On a Sunday evening just before 8pm, a friend brought me to King of Koshary to introduce me the…read moreeponymous Egyptian dish. At that time, the establishment only had a one other table occupied so seating occurred immediately. As I perused the menu, my focus landed on the tajins / stews. The ox tail, okra lamb, and cow feet tajins all looked delectable. I settled on the cow feet tajin ($20), served with rice. That arrived after about 10 minutes, piping hot in an earthenware bowl. Just looking at the glisten and the viscosity while spooning the stew, I could tell that the cow hocks had simmered long enough to melt and release collagen into the stew. The tendons came off the bone like the proverbial hot knife through butter. The stock proved rich in texture and flavor without overwhelming the palate. Whatever additional seasonings went into it enhanced the clear stock's savoriness without imparting a different direction to the palate. This epitomized the ostensible simplicity of a dish belying sheer time and effort to perfect a dish. As an aside, this sort of laborious effort resembled long simmered Cantonese stews that I grew up with. Hilariously enough, the only other occupied table was also an Arabic guy bringing his Asian friend along. Speaking of Arabic friends, my friend ordered the king koshary ($12) and had me try a bite. The texture contrasts of the varied grains, the crispy onions, and the savory tomato-based koshary sauce, seemed irresitible. I understood why it became a signature national dish.

Two Haiku Review:…read more Came here to try the Best koshary in NoVA. Wow, it was good. So Many other good Egyptian dishes too. The Owner is so nice!

Amazing service, delicious food, and a fun ambiance! 10/10 for a quick meal…read more Food tasted fresh, we started with the dip trio, we chose spicy feta: which was divine and definitely had a kick, tzatziki: fresh and yummy and hummus: the least favorite but was good. The 3 dips came with one pita bread, would have been nice to get at least 2. For our main courses we had the stuffed artichokes, cooked to perfection, they were very tasty and the portion was big. Chicken platter was also very well seasoned and tasty, came with a garlic dipping sauce and I chose rice with lentils. The restaurant was clean and all the servers were incredibly friendly! Can't wait to come back.

We had such a lovely breakfast here to kick off our DC adventures. We were trying to take our kids…read moreto as many different cuisines as we could during our time in the city. Our breakfast consisted of a large set spread of savory and sweet Egyptian eats paired with a coffee ceremony (baba, pastries, pita, you name it). Our table of four gobbled up every bite. This spot feels like you're eating in someone's kitchen - very cozy and homey. This is a great spot if you're looking for a healthy meal, vegan options, family-style eating, etc. The service was somewhat slow but warm - no complaints. Bonus: We also loved the educational decor in the bathrooms.

Reservation: Keep refreshing the Tock page. Last minute cancellations are quite frequent on the day…read moreor prior. Cocktails: Great starters for the upcoming wonderful experience Ordering: Our waiter was super friendly and patient, explaining the style and dishes to us first-time visitors. Recommended 3-4 small dishes per person, and each larger plate counted as 2 small dishes. We opted for à la carte but only ordered 2 small dishes + 1 dessert per person given our smaller appetites Wine list: Extensive list spanning across difference countries. Our Sommelier was extremely knowledgeable. We chose the journey through Levantine wine, and it felt like a full course of wine history and geography. The experience included 4 Levantine wines, specifically chose to pair with your à la carte food items. We had a mix of brut, skin contact wine, red wine and brandy. All were fabulous and paired extremely well with the food. Highly recommend! Food: Loved everything! The pita bread was definitely the highlight. Every bite/dish was like an adventure through the ingredients and spices. Even the desserts had a touch of different spices but not over-powering the sweetness Highly recommend Albi if you could get a reservation!

Albi Overall Rating:…read more(4/5 Stars) Everyone loves Albi, so my expectations were sky-high for my first traditional tasting menu. While the food was very good, I actually preferred the Sofra Series dinner with Chef Brandon Jew. This menu felt a bit safe and repetitive, especially after what felt like an all-lamb tasting by the end of the night. 12 Course Tasting Menu $165 * Starter: I don't like olives or radishes, so I left this one to the table. The consensus was positive. * Course 1: Oysters with trout roe? Consider me converted. This combination needs to stay in my life. * Course 2: Lamb-stuffed bread is one of my favorite things on Earth. The dipping sauce added just enough freshness to balance the richness. * Course 3: A pea tartare was not on my bingo card, but here we are. Unique, refreshing, and unlike anything I've had before. The mint and lettuce pairing made it even more memorable. * Course 4: Pretty, cheesy, citrusy, and delicious. Sometimes that's all you need. * Course 5: Savory hummus is the superior hummus. Add seasoned pita and I'm a happy camper. * Course 6: I'm not a grape leaf person. The lamb outside of the wraps, however, was excellent. * Course 7: My favorite course of the evening. That said, I've had another version of this dumpling at Albi before, and I actually liked that one more. * Course 8: Tender, flavorful, and melt-in-your-mouth lamb. No complaints. * Course 9: I genuinely don't know what happened here. The flavors and textures just didn't work for me. * Course 10: Yet another lamb dish. At this point, I was experiencing lamb fatigue. The cinnamon was also more aggressive than necessary. * Course 11: Warm, comforting, and exactly what I wanted from dessert. * Course 12: Ice cream is rarely a bad decision, and it was a lovely way to end the meal. Service: The service was exceptional. If I'm being nitpicky, ordering another round of drinks took a bit longer than expected. Otherwise, the staff was attentive and knowledgeable, delivering the kind of hospitality that keeps people coming back. Disclaimer: These are my personal opinions. Please try these restaurants and form your own judgments--it's what I would do.

The food at Mama Ayesha's was delicious, and packed full of flavor! The service was also…read moregreat--very attentive and kind. The restaurant itself is a bit dated, both the patio and dining room. It looks like the decor hasn't been refreshed in a few decades. Mouzat, 5/5, delicious, tender lamb with seasoned rice Maklouba, 5/5, tender chicken that fell off the bone with delicious rice and vegetables Pomtini, 2/5, somehow tasted like Hi-C or some kind of chemical citrus

This is my new favorite restaurant. It's tasty. Clean. The staff is excellent. The food is…read moreincredible. My wife loved it too. So, yes I'm looking forward to going back there.

Went here with my husband for our anniversary, and had a gift card. We chose outdoor seating…read morewithout seeing it, I had previously seen pictures of the inside and assumed the outdoor vibes would be just as fun and vibey. I was very wrong. It was literally in the alley, and was giving Covid setup. Definitely would not recommend the outdoor area to anyone. There was no music, the decor was fine but again, looked very subpar and you could tell everyone else that arrived and sat outside after us had the same thoughts. Now to the food. I will say all of it was good, but for the price? I could find another Middle Eastern adjacent restaurant in DC for less money. It was a little outrageous in my opinion. We did choose the tawle experience. The dips with good, and came with endless flatbread. But it was interesting how some of the portions were huge and then others felt like they were skimping. We got huge portions of pickled vegetables and a giant salad, but then when it came to the shrimp kabobs we ordered, we got 5 pieces of shrimp. I will say the steak portion we chose we large, but then again for dessert, it was just a half mason jar size of a chocolate mousse to split...It was just interesting. Several of the staff knew it was our anniversary and they could've given maybe an additional dessert or a glass of champagne but nothing. Again for a restaurant of this caliber, you would just expect more. I say all of this to say, we did have a gift card that covered most of our $300+ meal. But if I were going without that, I would've been even more disappointed. I know people have raved about this place for years, but the original chefs have changed, and I'm understanding more why they've lost their Michelin star. It was good/fine but was far from exceptional.

Came here for a date night and it was INCREDIBLE!…read more The aesthetic in here is gorgeous and so dim and moody, very nice for a cozy dinner. My fiancé and I got the Tawle dinner option which incorporates multiple dishes to be shared. We enjoyed it thoroughly but we had a lot of food boxed because we couldn't finish it all lols I think we would've been better off with à la carte - I do think the Tawle works best with a group of people (minimum 3/4) just because the number of dishes, but nonetheless 10/10 experience. With regards to parking, the closest garage is like ~8 min walking distance so I mean it's not bad.

While visiting friends in Washington, DC, they took us to Sababa, and wow--what an incredible…read moreexperience. I can absolutely understand why it earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition. Sababa serves authentic Israeli and Mediterranean cuisine with amazing ingredients and bold, fresh flavors. The menu is designed for sharing, making it easy to try a little bit of everything. We started with several small plates, and they were all fantastic. The Israeli salad was crisp, fresh, and bursting with flavor. The roasted carrot salad was a table favorite, and the fried Brussels sprouts with cinnamon yogurt completely stole the show for me. The combination of flavors was unexpected but perfectly balanced. For my entrée, I had the lamb kebabs, and they were cooked to perfection. The steak kebab was another favorite at our table, and two of our friends shared the Jerusalem Mixed Grill, which was also excellent--especially the beef kofta. The portions are on the smaller side, but after sharing several appetizers, they felt just right. If you're extra hungry, the Mixed Grill could easily be enjoyed by one person. The service was phenomenal from beginning to end. We were warmly welcomed, checked on throughout the meal, and genuinely felt taken care of. One thing I especially appreciated was how clearly the menu labels vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. As someone who is gluten intolerant, I always notice and appreciate restaurants that make dining easier for everyone. This was easily one of my favorite meals during our trip. Every dish was thoughtful, flavorful, and beautifully executed. I would absolutely come back and highly recommend it to anyone visiting DC.

THIS IS A MUST WHEN IN D.C.!!! Food, service & ambiance…read moreAs soon as you walk in, you are immediately greeted by a kind host who Sababa doesn't just serve food! As a vegetarian. It delivers a masterclass in balance, pairing rich, savory options with bright, acidic quick-pickled vegetables and so many options. From the moment the warm pita hits the table alongside a vibrant array of dips (eggplant, labne with garlic, hummus, etc), you know you are in for an authentic culinary journey. The hummus is impossibly smooth, swirling with high-quality olive oil. Our server, Kristin, was sooo pleasant! Fast and efficient.

Went to this restaurant because I was interested in their manti (dumplings) and Tabbouleh salad. So…read moreI made a reservation for lunch, but these items were not on the lunch menu -- note that on their website there was only main menu and weekend brunch menu. Luckily, the manager asked the kitchen to do a special order for me, so I was able to try both of them! Moreover, when he learned that I wanted to make the manti, he even carefully explained to me how it was cooked! Thanks a lot!!! The Yara's Manti was basically small, boat shaped, half-covered dumplings baked in oil, then topped with yogurt and pine nuts. This is completely different from how Turkish or Afghan manti is made, thus having a different flavor as well. The baking procedure gave some crispiness to the dumplings, while the oil helped them to maintain sufficient moisture. These dumplings went well with the yogurt; I also tried sprinkling some sumac on them and it was great. However, the yogurt tend to get mixed with the oil when you move the dumplings. it would be better if they serve the dumplings (and toppings) in a separate, heated container. Yara's Tabbouleh is a creative twist to the traditional Tabbouleh. Besides the usual ingredients, there were diced beets and pomegranate arils. Both added some refreshing sweetness to the salad, and the beets also some hint of earthiness. The freshly baked pita was also delicious. Each piece weighed ~55-65g and was topped with sumac. Paired well with the other two dishes. The restaurant had a beautiful decor. At lunchtime there were not many people so it was relatively quiet. I will go there again the next time I visit DC! And I want to thank the resturant again for offering me the opportunity to try these dishes!

Food is easily a 4.5-5 stars and really enjoyable so if I recommended based on just food alone, yes…read more100% go there. Their hummus was creamy and in my top 5 of the DMV thus far. Their mandu dumplings are extremely flavorful and their za'atar flatbread is simple but perfectly crisp and spiced. There were some hiccups with brunch when I went. My first pet peeve is when a menu online lies and they changed their AYCE (which is why we went) to a more expensive pick 3 items type thing (it is full portions so still filling but was disappointing). It was hard for us to get service, our drink was priced incorrectly on it, and it took some hounding to get some of our dishes out (I think our server forgot to put one in and just said it takes a while/ we had finished the rest of our food practically). I'd come back and try again at least because their food is flavorful and good.

I felt the host really tried to talk up the fact that they one best something.... I can't even…read moreremember.... Long explanation on the menu. It was like someone was trying to convince me that the place was great. Beet salad was incredibly underwhelming, and even looked unappetizing upon arrival. Nice musical playlist though, and overall space. I wouldn't go back to dine though...

I came to Elaine's for a book talk/interview with the author. It was very engaging. The owner and…read morethe author's conversation flowed easily. I can't wait to finish Lynda Allen's third novel in the Liv Wilde mysteries. My mother ate brunch during the event and said the meal was tasty.

Imperfecto is a one star Michelin star restaurant specializing in Mediterranean/Latin fusion…read morecuisine. It is located a few blocks from the Washington circle park in Washington DC Service is excellent with attentive and friendly staff, from the hostess welcoming you, to the manager and al the way to the servers. The ambiance is relatively casual, with comfortable, nautical theme of blue and white decor with gold accents. Easy listening music set the stage for a comfortable dining experience, either with coworkers or for a special night out. Their wine and alcoholic drinks selection was wide and their mocktails were equally as interesting. You can definitely see the interesting Mediterranean/Latin fusion in all the dishes. From the ingredients and spices picked for each, to the presentation and flavor profiles, it all screams fusion. Even though we didn't go for the chef's tasting this time, our party got to try and share quite a few dishes.: To start, we were received by a mushroom and truffle cream soup shot. Tasty and creamy, great way to open the appetite. For the appetizer round we ordered the moussaka cigars and falafel. The moussaka cigars were perfectly delicate and airy, yet flavorful, stuffed with eggplant and ground lamb and pine nuts, served with a creamy manchego goat cheese dip to balance the crispy, fluffy phyllo dough. The falafel was equally delicate and light, served with a Latin tahini spiced with sumac and cinnamon. For the main course, we got to try three different dishes: The mushroom risotto - very interesting flavor profile. The crispy fried maitake mushrooms topped the perfectly cooked, creamy risotto, which was surprisingly acidic in a very refreshing way. The lechón was delicious. A generous portion of tender, fall off the bone, suckling pig, including a super crispy skin, served on a date mole with zucchini blossom and a side of zucchini salad with radish, olives and pepitas, definitely stole the show. The only criticism I would have is the zucchini blossom was a bit too oily probably due to the drench they used before frying. Other than that, it was a really well balanced dish. The Lamb terrine was served on top of potato puree, red cabbage confit and lamb juice topped with generous shavings of black truffle. Beautiful to eat with your eyes and equally as delicious on the pallad. For dessert we ordered the pistachio and yoghurt dresser with consisted of a delicious salty pistachio ice cream served with a dulce the leche foam and yogurt, served on a raspberry sauce and topped with a crispy Mille-feuille cookie. Fascinating dessert and incredibly well balanced. The sweetness of the Dulce the leche foam was expertly balanced by the pistachio ice cream and the raspberry sauce provided some acidity. The cookie gave a textural component much needed by all the other soft/smooth elements. Definitely try it out if it's on the menu. I would definitely recommend Imperfecto. I know I'd come back!

We ate at Imperfecto for Restaurant Week 2024…read more Vibes: formal, cool-toned interior. Friendly but rushed severs. Food: Aladdin burrata - Dark horse. This ended up being my favorite when I thought it would the most boring dish. The crispiness of the fried lentils paired with creamy burrata and hummus was divine and popped in texture. Sea bream - Fresh and delicious. The included tostada is very crispy so it's a multi-sensory experience to taste the food and hear the crunch in your ears. Lamb Terrine - Lamb was fine, tasted like pulled lamb in a block. The flavor was mostly in the sauce and that flavor was "salty". Tagliatelle - Also fine, the truffle doesn't over power. Didn't quite catch any summer corn notes. Beef Wellington with Empanada - Hard pass. Saw another table order it and was curious. Not as good as it looks and way too expensive for what it was.

Another visit and another amazing food and service. Forget about other places, this is the place to…read moremake you satisfied and eat yummy food.

Mix appetizers, falafels. Kebabs so delicious and their menu is not expensive , great serviceread more