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Categories: Greek, Tapas Bars, Mediterranean [Edit]
Neighborhood: TenleytownMon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Three Course Prix-Fixe Menu $30 per person! Not valid on holidays or with any other offer. One offer per party.
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The name is a little misleading. When you first hear the name Café Ole, you might expect Spanish tapas. When you hear that it is in Tenleytown, you might be dissuaded from coming here at all. When you actually get to the restaurant you might expect Max from Saved by the Bell to perform some magic because the décor is straight 80s. Then you finally open the menu and realize you've been duped.
Once you get past your initial embarrassment, you can enjoy your brunch. It's a great place to catch up with friends because it's not too packed on weekends and they won't kick you out to turn your table. Captain, the manager, and the other servers don't intrude on your meal but are still available when you need them for refills.
I had the eggs benedict which is served on a piece of crunchy, cheesy foccacia bread and your choice of ham or smoked salmon. I would come back for that bread alone and they aren't stingy with the salmon. The serving is large and a great deal for $9. I also swiped a bite of french toast which was a little overcooked but still tasty. If you are looking to share small plates, the portabella napoleon, black bean hummus, and Z chicken are also pretty good. It's not Zaytinya, but it's not trying to be either. I didn't take advantage of the bottomless mimosas but the table behind us did and now I regret it.
It's also not a bad place for a first date. It's not too loud or too quiet, and if you are able to share food with someone and not absolutely hate them, that's always a good sign. When my now boyfriend and I reached for the same pita, it was magic. Even without Max, I owe it all to Café Ole.
I've had Cafe Ole for lunch numerous times the last few months and always loved it. However, I went to brunch there this past Sunday and it was amazingly bad. Lamb shawarma is usually what I get for lunch so I figured I couldn't miss with it but it was terrible with very little lamb. The more "traditional" brunch items (eggs benedict, etc...) were all much worse.
The waitress was great though and very attentive.
I'm confused by the difference in quality from their lunch offerings. Especially with a dish that I have frequently during the week and love.
I'd be hard pressed to call this greek mezze ... so don't come in thinking this is a Cava type of joint.
My review may be a bit misleading ... the food was of high quality ... just not our thing ... and the service was TERRIBLE. "Umm, can we have more water?"
We went with most of what folks are recommending here:
- BBQ Salad ... excellent
- Hummus Special ... pretty tasty
- Shepherds Pie ... quite unique
- Lebanese Special ... wife loved it ... strong flavors
Why a 3? Service and the fact that I wouldn't go out of my way for this joint. A-OK ... just not a fan.
A little out of the way, we were dubious as we entered Cafe Ole. It looked like a sandwich shop with a handful of tables plus a bar. But the bartender warmly greeting us so we set up shop at the bar, figuring we could make a quick get away if necessary.
It wasn't necessary. The food was absolutely fantastic and Chris, the apt bartender, steered us to a medley of offerings to enable us to taste what was 'on' for the night, including a tomato basil soup that we didn't want to order but he insisted we try and glad that we did.
Cafe Ole does indeed have a big lunch crowd from neighboring Fannie Mae and it's ambiance is bit lacking (probably not my first choice as a 'date' place), but go for the food and warm service.
Even after seeing all the good reviews that this place got I was a bit skeptical to go to Cafe Ole. Based on its location I really didnt think the place will offer quality food or ambiance. We ended up visiting this place only because we were running some errands around the area and I am glad we did. It is probably the best humus that I have tasted in DC. My friends and I were all very happy with our food, the place is very modern, nice decorated a very relaxed crowd and the service was great!
Although it is not on my way I will definitely make the effort to eat here again.
Total diamond in the rough. I'd passed by this strip mall a billion and one times never knowing this was here, and finally a neighbor recommended it. I've been a few times now and while the ambiance still leaves a little something to be desired (although the patio is quite nice when the weather's good), the food is just fantastic.
Must Haves:
-Moroccan BBQ Salad (we usually get at least two of these)
-HUMMUS SPECIAL. God I love this. Hummus topped with lamb, genius.
-Portabello Napoleon
-excellent Baba Ghanouj, very smoky
I'd skip the Turkish cigars and the sangria, they are the only two things I've ever really been disappointed by here. Seriously, get your ass over here and keep this place in business!
This place is has everything I want: unlimited mimosa and champagne brunch and tapas. *drool* taaapaaaas.
I love appetizers. They are just so appetizing. Little plates of food that are delicious and simple and complex. Made for you. Made for me. Made for we!
We had:
Lebanese celebration (effin' delicious!)
Lamb Schwarma (I don't normally like lamb but man this was yummy in my tummy.)
Baba ganoush (how can anyone get this wrong??)
BBQ Salad (I didn't get to taste it b/c homie just devoured it and didn't share. Note: Sharing is caring dude.)
The service was friendly and while everything moves slower outside of NYC, I wasn't my usual agitated New Yorker self, I just sat back and sipped on my mimosa.
I'm so confused!
Adorable space with bright colors, wonky curvilinear bar setup, and cute patterns on plates. Our dishes were served on slick, chic colored glass platters with impeccable presentation. But plastic cups for water? *sound of record player screeching to a halt*
Who knew that such a fun little spot would be found in Tenleytown of all places? I could readily see it nestled into the up-and-coming quasi-glam of U Street, or even along that stretch of restaurants in Cleveland Park. But this kind of charm was unexpected here, across the street from the estate-like structure of Fannie Mae.
Various brunch dishes are offered for roughly under the $10 price tag, and you can really go to town with their ~$12 bottomless champagne. None of us partook this time around, but it sure was tempting.
We opted to share a couple of mezzes between three of us: The Moroccan BBQ salad, the Mediterranean sliders, and the cold sampler platter. I'd recommend passing on the cold sampler platter - just not as savory to me as similar offerings from Lebanese Taverna. On the other hand, the lamb sliders in mini-pitas were cooked to perfection and the garlic mayo had awesome zing. I also enjoyed the BBQ salad, which was effectively a small serving of sirloin salad over crisp greens, various veggies, and a sauce with a kick.
Left full. Total damage per person was roughly $13 including tax and tip. Utterly affordable for a tasty and satisfying brunch. Wouldn't say that it soars to the top of my brunch list, but given the opportunity to return in the future, I'd definitely entertain the offer.
Come to this place before it dissapears! This place has a strong neighborhood following but it's never too crowded and I'm always afraid the owners are going to throw in the towel and close or move somewhere else. The food here is so special, and cheap, you're really doing yourself a disservice by not eating here at least once.
I'd recommend coming for lunch or weekend brunch and sitting outside. They have both a screened in outdoor area and a true outdoor patio. Inside has a bar and some tables, which are nice enough but not as fun as the outdoor options. Also they're very dog friendly and if you sit outside they'll give you a water bowl for your mutt.
If you come for lunch or dinner, definitely try the black bean hummus, and then get the hot sampler. It comes with small portions of four dishes- a lamb stew, chicken and couscous, and two beef options. I'd never tasted flavors like these and each one is better than the one before.
If you come for brunch, get the eggs benedict. It's served on a really fresh foccacia bread, and is better than any benedict I've ever tried.
Call me flabbergasted. Jeff W. managed to lead me to a 4-star restaurant in my very own backyard, and I had never even heard of it!
Cafe Ole is situated in a little shopping center with Sport & Health. I never noticed it, and I doubt you did either. They have an expansive patio that would be the perfect spot to while away the hours on a nice afternoon with a couple of drinks and tapas.
Unfortunately Jeff, Michelle, and I dined here in early December and therefore could not partake of the patio. The inside dining room doesn't have much atmosphere, so despite the high quality food I still wouldn't call this a place for a first or second date.
We split a platter as well as some entrees, and everything was phenomenal. As Michelle said, I wish the platter came with some sort of info on what was what, or I wish the waiter had told us what exactly we were eating. It apparently didn't matter too much, as we all managed to completely clear our plates. Nothing was too overwhelming yet it all had great flavor. I wouldn't recommend dessert here, but everything else I sampled was perfect. We left full but not grossly overloaded, all very very happy for the fantastic company that paired so well with the tasty meal.
This is tapas done right. Unpretentious, hearty, flavorful. You get ALOT for every dollar you spend, and almost everything is really good. I say almost because I did have one thing I didn't like (actually hated) but I can't remember what it was so let's just forget about it. Been here many times, and plan to keep coming back.
A real hidden treasure. Well, not really hidden since you're on Wisonsin, but not many people know about you. And that's good, because I want you all to myself. Just one thing. Can you please bring back the Shepherd's Pie? PLEASE! I'll give you an extra star if you do! It was my single favorite thing in ALL of DC. You can't take that away...
***Update***
Shepherd's Pie is back!!! And as promised, you get an extra star. It's as fantastic as I remember it!
I REALLY like Cafe Ole. I had been a couple years ago and loved it and recently had a chance to return. It was nowhere near as busy as my first time, so I was concerned that maybe it's not doing so well. Hopefully that's not the case.
The restaurant itself is fairly small and intimate, though in warmer weather they open up the outside porch which is nice. Food tends to focus on mediterranean mezzas, and the selection is very good with many unique options. Three of us shared the Chef's Special Selection for 2, plus a moroccan BBQ salad, and extra dish. The selection for 2 is an amazing deal at $26.95 for 6 mezzas plus a bread basket which had foccacia and a variety of flat breads. The only problem is that it was served on one giant tray so it was tough to identify which items were which. Food is just all around delicious, though a lot of it can start to taste the same. I particularly liked the Moroccan BBQ salad, with tangy marinade on the beef. The foccacia bread was delicious, but the flat breads were a little too hard and dry for me.
Overall Cafe Ole is an excellent choice for a unique meal away from the busier areas of DC. Wine list is decent, and the beers are a bit pricey, but food is generally reasonably priced, especially for how good it is. I'll definitely be returning to try some of the other mezzas.
So typically before handing out the coveted five star review i like to examine my meal and think "what could have been better". And i can't. I can not come up with one thing that i was not 100% satisfied with.
It started with entering the restaurant. I thought it was slightly sketchy that we had to enter the side door. But then i noticed they blocked off the front door so it didn't let a draft in. I greatly appreciated this while sitting next to it... until the illiterate guy came and opened the door. Then there was the service. Friendly and eager to help answer our questions about how much to order and what is good. Low and behold, we ended up with the perfect amount of food.
We opted to get the "chefs selection for two", the portabello napolean and mongolian BBQ salad (you know how those carnivores love anything mongolian!). Well, i cant tell you what exactly was placed in front of me in the chefs selection, but it was all phenomenal. My only complaint is that i no idea what i was eating at any point. But sometimes for picky eaters like me thats actually a good thing. The hummus was awesome and the pita chips for dipping were also really good. There was one dish (i think it was the lamb tangine) that i wish i could have eaten more of. I really liked the Fatoosh salad and the maongolian salad was also fantastic. I really wanted to eat like half the things on the menu including everything with lamb or pork. I have to come back and eat more.
My only disappointment was in the dessert. Whatever we got was definitely only mediocre.Luckally it wasn't $12. Prices are reasonable ($6 for a glass of wine, $7 for most tapas) but the Chefs selection for two is a steal. I think our meal ended up coming out to like $29 a person, with tip and drinks, but luckally i had my splenda daddy with me to subsidize. Definitely worth taking a visitor to DC (or a once resident turned visitor) or going for a special occasion.
Great tapas! All of the tapas we've ever ordered from this place have been terrific and the portions are WAY bigger than you would expect from a tapas restaurant. Service can be a bit slow at times (early on a Sunday evening), but otherwise good.
We've done take-out here several times and definitely recommend the warm/hot plates to the cold ones (which tend to be a little on the acidic side with vinegar).
Looking forward to coming back for a sit-down meal soon.
Excellent, excellent food. One reviewer here said that it isn't at all "real" Middle Eastern/Mediterranean food. Well, I'm not sure what "real" Middle Eastern/Mediterranean food tastes like, but Cafe Ole's food is amazing. Dishes that stood out were the beef stew over rice and the hummus special (topped with lamb). There was also a chicken mezze that we tried but I can't remember the name, which was also great. The dolma were average (and other reviews said that the cold mezze are not as good as the hot, which held true), so next time I go I'll probably just get hot mezze. Either way, it is inexpensive for the quality and quantity of the food. Service was great. We went a little after 8 on a Monday and there were plenty of tables available. I'll definitely return and try much of what is on the menu.
Yes, you guessed it. Read Cindy Y.'s review for a complete detail of our dinner from last year. I recommend getting the Meze Platter ($26.95), which provides an assortment of cold and hot tapas, because it's suprisingly very filling for two. Including tax and tip, the meal breaks down to approximately $18 per person. Now that's a cheap date. And if you must get dessert, the baklava is sublime. We've yet to find another baklava (although we haven't searched thoroughly) that rivals Cafe Ole. [Last Visit: April 16, 2008]
Every time I go back to DC, I look forward to stuffing myself stupid at Cafe Ole. Not a single dish has disappointed me since I first ate here 6 or 7 years ago. The prices are low, the food is outstanding, and the weekend drink specials can't be beat.
I usually start with the Moroccan BBQ salad, which overflows with strips of kicky BBQ beef. Next, I move on to the tomato-bean combos: The Shepherd's Pie is a nice twist on the traditional English dish, with a tangy layer of tomatoes, beans and cheese over potatoes. The Sultan's Stew is similar, but with the beans over rice and drizzled with garlic yogurt. I always skip dessert for a third dish, either Tagine of Lamb, Z Provencal Chicken or Lebanese Celebration, all of which are fresh and flavorful.
If you just can't decide, there are both hot and cold sampler platters to taste a little of a lot. The leftovers reheat well, so don't be afraid to overorder and take it home.
I find the tapas trend a little annoying, but this place is a true gem. Everything is prepared beautifully and tastefully and is proportioned well--not too much, not too little. Nothing like a warm, humid summer night on Cafe Ole's patio with some nice red wine and the toasted pita chips with black bean hummus.
I love this place, but it's so small and tucked into a little corner of tenley town that I frequently forget about it. There is some outdoor seating here, but I've only sat inside, where the decor is somewhat minimalist and lacking continuity. That aside, its quiet, cute, and full of friendly staff. The food is amazing: pita chips are unique and crunchy, the humus us flavorful and rich, and the hot mezze sampler platter is delightful, with the perfect blend of spices. I'm also a lamb tagine fan with Israeli couscous. Mmm, so good and so reasonably priced for what you get, expect to spend $15 per person for an app and two entrees. This place is def worth visiting!
I went to Cafe Ole with my boyfriend and his mom in search of an upscale kabob and mezze restaurant and I was very pleased. Cafe Ole, like its name says, is a modern and upscale cafe where the decoration is bold and modern but the food is good and simple. I was very pleased with our choice of mezze and swordfish kabob, yup fish kabob and it was great. The best part is that the entire meal including a pitcher of sangria came out to $100, which is unheard of in DC. So I highly recommend that you go and try this place out.
This place is the only thing I miss about working at Fannie...ha. During workday lunch time and happy hour time, this place is like the Fannie cafeteria. My favorite thing to get there is the Chermoula Shrimp, which is served beautifully in a pita bowl with hummus underneath. Their weekday lunch specials are great values.
I so miss their grilled pita chips!
I went with wifey and my friends. We tried all the soups and the cold appetizer combo. Delicious stuff.
Good for lunch, and brunch when you want something besides french toast or eggs benedict (although they serve these as well). Sat in the covered outdoor area, plastic furniture. I had the hot sampler (Lebanese chicken, tomato chicken stew, beef stew, and lamb stew) which came out in four petite square dishes served with baked pita crackers. Good to share. Also had the Mediterranean Sliders, recommended by both servers I spoke to. They were good...little lamb burgers in mini pita bread pockets with garlic mayo and olive salsa. Surprised by how empty the restaurant was -- seems very local -- probably has a big Fannie Mae base during the week. Great service.
Nice place and very friendly staff. I went with a friend for Saturday brunch and had the hummus and tapenade. My friend had the Turkish cigars and shepherd's pie and was pleased. I personally did not care for the hummus; it had a very distinct taste that seemed a little off to me. Looking around, most diners opted for the black bean hummus, so maybe that is the way to go. Tapenade was very good and went well beyond blending various types of olives. Both came with a plentiful basket of crispy pita bread with nice flavoring. Nice wine selection and good mimosas - just beware they come with nearly an inch of pulp on top!
Overall, not too bad for the inexpensive price tag. I would return but I think I would give the black bean hummus a shot the next time!
Wow! It's a good thing I don't work by this place, because I'd likely spend $ every day here for lunch!
My fiancee and I met friends here for brunch on Sunday and were very impressed. The food is really good and it's affordable.
I had the chicken salad called the Tunisia. It was AWESOME. I could eat it daily. Picture flavorful cubes of chicken over a bed of mixed greens with dates, pine nuts, goat cheese and a balsamic vinaigrette. Sounds simply, but it was AMAZINGLY good.
We also had the black bean hummus and the regular hummus. I loved both, but the black bean was really tasty. The chips on the side were awesome, too.
I would go here again and again and again. Hooray for a new lunch/brunch place!
Cafe Ole is a great place to visit when you want some Mediterranean food, but don't want somewhere too hip or expensive. The prices here are very reasonable. It's the more affordable alternative to places like Jaleo or Zaytinya. There isn't too much else around in this mostly residential neighborhood, but it is right near the 4000 Wisconsin Ave. movie cinema. It would be a nice place to start a date if you're going to see a movie.
Cafe Ole has a really nice outdoor seating area, even though I usually opt for inside. It's a good place to get some wine and chill out. They mostly have Mediterranean wines, I'm pretty sure. They also have a good dessert menu, so I'm told (I hate sweets). For the dog owners out there, I've seen this place bring out doggy water dishes to the outdoor seating area for those customers who have brought along their furry friend(s).
I've moved, and so miss the Café Ole paninis! The Eggplant Italiano and French Riviera were my favorites; my co-worker couldn't get enough of the Marrakesh panini. Also, the black bean soup and carrot-ginger soup are yummy. I found the traditional hummus to be a bit bland (not enough garlic) - go with black bean hummus instead.
The only downside is that the indoor dining area is small and cramped. At lunchtime, be prepared to pounce as soon as someone gets up, and don't expect any elbow room or a modicum of privacy while you eat. The tables are very close together.
Really really great and interesting food in a (very!) casual restaurant setting. Going by it, I had always imagined it to be some sort of counter deli place, so I was suprised to walk in to a fresh-looking space with little tables adorned with votives -- always a nice touch in a restaurant. We were served tall glasses of ice water garnished with lemon, adding to the fresh, healthful vibe I was sensing.
It's mezze style, which means you order a bunch of small dishes. The menu here recommends 2 to 3 for an entree, and I would say that's a fair recommendation. It's so great though, because it really allows for flexibility in how much you order -- if you're starving, order 3 or 4; if you're only mildly hungry, order 1 or 2. They run at about $4-$7 each.
Loved the hummus, of course -- comes with great pita chips. The eggplant was a nice addition, on the lighter side, but still very flavorful. The lamb shawarma was to.die.for. I also enjoyed the strange-tasting Turkish cigars, though my friend who has studied in Turkey before was quite disappointed by them. I guess they weren't exactly up to native land quality, but I'll cut them some slack. Chicken shawarma I would pass on next time -- it was a bit bland and dry.
Easy on the wallet, good food, great place to meet up with a friend for dinner or lunch. I will definitely be back.
Cafe Ole is a great and inexpensive Mediterranean restaurant located between Tenleytown and the Cathedral area on Wisconsin Avenue.
The restaurant has a huge bar, lots of indoor seating, and a great outdoor patio for when the weather is nice. The bar has a very cool mosaic pattern and is nice to eat at for an afternoon meal on the weekends.
Service here is always very attentive, but doesn't loom over you or make you wait a long time for anything.
The food is also wonderful. There are a large selection of paninis and salads to choose from, but the real stars are the mezes (mediterranean tapas). I recommend splitting a salad and getting 3 or 4 mezes to share, it's generally more than enough food and you can explore a lot of flavors.
Overall, a great spot for a quick lunch or inexpensive dinner, especially given that the place has personality and the food is wonderful.
Cafe Ole has excellent food, but the service is sometimes spotty. Recently it's been good, but several times that I've been there it's moved at a glacial pace. During lunch you order at the counter, and for dinner there is table service. There is sunny indoor seating at small tables and a bar and outside seating under a canopy.
They have entrees and smaller tapas-like dishes. I'm mostly vegetarian, but I don't have much trouble finding things to eat here. The hummus, baba ghanouj, etc. is really good, especially with their pita chips. My favorite things to get here are the French Riviera Panini and the Chermoula Shrimp.
The perfect spot for a 2nd date...if you get that far.
I was totally new to the whole mezze concept, but after first experiencing it at Cafe Ole, I'm a strong advocate.
For those that may not know, Cafe Ole is not a standard one-entree-per-person type joint. Instead, plan on ordering a handful of the dishes on the menu and be ready to share it with your friends (or date, if that happens to be the case). There is a wide range of things you can order, ranging from a Shepard's Pie to various chicken, veggie, and beef dishes - separated in the menu in "hot" and "cold" sections. A good thing to know when ordering.
I recommend getting the bread plate, although I unfortunately do not recall it's real name. Yes, you get pita with the whole deal, but the assorted breads definitely make some interesting flavor combinations and different approaches.
I have usually gone in the spring or summer, so each time I have managed to sit outside, which is surprisingly comfortable. For a middle-eastern (ish) type establishment, when it comes to service I am always skeptical. While it was not earth-shattering, Cafe Ole's service definitely exceeds expectations.
So why a 2nd date spot? The casual ambiance with a pinch of class (especially on the inside) is a nice touch, and thankfully the staff was able to help me find the bathroom (attentive AND helpful: bonus). Also, with all of the sharing going on at the table, even if the date turns out to be a dud, at the very least you can talk about food - but with such a setup on the table, the flow of the evening is more conducive to good conversation. Plus, it's not too big a hit on your wallet.
After all, it's only a 2nd date.
Primarily middle eastern food.
I have eaten at Ole dozens of times and enjoy the food and the outdoor seating.
It is reasonably priced.
Avoid this place during the week at lunch because of the business lunchtime crowd - sure you can get food but seating can be really tough!
This was hands down my favorite restaurant in DC.
I used to go every Sunday for brunch. The food is reasonably priced, it's fresh tasting, the mezze's are so flavorful, and Captain, the manager, is a great dude.
They bring your food as they make it, and they are generally short staffed, but the food really just makes up for anything negative about this place.
It's a Mediterranean/Middle Eastern style mezze place, and it's way better than Ardeo Bordeo with not only the comparable food, but the price is so good.
Their Lebanese Celebration and Grilled Calamari are to die for. Their Babaganoush is also very different, with little julienned strips of eggplant instead of just a mushy hummus substitute, like most babaganoush is seen as. Their salads are in big bowls and are chock full of flavor. It's more salad content than just lettuce leaves. Awesome. The best part about this place: Grilled Seasoned Pita chips.
Even their coffees and espresso's are tasty and dark, very Euro.
I don't even live in DC anymore (I live in Los Angeles now), but I love this place so much that I have to review it. It would be the one place I'd HAVE to go if and when I ever go back to DC. Even Washington Post food reviewer Tom loves it, and his word as a foodie is as good as gold.
I fucking hate the idea of tapas. Expensive little samplers don't make sense to me. Seems like a gamble. However, the tapas selection at Café Olé is excellent and I highly recommend going there. I went with my boyfriend and we split both the hot and cold samplers and were very, very pleased. The hot sampler was a bit better, but both were extremely tasty. It's a great place for a date or a big group, which is what I did.
Cafe Ole has good tapas. The bar is well stocked. It is a great place to go with some friends and share a bunch of differents dishes. It is much cheaper and less crowded than Jaleo.
I agree with some of the other reviews that the service is spotty. Twice I have had to hunt down our waiter to get desert, the check, or more drinks! But I have had to lower my expectations for service since moving to DC where I find the service overall to be poor.
***3.5***
This was a very good dining experience. I pass Cafe Ole all the time and it is always jam packed, especially now that the weather is nicer. Over the weekend, I went in with a bunch of friends (we are all Middle Eastern, so pretty critical about the food!) and we really liked it! We ordered a bunch of hot and cold mezze such as hummus, tabbouleh, dolma, fattoush, baba ghannouj, shish tawuq, chicken shawarma, and tagine of lamb. Though it is mezze, the portions were actually a pretty good size, prices were just right (mostly everything is around 5-8 dollars), and most importantly, they were delicious! The dolma had a bit too much rice IMO and was lacking other ingredients and the fattoush was so-so. I would definitely say the stand out was the tagine lamb-yum! I liked it so much I ordered one to take home. Basically it is a lamb stew (the meat was very tender and melts in your mouth) mixed with carrots/celery/raisins, served with a curry sauce over larger pearled Israeli couscous. The staff was also very friendly, so that i a plus as well. I plan on returning to try more of the menu, specifically the salads and some falafel. If you are in the area, I highly recommend coming here, especially with a bunch of friends or a date, as it is a fun and tasty dining experience.
Cafe Ole is a great meditteranean bistro located between tenleytown and the Cathedral area. The food here was fantastic, and my boyfriend has a love affair with the orange juice they serve. Great for a lunch with friends or a casual date, especially during warm weather when you get a chance to sit outside.
Fantastic! I was very impressed with every dish we had. We started with the cold sampler, which contained good, but distinctive hummus, black bean hummus and baba ganoush. Excellent! The wait staff was helpful and attentive and helped with suggestions on the desert menu, which turned out to be excellent suggestions. I also had the lamb tagine which was tender and spiced perfectly. My friend had the polenta torfuta, which was by far the best dish of the night! All in all a wonderful meeting spot and great prices for the quality of food presented!
Loved this place!!! Super well-priced and a great place to go when you have a surprise or planned visit from friends or family and I agree with "Alexis G" that it's even great for a first date- relaxed, laid back, Mediterranean food with great variety with outside seating which is always a plus. It's fun to go with a small group of friends and try several different plates and still walk out of there paying about $15 per person. The have coupons in Val-Pak sometimes so look out for those. Shepherd's Pie tapa is great. Open, airy cafe feel even though it's a restaurant. Attentive staff, great food, great prices- it's a keeper in my book!
5 stars for food, 3 for ambiance. I really cannot say enough about the food here. It's wonderful, fresh, quick, inexpensive. It's the perfect neighborhood spot in those regards. My only complaint is the ambiance. It sort of looks and feels like a retail store inside. And the acoustics are problematic. One night the bf and I stopped in for dinner while a group of what looked like co-workers were taking happy hour well in to the evening hour over at the bar, which is not separated from the dining area. It was kind of deafening, even though they weren't being particularly loud... must be something about the building? Anyway, we also LOVE Cafe Ole for brunch. Especially in nice weather when you can sit outside.
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