Lebanese Restaurants in Washington, DC

“Awesome service, food, ambience!“

“most restaurants have some dishes that are the star of the show and others that are more in the shadow. but every dish we tried at albi could steal the spotlight at another restaurant. just when i thought the food couldn't get any better, it did--my widened eyes reflected the gustatory delight of my tastebuds, i was at a loss for words by the end.• started off with mango marinated napa cabbage and olives. both were packed with flavor despite their small sizes. the olives were especially piquant, and together with the napa, covered a duality if flavor profiles.• kibbeh naya: my first time trying this style of a dish, and in such a playful way with the diy lettuce cups. although i think there were too many vegetables and a bit of a simpler dish would've been better to bring out the yellowfish more.• coal-fired mushroom hummus: when the pita came out, my mouth genuinely dropped at how soft and fresh and warm the pita was. the hummus was silky smooth and the black garlic mushrooms was a sultry umami that the rich yolk cut into splendidly. however, i wish there was some sort of incubator that could keep the pita warm.• little gem lettuces: not at all like i was expecting. another eye-widening moment. so many flavors and textures to unpack with this one, creating a complex almost taco-like biting experience.• prawns grilled over coals: my second favorite dish after the lamb. a must order mezze. the shrimp was juicy and large and packed with so much flavor. the garnish was appreciated but honestly not necessary considering the tangy spiciness of the actual meat.• Bbq’d lamb kebobs: genuinely life-changing. first of all, the presentation was incredible. not dainty like most fine dining, but rather wild and natural—like a fallen log in a forest clearing. the moment i bit into the succulent lamb and it melted in my mouth, i knew that this was a once-in-a-lifetime culinary experience. it was the moment i understood all the hype about Albi. (the actual kebobs i felt could benefit from a crunch factor.)• labne soft serve: i can never skimp on dessert and i don’t regret this one bit. probably the best soft serve i’ve had in the US in terms of texture and richness and level of sweetness. not at all icey and the salt contrasted through very well with the milky flavor.overall, while each individual dish were outstanding standalone, altogether they formed a cohesive meal that covered all the flavor profiles, textures, eating styles, and cooking techniques, reflecting the versatility and creativity of the menu and the talent of the chefs.“

“Lamb chops steak is delicious! The fried potatoes were delicious! Brusselsprouts with fruit jam sweet and appetizing! His family's Pitabread can continue indefinitely“

“I had Yasmine cater my son’s pre wedding party. I live 2 1/2 hours from DC so I depended on someone that could really tell me what I needed. Working with Yasmine was phenomenal! Most importantly, the food was out of this world. Even after the wedding, which was awesome, people were coming up to me talking about how good the food was. My only regret is that I didn’t take home any leftovers!!!! That just means, I’ll have to make a visit to DC to get some!!!! Thank you Caro, Jimmy and staff. You are much appreciated.“

“Did the cocktail mixing class. Great food and awesome experience!“

“Beautiful restaurant! Great introduction to Vera by our wonderful waiter Kevin. We learned about the similarities between Lebanese and Mexican cultures and how that would be shown in the dishes and drinks that we ordered. Kevin walked us through the menu and gave us suggestions to give us the best possible experience. Standout items for me were the branzino (perfectly cooked!) and the batata harra.“

“Good food good staff. Will come Again.“

“I recommend the food, food, and food. We ordered few different types and were thoroughly impressed. The host needs to get on the ball, though. Gueats were waiting for a long time and had not been acknowledged and that includes me.“

“Villa Yara is such a cute place to go for lunch or dinner. The food is Lebanese and very authentic tasting. The waiters are very friendly and the atmosphere is incredible. The food is crazy expensive though, which is the only downside. It was $72 for 2 skewers of shishtawook and 3 pieces of lamb shops.“