Service was alright, ambiance was great, food was delicious! I came with a group of four. Only one of us had been before and suggested dining outside as it could be loud inside. One friend and I were getting eaten alive by mosquitos (I had 8+ bites by the time we left) but that's what I get for not wearing bug spray in a DC summer. We got a few dishes to share and everything was quite tasty. I especially loved the buranee bademjan (eggplant dish), mantoo classic (beef dumplings), and pista (pistachio ricotta cake). I tried my friends' drinks (the m. plouzeau pet-nat rosé and the negroni lapis) and both were good. I got myself the sheer chai and really liked it. I wasn't there when my friend ordered water for the table - she doesn't recall if the server mentioned tap water or just still versus sparkling so we ended up being charged $16 for 2 bottles of mineral water. The server didn't check up on us too often but it was a neutral experience. Next time I would dine inside or dine outside with bug spray on and will definitely be ordering the eggplant, dumplings, and dessert! read more

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I really did like this place but I nothing blew me away so 4 stars. Ambience is cool but the basement felt a bit claustrophobic since there are windows but covered. The service was good and very attentive, good coursing out. - Bolani: I liked the onion/potato and my partner like the beef the best the chutney is spicy bit amazing - Mantoo shrimp: I wanted to like this but the skin was too fragile and flavors didn't blow me away - Qabuli palow: I was nervous about the raisins here but surprisingly not a super strong flavor and pleasant with the rice and carrots - Buranee Bademjan: tender and nice creamy sauce - Pista: pistachio cake was super light and nutty, great end to dinner read more

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We had a wonderful meal at Lapis and will absolutely be back! The mantoo classic beef dumplings are to die for and the bolani (beef and onion-potato) were wonderful. The lamb shank was succulent and tender and the kofta was delightfully spicy and so savory. If I ate nothing else for the rest of my life it would be the pistachio ricotta cake, it was THAT good. The sheer chai tea was also very nice. Our server had great recommendations and we were wise to follow them. Noise level was fine, not too loud for a pretty busy night. We sat right in the front window and really enjoyed the ambiance. Can't wait to go back and try all the things we didn't have room to try this time! read more

Lapis - Pistachio ricotta cake - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This was my first time eating Lunch at Lapis, and it did not disappoint! The food was so flavorful and the staff was nice. We ordered the aush soup that had a spice to it. My friend ordered the sambosa trio and really liked them. We shared the mixed grill: chicken, lamb, and steak, absolutely wonderful! It wasn't too busy and we had such a great time catching up! Will definitely helped! read more

The first time I went to lapis (2024) I had one of the best dinner experiences of my four years in DC. The last two times I had very good food and VERY mid service. For the amount we paid for dinner there was no excuse for the delay in attention, lack of engagement/description of the menu, and disregard for making sure we had silverware. The Butane Bademjan and the shrimp dumplings were to die for- flavors so rich and complex that you can close your eyes hours later and relive that first bite through memory. The Lamb Tikka- branded as "tender lamb" was unfortunately anything but. Lapis's vibe and flavors don't cease to impress, but some pieces to the puzzle are wanting. read more

The service was amazing here, the ambiance was nice too. This is truly a nice date spot! I loved the quality of ingredients and the quality of meat especially for the lamb. I felt that a lot of the food was a bit underwhelming in taste, but the patties was a favorite among our table! dumplings had beefy taste with little spice and a consistency reminding me of lasagna. My favorite was the side of sweet carrots. The rice was buttery and accompanied the meal nicely! The chicken had light seasoning and was very tender. beef is more salty with onion to accompany. read more

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I haven't been to Lapis in ages so was thrilled to go back when a friend suggested it for brunch. We had the Bolani (Afghan flat bread) in pumpkin and onion-potato. Super delicious, especially with the mint yogurt and chutney sauces. Definitely getting the leek cilantro when I return. They're very crispy on the outside with just enough interior filling. We also had the Mantoo Shrimp which are just gorgeous in both presentation and flavor. One chef friend said they are her favorite dish in all of DC and I can see why. Highly recommend! I also had a hankering for pancakes so snagged the rosewater-cardamom pancakes, with warm rose water syrup & pistachios which were beautiful and tasty. Definitely on the floral side if you're sensitive to that (rose water, of course). I also had the lavender latte which was tasty. The restaurant's decor is eclectic but warm and inviting. Service was friendly and fairly quick. Will definitely be back to Lapis for future brunches and dinners. read more

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After visiting the Zoo's two new pandas, we were in the mood for something hot and spicy and Lapis was a short walk away. It's a beautifully appointed space, with so much attention to detail everywhere (including their gorgeous plates!) We kept things vegetarian (so many options) but the brunch menu was very tempting as well. The staff were so welcoming, friendly, and polite. Since this was our first visit, they were helpful in identifying serving sizes and made some wonderful recommendations. Cannot wait to come back and explore more of the menu! read more

Lapis - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Lapis is a must-go. I've been several times and the food is always on point. It's crowded most of the time -- and there's a reason. Most times it's been best for us to simply order a bunch of dishes and share. We've always had plenty. The last time the mixed grill platter was particularly good. read more

Love this place for the food, comfort food with a punch of taste. Good choice of proteins as well as vegetarian options. The service is also decent. Ambience is like other standard restaurants, so not bad. Herati Western - a nice drink, balanxe. Aushak - great veggie dumpling, refreshing and filling at the same time... a bit unusual Qabuli palow - rice with lamb have sufficient but there is also a lot of sweet ingredients, so you need to be sure that want that natural sweetness read more

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10/10 this food was delicious! I recommend ordering the starter flight to get a little taste of everything. The vibes inside are very cozy and the service was great too. read more

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My favorites were the lamb shank because it was so tender and the samarok mushroom/kadoo pumpkin. I also preferred the creamy sauce with the shrimp dumplings over the aushak which was filled with veggies. We ordered for a party of 5 and had 2 vegetables with 3 meat entrees. The lamb shank was hands down the best entree, we also ordered the boneless lamb shank with rice and I didn't like that as much. For dessert, my friend and I preferred the pistachio cake which is sweeter and very light. The firni tasted ginger-y/slightly spicy to me, but others in my table preferred the firni because it was more unique. I came on a holiday and they were understaffed so service was incredibly slow. I recommend making a reservation in advance. The interior of the restaurant is very nice, and is decorated with pics of Afghanistan. This is a family-owned business that seems to be very popular. Good food but I wouldn't go out of my way to come back. I would definitely recommend it if you're nearby. read more

Lapis - Firnee - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Honestly, food was great. It was like having a very well-made home cooked meal. However, we did wait an hour or more between our appetizer and entree, and we were ready to leave but the server assured us we would be taken care of because of the delay. They offered us a complimentary glass of wine and nothing else, so we paid for the meal and our bottle of wine, which we thought wasn't really sufficient, considering we were there for a total of 2.5 hrs and spent most of the time waiting for food. Food was good, but we won't be back. read more

Was here for dinner with a party of four. The reservation was set for 8:15, but it took thirty minutes after the reservation for us to get our table. However, I myself was twenty minutes late, so it was clear from the start that the restaurant matched my vibe. For a group of four, we ordered two of the meat platters, which includes five plates designed to be split between two people. It was an excellent spread of of the menu, and was under $50 per person for five plates, so an excellent deal for a fine dining experience. Everything was very good! But there was nothing that was great. No dish that I'm still thinking about after the meal. I am very glad that I went, not sure I will go again. read more

Dumplings are to die for. Though I didn't like everything I ate the dumplings are worth it entirely. Service and bar were amazing. Great place for any occasion. Dumplings read more

I was visiting town with my partner and their best friend recommended grabbing dinner here. I will say first of all so many options to choose from. As a vegetarian I was overwhelmed but based on other reviews and after asking our server I was able to come down to the eggplant dish. It was delicious! I've never had anything like it before and would definitely get it again. My friend said to try the naan because it was very non traditional and it looked like breadsticks. They were ok, I couldn't figure out what to eat them with to be honest. I ordered the vegetarian dumplings and they were not good. Very subpar. I only ordered them because my friends and partner had the meat ones to share and they said theirs were phenomenal. I will say the vegetarian ones were the underwhelming and the restaurant was not willing to substitute one vegetarian dumpling in the meat dumpling dish which sucked for me. The whole point was for us to try a bunch of apps since we were visiting! We also ordered the paratha and it was just okay but the sauces that came with it were great!! My partner had the chai but said $8 wasn't worth the price. Our server didn't come to check in on us very often and it was really hard to get a hold of him to order more apps or our entrees. Guess that's what you get when there's an added 20% service charge to each meal. Ambiance was nice we sat outside I can't complain! read more

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Review for Sunday brunch: Firstly, I love that the meats are halal (this is mentioned on their website at lapises.com/food-drink)! Interior is so cute and homey, and I requested upstairs seating when I booked my reservation based on other reviews. We were about 10 min late for our reservation but were greeted and promptly seated, handed menus, and asked if we had any questions. You are allowed to order off the brunch menu ($37 per person and you get a choice of crossiant, savory entree and sweet entree). You can also order off their main menu, so there is a lot of options! I got a ginger lemonade mocktail, which you could strongly taste the ginger, and it was delicious! First we got the croissants, which were flaky but a bit dry, but yummy. They soon brought out the savory entrees, in which we got the bolani (potato and leek filling and beef, with delicious chutneys), and the karayee with ground beef, which was like a shakshuka and it alright, seasoned well. They checked on us to see if we were done with the savory dish before bringing the sweet dishes out after, in which we got the rose pistachio pancakes which came with a sheera type syrup (like a simple syrup) and they were sooo soft, and the yogurt parfait, which was okay. Service was good, and they would check on us. I didn't feel rushed, yet I didn't feel ignored. There is a 20% service fee added to all checks despite party size. It was a wonderful experience and I'd love to come back here! read more

Lapis - Top right: Bolani (beef and potato-onion/leek fillings) with chutneys, and karayee w/beef served with naan - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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A local restaurant on Valentine's Day. What could go wrong? Well actually we got ahead of the rush here (11am) before the locals poured in (noon). The dumpling appetizer stole the show. read more

Lapis - The main course. Chicken and yellow curry was very tasty - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Northern Virginia has the second biggest Afgan diaspora in the United States, thus there is little surprise that spots like Lapis would be so well on point. Shamim Popal, the executive chef of Lapis, fled Afganistan during the seemingly endless cycle of wars and now runs this remarkable throwback to traditional cooking, with great attention and quality. Some of the dishes here are probably very surprising to someone who isn't accustomed to Afgan kitchens. Dumplings for example, are absolutely not something that most would picture to be an Afgan delicacy. Scallions and ground meats, with plentiful yogurt, create some sort of a mental merger between Persian and Asian kitchen. Aushak means "tear" in Afgan, as the dumplings are molded in that shape. A time consuming and delicate dish. Then, there are things that are more familiar. Chicken kebobs are very well cooked, juicy and flavorful. Lapis even has a wine list, so despite adhering to regional traditions in food, there is that dose of Western enjoyment readily available. Thus, Lapis is a place that probably should be on everyone's itinerary to try, yet it isn't. And that's absolutely the best part. Despite always being busy, it's a quaint and beautiful place known mostly to locals, with kind people and a cultural food adventure that is enticing in every way. read more

Lapis - Chicken Kebob - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This place is a forever favorite of mine! I've brought countless friends here, hosted a half dozen birthdays, and it's a consistent crowd pleaser. Shoutout to Diana for making my latest visit so special, there's no where else I'd rather celebrate! For brunch, you must try the brunch special with karayee and pancakes, and try the chai or matcha. They're all superb. read more

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Great service at the bar, cute speakeasy downstairs. We got a lot of things, but the fries were maybe the best I've ever had (they come with a sauce I shouldn't have ordered tzatziki additionally) read more

Lapis - Fries and dishes - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I really liked the Bolani a lot. It reminded me of Indian parathas and the pumpkin and potato fillings was super good. The flavor profile of the dish was excellent and the coriander and mint chutney they gave on the side. The dumplings or aushak were also very unique and well seasoned. My least favorite dish was the buranee kadoo because it was sweet and simply plain pumpkin. However, my boyfriend liked it , they made it taste very good. It's just not my style cuz I prefer a more savory or complex dish. I thought the ambience was excellent, it's giving classy and fancy and fun and perfect vibes for a Friday night outing in dc. Service was awesome too though they took a while to give us the check. read more

Lapis - Bolani in the back, Aushak with no beef (vegetarian dumplings) in the middle, buranee kadoo in front (pumpkin dish) - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This was my second time visiting this Afghan spot, and I brought my friends along to try it--they absolutely loved it! The food was delicious once again, full of flavor and beautifully prepared. We also really enjoyed the warm and welcoming vibes. Definitely a place I'll keep coming back to! read more

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The kale salad was amazzzing and they also made me a really cool mocktail HOWEVER ... The waiter made a comment rushing us when we were taking a while to order :( and seemed frustrated with us even though our presence was via reservation. my heart dropped, thankfully my date responded tactfully (I didn't even know what to say) They also don't box your leftovers for you, they hand you the containers. It was our first date and taking care of that myself felt too clunky so I ended up just leaving my extra food. Usually nice restaurants will box it up for you but not here. /: Ok that's all !! read more

I overall enjoyed my experience here! I came around 830pm for dinner. I immediately noticed the charming atmosphere and also how PACKED this place was. I would suggest having reservations. I was sat upstairs immediately, as I did have reservations for 830pm. The waitress was very attentive, my only complaint (not her fault) was that it was super hard to hear her over the crowd and music. I am not too familiar with Afghan food, aside from my time in that country over a decade ago, so I needed assistance with ordering. I ended up with eggplant (vegetarian dish) and also chicken kabobs with spicy sauce. It was all delicious. I did order a cocktail, but I ended up sending it back as it was not my cup of tea- nothing against the server or bartender. It's apparently a popular drink for those with the acquired tastes! Finally, with it being my birthday, I was brought a complimentary pistachio type of pudding. I wasn't fond of it but truly appreciated the gesture. I would eat here again because the dinner itself was super flavorful. Thanks for making g my birthday special! read more

10's across the board! The food, service, and atmosphere were great from start to finish! We had several menu items to share and they were all great. I would definitely add this restaurant to the top of the to eat list! read more

Lapis - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Everything about Lapis from the food, to the service, to the ambiance was phenomenal. I had heard so many good things from people and Tiktok and it is 100% worth the hype. All of the food was cooked perfectly and the flavors were bold and well balanced. My favorite item on the menu was the bolani - it was amazing. And for dessert I had the rice pudding which was light and refreshing. You absolutely have to try this spot, it is incredible! read more

Lapis - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Drink- I got the pomegranate mocktail. I was happy to see they offered multiple mocktails as I like to have the choice. It is also more inclusive. However, this mocktail didn't really taste the way I expected. It was very green in flavour. Main- I got the lamb kebab. It was clear that the meat was not marinated because it was not all that soft. However, the flavour was very good. My partner got the pumpkin dish which was quite good but had to pay for rice which they found upsetting because the server did not inform them. Dessert- It was good but there was a hair that was not either of ours :( Hairs are not dealbreakers but they detract from the experience. The service was also pretty slow. However I loved the atmosphere of the place. read more

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Cozy, hearty, nice. Lots of character! Indoor is loud but outdoor is heated and comfy.

I am obsessed with this place! It's sooooo good. I came to visit my friend and we tried the bar underground. The aesthetic was amazing, low light with blue tones. We didn't make reservations but staff still helped us making it happen. They let us in and found us a table later on, which was very nice! We ordered some cocktails, the flavors were complex and harmonic, definitely creative too. And the food, omg, I absolutely loved every single bite! We couldn't choose so we ordered the combo. The momo was juicy, later the meatballs and lentils were so savory and flavorful, chicken drumsticks were tender and simmered in tomato based sauce. Delicious and nutritious read more

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On a Wednesday at 6:30 we waited 30 minute for a walk in table. We were seated by the front windows at a cute little table tucked away behind a large party. It was a bit loud from the party but it was still a fantastic ambiance. We ordered the veggie platter for two, which was ultimately way more food than we could eat! We had the aushak, shola, sabzi, dal, and gulpee. Dessert was the halwa sooji. The aushak were incredible. The sabzi and dal were my favorites but I found the flavors of everything to be wonderful. The server pointed me in the direction of a Grenache to pair with the veggie platter which was lovely. read more

Lapis - Half eaten aushak - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My #1 DC restaurant without a doubt! You MUST MUST MUST eat here! Lapis is not your typical Afghani restaurant, as it is an Afghani bistro. I have had Afghani food at a lot of restaurants, but never quite like this. Everything is refined. Order a variety of dishes and do not underestimate their vegetables. My perfect order for 2-3 people would be to start with the pakowra (vegetable fritter) and then share the mantoo shrimp (shrimp dumplings), buranee bademjan (eggplant), samarok (mushrooms), chopawn (lamb chops - ask for it to come with rice pilaf instead of white rice), and a side of French fries. The pakowra are perfectly crunchy and an excellent way to start your meal. The shrimp dumplings are rich and creamy with an aromatic saffron sauce. The eggplant will go amazingly with your rice pilaf - it might be my favorite thing on the menu. The mushrooms are herbaceous. The lamb chops are perfectly grilled. And while I would not expect to order and love French fries here, after I tried it per staff recommendation, I loved it. The food is just incredible. Don't order everything at once or they will bring it all at once. Order in two to three waves so you can really enjoy each dish. Get the appetizer on its own, the shrimp dumplings go great with the mushrooms, and the eggplant and fries pair nicely with the lamb chops. They have some great drinks as well. The five lions and the viceroy are my two favorite cocktails. If you still have room, you are not going to want to miss dessert. The sheer yakh (vanilla ice cream with rose water) is amazing, and their pistachio ricotta cake will rock your world. Great atmosphere. They have an outdoor patio that is pleasant when weather permitting, their main dining room is beautifully lit, cozy, and well-decorated, and their downstairs dining room is intimate. There are no bad seats, although my favorite seating area is the main dining room. This is a really special restaurant. Absolutely worthy of a Michelin star, although they do not want one. A must-visit. read more

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Excellent for brunch and dinner. One of my favorite restaurants in DC. Every dish I have ordered was excellent. Crowd pleaser for bringing people from out of town. read more

Lapis - Dumplings and pancakes - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We had dinner and while the food was good--as with resembling to Middle Eastern restaurants--the experience was overshadowed by a surprise 20% service fee for just two people, when we expressed our surprise, the server seemed annoyed and threw the final receipt at us, which was really off-putting. The dessert menu could also use more variety; the options felt limited compared to other places. Overall, it's great spot for food, but the unexpected charges and service could definitely be improved. read more

*4.5 stars We had a lovely evening at Lapis! We had a reservation and just had to wait a few minutes to be seated downstairs. We ordered the Five Lions and the Old fashioned for drinks-both were great! Then we had the Mantoo Shrimp dumplings and the fries as appetizers. Both were really flavorful and tasty. We had the Qabuli Palow and the lamb shank as mains. The Lamb shank was tasty but not hot enough. The Qabuli Palow was stunning. We had the pistachio ricotta cake to end which was lovely. Only slight negative is as they were setting down our mains my husband asked for a glass of wine and it didn't come until we were completely finished with our food. Otherwise service was friendly and good. Absolutely try this place! read more

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The stew came with vegetables that were still frozen inside... also... people may need more training... they managed to drip sauce on clothes. In summary, frozen food not fully heated up with poor serving. I won't be coming back. I can see the seasoning is good but likely they reused food from the day prior that is still frozen in the core of the food at this price point is not what I was looking for. read more

Closer to a 3.5 but gave 4 stars as 3 seems too severe. First time having afghan food. Nice restaurant and good ambiance. Very attentive and knowledgeable service. Nice variety and large menu. Got the vegetarian sample dinner. Food was good, nice mix of flavor. Vegetables a bit over cooked. read more

Had an amazing dinner with my family when I was in Bethesda at lapis. The food is absolutely spectacular, very well seasoned and diverse. The service was excellent as well. I would highly recommend this restaurant. read more

My friend recommended we head to lapis for brunch! We were happy to see they had a 35$ brunch special where u can pick a pastry, a main and a dessert. The interior is beautifully decorated and so cozy! We got the bolani which is a stuffed flatbread. All four of us agreed that the pumpkin filling was the best by far! The natural sweetness of the pumpkin pairs so well with the flatbread. It didn't seem like a big portion but looks are deceiving bc we were all so stuffed after, we could barely finish our desserts. The yogurt and chutney added spice and brightness to the dish as well. We will definitely be back to try even more dishes! read more

Lapis - Brunch - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The food was so delicious and flavorful! Service was so-so and the atmosphere was nice, but just too loud. read more

Lapis - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia