Ayse Meze Lounge — Restaurant in Rockville

Overall Experience: We had been watching Ayse Meze Lounge under construction for months, curious to see what would eventually open in this space. When we finally had the chance to dine, the experience more than lived up to the anticipation. It’s rare to order such a wide variety of dishes at a restaurant and find so many of them truly excellent, but that was exactly the case here. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, perfect for enjoying with friends, and it feels like a welcome addition to the neighborhood.

Food: The kitchen delivered across the board. The cauliflower shawarma (unique) and Brussels sprouts stood out especially—the latter was very different from what I expected, prepared and garnished with surprising finesse. The Istanbul red lentil soup has great flavor, the zucchini cakes had an awesome and flavorful accompanying sauce, and the dips (tasting item) were all hits. The manti I typically eat at Georgian cuisine and these were much smaller and not giant but truly delicious and nuanced. On the heartier side, the orecchietti pomodoro was among the best I’ve had, simple yet perfectly balanced, and the lasagna—advertised as 40 layers but actually 44, according to our server—was extraordinary. It may have been the best vegetarian lasagna I’ve ever had, with the option to add meat if desired (will try next time). It was clear the kitchen pays careful attention to both creativity and execution.

Drinks: The drinks matched the meal well. A friend had the mimosa, while I ordered the espresso martini. No complaints, it was well balanced.

Service: Our server, Morgan K., was great. For a new restaurant with a large and diverse menu, it’s crucial that the staff know the offerings well, and Morgan was exceptional. They guided us through the menu effortlessly, providing detailed information about ingredients, preparation, portion sizes, modifications, etc. without coming off as imposing. They gave us time and space to decide what worked best for our group, which included vegetarians.

Recommendation: I would absolutely recommend Ayse Meze Lounge. The combination of outstanding food, drinks, and attentive service makes it a standout in Rockville. For anyone looking for a place where nearly every dish shines, this restaurant deserves a visit. It’s a joy to have such a high-quality option so close by, and I look forward to returning to explore even more of the menu.

What I can say is that everyone is clearly bringing their A-Game. We shared our thoughts with several members of staff and I believe the owner who was...

I work in the same building as Ayse and was so excited to get another restaurant in the area for lunch. I've been here twice and both times I was disappointed. I ordered the soup and margarita pizza. Tuscan wedding soup was bland, and barely had soup in the bowl. They explained that the soup bowl was big, and not the right size, but that the usual $9 soup is 1 cup. Ok fine. Went there again on 10/2 and ordered a pepperoni pizza. They told me 10-15 min. Came back, food not ready. Waiter tells me it takes time for the pizza ovens to warm up in the morning. (So why tell me 10-15 minutes) Then I called about 5-10 min to see if my food was ready and Rita said "yup, it just came out." But, It came out cold. Like it was sitting there for some time. So they made me another one. When I picked up the replacement, they couldn't even bother to sprinkle the cheese evenly on the pizza. I had 2 slices that barely had cheese on it, and the pizza was lopsided. I received no utensils (second time this happened) for my Caesar salad. Salad was very good though. My motto, first time a victim, second time a volunteer. My fault for thinking they could get it right. They spent a lot of money making this place look beautiful. It's gorgeous inside. But people don't come to a restaurant just for great decor. They come...

y or romantic atmosphere. The hard tile floor, vinyl benches wooden tables, large glass windows and large glass artwork on the wall mean that the sound bounces off all of these services and makes it quite a loud restaurant even with tables spread apart from each other. We weren’t informed when we ordered that the dishes come out one at a time and our small shareable plates. That explained why the waitress urge us to keep the menu in case we wanted to order something later. I have a gluten allergy so it’s a bit of a penalty to order a dip that comes with regular bread and then have to pay extra for the gluten-free bread or vegetables. Why couldn’t they just leave the original bread off and substitute it for the gluten bread or vegetables? The shrimp entrée was absolutely fantastic and we did end up ordering a second one at the end of the meal. The salmon dish was quite disappointing. It was only about an ounce and a half, which is half of what somebody would normally eat by themselves and the salmon just didn’t taste very fresh. For the price they’re charging I could’ve purchased a full pound of salmon from O’Donnell‘s Fish market made it myself at home. Will come back and try the pizza for lunch someday especially since they offer which sounds to be a very interesting...