and, next, the pita: dinner at zaytinya
Zaytinya has been at the absolute top of my list to visit in D.C. since I first heard about it last September. It seemed like everyone I met had been already. I honestly felt left out. Also, I don’t know if you can tell, but I’ve been on a Mediterranean kick since arriving here in D.C. The District’s Ethiopian food is certainly its most unique culinary feature in my mind, but it also has a notably strong Mediterranean showing that’s been a treat to explore.
This is the third restaurant by Jose Andres which I’ve visited since arriving here, and it is also by far the best (Jaleo is second, followed by Boqueria). The atmosphere is lively and comfortable. I definitely felt like Zaytinya has a sense of institutional pride, if that makes sense— it’s clear that the staff want dining there to feel like a somewhat momentous occasion. We went during D.C. restaurant week; the menu price was cut, and the options were extremely well-curated.
Pita
I must start with the pita. This is the best pita I’ve had yet in D.C.— Mama Ayesha’s, Agora and Sababa are all very valid contenders, but Zaytinya’s bread was just so fluffy, warm, and well-seasoned. It also seemed to pair particularly well with the hummus and labneh.
Pita: 9/10
Dips
We tried the hummus, labneh, and baba ghanouj. The hummus was very solid. The dip itself was good— not extremely good, but very well done. The chickpeas in the center of the hummus, however, were a very nice touch that elevated the dish. The labneh was probably my favorite dip, because it was very simple. There were some garnishing seasonings atop, but it was mostly just a well-balanced yogurt dip that worked with the fantastic pita. The baba ghanouj was also quite good, but not as good as the labneh.
Hummus: 8/10
Labneh: 9/10
Baba Ganouj: 7.5/10
Chicken in Creamy Sauce with Rice
I am regretful that I did not mark down the name of this dish, but it was splendid. The chicken was perfectly prepared. It was tender and very sweetly seasoned, which paired nicely with the tomato-based sauce. The dish’s sweetness surprised me, but it was a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t a huge fan of the rice, as it seemed somewhat dry without complimenting the chicken. However, overall, the dish was excellent.
Chicken dish: 8.6/10
Crispy Brussels Afeila
For my friends, this dish was the overall favorite of the night. The brussel sprouts were crispy and bursting with flavor. The coriander was detectable and elegantly utilized. More important was the yogurt sauce; it was far more sweet than the previous yogurt dip, and we were excited to use our excess pita to scoop up the crumbs of the sprouts and the residual sauce.
Crispy Brussels Afeila: 9.1/10
Salmon
For my part, the salmon was by far the best item on the menu. Just look at the color— it was perfectly well-seasoned and perfectly cooked. It melted like butter in my mouth, and absorbed the herbs underneath. A fantastic dish.
Salmon: 9.5/10
Falafel
The falafel itself was very, very good. It wasn't too dry, which is always going to be a concern with this dish. However, the hummus wasn't doing much.
Falafel: 8/10
Zaytinya lived up to the hype. See ya round.