I have been here roughly a billion times since my last review. They aren't perfect but pretty…read moreclose to it in terms of consistency. A couple of feedback issues from a regular: the tostadas are too hard and please bring back the short rib for the dinner entree, which was easily the best tasting item and value of any restaurant anywhere. This place is amazing. Recommend: birria, Guac (don't add the herbs), carne asada, house margaritas with tequila, enchiladas with tres moles, and the pan frances for brunch. Thank me later. Service is always great, but please provide more napkins at the start.

Great Vegan Options (4.25/5)…read more Cielo Rojo is in an awkward location, sandwiched between a firehouse and a car shop. However, their food drives many customers to their doors. My family and I were looking for a new and different Mexican place with lots of vegan options and Google search showed me Cielo Rojo. I was happy to see a dedicated vegan menu and some excellent reviews so we gave it a try. Overall we were pleased with the unique menu but thought the flavors could have been elevated. Food (1.75/2) - most of the picks we had were great but some were lacking.... Flavor. The pan y macha butter was pleasantly a great start to the evening. Though the bread could have been a little softer, the macha butter wasn't overwhelming. The queso fondito could be skipped, there wasn't anything special and in fact I wouldn't order it next time. The guacamole was fresh and herby, however, there just wasn't enough of it in one order. I wouldn't recommend ordering two even for just two people. The street corn was a hit between my kids and my wife. They loved the sweet, tangy, and spicy corn that melted in their mouths. And the tacos were great as well. However, I felt the Gorditas under delivered for sure. I was expecting a flavor punch but received more of a chewy patty on a bland sauce. But if life could be thrown on it by additional fresh herbs and flavors. Drinks (1/1) - we only tried one cocktail and ordered a Mexican cola for our dinner but what we received was good enough to show they know their drinks. My drink wasn't under spiked or unbalanced, it went smoothly. The hibiscus flavor along with the spirit was showing boldly through the syrups. I wouldn't recommend ordering love to try another cocktail next time. Service (0.75/1) - I wish I could say the service was exceptional but there were times we were waiting too long for a service member to show up. They were friendly and polite but definitely could have had more touch points with us throughout the night. We sorta felt abandoned at times. Again, nothing much to complain but something to improve upon. Decor (0.75/1) - overall, it's a welcoming spot with art pieces of their heritage. However, there were lots of dusty sellables that probably should be removed from the dining floor. It didn't mix well with a great restaurant. Not sure if they really need to sell a rack of clothing right next to where we were sitting to be honest. In the end, the food was decent, unique, and welcoming to vegetarians so we would comeback again and give other items on their menu a try. Hopefully, flavor profile can be more prominent next time.

Incredible space. Service is always warm and amazing. Some of the best sweets in town! Amazing that…read morewe have a place where vegans can also enjoy a treat. The lemon raspberry cupcake and the sweet and salty cookie are my absolute favorites

Ironic that both this and the original BBQ chain are now closed. Was always confusing and…read moredisappointing to see this one...

I love this place!!! Have eaten here a few times and even have picked up grocery items they have in…read morestock. You really can't go wrong with the pork vermercelli which comes with a yummy salad mix. Tender pieces of seasoned slices of pork. I also tried an order of their fries which, seriously were the best of the best. Light and parsley seasoned with a texture that is divine. I live up the street and no excuse for me not coming in weekly. I've tried all of the pizza joints and other restaurants in town and this place is the freshest and healthiest of the lot. The new Mom owner is ever present and very hands on. They will be here for a longggggggg time!

I think it's notable that this place seems to have taken over a space which was occupied by Mark's…read moreKitchen; while the urban restaurant business roils, that restaurant was there for over thirty years, so it is certainly a tough act to follow. This place offers Vietnamese cuisine, with a menu that goes a bit beyond the standards and has some decent vegan options, which is essential given that this is a notoriously hippie neighborhood. I found many people talking about having or not having reservations, but I managed to get in early. They had a slight happy hour discount on rolls, and Vietnamese rolls are invariably great, for reasons that include taro root, but here the roll was really a platter with multiple vegetables; since they came out freshly fried, I actually did a bit of a lettuce wrap technique to be able to break apart and eat them. Ordering a tofu vermicelli bowl got me a good but not great rendition; the cucumbers are not to my taste and the sauce they had to drizzle over it, while fish-free, was a bit sweet and not to my taste either. The portion size wasn't huge for the price, but fortunately I wasn't starving. Having said that, they also had a small market section with imported goods and house sauces and pickled vegetables that looked nice, and the fresh herbal flavors I received certainly made a strong case for me to come back and try something different.

Oh, I can't believe I didn't leave a review for the spot, even though I've been a few times though!…read moreIt's been a while, but man are they delicious. I would describe them as a combination of classic and elevated Latin food. The vibe of the restaurant is very casual, but the presentation of many of the dishes takes it to another level. They also have a wide selection of beer and wine. I have had tacos, octopus, breakfast tacos, and tamales. Everything was flavorful and quite tasty. I will admit service was a little slow the last time I went, but given the weather and the fact that we weren't in a rush it wasn't a big deal. If you haven't been yet, you should go. The colorful presentation reminds me of Palette 22, and rumor has it they are expanding to the Ethiopian restaurant that closed next door. I hope that's true!

Nice ambiance and good brunch menu offerings. I didn't know that they only offered brunch during…read morethe weekend so I was a little disappointed as I wanted to try something more complex but we enjoyed what we ate. Could work on those fried plantains as they were a little soggy. The quinoa salad was good, a bigger portion would have been nice for the price paid and maybe if it would be easier to eat if served in a bowl. The chorizo sandwich was okay. Presentation and bread could be better. We left curious about their regular menu so we may give it a try some other time. Their staff were nice but not very knowledgeable about their menu items. They didn't really know how to answer my question about their vegan tres leches and told me it was not actually vegan after indicating it had condensed milk and heavy cream.

Incredible place! I loved the food, customer service, and the atmosphere. It's a great location and…read moreambience. My group enjoyed the pan-fried grandma's dumplings, korean friend 'chicken', and scallion pancakes, among other great items. Desserts are also a highlight here, we loved the caramelized apple sweet buns. Looking forward to coming back and trying more of the menu!

Alison Amazing food service and ambiance with plenty of…read moreoptions for any diet. The restaurant is really cute too with plenty of plants. We got grandma's noodles, janchi bento, broccoli and fried chicken bento and pistachio cake. The janchi bento and cake were my favorite but everything was great. I also love the QR code ordering concept. I'll come back with my husband!

Highly recommend this spot! My absolute favorite item on the menu was the Veggie Shitto…read moreFlatbread...it has plantain on it and it's heavenly. Come hungry, because the portion sizes are generous, you definitely get your money's worth. The service was attentive and friendly, and the ambiance is adorable (drums as chairs? Yes please!). Here's what I ordered: * Shitto Flatbread - 5/5 (must-try) * Olehleh Black-Eyed Pea Tamales - 2/5 (not my fave) * Jollof Couscous - 5/5 * Yassa (Fish) - 6/5 (seriously, it was that good) Can't wait to go back!

My review is for takeout (delivery) as I haven't yet dined in. So I can't speak to ambiance,…read moreseating, etc. I've had it twice this year and both experiences have been good. A favorite is the Peanut Butter Chu and Chicken Afra. And for my dinner crew, there werent any major complaints. Flavor was there and quality. The one thing was around the desserts. Because we ordered via third-party app, I think the cake was subbed for whatever was available and not specifically we ordered. But not a major miss. Overall, delicious food and good portions. If you're in the Takoma Park area and having a taste for some warming West African cuisine, definitely check them out!

My server, Ms. Kiwi, was amazing and very attentive and intentional in her delivery of customer…read moreservice. Even when I experienced a slight issue with an item, you immediately handled it with grace. Excellent Service- thank you Ms. Kiwi!!

Brianna provided excellent service to my daughter and I, making our dining experience exceptional.read more

Cool spot in Takoma Park that I've wanted to visit for awhile. I'm glad I finally did. Met up with…read moresome friends. Service by Jack and Heather was excellent. Finding metered street parking was easy. Later found out there's a paid parking lot in the back. They're open daily. Olive is a nice mix of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and American cuisine. The space was much bigger than I initially realized. We sat in the front of the space but there's a bigger bar in the middle and outdoor seating! They have happy hour Monday to Friday, 4 - 7, in addition to daily specials! I tried the samosas and they were delicious! The happy red wine (a merlot) was really good. I got a few glasses. Everyone had a good time! I will definitely be back.

This spot has two entrances -- One from the main street in the front and and one in the back…read moreconnected to a parking lot and the restaurant's patio seating. I came in the front not even knowing that the back area existed. There's a whole other bar, some cool decor and everything. The mezza platter on Mondays is such a steal! Money aside, everything in it is so delicious and worth it. And I love that it is totally vegetarian -- grape leaves usually half before lamb in them, so it was a nice surprise to see that they didn't. I'd be excited to try their $10 burger Tuesdays and other great daily deals. Happy hour is every weekday from Monday to Friday ... And the staff were super friendly and attentive, including the one who just recently started (I think her name was Heather?). I would be delighted to return! Mediterranean + bar food makes for a fun time.

What hasn't been said? This place is Top 100 for a reason. They just do everything better! Esp…read more crustaceans and meats and seafood. Bar is packed and restaurant always full. Storm is on top of my pours! They do all of the after thoughts just right too. Try their meaty smoky wings! Tasty! If they had musical acts in the spacious dining area prolly would increase any lulls greatly. Not that they need it. The house band KAT could have its own monthly gigs with its own theme song. Taken from Night Ranger's Sister Christian dig these lyrics. MOTORKATing What's your price for flight You've got him in your sight And driving through the night.... William the local genius...

Motorkat is the latest--and perhaps best--iteration of this beloved Takoma Park restaurant space…read more With an amazing beer selection and a mixologist behind the bar who is truly an artist, it has quickly become a go-to local spot, whether you are sitting at the bar, enjoying the lively patio, or settling into the restaurant itself. The fries are thin, crisp, and addictive. The local oysters arrive beautifully presented on a bed of ice with fresh horseradish and cocktail sauce. I have been known to eat as many as 50 in one sitting--in true Balzacian fashion. Everyone seems to love the ancient-grains salad, and Motorkat also does grilled meats exceptionally well. Great food, inventive drinks, and a fun neighborhood atmosphere: Motorkat gets the formula exactly right.

Definitely my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in the area! The meat and two veggie combo is just the…read moreright amount of food for two people and the price is fantastic. I prefer the spicy tibs, but the crispy tibs are also quite good. My favorite side is the lentils and salad. My wife loves the cabbage and carrots. I like adding the extra chicken leg as well. I only wish they had a full chicken meal and some spicier sauces. We come here at least once a month and always enjoy ourselves. It has become quite popular and there are a lot of white customers these days... I hope the food maintains its quality and flavor. The service is always friendly and I like the Ethiopian beer.

I've been coming here quite a lot lately because the ethio food is not only second to none…read more(especially if you're a meat eater), but the place has pretty decent ambiance as far as your hole-in-the-wall ethio spots go. I always get the veggie combo, and I probably always will. Their tomato lettuce salad is perfection, not an afterthought, and I wouldn't mind if they gave me a whole bowls worth to grab in every bite! I've sampled bits of the meat off my partner's platters, and it far exceeds any we've ever tasted around here from an ethiopian restaurant. Back to the ambiance. I recently brought two good friends here because the space is bright and decent. That said, reservations are a MUST if you are bringing a party of larger than 2, due to how tiny the space is, and for a group, you really need to get spots either by the window or maybe their dark nook in the back. (you'll know when you visit). So so good... I'm not sure I want to go anywhere else at this point for my ethio fix!