We did the Chefs Tasting menu and LOVED EVERY BIT OF IT. I couldn't make up my mind on the things on the menu so we went with the medley from the chef. So tasty. Loved the midnight in Cyprus drink as well!
Yazmin
Our server was excellent! He was extremely conscientious and went out of his way to accommodate my friend, who has several dietary restrictions. He communicated openly and was respectful about the way dishes are prepared and what could pose an allergy risk. He made her, and us, feel very welcome and attended to.
Joel
It is one of my favorite spots in DC, the decor is gorgeous and attention to detail are something to behold. Attentive staff and fantastic food. If there's an area for improvement it is the noise level inside. It's just too loud. Had to eat outside this time and the outdoor dining tables, especially the high tops have a less elegant feel and aren't as comfortable. All an all, still the best small plate menu in DC.
Dan
We arrived on time for our 5:30pm reservation. The restaurant was about half full. They chose to seat us adjacent to the ground floor serving station, so we asked for a different table. They then assigned us to a table on the all-but-empty second floor - adjacent to the serving station again. This was at the top of the steps where all food and drink orders for the whole area had to pass. We had one server pass with a tray of food over my head! IMHO, there shouldn't even be a table there. I asked to speak with a manager - and he immediately moved us to a comfortable table on the second floor. After that, we generally had the type of dining experience we've come to rely on from Zaytinya after half-a-dozen visits. We had 12 different dishes and all were excellent. The best were the Htipiti, Cauliflower Tiganites, Bone Marrow Kibbeh and Beef Soutzoukakia. Drinks seemed to take a long time to get delivered...we had to ask for two of them twice. All-in-all, this was our least memorable visit to Zaytinya. We won't be running back...but we'll likely be back.
William
Everyone at our table of 5 enjoyed the tasting menu. The mezze was very tasty and the texture was delightful. This course was enough for a meal by itself. The next course included many dishes that included shrimp, salmon, chicken and beef. One again, the flavors were wonderful, but the chicken and beef were the highlights for us. They were cooked just right, full of tenderness and juices. The shrimp and salmon were slightly overdone for us. The service was good but it would have been great if they told us about the different dishes in the testing menu. The restaurant was packed on a Sunday night. It was loud and the music was thumping, which made it a very festive.
Michelle
First time to restaurant and very pleased. Dinner was delicious and different. The service was excellent but there were not enough workers on staff for a restaurant as large as this. There were periods of time where no one was around to assist. This is not the servers fault but management needing to staff more people. The noise level was a bit too loud for my liking. Honestly, just eliminate the music- one coukd not hear it and all and people had to shout at one another across a table to be heard. Noise and staffing aside, the food was fantastic and I definitely plan to return
Elisabeth
Every single thing was delicious! The just baked warm pita was so very good- light thin and perfect for picking up the delicious other things on the table
Gary
Food is very good, but would be great if they brought it out when it was hot. Service is less than par. Our waiter never checked back to see if everything came out ok or if we needed anything else. Very disappointed. Took away from the great food. Also, noise level inside on the main level was very loud, hard to have a conversation. For those reasons I cannot recommend this restaurant.
David
Everything we tried (from the bread to the desert) was very flavorful and beautifully prepared. We enjoyed the meal and would return.
Kevin
Extremely overrated. Booked an anniversary dinner here, left a note in the comments, no one mentioned it (not even at the front desk). Service was terrible - very slow, had to flag down the waiter a couple times for things like water refills and to take our order. The food was meh. Some dishes were stellar - others lacked character. Portions were way too small - the fortunately the prices were lower proportionately. These were super-mezze. The restaurant wasn't well maintained beyond front entrance - bathrooms were a mess and some light bulbs in the lighted lanterns were out. Having eaten all over DC and NYC - this was a very average experience. I had heard better things about this place but we did not experience that. I still had a wonderful time because of excellent company (my spouse) - but the restaurant itself was disappointing. All hype and did not deliver.
from the delicious and stunningly prepared dishes to the exemplary service, lunch was outstanding.
L L
Zaytinya never disappoints! I went there last night, on a Tuesday, and it could not have been more lively. From the unlimited pita, shareable hommus, creamy shrimp, to the mocktails, it was a perfect dinner. 10/10.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Clayton Dean
It's not quite the shining star it once was bit it's still pretty great. It's INCREDIBLY loud -- even our waiter, poor guy was having problems just hearing our order. But good food, solid location, a nice night
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Tapas
Edmund Punzalan
Food tastes great. Service was exceptional. Outside seating was a great option , especially with patio heaters during the cold season. Special thanks to the pastry chef for the Galatopita with Apple sorbet. The sourness of the sorbet brings out the sweetness of the dessert and maintains a good balance.
Vegetarian options: Chicken Soup Avgolemono is one of a kind.
We did the Chefs Tasting menu and LOVED EVERY BIT OF IT. I couldn't make up my mind on the things on the menu so we went with the medley from the chef. So tasty. Loved the midnight in Cyprus drink as well!
Our server was excellent! He was extremely conscientious and went out of his way to accommodate my friend, who has several dietary restrictions. He communicated openly and was respectful about the way dishes are prepared and what could pose an allergy risk. He made her, and us, feel very welcome and attended to.
It is one of my favorite spots in DC, the decor is gorgeous and attention to detail are something to behold. Attentive staff and fantastic food. If there's an area for improvement it is the noise level inside. It's just too loud. Had to eat outside this time and the outdoor dining tables, especially the high tops have a less elegant feel and aren't as comfortable. All an all, still the best small plate menu in DC.
We arrived on time for our 5:30pm reservation. The restaurant was about half full. They chose to seat us adjacent to the ground floor serving station, so we asked for a different table. They then assigned us to a table on the all-but-empty second floor - adjacent to the serving station again. This was at the top of the steps where all food and drink orders for the whole area had to pass. We had one server pass with a tray of food over my head! IMHO, there shouldn't even be a table there. I asked to speak with a manager - and he immediately moved us to a comfortable table on the second floor. After that, we generally had the type of dining experience we've come to rely on from Zaytinya after half-a-dozen visits. We had 12 different dishes and all were excellent. The best were the Htipiti, Cauliflower Tiganites, Bone Marrow Kibbeh and Beef Soutzoukakia. Drinks seemed to take a long time to get delivered...we had to ask for two of them twice. All-in-all, this was our least memorable visit to Zaytinya. We won't be running back...but we'll likely be back.
Everyone at our table of 5 enjoyed the tasting menu. The mezze was very tasty and the texture was delightful. This course was enough for a meal by itself. The next course included many dishes that included shrimp, salmon, chicken and beef. One again, the flavors were wonderful, but the chicken and beef were the highlights for us. They were cooked just right, full of tenderness and juices. The shrimp and salmon were slightly overdone for us. The service was good but it would have been great if they told us about the different dishes in the testing menu. The restaurant was packed on a Sunday night. It was loud and the music was thumping, which made it a very festive.
First time to restaurant and very pleased. Dinner was delicious and different. The service was excellent but there were not enough workers on staff for a restaurant as large as this. There were periods of time where no one was around to assist. This is not the servers fault but management needing to staff more people. The noise level was a bit too loud for my liking. Honestly, just eliminate the music- one coukd not hear it and all and people had to shout at one another across a table to be heard. Noise and staffing aside, the food was fantastic and I definitely plan to return
Every single thing was delicious! The just baked warm pita was so very good- light thin and perfect for picking up the delicious other things on the table
Food is very good, but would be great if they brought it out when it was hot. Service is less than par. Our waiter never checked back to see if everything came out ok or if we needed anything else. Very disappointed. Took away from the great food. Also, noise level inside on the main level was very loud, hard to have a conversation. For those reasons I cannot recommend this restaurant.
Everything we tried (from the bread to the desert) was very flavorful and beautifully prepared. We enjoyed the meal and would return.
Extremely overrated. Booked an anniversary dinner here, left a note in the comments, no one mentioned it (not even at the front desk). Service was terrible - very slow, had to flag down the waiter a couple times for things like water refills and to take our order. The food was meh. Some dishes were stellar - others lacked character. Portions were way too small - the fortunately the prices were lower proportionately. These were super-mezze. The restaurant wasn't well maintained beyond front entrance - bathrooms were a mess and some light bulbs in the lighted lanterns were out. Having eaten all over DC and NYC - this was a very average experience. I had heard better things about this place but we did not experience that. I still had a wonderful time because of excellent company (my spouse) - but the restaurant itself was disappointing. All hype and did not deliver.
Restaurantji Recommends
from the delicious and stunningly prepared dishes to the exemplary service, lunch was outstanding.
Zaytinya never disappoints! I went there last night, on a Tuesday, and it could not have been more lively. From the unlimited pita, shareable hommus, creamy shrimp, to the mocktails, it was a perfect dinner. 10/10.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It's not quite the shining star it once was bit it's still pretty great. It's INCREDIBLY loud -- even our waiter, poor guy was having problems just hearing our order. But good food, solid location, a nice night
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Tapas
Food tastes great. Service was exceptional. Outside seating was a great option , especially with patio heaters during the cold season. Special thanks to the pastry chef for the
Galatopita with Apple sorbet. The sourness of the sorbet brings out the sweetness of the dessert and maintains a good balance.
Vegetarian options: Chicken Soup Avgolemono is one of a kind.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grape Leaves Dolmades, Branzino, Octopus
Went for happy hour after going to the DC Holiday market. The Pides were delicious, drinks were very good. Service was great
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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