Really enjoyed the brunch here. Our server was phenomenal. She was knowledgeable and attentive,…read morewithout interrupting us too many times, and I really appreciated her recommendations. I was pleasantly surprised with the Brussels sprouts with the grapes, but this was an amazing combination. The mixed grill was the perfect size for two people to share and everything was delicious. My favorite out of the mix was the beef kabob. The ambiance was really nice here. It felt peaceful and relaxed and elevated. I love a brunch that isn't too much commotion where you can just eat and chat, this was the perfect spot for this. I'll certainly be back again.

We went on a Sunday afternoon. There was a brunch prix fix menu for $38 per person. (See menu in…read morepicture) We had the following: (see pictures) -Lamb burgers smothered with cucumber labne and harissa toum and a salad on the side. The lamb was seasoned well and it was deliciousm -Baba ghanoush one of my favorite. Love the sprinkle of pomegranates on top -hummus was smooth and creamy -Kebab kerez (beef & lamb meatballs with a cherry sauce,and kataifi) this was delectable. Definitely would order this again. --bata harra (potatoes with Aleppo peppers and cilantro toum). Potatoes were roast to perfection. Well seasoned and not overly cooked. With crispness on the outside and soft and moist on the inside Just right. It paired well with the cilantro toum. This complimented the lamb burger. Dessert was almond baklava and cashews baklava (mini bites) The staff was attentive and friendly. It was fairly crowded on a Sunday afternoon; but it wasnt loud. Nice atmosphere.

Food (3/5): The complimentary house bread and zaatar come out warm and super fresh. It is a nice…read moreway to start the meal. We ordered the falafel sandwich and the schwarma sandwich. They both were really dry, so we asked for some tatziki sauce for the schwarma sandwich which was packed with meat, although a bit light on any veggies. They also brought some tahini sauce for the falafel which was really helpful. I only wish that they could bring this at first rather than having us ask for this. It would really made a HUGE difference in the sandwich and made it a 4/10 sammie to a 8/10 sammie. Service (5/5): The gentleman who was nice and really helpful. Ambiance (5/5): This is really a nice restaurant with a nice decorated interior. I was really impressed.

LEBANESE FAVORITE: We get the Taverna Platter every time and it never disappoints. This is hands…read moredown the best Lebanese restaurant in the area. Don't let the 3.5 star rating fool you. This place is a solid 5 stars. The complimentary house bread and zaatar come out warm and super fresh. It's hard not to keep reaching for more. We always order extra kibbeh, and the hummus with ground beef is excellent. The decor is the nicest of any Lebanese spot around and it makes for a great date atmosphere without feeling over the top. Everything tastes fresh and well made. If you're craving Lebanese food, this place delivers.

For mains, I went with the kafta platter and loved it. The meat was seasoned perfectly and the…read morevegetables were great. My partner had the chicken kebabs and was equally happy. Others in our group got shawarma sandwiches and spinach pies, and everyone was raving about their food. We wrapped up with a baklava sampler for dessert, which was the perfect ending. The food alone would've made the night, but our waiter really took it to another level. He was warm, personable, and clearly remembered my grandparents from past visits. He greeted them like old friends and was genuinely helpful throughout the meal, steering us toward dishes we'd love based on what we were in the mood for. That kind of attentive, personal service is hard to come by. Highly recommend this place if you're looking for a great Mediterranean/Middle Eastern meal with excellent service to match. Already planning our next visit!

I came here during lunch and got a a spinach pie ($4.5) and chicken shawarma pita ($10). They…read moreoffered these free chips "on the house" and they were a nice little appetizers to munch on. The spinach pie was quite good! And after about 10 minutes my shawarma came out. It was seasoned good even though a little dry. The garlic sauce was very flavorful and helped with the overall flavor and texture. I was quite happy with the food as well as the price! I would definitely recommend and come back to this place! Food(50%): 8.0 Staff/service(25%): 8.5 Value(25%): 8.5 Overall: 8.3/10

They have street parking outside the restaurant and some good outdoor and indoor seating…read more I hear they have a hookah lounge too inside somewhere which might be attractive to big groups. The service was S-L-O-O-O-O-W and our server messed up the order. She skipped bringing in the appetizer we ordered and first forgot fries and then forgot sauces/ napkins. Worst was when she messed up the billing by confusing 2 different cards from 2 different table orders. Food: The chicken shawarma wrap was good and came with fries which was yummy 5/5 Tip: the foil around the wrap was not "wrapped" well enough so all the sauces from the wrap dripped on our clothes and table :( Please hold the wrap carefully and be mindful it will be leaking.

My boyfriend and I had a wonderful experience here! The service was fantastic and the food was just…read moreAMAZING!! Everyone was just super kind and very helpful! The restaurant was super clean as well. I ordered the lamb shank with a side of hummus and a salad and my boyfriend ordered the shrimp dish with a side of fries and rice. Everything was unbelievably amazing!! My boyfriend devoured everything!! I, unfortunately, had to take home part of my dish because I still can't eat that much after having Covid three times. The dish also provided pita bread, which was also amazing!! We also both ordered dirty martinis, which was also amazing!!! We will definitely, and I mean most definitely, be coming here over and over again!!!

Delicious food. Charming atmosphere. Wonderful, attentive staff. Mona's is a jewel!…read more Don't miss the baklava

Fantastic! We ordered take out again as we live further away and it was an after-work scenario…read more The gentlemen serving were very polite and their Turkish coffee was fantastic and reminded me of our time in the Middle East. The fried kibbeh, tabbouleh, shush tawook and kofta are amazing. The only criticism was that the hummus ate a little thick (probably because we ordered take out), and that the meat quantity on the lamb with rice was a little lighter, some more would have been more substantial for an entree. We absolutely love Mona's and wish we lived closer and could enjoy her delicious food more often

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.

Really nice coffee & sandwiches here, I got the cardomom latte and it's one of the best in the area…read moreso far. The sandwiches are pretty big you can probably share one between two people especially if you want to get a dessert. Beef egg & cheese sandwich - my husband got this one and it's a nice breakfast sandwich it has really nice spices in it which make it different from other breakfast sandwich places. Kafta sandwich - this was perfect for lunch the flavors are really amazing. The baked desserts were hit or miss I'll come back to try some more. I wasn't the biggest fan of the flour used. It was pretty busy on the weekend, but we still managed to find parking and a table. People work on their laptops there so the turn over is slower. The inside is a bit cramped, I did have a little anxiety because there's really no space between you and the person next to you and there's just a small path to walk around. Parking is around back of the building, it has signs up that it's parking for that building only. I'll definitely be back when I'm in the area.

Lovely remote work space but they do have a time limit so be mindful of how much time you spend…read morehere. Drinks, 10/10. Food was okay, would try something else next time. Definitely coming back to explore more of the drink menu. Was bummed I couldn't order the matcha I wanted when I went because they didn't have any strawberry or mango.