Underwhelmed. The starter salads were tasty but overpriced at $16 for 5 (extremely) small bowls (maybe 2 spoons each of salad).Israeli food is known for its abundance of salads and are most times bottomless when accompanied by a main course. My husband enjoyed the salmon but again a pretty meager plate for almost $30. Shakshuka was served with undercooked eggs. When I pointed this out to the waiter he stated that this was how the chef cooked them and i wasn't offered anything else in exchange or asked how they could fix the issue. The sauce for the shakshuka was also underdeveloped -- tomatoes had not cooked down. Nothing like authentic shakshuka. We are regulars at Al Haesh in Rockville and were excited at the thought of another great Israeli restaurant. Disappointing... read more

Stopped there for dinner on Sunday night. The spot is alright: plenty of outdoor seating and the menu has a lot of options. The quality of the ingredients was definitely my favorite thing about Sababa. We shared the salatim and the charred eggplant, and all of them were extremely tasty! The main courses, however, are a bit more bland. The service also isn't stellar... the waiters took their time and several waiters came by our table with the same questions. Overall a nice experience though! read more

Visited Sababa for their new table side shawarma promotion. Highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys this type of food. Good for groups of 4-6, a mini spit is placed on the table with your choice of lamb or beef shawarma (declared as part of the reservation process). Accompaniments including labneh, hummus, harissa, pickled veggies, house made pita are all included for your DIY sandwich making. Great value price point and plenty of food, but not so much that you can't add on a small plate or two -- we added two Israeli salads and an order of falafel for the table. There was enough food for members of our group to take some leftovers for next day lunch. The lamb was tender and juicy. Extra +++ for the hospitality and attentiveness of the Sababa team. They shared we were among the first groups to come in for the tableside shawarma preparation and presentation. The chef came to the table to welcome our group and share details of each component of the meal. Our server and the rest of staff took great care throughout. Perfect for a group outing! Will surely return for more. read more

Great taste of Israel right in DC! Quality of the food was excellent, as was the service. Can't wait to go back again

The restaurant is a lot bigger than it looks with 2 long narrow floors and a small balcony. It's decorated very beautifully. I wasn't a fan of the hummus, I think it had too much tahini and was dry, or maybe it's not made with chickpeas? Everything else was delicious: Halloumi, fried cauliflower, beets, Halva-Chocolate Pot De Creme, and the Ptolemy's Lighthouse grapefruit cocktail. read more

My husband and I ate there on Thursday night--great service and the appetizers were amazing. The Pitas are made fresh, and the hummus of the day was delicious. Also, try the grilled broccoli and the Salatim platter, the flavors were fresh, bright, and very delicious. We also tried a couple of their house-made sodas, and while the Lavender one was a little too sweet, the Grapefruit Cardamom one is incredibly delicious. However, it's not quite 5 stars. We ordered a couple of their kabobs to try, the steak and the salmon ones. And those were disappointing. The salmon one, with the labne/pomegranate marinade was too sweet, and the steak in the rose water marinade had no real flavor (outside of steak, which is good). The rice was undercooked, and again, kind of bland. It was a bit of a disappointment after such a great start. Overall, I would say give Sababa a try--maybe we just were there on an off night. read more

Sababa is the only restaurant in DC with an exclusive focus on Israeli-inspired cuisine. And it is spectacular. The chef must be a wunderkind, and the staff held to the highest standard, as dish upon dish came out as wonders to behold, draped in pistachio and pomegranate. The restaurant provides a quiet, comfortable place for friends to meet, a romantic tete-a-tete over a beautiful dinner (conversation starter-so many flavors for the palate!), parents in town for a special occasion--casual but with plates worthy of fine dining, I found the atmosphere soothing and subdued, though it is somewhat dark and definitely modern, which once again puts the spotlight on the food: where it should be. The meal began with Hummus-a variety, so colorful and fresh, with purples and oranges, enhanced by Za'atar my new favorite spice since Ottolenghi sprinkled it all over The Jerusalem Cookbook. Pitas are perfect. Israeli salad-being Greek, I thought I knew this one. I was wrong! Miraculous watermelon highlights. I could eat this every day, with joy. Charred eggplant-a misnomer! These look like little souffles--or chef's hats, puffed with steam. I never knew an aubergine could be so delicate. Roasted Halloumi-lovely, although familiar. If you have travelled as far as England and Cyprus, you will know this cheese. It is offered in all its simplicity and goodness, unadorned. Kabobs-I loved the Sumac steak especially; the wood-fired grill makes a morsel of it. The salmon kabob is also tasty, skirting the bland potential of the fish by itself. The Hawaij rice--never heard of it--a kind of golden, nutty pilau. I did not leave a grain on my plate. Our table sampled all three desserts--to my surprise, Mahalabia was my favorite. Pillowy rosewater custard. Like eating a rainbow. In sum, WOW, for Sababa. Being new on the scene, the restaurant was not over-full. It still seems to be a secret in sleepy night-time Cleveland Park. The wait-staff was well-informed but slightly disconnected--I think the kitchen does its own thing, and those serving occupy a different zone. Other yelpers have commented on this aspect, and I expect that integration will get better with time. I cannot complain on any point, however--the price was excellent for the quality and the quantity; the servers were courteous and responsive, the meal itself was out of this world. One of the best dining experiences I have had during my five years in Washington, no question. Gourmets rejoice for this new kid on the block. read more

So delicious. Can't believe we have lived so close for a year and this was our first dinner. We started with the 3 Salatim, followed by the charred broccoli, salmon kebabs, and sea bass in grape leaves. Each dish was extraordinary. Go ASAP. read more

The food was delicious and the roasted eggplant was the best! Our server, Kit, was knowledgable, friendly and awesome! H

My first time dining at this place. For dinner we ordered the lamb and beef kofta(2 plates since we loved it so much), smoked trout, pomegranate glazed chicken liver, fried cauliflower, hummus and pita. Everything , and I mean everything was out of this world. And I have never eaten juicier, softer and delicious beef and lamb koftas up until now in my life. Oh I forgot. I had the Halva juice. Very refreshing and great tasting. I highly recommend this restaurant for a pleasant and wonderfully satisfying meal. And did I say I am based out of the Bay Area, so one of my great memories of Washington DC is Sababa. read more

Delicious food. So so value. In particular, I liked the eggplant small plate, chocolate pot dessert, and the falafel small plate. The small plates are small though...much better bang for your buck in the kebabs or desserts Dropping this a star because the thing that bugged me was the constant flurry of people coming to our table to take away plates. How am I supposed to have a relaxing dinner, when there are constantly people disrupting my meal asking about taking things away? Our waiter was ok...but between him & the woman who was busing the table...just really aggressive, pushy, and just eh not so professional read more

Such a beautiful restaurant with great service and even better food. I recommend the eggplant appetizer and Jerusalem mixed grill. The lighting is perfect for a quiet dinner space and the service is the best I've had in a long time. I can't wait to come back. read more

All around excellent experience at Sababa. We are so pleased with this new restaurant addition. Every dish brought out unique and special flavors. For a party of four, we had the hummus, four small plates (sardines, israeli salad, grilled eggplant, and the roasted halumi), two kebabs (salmon and steak), and two large dishes (branzino and lamb shank). Everything was SO good. The roasted halumi and lamb shank were perhaps the highlights for me. Ambiance is great. We had a reservation for 6:00 pm on Saturday and the tables were already full and the place bustling with energy, but at the same time, not too loud. The service was also wonderful. We brought two babies with us who sat in high chairs at the table and made a huge mess of food on the floor. But our waiter was extremely understanding about it all! Looking forward to going back again and again. read more

Don't bother reading the WaPo review, experience the wonders of Sababa for yourself! Highly recommend the hummus of the day, the salmon kebab, and the carrot juice with cardamom. So grateful to have this in our neighborhood and can't wait to go back. read more

Sababa does a great job of introducing folks to Israeli food and just the magic of MENA cuisine which I absolutely love! The colours the spices the flavours the cooking methods all come wrapped up in a bow. The interior is beautiful I felt like I was in Israel or a similar place, especially because of the tiles and some of the seating. The ambiance is perfect for a night out. The plates are mostly made to share I believe, but you can totally head over on your own! Try to get a little bit of everything including one of their cocktails! Highly recommend the hummus of the day and eggplant to start. Then try the kebabs or maybe one of the larger plates to try how they cook and season their meats. For dessert, the chocolate halvah. I'm looking forward to going back and trying their brunch! They did take a bit of time to get my order, and things can get pricey depending on the combination of things you order. The service was good though, they were quite attentive. Overall I really do recommend this place especially if you have never had food from this region of the world. read more

See all

Ambient. Fast, friendly, efficient and knowledgeable service. Each dish supremely delectable, with layers of exquisite flavors. Plates come out as soon as they are ready leading to a seamless dining experience. Excellent food quality. The perfect combination of healthy and decadent. read more

I got so excited when I found this place. I love Israeli food and any new addition to a small selection of restaurants that we have is always welcome. Sadly, our brunch was very disappointing. We went on Mother's Day. We first ordered the salatim. In Israel, they come for free. At Sababa, tiny 5 salads are $16. If a restaurant is going to charge for this, they should offer much more than 5 salads. But even that's not the point. Out of 5, only 1 (the beet salad) was good, 3 mediocre at best, and carrots we actually didn't even finish since it was pretty bad. My husband ordered hummus with eggs which was not bad, my son had a steak and cauliflower, which was also ok. Not great, but not bad. My biggest disappointment was in shakshouka, my favorite dish normally. It's normally a flavourful tomato based egg dish. This was anything but. The tomato stew was extremely runny, bland and just bad. Normally, when you break up the runny egg, it creates this velvety texture of the egg and tomato stew. This was a tomato soup with some egg swimming in it. I honestly don't know if the chef has even tasted a proper shakshouka. The service was terrible as well. Our waiter actually told us that tahini had dairy in it. When I questioned him he said that he'd go back and check and of course it didn't. How can a waiter be so uneducated about basics of Middle Eastern cuisine when working at the Middle Eastern restaurant. Many other misses on his part but l'll spare the details. There seemed to be many managers running around and I wanted at least someone to ask us how our food was (our waiter certainly was not going to do it) but nobody did. I'm so disappointed in this place. For a great and authentic Israeli cuisine, go to Al Haesh in Rockville. All salatim are free AND delicious and many to choose from. It's not as fancy but the food is delicious. read more

This restaurant is such a great addition to the DC food scene. Just had an extensive dinner here with foodie friends and we tried, and loved, over half of the menu! Can't wait to go back. read more

An excellent mix of salads, small plates, kebob and entree. A thoughtful wine list that pairs well with the cuisine. Delicious cocktails (try "Halva World Away"!), lovely and inviting decor, and terrific service. A great buddy for Bindaas, right next door, and I can't wait to come back! read more

Run don't walk to this restaurant. Seriously-by far the best meal I've had in DC in recent history... and I know you've heard the hype. They cater to guests with allergies (I am gluten-free and had SO much to choose from) as well as Vegan...and carnivores will definitely not be disappointed. We started with the melt in your mouth egglplant appetizer and split amazing dishes of salmon and lamb. A great wine selection - and the Hummus- well you'll have to visit to really see for yourself. I predict a table here will be just as hard to secure as Zahav in Philly before long. Hats off to Chef Ryan Moore and the whole team for an incredible dining experience. read more

Delicious! All of it. I highly recommend the halloumi cheese. This is not your ordinary Middle Eastern cuisine. Be prepared for unusual combinations like charred honey marmalade and taste buds that say "wow." Great place for vegetarians. The knafe was not my favorite but everything else was amazing. I can't wait to eat my leftovers for lunch. read more

Brett was the manager that helped my family since we decided to have an event on Aug 20th, 2021. He did a stellar job - I could not have been happier with the exceptional level of service and attention. The entire process of reserving the patio for 25 people during storm combined with COVID season, until the end of our event - working with Brett and his team was a real pleasure. The entire team was waiting for my family arrival: the restaurant Manager Brett, Jess, Cody, and other 2 wonderful waiters. All our questions and small needs were answered quickly and fully. Once the Shabbat dinner started, the kitchen became the center of attention, with delicious food that, combined with their fabulous service, made our entire event memorable. Everything worked incredibly smoothly with the service and with their work executed flawlessly. Unlike other restaurants which often like to include last minute charges, Sababa's team was beyond patient and accommodating to my party, without any extras or reluctance to change things last minute. The service was superfast on time too, providing my family a flow of courses with fabulous food. In short, Sababa's team was made of rock stars! I would definitely love to host my friends and family to other events, as well as becoming a regular in the restaurant that we fell in love with the food, service and ambiance. We recommend Sababa very highly for anyone looking for a fabulous customer oriented team, for events or regular meals. read more

I'm always amazed at how good the food and service is here based on the price point. Perfection. Anything you order. Always, always get the 'hummus of the day'. Everything is so fresh. And beautifully presented. And the wait staff is impeccable. Tried their custard this past visit. It tasted like a day on the beach. Fresh like an ocean spray. Do try if you like custard. Been to this restaurant multiple times. Highly recommend this restaurant. read more

The food was excellent and very well-presented. We loved the charred eggplant and roasted halumi as well as their famous hummus! The best part about the meal was our server, Kit! He was so jolly and upbeat, and really knew how to be present, but not overbearing. His recommendations were very helpful. We will definitely be back! read more

I went to Sababa for restaurant week. My friend and I were sat next to this beautiful wooden wall piece. The inside was decorated so thoughtfully. The server was very nice and the service was quick. I ended up trying to be adventurous and ordered the chicken liver appetizer (I love foie gras, so this must be just as good!), it turned out to be a bunch of tiny chicken livers. To their credit, the seasoning on them was delicious! I just couldn't do it haha. But the waiter was so kind and let me switch it out for the eggplant dish - which was incredible. My chicken thigh kebab entrée was good, but nothing spectacular, as was the dessert that I got. Overall - the experience was wonderful, but the food left a bit to be desired. I'd like to go back and try when it's not restaurant week! read more

Best Mediterranean food. It has lots of vegetarian and meat options that are reasonably priced. It is next to Bindaas.

This place is superb. The ambiance is great, and so is the service. Most importantly, the food is WONDERFUL and so are the drinks (the nonalcaholic soda was delicious). I especially loved my salmon, and found the grilled halloumi to be memorable, too. My husband loved the falafel. And the dessert was a tremendous highlight for me- we shared the milk custard and the halva pot de creme. SPECTACULAR. I've already been back twice and will continue to frequent Sababa. read more

Absolutely delicious. Great to go w a group and try a bunch of things. Waiter advised and he was spot on. Bronzino was outstanding- best I've had. Small place but well designed and fun! read more

Great food and great service Enjoyed appetizer sampler and kebab Mariah our server was very attentive read more

Ordered the full course meal from Sababa. Once of the best meals I have had in a very long time. I ordered the salmon kabobs, and they were so fresh, and tasty and moist. The entire meal was exploding with flavors. Roasted cauliflower was to die for. And the cake! Also - the best hummus ever. Simply amazing. read more

Going with 5 stars despite major service issues, mostly they kept taking our dishes before we were done! The food is amazing though. Highly recommend the lamb, the salmon, the tuna crudo, and the hummus and amazingly soft pita. Drinks were also fabulous. One of my new favorite restaurants. They need to train staff not to take dishes without asking them though. Definitely get the Mahalabia dessert. read more

I'll state right up front that I will not consider myself an ultimate foodie however I get to many different restaurants in the area and while on travel. I enjoy trying different places and types of food. Sababa (I think it means cool) is somewhat newer so two of us decided to try it out this past Saturday evening. First off = Cleveland Park if your driving is sort of a pain parking but not their problem. A short walk from space was no big deal. Cool = Great job decorating the palace and it was quite busy at 8 pm plus on a Saturday night. No problem getting in for two at a community table. Great vibe. House pickles served had an interesting flavor with a bit of cinnamon I think. House hummus was very enjoyable, fresh flavorable though I found the bread was a bit too risen. Combined the Choban Salad Crudo with the hummus to star, a bit on the small side but I tell you this was a great mixture if flavors with texture. A warning here. I love spicy though some people will find the chili's on this like razor blades so be careful. Delicious. Mains: Lamb & Beef Kofta was great mixture of flavor that was on the money though it could be a bit moist. I bet they are concerned some will feel the quality of the beef is low if is has more fat content. The rice was perfect. Lamb Shank I thought was pricy though when the dish arrived it was beautifully presented, done perfectly, a good sized portion and was a fantastic combination of flavors. Based on the food quantity the two of us were full and both quite satisfied. I gave it a three that would have easily been a four as there must have been some back-up in the kitchen bases on food coming out. It was very busy so perhaps they were having some issues. We didn't seem to have that much of a problem though others around use at community table and seated we're having issues. Pricey possibly to similar type places though I would return. read more

Disappointing. Food was too salty. We ordered the Kafta which was over salty and the chick pea rice and lentil which had a side sauce which was very salty, and the lamb shank which was tasteless. Waste of time and money. Nothing special about this place. Will not go back. read more

First time at this restaurant. Food delicious, nice ambiance, good service, on the pricey side. BUT, $5 for coffee, give me a break! Four coffees $20! We did not ask for four pots of coffee, just four cups. After a very nice evening it was like being held up on the way out! I will be sure to pass this tidbit along! Not a very smart way to do business read more

Wow! One of the best resturants in the District. I loved everythig we ordered and try the Halva juice!!!

Spectacular. Exemplary service, food, and ambiance. Our server Kit was incredibly gracious and well versed in the menu, everything he recommended was delicious. Highly recommend giving the 'Not for the faint of heart' chilis a shot as they are quite unique and flavorful. Best meal of our DC trip by far. read more

Amazing food and drinks! Very affordable and felt completely safe with their COVID procedures. Will definitely be back!

Service and food were both excellent. The mixed salads/dips called Salatim were a great way to start the meal. The grilled haloumi was a surprise hit - often this dish is just greasy - but the version at Sababa is really tasty. The lamb shank and vegetable tagine were both outstanding. Desserts were quite nice, but not as memorable. Very good wine list - wide variety of choices that are reasonably priced. A few reviewers have made negative comments about service; however, we had great service beginning with the greeting at the front door to the friendly and helpful waitress. The only quibble is that the salatim doesn't come with enough bread. 2 pitas wasn't enough for 4 people. read more

Spent a full 2 hours at Sababa tonight--ordered 2 small dishes & 3 entrees after the server's lengthy explanation of the detailed (self-explanatory) menu. We understood food comes out when it's ready...which they reminded us often. So we patiently waited, ordered our 3 pieces of bread to tide us over. Ultimately we never got 1 small plate & the server failed to order 1 entree, so that was comped when it finally appeared. It'll be a long time before I return here....this place is definitely not ready for prime time. read more

It has awesome service and food. I implore others to enjoy the hot pepper bowl, or the lamb shank. just falls off the bone.