Good place , delicious authentic Egyptian food , very welcoming people, good prices , enough…read moreportions , 5 stars I highly recommend this place to everybody

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!

A great spot for Egyptian food! Could really just sit down and order with their QR code, or have…read morethe staff take your order. I got the Egyptian-style liver and Koshary with added kefta. I was surprised at the portion sizes for both of them, actually. Food was flavourful and extremely filling for me; it sufficed for two meals for me. The place was cute with the seating and decor. Plenty of parking around here too. I'd definitely come again whenever I'm craving Egyptian!

4/12/26 This was a real treat. I have walked past this…read morehidden gem for many years until today. The food, service and ambience gave off great vibes from the short time we were there. We had just eaten at The Orginal Pancake so eating a full meal was out of the question. However, this did not stop us from getting a drink and buying a dessert. I tried the Green Lemonade and it was delicious. I know I will have get one of my own next time. The food served here is a Mediterranean Style and the own ruled this restaurant with a friendly fist. I saw this is not her only restaurant, but one of many. Some of the photos I saw are of rewards she has achieved for excellent quality and service. Something I will be looking forward to seeing when we eat here on empty stomachs next time. During the time we were there, I liked what I saw. The taste of that Green Lemonade is still on my mind at 1:39AM on an early Monday morning. Something will have to be done about that...

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.

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

The food here is very authentic but not reasonably priced. The service is lacking. It is as though…read morethey are doing you a favor to wait on you.

I came here for my 30th birthday celebration and all I can say is WOW- what a way to ring in a new…read moredecade. I left feeling full, grateful, and with a new love for middle eastern cuisine. The service was impeccable- the waitress and sommelier were both extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Nadia, our waitress, offered suggestions about what dishes would pair well together for the tawle experience and shared her favorites. The sommelier went over the extensive wine list and helped us pick a nice red that paired well with our chosen dishes- it was called Yacoubian Hobbs from Armenia. The ambiance was comfortable and welcoming- you could dress up or down, pretty much anything goes! The walls are lined with colorful patterns and draped tapestries to create a high end living room vibe. Now for the fun part- THE FOOD! The first dishes brought out were the mouneh (pickled veggies), the honey soaked dates, and the three spreads (we selected the hummus with lamb on top for an additional $15, havuc, and beet borani). I'll add that they continuously bring out fresh, warm pita throughout the whole meal. The lamb hummus was savory and well-balanced, but very rich. The havuc had a beautiful lightness from the carrots and I loved the textural element of the crispy onions on top. The beet borani also added a welcomed freshness throughout the meal and was vibrant, light, and had wonderful yogurt flavors. The underrated dish were the pickled veggies because INSANE. I used these in bites during the entire meal and they all had a unique flavor as if they were each pickled in a special way- my favorites were the white radish and scallions. The honey dates were a sweet palette cleanser and cut through the savory elements of the meal. We continued on with the next round consisting of the field lettuce salad, the three condiments (we chose the toum, chermoula, and harissa), halloumi, omani shrimp, and chickpeas. The field lettuce salad had a zesty vinaigrette and I appreciated the acidity addition of the sliced oranges and the crunchy, salted pistachios. The toum was a garlicky aioli that I felt was best paired with the chickpeas- although all the dips were delicious with all the dishes and the pita. The harissa was a lighter version than I am used to, spicy, and paired well with the veggies and ribeye. The chermoula was my favorite and paired best with the ribeye- it reminded me of a flavorful and herbaceous chimichurri. The halloumi had a sweet honey and was grilled perfectly, paired with nice crunchy nuts. The chickpeas had a lovely consistency and were well seasoned- I think it was sumac, but whatever it was, I couldn't get enough. The shrimp were ONE OF MY FAVORITE dishes from the whole meal. They were juicy, seasoned perfectly, charred, and just chefs kiss. I enjoyed them with the chermoula and squeeze of lime. The main dishes and veggies came during our final (besides dessert) round. We ordered the sayadieh as part of the table experience and also added a ribeye to the order. We had ordered the charred carrots, but they accidentally brought us the wildflower honey zucchini instead, so we were lucky enough to be able to try both. The branzino (sayadieh) absolutely blew my mind. It was citrusy, spicy, seasoned with bright spices, and incredibly moist. I would honestly skip the ribeye- it was cooked to a nice medium rare and had a nice flavor, but I don't think it compared to the rest of the meal. The charred carrots were spicy, cooked soft- also one of the standouts. The zucchini was served beautifully and I enjoyed the sauce, but could also skip next time. We ended the meal with the bitter orange sorbet and the chocolate mousse. The sorbet was a nice palette cleanser as it had zest in the mix and was very light after the heavy meal. The chocolate mousse was very rich and had a new balance of chocolate and peanut flavors. They brought over complimentary glasses of champagne to celebrate my birthday as well :) I cannot wait to come back to try more of the menu and I am so happy to have had a diverse taste of the Middle East. I'll also add that we had a HUGE bag of leftovers that lasted several meals and they packaged it up like true professionals. A food lover completely satisfied and eager to get back :)

A popular spot near Adams Morgan. The restaurant features Middle Eastern grilled food. In fact,…read morethere were several fire grills in the center of the first floor of the restaurant (it has two floors), and you can see the staff constantly grilling the meats, fish, vegetables and pita. This, together with the dark vibe, made me feel as if I were eating with ppl. from B.C. in a cave. Very interesting. I like that. For food, I got the Carrot Havuc, Omani Shrimp and Halloumi. But first I was served with some freshly made whole wheat pita. They were soft, chewy and earthy. The Carrot Havuc was basically a carrot+garlic puree. Very silky, refreshingly sweet, and a bit sour. The sourness may come from the garlic and lemon. Paired well with the pita and meats. The Omani shrimp came with 5 pieces, each shrimp was ~1oz so it was not very filling. The shrimp were meaty, fresh, juicy, though I wish it could be less salty, even if I already asked for less salt. The shrimp was said to be marinated with dried lime and tamarind but I could only taste the flavor of dried lime. The Halloumi cheese was brushed wild flower honey and topped with Egyptian dukkah, then baked until the outside was golden brown. It was salty and sweet, and the (tons of) sesame seeds added some fragrance to it. However, the peanut was too roughly chopped so that they fell off from the cheese when I slice it, and thus difficult to eat with the cheese. Service was not worth the 20% mandatory tip. For example, when I asked about the sourness of the Carrot Havuc, he did not know why and said he would "taste it and let me know where the sourness came from". Unfortunately, he did not tell me until I asked again when doing the check (I doubt if he tasted it in the first place). Neither did he ask me about the other dishes. Overall, the dishes were great but not impressive, and was mostly heavily flavored. The service could be improved.

We went here for lunch today after visiting the National Zoo. We ate out in DC for 3 days at some…read moregreat restaurants but this place was the best by far. Every dish was delicious....fresh, flavorful, perfectly seasoned and beautifully plated without being fussy. Service was the best we had in DC. Prices were reasonable and the restaurant decor was also lovely. go here! You will not regret it.

Everything was fresh, delicious, & flavorful!! The fried cauliflower was such an interesting…read morecombination with the golden raisins, & tahini. The braised lamb shank was cooked to perfection, & fell right off the bone. The Israeli couscous was also cooked perfectly, & the flavors danced in your mouth. I'd never had Mahalabia before but it was like a gourmet chocolate pudding. Very tasty! The service was quick, they did a great job keeping up with water refills, which as someone who is always thirsty at dinner, I appreciate it. The restaurant was very lively, and had good vibes! Pricey but worth a stop at least once!

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!

Villa Yara is my family's go to spot when we visit DC. It genuinely never disappoints!! Every…read moresingle thing from the fattoush to the dips to the lam chops is absolutely incredible. The service is lovely and food comes out quickly. I love that everything is made freshly in the restaurant. As someone that is Middle Eastern, this place is incredible and authentic

If you're looking for a dining experience that feels like a warm hug from someone's grandmother,…read morelook no further. This Mediterranean treasure sitting along the Alexandria waterfront is everything a great restaurant should be. The concept here is simple and beautiful: recipes passed down and made completely from scratch. Don't skip the traditional hummus. I was skeptical about the halloumi goulash because of the fruit but somehow... it works! Both entrees: salmon and lamb chops were delicious. Allie was both the perfect server and drink (ask for her signature punch). They also create award-winning martinis; ask for one!

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...

We've had ~5 meals at Imperfecto, but last night was our first time trying the chef's table. It did…read morenot disappoint! I'll hit the highlights first, as there are too many to detail at length: the delightful amuse bouche (corn tart!), the cocktails that may be the best in DC, the completely original cold vongole and stroganoff, wagyu that melts in your mouth, and service at par with Pineapple and Pearls and Inn at Little Washington. The team is clearly pushing for two stars, which is delightful, so I wanted to write with a few notes that may help them along. 1) As other reviewers have noted, the experience is tarnished slightly by its length and pacing. Particularly annoying was the wait until 720 for a late party. You've gotta figure out how to catch them up so that the rest of us aren't waiting 20 min for bread. And with a 7p start, it's not ok for us to be getting home at 11:15. I love all the major dishes and would be sad to see any go, but you've gotta have either tighter pacing or larger portions and fewer plates through the mains. 2) Gotta start on a better note. The sourdough bread was cold and tough. If I were a Michelin reviewer, that starting note alone would keep you out of two stars because it just begged the question, "did anyone try this?" 3) Relatedly, the desserts are impenetrably academic. The pumpkin and selva negra both taste like a good idea that someone then overthought and kept editing/adding until it just didn't taste good. I get the push for stardom, but in both cases, we would've all preferred a simple scoop of vanilla ice cream. Stop overthinking it. None of us finished either of them. Everyone's favorite was the simple sorbet. Why harp on these minor quibbles given how mindblowingly awesome the overall experience was? Well, they are pushing for two stars, and the meal costs $400 per person all in. At this level, the bar is continuous improvement toward excellence. I really hope they get there!

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.

The bowls are fantastic. It's like a better version of Cava. The bulgur pilav base is interesting…read moreand different than the usual rice, and the array of toppings is so plentiful and varied that you will have a hard time choosing just 4. I actually paid like $1 more to get an extra topping and it was worth it. The best thing, though, is the falafel. Wow! The guy makes it right there in front of you - forming it into a ball and dropping it in the fryer. It comes out hot and crispy and just perfect. The counter guy seems like a grump but they serve great food, so oh well. It's also a decent space to sit inside if you want to eat in.

Fresh, healthy food; lots of customizable options; clean restaurant and restroom; friendly staff…read more Will be a repeat customer.