ZaytinyaThe food was fabulous. TheThe food was fabulous. The small plate portions are a bit small, however, so I would order at least three plates per person.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMDelish!!I've just rediscovered Zaytinya. Food is amazing and service is great. I'll be back!!!!6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMShould be TaraMOREsalataLunch could have been the dish of and bread alone. I would have been perfectly happy with the rich, buttery tasting yogurt based dip laced with caviar. The salmon was good, as were the crispy Brussels sprouts. But the tabouleh, even as a meze size, was too small a quantity.
Next time, I'll have one of their lavash lunch sandwiches.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMconsistently good foodI always enjoy Zaytinya's food - creative, beautifully seasoned and presented, lots of vegetarian and seafood options, small plates to share with friends. Have not settled yet on a wine I like, but this time tried a Turkish red that was pretty good.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMdeliciousWe tasted 13 items on the menu, EVERYTHING was good. In addition, the fresh from the oven pita bread is non-stop. Menu items reasonably priced. Food was fresh and well presented.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMOriginal and VibrantIt's great the way the restaurant invites you to share smaller portions with your oarty, the ambience is verrrryyy noiseee6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous mezza. Even straightFabulous mezza. Even straight forward fare like grape leaves (dolmatos) are tasty. The mushroom dish was over-priced, but otherwise everything was very reasonable.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMAwesomeThe food was excellent and the scene was vibrant. Went there with my significant other for our anniversary and enjoyed our time tremendously. The service was not so great but because the food is five star did not even notice.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMMy favorite restaurant in DC!Wow! The food, service and wine list were all impeccable! We had the "Chefs selection" for $55 per person and it was amazing! The shrimp and lamb (wrapped in filo type pita). I would be surprised if they didn't bring out 80% of the menu.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMRepeat customerI ahve been to Zaytinya 4-5 times. It is always excellent. I do not like noisy restuarants. The high ceiling catches the noise.6/10/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Food!This wast second time there and it was just as fantastic as the first. Service was great- friendly & good suggestions. We ordered 4 different tapas plates and really liked them all. The babaganough and mushroom couscous were fantastic.6/9/2013 12:00:00 AMMeet my expectations.This place was highly recommended by a coworker and I have to say he was right. The food was outstanding. I'm not a picky eater and I enjoy good food-no matter where it's from and this fit my palate. We were a party of 5 and we must have ordered about 12 different plates. This place is a vegetarian fantasy island. The Pita, the humus, veggies, shrimp, lamb, chicken, meat dishes are to lick the plate, and the final trophy is the dessert - Turkish Delight.6/9/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoy the StarsOn those perfect weather nights, the food shines even more at an outdoor table.6/9/2013 12:00:00 AMI took my boyfriend to ZaytinyaI took my boyfriend to Zaytinya after being told by a coworker that the culinary experience would be fun for a date night. Although it's not the quiet, romantic scene many would expect for a date, the food and cocktails were excellent and the staff was very welcoming. The manager even stopped by the table to greet us once we were seated. Try the hummus, tabbouleh salad, grilled octopus and brussel sprouts if nothing else! You won't be disappointed.6/9/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat date night outWe had an amazing waiter (young african-american guy) who recommended everything we ordered- from the amazing red wine to the crispy eggplant to the spit-fire roasted lamb to the amazing yogurt/apricot dessert. The service at this restaurant is amazing, the food is wonderful. The octopus dish was good- not as good as you get in Greece, but still good. I island hopped for two months in Greece and have spent time in Turkey. The food at Zaytinya is good- not quite as good a top restaurant in the region- but still it's good. The service made up for what the food lacked. But overall, I'd give this place a 4+ stars.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMBeguiled Middle Eastern FoodiesI had lunch at Zaytinya twice in three days with several serious foodies. Three of us are Lebanese-American. The huge menu is all mezza (small plates) served family style, which is how we like to eat. Other than a couple of disappointments (a dull seabass special and sweatbreads that were overwhelmed,) we were impressed with everything. We all agreed that the tabbouli was the best we've had, including our own. The kibbeh nayeh, made with beef instead of the traditional lamb, made us re-think our heritage.
Service was friendly and efficient. Well-staffed.
I didn't give Zaytinya four stars because there was anything wrong with it. I just reserve five stars for stellar restaurants. Like another of Jose Andres restaurants: minibar.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMJose Andres is the best!This is one of Jose Andres' top locations. We had a wonderful meal, as always (never had a bad one at any of his spots). The service was highly professional and efficient. The hostess was remarkable.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AM100% Delicious!We went on a Saturday early afternoon for lunch. The server was quick and attentive. The food was wonderful. My husband had the flatbread with sausage, the lamb bacon and eggs. I had the falafel, shrimp in butter sauce and a few cocktails. I think this is a wonderful place good atmosphere and Delicious food. Great place for lunch with friends.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMamazing food, lovely servicethe food was amazing, so many options, and everything we tried was unique and delicious. the servers were knowledgeable and helpful, and attentive without making you feel smothered. perfect place for a special occasion!6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious as usual!Love the brussel sprouts Afelia and seasonal mushrooms - get them every time. Lots of other choices to experiment with, and always yummy. Great selection for vegetarians like me.6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMFun dining experience, awesome foodI took a group of ten colleagues to dinner at Zaytinya and despite their skepticism at first (most of them are the meat-and-potatoes type) once the plates started to arrive, they absolutely loved the experience and especially the food. The restaurant is vibrant, the space is open, airy, modern and gorgeous and of course the food is fantastic. There is something for everyone, from adventurous eaters to people with limited options because of boring taste buds or even food allergies. I highly, highly recommend dining at Zaytinya!6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMAs always...exceptional qualityAs always...exceptional quality of food...timely, friendly, professional and courteous service. We had family visiting from out of town and made reservation for 5:30PM for party of six. Table was ready...nice location in center of restaurant...informative and helpful server. We had hummus selection to start...excellent in variety and flavor and a WIDE assortment of vegetable, seafood and meat dishes. Too many to rate individually...but all were outstanding.6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat for summer outdoor diningMy friend and I had an early dinner that included a selection of 5 tapas, and 4 were exceptional and 1 OK. We ate outdoors on a pleasant evening, and although this is not a picturesque location it was extremely pleasant. We received very good service - knowledgeable and not pushy although we had a leisurely drink before ordering food and the place was quite busy. We have been there previously and eaten indoors which can be quite noisy. Outdoors is quieter and more pleasant.6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMSit upstairs for quietWonderful food, attentive service. But NOISY. Your best bet is to sit at one of the tables upstairs in the back.6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMNever failsGreat for vegetarians. The food is music for the mouth. Simply love this restaurant.6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMYUMThe food at Zaytinya is just so good.
I've eaten here twice and everything I've had is great. You start off with really light pita and olive oil with pomegranate molasses then order away on the menu.
The Brussels sprouts are an absolute must. The yogurt sauce they are served in renders me speechless for a full 2 minutes. The sauces on most of the plates are insanely good - we wanted to lick the plate clean but settled for wiping it clean with pita bread instead. Undignified maybe, but definitely worth it.
The lamb pita is good, the crab cakes are awesome, scallops were good, mussels are good... I just order random things every time and have liked everything!6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMBirthdayLunchI have been to Zaytinya 3 times now in the last year. Each time I visit, I have a wonderful experience.
I try something new every time. I love dining at Zaytinya!6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMQuite a find! The selectionQuite a find! The selection of mezze was outstanding - something for everyone.
Service was efficient and friendly.6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMSpecial mealThe restaurant location was perfect for meeting out of town guests. The ambiance was conducive to a pleasant visit, and everyone loved the wide assortment of dishes, especially the sauces. Our waitress was helpful with suggestions, and the evening was a huge success. We definitely will return more often.6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Service & FoodServer on Sunday afternoon was very informative and did a great job making recommendations, can't wait until I can go back.6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat more can I say. EveryWhat more can I say. Every visit is a pleasure. Food always great. I had mostly vegetable dishes that were wonderful and filling smaller size desserts are great for finishing off the dinner6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of my favorites in DCI love Zaytinya, and it never fails to provide excellent food and service. Very affordable for a restaurant of this quality!6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMI have only one word....AMAZING!
The service, food, and atomosphere was perfect. I too my husband there for our anniversary and it was perfect.
One of the best meals I have ever eaten.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is my second time visiting.This is my second time visiting. I was taking two friends that were in DC for the weekend to lunch. I made a reservation to be on the safe side, but there seemed to be some flexibility. I again ordered the brussel sprouts dish and it was delicious. The waiter was quick, courteous and made sure we got any brunch menu orders in before it closed. We were very pleased with the food and would definitely return.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMZayts has a gem in Daniel!Daniel: Superb knowledge of cocktails/pairings, the menu/food prep and execution. A true passion for food and drink with a bubbling personality that makes everyone feel great! We all had such fun. He is simply the best food guide anyone at our table has EVER HAD.
Food: Olive oil with the pom molasses was great. The baby octopus/salmon and fried squid rocked. The brussels sprouts/spanakopia were out of this world. Nothing disappointed!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND! And if you are very very lucky you might get Daniel.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMOut of Town Guest Hosting SiteWe were looking for a spot to take our out of town guests for a DC downtown dining experience (we live in the NoVA suburbs). Zaytinya proved to be a great choice- great food, outstanding service (we dined outside and the waiter there was great). They didn't rush you and the noise level was better outside than inside. A great choice for those not familiar with the downtown DC dining scene.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was amazing.I really like the food a lot. The restaurant had good outdoor seating. The server was amiable. All in all, a great restaurant to go to.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMGreatTook my boyfriend here. He now loves Brussels sprouts! That says a lot.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMExceptionalGreat variety of Lebanese/Turkish menu choices served as "bites" to be shared. Always something new to try-glossa (lamb tongue) on my first visit, and sweetbreads (wonderful combination of flavor, texture, and temperature). Servers have an outstanding knowledge of menu items and are excited to assist diners in having a positive culinary experience. You will not be disappointed.5/30/2013 12:00:00 AMThe $25 Mezze lunch specialThe $25 Mezze lunch special is a good value and the food is very good. Delicious lemonade!!5/30/2013 12:00:00 AMI was early for my reservationI was early for my reservation so I sat at the bar and had a specialty drink, the gin and black tonic which was very tasty. The bartender was friendly and knowledgable.
Two of us shared 6 different mezzes - hummis (lemony but ok), grilled octopus (excellent), crab cakes (excellent),scallops (very good), asparagus with mustard sauce, (good), spanikopita ( made like a spring roll but tasty). The portions are very small. The food is good and I would return.
It got rather noisy.5/29/2013 12:00:00 AMCasual weekday dinner at ZaytinyaWeather was nice, we sat outside to avoid the hustle and bustle inside - it was beautiful. The outdoor seating was very nice and enjoyable. Food was impeccable from start to finish. Service was subpar. I have been trying to get into Zaytinya for months - the food and the ambiance did not let me down. It took 30 minutes from being seated for the server to take our drink order. She was very nice and helpful when we could grab her. Food runners brought out our mezze as they were ready, which was fine. Someone delivered two mezze to our table that we did not order. We alerted our server and she encouraged us to keep the mezze and didn't charge us, which was nice, but I'm sure someone at another table was inconvenienced.5/29/2013 12:00:00 AMJust RightWe were in DC for a week and decided to eat at Zaytinya based on TripAdvisor reviews. We loved everything about it. And the prices were very reasonable.5/29/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous dinner!Our party of 4 had a great meal at Zaytinya! It was crowded and loud, but that was exactly what I was expecting, and it simply added to our experience. The food was outstanding - there's not much more I can say about that.5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat time at ZaytinyaMy party of five thoroughly enjoyed our meal at Zaytinya. Our server was attentive and friendly and brought us extra baskets of bread. In addition, the lunch time atmosphere was very cheerful and not too loud. The food came quickly and was delicious. My only complaint is that the grilled octopus was a bit too salty (although not unbearable).5/27/2013 12:00:00 AMGood unique tapasGreat spot with unique dishes, tapas, sandwiches. Will definitely go again.5/27/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat to do with out of town guests?Zaytinya is a great place to introduce skeptical NYC guests to the fact that it's gonna be OK - - there is food worth having in DC at places that are interesting. Zaytinya is off-beat enough - - focusing on Greek, Turkish, and Lebanese fare and wine - - that even New Yorkers can tell it's not TGIFriday. It is unique and unapologetic about not presenting cookie cutter dining. The mezze selection is broad and satisfying. Mezze are prepared and presented beautifully. The atmosphere is just right for near-hip visitors - - not trendy per se and relaxed enough that the slightly dressed-up can mix comfortably with the determinedly dressed-down. Great place to catch up on family and friends over excellent, tasty mezze, with Turkish coffee.5/27/2013 12:00:00 AMall the right ingredientsWe had an out door table on Memorial day for a long lovely lunch on the patio with its chic seating and sculptural umbrellas. The mezza lunch special is a bargain for gourmandes considering the selections if ordered separately would be meal a steeper tab. the shrimp was out of this world as was the grilled lamb delicately seasoned and artfully presented. Our server's enthusiam and insider suggestions made for a stellar holiday afternoon.5/27/2013 12:00:00 AMAte here while visiting from NYCI ate here with five of my (also out-of-town) family members on Memorial Day Weekend 2013. I'm from Manhattan so I'm used to great food at restaurants and this place definitely stacked up well. A few friends had recommended it and while I was initially skeptical, I was really impressed with how delicious and well-executed all the food was (and we ordered a lot of small plates). The brussel sprouts were one of my favorite menu items, but I'd also highly recommend the aroyes, the kabab platter and the lamb and beef meatballs. Next time I'm in DC, I'll be sure to go here again.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent!This was an excellent choice!
Please make your reservations in advance.
Excellent pita bread, the lamb was superb, the cocktails were very nice and different. The octopus was outstanding! The middle east selection of wines is very interesting.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AM