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Karravaan

4.0 (92 reviews)
Closed 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM
Updated 1 month ago

Order Karravaan Takeout or Delivery

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KARRAVAAN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Classy
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Karravaan

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cauliflower manchurian 16 -- VG Indo-Chinese pairing soy, ginger, garlic, tamari, tomato paste, sugar, vinegar, scallions
Alexis B.

My husband and I had dinner at Karravaan this past Sunday and had a very good time. Karravaan is new-ish (it opened in June 2025), and it celebrates the cultural influences along the Silk Road (a 4,000-mile network of Eurasian trade routes active from 130 BCE to 1450-ish CE, it connected China with the Mediterranean). This concept allows chef/owner Sanjay Mandhaiya (also of Pappe) to explore and highlight cuisines you don't often see on a menu together and to get creative! The menu is broken up into small plates, entrees, and large "journeys" to be shared with at least 2 people. Each dish has a little Italic description of the cuisines/cultures being highlighted or that inspired that dish. We stuck to small plates on this occasion and shared: Cauliflower Manchurian ("Indo-Chinese pairing": soy, ginger, garlic, tamari, tomato paste, sugar, vinegar, scallions); Pork and Lemongrass Dumplings ("Rustic Staple of Tibet and Nepal": lemongrass broth, 3 hour chili oil, scallion); Cured Hamachi Crudo ("Classic Japanese with a citrus twist": kiwi mousse, tamari caviar, radish, jalapeño); Grilled Octopus ("Greek-Style with North African Flavors": gobe, charred leek, pickled tomato, green chermoula, fried chickpea); Nihari ("Middle Eastern favorite with Indian spice": braised lamb, classic Indian curry spice mix, lime, jalapeño); and Lebanese Fish Kofte ("Traditional Lebanese Specialty": crispy fish croquette, sumac, labneh, olive oil). Did I love every dish? No. The cured hamachi crudo didn't work for us (the idea of a kiwi mousse didn't work for us - the texture was odd, and the fish got lost entirely in that much kiwi), and I wasn't sold on the grilled octopus (the cook on the octopus was perfect, but there was a flavor I wasn't sure about - it might have just been that the charred leek was too much for me - like eating something off a grill that hasn't been cleaned and you're getting the the burnt bits). The other dishes were good - delicious and often fun. The gobi manchurian was classic, but the other dishes surprised us. The broth with the dumplings?! The fish kofte tasted of fish but didn't have the texture of other fish dumplings I've had! And the Nihari was flavorful and served with the most gorgeous bread for dipping into lamb and sauce. The also have a great drink program: cocktails, wines by the glass, NA drinks/mocktails, beers (including beers from India, Spain, and Lebanon). They offered us a glass of sparkling wine when we checked in for our reservation (a lovely touch), and I enjoyed a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, while my husband tried and enjoyed a few cocktails. The na'na with the mint espuma? Wow. That cocktail surprised and delighted me, as did much of the food at Karravaan. And then on top of all of that, the service was outstanding: friendly, helpful, fast. Top-notch. And the restaurant is beautiful and played great music. We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner and would happily return. Hopefully next time with friends so we can enjoy more of the Silk Road!

Midori
Becky D.

I think I'm at a loss for words on the let down of this restaurant...Silk Road journey screams flavor, depth, variety. While there was variety in the menu items, not one stood out. Khachapuri: 3.5/5. Good. Regular. Did not get a hint of chili oil Lebanese Fish Kofta: 4/5 tasty, and good portion. Supposed to be on a bed of labneh, but there was hardly a smear on the plate. When I requested extra, the waiter was happy to bring extra. Good combination. Tamarind bbq lamb chops: 2/5 I was pleasantly surprised at the size and meatiness of the lamb chops. This could have been a hit if there was actual flavor and the chops were not so tough. I was shaking the whole table trying to cut it. The accompanying curry lentils had curry powder, nothing else. Not creamy, no depth. Forbidden Duck: 4/5 Duck was tender and well cooked. It was good. Nothing to write home about. Midori Cocktail: 5/5 now this was a hit!! Well crafted and flavorful. Cafe cocktail: 0/5 apparently they ran out ‍ and could not try. Beautiful restaurant. No parking, it's Union market. Closest garage is still a walk in heels when dressing for the occasion.

Bar
Rachel B.

I like that this restaurant is in the cut! Reclusiveness is my new vibe. This place matched my energy. I loved the decor. The host seated us at the bar immediately upon arrival. We came to tryout happy hour. The fries came out first. They were more potato wedges. I appreciate them being HOT wedges. I wish they had a little more truffle and sauce. Next was the cauliflower bites. They were prepared well, I enjoyed. Last was the lamb sliders and the chicken shawarma. The presence on fresh herbs in both dishes was very impressive. I loved the authenticity of both dishes. I would order again.

Rachel B.

We had a really nice dinner at Karravaan in Noma. I think overall the food quality was really good. There were a lot of creative dishes on the menu representing a range of different cultural cuisines. I think the price point is really high, even by DC standards, and that is probably my biggest complaint. That being said, the food was delicious. We were happy with everything we tried. The service was attentive and friendly. When we first got there for our reservation, they tried to seat us right by the host stand where people were lining up, and we politely requested a different table. They were able to accommodate us with a better seat, and we appreciated that.

Kell M.

Went for a happy hour! In full transparency, it was good for happy hour prices but most of these I would not pay full price for. Fries: standard but yummy! Lamb sliders: star of the show, this is a must get Chicken skewers: fairly bland and chewy The kiwi cocktail was too sweet for my liking, the name escapes me. The vibes were great but there's too many other options in the area to be rushing back.

Lily S.

A beautiful cozy interior, great service, and an almost perfect first dinner out of 2026. We had: - seared tuna crudo: beautiful on the eyes and the pallet. Perfect little bites almost too pretty to eat - khachapuri: perfection. Albeit a bit of a smaller portion than I'm used to. Just enough for two. - smoky eggplant dip: probably my favorite dish of the evening! - the duck: nether one of us enjoyed this tbh. I think cooked at medium was the right choice but my friend thought it was too rare, whereas I felt like it was too dry/flavorless. Honestly I would have preferred the branzino but the price was a little high for me. Though I'm not sure if it was meant for two? Next time! Overall, it was a very enjoyable experience. The biggest issue was drinks were verry slow and we spent a lot of time w empty glasses. I do look forward to coming back and trying more of the small plate menu.

Lamb sliders and Chicken Shawarma
Taylor D.

Karravaan has a great happy hour deal. The chicken shawarma skewers were very tender and flavorful. Four skewers per order were great, the pita was also very warm and herby. I also loved the lavender spritz it was extremely refreshing on a hot day. I can't wait to come back and try their regular menu outside of happy hour.

Fire-roasted Oysters (Chef Special)
Jade C.

Karravaan Overall Rating: (5/5 Stars) Compliments to the chef! I am truly in awe of the flavors at this Silk Road inspired restaurant. From the specials to the classics, this is a must-try. And with an everyday happy hour, you really cannot go wrong. Food: Bread: * Naan Barbari+Herb Butter (complimentary): I love a delicious "free" bread and butter moment. Warm, fluffy, and perfect for sauces. Chef's Special: * Fire-roasted 0ysters $19: Stuffed with crab at just the right cook. I ate every single one without hesitation. StartingOut: * Pan-roasted Prawn $22: Black Truffle+Saffron+Curry= Magic! Fresh, flavorful, and still surprisingly light. Destinations: * Forbidden Duck $38: I am extremely grateful I started eating duck as an adult because this dish was perfection. I even asked for extra harissa honey glaze to fully sauce it up. I would come back for this alone. Service: I sat at the bar right at opening, so ignoring me was not an option. That said, service was top-notch. Plates were perfectly timed, the team was attentive, and I never needed to ask for a thing. IG: @_edaj_ TikTok: @_edaj_jade_ Disclaimer: These are my personal opinions. Please try these restaurants and form your own judgments--it's what I would do.

Tibetan Momos appetizer
Zack B.

My wife had come here with friends back in the fall for happy hour and, as we were brainstorming ideas for our anniversary, Karravaan came right up. Ambiance: 5 stars. Quaint, spacious, warm and lovely. Feels very homely. Service: 5 stars. Everyone is super attentive and very wonderfully personable. They hire excellent staff. Food: 5 stars. We got the, between the two of us, lamb main, Biryani, tibetan momos and crispy cauliflower for our main meal. Everything was super flavorful and delicious! The momos were delighful and, for anyone who's spice sensitive they weren't all that spicy (Momos can be very spicy). The cauliflower appetizer was great, it was just a little suspsicious that it came out right after we ordered. A few other tables probably had ordered it around the same time though. The lamb main was amazing, even though I felt awkward trying get all the meat off due to Karravaan feeling classy. I think I just need more practice; I rarely order lamb . The couscous with it was amazing! The biryani main was also excellent. Because it was our anniversary (well the day proper is tuesday) we also got dessert and the mango chai cheesecake was awesome! The 5 spice beignets were too, but i just didnt get much of the flavoring of the warming 5 spice medley and the fry on them felt a bit heavy. Those are minor nitpicks (and my tastebuds have been weird since my second bout of covid in 2025 anyway) though! Highly recommend Karravaan!!

Samantha T.

Brunch at Karravaan is was such a great experience. Their Silk Road brunch spread is $40 per person and you can select 2 small plates and one large plate with a few large plate options being an extra $5. You can also do bottomless Moet for $35. The food was delicious and flavorful. Our server Sam was amazing, very attentive and helpful. It's a beautifully decorated restaurant and I'll definitely do back to try dinner.

Cauliflower Manchurian
Ashlee S.

I live in Union Market and have been dying to check out Karravaan since it opened. With my sister in town, I decided it would be the perfect birthday finale for her, my mom, and me -- and it absolutely was. The restaurant looks bigger than it actually is, but with the patio seating, it feels open and inviting. The decor is beautiful -- warm tones, modern touches, and a stunning bar that immediately catches your eye. We lucked out with one of the best booths in the house, right next to the bar. For cocktails, my mom and sister ordered dirty martinis while I wanted something tequila-based (none of the listed drinks featured it). Luckily, the staff knew it was my birthday, and the mixologist crafted a custom cocktail just for me -- and it was perfection. Refreshing, balanced, and easily one of the highlights of the night. To start, we ordered the khachapuri, nihari, and pan-roasted prawns. I thought I'd love the nihari most, but the khachapuri stole the show -- cheesy, flavorful, and perfectly baked. The lamb came in as a close second. For our mains, we went family-style (as always) and shared Pappe's Famous Butter Chicken, the pan-seared branzino, and the cauliflower Manchurian (a starter we added to balance it all out). Every single dish was outstanding. The flavors took us on a culinary journey -- a thoughtful fusion of cultures and cuisines that felt intentional and elevated. To top it off, the service was exceptional. Our server Victor was attentive and friendly, the mixologist Brian was incredibly skilled and personable, and the manager (whose name I missed, but he was a kind Black gentleman) made sure we were taken care of from start to finish. Overall, Karravaan exceeded every expectation. Between the atmosphere, food, and hospitality, it's one of those spots that truly delivers a full experience. I'll definitely be back soon -- next time, probably for brunch or another round at that gorgeous bar.

Smoky Eggplant Dip
Evan P.

This restaurant opened around June and isn't yet fully receiving the recognition it deserves. They've got a beautiful, modern interior with a large, high ceiling bar, plenty of tables, and an outdoor patio. The food and drinks are fantastic and if you stop in between 4-6pm, you can take advantage of great happy hour specials including tasty specialty craft cocktails and delicious food options. Both were great and I highly recommend the smoky eggplant dip which was well portioned and packed with flavor, the lamb sliders (2) which had a little kick to them, and the chicken shawarma that comes in a tasty dipping sauce. Service was fast and friendly and I'm looking forward to my next visit.

Khachapuri & tandoori chicken omelette
Alice L.

Brunch review Food: $40 per person gets you 2 apps and 1 main. Our group of 4 tried a number of items: pomegranate yogurt parfait (meh), Bircher muesli (ok), eggplant dip (meh), Bombay toast (good), seared tuna crudo (good), malai kofta (probably best bite of the apps). Split the loaded khachapuri (by far best bite on table) and tandoori chicken omelette (this is a house speciality and I thought it was meh, seemingly no cheese in it? Felt like an omelette w chopped chicken inside that fell out w every bite). Ordered the French-ish toast as dessert for our table, this was delicious, the date butter was awesome. Drinks: espresso martini was incredible, 10/10, mandarin sour tasty and unique; you can sample the wines before ordering which is really nice since they have some unique offerings Service: restaurant wasn't packed and service was still slow; almost 3 hours for our table of 4, including waiting for long stretches for drinks and the apps not coming out all at once. Ambiance: super cute, bathrooms are dark and moody, big curtains and big windows in the dining area.

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Ask the Community - Karravaan

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Maydan - Roasted carrots

Maydan

4.3(1.4k reviews)
1.8 mi
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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.

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Nabiha

Nabiha

4.3(24 reviews)
2.1 miU Street Corridor

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!

Been eyeing this place for a while and finally got around to trying it! We ordered the Chicken…read moreFreekeh Maqlouba and the Fattet Jaj. The Fattet Jaj was okay, the rice was a little clumpy, but the Freekeh was pretty good and tasted authentic. It's also connected to El Secreto de Rosita, so there's a combined menu and you can order from either place, which gives you plenty of options. The service was great; our waitress was very sweet and welcoming. The ambiance was chill, and there was live music playing, which was fun to watch. Overall, a cozy spot for a relaxed night with good vibes and live music.

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Zaytinya

Zaytinya

4.2(6.3k reviews)
1.4 mi
$$$

This place is in a great corner location, the food was delicious, and the staff were friendly…read moreoverall. We had a reservation to make sure we got a table, and the restaurant was completely full when we arrived. The only downside was that after being seated outside, we felt a little forgotten for the first 30 minutes or so. No one came by with water or to check in, and it seemed like the staff may not have realized a new table had been seated until we flagged down the outside host. There were also swarm of flies hovering around the outdoor tables, which another table pointed out and then we started noticing too. Aside from that, the experience was good overall. The inside dining area definitely had a dressier vibe compared to the patio seating, and once we were helped, the food made up for the slow start.

Placed a large order via Uber Eats since restaurant will not accept takeout orders directly…read more Restaurant does not allow any specifications when ordering through Uber Eats - for example, one person wanted one ingredient held from her salad. Uber Eats lacked description for Zaytinya's food items (such as the ounces of the drinks) and some items (such as the horta salata) were not as pictured. There were no extra napkins in our bag. The Coke came in bottles but we didn't receive any bottle openers. To top it off, we had three food items missing. I called the restaurant again to let them know about the missing food - they were unapologetic and didn't know what the proper protocol was to fix the situation. The service was subpar and the servings were small. Won't be back. The next day we had food delivered from another local restaurant where both the food and service were outstanding, unlike at Zaytinya. UPDATE: After writing the Yelp review, a general manager at Zaytinya emailed me the following: "..."The restaurant normally offers takeout, but the location was actually closed that day for a private event. However, since the order had come through, we tried to honor it. The mujadara and 2 orders of rice were missing because we hadn't prepped those items, as they were not offered for the buyout..." The restaurant knew on Friday what I was ordering for Tuesday. They had plenty of time to reach out to me and tell me they would be closed and wouldn't be able to fulfill the order. Instead, they knowingly sent out an order without all of the food for our group and charged as if we received everything. This shows a lack of professionalism and is disrespectful.

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ala - GOLDEN CAULIFLOWER

ala

4.2(1.2k reviews)
2.3 miDupont Circle, Downtown
$$$

Brunch review ahead!!!!!…read more Ambiance- perfect for a cute date, time with friends, family members, or coworkers. The ambiance welcomes it all. Hospitality- The hostess was incredibly friendly and seated us upon arrival. Waiter- Eric was an AMAZING waiter. Bubbly personality, very polite and personable. His service was definitely a 10/10 Brunch- My friend and I decided to try their Easter Sunday brunch and my only regret was not visiting here sooner and not selecting an earlier time to dine, LOL! The entire experience was phenomenal! Bottomless mimosas- SO worth the extra $ Standout dishes: Adana meatballs Braised lamb Chicken Golden cauliflower Crispy Falafel Desserts: Baklava Brownie Kadayıf Sadly we did not get to experience all of the brunch menu items because brunch ends at 3pm and our reservations were at the heel of this time. Nonetheless, the standout dishes and desserts were enough for me to come back. I've enjoyed their happy hour, cafe area, and now their brunch. Can't wait to return.

Three stars isn't the actual rating; I'd say more 3.5. Stopped by after visiting the Dupont…read moreCircle's weekly farmer's market to try their Sunday brunch buffet. Was warmly greeted, seated, and given an overview of the menu and brunch package options; decided to opt-out of the bottomless drinks, which had an alcoholic (mimosas and Bloody Marys) and NA (juices, sodas, drip coffee and black tea), as I wanted to try their more speciality coffee and tea. The drinks I ordered were the Turkish coffee, Levantine-style tea and digestive tea. All were quite solid. The Turkish coffee was as robust as espresso, yet not overwhelmingly bitter and slightly sweetened. The Levantine tea was a smooth black tea with natural sweetness and layered with a mint steep and floral notes of hibiscus, and rose petal. The digestive was more herbaceous with fennel and pomegranate zest, in addition to a steep of spearmint. The food was more hit-or-miss. On one hand, the meat and seafood was all very delicious and well-made. The braised lamb shank is their speciality, and well-deserved, as it's moist, savory and tender. The short rib similarly so, and the chicken casserole, lamb biajeen, Adana kebab and steamed lavraki (sea bass) were all similarly flavorful. On the other hand, the sides and mezze options were more mixed; the dolmas and fresh bites cheese with za'atar/nuts were delightful, however, the borek, cheeses, and some of the dips tasted reheated and/or not super fresh, the Brussels sprouts were quite scorched, and the savory salmon waffles were bone dry and flavorless. The French onion soup had the right flavor profile, but not the intensity; it tasted watered-down and even looked it, due to the noticeable oil blebs on the surface. Dessert was similar; the melon and fruits were fresh enough, the yogurt bar was quality, the kadayif nutty with the sweetness balanced, and the layali lubnan was intoxicatingly tasty, but many of the baked goods looked rather packaged and the fondue station was mediocre. The staff, however, were extremely friendly (my special regards to Mia, she's a great conversationalist and a sweetheart!). They answered all my questions, and one of the bartenders even gave me half a lemon to zuzh up my tea with. As I said at the start, more 3.5 stars than 3 stars. The core of their offerings are all quality, so I can't quite dock them a full two stars for the food quality because they had buffets aren't usually renown for said quality. You really can't expect perfection from AYCE, even though I naturally encourage the management to avoid sourcing pre-made items from Sysco if possible. The friendly staff and eloquent Eastern Mediterranean ambiance allows me to still say I enjoyed this experience, and may be back for dinner in the future.

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Karravaan - mideastern - Updated May 2026

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