Best of three worlds collide at this Mediterranean Restaurant. Turkish, Greek, Lebanese food. The…read moreHumus w/ground beef, pine nuts and sumac was outstanding. Fresh pita bread with the kebabs added to authentic flavor of Istanbul. Lamb chops were chargrilled to perfection. Not a fan of Greek mythic beer they had a new Lebanese Pilsner beer that was flavorful. Had Kataeffi Dessert and had the right amount of syrup. Orange flavor missing. Interior is nicely decorated and vibe was great. We can see why they have had multiple Michelin stars. A go to for us when in DC.

We usually do the bottomless brunches here but this time We went here for a celebratory lunch. We…read morewere pleasantly surprised by the restaurant week menu since we had forgotten it was restaurant week in dc. We ended up doing that menu since it had everything we wanted. For the mezze, we ordered hummus, red pepper with walnut dip, and tzatziki. For entrees we picked the chicken kebab, the Adana kebab with rice, and the beef kofte with pita. All food items were delicious. For dessert we got the baklava and the Turkish tiramisu. It was my first time trying Turkish tiramisu and it was beyond amazing!!

I was in Washington D.C. for the weekend and tried this amazing Mediterranean place for lunch. My…read morefriend who recommended this place has been obsessed with the food here and I can totally see why. We ordered mushroom kapnista, Halloumi pide, zaatar pide, htipiti and everything was so delicious. I'm not sure if I enjoyed the combination of dates and mushrooms together but really loved the smoky mushroom by itself. I was also very impressed with the Zaatar pide, it was cheesy and delicious. For desert we ordered greek yogurt with apricot and it was probably the best thing we tried here. The ambience is classy and they have ample of seating space. The overall meal didn't cost us as much as I thought it was, the prices were fairly reasonable!

Not Michelin Star but Zaytinya has The Bib Gourmand distinction which means the restaurant is…read morerecognized by inspectors for offering fantastic food at a reasonable price point. I'm getting better at this! LOL Service was great from the moment we walked in. The ambiance at Zaytinya is exactly what you want from a José Andrés restaurant: light‑filled, contemporary, and buzzing with life. High ceilings, blue‑and‑white tones, and a chic Mediterranean aesthetic make it feel like a getaway in the middle of D.C. It's vibrant, social, and perfect for lingering over mezze crafted under Chef José Andrés' vision. I met another Yelp foodie here so that was a real treat! I love my Yelpies! Let's get into it with one sentence.... Come try this place out! It's taken me months to post this because this girl eats out way too much. For my fellow Yelpers if you haven't already tried, you're missing out! Thank me later! Cheers!

A complete vibe! I…read morecame here with a coworker of mine the day before 4th of July for lunch and drinks, and I left full and happy. There is a parking garage around the corner of the restaurant so that makes things very convenient. The inside decor is gorgeous and is chic but also funky fresh. I got grilled octopus over a bed of bean salad that had pieces of pomegranate in it - 10/10. The savory taste of the octopus paired against the sweetness of the salad was really delicious. For desert I got the baklava option that comes with ice cream - INCREDIBLE. You have to order it if you come here.

The food is good with lots of options. I was just there this evening as I need a quick place to…read morework before an event. My Tito's and soda water, with a lime, was nearly $18. I double checked to make sure I was charge for two drinks or a double and it was confirmed the amount was correct. The bill included a $2 mixer, which again was soda water. Mind you this was on Wednesday at 6:45 PM. Just giving everyone a heads up so if you go. I definitely won't be going back.

Extremely friendly service and great ambiance. We were here on a Saturday night and they had a live…read moresaxophonist, who played throughout our entire meal and it was lovely. The food was delicious as well, we had several dips with bread to begin, both were on point, and then graduated to the grilled platter for two which also impressed. Will definitely be returning to this neighborhood gem!

I had a very disappointing experience here. All of our food was served cold, which is unacceptable…read morefor dishes like Turkish kebabs that should be hot and freshly prepared. The entire order came out in about 10 minutes, which made it seem like everything was pre-cooked and just reheated. The French fries were clearly undercooked and tasted raw. The ayran was also extremely diluted more like salted water than a proper yogurt drink. We brought these issues to the staff and asked to speak with a manager, but no one came. Instead, our concerns were dismissed. We barely touched the food because the quality was so poor. Overall, very disappointing service and food.

Stopped by ala on Friday afternoon, September 11, and discovered their All Day Happy Hour as a nice…read moreway to start the weekend. My cocktail of choice was the Khavyar, which featured gin, Portan cucumber, dill, and lemon. Refreshing, crisp, and a great start to the afternoon. For food, I tried the Hummus + Pita, Za'atar Pide, and Tawook Burger. I sat at the bar, where Isabel was gracious, welcoming, and attentive throughout my visit. There was a nice crowd, pleasant music, and a relaxed energy. I tried the Hummus + Pita, Za'atar Pide, and Tawook Burger. The standout for me was definitely the Za'atar Pide. Made with Palestinian za'atar, creamy feta, and labneh, it was flavorful, savory, creamy, and easily my favorite dish of the afternoon. I would order it again without hesitation. The Hummus + Pita was a great start, and the Tawook Burger with two breaded chicken breasts, cheese, onion, mesclun, tomato, and house-made sauce on brioche was hearty and satisfying. Good food. Pleasant atmosphere. Attentive service. And much love for that Za'atar Pide! I'll be back for it.

Was invited to try Ala through a fellow Yelper and grateful for the introduction because this place…read moredelivered-ish. The all day happy hour menu is the move and we took full advantage. The Batata Hara: fried potatoes with garlic were dangerously good. Overpowering with the garlic but in the absolute best way possible. The Karahab fried brussels sprouts and the Tawook chicken breast burger were both delicious and well executed. The only miss for me personally was the ribeye gyro but that's less about Ala and more about me finally confirming that gyros and I are just not meant to be. The food gets a solid 5 stars. The seating situation however deserves a conversation. Yelpers were directed to either the bar or outside with no other options offered. The weather cooperated and it wasn't a bad experience outdoors but when the hostess specifically stated that Yelpers sit at the bar or outside, that landed differently. The restaurant appeared beautiful from what I could see and assuming the inside was as lovely as it looked, that felt like a quiet form of segregation that the restaurant should probably revisit. Guests are guests regardless of how they found you. Our waiter was attentive and never forgot about us which is always appreciated. Overall a great experience with one note worth addressing. I'd return but hopefully at the main table next time.

This is probably the best and most authentic Turkish food in Arlington. I have been a couple of…read moretimes now and am always satisfied. Although, they are slightly empty during prime business hours for some reason. I wonder why that is. If you are looking for a quiet and authentic meal, definitely check it out!

I've lived in Arlington for five years and had somehow never stopped in, despite hearing good…read morethings. Finally gave it a try and was glad I did. The restaurant serves Turkish cuisine, which I'm a big fan of. The interior is surprisingly beautiful, with a warm and inviting atmosphere. There's also plenty of outdoor seating and a bar area. Service was friendly, and everything we ordered tasted fresh--from the bread and fries to the tea and soup. I had the beef and lamb döner, which was delicious and well-prepared. The parking lot is a bit tight, but it's manageable. Overall, a great experience and a spot I'd definitely return to

Amazing food. I keep coming back. Iskender my favorite but i ate chicken shawarma gyro as well was…read moreperfect for lunch. Service is very good as well.

I tried the Iskender gyro platter at Capital Donar Shawarma, and it was a letdown. The dish…read morefeatured tough slices of roast beef instead of lamb, which felt off. The meat lacked flavor, making it a disappointing choice. Additionally, the staff seemed inattentive, which didn't enhance the experience. If you visit, and give it a shot ...stick to a classic gyro or doner sandwich instead.

Highly recommend the meat platter. Always on point and delicious…read more Half of the space is a grocery store. It's fun to browse!

Amazing food. Were were craving puzza and looked on GrubHub and this place looked different with…read moreTurkish and Balkan options. We got the Bosnian Pide and Lahmajun and loved them.

We really enjoyed Istanbul Kitchen at the Tysons Corner mall. It's a casual joint where you order…read moreat the counter and can make your own platter/bowl. Then you pick up your food at the counter when it's ready. The food was very flavorful, and we got to try an assortment of foods including rice, beans, veggies, salad, kebab meat. I also ordered a veggie borek. Everything was tasty! I also really appreciated that they had some couch seating in addition to standard tables and chairs. I needed to discretely breastfeed our baby, and I was able to do so comfortably on the couch. There was also room to park our stroller.

Delicious platters, plenty in portion, amazing and warm service!…read more At Tysons Corner, it's nice to know there is a healthier option with generous portion available at Istanbul Kitchen. I thoroughly enjoyed every single bite of such a flavorful platter! I really appreciated how kind the owners were while figuring out what to order. They were super attentive and friendly! Plenty of seating I think as well both inside and right outside. Great place to grab lunch if you work in the area for sure! This place is located on the bottom floor where the convenience store used to be.

Gypsy Kitchen was on my must try list for DC. I am so glad we did try it. Loved the ambiance of the…read morerestaurant- we were seated early for our reservation which as a nice surprise and when we asked to sit upstairs outside because the weather was amazing, it was no problem to accommodate. We chose to do tapas and share the dishes. We each ordered 3 items Mussels chorizo cantimpalo, shallots, red peppers, white wine, bread 16 - large portion of mussels - hubby was happy with that Crispy Cauliflower lemon tahini, dried fruit relish, caper berry, pistachio 15 - VERY good - I really enjoyed this dish Kefta Lamb Skewer piquillo tahini, sumac onions, parsley 17 - hubby loves lamb and this was pretty tasty Arroz Caldoso sepia sofrito, shrimp, bomba rice, scallions, lavash chips, lemon oil 16 - this was hands down our collective favorite Baby Octopus cherry peppers, green harissa, fennel, cilantro 22 - hubby loved this one, I though they were a little squishy and kind of weird but that's me and I don't normally eat octopus. Croquetas creamy chorizo fritters, saffron aioli 16 - least favorite, couldn't really identify the chorizo very strongly - it was just a creamy croqueta - just ok. We ended with the labneh pumpkin cheesecake for dessert. It was ok. Not my favorite but pumpkin seeds on top were tasty and crunchy!

Lots to enjoy here…read more Food is excellent and for tapas style the portion sizes lean in the large direction. Prices are very reasonable for DC and the quality. Loved the kefta lamb skewer. Perfectly cooked and seasoned. The piquillo tahini and sumac onions added more flavor punch. The hummus was exceptional. Strong tasty chickpea and garlic flavors balanced by lemon and dill. The pickled turnips presented in a flower shape was a nice touch. Service was excellent. Reservations via Open Table.