Karravaan

I had a truly conflicting experience at this restaurant that left me with mixed feelings. While I walked away disappointed with the food and drinks, the exceptional service almost made up for it.Let me start with the positives: our waiter and bartender were absolutely phenomenal. Their kindness, attentiveness, and genuine helpfulness transformed what could have been a frustrating evening into something memorable for the right reasons. They were knowledgeable, quick to address any concerns, and made us feel genuinely welcomed throughout our visit.Unfortunately, the food was where things fell apart. The kitchen seemed to struggle with seasoning balance - dishes arrived either surprisingly bland or so over-seasoned that the flavors became muddled and confusing. It felt like there wasn't a cohesive vision in the kitchen, leaving my palate bewildered rather than satisfied. For the price point, I expected much more thoughtful preparation and flavor development.The cocktails were similarly disappointing. While not overly strong in alcohol, the mixers were so overwhelming that they completely masked any nuance the drinks might have had. It's a shame because you could tell they were trying to be creative with their cocktail program.The stellar service is the only reason I'm not rating this lower. Sometimes amazing hospitality can salvage an otherwise lackluster dining experience, and that was certainly the case here. I'd consider returning solely because of the staff, hoping perhaps the kitchen has worked out some of their seasoning issues by then.If you do visit, go for the service experience and maybe stick to simpler menu items that are harder to over-complicate.

Karravaan checks all the boxes—great food, lively atmosphere, and friendly service. I tried a good mix of dishes, and everything was packed with flavor. Standouts for me were the snapper crudo, pan-seared scallops, forbidden duck, Tibetan momos, and lamb sliders (hoping they add even more lamb to the menu soon. I was fortunately able to try the lamb shank and it was superb!). Make sure to save room for dessert. Every single one I tried was incredible—perfectly balanced between sweet and savory. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with whichever item you choose. The cocktails were solid, too. I especially liked A phool for you and persian garden—and I’m not even a gin person, which says a lot. Side note: Don’t fill up too fast on the bread and herb butter. It’s dangerously good (10/10). Definitely give this spot a try!

The service was excellent and everyone was very welcoming. We ordered four appetizers, one entree and two desserts. The food was well prepared and there was nothing wrong with our order, but the flavors just were not there for me. We ordered the Ginger Falafel and the ginger was only mildly preset as a garnish. We ordered the shallot dip and it mostly just tasted like yogurt, not much shallot. Our favorite was the lamb sliders. Well prepared and really good flavor. The khachapuri just tasted like unseasoned scrambled eggs. For our entree we chose the pork chop and although it was perfectly cooked, it was missing salt and honestly, spice. This was the main topic throughout our entire meal. For a place that is supposed to be a journey along the silk road, there was barely any dominant spice throughout most dishes. Finally, for dessert, the black lemon tart is delicious.

Pleasant experience at Karravaan. Ordered the stuffed cabbage, momos, the cauliflower and the sliders. The Tibetan momos were outstanding, sliders were delicious but the bread was a little stale and stuffed cabbage and cauliflower were good but lack a little spice to my taste. We had a little fire issue with a napkin and the stuff took care of it immediately and were very attentive. Overall a great experience and we will be back soon.

Karravaan, the newest addition to the bustling Union Market food scene celebrates a fusion of culinary traditions by combining Persian, Egyptian, Palestine, Portuguese, Indian, Balkan, and Turkish influences into a vibrant and inviting dining experience. The meal was enjoyable, with consistently good quality across the board, although not everything felt particularly memorable or exciting. My favorite part was the fish cake served with incredibly fresh greens. It was light, refreshing, and full of clean flavors. The lamb sliders were another strong dish, flavorful and well-cooked, though they could have used a bit more spice to really stand out. The chicken kebabs tasted good but the portion size was surprisingly small, making them feel more like samples at Costco. The appetizers were generously portioned and actually quite filling. They felt closer to tapas in both size and substance. I especially enjoyed the fresh bread, which had a great texture and a lovely topping of black seeds and sesame. The snapper crudo was fresh and well-executed, offering a nice balance of acidity and flavor. The khachapuri was another highlight. The dough was nicely baked, easy to cut, and filled with rich, satisfying cheese. The restaurant’s open-fire baking oven adds both character and quality to the dishes. Desserts were mixed but interesting. The mahalabia tart was a standout with its bright lemon flavor and delicate texture. It may be one of the best lemon tarts I have had in quite sometime. The honey cake, on the other hand, was overly sweet and lacked the contrast that comes from alternating textures. A drier layer in between would have made a big difference. The chocolate cake was solid and satisfying, especially for chocolate lovers. The baklava could have been better if it used more whole dates instead of date paste, which was too noticeable in the flavor. The space itself is stylish and welcoming. Service was attentive and pleasant throughout the evening. One thing to keep in mind is that parking in the area can be difficult if the nearby garage is full. Karravaan offers a well-executed concept with thoughtful dishes and a warm atmosphere. I would give it a solid four out of five stars.

We recently visited the newly opened Karravaan DC in Union Market, and it was an outstanding experience! Our group of 12 was warmly welcomed, and the service was impeccable—friendly, efficient, and accommodating. We tried almost everything on the menu, and it was truly a culinary adventure. From the ginger falafel and smoky eggplant to the cauliflower Manchurian, lamb sliders, khachapuri, jamun-wrapped dates, momos, fries, mushroom biryani, and the standout butter poussin—each dish was finger-licking delicious. The smoky eggplant dip and butter poussin were my personal favorites—absolutely unforgettable. The complimentary house bread with herb butter was a lovely touch. What truly stood out was the attention to detail—from the warm ambiance and globally inspired decor to the custom plates embossed with the logo, everything felt thoughtfully designed. It’s more than just a meal—it’s a flavorful, immersive journey. As a foodie who loves exploring diverse cuisines, Karravaan is now one of my top DC picks. Highly recommend!

This is a cool addition to an already stacked lineup of restaurants in NoMa. Food was fantastic and interesting and so were the cocktails. Atmosphere and service also top. I will be back for Happy Hour and for patio weather.

I celebrate my birthday with Karravaan and was treated so well with tons of excellent foods. I would specifically recommend the eggplant dip, khachapuri, and the scallops! They did a great job of making me and my friends feel special and I will definitely be back.

Went there with some family for a large birthday dinner. Where to start? This place was awesome. The food, drinks, ambiance, and service were all absolutely top notch. It's not unusual to find things that are not to your taste on a menu. It is very unusual to sample most of the menu (It was a party of 10) and not have *anything* miss the mark. The food was just that good. Hope this place does well. It was busy the night we were there, but not hugely packed. Pretty sure if you were inclined, you could get a seat without a reservation.

Came here for happy hour, had a res but for a table which wasn't eligible for happy hour, so we ate at the bar. Bit crowded in there but good service and drinks helped pass the time. Sliders were insane. Nice classy spot for some good eats and drinks. Order: - Za'atar fries and cauliflower Manchurian - Karravaan Sparkling Punch and Bosphorus Strait Up cocktails - lamb sliders

An inspiring menu that ends up being anything but. Classic case of a restaurant trying to do too much at once. The Silk Road concept is unique, but when you're juggling Asian, Indian, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and North African (there were none) dishes without mastering any of them, it all falls flat. The positives: great service and ambiance.

Went the first weekend it was open so giving some grace for getting their sea legs. Food: Most of the food was really delicious. Highlights included the falafel, cauliflower, and caramelized onion dip. The snapper Crudo was extremely fishy, the kachapuri needs work (tasted too much like scrambled eggs), and the desserts were not good. The tahini crème brûlée sounded good, but the top was soft (not crunchy) and the flavor was bland. They were very gracious and took it off the bill. Cocktails are actually really solid. Service: needs work but overall actually pretty decent. I know other reviewers have said the service was really poor, but our experience was decent. Ambiance: The space was much smaller than I thought and we sat on the patio. It is nicely decorated, but the inside seemed a bit loud. Also, please put hooks in the bathroom! This is necessary! Overall: I have hope that this restaurant can work out the kinks, because there are some really good dishes on the menu. Overall, I do think that I will probably just come back and sit at the bar and eat some appetizers and have some cocktails. The larger dishes did not seem as appetizing to me.

Finally checked out Karravaan!!! The ambiance is really amazing and I was impressed by how much outdoor dining space there was as well. The menu offered lots of variety, as did the cocktails. The cocktails themselves were absolutely delicious and I would definitely say worth the price. The service was also wonderful. In particular, one of the bussers was so friendly and outgoing and it affected our experience very positively. Now onto the food - we tried a bunch of apps. Falafel, cauliflower, shallot dip, chicken skewers, fries, & khachapuri , and the mushroom biryanis. Everything was flavorful and good, but the biryani & khachapuri really stood out. Surprisingly, our favorite dish of the night was the ice cream trio with fresh waffle cones! The flavors were delicious and unique - roasted cashew, rose, and mango lassi. I would come back!

Unfortunately an underwhelming experience. We were excited for this restaurant to open given the interesting concept of dishes inspired by the Silk Road. For those not familiar with the Silk Road, it was not a single road but a network of routes, both overland and maritime, connecting civilizations across Asia, Europe, and Africa. Given the concept we expected bold flavors and unique combinations. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and service overall was great for our 7pm reservation. We arrived and immediately were seated. We browsed the menu and noted some items were cut after family and friends night. So went with our waitress recommendations. For starters we initially had the Tibetan momos and snapper crudo. I'm guessing that with my first bite of the momos I made a face that caught the waitresses eye because she immediately came over and asked if we liked the dish. Unfortunately the momos were bland and dry. The meat portion of the dumpling was too big and underseasoned. They swapped it for the cauliflower that tasted like a veggie general tso. While the snapper crudo had temperature issues (a touch warm) it honestly had the best flavor of all the dishes we tried. For entrees we ordered the forbidden duck and pan seared scallops. The duck was inspired by North Africa with a Chinese touch. The first round of the duck was well done and we ordered it medium. They quickly re-fired it and it came out at the appropriate temperature. The scallops were salty and honestly veggie forward. Given the issues throughout the dinner we sought out dessert elsewhere. As for the concept the menu references the Silk Road in a blurb but leaves off Northern Africa despite having a dish inspired from the region. This may have been an oversight or intentional given the flavor profile. Overall, I'm not sure if it was a new restaurant working out the kinks but it was definitely lacking in flavor and the menu wasn't cohesive.

I visited Karravan in Washington DC on a scorching day well above 93°F and was glad to discover the AC kicked full throttle as the dining room went from cozy to packed. From the moment we sat down, the service was top tier and attentive without being overbearing, and exactly what you want when you're melting outside. For starters, (not pictured) we had cauliflower fried in a sweet and spicy sauce and chicken skewers with a fragrant herb seasoning. Both were well executed and set the tone for the meal. But the real standout was the wild mushroom biryani with truffle, a vegan friendly masterpiece. The rice was perfectly fragrant, the wild mushrooms deeply savory, and the truffle lift made it remarkably unique. It was easily a 10 out of 10 dish in my book. My girlfriend ordered the butter chicken. While it looked good, she didn't love it so she ended up finishing some of my rice instead. Meanwhile, the mushroom biryani more than made up for it. As a plant based dish, it was bold and memorable in flavor a rare triumph. I paired my meal with a Mexican mule made with Casa Noble tequila. It was well balanced, refreshing, and worth ordering on its own merit. All told, the food especially the mushroom biryani was great, the service was flawless, and the complimentary pita bread was a nice touch. On a sizzling Washington day, this felt like a complete and satisfying experience.

Karravaan is right by my apartment, so I've watched it come into being over the past few months. It's still working out some things (overstaffed) and the food was good-not-great (of the two vegan options, I liked the falafel more than the cauliflower, which was too tomatoey). I'd like to try their drink menu another time. I appreciated how detailed the server was in explaining their unusual menu concept. Interior looked nice; we sat outside, which was really nice except for the spotted lanternflies!!!

Promising restaurant but missed the mark on a few things. Definitely over staffed and over priced. The drinks aren't anything special and the food was too many strong flavors, competing against eachother and lacking overall balance. Great space- would hate to see this place close so hope they can turn it around!

I was super excited to try this new establishment. The ambiance and decor was nice. The complimentary bread basket was the best thing I consumed. The shrimp skewer is a joke. It's not pictured but I was underwhelmed with it. It was two head-on shrimps on a stick. The shrimp were dry and almost impossible to get off the skewer. Once the head was off it was not that much shrimp. The peanut sauce that accompanied it was not that good. I was not happy with this dish. The dip was nothing to write home about. It came with the same complimentary bread basket. The drinks were tasty. The service was good. Parking is rough. I don't think I would return.

Amazingly thoughtful servers-- kind to bring out mosquito repellent and a doggie bowl when you're on the patio before you ask. Add a phenomenal menu and great ambiance and the area has a new winner.

It was okay. The service was not great. The food is way overpriced and does not taste authentic. The naan is not hot and kind of dry. The cocktails are good but I would skip this one.

We had a blast here. I'm still thinking about the Cauliflower Manchurian and the Nihari lamb shanks. The Phool for You cocktail was excellent too.

Deeply disappointing experience -- poor service, poor planning, and no accountability We came here excited to try a new spot, but this was hands-down one of the worst dining experiences I've had in recent memory. We waited over an hour and a half and still didn't receive all our food. * My dad ordered an Indian whiskey listed on the menu, only to be told 30 minutes later that it wasn't in stock. Why list something you don't have or fail to flag it when ordered? * We ordered butter chicken -- one of only a few non-shareable entrées -- and were told another 30 minutes later that it, too, was unavailable. * One of the appetizers (chicken skewers) never even arrived. The only thing that did show up -- the mushroom biryani -- was incredibly underwhelming. Who's asking for mushroom biryani, seriously? * The one cocktail we did receive tasted like spiked chai -- an odd and unbalanced flavor that just didn't work. When we tried to express our frustration, the server was dismissive and kept repeating, "It's only our second day open." That excuse wore thin quickly. After two hours, with no food on the table and two elderly parents sitting there hungry, we asked again about our order -- and instead of an apology, the manager came over and doubled down on excuses, treating my parents with condescension. If you're opening a restaurant -- especially on opening weekend -- you should be setting your highest standards, not brushing off customers with "we just opened" as your fallback for chaos. This was not just a bad meal; it was an operational disaster.

We had a great time dining here! We ordered a bunch of appetizers which were all delicious; our favorites were the chicken skewers and the shallot dip. Our server, Mete, provided excellent recommendations and was always checking on us, replacing our dirty plates, and refilling our water. Can't wait to come back soon!

I took a party of 10 to the Kaarvaan restaurant in DC on Saturday night. Everything about the experience was delightful. The staff is gracious and welcoming. Our party trickled in due to traffic issues. Not only is DMV traffic crazy but the Union Market area is very popular and jammed with traffic. I was intrigued with the menu and wanted to try everything! We almost succeeded! We share the Carmalized Shallot Spread, Smoky Eggplant Dip, Stuffed Cabbage, Tibetan Momos, Chicken Skewers, Chicken Kiev, the Jamon Wrapped Dates, the Khachapuri, Chicken Kiev, Lamb Sliders, and the Za'atar Fries. This was just the appetizers! The bread (naan e barbari) is free and keeps coming (it is delectable). Every dish was tasty and well-prepared. None of them were meh or regrettable. My favorites were the smoky eggplant dip and Tibetan momos. The very picky tweenage girl loved the chicken skewers (as did everyone else - I think we ended up with 4 orders for the table.) We ordered main dished too! Mainly because we could not resist. We did take a lot of to-go boxes at the end of the night. We had the Forbidden Duck (OMG), the Sanjay's Steak Frites (expensive but heavenly - every bite was WOW), the seasonal Sabzi Tagine (delicious and vegetarian) and the Mixed Grill (it supposed to feed two but that is two really hungry people!). The cocktails are not the usual! The flavors are excellent and are not sugary sweet (a big plus in my opinion). We even had dessert - shared. We had the black lime tart - which sounds odd but is extremely good - close to a key lime but a bit more interesting flavor. We also shared the Russian Cake - lots of layers and superb local honey. This was a evening all of us will remember. The service, the food, and the company were excellent. I highly recommend the Kaaravaan.