With its tasteful decor and candle-lit vibe, Namak is a date-worthy destination, or simply a cozy gathering place for good friends. It's one of those places where it just feels good to be out for the evening. As to the food: the vegetable dishes are outstanding. I am not big on dips, usually, but I was won over by the mutabal, made with squash tahini, mushrooms, and shallots. It is served with a delicious sesame crusted bread, that could be addictive if you are not careful. The star of the evening was the crispy brussels, with black garlic caesar and hot honey. My word! This was like no other brussels I've ever tasted. Even the steamed spinach, tucked away on the menu in the "sides" section, was really tasty. The proteins, by contrast, were disappointing. The calamari was ok but nothing special. It came breaded rather than lightly battered - not my preference. The torsh shish - tenderloin shishkebab - was under-seasoned and a bit fatty. I was surprised it didn't have more of a grilled, smoky flavor. But the real disappointment was what was supposed to be the star of the show: the short rib tagine, with apricot, bulgur wheat, and labne. With that description, I was expecting the meat to arrive on a bed of the other delicious ingredients, but instead we got a brick-shaped piece of meat with a dab of something else. It was tender enough, and tasted ok, but really...just ok. For the price I was expecting something a little more special. The desert aficionados among us had praise for the chocolate pot, but the Persian Love Cake did not get a lot of love. For the drinks: for a Turkish/Greek restaurant I was surprised that wines from those countries were not available by the glass. Alas, there was no Greek wine to be had, and the Turkish wine could be had only if you were prepared to cough up $90 for a bottle. As I was the only wine drinker in the group, that was not going to happen. Next time I might go for a mocktail. The fermented carrot juice was funky and mystical and perhaps the best thing we had all night, beating out even those brussels sprouts. read more

Delicious! My wife and I shared the sample of dips, mini manti, and lahmacun. Thought we may need to order some more after but we filled up on that. Everything was great, but especially enjoyed the muhammara and the manti. Service was very attentive and polite. Also a nice interior and music at just the right volume to be enjoyable without being overpowering. Will certainly return! read more

Came here for happy hour with friends last week and had a fantastic time! The food was wonderful. The service was spectacular. It's a very welcoming modern environment in a very historic part of DC. I loved it! I can't wait to go back! read more

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Beautiful restaurant in admo! We came for dinner and were able to get a res the day of. I think the mezze and spreads were all okay, but nothing I'd crave or reorder. Dessert was a miss for me. However their large plates and kebabs are so delicious and def the highlight! My favorites: - tavuk: super juicy chicken, the rice is flavorful, lovely char on the vegetables and the garlic dip is great - grill rainbow trout: delicious crispy skin, tender meat and its boneless!! - Koobideh? I think it was a special for a day but it was like an extremely juicy ground beef type kebab! I'd be back just for the entrees next time :) read more

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Decided to eat here for dinner as it was on Washingtonian's top 100 list in 2025. I did book a reservation the same day, and they have outdoor tables, so it is probably not too difficult to get in. Parking is street parking as is typical in Adams Morgan. The ambiance is lovely, but the food left us disappointed, so we would not return. You would want to order several dishes to share. We ordered one from each of the different categories. I was looking forward to trying the Borani Laboo (beet) appetizer, but it was not on the menu the day we went. We got the Kabak Mutabal (butternut squash) spread, and it did not have the wow factor, and tasted rather plain. Pide- we got the Ispanakli (spinach&onion with feta & dill). It was decent, but again, we were not impressed. For the kebab, here we made the absolutely correct decision by ordering the Torsh (steak), which was tender and flavorful. For the main course, we ordered the lamb shoulder- it was a little too fatty for my taste, and we couldn't finish the dish. For dessert- we shared Muhallebi (milk pudding with halva), and it was light. Overall, we were not very impressed or interested enough to want to come back. There are other restaurants with more flavorful food. read more

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Happy hour starts at 4:30 and restaurant opens at 5. Drinks- nice wine selection and creative drinks Food- we got the lamb burger, Shepard salad, Turkish potato, kalamari, and pide. All were well seasoned and tasty, enough to share. Service- everyone we interacted with was professional and helpful. Shoutout to the lovely red headed host and bartender Jacob, he was knowledgeable about the menu and attentive. We sat for hours eating and drinking and thankful no one rushed us out. Happy hour- nice menu, good mix of bites and drinks. And goes till 7. Space- decor is bright and simply decorated. Nice mix of bar seating, tables, and booths. read more

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The food at Namak is so photogenic it is crazy. The service is really friendly and positive as well. We tried the following for our Friday night dinner. Borani Laboo - this beet puree - smooth, almost delicate - was well complimented by the seeds and mint leaves (recommend!) The accompanying pita was big, warm but had air pocket so not overly dense or filling Kalamarii - it was not deep fried and very fresh (I only tasted one piece) Zucchini fritters - more fried than the kalamari, but good (a 'somewhat healthy option), comes with yogurt and a few barberries Shepherd salad - big portion, but didn't try Toum - garlicky and added to olive oil, good to accompany a meat or pita For dessert: Chocolate tahini tarte - this was not too rich with a dairy taste from the kaymak and tahini, kind of dense but small (pretty good) Pistachio 'bakhlava' ice cream - this was unique, but we both thought it on the heavy side (maybe the fat from the pistachio and pieces of pistachio was too much with the cream). Supposedly the Muhammara is good, but we didn't try this. Would recommend not eating outdoors if concerned about noise (not that it was particularly quiet inside). I'd come back and am very glad to see the former Mintwood spot replaced with something just as worthy. read more

Namak - Everything - kalamari, shepherd salad, zucchini fritters, toum, pita and beet puree in the middle. - The image shows a selection of Mediterranean-inspired dishes such as calamari, a salad with egg, pizza slices, pink yogurt with mint, and meatballs with garnishes, served on decorative plates. - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Came to Namak for a Friday night dinner and had a great time! First things first: the staff are AMAZING!!!! The warmest, kindest, most fun, charming, talkative, helpful, lovely staff. Truly had an amazing experience because our service was outstanding!! We split 4 small plates and 1 large plate between 2 people and were more than full. We much preferred all the small mezze plates to our large plate but everything was good overall. Hummus: delightful and flavorful with a yummy warm pita. A little too salty for my preference but still really delicious. Halluomi: this was a special and not on their regular menu but it should be, it was INCREDIBLE! Perfectly fried and crispy with pistachios and honey. Zucchini fritters: a MUST! One of our faves of the night. Spinach feta flatbread: a miss for us both. Greek chicken: overall just okay for us. The chicken was overcooked so it was pretty dry and the whole plate swims in a lemony-dill sauce. The sauce was nice but too lemony for my taste without other flavor notes. Since the potatoes and carrots were also in the sauce the plate just felt a little one note and boring after a few bites. Dessert: baklava ice cream and a dark chocolate tart with a Turkish coffee. A perfect dessert! Sweet but not too sweet or heavy. The tart was lovely and the ice cream was innovative. The coffee slapped! Drinks: we skipped the menu drinks and were a bit underwhelmed by their drink menu but they have a full bar to order anything you'd like. My friend had a gimlet she really enjoyed. The atmosphere of this place was quiet nice. It's fairly small and quiet so its a great place to catch up with friends. The design is bright and airy and simple with a lowkey calm vibe. It also does pain me to say this but we did spot a roach in the bathroom. We were on the way out so weren't able to flag it for a manager but it looked like a hole in the wall critters were coming out of. Still had an incredible experience overall and would love to come back. Considering how much food we got our bill was about $100 each which includes a service charge. We added an additional tip because service was just that outstanding. Great quality and value. read more

Some of the most brilliant prepared Turkish food I've ever tasted. The plates are beautiful. Hummus, a bias is a must have. Extraordinarily good. Pita bread is fresh beautifully spiced and fluffy/pillowy! We shared swordfish kababs and various mezze. Our server was a sweetheart. Food comes "in waves" ergo sporadic so relax and enjoy the ride. Highly recommend. read more

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Fabulous! I've been hunting for manti (tiny Turkish meat dumplings) in city limits for a while, and I found them here! Namak is situated next to Kalorama park on a strip of gorgeous restaurants that makes you feel just I can't write this review without first and foremost shouting out Jamie. Amazing hospitality deserves recognition and she is nothing but amazing. The times I've been here she is warm, welcoming, friendly and caring. We sat outside tonight and she went to everyone on the patio offering bug spray -- the way other diners reacted, I knew they were regulars who also knew and loved her. The best deal here is happy hour. The drinks and food are all a little more reasonably priced, and the appetizers on the menu are more than enough to fill you up. I can't speak to the main entrees, but the prices aren't exactly motivating. I have a great enough time going for happy hour that I feel no great need to try a full meal in the near future. The spinach pide is amazing, the herbs and greens are fresh and you can tell they're using a great feta. The manti is fantastic, and if you've never had it I highly recommend giving it a try. The calamari isn't worth it in my opinion -- there's better calamari in the city (hello, I Ricchi!) and there's no point in paying money for rubbery squid. Overall, great happy hour spot. Beautiful outdoor seating, never particularly packed, wonderful service, good drinks and a reasonably priced food menu! read more

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What a place! Food was really good.. we didn't get any dish with the same flavor!! Every dish has different presentation and allover is unique and tasty .. our server Courtney and all other team members gave us the best serves .. the place is cozy! Must try! read more

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5/5! Cute & quaint restaurant in Adams Morgan. Reserved a spot for restaurant week and enjoyed every dish. Also, our waitress was super friendly & knowledgeable! I wish I could remember her name. read more

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Great service and great space and ambiance here at Namak. The only thing was disappointing was the food. The fish dish that I had was a bit salty and small. I don't want to kill this place because I had so much fun, perhaps next time I'll try another dish. read more

Namak - A restaurant interior featuring hanging decorative ropes on the ceiling, pendant lighting, and a mix of booth and table seating with diners. - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I was unexpectedly delighted and impressed with the flavor and quality of Namak. I was hesitant to try since places like Albi have re-written the playbook and expectations of Middle Eastern/Persian/Turkish/Levantine/Mediterranean cuisine, and it is a high hurdle to cross. However, Namak met and exceeded my expectations with flavorful and well made dishes that walk the line between authenticity and originality. The muhammara had a distinct smokiness to it balanced by the sweet. The pita served on the side was perfectly soft to soak in the flavors. The toum garlic dip, I ate by the spoonful. The Adana kebab rivals the ones I had in Turkey. The mantı beef dumplings -- while seasonal -- should stay on the menu forever. The lahmacun dough was correctly thin and crispy, though the meat topping was too wet and thick but spiced perfectly. The lamb shank was phenomenal. And our cocktails were a great compliment with the Going Green having a refreshing taste, and the Angelini sweet and strong. Our server, Jaime, was an absolute delight who was a riot to speak with and very knowledgeable about the dishes. I cannot wait to go back and continue eating my way through the menu. read more

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Namak was a great suggestion from a friend and I'm so glad we visited. We started with pre-dinner cocktails at the bar before our reservation. I got a Lazy Sunday, which was excellent. For dinner, we split the pide and zucchini fritters, and I ordered the hummus and adana, while she got the chicken kabob and whipped feta. Everything was delicious. I loved the bread. The fritters were crisp and tasty. The adana really stood out to me. It was extremely flavorful and had just enough heat. I ordered the Tuzlu cocktail, which was light and refreshing, and is the perfect pairing with the adana. Namak has an upbeat, fun vibe and it is very pretty. Service was excellent (thanks Mike and Damon). I'm looking forward to returning. read more

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I loved all the appetizers and small plates (my favorite being the minced lamb flatbread) I ordered during my visit at Namak but the mains were slightly lackluster. While the meats were seasoned and cooked well, the main dishes felt slightly repetitive in terms of flavor and options. For example the only difference between the lamb and beef kabob dishes was the meat. The accompaniments were the same for both dishes, so I wish there was more variety in the dishes themselves without having to order a bunch of sides. However, the food came out very quickly and was plated very nicely. I love the decor and layout of the restaurant as it is very reminiscent of the mediterranean. If you would like to be seated at a table I would strongly recommend making a reservation especially if it is later in the evening. I would love to come back maybe for drinks and a few small plates! read more

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Stopped in recently and tried a few things - unfortunately there wasn't much that stood out. The space is nice, we were able to walk in and get a spot in the bar area. Service was decent. I started with the beets knees - this was off, I can't remember the last time I've sent a cocktail back but this was undrinkable. Completely unbalanced, smelled/tasted of cleaning solution, no discernible beet flavor, only present in the color. Did not want to risk another so just stuck with water after. For food - the whipped goat cheese was just that, a drizzle of honey over goat cheese spread. The saganaki had a lot of texture which was nice, but very sesame forward and wasn't one I'd order again. The chicken kabob was a good portion and the easy favorite on the night, very tender and flavorful. Adana was decent but much preferred the chicken. Also had sides of the pickles, bulgur pilaf, and spinach which were all ok. read more

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Adams Morgan is no stranger to good food, but Namak could very easily make a name for itself as one of the best. The food here takes the very best from the Mediterranean cuisine and puts its own wonderful spin on it. While we each could have our own entrees, coming here during restaurant week gave us the opportunity to try a lot of different dishes and share each one. The spreads to start the meal were fantastic, I've had plenty of Hummus and Muhammara in my day (although hummus with braised beef was clever) but the newer Kashke Bademjan was a perfect addition to add variety and new flavors to the mix. Every entree we tried was unique and delicious, cooked perfectly and, in the case of the smoked lamb, melt in your mouth good. The desserts were all wonderful too, the Persian love cake standing out as my favorite due to its beautiful presentation and delightful combinations of pistachio, rose, and candied ginger. Our server treated us like family, helping correct our pronunciations of dishes and encouraging us to try mixing dishes in ways she knew would work. We were very comfortable in this location, getting so caught up in our conversations we hardly realized we had been there for hours. read more

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I always like to acknowledge when the staff is great. Everyone was attentive and helpful. Had a fabulous time at the restaurant for restaurant week. The Nuke Meze and Roasted Cauliflower was the highlight of our dinner. The flavor profile was premium. My only con for the evening was... the Baklava was too sweet. Great ambience, quick service! What more can you ask for?! read more

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We came here when Namak first opened around my birthday and we were in for a lovely surprise. Namak was here to impress! We ordered so many mezzes and kebabs, all had so much flavor and presented so beautifully. I think my favorite was the fried zucchini with yogurt sauce, and the next would be the Adana kebab. Service was top-notch, and ambiance was sophisticated and cozy. Perfect for a date night on the quieter streets of Admo. Glad we were able to get reservations early on. I would not be surprised if Namak grabs the attention of many food critics. read more

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Had a wonderful dinner here with a friend. The inside of the restaurant is gorgeous and I love the different tiles decorating the walls. I definitely recommend making a reservation in advance because it was packed and there were no open tables on my visit. For drinks, we tried the Harissarita and Beet's Knees cocktails. The Harissarita was a good take on a spicy margarita, and the Beet's Knees was a nice lighter cocktail. Borani Laboo - Lovely beat dip with a beautiful color. I wanted to lick the bowl clean. (5/5) Mast-o-Bademjan - Tasty smoked eggplant dip. I thought it was good but not amazing; however, my friend really liked it. (4/5) Ahtapot - Perfectly cooked octopus over a light and delicious carrot puree. The presentation of this dish is beautiful. The pickled onions added a nice acidity, and all the different components of the dish complemented the octopus. (5/5) Karides Shish (Grilled Marinated Shrimp Skewer) - Perfectly seasoned and grilled shrimp. The pickled red cabbage, onions, and lemon accouterments brought out nice flavors and provided acidity to the dish. (5/5) Whole Dorado - Perfectly seasoned and seared fish. The bed of spinach was underwhelming and unnecessary but the fish itself was delicious. (5/5) Kotlet-e-Kadoo (Zucchini Fritters) - The garlic yogurt mixed with olive oil and lemon was delicious and the star of this dish. The zucchini fritters themselves were decent but the sauce was memorable and made the dish better. I wanted to lick the plate clean. The presentation of the dish was lovely. (4/5) Anatolian Cheesecake - Heavenly. The cherry on top of a wonderful meal. The cheesecake was airy and light, and the sour cherry compote complemented the sweetness of the cheesecake nicely. (5/5) read more

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I had dinner at Namak, and it was great every single item we had was delicious. The ambiance is great and so is the service. I was very impressed especially because I've never heard of Namak before. It should really be a more well known restaurant especially since the food was great especially for the price. I'd definitely recommend this place. Parking in AdMo is brutal, so if you plan on driving there leave early! read more

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A great addition to the Adams Morgan dining scene! My friend and I recently went here for a weekend dinner and were seated immediately at our reservation time. It was extremely busy when we initially arrived; however, after an initial service snafu (which our server apologized for), we received outstanding service with our dishes coming out in a timely manner. Namak's ambiance is lovely, with blue-and-white tiling, lots of natural light, wood tables, and Greek, Turkish, and Persian decorations. Namak automatically includes a 20 percent service charge and clearly indicates this charge on their menu and receipt, which I appreciated. Namak also has plenty of vegetarian options. My friend and I split the four dishes listed below: Kuru Patlican Dolmasi: An OK dish with well-cooked rice but there was too much salt and there was minimal flavor other than the sauce (there needed to be more sauce). Ahtapot: A phenomenal dish, Michelin-star caliber in presentation and execution, and one of my five favorite dishes I have had at a restaurant this year. The octopus was prepared and grilled perfectly-the best octopus I have ever had. The carrot puree was aesthetically stunning and provided excellent sweetness and freshness, with the pickled onions adding acidity and crunch. The greens on top added further brightness and flavor to the dish. Finally, the blue tilework on the plate below capped off a beautiful array of colors for the dish. It is worth coming to Namak just for the Ahtapot-it was that good. Ispanakli Pide-Another delicious plate, with the pide excellently baked, the right amount of fresh spinach and dill, and the perfect amount of feta to complement the other ingredients. Roasted Cauliflower-While the cauliflower was perfectly cooked, it needed a bit less salt and far more tahini, za'atar, and pomegranate seeds. I would have paid $2-3 more for the dish to make it outstanding if there had been substantial tahini and pomegranate seeds at the bottom. My friend and I split the Anatolian cheesecake for dessert. While the sour cherry compote was delicious, I was disappointed that I couldn't taste the Turkish yogurt and Greek feta. I look forward to my next visit to Namak! read more

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Came here many times when it was formerly Mintwood Place. They've done a nice job brightening up the space. I went with two other friends and we picked a handful of dishes to try which was plenty. The roasted red pepper spread was excellent, as was the accompanying pita. We then had the zucchini fritters which were great and the feta. The feta wasn't my absolute favorite (I thought the sesame coating was a little too much), but our kebabs and sujuk flatbread were great! read more

Despite being named after the Urdu/Hindi word for salt, Namak excels primarily when it comes to Turkish cuisine, although they also have some Persian and general Middle Eastern classics on offer. The best dish of the evening was without a doubt the kuru patlıcan dolması, my favorite Turkish form of dolma. Most people are aware of grape leave dolmas, but I personally much prefer the varieties wrapped with onion layers (soğanlı dolması) or dried eggplant (the aforementioned kuru patlıcan). The other dishes were all good without being standouts - I prefer the zeytoon parvadeh at Rumi. read more

Namak - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Excellent array of Mediterranean fare with delicious dips served w house made pita (fluffy and delish) and crudite. Tiny beef dumplings. Excellent salad with greens and tomato's and feta. Shrimp kebabs - flavorful and well-cooked. Colleague had trout which was delicious. Sides of Brussels sprouts ( crispy and flavorful ) plus spinach were terrific. Chocolate pot de creme topped with almond halvah crumble was a great end to dinner. Highly recommend. Service was friendly and welcoming. read more

Namak was absolutely amazing! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fantastic dining experience. The food was bursting with flavor, and the staff were incredibly courteous and attentive. read more

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Wow. Wow. Wow. I loved the former Mintwood Place, so it took me awhile to come around to trying Namak, and now I'm sad I waited so long. Let me get right to the best dishes you must order: the sesame-coated feta (one of the best things I've ever eaten), the beef kebab (soft, succulent, medium-rare perfection), and the side of spinach (saag style). Go, go, go. Right now. read more

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Had an excellent dinner here recently. We were seated super promptly upon arrival after making a reservation online Service continue to be prompt throughout the mail. Our server was incredibly attentive, making lots of recommendations and clearly invested in our enjoyment. We ordered a dip (borani), multiple sides (feta and dolmasi), a spinach pide, the piyak (gigande beans) and the roasted cauliflower main. we are vegetarians and it was so nice to have too many options to choose from! Everything was really delicious, but serious standouts were the piyak (perfectly seasoned and tender) and the feta saganaki (sesame crust was so good and it was slightly sweet). those dishes for three hungry adults was perfect, and we cleaned all of our plates. We skipped dessert because we were so full and didn't feel pressured at all to order more. A great addition to the neighborhood! read more

Namak - Borani (beetroot) dip - A bowl of vibrant pink beetroot dip topped with herbs and seeds, placed on a wooden table next to a baked bread roll on a ceramic plate. - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Beautiful restaurant, excellent food, and great service! We walked in 7 PM (party of 2) on a Saturday night and got seated immediately. The ambiance and lovely decor made for a great date night (or place to bring your family). Our serve Sergio was very kind, pleasant, quick and attentive We ordered 3 mezze- feta saganaki, the eggplant dip, and the piyaz gigante beans - and the Adana lamb kebab for a shared entree! Loooooved everything though I wish the eggplant dip wasn't as cold as it was served. We had a few bites leftover but good amount of food for two moderately hungry people. Adana kebab - juicy, with a slight hint of spice and really fresh tandoori-style flat bread to soak up the juices Piyaz- the creamy tahini and dill sauce was luscious but refreshing without being too rich (vegan dish!). Tasted better than it looked. We can't wait to come back! read more

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Great dinner and such an accommodating staff! I recently emailed Namak to set up a 6 person dinner to surprise dear friends of mine that just got engaged- they were able to get us a six person table (reservations usually are for no more than 4) and we were thrilled. Even when our guests of honor were running late, they were very happy to work with us and even gave us a free bottle of wine. As for the drinks, we all loved the Namak 75, Apertivo Spritz, and the rakı. Food was also amazing, our group had the eggplant dip, whipped goat cheese with honey, cauliflower, chicken and lamb kebab, green beans, and greek potatoes. Everything was delicious. Some of the dishes that surprised us most were the green beans and cauliflower- both packed so much flavor. For my friends who are GF - they have options that are clearly labeled on the menu and will happily provide you with veggies instead of bread for the dips. One note is that the cauliflower is labeled as GF but they later came out to tell us that it does have cross contamination, so if you are celiac or highly sensitive I would suggest double checking on that when you order. read more

The excellent service and recommendations from our server made this is 5-star experience. I went here on a Wednesday and had excellent food and cocktails. It's a lovely spot in a cute neighborhood with other shops and restaurants. I'll be back when in the area. read more

WOW! I absolutely loved Namak. Namak is a combination of Iranian, Greek, and Turkish cuisines with an interior that matches it exactly. We were warmly greeted by the host and were seated early for our reservation. The lighting and ambiance was a perfect addition to this quaint restaurant with Middle Eastern tiling to add a pop of color. I really enjoyed how the menu was labeled very clearly for allergies and dietary preferences. They had several options for vegans which I was pleasantly delighted by. We first ordered the red wine for Naoussa and it was so flagrant and perfectly paired well with our meals. For starter we ordered the Greek potatos and the kisir. I wish I could make potato's like that. They were golden to perfection with great texture that melted in your mouth. The kisir was a small bulgur salad that was bursting in flavor. My friend and I both looked at each other and we were like oh boy this is really delicious! For my main dish, I ordered the roasted cauliflower. I absolutely loved it! It was covered in za'atar and balanced with tahini and lemon. The za'atar was very aromatic and the portions was great for me. It's safe to say that I'll be back here! We had such a lovely evening and there is so much more on the menu I'd love to try! read more

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Namak is one of the best restaurants we dined at in 2024. A Mediterranean restaurant in the old Mintwood Place space in Adams Morgan, a friend and I went for dinner at 7:30 p.m. on a Wednesday. It was busy! Here's our experience. 1) Food: The dishes are inspired by countries along the Mediterranean Sea like Turkey, Greece, and even Iran (which doesn't order the Mediterranean). To start, my friend and I ordered the walnut labneh and the whipped goat cheese. It came with a small bag of warm bread for each of us. For our mains, I ordered the torsh kebab and my friend the chicken. For sides, we got the Greek potatoes and the green beans. Every single thing was full of flavor and well made. We devoured everything. For dessert, the pistachio baklava and the cheesecake were excellent choices. 2) Drinks: It's an impressive list of cocktails using ingredients from around the Mediterranean Sea and wines from the region. If you love a tad sweet, order the Beet's Knees or the Namak 75. My friend enjoyed the white wine from Palestine. 3) Service: From host to server, everyone was kind, attentive, and passionate about what they are building at Namak. A service charge is worked into every bill, but they are worth tipping beyond that. 4) Space: It's a beautifully designed space with a bar and a large dining area. Despite being full of patrons, the noise level was low so you can easily have a focused conversation. 5) Area: Adams Morgan is a lively neighborhood with many restaurants, cafes, bars, murals, and parks. It's a beautiful part of town, but budget up to 30+ minutes to find street parking. It took me 45 minutes to find it far from Namak. I recommend walking, biking, Metroing, or taking a rideshare to Namak. read more

I was very excited to try this place. But it was hands down one of the most disappointing culinary experiences I've ever had to endure. The place tries to be a Mediterranean fusion of Persian, Turkish, Levantine, and Greek cuisine, yet fails miserably at representing any of them well. I honestly feel bad for anyone gullible enough to think any of these dishes are authentic and won't blame them for hating Mediterranean food after. We ordered Kabab Torsh which is a sour paste/pomegranate marinated lamb or beef kabab. What we were served was a random kabab that clearly was the wrong dish lacking ANY marinade/or listed ingredients what-so-ever. We told our waiter and, after apologizing profusely, the poor girl told us, 'sorry but our served dishes don't reflect the Menu and that the Torsh is actually not served'. She said she has heard the same complaint before. Excuse me!? We had driven 30 mins just to try this dish. Unacceptable. We had also ordered the Ghalyeh Mahi which is a sweet & sour fish dish using tamarind paste. Again, this was no Ghalyeh. It was like an Indian green curry with a white fish in the middle. Bland and tasteless it was, but again the frustrating fact was that this was not ghalyeh or an interpretation of it; it was a totally different dish without any of the ingredients and spices listed on the menu. At this point, we were Hangry and thought that maybe since the chef is Turkish, the kitchen is not capable or lacks the proper training for Persian food. So we ordered a Tukish Adana Kabab. And Oh My God. It was an absolute disaster. The "kabab" was so spicy and filled with shredded red peppers that you couldn't feel your mouth let alone taste the beef. Even their ayran/Doogh which is yogurt-based refreshing drink was undrinkable. Apparently they made it in house by mixing milk with copious amounts of salt. It was so salty that the concoction was as acrid and unpleasant as Salt water gargle but with milk instead of water. The check came to $85 per person for this painful experience (they had already added a 20% tip for our party of 3!). Again, very unprofessional. The manager didn't even come to check on us once. This chef and the manager needed to be fired, like yesterday. Namak means Salt in Persian, which is fitting as the entire ordeal felt like being slowly tortured by a 1000 cuts and then rubbing salt all over the wounds. A total disgrace. read more

Lovely space! The staff and hostess warmly greeted my party once we entered the restaurant. The bread is magical - very soft and warm. Lamb shank was very flavorful and I would come back for that alone. Service was great throughout. Welcome to the neighborhood, Namak! read more

Namak - Saz'arac - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Service is great. Waiter was super attentive and went out of his way to explain the menu. We got reservations for 7:45pm on a Wed night and the restaurant was packed. The interior felt like dining in Santorini. The food was also great. borani laboo + bread 5/5 - super fluffy and creamy zeytoon parvardeh 4.5/5 - good and I am not even an olive lover and really enjoyed it. I was wowed by the pomegranate molasses and would order it just to have tried pomegranate molasses ahtapot 4/5 - solidly very good, came out room temp for us. texture of the octopus was great off menu lamb tenderloin with smoked eggplant 5/5 - this was incredible and I hope they add it to the menu since it was so good. excited to come back and try the other menu items read more

We had an excellent first meal at this new place in the neighborhood. It's been hard to get a reservation and now we know why, We sat inside by the window because it was not so cold as in the rest of the indoor spaces and we were afraid it was going to rain. Outside is covered and might well have been a good choice too My wife had the Efes beer while I chose the Harissarita - a great spicy choice. (The third diner doesn't drink). Appetizers were the zucchini fritters, which were fine, and the sesame crusted fried feta which was unusually good. Our mains were the beef kebab (both tender and super flavorful) and the roasted cauliflower (I tasted that, also nice). We shared the roasted potato side. Our third eater had the shrimp kebab which looked good but she was not sharing, so I will have to try it next time Too full for dessert I look forward to coming back and deciding whether the place merits that fifth star. It was close read more

Came here on a Thursday night based on a recommendation by a neighbor. The setting is pretty and the service is friendly. However I wasn't blown away by the food. The olive salad was pretty good and I liked the molasses dressing. The chicken shish kabob was tasty, the fish was decent. I can't remember what dip and bread we got, but it was good. The piyaz was the biggest disappointment. Undercooked beans with flavors that didn't work. Overall I didn't think the food was all that memorable but I might go back since it is in my neighborhood. read more

Namak - Bar area - A bar area with a wooden ceiling, pendant lighting, and a long counter with bar stools. Shelves behind the bar display liquor bottles and glassware. - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Namak has a lot of online buzz and I wasn't sure if it would live up to the hype. But it exceeded it. The decor is gorgeous and I especially loved the window booths. Great people watching spot and comfortable too. Service was friendly, prompt, and helpful. And the food. Wow. Really classic menu items done so so well. I'm still thinking about the crispy chicken skin, the lemony potatoes, the fall off the bone lamb, the smoky eggplant dip. Highly recommend and can't wait to come back and try the kebabs which looked delicious from afar! read more

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