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    Cafe Fili

    4.4 (226 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Cafe Fili Takeout or Delivery

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    Business Info

    CAFE FILI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Fili

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    Reviews With Photos

    Sam K.

    Food was all so vibrant and fresh and colorful Parking was hard. Try to uber. No liquor license so they have these cute canned cocktails!!!

    Falafel Bowl
    Puja P.

    This falafel bowl exceeded my expectations! It was a recommendation by the cashier and I am so glad we chose what she decided. The falafel was perfectly crispy and the sauce drizzled over it was so tasty. I loved the veggie salad, hummus, and couscous they had on the side. All the flavors together made the dish very well done! I loved how the restaurant was casual and there was a lot of seating inside. If you're planning to grab lunch, I would suggest coming here!

    Roasted Potatoes
    Tiffany D.

    This is a cute little spot. Its actually perfect for lunch or dinner. They have a nice menu of Mediterranean options. The chicken shawarma bowl was a highlight for me and their roasted potatoes were excellent. You order at the front register and your food will be brought to you at your table. I think it gets quite crowded later in the day, but in the evening there were just a few people sitting inside the small dining space. It's more expensive than your typical cafe. Food for 2 people was a little over $50. Also parking can be sort of a pain in the area, so be mindful.

    Chicken Bowl
    Rupel J.

    Great portion sizes but definitely overpriced imo. We got take out so I can't say how the service or ambiance of the place. The food was pretty unique in the types of things they put in the bowl, but the taste was pretty average. Felt a little too oily to me personally

    Chocolate Croissant
    Fiona N.

    Not recommended during weekend. Very crowded. Chocolate croissant: the most soggy and unimpressive croissant I've ever had. Chicken shawarma bowl: tastes phenomenal. Will definitely get this again. Great quality of food. Humus tastes yummy. I'm not a hummus person but I love this a lot. The grains that come with it was salted and has a chewy texture which I adore. Side of falafel: the most soggy and blandest falafel I've ever had. Very disappointing.

    Jasmine M.

    I used to really like this place, but I went recently when they were very busy and I felt the quality was a little worse than usual especially given the price! I got a falafel wrap, egg scramble, and French toast. They messed up one of our orders, but very quickly rectified it which was very nice! Overall, I thought the food was solid but nothing special! I think their drinks are very good and they have a great juice selection which I have had before!

    Richard P.

    Overall: a bit expensive for fairly simple looking food selections BUT their tea selection is superb. Look for their carefully curated chai selections as I think I saw one from somewhere in the Middle East I think? Ambience/Service/Decor: very modern clean white tiling and decorations with plenty of indoor seating and great wifi. The manager (I assume) was super friendly having nice chats with us which definitely trickled down to the staff level. Love the environment.

    Baklava Walnut, Baklava Pistachio
    Gentjan T.

    Cafe Fili was a hidden gem, great place to stop by for a a quick sandwich or a lamb shawarma, Leave some room for the amazing baklava assortments, I was impressed how fresh the baklava was, highly recommend this place!

    Almond Croissant and pistachio baklava
    Angelica L.

    Overall: 4.7/5 (to go) Very cute, clean, & spacious cafe. Fast service. Friendly staff. Reasonable prices. What's not to love? Almond Croissant ($4): The almond croissant wasn't heated up but it was still good. It also had a bit of filling in it. The croissant wasn't very sweet and also is great to dip in your coffee. Pistachio Baklava ($2.95): Really good baklava with great flavors and plenty of pistachio bits. One of the best ones I've had! Regular Chai Latte With Oat Milk ($4.95) and Biscotti Syrup ($0.95): The cashier girl was really sweet and was indulging me with experimental flavors for my latte. She recommended the chai latte since it was cold outside so the spices would warm me up. I don't usually go for chai lattes since every time I've gotten it, the spices were too much so I wanted to add a syrup to it. She gave me a few options that could go with the chai and I chose the biscotti one. She was also the one who made my drink and it came out really well. My husband who doesn't drink coffee loved my drink and drank half of it!!! Usually he only takes a sip to try so this was huge. I liked it as well but thought it was a tad too sweet for me.

    Breakfast panini
    Dawn H.

    It was crowded, but I was able to grab a spot at the bar, ordered a panini breakfast sandwich and a fatoush salad for later. They were both delicious. Staff was friendly and helpful. Will be back!

    Apartment
    Rose H.

    Café Fili is truly a hidden gem. I really appreciated the experience that I had while dining here recently. I met up with a friend and we were both very pleased with the service, the ambience, and the food. At the time I was looking for a café that would be open late and this was the absolute perfect spot. I really appreciate the extended hours in service and the fact that they served lattes at 6 PM. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. I went on a Tuesday night so it wasn't very busy and I was able to sit and enjoy my meal. However, I can see this location being busy on the weekend so if you would like to sit and actually have an experience, I would come a little bit early. I've been to this location twice now and each time I've been very pleased. The first time I went, I got a latte with the most beautiful latte art. And the second time I went, I tried the short rib grilled cheese, which was by far the best grilled cheese I've ever had in my entire life. The flavor of the meat and cheese, the essence of all the vegetables and onions, mixed with the crunchiness of the bread that they used was just an experience all its own. The side salad was so refreshing and the dressing delicious. Im excited to come back and try another option on the menu. Fun fact: I found out that they have an apartment building called "the Flats", which was a nice find so if you're interested in finding an apartment. You could maybe book a tour of the apartment and then dine at this café afterwards. I highly recommend this location.

    the interior of a restaurant
    Arpit D.

    This cute little café is one of those hidden gems that you have to put on your list. I swung by here with some friends and I was very impressed. The menu is, simply put, unique and delicious - with plenty vegetarian options that are well priced. The place was spotless and very clean, loved the white ambiance! Ordered a Latte, Falafel bowl with some fries, and ended it with a Pecan Cheesecake, which was all delicious needless to say! Great staff with a great vibe. Beautiful presentation of pastries. You can skip Starbucks and those mediocre coffee shops, this is the place to go if you're in Baltimore! You'll love it!

    Tomato Basil
    Smitha M.

    I have always enjoyed getting a delicious meal at Cafe Fili :) The service is quick and smooth. Staff are friendly and helpful in accommodating to dietary restrictions. The vibes are perfect for a date, catching up with a friend over coffee, or enjoying solo-time. Parking is limited to street parking in the adjacent area.

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    1 year ago

    Super cute cafe! Came here on a whim and everything was excellent. What stood out was the clean facility and customer service.

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    Ask the Community - Cafe Fili

    Does the restaurant take reservations for lunch?

    We do not take formal reservations. For larger parties we can reserve the communal table. Just give us a call!

    Is this the type of cafe where I can do work during the day?

    Gets kinda busy with all tables taken. I haven't felt comfortable lingering for long periods of time.

    Would this venue be able to fit 40 people comfortably for a networking event?

    Absolutely it would. The owner is a superb guy. Always friendly and accommodating. He has a great staff and the place is always super clean

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    3.9(617 reviews)
    1.4 miInner Harbor
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    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.

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    ilili DC - pita pillows

    ilili DC

    4.4(725 reviews)
    36.3 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.

    I was so excited for ilili. I'd been a few years prior for a private event and everything was…read morefantastic. But I went with a friend for dinner and didn't love it, and given the price, it should have been excellent. I loved the vibe and service was friendly. It's pretty inside. I ordered the Keraz Carciofi Negroni, pointing to the mocktail version. I didn't even realize there was a cocktail version and that's what they gave me. Why you would a have cocktail and mocktail with the same name is beyond me. I got lightheaded and dizzy almost immediately, but I couldn't taste alcohol, so I thought it was because I hadn't eaten, especially as I felt fine once I started eating. So this also tells me that the cocktail version is poorly made. I was definitely charged for the cocktail version. We ordered the Lebanese Journey tasting menu. Nothing really wowed, except for the bread, baba ghanoush, and mouhamara. The mouhamara surprised me because it is usually not my favorite but this version was delicious. Lamb was tasty but not good enough that I'd return for it. For a tasting menu to just have two mezeh standouts, on top of an improperly made mocktail, I'd not return to ilili.

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    Zaytinya

    4.2(6.3k reviews)
    35.2 mi
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    I made reservations for Sunday Brunch and was looking forward to experiencing another Jose Andres…read morerestaurant. We were seated immediately by the matra-dee before our reservation time slot. The decor is open and airy and there's a large patio if you prefer to dine alfresco. We wanted a variety of items and began with Hummus, smoked beet salata and baba ghanoush. Followed by Crispy brussels afelia, Chicken shakshouka, Soujouk pide and shish taouk. For dessert we enjoyed Greek yogurt with apricots and olive oil cake with champagne. The presentation of all the entree's were plated professionally, tasted outstanding, and service from our waiter was on point. I highly recommend this restaurant by Jose Andres.

    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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    4.6(466 reviews)
    35.9 miNavy Yard
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    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.

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    Cafe Fili - mediterranean - Updated May 2026

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