Lapis is a restaurant I'll think about for a long time. While visiting DC, I knew this was a…read morewell-renowned, must-try restaurant. Not sure how difficult it is to attain a reservation, but my friend made one for 3 the day prior to our dinner on a Sunday evening in one of DC's busiest weekends (America's 250th birthday, UFC at the White House, etc.) We were sat outside on the patio. No one in my party had had Afghani food before, but we were all open-minded and adventurous! Together, we shared all of these dishes: STARTERS starters tasting flight: one of each starter - 24 *bolani: afghan flatbread (choose two fillings) pumpkin (v), beef, onion potato *sambosa trio: a crispy phyllo pastry trio of spinach (v, vg), shrimp & beef - 12 *shamee kebab: small patty of minced beef with potatoes, yellow split peas, eggs, spices, served with cucumber mint yogurt, pickled onions & house-cut fries - 15 (gf) *shore-nakhot: chickpea, potato salad in vinegar, garlic & cilantro (cold) - 7 (v, vg, gt) *pakowra: gram batter cauliflower, spinach & potato- 14 (v, vg) AFGHAN DUMPLINGS *mantoo beef: dumplings with ground beef, topped with a yellow split peas & carrots tomato sauce finished with strained garlic yogurt - 4 pcs --16 / 6 pcs - 22 SIGNATURE DISHES gabuli palow: rice pilaf, boneless braised lamb, carrots, & raisins - 35 (gf) veggie - 22 (v) FROM THE GRILL lamb shank: bone-in braised lamb, herbed tomato sauce, basmati rice -- 38 (gf) My favorite dish overall was the gabuli palow. There was something so novel about the sweetness of the carrots paired with raisins in the soft rice and decadent lamb. Just amazing. Overall, Lapis is a culinary adventure with attentive service, chic ambience, and masterfully crafted foods -- worth every penny.

While I love a family owned business, Lapis was underwhelming for me…read more Start with the good: Doogh Punch: 5/5 best mezcal drink! Smooth, well balanced. Atmosphere: relaxed, warm! Love the photos on the walls giving that family vibe. Candle lit as the sun went down. Nice vibe. Meh: Shrimp dumplings: 3/5 shrimp in a dumpling. No flavors stood out even with the sauce. Beet salad: 3.5/5 this was an arugula salad with maybe half a beet cut up on top. The description of ingredients were flakes of toppings. I had to request more beets as there were few. I could have had more nuts and cheese, but I just wasn't in the mood to really complain. Chopawn: 3/5 lamb chops, tender but lacking flavor. "Picked" salad on top, not pickled. Just cut up onions and peppers with sumac. Buranee Kadoo: 3/5 also ok. The garlic sour cream sauce needed more tang.

Talk about a hidden gem!…read more Saying that we enjoyed our time at Afghania would be the biggest understatement of 2026. It's a little higher up than some of the more commonly known restaurants but we are so glad we made the trek. Everything we had was a hit, there were no misses and that's rare- especially since our group totaled 6 people. That's a lot of people to impress. We were only a couple bites into our dinner when my mom said "we have to come back here again, and soon" For starters we had the assortment of dumplings. All delicious but my favorite was definitely the pumpkin. Sweet, and flavorful. If you're not a huge fan of spice, like myself, skip the spicy beef dumplings. I mean, it's in the name. Our table bought a variety of things and sampled all of it as dinner. We got the beef tenderloin and chicken, the chicken and ground beef, the Kandahari vegetarian flights, and the Moguhli (the one thing I hadn't sampled (hint, it was also spicy). The beef? Tender. The chicken? Juicy. The difference varieties of prepared rice? Flavorful. The drinks were also a hit. I had a mocktail that was mild in taste, with a hint of sweetness yet refreshing (the name is slipping me at the moment). Dessert? To die for. The cardamom tres leches was the best dessert I'd had at a restaurant in a while. I would make a trip back to Afghania just for it. The service was also amazing. Our server was very patient (we were a table of six, ¼ bilingual, ¼ just French speakers and the rest English speakers), and also very knowledgeable as everything we ate came at her recommendation. The décor is tasteful and in no way overbearing : white table clothes, artwork that depicts the culture, and it was overall a very cozy and intimate vibe. Hands down, a wonderful experience.

This was my third time trying Afghan cuisine. Overall, compared to Persian and Lebanese food,…read moreAfghan dishes use spices more aggressively, featuring heavier flavor profiles.The main reason I came there was the assortment dumplings. In general, the food was unique and delicious but the service was disappointing. For food, I tried the following dishes: 1. Assortment dumplings: On the menu, "For X" means there are X pieces of each type of dumpling. I ordered "For 3". The pumpkin dumplings were my favorite. They were packed with sweetened and herbed mashed pumpkin. Paired well with the warm yogurt. The Aushaks had the mildest flavor overall, with just a hint of fragrance and sweetness from leeks. However, there was so little filling that I doubt if each dumpling had 1/10oz leeks... The Mantus were incredibly peppery-spicy. 2. Sabzi: A medley of leafy greens featuring spinach, kale, mustard greens, collard greens, turnip greens, cilantro, dill, and a tiny amount of green pepper slowly simmered for ~3 hours until it reached a texture of Saag in Indian cuisine. It tasted good. 3. Afghan Naan: Golden brown outside and fluffy inside. Served with (spicy) mint yougurt, spicy mango sauce, cilantro sauce and chii oil. However, I found some burnt piece in my Sabzi. I mentioned it to the staff and was told that it was "just" residue from the bottom of the pot that had charred from cooking too long and was "normal". Unacceptable. How could you serve the scrapings from the bottom of a pot to a customer!?

I've visited bistro aracosia twice. The food is always amazing and the service is also great…read more Everyone is kind and friendly. The bread comes out with four different sauces in the beginning which is nice. We got the assorted dumplings which were very flavorful and delicious. The lamb rack is to die for and the saffron chicken is also very good. I preferred the other two entrees over the lamb moghuli but it might be because I'm not a huge fan of the smoky flavor. The restaurant has a cozy and comforting atmosphere and is pretty quiet. Will be going back again:)

Had a really wonderful lunch here before heading to the National Cathedral. Both of us had the Mini…read moreTaste of Aracosia and bread with 4 different chutneys for dipping. We weren't sure it was going to be enough food but it was plenty. Beef, lamb, chicken and veal dishes were served with a chickpea and lentil sides and two kinds of really tasty rice. One had shredded carrots and raisins. Service was super friendly and attentive. I'll definitely be back. Everything was really flavorful and tender.

Everything was great! Fantastic service in this family run restaurant. We were led through the…read moremenu. We had an eggplant dip with homemade flat bread that was steaming hot as it arrived. We had mantu (Afghan dumplings with beef, lentils) A lamb dish with rice pilaf. Was wonderful and we hope to be back. I wish they offered gift certificates so I could introduce our son.

( This review is based on delivery via a third-service provider .... )…read more I ordered from here for Nowruz (Persian new year) -- and everything I received was very, very good! I say 'everything I received' because I didn't receive my drinks -- but the food was all great! The Chickpeas were well-cooked and flavourful, bathed in a tasty red sauce, the Buranee Bademjan eggplant was nice and soft plus super-tasty, and the salata added a nice crunch -- I ate mine along with the chickpeas, mixing some of each in my spoon, bite-by-bite. I do feel the salata was rather small for the price, and feel you -- the customer -- should know none these dishes do not come with rice or bread. It would be nice, I think, if this fact were written in the descriptions -- but apparently, those are AI-generated, or at least the one for the Chutney Sabz is, and it's definitely not what you get! The description says you get four things, but you only get one. Maybe I should've known that from the price, but I only figured it out later, after I'd gotten it. It wasn't clear to me, because I saw both names and photos of four different things and they all sounded so good! It was still rather perfect. It was nice to not have leftovers, too! It's not that I wanted the rice or bread, by the way -- I didn't -- but it's just nice to know in advance what you're getting, with clarity! I do highly recommend this place!

Maydan was one of the most anticipated dining experiences for my partner and I on our DC trip and…read moreit was even better than I expected. Gorgeous restaurant centered around a giant hearth, the heart and soul of the space where much of the food is cooked. We went with two friends and opted to do ala carte, and ordered a bunch of items to share. - Muhammara & hummus spreads were both phenomenal - creamy, delicious goodness served with piping hot, generous portions of freshly made pita bread. - Halloumi with a nutty honey glaze - perfection - Sweet Potato - soft and just melts in your mouth - Mushrooms - super unique preparation, definitely worth a try. Very delicious. We also ordered every kabob on the menu (shrimp, scallop, chicken and lamb). The shrimp and chicken kabobs were excellent - charred to perfection and bursting with flavor. Paired with zhoug sauce, I was in heaven. Do not miss these! Scallop and lamb kabobs were just okay. Incredible service, beautiful ambiance, and a memorable meal that will stay with me. Grateful to have experienced Maydan!

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. I believe it also depends where you're sitting how impactful it will be on your experience as well. Whatever you do come back each time and try something else because I will Love Amb

We went here for a special celebration and it was lovely !…read more The ambience, service and food are all top notch. I usually take pictures but this time we just started eating straight away . some highlights: Fattoush salad - deliciously crisp and fresh, Sea bass - absolute phenomena! everyone in the table loved this dish and couldn't get more, literally melt in your mouth. The kebabs, chicken and beef were also good. Would definitely recommend this for a nice meal out.

Unfortunately, this was not a very good experience compared to the Atlanta and Texas locations…read more I arrived around 5:00 PM as a solo diner and was greeted by two latino ladies who informed me that they would need my table back by 6:15 PM. The restaurant was only about half full, with many empty tables available, so this was surprising and did not make me feel particularly welcome. Throughout my visit, many staff members were speaking loudly to each other in Spanish, making it difficult to enjoy the atmosphere or even hear the background music. My server, however, was courteous and provided good service. As for the food, the ground beef in the Soltani was very good, but the Barg was slightly burnt and chewy. Since the meal took some time to arrive, I felt rushed to finish eating before the stated 6:15 PM deadline. For a restaurant where customers are paying premium prices, being pressured to eat quickly is not an experience I would expect or appreciate. I hope this location can improve its customer experience, as I have had much better visits at other locations.

best karahi i have in my life! awesome food!…read morevery authentic! open 24 hours.. very busy and noisy..

A no brainer if you're looking for a quick bite and some strong pungent Pakistani/afghan food. Over…read morethe years, I come here for the lamb stew. Perfect seasoning and the naan is amazing when dipped into the sauce. The prices have definitely gone up though. The atmosphere is definitely more of a food court but when there are not a lot of people, it's not bad. The setting can be a little tight when there's a lot of people

Loved my lamb dish! Surprisingly reasonable pricing when you at opening/lunch too!…read more Nice cozy but elegant vibes. Great to take out your family or significant other. Interesting art on the wall and nice bathroom. Park on the parking garage below or on the side street/lot nearby. Make sure if you don't finish your lamb and ask to put it in a takeaway box go specify that you want your lamb scraps. Learn from me because my waiter tossed all my lamb and just boxed up the rice likely thinking I was done with them. Big bummer since I was looking forward to my leftovers but oh well.

Overall it was a good experience! We absolutely loved the bread and the difference sauces that…read morewent with it. The pumpkin dumplings and pan fried veggie filled dumplings were great as well. I thought my salmon wrap and the chickpea side was ok. Interesting flavors for sure. As for the service, there was always someone filling up our waters and our waiter was very nice checking in every now and then. The only downside of the experience is at the end when the waiter was boxing up all the food for us. Very sweet that they do this but when boxing up my partners food, they only boxed up the rice and they got rid of the lamb that he was looking forward to eating more of later. So that was kind of a disappointment for us. I think if we go again, we would request to box our food ourselves since I'm not sure why they decided to get rid of all of his lamb.

The baba ghannouj is well-balanced -- smoky char from the eggplant comes through clearly without…read morethe tahini overwhelming it, and it's not overly heavy despite the richness. Good start to the meal. The lamb kleftiko is the standout of the three. Slow-cooked until it falls apart easily, with the seasoning penetrating all the way through rather than sitting on the surface. It's a dish that rewards the time it takes to prepare -- nothing rushed about it. The kofte kebab holds its own too -- well-spiced, good char on the outside, moist inside, not dried out the way kofte can sometimes end up. Solid textural contrast against the kleftiko. Overall a strong meal across the board -- each dish distinct but all working within the same confident, well-executed style that Zaytinya is known for.

A coworker recommended Zaytinya, and I quickly agreed--without realizing it's under the direction…read moreof celebrated chef José Andrés. That made the experience feel even more special in hindsight. We walked in on a Monday night without reservations (clearly a theme for us!), not knowing they were needed. Thankfully, they were able to seat us in the bar area, which turned out to be a perfect spot for a relaxed dinner and a glass of wine. We ordered a mix to share: hummus, spanakopita, kofte kebab, and adana kebab. Everything was delicious, but the spanakopita really stood out. It was a bit unexpected--not layered like the traditional version, but more of a rolled presentation. Even so, the flavors were wonderful and elevated in a way that made it memorable. The only slight disappointment for me was the wine selection. The red wines leaned more dry than I typically prefer--I tend to go for something more fruit-forward--but it didn't take away from the overall experience. Dessert was the one miss. We were really hoping for baklava, which wasn't on the menu. Instead, we ordered the walnut delight. While it had all the right flavors, it didn't quite deliver the wow factor we were hoping for. That said, the food, atmosphere, and overall experience were still impressive. I was excited to learn that Zaytinya has locations beyond D.C., including closer to home in the Bay Area--so I'll definitely be visiting again. Highly recommend, and maybe make a reservation!

Came for the Sheeryakh, but had such delicious, authentic Afghan food! I'd give 4.5 stars for some…read moreconstructive modifications to make in the future related to service, but overall amazing food! I left with a full belly and a happy heart. Got a combo of chicken kabob and shami kabob along with a side of their borani banjan/eggplant dish. The eggplant was honestly one of my favorite things- it's a must get in my opinion. Homey dish with incredible flavors! Their naan is fresh and pairs well with it. The chicken was good, but I've had better honestly. The shami was a little disappointing as I expected more flavor and it was slightly dry, but good. Their rice was so tasty and I loved the sweetness coming from the carrots an raisins. Of course, the sheeryakh was great- quite a big portion for one person, but I loved the texture. It tastes very similar to the Indian/South Asian/Pakistani ice cream, "Kulfi." CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK: Service needs improvement. The whole time I was there I had to keep looking for waiters to make eye contact with to ask for menu, water, paying, etc. It took about 10 min or more for me to have to call a busy waiter over just to look at the menu- no one came over on their own. Things just took time for a Saturday night- plus they were hosting an event on top of this. Needless to say, I've never had service like this, but the vibe and food made me be not as harsh. Despite the service, this place is a must try for authentic Afghan cuisine. Can't wait to try more of their menu (and the borani banjan again) in the future!

The chicken bowl was amazing. Friend loved the spinach and we got the chickpea. The star of the…read morenight was the eggplant dish! We have had it at other restaurants but this place topped it!! Way too stuffed to get dessert but the ice cream looked phenomenal!