Based on 5 reviews.
City Paper Review
If you think everything tastes better when wrapped in a pita, you’ll find company at the Byblos Deli. With a menu that includes falafel, dolmas, hummus, shawarma, and spanakopita, this friendly Cleveland Park eatery emphasizes food from what you might call the “pita crescent.” Diners can choose from a long list of platters and sandwiches—the former mostly come with pita bread and may include tabbouleh, baba ghanouj, or a roasted half chicken; the sandwiches come loaded with vegetables and, when they include hummus or tzatziki, the portions are generous enough to coat the inside of the bread. The meat in the kafta kebab is rich and spicy, the gyro is a solid choice, and the grape-leaf sandwich is perfectly greasy. For the faint-of-heart, Byblos also offers ham sandwiches, cheeseburgers, and salads, and a tasty but undistinguished piece of baklava is enough to round off any meal. The deli doesn’t serve alcohol, but sodas are cheap and cold, and with efficient service and outdoor tables facing Connecticut Avenue, Byblos is an ideal spot to wile away an afternoon with falafel, coffee, and a newspaper—or to grab a quick bite before a movie at the Uptown. Be sure to check out the back of the menu, which describes the fascinating history of the city of Byblos.
—Coco Krumme,
October 12, 2007
Rater Comments
These comments express the opinions of individual Restaurant Raters, not those of Washington City Paper.
Review by altheaih2000 on June 29, 2004
Although the workers can be kind of gruff and impatient, this deli is definitely worth repeated visits. You definitely get your money's worth. They have plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. On any given Saturday, you can find singles, couples, and families dining there.
Review by mariced on June 2, 2004
Great cheap eats! The chicken souvlaki is great, as is the spanakopita.
Review by badger on May 24, 2004
Byblos is cheap and good. It has no wait service, you just order at the counter and there are a few small tables at which to sit. In nicer weather, they add a few more tables outside, which is nice since the Cleveland park location provides a fun scene on this strip of bars and restaurants on Connecticut Ave. My favorite meal is the shish ta wook. The chicken is all white meat, the hummus is delicious, and the sandwich is a pretty decent size for the price.
Review by PaxRyan on May 21, 2004
Shwing for shwarma!!
This place made a fun stop for a quick meal before walking home from Cleveland Park. Indoor and outdoor seating is nice. Watch out for the 8th graders swarming like so many bumbling cicadas when a nearby school gets out at 3pm or so.
Review by matthew on May 7, 2004
Byblos is a great spot to grab a bite to eat cheaply while still enjoying the ability to sit outside and people watch. The Schwarma is prepared with lots of garlic (not for the faint hearted or nosed). Not a fancy place, but for $15 for two people, it's hard to beat in Cleveland Park.
