We went there a second time and this time with my parents. 2 stars because we were treated terribly. Don't get me wrong, the food is great. We have reached out to corporate but have never heard back nor received an acknowledgement. We have not been back since. read more

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

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WOW. just WOW. Sababa is absolutely incredible. One of the best meals I've had in a long time!! Service: so friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. Atmosphere: super cute. The downstairs has a beautiful plant and wood wall and the upstairs is very quaint. Drinks: the cocktails are amazing! I had the Ptolemy's lighthouse, the phoenician frappe, and a Turkish coffee cocktail with dessert. All of them were delicious. The Turkish coffee cocktail was the perfect desert because it was sweet and we were too full to order any more dishes! Food: we shared the salatim of various dips - AMAZING. All of them had different vibrant flavors. We also had the hummus of the day which had spicy chickpeas on top and served with pita. So good. Our final appetizer was the halloumi. Really good. For our mains, we had the lamb shank and the veggie bastilla. Honestly, the lamb shank was one of the best dishes I've EVER had!! The tomato and fennel bulgar that comes with it is so incredibly tasty. The flavor combos on the plate were just out of this world. The veggie bastilla was also incredibly delicious - very different - and has apparently been written up by various dc magazines. It was like a puff pastry filled with yummy veggies and had a hint of nutmeg. So so good! I HIGHLY recommend Sababa. I will definitely be back! read more

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This small Israeli restaurant is tucked away on a strip down the street from the National Zoo, but once you find your way in, you feel as though you are thousands of miles away from the busy DC metro area. The restaurant is quiet and intimate. The lighting is dim, the walls decorated by bulb string lights and with tent-like clothes covering the ceiling. The waitstaff is friendly (and more than open to explaining the specifics of any of the dishes to a newbie like myself). The distinctive thing about the food (specifically lamb and egg on pita) was how many flavors hit you at once - what tastes like a dozen different spices - and how well they all work together. Everything I got was unique and delicious... and though I don't have experience in Israeli cuisine, it tasted fresh and authentic. In the end, I felt like I paid a reasonable price for what felt like a high end meal, and would make the trip back to Washington JUST to come back to Sababa. read more

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Great food and very impressive service. Our water glasses were never empty! Definitely felt more general Mediterranean than Israeli, but whatever you label it the food was delicious! For a table of 4 we ordered 6 starters, 1 kebab and 1 main dish and we were all (pleasantly) stuffed. Made an online reservation for a Saturday night and our table was ready when we arrived -- and no problem finding nearby street parking. read more

I was going back and forth between three and four stars because I took issue with the prices for the portions we received, and I was really not happy with the fact that we had to pay for additional pieces of pita bread when it should have been complimentary with what we ordered, but ultimately service was good, everyone in my large party had a good time, and the flavors were excellent. I'm not a good person to rate the baba ganouj or the hummus because I am spoiled. I am Jewish, my roommate is Israeli, and I went to Brandeis where every dorm room party had six different bowls of homemade hummus. I have had a lifetime's worth of these dishes and very particular opinions about how they should be done, so, while I wasn't in love with these dishes at Sababa personally, what am I gonna do. The cocktails were insane. Really unique and different and all excellent. I usually do one cocktail in a night and I think I ordered three. Mine had rose syrup - someone else got one with carrot juice in it. Some had tahini or sesame or something. Worth going just for those. I was very impressed with two dishes in particular - my pomegranate glazed salmon kabob was delightful and I'm someone who tends to find cooked salmon fishy, and then a friend ordered the vegetarian tagine and I could smell it across the table and wanted to bury my face in it. Most people raved about their individual dishes. I think the most cost-effective way to eat here is to stick with entrees and to avoid small plates. I didn't think the small plates were cost-effective and, while the entrees pack $20+ price tags, they are sizeable portions with sizable combinations of flavors. I was, however, especially unimpressed with the eggplant small plate. The deserts are completely over the top. They're all so different and original you will be tempted to get several to try them but I am telling you, resist temptation and order one desert max for the table. In particular, make it the halva chocolate pot de creme. It's like several deserts in one and it's the best halva I've ever had, not the greasy tacky bland stuff that comes individually packaged. FYI my roommate threw some shade because naming your restaurant Sababa in Hebrew would be like naming your restaurant "OK" in English. Also it was Friday night and our waiter wished us Shabbat Shalom on the way out which tickled me. read more

Why do I even get my hopes up??? Mediocre Middle Eastern food just makes me so sad. So, we got the eggplant. Meh. We got the Israeli salad. Pretty good. Steak kebab and kafta kebab. Meh. Hummus. Meh. The place is really fancy and makes you get reservations and dress up and all that for mediocre hummus? I feel like this place is good for people who've only eaten Sabra. read more

Sababa - Hummus - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Very solid spot to fill all of your middle eastern / Mediterranean food fixes. I was personally a big fan of the lamb shank, carrot and herb falafel, and the roasted halloumi. I know most of that isn't vegan, but they also do a great job catering to vegans and were very open to adjusting some of the menu items to meet a friend of mine's vegan requests. Will definitely be back soon because of both the great food and service. read more

AMAZING spot. The food was incredible, very reasonably priced, the staff was extremely friendly and the interior is so lovely! Amazing twists on Israeli classics. I will be frequenting often. read more

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

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The food is amazing, as well as, the ambiance and staff. They meet their customers' needs and the food was delicious.

Sababa offers a great Middle Eastern dining experience. The hummus is smooth and flavorful, a must-try. The rest of the menu is equally delicious and authentic. Highly recommend! read more

Love it here! The mezze is so good. We go whenever we're in Cleveland Park. Cute bar area too.

The food is healthy and of great quality. They serve vegetables in innovative ways. The sea bass, grilled broccoli, lamb kebab are all amazing, and the service is great!! read more

Sababa is a delight. The service, the ambiance, and the food - everything was perfect. Staff was friendly, enthusiastic, and honest about suggestions. I came for brunch on a Saturday morning. Staff was super friendly and really easygoing. I had the bottomless mimosa option, and honestly never saw the bottom of my glass. Great service. Our server was also really communicative, letting us know when to expect our orders, how much longer, etc. I highly recommend the eggplant starter - it was amazing. You can't really go wrong with any of the dishes though. I will definitely be back. read more

Sababa - Charred eggplant - amazing!! - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

came for mother's day brunch indoors. seated immediately upon arrival and from there it just stayed wonderful. our server was the best - made sure we had enough of EVERYTHING (that bottomless mimosa is no joke, and it's not just juice with a splash of vaguely alcoholic bubbles iykyk) from water to extra pitas. ambiance is great, COVID guidelines are being strictly followed. food was very good across the board. we loved the textures and flavors of the bagel. let downs were the charred eggplant (could've had more grill flavor for sure) and the lamb lyonnaise potatoes (very little lamb, just were regular hash browns). but the hummus, falafel (small, but absolutely delicious), and steak kabobs were all incredible. good price for the portions. sababa cultivates a relaxed yet attentive atmosphere. looking forward to coming again. read more

The Restaurant is amazing experience. The ambiance is very relaxing and the plating food was very good. The choice for vegetarians is very limited to only 1 item. The service is very good . unlike at Rasika where on a Tuesday were asked to vacate our table ! i guess a group of friends from work have to not go back there!! I would go there again but please add another Entre on the menue for Vegetarians. read more

Excellent food (really delicious), great service, nice decor, warm ambiance. Highly recommend.

This small, easy to walk by restaurant is also a Michelin Bib Gourmand rated spot! (Michelin star rating for more affordable/less esoteric dining). The humus tasted just like what I've eaten in Israel and is certainly the best I've had in the States. The lamb melted off the bone and the sea bass was flavorful and light. Not to be outdone, the small plates and desserts were truly excellent. Our server was extremely attentive and helpful in determining how much food we should order (all plates are designed to be shared by the table). If you're in DC and want a delicious, casual dining experience definitely check it out. Very easy to get to on the metro if you're staying closer to the major attraction sites. read more

Bland food but cozy ambiance. Chicken liver appetizer: sweet sauce didn't go well with the liver. The liver could have been grilled to give it a bit more flavor. Lamb and Beef Kofta: Salty and I didn't taste any seasoning or meat flavor for that matter. Steak kebab: I didn't taste anything. Just a soft meat texture and that's it. Half roasted chicken: it was dry and lacks flavor and seasoning. I've easily had more tender and flavorful chicken at a Peruvian fast food joint and Nando's. Overall, I've never had such bland Mediterranean food until now. The food came out very quickly. It seems like we could have done a 3 course dinner in 30 minutes. Maybe the chef could have taken a bit more time to season the meat. read more

Y'ALL. This place was amazing. A big group of us went for a special occasion and had the benefit of trying a large portion of the menu and it was incredibly delicious. My favorites were the eggplant, cauliflower, sea bass, and the hummus. Yes there are a million shades and flavors of hummus and all hummus is NOT created equal - and Sababa's was extremely good. I cannot say enough how good the food was. The ambiance is also lovely and the service excellent. Go seat there!!! read more

Love Sababa. I dream about the charred eggplant dish and the lamb. The Strawberry Mahalabia was the only thing I wouldn't get again but I honestly think ours wasn't made right seeing photos elsewhere. It turned out like melted soup but still was tasty. read more

Who could have thought of grapefruit cardamom drink with black pepper tastes delicious? If you like cardamom flavor, that is must try here! Slow-cooked, well-decorated eggplants with pistachio, another unusual yet just perfect combination!! Haloumi cheese was to die for and dates were surely special kind. Hummus with fermented eggplant and pita bread were delicious too! I was not much impressed with Vegetable Bastilla, which was good but cannot bit tapas items here. I would focus on ordering tapas items for eccentric experience of the food here!! Service was great, for a large party we had little fight for the seat, but cannot complain! Oh, and did I mention that Mahalabia and Halva-Chocolate Pot De Creme were yummy?! read more

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One of my favorites restaurants , amazing food and great atmosphere. Going there soon

Very cute/modern restaurant. I'm not a big fan of the whole tapa style restaurant. However...the flavors, quality, and presentation of these dishes were on point. Came here for dinner with a friend, and we ordered about 5 tapas - it was good for a light dinner! If you're super hungry & a fan of large portions...go elsewhere. Here's some pics to make your mouth water ! My favorite was the hummus, eggplant & kushari! Yummmm read more

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Food was good, but not great, prices were high, but not astronomical, and service was okay- but there are honestly better, more interesting choices in the crowded Mediterranean/Israeli/Middle Eastern category. Had the salatim, hummus, falafel, lamb kabob, and half chicken. While everything was "pretty good", I'm afraid nothing really blew me away. I preferred the chicken at Maydan, the kabob at Mobys, the hummus at little sesame. The service was awkward, with the gentleman giving a very long winded speech about the menu and his favorite items that must've lasted 3 minutes across 2 visits. Was also heavy on the upsells. As far as value, would call it adequate. Prices and portions are about market for DC, you can just find better versions of items elsewhere. Also, demerit for charging for extra pita- the competition gets it to you for free. Not a terrible option if you're in Cleveland park and Bindaas next door is booked, but if you're looking for a fresh take on Israeli, you can probably look elsewhere. read more

Cleveland Park continues to improve its dining scene with this updated concept from the folks behind Ardeo and Bindaas. Sababa is Israeli focused, which offers a nice twist on familiar Middle Eastern fare. We stopped in for a Sunday night visit and were immediately beckoned in by the spectacular decor. They have fitted the walls with these very nice wooden carved slips with light shining through. Cool touch. They also have string lights above the bar, which is always a plus in my book. For eats, they nailed everything we tried: + Salmon kebab + Chicken thigh kebab + Fried cauliflower + Beer The kebabs have that great grilled flavor you want, and the meat was perfectly juicy. The drink list is heavy on bottled wine and a few by the glass, but they also have a few bottled beers, and cocktails for $12. No complaints here, we filled ourselves up nicely and will definitely be back! read more

Pros: food is good Cons: Overpriced, tiny portions, and no parking whatsoever. If you are hungry, like I was, then don't come here unless you want to spend $40 minimum to fill up. I grew up in Chevy Chase but I live in California. I'm embarrassed to say I'm pretty unfamiliar with the restaurants in the area. I Googled best restaurants in DC and this place popped up as a, "hot new restaurant," so I decided to give it a shot. Me and my family were all in the mood for Middle Eastern food. I dropped my elderly parents off and circled the block looking for parking. There is absolutely none. I didn't even see paid parking. I got lucky about three blocks away in a residential neighborhood off of Connecticut. The atmosphere was nice, sort of chic with a modern shiny design. There are two levels, the top is quieter than the bottom. We started with the hummus of the day ($10). Absolutely amazing flavor, crunchy onions combined with creamy and oily hummus. They kept the pita bread flowing, which was warm and fluffy. This was by far the best dish. It kept me and four others happy while we waited for the rest of the food. Got the Israeli salad and koshari. Both were cool, the koshari was more inventive and better tasting than the salad. We got every one of the kabobs - salmon, chicken, steak, and beef/lamb. All were good. Main complaint was that for $14 I felt the portions were not adequate. At least add some vegetables or something instead of just rice. The kabobs themself were small, particularly the beef and lamb one. I dunno, this place just failed to completely deliver for me. read more

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Don't bother. Sababa is a cute little Israeli place that really should be better than it is. While I can't speak to the authenticity of any of the dishes, regardless of how authentic, they were overwhelmingly bland and uninteresting. Even their spiciest dish was just some grilled(?) peppers with a little bit of chili sauce. Both the food and the drinks had a sort of Israeli flavor, but actually somehow lacked real flavor in most respects. Perhaps the worst factor here is the service. Our waiter was easily the worst I've ever had in DC. He was incomprehensible, rambling, stumbling around, awkward, and just generally completely useless. When my group asked for recommendations, he shrugged and said "all of it." He brought a wrong drink, looked confused, and then brought the right drink ~15 minutes later. I even heard another waiter ask him if he was OK. Completely unacceptable. read more

Sababa is one of the best restaurants in this area! I love the chicken skewers and their dip platter. The atmosphere is also great.

I've dined at Sababa on many occasions and it has always been a fabulous meal. Even during the pandemic, a group of friends and I enjoyed a fabulous Rosh Hashanah meal outdoors. I especially like the salatim, pita & hummus, the eggplant dish and the fish kabobs. read more

I don't think Sababa is ready yet. We ordered a round of drinks, and 2 dishes based off the server's recommendation: charred eggplant & sardines. The charred eggplant was burnt and inedible. We sent it back. We also never received the sardines even though we were charged for them. Skip this place and either go to Bindaas next door, Spices, or Indique. read more

Sababa - Charred Eggplant - sent back - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I was excited to try Sababa because I'm a fan of other restaurants in the Knightsbridge group. First, I love what they've done with the space except it could be a little brighter in the restaurant. For food, I enjoyed the hummus, broccoli, and lamb/beef kofta. The meat was so tender and cooked perfectly. I was not a fan of the tuna(not enough acid), kushari, market fish, or the pot de creme. The eggplant and halloumi were just ok. Overall I thought the food was just ok. read more

Very quick service, yummy food, good ambiance. The main dishes had somewhat smaller portions, but I had the salmon and it was DELICIOUS.

How do you rate a restaurant where 10 people are seated with amazing service and unbelievable dishes that were enjoyed by all? This is the place that ranks a 10 in my book. There is not only outdoor seating but rooftop seating as well as inside! Bravo to the hostess who made her presence known through the meal as well as our server who made sure I never touched a dish with onions. Make it a point to eat here and leave with a full stomach and a bag of goodies to enjoy tomorrow as you won't be able to finish all of it. read more

This place has not only good food, but a great adaption of Israeli food. We made a reservation and were sat in the back. We started to leave but the GM saw us and gave us a new table and server. We will be back for better table service read more

Great food, attentive and friendly service. Comfortable but warm ambiance. Would definitely return in the future.

Fantastic all around dining experience!-- our meal was delicious, wine, pairings, excellent, and service superb!

Love it every time. Fresh food at a good price and great service. Highly recommend for any occasion.

I'm a fan of Rasika and have been wanting to try this place out since it opened. We were seated downstairs at one of tables for two in the back which was nice as it was a bit quieter. The hostess told us as we were setting that our waitress, Andrea was the best and that was true - she was great! I didn't think it was that expensive as others have stated. It's not cheap, but it's comparably priced to other similar DC restaurants. I have no idea if this is authentic Israeli food, but it was good. It's small plates so we ordered the salad sampler as you get to try 5 different salads, hummus, eggplant, steak kabob and chocolate pot de creme. We also ordered a bottle of dry rose which was excellent. Our server was very honest when we were choosing wine and told us that all were dry and good, but as you go up in price they are more interesting as to a certain extent you get what you pay for. We appreciated this honesty. The hummus was excellent as others have noted. It came with 4 large pieces of pita which were fluffy and awesome. I'm not sure if they changed the pita policy based on complaints, but it was certainly enough for us and I didn't see anything on the menu about having to pay for extra pita. The salads were tasty though I liked some better than others. It was a great option to try a taste of many different options. My favorite was a tomato with feta. The steak kabob was a great choice and the meat was perfectly cooked. The eggplant was another star and a lot of food! We opted for the chocolate pot de creme which was an excellent choice. You can never go wrong with chocolate! I recommend giving this place a try and make a reservation especially on weekends! read more

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Food was terrific. The small plates are perfect for sharing. One member of our party is gluten intolerant and we had numerous choices on the menu, even including a dessert. Server was really helpful. read more

Positively the best food I have eaten in the past I don't know how many years. The servers are very knowledgeable and obviously take pride in their work (a rare thing these days). The interior is very tasteful, helping create the right kind of ambiance. I would especially mention the hummus, and the charred eggplant that are quite unique. But the meats and fish are great, too. Last time we visited Sababa was almost full inside, and there were probably 40-50 customers eating outside - unlike the other restaurants in the same mall that maybe had 6-8 diners outside. read more