All cities have dining trends and the nation’s capital is no exception. What’s trending in D.C. right now? Mediterranean cuisine, which is music to my ears! With so many choices, I made a list of where to find Mediterranean food in DC. Hummus, falafel, fresh veggies, and fragrant herbs are all hallmarks of Mediterranean fare; food which is not only delicious but according to many, healthy and the key to a living a long life. Here are the details on the newest venues where you can sample some Mediterranean inspired dishes.
Hazel
This popular Shaw restaurant, complete with a gorgeous outdoor patio furnished with fire pits, is not a newcomer to the neighborhood, but recently made a major shift by hiring Chef Robert Curtis, who has taken the restaurant in a new culinary direction. The new, vegetable-forward menu has all kinds of Mediterranean inspired gems. Whipped tahini and jalapeno-infused zhug are a couple of the delicious spreads, served with fluffy, fragrant laffa bread.
Crispy potatoes tossed with zaatar are anything but ordinary, roasted carrots with harissa are the perfect marriage of sweet and spicy and polenta smothered in cheese and maitake mushroom chips is downright divine. All the dishes are great for sharing, I would recommend ordering about two per person and then sharing with your dining partners.
Hazel, 808 V St NW, Washington, DC, Website
Olivia
Formerly Nopa on F street in Chinatown, Olivia is still owned by Ashok Bajaj of Knightsbridge Restaurant Group, but the venue has transformed from a modern American restaurant into a Mediterranean inspired dining hotspot. The menu is dynamite, with dishes like chickpea ravioli, super creamy mujadara, housemade carrot hummus, and roasted eggplant. The housemade bread is fragrant and addictive, and desserts like freshly fried donuts are as good as the small plates. If looking for where to find Mediterranean food in DC, this is a top choice.
Olivia, 800 F St NW, Washington, DC, Website
Sababa
Another Knightsbridge Restaurant Group venue, this Isreali spot is approaching its one year anniversary, and it only continues to improve. I am obsessed with the beet tahini, which is so silky and velvety it will melt on your tongue. Kashari, a lentil and rice dish, is super comforting and the fried cauliflower, with dill and raisins and lemon, is bursting with a bevy of flavors. I highly recommend the pomegranate and rose soda, as well as the Zephyr breeze, a booze-infused version of the same beverage.
Sababa, 3311 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC, Website
Little Sesame
Where to find Mediterranean food in DC with a limited budget? Try Little Sesame. Little Sesame’s hummus bowls are my crack, largely because the hummus is so utterly fluffy and creamy. It’s served with toppings like roasted tomatoes and pine nuts, squash and pomegranate molasses, and chickpeas with dried herbs and spices. The downtown location opened in 2018, but the new Chinatown venue just opening its doors in March 2019. Be prepared to wait in line no matter which location you visit. However, it is so worth the wait!
Little Sesame,736 6th St, Washington, DC, Website
Where to Find Mediterranean Food in DC
We say the more Mediterranean restaurants in DC, the better! This cuisine is rich, healthy, and accommodating to those who have dietary restrictions with plenty of vegetarian and celiac options to choose from.
