Food and service was excellent. Celebrated my birthday with family and it was memorable read more

Yayla Bistro - The Mezze Platter for 4 (5) - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Yelp categorized this as "Greek". Wrong. Parking is difficult and unfriendly. But the good is delicious. Go for things you can't get elsewhere. read more

Nice intimate setting that felt fancier than I was dressed! I've never eaten Turkish food before, and today I stuck to things I was familiar with. They start you off with a basket of bread and an olive spread to go with it. I then ordered the dolma and the halloumi appetizers to start. They were delicious and simple and savory. The dolma especially had a nice, subtle, but almost tangy, flavor to it. I went with a falafel wrap (which came with fries) meal, and this was very tasty falafel. One of the better falafels I've ever had. This food filled me up quickly, so I turned down dessert. Next time, I will be more adventurous and try something more traditionally and uniquely Turkish. All in all, a great place worth checking out for food lovers. read more

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I've been to Yayla on several occasions over the years but never got a chance to review it. Went back last night with friends and had a great time. Our waiter was kind enough to wait a while to take our order for the last person in our party to arrive. I order a Mango Yayla Margarita and unfortunately it tasted a bit off to me--perhaps a bit too strong on the triple sec. However, everything else beyond that was great. We did the dip sampler and the waiter explained what every dip is. They were all delicious! We also did the grill combo platter which included a bunch of items and overall seemed like good bang for your buck. read more

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If you're anywhere near Yayla Bistro, do yourself a favor and go! The lahmacun is honestly one of the best I've ever had -- so flavorful, perfectly crisp, and incredibly fresh. The lamb chops were cooked to absolute perfection: tender, juicy, and seasoned just right. The cozy atmosphere makes it a great place to enjoy a meal, and the service is genuinely friendly and attentive without being pushy. Prices are also very reasonable for the quality you get, which makes the whole experience even better. And whatever you do, don't skip dessert -- the baklava is amazing: flaky, nutty, and the perfect touch of sweetness. I'm already looking forward to going back! read more

We visited over the weekend and Sibel was a great waitress! She made sure we ordered enough for our party of 4 and all her recommendations were great. The mixed grill for 4 was plentiful and we even had a good amount to take home with us. Everyone at my table loved everything we got and had no complaints. Thank you Yayla! read more

Yayla Bistro - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Came here with Mom and her next door neighbors. I made a reservation for a Tuesday night, but it was completely unnecessary, as the place was very empty. Free limited parking in the garage next door. Our server was very nice, he could see that we were all chatting and was not intrusive with taking our orders. We ordered drinks, appetizers, and our main all at separate times while we gabbed away. The mezze platter was very good, and a great way to share 'tapas style' and get a sample of different tastes. My main was the kofta (very generous portions). I loved the couscous, everything was perfectly spiced and seasoned. My companions said their moussaka and manti were excellent. Dessert, of which I did not partake, they say was good. They had all been to Maya Bistro as well, but agreed it is slightly better at Yayla. The only negative was at the beginning of the night, when one of the owners/employees was walking back and forth through the dining room in a T-shirt and baseball cap talking loudly on the phone. I understood it was about an issue about equipment in the kitchen; not deducting stars for it, but there's a time and place for that stuff. read more

Yayla Bistro - Kofta. - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Came here with friends because we wanted to get out of DC and eat good Turkish food. This place did not disappoint. Our server Amir was great and very attentive. Our drinks were yummy and so was the food. I ordered the falafel and my friends ordered the mezze platter. Everything came out fast and hot as well. Extra points for the complimentary warm pita and olive spread. If you save room for dessert, order the stuffed apricots. Can't recommend this place enough. read more

Visuals are deceptive. This place looked tempting every time we passed by and we got a table once forgetting a prior poor experience ordering delivery from here. The ambiance and service deserve a 5* but the food leaves a lot to be desired. I am hoping the chef reconsiders their choices. The food felt like it was made of cheap ingredients picked up on discount aisles, Mexican tortillas used instead of pita bread (needed to order it as none come with the multi-dip sampler). ketchup like item was used as a dressing in the priciest dish on the menu, the ground beef kebab felt like a reheated frozen kabob. Rice on the side showed up soggy and undercooked. This is unlike the experience we have in most Mediterranean /middle-eastern food places in NoVA. I have experienced this twice, so it can't be a coincidence unfortunately. My bad for not remembering the first experience. I cannot imagine how they have a loyal customer base that has had no issue with their food quality (based on the reviews here). It's at a prime location as well to be getting away with this. I wish they got Gordon Ramsey-ed and that more customers left honest reviews. Sorry for my harshness in this review. I did not like being deceived by the looks and reviews. read more

I really hate to write this one star review for this restaurant because we had such high hopes trying this place after reading 4.5/5 star reviews. I start with the welcome, which I give 5 star, all the servers and managers are exceptionally nice. We were the party of two and arrived for brunch. We ordered eggplant dish as an appetizer, which promptly came out with the on house bread and olive spread, I must say that bread and olive spread was the only thing we liked for our food. We then ordered veggie omelette, sujuk omelette and strawberry banana waffles. Both the omelettes were so tiny in size and lack flavors, we could have made them at home way better. The worst dish we tried was that small piece of waffle, the first and even the second bite of it we had those small hard sugar lumps in it, gave us very unpleasant texture and feeling in our mouth. We then reported it to the server and he said oh this is how it come packaged means it wasn't prepared in house but it was a pre made mixture, truly disappointing. We didn't eat it and no one even took it out of our check. Anyways I currently do not recommend this place unless management makes it right and make food more flavorful and presentable. read more

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We decided to try this place as we were nearby. We went on a Friday afternoon for lunch. There is street parking but was quite a mission to find some. We did not make a reservation but was helped immediately . The host/waiter was very welcoming. The menu has a variety of options ( all delicious). We chose the grilled calamari and lentil soup for appetizers and shared the burger and flat bread with sujuk. The food came out quickly and the grilled calamari was really yummy. Slightly overcooked but that char with all the spices didn't disappoint. The lentil soup was probably one of the best lentil soups I have ever had. We had the burger medium to well and they cooked it too perfection. The only thing I would change is maybe order without onion. It was a bit thickly cut so I just removed it. The flat bread was good and great to share. The bathrooms were clean and the restaurant was clean.everyone was really friendly and the waiter/ host was truly wonderful with my son. He brought his chocolate ice cream and water in a plastic cup with a straw. They are so thoughtful here and it truly is a place I would visit again. read more

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Very good food, especially the lamb chops, some of the best I've had. Great service and very attentive although water refills are a bit too frequent. We dined inside and the lighting was very warm. Overall a great experience, now one of our usual restaurants. read more

Everything was amazing - food, service! The decor is basic but nice, but you weren't paying attention because you were to busy humming with joy as you ate. read more

Nice restaurant, we found the dolmades with a sweet aftertaste and so the greek salad. The moussaka was decent.

I stopped in for a late lunch and loved it!! In ordered the beet salad--it was fresh and really good. The Mediterranean chicken with cauliflower as my side was delicious!! The staff were friendly and the bistro overall was super cute. read more

Yayla Bistro - Beet Salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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What a refreshing menu. So many foods I had not tried before. Each was delicious, from the pan-seared halloumi appetizer with marmalade (I am almost positive this was made in house, not store bought, which might be an understatement) and mucver (zuchinni patties with dill, mint and cheese dipping sauce) to the moussaka *anyway, new to me - I'd heard of it but never ordered it before), and beautiful Apricot Delight dessert which was walnut stuffed apricots on a bed of marscapone. Wow. So nice to see a restaurant serve dishes that can't be had elsewhere. Makes one realize how tired one becomes of the same menu items everywhere one dines. Oh, speaking of lovely, the French Martini was a very pretty and delicious, as were the espresso and sambuca to end the meal. Would definitely recommend and will be back. I might order the ... Branzino? Kirides tava? read more

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I DID A RECIEW FROM A DIFFERENT ACOUNT AND WANTED TO DO IT WITH MY RECENT ACCOUNT: Best service! Ambiance was quiet and dim, they have a bar area as well and a spot to sit and enjoy your meal! Over all one of the best experiences! Would recommend read more

Yayla Bistro - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Short line: Been there several times and no complaints. Suggest this is a great place to bring guests and visitors besides enjoying with your special other or alone. Long Line: Area/Dress A quite small entry area. There are 2-3 bar booths (good for rambunctious kid control) available (no TV) outside the well separated adult only preferred main dining room (my opinion only and not a stated policy) . Free parking is convenient very close next door. Also, the location is most convenient for picking up guests nearby at E. Falls Church Metro with a short trip to site. Reservations may not be necessary weekdays but recommended. This is not a loud environment. Outside seating option is available. No need to dress up but suggest forgetting the baseball cap if eating inside. (Also within same block area are a nice French and unreviewed adjacent sushi restaurant given unexpected unlikely event of any problem getting in.) Food: I especially like the Branzino or Salmon filet offerings (forget the big and expensive push for whole fish..not here!). These dishes are prepared and presented just the way I like a a simple fish dish that is great for dinner or lunch and much like done in Europe like Portugal and Greece and I assume Turkiye. Flatbreads, lamb chops and other options excellent also. Available are extensive cold or hot mezze options with a nice 3-choice low cost cold mezze sharing option. Have side-choices but mine is always bulgur. Wine choices and deserts adequate and good. My martini could have been a bit stronger but can't fault anyplace that doesn't make them like I do at home. Bar does a good job. There are many specialty drink options that guests will like. Service/Pricing: Overall, pricing is reasonable with no extra charges I am aware of. Service is clean tablecloth, attentive, personable but not fancy, and BRs are spotless. Great local option if live or visiting in Falls Church area. Highly recommend. read more

Three weeks, three Turkish restaurants and only one was a "Delight" - Yayla Bistro. Every dish was carefully prepared and perfectly seasoned from the Lemon Rice soup and lemon scented lamb shank to the rice pudding with currants and pistachios. Try the Tursu - pickled veggies - for an extra treat. Service was when you needed it. The Ramadan Prix Fixe menu made it a bargain. Our previous outings at Café Zevian and Maya Bistro made us wonder why they were open. read more

Food and service were both great. They had also customized our dinner for 3 which was a perfect portion. read more

Yayla Bistro - Mixed grill and ground beef pita, don't recollect the names of the dishes - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Went to check out Washington DC and we found this gem online. They didn't disappoint us. Food was really good and the service was superb! Check them out! read more

Walked in on a whim late afternoon after dropping friends at East Falls Church metro (a stones throw away)... what an awesome find!!! Intimate small dining space with tablecloth bistro style tables that draw you in immediately. Complimentary fresh bread and muffuletta... We ordered the kofte wrap and spinach pie with margarita and their signature Flower Box cocktail ... ended with apricot delight for dessert (omg you HAVE TO TRY THIS!!!). The portions and flavors were absolutely perfect! The service was super. Can't believe we are only just discovering this place!!! read more

Came here for a work event. It tastes okay but sometimes the smokey flavor is overpowering. I thought the mezze was good portion but the flavors seemed a bit common. The service is a bit slow but nice and thorough. The place is small and parking is challenging in the area. I do think one dish worth mentioning is the dessert. I got the chocolate mousse and it was absolutely phenomenal. Definitely recommend trying that but the rest of the experience can be skipped. read more

The service and food were great! Highly recommend for a dinner it was a place we will be coming back! The meat platter was great and let us try all different things. read more

Amazing lamb chops. Cooked very well. Their appetizers and rice pudding dessert (sutlac) was delicious too. A very pleasant surprise.

Fantastic restaurant and service. Food 123% great. Waiter Ail is hard working and friendly.

This was one of my first experiences with Turkish food, and it was incredible. The staff were all so kind and made lots of jokes with us. We had amazing food that had so much flavor. We had the Manti, the Mezze Platter, and the Beyti. There's a nice patio so you can sit outside, and enjoy the feast. After dinner, I even had the pleasure of having a small Turkish coffee- which was stronger than any espresso I've had in my life. But they also had a ton of dessert beverages and treats too. read more

Second visit and as happy and greatful as first time. Great food and service Will be back again read more

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Meat platter for two is excellent and very worth the value, extremely flavorful and good quality. The spreads and appetizers were just okay which is why it loses the 5th star. Service was very nice. Would recommend going in a group to get the meat and seafood platters! read more

Yayla Bistro - Mezze Platter for 2 - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Amazing food! The kabab for two is a lot of food and very tasty Environment is good and happy and service is friendly. read more

Yayla Bistro - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Food is good service was friendly and the ambiance was more casual than expected. It's a little overpriced for my opinion but I would call this a good lunch option. read more

Went here for restaurant week lunch Had a great experience overall and will definitely be back to try more of their menu! Dolma was amazing, best I've ever had! And the moussaka was perfect!!! Can't wait to be back :) read more

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My colleague brought me here and recommended it to me! We went for a birthday celebration, best experience for sure! The food was full of different flavors. This is a must go spot!! read more

Yayla Bistro - Mediterranean Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

My wife and I were in the area to pick up our daughter from DJO, so we decided to have a quick dinner date and ended up here. The food was delicious, and the service was even better. Thanks Ali! read more

Came here on a Friday for dinner. The ambiance was great and the service was excellent. We had the shrimp, salmon, and penne pasta with a spread sampler. The food was delicious and I'd recommend trying the sweet tea. Will definitely come back when I'm in the area again. read more

Here's the bottom line: the food is excellent, but the cost of the meal was excessive. There are other excellent Italian restaurants in the DMV serving food that's just as good, at a more reasonable price. My wife and I went to dinner and ordered for appetizers, the grilled calamari, it was really tasty, nd the Chef's Cigars. Also excellent. We selected Bronzino with sides and the fish was quite good. It was cooked just right and flavored extremely well. We had an Apricot Delight and I had a cup of Turkish coffee. The food was excellent as I said. But without alcohol, 2 appetizers and entrees, the bill came to more than $100 before tax and tip. Unfortunately, the price point is just too high for the dining experience. We likely will not return. read more

I have been to this restaurant a few times for special occasions with my family, and it has always been great. I can't remember the name of our waitress, but she was super friendly with a wonderful smile. I highly recommend this place if you want Turkish food. read more

I love this place! Our waitress was amazing and so is the food! She made great recommendations and everything was delicious! I'm definitely planning on coming back here! read more

Tasting notes purely for my own memory. Grilled Shrimp and French Fries: Kiddo and adults loved them. Kids Grilled Chicken: Kiddo liked but not as much as the shrimp. Had a very strong grilled flavor but also stayed fairly soft and not dried out. Roasted potatoes: Soft and well seasoned. Adults liked them but it was a bit too much seasoning for the kiddo. Falafel: These are fine but not great. Instead of being balls with a soft center, they're flat pucks that are more fried surface than center. Not the kind of falafel I crave. Trio of Hummus, Cacik, and Htipiti. These were all good, not stellar, but worth getting again. Two pieces of bread was a good amount for these. Overall, this place seems to do the grilled foods quite well. The rest was good enough that I believe they likely have some real gems on the menu; I just need to try more to find em. It impressed the kiddo. While munching on a shrimp he exclaimed "Who knew Turkish food was so good?!" read more

We decided to give Yayla Bistro a try for my husband's birthday. We did make reservations and I am glad we did. The restaurant was very busy, but the energy was good. The service was excellent and Sibel was delightful! She was helpful with menu selections and was able to explain some of the dishes in detail. The food selections were very good and the grilled meats were done to perfection. We ordered the apricot delight for dessert and loved it. We would definitely recommend Yayla Bistro. We did find out that there was free parking in the parking deck across the street, so that was also a plus. read more