Was very busy last Saturday but the service was very good, attentive (sometimes too attentive as the servers often tried to clear dishes we were obviously not finished with). The bread was good but it (and the butter) needed salt. Fav dishes were eggplant dip, fish kofte (it had a more dense mouthfeel than fish though so was a little confused), Lebanese Caesar, Jamon wrapped datesThe cauliflower was least favorite of the table (too sweet). We were pretty full after all the apps but got 2 entrees (for 4 of us), mushroom biryani and forbidden duck which was plenty of food, we ended up most of it home. All in all a solid place for dinner. The biggest surprise was the check, between the four of us, food came to $170 and that includes tax! So very reasonable for a lot of food. Two of us even had cocktails and those came to more than the food read more

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We had an excellent meal here with friends after the DC Blues Festival last month. We had had plenty to drink at the festival, so we did not have a chance to try some of their interesting drinks. My wife had the mushroom biryani, and I had the pork chop -- a humongous piece of meat, nicely flavored, both providing enough for a take-home dinner the following evening. One friend had the katchapuri, with the egg yolk added to the dish as it arrived at our table. I am not a fan of runny yolks but this was so good that I had to try it -- and enjoyed it. Lamb sliders was the last dish, also good We found the lighting in the dining room a bit dim. and the small lights brought to every table did not add enough light read more

Thinking about trying Karravaan? Do it! Immediately! The food is incredible. The fish kofte, lamb sliders, and stonefruit salad are just a few of the mouth watering dishes the amazing team at Karravaan offers. Plus, their happy hour is officially one of my favorite (perhaps, THE favorite) in NE! The prices, serving sizes, and drink selection are spot on and everything you'd want from a happy hour at a Michelin Guide (!!!) restaurant. P.S. the staff is wonderful and the dining room is beautiful. read more

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I LOVE THIS PLACE!! I am almost afraid to write a yelp review b/c i dont want it being over run by y'all! ;) It's a tiny bit hard to find b/c a tree blocks the sign from the road and they are located where the sidewalk (and road) ends (just a 1 min walk past Toastique), but i feel like it would help to have a billboard sign so people can find it easier. the vibe, both inside and out, is refined, elegant and playful. and the service is great from the wait staff to the bartenders to the front of the house! they have happy hour EVERY DAY from 4-6pm, yes every day! apps are half off and drinks are like $6 and its basically the best deal in the city. Now for the food. I have been so many times, I have been through most of the menu, so buckle up: they start you off with great bread and herbacious butter and that great bread keeps coming in for the whole meal :) My absolute faves: * khachapuri- amazing, filling, you should probably order 2 if you are more than 4 people. * mushroom biriyani-- its huge, its meant to be shared, its a perfect fragrant, delicious dish * smokey eggplant dip- sooo good, if you are more than 4 people order 2 *Lebanese fish kofte- i am OBSESSED with this. for reasons that make little sense, after the title says its Lebanese, the explainer says its a Palestinian specialty-- nonetheless, its amazing, its' so yummy, its served with cilantro and parsley on top that truly enlivens the dish. I could eat this and the mushroom biriyani every day. *cauliflower manchurian- the indo-chinese dish is perfect here. * 21-day dry aged rib-eye-- this was huge and delicious and comes with potatoes wedges and brocollini Solidly good: *lamb sliders- large and filling * lebanese caesar- solid, not mind blowing, served to photograph with the lettuce leaves kept long *chicken shawarma- its fine, i wouldn't order it again, but its solid *nihari- i prefer beef nihari, but the spices in this were just right *crispy brussels- solid *pan-seared scallops- these were very good but small, given the price Wouldn't order again: * seared tuna crudo- its very citrus forward, it just wasn't it (if they feel the need to have a raw fish dish, i feel like something closer to albi's tuna kibbe would be perfect) * stonefruit salad- i love a good stone fruit, it was kind of "luck of the draw" for the taste of the peaches and plums and with a whipped feta base it felt weird *za'atar truffle fries- the word fries is a misnomer, these are more like potato wedges, they are solid but not what we had in mind *pappe's famous butter chicken-- there are 2 schools of butter chicken thought, one in which it has a sweetness to it and one in which it does not. this one has a sweetness and i just don't love that. I wish the momos didn't have pork b/c i love a good momo! the drinks are fun, cute, unique and sometimes pun-ny :) and the desserts are good. - the honey cake has cardamom to it (yum!) - the lime tart is very key lime-esque (it was delicious) - their chocolate dessert is spectacular - the tahini creme brule didnt do it for me (the top was perfectly brule-ed but it was very heavy on tahini and i think i just prefer a classic creme brule) anyway, go, indulge, try something new, and before you know it, you will be a regular like me :) read more

I was initially excited to try out this restaurant because of the promise of the Silk Road experience. We went for Valentin's Day and did the $40pp brunch. For this each bruncher orders 2 appetizers and 1 main. Before the food came out, we were given a basket of complimentary breakfast pastries. The food was good - and some were better than good - but not great. The Tuna Crudo and the Kachapuri were v. good. The smoky eggplant dip and the muesli were good. But the apple & pear salad (drizzled with chili oil) was less interesting. The service was cheerful and polite but on the slow side - with frequent bussers coming by with the wrong food. (It happened 3 times). What was missing was the authenticity of what is advertised as the "Silk Road Experience". The medley that included Western elements on the menu diminished from what could have been a more interesting epicurean direction - this is both in food offerings and ambiance. I'm glad I tried the restaurant .. I liked it - but I need more to love it. read more

Karravaan - Kachapuri - recommend this - delicious, rib sticking:) I had mine sans the bacon. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Went for brunch and can't wait to try dinner. Had the chicken shawarma for the first course. French toast was delicious and I loved the heavy pours of Moet. The servers were on top of it and the restaurant was nicely lit. read more

Karravaan - French toast - Middle Eastern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I went here a few weeks back from my friend's birthday. While there was some food that we found to be tasty, the service was absolutely horrible, and that is after considering the fact, we were very forgiving when it came to the mistakes that were made. Besides one person's dinner taking over an hour longer than everyone else's' to come out, there were multiple errors with drink and food orders. And when I say multiple, I'm not just talking one or two, but more than that. I could understand if the restaurant had been busy, but it really wasn't. Given all this, I feel like the food is slightly overpriced for what you get, in the service areas were really inexcusable. There are too many other places in the DMV, let alone the Union Market area that this would not be on my list again as somewhere I'd return to or recommend. read more

Really good happy hour! Lots of different options, very reasonable and fairly sized portions. Will definitely be back! read more

Karravaan - Middle Eastern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Food is AMAZING and drinks were expertly made. The space is big and doesn't get too loud--great spot to get together with a friend or date. My only wish is that they make some better specials for the bar seating as the pricing is a bit steep for a more casual meetup (I also bet the bartenders aren't thrilled about not getting many tips rur to lack of bar guests). read more

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The menu is inspired by a journey along the Silk Road, taking you from Asia to the Middle East a really cool concept with a wide variety of dishes with a flavor profile that's are well-grounded in that hemisphere . Located in the Union Market area, it's a great spot with excellent walkability, making it easy to explore before or after your meal. read more

Karravaan - valentine's weekend menu - Middle Eastern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Food was great but the service is absolutely horrible. It may have been the slowest dinner I've ever had (even though we only ordered entrees). After we got our food the server didn't check on us until we had already finished eating, and then didn't come by with our check until 30 mins later. We were full when we finished eating, but by the time we left we were hungry again (that's how long it took to get out of there). Will definitely not be returning here. read more

After posting my review, I was contacted by the manager, Sargent, who offered a genuinely heartfelt apology. We were invited back for a complimentary meal with a thoughtfully put together menu, and the experience was very nice. Service was attentive and the food was excellent. We, of course, got the branzino again because we loved it on our last visit. The lamb chops were phenomenal, and if you have any room for dessert, do not skip the chocolate cake. I appreciate that the restaurant took our concerns seriously and made a real effort to make things right. read more

Went the first weekend it was open so giving some grace for getting their sea legs. Food: Most of the food was really delicious. Highlights included the falafel, cauliflower, and caramelized onion dip. The snapper Crudo was extremely fishy, the kachapuri needs work (tasted too much like scrambled eggs), and the desserts were not good. The tahini crème brûlée sounded good, but the top was soft (not crunchy) and the flavor was bland. They were very gracious and took it off the bill. Cocktails are actually really solid. Service: needs work but overall actually pretty decent. I know other reviewers have said the service was really poor, but our experience was decent. Ambiance: The space was much smaller than I thought and we sat on the patio. It is nicely decorated, but the inside seemed a bit loud. Also, please put hooks in the bathroom! This is necessary! Overall: I have hope that this restaurant can work out the kinks, because there are some really good dishes on the menu. Overall, I do think that I will probably just come back and sit at the bar and eat some appetizers and have some cocktails. The larger dishes did not seem as appetizing to me. read more

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Finally checked out Karravaan!!! The ambiance is really amazing and I was impressed by how much outdoor dining space there was as well. The menu offered lots of variety, as did the cocktails. The cocktails themselves were absolutely delicious and I would definitely say worth the price. The service was also wonderful. In particular, one of the bussers was so friendly and outgoing and it affected our experience very positively. Now onto the food - we tried a bunch of apps. Falafel, cauliflower, shallot dip, chicken skewers, fries, & khachapuri , and the mushroom biryanis. Everything was flavorful and good, but the biryani & khachapuri really stood out. Surprisingly, our favorite dish of the night was the ice cream trio with fresh waffle cones! The flavors were delicious and unique - roasted cashew, rose, and mango lassi. I would come back! read more

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Ambiance - the patio is NOT outside. It's a sunroom type thing. Waste of a beautiful night to sit there Food - fine but not for the price point. Service - got one dish looong after the others, couldn't get our servers attention all night. Also, our server clearly didn't know what spirit-forward meant when she recommended a cocktail :( read more

I would give this review somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. The brunch experience overall wasn't outstanding, but the food was good although not extremely memorable. The $40 brunch deal was pretty good for the amount of food you get and if you share between multiple people, you get to try a wide variety of food. You get the choice of 2 smaller plates to start and 1 larger entree. I will say, some of the smaller plates themselves could be considered main entrees so we definitely got our fill. The standout smaller plates were the smokey eggplant dip and the pomegranate labneh parfait were delicious. The loaded khachapuri was delicious, but I expected it be larger than it actually was given the size of the "smaller" plates. Overall, the food was solid. I will share that this restaurant doesn't seem to have a lot of non-alcoholic options including tea and coffee options, so I was pretty surprised by the lack of hot breakfast drinks they have. Their cocktail menu was stacked, but for those who don't want a cocktail or bottomless brunch, the drink options were quite limited. read more

Don't sleep on KARRAVAAN! In the explosive Union Market restaurant scene lately, it's easy to hit up the newest spot on the block or joint you always frequent. You'd be making a mistake to come this area and not give Karravaan a shot! Start with the brussel sprouts or cauliflower and then hit the family style mushroom dish. Lastly, and most importantly, for heavens sake get the amazing Baharat spiced martini (which is on the HH menu too!). It's no wonder this place got a Michelin nod. Take me down the Silk Road!! read more

An inspiring menu that ends up being anything but. Classic case of a restaurant trying to do too much at once. The Silk Road concept is unique, but when you're juggling Asian, Indian, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and North African (there were none) dishes without mastering any of them, it all falls flat. The positives: great service and ambiance. read more

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12/10 ! The bar manager stephon was so kind and tooo our feedback so well. Our second round of drinks were literally perfect. Even though our first round by Corbett the great was absolutely amazing he found a way to make it even better. Make sure you find Corbett at the bar to get the absolute most insane drinks ever ! I've been to over 50 bars and restaurants jn dc and he makes the best espresso martinis and Hugo spritz as does his bar manager Stephon ! Stephon went above and beyond more than once when he didn't have to just to make sure this was a beyond amazing experience. We sat at the bar and the bar manager truly made sure he could accommodate us to make sure we were all absolutely comfortable and had a place for 4 of us to sit. We ordered lamb sliders , oysters and truffle fries everything was perfect ! Even my picky eater of a friend loved everything. There's no denying how good their food and drinks are. The resturant itself is beautiful from the wood to the drapery the ambiance was beautiful. read more

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Solid restaurant! From the entrance, to inside, to being seated and greeted, and the food - everything 4.5/5. I wanted to give them a 5 because of the service. It's a beautiful restaurant in Union market area. Tastefully decorated. Not loud. My server was just perfect! But he did miss that I made this reservation for a birthday lunch. I did not remind either as they need to pay attention to these things if they are aiming to get a Michelin star. I had shaved papaya and shrimp salad to start- absolutely delicious as it was also spicy, next, had the malai kofta - great curry flavor, I would like more malai sauce though and slightly more spicy. Salad was more spicy than this. Lastly had the lobster mufarraka, also super delicious. They do need to add more lobster since there's an up charge, to balance the amount of potatoes. Also perhaps two eggs instead of one? Idk I felt something could be added more of. But the dish was very yummy. The kiwisaki drink was also delicious. Also zero proof drinks are $16 while with Alcohol $17, does not make sense to me - fix that please. Also, it might be a miss, but I didn't the "silk road experience" that my server mentioned. My feedback is for improvement but I still gave 5 star. I will be back to try other dishes and review again, if they still miss these recs and really no effort to remember a special day, then it shows they are not serious and review will be downgraded. But I think the ambiance, service, flavors for now deserves a solid review. Oh, and complimentary pastries were good. Thank you for the experience, I'll be back! read more

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Would a wonderful hidden gem in Union Market! Exceeded all expirations. The happy hour was great and had something for everyone. Victor our server gave us a great experience as we ate and had cocktails on the patio and people watched. Paige and Sarge's hospitality was 12 out 10. Will be back early and often and special shout out to Bryan for cultivating a wonderful bar program! read more

Food was great, we had heard otherwise. Lots of criticism around Karravaan when it opened until we decided "it's best to see for ourselves". Loved everything we ate, but it felt like I was eating with strangers at my seat. The ambience felt okay, however the seats were TIGHTLY squeezed next to each other, hence my 4 star rating. Service was great, 10/10, loved the new cutlery each time but it could have been great even without it. read more

Promising restaurant but missed the mark on a few things. Definitely over staffed and over priced. The drinks aren't anything special and the food was too many strong flavors, competing against eachother and lacking overall balance. Great space- would hate to see this place close so hope they can turn it around! read more

Wonderful food and decor / ambiance here. For our first visit, we stuck to the small shareable plates to try more things. We absolutely loved the cauliflower manchurian which was perfectly sauced. The khachapuri was also wonderful (and garlicky), and the server "prepares" it for you table side. The Tibetan momos (pork dumplings) were also great, especially the tomato garlic chutney that it's sitting in. I'd skip the Lebanese Caesar next time as it wasn't anything special. We'll be back. read more

10/10 experience at Karravaan! We had the most amazing time. Food is excellent, staff is extremely helpful and friendly and the ambiance is incredible. The concept of the restaurant is fascinating and unique and the food and drinks match the concept perfectly! I cannot wait to come back! Perfect for a group brunch or dinner! read more

Karravaan - Middle Eastern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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First time dining here and it did not disappoint. Every dish we ordered was amazing and delicious. The service was friendly. Such a great experience. From start to finish, everything was perfect. Will definitely be back! read more

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Karravaan is right by my apartment, so I've watched it come into being over the past few months. It's still working out some things (overstaffed) and the food was good-not-great (of the two vegan options, I liked the falafel more than the cauliflower, which was too tomatoey). I'd like to try their drink menu another time. I appreciated how detailed the server was in explaining their unusual menu concept. Interior looked nice; we sat outside, which was really nice except for the spotted lanternflies!!! read more

The atmosphere was the best thing about this restaurant. The food was pretty mid and the drinks had a poor liquor base variety. Even the basic drafts were too extreme in flavor. The dish we did enjoy included the Levantine Fish Kofta and forbidden duck. The rest was just mid at best. I think the concept of the Silk Road food is neat but too ambitious to make the flavor palate pair between dishes. read more

Karravaan - Forbidden duck Pan-seared scallops - Middle Eastern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Had an incredible night at Karravaan with friends. We ordered a ton of food and everything was a hit.The Smoky Eggplant Dip is a must--we actually ordered it twice because it was that good. We also loved the Khachapuri for that perfect texture , along with the Tandoori Salmon, Little Gem salad, and Crispy Brussels. For the mains, the Wild Mushroom Biryani and the Parisian Gnocchi (the white truffle and goat cheese combo is amazing) were both super rich and unique. For drinks, the Midori mezcal cocktail was the absolute star of the night , though the Dhuaan was also a good choice. We finished with a massive dessert spread: the Mahalabia, Mango-Chai Cheesecake, and the huge Four Layer Chocolate Cake.The whole vibe and service were 10/10. We definitely can't wait to be back! read more

The food was great to amazing! Love the katchupurri, cauliflower and scallops. The chicken schwarma was great but not life changing. My partner loved the domo. The eggplant dip was also delish. The night I went, the service was slow - I think a server called out but the meal did take three hours. We had dessert comped for the delayed service. I would still go again when I'm sure I have time, just in case. read more

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the vibe of the restaurant was beautiful, and they have the coolest matchboxes at the hostess stand. the food was pretty good, but I think that you can get better versions of each dish elsewhere (although this place is unique in the combinations of dishes you can get). definitely a worthy visit! read more

I went to Karravaan for an early birthday celebration with 2 friends. The service was gracious and friendly. They went above and beyond to give me a positive birthday experience, including a complimentary glass of champagne while I waited for my friends, a candle in the hazelnut chocolate cake, and a sweet card. The concept intrigued me because the Silk Route covers many of my favorite cuisines. We shared a bunch of small plates and desserts, and everything was good. The standouts were the khachapuri with its crunchy/fluffy everything-bagel crust vibes and spicy, cheesy filling; the smoky eggplant dip that felt akin to Indian baingan bhartha; and the creme brulee which had a surprisingly nutty note with the sesame seeds. I also liked the honey nut squash flavors but wish it had the skin removed for easier eating. We also enjoyed our cocktails - the Phool for You, Tequila Sunset, and Karravaan Punch. They also have some unusual wines from places like Lebanon and Palestine. I enjoyed a taste of the sparkling red pet nat that was offered when we expressed curiosity about it. The inside is really pretty, with Victorian railway vibes. It wasn't that crowded on a Sunday night, which was nice because we could talk without shouting. I kind of want it to stay a local secret, but also hope they're popular enough to stick around because I definitely want to go back. read more

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Amazingly thoughtful servers-- kind to bring out mosquito repellent and a doggie bowl when you're on the patio before you ask. Add a phenomenal menu and great ambiance and the area has a new winner. read more

Karravaan - Patio, menu - Middle Eastern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I visited Karravan in Washington DC on a scorching day well above 93°F and was glad to discover the AC kicked full throttle as the dining room went from cozy to packed. From the moment we sat down, the service was top tier and attentive without being overbearing, and exactly what you want when you're melting outside. For starters, (not pictured) we had cauliflower fried in a sweet and spicy sauce and chicken skewers with a fragrant herb seasoning. Both were well executed and set the tone for the meal. But the real standout was the wild mushroom biryani with truffle, a vegan friendly masterpiece. The rice was perfectly fragrant, the wild mushrooms deeply savory, and the truffle lift made it remarkably unique. It was easily a 10 out of 10 dish in my book. My girlfriend ordered the butter chicken. While it looked good, she didn't love it so she ended up finishing some of my rice instead. Meanwhile, the mushroom biryani more than made up for it. As a plant based dish, it was bold and memorable in flavor a rare triumph. I paired my meal with a Mexican mule made with Casa Noble tequila. It was well balanced, refreshing, and worth ordering on its own merit. All told, the food especially the mushroom biryani was great, the service was flawless, and the complimentary pita bread was a nice touch. On a sizzling Washington day, this felt like a complete and satisfying experience. read more

Karravaan - Butter Posin - Middle Eastern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I was super excited to try this new establishment. The ambiance and decor was nice. The complimentary bread basket was the best thing I consumed. The shrimp skewer is a joke. It's not pictured but I was underwhelmed with it. It was two head-on shrimps on a stick. The shrimp were dry and almost impossible to get off the skewer. Once the head was off it was not that much shrimp. The peanut sauce that accompanied it was not that good. I was not happy with this dish. The dip was nothing to write home about. It came with the same complimentary bread basket. The drinks were tasty. The service was good. Parking is rough. I don't think I would return. read more

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Decent food and friendly staff, though service was a bit slow tonight. Portions were acceptable, flavors average, and prices fair, making it an okay spot for casual meals overall visit. read more

I would recommend this place to anyone, as the dishes are divine and service is five stars!

The food is phenomenal and such a great twist on the usual dishes. Think of it as an elevated version of whatever you're used to. Their drinks are great, too. Will definitely be back! read more

The service was great! Did not love the food though, I feel like it was overpriced for what it was, I like the concept though. Also in the summer, DO NOT sit outside unless you want to get eaten alive by mosquitos (they did give me bug spray when I asked if they had any though!) read more

Good food but yikes on the service. Waited 30 minutes from seating to see a waiter (ended up having to ask a busboy to get one for us). Unfortunately, this continued throughout the night. A two-course dinner we arrived for at 7pm ended at close to 10pm(!). The eggplant starter with naan came out with just the dip, the naan following about five minutes later, so we just sat and looked at the dip awkwardly till then. The entrees took another 45 minutes to an hour. Tasted good but certainly not worth the extended wait. Water refills were plentiful but forget about drinks with your meal. Ordered a cocktail to start and it took over 30 minutes. Ordered a glass of wine for the entree, that took another 15 minutes. Unfortunately the inattentive service was also chaotic. Beyond the dip situation and waiting for food/drinks, when it was time to pay we again had to flag someone down after waiting too long. And then the waiter brought out three checks at once (ours and two nearby tables) and got them mixed up, so somebody else signed and tipped on our receipt and vice versa. We were sitting on the patio and people inside seemed much better taken care of and in and out far quicker than us. Unfortunately with so many other dining options in DC, I won't be back. read more