I was in Washington D.C. for the weekend and tried this amazing Mediterranean place for lunch. My…read morefriend who recommended this place has been obsessed with the food here and I can totally see why. We ordered mushroom kapnista, Halloumi pide, zaatar pide, htipiti and everything was so delicious. I'm not sure if I enjoyed the combination of dates and mushrooms together but really loved the smoky mushroom by itself. I was also very impressed with the Zaatar pide, it was cheesy and delicious. For desert we ordered greek yogurt with apricot and it was probably the best thing we tried here. The ambience is classy and they have ample of seating space. The overall meal didn't cost us as much as I thought it was, the prices were fairly reasonable!

I went with a friend to try the restaurant week lunch menu…read more The good: I loved the flavor of the shrimp for the third course, the scallops (non restaurant week dish) , the falafel, and the garlic sauce from the chicken dish of the third course. The restaurant is pretty and spacious. The bad: Most of the dishes unfortunately were pretty bland. The chilli oil did nothing for the hummus, the chicken with orzo (?) lacked salt, and the cake was extremely small with little flavor as well. Regarding service: they were kind, but it was a long while before we received bread and had to flag someone down. The lack of flavors and minuscule portions are what prevents me from returning

We went to dinner for my birthday and it was absolutely amazing! Our server saul did an astonishing…read morejob with food and drink recommendations and even had a complimentary dessert and candle ready. The place itself was beautiful, with great lighting and room for conversations! Will definitely be back again, even for just the service!

A definite return in the near future and definitely recommend to colleagues. The ambience was…read moresuperb , not overly loud or chaotic, very relaxed.

Genuinely beautiful. The food was amazing. Service was attentive and friendly. I thoroughly enjoyed…read morethis. Star of the show was definitely the lamb tagine. However, the halloumi and scallop were impeccable as well I will be back for Many more visits as my wallet allows.

Went to Maydan in DC and had such a lovely time. The ambiance is amazing -- such a fun, warm,…read morebeautiful place, and our server, Haley, was so wonderful and attentive. We always had pita, they were quick to check in on us, and overall the service was great! Food-wise, there were some HUGE standouts. The red pepper walnut dip is a MUST. It's a little sweet, a little tangy, and super flavorful overall. The hummus was also delicious, with a sorta woodsy, smoky depth of flavor. The oyster mushrooms, though, were an absolute standout. SO much umami, really well seasoned, and perfectly cooked -- they genuinely tasted like steak. Amazing, amazing dish. The vegetables were also really well done overall. The fire-roasted asparagus was great, and the sweet potato was perfect. The cauliflower was also amazing, although we ordered so much food that we weren't able to finish everything and had to take some home. If you're choosing vegetables, do the sweet potato and the mushrooms, hands down. The carrot havuc was yummy as well, more mild and yogurt-y, and the pickled veggies were really interesting. I had never had a pickled tomato before! The pomegranate mocktail was also delicious. Gingery, well balanced, and very refreshing. HIGHLY recommend. There were a couple dishes that fell a little short for me. The halloumi comes out VERY hot, so be careful lol, but it was veryyy sesame-forward and ultimately wasn't my favorite. It was good, just not something I'd necessarily reorder. The saffron couscous was also not a huge hit around the table. It wasn't bad, just a little too sweet with the raisins and not 100% there for me. My mom liked it more than I did! Overall, you can tell everyone at Maydan believes in the food and really cares about the experience. We were celebrating my brother's birthday, and Haley even brought out a little champagne toast :,). I will absolutely be back!

Reservation: Keep refreshing the Tock page. Last minute cancellations are quite frequent on the day…read moreor prior. Cocktails: Great starters for the upcoming wonderful experience Ordering: Our waiter was super friendly and patient, explaining the style and dishes to us first-time visitors. Recommended 3-4 small dishes per person, and each larger plate counted as 2 small dishes. We opted for à la carte but only ordered 2 small dishes + 1 dessert per person given our smaller appetites Wine list: Extensive list spanning across difference countries. Our Sommelier was extremely knowledgeable. We chose the journey through Levantine wine, and it felt like a full course of wine history and geography. The experience included 4 Levantine wines, specifically chose to pair with your à la carte food items. We had a mix of brut, skin contact wine, red wine and brandy. All were fabulous and paired extremely well with the food. Highly recommend! Food: Loved everything! The pita bread was definitely the highlight. Every bite/dish was like an adventure through the ingredients and spices. Even the desserts had a touch of different spices but not over-powering the sweetness Highly recommend Albi if you could get a reservation!

Morgan and the team made our 2 yr wedding anniversary and my 41st bday special…read more Gotta get the ribs! Perfect date night ambiance

Wow, just like you would expect from the team from Albi, the dish preparations at La Shukran are on…read morepoint. The flavor combinations were subtly complex and engaging. We enjoyed every dish we ordered. The dining room is relatively small and quite noisy. The rooftop dining area is casual and airy. Note: the rooftop seating only offers drinks and the small bites from the full menu. Larger entree options are not available on the rooftop. We will definitely be back to dine here again.

Service A+ Ambiance A…read moreDrinks A Food...this is where it gets interesting. They suggest family style and 2-3 items per person which we thought was excessive bc each dish averages about $20. We ordered 5 for 2 people and could with done 4. They are still all pretty small for the price. labneh with crab had 0 flavor should have skipped it Hummus with mushroom was good but need all the items on the plate at once to get full effect. The bread that comes with the dips....omg the bread. It was probably the best part of the dips to be honest. The falafal was very good, would def repeat. An order is 3 but we added a 4th one The potato frites thing was omg probably the best item we had. Crunchy outside, soft fluffy inside but the green sauce was *chefs kiss* amazing I almost licked it from the bowl. Last item was the lamb fried rice...it was good a lot of flavors with the lamb, corn and apricots. Would I order again honestly not sure. I'd prob get a coupe cocktails the falafal and potato things and leave overly satisfied. We went with the cheese dessert bc he described it similar to a cheesecake which cheesecake it was NOT. It was ok. My dinner date loved it tho.

I attended a Yelp Elite event here and honestly everything was a 10. The space is beautiful inside…read more Clean lines, modern decor, great lighting, and just a really polished vibe. It feels upscale without feeling stuffy, which I loved. The service was just as good as the space. Everyone was attentive, friendly, and made sure we were taken care of the entire night. Now the food... We started with the Fehleq and it was delicious. Then came the Batata Hara, which was technically for my cousin because I do NOT like white potatoes but that harissa and toum had me reaching back over to their side of the table. The Brussels sprouts were another win, but the Za'atar pide was absolutely my favorite. I could have eaten the whole thing by myself and probably should have ordered another one. And because apparently we were not done eating, we moved on to the regular menu and ordered the tuna tartare. So good. Fresh, flavorful, and definitely not your basic tuna tartare. The drinks were great too. Everything felt well balanced, creative, and matched the food perfectly. By the end of the night, I was already looking at the menu trying to figure out what I am ordering when I come back. And yes, I am definitely coming back. Great food, great drinks, beautiful space, amazing service. Ala understood the assignment. Thank you Yelp DC and Ala for such a fun night!

Was invited to try Ala through a fellow Yelper and grateful for the introduction because this place…read moredelivered-ish. The all day happy hour menu is the move and we took full advantage. The Batata Hara: fried potatoes with garlic were dangerously good. Overpowering with the garlic but in the absolute best way possible. The Karahab fried brussels sprouts and the Tawook chicken breast burger were both delicious and well executed. The only miss for me personally was the ribeye gyro but that's less about Ala and more about me finally confirming that gyros and I are just not meant to be. The food gets a solid 5 stars. The seating situation however deserves a conversation. Yelpers were directed to either the bar or outside with no other options offered. The weather cooperated and it wasn't a bad experience outdoors but when the hostess specifically stated that Yelpers sit at the bar or outside, that landed differently. The restaurant appeared beautiful from what I could see and assuming the inside was as lovely as it looked, that felt like a quiet form of segregation that the restaurant should probably revisit. Guests are guests regardless of how they found you. Our waiter was attentive and never forgot about us which is always appreciated. Overall a great experience with one note worth addressing. I'd return but hopefully at the main table next time.

We really liked this place. We shared a sampler which included humus, babaganoush and other dips…read more It came with pita bread. Excellent preparation and the service was amazing

this had to be one of my most disappointing meals in DC all year. and its a shame b/c i love to…read moreuplift Palestinian cuisine and celebrate the culture (and the cause), but i think a love for the cause has given this place such loving reviews. the disappointment began before we even ordered, i was excited to eat here for the Kafta bel Tahina and was told they dont serve it anymore. ok fine. how about Kousa Mashi. nope out of that at 6pm on a sunday, ok ok... the grilled fish, they didnt have it today.. fine fine, we can pivot.. I used to live in Gaza and love damsat addas (another item that rarely makes its way to levantine menus stateside).. we ended up ordering the ghmous sampler so that all the major mezze (hummus, labne, baba ghanoush, and damsat addas) would all be available to us. Let's just say, i was so disappointed i ended up making damsat addas myself the next day just to fix the bad taste left in my mouth from the one i had there. in a word, everything we had from the Palestinian side of the menu was underwhelming (including the muskkhan i had been so excited for and then deeply disappointed when something looking like a small hot pocket arrived). the only bright spot: toum, that was great.

This is my favorite falafel place in all of DC and Virginia. The reason is because of the fresh…read morefood and management. I'm on a strict low sodium diet so finding a restaurant that serves zero sodium/low sodium food items can be difficult. Owner informed me that they started making ZERO sodium falafel, which is amazing! So while my partner munches away on his hearty Shawarma wrap, I can devour a delicious, zero sodium, falafel salad. (yes, salad can be that tasty!). The café is clean and tended to.

This is a nice little hidden gem! I came here about 15 minutes before they close and ordered to-go…read more The inside is not that big and only has a couple of tables for dining in. The menu is the perfect size and has the right number of item on it. Even though they were about to close, the staff greeted me as if I was the first customer of the day. Now let's talk about the food!!! I ordered the chicken/lamb shawarma and it was delicious!!!! I asked the guy behind the counter to make it the way he likes it. That turned out to be a good call!!! Overall it was a great experience and I'm pretty sure I'll be coming back.

Dear Joon Management,…read more My family and I have been regular customers at your restaurant since March because we truly enjoy your excellent Persian food. I have also brought many coworkers and friends to introduce them to your restaurant. Unfortunately, during every visit over the past several months, the rice has been excessively salty. It tastes as though salt was added to the rice rather than the rice being properly seasoned. In May, I brought eight guests, and nearly everyone left their rice untouched. In early July, I returned with four people, and once again no one ate the rice. We mentioned the issue to our waiter, who was very polite and said he would inform the manager and the cook. On the third Wednesday of July, I came with two friends, and once again none of us ate the rice. I spoke with the manager, who was very kind and assured me she would discuss the issue with the cook. Unfortunately, despite reporting the problem more than once, nothing has changed. If this had happened only once, I would not be writing this email. However, after several disappointing visits, I expected that our meals would have been replaced or that we would not have been charged for food that was left uneaten because of the overly salted rice. I respectfully request that you consider providing a refund or another appropriate resolution for our most recent visit. More importantly, I hope this issue is corrected so future customers can fully enjoy your excellent food. If our feedback is important to you, I would appreciate hearing from you. I would also like to share your response with the friends and coworkers I have encouraged to visit your restaurant. My name is David A., and my email address is Shirpelang@gmail.com. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response. Sincerely, David A.

First time at Joon, and it was a great intro. Went with a friend for social hour and shared a…read morespread: the Joon burger, lamb and pistachio meatballs, falafel, lamb hummus, and French fries. Everything was delicious, no weak dish in the bunch. The meatballs and falafel especially stood out, but honestly the whole table was clean by the end. We also tried the Fig Old Fashioned and the Hafizz Spritz. The Fig Old Fashioned was the standout of the night: bourbon sweetened with fig cordial and warmed with Angostura bitters. Perfectly balanced, not too sweet, and dangerously easy to drink. The Hafizz Spritz was refreshing too, cucumber, lime, and mint with gin, prosecco rosé, and elderflower, but the Fig Old Fashioned is the one I'm already thinking about ordering again. Great first visit. Will be back for social hour again.

I am so happy to have found a new gem in the Arlington area! The Alshami team was very welcoming…read moreand accommodating for our large party. I was recommended the mint lemonade smoothie and the lamb fatteh, and both were fantastic. The combination of the juicy and tender lamb, hint of sweetness from the pomegranate and the crispy pita made for an amazing Bite every time. We also tried the beef shawarma, which was super juicy and the fries were crisp and fried perfectly. I highly recommend giving this a try!

Buffet is okay. Nothing too special. But it's enough if you're hungry…read more Also. Get ready to eat out of paper plates and plastic utensils!!