| Address | 633 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC 20003 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (202) 544-4753 |
Meyhane is another great find on the Hill. One of the most reasonable, tasty mediterranean restaurants around. Couple that with a half price bottle of wine happy hour and you've got the makings for a great evening any day of the week.
The food was very flavorful. We ordered one of the combinations, which is a great value, could easily feed 3 people for $34 total. They were out of the chicken (that we REALLY wanted) so we had to choose the spinach stuffed chicken and they forgot to bring one of the items, but happily and promptly included it in our "to-go" items. The service was lovely and relaxing.
What a gem. Fit for a sultan, a serf, and everyone in between. The food & service were perfect, only to be out done by the entertainment. Diners joined the belly dancer between courses.
For the cost conscious, half priced bottles of wine from 5-7 PM...
For the indecisive, fixed price menus with various dining selections...
For the adventurous, dance-along belly dancing...
For the vegetarians, 1/3 of the menu veg-friendly...
For the timid, a vibrant, friendly staff not afraid to make suggestions...
For the lonely, a bar...
Everyone should try this capitol hill pleasure.
We were feting my friend's elderly mother who had once loved visits to Turkey, particularly its food and friendliness. She had a wonderful time at Meyhane as did I and my two friends. A Middle Eastern dancer entertained during our meal and "Mom," who has traveled widely in the Middle East, proclaimed her the best dancer she's ever seen. We could not have made a better choice for giving her a very special evening.
Meyhane is my favorite neighborhood restaurant on Capitol Hill --we normally visit it once or twice a week.
If you arrive during Happy Hour, you can't beat the bargains. Bottles of wine are half price and the list, though not extensive, is very drinkable.
They are still tweaking their recipes and, it appears, responding to their customers' comments. Their octopus meze, which used to be a mixture of olives, tomatoes, parsley, and such, is now served with just olive oil and lemon. We had it last night and it was outstanding -- the octopus was tender and delicious. I thought the old way (with olives, etc) was delicious but I like it even better with just the olive oil and lemon.
Their kofte, ground lamb meze which is served with a side of rice, red onions, and antep (Turkish salsa) is delicious, with a pronounced lamb flavor.
Noor Jihan, the belly dancer who generally performs on Tuesdays and Saturdays, had her usual stellar performance, getting a patron and the owner, to dance with her to the delight of the other customers.
We've always had excellent service at Meyhane. When I ordered my usual baklava last night, the server asked if I could wait about 10 minutes as a fresh tray was almost ready to be served. I waited and it was worth it - the warm baklava had pool of syrup around it but it was crisp and buttery. That, plus a Turkish coffee (medium sweet) and a pear cognac finished off the meal.
Even though Meyhane is still a work in progress, it has developed a loyal following. It's certainly a fun place to eat interesting food, socialize and spend an evening.
Go for the meze, not for the entrees. Some things were superb: the meze platter, the lamb shish. Others were not as described on the menu and consequently a disappointment, including the signature Meyhane chicken and the chicken breast stuffed with feta and spinach. The chocolate souffle was passable. The Noah's Ark dessert was horrid. When a dessert includes beans, that needs to be spelled out in advance!
Our waitress was clearly inexperienced and no one came along to check up on her. While pouring the wine she splashed wine on a so-far-unused plate and did not replace it. She did not respond to a complaint about the food. She did not get the entire dessert order. What she did need was much more training.
Next time, I'd arrive in time for the happy hour 1/2 price bottle of wine and have an assortment of meze while deciding where to go for the main event.
Gave wine card but did not solicit an order (and we didn't want to order wine). Not rushed, had to ask for check. Relaxed place, good "tapas" place. Did not order entrees which seemed expensive. Mee plates reasonable, two out of three very good, third ok.
Near Eastern Market, Meyhane, a new middle eastern-flavored restaurant has replaced the lovely Anatolia Cafe. Yes, the interior renovations with the new bump-out window add an airiness and nightly drink specials entice walkers-by; but, it did not live up to expectations . At first glance, the menu seems to offer an interesting variety of choices ranging from mediterrean/middle eastern tapas to grilled entrees accompanied by rice pilaf. Although the humus was nice and garlicky and the bread warm and tasty, our groups' entrees were decidedly lacking spice and pizzaz. Disappointing. I will commend the restaurant for its wine list featuring great titles at different price points.
All told, I probably will drop in to Meyhane again, at least for a glass of wine or two.
This restaurant has quickly become my neighborhood favorite for dinner. The Happy Hour half-price bottle of wine is an excellent value and Meyhane stocks some very drinkable wines to enjoy.
Meyhane has an extensive list of both cold and hot meze plates to enjoy and the size of the portion lets diners sample many different tastes and textures without committing to a full-course. Meyhane does offer full dinners but the meze plates have been so satisfying that I've not been willing to give up my grazing habit.
Meyhane serves an excellent octopus salad -- the octopus is tender and flavorful and the accompanying dressing is delightful. Those people who have had a bad experience with poorly done octopus or have simply been reluctant to try it might want to try it here. Another favorite is the red lentil soup, which I've ordered each time I've visited. It's light, perfectly spiced, and even better if you use the lemon wedge that is served with it to give it a tinge of citrus flavor. The hummus is delightful as is the spinach meze with yogurt. Of the hot plates, I've enjoyed the spicy shrimp.
To end your meal, be sure to try some of their excellent pistachio baklava along with a cup of Turkish coffee.
Service has been excellent. The waiters are generally very attentive, as is the owner, who circulates to introduce himself and to make sure that he answers any questions that patrons have.
Finally, for a treat, go on Tuesday nights. Sometime between 7:00-8:00 p.m., Meyhane has a bellydancer perform. She is excellent and has, on occasion, been joined by both diners and waiters, much to everyone's delight.
Meyhane is a delightful new neighborhood Turkish restaurant on Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, near Eastern Market. The emphasis is on Turkish tapas, meze. Some are merely good, but others are spectacular. Among those in the latter category, the octopus is tender, flavorful, light, as good as any I've had in Greece or Italy; the grilled shrimp, served in a spicy sauce, is unusually interesting, with a surprising complexity of flavors; and the humus is smooth and fresh tasting, with only a subtle garlic hint, but rich with tehane. Every Mayhane meal should include Turkish coffee--again, the best I've had, not too sweet, with a creamy coffee flavor--and a light but intense baklava, made with pistachio nuts and no honey.
The ambiance is pleasingly relaxed and helpful, and it's made more so on Tuesday nights, when a belly dancer performs, going from table to table, entertaining the patrons close up, many of whom join her with their best hip shaking imitations. Half price wines from 5 to 7 every night make this delicious, entertaining, and exotic restaurant inexpensive as well. This is one of the best places for dinner on Capitol Hill.
