Wow, just like you would expect from the team from Albi, the dish preparations at La Shukran are on…read morepoint. The flavor combinations were subtly complex and engaging. We enjoyed every dish we ordered. The dining room is relatively small and quite noisy. The rooftop dining area is casual and airy. Note: the rooftop seating only offers drinks and the small bites from the full menu. Larger entree options are not available on the rooftop. We will definitely be back to dine here again.

Truly a standout experience at La' Shukran. The variety, creativity, and reinterpretation of…read moreLevantine cuisine, combined with French and other influences, were amazing to see and taste. I especially loved the thoughtful use of offal, the hummus was to die for, and the little lamb T-bone was another highlight. The service was equally attentive, and the recommendations were spot-on. I also loved the ambience. The slightly dark, beautifully designed space feels cozy and intimate, while still having a modern vibe that remains faithful to its Levantine roots. Overall, an easy five stars and a place I would highly recommend. It's not always easy to find great restaurants in D.C., and this is definitely one of them.

came to Vera Cocina & Bar for my birthday brunch, and it ended up being one of the most fun brunch…read moreexperiences I've had! When you first walk in, it seems like it'll be a laid-back brunch, but don't let that fool you. The service was incredibly fast, and the food came out quickly. Everything I tried was delicious! My favorite was a breakfast sandwich served over a hash with an incredible sauce--I was thinking about it long after I left. We also shared an appetizer that was so good we couldn't stop going back for another bite. Just when I thought the great food was the highlight, the entertainment started. The host did an amazing job keeping the entire crowd engaged, the music had everyone singing along, and before I knew it, the whole restaurant had turned into a party. The belly dancer was absolutely mesmerizing and interacted with the crowd so effortlessly, making the experience feel even more special. Between the food, drinks, entertainment, and atmosphere, time flew by. What I thought would be a simple birthday brunch turned into an unforgettable celebration. I'll definitely be back for another brunch--and next time I'll be ready to dance!

Went to Saturday brunch and it absolutely a blast! It's $30 per person just to make a rsvp for the…read morebrunch and while it may seem like a hefty fee it's for the entertainers and it gets you a welcome shot (or mocktail shot). So go in knowing that. The food, drinks, service, and ambiance were amazing. We will definitely go back. The belly dancing and entertainers were a blast.

Rumi's Kitchen DC was an absolute standout and one of my favorite meals in DC. The flavors were…read moreoutstanding, and what impressed me most was how beautifully they let the meat shine without overwhelming it with spices or sauces. Even the vegetarians in our group were raving about the food. We ordered the lamb merguez, mushroom hummus, eggplant appetizer, and a family-style spread of soltani kebab, lamb kebab, and chicken barg. Everything was packed with flavor and beautifully prepared. The portions are HUGE, so definitely plan to share. I also loved the fresh sabzi served with pita--it was such a simple but delicious addition. The mocktails were excellent as well and paired beautifully with the food. Service was outstanding. We were a large group, and the team took excellent care of us with quick, attentive, and friendly service throughout. The ambience is fantastic, with a rustic, warm vibe that makes the restaurant feel both lively and inviting. Between the incredible food, generous portions, and excellent service, Rumi's Kitchen is an easy recommendation and a place I'd happily return to.

When my wife and I lived in Atlanta, Rumi's first location in Sandy Springs represented our…read morefavorite restaurant in the metro area. It has since expanded into other markets. A recent visit to DC with some dear friends provided the perfect opportunity to check out their branch here and assess how it compares to the original. Happily, I found the food here essentially equivalent to what I sampled at the Atlanta locations, that is, excellent. We started with the sabzi and bread service, which pairs Rumi's excellent and freshly baked Persian style naan with fresh herbs and feta cheese, which makes for a light and refreshing start to the meal. Our appetizers comprised the lamb hummus, the fatoush salad, kashk-bademjan eggplant dip, and the duo of yogurts. All were great, with the classic, creamy eggplant and the tangy, cooling yogurt duo standing out for me personally. We ordered three entrees, including the lamb kebab, beef soltani combination, and the duck fesenjan stew. All the kebabs possessed a juicy texture, great seasoning, and had an excellent cook. The duck had a tangy sweet flavor profile that may not be for everyone but was nonetheless satisfying with rice. Speaking of the rices, the fluffy grains complimented all of our dishes well and we particularly enjoyed the dill-fava bean as well as the lentil-raisin renditions. Do note that portions here are generous, and splitting entrees is suggested especially if you opt for a decent number of appetizers as we did. Special mention should be made of the cocktails at Rumi's. While I personally did not have a mixed drink, my friends all raved about the flavor profiles of their libations and found them refreshing and balanced relative to others we had in the city. Service here meets the high standard I experienced at the Atlanta locations, and our waitress was helpful and attentive. The space itself is bright and strikes a great balance between rustic Persian accents and more modern, swanky touches. Overall, Rumi's offers a well rounded Persian dining experience with great food, drinks, service, and ambiance which is hard to beat. It's well worth a visit for any fan of Middle Eastern flavors, and my wife and I are already planning our next meal here.

Excellent service and food. Recommend calling in advance if possible; this guy crafts authentic…read moreSyrian cuisine that can't be found locally. Differentiator off the bat, with guaranteed quality.

Excellent food. Everything was delicious. Chef Majed communicated promptly throughout the whole…read moreplanning process and gave me good suggestions for my large party planning. He's very easy to work with and most importantly his food is delicious.

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.

One of the best Turkish restaurants in USA…read more Real Michael Guide experience Definitely worth it every penny that you paid. Real traditional Turkish food without any modern ingredients. Have visited for lunch we were group of 3 all of us had "Turkish experience " the name of lunch combo. Price to value is high. 20% tip added to bill automatically. Great place to visit. All payment forms accepted except Apple Pay , pay attention

Came here with 2 other friends for a Saturday lunch based on a friend's recommendation. It wasn't…read morepacked and the weather was nice so we took an outdoor table. We got the ottoman experience which included unlimited foods and drinks on the menu. I didn't know what to expect but the experience is mindblowing good! They served us everything included in the experience menu which has cold mezze and hot mezze plates, omelette, various skewers and desserts and sides. Everything is so fresh and tasty. I especially enjoyed the muhammara, the pink dip, and the omelette. The pita breads are warm and fluffy, perfect with the mezze. We also got a lot of mimosas and the honey yogurt dessert was not heavy and perfect end to our brunch. We all ended up so full but very much satisfied with the experience. If you go with friends or a group, get the experience you won't regret!

This restaurant is a hidden gem on H street. Family owned, attentive service and you can taste the…read morelove they put into all of their dishes. Make sure to ask for extra pita for the sampler hummus! My favorite hummus was the beet one. I also had the Royale Wagyu Burger and it was juicy and filling. Their outdoor patio would be the perfect space to host a private event!

The restaurant business is tough, so I drafted this review with a bit of sadness. I had a good time…read morein large part due to the atmosphere and my date (my girlfriend). That said, a couple missteps that should not have occurred took this review into the negative realm. Let's start with the positive. This appears to be a great new addition to the neighborhood, and I hope it is supported. The appetizers were delicious and nicely presented. The pistachio feta with grilled pita was tasty and interesting. The halloumi with orange marmalade was as well. The hostess was engaging and friendly. The atmosphere was calming with a touch of casual refinement. One of the entrees was delicious (the scallops and grits). I'd order all three items mentioned so far, again. The negative. The second entree was the short rib. It was tender and.... Wow, way too salty. A shame because it was otherwise well cooked and nicely plated. But whoa. When the hostess came by, my girlfriend kindly said it was a bit salty. I "refined" her answer and said she was being nice, but it was very salty. The hostess went to note this for the kitchen (a positive for her), and because we are on the first floor outside the kitchen window I heard the conversation. The chef responded that he knew what had happened. Earlier when preparing the short rib someone (in his words) blasted it with salt. What this tells me is that they knew they'd made something close to inedible but served it anyway. At the end of our meal we had leftovers of the two apps and the short rib. We asked for a bit of extra pita to take home and they provided. Then the bill arrived. Not only was there no adjustment for the inedible short rib, but they charged us $2 for the pita. The least they could have done was just given us the pita. Ah well. Those two missteps; 1) serving a known and improperly prepared entree, and 2) not doing something to make good when reported, have led to this sadly negative review for a place that could and should have gotten a positive one. Hopefully someone there will see this, and the experience and review will be a learning opportunity that will help them thrive.

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.

I come here on occasion for lunch when I'm in the mood for "something different." It's never busy…read morewhen I go, and yet somehow, it always takes about 10+ minutes for food. Service is friendly but slow. As a fast casual place, you would think that the food would be ready to scoop to get you your food quickly. The first time I visited, I ordered the falafel, and they made it to order. While I appreciate that frying to order means the proteins are hot and fresh, it's not good if you're in a rush or trying to catch a train. Another time, I ordered the beef gyro at the counter, thinking it would be quicker than the falafel, but it still took about 10 minutes to get my order fulfilled... and no other customers were in the store. I'm not really sure what the hold up was... there were a few employees simply standing around. We have ourselves another fast casual restaurant at Union Station that isn't so fast. The small platter is about $12 (before tax; $13 and change after tax) and they also have a regular platter for $1 more ($13 before tax; $14 and change after tax). The regular platter container is technically bigger than the small, but I didn't find the serving size of the regular platter to be significantly bigger than the small. The platter comes with your choice of protein and rice, sauce, plus lettuce, tomato, onions, and green peppers (if you so desire). I don't do spicy, so I skip the red sauce and only ask for the white sauce. The white sauce is good, but not quite flavorful enough to be a dressing. The toppings add nice freshness and crunch to the platter, but it eats a little bland (I guess this is where the other sauces come in). It also comes with a side of pita (yum!). I do like that they honor the app, which has rewards like free drinks and sides with purchase. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here, but it's good every once in a while.

Ended up here after keeping a friend company at the VA ER. We came in to an empty place on a…read moreweekday afternoon and had free rein of the dining room. Our server seemed to also be working the kitchen and the only employee in the place. He wasn't particularly welcoming or inviting. The food was just ok. The spices didn't jive with me and my beef was quite over done -- neither tender nor juicy. But the portion was at least large. The restroom was subpar in terms of cleanliness. And the toilet seemed to be coming off its hinges. I'd look elsewhere for Afghan food.

This is great addition to the Bloomingdale neighborhood in DC. We didn't have any Mediterranean…read moreoptions until they opened here. We recently went to the some of their food during the happy hour. They have some appetizers and a couple of drinks options during the happy hour. I wish the added some entrees as well to get more attention to their happy hour menu and they can attract more customers. We really liked their appetizers. We came back to try some of their entrees. Minced beef I am not sure what's it's called but it was so delicious. I felt its slightly overpriced. I wish the prices were nominal so I could eat here often. Ambiance and service is great. They do add gratuity in the bill. 4 stars for pricing.

Entire ambiance was ideal!! The food to the service was top…read morenotch. Will definitely take my lady here again for dates.

Gypsy Kitchen is one of those places you can take anyone and everyone to have a great time and an…read moreeven greater meal! One of my favorite tapas style spots in DC! Everything and when I say everything, is absolutely delicious! Some honorable mentions are the hummus, beef kebabs, and literally anything bread! Always so fresh and delicious, and the service/vibe is top tier for a good photo opp! PS: Crispiest Diet Coke in DC!!!!!