Think of this as a fast food version of Kava, or perhaps a slighly more upscale Mediterranean Chipotle. I predict they will have huge success in DC, and cut deeply into the profits of the adjacent Bread Line. Along with some friends in my office, I got to sample Roti three different times during their pre-opening week for free. Sure, they probably put their best foot forward service wise, but the food is really terrific. My favorite was the salmon kabob, which was suprisingly tender and mild for mass produced fish. Their "very hot" sauce is also superb, and several of their dips are great as well. read more

I'm DEFINITELY partial to Cava but there isn't one close to my job, and Roti is across the street. My first Roti experience last year was ok, but very average (different location). This time my experience was great! One of the employees there, Brent, was the kindest, most helpful person I've ever encountered at a fast-casual type of restaurant (or really any type of restaurant). He was efficient but also took the time out to give me suggestions when I didn't know what to get, or tell me good combinations. He was very knowledgeable about the food and seemed generally happy to be at work. He made my day! Back to the food- it's a good lunch option under $10 when you don't want a sandwich. The only reason I can't rate this 5 stars is because Cava is always at the back of my mind, and I think their version of the Mediterranean fast-casual food is better. read more

Love, Love, Love Roti. If you are going there for lunch, and plan on getting it "to go," I highly recommend ordering online and skipping the line! Enter through the doors to the left of the door with the line, and walk straight to the registers in the back. I have only had a mistake with my online order once, and when I discovered it at the office and had to walk back to the restaurant, I got a free lunch for my trouble, and a very heartfelt apology. I love the falafel - but you need some hummus on it (can be a little dry if you have it by itself). Chunky bits of garbanzo beans make it so different than the run-of-the-mill falafel. I also love their new menu setup and way of ordering. Now you pick your protein and add whatever you want to the sandwich or plate. Previously, some of their employees would allow you to put whatever you wanted on your plate, despite what you had ordered. One employee in particular would give a scowl if you ordered something that was "not allowed" before saying exactly that. He still gives service with a scowl, but now all my favorites are allowed, so he cannot tell me anything different. Anyway, if you are craving some good kabobs or falafel, definitely go here! read more

This is an update to my last review because it appears that they resolved the issue with not always having salmon ready when you order. They do precook some, but this was the first time that I saw them keeping the fish in a separate area where it doesn't get dried out. They definitely solved that issue without ruining the flavor. My cashier was very friendly while still being very professional which I really appreciate. Also, I want to point out that this location seems to value cleanliness. If the workers were not cooking or serving food, then they were busy cleaning. It shows because this Roti is very nice to sit down and eat at compared to other locations and has way more seating. read more

It's been a while since I've been to this location. My office relocated to the Metro Center area, where there is another Roti. I had a bad experience at the Roti on F Street so decided to walk to this one for lunch. Service was just as good as the last time I was here - Friendly, engaging and genuine. I had experienced none of that at the F Street Roti. I'll continue to walk the extra blocks to eat at this location. read more

This is my favorite place to get lunch! I always go with the rice plate or salad and have only tried the chicken! I would recommend ordering online and picking it up, saves you a ton of time because the line here is usually pretty crazy during the lunch rush. The price is right and the food is fresh! read more

I've been here a few times but always prefer Cava if there's one that's close enough. I don't like that you can only choose 2 (or 3 with hummus?) toppings. It would have been even better if they had told me that or put that on the menu prior to when I began ordering my toppings. Also, it didn't seem like the staff had the process down right of handling different people's orders through the line. They messed up a few times and had to start over, and they seemed rushed and unable to handle the lunch line. read more

You know, I've never had such tender chicken at a chain place before. Evidently, neither has half of Washington DC's office workers because the line to get some food at this place is ridiculously long. Either come here at 11:30 or not at all. The line may move somewhat quickly, but dear lord, you know people must love themselves some Roti if they're willing to wait in lines of more than 30-40 people. The food though, is great. I had a kind of wrap with grilled chicken, and they allow you to choose your condiments and sauces. At first glance, the meal doesn't look that spectacular, but just take a bite and your taste buds will just start exploding. For a fast food place, the food I think definitely garners 5 stars, but that ridiculous line has to take a star away. However, Roti definitely goes into the rotation of places to eat near work (hey, that could be a list!), and I'm looking forward to getting a meal catered by them sometime too. read more

Came here for a late lunch. I got falafel on pita with yogurt sauce and tomatoes and cucumbers. I thought it was great. My friend got the chicken kabob plate. Two skewers with rice and hummus - it was a lot of food. Overall, very tasty food, quite inexpensive. But I can definitely see it getting crowded during a normal lunch hour. Service: Quick. And they were nice enough to warn us the kabob plate would be about 5-10 minutes in case we didn't have time. Otherwise, I didn't think they were all that friendly though. Environment: It feels like a Chipotle or similar fast food chain. read more

this is mainly a service-oriented review. Ordered lunch online for 7 people so i didn't have to wait in the line that went through the front door (a solid 30 foot distance). I arrived and guess what NO WAIT for pick up orders! made me feel like a genius~! cashier handed over my bagged order and immediately requested I pay with a hurried tone. i made him wait and double-checked the items anyway. i noticed 3 things: 1. the pita bread was FRESH as it was soft and super hott 2. I found three soups in the bag that i didn't order (they didn't come as a side to any of the ordered dishes either) 3. three chicken salads were missing (why didn't he catch this? i mean, that's like 3 whole meals missing from a single ticket~!) anyway, he acted very surprised to find my order was indeed missing 3 whole salads n immediately had them re-made. i wonder what happened to the original 3 salads that were made-- did they disappear??? and what happened to the ppl who didn't get their three soups? (this is why i always double-check, esp. for when it's lunch for the office) and.... of COURSE the food is tasty and fresh~ you either love mediterranean flavor combinations or don't. i love it. so did everyone else~ i guess the main reason i'm giving only 3 stars (in comparison to 4) is because the cashier guy literally "shoo-ed" me away after i thanked him for taking the time to put together the missing salads. i didn't get it... the restaurant may have been busy with a line out the door but that's no way to treat your customers especially when they got the order wrong and I was extra polite & patient about it. read more

You can't really get mad at a place for having a long line. That's like saying, "This place sucks. People like it too much." Roti has all the elements of Mediterranean food that I like, and very few of the things I don't. The Sultan Sandwich is something that I would have put together myself. The pitas taste fresh. The selections of sauces offer a wide range of flavors. A dish can take on a whole new meaning just by changing up the sauces. Highly recommended. read more

So, they took away the loyalty card that they used to have a couple years ago, but the food is still as good as back then. Fast moving line and you get to pick btw plates, salads or sandwiches and adding limited toppings to each. Really good lunch place overall. read more

I live down the block from here, I loved it. Best last min restaurant. I love the food here, it is just so good. read more

Did you know that Roti has an app where you can gather points and get a free plate/sandwich/sides. But Roti may not have the most technologically advanced app. I say this because we have to submit a picture of our receipt and then points get added to our account the next day. A little tedious right? The good thing is that you can submit up to two receipts a day, so snap up your friend's receipt too! I LOVE the food at Roti, but the thing I noticed about this location is that their food is a lot fresher during lunch time than in the evening. Which makes sense because of the high turnover during lunch time in Rosslyn. The long lines moves fairly quickly, although no line can move as fast as the lines in the nearby Chopt and Chipotle. read more

The quality of the food at the Pennsylvania Avenue location is very consistent in its quality. Served pre-cooked the meats are surprisingly moist, if only warm in temperature, while the cooked vegetables tend to be served rather on the cold side. Nonetheless, the flavor is satisfying, the speed is fast, and the price is right (for Washington DC at least). This is a great carry out meal for a a short lunch hour. Crowds tend to form starting at noon, but arrive at 11:45 and you are usually in and out in just a few minutes. My favorite is the salad with chicken Kebob, tomatoes and cucumbers: mixed vegetables and cous cous with yogurt dill dressing and a pita. read more

Roti - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Tried to come here on Wednesday for the free lunches at the soft-opening. Unfortunately, so did all of DC it seemed - it was an hour and a half wait, just to get inside the door. So I left. But I really couldn't resist the prospect of a Mediterranean roti shop opening up near work so I was back again today. Pleasantly busy, but not overwhelmingly so. Tried the chicken roti sandwich with tons of the yummy toppings they have available. The dill cucumber and yogurt sauce was yummy! I would put that on absolutely anything and scarf it down. Service was fast an friendly, and they let me have heaping helpings of all my toppings. Great food, friendly service, lovely atmosphere; what more can I ask for? read more

This was my 3rd experience with Roti's food. The first came when i walked with coworker to buy some hommus, since it wasn't stocked n ready to go, they supersized it to a giant tub at no extra cost, and i got to help her through it - the hommus was delish and so was the pita... which set me up for my first lunch there. My first full blown lunch was not great - got the wrap on the flat bread with the roti chicken - just not impressive I went back today and tried the falafel on pita - i added the hommus, tahini, tzatziki, onions, tomatoes, cucumber, olives, hot sauce, roasted veg, and feta - and it was AMAZING So now i plan to make this a regular in my lunch rotation read more

So i had Mediterranean food in nyc a few days prior to visiting roti. I think Roti was far better than the place i went to in nyc (a much more fancy and expensive place). I had the chicken kabob platter - fresh! fresh! fresh! that's all i can say. For a quick meal under $10 (with a bottled drink) - you can't beat this place. The quality of the meat and vegetables was amazing - I am not too sure if i can go back to my high priced mediocre quality mediterranean in nyc...they should start one here... some have compared this place to chipotle - but i think this place is farrr better than chipotle... it's been over 2 weeks and i'm still thinking about this place... read more

This is a local fast casual chain that should go global- the concept is fantastic and the food is delicious and affordable Mediterranean cuisine. It's the perfect place if you're looking for a quick bite of something fresh. Like others have said, the concept is build-your-own plate, sandwich or salad, similar to Chipotle. The best bang for your buck will be the platter, and it comes with pita bread as well. My favorites: the eggplant, the falafel, the mixed veggies and their tzatziki sauce (but just add a little). read more

Roti is pretty rockin. It's basically just a solid, efficent and fast Mediterranean place that's great for a quick work lunch. Lines can get long if you go at peak hours, but they get you in and out pretty quickly. The veggie meals are pretty good here including some tasty falafel, good hummus and baba ghanoush and a nice assortment of grilled vegetables. The roti meat isn't quite as good as the kabob meats so I'd go with the kabob if you're feeling carnivorous. As far as service goes, as long as you're prepared you should be fine. Just choose your sides and a couple of sauces with your platter and off you go down the assembly line. Sometimes you can feel skimped (especially with the veggie platter) but the warm pita bread and tasty flavors make it all okay. read more

I eat here very often. The lines go by quick and the chicken and steak are always tender and well-seasoned. Their sides and toppings are always fresh and their salsas are also very good. My favorite is the typical Chicken Roti Sandwich on pita with yogurt, hummus, couscous, and salsa. The sandwiches and plates are simple, yet customizable, and whatever I order always fills me up. Great place for a good quality quick bite! read more

Consistently good, but no heat on this occasion (one of the coldest days of the year). Consequently, the food was also cold. I'm a regular so will give 3 stars Work lunch on 1-22-13 read more

OVERALL: The Chipotle of Mediterranean food for those working near the White House. FOOD: As with Chipotle, Roti customers pick a base (pita, rice, salad, etc.), a protein, sides/toppings, and sauces. I had a plate with falafel, hummus, rice, eggplant, and cous cous. A pita comes on the side. It was a plate of food, but not quite a plate FULL of food. I feel like you get a bit more from Chipotle. The falafel was good, if a bit smaller than I'm used to. (Spoiled by Trader Joe's, perhaps.) The hummus was nice and creamy and the rice was fragrant. PRICE: For a plate and a fountain drink, I paid about $10. Par for the course downtown, but not the sort of thing you'd necessarily want to do every day. LOCATION: 17th and Penn is convenient for those in the Golden Triangle/Farragut/White House area. The combination of indoor and outdoor seating--plus the fact that many people seemed to be getting their food to go--meant seating was available even during the lunch rush. SERVICE: Fast. Super fast. SCARY FAST. My food was ready before I was prepared to receive it. During my meal I noticed that a line had formed, and considering that my own meal was ready in about 15 seconds (seriously), my mind was a little boggled to realize the kind of volume they must be doing. read more

I came in late night and was generally disappointed with the food and service. I ordered the Best Plate Ever, which led to Worst Intestinal Discomfort Ever shortly thereafter. This was not in line with my expectations as this location has generally good reviews. If you do come in, maybe come in for lunch or earlier in the day when food is more fresh. My plate was served from reheated chicken, which probably didn't help my stomach. Salads and hummus were bland. If you are looking for true Mediterranean or Middle Eastern foods, I suggest you look elsewhere and save yourself the discomfort. read more

In an area where awesome lunch spots are everywhere, Roti is by far the best! It's not inexpensive, but it's a great value for the price, and, most importantly, the food is absolutely delicious, every time. It can be a little overwhelming if you're a Roti rookie, but luckily the out-the-door line bought me some time to figure out what I wanted (but not too much time, since their service is so speedy!). Go for the classic if you're not sure where to start - the Roti sandwiches. Think delicious Mediterranean goodness all wrapped up in pillowy laffa bread. And don't forget the tahini! And just when it seems like the food is the best thing about this place, they only use recyclable materials and 100% biodegradable packaging. Bonus! read more

This is my new favorite place! Had half chicken and half fafafel. Their fafafel is amazing!! Wish they had one in NYC!! read more

Roti - So delicious and fresh! My new favorite place. Half chicken half falafel - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Stopped here for a work lunch. Great, quick stop for Mediterranean-ish food. The number of options/combos they have is the real attraction. Great variety of sauces (red pepper and garlic for me) with any side you could want. Wish we had one closer. read more

Roti serves up delicious food to a long line on a daily basis. I have gotten the Mediterranean chicken plate a couple times and have not been disappointed at all. I prefer hummus to baba ganush, and they are happy to substitute double hummus instead of the regular half/half. You may be overwhelmed by the line, but if you get there early enough you'll have a delicious lunch with a short wait. read more

This place knows what it's about. It's quick, staffed well for the downtown lunch rush, and has some good food. I like to get there slightly before the big rush but observe that the line moves fairly quickly even though it's out the door by 12:15. The Chicken Roti rice plate is my favorite. Their hummus is okay, the chicken is always flavorful, pita bread is a little bland and could be improved but it does the trick. I enjoy Roti mainly because it's a nice change from the sandwich and fast food scene. read more

Located conveniently on Pennsylvania Avenue,i stumbled upon this place while looking for some Indian style food.Its a mediterranean place with pretty limited options.You can opt for a thali with two types of Chicken both of which are average ones.Hummus and falafel are good.The salad is missing freshness and variety. Place is clean, Staff is friendly overall but ambience lacks cheerfulness.I got the feeling as if its a Sunday evening thought it was a Thursday. Not bad for one off visit though. read more

The food always hits the spot. FourSquare loyalty specials for freebies are a great bonus to. Line is always a bit long but thats to be expected at any good lunch spot. But it's tough to find a seat there. read more

i am seriously in love with their chicken kabob plate. Its so fresh, tender and melts in your mouth. I usually come here during my lunch hours so I'm not sure how busy it is on other times. This place is usually fast with great service. read more

I stop here on my to school after work a lot. Of all the fast carryout chains, this is up there with Chipotle. The falafel are great, chicken is always moist and flavorful. Favorite toppings are the eggplant and red onions. Oh, and I usually have the place to myself because it's not lunchtime when I go. read more

The food is very good here and there is a lot of variety. My only complaint is that the customers cannot always hear what the servers are asking since it is so loud. When I tried to point to an option a worker snapped at me and told me not to put my hand over the counter. So perhaps some work with customer service/communication would be in order. Nonetheless I'd go back since the food is good and not too expensive. read more

This place is great! Lots of healthy options, really fresh food, my roti steak was tender and perfect. Bonus- they were super helpful with accommodating my egg allergy. My kids loved it too. read more

The food was very tasty. Unfortunately it gave both me and my friend food poisoning yesterday. I'll never go back to eat at this chain.

Got a Roti salad with salmon kabob for dinner. The salmon was very well-cooked and tender! I also love the warm pita that comes with the meal. The staff were very nice since it was my first time here, they gave me lots of recommendation! They are chipotle-version of Mediterranean food. I think my nose got a little bit stuffy because of the spices in the salad/dressing, but I will definitely come back if I ever want a light and quick meal. read more

2.5 stars for basically good, cheap Mediterranean food, quick service, and a pleasant atmosphere. Roti didn't wow me, though. My friend and I ordered the platters (falafel and salmon). My salmon was a little overcooked, the hummus and baba ghanoush were bland, and the pita bread didn't taste fresh. In sum, for a World Bank/IMF lunch pit stop, it is fine - but, to my mind, give me Bread Line instead, every time. read more

Always a safe bet to hit up Roti for lunch. They have great vegetarian options and the portions are ample enough to more than fill you up. The prices are reasonable and the service is quick. It can get extremely crowded at lunch and the wait can be lengthy. read more

I go with a coworker to Roti at least 3 times a week, and there's a reason. Unless they're lying about their nutritional content on their website, it is the healthiest, REALLY good "fast food" in the area. The setup is Chipotle style, but the people who work there are much happier about doing their job. The customer feels like they should help keep the fast-moving pace by knowing what they want in advance, but the staff is very helpful about explaining what everything is, and how it works. The customer can pick several to unlimited toppings for their salad, platter, or sandwich entree. I think it makes me excited because it's sort of like a shopping spree for under $10. There's always a line, but I don't mind. The build up is part of the experience. It takes about 15 minutes to wait in line, create your lunch, and pay. I would like to see a little variance with the toppings at some point, so I don't get into a rut. But I also wouldn't mind eating a steak roti salad everyday. read more