The Best Middle Eastern Restaurants in DC
"It can take weeks, even months, to snag a table at Maydan, the hidden-down-an-alley restaurant and “it” spot on U Street Corridor. But why wait? We like to try our luck and walk in early to vie for seats at the bar, where you can order a la carte or do the full tawle menu, an $85 tasting experience meant to be shared. The restaurant’s small space inside a former carriage house revolves around the central open wood-fired hearth, and no matter where you sit, you’ll have a good view of bread cooking to crisp perfection in a matter of seconds. There’s something magical about having a casual meal at the bar here—with plates of oyster mushroom kebab, walnut casik, spiced lamb shoulder, and glass of Lebanese wine in hand—knowing you didn’t wait half a year for a table. Reservations are released 21 days in advance at 10am. If you’re not the planning-ahead type, they do release a limited number of tables a few hours before opening. You might end up sitting outside, away from the warmth of the restaurant’s open-fire hearth, but it’s worth a try." - madeline weinfield
