Excellent experience overall. Staff was amazing and very attentive. They work as a team, always filling water glasses, ensuring an endless supply of pita bread, clearing empty plates, etc. Food is authentic; the lamb, hummus, grape leaves and branzino were spectacular!
Cathy
Unnecessarily loud due to very loud music. Music could be turned down since the place was full and already loud with patrons' voices. Food was delicious as usual.
Deborah
Food was great including the desserts which were exceptional. Only negative is the noise level. We were there on a Saturday night.
Glen
Having gone to Zaytinya since it opened, I am disappointed in its latest operations. Overall, the restaurant seems to have moved to lower standards very close to fast casual, certainly not fast casual. The service has definitely fallen off but that is across most DC restaurants. Food preparation seems off as well and not as fresh. Particularly some mezza seem like commissary offerings and the pita bread has definitely changed. The pita bread while still fresh seems grainier as if the recipe has been altered. Staffing, the greeting at the podium was hardly welcoming; seating seemed more focused on where I could not sit than where I could (it was pre-dinner service so ...). Service was lackluster and perfunctory, including a waitstaff change. Finally, I detest tableside check out, and those handheld machines, which only remind me that in the end the transaction is commercial and not hospitality at all. Admittedly I am guilty of ordering a smaller range of items on the menu, but I have ordered them and visited for over 20 years; know the flavor profiles and qualities extremely well. The experience I had on my latest visit was not familiar. Frankly I am hesitant to return and prefer to remember what it was but judging from the later crowd eating, I won't say dining, I am in the minority. Just as well ...
Jeffrey
This time and the time before the service lacked ... I'd encourage more training and better customer engagement.
Kemi
The food and service was excellent! The wait staff was attentive and give my crew a glass of champagne to celebrate 30+ years of friendship surprisingly by my visiting guests! I will definitely come back to try more food.
Solange
I had an outstanding experience at this restaurant. The food was flavorful and beautifully presented, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the service was truly exceptional—attentive without being intrusive. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a memorable dining experience.
Kar
Great meal ; busy - but service was excellent : brought over a birthday dessert with candle as a surprise ; would definitely Recommend as a place to go .
Judith
The menu offers so many choices and the food is excellent. The service was attentive and friendly.
jirowaters
Is another one of Jose Andres’ culinary endeavors in Washington, D.C. A small group of us recently went for brunch on a Sunday. The venue is open and airy with high ceilings, as well as outside seating. The food is predictably good, and on Sunday they have brunch a brunch selection, which for $35 a person you get a fair amount of nice small plates and a couple of larger plates – plenty of food. My only complaint is the number of menus and tasting courses to choose from – dizzying array of paper, would be easy if they could have streamlined it. Where they fell short was the service. While the service was friendly, it was disorganized and lacked any sort of sincerity. I ordered sparkling water and it took 15 minutes to arrive, bread for our hummus and other dips – had to ask 3 times before it came. Annoyingly, they establishment does not appear to be understaffed, just disorganized. While our server was nice, he seemed to have set phrases memorized – for example, when my partner and I said we would have the brunch course option, he said “excellent choice” well of course it’s an excellent choice, it’s your set menu. I realize he was just saying what he was told to say, it lacked any personality or sincerity. Overall, I would definitely go back with friends, but I expect better service from an establishment like this.
After a delightful visit at the nearby Women’s Museum of Art, we walked a few blocks over to Zatinya for lunch. The place is painfully noisy when crowded, so we asked for an outdoor table under heaters. The tapas of their menu all offer burst of lovely flavor. Our favorite was the scallops, but the brunch fries, cauliflower, and roasted mushrooms weren’t far behind. Our server was terrific. This is a Jose Andres restaurant, but we didn’t recall him ever touting his celebrity status so loudly before.
Pouneh
We actually ended up sitting at the bar inside instead of outside. It was pretty good. The octopus was excellent
juliecamille70
We held a work dinner for 10 of us and had one of the tasting menus. It was an unbelievable way to try the amazing food. Everything was excellent, but I particularly thought the vegetable dishes were outstanding. We had a mix of dietary preferences at our table and everyone found things that they could eat. I think going with a big group is a wonderful way to try many things. Really great wine list and lovely nonalcoholic cocktails for our colleagues who don’t imbibe. The service was outstanding. I was so happy to see how busy the restaurant was given the government shut down and the impact on local businesses. I would go back here in a minute.
Annette
Our waiter, Tony, was amazing! He knew the menu and made great recommendations for us to try. The food was incredible. Although we were outside, there were plenty of heaters and we were never cold. The wine selections were amazing as well!!
Rachelle
The food was delicious and I appreciate them having discounted options for government employees impacted by the shutdown. That was very thoughtful. I also loved the ambience. I will return for sure!
Excellent experience overall. Staff was amazing and very attentive. They work as a team, always filling water glasses, ensuring an endless supply of pita bread, clearing empty plates, etc. Food is authentic; the lamb, hummus, grape leaves and branzino were spectacular!
Unnecessarily loud due to very loud music. Music could be turned down since the place was full and already loud with patrons' voices. Food was delicious as usual.
Food was great including the desserts which were exceptional. Only negative is the noise level. We were there on a Saturday night.
Having gone to Zaytinya since it opened, I am disappointed in its latest operations. Overall, the restaurant seems to have moved to lower standards very close to fast casual, certainly not fast casual. The service has definitely fallen off but that is across most DC restaurants. Food preparation seems off as well and not as fresh. Particularly some mezza seem like commissary offerings and the pita bread has definitely changed. The pita bread while still fresh seems grainier as if the recipe has been altered. Staffing, the greeting at the podium was hardly welcoming; seating seemed more focused on where I could not sit than where I could (it was pre-dinner service so ...). Service was lackluster and perfunctory, including a waitstaff change. Finally, I detest tableside check out, and those handheld machines, which only remind me that in the end the transaction is commercial and not hospitality at all. Admittedly I am guilty of ordering a smaller range of items on the menu, but I have ordered them and visited for over 20 years; know the flavor profiles and qualities extremely well. The experience I had on my latest visit was not familiar. Frankly I am hesitant to return and prefer to remember what it was but judging from the later crowd eating, I won't say dining, I am in the minority. Just as well ...
This time and the time before the service lacked ... I'd encourage more training and better customer engagement.
The food and service was excellent! The wait staff was attentive and give my crew a glass of champagne to celebrate 30+ years of friendship surprisingly by my visiting guests! I will definitely come back to try more food.
I had an outstanding experience at this restaurant. The food was flavorful and beautifully presented, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the service was truly exceptional—attentive without being intrusive. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a memorable dining experience.
Great meal ; busy - but service was excellent : brought over a birthday dessert with candle as a surprise ; would definitely Recommend as a place to go .
The menu offers so many choices and the food is excellent. The service was attentive and friendly.
Is another one of Jose Andres’ culinary endeavors in Washington, D.C. A small group of us recently went for brunch on a Sunday. The venue is open and airy with high ceilings, as well as outside seating. The food is predictably good, and on Sunday they have brunch a brunch selection, which for $35 a person you get a fair amount of nice small plates and a couple of larger plates – plenty of food. My only complaint is the number of menus and tasting courses to choose from – dizzying array of paper, would be easy if they could have streamlined it. Where they fell short was the service. While the service was friendly, it was disorganized and lacked any sort of sincerity. I ordered sparkling water and it took 15 minutes to arrive, bread for our hummus and other dips – had to ask 3 times before it came. Annoyingly, they establishment does not appear to be understaffed, just disorganized. While our server was nice, he seemed to have set phrases memorized – for example, when my partner and I said we would have the brunch course option, he said “excellent choice” well of course it’s an excellent choice, it’s your set menu. I realize he was just saying what he was told to say, it lacked any personality or sincerity. Overall, I would definitely go back with friends, but I expect better service from an establishment like this.
Restaurantji Recommends
After a delightful visit at the nearby Women’s Museum of Art, we walked a few blocks over to Zatinya for lunch. The place is painfully noisy when crowded, so we asked for an outdoor table under heaters. The tapas of their menu all offer burst of lovely flavor. Our favorite was the scallops, but the brunch fries, cauliflower, and roasted mushrooms weren’t far behind. Our server was terrific. This is a Jose Andres restaurant, but we didn’t recall him ever touting his celebrity status so loudly before.
We actually ended up sitting at the bar inside instead of outside. It was pretty good. The octopus was excellent
We held a work dinner for 10 of us and had one of the tasting menus. It was an unbelievable way to try the amazing food. Everything was excellent, but I particularly thought the vegetable dishes were outstanding. We had a mix of dietary preferences at our table and everyone found things that they could eat. I think going with a big group is a wonderful way to try many things. Really great wine list and lovely nonalcoholic cocktails for our colleagues who don’t imbibe. The service was outstanding. I was so happy to see how busy the restaurant was given the government shut down and the impact on local businesses. I would go back here in a minute.
Our waiter, Tony, was amazing! He knew the menu and made great recommendations for us to try. The food was incredible. Although we were outside, there were plenty of heaters and we were never cold. The wine selections were amazing as well!!
The food was delicious and I appreciate them having discounted options for government employees impacted by the shutdown. That was very thoughtful. I also loved the ambience. I will return for sure!
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