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Villa Yara

4.2 (278 reviews)
Closed Closed
Updated 2 weeks ago

Order Villa Yara Takeout or Delivery

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Bar area
Cassy B.

Was in Georgetown for a treat myself day after a hard week and when I saw the scenery of this restaurant I immediately put it in Apple Maps. I sat at the bar and the placemat decor was pretty and pink, just how I like it. So may flowers and Audrey Hepburn photos to decorate this aesthetic restaurant. My waiter served me a deliciously spicy margarita or as it's called "Mardalida." The food has a kick but oh so good! I loved the SHISH TAOUK​​ (cubed chicken breast . garlic . olive oil . lemon). It was also spicy but packed with flavors. Will be coming back!

Tara L.

My friend and I dropped by here pretty randomly one night in the mood for a snack. She had told me that they have a beautiful little courtyard inside, which immediate drew in my interest. It was about 8pm on a Saturday night and we were able to find seating quickly. We opted for the bar since we weren't looking for a full meal and were more so using this as a pausing point before determining our plans for the rest of the evening. We ordered the Lamb Hummus to share and it was amazing! We weren't drinking cocktails and stuck with water, but our bartender was so nice and attentive. The space is super cute so looking forward to returning again in the future to try more of their food!

Rose H.

Villa Yara is a must try- the location was very cute. The ambience felt like a restaurant you might find in New York because the tables were so close. I thought it made it feel a little bit more intimate and home like and added to its charm. The service was exceptional from the time I got there till the time I left, I felt very taken care of and accommodated. The food was really great especially the hummus with lamb is a must try. I would come back just for that dish alone! The pictures don't do the dishes justice however, I got the platter that was able to feed two people, and it was more than enough to feed two people - it included the lamb, Bronzino, beef sausages, and grilled chicken. For dessert, I got the baklava which was stunning. It had a floral taste to it, which was a really nice twist, and I also had the traditional yogurt that came with caramel. That was a little bit too sweet for me, but if you're somebody that likes very sweet desserts, it was extremely sweet. Would definitely love to come back and try their other dishes.

Updated review 04/04/2026 - we decided to come back here for another anniversary dinner and it was even better than our first experience. Perfect food, perfect ambiance and the service from Reem and Uday went above and beyond! Looking forward to returning!

Interior
Burcin D.

This was our second time at Villa Yara to celebrate me and my best friend's birthdays and we have the best dinner. We ordered bunch of the small hot and cold meze which is the way to go here. Upon learning that this is a birthday celebration, they brought out all of the desserts, which was an amazing surprise. Our server was Naoures and she was the sweetest and very attendant. They play Middle Eastern songs in the background and the vibes are always 100! I highly recommend this place and I will definitely be back again

Gloria M.

I love this restaurant! All of the dishes I've tried are amazing but don't miss the baklava ice cream dessert, 10/10. The service is incredible and all of the staff are so friendly.

Jose P.

Came here with friends for a nice time and a good meal. Lebanese food is always delicious and mostly gluten-free. The service was great and they took care of all our restrictions and helped us get a great meal. My wife and I ordered the platter for 2 that was awesome. The place used to be Le Pan Quotidien and they have done a great job converting to a casual restaurant. We sat outside in the back garden which was really nice. The only gripe is that they have not invested in mosquito control which was a bit of a distraction. Otherwise, I highly recommend this place.

--- I came to DC excited to experience the city's diverse food culture, which has such a great reputation. This was the first restaurant I tried, ordering through Uber Eats since I arrived pretty late. While the delayed delivery wasn't the restaurant's fault, the food itself was extremely disappointing. It was not worth the wait or the price. The meat was dry and overcooked, and although I was supposed to receive two skewers, I only got one. That skewer had very little chicken--after one bite, there were only two small pieces left. I also couldn't identify most of the vegetables or sides on the plate. Given the strong reviews, I honestly don't understand how this meal reflects them. Maybe it was a one-time issue because they were close to closing, or perhaps something went wrong with the delivery--but overall, the food was dry, unappetizing, and far too small for the cost. I was shocked by how bad it was and would not recommend it based on this experience.

Yaras mahalabia
Melissa B.

I've now visited villa yara twice and have loved everything that I've eaten here! My favorites would be the branzino (the green sauce is unbelievable), mouhamara, the batata harra, baba ghanoush, and sayadieh. The spices and sauces really make it all exceptional! I enjoy the ambiance and they have some good wines, but not too many cocktails that interested me. I gave 4 stars because of the 2nd time I came to visit the service wasn't great and there were a few snaffus! I came with a big group outing and we had less people than expected and told them this upon arriving. However, they still brought out food for the full group and set it on the two tables we weren't using without telling us, so we had wayyy too much food. When we asked if they could box the remaining food before it came out they told us that wasn't possible. Was just a bit inflexible and wasteful!

Hummus and the Yara's lemonade mocktail
Yara R.

We came on a random whim since the restaurant had my name. We sat at the bar and ordered a cocktail, a mocktail, and hummus. Everything was delicious and served timely. The restaurant is beautiful and feminine and I hope to return with a proper reservation. They lose a star for service. The host was incredible but the bartenders were slow and never acknowledged us. I always had to say "excuse me" to order and get our checks. It wasn't terribly busy just a few orders trickled in while we were there so a few words of hello is a pretty standard thing.

Garden/patio
Dana M.

Amazing service! The food was incredible, we tried the knafeh pancakes, shakshuka, kafta, and labneh all were so fresh and the presentation was beautiful. It was also my friends birthday and they brought out pistachio ice cream on the house. The garden was beautiful and filled with greenery, brick and mirrors. Will definitely be back!

Stairs
Usamah N.

Villa Yara is definitely worth trying out, their brunch was very delicious. It's not only an instagram-able restaurant but their food is also fire which is rare to have both nowadays I know it gets very busy in there so the service could use a tad bit of touching up Highly recommend the mixed grill ‍

Beet salad
Alex J.

Went on a Saturday afternoon and arrived just before afternoon rush. Sat in the patio, but weather was a bit windy for the cover to be opened. Next visit will have to be when it warmer to sit "outside." Can't remember the exact names of the dishes or cocktail, but all were very flavorful. If you like pineapple, you'll like the cocktail. Beet salad was a bit tart, still loved the flavor. Eggplant dish was good, but we weren't as hungry so didn't feel we enjoyed as much as we could have. Lots of other dishes we wanted to try so will to go again. Sharing is perfect so you can try several dishes together. Portion didn't seem large, but they were plenty. Waitress was friendly and had good recommendations, although the ran out of an ingredient so we had to change our original cocktail order. Decor was inviting so want to go back to enjoy in warmer weather.

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1 year ago

Really great food. Very fast service. Nice atmosphere. You should try this new place.

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2 years ago

Excellent, fast and friendly service. Food tasted amazing and high quality! Celebrated wifey birthday and definitely coming back again!

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2 years ago

Service was pretty slow but the food was delicious! The servings were huge, we took most of it home. Beautiful space

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Page 3 of 7

Villa Yara Reviews in Other Languages

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Zaytinya

Zaytinya

4.2(6.3k reviews)
1.9 mi
$$$

This place is in a great corner location, the food was delicious, and the staff were friendly…read moreoverall. We had a reservation to make sure we got a table, and the restaurant was completely full when we arrived. The only downside was that after being seated outside, we felt a little forgotten for the first 30 minutes or so. No one came by with water or to check in, and it seemed like the staff may not have realized a new table had been seated until we flagged down the outside host. There were also swarm of flies hovering around the outdoor tables, which another table pointed out and then we started noticing too. Aside from that, the experience was good overall. The inside dining area definitely had a dressier vibe compared to the patio seating, and once we were helped, the food made up for the slow start.

Placed a large order via Uber Eats since restaurant will not accept takeout orders directly…read more Restaurant does not allow any specifications when ordering through Uber Eats - for example, one person wanted one ingredient held from her salad. Uber Eats lacked description for Zaytinya's food items (such as the ounces of the drinks) and some items (such as the horta salata) were not as pictured. There were no extra napkins in our bag. The Coke came in bottles but we didn't receive any bottle openers. To top it off, we had three food items missing. I called the restaurant again to let them know about the missing food - they were unapologetic and didn't know what the proper protocol was to fix the situation. The service was subpar and the servings were small. Won't be back. The next day we had food delivered from another local restaurant where both the food and service were outstanding, unlike at Zaytinya. UPDATE: After writing the Yelp review, a general manager at Zaytinya emailed me the following: "..."The restaurant normally offers takeout, but the location was actually closed that day for a private event. However, since the order had come through, we tried to honor it. The mujadara and 2 orders of rice were missing because we hadn't prepped those items, as they were not offered for the buyout..." The restaurant knew on Friday what I was ordering for Tuesday. They had plenty of time to reach out to me and tell me they would be closed and wouldn't be able to fulfill the order. Instead, they knowingly sent out an order without all of the food for our group and charged as if we received everything. This shows a lack of professionalism and is disrespectful.

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Zaytinya
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ilili DC - pita pillows

ilili DC

4.4(730 reviews)
2.5 mi
$$$

Had a wonderful experience at Ilili DC. The restaurant itself is absolutely beautiful inside and…read morehonestly gave me cozy, magical Harry Potter vibes with the decor and atmosphere. For appetizers, we ordered the Brussels sprouts and the mixed grill, and both were full of flavor and beautifully presented. We also ended the meal with kanafe and mint tea, which was the perfect combination for dessert. A special thank you to Leila and Francesca, who were incredibly kind, welcoming, and attentive throughout the evening and really made the experience feel warm and enjoyable. The only small downside was that the restaurant does checks family-style and doesn't allow separate individual checks, which can be a little inconvenient for groups. We also requested the meat to be cooked well done, but it came out more medium rare than expected. Other than that, the overall experience, ambiance, food, and hospitality were wonderful, and I would definitely return.

Tried ilili DC recently and honestly loved the vibe as much as the food. The space feels upscale…read morewithout being stuffy, and the energy at The Wharf makes it a great dinner spot for a date night or group outing. The mezze was fresh and flavorful, especially the labneh and hummus, and the patatas bravas absolutely lived up to the hype. Service was attentive even though the restaurant was packed. It's definitely on the pricier side, but the atmosphere and quality made it worth it for a special night out.

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ilili DC - Stylish dining room with greenery.

Stylish dining room with greenery.

ilili DC - Duck Shawarma

Duck Shawarma

ilili DC - Olive You Margarita and Keraz Carciofo Negroni.

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Olive You Margarita and Keraz Carciofo Negroni.

Maydan - Roasted carrots

Maydan

4.3(1.4k reviews)
1.7 mi
$$$$

I came here for my 30th birthday celebration and all I can say is WOW- what a way to ring in a new…read moredecade. I left feeling full, grateful, and with a new love for middle eastern cuisine. The service was impeccable- the waitress and sommelier were both extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Nadia, our waitress, offered suggestions about what dishes would pair well together for the tawle experience and shared her favorites. The sommelier went over the extensive wine list and helped us pick a nice red that paired well with our chosen dishes- it was called Yacoubian Hobbs from Armenia. The ambiance was comfortable and welcoming- you could dress up or down, pretty much anything goes! The walls are lined with colorful patterns and draped tapestries to create a high end living room vibe. Now for the fun part- THE FOOD! The first dishes brought out were the mouneh (pickled veggies), the honey soaked dates, and the three spreads (we selected the hummus with lamb on top for an additional $15, havuc, and beet borani). I'll add that they continuously bring out fresh, warm pita throughout the whole meal. The lamb hummus was savory and well-balanced, but very rich. The havuc had a beautiful lightness from the carrots and I loved the textural element of the crispy onions on top. The beet borani also added a welcomed freshness throughout the meal and was vibrant, light, and had wonderful yogurt flavors. The underrated dish were the pickled veggies because INSANE. I used these in bites during the entire meal and they all had a unique flavor as if they were each pickled in a special way- my favorites were the white radish and scallions. The honey dates were a sweet palette cleanser and cut through the savory elements of the meal. We continued on with the next round consisting of the field lettuce salad, the three condiments (we chose the toum, chermoula, and harissa), halloumi, omani shrimp, and chickpeas. The field lettuce salad had a zesty vinaigrette and I appreciated the acidity addition of the sliced oranges and the crunchy, salted pistachios. The toum was a garlicky aioli that I felt was best paired with the chickpeas- although all the dips were delicious with all the dishes and the pita. The harissa was a lighter version than I am used to, spicy, and paired well with the veggies and ribeye. The chermoula was my favorite and paired best with the ribeye- it reminded me of a flavorful and herbaceous chimichurri. The halloumi had a sweet honey and was grilled perfectly, paired with nice crunchy nuts. The chickpeas had a lovely consistency and were well seasoned- I think it was sumac, but whatever it was, I couldn't get enough. The shrimp were ONE OF MY FAVORITE dishes from the whole meal. They were juicy, seasoned perfectly, charred, and just chefs kiss. I enjoyed them with the chermoula and squeeze of lime. The main dishes and veggies came during our final (besides dessert) round. We ordered the sayadieh as part of the table experience and also added a ribeye to the order. We had ordered the charred carrots, but they accidentally brought us the wildflower honey zucchini instead, so we were lucky enough to be able to try both. The branzino (sayadieh) absolutely blew my mind. It was citrusy, spicy, seasoned with bright spices, and incredibly moist. I would honestly skip the ribeye- it was cooked to a nice medium rare and had a nice flavor, but I don't think it compared to the rest of the meal. The charred carrots were spicy, cooked soft- also one of the standouts. The zucchini was served beautifully and I enjoyed the sauce, but could also skip next time. We ended the meal with the bitter orange sorbet and the chocolate mousse. The sorbet was a nice palette cleanser as it had zest in the mix and was very light after the heavy meal. The chocolate mousse was very rich and had a new balance of chocolate and peanut flavors. They brought over complimentary glasses of champagne to celebrate my birthday as well :) I cannot wait to come back to try more of the menu and I am so happy to have had a diverse taste of the Middle East. I'll also add that we had a HUGE bag of leftovers that lasted several meals and they packaged it up like true professionals. A food lover completely satisfied and eager to get back :)

A popular spot near Adams Morgan. The restaurant features Middle Eastern grilled food. In fact,…read morethere were several fire grills in the center of the first floor of the restaurant (it has two floors), and you can see the staff constantly grilling the meats, fish, vegetables and pita. This, together with the dark vibe, made me feel as if I were eating with ppl. from B.C. in a cave. Very interesting. I like that. For food, I got the Carrot Havuc, Omani Shrimp and Halloumi. But first I was served with some freshly made whole wheat pita. They were soft, chewy and earthy. The Carrot Havuc was basically a carrot+garlic puree. Very silky, refreshingly sweet, and a bit sour. The sourness may come from the garlic and lemon. Paired well with the pita and meats. The Omani shrimp came with 5 pieces, each shrimp was ~1oz so it was not very filling. The shrimp were meaty, fresh, juicy, though I wish it could be less salty, even if I already asked for less salt. The shrimp was said to be marinated with dried lime and tamarind but I could only taste the flavor of dried lime. The Halloumi cheese was brushed wild flower honey and topped with Egyptian dukkah, then baked until the outside was golden brown. It was salty and sweet, and the (tons of) sesame seeds added some fragrance to it. However, the peanut was too roughly chopped so that they fell off from the cheese when I slice it, and thus difficult to eat with the cheese. Service was not worth the 20% mandatory tip. For example, when I asked about the sourness of the Carrot Havuc, he did not know why and said he would "taste it and let me know where the sourness came from". Unfortunately, he did not tell me until I asked again when doing the check (I doubt if he tasted it in the first place). Neither did he ask me about the other dishes. Overall, the dishes were great but not impressive, and was mostly heavily flavored. The service could be improved.

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Maydan - Wood oven front and center

Wood oven front and center

Maydan - Shrimp

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Albi - Brussel sprouts

Albi

4.6(469 reviews)
3.8 miNavy Yard
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I don't even know where to start with this. Last friday, I had a remarkable dinner here, and I was…read morewowed from the moment I stepped inside. As much as I love the cocktail bar next door, I had no idea this epic place was here. The inside is a bit dark, yet so welcoming and cozy. It's the waiting area if you are either early for your reservation or waiting for others in your party. They are kind enough to give you a glass of water and the cocktail menu in case you want to get started. We were fancy and did the hearth table and WHAT a journey it was. From surprise drink tastings and bites to pretty much trying all new food items and combinations, I would absolutely do it again. I could name the things that I had, but you may or may not know what they are. All I can say was that it was seven delightful courses that left me just right. The friendly, professional staff made it even better. Check the reservations and to the hearth table. Do it.

Craving for some Middle Eastern eats, we decided to check out Albi…read more We started off with: +the Crispy Kibbeh - kibbeh is one of my favorite snacks, so I was excited to find these on the menu +Jericho Dates - blistered, and prepared with ras el hanout and brown butter +the Mushrooms Lightly Smoked on hummus - with confit egg yolk and black garlic; served with wood-fired potato pita +and, the Sfeeha - wood-fired lamb meat pies, topped with toum and lemon juice For our mains, we ordered: +the BBQ'D Lamb Kebabs - marinated in dill yogurt +the Maqluba - softshell crab upside down on rice with ramps and crab fat yogurt; served with crab dagga gazawiya smashed tomatillo, dill seed, and chilis; note that this dish runs out Service was friendly, and the space is cozy and intimate; loved the seating setup and the coal fire oven! We were thinking of trying out the Sofra, but we decided to order a la carte; maybe next time! Metered and garage parking in the area. +shareables +friendly staff +metered and garage parking available

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Albi
Albi - Rosewater meringue + walnuts in honey syrup

Rosewater meringue + walnuts in honey syrup

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Agora DC - Cauliflower**

Agora DC

4.0(1.8k reviews)
1.1 miDupont Circle
$$$

Was able to do a walk-in on a recent Thursday evening…read more I had been many times before, but it had been a while, so it was great to dine at Agora again. Everyone in my group loved the assortment of small plates that we had. We considered getting the lamb chops, but it only comes with 2, and there were three of us, so we opted against it. The dishes we got instead (an assortment of vegetables, meat, and seafood) were all delicious, and we would all be happy to get them again.

Went there twice to taste different kinds of Turkish dishes. One time for dinner and the other for…read morelunch. Overall the food was good. The serving size of the dishes I ordered were medium to small. The service was far less satisfactory than food. I tried the following dishes: 1. Complimentary pita: ~40g per piece. Not salty and paired well with the other dishes. Definitely get some! 2. Lahmacun: The lamb+beef mixture was tasty. It came with 4 pieces. 3. Branzino: ~6oz. The fish was grilled to perfection; juciy tender, and the skin was nicely charred. It was served with freh parsley and seasoned grilled tomato (salt+oregano I think). 4. Imam Bayildi: Half of an eggplant topped with sauteed onions and tomatoes. While itself was pretty normal, it went so well with the Ottoman rice. 5. Ottoman Rice: The true highlight of all the dishes I tried! It was basically Basimati rice cooked with dried apricots, raisins, almonds & pine nuts mix, and seasoned with black currant. Overall it was warm, earthy and lightly smoky. The apricot slices added some delightful sweetness and juiciness to the dish. Should pair well with Labneh, chicken and seafood. But to be honest, I can simply eat this stuff along for a whole meal! 6. Tabbouleh: They went against the traditional recipe by substituting the bulgur with quinoa and added some pomegranate arils. I liked the special texture of quinoa. The sweetness of pomegrante arils also enriched the flavors. However, I had to constantly spit the seeds when enjoying the salad. 7. Kofte: Adana style ground beef patties. Just like what I make at home haha! I ordered it as an add-on to my salad at lunchtime. It came with only 2 pieces which weighed no more than 3oz in total... Despite the delicious food, service was disappointing. The first time, the dinner, was Okay. While my food came out slowly, at least my server was aware of it and asked me how I liked the dishes. The second time, the lunch, was horrible. Even before I was seated, my server made me feel that he was reluctant to serve me, and emphasized that I had to order asap. "Luckily", I had already decided what to order. After I got my dishes, no one in the restaurant asked me if the food was Okay. And at the check, my bill was thrown onto my table. In comparison, the two ladies dining next to me came even after I started eating, but were greeted warmly and were given lots of time to decide what to order; not to mention that the staff gave them lots of suggestions, asked about their dining experience, and even chatted with them about sightseeing in DC, etc. Such discrimitory treatment is really unacceptable.

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Agora DC - A quiet dining room. The main dining room was much more noisy.

A quiet dining room. The main dining room was much more noisy.

Agora DC - Weekend Bottomless Brunch

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Mejana - Mixed grill

Mejana

4.1(928 reviews)
1.9 mi
$$$
Outdoor seating
Private events

I have been a long time fan/patron of MeJana b/c of the friendly, welcoming staff, beautiful…read moreambiance, and consistent delicious dishes. I especially appreciate the thoughtful presentation, tableware and glassware. One of my favorite go-tos for lunch is the Chicken Shawarma with salad. Light, healthy and tasty, presented on a board. Now that the weather is pleasant, try dining on the patio like I did today. Enjoy!

9 years later and I am back- I have seen this place very busy on weeknights so I decided, it's time…read moreto go back. They pride themselves as a healthier spot and the food definitely reflected that. We started off with drinks (they only do happy hour at the bar) and got the Mojito and the mediteranean martini. Both were good but the purple mojito was definitely the star of the show. For appetizers we got the "fried" cauliflower and the hot appetizer platter. The cauliflower definitely felt more baked then fried and the portion was quite fair. The hot appetizer platter comes with 2 cheese rolls, 2 falafels, and two kibehs. I will say, for $17, I would love perhaps 3-4 of each item instead of just 2 each. The kibeh were super tasty and so were the cheese rolls, but the falafel were a bit dry. For our mains we got the lamb chops and the steak kabob - both were fantastic. Simple flavors but really well done on both ends, with both cuts of meat cooked to order. I will say, I would love a little bit more side veggies- especially for the $45 dollar lamb chops but I assume they expect you to order more sides like we did. Quick service, Arlington prices, a bit cold inside on a cold day. Will definitely be back to try more!

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Mejana - Patio

Patio

Mejana
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Bar

ala - GOLDEN CAULIFLOWER

ala

4.2(1.2k reviews)
0.8 miDupont Circle, Downtown
$$$

Brunch review ahead!!!!!…read more Ambiance- perfect for a cute date, time with friends, family members, or coworkers. The ambiance welcomes it all. Hospitality- The hostess was incredibly friendly and seated us upon arrival. Waiter- Eric was an AMAZING waiter. Bubbly personality, very polite and personable. His service was definitely a 10/10 Brunch- My friend and I decided to try their Easter Sunday brunch and my only regret was not visiting here sooner and not selecting an earlier time to dine, LOL! The entire experience was phenomenal! Bottomless mimosas- SO worth the extra $ Standout dishes: Adana meatballs Braised lamb Chicken Golden cauliflower Crispy Falafel Desserts: Baklava Brownie Kadayıf Sadly we did not get to experience all of the brunch menu items because brunch ends at 3pm and our reservations were at the heel of this time. Nonetheless, the standout dishes and desserts were enough for me to come back. I've enjoyed their happy hour, cafe area, and now their brunch. Can't wait to return.

Three stars isn't the actual rating; I'd say more 3.5. Stopped by after visiting the Dupont…read moreCircle's weekly farmer's market to try their Sunday brunch buffet. Was warmly greeted, seated, and given an overview of the menu and brunch package options; decided to opt-out of the bottomless drinks, which had an alcoholic (mimosas and Bloody Marys) and NA (juices, sodas, drip coffee and black tea), as I wanted to try their more speciality coffee and tea. The drinks I ordered were the Turkish coffee, Levantine-style tea and digestive tea. All were quite solid. The Turkish coffee was as robust as espresso, yet not overwhelmingly bitter and slightly sweetened. The Levantine tea was a smooth black tea with natural sweetness and layered with a mint steep and floral notes of hibiscus, and rose petal. The digestive was more herbaceous with fennel and pomegranate zest, in addition to a steep of spearmint. The food was more hit-or-miss. On one hand, the meat and seafood was all very delicious and well-made. The braised lamb shank is their speciality, and well-deserved, as it's moist, savory and tender. The short rib similarly so, and the chicken casserole, lamb biajeen, Adana kebab and steamed lavraki (sea bass) were all similarly flavorful. On the other hand, the sides and mezze options were more mixed; the dolmas and fresh bites cheese with za'atar/nuts were delightful, however, the borek, cheeses, and some of the dips tasted reheated and/or not super fresh, the Brussels sprouts were quite scorched, and the savory salmon waffles were bone dry and flavorless. The French onion soup had the right flavor profile, but not the intensity; it tasted watered-down and even looked it, due to the noticeable oil blebs on the surface. Dessert was similar; the melon and fruits were fresh enough, the yogurt bar was quality, the kadayif nutty with the sweetness balanced, and the layali lubnan was intoxicatingly tasty, but many of the baked goods looked rather packaged and the fondue station was mediocre. The staff, however, were extremely friendly (my special regards to Mia, she's a great conversationalist and a sweetheart!). They answered all my questions, and one of the bartenders even gave me half a lemon to zuzh up my tea with. As I said at the start, more 3.5 stars than 3 stars. The core of their offerings are all quality, so I can't quite dock them a full two stars for the food quality because they had buffets aren't usually renown for said quality. You really can't expect perfection from AYCE, even though I naturally encourage the management to avoid sourcing pre-made items from Sysco if possible. The friendly staff and eloquent Eastern Mediterranean ambiance allows me to still say I enjoyed this experience, and may be back for dinner in the future.

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Adana Kebab

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Gypsy Kitchen DC - Assortment of Small Plates & Cocktails

Gypsy Kitchen DC

4.3(1k reviews)
1.5 mi
$$
Happy hour specials
Rooftop seating

We came to Gypsy Kitchen for our anniversary, and it was the perfect spot! The service was speedy…read moreand kind, and the decor/ambiance was beautiful. We ordered a bottle of the Cava, and four small plates, which was plenty of food. The mussels, labneh and Patatas bravas were all very generous portions. Labneh: 5/5, delicious, served with plenty of pita Patatas bravas: 5/5, with great flavor and crispy roasted potatoes Mussels: 4/5, generous portion size, and the sauce was very good but I wished the sauce was more white wine-based Tuna crudo: 5/5, not a ton of food but the flavor was absolutely delicious, very citrusy and fresh Labneh cheesecake: 4/5, served with a sauce that was a bit like cough syrup but otherwise absolutely delicious

We paid $130 with tip for croquettes, lamb skewers, tuna crudo, hummus, and two 50 Shades of Purple…read more(drinks with butterfly pea gin). We sat outside on the patio and it was a gorgeous day. The decor is perfect and I love that they've added plants to cover the staircase. Drinks were delicious and the food came out quickly. Our water glasses were rarely empty. Service was kind. Food wise if I were to stack rank I would say the hummus is the best of what we ordered. The pita bread is thick and garlicky and oily and massive. The croquettes would be at the bottom of my list simply because they're dissimilar from any I've had before and a little bit underwhelming. The tuna was fresh but it's a small dish and not much to write home about. The lamb skewers have a subtle kick to them and they're pretty substantial. I'll definitely be back to try more! Highly recommend on a warm summer day as you're covered by the canopy above, if you're looking for a rooftop vibe.

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Gypsy Kitchen DC
Gypsy Kitchen DC - Hummus, Lebnah, & Flatbread

Hummus, Lebnah, & Flatbread

Gypsy Kitchen DC - Rooftop Patio

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Rooftop Patio

Villa Yara - mediterranean - Updated May 2026

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