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Cafe Olé
Categories: Restaurants Mediterranean Restaurants Middle Eastern Mediterranean, Middle Eastern [Edit]
4000 Wisconsin Ave NW(at N Upton St)
Washington, DC 20016
Neighborhood: Tenleytown
(202) 244-1330
- Nearest Transit:
-
Tenleytown Metro Station (Red)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11 am - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 10 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street, Validated
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Dahir A. said: "I travel from Laurel to eat here. Great food and friendly staff. It is worth the trip to DC." read more »
101 reviews for Cafe Olé
Review Highlights
"The only downside, the black bean hummus."
(in 11 reviews)
"Also, they didn't have the Moroccan BBQ Salad."
(in 6 reviews)
"I'm also a lamb tagine fan with Israeli couscous."
(in 6 reviews)
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101 reviews in English
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Review from Gaz H.
12/9/2011
3.5. - rounded up due to the OUTSTANDING espresso coffee I received at the conclusion of my meal.
Pros: lamb sliders, grilled swordfish, rice, service, tomato salad
Cons: hummus, small portions/high prices, bad feng shui
The pita chips and the chicken kabobs were...neutral.
Slightly older, after-work crowd. -
Review from William M.
Washington, DC
12/20/2011
Cafe Ole was quickly becoming our neighborhood "go to" place until the last service experience left a bad taste in our mouth. Let's talk about food first.
The food is fantastic. We just moved across the street from Ole this past summer. We used to get our Mediterranean fix at Cava Mezze on The Hill, and we were ecstatic to try this place. We've been here 3 or 4 times now, and we sample 4 or 5 dishes each time, so it's say to say we've tried a lot on the menu. We've enjoyed everything we've tried. Portion sizes are fair for the prices.
Unfortunately I can't say service quality is anywhere the food. It's slow, really slow, but the last experience with our waiter who was hopped up on coffee or something has turned off from this place for a little while. We asked for a few minutes when we sat down, and he was back 2 minutes later. We asked for more time again as me and the gf were talking about our day. He was hovering, pushy, socially awkward, and the least bit inattentive to our water or drinks needing replenishing. Someone switch that guy to decaf.
The outdoor patio is well worth it when the weather cooperates. The inside has tall ceilings, a long wooden bar, and the carryout counter in the back. Standard bistro tables and chairs abound, with a funky modern art deco approach to the ambiance. The food will bring us back, and it's the reason why you should go here time and again. -
Review from Laura D.
Cambridge, MA
10/17/2011
My husband and I tried Cafe Ole based on the positive Yelp reviews while visiting Washington, DC. We went on a Tuesday night and were surprised to find that we were the only two people there at 7pm.
My husband is a vegetarian so we were happy to see many "starred" items on the menu. We ordered four of the small dishes to share, which ended up being plenty of food for two. We had the Black Bean Soup, the Pizzetta, which was more like a salad than a pizza, the Risotto, and Macaroni au Gratin. All of the dishes were extremely tasty, however the flavors of the Macaroni paled in comparison to the yumminess of the Pizzetta and the Risotto.
I am giving Cafe Ole five stars based on the amazing dishes that we tried. The ambiance was nice and the service was quick and attentive, though we were the only two people in the restaurant. -
Review from Jeremy D.
Silver Spring, MD
1/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Wow. If you like Greek food that is fresh, flavorful while not overpowering, and very reasonably priced....EAT HERE!!!!
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Review from Erin C.
Albuquerque, NM
Updated - 1/18/2012
I am sorry to report that Cafe Ole has gone down hill.
The coffee is still great. However, they no longer serve the French Riviera Panini, and the Eggplant Panini has far less eggplant and roasted red pepper than it used to.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/5/2009
I've moved, and so miss the Café Ole paninis! The Eggplant Italiano and French Riviera were my… Read more »
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Review from Connie P.
Miami, FL
2/2/2012
This place will attract many people looking for a fun atmosphere. But, most will walk out saying that the quality and price do not match. I have actually only been here for drinks and socializing after hours so I can't comment on the food, but it's a cool place to hang out. The decor is just lovely.
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Review from Kathleen S.
Washington, DC
1/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Don't underestimate this place. Surprisingly inventive dishes with fresh, mouthwatering ingredients. From dishes as simple as the carrot ginger soup of the day to the flavorful Tel Aviv Nachos, I was delighted with this restaurant. If only it weren't as far out in the middle of nowhere.
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Review from Nury M.
Manassas, VA
1/22/2012
Food was absolutely delicious. Tasty, fresh, I took my family and my son loved the lamb sliders, we ordered 3 of those. Owner or Manager came to us and asked us how we liked the food. In general, we will be back, despite the fact that the place is not that big enough and the chairs not that comfortable but the fact that the food is outstanding and the service most excellent, we'll defenetely will be back . Awesome restaurant.
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Review from Martina G.
Brooklyn, NY
12/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Awesome cafe, delicious food. Everything we ordered was great! Didn't try fish. Free baklava with yelp coupon
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Review from Michelle A.
Washington, DC
11/20/2011
I'll keep it simple, tasty food, serving size on the sliders could have been bigger, friendly service, decor was lacking and kind of nondescript, parking easy. If I was nearby and needed to eat I'd go again, but wouldn't make a special trip.
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Review from Alla G.
Washington D.C., DC
7/19/2011
For a non-pretentious neighborhood restaurant, this is about as great as it gets. The Mediterranean food is substantial, creative, and presented really well. The service was really fast and they has some pretty spectacular coffee.
I live nearby and will be making my way over here as much as I physically can. They put their own spin on tried-and-true favorites (philly cheesesteak anyone?) and have great lamb.
Oh, and two people can have a full lunch at Cafe Ole for under $25.
Consider this a consistent endorsement. -
Review from Chelsea C.
Washington, DC
7/19/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I've been meaning to come here for a while and I was not disappointed. I ordered the Lebanese celebration and was delighted. It's the perfect blend of spices and just the right size (I got it on a plate, not as a sandwich). I also got a free baklava with the yelp check in offer. Yum!
Definitely will be coming back for the 1/2 off cake on Friday deal and to try their mezze. -
Review from K. G.
Washington, DC
6/1/2011
Decent drinks and great fare. :) Our food came out quickly. The service was lacking, I don't think they thought we would tip well. We were there for an hour and a half and saw our waiter 2 times (when he sat us down and when we finally got his attention for the check).
That's ok, I ordered the rest of my food/drink from the bartender and she made out pretty well. -
Review from Cy K.
9/18/2011
Easily my favorite Mediterranean restaurant. I never stray from their sampler platters, since the variety of spices is worth sampling every time. The meats are always tender, and the eggplant absolutely melts. I stopped in here every opportunity I got.
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Review from Niana K.
Silver Spring, MD
5/3/2011 5 photos
Absolutely lovedddd this little cafe! The server was wonderful, the food was excellent, and the atmosphere was nice and cozy.
It was pretty chilly on Sunday, but we wanted to eat outside because it looked so nice and bright on the patio. They had this ceiling heater on which helped keep us warm, and then they started inserting huge windows because it was starting to rain. Yep, they make it work!
LOVED: Lebanese Celebration ($8), Chicken Shawarma ($7), and Tagine of Lamb ($8). Maybe I should've just gotten the hot sampler because these mezzes were pretty large.
My only complaint would be that the Grilled Calamari ($8) was a little too salty for my taste...maybe it would've helped if I had some pita bread on the side to balance that. Also, they didn't have the Moroccan BBQ Salad!!! SIGH
I think the website says that there is underground parking or something, but I just parked at the meter right across cafe ole. Free on Sundays, of course! =) -
Review from Jennifer N.
Washington, DC
Updated - 12/5/2010
Last update. I promise. Cafe Ole people, can you PLEASE create a veggie mezze option? I love the idea of being able to get the hot mezze plate but three of the five dishes in your hot mezze contain meat, and there's no way I'm getting a cold mezze plate in December. Why not make it a mix-and-match (i.e. let the customer choose 5 plates they want?!).
Show vegetarians some love, would ya?Listed in: 1 Year in DC
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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11/11/2010
A one star bump. After two more trips back to Cafe Ole (including a Sunday brunch stop), I'm… Read more »
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Review from Les D.
12/17/2010
Fantastic restaurant. I am no fan of Mediterranean cuisine, but I thought I'd give Ole a shot. Glad I did. Highlights are the shepherd's pie. Fantastic plate, tart and sweet, made with lamb, just all around scrumptious.
Waiter quickly recommended the Lebanese Celebration dish when asked. Excellent. Also impressed with the speed of service. Our food arrived less than ten minutes after we placed the order. They also have a great evening deal, order four mezzes and get a bottle of wine for $16. Very tasty wine at that. Waiter was kind enough to substitute a cup of soup for one of the mezzes without question or compromise.
Cafe Ole really impressed me. Perhaps the only limitation is the space. Quarters are tight, and the noise becomes tremendously loud. Ole is not completely to blame for the acoustics. Once the loud, moderately inebriated groupies departed, it became much more tolerable.
Tables are also uncomfortably small. Wouldn't be so bad, but with the small plates coming, it gets very crowded very quickly. Still, I have to give five stars on the merit of the food and service. And that would be the first five star review of mine that isn't perfection. Food is just that good. Well done. -
Review from Josh F.
11/11/2010
Cafe Ole is a hidden gem in the Tenleytown area for lunch.
Boasting a diverse and ecclectic range of food ranging from cultures all over the mediterranean, Ole blends tastes extremely well without losing the flair for presentation.
My girlfriend and I had the lentil soup, which garlicky and tart but had a smooth, creamy finish from the cilantro yogurt topping. The chicken platter (a steal at 10$) was enough for the two of us, with a lemon dill salad and local blended hummus and pita. The taste was legitimately out of this world, and the quiet ambiance and coolness of the restaurant was relaxing and pleasant.
Staff is efficient and friendly, and the wait was nonexistent. There was not a single thing I didn't enjoy at Cafe Ole, and I can't wait to come back. -
Review from Sahar R.
9/16/2010
I have a confession. I am part persian and I hate lamb. It's just a hot, gamey tasting mess. And every one tells me I don't like it cause no one has prepared it right for me. Whatever I heard the same analogies used for sex (it's not the size of the ___, it's the motion of the ocean). I call BS on that one too.
Apparently, I was wrong.
Last night, while out on the groupon we tried the cold and hot mezze. In the hot mezze of course there was lamb dishes (lamb tangine). OMG. Yum. The Lebanese Celebration with chicken was my second favorite. The pita chips were nice to have. The only downside, the black bean hummus. Not so tasty, actually i've eaten paste in the first grade that was more memorable.
So this place got me to eat lamb! So they get a high rating. The location itself is in Tenley town. Not exactly a happening place, but the outdoor seating is nice, the service is great. I think the waiters were so on top of their game and the bus boy was the nicest young man ever.Listed in: Because of Groupon
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Review from Jen H.
1/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here with a few former coworkers, and it was a great experience. I, however, did not read on the menu that they recommend 2-3 Mezze's per person... and therefore I ordered way too much food! I saw the sampler plate and assumed that those were the sizes. I was wrong.
In fact, if you're not all that hungry, 1 Mezze is enough, and 2 is probably enough if you are the average person. 3 is going to leave you stuffed!
That being said, however, since I DID order too much food (4 Mezze's) that just meant that I was able to sample more dishes and live to Yelp about them!
Mezze 1: Tagine of Lamb (Moroccan lamb stew with carrots, celery, caramelized onions, and orange zest served over Israeli couscous garnished with curry aioli and julienne of mint) - I'm so glad that this was the first one I had (and in turn, ate the entire thing) because it was by far my favorite. It was so flavorful, rich, and just all around awesome! Totally getting this if I get to make it back down there again.
Mezze 2: Risotto (Arborio rice sauteed with onion and white wine, mixed with Parmesan cheese and wild mushrooms topped with truffle oil and crispy leeks) This was very good. I was surprised to see Risotto on the menu, as I think of this as more of an Italian dish... but it was quite good. I ate about half of this dish and then had to force myself to put the fork down, and ask for it to be boxed up.
Mezze 3: "Z" Provencal Chicken (Chicken stew with tomato, artichokes, olives, onions over brown rice and lentils topped with lemon pepper aioli) This dish was okay. Not my favorite, but not my least favorite of the dishes either. Only had a few bites of this and then asked for it to be boxed to take home.
Mezze 4: Lamb Shawarma: (Lamb marinated in fresh herbs and Lebanese spices sauteed and served on a bed of lettuce and tomato with soft pita). This dish was kind of like a salad.. it was good, but did not have the same rich flavors as the other dishes. This was my least favorite...but still would have been happy with this as a stand alone dish. As with #3, I only had a few bites of this and asked for the rest to be taken home.
Since I was leaving for Boston the next day, I didn't have any of these as left overs, though I assume that my family gobbled them up and that they might have even been better the next day after giving the flavors more time to come together.
Cute little spot, plenty of street parking and a parking lot in the area... also easily accessible via the Metro... you have no excuse but to give it a try.
**Might I add that they have a full bar and the drinks are well made... just thought I'd throw that out there for extra incentive** -
Review from Allyson P.
Washington, DC
7/10/2010
I can't believe I haven't reviewed Cafe Ole yet! They're easily my favorite lunch spot in the Tenleytown area. That may not be saying much, given the limited decent options, but Cafe Ole is actually quite good. I think the best items to get for lunch are any of the roll-up plates(they call them roll-ups, but offer them either in a wrap or over rice or couscous, depending on which one you get. The lamb tagine over Israeli couscous is my favorite of these, though the chicken stew over with brown rice and lentils is also quite good. Several of my colleagues swear that the Moroccan barbecue salad is one of the best meals on earth, but I don't really like it. The shredded beef, crispy potatoes and tangy salad dressing is just too many random flavors for me. You should try it though, because everyone other than me seems to love it. I do like all the other salads though.
Their only misses are the panini sandwiches; they tend to be way too greasy. There's no reason to go to a Mediterranean place for paninis though. Also, if you get any of the salads, ask for the dressing on the side, unless you really like lots of dressing; they tend to pour way too much on for my tastes.
Also, one of the only places in the neighborhood for a decent happy hour. $6 martinis and $10 pitchers of sangria are a great deal, and it attracts a decent sized after-work crowd, but still feels laid back and not too crowded.Listed in: Best Happy Hour, Cheap Eats, Tenleytown
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Review from Ryan E.
Washington, DC
8/21/2011
In the six years since moving to DC from NJ, this is one of our most frequented places. A friend of ours who lived around the corner took us here in 2006... my wife and I have been here probably about a dozen times since. Simply put, the food is outstanding, the prices are fair, the outdoor seating is spot on, we always find a parking spot, and we always leave happy.
Everyone always talks about Zatinya's for mediterranean tapas... We live 3 blocks away from Zatinya's and prefer to drive to Cafe Ole. -
Review from Susan P.
8/18/2010 11 photos
Dad: I've never been here, but if they can afford the rent, they have to be good. . .
Funny how spot on he was. . . .
There is NOTHING bad that I can say about Cafe Ole. The mushroom rissotto did not wow me, but it was very solid and I would most certainly get it again. That is about the worst thing I could possibly say about Cafe Ole.
Every dish is wonderful and well seasoned. The service is impeccable
To get:
Lebanese Celebration:
It's a lemon pepper chicken on couscous topped with cream sauce which is really good. Best dish of the night.
Lamb Slider:
I am not a fan of lamb, but these were the best sliders that I have ever had. The small lamb patties have cheese and spices in them that make the patty juicy and flavorful. It comes stuffed into a small pita pocket with plenty of room for the side of diced tomato, onion almost pico de gallo topping. MUST GET
The cold appetizer sampler:
It comes with regular hummus, black bean hummus, some type of cream eggplant dip (I hate eggplant, but this is amazing!) and a feta cheese dip. All of this comes with a side of pita bread chips which is really good and crispy
Spinach thing on the hot side:
It was ok, I like spanakopita, and this was like, a slightly less intense version of that. It does come out a little more browned than I was expecting, but it did not taste burned at all. The side of salad with the balsamic was really good.
Meh:
chermoula Shrimp:
It was sort of like a taco salad topped with hummus, cucumbers, and grilled shrimp. The shrimp was good, but the rest of it was ok.
Great service, good food. Check it out if you are in the area, they validate parking so it's only about $2. -
Review from Harry T.
Washington, DC
5/10/2010 2 Check-ins Here
When I first walked into this place I was thinking upscale coffee store (in a good way). It has a casual vibe but the interior is tasteful and just a tad modern. Enough about the interior because I really was there for the food which was great.
I had the Chermoula Shrimp, which is shrimp marinated in Moroccan spices, grilled and served with chopped vegetables and hummus, Moroccan B-B-Q, which is grilled flank steak marinated in harissa bar-b-que sauce, served on a bed of lettuce, tomato, onions, and cucumber, tossed with a spicy vinaigrette and topped with crispy potatoes, Mediterranean Sliders, which are mini lamb burgers, sumac garlic mayonnaise, olive salsa and the Risotto.
I would recommend all of them. I enjoyed the amount of salad and veggies given with the tasty Moroccan bbq steak and I loved the veggies and hummus with the savory tail on shrimp. I thouroughly enjoyed the lamb sliders. They tasted like gyro meat in tiny pita pockets. It was very satisfying. The risotto wasn't as creamy and cheesy as I'm used to but to me that's a welcome change. I appreciated the well cooked rice and the flavor of that and the mushrooms. No need for creaminess to mask the flavor of the rice.
Overall I had a wonderful meal. On Friday night they had a live band playing jazz and other tunes. There was no wait for a table and the food is reasonably priced. There isn't another restaurant that can fill the niche that this one offers. I recommend this place to anyone who wants budget friendly good pan-Mediterranean food in a casual setting with great service and even live music. -
Review from Pam T.
Arlington, VA
11/13/2011
Went here with a friend for a late lunch, and it was delicious! Service was great, the atmosphere in there is classy and laid back, and all of the food was amazing. I had a lamb salad and my friend and I split calamari, which was fabulous. The portion sizes are perfect and it reminded me of my trip to Greece 4 years ago. I will definitely be going back here!
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Review from Katya R.
Washington, DC
8/31/2010
I would give this a 2.5, but am rounding up because I was brought take out from this location and did not dine in and also because my GroupOn could be applied to a takeout order. Ordered 6 different foods, which had results all across the spectrum.
Good - salad with beets (beets a nice composition and topped with some sort of goat cheese - pesto mix) and ordered some sort of grilled shrimp that was DELICIOUS (but the 4 small shrimps you get do not make up for the "bad"). Orzo was okay, not much flavor. The carrot cake was quite good as well, although I prefer the more "traditional" cream cheese based frosting, their frosting tastes more like it is based from butter and yogurt. Also, looking a the pictures for the restaurant, I just saw that the shrimp go with the pretty good salad I got into the bread bowl - did not realize this when was assembling food at home.
BAD BAD BAD - the risotto is one of the worst things I have ever tasted. Not sure what they put in for cream, but it tasted like some sort of rotten dairy product, or maybe the mushrooms went bad. I eat just about anything and brought this for lunch today and I had to throw it away (I don't throw food away, pretty much ever, either). -
Review from Izzat A.
5/27/2011
Went here to get my Groupon on and got the chicken kabob platter with an extra side of hummus. I was pretty disappointed. While the food was decent, it was definitely kind of pricey. Also, they gave me literally 4 pieces of small chicken which I think is kind of lame for a $14 platter. Service was friendly. Maybe I'll try one of their paninis next time because I've heard such great things about this place. I'll give em another shot.
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Review from Matt S.
Arlington, VA
11/7/2011
My dad and I have been here way too often lately since its the best option near a hospice my mom is at. The service has been a little spotty on weekends -- it took 3 tries to get an eggs benedict with ham order right -- but the food quality is very good. The lamb burger is a Monday special staple and is excellent. The hummus is among the best I have had, and the eggs benedict are really good (once you get them). The portions, especially with the sandwiches, are pretty freaking big so order appropriately.
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Review from John C.
Rockville, MD
11/7/2011
This place is great, they recently changed up the menu and the decor. Liked the old restaurants decor and menu better, but the food is still great!
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Review from Stef S.
5/15/2011
Great prices for reasonable portions. If you're expecting huge plates of food, you won't get it, but the Lebanese Celebration ($8) is a DELICIOUS bowl of chicken, yogurt, and hummus over bulgar. The baba ganouj was good but nothing spectacular. Quick service and decent sangria. I'm a fan for sure.
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Review from Kiki R.
8/6/2010
Cafe Ole is a very nice casual dining restaurant.
The decor was very modern but a bit dim.
The service was great. The waiter was very accommodating and the busboys cleared up my plates very quickly. The bartender was very friendly.
The prices were very reasonable for their small tapas plates.
The food was decent but I didn't enjoy the dishes that I got. The spinach pastry puffs were burnt. It had a burnt taste to it and it wasn't sealed properly like a pastry puff should be. The risotto was bland even though they used truffle oil, but I don't have such a sophisticated palate to taste the difference. I enjoyed the lamb swarma but my companion did not. He thought the lamb was overcooked and the pita was more like a tortilla wrap than a thick pita bread. The greek salad was nice and refreshing. The shrimp charmoula was a bit oily, but the hummus added a nice touch. I was disappointed with only 4 measly shrimp. Other than that, I don't see myself going out of my way to come back here if I didn't live in the neighborhood. -
Review from Kevin L.
5/3/2009 4 photos
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.Listed in: A Brunching Bonanza!, Tapas and Tasting
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Review from Jeff W.
12/16/2008
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. -
Review from Kathleen M.
Atlanta, GA
12/30/2008
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.Listed in: Mad Props to Jeff W.
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Review from Sara M.
6/9/2009
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. -
Review from Michelle P.
Fairfax, VA
12/17/2008
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. -
Review from alexis g.
Falls Church, VA
9/1/2006
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). -
Review from V H.
Washington, DC
10/23/2011
This place isn't immediately obvious from the street but it has a neat, small space. A bit loud acoustically. We ordered the chef's sampler special and it was all delicious! Not great servers but a nice bartender and our food arrived quickly. Dinner and a glass of wine each for 2 people for about $45. I will return!
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Review from Chandana K.
Washington, DC
Updated - 1/19/2010
I came back again to celebrate my first anniversary with my boo. Adorable, I know. I stand corrected about the décor. Although Café Ole is still a nice neighborhood joint, they have updated their look. Nice new paint job, same yummy affordable food.
This time we tried the lamb sliders. Little juicy lamb burgers tucked into mini pitas. The dollop of garlic mayo in each pita and the tomato/olive salsa on the side compliment the meat very well. You only get three so be prepared to split the third one. Or just cop it before your date notices. We also had a polenta dish with mushrooms and leeks. Rich, creamy, and filling. Although I'm partial to the warm plates, the black bean hummus is one of my favorites. It has a little spice from the cumin and is a nice twist on the classic.
The food comes out very quickly so it's a nice place to come for a quick meal or to linger and enjoy a few drinks.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/26/2009
The name is a little misleading. When you first hear the name Café Ole, you might expect Spanish… Read more »
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Review from Carolina V.
Washington, DC
7/11/2009
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.
