Food quality was amazing. Brunch selections were great. Outdoor sitting was also very nice.read more

Really cute space! Love the indoor trees and decor! Staff super friendly, passionate and kind…read more Loved the falafel and mushroom shish kebab! Those were my favorites. Followed by the Zaytoon and then hummus and cauliflower. All really good but in that order of preference! Can't miss the first two. So much flavorrrrr

Dining with my friend on Lebanese cuisine was a delightful culinary adventure filled with surprises…read moreand delights. Moussaka: A classic Lebanese dish. Eggplant and hummus were simmered until soft and flavorful, with a subtle smoky aroma. The addition of mint leaves enhanced the flavor. Bone Marrow: Beef tartare with bone marrow and pomegranate seeds--how interesting! The first two provided a rich, fatty texture and intense aroma, while the latter burst in your mouth occasionally, juicy, tangy, and refreshing. Brussels Sprouts: Brussels sprouts with grapes, walnuts, fig jam, and mint yogurt--a whimsical yet magical combination... The Brussels sprouts offered a fresh, vegetal aroma and a slightly roasted aroma; the walnuts provided a nutty richness and crunch; the fruit provided a fresh sweet and sour taste and plenty of juice; and the yogurt acted as a binder between the flavors while adding a touch of minty coolness. Duck Shawarma: My friend and I thought: ...Peking duck? The skin was soft, the meat tender, not gamey, with a subtle smoky flavor; the fig and lemon sauce was sweet and refreshing; the small pita pillows held the meat securely, better than the lettuce what might have been too cold. Lamb Stuffed Grape Leaves: Black rice was wrapped in grape leaves and simmered with minced lamb. The rice absorbed the fragrance of the grape leaves, similar to lotus leaves (my friend and I thought: lamb version of sticky rice chicken糯米雞...?). The lamb, however, was served separately at the bottom of the pot and didn't absorb much flavor; overall, it was intensely sour. In short, this dish was a bit oddly designed, and it was the only one we didn't finish because the sourness was unbearable. Pita Bread: The bread was thin yet chewy, with a rough, slightly powdery surface, making it substantial and satisfying. I especially loved the "everything wrapped in a big pancake" style! This restaurant is located on the wharf near the Potomac River and boasts beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows. The spring sunlight streamed in softly.

I've been to illi MULTIPLE times and I always enjoy myself!…read more The decor inside is beautiful, and the food is yummy too! Majority of the menu includes platas (small plates), so my friend and I just ordered a few plates of different things to share amongst us and it was really nice to try the various meals that way. We got: - hummus with jalapeños and crab falafel (and pita) - octopus - Brussels sprouts - Cod - Lamb filled grape leaves We had a nice time, and illi is one of those restaurants that I keep in rotation if I want a nice dinner out by the Warf.

After a 5pm movie at AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, we stepped into…read moreLebanese Taverna for a casual dinner before heading back to our hotel. I was hungry and ordered with my eyes, so I ordered too much to share and we ended up packing a bunch home. (That pita bread lasted us for a few days!) If zaatar is on the menu, I have to order it. We also got hummus (so creamy and good). The pita bread was so soft and tasty. He ordered a falafel salad and I got the chicken shawarma. Note: there are also a bunch of sauces at a station near the counter where you pick up your orders - the harissa and garlic sauce (white, fluffy sauce) are really good! *chef's kiss* We sat inside and ate. There was a lot of seating available and the windows offer a airy feel when you're in there. The place was clean and well taken care of. The staff behind the counter were friendly... In sum, it's a good casual spot to grab a bite of tasty Lebanese food for a reasonable price! FYI - if you're into labneh, they have bottles in the cold cases!

I stopped by Lebanese Taverna to grab a quick dinner. Before I get into the my food experience,…read moreI'll start with my experience with the service. Upon arriving to the restaurant, I saw a father and his toddler-aged child sitting at a table and a person waiting for their orders. The father and his child were dining in and the other person was getting his food to go. As part of the protocol, I went to the counter to place an order to dine in and grabbed a table to wait for my food. While waiting for my food, the lady at the counter brought the food to the guy waiting for his to go order and later to the guy waiting with his daughter. However, when my dinner was ready, she gestured to me to pick up my food at the counter. At first, I thought nothing of it. While I was eating, a group of 3-4 people arrived to dine in. Again, the lady behind the counter brought their orders to their table (she had to make a couple of trips to their table). I hate to ask this (and perhaps, I'm reading too much into this), but why was I the only person who had to go to the counter to get my order even though I was dining-in? In general, it's not a huge deal for me to pick up my food from the counter. However, it does become a slight issue (at least for me), when I'm the only person who had to do it. During my visit, there were four dine in orders (including mine), and the lady walked three out of four orders to the folks dining...with me being the exception. Actually, I get it would be more than four total orders because the lady had to make multiple trips for the table of 3-4 diners. Added to this situation, I was the only Black person dining in the restaurant. Perhaps, it was an oversight from the lady at the counter, but I saw this as a slight microaggression. Now that I've got that off of my chest, I can get into the food. The restaurant offers a menu that consists of various flatbreads, salads, combo platters, sandwiches, and rice bowls. For my dining pleasure, I ordered a shawarma combo, which comes with two sides. For my two sides, I went with a side salad and fries. The combo with tip and a can soda was about $19. Overall, I thought the food was fine and worth the value; however, the beef and chicken were a little too salty for my tastes. I will say that the portion sizes are pretty generous because my dish was jammed packed with chicken and beef. The shawarma definitely was large enough for two meals. The restaurant has a mini fixings bar (only for dine-in customers) that includes yougurt, tahini, and a couple of other things that I cannot remember. Overall, the restaurant was pretty clean and a nice a nice layout conducive to dining in or taking your food to go.

All I can say is WOW. My dining partner and I had such an amazing experience here. First of all,…read morethe restaurant is gorgeous inside. We had an earlier dinner reservation so it wasn't as crowded at the beginning but was quite busy at the end. We tried a couple different cocktails and I loved both of mine - Ashta Affair and Asfar So Good. The Ashta Affair was sweet and creamy and the Asfar So Good was deliciously refreshing. My friend really enjoyed his Old Fashioned Date and had a fun experience trying the El Massaya Arak. For appetizers, we ordered Muhamara and Mousakhan Chicken Rolls. The Muhamara came with pita and was such a great dip. The chicken rolls were equally as good with their own sumac labneh dip we enjoyed. For entrees, we shared the Braised Lamb Shank and Makloubeh. The portions were large and the meat was tender. Neither were over seasoned and were absolutely delicious. We couldn't finish it all and saved the rest for leftovers - yum! We wanted to try their dessert and ending up getting the Ashta Bil Asal and Ruz Bil Karaz. The Ashta Bil Asal had cotton candy which made it a fun dessert to try and the Ruz Bil Karaz had a great caramelization coating. Neither were overly sweet which we preferred. It was such a great ending to our meal. I absolutely loved my experience here. Our server, Miriam, was friendly and attentive. We even chatted with the GM, Iman, who also made sure we were provided a great first experience. I cannot recommend this place enough for anyone who's looking for a boujee but amazing time!

Ammoora is such a beautiful spot--definitely great for a nice night out. The vibe is upscale but…read morestill really welcoming. We went for my husband's birthday. We started with Arabic coffee and the Harra Wala cocktail--both were really good. The coffee was strong and flavorful, and the cocktail was unique and refreshing. For food, we ordered batata harra, beetroot hadiqa, lentil soup, saffron pita pie, and saffron rice. Everything was solid, but the saffron pita pie and batata harra were probably my favorites. The lentil soup was super comforting too. For dessert, we got the raspberry sorbet and baklava--perfect way to end the meal. The sorbet was light and refreshing, and the baklava was sweet and flaky. Service was great. Our server made sure we enjoyed our meal and was available to explain the menu options and checking on time to time if we need anything. Overall, a great experience. I'd definitely go back!

This location is right in the heart of Rockville Town Center where all of the shops and…read morerestaurants are located. You will find plenty of public parking garages and this location is quite convenient. For some reason this location has then chicken sandwiches I like called Djaje M' Sahab which includes minced chicken with garlic sauce in a pita bread wrap, and the other nearby location does not offer it. It could be because this location does have the rotating chicken rotisserie. The chicken shwarma and the rotisserie chicken are both also good options here too. Because of the convenience of this location, I am able to visit many other local favorites while here, like Bonchon and Trader Joes.

I want to start out by saying I placed the order at the wrong Lebanese taverns and they were great…read moreat replicating my order and getting it sorted out. The cashier looked at what I had ordered and offered an alternative to the zataar flatbread since they didn't have it at the location. My daughter loved the alternative flatbread and wouldn't share a bite with me. It was that good. And the lentils soup was delicious. Even enough for a second day. Definitely coming back here. And placing the order at the correct restaurant this time.

A Hidden Gem in Takoma Park!…read more Olive Lounge exceeded my expectations! The food was fresh, flavorful, and paired perfectly with their drinks. Their happy hour prices are very reasonable, making it an easy spot to enjoy without breaking the bank. I ordered the spinach dip, which was absolutely amazing, along with the pita and hummus, which was fresh and tasty. The standout for me, though, was the steak and cheese egg rolls, super good! Everything came out fresh, and the service made for an enjoyable experience. An added bonus is their outdoor lounge area, which creates a great atmosphere for relaxing with friends or enjoying a nice evening out. I'll definitely be back and highly recommend Olive Lounge to anyone looking for great Mediterranean food, good drinks, and a welcoming vibe in Takoma Park.

Overall: great prices, delicious food, okay service, casual ambiance, single stall inclusive…read morerestrooms, changing table, kids menus, and high chairs available They have a great happy hour and different daily specials. There is so much to love about the menu. Everything we ate was delicious, but overall we are just wildly impressed with the prices. We rarely eat that much quality food for the prices you pay here. I love how many vegetables they have on the menu and the meat was cooked perfectly.

The Cedars of Lebanon is an easily-overlooked cafe right on the corner of the Old Greenbelt…read moreShopping Center which is a lovely hidden gem. I spent every summer in this town, growing up, and I never discovered this restaurant until a precious friend brought me here a few years ago. It's a dated, though efficient, and charming, cafe with fresh dishes you might love. Firstly, if you plan on having lunch here on a Monday, make sure you are able to finish by 2:45 since they close by 3pm. All other days, they are open past 8pm. We started with the sweet potato soup despite the fact that the reviews for the lentil soup here are the highest. Yes! If it's featured: get it! The turmeric and coconut milk make this soup delightful. The herbs made it so fresh and there was just the right amount of sweetness and gentle heat. Parsley really adds to this recipe and I'm not usually a fan of this herb. The pitas are soft, thin and light. Love them. We needed to order more. I've never had such paper-thin pitas. Yum! I love love love the hummus, here. It is nothing short of divine. The flavors are fabulous and deeply complex. You can really taste the tahini. The olive oil is mild and delicious. I exclaimed, "the hummus was the best ever." And then 5 minutes later, I read a review by Yelper James H. where he says it's the best ever and, "... this hummus at Cedars of Lebanon might have ruined all other hummus for me forever." While I've had similar swooning feelings over the hummus at Lebanese Taverna in Tyson's Corner, this hummus is at least a top contender if not the metro DC area's hummus winner. The cucumber mint yogurt salad is nice, cold and refreshing. You can really taste the mint. I would order this yogurt salad with every meal. The falafel pizza is unusual and fresh. Straight away-- you can taste the tahini, parsley and couscous. The dough is grainy and natural. And there are radishes on this falafel pizza: not overpowering. For the $9 or so pricepoint, this dish is a true labor of love. To prep all of these vegetables, even with food processors, must take time. How novel of a dish! Put the yogurt salad on this pizza. You will thank me. And I only did it because I was watching someone else slather it on. There were at least 12 desserts on the menu. Meow. If we weren't so full of pita, hummus, tahini and fresh veggies, we certainly would love to taste a few of these. As well as the Turkish coffee, with an authentic ceramic and metal carafé presentation.

Pretty easy, breezy no-frills restaurant…read more We stopped by Cedars of Lebanon, because it was one of the few places that had outdoor seating and was not full. The restaurant has a small outdoor dining area with three four-seater tables, which was find for our two dogs. The experience overall was pretty low key, which necessarily is not a bad thing. Although there is waiter/waitress service, you will have to order your food at the cashier's counter. Actually, maybe that's only a thing if you are dining outside. The menu has a nice mix of Middle Eastern dishes. I went with a beef (or maybe it was lamb) kabob plate. The portions were fine and my meal was pretty good. It was not out of this world amazing, but it got the job done. I thought that the prices were pretty good for the area and the amount of food received. Although the food was fine, I do not think that I would go out of my way (e.g., driving more than 30 minutes) to dine here. Just be aware that the restaurant does not serve alcoholic beverages.