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Ottoman Taverna, Washington, DC
Award-winning

Ottoman Taverna

4.6
4.6
1725 Reviews
$30 and under
Turkish

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 60 times today
  • Good for groups
  • Good for special occasions
  • Lively
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.

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • 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: (202) 847-0389
  • Location
    425 I St NW, Washington, DC 20001
  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2022
  • 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

Private dining

Menu

Cold Meze

  • 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

                                                                                                  Last updated: November 13, 2022

                                                                                                  What 1,725 people are saying

                                                                                                  Overall ratings and reviews

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

                                                                                                  4.6
                                                                                                  4.6 based on recent ratings
                                                                                                  • 4.6Food
                                                                                                  • 4.4Service
                                                                                                  • 4.5Ambience
                                                                                                  • 4.5Value

                                                                                                  Noise • Moderate

                                                                                                  Review summary

                                                                                                  AI-generated from verified diner reviews
                                                                                                  Ottoman Taverna offers a vibrant taste of Turkey with "amazing food" and a "great atmosphere." Diners praise the "tasting menu" and "Trip to Turkey" experience. Service is generally praised as "friendly" and "attentive," though some note slower service during busy hours. The brunch and prix fixe menus are highlights.

                                                                                                  1,725 Reviews

                                                                                                  1. Berna

                                                                                                    New York City1 review

                                                                                                    5.0

                                                                                                    Dined 4 days ago

                                                                                                    1. Overall 5
                                                                                                    2. Food 5
                                                                                                    3. Service 5
                                                                                                    4. Ambience 5
                                                                                                    Everything was superb! Food and service were top notch.

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                                                                                                  2. Timur

                                                                                                    Washington DC1 review

                                                                                                    2.0

                                                                                                    Dined 5 days ago

                                                                                                    1. Overall 2
                                                                                                    2. Food 2
                                                                                                    3. Service 3
                                                                                                    4. Ambience 2
                                                                                                    Way underperformed expectations. The quality of the meat did not seem to be very good. Not much to choose from on the menu, and Iftar menu was not available if the whole table did not order. Quality did not justify the price at all. Open seating with no noise barriers, so interior is very loud, minimal decorations. Would not recommend. Presentation was good though.

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                                                                                                  3. Taylor

                                                                                                    Washington DC5 reviews

                                                                                                    5.0

                                                                                                    Dined 6 days ago

                                                                                                    1. Overall 5
                                                                                                    2. Food 3
                                                                                                    3. Service 4
                                                                                                    4. Ambience 2
                                                                                                    Decent value for the all inclusive brunch. Very Mediterranean cuisine so don’t go expecting to leave full

                                                                                                    Is this helpful?

                                                                                                  4. Samim

                                                                                                    Washington DC2 reviews

                                                                                                    4.0

                                                                                                    Dined 7 days ago

                                                                                                    1. Overall 4
                                                                                                    2. Food 4
                                                                                                    3. Service 3
                                                                                                    4. Ambience 4
                                                                                                    Restaurant Review I visited this restaurant today and had a mixed experience. The food was definitely the highlight—everything tasted great and was well-prepared. However, the atmosphere was far too noisy, which made it hard to enjoy the meal. I was also disappointed with the table setting; it didn’t feel comfortable or well-arranged. The service was okay—not bad, but nothing special either. Overall, if you’re looking for good food and don’t mind a loud environment, it might be worth a visit, but I personally expected a better dining experience.

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                                                                                                  5. dan VIP

                                                                                                    Orange County13 reviews

                                                                                                    5.0

                                                                                                    Dined on March 4, 2025

                                                                                                    1. Overall 5
                                                                                                    2. Food 5
                                                                                                    3. Service 5
                                                                                                    4. Ambience 4
                                                                                                    absolutely amazing Mediterranean food with an authentic flare. The hummus is some of the best I’ve ever tasted even in my travels to Israel! . can’t recommend highly enough! 

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                                                                                                  6. OpenTable Diner

                                                                                                    Greater Boston1 review

                                                                                                    4.0

                                                                                                    Dined on March 1, 2025

                                                                                                    1. Overall 4
                                                                                                    2. Food 4
                                                                                                    3. Service 5
                                                                                                    4. Ambience 5
                                                                                                    Portion sizes for apps are a bit small but everything is delicious and service is top notch!

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                                                                                                  7. Cory VIP

                                                                                                    Baltimore1 review

                                                                                                    3.0

                                                                                                    Dined on February 23, 2025

                                                                                                    1. Overall 3
                                                                                                    2. Food 4
                                                                                                    3. Service 2
                                                                                                    4. Ambience 4
                                                                                                    20% service fee that’s not considered a tip. Make sure you read the menu carefully, as this is deceiving, and they could just simply have raised prices of the food. This service fee likely causes servers a lot less tips than they would receive otherwise. This could be the reason servers were not very friendly or hospitable.

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                                                                                                  8. RobertV

                                                                                                    Washington DC4 reviews

                                                                                                    5.0

                                                                                                    Dined on February 22, 2025

                                                                                                    1. Overall 5
                                                                                                    2. Food 5
                                                                                                    3. Service 5
                                                                                                    4. Ambience 5
                                                                                                    The food was superlative; the service was attentive without being obsequious or smothering. Our waiter was extremely helpful with explaining dishes that were unfamiliar and with providing genuinely useful comparisons for levels of sweetness, pungency, etc. Charming ambience and a truly enjoyable pre-theatre dining experience. Will definitely be back, would recommend wholeheartedly.

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                                                                                                  9. OpenTable Diner

                                                                                                    New York City1 review

                                                                                                    5.0

                                                                                                    Dined on February 22, 2025

                                                                                                    1. Overall 5
                                                                                                    2. Food 5
                                                                                                    3. Service 5
                                                                                                    4. Ambience 5
                                                                                                    Great food and service. Best moussaka in DC. Lovely Negroni, creme brûlée, and espresso

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                                                                                                  10. Loren

                                                                                                    Washington DC2 reviews

                                                                                                    5.0

                                                                                                    Dined on February 16, 2025

                                                                                                    1. Overall 5
                                                                                                    2. Food 5
                                                                                                    3. Service 5
                                                                                                    4. Ambience 5
                                                                                                    So many different options to choose from that all looked delicious. The potatoes (hot meze) and Turkish tiramisu were standouts.

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                                                                                                  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 4.6 stars by 1725 OpenTable diners.

                                                                                                  Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

                                                                                                  Make a reservation

                                                                                                  2 people
                                                                                                  7:00 PM
                                                                                                  Booked 60 times today

                                                                                                  Order delivery or takeout

                                                                                                  Google Map for Ottoman Taverna

                                                                                                  425 I St NW, Washington, DC 20001

                                                                                                  Dining areas

                                                                                                  Additional information

                                                                                                  • Award-winning
                                                                                                    1. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2022
                                                                                                  • Cross street
                                                                                                    4th and I Street NW
                                                                                                  • Neighborhood
                                                                                                    Mount Vernon Square
                                                                                                  • 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
                                                                                                  • Price
                                                                                                    $30 and under
                                                                                                  • Cuisines
                                                                                                    Turkish, Mediterranean
                                                                                                  • Dining style
                                                                                                    Casual Elegant
                                                                                                  • Dress code
                                                                                                    Smart Casual
                                                                                                  • 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.
                                                                                                  • Payment options
                                                                                                    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
                                                                                                  • Executive chef
                                                                                                    Mustafa Essizoglu
                                                                                                  • 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
                                                                                                  • Website
                                                                                                    https://ottomantaverna.com/
                                                                                                  • Phone number
                                                                                                    (202) 847-0389
                                                                                                  • 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: (202) 847-0389

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