Maydan is amazing. FYI, it's the green door that has their name on it. It's obvious, but for some…read morereason, none of us in our group clocked that and we accidentally ended up confused and in thier event space. XD. Anyway, misadventure aside, our group of 6 was in the upstairs room. For groups of 5 or more they have you do the tasting menu but we asked to do a la carte and they allowed us. We got a lot of food, all of which I can't remember, that included the shakshukah, one of the salads, 3 of the spreads, the veggies and a few others. The cocktails drew rave reviews as did my wife and i's mocktails and we loved how substantive the list was. The fresh, constantly coming bread was amazing. Everything was delightful and incredibly tasty and well seasoned. One note: the bathroom music is REALLY loud (it's the same music as in the restaurant) so if you've got loop earplugs or ones you can easily pop in that don't block out your company, that'll help. Oh and also, the currently on offer bitter orange sorbet isn't actually bitter. It's just the name.

Some restaurants serve an excellent meal. Maydan creates an experience…read more This reservation had been on my wish list for quite some time, and when everything finally aligned, it exceeded every expectation. The restaurant itself is stunning. Walking in, you're immediately greeted by the massive open hearth where much of the cooking happens. Watching the chefs tend the fire throughout the evening adds another layer to the experience and sets the tone before your first bite even arrives. Our server explained the tasting menu ($95 per person) and optional wine pairing ($75 pp), but we decided to order à la carte--and I wouldn't change a thing. We started with the Carrot Havuç spread. It was impossibly light, silky, and beautifully whipped. I'll admit, the bread seemed understated at first, but after the first bite, it became clear that the spread was meant to be the star. Every bite was packed with flavor. The lamb shish kebab was incredibly tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. The Omani shrimp arrived with five enormous shrimp that were cooked flawlessly. Then came the whole roasted chicken. Watching it roast over the fire as we entered made us excited, but nothing prepared us for how incredible it would taste. It was, without question, some of the best chicken I've ever eaten. Moist, deeply flavorful, beautifully seasoned, and delicious completely on its own. It came with an accompanying sauce that was excellent, but honestly, use it sparingly--you don't want anything distracting from the chicken itself. When a dish can stand entirely on its own, that's greatness. Since it was a whole chicken, we happily went home with leftovers (which felt like winning the lottery). The cocktails deserve their own standing ovation. A special thank you to Nancy upstairs-- Great bartenders don't just make drinks--they elevate the entire experience, and she certainly did. The Serpent was beautifully balanced with bright citrus and herbal notes, while the Medina Palmer was refreshing, unique, and one of the most memorable cocktails I've had in a long time. Every drink felt carefully crafted rather than simply mixed. In the beginning of our night they asked if we were celebrating anything and I immediately answered, "my friend graduated from nursing school." Little did we know, they came with glasses of bubbly at the end of our dining experience to celebrate! Such a lovely gesture to end our evening. The word that kept coming up throughout dinner was divine. Service was warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic about guiding us through the menu. A few practical tips: * Reservations book well in advance, so plan ahead. * Street parking is limited. We chose to Uber and were glad we did. This was one of those meals where every course made us look at each other and say, "Wow." I can't wait to return.

What an absolute amazing dinner that ended on live music performances by various artists…read more I was suppose to meet a friend at Nabiha's after a long time. I was very hungry that day, so hungry that I didn't even wait to take a picture for yelp. I ordered the appetizer sampler and the makloubeh. I think my friend ordered fattet jajj. Everything was delicious though I couldn't focus much on the food since I was catching up with my friend after a long time. After we finished the entrees, we ordered kunefe for dessert and it was amazing. A proper end to the meal. Then we heard live music coming out of the other hall and the owner was kind enough to let us sit wherever we wanted to listen to the performances. The staff of Nabiha is delightful and they made sure that me and my friend are well taken care of. More than a restaurant this felt like visiting a friend's home. 5/5 must try!

Heard good things about this Palestinian restaurant and had to try it! The interior is really nice…read moreand inviting. Loved that they had the World Cup on for everyone without it feeling like a sports bar. For appetizers you MUST get the labneh w olives it's SO GOOD!! I've never been one for dips but wow, the hummus was delicious as well. I believe it must be their olive oil that gives it that something extra. The Chicken Freekah Maqlouba was so flavorful, the spices were unique but not overpowering. I enjoyed the sauce and thin potato slice additions in the Kafta Bel Tahini. Nextdoor is a Peruvian restaurant, El Secreto de Rosita, and patrons can order from either restaurant when dining. The Lomo Saltado, rib eye stir fry was great. The meat was well prepared and sauce was delicious, definitely more than just a soy sauce. The presentation of all the dishes was beautiful, but take note that the portion sizes are on the smaller side. The staff were kind and offered helpful recommendations! The only hiccup during our visit was one of the dishes we ordered was no longer available after we had spent quite awhile waiting for it, then the dish we ordered to replace it was delayed so long that they comped it for us, which was appreciated. If you're the area this spot is worth a visit.

Excellent value for money, truly fantastic. Compared to similar dishes like ilili, it might be more…read morepalatable to a wider audience. Pita: Pure wheat flavor, substantial texture, and even more moist and soft than ilili. It didn't dry out even without a cloth covering it. More suited to Chinese tastes. The accompanying simple vinaigrette was complemented by a particularly fragrant olive oil. Hommus: The hummus was smooth and creamy, with a perfect balance of acidity and a hint of garlic. A splash of chili oil added aroma and richness while preventing it from drying out; the vegetables were fresh and crisp, perfect for dipping. These two combinations were new to me, showing attention to detail compared to the usual simple dish of hommus. Shish Taouk: Tender chicken, with sumac giving it a distinct smoky flavor, and a refreshing, slightly acidic garlic sauce. The combination was both fragrant and light, truly deserving of its signature dish. Unfortunately, the onion salad was mildly sweet, offering limited relief from the richness; the roasted tomatoes, coated in spices, had their sweet and sour flavors overshadowed, resulting in a slightly weird taste. Lamb Baharat: The lamb leg was a bit dry and tough, and the tahini sauce and hommus were somewhat repetitive, but the Tabbouleh salad won me over from the first bite! The fresh aromas of parsley, mint leaves, and onions, the bright sweet and sour notes of tomatoes, and the wheat crumbs reminiscent of couscous and quinoa, with their hearty wheat flavor balancing the raw taste. Overall, it was restrained, light, and comforting. Crispy Brussels Afelia: The barberries, and garlic yogurt were all sour, making the overall dish too acidic and monotonous. It wasn't as good as ilili's system, built with grapes, walnuts, and mint yogurt, which achieved a balanced sweet and sour flavor, layered texture, and a smooth mouthfeel. Greek Yogurt and Apricots: What a beautiful dessert! The top layer was the rich, sweet aroma of apricot sorbet, with sprinkles of pistachios that enriched the taste; the middle layer was the tartness of apricot pectin and the fermented tang of yogurt; just when starting to feel a little disappointed by the monotony of the bottom, I discovered sweet, slightly crunchy diced muscat-soaked apricots at the very bottom. Its elegance, refinement, and meticulousness left me only with awe and admiration, and a sense of blissful ecstasy. The restaurant's decor features classic Greek blue and white tones, with natural light creating a clean and comfortable atmosphere; the tableware was decorated with traditional Greek patterns, making it both distinctive and exquisite.

As one of the longer running Andres restaurants, Zaytinya flew under me and my wife's radar as we…read moreexplored more trendy Mediterranean restaurants in the city. Though we typically look askance upon restaurants serving multiple ethnic cuisines, we nonetheless decided to try Zaytinya for dinner on the strength of friends' recommendations and when in need of a relatively last minute dinner reservation. The lively space is large and boasts bright white and marine blue accents characteristic of the Greek islands. While fancy enough for a date night, the place can get loud, so intimate evenings may be best had elsewhere. Zaytinya's large menu offers bites from Greece, Turkey, and the Levant. The meal begins with complimentary pita bread served with olive oil and pomegranate molasses. When fresh, the bread is soft and makes for pleasant munching. When it cools down a little it becomes a little hard and leathery, so be sure to eat it expediently. We started off with two Greek-inspired dips: the taramosalata and the tyrokafteri. Both tasted akin to what we have received at actual Greek restaurants, and subsequently hit the mark. Our zaatar pide arrived shortly thereafter. The dough on the flatbread was soft and we enjoyed the bites with egg and cheese. The zaatar itself ran more bitter rather than zesty, so while overall a decent bite I would skip it next time in favor of a different pide. Our imam biyaldi brought meltingly tender eggplant seasoned with warm spices, olive oil, and pine nuts. The dish tasted comforting and rustic. Our protein mezzes comprised the octopus Santorini, lamb kleftiko, and adana kebab. The octopus offered a generous portion of tender tentacles upon a schmear of creamy Greek style fava puree. The flavors and cook on the dish were good, though I could've used an acidic or herby element to bring a little brightness. The lamb kleftiko was the evening's uncontested favorite. Rather than the traditional parchment cooked preparation, the meat here is encased in homemade phyllo pastry and is set atop a rich tzatziki sauce. This made for a really delicious bite marrying juicy, tender lamb, crisp pastry, and cooling yogurt. Skip the adana kebab. The spicing on the skewer was adequate, but the somewhat bouncy texture of the meat and skimpy portion size made it a dud. Service ran smoothly but perfunctorily. We noted we were celebrating an anniversary on our reservation, but no mention was made. Our waiter didn't really explain the menu or offer suggestions for dishes. He did course the meal at a comfortable pace and the staff made sure we had plenty of fresh bread, and no errors were made. Our bill totaled $150 pre tip for six mezze and two drinks, which we found very fair for the quantity and quality of food. Overall, I can see why this restaurant has stood the test of time. While initially skeptical, we found most of the small plates here of a decent quality and taste and the menu appealing enough to return. Zaytinya thus gets four stars for solid Eastern Mediterranean fare at reasonable prices in lively surrounds.

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

Enjoyed the vibe and trying new food! The vegetarian dish we tried tasted like biryani but overall…read moreenjoyed this place.

Yalla to Yalla!…read more This place is immaculate! We walked in right when it opened since it opens around 5pm. We were the first people there and honestly felt like we were treated like royalty! We got to decide where we wanted to sit since there was about 7 of us! I didn't think my party was hungry, but the second we saw the menu our mouths began to drool. We ordered - Fries: 5/5 - honestly, you can never go wrong with fries, but these were hot, crispy and seasoned well! Hummus: 4/5 - nothing to rave about here, just your typical hummus Falafel: 3.5/5 - I've definitely had better falafels Halloumi: 10/5 - this was the best item on the menu! So good, we ordered a second plate! It was seasoned and cooked to perfection! They didn't have our usual flavors for hookah so we ended up with Double Apple and Watermelon mint. Not my favorite flavors, but this was probably the smoothest hookah I've ever had in the DMV! I was genuinely so shocked! Besides all the above, the place is super aesthetic and fun cute post brunch vibes. I'll definitely be making myself back here for the halloumi and smooth hookah!!

The place does not disappoint, I would fix that citrus shrimp thou. The staff is really welcoming…read moreand the wait isn't that long for food and drinks. The night time really opens up ... Reggae on the Roof is something to experience on a Sunday

Small plates middle eastern-fusion restaurant with a cool vibe and great food…read more Table, booth, and bar seating I came here with my fiancé and we split small plates of hummus, falafel, brussel sprouts, and a chicken skewer. The hummus and Brussel sprouts were the best, and the chicken was solid as well, but we didn't love the falafel. Solid selection of drinks. My fiance got a passionfruit cocktail but thought that it was too sweet for her taste On inKind!

We were only able to secure outdoor seating, and unfortunately the ambiance outside is not great…read more The patio was wet even though it wasn't raining that day of the day before. There is nothing pretty or appealing about seating outside. The buffet is inside the restaurant which also makes it a bit of an inconvenience. The restaurant inside is on the smaller side and feels a bit crowded near the buffet area. They had a lot of food selections which was great, however, we were disappointed that the taste of the food did not match the great presentation of each dish. Overall the dishes were bland, lacked flavor, and were too oily. Even the mashed potatoes were bland and not tasty. Nice selection of desserts too, but again, nothing exciting, juts a typical dessert buffet selection (brownies, cupcakes, chocolate fountain..). The standout were the baklavas. The highlight of our outing was the service. Everyone was very attentive and nice.

Delicious and authenic falafel in Adams Morgan. Food service was fast and everything tasted…read moreamazing. Definitely the place to hit if you're having a falafel craving in Adams Morgan. Note they are closed on Saturdays.

I have had Oh Mama Grill in Rockville and glad the DC location opened. We haven't been in person…read morebut ordered delivery and loved the food. It is great to have another location when Max's closed.

Can't speak on the food but the cocktails really did like up to the hype. We came on a Wednesday at…read more6pm and the place was packed. They have a small outdoor and an upstairs and downstairs bar. I would recommend making a reservation if you want a table to have your food at. We went upstairs and hit HH which they have from 5-8. I got the Lebanese bees knees and my husband tried the old fashion on HH- both were tasty and very alcohol forward. On our second round of drinks we got the dacquiri and the few of my favorite things. I think the few of my favorite things was our favorite drink, a unique flavor but really tasty. All drinks came out beautifully and even when the bar was busy, you never waited too long to order or get your drink. 100% will be back, need to try some food as well.

- great vibe, live music / dj - DELICIOUS mint lemonade…read more10/10! - loved the art put up - hard to get ahold of waiter for drink since people stay sat at the bar and block - drinks made quickly after ordering

Meze Restaurant was a pleasant surprise. I went during off hours, so it was pretty quiet, but the…read morefood was better than I expected. I had the chicken sis kebab, and it was really good. The service was also good, and overall it ended up being a nice experience.

We stopped in here in May while in town for a conference and we enjoyed our visit. We had a late…read morelunch that day, so just wanted a small nosh and a drink and this was perfect. The mojitos were flavorful and tasty and we really enjoyed our katmar dessert (a phyllo pastry filled dessert with pistachios, cream, and honey). I also had some raki, which was delicious and was a nice way to end the meal. Service was pretty good and we'd recommend stopping in here if you're in the area.

A small cozy restaurant and plenty of outdoor seating…read more I've tried walking in before and haven't been successful so I finally made a reservation. We had everything that was recommended, and it was all great, including the pumpkin and onion bolani and shrimp dumplings in the saffron sauce. Well timed dishes and super friendly service.

We were required to make a reservation with a credit card, with a $15/person penalty for…read morecancelation less than 24 hours. Typically reservations are made LESS than 24 hrs in advance in the FIRST PLACE!! We waited almost 25 minutes before our drink order was even taken, our cocktails arrived over 40 mins after being seated. Our server essentially ignored us the entire evening, naturally, bc their policy is that 20% tip is automatically added to ALL parties. So, of course, no incentive for good service. We had to flag down various servers throughout the evening, as we were never checked on. Arrogant and condescending servers when we got their attention. Huge disappointment; food was good, but the service was probably some of the worst we've ever experienced. Like they were doing US a favor when they designed to notice us. They literally couldn't care less