I've been wanting to go to this place for years, but since I moved a little further away I kept postponing...until I finally got there about two months ago and then I retried it soon after, because it was soooo gooood! The first time I went there, I tried the buffet serving, I am not sure whether that option is always available or whether it was just for a specific period of time. The food is really amazing! I only took pictures the second time, it was a Eggs Bil Na'anil pan, served with pita bread. First of all you'll notice how beautiful and inviting the plate looks. It was so nicely flavorful, light and delicious. Creamy with some crunchy touch. Pita bread was abound at, so I didn't even finish it because I was super full. I don't remember exactly what I ordered the first time, but the buffet was full of different options (vegetarians and non). Baklava was great! Next time I'd like to go try their pizza as well, as it looks great on the menu. Server was very nice, and in general I've always felt kindly welcomed and professionally taken care of. Sitting at the side porch, people around generally smoke Hookah, which I don't mind at all, but if you are sensitive to it, just ask to be seated inside. read more

Tarbouch Mediterranean Grill - Eggs Bil Na'anik Pan Fantastic!! - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

The food was gross and seemed to be reheated. The server was playing on her phone instead of waiting tables. And the place was old and extremely smelly from the smoking area. read more

Oh my goodness this place was such a vibe. Everything from the pot of tea, to the hummus platter, to the shakshuka was amazing and full of so much flavor. Oh, and the maneesh! One order was big enough for four people. We shared so much food and everything was delicious. read more

Tarbouch Mediterranean Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Food is great after the updates and the presentation. Atmosphere 5 stars all Arabs all the time, Location 5 stars prime location and seating is available outdoors Decore 5 stars after the upgrades. Well done Tarboush read more

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Genuinely surprised by the poor ratings because I have been twice to date and really enjoyed it both times. I cannot speak to the hookah experience b/c the friends I've been with have not been into it, but I hope to find some people to go smoke hookah with because, in college at Brandeis, sitting around smoking hookah was like our version of a kegger. We have therefore sat in the less smokey room that you enter immediately when you get in the door, the one with the giant Dali face staring at you. I will say that the decor here baffles me and is the one thing about this restaurant that I find unsettling. The food has been great, and at a reasonable price. The muhamara has been a little spicy (a lot of chili oil) for my taste but that's personal preference, but the hummus is super creamy and the babaganouj is mild and it's the only pistachio baklava I've found that I like as much as walnut. I was particularly impressed by the iced tea they brought my boyfriend, because it was very clearly tea they had brewed in house and chilled, rather than something from a mix. The chai is also really nice - more spicy than sweet, but not to a point where you feel like you're chugging a pepper mill, like at some places. I especially like that they stay open late because we are always at a loss for easygoing, casual, affordable places to go late for coffee and a desert or snack. Some of the other reviews complain about service. Service is definitely relaxed here, but they're very nice and helpful. I like the fact that the service is a little slow-paced here because it contributes to the fact that it's a loungey, casual, relaxing environment where you can sit and hang out for a while, rather than a busy restaurant trying to turn tables. I'd be annoyed if I was coming for a formal meal with multiple courses that require timing, but that's just not the vibe. Arlington - and the DC area generally - needs more places with chill, so I'm glad this is here. read more

They've renamed it to Block oven. I had the best Shawerma sandwich. The hummus was authentic! The bread is fresh and made out of the oven. They also have the best Kunafa.. I loved the place! Will recommend it read more

Recommend this place if you aren't coming for any serious food dishes. The little platters and side dishes are perfect to eat with the naan, chai, and can't forget the hookah. Out of what I got today - the manti dish (beef dumpling dish) and the shakshuka were my faves. The chai is alright - I've had better (honestly can make a better cup for myself at home) All in all it's a place to come with friends, coworkers, a cute date, and/or by yourself (study/work session)~ read more

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How did one of my favorite spots turn into such a mess? It has been newly renovated during the pandemic and even sports a huge mural of Dali wearing makeup. The first visit was great. Fast service, good food. Second visit was a train wreck. Ordered chicken schwarma platter and a chicken schwarma wrap. The platter comes out. Then 17 minutes later my chicken sandwich arrives. Hot wrap, cold fries. She was already done eating. I only bothered to eat the wrap. Server never communicated with us on why the food didn't come out. Never checked back on us. In fact she hid from us, full well knowing how unhappy we were. We had to flag her down to pay our check. One of the employees sat at a table behind us eating... chicken. And never said a word as we waited around for my food to come out. The food can be good here. Service is spotty at best. Downright insulting at the worst. read more

Tarbouch Mediterranean Grill - Chicken Shawarma Sandwich - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

My favorite little cafe, freshly baked pastries, excellent hooka, casual and cozy! Excellent customer service. Can t ask for more.

Love the food and the service has been amazing last few times I've been there !! They have authentic Lebanese food

Food was good and it was not expensive. It was a cute spot and I would recommend if you like Mediterranean food. I also had a fresh mango smoothie. My food tasted way better than it looked. I would definitely go back here and try some other items. read more

Tarbouch Mediterranean Grill - Mango and lemonade - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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It took them 45 mins to finish my online order. We had to wait the whole time outside because we had kids with us and they have shisha inside. cheap owners did hire enough staff. read more

Really amazing portions and very authentic Arabic cuisine. Cool place for hookah and fun. I recommend it to anyone who like Arabic. read more

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As a native Arab, the food was just alright - it still honed in the Arab cuisine but I could tell they downplayed it to make it universally pleasing for Americans. Basically like if you were to go to your American auntie's house who is married to an Arab guy and she's trying to cook a meal to impress the family. The ambience elevated the experience - we really enjoyed the enclosed patio. The lamb shawarma (not pictured) was definitely way tastier than the chicken shawarma. The shakshuka was average and nothing amazing. I would still certainly come back and try other items! read more

Tarbouch Mediterranean Grill - Chicken Shawarma Sandwich - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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I live across the street from them but I paid $10 more to get it delivered, What happened was they did not do the order the way I want it, they did not bring the side of Tahini sauce, I was so mad and I called them but they were ok that they messed up my order and they also were fine that they missed the Tahini, They are the most expensive Shawarma in the area it's $19 dollars plus tax plus tips plus delivery fee, In DC Georgetown it's $12dollars. I was so mad I went to the store the owner was so mean and said you have to pay .60 more for the Tahini sauce. So I paid $35 dollars for one sandwich and he want it .60 cent , long story short I'm done with them forever. read more

Had a great date here. They had a lot of options but we only got hummus bi tahini and baba ghanouj (both delicious), and ended with some nice tea. Pro-tip: always demand fresh bread. If it's not hot and doesn't have the air pocket, send that bread back. read more

Tarbouch Mediterranean Grill - Tea - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

The food and service excelente, we will be back for sure. We recommend the place. We had a great experience

Food: chicken Shawarma was dry, fries were hard and not fresh at all. Service: when it's slow, there shouldn't be 20min wait for a WRAP, I mean c'mon. Ambiance: ehh. read more

I don't who have this place low reviews. The shakshuka and bread is always freshly made. The severs are friendly and the non smoking side is quiet. Highly recommend. read more

It's been 3 weeks that they keep making the excuse that their system is down and only accepting cash. Called this evening, drove half an hour to get here, one waitress takes our order and says nothing and the next approaches us and states that we can pay cash only! One employee over the phone and one in establishment failed to disclose this information and yet after 10 min of waiting someone approaches us with this info. This is extremely irritating as a customer for years! read more

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I ordered the chicken shawarma platter with salad. The flavor on both were good...too salty for my liking. My two issues were that the chicken was very oily, it completely soaked the bread and left a pool of oil. Also the whole meal was overpriced. read more

Time: it took exactly 30 min from order to delivery of the food. Quality: the food seemed fresh and well cooked. Quantity: definitely will fill you up. First date: absolutely not, very casual! Overall: good place for a group of friends to hang out with some good food, drinks, and smoke some hookah Would I recommend: yes read more

Tarbouch Mediterranean Grill - Kefta & Chicken - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Came here three times in a week when I visited DC. The hookah is legit, the hummus is so fresh and the zaatar/cheese manakeesh is amazing! Reminds me of the food I had growing up in Saudi!! The vibes are so chill also. Highly recommend this place! read more

Tarbouch Mediterranean Grill - Zaatar (6" Lebanese Falt Bread) - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Great food and interesting ambiance. The service is ok. It's easy access and has a quirky style I enjoy--lots of interesting curios decorating the walls. read more

Overall it's a great spot for authentic mezza. The food quality can be really excellent, but definitely fluctuates throughout the week. My recommendations, in order of goodness, are the lamb hummus, baba ghanoush, chicken wings (yes I know but trust me they're amazing), fries, and egg shakshuka. Certainly give this spot a try if you're in the area. read more

Went to this adorable place and got so much food. Swarhma (spelling?) chicken plate and sandwich with fries was on point. All the sauces were great and we got a yummy appetizer too. We did gummy bear hookah and got the dessert (different but not my fav- everyone else loved it!) our waitress was very nice. An appetizer, 3 dishes, hookah and one dessert fed 4 people and was around $80. Not too bad! Easy parking too! Check it out! (Oh and they have games inside I think) It's a very laid back spot so don't go there if you're in a hurry or something. read more

Great hookah lounge, calm, relaxing with good food, where you can stay for hours and they keep bringing new coal. Their chicken shawarma, and falafel are very tasty, but their best food is the tiramasu and chocolate cake, perfect with their black tea with mint or Turkish coffee. The hookah is smooth and good, the blue mist and watermelon mint are the best, but all hookah flavours here are made well. read more

Nice restaurant!! Sincere service!! Sincere smile of the server!! Although unfamiliar food, but delicious！！ and I could feel their true heart !!! Thank you for nice dinner time! I will visit again here!! :) read more

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I let a friend pick a lunch spot, and, boy, am I happy I did. I have driven by this place a dozen times, but have not been inside. Decor-wise, it is aged and nothing spectacular. The food is where it's at. Everything my friend and I ordered was solid -- Turkish coffee, lamb with hummus, tabouleh, and the kafta & chicken grill entree with Mediterranean salad substitute (instead of rice). The Turkish coffee was strong -- and I loved it. They had only small pots, which are ~3 servings total. The lamb with hummus is spectacular as it isn't minced lamb, but, rather, chunks with pickled red onion. This hummus is accompanied by four very large, warm pieces of pita bread (individually wrapped). I love vegetables, so I also ordered a side of tabouleh for acidity, texture, and balance. Lastly, the kafta & chicken salad was the best part of this meal. Why? The chicken kabobs. Those chicken kabobs are the best I have *ever* had -- not just in the DMV, but all over the country. They are clearly marinated with yogurt (and maybe even some baking soda like the Chinese do) overnight as they are extremely moist chunks of chicken breast. The kafta is essentially kubideh with more seasoning. The salad is lightly tossed on a creamy dressing. Everything is served with a side of a creamy hot sauce. While $19.95 isn't the cheapest grill entree, this thing is big enough for two meals, so order it. I am not giving this place 5 stars because the service is horrendous. There was one server for the entire section I was sitting in. I really dislike when someone turns away as I'm still talking as this shows they aren't really listening. This became evident each and every time she forgot requests my friend and I made. It took half an hour to finally receive extra napkins. But, of course, the check came with the quickness. This place offers hookah if you're into that type of thing. I'm not, but I will always return for the food. read more

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Haven't been here for a while. It seems like new management. Order chicken shawarma sandwich. It wasn't that good. The chicken is dry. The sandwich lacks any sauce. The spices are Indian not Middle Eastern. Fries inside the sandwich are just a filling. The sandwich also come with saggy fries and two packs of catchup. The bread is great and toasted nicely. The staff is very friendly. I used to love this place. It will take me a while to come back. read more

Stopped by here on a Thursday evening and it was not crowded, but there was a good amount of people. My friend and I were seated on the covered patio area of the restaurant because we wanted to partake in hookah. We initially ordered the wild berry mint flavor, which they said they had none of even though it was still on the menu. We opted for the peach mint instead. The service was mediocre and slow at best. Our server came around once to take our order, then to bring what we ordered and then another time to bring the check (which we had to ask another server other than ours, to bring). Not once did she ever come around to ask if we needed anything. As for the hookah, it was average, nothing special. They leave extra coals on the side for you but never come around to tend them. I sound like a hookah snob, but I'm just used to visiting establishments that keep your coal fresh and burning! Food is decent priced and not bad. I got the Falafel sandwich and I'd give it a 3.5/5. read more

Tarbouch Mediterranean Grill - Menu - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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I have sampled lots of the Mediterranean grills and Tarbouch Mediterranean Grill is the BEST one in the Arlington area. It has the BEST quality and quantity dining. Family feel & the BEST friendly service would highly recommend! read more

Tarbouch Mediterranean Grill - Mandi Lahma - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Tarbouch is a fun hang out spot. It's a great place to get together with friends, smoke some hookah, grab a bite, play (card) games if you want, etc. I personally find the food pretty good, the wait staff friendly and attentive, and the environment a cozy relaxed place. Their tea is yummy, and while I don't drink coffee, have been told by my friends that their Turkish coffee is great. I also really love how their outdoor section is warmed with heaters on the ceilings. If you are looking for a chill place to eat Mediterranean food and smoke hookah, I recommend checking this place out! read more

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I got an enjoyable take-out order from here recently. I did not realize that it was a hookah lounge until I looked online later. My food was very good, and the staff was friendly. read more

So the shisha here is on point and the food is as well. I don't normally eat at shisha bars but this one I do! read more

Tarbouch Mediterranean Grill - Chicken kabob with Mediterranean Salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Reliably delicious food, as always! Tip: If your doing take out, ask them to hold off on all the little plastic jars of sauce or cutlery . We order three entrees and got 7 sets of cutlery and 10 tiny plastic containers of garlic butter. read more

I -still- love Tarbouch. I've been going about twice a week in warm weather and once every week or two in cold weather since I found out about this place last spring. It's so bad that it's at the point that if I'm ever lost or missing, you could probably find me here. My exes are afraid to come here, because they know they'll probably run in to me. I will tell you all of the reasons why I love Tarbouch: 1. The (eastern european, not middle eastern as referenced by a past reviewer, below) waitresses remember me and treat me well every single time I go there. 2. The owner has befriended me. 3. I've become known as a regular ... which therefore puts me into the 'glamorous' crowd as referenced below, but what's even more appealing about this fact is that I'm usually one of the only women there past 3am and definitely one of the only white girls there (or white person actually) which is a cool demographic because everyone is left wondering if I'm half lebanese or turkish. Furthermore - the clientele are friendly. I've made tons of friends, gotten a few dates, shared plenty of jokes, and love the warm atmosphere. (1, 2, and 3 mean excellent customer service and relations... Tarbouch is my 'cheers' - the place I can go where everybody knows my name and a table is reserved for me when I am spotted walking in). 4. The food is fabulous. Before you hate on this statement, please remember that this is the most authentic food I have found outside of Cairo. I have not seen anything more on point than Tarbouch's food. The rice is always perfect. The meat is grilled and is always tender. There need not be any 'kick' or flare or curry thrown in because it's authentic middle eastern food as judged by the owners, who are a lebanese family, and as judged by the loads of middle eastern patrons who chow down on all of Tarbouch's offerings several times a week. It appeals more to a middle eastern/arab crowd which probably says a lot about why they're always packed. Moreover, their kitchen boasts middle eastern chefs - Munir and the owner are often seen running around in the kitchen, adding their magic touch to the food and flipping kebab on the grill. Last time I spoke to one of the family members of the owner about a particular drink I was missing from Egypt (sa7leb), he pledged to make it for me when I return. 4. The shisha is also the best I've had outside of Cairo (Sequoia in Cairo is #1). In fact some of the best shisha I've had ever, including inside of Egypt. I don't know how they do it - maybe they maintain their pipes very well.... but there's never any lingering flavors from the last use, never any ash stuck in the tube, no charge per coal, the flavor lasts forever. Their shisha runners are kind of like specialists. 5. The men and women there are gorgeous. 6. The owners have a great business plan and run it well - they sell only the best ma'2sl/tobacco, coals, shisha equipment, drinks, etc. They've expanded so that the patio is year-round with enough heating lamps to keep it comfortable without a jacket when it's 25 degrees outside. They're open until the last person leaves. Brilliant. 7. No alcohol. I love drinking, don't get me wrong - but there's something so wonderful about an establishment where you can go and chill in a social yet alcohol free environment. The last place I was able to lounge, sit for hours, puff away on shisha religiously, and people watch, with no pesky staff staring at me to leave, was the greek campus at AUC (Cairo) where I routinely missed class to sit in the sun and chill for four or five hours. I could go on and on... by now I'm sure everyone in the world (or on Yelp, more appropriately) thinks I'm in on a love fest with Tarbouch.... wait, I guess I am. But I seriously love this place more than any other place in the entire DMV and I don't get any royalties from my constant bragging about Tarbouch. I love this place so much that I have considered buying a car solely for the purpose of driving here. Yes, I'm carless because I'm a city girl, and that means that my weekly treks out to Tarbouch involve a lot of metroing on the orange line, and brisk walk in heels from the clarendon metro, and constant topping up my smarttrip. Also - there are no glamorous afterparties, tarbouch IS the afterparty. Tarbouch is my middle east outside of the middle east. ....end of love fest.... read more

Tarbouch Mediterranean Grill - Vonetta Y. at Tarbouch - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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This is my boyfriend's watering hole. He frequents this place at least once a week to converse with his friends and what not. Yesterday (Sunday) he brought me and a couple of my friends to join his friends in their hookah smoking and socializing activities. Though I had a great time, I was not blown away from Tarbouch. First and foremost, bathrooms are completely nasty. There was some sort of 'liquid' on the side of the toilet when I first went in there... and I do not think it was water. I guess someone has bad aim? I usually say that when a place has a dirty bathroom (especially when they're not that busy) then they probably have a dirty kitchen. I didn't go to the unisex bathroom until after I had ate... For my meal I got the kefta beef kabob and rice. I was informed after the fact that the kefta was not the best option on the menu. Instead I was told to go for some of the sandwiches which I will do next time. It was decent to me, but not comparable to some since I have had much better in previous memory. Hookah options are loaded. They have tons of flavors to choose from at $16 per hookah. A plus side that I appreciate is that if you provide your own hookah, they will assemble it and prepare it for you if you buy the flavor there. So, if you do not want to spend a lot of money on a hookah, bring your own. This is a great place to bring your friends. It is a very chill environment where everyone can sit in a group and relax hours upon hours... I would know since we were here for nearly six hours. The early evening is the best time to get here around six or seven o'clock to secure your space. As the night goes on the more people show up. They offer outdoor patio (parking lot) seating, covered patio seating and indoor seating. Servers run amok here. Don't ever expect you have one server because they really run in groups. You will have two or three people catering to you even if one says they are the primary server, at best you'll see them each three or four times over the course of your visit. Might I add they never look happy!! Every time one came over to us, she looked completely pensive or uninterested. They are primarily Eastern Europeans working as the servers. Not that really matters, but I could see where they could come off as standoffish. I probably will come back due to default. Like I said it isn't my favorite place, but it is doable. read more

Tarbouch Mediterranean Grill - Lamb sandwich - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

This is a chill spot! Good place to kick back and relax, good hookah! Good food and cute girls....what more can you ask for? Everyone seems to enjoy themselves here and its a great spot to hangout with your buddies and socialize. Food is very reasonably priced and delicious. I had the Falafel, hot mint tea and hookah...perfect combination! Plenty of parking, tight spots but plenty and they are open till 4am, which is great! Will definitely be returning again soon! read more

Tarbouch Mediterranean Grill - Falafal & Hot Tea - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

This was my first time at a hookah bar and it was an interesting experience. I don't have comparative data but it seemed OK to me. First to note is that this place is crowded. We came on a Monday evening about 9 pm and had to wait at least 30 minutes for a table so be prepared. Our server, was not attentive, we sat, ordered and then didn't really see her again until we flagged her down for our check. They seemed to have an adequate selection of smoke but again, I feel crippled to judge because of my newb status. The restaurant itself was not the comfort palace I expected, in fact, it was quite the opposite. The tables were cheap and the chairs standard wooden backed seats. They were not comfortable. Overall, Tarbouch reminded me of a greasy southern diner with a middle eastern flair. It was a good time to socialize and interesting to try the smoke but I doubt that I will make it a regular thing. read more