Zaytinya

November 16, 2025

Food was great - we went in a group of 5 so we ordered loads of food including the tasting menu. The food was delicious and some dishes were creative - we were impressed by the bone marrow. The beefsteak was delicious and the salad selection was great. I’d recommend coming in a group so you get to try different things. Service was great - servers were nice and attentive. The only thing i wish was better was the atmosphere - they tried to fit so many people inside the restaurant which made the whole place so loud, impossible to talk and listen to our friends. We got so exhausted of trying to talk to each other for hours and nobody could hear what we were saying.

November 12, 2025

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.

November 1, 2025

Atmosphere is beautiful, food was totally good, but not spectacular. I think the overall score of 4.5 is fair. The Brussels sprouts were delicious, the babaganoush was just okay. The pita looks cool, but I wish it was a bit thicker. The crunchy vegetables was just raw veggies. If you wanna save 20%, use inKind.

October 15, 2025

Zaytinya, one of José Andrés’s long-standing DC restaurants, has been a favorite in the city for years. It had been quite a while since I last dined there, but I recently attended a reception and was reminded why it’s still such a Washington hotspot. The restaurant is beautiful and inviting. There’s a striking, colorful metal sculpture out front that immediately catches your eye. Zaytinya is also in a prime location—just a block from Capital One Arena and directly across from the National Portrait Gallery. When the weather’s nice, the outdoor patio is a great option for dining al fresco. Inside, you instantly feel transported to the Mediterranean. The bar, main dining room, and upstairs area are spacious and stylish, setting the perfect tone for a lively meal. We enjoyed a delicious spread that included hummus topped with pomegranate seeds, baba ghanoush, tzatziki, crispy pita chips, falafel, and chicken kebabs. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The staff was wonderful, especially Diego, who took excellent care of our group. Thank you, Diego, for making our evening even better! ✨ Zaytinya remains one of DC’s most popular spots, and based on how packed it was that night, I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

November 9, 2025

Very nice place to hang out and have healthy food. The Tabboule needed more lemon juice and more olive oil. The bone marrow kibbeh bas really good although i wished there was more sauce. The Shish Taouk was good, it's just a small portion of 4 pieces. It was chicken thighs not breast, which makes we wonder if it should still be called Taouk. Tasty grilled onions and tomato on the side adds to the authenticity. Last but not least, the Toum! I can tell it was made the right way because of the texture, but it should have more of a garlic tatse to it. A great place to try if you're unfamiliar with the cuisine. Fo those who are middle eastern, it's not the same as home.