When I’m in DC I always try to make my way over to Zaytinya (olive oil in Turkish)- for lunch or dinner at least once. It’s centrally located near the Convention Center, directly across from the Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro stop on the Red, Green and Yellow lines.
The inside of the restaurant is sleek and modern and it has a great outdoor patio for al fresco dining (weather permitting) However, as much as I love the atmosphere of Zaytinya it’s the food that keeps me coming back. World-traveling chef Jose Andres and his team have created a menu of fantastic small plates (mezze) inspired by the cuisine of Turkey, Greece and Lebanon (my mouth is watering as I write this just thinking about it!) Smaller portion plates are particularly great if dining alone or fun to share with a traveling campanion.
Head to Zaytinya if you want a break from the steak or seafood restaurants that are plentiful in DC – and have an order of delicious baba ghannouge for me!
Zaytinya
701 9th Street NW
Washington DC 20001
Corner of 9th and G Streets
