Wow, can't believe how long it's been since my original review! Time for an update! This is a favorite spot when I'm in DC. The food is consistently delicious and service is excellent. On this trip I had the lamb cubes over eggplant purée and it was wonderful. The lamb was tender and flavorful and the eggplant was perfectly seasoned. The bread was warm and fresh and the seasoned dipping oil was wonderful. Definitely make a reservation here if you're visiting during any busy season. It was totally full shortly after 6 on a Thursday evening in early April. The decor is modern and bright. It is loud when full as are all places in DC. It's an easy walk here from the National Mall area, so if you're looking for something just a bit outside the most touristy area this is a great option! read more

Ottoman Taverna - Lamb cubes over eggplant purée - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Food service and ambiance were great. However, they added a service charge of 20% without consent, and then expected a tip, which totally turned us off. read more

Came during restaurant week. It's a large space with a mixture of booths and tables. The portions were generous and mostly flavorful aside from the salmon. I really enjoyed the Beyti Kebap, hummus, Atom and red lentil soup. Dessert left a lot to be desired as the rice pudding was awful and gelatinous. The Turkish tea was refreshing. Service was slow and it wasn't a busy night so unclear about that. I would try other items again with a group, but otherwise would not go out of my way to dine here. read more

Ottoman Taverna - Char-Grilled Salmon - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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It's been a few years since I been to Ottoman Taverna in DC, so when my friend wanted to try their brunch offerings I immediately said YES! You can't beat a Michelin star restaurant offering a bottomless brunch for $45. And that includes your choice of unlimited mimosas or Bloody Mary's. The restaurant is strict on the two hour time limit, so don't waste your time perusing the menu. Just dive into the Turkish odyssey read more

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Bustling place. Service is good. Food is good and the atmosphere is unique...in a good way. I liked it. read more

Ottoman Taverna - Vegetarian meat appetizer - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Number 1 Turkish cuisine so far I've tried in the States. The waitress Murun was so kind and attentive. Well done read more

This place was below average at best. One the hummus had dairy in which is just wild - traditional hummus does not have dairy. Definitely did not eat it. I had to tell two other tables around us because i had heard someone had a dairy allergy. Everything that we ordered was so bland from the eggplant to the muhhumara. Also the server seemed very annoyed when I asked any questions. read more

We got the big kabab platter and it was very very good! The restaurant looks very authentic and staff are friendly, problem is the 20% service fee that doesn't include the tip read more

Ottoman Taverna - Chefs special - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

A downtown-y restaurant where you'll want reservations and where the noise level is high. The menu is quite good for special dietary needs, and my group's platter of cold appetizer dips was colorful with flavor to match. The sesame-encrusted bread it came with was delicious, albeit all too filling. I got down a delicious grape leaf and a Turkish fruit soda as well before my entree arrived, which despite the earlier indulgences, was still the most impressive thing I ate. My white bean stew came with some delightful little pickled peppers which delivered an exciting (if salty) gustatory experience. While I wanted no dessert, I ended up with the quasi-obligation of finishing a "choclava" with chocolate ice cream, which was as indulgent as one might expect. While I'm not the type for flashy downtown restaurants, this place delivered food as tasty as I could have hoped. read more

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Ottoman Taverna has phenomenal food. Great spot to come to for brunch with friends. For the brunch menu, the rec is to get all the cold mezes along with a few hot plates. The cold meze is a bunch of various dips including humus, baba ganoush, and yougurt based dips too. There were a few that I'd never tried and was pleasantly surprised. Even a dip made of beets!! The restaurant is pretty upscale and decor is impeccable. Certainly a place you should get a reservation for. They may get packed otherwise! read more

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We came back here for restaurant week lunch! Woo hoo. It was quite busy on a Sunday at 2 but it was pleasant and a fun atmosphere! I only wish we could do the bottomless mimosas but alas we have a baby now and so we did the restaurant week lunch! The staff was very friendly and accommodating. There was a good amount of options for the lunch service and we liked the idea of two mezes and one entree or one mezze, one entree and dessert. That's great for patrons as an option! I really enjoyed my chicken Kebob and the potato cakes. My husband got the kofte and hummus. We order a side of eggplant mezze as well. Love the bread! It is fresh and hot! Those black sesame seeds are just fantastic! So glad to come back here and look forward to returning again! read more

Ottoman Taverna - Chicken Beyti Kebap - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My friend and I stopped by on a random weekday to grab lunch and were delighted with the experience! The space is extremely large, but filled with lots of tables so I can only assume how packed it could feel on a busy night. We didn't really have any expectations coming in, but saw that they were Michelin recognized! We opted for the Express menu which gets you three courses for a fixed price and is a great bang for your buck, especially if you want to try multiple dishes. I highly recommend that you end your meal with the baklava as it was the perfect way to end a great meal! They also have a chocolate version. read more

The bar service/experience was horrible. The staff mixing drinks were poorly trained and inattentive to customer's needs. I resented having to leave a mandatory 20% tip. I'll recommend to my client never to return. read more

We were visiting DC over the 4th of July holiday weekend and wanted to try something different. We were close by and decided on Ottoman Taverna. We were not expecting it to be brunch time but it was an excellent stumble. We were not familiar with the cuisine so we asked our server for recommendations. He was gracious and told us what to get from the brunch menu and drink. We started with bread and several dips, then moved on to smaller plates of meats and rolls. All were excellent choices and well made. It was quite the experience and a total food adventure to try. Service was professional and friendly. We left extra tip. Thanks Ottoman for the fun time. You will probably see us again on our next DC visit. Recommended! read more

Ottoman Taverna - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Excellent service and a good variety of food for their bottomless brunch! For about $50 it's bottomless food and drinks for 2 hours. Instead of ordering individually, all menu items are brought to the table and based on what you like more can be ordered. For drinks it's a choice between mimosas, bloody Mary's, tea and coffee. The bloody Mary's were ok and a little bland. The mimosas were good and strong. Almost immediately after being seated the first round of cold mezze spreads came to the table. There was hummus, tzatziki, atom, muhammara, moutabal, pembe sultan, and so much more. The bread was warm and all the spreads were pretty good. The next course was the hot mezze which was falafel, patatas kofte, frittata, and some omelettes. The final course were the meats which was a lamb sausage, beef döner kebap, and tavuk köfte. Tavuk köfte was probably my favorite of the dishes. It was small chicken patty's seasoned and grilled well. It was delicious and so flavorful! Another favorite of mine was the falafel. I'm usually not a huge falafel fan but this was delicious when it came warm. For drinks the waiters were very good about refilling our pitchers and clearing the table of empty plates and dishes. Overall this was a fun brunch experience and I'd love to try their lunch and dinner menus. read more

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Absolutely amazing kebab. Delicious food, wonderful ambiance, extremely friendly waiters and excellent service. Large portion sizes too

Went for bottomless brunch and everything was so good $59 including tax and tip. The server was really nice too. read more

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Want to see Bravo's Below Deck Restaurant Style. Come to this restaurant. It's refreshing to go to a restaurant for every single person is not on her cell phone and his hard-working. On Christmas day it must be hard to find great workers like this so kudos to the management and the inner ambition of each of the staff. Of course, the food was delicious, especially the pita breads. I would go back to school that we had leftovers and they tasted even better than next day. read more

Came here for the first time for happy hour with a group of over 10 people. We ordered several drinks and a mix platter of bites of the hot mezze and a mix platter of their cold mezze. What's Hot - Menu. There's a pretty good variety- meats, seafood, vegetarian, and vegan. Their general menu appears to have a good selection, but their happy hour menu is very limited. No sweets on their happy hour menu, as well. - Quality. It's pretty good. The muhammara, hummus, and penne sultan were pretty flavorful and went well with the bread served. Well-seasoned and not overly salty. - Portions. For their happy hour menu, the portions of the food are definitely smaller than their regular menu. The portions are fairly decent, but be prepared to order several items to feed hungry people if you come during their happy hour service. - Price. Pretty reasonable, especially given the portions for their happy hour menu. What's Not - Quality. Most of the bread served with the appetizers were warm and soft, but there were several that were also hard and stale. Definitely a turn off and makes me question how their bread is kept. - Parking. You're in downtown D.C., so driving and parking in this area is definitely not convenient. Be prepared to pay for walking and to walk, especially depending on the day and time. - Service. Definitely lacking. It was hard to flag down any of their staff to put in orders. There were a couple times when I tried to get the attention of their wait staff and was completely ignored. It definitely took time to get service, so be prepared to be patient. Additionally, I had put in an order for a Greek salad, which was completely forgotten. Our group stayed through the dinner hour and none of their staff offered us a copy of their dinner menu, which wasn't great, especially because a fair number of us were hungry. If they had offered us a dinner menu, we might have stayed and spent more money. Their staff don't appear to be well-coordinated, nor are they very good about paying attention to details. If you come with a group larger than 4 and you're not seated, be prepared for haphazard service. - Price. Be prepared to be automatically charged a 20% service fee. This is stated on their website, but it's not on their menu. Their website states the service charge goes to increasing the wages of their employees to above the current minimum wage for all employees in D.C. That's a good employment policy, but that it's not clearly stated and printed on their physical menus, which are provided to customers. That's a failure to give full disclosure. - Layout. There is a bar section, tables for small parties, larger parties, and; there appears to be larger rooms for large groups, but you have to reserve those ahead of time (and there may be a fee?). If you come with a group larger than 4, their layout is very inconvenient. Our group was at the end of their bar section, where there were also some small tables close by. It was difficult for our group to mingle, because of the layout. Final Answer Would be willing to come here again, but may not be a first choice. read more

Ottoman Taverna - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Wow, they do their meats well! Visited here for a birthday celebration (2 of us) Dishes ordered - * Moutabal - the eggplant dip was so smoky. Yum! * Chef's Mixed Grill - They say it's for two, but this probably could have fed 3-4. We took half of it to go. Probably the best way to try ~6 different types of meat they cook on the grill, each one charred to perfection. The pita (?) bread pairs so well, and even the salad is well done with acidity that pairs well with the saltiness / char on the meat. * Chocolate Baklava - Haven't seen this concept anywhere else, but the flavors paired so well! Ambiance - Reinforces why this place has been voted Bib Gourmand several years in a row. Interior is beautiful and appropriate even for a romantic date! Outdoor seating available as well Service - definitely a little slow, but you can tell the servers are working so hard. We felt unattended to, but it's pretty clear they're understaffed when you see everyone running around and attending to so many tables - won't dock any points from the rating here. Oh read more

Ottoman Taverna - Chef Mix Grill for 2 - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The food and drinks were good (not amazing), but the service was really frustrating. We sat around getting ignored for quite a long time before someone came for our drink and appetizer orders, then later in the evening, we sat around for an even longer amount of time waiting for someone to ask if we wanted the check. Our servers NEVER came to check on us in between bringing out our orders and they were impossible to flag down because they never looked at us in the rare times when they walked somewhat close by, and they mostly stayed far away in a different portion of the dining room. Our group watched two servers stand in the distance, each one with an arm on the other's trap area, massaging and talking to each other while we sat, basically held hostage because we couldn't get anyone to give us a check. Management needs to do some serious training to get this waitstaff up to a decent standard. read more

A few friends and I decided to take advantage of a weekday off and go to brunch. I had heard great things of the brunch at Ottoman Taverna, so we decided to try it - we were NOT disappointed! The space is very large and clean, and the atmosphere inside is very nice. I will say that the music choice (very much Top 40 vibes) didn't seem to fit the classy interior, but we enjoyed it anyway. Our table all got the unlimited brunch (the whole table has to participate) and since there were four of us, we basically ended up eating the entire brunch menu. Our server brought us all the dips/spreads, which were truly a highlight of the meal! I especially loved the atom (garlic yoghurt) and moutabal (eggplant). I normally don't care for beets, but I will say that the pembe sultan (beet yoghurt) may have changed my mind! It also came with plenty of delicious bread. And the first round of mimosas, of course! The other courses were also delicious! Shoutout to the patatas kofte and tavuk kofte as particular standouts. I will say I didn't care for the falafel (incredibly dry) but I recall enjoying everything else. Service was attentive and friendly, and they even let us linger for a bit after we paid. By that point, of course, we'd had way too many mimosas, but the servers didn't even seem phased. There were plenty of empty tables, so I guess they didn't mind letting us hang out. Overall, a bit of a pricey meal, but given the quantity of food and drink, I'd say it was definitely worth it! read more

Ottoman Taverna - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Nice little white table cloth spot with good options for a quick lunch. The service was attentive and friendly and we enjoyed the cold mezze plate which had a bunch of variety of dips like labneh hummus and tzatziki's and more. The wrap was super filling and only made it through half before taking the rest home. Would rec for a nicer lunch in dc read more

FINALLY came to this place after having it on my list for so long and I was not disappointed! Can't wait to come back! We enjoyed the Trip to Turkey 4 course menu. Service: 10/10 Vibe: 9/10 Bread: 8/10 Hummus: 8.5/10 Muhammara: 8.5 Patates köfte: 8.25/10 Sigara böregi: 7.75/10 Tavuk sis: 9/10 Dondurma: 9.1/10 Overall: 8.68/10 (4.34/5) read more

Ottoman Taverna - Bread - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Def 4.5/5 stars if I could rate in between! The full Turkish brunch experience is well worth the money! For $45/pp including mimosas (also good mimosa to juice ratio which is not always the case with AYCE/bottomless), you will definitely leave stuffed and satisfied! All the cold mezze dips were tasty and a great addition to accompany the many dishes that followed! Our server had great timing with sending each of the small plates and I loved the family style to be able to try so many new dishes. The beef kofte, scrambled eggs, and fries filodough with some sort of feta mixture were my favorite dishes. At the end we were served a thick honey yogurt/topped with pistachios and a few sliced strawberries, which I enjoyed but it was not very sweet and not everyone at the table enjoyed. read more

Ottoman Taverna - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

It's an amazing restaurant. Delicious food, generous portions, reasonable prices, pleasant service and a soothing atmosphere. Decor is earthy with soft yellow and brown colors. Tables are covered with white tablecloths. It is spacious inside. There are a few outdoor tables too. We ordered from the lunch express menu and tried 5*PEMBE SULTAN included Beets, Labneh Yogurt, Garlic, and Olive Oil. Very rich taste. 5*HUMMUS: Chickpeas Spread was fresh and not salty. 5*Bread: both appetizers hummus and pembe sultan came with bread. The bread was fresh, and al dente which was neither hard nor soft but was firm and slightly chewy. It was perfectly textured bread. 5*ADANA KEBAP included Char-Grilled Ground Beef Kebap Seasoned with Red Peppers & Turkish Spices. It was served with Bulgur Pilav, Ezme (Turkish Salsa) & Carrot-Red Cabbage Slaw: great presentation and delicious food. 5*TAVUK ADANA KEBAP---Chicken Adana Kebap Seasoned with Red Peppers & Turkish Spices. It was served with Bulgur Pilav, Ezme (Turkish Salsa) & Carrot-Red Cabbage Slaw: I don't usually order chicken, but Ottoman Taverna's chicken was surprisingly tasty and delicious, far exceeded my expectations. 5*BAKLAVA---Thinly Layered Pastry Filled with Nuts & Steeped Syrup: not too sweet or syrupy, it was great! 5*SUTLAC was delicious oven-baked rice pudding, not too sweet and very good. Besides delicious food, Ottoman Taverna also offers a great value. I would definitely bring family and friends back to try more dishes. I tried several times to book for a big group event here; I called and came in person and left my contact information - unfortunately Ottoman Taverna never called me back. I don't know what to make of it. It has been Michelin Bib Gourmand since 2017, so maybe they just don't care for big groups. I'll never know. read more

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Massive portions and delicious food. The cold mezze had plenty of options and we certainly couldn't finish them all. Both of our meat dishes were also delicious and more than enough food. Certainly on the expensive side, white table cloth dinner. Was also very empty for a Tuesday night. Would come back, but also curious to try other local spots with a lower price point. read more

Ottoman Taverna - Tray of Cold Mezze - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This was hands down the best Turkish food I have ever had--EVER! I was visiting the area and I live in an area with many Turkish restaurants so I can distinguish between what is decent and what is exceptional. First of all, the atmosphere is one that is upscale, but the prices are average. As for the staff, they are super friendly and attentive. read more

Ottoman Taverna - kofte iskender - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

A good place for a brunch. We chose the bottomless brunch option for a party of 8. We were digging into the food so fast that we weren't able to take photos fast enough. Flavors of the food were very tasty and the amount of food we received were enough for us all. The staff were a little harder to come by but they were fully packed so that was understandable. For those coming with a car, parking is a little tricky, we were able to park across the street in a lot for $10 all day. read more

Ottoman Taverna - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great food that's flavorful yet approachable for any Middle-Eastern food lover. --- Three buddies and I visited here on a Friday night for restaurant week. I had come hungry and ready to feast, and this did not disappoint. The dining room is large and expansive, with high ceilings and large windows and a view into the kitchen. While aesthetically pleasing and bright, it did get very loud as the restaurant filled up - as if we were in an echo chamber. A note if you are coming for dinner on a busy weekend. Our table participated in the restaurant week menu, which included, per person, 2 small plates, 1 large plate, and a dessert. I also got a cocktail to start the night - the speciality Gin and Tonic w/ Pomegranate Juice. It was refreshing and a solid start, although not particularly the most exciting drink. We coordinated our small plates to share, so we were each able to try 8 different ones. They were all delicious - with my favorites being the Muhammara (red pepper spread with walnuts), Mutabal (eggplant dip), Kaydari (yogurt with walnuts), Potato Pancakes, and the fresh Hummus. For my entree, I had the Adana Kebab, a well spiced ground beef link with a little spice, salad and bulgur on the side. The plate was delicious. It was a relatively simple presentation, but everything was prepared so well and the spices were able to elevate the quality of beef and make every bite savory. While I'd certainly order this again, I am eager to return to try all the other meats on the menu. Everyone at my table went with the baklava, so I went with the rice pudding. The pudding was fine (and significantly more food than the baklava), but it was a bit plain - it would have been better served paired with a nice, bold drink. The last points ties to the service. While our food came out promptly and on time, it was a bit difficult to get ahold of our waitress throughout the night. I had tried to grab their attention to order another drink or two, but failed. Disappointing, but they were very busy so I did not think much of it. Overall this was a good experience with amazing food. I am curious to not only come back for dinner outside of restaurant week, but also to visit for a weekend brunch. read more

Ottoman Taverna - Adana Kebab - a fantastic, tasty entree - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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OKAY - Let's talk about it!!!! Reservations are always a plus! The ambience 10/10 - the decor is very picturesque, the neutral tones give you a relaxing vibe and takes center stage. The service 10/10 - our server was well versed on the cocktails and menu items, he gave us excellent recommendations. The Food - 11/10 - OMG OFF THE CHARTS. The Flavor. The Quality. Phenomenal. You will not be disappointed!! We ordered the Chef's Mixed Grill Platter - included Chef's selection of kabobs for two guests, this platter was huge and easily feeds 3-4 people. The platter was a mix of kabobs lamb, beef, and chicken (everything was cooked to perfection). It's served with white rice and bulgur pilaf, and carrot-cabbage salad. Oh my, the Kabobs were succulent and dripping with FLAVOR. I savored every bite, and was so happy to take the rest home for the next day!! Dessert was tiramisu. Hear me when I say this: It was just Devine & Decadent. My daughter who hates coffee - loved it! I can't rave enough about my experience at Ottoman Taverna. If you're looking for a laid back place to vibe with a date or friends while enjoying a cocktail and superb Turkish food, check this place out!! Thank me later :-). read more

The Trip to Turkey Pre-Fixe Menu gives you a good portion for an even better price of $44.95. While all the mezzes are flavorful, the haydari is especially tasty. If you have trouble deciding, don't fret. The Hot or Cold Meze Platters got you covered! read more

Ottoman Taverna - Tavuk Adana Kebap - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Beautiful restaurant which reminded us of Turkey with gorgeous rugs, and serveware. Started with lebneh and bread which were well paired with Turkish coffee. The salad was ok but the beyti kebabs were very juicy and flavorful. Our server was very helpful and provided us with good suggestions for our meal. read more

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Went for lunch during DC's summer restaurant week. Both the food and ambiance were on point. This was my first time having Turkish food and it was flavorful and filling. I will be back! read more

Ottoman Taverna - Tavuk Şiş - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

What an amazing experience! True Turkish heritage with flavors and taste that are just the right balance . Bonus for halal meat! Excellent food and well worth the $$ . read more

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The food was decent, and the service was actually pretty good. My only issue is the 20% service fee they charge. The even bigger issue was that the waitress ran my credit card that I gave her for the bill but when she returned with the bill fold the detailed receipt was missing. I had to ask for it and this was the only way I saw the 20% service fee. It was clear she was hoping that I would tip on top of the service fee. It left a bad taste in my mouth. She made a conscious decision to remove the receipt. Service fees are out of control in DC. read more

I highly recommend this place for brunch! Definitely make a reservation. All you can eat and drink! Our server was amazing and they bring out everything on the menu for everyone to try and then you can order more of what you really like or of anything. The tables were a little close, but it wasn't too loud. I wouldn't want to sit on the couch is because you are right next to the person next to you at a different table but the food was amazing. The evil eyes coming down the steps into the restaurant were so cute and everything inside was cute. read more

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This restaurant has the best Turkish food! The service is fast and the portions are generous! The restaurant was packed on a Thursday evening, which says a lot about the restaurant and its food! The tables had white table cloths and it was well lit read more

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Great food and great ambiance! Parking can be annoying at times but it's not the restaurants fault!

Came here for brunch with friends. They have a bottomless mimosa brunch for a fixed price and they have the regular menu where you can get a la cart. Unfortunately their policy is that everyone at the table get the bottomless option or no one can get it. We were a table of 6 and 4 wanted it and 2 did not. We were finally able to work that out with the manager but that stuck me as a bad policy. I was one of the two as I had already eaten and just got a Butter Shrimp appetizer which was very good. The 4 bottomless friends loved all the food and it seemed like a lot. The last person ordered an omelet that came out looking like pizza as they did not fold over the eggs in the pan. Still good. The service was great and the place was very nice and had a large bar that I am sure does well in the evening. Great place to check out especially if you like Turkish food. Next time I will come with an appetite so I can try more dishes. read more

Ottoman Taverna - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia