We stopped just for happy hour and had the grape leaves - very good! Also my Espresso Martini was…read moredelicious. The restaurant was very clean and tables were nicely decorated. The music was relaxing and just the right volume so we could talk without hearing others. Wish we had time for dinner. Hope next time.

Unfortunately their food wasn't good at all. We ordered three different dishes and were…read moredisappointed with all of them. It all tasted like canned food items. The meatballs on the sampler were raw, we informed the server and he took it to the cook who said it was fine and is supposed to look like that. The server did a great job although I wouldn't recommend this restaurant.

Super friendly & welcoming Staff, very nice dining area that did not seem overly crammed with nice…read morecolor schemes which made it relaxing. This was a stop on our Old Town Food Tour and we were glad it was. The combination plates that were served gave us an overall sampling of thier menu. Our guild was correct as the Falafel was delicious and not dry. We enjoyed the humus along with the shawarma and pita bread. Overall a nice stop with a very friendly atmosphere.

When we lived in the middle east, I would destroy Lebanese food. It's been hard to find authentic…read moreLebanese food. They had the garlic paste I love and their chicken is the best I have had. Very tender, and very flavorful. I ate so much that I had heart burn all night, but so worth it It's a great restaurant inside and out. It has great lighting and the service was perfect. I'll be back.

Food was spectacular! Arzu was an amazing waitress. Cute ambiance. Would absolutely recommend this…read morespot. Great brunch menu too

Service was very friendly and resident Ambiance was…read moredefinitely like being transported across the waters. Food was delicious and freshly made Highly recommend the rice pudding!

- Great happy hour! -- $6 sangrias but not that strong -…read moreWaiter is attentive - Hummus is good and lots of fresh pita - Patatas bravas are SO good with the aioli - Calamari is so fresh and chewy - Skewers are meaty with tzatziki - Nice shaded area outside not in the water with a pretty view of the water

Went to Barca Saturday 6pm without a reservation and was seated rather quickly for 2. Knowing it…read morewas outside, I was hopeful it wouldn't be too hot thanks to the fans throughout, but where we were seated left the sun blazing on 70% of the table, even with the umbrella. That made it hard to stay and enjoy more tapas. Tried the goat cheese dip, beef kabobs, chicken albondigas, and lamb chops. Drank the Valencia sunset, which I would have liked more without the red powder that was sprinkled in it- I want to say it was tajin or similar. If it were in the description of the drink I would've skipped it. Then focused on the descriptions, I ordered the orange wave before the realizing it was a mocktail, and a pricey one at $16!!! As it was my mistake I didn't mention it to the server but don't think that's a reasonable price for a mocktail. The goat cheese dip is as great as others rave, but the chicken albondigas lacked real flavor and I did not like what accompanied the lamb chops. The service was excellent but the overall experience didn't quite make 5 stars, unsure if I'd return.

Lovely place for wine and food. The specialty is lamb and seafood - highly recommend the flounder!…read more Service is wonderful - staff make you feel like family. I brought my scooter inside and the staff lifted it for me up the stairs. They also cut all the food in half if you want to share plates and are on point with water pours. Outdoor seating spot is a gem for Alexandria. Beautiful and relaxing and dog friendly.

Great place! Lovely atmosphere, we sat outside on a beautiful evening. They have a really great…read morepatio, and the inside looks very inviting as well. Food was really good, I wasn't blown away but I did like it, it was fresh and presented very beautifully, the eggplant mezze was good and the poached apricot dessert was also quite good-needed more apricot for the amount of yogurt though. The service was excellent, everyone who works there was very pleasant, and they did separate the checks for our group which was really convenient. I would definitely go back. Downsides are it's a bit pricey and the parking is a challenge.

Excellent value for money, truly fantastic. Compared to similar dishes like ilili, it might be more…read morepalatable to a wider audience. Pita: Pure wheat flavor, substantial texture, and even more moist and soft than ilili. It didn't dry out even without a cloth covering it. More suited to Chinese tastes. The accompanying simple vinaigrette was complemented by a particularly fragrant olive oil. Hommus: The hummus was smooth and creamy, with a perfect balance of acidity and a hint of garlic. A splash of chili oil added aroma and richness while preventing it from drying out; the vegetables were fresh and crisp, perfect for dipping. These two combinations were new to me, showing attention to detail compared to the usual simple dish of hommus. Shish Taouk: Tender chicken, with sumac giving it a distinct smoky flavor, and a refreshing, slightly acidic garlic sauce. The combination was both fragrant and light, truly deserving of its signature dish. Unfortunately, the onion salad was mildly sweet, offering limited relief from the richness; the roasted tomatoes, coated in spices, had their sweet and sour flavors overshadowed, resulting in a slightly weird taste. Lamb Baharat: The lamb leg was a bit dry and tough, and the tahini sauce and hommus were somewhat repetitive, but the Tabbouleh salad won me over from the first bite! The fresh aromas of parsley, mint leaves, and onions, the bright sweet and sour notes of tomatoes, and the wheat crumbs reminiscent of couscous and quinoa, with their hearty wheat flavor balancing the raw taste. Overall, it was restrained, light, and comforting. Crispy Brussels Afelia: The barberries, and garlic yogurt were all sour, making the overall dish too acidic and monotonous. It wasn't as good as ilili's system, built with grapes, walnuts, and mint yogurt, which achieved a balanced sweet and sour flavor, layered texture, and a smooth mouthfeel. Greek Yogurt and Apricots: What a beautiful dessert! The top layer was the rich, sweet aroma of apricot sorbet, with sprinkles of pistachios that enriched the taste; the middle layer was the tartness of apricot pectin and the fermented tang of yogurt; just when starting to feel a little disappointed by the monotony of the bottom, I discovered sweet, slightly crunchy diced muscat-soaked apricots at the very bottom. Its elegance, refinement, and meticulousness left me only with awe and admiration, and a sense of blissful ecstasy. The restaurant's decor features classic Greek blue and white tones, with natural light creating a clean and comfortable atmosphere; the tableware was decorated with traditional Greek patterns, making it both distinctive and exquisite.

It's just a step below the other Jose Andres restuarants here in DC…read more FYI: it's all small plates/small portions. And actually, that FYI is one of my knocks, there's just less bang for your buck portion wise here. Everything is very flavorful and well done though. My Chicken Kouvetsi, while tasty seemed to have not that much chicken. Many bites were just orzo and tomato sauce. I needed more chicken. The bread is complimentary and very tasty; hilariously, after we asked for more, they just kept bringing our group 2 baskets. This review sounds very negative for 4 stars, but Zaytinya is niceand the food is tasty. Just know all the above going in. It's also very noisy,to the point where it was hard to hear everyone at our table and our server had a hard time hearing us. They probably need to update their soundproofing or just have fewer tables. That actually led to some confusion about the "for the table" lamb dish we ordered, which seemed to come out as sliced lamb, seasoned as described on the menu, on a plate. Frankly, for the price it didnt seem like enough for our group of 6. Also, there were 2-3 flies around our table before we sat down. They eventually left, but that probably should signal there's more mess there than just wiping down the table takes care of.

Maydan is amazing. FYI, it's the green door that has their name on it. It's obvious, but for some…read morereason, none of us in our group clocked that and we accidentally ended up confused and in thier event space. XD. Anyway, misadventure aside, our group of 6 was in the upstairs room. For groups of 5 or more they have you do the tasting menu but we asked to do a la carte and they allowed us. We got a lot of food, all of which I can't remember, that included the shakshukah, one of the salads, 3 of the spreads, the veggies and a few others. The cocktails drew rave reviews as did my wife and i's mocktails and we loved how substantive the list was. The fresh, constantly coming bread was amazing. Everything was delightful and incredibly tasty and well seasoned. One note: the bathroom music is REALLY loud (it's the same music as in the restaurant) so if you've got loop earplugs or ones you can easily pop in that don't block out your company, that'll help. Oh and also, the currently on offer bitter orange sorbet isn't actually bitter. It's just the name.

Some restaurants serve an excellent meal. Maydan creates an experience…read more This reservation had been on my wish list for quite some time, and when everything finally aligned, it exceeded every expectation. The restaurant itself is stunning. Walking in, you're immediately greeted by the massive open hearth where much of the cooking happens. Watching the chefs tend the fire throughout the evening adds another layer to the experience and sets the tone before your first bite even arrives. Our server explained the tasting menu ($95 per person) and optional wine pairing ($75 pp), but we decided to order à la carte--and I wouldn't change a thing. We started with the Carrot Havuç spread. It was impossibly light, silky, and beautifully whipped. I'll admit, the bread seemed understated at first, but after the first bite, it became clear that the spread was meant to be the star. Every bite was packed with flavor. The lamb shish kebab was incredibly tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. The Omani shrimp arrived with five enormous shrimp that were cooked flawlessly. Then came the whole roasted chicken. Watching it roast over the fire as we entered made us excited, but nothing prepared us for how incredible it would taste. It was, without question, some of the best chicken I've ever eaten. Moist, deeply flavorful, beautifully seasoned, and delicious completely on its own. It came with an accompanying sauce that was excellent, but honestly, use it sparingly--you don't want anything distracting from the chicken itself. When a dish can stand entirely on its own, that's greatness. Since it was a whole chicken, we happily went home with leftovers (which felt like winning the lottery). The cocktails deserve their own standing ovation. A special thank you to Nancy upstairs-- Great bartenders don't just make drinks--they elevate the entire experience, and she certainly did. The Serpent was beautifully balanced with bright citrus and herbal notes, while the Medina Palmer was refreshing, unique, and one of the most memorable cocktails I've had in a long time. Every drink felt carefully crafted rather than simply mixed. In the beginning of our night they asked if we were celebrating anything and I immediately answered, "my friend graduated from nursing school." Little did we know, they came with glasses of bubbly at the end of our dining experience to celebrate! Such a lovely gesture to end our evening. The word that kept coming up throughout dinner was divine. Service was warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic about guiding us through the menu. A few practical tips: * Reservations book well in advance, so plan ahead. * Street parking is limited. We chose to Uber and were glad we did. This was one of those meals where every course made us look at each other and say, "Wow." I can't wait to return.

Great spot for quick and affordable pitas and platters. You can choose either pita or platter with…read moresides (or without) and bottled drinks with an array of sauces to top the pita or platter. The interior is super clean and the staff is efficient with taking orders and preparing fresh made to order platters or pitas. I usually order a platter with chicken or salmon protein and the protein is always well cooked and seasoned pairing well with their available sauces. I find the Mediterranean salad blend to always taste fresh and the serving size of the platter is always neat and just perfectly portioned. There is an outdoor seating area that closes at 10 pm. Omar's stays open late until 12 am on weekends and 1:00 am on weekends Easily becoming one of my favorite neighborhood spots for a filling lunch or late night bite $ There is a small free parking lot near the restaurant

I think we just unlocked our new favorite local spot! My partner and I drove past Omar's Pita &…read morePlatter a few weeks ago and said we'd have to stop in if we were ever back in the area. I'm so glad we did! The menu is simple, which I actually appreciate because it lets them focus on doing a few things really well. We ordered the chicken platter, and everything was fresh and flavorful. The chicken was perfectly seasoned and tender, the vegetables were cooked just right, and the rice was light, fluffy, and delicious. The sauces really brought the entire meal together and added the perfect finishing touch. We'll definitely be back to try more of the menu. If you're looking for fresh, delicious Mediterranean food with generous portions, Omar's Pita & Platter is absolutely worth a visit. A new favorite for us!