I ordered take-out from this restaurant, which I enjoy for in-person dining, and was disapopinted that they refused to give me any kind of silverware. First, you pick up take-out at the restaurant next door, not at Sababa, which is a minor inconvenience but they could have indicated this at some point in the ordering process. The food was timely and they text me to pick it up - I was only a few doors down. I arrived and asked if there was silverware, and was told that there was no silverware, and I should go back to Sababa to get silverware. Outside and back to Sababa on a 22-degree night, and was told by the hostess that they also do not have silverware. They brought a person who appeared to be a manager out, who informed, "It's illegal to give out silverware, and they're really cracking down on it." I explained that I will have extreme difficulty eating salmon and rice with my fingers. She then told me it's illegal to give out silverware "unless it's from a take-out place." Well, I felt like I ordered take-out. Her best advice for me was to go to the Mexican restaurant down the street and literally steal silverware from their establishment ... apparently it's legal to give out silverware there. The food tasted great, but being told to steal silverware from another establishment spolied the meal. The experience was negative enough that I'll also stop eating there for dine-in also. read more

If you enjoy using your cell phone's flashlight to read the menu, this is the place for you. I asked the waiter if lights were on dimmer switch - could patrons be given a tad more light, he said the owner likes this. "Atmosphere" Well, sit by the window is my advice. Food ok; portion size good. Amiable service. read more

The food here was incredibly flavorful. The best thing to do is order a number of dishes and share. The charred eggplant and the cauliflower were amazing. Service was great. And the atmosphere was relaxed. Can't wait to go back again. read more

Small menu but lots of choices. Their hummus is excellent. Very different character of texture and flavor then usual. The falafel is also different and delicious. The lamb/beef kabob is tasty but had very over cooked dry rice. The lamb shank is superb! Soft, moist and delicious!! Desert is also very nice. The homemade halava is soft and flavorful. The kofti, which is a wonderful balance of flavors, is an excellent end to a meal. A new place here in DC. Have to go. read more

My wife and I have always loved Sababa for delicious, authentic Israeli food -- and the unique flavors of Israel are not lost with their COVID-safe takeout options. We recently did the prix fixe Hannukah menu and you will not be disappointed! From the creamy dips and loaded latkes to perfect brisket and tahini sufganiyot, it's the perfect safe way to celebrate the holidays. read more

Delicious food, excellent waiters and waitresses. The greeters at the front seem disoriented but were still very kind nonetheless. Had the Salatim and roasted broccoli which were so delicious, and the Lamb/beef kebab which was out of this world. Will definitely come back! read more

The food we tried here: Hummus of the day: hummus mixed with corn, broccoli and harrisa. Easily the best hummus I've ever had. Charred eggplant: interesting presentation of five eggplant rolls with pistachio and pomegranate sauce. Tasty! Halumi: the combination of sweet sauce and the grilled chess is just amazing. However after several bites the sweetness is a little bit too overpowering. (Would be nicer if being balanced with something spicy. ) Lamb shank: very tender meat. A little bit too much marinade maybe because I feel it being too salty towards the end. Overall very good experience. The waiter from morocco is fun and helpful. read more

Delicious food and great atmosphere. My date and I went for restaurant week and I couldn't have had a better experience. We did the 35 set menu which was honestly a fun of food for not that much. I was definitely filled to the brim. The salatim starter with hot fresh pita was honestly the star of the show if I'm being honest and the delicious kofta dessert. The drinks were also really really good. I first tried the my own summer. Very delicious Negroni with an added hit of Prosecco. I cannot complain about this restaurant at all. read more

I've never had Israeli food, so take that for what that is. But wow, this was incredible. It is at a very reasonable price as well. If you don't know what to get, you can't go wrong with the Lamb Shank. They have outdoor seating that accommodates for COVID precautions...there is seating out front; however, if you are able to, request the rooftop. The rooftop is pretty small, but much more intimate than out front. Highly recommend! read more

What a stellar new addition to a neighborhood already teeming with delicious options. I came to Sababa and reserved a table for dinner (recommended) and as soon as I walked in I felt like I was in DC's trendiest new spot. But while the decor is fantastically swanky, the food is even better. We started with the hummus of the day, which was a roasted asparagus of some sort - and mind you, this was the highlight of the meal. I don't think I've ever tasted such smooth, flavorful hummus in my life ever before. We got the roasted halumi to start, which was interesting and flavorful as well. For main dishes, we had the fish of the day - a lovely roasted branzino, and the harissa-marinated chicken thigh kebabs, which were simply outstanding. I highly recommend trying out this spot and seeing what it has to offer. read more

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I had the BEST curbside pickup experience with Sababa!! They were ready and waiting with my food and almost immediately after I pulled up they ran it out to my car. The food was delicious and I will definitely be ordering from them again. The only downside was not having online ordering for pickup. They should get ChowNow :) read more

Really mixed feelings here. The short of it is that all the appetizers, salatim, etc were beyond incredible, and the entrees and cocktails were very mediocre. The service felt a little frazzled, though perhaps due to continued adjustment to COVID? (They forgot to return our credit card at the end of the meal, for example) read more

My friend and I came and got the salmon and steak kabobs, the cauliflower, roasted broccoli, and salatim. I wish we had been able to try the hummus as well! The salmon kabobs and broccoli were the standout for me- the kabobs had just a slight sweetness to them that really wowed me. The broccoli was roasted to perfection and had a great kick. I will say that it is a bit on the pricey side, considering the portion sizes for the meat (the cauliflower was a generous portion). The salatin also only came with two pitas. However, I will definitely be back! read more

Sababa is by far my favorite restaurant in Cleveland Park. Sababa features a fairly dynamic menu designed for sharing, so you're able to try a lot of different foods. Even better, the menu is always changing with the seasons and this feature is especially noticeable in their "hummus of the day"-a dish I always get when I'm at Sababa. Hummus can be a pretty basic dish, but not here. When I was last Sababa in October I got the squash humus and it was curiously awesome. Along with the amazing hummus, I usually spring for the Harissa marinated chicken thigh kebabs. Just like how hummus can be a basic dish, Sababa exceeds the mediocrity typically associated with chicken and prepares this dish with a juicy unique flair. Notwithstanding Sababa's entrees, their milk custard is absolutely one of the best desserts I have had in DC and that's all I can say. Pair this with great friendly service and you can't go wrong. If you're looking for a fresh night out, this is your spot. read more

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

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Alex was the best! He made the the experience amazing. The food was great and the service was perfect would definitely come back :)

The food here is incredible! My boyfriend and I were blown away by how fresh, amazing and delicious everything was. We give it a 10/10. Don't hesitate - just go! read more

Any Israeli food is better than none, I suppose, but this bastardized and now run-down version with so-so service really disappoints. Where is Michael Solomonov when you need him. read more

We went there with group of friends and kids. The lady taking order advised us that their quantity of food is more and can be shared. As per her advise we ended up ordering just for adults, so that kids can share. Food came after long wait of 20 mins. The quantity was not that great that can be shared. One of us being vegetarian ordered mushrooms and they were Meh.. can't cut and absolutely can't chew. The server did changed it with some other mushrooms option from the menu, but they also ended up same. We have been to so many mediterranean restaurants, but never had such a experience in quantity/size and the quality/taste of the food. read more

The food here is fantastic and the service is very friendly and attentive. I've been here twice and both times I've had Andrea who is pure delight. The only negative I would say about going here, and I didn't want to take a star off because it's not any fault of the restaurant, is that it tends to be very loud. Maybe book clubs met here on both my visits ? I'd strongly consider eating at the bar to avoid this. read more

Unfortunately we will not be back. One member of our party got food poisoning, ended up in the hospital with severe dehydration. We contacted the restaurant and spoke to the general manager who promised to investigate it further and get back to us. We have not heard back from him despite leaving numerous messages. read more

I was expecting to come here and feel like I was eating in Israel. It's israeli-inspired, but nothing is a classic dish. The twists on classic dishes were definitely tasty. Highlights were the hummus and the charred eggplant dish! The service needs major help. Good neighborhood option if you live closeby, but not worth a special visit. I'll probably go back just to see if it improves over the next few months, but otherwise wouldn't make the trek to Cleveland Heights again. read more

I wanted to take advantage of restaurant week but get it delivered which left me with few options. But so glad that I came across Sababa. The whole meal was great. The cauliflower made me proclaim how good it was out loud with every bite. The flavors! I decided to get the Salatim in addition to the restaurant week meal. It was way too much for me but no regrets. The dips were great for leftovers which let me enjoy the meal for several days. read more

I went here for restaurant week with my SO. The four courses were delicious, especially the hummus appetizer and the eggplant dish. The portions are a good size. We were stuffed by the time we left! read more

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

My Israeli husband had been craving hummus for weeks, so a visit to Sababa was in order . The hummus is delicious , as are the Salatim (salads) and Chicken Thighs marinated in harissa. Everything was terrific, the ambiance is lovely and the waitstaff were friendly and attentive. If you're looking for the real deal , you've got to try Sababa! I'm looking forward to my next visit . read more

Best food , best ambiance and best cocktails by the way ! I love this place and been back many many times ! And will continue to do so . Their fried halloumi is the best I've ever had in my life and I grew up eating the stuff ! Each of their dishes are very carefully crafted and to perfection ! A shout out to the talented chef ! read more

My colleagues and I chose this place to try for restaurant week, and we've all never eaten here before. We were pretty excited. Making reservations was pretty simple, and we were seated right away even though our party wasn't complete. The ambiance is really chill, and it does get dark in there. We didn't end up doing the restaurant week menu, but we did order a good amount of food for 4 people. We ordered the hummus of the day as well as hummus tahina with pita of course. We thought that we would need an additional order of pita, but no need. Hummus was on point. We ordered the broccoli, fried cauliflower, charred eggplant, and roasted halumi. The broccoli had a kick to it, the fried cauliflower had the perfect crunch, and roasted halumi was just delicious. The presentation of the eggplant was appealing, and it tasted just as amazing. We also ordered the salmon and kofta kabob. Phenomenal. I finished with a halva-chocolate pot de creme. So so so good! The service was on point as well. Will definitely come back! read more

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Went for the $22 2 plate brunch. It was plenty of food. For our small plates we ordered cauliflower and halloumi. They were great. Our main plates of Israeli Breakfast and lamb and egg were good but not great. Although it was tasty I don't expect to return. I'd give 3.5 stars if possible. read more

Really good Mediterranean/ Israeli food with good cocktails. Reservations recommended, but we were able to sneak in and get spots at the bar on a Friday night. My girlfriend had the Ptolemy's lighthouse cocktail and it was super tasty. We shared the fried cauliflower and it was the best of the three dishes we had. The other two were also quite good, to be fair. We also really enjoyed the Saladin plate and pita bread. In warmer times, there is a cool roof top that is sort of hidden away when the restaurant is viewed from the street that is also worth checking out. read more

Sababa serves delicious food but their takeout order process seems to be broken. Last year I had an issue that was resolved by ownership. Fine, it happens. I had another issue on May 20, 2022, when they failed to include two salmon entrees in my order. I called to say both were missing, and was assured I would receive a refund. The next day I got a refund for one of them. I then emailed management asking that they provide the full refund (using the same email thread that worked the last time), but I haven't received a response. It's disappointing. My advice to this restaurant would be to fix the takeout process or scrap it altogether. My advice to customers is to check your bag before you leave. read more

A simple dinner with friends. We enjoyed the hummus tahina, the lamb and beef pie, lamb shank and broccoli. All very good. Service was excellent. read more

This is one of our go-tos - the service is friendly and the food is reliably fantastic every time. The atmosphere is bustling, the decor is lovely - it's a great place to take guests from out of town! read more

I was so excited to try this place after I saw the reviews and menu selections. But I would say it was pretty underwhelming. However, the roasted broccoli and hummus was delicious (reminded me of Little Sesame). Be prepared for mostly tapa-size dishes and ordering quite a few to fill up or selecting multiple courses. read more

I went to Sababa tonight for dinner. After a mediocre meal that tasted very little like traditional Israeli food. I got up to leave and saw a cockroach right under my chair. I shrieked and a waitress ran over to kill it. Like most people, I'm very disgusted by bugs in general but especially around food. She called the manager over who did nothing and just blamed the bug on the cold weather. At the very least an apology and a refund was fitting, especially since I threw up later that evening from the disgusting food and cockroach. As I walked out, the waitress didn't meet my eyes and the manager just disappeared, clearly he didn't mind having cockroach in his restaurant. Needless to say avoid this place!!! read more

Came here for dinner on Wednesday night and overall had a really good experience (despite some hiccups). Our reservation was for 8 and we showed up ten minutes early but due to some seating snafus we ended up waiting until 8:30 to be seated. We were considering leaving but in the end I'm happy we stayed. Our service was great, the food was delicious (the goat hummus? The halloumi with silan? Good lord) and we all left full but for a really reasonable price. For our wait we received two complimentary dishes unexpectedly, so I definitely tip my cap to our waiter for making sure we walked away with a good impression. Strangely enough the waiting experience made us want to go to Bindaas since the two restaurants are connected and that Indian food smelled incredible...but Sababa was solid as well. read more

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I've eaten at Sababa twice in the last week and have had the tremendous pleasure of having Mr. Kit as a server both times. He was so professional, personable, and helpful - he's the best! Kit recommended great food options for vegetarians and meat eaters alike - ask for him if you are heading to Sababa and you won't go wrong! read more

Best roast chicken in DC!!! Rivals my mom's tsimis and every time I eat it makes me happy. The charred eggplant is exceptional. The falafel is so fresh and delicious. If you want comfort and not to feel that heavy stuffed feeling but just completely satiated happy and healthy - please order from this restaurant! The Israeli salad is so fresh! I could not say better things than mmmmmmmmm about this restaurant. read more

alex was the best waiter ever! he made our experience super memorable and I will definitely be coming back for him & the bottomless mimosas :-) read more

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

I enjoyed my meal at Sababa, but unfortunately had a negative experience following it. I went with two friends for dinner and we enjoyed the food. Some highlights included the halloumi , humus, and falafel. Unfortunately, following the meal my friend was charged for a tip she did not leave. She had not had any wine at dinner, so to make up for this me and my other friend gave the whole tip so that she would not have to leave anything. Following the dinner she saw they added $9 on to her $30 bill. It was very clear we gave over 20% (aka 9.00) on each of our checks to cover for her. I found this extremely sketchy and will not be returning. read more

My favorite place in ALL of DC to eat. Food is delicious, and service is amazing. Make a reservation earlier on because it does get very busy at night read more

We finally got to try Sababa and it exceeded our expectations! The ambiance is trendy but comfortable. A great date place! We shared a few small plates and large plates. Every thing was delicious and well portioned. A great addition to the neighborhood. Looking forward to returning to try more items in the menu. read more