Mama Ayesha&#x27;s Restaurant

Where to Eat and Drink in Adams Morgan

"As a pioneer of Middle Eastern cuisine in D.C., Mama Ayesha Abraham opened this restaurant in the 1960s. Since then, it has grown into a neighborhood favorite and an icon for its famous presidential mural that features leaders since Dwight D. Eisenhower — minus President Donald Trump — painted on its exterior wall." - Missy Frederick, Eater Staff

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"Mama Ayesha's, originally called Calvert Cafe, opened in 1960. The founder was Mama Ayesha Abraham who operated 24 farms in the Middle East before moving to D.C. and cooking in the Syrian Embassy in the 1940s. Mama Ayesha's nephews and great-nephews run the restaurant today. The restaurant is also known for the mural of presidents on its wall." - Vinciane Ngomsi, Tierney Plumb, Eater Staff

Where To Grab Dinner If You Want To Avoid Tourists - Washington DC - The Infatuation

"When you walk into Mama Ayesha, a Palestinian restaurant in Adams Morgan, chances are you’ll find neighbors having their weekly standing dinner or playing cards on one of the square wooden tables out back. The tiny restaurant, which you can walk the length of in under 60 seconds, has been a staple in the community since 1960. And the coral cushioned seats and wooden panels adorned with carefully crafted light fixtures are reflections of that. Stick to the basics on the menu. The hummus, charred kebabs, and dessert are all great, but the kibbeh, fattoush, and lamb shanks could be better." - Omnia Saed

Mama Ayesha - Review - Adams Morgan - Washington DC - The Infatuation

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"Resy’s The Classics Remix, a takeout pop-up series across 10 cities in the U.S. and London, includes a D.C. collab with James Beard award-winning Rasika chef Vikram Sunderam and Middle Eastern mainstay Mama Ayesha’s." - Tierney Plumb

Farah Mustapha

Google

authentic Palestinian food with a beautiful story behind the Resturant itself, the service was okay. I tried the chicken maqloba was really good, spiced up really well and the portion was generous. I tried their mint tea was good but the knafi was disappointing, didn't taste fresh and was hard as a rock and cold. my friends ordered the okra stew and musakhan and they liked them very much.

Alexa Haverlah

Google

Great food, beautiful decor, and excellent service! We split small plates so will have to come back for entrees. Highlights were the grape leaves, rice pudding and falafel (not pictured). The falafel was some of the best I’ve ever had - so fresh & crispy!!

Miriam Chaponniere

Google

Gréât atmosphère and ambiance, we enjoyed the dessert dishes the most, the rice pudding with the rose water was excellent. We also had some mezza plates to share, and some entrées . My mom loved the garlic sauce, and I particularly liked the Kibbah.

Morten Andersen

Google

As usually in the US the facade doesn’t impress but inside there’s a really nice and quite big restaurant with a soothing vibe. The food was good, spicy but lacked some freshness, vegetables and also some kind of gravy, marinade to juice things up a little bit. Like the eggplant starter, the best dish of the day.

Christopher Yandell

Google

I visited Mama Ayesha’s for a friend’s birthday and it was a great experience. The food and ambiance were great. Every dish had the perfect amount of seasoning and flavor. We went on a Tuesday night, and there was only one other party dining while we were there. Overall, the experience was great besides our waiter who was a bit rude. He walked away from us while we were ordering on multiple occasions which rubbed me the wrong way. Either way, it’s worth a visit. We payed around $300 for a group of 8

fatimah alqudsi

Google

Get ready to empty your pockets for not that great of food. We came here with 4 ppl and ended up paying over $300 dollars!!! So unbelievable!!! We got 2 appetizers and 4 dishes and 3 drinks for that price!! They added gratuity themselves which it was over $50 and they added tax on the top of the gratuity! Food was okay but not great to the point I pay this. They didn’t even give us heads up. Never paid this at any restaurants I been to before. Never coming back here again!

Johnathan Tillman

Google

We decided to visit for dinner during a work trip tonight area and looking for Mediterranean style food. Walking up, there was some questions as to whether the restaurant was open or not. Thankfully, we figured out it was, and had a fantastic meal. Mama Ayesha's serves Palestinian food. I ordered the kafta. A few in our group we're looking for vegetarian dishes and Mama Ayesha did not disappoint. The food was wonderful. The service was great. The atmosphere is fun and comfortable.

CoCo Aw

Google

Loved to try a Palestinian Restaurant as a fellow Palestinian and this place simply blew me AWAY. From the atmosphere to the decor, to the service everything felt inviting and friendly. The server made sure to accommodate all of our needs. The food was 10/10. You have to TRY it.

Carol R.

Yelp

We were visiting our niece at Georgetown University and after a day of museum-going we wanted a good meal. We found this restaurant on Yelp and decided to try it. Even on a Saturday evening with less parking restrictions, finding a spot was really difficult. But we finally found one nearby and walked a short distance to the eatery. There is dining inside and outside and the service was superb. We had cocktails, a grape leaves with lamb appetizer, four orders of shish kabob and one order of lamb shank, along with baklava and rice pudding for dessert. Everything was really delicious. The shish kabob was tender and the lamb fell off the bone. Cocktails and appetizers are about $12 each, entrees average $30, and desserts are about $6. Best Middle Eastern food we have had in a while, and we recently visited Greece in March.

Ann P.

Yelp

It's a classic DC restaurant with great food! For years Mama Ayesha would greet people herself at the restaurant.

Andrew-Brian N.

Yelp

So this review is more like a 3.5 than just 3 stars, keep reading and you'll see why! With that said, I still plan on returning. Came here on a Sunday evening for dinner and it wasn't too busy, perhaps 6 or 7 tables were there when I got there at 7:30pm. We got a booth, which I'm always into! Service was warm and welcoming, but could have been a touch more attentive, it wasn't a big deal though. Not newly renovated or anything, so not somewhere I'd go for ambiance, but certainly nice enough for family for a casual meal with friends and loved ones. The highlights were the meat dolmas and each of the 3 meats from the Mushakal Mashawi platter. I've never had dolmas with meat in it, and it was a pleasant savory experience paired with the labneh. There were also so many in one order! The kebob platter was a surprise to be honest. I usually find grilled kebobs to be dry, but whatever they're doing here, they're doing it RIGHT. All the meats were well seasoned and cooked to perfection. We requested medium rare for the beef and we ate tender and delicious beef. YUM YUM YUM! Now for the rest... The pita wasn't as soft/pillowy as I prefer. The foole is supposed to be made of fava beans, but I swear this tasted like refried beans from a can. It tasted good, but these definitely weren't fava beans. The falafel tasted fine, but the exterior was quite crunchier than I'd like. If you remember Amsterdam falafel, these would disappoint. The mouzat lamb shank wasn't bad, it just wasn't special. Lastly, I had high expectations for the menzalah eggplant and ground beef casserole thing, but it was kind of one note in my opinion. Now that I know the kebobs are done well, I'll come back for those and try some other things. Also, the price for this meal can't be beat. DC has some outrageous prices for small portions right now, but Mama Ayesha's isn't one of those spots.

Nathan N.

Yelp

I had Mama Ayesha's on my list for quite some time, and I am beyond excited we were able to venture here. Just on the border of Adam's Morgan and Woodley Park, this middle eastern family owned restaurant is an institution in this city. Aside from its fun exterior mural including Mama Ayesha with a handful of Presidents, the warm interior is met with friendly staff who are kind and attentive. We ordered four amazing dishes and absolutely loved every one. The pickled vegetables included with the Jibna and Zaytoon were perfect and paired well with the olives and haloumi. My personal favorite was the shish kabob in the Mushakal Mashawi platter. Put this on your short list of places to try, we will definitely be back soon.

Mona K.

Yelp

The food is always fresh and delicious. Some of our favorites are the vegetarian dolmas and the maklooba. The rice is very fragrant too!

Julie W.

Yelp

Always giving this place 5 stars. So delicious. Always recommend their traditional specialties, I've genuinely never gotten anything bad here. Also love the hummus, baba ganoush, and baklava is nice and warm sometimes which is delicious. Also the servers are so kind and sweet, I can only imagine the same for the owners. Always a favorite in DC!

Naria W.

Yelp

3.5 stars! Came to Mama Ayesha's with a friend on a weeknight around 7pm and had an overall good experience. We had a reservation but the dining room was totally empty with only two tables dining so walking in without a reservation would be easy. A server came to me immediately to take my drink order. I had a "fresh mint lemonade" which ended up being I'm pretty sure just minute maid with mint. They graciously let me trade it in for another drink. To start we had falafel and labneh with pita. Both were tasty though the falafel was way smaller than expected. For my main I had chicken skewers which has a few roasted vegetables on the skewers and a side of rice. The portion was a good sized. Enough to take home for a second small meal and everything tasted good. The chicken was moist and flavorful. The rice was lukewarm and not super flavorful but totally fine. For dessert I had baklava and coffee. Baklava was a nice treat and the coffee was good. Overall a 3-star experience made better by the really attentive and friendly staff! Wonderful service all around and a very nice team that let us stay chat and sit around way longer than most restaurants would. The atmosphere was cute and pretty quiet overall so it was the perfect environment to catch up with friends. The place started to fill up around 9 and I got the impression that this is very much a loved neighborhood spot. Worth a visit for the friendly service and good vibes.

David W.

Yelp

I can't say enough great things about Mama Ayesha's and their food, staff and ambiance. They hosted our group event of 30 in their restaurant and were extremely easy to work with. Mo Jr and Mohammad were a joy to work with and everything was exactly as expected. I don't typically love Baba Ghanoush but it was wonderful. The Foole m'damas (fava bean dip) was delicious. Our main dishes, Shish Kabob, Kifta Kabob and Shish Taouk were all prepared well and the portions were plentiful. And, the deserts (my favorite was the Ruz bil Haleeb Arabian Rice Pudding) were awesome. We were a large group that sang songs and played a guitar. The staff was so happy we were there, and even their other patrons were so kind and appreciative that "people need to be happier like you are" - so that made us feel very welcomed. Thank you to Mama Ayesha's and we're so thankful that we found them.

Joyce W.

Yelp

We got the moulamb shank and the eggplant and ground beef entrées, both of which came with a bed of rice. The lamb was so tender that it fell off the bone easily. The rice soaked in the sauce was delicious. The ground beef was really flavorful as well. Hummus came with warm pita bread and you also have the option to add lamb on top. You can taste the tinge of olive oil. It was delicious. Parking is really tough on a Friday night in Adams Morgan. but we didn't have a problem getting a table. Reservations available through yelp!

Nadia H.

Yelp

Food was authentic and delicious. The atmosphere was so cute, I always love listening to running water in the background as it's very relaxing. Booths and chairs were comfortable. We had hummus, mnskhan, lamb chops, and knafa. The hummus was smooth and very tasty. The mnskhan and lamb were delicious and tender. The knafa was such a great pick me up on a cold day, it was perfectly soft, sweet, and hot. Customer service was great. Will definitely be making the trip to return!

Verina B.

Yelp

What a gem of a place. Great Palestinian food and amazing vibe. Everything was executed pretty well. I will say some dishes were better than others but if you want authentic food, this place has it. Unfortunately the service a little slow

Andrew C.

Yelp

Very friendly family- Muhammad was an excellent server- prompt- the food was excellent especially Malfoof - very hard to find Malfoof loved they had it in the menu. Tabbouleh was disappointing- bland taste and bitter. Overall a great Palestinian restaurant in Washington DC. Highly Recommend- Next time will get the spicy sausage and Kifta. Great variety of menu items.

Roxy A.

Yelp

This place is nice! It's a classic DC spot located a bit away from the chaos of Adams Morgan. The food is good, flavorful. It is a tad bit on the pricier side and the decor could be a little nicer. But, this all adds to the charm of this staple spot. The food is halal and there is plenty of seating inside, which is a bonus. The mural on the side of the restaurant is really cool too.

Daniel R.

Yelp

This restaurant is an absolute delight! I came with a friend on a Thursday evening around 6pm and found a very quiet and intimate restaurant with a beautiful waterfall in the center. The food was outstanding! We started with a hummus appetizer that had delicious pickled vegetables on top as well as perfectly warm pita on the side. For our entrees, I got the menzalah, which is a delectable eggplant and ground beef combination. My friend is not partial to eggplant and still thought it was delicious! He ordered a kifta and was very satisfied as well with the super flavorful meat. For dessert, we shared baklava and namoura, which is like a cross between baklava and kanafeh. They were the perfect way to end the evening! The staff is very friendly and the atmosphere is great as well. Highly recommend!

Tom C.

Yelp

I stay at Omni Shorham every year for a conference and always to go Mama Syesha. I went there to pick up dinner last night and enjoyed the Bamya dish. But I left my credit card there. and did not realized it until this morning. The staff there was so honest. They called me and informed that they had my card and had put a hold on it so it would be secure. I retrieve my card and just want to thank them for this. I will do back without hesitation any time.

Alexis C.

Yelp

I really enjoyed Mama Ayesha's overall! Definitely an underrated spot in DC. Vibe: 10/10 Service: 10/10 Baba ganouj: 8/10 (I just don't love baba ganouj in general!) Mushakal mashawi (mixed grill kabobs): 8/10 Mouzat (lamb shank): 9/10 Overall: 9/10 (4.5/5)

RC R.

Yelp

Baba Genush is to die for, Very good service nice people, delicious food! try stuffed grape leaves.

Nadia M.

Yelp

Amazing Palestinian food! I had the makloobah and the chicken was so soft, it fell apart. Service was great, as well. I will make the trip to DC and come again in the future.

Josh C.

Yelp

Service was terrible. Waiter was nowhere to be found. Unbelievable. I had a craving for middle eastern food and thought I'd try this place. Will never come back again.

George A.

Yelp

Super nice inside here. A good date spot. For $22 the lamb shank was pretty good. Service is super nice. I may come back here if I'm back in town. Currently top 5 spot to eat if you are in Adam's Morgan area. Mango martini was good as well as the okra stew dish.

Kelly B.

Yelp

Incredibly authentic Indian cuisine with a family owned feel. Quality of food exceeded expectations and decor is warm and inviting. Friendly staff. Would highly recommended!

Julie P.

Yelp

The last time I was at this place was ten years ago when I was in DC - I decided to stop by on my trip last week and was so glad I did! The food is as good as I remember - the musakan is one of my all time favorite dishes. the atmosphere is warm and inviting, and great service. This is a hidden neighborhood gem where you can get in without a reservation.

Jamie W.

Yelp

I can see the draw to the place. It feels like your at your neighbors house eating dinner on a Tuesday night. Flavors of the Middle East presented to you as a family member made it. The furnishings could use updating and have the dust knock off them. If your looking for middle eastern comfort food this would be the spot.

Stephanie S.

Yelp

Wonderful find in DC! The food, service and ambiance were excellent. We had the hummus, eggplant chicken and lamb shank. Portions were large and plenty of leftovers.

Suzie Z.

Yelp

What a delightful feast! Walked in without reservations around 645PM on a Wednesday evening and the restaurant was 90% empty. Love the authentic middle eastern food, albeit being slightly pricey.

Cheryl A.

Yelp

We were a large group with a set menu and they served us a huge amount of incredibly tasty food! The hummus is the best I've had and I loved the pistachio desert. Very kind service.

Jeanie H.

Yelp

We had an amazing meal at Mama Ayesha's. The food and the cocktails were fantastic! the staff were friendly and the restaurant has a very interesting history. highly recommend!

Jeremy O.

Yelp

I have never ate at a middle eastern restaurant before, but both meals were excellent. The rice had excellent flavor and both meals meats were perfect. Neither of use were that hungry and planned taking a box home before we got there, but it was so good we finished both our plates. Service was also good, not rushed, but at a good pace still and drinks were always refilled without asking before they ran out. Will definitely return when in the DC area again

Paul L.

Yelp

Met for dinner with an old friend who lived in Adams Morgan back in the 1980's, when we worked together. She drove to our house in the neighborhood and as we walked we decide we wanted to eat in one of the places from back in the day. Back then, there were a handful of places where you could reliably get a meal for five bucks; two of them are still around (including El Tamarindo and and this one, known at the time as Calvert Cafe). Of course the prices are a tad higher now, but it was still a good feed for a reasonable price. She got a beer and I had the Arabian Mule -- sadly the strong anise flavor of the arak rather overwhelmed all the other flavors. For appetizers,tried and true taboule was as expected and a sujok sausages were spicy enough for me, maybe a tad more spice than my friend might have preferred butshe gamely at her way through it. Our main course were mujadara, unfamiliar other but it seemed authentic to me. The musakan (chicken) was flavorful. The food was more than we could eat so we took away containers and passed on the desserts Our respective spouses were under the weather and hie dinner was mostly a chance for some old friends to schmooze for a couple of hours. The place was emopty when we first arrived but there were several tables filled nearby eventiually. We had no trouble hearing each other. A good place for friendly meal

Ifeoma I.

Yelp

We came here on a Friday night after making a reservation through Yelp. We got delayed after difficulties with parking around the area, and had to park about 8 minutes walk away. After we found parking our reservation time had passed, so we called and asked if we could reschedule to a closer time and they were very accommodating which made me happy. We sat inside since it started getting windy outside, and so I was able to see the beautiful interior that transported patrons to the Middle East with the designs, colors, music, and architecture--very cute. We ordered the Sujok to start, which was spicy beef sausages with garlic potatoes. The beef was tasty and wasn't that spicy actually so non-heat lovers can also consider it, and the garlic potatoes were mashed. Then, we placed an order of the Bamya--a tomato stew with okra and chunks of lamb in it accompanied by rice--as well as the Reeash--loin lamb chops with mashed garlic potatoes. Both dishes were very tasty; I particularly liked the small sizes of okra in the tomato stew and the lamb chunks were very tender in the Bamya. The loin lamb chops tasted smoky since it was grilled and it was also tender and well seasoned. I enjoyed the meals but wish that the serving was a little more generous for the Reeash. The staff was amazing throughout our experience. We shared a waiter with about 3-4 other parties but he always maintained a very welcoming and calm demeanor at our table. Our waiter was also friendly and didn't hold back when we asked for specific recommendations from the menu. For a Friday night there weren't too packed, and with both indoor and outdoor seating areas as well as takeout, I would recommend this place if you're in the area!

Michaela E.

Yelp

Idk where to begin. Our server was fantastic and very accommodating. My friend has never been to a Mediterranean restaurant so I figured this staple would be a treat. The hummus was out of this world and the tabbouleh. Entrees were superb. The only downside I could see is parking, however it's definitely worth it!

Alex W.

Yelp

Had an amazing dinner here tonight! There were plenty of available seats on a Friday evening, and the wait staff were exceptionally kind. The hummus was delicious and the pita bread came from right out of the oven. Both of our entrée dishes were also amazing, so we will definitely be coming back!

Sabrina W.

Yelp

Best baclava and falafels I've ever had!! Great ambience and kind people. Large portions and great prices. I will be back!

Tural I.

Yelp

Food was delicious. It was the first time visiting this location and was really impressed with all the reviews and I still am. I really like the art made on the wall of the store. I do not remember the name of the food that I ordered, but I remember it was a half chicken and I like it. People were welcoming. However, the restaurant was not clean. I was very hungry before I came in and after arrival, I saw dirty seat cover on the booth, the carpet on the floor looked very dirty, the cheap self made "waterfall" looked something unintentionally made. Overall, the cleanliness 2 out of 5. The lady who welcomed us was very nice, server was nice. I would not come back because the cleanliness of the store is the appetite reducer.

Dan F.

Yelp

Fabulous Palestinian food! We came for the musakkhan, but wound up also ordering the hummus and menzalah. Absolutely delicious! Highly recommended!

Gretchen A.

Yelp

No other way to describe this place other than incredible. The decor was perfect, service was wonderful, and the food even better if that's possible. We began with Baba Ganouj, Fattoush, and Meat Rolls, then the three of us shared two orders of Mushakal Mashawi. My husband had a Mango Martini that was also excellent. Wish I lived in DC -- we would be regulars!

Luana C.

Yelp

Overall: This place is has been a staple of the neighborhood for decades and you will understand why once you tried it. Tastiness: I have come here multiple times with family and friends and everyone always loves their dishes. My parents are picky about lamb and loved the lamb dishes they tried. Overall, I can attest to ALL of the lamb dishes because I have tried them all. Order with confidence and a hungry stomach! :) The wine selection is robust - I would recommend the white, red, and rose house wines from Lebanon, as a great value and taste. Presentation: Presentation goes as far as it is practical in this restaurant - nothing is out of place, but it is not a priority - tastiness is. Service: Over the years I have interacted with multiple servers and they have all been effective, professional, and welcoming. A delight! Ambiance: When I stepped inside the restaurant I felt transported to the Middle East - the decor, the music, the lush plants, and water installation make this place instantly charming and set the tone for a welcoming and enjoyable dinning experience. Cleanliness: Very clean and organized. Price: Well-priced for NW DC with excellent service and delicious food.

Jessica M.

Yelp

I made an entire meal out of appetizers. The service was great. The kibbee is delicious, as is the hummus

Ebony I.

Yelp

Oh my God. The food, the ambiance, the service. if i could give 10 stars i would. it was so good. my partner and i ordered so much food and not one thing was bad. everything was delicious. HIGHLY recommend

I C.

Yelp

This is a Palestinian business that has been around for well over 50 years. If you want to support great restaurant with excellent food and service this is the place to come to.

Becca D.

Yelp

What a unique and delicious spot! Boyfriend was in the mood for middle eastern food so got us reservations here one night. When we walked in, we were greeted by beautiful inviting decor including a waterfall feature and dim lights to set the mood. We were seated in a comfy corner booth near the front. I haven't heard of half the dishes on the menu but they all sounded delicious so it was really hard to decide. We started with the baba ganouj which was so yummy and the accompanying pita freshly out of the oven. I don't think I've ever ordered baba ganouj at a restaurant before, let alone had it homemade! For my meal, I had the menzalah which was a ground beef dish. I was greeted with the lovely smell of toasted pine nuts and almonds when it came out. It was very good, especially the eggplant on top! The boyfriend had the malfoof which was a lamb stuffed cabbage dish. I had a bite and it was equally as delicious, and the sour cream on the side went perfectly. After dinner, the boyfriend had a sheik which was coffee with a shot of galliano. Man could you smell that galliano! I had a sip and it was very good and VERY strong! Overall, great place for a relaxing date night in a lovely environment with some delicious food!

Sarina Q.

Yelp

The iconic Mama Ayesha's with the big mural has always caught my attention and I have finally gotten the chance to try it! The anticipation was worth it, the food was delicious, comforting, and cooked to perfection. The chicken in the Makloobeh was juicy and flavorful, the lamb in the Mouzat fell right off the bone covered in the rich braising sauce. On the other hand I did not enjoy the dessert as much, the vermicelli in the knafeh was not cooked enough and lacked in flavor. The fattoush was yummy but the veggies were cut very chunky. The experience itself was great with good customer service and a relaxing environment. I am quite content with Mama Ayesha's :)

Julie H.

Yelp

We absolutely loved our meal here! Once you step in inside, it feels like you are transported to the Middle East. Every dish we tried was fantastic! Fatoosh was refreshing, Makloobah was delicious. The Sujok was fabulous as well. Definitely recommend.

Betsy E.

Yelp

Stopped here with a friend upon recommendation from her sister. We opted out of getting entrées and instead ordered a bunch of appetizers to share. My friend being Palestinian is very knowledgeable in Arabic food (and swears her mom makes the best!) and said almost everything was up to par. Very authentic kibbeh, even I loved it, and hummus. The fattoush was okay. Neither of us were impressed by the tabbouli. The Betin Jan was good. I had never had anything like it before and would order it again. Same with the halloumi cheese. It was very tasty! I liked the falafels although they were tiny little bite sized things. Overall, good spot in a scenic neighborhood.

Vincent C.

Yelp

Upon arriving to Mama Ayesha's, I was immediately greeted and seated. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, and my order was taken within a few minutes upon sitting down. I first ordered the Mouzat, which is a lamb shank with green beans and vermicelli rice. However, after placing my order, my waiter returned to apologize that they were out of the Mouzat. My second choice was the Musakan, which I received within 10 minutes of ordering. The Musakan was composed of chicken, along with sauteed onions and almonds on top of a piece of baked bread. The chicken was well seasoned with sumac; flavor-wise, it was pretty good. However, the chicken was also overcooked, dry, and powdery.

Katrina S.

Yelp

I went to Mama Ayesha's pre-COVID. The food and service were great. I'm originally from California and have some great Lebanese restaurants there, so it was tough trying the same types of dishes here at Mama Ayesha's. Although it wasn't quite the same, they still have great food for DC and am excited to try this again!

Yasmeen J.

Yelp

We had a very poor experience at Mama Ayesha's. This was the second time we've visited the restaurant. For our first visit, the food was good (3.5 stars) but nothing to write home about. We decided to give it another try tonight. We enjoyed our hummus, baba ghanoush, and salad. Unfortunately our main dishes arrived incorrect and extremely bland. About halfway through our meal, we noticed that the table across from us was staring at the area under our booth. A few seconds later they quickly came up to us and showed us a mouse scurrying around our feet. We quickly got up from the table as the family left the restaurant before ordering their food. As we were discussing the bill with the hostess, we then saw the mouse coming straight towards us then right back into the kitchen. The hostess did not apologize in anyway whatsoever. He told us to not overreact as it was a small mouse. He also stated that, "We're in DC. There are mice in every restaurant." My grandmother also remarked multiple times BEFORE the experience with the mouse that the restaurant seemed very dirty and unkempt. The hostess was extremely disrespectful as he got in my fiancés face about the situation. We refused to pay the check and left the restaurant. We would not recommend Mama Ayesha's and we will not be returning.

Dinh N.

Yelp

Went here with my girlfriend on a Friday night. It was pretty quiet so we were able to get food pretty quickly. The dishes were good. She got the veggie Koosa which was alright but the squash tasted weird to me. I got the Mouzat and it was pretty good, pretty much what u expected from lamb shank and rice.

Mike K.

Yelp

Something has called me to this spot for 20 years. Finally got my way and man was I thrilled. Hummus better than I ever had, kiffeh (first time), they were out of lamb shank but the charcoal grilled lamb chops and lamb shish kabob were amazing. Usually I think "I could have made these as good" but not this time. Thank you, Mohamed, for a memorable meal. We felt well taken care of. Mike and Jill

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