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Zorba's Cafe
Categories: Restaurants Greek Restaurants Pizza Restaurants Mediterranean Greek, Pizza, Mediterranean [Edit]
1612 20th St NWWashington, DC 20009
Neighborhood: Dupont Circle
(202) 387-8555
- Nearest Transit:
-
Dupont Circle Metro Station (Red)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 11:30 pm
Sun 11 am - 10:30 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
253 reviews for Zorba's Cafe
Review Highlights
"...is indoor seating and outdoor seating and its affordable."
(in 30 reviews)
"Their chicken souvlaki pita is especially good and fresh."
(in 25 reviews)
"The gyro was SO flavorful and moist."
(in 62 reviews)
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253 reviews in English
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Review from Hannah C.
11/29/2011 4 Check-ins Here
When I have nostalgic moments, and I miss home-cooked meals cooked by my parents, I come here. Recently on one such occasion, I was sick, and I needed some of Dad's avgolemeno soup. I saw it nowhere on the menu. My head dropped with more sadness. I asked the guy behind the register. He suggested the Kotosoupa Avgolemeno. He gave me a sample, and my eyes brightened a little as I ordered a bowl. This soup is like avgolemeno on crack, with big chunks of chicken, carrot, and potato. Bonus - it comes with a warmed roll.
Now, for under $5, I feel loved when I'm feeling like dying.
That's a good thing.
*The ambiance is fine if proletarian. There's no waiter service, but they clear your table once you've finished eating. And there are bottomless glasses of free Washington DC tap water! One star off because I had to bring back a bowl of manestra once because it was still cold in the middle. Blech. -
Review from Rebecca Y.
Washington, DC
1/3/2012
The prices and food are decent.
Spinach feta dip: pretty good, lots of feta cheese with their handmade herbed pita chips.
calamari was very good, nicely fried and the calamari was fresh.
moussaka was decent as well. Baklava was alright.
I'm not blown away by their food here, but it hits the spot if you're craving Greek food. Great location at Dupont Circle, patio is good for people-watching and is nice on a spring/summer's day. Simple decor, greater for a casual lunch/dinner, not for a date. -
Review from Anna S.
12/13/2011
A solid option for neighborhood people craving good Greek food or cheap(ish) alfresco dining.
It's not the best Medi lunch around--Greek Deli does better Avgolemono, vFalafel does better falafel shawarma, and the Greek Spot does better hummus--nor is it the cheapest, as a gyro and soda in the self-serve dining room will run you around $11. But it's the most convenient place to Dupont; it's open late; and it's inexpensive for dinner, if not lunch.
The staff is friendly. The food is solid across the board--if there are no famous dishes, there are certainly no clunkers. And at 27, it's one of the older, more welcoming businesses in the area. You can't go wrong. -
Review from Joseph L.
Vienna, VA
1/23/2012
Everything we had was great! No complaints on our calamari, sampler platter or gyro. The hummus was decent.
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Review from Melissa A.
Boone, MO
1/14/2012
Cheap wine, affordable food, casual atmosphere that is somewhat cafeteria-style. There isn't much to complain about. I especially enjoyed the marinara sauce that accompanied my calamari. The greek salads are also great...but really, everything I've sampled has been perfect.
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Review from Foodie C.
Washington, DC
11/10/2011
This place is awkward to eat at if its crowded and you cant find a seat. Seating is cafeteria style, a bit crammed. try to eat outside if you can
The bathroom was dirty.
Potatoes in moussaka were hard. Gyro was lacking a proper amount of meat. -
Review from Lia M.
8/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
Zorba's probably would not have been my first choice. It was OK. I had the chicken gyro platter, which, at $12.50, was not exactly a steal for chicken, pita, salad, and fries. The chicken was salty and a bit overdone, yet the fries were undercooked. Pita was actually decent - a small-ish, yet thicker round. Salad was lightly dressed with olive oil and pepper, and I like that dark greens, instead of iceberg, were used. My friend enjoyed her tilapia with tomato sauce over rice.
The place was busy, and I do not understand the appeal. Order and pick-up at the counter, seat yourself, clear your own dishes. If it was cheap, I would understand, but it is neither cheap nor all that tasty, so I do not comprehend.Listed in: Good Times in Dupont Circle
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Review from Melissa W.
Washington, DC
9/13/2011
This place reminds me of a bad greek street cart in NYC that just happened to gain traction because it is right at the heart of Dupont. The actual kitchen/cashier counter is grungy and dirty. There is often a line to order and then to pick up your food, and you are cramped against a stained wall and a counter with fake flowers... it's tacky and the food isn't even good enough to render all of this endearing and unique.
The outdoor seating is a nice option, but the food just isn't good enough. It's overpriced, greasy... And a greek staple, the greek salad, is the best way to measure this place up. I tried it, and it does not pass the test.
This place may have a monopoly on greek in the neighborhood, but hopefully some competition will shed some light on some really good greek food. -
Review from Allie W.
Manhasset, NY
9/25/2011
After my first experience at Zorba's I was not all that impressed with the food, but decided to give them another shot. Now I also am unimpressed with their service.
First, I tried to place a delivery order, only to be told that I had to call a separate number, and was then given an invalid number. So instead, I went to pick up my food...
When I got there, it was empty, but the staff were too busy chatting to notice me. My question about a drink was repeatedly ignored, and then I wasn't given a bag to carry my take-out in. When I got home, I saw that they hadn't included the tzatziki or salad dressing for my order. Overall a poor experience. -
Review from Shravan K.
New Haven, CT
11/5/2011
Absolutely great food.
I think a little bit pricey considering the fact that you help yourself, no waiters. Seat yourself...
Gr8 location! -
Review from Christi D.
Washington, DC
9/24/2011
1. You need to like Greek food to like this place.
2. Zorba's is a delightful neighborhood eatery of bites.
MENU (Tiny but important surprises)
-Bread isn't just bread. It has cheese stuffed in there, and if it's a good day, the cheese is melted ever so slightly and puts these rolls over others.
-Moussaka is above other places' moussaka because of the way they slice the eggplant well. The one downer on this one is that you can't always cut this that well (ie: not as easy as lasagna) because the saucy coating is almost like a shield put on just for aesthetics. It's all good though because the individual parts that make up moussaka are still tasty.
-Fries are sandwiches are relatively normal but Zorba's is quick and so the food tastes worth the price you pay for it. Oh, and even though you're not expecting unique tastes for the generic pieces, the portions and freshness make these orders more than expected.
SERVICE
-It's self-pick up and self-seating (with a lot of seating options indoor, upstairs, and outside), but that's why service is so quick.
OVERALL
-Yea, if I'm hungry for a quick, mediocre-cheap place to eat in Dupont, this is a wonderful go-to. Most places in Dupont have the same types of food (pizza, sandwiches, Asian). Zorba's is different and it's oftentimes forgotten. Don't overlook it! -
Review from Maria S.
Washington, DC
9/1/2011
I love Greek food, specifically chicken-lemon soup and Greek salads. However, while I found Zorba's had all the standards, it wasn't very memorable. I definitely prefer the food at the Greek Deli in downtown, which has tastier (less dry) meats, more flavorful chicken-lemon soup, and salads with more/tastier toppings.
To its credit, Zorba's has a cute location in Dupont (unlike the Greek deli, there is plenty of seating here and you don't have to stand in line) in an old house with lots of seating, it's open fairly late, and your food is ready very fast...so it's not a bad game-time decision for when you want a casual, fast dinner in Dupont. -
Review from Arin B.
Winfield, IL
11/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
My souvlaki was tasty. Definitely will go back.
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Review from julia s.
Washington, DC
11/27/2011
I love Zorba's! It's my weeknight go-to. They have everything from hearty meat dishes to light salads. The Aegean Salad with Chicken is my favorite - a fresh greek salad with homemade dressing and chicken kabobs fresh off the grill. So delicious! Also, great outdoor seating when it's nice out. Not the cheapest place, given that there isn't table service, but worth it!
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Review from Kim L.
Washington D.C., DC
10/26/2011
Falafel sandwich was average, nothing special. The house red was bland with a flabby mouthfeel. The baklava on the other hand? To die for. 2 stars just based on this delicacy alone. Another for the great location with a perfect people-watching patio.
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Review from Richy R.
Honolulu, HI
7/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Had the falafel plate ($9.50-ish). 'Meh....yup. Thats about all I can really say about it.
But points for proximity to the Dupont Metro Station and late night hours. -
Review from Isabel B.
San Jose, CA
4/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
One sunny late summer afternoon last year I decided to spontaneously call a friend to join me for early dinner in Dupont circle. He agreed but said it would take him about an hour to get to me via metro. I told him I'd find a dinner place and wait for him there.
I chose Zorba because it was such a nice day and it had an outdoor patio.
What a great choice.
That day I decided to throw care to the wind and ordered the $14.50 Vegetarian plate which consisted of spanakópitta, fasolia, pitta bread and falafel, and came with a Greek salad, two dolmathes, with a side of hommus & tzatziki. I also ordered a half carafe of white Greek wine ($11.25). Now, I shared some of this food with my friend once he joined me, but I must confess, I ate a lot of it myself while awaiting his arrival.
The other day, I once again arranged a spontaneous meet-up with another friend, and it just so happened that he suggested Zorba's. Because I remember the great food and the ideal location, I happily agreed.
Although this time the weather was anything but great, we sat in the upstairs section of the restaurant, and because it was rather late for dinner (around 8pm), I ordered far less food this time around, and also skipped the Greek wine. The experience, nonetheless, was still similarly pleasant.
I think the charm of Zorba's goes well beyond the food (although it is great). Something about it just makes you feel comfortable, as if you were dining at a friend's home.
The only thing that I can't say I'm a big fan of is the fact that there aren't any waiters and that you have to make line, order your food, then wait around the kitchen area until your number is called (sort of like an awkward blend of fast food and restaurant).
But that aside, Zorba's definitely works for me. Come spring, you know where to find me! -
Review from David B.
Washington, DC
11/15/2011
I don't have many gyro comparisons here in DC, but of other gyros I have had, this ranks near the top. But more importantly, I was extremely impressed with the fetta ball, which I got on the recommendation of a friend. Fresh out of the oven, fluffy, and savory.
Plenty of seating, even at lunch when I went. Check out the upstairs for more tables, and for a neat view.
Slightly more expensive than necessary, IMO, which is why this ranks as a 4/5 instead of the full 5 stars. -
Review from Ali G.
Manhattan, NY
10/2/2011
One of my faves. The food is consistent...I like to get the combination platter. And the bite sized baklava. Yum! And the house wine is pretty cheap. And the outdoor seating in the summer is lovely.
And you don't waste money on tipping! Is it fancy? No. But it is a great place to meet up with friends and not spend your entire paycheck. -
Review from Mike B.
6/1/2011
This was really good. Very close to the metro stop and really quick service.
Charming little place with great greek food! -
Review from Mandana Y.
Bethesda, MD
4/13/2011
Delicious Greek food on a Saturday night in Dupont without a reservation? This is exactly why I like Zorba's Cafe. It's a no-brainer when you want to have a spur of the moment good meal.
You walk in and there is usually a line. When it's your turn you order, and you can either wait for your meal, or you can walk around ether of the two levels and grab yourself a table. They'll call out when your order is ready and then you can feast! They have busboys so you don't have to worry about cleaning after yourself. And because there are no waiters, you can sit there as long as you want after your meal is done. Basically this is a more 'family-owned' Greek version of Nandos.
As for the menu. Everything I've had has hit the spot. They even serve beer and wine! I'm not sure if they make their own bread but whatever they pair with their meals is just delicious. -
Review from Katie L.
5/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Zorba's is one of my favorite restaurants in DC. It is a delightful place for a number of reasons: great Greek food, amicable prices, and wonderful outdoor dining. It is the standard by which I compare all other Greek fare in the city.
My favorite sandwich here is a toss-up between the yero and the chicken souvlaki. Both are delicious and served on warm, perfectly plush pitas. Everything I've tried here has been quite satisfying including the falafel, fries, olive and feta rolls, and salads.
This place is a 4.5 easily, but it seems that their prices keep going up, bit by bit. But then again, this place was a total steal when I first tried it in 2005, so what can I expect? -
Review from John F.
Washington, DC
11/3/2011
The Gyro was amazing...
Best fresh Greek food in area you can get that is quick and tastes great! -
Review from nellie t.
5/11/2011
Yum!
A group of us (about 20), came in here for dinner on a Saturday night. We had a reservation and were seated right away.
There's no wait staff, per se. You order downstairs, get a number, and wait for your number to be called. We placed all of our orders at once, and I'd estimate that within 15-20 minutes all of our appetizers were ready. We had ordered the tzatziki sauce, Dolmthes, Spanakopitta, and Greek Fries. They were all SO GOOD. I really liked their dolmas and the Greek Fries--it was difficult to have just one! And the Tzatziki dip was pretty good; but, I thought, of the appetizers, it was the weakest dish.
And, within 10 minutes of our appetizers coming out, our food order was ready. Way to go, kitchen staff! We had ordered a myriad of entrees, and from everyone's reactions, all of the food was delicious. My only regret is that I had too many apps and was unable to finish my meal--I ordered the Chicken Reganáto, and maybe got through a fourth of it.
Yes, I'm ashamed.
Minus one star for being so dang hot upstairs. I don't think the AC was turned on for the beginning portion of our meal; as a result, I felt like I was melting.
In any case, between all the food, the pitchers of beer, and the excellent ambiance, we all had a great time dining here. Thanks, Zorba's! -
Review from Cy K.
9/19/2011
While visiting a friend here I tried a piece of some type of coffee cake and the Greek coffee. The cake was pretty mediocre, but the coffee was amazing! Made in the true Greek tradition it was very thick and sugary (think the unholy union espresso and sugar cube). This drink is served in a tiny cup - since any more would probably cause a heart attack. Still, as you drink your way down to the residual sludge of sugar and grounds at the bottom every sip is bursting with purely distilled coffee flavor.
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Review from Kenneth K.
Lexington, MA
10/23/2011
Zorba's? Absolutely.
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Review from Rebecca S.
Washington, DC
12/20/2010 ROTD 5/20/2011
I met a friend here for lunch on Sunday, and am glad we decided to try it out.
It wasn't very crowded at all, and service was quick. We both had the falafel sandwich, which was excellent. You know how some places, when they do a falafel pita, end up giving you a whole bunch of pita filled with lettuce and tomato and hummus and a couple of itty bitty falafels? not so much here - just about every bite had falafelly goodness in it.
I also had some Greek fries (think potato thinly sliced longways and fried), and they were good, although I wouldn't have minded them a little crispier on the outside.
Service is sort of combination - you order and pay at the counter, they give you a number, you pick up and sit down, and they clear your trays when you're done. Tip jar on the counter, and it up to you to refill glasses or get more napkins.
I'd love to go back and people watch from the outdoor seating when its nice out and try some other things - they had some tasty looking entrees on the menu, as well as desserts.Listed in: Reviews of the Day!
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Review from Daniel W.
Washington, DC
6/26/2011
There are days that my wife and I just look at each other, say - I want Greek- and we run to Zorbas.
It is one of my favorite Greek restaurants (only beaten out by a little joint in Astoria Queens we visit with friends) in the world. Their tzatziki is incredible. Their fries are delicious. Can't go wrong with their Souvlaki or Lamb Gyros.
Reasonably priced... if only they didn't charge for those extra sauces. -
Review from Lynnette A.
Irvine, CA
9/26/2011
Zorba's Combination Plate was to DIE for! Found this place by accident and am only in DC for a week on business...but I plan on coming back to Zorba's again before I leave!
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Review from Micah M.
Washington, DC
9/12/2011
The food out Zorba's is far from outstanding, but they have a good selection of all your standard Greek fare. The best thing about Zorbas is that you can sit out on their patio or on the second floor and people watch all the passersby in DuPont Circle -- now that's entertainment!
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Review from Jenna C.
Springfield, VA
11/20/2011
I ordered the falafel plate today. For $11, I expected something much better. Sadly, my falafels looked like little elephant dungs and they were sooooo salty. After consuming just one, I could feel my face and feet swell up. Their hummus was okay but their Greek salad was kind of sad, too. So maybe other things on their menu may be great, but their falafels are disgusting.
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Review from Justin L.
Arlington, VA
6/29/2011
Nice little Greek restaurant in Dupont but nothing to write home about. My friend and I had dinner here last night and ordered the equivalent of one main course, two starters and two soft drinks and the bill was $32. Not exactly a great value in my book for standard Mediterranean food. The outdoor seating on the patio is quite nice, which is good because the interior looks basically like a drab school cafeteria. The kitchen did a great job turning our orders around quickly during a busy time. Note that there is no table service, so go up to the counter to order your food. Perfectly passable, although a bit overpriced Greek food.
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Review from Kelly A.
8/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yum! My sister-in-law led our family to this place on our recent vacation. We had just arrived in the District, and we had planned on nearby Pizza Paradiso. After being told there was an hour-long wait, we headed to Zorba's. My gyro was delicious, the fries were crispy, and our large party was comfortable in the upstairs dining room (although the outside dining area certainly looked festive). A great intro to the many different cultural cuisines of the city.
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Review from Preeti B.
Brooklyn, NY
7/8/2010
[3.5 stars]
As I stumbled into this Dupont gem, I was greeted by a smoking kitchen and a smiley dude adorned with a mullet and Greek accent taking our order at the register. Uhhh...how could this not be awesome?
Spanakapita is just too much - tasty triangular transcendence. I also tried the chicken kebob, but I thought it was a bit of a jip to get 1 skewer for $13. Though, daily, I have to remind myself that I'm not an expert on kebob pricing schemes. (Is that normal?) On the upside, the pricey kebob was served with rice, a bread roll and a teeny-meeny salad.
I'm sure I will go back this summer to be reunited with the spanakapita....and mulleted, accented dude. Wouldn't you? -
Review from Samantha E.
Alexandria, VA
7/5/2011 2 photos
Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious and quick to get out of the kitchen. The gyro and fries were a but greasy but that always seems to be the case at Greek restaurants. Nonetheless, the lamb and beef were flavorful and the platter was pretty well priced. It was so nice to have a late lunch out on the patio enjoying DC life.
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Review from Carol W.
9/20/2010 1 Check-in Here
After a bit of wine my boyfriend and I were moderately hungry (okay, really hungry). We had the combination plate and the greek-fire feta. I really liked everything there. The standout for me was the greek-fire feta; you will hear me talk a lot about things being oversalted (you won't hear me use those words with feta). It was perfect!
A good amount of food that we had no problems putting away and I didn't go away hungry. Would definitely go again. -
Review from Lesley G.
Winston-Salem, NC
6/7/2011
I'm not a huge fan of Greek food, but everyone who I ate with thought it was a great choice. The patio is really pretty and the Dupont area is so pretty to enjoy that. The servers are very courteous and nice as well.
Listed in: DC Visits
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Review from Holli D.
Millbrook, AL
7/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Love this place! For $14.95, I got a Greek salad & a 2 meat gyros...both tasted light, clean & perfect! You order at the counter & pick-up yourself. This place is small, but they do have outside seating. The staff is SUPER friendly & you can tell this is a Dupont Circle favorite!
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Review from Michael M.
Washington, DC
8/16/2010
Greg, sal, and the rest of the zorbas gang crank out food with four star flavor and five star smell, unfortunately they do it at a steep price...hence three stars.
But if your looking for a fantastic falafal sandwich, with some hummus, and a greek beer its worth the trip.
Make sure to get a "birch beer" while your there, it'll crush your sweet tooth and any "root beer" I've found...plus free refills.Listed in: DC Dinning
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Review from Jill G.
Washington D.C., DC
2/15/2011
Maybe I'm being a little too harsh with this place because I'm so crushed that Fresh Med no longer delivers to me (although I only moved 4 blocks from my old place, grrrrrrrr) but this place was a HUGE disappointment. I did delivery with this so I've never been inside the restaurant and have no comments about a dining experience there.
I was in the mood for some Greek food and papa johns pizza( hungover Saturday...) so I decided to not do the ordering from 2 different places and just order it all from Zorbas. I ordered the falafel plate and a small cheese pizza with mushrooms. I have never had a pizza cooked this badly. Barely any cheese on it, or mushroom, or sauce... so basically not a pizza. Falafel's had a blah flavor to them and the hummus was blah as well. Won't be ordering from here again so I'm still on the hunt to find a good Greek place that delivers to me!
