Ottoman Taverna

Name: Ottoman Taverna
Address: 425 I St NW, Washington, DC, United States, 20001
Telephone: (202) 847-0389
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.7

4.7

1364 Reviews

$30 and under

Turkish

Top Tags:

Ottoman Taverna provides flavors and dishes from the Turkish cuisine. Enjoy house made kebaps, dips, hot mezes, desserts and more at our Turkish restaurant. Ottoman Taverna has been awarded Michelin Bib Gourmand status since opening in 2017.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Mar 26, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 114 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(202) 847-0389

Other options

Private dining

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Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Cuisines
Turkish, Mediterranean
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–2:45 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–2:45 pm Dinner Daily 3:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(202) 847-0389
Website
https://ottomantaverna.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Mustafa Essizoglu
Catering
Catering menus are available upon request
Private party facilities
Ottoman Taverna features the Sultan’s Table (Chef’s table) with 12 seats. We have 3 private dining rooms, with the smallest accommodating 30 people and the two largest combined seating 90.
Private party contact
Felicia Ruffino: (855) 385-6856

Location
425 I St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Neighborhood
Mount Vernon Square
Cross street
4th and I Street NW
Parking details
Street Parking
Public transit
The restaurant is situated in between Judiciary Square and Chinatown metro stations in Mount Vernon Triangle along the red, green and yellow lines.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

The Best Restaurants in Washington D.C.

Popular dishes

Hummus$9.95
Chickpeas Spread with Tahini, Lemon Salt, Olive Oil & Pine Seeds
Haydari$9.95
Fresh Labneh Yogurt Flavored with Mint, Dill, Olive Oil & Walnut
Atom$9.95
Garlic-Yogurt, Celery & Sundried Chili
Ezme$9.95
Sundried Tomato Paste with Onion, Green Pepper, Garlic, Parsley & Turkish Spices
Pembe Sultan$9.95
Beets, Labneh Yogurt, Garlic, Olive Oil
Muhammara$9.95
Red Pepper Spread with Walnuts & Olive Oil
Çiğ Köfte$9.95
Six Pieces of Bulgur-Wheat Kofta with Tomato Paste, Red Peppers, Turkish Spices
Moutabal$9.95
Charred-Eggplant, Yogurt, Tahini, Garlic, Olive Oil
Imam Bayildi$12.95
Roasted Eggplant Stuffed with Tomatoes, Onions, & Olive Oil

Hot Meze

Sigara Böreği$11.95
Feta Cheese, Onions & Parsley Wrapped in Homemade Dough
Patates Köfte$11.95
Potato Cakes with Crumbled Feta & Yogurt Sauce
Anatolian Dolma$13.95
Grape Leaves Stuffed with Rice, Pine Nuts & Raisins, with Yogurt Sauce
Falafel$12.95
Chickpea-Vegetable Fritters with Yogurt Sauce
Butter Shrimp$14.95
Sundried Chili & Turkish Spices
Içli Köfte$14.95
Bulgur Wheat Stuffed with Ground Lamb & Beef, Onion, Walnuts & Parsley
Brussels Sprouts$9.95
Caramelized Onions, Garlic, Pine Nuts, Orange, Red Cabbage, Cream, Red Peppers, Lemon Juice

Soups & Salads

Red Lentil Soup$9.95
Red Lentils, Onions, Carrots, Potato
Shepherd Salad$14.95
Chopped Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Onions, Green Peppers, Walnuts, Parsley, Lemon Dressing
Greek Salad$14.95
Romaine Hearts, Beets, Red Onion, Olives, Tomatoes, Cucumber, Feta Cheese, Lemon Dressing

Meze Platters

Cabbage, Cream, Red Peppers, Lemon Juice

Cold Meze Platter$23.95
Hummus, Pembe Sultan, Muhammara, Atom, Haydari, Moutabal
Hot Meze Platter$23.95
Sigara Boregi, Falafel, Patates Köfte, Icli Köfte

Chef's Mixed Grill

Chef's Selection of Kebaps for Two Guests $64.95. Served with White Rice, Ezme (Turkish Salsa) and Carrot-Red Cabbage Slaw

Lamb Chops
Köfte
Chicken Şiş
Adana Kebap
Lamb şiş

Beef Kebaps

Döner Kebap$24.95
Thinly Sliced Beef Döner Kebap Served with White Rice, Ezme (Turkish Salsa) & Carrot-Red Cabbage Slaw
İskender Kebap$24.95
Thinly Sliced Beef Döner Kebap Served Over Toasted Pita Bread with Tomato Sauce & Yogurt
Adana Kebap$25.95
Char-Grilled Spicy Ground Beef Kebap Seasoned with Red Peppers & Spices. Served with Bulgur Pilav, Ezme (Turkish Salsa) & Carrot-Red Cabbage Slaw
Beyti Kebap$25.95
Char-Grilled Spicy Ground Beef Kebap Wrapped in Lavash Bread with Eggplant Puree. Served with Tomato Sauce& Yogurt
Inegol Köfte$24.95
Char-Grilled Ground Beef Kofta Seasoned with Turkish Spices & Served with White Rice, Ezme (Turkish Salsa) and Carrot-Red Cabbage Slaw

Chicken Kebaps

Tavuk Adana Kebap$23.95
Chicken Kebap Seasoned with Red Peppers & Spices Served with Bulgur Pilav, Ezme (Turkish Salsa) & Carrot-Red Cabbage Slaw
Tavuk Beyti Kebap$23.95
Chicken Kebap Wrapped in Lavash Bread with Eggplant Puree. Served with Tomato Sauce & Yogurt
Tavuk Şiş$23.95
Char-Grilled ChickenCubes Seasoned with Turkish Spices & Served with Bulgur Pilav, Ezme (Turkish Salsa) & Carrot-Red Cabbage Slaw
Tavuk Köfte$23.95
Char-Grilled Ground Chicken Kofta Seasoned with Turkish Spices & Served over PitaBread with Tomato & Yogurt Sauce

Ottoman Classics

Moussaka$21.95
Eggplant, Potato, Ground Beef, Bechamel Sauce & Kashkaval Cheese
Lamb Şiş$28.95
Char-Grilled Lamb Cubes Seasoned with Herbs & Served with Bulgar Pilav, Ezme (Turkish Salsa) and Carrot-Red Cabbage Slaw
Grilled Lamb Chops$29.95
Thyme & Pepper Marinated Lamb Chops Served with Sautéed Vegetables & Smoked Eggplant Puree
Shrimp Casserole$21.95
Tomatoes, Green Peppers, Onions, Garlic, Mint in Tomato Sauce with Kashkaval Cheese
Grilled Salmon$26.95
Char-Grilled Salmon Served with Mashed Potatoes & Sautéed Spinach
Kuru Fasulye & Pilav$19.95
White Beans Stew with Tomatoes, Onions & Green Peppers. Served with White Rice
Cauliflower Stew$19.95
Cauliflower, Chickpeas, Onions, Tomatoes, Carrots & Served with White Rice
Manti$21.95
Turkish Ravioli Stuffed with Ground Beef & Served with Garlic Yogurt and Anatolian Sauce

Sides

French Fries$5.00
Sautéed Vegetables$5.00
Plain Yogurt$5.00
Bulgur Pilav$5.00
White Rice$5.00

What 1,364 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.6Service
4.6Ambience
4.6Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

District of Columbia
Good for groups

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OT
OpenTable Diner
Baltimore
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
overall5food5service5ambience4
Amazing brunch! The server was fantastic. Highly suggested for brunch.
o
outoccasionally
Washington DC
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
A great experience all around. Excellent service and food.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
We decided to try Ottoman Taverna to celebrate a birthday and we participated in the 44$ tasting menu. Everything was delicious and beautifully platedl. Portion sizes were quite large and we even had to box up our leftovers! The servers were knowledgeable and friendly. Always smiling. They even ended the meal with a birthday surprise! We will 100% come back here to try everything else on the menu.
NW
NedW
New England
33 reviews
vip
4.0
33 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall4food4service4ambience4
very good turkish food, everything was well seasoned and fresh.
A
Anonymous
Washington DC
3 reviews
2.0
3 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall2food2service2ambience2
Unsure how this restaurant has a Michelin rating. Food was mediocre, service was awkward, and although it was the end of the evening, the wait staff and bussers aggressively cleared candles off tables that were still dining and turned bright lights on to signal it was time to leave (even though the dining room was still half full).
A
Amocomida
New York Area
28 reviews
vip
4.0
28 reviews
Dined on March 18, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience4
Ottoman taverna is a great place of turkish food in downtown DC. They have a four course menu and a few options for small plates and full plates a la carte also.
QM
QasimM
Washington DC
4 reviews
3.0
4 reviews
Dined on March 18, 2023
overall3food2service2ambience4
good place but food was just OK. It is not worth the money.
BR
BellaR
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The ‘travel to turkey’ pre fixe menu was a perfect way to try different courses I may not have even looked at! It was delicious, great value for money and amazing portions! Would go again:)
JC
JessicaC
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 18, 2023
overall5food5service1ambience5
Love the food ! Everything was amazing . The service was really bas , the open bar wasn’t great nether i asked the waiters many times to bring me more mimosas ; I literal just drank 1 , the waiters ignored me all the time and they bring you what they want . But the food is amazing tho I feel that they need more waiters
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on March 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Their bottomless brunch was nothing but amazing. Our server took care of our dishes and we didn’t have to think about a thing other than enjoying the great food and company. 10/10 recommend!
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The waiter took a bit too long to show up but, once he did our service was great!
CE
ChristineE
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
What a wonderfully brunch we had. We celebrated our anniversary this past Sunday and enjoyed the bottomless brunch. The entire staff was so friendly and attentive. Our waitress was amazing and since it was our first time, she thoroughly explained the menu operations and recommended her favorites. The brunch is a tapas style, so all plates are small. It was so fun to basically have 1 of everything on the brunch menu brought to us. The mimosas were strong and delicious. Can’t wait to go back.
LT
LoayT
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food and amazing wait staff! Highly recommended
MD
MevlutDayan
Miami
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on March 10, 2023
overall4food5service3ambience5
Ler us start with the good things. Very good quality food and ambiance, I liked each and every thing we ordered. I like the resto interior. They bought us dolma by mistake and decided not to charge it after we told them that we did not order it. The service tho was not up to our expectations. Starting with the hostess. We told her that we have a reservatiom at 7:30 she looked at us with a surprising face and then accomodated without saying any greetings. Our server merve was not very attentive, actually our runner Tariq (I think that’s his name) was way more attentive than our server and he was the one looking out for our table. We mentioned that it was my husband’s birthday but nothing special was done. Lastly, the hostess was eating something behind the bar and then came out to the bar and licked 3 fingers. Not the best thing to watch to be honest 😂 and the reason i saw this is bcx our table was literally facing the bar directly. Overall a good experience, might come back for the food as it was really delicious, however i hope the service gets better.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Denver
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 9, 2023
overall5food4service4ambience5
Great for our business meal. Would definitely recommend for large groups
AB
ABDz
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on March 9, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience4
It’s a great place. Everything was good food, service and environment.
M
Marya
Washington DC
9 reviews
vip
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on March 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great service and very nice food with fresh ingredients.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Charleston
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 7, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great waitstaff Generous portions Good presentation Freshly prepared food
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
31 reviews
vip
4.0
31 reviews
Dined on March 5, 2023
overall4food5service3ambience3
Decent food. Got seated in the patio looking bar area (not a plus). Service super slow. Seemed like a manager constantly was covering for our often missing server but even then felt neglected and had to keep flagging folks down to get water refills, add to our order, get bread, etc.
D
Diner
Washington DC
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on March 4, 2023
overall4food5service3ambience5
Food was good and enjoyed bottomless brunch. Great value for the price and all the many dishes. I did not however enjoy the fact that many waiters coughed into their hands, and kept serving. Not all of them, but I saw a few of the male servers do so, and they did not leave to wash or sanitize their hands. We have elbows for a reason!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
2 reviews
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 4, 2023
overall2food2service3ambience3
Food has changed from previous years. Not as tasty as before. Service was okay.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Fort Lauderdale
3 reviews
1.0
3 reviews
Dined on February 26, 2023
overall1food1service4ambience1
We have been on better place than this one to eat Arabian culinary. Nothing special for me
KD
KatherineD
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 24, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful ambience and the service was impeccable. There were seven of us and we enjoyed sharing tastes from the many dishes we were served. We did the 4 course price fixed menu which I highly recommend. Food delish and presented beautifully!
EF
EnadF
Washington DC
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on February 24, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food and experience
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food and service.
Z
Ziwei
Baltimore
13 reviews
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on February 18, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
Great food! We got the mezze samplers and it was very fast. It does feel a little rushed, but I don’t mind. The server was courteous.
AR
AndreaR
Washington DC
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Absolutely loved it! Can’t wait to be back. Food, ambience, service, all so great!
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Food was exemplary!
AS
AS621
Chicago
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on February 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
awesome food and service. family friendly and attentive servers, food was outstanding. gets a bit loud at dinner but busy - probably just speaks to popularity of this place. we will be back!
A
Ameenb1
Washington DC
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on February 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The experience was amazing. From the time we came in, the wait staff was on it. The food was delicious and came out very quick. The atmosphere was very welcoming and the ambiance captivating.
L
Lelia
New York Area
3 reviews
vip
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on February 12, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience3
Delicious food and attentive, gracious service. It was loud, with many big (8 ppl) tables in the section.
M
Mikala
Washington DC
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on February 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent, as always!
ID
InDC
Washington DC
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on February 11, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
Can't stop Returning! Fantastic Turkish hospitality. The food and service are excellent which will have you returning time and time again.
BR
BillyR
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food, atmosphere, service, and location. I've been here for business and for pleasure and have never had a bad experience!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on February 6, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Outstanding. We will return.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New England
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on February 5, 2023
overall3food4service2ambience4
I took myself out to a nice dinner as a treat and I never have felt so shamed as a single diner before. The food and service from my server were excellent. Definitely recommend the restaurant for groups or duos! However, the hostess originally was going to seat me in the main dining room, which is what I expected making a reservation for one person. She then asked me when the other person in my party was coming. I told her it was a reservation for one and I double checked that my reservation was for one after the situation. After I took off my jacket and was about to sit down at the table, she said she was moving me. I was moved to a single seat in the bar area which I had made a reservation to avoid and was right next to the back service station, so I had waiters constantly talking and running around me. I just wanted a nice dinner by myself and I came out of the experience feeling ashamed of trying to go out for a nice meal alone.
ZO
ZenginO
Washington DC
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 4, 2023
overall3food3service2ambience4
Has come down a notch or two since we last ate here last year. Reception neutral rather than friendly. Wait staff congregated and engaged with one another more than with diners. Iskender, Beyti dishes had soggy not crisp bread. Saw a manager briefly transit the floor but not engage diners. This must not be the same management team that got a Bib Gourmand rating from Michelin.
RL
RitaL
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 1, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
Amazing service, good ambience for a dinner date. Food was a bit bland, but we went heavy with the mezzeh menu so we may not have hit the most popular dishes. Waiters are sweet, thoughtful, and generally unobtrusive during our meal.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on January 31, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Great food and attentive, friendly service. A very nice meal; will be heading back!
OD
OnurD
Minneapolis
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on January 29, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience5
Food was excellent; service felt a little rushed. We had to tell the waiter multiple times to wait for the next course since we had a big bottle of Raki (Turkish alcoholic drink). Otherwise not much to complain

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables

Protective equipment
- Waitstaff wear masks
- Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Ottoman Taverna does offer delivery in partnership with Chow Now and Uber Eats. Ottoman Taverna also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (202) 847-0389.

Ottoman Taverna is rated 4.7 stars by 1364 OpenTable diners.