We were a party of five sharing plat s and ordered almost everything on the menu. Every single dish…read morewas exceptional. Cannot recommend it more highly--go!

La Shukran delivered from start to finish. Easily one of the best dining experiences I've had in a…read morewhile. We had a reservation but there was a short wait, so the hostess directed us to the bar. When we were finally seated, we found out our drinks had been comped. Such a thoughtful touch! We started with the BBQ'd Maitake spread which was the perfect blend of sweet and savory. It was served with French baguettes. We also had the lamb sausage dumplings, which were absolutely delicious. I had the Rumaan to drink which paired perfectly, and for my main, the slow grilled lamb. All were outstanding. I closed out with the Filfil cocktail and chocolate macarons, which were the perfect ending. The food was flavorful and consistently top tier, the vibe was great, and the service was truly one of a kind. Warm, attentive, and genuinely memorable. Five stars without hesitation!!!

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've been to illi MULTIPLE times and I always enjoy myself!…read more The decor inside is beautiful, and the food is yummy too! Majority of the menu includes platas (small plates), so my friend and I just ordered a few plates of different things to share amongst us and it was really nice to try the various meals that way. We got: - hummus with jalapeños and crab falafel (and pita) - octopus - Brussels sprouts - Cod - Lamb filled grape leaves We had a nice time, and illi is one of those restaurants that I keep in rotation if I want a nice dinner out by the Warf.

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.

Craving for some Middle Eastern eats, we decided to check out Albi…read more We started off with: +the Crispy Kibbeh - kibbeh is one of my favorite snacks, so I was excited to find these on the menu +Jericho Dates - blistered, and prepared with ras el hanout and brown butter +the Mushrooms Lightly Smoked on hummus - with confit egg yolk and black garlic; served with wood-fired potato pita +and, the Sfeeha - wood-fired lamb meat pies, topped with toum and lemon juice For our mains, we ordered: +the BBQ'D Lamb Kebabs - marinated in dill yogurt +the Maqluba - softshell crab upside down on rice with ramps and crab fat yogurt; served with crab dagga gazawiya smashed tomatillo, dill seed, and chilis; note that this dish runs out Service was friendly, and the space is cozy and intimate; loved the seating setup and the coal fire oven! We were thinking of trying out the Sofra, but we decided to order a la carte; maybe next time! Metered and garage parking in the area. +shareables +friendly staff +metered and garage parking available

My favorite restaurant once again excels! I always try to visit when I'm in DC ! Had shrimp and…read morebranzino this time, fantastic!

This place is in a great corner location, the food was delicious, and the staff were friendly…read moreoverall. We had a reservation to make sure we got a table, and the restaurant was completely full when we arrived. The only downside was that after being seated outside, we felt a little forgotten for the first 30 minutes or so. No one came by with water or to check in, and it seemed like the staff may not have realized a new table had been seated until we flagged down the outside host. There were also swarm of flies hovering around the outdoor tables, which another table pointed out and then we started noticing too. Aside from that, the experience was good overall. The inside dining area definitely had a dressier vibe compared to the patio seating, and once we were helped, the food made up for the slow start.

TLDR: it's like a 3.5/5 personally. The entrees were good but nothing worth going out of the way…read morefor. The fries were very floppy and left something to be desired. My wife and I stopped here on our way to NYC since we had some time until the train arrived. The restaurant has a cafe feel to it throughout with an actual cafe to the right as you walk in. We started with the fries to munch on, but they were floppy and a bit oily. Left something to be desired. I ordered the lamb tagine for my entree. I would say that the tagine had good flavor but there was only a little lamb in the sauce from what I could tell. And some of the couscous was very hard as well. My wife got the beef kabob and it was better overall in terms of flavor and completeness. The service was fine and what you expect from a sit down restaurant. Nothing blew us away about the interior either but it's very cafe themed throughout. It's newer feeling a modern inside. It's right down the street from Union Station so not that far if you decide to take the train.

I expected more because the prices were a bit high. I'm someone that appreciates value in portions…read moreand pricing. If one doesn't match up then it's not the place for me. I felt the prices were high and the food quality wasn't great. It felt very Americanized and wasn't bursting with flavor. The food took some time to come out so it was definitely a sit down kinda restaurant. The ambiance was nice. It felt like a place you'd have a business luncheon. Options were clean, not greasy (except the fries) or things that would have you feeling gross. They have a full bar with mocktails. Located fairly close to the train station it was around a 10 min or less walk. Beef Kabob platter 6/10 Za'tar fries 4/10 greasy, not crispy, no flavor Tandoori chicken shawarma 6/10 Overall I probably wouldn't get this again.

Finally! I've been trying to make it to this restaurant, and my gfs took me for my birthday…read more The best experience. I can't quite tell you that you'd have the same experience each time you go because it all depends.

We all know Maydan's cuisine is amazing - fire cooked meats and dips galore. But I find myself…read morevisiting Maydan (often) for their high cocktail game: Colin and [will edit when I remember her name] are absolute mixologist artists. Ordering off-menu, they excelled in my: Pennicillin, Army Navy, South Side, East Side, 50/50.... While everyone stumbles on the Maydan for the food, definitely check out their artists behind the bar.

Randomly stopped here on a night walk, wasn't super busy so I decided to check it out and i was not…read moredisappointed at all! To say the least the guys were super friendly and helpful with picking out what I should order they recommended the lamb and chicken. Everything was Hot, fresh and flavorful so memorable! You can have a kabob a lot of places but a lot of places don't have Mango Lassi! I was pleased to see real authenticity throughout their menu so stop by if you have time for lunch for quick grab and go dinner option.

The food is so good and so cheap here. The portions are enormous (the pitas are huge and the…read morefalafels are the size of a hamburger patty) and you get the food quickly on cute little red trays. Order at one of the kiosks and then wait for them to call your number. There's also free water cups which was nice. I'm honestly astounded there's any bad reviews about this place, they're so nice and the food is so good, yet still enormous portions and low prices.

Same taste regardless of where you go, and the customer service was pretty fast…read more Not too many people actually eat at Halal Guys in Washington, D.C. compared to what you'd see in New York, but I did appreciate the convenience of the Washington Union Station location, where you can sit down and eat without feeling too disturbed since there isn't a lot of food traffic. I think it's relatively new, and as they continue expanding into the D.C. area, it seems like you're more likely to get a quiet meal there.

Ridiculously small portions. Overpriced nonsense. I'll never be back. I can't believe with all the…read moregood middle eastern restaurants in th area they have the balls to be this stingy with their portions. Ridiculously small portions. Overpriced nonsense. I'll never be back. I can't believe with all the good middle eastern restaurants in th area they have the balls to be this stingy with their portions.

Really enjoyed this newest option inside the Bryant street market. I got a falafel wrap with fries…read more It took about 13 minutes for it to be made, so you know it's fresh (but be prepared to wait a bit). The fries were absolutely delicious. I love the seasoning blend they use. I wish they had a feta or tahini dipping sauce instead of just ketchup and honey mustard. I'll be back!

Really great spot for a falafel wrap! It was super delicious and loved that it came with fries…read more Service was great, loved all the sauce options they had sitting in their location in Bryant St Market. Their honey mustard was sooo good.