Keeping it short and sweet; excellent food, the flavors are incredible. I suggest the Bronzino (if available) and the charred eggplant.

Bottom line: Disappointing relative to Lebanese Taverna right down the block. The details: The service was great. However, most the dishes and cocktails were uninspired. The hummus was probably the best item we had of the ten dishes we tried. I had the "Not for the Faint of Heart," which was as spicy as advertised. Although it was the habanero that got me, which is a chili I don't tend to associate with middle eastern cuisine, the zhug and harissa were welcome to counter the initial bite. The sardines were plain but plated nicely, same for the crudo, eggplant, and cauliflower. The halumi was also good. I love sumac on some steak, but my steak was overcooked to a dry chew. Shakshuka is my favorite brunch or breakfast dish, but wasn't feeling it for dinner. All in all a good, neighborhood restaurant. But with Lebanese Taverna right down the block, I'd rather go for their menu. read more

I had Sababa for the first time last night. My original plan had been to order from Bindaas next door, but it was closed. Luckily the phone line is shared with Sababa (same management) which was open, so I just decided to order from Sababa instead. It was excellent!! Such delicious and interesting flavors. The salmon kebab and the charred eggplant were favorites. I live close by and don't go out much, but I will definitely be ordering from them again. They also included a little thank you note with the food. A nice touch during this pandemic! read more

4.5 Stars because our waitress had a snarky attitude but maybe because it's restaurant week. I don't care, be nice! The floor manager was very attentive so that slightly made up for her annoying attitude. Having spent time in the Middle East, I want to believe I know Israeli/Arabic food and the food at Sababa is excellent! The drinks are good, as well -- I loved my Syrah and my company liked their cocktails. Our favorites were the charred eggplant, the beets spread, the kofta and the steak, as well as the melting-in-your-moth salmon! The rice was kinda bland but I didn't care much for the carbs in my main dish. The pita was beautifully - risen (a true pocket) and had a few sprinkles of zaatar so that was great! The portions were generous and even though we were all starving, we had more than enough. Not sure if on purpose or not, but I really liked that we had a nice wait between our dishes and desert because we were very full and considered giving up on desert, but the wait helped. By the time the (only) 3 desserts arrived, we were ready for them and OMG they were all absolutely incredible! Great that the chef kept their European attitude to sugar - less is more. Try them all if you can, they're absolutely divine -- silky and aromatic, not too heavy and just a blissful experience (the konafi, was delicious and very reminiscent of the original Kanafeh and my life in Nablus, that truly made me fall in in love with the place, but then again, anything with pistachio is pure magic, for me!) I shall return! read more

This is an excellent restaurant. I know hummus shouldn't be the showpiece, but it is absolutely the beet hummus I've ever had. The salatim is an assortment of small salads definitely worth getting. All of the food was well executed. The service was impeccable. Kind, courteous and well paced. read more

Somewhere in Tel Aviv, there may be an Israeli Restaurant resembling Sabang. I've never encountered it. In fact, whether you think of Israeli food as Jewish or Palestinian, you're in for a surprise. My companion and I little but a truly splendid hummus dish that struck us as characteristically Israel. The cuisine seemed more inflected with Mediterranean, Lebanese and Persian influences. Our sample was small: six "small plates" from a sizable menu. Maybe we missed the Israeli heart of the cuisine. But we were far from disappointed. We loved everything. One warning: Six dishes for two left us over-stuffed and feeling drugged. Not incidentally, the place is also beautifully decorated. read more

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

The hardest part is deciding what to get, as so many menu options look good. A tiny bowl of pickled vegetables - cauliflower, radish, pickles, fennel - was brought to the table before ordering, which was delicious...just wish it was about 4 times bigger (or refillable)! We skipped ordering hummus, as there were so many other items that sounded appealing. We got the charred eggplant, roasted halumi, Kushari (chickpea, pasta, spiced tomato sauce dish), grilled sardine, taameya (falafel), and the Not for the Faint of Heart (roasted hot peppers, w/harissa & zhug). All of the dishes were good, though the standouts to me were the Kushari and the grilled sardine. My boyfriend also enjoyed the halumi (which I didn't try) and the eggplant (not my favorite). I do wish the sardine and the taameya (falafel) dishes came with a little more on the plate, as they're quite small servings to share, especially as they're each $10. The pita also was great, but, again, be aware that you're getting charged for each piece, $2. It adds up, especially when a lot of these dishes seem to be screaming for it as an accompaniment. We also ordered the salmon from the kebab portion of the menu, which was very good. Finally, on the advice of our server, we ordered the mahalabia (milk custard with strawberries, pistachios) for dessert. That was fantastic, especially as an end to the varied dishes we had throughout our meal. We ordered a 2014 Ribolla from the wine menu, which was very good, but we do wish they had corkage, so we could bring our own wine. Overall, we really enjoyed our meal and would definitely go back to reorder some items and try new ones. read more

We got takeout for Mother's Day. It was amazing! Especially loved the fish cooked in grape leaves and the pita with three dips.

Very good but not amazing. Maybe I was there too early on. We went the first week they opened and everything seemed quite frenzied. Waited for about 10 min at the bar while they were getting our table ready and the bartender was never able to come over or even say hi during that entire time. I would have ordered a drink if he had! And, once seated, my menu was missing half of the text-oops. The food was good but the presentation wasn't that great. I guess I was expecting better based on the hype and the restaurateur. You can find comparable or better food at other places in more convenient neighborhoods. Also, the decor is nice but the waiters' outfits are kind of cheesy. I'd probably go back if I found myself in the neighborhood again, but definitely won't make a special trip. read more

Food was mediocre. The only thing that was above average was the lamb shank. Service was slow. Won't go back!

What a wonderful make over . Sababa is a very very good . I particularly liked the Chakshouka . perfect balance of sweet and spicy . Small plates are very tasty but not all equals . Chicken kebbab was my favorite , but the lamb kofta came out dry . The koushry had way to much Cardamom ( indian influence from Bindaas next door ? ) however the deserts were out of this world ! A must try if you are in Cleveland Park . read more

COCKROACHES!!!! We went for dinner and had average food. The waitress was fantastic but the food was far below average. Towards the end of our meal, we see a huge cockroach on the wall and my party gets scared. We then see one on the floor at the table next to us. The staff freaked out and the manager gave us about 1/3 of our meal off which we were very insulted by (they first tried to offer us free coffee or drinks or dessert). read more

First time eating here. We met friends who had eaten here once before and had read the previous reviews, so their recommendations we spot on. The 4 of us had called for reservations and promptly received our on line confirmation. Arrived and were promptly seated Started with 3 glasses of the Malbec and a cocktail. The drinks arrived promptly. We ordered 4 small plates which arrived at various intervals but generally in a timely fashion. Hummus, fried cauliflower, charred egg plant and falafel. Each had a spice profile that were distinct. I found the hummus a little bland but definitely homemade while the fried cauliflower was just that, crisp but meh. I loved the eggplant it had a bright mint and pine nut taste. It was cooked perfectly a little soft without being mushy and the falafel was ordinary For our main course we each ordered a Kabob. The portion is somewhat small because there is only one per plate. The steak was tender (tender enough that you don't get a steak knife to cut the cubes) while the salmon was very fresh and the lamb and beef kotoh was ground and made into a kabob of meatballs. All we excellently spiced Here's my 4 star reason, our kabobs arrived at various times. After they had cleared our appetizer plates the kabobs did not arrive together. In fact one arrived several minutes after the others. We all wanted to be polite but the course was getting cold. After the remaining kabob arrived one more glass of wine was requested but never arrived till several requests and the meal was completely consumed. To their credit they served the glass of wine, comped it and offered to top off the glass and served a lovely dessert,on the house. Other then the kitchen and bar needing to be better coordinated, I would return because I thought the food along with the Mediterranean spices were great. read more

Really good service, all of the food came out quickly and was plated nicely. The lamb was amazing, so tender and flavorful. The hummus is not something to skip, it is so fresh and delicious. The happy hour at the bar is actually a great deal too. The restaurant can get a little bit noisy but not too bad. I would absolutely go back, tons of items on the menu that I want to try. read more

Ate here the second night they were open and everything was fantastic. Service was great and staff was very friendly. There didn't seem to be any kinks to be worked out as may be expected with a new place. Hummus was so creamy and delicious, as were all the items we ordered. Can't wait to come back! read more

Good pita, excellent salads ('salatim'), strong hummus, and warm pitas are only a few of the reasons you might want to visit Sababa. The interior of Sababa looks almost like an open terrace in a garden, hung with lights and with one wall that includes plants. I'm not generally one to pay much attention to decorating details, but the ambiance makes it a lovely place to grab a drink or have a full meal. The bar area includes the most comfortable seating in the restaurant (and my only criticism of it would be that the small tables could be a tad larger, to accommodate all of the dishes you'll invariably order if you stay.) Upon seating, one of our waiters placed a small bowl of fresh pickled radish and cauliflower (the radish with beet juice and the cauliflower pickled with some tumeric or curry) on the table and we happily munched on them until all that remained was the drops of pickling juice that had dripped off of the pieces of pickles. Given how great the pickles were, we decided that we couldn't skip the salatim, which included some cucumber pickles, a small beet salad, a fennel and golden raisin salad, and a garlic labneh, which was accompanied by a bowl of two warm partially whole wheat pita, brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with za'atar. We also decided to order hummus (after noticing the section devoted to it on the menu), and picked the hummus of the day, which came with beans (both cooked and crispy on top.) While the topping was excellent, my strongest praise in the dish would be for the hummus itself, which had a lovely nuttiness and was incredibly smooth. The hummus was also accompanied by pita, and we made short work of them, especially when our third dish, the shakshuka, which includes roasted corn, peppers, and two barely set eggs. All of the food we had was excellent and I look forward to returning to Sababa soon! read more

All around fantastic. Amazing food, great service. One person in the group was a celiac, they were incredibly accommodating and helpful. Felt completely at ease with the waiter and kitchen staff dealing with food allergy. I highly recommend this place if you're looking for authentic Isreali food. We'll definately be going back. read more

As a CP resident, I was so thrilled to see Sababa take over the space of Ardeo. It wasn't until very recently that I had the opportunity to visit, and I am so glad I did. The service was fantastic. Our server went through the menu pretty thoroughly, giving us great recommendations and portion sizes. One thing I am always weary of at shared plate restaurants is that the servers try and up sell you on the amount needed to feed everyone. This was not the case here. Our server provided us with great input and we enjoyed everything we ordered. I highly, HIGHLY recommend getting multiple dishes to share. We ended up ordered a few of the kebabs, which may seem boring, but they all had such great flavor. My favorite was the lamb & beef kofta. We started with the salatim, which was a great way to taste the various flavors of spreads. I also loved that their pita was made with rye. Not something you see everyday. I really enjoyed my visit to Sababa and hope to continue visiting and exploring their menu in the future. read more

I'm not that happy took my wife for an early Mother's Day and ran into issues early. The biggest issue was the food was bland, kind of an America version of middle eastern food rather than traditional middle eastern food. read more

I have been to Sababa twice now and loved it both times. They have really interesting Israeli themed cocktails and great breads and dips. Make sure you leave room for the chocolate halva pot though. You won't be disappointed! read more

Just ate at Sababa. Had really high hopes. Nice atmosphere if you are lucky to sit on the lower floor but for that you better be a white person! Even though I requested the host really nicely if we could move - I was told that it was all "booked" after an hr at least 4 tables were still open yet we were banished to a corner upstairs! Having been to all the Ashok Bajaj restaurants I expected a lot more. The hummus was good. The lamb with cabbage was 80% cabbage and 20% lamb. The kebab was good. The cocktails were mediocre. Don't order the kanafi- comes directly from the fridge where it likely sat for a few days! read more

Sababa is a fantastic place for a dining experience. They have amazing and constantly changing food options. Very fresh and culturally authentic food. I loved dining there and plan to go back. read more

Tried several starters and some kabobs. Everything was fine, maybe even good. But nothing was remarkable, even the eggplant that I kept reading about. The halva cocktail was almost undrinkably sweet. Here's why one star instead of three--the service is horrible and slow. Also all the warm stuff came out at once. Skip this. read more

This restaurant is a great find in Cleveland Park. Reasonably priced plates comparable to more expensive restaurants such as Sfoglina. We sampled humas, charred eggplant, roasted cauliflower, beef and lamb kafta, and lamb shank. There was not a bad dish among them. The staff was attentive, knowledgeable, and articulate, as well as sincerely friendly. I'll definitely be back soon! read more

This is it! Sababa does Middle Eastern food like no other in DC (sorry Maydan). We have been three times now and here are some of our favorites: fried cauliflower; chicken liver; Jerusalem artichoke; salmon Kebab (our 6 year old loves this dish); lamb & beef kofta - these dishes come with amazingly flavorful rice. My husband loved the Kushari - I lived in Egypt and prefer the food street version there. The pomegranite-roseship soda is amazing (again a favorite of our son). We have not had their large plates as we prefer a mixture of small dishes. Agree with others that they could be more generous on the bread. What I love about Sababa is that the dishes are an interpretation of traditional dishes. They take known dishes to a new place. Our new favorite restaurant in our neighborhood. read more

This place has now become a new favorite. First, I love the decor and ambiance. Perfect for a date night or a nice dinner with family/friends. Second, the service was beyond impressive. From the waitress, to the assistants clearing away the food or bringing the next round, everyone was SO friendly and on point. Last time I had service this impeccable was in a 3 star Michelin restaurant. Now on to the food. 100% get the hummus. We tried hummus of the day, which was an interesting variation with lamb. We then followed up with sardines and chicken liver to try something out of the box in terms of small plates. Both absolutely delicious. Did the lamb shank for the entree and it was so tender and perfectly prepared. For dessert we had the chocolate halva and then finished with the halva drink. While some of the combinations might sound a bit weird this is the place to experiment! All the dishes were so well paired and the spices were unique and flavorful. When you're tired of the same old, strongly recommend Sababa as a breath of fresh air. Great addition to the DC food scene! read more

We stumbled across Sababa one hungry night. What a delight. Great service and really good food

I cannot give this restaurant more than one star. We had a reservation for a weeknight, but sat for over an HOUR before being seated. The manager came to apologize, offering as an unacceptable explanation that various tables "stayed longer than expected"; however, it was obvious that the place wasn't staffed or prepared to handle the flow of regular traffic. The food was good, but by the time it arrived we didn't much care. In addition, rather than offer to comp us something from our order, the waiter brought over a plate of hummus (which we hadn't requested) and said it was on the house. He did the same with a dessert that we didn't ask for. The whole experience was just plain bad. An opportunity to be with our son before Match Day turned into a trying and frustrating restaurant ordeal. read more

I've been here a number of times & the menus & food have been unquestionably excellent. Unfortunately, the restaurant's success seems to be getting the better of it. The restaurant publicized that it would be open on Thanksgiving. So, the day before, I called to ask if it would be possible (in a pinch) to pickup a few sides to bring to a Thanksgiving dinner. The person who answered said yes. I came by the next day to do that & got a flat-out "no." I understand completely the reason & even how the person who answered the phone the day before might have been confused, but it just now confirms that the restaurant is so successful it no longer needs the goodwill of at least this regular. read more

Food and ambiance is great but portions are SO small for the prices they charge. Cocktails are delicious and very well made but will run you 13-14$ each. Will probably only come back for happy hour read more

A modern upscale version of Israeli cuisine. The atmosphere was pleasant and the service was good. The food was excellent. Don't mis the haloumi small plate. The haloumi is slightly soft and perfectly seared paired with dates and lemon- the perfect balance of sweet, tart and salty. The bronzino was also great. The chef cane to our table and was very gracious. The prices are fairly reasonable. I highly recommend. read more

Sababa is a place I've been wanting to try for a while. Located in uptown Cleveland Park, Sababa is worth the trip just a little outside downtown DC. Everything here is family style, so don't worry too much about trying to choose one plate from the many mouthwatering options. To drink, I would recommend the Phonecian Frappé-- a delicious gin based drink. They also have a wide selection of wine, but I was a bit disappointed to see they did not have any Israeli beer, only local options. To start off with, immediately order the"salatim"-- an assortment of garnishes including a beet based topping, a yogurty option, a feta option, and more. It's meant to be tasted throughout the entire meal with all the dishes. You also absolutely must try the hummus-- they brag that it's the best hummus in DC, and i really think it is. Must've been the best hummus i've ever had. We first had 2 options from the "small plates" section-- the Halumi and Fried Cauliflower. Both were okay, but looking back on it, we would just skip these in favor of the other dishes we ordered. The best part was the kebabs-- we got the salmon and lamb/beef kebabs. Both delicious. As our final large plate, we got the vegetable tagine, which was a great couscous based dish. It was a little bit too much food for 4 people, even though our waiter advised us this would be perfect. As i said, i would've stayed with the salatim, hummus, kebabs, and main plate instead of adding the small plates. Ultimately, Sababa is a must try. read more

A bit disappointing. Food was average - nothing that wowed. But the bill for $350 for 6 at the end did wow. Hummus, pita bread, cauliflower, broccoli were good but not outstanding. Koftas were overly salty but salmon kebabs were tasty. Desserts were not good - Konafi had a bitter after taste and wasn't sweet the way it tastes in the Middle East. Nothing was really bad other than the service, but mostly a mediocre experience. I would not return. read more

I was not sure if I was going to like this restaurant but I ended up loving it. The food was amazing and the service was great. My only negative would be that the drinks were very strong. All the food was phenomenal especially the eggplant! read more

Love this restaurant. So happy it opened up in the neighborhood. It's tough to find Israeli food in DC and this place is the real deal. Love the salmon with pomegranate seeds. Drinks are unique and wine selection features Israeli wines. read more

Food was amazing!!!! Especially loved the eggplant, tomato salad, and salmon kabobs! Service seemed a little crazy. We got there early (around 6:25) - as restaurant got busier they seemed to be more frantic with wait staff and hosts constantly coming and going from tables. This was a bit distracting. But food rocked so would definitely recommend! Also, our reservation got messed up. They said we probably got our phone call transferred to their sister restaurant Bindini and accidentally made the reservation there. They said it "happens all the time." Hopping they fix that ASAP. read more

The hummus here is the best in DC. Everything we had was delicious. The best bet is to order as much variety as possible. We'll definitely be back but we'll probably pass on the wine - we tried a few selections by the glass and didn't find anything we were into. I would have liked to see more Californian or Chilean wines. read more

My husband and I went to Sababa for an anniversary dinner. Everything we ate was delicious. I'm removing one star because they didn't have a good gluten free pita alternative for the dips (they offered pickled onion) and wouldn't allow me to bring gf crackers. read more

delicious Israeli food, mostly small plates. especially liked the salatim, goat hummus, fried cauliflower, and haloumi. nice cocktails and an interesting wine list as well. ambience was chill, great service. would do again! read more