Had a wonderful experience at Darvish Kitchen. The restaurant is beautifully designed inside with elegant Persian decorations and a warm atmosphere that makes the dining experience feel special. The staff was incredibly kind, welcoming, and great at giving recommendations throughout the meal. The food was flavorful and authentic. I got the Persian ghormeh sabzi (herb stew), which was absolutely amazing with rich, comforting flavors, and the wheat soup was also delicious. For dessert, I tried the Persian affogato, which was a nice ending to the meal as well. Overall, a great spot in DC for flavorful Persian food, beautiful ambiance, and excellent hospitality. read more

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I came for a friend's birthday and was excited since I have heard of this restaurant before. We all started out with a round of drinks and then some dips. I split the eggplant dip with a friend and would recommend doing the same. It was actually quite big for a dip. It was delicious. The fried onions on top confuse me, but the overall taste and flavor was really good at the dip. It also came with bread as well so just a tip. There really wasn't too much from a vegetarian perspective that was an actual meal, so I did eat beforehand. I did want to give this place a try so I did order the pickled plate and a side of rice. Both were really good, nothing groundbreaking, but they were delicious. I really like that the rice had a nice crispy crust. It was really fun to break and it had a really good moist flavor and texture. Our server was good. No issues or complaints with the service received. It was a pretty busy Saturday night though so I don't think I could've expected anything better. The overall restaurant itself is beautiful. There's so many small and unique touches that really make this place its own. There was one wall that was actually draped with rugs, which is really really cool. It was honestly just a really beautiful space to be sitting in. You can tell that they put a lot of time and attention into the decorations. Overall, I probably wouldn't go back due to the actual limitations of food for non-meat eaters. Well, there are quite a few side options, there's nothing that's really substantial for a meal. I will say that my friends that did or order the larger platters really enjoyed the food and were saying great things about it. I would say if you eat meat and you wanna try something flavorful you should give this a try. read more

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Made a last minute reservation here for dinner with six colleagues. The staff were so accommodating ~ and patient ~ with our group. We ordered a variety of things, including their combination appetite platter (citrusy olives with pomegranate seeds was the total standout!), chicken breast, eggplant, filet mignon kebab, and whole branzino. All delicious! The service was fast and friendly. The decor was outstanding ~ even the bathroom became a destination for several of our party members. A delightful experience and I'd happily return and have already recommended it to others. read more

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Stumbled across this restaurant while visiting DC in March. What a beautiful place the food was amazing and the service was warm and friendly. We will definitely come back next time we're in DC! read more

Darvish Kitchen - Our waiter was quite the character - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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My friend was very happy with her birthday dinner in a group of 7 of us here. Service was very good. They were kind enough to fulfill my request to bring a piece of honey cake with a candle in it, and they even comped it. They provide complimentary bread and olive oil too. The only complaint I have is that the main dishes are really pricey and unnecessarily huge. If you don't eat a lot and/or want to get dessert/appetizers, consider sharing an entree or be ready to bring home leftovers! I had an eggplant and zucchini stew which sounded simple (and is vegetarian) but was amazingly delicious. I don't know what they did to that eggplant but it was magic. Everyone liked their meats and salmon as well. read more

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We came from San Diego to DC and had the best dinner at this Persian restaurant! The food was absolutely amazing and delicious, and everything tasted fresh and authentic. Our host, Yaser, did a fantastic job. He was so welcoming, attentive, and provided us with the best service throughout our dinner. Thank you, Yaser, for making our evening so special. We truly enjoyed the food, the hospitality, and the wonderful experience. We will definitely come back! read more

Darvish Kitchen - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Absolutely blown away with the service and food quality! My husband and I had Yussef as our server and he was delightful and provided fantastic recommendations. We had the tasting menu for 2 and our favorites were: the pistachio cheesecake, the Brussel sprouts, lamb, and the shrimp and sweet pepper appetizer. The ambiance was lovely and I loved that the restaurant wasn't dark but light and fresh! read more

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Had a late dinner in this restaurant. Food was mediocre, service was horrible. Let's talk about food first. I came to the restaurant mainly because of their Kabob Torsh, cubed Ribeye served with pomegranate-based sauce. The sauce turned out to pair wonderfully with the meat: its sweetness and tanginess balanced the fattiness of the cut, and enahced the flavor of the meat. However, I got well-done meat even if I asked for rare! Moreover, I asked for Sabzi polo but got Adas polo. Then, knowing that it was challenging for the kitchen to serve rare meat, I orderd a Kabob Mahi (salmon kabob) with Sabzi polo. The salmon was good. The rice, however, was a bit soggy. Perhaps they did not cook out enough water in the herbs so that the rice absorbed too much water. I thought fluffier (Basmati) rice would pair kabobs better. I also got a complimentary flatbread which was basically a huge piece of bread crisp. I wish it could be more like a flatbread: fluffier and chewier. Now let's talk about the service. What I made me annoyed most was that when I complained about my steak and rice, the bartender (I sat at the bar) said somethign like "the steak was cooked on grill so it can only be made well-done", and "he could not do anything about the Adas polo". I told him he should have mentioned it when asking me about the temperature of meat (well, if it could only be made well-done then it's actually unnecessary to ask for temperature...) but he reacted as if "this was my fault, not his". I asked him if he could at least ask the kitchen to replace the rice for me but he refused! Unbelievable. Besides, the recipient canceled my reservation when I checked in, so I could not earn points on Opentable. Luckily they fixed it later. Also, the food was served slowly. The manager was nicer, and at the end I did not pay for the meal (I gave tips though:)). In short, not recommended. read more

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I was recently in DC for a convention staying nearby in the Mayflower. I saw this show up and had to try it. Having been to Cairo it sounded similar in offering middle eastern food. Boy did it deliver. It is a nice interior that is decorated with middle east decor. The food though had a few items on the menu I hadnt seen before. The rice was uniquely prepared by what looked like a double cooking technique. Also the bread service was great but definitely jot your standard pita bread. It was thicker and crunchier but very good with two toppings. I ordered the lamb kabobs which were delicious and well seasoned. Also they had a few unique non alcoholic drinks and the one I ordered was very good. Service was attentive and there was not a long wait for my dinner. They do play a nice medley of music and have a tv to watch while you eat. read more

Darvish Kitchen - Lamb Kabob - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Darvish impressed us with the food and the ambiance. We were a party of four that came in for dinner, and we left with full bellies, good conversations, and happy smiles. Everyone had different favorites of the night. I was most impressed with the chicken kebab. Usually with cubed pieces of chicken it can get a bit dry. But the chicken kebab was juicy and flavorful. Others loved the lamb kebab which just fell off the bone with one touch. Another favorite was the chicken saffron rice which had this tart and sweet pomegranate sauce to go with the chicken and rice. Drinks were okay. I liked how they had these wellness tonics. I only tried one and it was made with clarified cumin, meant to help with gut inflammation. I took one star off because I think our server could have been more knowledgeable about the menu, both food and drink menu. They had to refer questions to the bartender or back of house staff often. Our chicken saffron rice also came rather late (like well over an hour into the dinner) compared to everything else. Also, I loved the decor and detail in the red bathroom. My personal philosophy in dining is that every interaction is an opportunity to impress , and I was truly wowed by how ornate the bathroom was. Felt like I was in someone's home. read more

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Able to walk in around 7 and plenty of tables. Deceptively large as it has a few floors. Outside seating as well. Super fun interior. There were vegetarian options, but perhaps that wasn't the go-to here. We ordered a few dishes - the feta felt like just a block of cheese. The vegetarian stew was good. Service was friendly and always available. read more

Darvish Kitchen - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Absolutely amazing experience at Darvish Kitchen! The food was delicious, fresh, and full of flavor. The kids especially loved the tahdig! Everything we ordered was excellent, and we had such a wonderful experience. We would definitely come back again and highly recommend Darvish Kitchen! read more

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What stood out the most was how pretty and thoughtfully designed the interior was. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to the ambiance. As someone who has tried kabob at nearly every Iranian restaurant in the DMV, I found it very mediocre. The value was also lacking. I've never been to an Iranian restaurant that doesn't include rice with the kabob, yet my kabob combo was $34--and with rice, it's $44 for chicken and ground beef. The appetizers were also underwhelming. I did enjoy my kabob, but that was the only highlight. My friend, who ordered the Ghormeh Sabzi, rated it 3/10. The server was very friendly, but they didn't write down many items, so we had to remind them several times. Overall, I don't plan on returning read more

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All I can say is WOW! I love this place! I'm not an expert on Persian food, so I can't really tell what's considered authentic or not, but the food and drinks were delicious regardless! I came on a Friday night with plans having to be changed; thankfully I could make a reservation for this place a few hours before. This place is beautiful with the Persian decorations and artwork. I got the Nights of Shiraz as my cocktail and it was so refreshing with the cucumber elements! They gave us complimentary bread with this butter and savoury spread (not sure what it was) and it was a great way to start the meal. They later gave us a powder and spicy sauce which was great with my entree. For food, I got the kabob e chenjeh (lamb kabob) with adas polo (rice with dates and fried onions I believe). The lamb was cooked well and the spicy sauce and powder worked great with the meat. The crunchy rice was tasty too. Even with side veggies and herbs were flavourful - it was such a good meal! The staff were quick and kind too. I really liked this place and have to come again to try some of their other stuff! read more

Darvish Kitchen - Kabob E Chenjeh - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We had a Soltani at this place which is a barg and a kubideh kabob; seems they have no idea what is a kabob; it seemed they don't even have a charcoal or gas grill which is an absolute must for making a kabob. From the looks of what they served it seems this was a kabob made on an induction cooktop; kubideh was from unacceptable ingredients and barg was like cooked meat over steam; they charged $49. Ambiance was great; food quality near zero or less. How could they improve? By trying to make kabob! read more

Im a Persian food novice, but I had some amazing home cooked Persian meals, so my expectations are very high. And Darvish was fantastic! The decor, the service, and the food were amazing! The service was extremely hospitable and kind, and the food was excellent. The decor included lots of Persian history and art, and reflected their cultural evolution throughout the years. Street Parking is limited, so get there early, but there is also garage parking available across the street with specific hours, so double check before parking. The price was a bit expensive for the amount of food served, but honestly no real complaints. Also, there is a lounge area upstairs on the 3rd level perfect for hosting an event or a special occasion. Overall, highly recommend! read more

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Came for Norooz dinner and had a good experience at the former Mari Vanna location. A little chaotic (received an order I didn't request, some wait times for refills) but likely due to the busy night and the server himself (I didn't catch his name) was very good. Decor as nice as ever. Food: Salmon kabobs with zereshk polo - really liked the blends of spices and crunchiness of the saffron rice with nuts and barberries, all went well with the accompanying vegetables and juicy salmon. Herb stew - actually a lamb stew, but my partner felt the lamb was kind of overshadowed by the slimy eggplant (naturally it came with tahchin) Sholezard - cold saffron rice pudding was a big hit (cinnamon, saffron, and delightful rose water) Cake asali - honey cake was moist and creamy, with nice pistachio shavings and cream on top (almost as good as sholezard) I appreciated the bread and delicious butter it came with. We'd return. read more

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The food was great. I enjoyed the olive tapenade and bread the most. Hummus was not the best I've had. I was one of four customers in the restaurant. There were 12 people on staff. They were training more. The service was clearly good with that ratio. However, what was dissatisfying and not good were the politics. I've lived in DC for years and never been disappointed with staff members talking politics to me. It's never happened! This establishment pushed their story and agenda too hard. It was utterly unacceptable and quite disappointing. I enjoyed the food but not the story about how they opened or what they stand for. I didn't want to hear about some older member of their staff's violent story while waiting for an Uber. Overall, I am not interested in discussing politics at a restaurant ever. I may live in DC but I choose not to partake in things that aren't related to my life. I mind my own business. It's frustrating and not pleasant after eating a meal. One star due to awkward beginnings for Darvish. read more

Darvish Kitchen - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Great ambience; very beautiful decoration as each floor has a different theme. The service was great and food was good . Portions and prices were great. I am glad I tried the Koofteh Tabrizi meatball! Super good. read more

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I haven't been back to DC in several years and I was so excited to see the emergence of so many Persian restaurants!! I used to love the Russian restaurant that used to be here but wanted to try this new spot that took over. They kept the decor very similar but re-decorated the walls with some Iranian-centric decor. The food was spectacular! I got the the minced kebob and a side of the saffron rice. I couldn't stop eating it, everything was perfectly flavorful!! I tried one of the alcoholic drinks, I forgot the name but it had molasss and pomegranates and was such an interesting combo of sweet and sour. Overall, it may have been slightly too sweet for me but I enjoyed it! I highly recommend this place and plan to be back next time I am in town! read more

Darvish Kitchen - Alcoholic drink with molasses and pomegranate - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Beautiful restaurant and great service. The chicken kabob was cooked perfectly! Also loved the fresh bread.

Darvish was cool. Hubby & I went for lunch. Very quiet restaurant that smells amazing. Menu wasn't extensive. Food came out in a reasonable time. I ordered the chicken dish. Very tasty and packed with flavor. I love how the rice is done. Unique to serve the burnt part of rice but I personally LOVE burnt flavored rice. Service was nice and accommodating. Would recommend and return. read more

Darvish Kitchen - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I have never, ever eaten such a disgusting Ghormeh Sabzi in my life. The kidney beans were clearly canned, the herbs tasted bitter, and it had no dried limes or fried onions--two essential ingredients that give this dish its authentic flavor. Considering the poor quality, the price was far too expensive. The restaurant's décor was beautiful, but I was surprised to see the bathroom door covered with a Persian rug, which felt strange and inappropriate. On the positive side, my husband ordered the koobideh kebab, and it was better! Unfortunately, our overall experience was also affected by the owner, who charged higher-than-expected prices and the service did not justify the cost. The menu prices were higher than expected, and the tip policy left a poor impression. Overall, we will not be returning. read more

I was actually trying to go to Marivanna the Russian restaurant but I guess I missed that they closed down a while ago. Anyway, Darvish took over the spot and kept it mostly the same with the 3 floor setup: two dining and third level is a lounge/hookah place though I didn't go up there to check. The host told us it's available for parties or large gatherings if anyone is looking to rent it out. Speaking of the host and actually the staff overall, they were very warm and friendly. Had a terrific chat about the food and the restaurant itself. I'm not going to talk about the food except to say that it's on par with the other high end Persian restaurants in the DMV area. My family had an amazing night and we're definitely excited to go back sometime soon. read more

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This was by far the best Persian food I have had in my life and I've lived in Iran. The Kabob Torsh completely exceeded my expectations when I did not even know what to expect. I was visiting Washington DC for a conference and decided to walk to Darvish Kitchen for lunch and was extremely pleased. My server, Jorge, was very knowledgeable about the menu and went above and beyond by going out of his way and asking about me trying the meal that was reserved for the dinner menu for lunch. The kabob was served with the most beautiful tahchin (crunchy rice), two tomatoes, greens, pickled vegetables and olives. The pomegranate seeds being on top of the kabob made for a delightful surprise as well. My only note will be that I wish I ordered the kabob as medium instead of medium well as this is my own fault. The aesthetic of the restaurant was very Persian as they were playing Persian music, had signs written in Farsi and displayed small cultural signs that a Persian native can catch, such as the bowl of fruit in front of the bar. Even the entrance to the bathroom was stunning, let alone the actual restroom interior. I loved everything about this restaurant from Jorge's service to the food. He ensured I was taken care of, checking on me every so often and even asking questions to get to know me a bit. I am very pleased and look forward to coming back to DC to try the amazing cocktails and desserts the menu had as well. If it wasn't for the lack of time, I would have stayed longer and definitely been back for more! Excellent job. read more

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We only stopped in for appetizers before going to a comedy show, but I'd definitely go back for a full meal. Service was fantastic- swift and attentive. We ordered two appetizers and the saffron rice pudding. Everything was absolutely delicious, and the menu is vegetarian and vegan friendly. We were able to pop right in on a rainy evening, but I imagine a reservation is a good idea. There are plenty of tables, but could fill quickly. Fancy enough for a date night, but not so upscale that you feel awkward stopping in casually. read more

What a fun evening!! We sat at the third floor bar-- Maddie made wonderful drinks. We had the watermelon salad, beet salad, egg plant dip and had some olives! YUM! There was also live music! We just a bunch of fun dining and dancing away :) Would definitely come back to try out more food! read more

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The food was not great- I ordered the cauliflower appetizer- grilled with a lemon and garlic sauce. It was not - it was swimming in a sauce with no garlic and a heavy handed dose of turmeric. Had to send it back. The Branzino was cooked well but came with a goopy sauce also drenched with turmeric. Not appetizing- turmeric has such a strong flavor. read more

Service was very good. I've been here twice for lunch on a Saturday. Great menu and dining space. Every dish had great flavor. read more

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Great dinner after visiting the improv with fresh authentic flavors. Great service - great cocktails - and fun funky interior! Absolutely worth visiting and a true representation of the culture ! read more

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Darvish kitchen was sooooooo good. Great to stop in before the improv show and would definitely come back again. Wasn't too hungry so I had an assortment of entrees instead and it was still ample. Noon Panir Sabzi was great being like a vegetarian charcuterie board. Sholezard is a must for dessert. The saffron and everything about it was perfect. The decor and seating is wonderful. I really liked the view from upstairs and would say for anybody. ask if you can sit upstairs near the balcony if possible. Service was fast and necessary as we only had about 35 minutes before going to the show. read more

Darvish Kitchen completely blew my expectations out of the water. The food was unbelievably. I had a stew that I'd never heard of before and the notes of cinnamon paired with the melt in your mouth lamb was chefs kiss. The pistachio espresso martini was next level. The service was excellent and the vibes were immaculate. I would go back here in a heartbeat! read more

My Persian boyfriend brought me here and it was a great experience. Very nice ambience. The Persian owner greeted us and put us at a table and visited with us. The food was excellent best Persian food I've ever had. I can't wait to go back. read more

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We had gone to this restaurant several months ago with friends. We were treated like royalty because the management had seen a negative review our friend had sent. And they contacted him to make up for the unpleasant experience. So he brought us there and we were treated like royalty, which certainly made us want to go back. My husband and I brought someone from out of town. I told the manager we had been there a few months ago. However, this time we were treated completely differently. They no longer had a "lunch special" menu, so it was now quite pricey for lunch. I asked about a substitution and they said no. And I ordered a stew which frankly was not good. I took one bite and didn't eat it. They had to have noticed but did not question if there was a problem. Just cleared our table and that was it. So I don't know what had changed from the last time to this time. While the setting is very nice, we will not be going back. read more

Excellent, food, service, ambience! The best Persian food I've ever had! We will be back! read more

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Extra star for the beautiful interior. Recommend coming here for drinks and some apps maybe some dips that kind of thing. Go up to the third floor bar --great, cool cozy atmosphere with intricate wall designs with portraits of Iranians. read more

Not recommended!!!! Don't waste your make money. We made a 9:00 PM reservation for four on Valentine's Day and were really looking forward to the evening. Leading up to it, the restaurant called three separate times to confirm, including an 11:00 PM call the night before. Given the level of confirmation, we expected the night to run smoothly. Unfortunately, it was anything but. We arrived on time for our 9:00 PM reservation and still had to wait about 30 minutes to be seated. Once seated, our server took our drink order and had to repeat our entrée order, which should have been an early indication of the disorganization to come. We then waited over 40 minutes just to receive our drinks. This was a 9:00 PM reservation. Our entrées were not served until 11:08 PM, more than two hours after our reservation time. During that period, we had to repeatedly ask for a bottle of water. While the restaurant was initially full, by the time we were seated and throughout the long wait for our food, it was no longer particularly busy. What made the experience even more frustrating was watching the table next to us receive their drinks, food, and dessert promptly, while we continued waiting just to receive our entrées. Gratuity was already included in the bill, which makes the experience even harder to justify. If service is prepaid at 20%, the expectation should be at least 20% quality service. Instead, the entire evening felt extremely disorganized, from seating to service. The only highlight of the night was the ambiance on the second floor, which was beautiful and well done. However, that alone does not justify a nearly $500 bill or a two-hour wait for dinner. In all of our dining experiences: internationally, nationally, and locally, we have never waited this long to be served. Very disappointing, especially for what should have been a special Valentine's celebration. read more

Darvish Kitchen - Chicken Soltani Kabob - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Passed the Darvish several times, when walking between work and hotel, before the wonderful aroma finally worked it's charm on me and I could no longer just be a passerby. So I brought my daughter after some light sight-seeing and before a USNWT match. We started with an order of baba ghanoush which was simply the best I've ever had and the portion was very generous. They paired that with a flat dipping bread and that could've been a meal on its own. We each had a lamb entree. She had the Kabob-E-Chenjeh while I had the Shishlik Lamb chops. Sauces and spices were very complimentary but not overppwering. Both of us exclaimed that our dinners were excellent. We tasted each other's selection and were impressed enough to say we'd order that next time. If you've never tried this little gem of a restaurant on Connecticut Ave, just south of M Street, then you are missing out. read more

Darvish Kitchen - Shishlik-lamb chops - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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My husband and I had brunch at Darvish a few weeks ago when we were in DC for the weekend for his birthday, and I liked it but it's still new and is probably addressing some new business issues. We had planned to order their Persian breakfast platter for two that we saw on their brunch menu online. But when we sat down, the menu we were given wasn't the brunch menu we'd seen online - just the lunch menu, I think. They're a new restaurant and I know it's hard to update online menus as often as restaurants need to change items on menus, but I'd definitely recommend for expectation setting that the menus online match with what you're given when you sit down at a restaurant. I was bummed to not be able to order that breakfast platter! We ended up ordering a few things to share: mast-o-musir (yogurt and dried shallot dip), kuku sabzi (Persian herb frittata), and ghormeh sabzi (beef, kidney bean, and herb stew with a side of tahdig - Persian crispy rice). I didn't get much from the shallots in the mast-o-musir), so it really just lasted like good, thick yogurt. The kuku sabzi was good and I appreciated the portion size (quite small). And I enjoyed the ghormeh sabzi). I wasn't feeling any alcoholic drinks with brunch that morning, but I ordered their Sharbate Albaloo (a non-alcoholic cordial of sour cherries, sugar, and water). I adored it. The service was good. I think the decor still needs a little bit of tweaking, but maybe that's only because I used to frequent the restaurant that was in the location before and so the decor still looked a little Russian grandma chic to me (mostly the wood details of the bar and back doors that separate the dining room from the kitchen). It's a huge space and would be great for events (they can fit large tables and they have a whole third floor that can be rented out for events)! Overall, I thought the food was good - and Persian isn't a cuisine that's very easy to find in the DMV (we have a couple of spots in Baltimore but Darvish was the first Persian restaurant I've been to in DC). Definitely a good addition to the restaurants in the city, and I'd be happy to check it out again in the future. read more

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Despite the very large bill we ended up with, everything was incredibly delicious and high quality. The service and staff were excellent, and the restaurant was very clean. At the end, I tried a drink called "Zireh". OMG, who would have thought a cumin drink could taste that good? The saffron ice cream was amazing too. read more

Darvish Kitchen - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia