters, the place has a bit of an idenity crisis. The food is mostly Greek / Turkish, the beer is mostly Italian (Peroni), and when I went on a Wendesday there was a group of Spanish flamenco guitarists playing some songs (I am a sucker for flamenco guitar, but it was a bit too loud and made it hard to hear the person next to you). This Mediterranean amalgamation is not necessarily a bad thing, though, and makes it quite charming (I also like that you have to push through a wall of heavy beads to get to the bathroom). We came with a big group, and the wait staff was quite accomodating and for the most part was very helpful. To put it shortly: good food, expensive booze. We ordered carafes of sangria that were absurdly expensive ($30 for small drinks for 4 people) that seems a bit watered down. The food though, was quite good. I had a pide, which was described to me as a canoe-shaped pizza originating from Turkey. I'd say it was an accurate description, as the Cafe 8 pide (with ground lamb, pine nuts, and other tasty ingredients) served as a canoe that sent me down the Mediterranean Sea in a voyage of deliciousness. And yes, I realize I took that metaphor too far. My friend got the margherita pizza which was fairly sub par. The hummus appetizer was good but nothing special, and we got a sauted spnich and eggplant appetizer that had no flavor. I would say check this place out, and stick with the canoes and light with the alcohol. read more

Cafe 8 is excellent. Excellent dishes and they usually give a free gift, usually hummus or s small dish, with delivery order. I love the kebab dishes and the Lahmacun. read more

Cafe 8 - Mixed Kebab delivery. Love Cafe 8. Great place. - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Nice vibe and good service. But they need speakers in the back. We can't hear the music

quality Mediterranean restaurant in eastern market and close to metro. I must say that their food is delicious. Recommend the Cafe 8 Pide, which is a flatbread type pizza with lamb and feta cheese. It is like eating really good hand-tossed pizza except that it is a tad crispier. The doner kebab is amazing. It's very moist and the sauce adds something extra. I live in NYC and haven't found a place that makes doner like this. The Lamb Shank is very tender and of the fall-off-the bone variety. I would have given this place 4 stars except that the service was not the most attentive and I am pretty sure they didn't give our table any complimentary bread to start. We were certainly hungry. Also, a portion of the dining area is close to the kitchen and gets filled with smoke from the kitchen (due to the grilling) so sit outside near the front or back or towards the interior. It seemed like the back seating was reserved for the hookah crowd. Overall, great restaurant. read more

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Cafe 8 is my go to spot for hookah. The servers here are very friendly and fun and I love the variety of hookah flavors and the atmosphere. The food is pretty average and usually not the reason I come here. If you're a hookah lover I definitely recommend Cafe 8. read more

NYE drinks. It's a hookah bar. So there's that. Very string sense of pride by the owners. Service is good.

I'm here on a Sunday night. They charge 20% gratuity, however I watched 3 servers walk by 4 times and not one asked if they could replenish my drink or hookah. In my observation, they spend their time catering to the loud and boisterous crowd who are offensive and rude. Not a place for the grown and sophisticated. Seems like their clientele is 25 and under. If you're looking for a more upscale place, look elsewhere. read more