Penn Quarter
Zaytinya
Voted the best Mediterranean eatery inside the Beltway for three years running, this Penn Quarter restaurant and bar is a downtown destination for locals on Friday nights. Celebrity chef Jose Andres offers a mezze menu of small plates favoring Turkish, Greek, and Lebanese cuisine elements in a convivial space with big picture windows and high ceilings. The restaurant's extensive selection of cocktails and Mediterranean wines attract an upscale, youngish crowd, particularly on the weekends.
Insider Tip:
"The more the merrier" is the rule when it comes to a tapas menu. Bring along a few friends to share more Mediterranean small plates (like fried squid, hummus and wild mushrooms, or lamb and beef meatballs).
