Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    My Little Chamomile

    4.4 (40 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 3 months ago

    My Little Chamomile Photos

    MY LITTLE CHAMOMILE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - My Little Chamomile

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Lamb skewers
    Devon K.

    My Little Chamomile gets a solid 4/4.5 rating from me. Definitely follow your Google Maps for exact directions down the alley way and you'll find it. It has a large screened in porch you need to slide to enter. It's warm inside with small tables. We ordered a bunch of dishes to share, and this is definitely the type of place you want a group for. It's largely tapas style with tons of dips and veggies to share. I really enjoyed the sunchokes, the lamb skewers, and fava beans especially. Service was wonderful and attentive and the 20% service charge is automatically on your bill. While the food was good, it's very expensive. Most dishes are around the $20 mark and they're small tapas. While I enjoyed it, I likely wouldn't come back - however they were packed on a Wednesday night so people clearly love it here!

    Girit Ezmesi & Zeytinyağlı Enginar
    Melissa Z.

    A wonderful dinner! The service and atmosphere is cozy and welcoming. Now for the food: - Girit Ezmesi 5/5 lovely tangy dip and comes with nice and warm bread - Mevsim Salatası 2/5 this just wasn't for us, super acidic and the radishes were overwhelmingly large and thick - Çöp Şiş 4/5 very small skewers but tenderly cooked lamb, the lavash was nice but I don't think really meshed well with the dish - Zeytinyağlı Enginar 5/5 tender and perfectly braised artichokes, good portion and just if you like artichokes, you'll like this - Hünkar Beğendi 5/5 if nothing else, you have to get this. Amazingly creamy eggplant and tender lamb, my husband and I fought about how much each person ate - the alley cat who lives outside 10000/5 so friendly and adorable

    Girit Ezmesi and eggplant dip (kozlenmis partisan salatasi?)
    Priscilla T.

    Cute cozy Turkish restaurant hidden in the alleys of Georgetown! Highly recommend making a reservation. Service was excellent, and our server was very knowledgeable and helpful. We started off with 2 dips with bread: Girit Ezmesi and Közlenmiş Patlıcan Salatası (eggplant). Very interesting flavors - I enjoyed them. Our main dishes were Çöp Şiş (lamb skewers), Mercimek Çorbasi (red lentil soup), and Manti (beef dumplings). These were definitely more of my favorite dishes. All were delicious and filling! We enjoyed our meal here, but it's on the pricier side. Excellent place to celebrate or treat yourself.

    Steak
    Ariana C.

    I wanted to like this place so much :( I've been hearing much talk about this adorable Turkish spot tucked away in Georgetown. The decor, while somewhat barely there, is very cute, and the wait staff is very kind and capable! Unfortunately, the meal peaked with our pistachio feta hummus appetizer. We got the dumplings, which we unfortunately had to send back, and the steak, which was perfectly fine, but nothing extraordinary. Particularly for the price point, we were expecting a lot more, but nonetheless, I wish this small business the best!

    Etli Yaprak Sarma
    Katlyn H.

    My Little Chamomile was ranked one of the top 100 restaurants in DC, so we had to give it a try. It is located in Georgetown down an alleyway, which we didn't realize, so it took us a minute to find it. The restaurant is small with a few tables, so make a reservation in advance. The food is served tapas style, so I'd recommend going with a few people to really enjoy it. I loved the stuffed grape leaves, fava beans, and lamb skewers. The small plates are small, especially for the price. The service and food are very good, but I think for the price, I probably wouldn't go back but I'm glad I visited.

    Manti
    Sean R.

    When a meal is so complete in flavors and presentation, I find that it warms me head to toe and body to soul. Every bite at my little chamomile was wonderfully vibrant and fun. We got a series of shared plates with so much diversity in their assembly, yet all still fitting so well together. My favorite was likely the Manti (beef dumplings) as they were so cute and sat within a delightful tangy sauce. The fried anchovies were a special but should 100% make their way onto everyone's table given the chance! Service was a little slow, but the restaurant was packed (good thing I got a reservation early, even for a Thursday night). The entrance is not exactly where Google maps will take you so make sure to follow the signs! Can't wait to come back and see what else I can try!

    Raymond V.

    I'm an avid, rabid calamari fan and the ones here are excellent. Highly recommend. The pomegranate salad, grilled lamb, dumplings, baba ghanoush were excellent as well. All were well balanced, shareable, made with great quality ingredients. Turkish coffee was strong and stunning, and dessert was light fare-thee-well. Service top notch. Quaint and intimate place with homey elegant vibes. No complaints. Go.

    Samantha H.

    Throughly impressed! Stumbled upon this place on open table - thought we'd try since my family who lives near the area had not been and the reviews on open table were quite good The reservations on the weekend ran out fast. Place is quite small but has a bar with table service that seems it could accommodate 5-6 at max. Mostly smaller groups were there. Service was great - quick, knowledgeable server and friendly. Always enjoy a personable and social server! Ambience was cozy, a little bar in the corner with a few tables. It's a little small but I saw that they could accommodate 1-2 larger parties. It's a little hard to find (have to go down an alleyway) but the area is super cute and I feel like the search is what makes it more special! They do put a decent amount of signage to help you find it, but would recommend keeping an eye open for them. Use your phone map of choice! Food was beyond expectations. We ended buying what seemed like almost half the menu! Absolutely delicious will be back soon!

    Chocolate dessert
    Austin G.

    Chef Cagla's cooking comes with love. Every dish is created with care, thought, and is well executed. If you're a fan of Green Almond Pantry in Georgetown, you'll enjoy My Little Chamomile, a restaurant tucked away in an alley serving dishes inspired by the Mediterranean. My friend and I made a 7:30pm reservation on a Thursday. Here's our experience. 1) Food: As of March 2025, the menu includes eight daily specials, five items from "Mom's Kitchen," two larger plates from the grill, and two desserts. My friend and I were coming from happy hour so we weren't super hungry, but the plates tend to be smaller so what we ordered was perfect. Every dish was well-made and tasty, but the winners were the Girit Ezmesi (feta, labneh, goat cheese, and pistachio) with the house bread and the manti, which are small, but each one unique and handmade. The pepper and artichoke were good too, but not as flavorful as the other two dishes. For dessert, the chocolate is big and comes with pistachios baked into it with delicious whipped cream on top. 2) Service: What a great experience! The host and server made us feel like family. They are genuinely passionate about the chef's cooking and their energy is contagious. 3) Space: It's one dining room with a few tables that sit two or four and a large bar. It wasn't full when we arrived early around 7pm, but by 8pm, it was packed. 4) Neighborhood: There's a lot to explore in Georgetown, especially this part of the neighborhood. Parking is always a challenge, but we found easy street parking nearby along Potomac Street NW.

    Lamb dumplings
    Kay

    Fantastic food and a great vibey place for a date or a nice, trendy meals with friends. The service was a bit slow so we were here for 2+ hours but the food came out pretty quick. It was packed even on a Thursday night so make sure you have a reservation. This was a fun tapas meal. The eggplant and braised lamb was my favorite but everyone at my table had different favorites, the fried anchovies were interesting and perfectly fried. The salad was a perfect balance to the rest of the dishes, very minty and herbal

    Win S.

    This hidden gem is tucked inside a Georgetown alleyway. Follow the cobblestones and look for the My Little Chamomile sign - otherwise, you might miss it! The Turkish restaurant and bar was opened by Chef Cagla, formerly of the Green Almond Pantry and Etto. They used Kickstarter to bring their vision to life, and I'm glad it's come to fruition! (it's the little chamomile that could!) It's an adorable space that feels cozy and like you're eating at someone's home! The servers emphasized that this is meant to feel like "mom's cooking." All the dishes are Mediterranean-style, veggie-forward, simple, clean and light - it feels so nourishing and good for you! My friend and I came here on a whim one weeknight. All the tables were booked on Open Table, but they still had a handful of walk-in seats open at the bar. Score! We ordered: Girit Ezmesi - a labneh starter dip with goat cheese and pistachio. The pistachio gave it a grittier texture, but it was still a tasty vehicle for their fresh bread. Manti - This was a surprise favorite! Order this dish! It's beef dumplings with a light yogurt sauce. I wasn't sure about the combo, but it was spiced perfectly with a delicate, al dente dumpling skin. Yum! Lentil soup with buttery croutons - Delicious and also nourishing. Hunkar Begendi - lamb with smokey eggplant. The lamb was dry and hard to chew. The eggplant was a little one-note with not much flavor, except for the smokiness. This is the only dish that gave me pause. Enginar Dolmasi - we ordered this, but they forgot to serve it. I totally got caught up talking with my friend, so didn't notice until the end of the night! sad, will have to come back for it! this was the dish I was most looking forward to trying (and not sure if they charged me for it, doh!) For dessert, we ordered the Tel Kadayik - which is phyllo with walnuts in a sweet syrup. Can't go wrong with this one. I'll be back when the menu changes again. Overall, this is a warm, welcoming spot that feels like sunshine. I'll have to see if the other main meat options are better than the one we chose.

    Menu August 2025
    Preston B.

    My Little Chamomile is a gem. We started with the Ezme -- a perfect tomato dip, like Turkish salsa -- fresh, bright, and acidic. The feta-pistachio dip was rich and creamy, the smoked eggplant so good you could eat it by the spoon. Lamb skewers came with a crisp cracker-like lavash and, again, that perfect tomato touch. The NY Strip with corn and cooked-down tomatoes, seasoned with dried oregano, completely changed how I think about pairing those flavors -- absolutely perfect. Dessert was the chocolate-pistachio Mozaik with whipped cream, indulgent but balanced. They've expanded their wine list, and a pink skin-contact Beaujolais paired beautifully with every dish. Chef Çağla and her warm, talented team have created a romantic, nostalgic space -- terra-cotta walls, candlelight -- that feels special without being fussy or loud. An approachable counterpoint to spots like Albi and La Shukran, and one I'll keep coming back to.

    Steak and eggs
    Hadia S.

    I've come here for both brunch and dinner, and both menus are fantastic. The food is so fresh and light. We ordered *almost* everything on the menu, and loved it all. We got the whole branzino during dinner, it was simple but delicious. The lamb skewers were great. My favorite dish was the Anaheim peppers with vinegar, I LOVED it. We did the same for brunch and ordered almost the whole menu. Again, no regrets. The tomato tart was fantastic. We had the butter and jam for dessert, so good. Steak and eggs were cooked to perfection. My Little Chamomile is my new favorite restaurant.

    Manti (dumplings)

    See all

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kay
    19
    235
    881

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Win S.
    275
    273
    4684

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Preston B.
    95
    104
    328

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    28 days ago

    So delicious!!! The food is honest and lovely with layered flavors that blow you away. Can't wait to eat here again!!!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mel L.
    0
    59
    1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    We loved My Little Chamomile! I lived in Turkey for three years and this meal brought back so many memories!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Wen H.
    0
    86
    3

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Nancy D.
    113
    27
    0

    1 year ago

    The food was delicious and so fresh. The service was excellent. We felt like we were in the chefs kitchen

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of R M.
    0
    12
    1

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Brad A.
    129
    8
    4

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    My Little Chamomile Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - My Little Chamomile

    You might also consider

    Agora DC - Cauliflower**

    Agora DC

    4.0(1.8k reviews)
    1.4 miDupont Circle
    $$$

    Was able to do a walk-in on a recent Thursday evening…read more I had been many times before, but it had been a while, so it was great to dine at Agora again. Everyone in my group loved the assortment of small plates that we had. We considered getting the lamb chops, but it only comes with 2, and there were three of us, so we opted against it. The dishes we got instead (an assortment of vegetables, meat, and seafood) were all delicious, and we would all be happy to get them again.

    Went there twice to taste different kinds of Turkish dishes. One time for dinner and the other for…read morelunch. Overall the food was good. The serving size of the dishes I ordered were medium to small. The service was far less satisfactory than food. I tried the following dishes: 1. Complimentary pita: ~40g per piece. Not salty and paired well with the other dishes. Definitely get some! 2. Lahmacun: The lamb+beef mixture was tasty. It came with 4 pieces. 3. Branzino: ~6oz. The fish was grilled to perfection; juciy tender, and the skin was nicely charred. It was served with freh parsley and seasoned grilled tomato (salt+oregano I think). 4. Imam Bayildi: Half of an eggplant topped with sauteed onions and tomatoes. While itself was pretty normal, it went so well with the Ottoman rice. 5. Ottoman Rice: The true highlight of all the dishes I tried! It was basically Basimati rice cooked with dried apricots, raisins, almonds & pine nuts mix, and seasoned with black currant. Overall it was warm, earthy and lightly smoky. The apricot slices added some delightful sweetness and juiciness to the dish. Should pair well with Labneh, chicken and seafood. But to be honest, I can simply eat this stuff along for a whole meal! 6. Tabbouleh: They went against the traditional recipe by substituting the bulgur with quinoa and added some pomegranate arils. I liked the special texture of quinoa. The sweetness of pomegrante arils also enriched the flavors. However, I had to constantly spit the seeds when enjoying the salad. 7. Kofte: Adana style ground beef patties. Just like what I make at home haha! I ordered it as an add-on to my salad at lunchtime. It came with only 2 pieces which weighed no more than 3oz in total... Despite the delicious food, service was disappointing. The first time, the dinner, was Okay. While my food came out slowly, at least my server was aware of it and asked me how I liked the dishes. The second time, the lunch, was horrible. Even before I was seated, my server made feel that he was reluctant to serve me, and emphasizing that I had to order asap. "Luckily", I had already decided what to order. After I got my dishes, no one in the restaurant asked me if the food was Okay. And at the check, my bill was thrown onto my table. In comparison, the two ladies dining next to me came even after I started eating, but were greeted warmly and were given lots of time to decide what to order; not to mention that the staff gave them lots of suggestions, asked about their dining experience, and even chatted with them about sightseeing in DC, etc. Such discrimitory treatment is really unacceptable.

    Photos
    Agora DC - Inside/Bar

    Inside/Bar

    Agora DC - Weekend Bottomless Brunch

    Weekend Bottomless Brunch

    Agora DC - Mocktail çiçek

    See all

    Mocktail çiçek

    Gypsy Kitchen DC - Assortment of Small Plates & Cocktails

    Gypsy Kitchen DC

    4.3(1k reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$
    Happy hour specials
    Rooftop seating

    We came to Gypsy Kitchen for our anniversary, and it was the perfect spot! The service was speedy…read moreand kind, and the decor/ambiance was beautiful. We ordered a bottle of the Cava, and four small plates, which was plenty of food. The mussels, labneh and Patatas bravas were all very generous portions. Labneh: 5/5, delicious, served with plenty of pita Patatas bravas: 5/5, with great flavor and crispy roasted potatoes Mussels: 4/5, generous portion size, and the sauce was very good but I wished the sauce was more white wine-based Tuna crudo: 5/5, not a ton of food but the flavor was absolutely delicious, very citrusy and fresh Labneh cheesecake: 4/5, served with a sauce that was a bit like cough syrup but otherwise absolutely delicious

    We paid $130 with tip for croquettes, lamb skewers, tuna crudo, hummus, and two 50 Shades of Purple…read more(drinks with butterfly pea gin). We sat outside on the patio and it was a gorgeous day. The decor is perfect and I love that they've added plants to cover the staircase. Drinks were delicious and the food came out quickly. Our water glasses were rarely empty. Service was kind. Food wise if I were to stack rank I would say the hummus is the best of what we ordered. The pita bread is thick and garlicky and oily and massive. The croquettes would be at the bottom of my list simply because they're dissimilar from any I've had before and a little bit underwhelming. The tuna was fresh but it's a small dish and not much to write home about. The lamb skewers have a subtle kick to them and they're pretty substantial. I'll definitely be back to try more! Highly recommend on a warm summer day as you're covered by the canopy above, if you're looking for a rooftop vibe.

    Photos
    Gypsy Kitchen DC
    Gypsy Kitchen DC - Hummus, Lebnah, & Flatbread

    Hummus, Lebnah, & Flatbread

    Gypsy Kitchen DC - Rooftop Patio

    See all

    Rooftop Patio

    ala - GOLDEN CAULIFLOWER

    ala

    4.2(1.2k reviews)
    1.1 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.

    Photos
    ala
    ala - Adana Kebab

    Adana Kebab

    ala

    See all

    Zaytinya

    Zaytinya

    4.2(6.3k reviews)
    2.2 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.

    Photos
    Zaytinya
    Zaytinya
    Zaytinya - Spreads & Bread

    See all

    Spreads & Bread

    Casamara

    Casamara

    4.3(48 reviews)
    1.2 miDupont Circle, Downtown

    What a night in DC!…read more Barrett & Whitney (representing the locals), Andy & Alisa (in from Birmingham), Spencer & Phoebe (holding it down from NYC), and I (representing hometown Dallas) set out in search of a spot for a family dinner that felt special but not stuffy. Ivy pulled baby duty with Warner--she was definitely missed--but the rest of us rallied. After scrolling through options, the description of Casamara on Yelp sealed the deal, and wow, did it deliver. Whit had the genius idea to do everything family-style, which turned out to be perfect for our crew of seven. Once drinks were in hand and the menus ogled over, I teamed up with our stellar waiter, Louis, to orchestrate the feast: - Two NY Strips, perfectly cooked and pre-sliced for easy sharing - Two butterflied whole Branzinos, meaty and crisp-skinned - One Harissa Chicken with just the right kick - Plus a lineup of sides and starters: Wild Boar Gemelli Pasta, Roasted Beets, Roasted Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts, and plenty of warm Focaccia Every dish hit the mark--beautifully presented, bursting with flavor, and portioned just right. Service was spot-on, too--Louis and the team had us covered without a hitch. Our only tiny gripe? The volume! The energy was great, but the noise level made conversation a bit of a challenge. Still, minor quibble aside, it was another picture-perfect evening for the Gold-Sokol-Lewis crew.

    I visited this rooftop and was pushed by this white woman bartender/waitress…read more I also was with my fiance. And the bouncer carded him and my friends, saw me with him holding his hand, and chose to let in the group of white people next to us and made me wait to be carded even tho we told them we were a group of 10 and we were all together.

    Photos
    Casamara - View

    View

    Casamara - Sakura milk punch

    Sakura milk punch

    Casamara

    See all

    Maydan - Roasted carrots

    Maydan

    4.3(1.4k reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$$$

    Maydan had been on our list of places to try for a while. It can be tough to get a reservation. We…read morewere able to add ourselves on the OpenTable waitlist and receive alerts if a table opened up. Luckily we were able to get a table outside at 6PM on a Friday night for four people. The tawle tasting menu is about $100 per person and it was a great way to try the menu. We were able to pick from a list of spreads, vegetables and meats and at the end we were also able to choose two desserts based on our party size. You start with Mouneh - pickled vegetables, Honey Soaked Dates, and the most delicious Halloumi. You then select 3 spreads - Muhammara, Walnut Casik, and Beet Borani with warm pita bread. For entree we ordered Chicken Shish Taouk, Ribeye, and cauliflower. They had a nice cocktail list so we tried a few cocktails. The espresso martini includes gelato, and there was a green cocktail that was very refreshing. The service was really good. Please be aware that they do add a fee on the bill and guests may not notice this and may tip an additional amount which we did, but the service was outstanding. We were able to walk inside and see the open fire grill where they make the pitas on and go to the bathroom. We really enjoyed sitting in the alley on a nice evening.

    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.

    Photos
    Maydan - Wood oven front and center

    Wood oven front and center

    Maydan - Shrimp

    Shrimp

    Maydan - Spiced chocolate mousse

    See all

    Spiced chocolate mousse

    Iron Gate

    Iron Gate

    4.0(823 reviews)
    1.3 miDowntown, Dupont Circle
    $$$

    We went to this restaurant for Valentine's Day. We were here from out of town and had no idea what…read moreto expect. From the start, the experience was wonderful. The staff was so warm and friendly and we were seated next to the fireplace, which made the whole experience nice and cozy. The food was nothing short of amazing and the servings were generous. The factor that made the experience even more special, however, was our server Cameron. Not only was she incredibly charming, she also oozed professionalism. She seemed to know what we wanted before we did, making the entire evening that much more memorable. We vowed to one another to come back during warmer weather to enjoy the wisteria-adorned patio in bloom and hope for an experience even half as special.

    stopped in recently and had a decent, but unmemorable meal at Iron Gate. It's a cute restaurant,…read moretall ceilings, nice patio in the back with some seating in front and back and a bar in the middle. Service was warm. Went with the family table pre-fix menu, which includes all meze, and your choice of pasta, entree and dessert to share. overall, thought the dishes lacked flavor and depth. highlight was the pasta which you can tell is made fresh. but that is the one dish I would return for. short rib and maitake were dry, served on a bed of duxelles. caesar dressing was not bright, croutons were stale. citrus salad and beets were ok. none of the meze stood out

    Photos
    Iron Gate - The "Tunnel of Love"

    The "Tunnel of Love"

    Iron Gate
    Iron Gate - Courtyard

    See all

    Courtyard

    My Little Chamomile - mediterranean - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...