Bacchus of Lebanon — Restaurant in Bethesda

Just returned to Bacchus for the first time since the pandemic. We should have returned sooner. The food is astoundingly good and service is kind. This is a local restaurant worth treasuring and enjoying repeatedly.

The complimentary warm pita bread with za’atar dip was a great beginning to our meal. The savory and piquant za’atar perfectly complemented the pillowy pita.

We selected apps from the mezze menu: aged goat cheese and sautéed squid. The lively saltiness of the goat cheese contrasted beautifully with the lemony squid.

You can dine brilliantly at Bacchus by sticking to the extensive mezze menu, but don’t ignore the big plates. We loved the lamb pieces splashed with butter and served atop flatbread and yogurt. (There is a similar lamb with rice dish that we remember as excellent and recommend highly.) The star of our evening was the veal chop, blanketed with sautéed mushrooms, grilled perfectly to a mouthwatering sear, and juicy on the interior.

Our meal was enhanced by our beverages: a nicely executed Manhattan, delicious minted iced tea (a must for me: deeply flavorful and refreshing) and glasses of robust Lebanese wine.

Service was slow (it was a quiet weeknight) but very kind. Our server charmingly surprised us with a complimentary dessert of cardamom pudding. The terrace has been enclosed (side windows remain open in good weather) as a concession to pandemic era needs; fortunately, the stone fountain has...

Went this past weekend to celebrate my son and daughter’s birthdays reserving online. We arrived 10 minuted early, opted to sit in the patio area, were promptly seated by a hostess and given water. The patio area is nice but very loud and I found myself having to shout across the table to be heard. We waited and waited but no one came to take our orders. After 20 minutes I got up and went back to the greeting area and asked the person who seated us (who I presumed to be the hostess) if we were placed in “no man’s land” as we were not yet approached for any order and servers walking by were not even looking in our direction. That same person then came and took our drink orders then finally food. Turns out she was our server the whole time but just never came back.

We ordered hummus and grape leaves to start which were good and Lamb Mechwi as the main course. The lamb was on the dry side and both the rice and lamb were lukewarm at best. The Turkish coffee was acceptable but not of the quality I expected at a Mediterranean restaurant.

The server did offer a dessert to share for the table with candles at no charge which was a nice touch.

I expected a lot more from an establishment with a long history in the area but was disappointed in the service and quality of the food. I don’t know if I’ll be back...

Came here about 2 hours ago and they overcharged alot for a few dishes of food. Every second they just come and take the plates. The cups were very dirty aswell as the water looked off. They give you some super tiny straws for a smoothie which is really Unbelievable Unlike for Sodas or teas they will give you a paper straw. Extremely loud. had to switch seating areas due to Extreme heat in the main lounge. Unlike the back with comfy areas that are cooled down. Charged 35$ For a little bit of fries. And they add a upcharge for 20% Without telling you. Apparently it was written on the menu but hard to notice. Written in very small writing. Fries was cold, skinny as a stick aswell. Got Chicken Shawarmas that looked off aswell. Payed 100+ For hardly any food. Been here for 24 years and I've never seen or heard a resturant that charges a automatic tip without your damn Consent. They charge 20% For some Trash service aswell. Never going to come back to this resturant. Other better options in the DMV Area then this one. They also gave us insanely soggy bread and they also added other items from the menu that we didnt order. Food is not mediterranean . Asked for manager, Apparently Manager wasn't there. INSANELY Trashy Customer Service. Find somewhere else in the DMV...