Great food (heavy Turkish and Lebanese influence) and very friendly and prompt service, fun atmosphere. Room can be a bit loud in the middle of the dining room.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Hannah Dellinger
We had dinner here tonight and while the atmosphere and food were lovely, the experience ended on a disappointing note when the bill arrived.
A 20% “service fee” was automatically added, and per the fine print, is NOT a tip. This wasn’t mentioned by our server or listed anywhere on the menu outside. Wasn’t noticed until I got the receipt.
I completely get wanting to pay your staff a fair, livable wage. But if that’s the goal, just raise your menu prices. Don’t surprise your guests at the end with an extra 20% that covers your back-of-house costs and then still expect another tip for actual service. It’s frustrating and feels misleading.
Transparency matters, and this left an unfortunate mark on what could have been a great evening.
I will not be back.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
L N
The only reason it gets a 3.5 is because they charge a 20% service fee and it's not explicitly stated at the top of the menu. It's almost like a disclaimer at the bottom of the menu which is somewhat of a bait and switch. There is also an implied dress code of fine dining business professional attire which can steer off those who want a more comfortable experience.
We still tipped our server, but the restaurant really should just up the prices of the menu items, instead of adding a 'service fee' which wasn't even inclusive of tips to the servers. Also, I bet a lot of people see the service charge and then don't tip the servers because they think the service charge was the tip to the servers.
Other than that, the food and service was excellent! The styling is more Americanized takes of Mediterranean food as the moussaka didn't have any true béchamel sauce. It almost tasted like a lasagna, but it still tasted amazing.
The pricing is pretty steep and the portions are small, but because of the nice plating and kind service, I can overlook these issues. Also, the acoustics and set up of the place make it very loud so don't go when it's busy or else you won't be able to hear your dining companion above all the noise and the club music.
Final note, there is an unspoken dress code which leads the host to seat people according to their attire.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Michael Proulx
Great place from start to finish! The staff were amazing: friendly, quick, and generous. The complimentary bread is so good, and they wanted to keep bringing us more. The cauliflower and shrimp were excellent. The cocktails were also good and creative combinations I've never seen elsewhere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
John Flynn
Bait and switch 20% surcharge. Just price your menu appropriately, the food is good enough to be pricy but the slimy tricks I can’t tolerate. Will never go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Ismail
The Adana kebab I ordered was extremely dry and overcooked. The rice that came with it was mushy, and the spices and ingredients in the Ottoman Pilaf I ordered as a side were bland and tasteless. After this disappointing experience, the check came with an automatic 20% “restaurant fee charge”. I told both the server and the manager that I did not agree with it. The manager handled the situation unprofessionally and simply said it was the restaurant’s policy. We shouldn’t have left any tip after that ridiculous 20% charge, but since it wasn’t the server’s fault, we left one for them. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll ever come back here again.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 2
Heather W
The bread is delicious and the food is good. There is an automatic 20% surcharge (on top of the expected tip) that is not disclosed until you get the check (in *super small* font at bottom of menu). This is something that should have been disclosed, particularly since we admitted this was our first time eating at this restaurant. Feels incredibly dishonest. Also 20% is far above what other restaurants are charging for “additional operating costs.” We tipped our waitress but let her know we wouldn’t return.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 1
Hasan
The cig köfte was good, but the beyti kebab was just okay. The menu said beef, but it actually had lamb in it. which isn’t mentioned anywhere. If you don’t eat lamb, that’s something to watch out for.
They also add a 20% service charge automatically, and the worst part is it doesn’t even go to the servers. it goes to the owner. I know it’s legal in DC, but many places either skip it or keep it much lower. Between that and the tip, you’re basically paying almost 40% more for the same meal.
Overall, the food was decent, but the menu is misleading and the service charge policy feels unfair. If a restaurant decides to keep the 20% service fee for themselves, customers should decide not to go.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 4
Nevine Shulkami
The food is good but the portions rather small. Quite overpriced and too noisy.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Kidist Tesfaye
Had dinner here with my man last night before a concert at Blues Alley and man, were my expectations blown.
From the complimentary bread and olive oil to Hummus, Red lentil soup, and the Chicken Shish Kebab. Everything was delicious and affordable.
The restaurant is beautifully decorated, a bit noisy but you still can talk without feeling like you're yelling at each other.
Definitely a favorite of mine. Can't wait to come back and eat more.
BEWARE OF 20% SURCHARGE ON ALL CHECKS TO COVER “OPERATING COSTS”
The 20% surcharge is not a tip, it’s just an extra 20% you have to pay to cover “operating costs” (isn’t that what your food prices should cover??)
The food is good but the extra 20% kills the experience
Daniel Diachun
Good food and great service.
Johannes Geworkian Hellman
Good food for sure but sadly to little food compared to what we payed, I must say. For those prices the portions should be a bit bigger. That left us a bit didsapointed and surprised. If that would change - we are happy to come back, because the quality of food is very good. Very friendly woman in the staff as well!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Munir Turunc
Excellent Turkish and Med food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Aanchal Mohanty
We went on a Saturday night and it was easy to get a reservation although they were really busy. The atmosphere was good and service was quick. We got the shareable platter for 2 people and the lamb kebab. Both were really good. One point to note is that the tables for 2-3 people are very small and close together- you will most likely be back to back with someone and it feels a bit too crowded during peak times. And the size of their menu is pretty big (the physical size, not the items!) so it was a little difficult to finagle. All in all, we liked the food and the atmosphere!
Great food (heavy Turkish and Lebanese influence) and very friendly and prompt service, fun atmosphere. Room can be a bit loud in the middle of the dining room.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
We had dinner here tonight and while the atmosphere and food were lovely, the experience ended on a disappointing note when the bill arrived.
A 20% “service fee” was automatically added, and per the fine print, is NOT a tip. This wasn’t mentioned by our server or listed anywhere on the menu outside. Wasn’t noticed until I got the receipt.
I completely get wanting to pay your staff a fair, livable wage. But if that’s the goal, just raise your menu prices. Don’t surprise your guests at the end with an extra 20% that covers your back-of-house costs and then still expect another tip for actual service. It’s frustrating and feels misleading.
Transparency matters, and this left an unfortunate mark on what could have been a great evening.
I will not be back.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
The only reason it gets a 3.5 is because they charge a 20% service fee and it's not explicitly stated at the top of the menu. It's almost like a disclaimer at the bottom of the menu which is somewhat of a bait and switch. There is also an implied dress code of fine dining business professional attire which can steer off those who want a more comfortable experience.
We still tipped our server, but the restaurant really should just up the prices of the menu items, instead of adding a 'service fee' which wasn't even inclusive of tips to the servers. Also, I bet a lot of people see the service charge and then don't tip the servers because they think the service charge was the tip to the servers.
Other than that, the food and service was excellent! The styling is more Americanized takes of Mediterranean food as the moussaka didn't have any true béchamel sauce. It almost tasted like a lasagna, but it still tasted amazing.
The pricing is pretty steep and the portions are small, but because of the nice plating and kind service, I can overlook these issues. Also, the acoustics and set up of the place make it very loud so don't go when it's busy or else you won't be able to hear your dining companion above all the noise and the club music.
Final note, there is an unspoken dress code which leads the host to seat people according to their attire.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Great place from start to finish! The staff were amazing: friendly, quick, and generous. The complimentary bread is so good, and they wanted to keep bringing us more. The cauliflower and shrimp were excellent. The cocktails were also good and creative combinations I've never seen elsewhere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bait and switch 20% surcharge. Just price your menu appropriately, the food is good enough to be pricy but the slimy tricks I can’t tolerate. Will never go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
The Adana kebab I ordered was extremely dry and overcooked. The rice that came with it was mushy, and the spices and ingredients in the Ottoman Pilaf I ordered as a side were bland and tasteless.
After this disappointing experience, the check came with an automatic 20% “restaurant fee charge”. I told both the server and the manager that I did not agree with it. The manager handled the situation unprofessionally and simply said it was the restaurant’s policy. We shouldn’t have left any tip after that ridiculous 20% charge, but since it wasn’t the server’s fault, we left one for them. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll ever come back here again.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 2
The bread is delicious and the food is good. There is an automatic 20% surcharge (on top of the expected tip) that is not disclosed until you get the check (in *super small* font at bottom of menu). This is something that should have been disclosed, particularly since we admitted this was our first time eating at this restaurant. Feels incredibly dishonest. Also 20% is far above what other restaurants are charging for “additional operating costs.” We tipped our waitress but let her know we wouldn’t return.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 1
The cig köfte was good, but the beyti kebab was just okay. The menu said beef, but it actually had lamb in it. which isn’t mentioned anywhere. If you don’t eat lamb, that’s something to watch out for.
They also add a 20% service charge automatically, and the worst part is it doesn’t even go to the servers. it goes to the owner. I know it’s legal in DC, but many places either skip it or keep it much lower. Between that and the tip, you’re basically paying almost 40% more for the same meal.
Overall, the food was decent, but the menu is misleading and the service charge policy feels unfair. If a restaurant decides to keep the 20% service fee for themselves, customers should decide not to go.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 4
The food is good but the portions rather small. Quite overpriced and too noisy.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Had dinner here with my man last night before a concert at Blues Alley and man, were my expectations blown.
From the complimentary bread and olive oil to Hummus, Red lentil soup, and the Chicken Shish Kebab. Everything was delicious and affordable.
The restaurant is beautifully decorated, a bit noisy but you still can talk without feeling like you're yelling at each other.
Definitely a favorite of mine. Can't wait to come back and eat more.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
BEWARE OF 20% SURCHARGE ON ALL CHECKS TO COVER “OPERATING COSTS”
The 20% surcharge is not a tip, it’s just an extra 20% you have to pay to cover “operating costs” (isn’t that what your food prices should cover??)
The food is good but the extra 20% kills the experience
Good food and great service.
Good food for sure but sadly to little food compared to what we payed, I must say. For those prices the portions should be a bit bigger. That left us a bit didsapointed and surprised. If that would change - we are happy to come back, because the quality of food is very good. Very friendly woman in the staff as well!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Excellent Turkish and Med food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We went on a Saturday night and it was easy to get a reservation although they were really busy. The atmosphere was good and service was quick. We got the shareable platter for 2 people and the lamb kebab. Both were really good.
One point to note is that the tables for 2-3 people are very small and close together- you will most likely be back to back with someone and it feels a bit too crowded during peak times. And the size of their menu is pretty big (the physical size, not the items!) so it was a little difficult to finagle. All in all, we liked the food and the atmosphere!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
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