Zaytinya — Restaurant in Washington

Restaurant Review: Zaytinya: A Special Lunch for My Son’s College Graduation Ruined by a Disturbing Oversight

I have been to Zaytinya four times now, and until this visit, it was one of my favorite spots in DC. Unfortunately, this most recent experience was deeply disappointing, especially because of the occasion.

I left work early to meet my oldest son for a 2:30 PM lunch. He had just returned from London the night before, a trip I gifted him to celebrate his college graduation. This meal was meant to be a continuation of that celebration.

Everything started off well, but took a turn when I ordered dessert. This was the first time I have ever ordered dessert at Zaytinya. To my dismay, I found a strand of hair in my chocolate cake. I immediately asked for the manager.

When the manager came over, his first response was, “I didn’t see the dessert,” which was frustrating since the staff had already taken it to the back. I showed him the photo I took, and he apologized. He said he would remove the dessert from the bill and asked if I wanted a replacement. I declined. My appetite was gone.

Even so, they still brought out a replacement dessert, which I turned away. Eventually, they removed both my dessert and my son’s from the tab, and applied a $10 credit. While the gesture was noted, it didn’t begin to restore the experience.

Then came something that left me even more unsettled. I noticed the manager whispering to our waiter, and shortly after, the waiter came over and politely said that while this wasn’t his fault, I should not leave him a tip. He then hit no tip on the bank/credit card processing machine, he brought over.

He didn’t say exactly what was said to him, but it felt like the manager may have suggested that my dissatisfaction should affect the tip. If that’s the case, that’s incredibly inappropriate. The waiter handled everything professionally and was in no way responsible for what happened.

I made it clear that I absolutely intended to tip him, and I did, with 20%. No one who depends on tips should ever be made to feel responsible for management or kitchen mistakes.

Zaytinya has always looked clean, with well-kept bathrooms and beautiful window views of DC. But that doesn't matter when the dining experience is ruined. I left feeling uneasy, my food didn’t sit well, and the joy of the occasion was lost.

I hate writing negative reviews. But after four visits, I expected better, especially on such an important day....

My first and last time going to this place. If I could give the service zero star I would. I wish I had never went to this place. I got there with 6 people, three couples to enjoy a nice dinner. Waiter never said hi, never introduced himself, after a while the waiter came and just came to took the orders and left. Which is totally fine, no problem. This is why I do not have his name or would have mentioned it.

We ordered our first drink with couple of appetizers to enjoy. After 10 min of my first fruity drink "3PM in Istanbul" I asked the waiter for his opinion for my second drink. I then mentioned that for my second drink, I want something that I can get tipsy in a laughing matter. The waiter then right away replies, "That is a big no no here" and started to talk to me like I'm a three year old kid. I let it go and I said it was a joke just bring me the same drink and two other people ask for another drink as well. Then he says in a very rude manner "No, you guys chugged the drinks, I have to let all the food come first then I will bring you another drink."... its been 10 min and we already have about 4-5 appetizers on the table and are eating as we ordered for second drink.... Then I asked to speak to the manager and the manager was trying to say it's DC law which that's not true.

There were a group of people screaming "Shot Shot" and being loud on the second floor which was fine for them but for me to order a second drink was a problem? It really ruined our night. They try to fix it by sending another drink right away and having another waiting to come and make things "right". We all decided to leave the restaurant and didn't order our main entree. They try to bring in desert on the house but we didn't touch it.

We had our friends at a different restaurant and we decided to leave here to join them. I asked the waiter and the manager from the other restaurant if this was normal and they said it was NOT normal. DC does not have such law and these people have lied to us. I come out to try new restaurants almost every week and never had experienced this unpleasant treatment. We had a great time at the other restaurant and I will make sure to never ever come here again.

Save your money, save your time and energy. There are a lot of other great restaurant around here. Don't say I...

FOOD DELIVERY ORDER I just received my delivery from here a little bit ago. I ordered baba ghanougge and imam bayildi. Since nor description and order notes did not specify it, I tried calling to see if they came with bread. No one picked up, and curiously, the voicemail read back a different number from the one I found when looking up their number? I took a gamble and hoped for the best...

They sent me hommos instead of baba ghanougge. I can barely eat hommos due to digestive issues. I quickly complained to the delivery app and have already been refunded. I also saw the hommos was $11, it's a small basic tub and I tried it (just to see if it was mislabeled). Definitely was hommos and joint was so salty. And, from working in the resto industry, it's obvious they have a big vat of it already made and are just spooning out of it.

Imam bayilldi was an a very small portion. Take one spoonful and you can see the bottom of the container, which is vastly oversized. They could probably fit that portion in the container they use for their hommos. Tasted like something I'd put on top of spaghetti but it was so small, see photo with comparison with hand. I am very petite and do not have large hands.

Side note, it did come with unremarkable bread.

I was curious about other dishes but I won't order from here again.

EDIT: I forgot I ordered from here and didn't like it. Ordered the olives. $12, small portion, with ptis, little shrunk ones like you get in a jar, not even a nice plump olive in sight. The turmeric pickled veggies were thin cut carrots and cauliflower. Other than the small and sad serving, there were INSANELY salty. Burning the tongue type of salty. Could literally feel the cells in my body becoming shriveled from the salt leeching the water.

Won't forget next time. Other than not mentioning they came with pits (get that spitting cup next to you!) and worse quality than jarred olives, it said it came with walnuts... ya'll. I had a SINGLE half walnut lol. I couldn't finish it and have maxed out my sodium levels for the...