This comfortable Middle Eastern restaurant offers delicious food at reasonable prices. Exuding warmth featuring tasteful decor with ornate chandelier-style lamps that brighten up the walls, Mama Ayesha beckons many. On weekends, this quiet nook livens up considerably with Arabic music and belly dancers. The atmosphere is pleasant and the wait-staff is cheerful. The falafel appetizer is a firm favorite, served along with the grape leaves garnished with olives and feta cheese. The tasty kabob and stuffed squash are popular entrees.

Found not too far from the Smithsonian National Zoological Park and Walter Pierce Park, Lebanese Taverna offers patrons a peek at Lebanese culture and has become a local institution. The stylish Washington location features a wood-burning oven and woven rugs, making the dining room feel almost traditional. An assortment of kebobs, grilled meats, and seafood fills the menu. Vegetarian options include tasty variations of eggplant and chickpeas. So visit and order a full spread of mezze, including kibbeh, hommus, shawarma, and pastry-wrapped spinach pies.