
Maydan
Experience heavenly Mediterranean cuisine cooked over an open flame in a unique, immersive setting that tells a story of travels.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
Social
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Best Time
Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

Maydan

Highlights
Must-see attractions
Experience heavenly Mediterranean cuisine cooked over an open flame in a unique, immersive setting that tells a story of travels.
"Incredible restaurant - the vibe was immaculate. Everything from the exterior to the interior was so intricately decorated."
Book Ahead: Reservations Key
Reservations are highly recommended due to high demand; walk-ins can be challenging.
Embrace the Tawle Experience
Consider the Tawle tasting menu for a family-style experience with abundant, flavorful dishes.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, North African
Price
$$$
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Open-Flame Mediterranean Dining
Experience heavenly Mediterranean cuisine cooked over an open flame. The aroma and flavors are unforgettable.

The Tawle Tasting Menu
Enjoy a generous family-style tasting menu showcasing a variety of delicious Mediterranean dishes.

Eclectic & Romantic Ambiance
The restaurant boasts an eclectic, cozy, and romantic atmosphere, with intricate decor that transports you.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Book Ahead: Reservations Key
Reservations are highly recommended due to high demand; walk-ins can be challenging.
Embrace the Tawle Experience
Consider the Tawle tasting menu for a family-style experience with abundant, flavorful dishes.
Check for Hidden Fees
Be aware of potential mandatory service charges; review menu disclosures carefully.
Off-Peak for Relaxed Dining
Visit during weekdays or off-peak hours for a more relaxed experience and shorter waits.
Tips
from all over the internet
Book Ahead: Reservations Key
Reservations are highly recommended due to high demand; walk-ins can be challenging.
Embrace the Tawle Experience
Consider the Tawle tasting menu for a family-style experience with abundant, flavorful dishes.
Check for Hidden Fees
Be aware of potential mandatory service charges; review menu disclosures carefully.
Off-Peak for Relaxed Dining
Visit during weekdays or off-peak hours for a more relaxed experience and shorter waits.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Maydan is celebrated for its heavenly, open-flame cooked Mediterranean cuisine and its immersive, eclectic ambiance. Diners rave about the flavorful tasting menus and standout dishes like the ribeye and lamb shoulder, complemented by attentive service. However, some find the music too loud and the lighting too dim, impacting the overall comfort of the dining experience.
"We went for a weeknight dinner as a birthday celebration, and had a wonderful experience! The vibes are eclectic, cozy, and romantic all at the same time. Opted to do the Tawle tasting menu since it was our first time, and it was incredible. The first course of dips and fresh pita and pickled veggies were flavorful starters, and all the sides and mains were delicious and cooked to perfection. Service was also top notch - everyone was incredibly friendly, helpful, and kind. We had a lot of leftovers and those were packaged perfectly and neatly in separate containers with extra fresh bread which was such a nice touch. Must visit!"
Claudia Pitarque
"We had a fantastic experience at Maydan! The atmosphere was inviting, and the staff were kind and cheerful. The wine selection was impressive, and we thoroughly enjoyed our choices.
The food was delicious—hummus, spicy mushroom appetizers (name forgotten), ribeye, and chicken kebab were all flavorful. Fresh pita bread was provided as soon as we finished the previous batch.
We loved our cozy Mediterranean-style booth, which added to the authentic feel of the place. Overall, it was a wonderful dining experience that made our celebration special. Highly recommend!"
Tugce Erenler
"Incredible restaurant - the vibe was immaculate. Everything from the exterior to the interior was so intricately decorated to make entering the restaurant feel like an experience.
We reserved an indoor dining table and ordered the Tawle tasting menu. Such amazing value for the endless amount of food. When we visited in Feb 2025, the tasting menu was $85 per person. $85 in this economy (especially for a Michelin star restaurant) is insane when they give you such huge portions! Everything that was offered on their tasting menu was so flavorful from the spreads to the salads to the center plate. Even their flatbread was freshly baked and delicious.
There is an outdoor seating option available but I would recommend snagging an indoor table if possible. Sitting inside and experiencing the ambiance of the restaurant while enjoying the exceptional food is an unparalleled experience. Being in a small tent outside will not do your visit justice.
To reserve, you have to book through Resy. They only allow you to reserve a table 21 days in advance. I barely was able to book an indoor table once the slots opened right at 10am, so make sure to be diligent and plan ahead."
Amber Tran
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
The Tawle is a family-style tasting menu designed for sharing, offering a generous selection of the restaurant's most popular dishes.
Yes, reservations are highly recommended and often tough to score, as the restaurant is very popular. Booking through Resy 21 days in advance is advised.
The ambiance is described as eclectic, cozy, and romantic, with intricate decor that creates an immersive dining experience.
Some reviews mention a mandatory 20% service charge, so it's advisable to check menu disclosures carefully.
Popular dishes include the lamb shoulder, ribeye steak, hummus, and various dips served with fresh pita bread cooked over the hearth.
Yes, there is an outdoor seating option, but many recommend securing an indoor table to fully experience the restaurant's ambiance.
Maydan specializes in Caucasian, North African, and Middle Eastern cuisines, with a focus on dishes cooked over an open flame.
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A gigantic fire pit is the first thing you’ll spot at Maydan in the U Street area, and it’s fitting because so many items are cooked over this open flame. The menu mixes North African and Mediterranean flavors, and the cocktails and wines (similarly sourced) complement them well. Scoop up flatbread—still warm from the hearth—with condiments and dips like muhammara, a Syrian spread made with walnut, red pepper, and pomegranate molasses.
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It’s hard to take your eyes off the kabobs sizzling on the grill at Maydan. At the center of this Middle Eastern restaurant in Cardozo is a custom-built hearth where food is made on an open fire. Dinner is served family-style, so the restaurant works great for groups looking to break bread (literally) in the hustle and bustle of somewhere welcoming and over an array of good food.
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Just inside the door, Maydan’s cooks fan and stoke the flames of a firepit. Lamb shoulders smoke overhead, pita bread bakes in clay ovens, and vegetables char over coals. The flavorful shared-plates menu of spreads, kebabs, vegetables, and more is inspired by homemade meals shared throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and Caucasus.
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At Rose Previte's Maydan, everything from the fiery flavors to the eclectic decor tells the story of the restaurant team’s travels across the Middle East and North Africa. Set in the back alley of a 19th century brick building just off 14th Street and marked only by a heavy wooden door, diners are greeted by the sizzling of turmeric-spiced whole chicken, lamb shoulder dressed in Syrian seven spice and chermoula sauce-marinated sardines roasting over the crackling oak-fired hearth. The two-story Maydan, which means “town square,” provides a unique communal dining experience, with some tables shared between multiple parties.
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Maydān means "town square" in Arabic, but whenever a first-time visitor passes through the blue-teal door into the restaurant, the first thing they're likely to notice is the towering, cylindrical, tiered copper hood that hovers above the wood-fed grills. Inevitably, between the spark of embers and conversation, the town square spirit catches up to you, and so do the incredible smells sizzling on chef Rose Previte's grill. Maydān has more than earned its Michelin star, thanks to an array of immaculately crusted cuts served either a la carte or from the Twale ("table") menu for parties larger than four guests.
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As well as bringing you the best of Middle Eastern grills, Maydān hopes to bring together diners through a ‘ Tawle‘ menu option (meaning table in Arabic), which places clay-oven-baked bread as the centerpiece of every table. Diners are encouraged to break bread together and immerse themselves in Middle Eastern culture by making bread their utensil. As you tactilely navigate your way through flavourful condiments, garlic, parsley, saffron and smoked paprika not only simmer on your tongue but fill your nose with familiarly mingled aromas to create a sense of home-cooked comfort.
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Maydan is a vibrant restaurant renowned for its unique dining experience centered around fire-cooked dishes inspired by the flavors of the Middle East and North Africa. The restaurant's name, which means "town square" in Arabic, reflects its communal dining philosophy where guests gather around an open hearth to enjoy meals prepared with passion and skill. At Maydan, the menu features a variety of dishes cooked over an open flame, including skewers of meat, seafood, and vegetables, as well as flavorful bread and dips.
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Maydan, located close to the popular 14th Street area, is one of the most popular restaurants in Washington, D.C. Named one of the best new restaurants in America by Bob Appetit Magazine in 2018, Maydan entered Washington, D.C., with a bang, and it has hardly slowed down. Reservations have consistently been tough to score, resulting in Maydan being one of the only restaurants in Washington, D.C., where hopeful diners will wait in line around the block in hopes to get in.
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Enjoy excellent and moderately priced food in a relaxed and settling environment at the Maydan restaurant. You will definitely be floored with the experience that you get upon entry into the cozy restaurant which has a polished rustic feel to it. Enjoy the excellent service provided by the friendly staff who are willing to recommend some of Maydan’s best dishes as well as drinks to match the occasion.
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Named one of the best restaurants in Washington DC, Maydan has one Michelin Star and is consistently written up as THE place to get Middle Eastern food in the District. While the interior is exquisite and the outdoor dining is divine, be prepared to pay a hefty price for dinner. Most people dig into the Tawle menu (Arabic for “table”), which is similar to a prix-fix menu (set price per person).
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Maydan is a Michelin-starred Middle Eastern restaurant that translates to “town square” with origins in Arabic. We were most excited to try out Maydan because of their Tawle (or “table”) experience ($75 per person), which is a pre-fixe family-style menu. Our favorites from the Tawle experience are the grilled halloumi, koobideh, walnut casik, muhamarra, and of course, the handmade pita bread.
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If you’re trying to find the perfect spot for a group gathering, be it a family reunion or a night with friends, look no further than Maydan. Washington D.C.’s most welcoming restaurant is Middle Eastern-inspired, with flavors influenced by Morocco, Lebanon, Iran. With glowing reviews from the Michelin Guide, Bon Apétit, Esquire, and more, Maydan is a must-visit.
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Featuring a menu of northern African and middle eastern influence, Michelin starred Maydan is a feast for the senses with family style service that is always welcoming. The goat and lamb are standouts on a menu that makes the most of the many spices used for each dish. For atmosphere the large wood fired grill is visible from most seats inside.
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1346 Florida Avenue, NWThere're plenty of authentic, international flavors in the D.C. dining scene, but when it comes to capturing the tastes of their native inspirations, few can match the Middle Eastern-inspired, Michelin-starred Maydan. Its limited menu features many of Maydan's most popular options, including kebabs and lamb.
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You’re here because… you’re craving the abundance and conviviality evoked by this Michelin-starred spot’s name: Maydan, or “gathering place.” The menu here is known for marrying dishes from North Africa and the Middle East, much of which is prepared over its beautiful open hearth, one of the focal points of the restaurant.
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Michelin-starred Maydan combines the best of North African and Mediterranean flavors. The highlights include herb-and-honey halloumi, a mash of charred eggplant and tomatoes, and a whole chicken slathered in turmeric and coriander. Everything is served with the bread freshly baked on-site in clay ovens.
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What Makes It Special: The centrepiece is a large open-flame grill and spit for authentic wood-fired dishes. The menu showcases flavorful vegetarian options alongside meat and seafood. Signature Dishes: Smoked eggplant with walnuts and herbs, Charcoal-grilled short rib skewers, Zaatar roasted chicken.
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We want you to have a different approach to dining: one that’s about the food, but also the love, respect, and traditions that go into each dish. Our food tells the story of our own travels, from Tangier to Tehran and Batumi to Beirut, but it also tells the stories of voices that often go unheard.
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1346 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009 Rose Previte’s restaurant, Maydan, has received one Michelin star. Maydan is a Middle Eastern restaurant that serves dishes from all across the region. The ethnic restaurants features Caucasian, North African and Middle Eastern cuisines.
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With the help of DesignCase—which oversaw the design of Maydan and Immigrant Food—the new location will feature 120 seats inside and another 30 seats on the patio, an open kitchen, 16-seat bar, and private dining room for 20-30 diners,” Martell wrote.
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restaurants: the award-winning Compass Rose and the Michelin-starred Maydan. Between her Sicilian-Lebanese upbringing, her travels and her three years living in Russia, Previte developed an affinity for world cuisine that translates into her menus.
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The fresh bread baked in the traditional clay ovens is a fixture for every meal and is still available on the Tawle to-go menu at Maydān. Choose from a variety of kebabs, spreads, and sides. Don’t forget about their specialty cocktails to-go.
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Maydan is one of the finest dining restaurants in the heart of DC. It offers North African and Middle Eastern cuisines, and people with backgrounds from Morocco, Libya, Egypt, and Tunisia love their traditional food.
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A Michelin star winner, Maydan wows with fabulous cooking, an open fire hearth in the center of the restaurant, and a gorgeous space.
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Maydan is a reminder that food is meant to be shared - for a great view, ask to be seated near the hearth.
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit