Zaytinya
Tapas pioneer José Andrés boasts just under a dozen restaurant concepts scattered across the Washington, D.C., area, but it’s Mediterranean-focused Zaytinya that’s been our go-to for almost 14 years. (Can it really be that long?) The lofty Santorini-inspired dining room, draped in contrasting hues of clean white and rich sapphire, is still packed nightly. Maybe it’s the magically refilling bowls of gratis just-baked pita that release puffs of steam when torn open, or the tender-but-crispy octopus braised in red wine and laid over a golden bed of puréed yellow split peas. Definitely don’t miss the hünkar beğendi, a hearty dish of falling-off-the-bone-tender lamb shank served atop a velvety eggplant-enriched béchamel in a shiny Turkish copper pot.
PRO TIP: The brisk lunch service features generously portioned sandwiches for a steal, like the $15 spit-roasted lamb gyro, stuffed with Greek fries and house-pickled vegetables, plus $25 four-course mezze meals. At dinner, make a reservation if you’re not willing to wait for a table; the place begins filling up after 6.
THE DETAILS: Sunday and Monday, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Tuesday–Thursday, 11 a.m.–11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.–midnight.
