I kind of want to just write “This summer, Zaytinya is offering a three-course, $35 RoZay brunch that comes with a flight of rose wine” and then just post the pictures. Because honestly, do you need more information than that?! Stuffing your face with Chef Michael Costa’s delicious Turkish fare, while enjoying rose in Zaytinya’s sun-filled dining room or on their shady patio is pretty much what I want to be doing every Saturday and Sunday this summer.
About the RoZay Brunch
But, since I went over there to sample the menu I’ll give you a summary of what the deal includes. For your first course, choose from creamy hummus, a tomato, onion, and cucumber salad, super tart feta and red pepper spread called htipiti, or, my favorite, farro served over a toum, a garlic and ginger infused spread, ultimately crowned with a heap of sweet peas and green garbanzo beans. The trifecta of textures from the chewy farro, creamy toum, and the peas combined with the bright flavors made it the stand-out dish of the mezze selection. A basket of fresh pita bread is complimentary and essential for mopping up your mezze.
Then, your main course can be a hefty falafel burger, piled high with tomatoes and tzatziki, a side, salad, or eggs scrambled tomatoes and feta, almost like a shakshuka but where the eggs are scrambled instead of baked.
About the Dessert…
And finally dessert. The loukamades, which are Greek donuts holes, seem like they would be the best but there is a surprise winner: a sweet and tangy vanilla bean flecked yogurt, served in a mini dessert glass, topped with apricots soaked in a sweet wine, dusted with crushed pistachios and topped with cool apricot gelato. It’s a sweet but refreshing way to end your meal. Chocolate truffles are served at the end, in case your sweet tooth was not satisfied.
Zaytinya’s Brunch: The Verdict
The RoZay menu is only being offered until Restaurant Week in August so make a beeline for Zaytinya before then. You’ll find me on the patio, getting my rose on.
Zaytinya, 701 9th St NW, Washington, DC, Website
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