Gypsy kitchen This…read moreplace is quite good. I really love the charcuterie board and the cauliflower was amazing. This was the first time I've been impressed by charcuterie from a restaurant. The Spanish cheese (Mahón) along with the crackers and mustard sauce was superb. All the meats had their own characteristics and unique flavors but the jamón stood out to us the most. It even went well with the sauce that came for our cauliflower dish. It was fun piecing the components together to make unique tasty bites. I would come back just for the charcuterie alone. The drinks we got were Angelli's Ferrari along with the espresso martini-ish. My favorite was definitely the Ferrari one, but the espresso martini was super mild and had a slight coffee flavor. Good for people who like very light coffee. The Ferrari one was very bright and had lots of fruity notes to hide the alcohol. For entrées, we had the shakshouka, crispy, cauliflower, and brunch pork belly. Out of all these the cauliflower was definitely my favorite; super light with good earthy flavors and nuttiness and acidity from the lemon. The brunch pork belly was good too. The meat was perfectly cooked, but I found the beans to be a little bit overwhelming. I'm not a fan of baked beans personally so that might've been my fault for picking the dish, but I still did enjoy it and the pork that was well cooked made up for it; definitely for someone who likes beans. Shakshouka was very hearty with a lot of tomatoes and red vegetables in general. If you like lasagna or any sort of tomato spaghetti dish, you will like this one. I found this to be a bit much though. I was slightly tired of the flavor at the end. Just be aware it is a bit spicy. We had a pear tart for dessert. Honestly, it reminded me of an apple pie and it was good, but I think that some of the other desserts would've been a bit better. Had a lot of sweet cinnamon notes along some crispy flaky dough from the outside. It was an interesting take but it was still good. The atmosphere is great here; we had seating on the second floor, so it was different from the busy first floor. Very relaxed and there's a lot of natural light coming around which made everything feel very welcoming. Our server was also super friendly. I will definitely be back at this place

Brunch !! We had a…read moregreat time & enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant very much! We went on a day they werent very busy, so that was a plus, but our service could have been better. They forgot one of our benedicts & when it came out, it looked smaller than the other one. My main issue is that they promote that they have vegan options, but they really do not. The crispy cauliflower is about the only thing that is vegan on the menu. While I do occasionally eat meat, most everything had dairy in it & I have an allergy. We ordered: Crispy cauliflower-- 8/10 Spanish Benedict-- 9/10 Steak & Eggs-- 6/10 Lamb Hummus-- 10/10 Mimosa-- yum! Espresso Martini-- 8/10 Passionfruit Gin-- 8/10

I've been here twice now and have had a great experience. I recommend getting a spot on the outside…read morepatio if the weather is nice. It is covered and you can watch all the Dupont atmosphere pass by on the street. I'm a big fan of Mediterranean food. And it didn't disappoint. They were also really good with kids as my partner and I have 5 year olds. They not only have kids menus but crayons and unique coloring activities that were perfect for our son and daughter. We ordered the dip sampler, the grilled chicken and manti, which are dumplings stuffed with meat and topped with cream. The kids loved the pita bread, as did their dads. The pita was so delicious and we kept dipping it in the complimentary olive oil with black olive tapenade. The dip sampler was good, but we didn't love all the options as part of that mix like the red pepper dip or the fishy roe. Finally, the wine selection is unique here. It consists of a lot of Greek and Turkish wines. We aren't as familiar with this regions o appreciated our server allowing us to taste the wine before committing. Overall, service was attentive and they did a great job checking in with our family. I'd definitely recommend this spot. It's a higher end place on the strip!

The vibe? Immaculate. Think warm lighting, gorgeous bar seating, and just enough "I'm chic but…read moreeffortless" energy. The kind of place where you accidentally stay way longer than planned. The food? Delicious across the board -- and definitely made for sharing (or pretending to share while guarding your favorites ). Every dish felt thoughtful and flavorful without trying too hard. The spread platter is a must. Shrimp was yummy-- wish more came with the dish. Lamb was succulent. Chicken kabob was grilled to perfection. Manti was yummy. I loved the baklava. And can we talk about the hibiscus spritz?? Beautifully balanced, refreshing, and dangerously easy to keep ordering. She's pretty and she delivers. 10/10 would return for the ambiance, the bites, and a little sip-sip moment

Great food and ambiance, we ordered the lamb chops, salmon, fish, all delicious. Definitely…read morerecommend it.

I treated my friend to brunch after seeing all the hype on TikTok, Yelp, and Instagram, and it…read moreabsolutely lived up to it! This was easily one of the most entertaining brunches I've experienced in the DMV, while still maintaining an upscale vibe. From the singer taking special requests during brunch to the live entertainment afterward, drummers, dancers, and a saxophonist turning things into a full brunch party...we were thoroughly entertained from start to finish. What really stood out, though, was that the food matched the energy. At some places, you get great entertainment but mediocre food - not here. Everything was beautifully presented, served at the perfect temperature, and genuinely delicious. My friend was so impressed with her birthday celebration that she thanked me for days afterward. The service was impeccable, the space is stunning with plenty of Instagram-worthy moments, and despite how busy it was, it somehow still felt warm and welcoming. If you're in the mood to get dressed up, enjoy an upscale brunch, celebrate a special occasion, or impress someone on a date, this is definitely the place. I'm already looking forward to my next brunch party here!

Ottoman Taverna ended up being a great choice for a Saturday night with a larger group. It was not…read moreoverly busy, which created a nice sense of calm and made it easy to settle in and enjoy the meal. We ordered a spread including the cold mezze sampler, cauliflower, moussaka, lamb shank, branzino, and the combination grill platter. The food across the board was strong with no real complaints. The cauliflower was the standout for me and easily my favorite dish of the night. The meat dishes were tender and full of flavor, and everything felt well prepared. If I were to go back, I would probably explore more of the hot mezze. The cold mezze sampler was good to have, but it did not feel particularly unique, so I could see skipping or rotating that out in favor of trying something different next time.

I've heard a lot of good things about Ottoman Taverna, so a friend and I decided to give it a try…read morefor dinner. Overall, it's a solid spot for Mediterranean food, but there are definitely some trade-offs. We both started with martinis, which we enjoyed, and opted for the "A Trip to Turkey" set menu, which felt like a good value and let us try a variety of dishes. We shared everything. To start, the tzatziki and hummus were both fresh and flavorful. The sigara böreği and falafel were also very tasty and well-prepared. For mains, we split the salmon, which was fine but nothing memorable, and the Adana kebap, which was the standout--really well-seasoned and delicious. Dessert was a bit of a letdown. The tahini tiramisu and baklava were just okay and didn't quite live up to the rest of the meal. The biggest downside was the overall experience. The space is huge and very brightly lit, which takes away from the ambiance--it doesn't feel particularly warm or inviting. Service was also inconsistent. We were moved three times throughout the meal, and everything took quite a while to come out. That said, our server was on her first shift and genuinely did a great job under the circumstances. One thing to note: there's an automatic 20% service charge added to the bill, and it's not a tip. All in all, Ottoman Taverna is a decent choice with some strong dishes, but given the options, I'd be more inclined to return to Rumi's Kitchen or Zaytinya.

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.

Checked out ala for a weeknight dinner this past week. The restaurant was lively and had a lot of…read morepeople seated at the bar. We came to dinner not overly hungry, so we opted to do a bunch of cold and hot mezze plates - ended up ordering the baba ganoush, duck prosciutto (2 plates because we were so excited about it), salmon kibbeh nayah, tawook shish chicken kebab, and golden cauliflower. Overall, our picks were solid. The duck prosciutto had a nice crunch with the chip(?) underneath and very interesting, lovely salad base and vinaigrette. Can't go wrong with the golden cauliflower with its yummy sauce and pomegranate seeds. Salmon kibbeh was my least favorite but perhaps I'm just not used to the texture/taste of bulghur wheat.. the salmon itself was great tho! I've heard lots of good things about brunch so I would come back for that, and/or try the short ribs or branzino if I'm back in the area for dinner!

Good CAVA location with a decent amount of seating. Efficient service, although I've experienced…read moresmaller portions than other places in DC. Also does To Good To Go - you just pick up your meal at the cash register.

Will is the absolute best!! My partner and I visit every Wednesday and he's quickly made it a…read moretradition. Very much appreciate Will always brightening our day and making us fantastic bowls

With its tasteful decor and candle-lit vibe, Namak is a date-worthy destination, or simply a cozy…read moregathering place for good friends. It's one of those places where it just feels good to be out for the evening. As to the food: the vegetable dishes are outstanding. I am not big on dips, usually, but I was won over by the mutabal, made with squash tahini, mushrooms, and shallots. It is served with a delicious sesame crusted bread, that could be addictive if you are not careful. The star of the evening was the crispy brussels, with black garlic caesar and hot honey. My word! This was like no other brussels I've ever tasted. Even the steamed spinach, tucked away on the menu in the "sides" section, was really tasty. The proteins, by contrast, were disappointing. The calamari was ok but nothing special. It came breaded rather than lightly battered - not my preference. The torsh shish - tenderloin shishkebab - was under-seasoned and a bit fatty. I was surprised it didn't have more of a grilled, smoky flavor. But the real disappointment was what was supposed to be the star of the show: the short rib tagine, with apricot, bulgur wheat, and labne. With that description, I was expecting the meat to arrive on a bed of the other delicious ingredients, but instead we got a brick-shaped piece of meat with a dab of something else. It was tender enough, and tasted ok, but really...just ok. For the price I was expecting something a little more special. The desert aficionados among us had praise for the chocolate pot, but the Persian Love Cake did not get a lot of love. For the drinks: for a Turkish/Greek restaurant I was surprised that wines from those countries were not available by the glass. Alas, there was no Greek wine to be had, and the Turkish wine could be had only if you were prepared to cough up $90 for a bottle. As I was the only wine drinker in the group, that was not going to happen. Next time I might go for a mocktail. The fermented carrot juice was funky and mystical and perhaps the best thing we had all night, beating out even those brussels sprouts.

Delicious! My wife…read moreand I shared the sample of dips, mini manti, and lahmacun. Thought we may need to order some more after but we filled up on that. Everything was great, but especially enjoyed the muhammara and the manti. Service was very attentive and polite. Also a nice interior and music at just the right volume to be enjoyable without being overpowering. Will certainly return!

We stopped by this place to check out the menu after work down the street. We found a few items…read moreinteresting and decided to give it a try. There was no wait and we were seated immediately. The food and drinks came quickly. I got the Greek chiken kebab and it came with tons of veggies on the skewer. I loved it. My partner got the chicken Alfredo and it was delicious too. I liked the Alfredo more than my chicken kebab but both were delicious. We'll come back if we're in the area!

My partner invited me to a friend's birthday celebration dinner…read more We enJOY laughing, sharing stories, celebrating milestones, and spending quality time together. This time, it was Mazi's. Just as I was about to enter, a patron sitting outside said, "You're in for a real good treat." Once inside: cozy,dimly lit, cheerfully greeted, promptly seated and perused the menu. They enJOYed the pan-crispy pork belly and, the meaty, seasoned and tender calamari wasn't on the table long. Traditional Fish & Chips for me: it wasn't a good treat. I expected a better quality fish. Much love for the "Tamahawk" chops! Red-velvet cupcakes? Icing on the cake!

Some days Urfa is a 3, some days a 4, some days a 5, very inconsistent…read more I really want this place to be 5 stars but they don't make it easy. I typical get the falafel platter with rice, veggies and salad and it's delicious! The falafel are quite good (yes deep fried-some days a little too much but so good). The meal itself with veggies, rice, salad and dressing is a really good meal. And I always get hummus on the side. Their hummus-as a middle easterner I find it weird they have hummus and a hummus dip on the menu. Keep it traditional with the hummus - one of them is super soupy like which is disappointing and when I order I can never remember which one I like. Hummus shouldn't be thin it's not tahini (although made with tahini) :) Also what I dislike is that I always ask for no bread or no sauce and they always give me 3-6 pieces of huge bread when I specify no bread and it just goes to waste EVERY time. I hate wasting food and I can't eat gluten so it's just frustrating-I wish they would read the notes when people order or listen better. I still order from here knowing that my meal will be either mediocre or great, it's a chance I take sometimes when I crave their falafel platter.

In these times I am doing everything I can to support small business, especially restaurants, so I…read morewas hesitant to even write this review, but decide to based on the food and the subsequent treatment of my request. I ordered a gyro and eggplant salad. I requested the pita for the gyro be separate so it didn't get soggy. That was not done. It's not the biggest deal but it would be nice if customer requests were honored. The bigger issue was the eggplant salad, which was rancid. I literally had to spit out what I had eaten and then throw out the container. When I asked for a refund (just of the eggplant salad) I was told that was not possible, which I do not understand since the food was spoiled and could have made me sick :( Very disappointing experience all around.