Tarbouch Mediterranean Grill

by M Y.

We came here on a Sunday night, preceding a holiday, and it was a pretty good sized crowd. EVERYONE was smoking the hookah. Fortunately I enjoy the smell, but not everyone may. We were dissapointed that they did not sell alcohol, so that goes down half a star. We got the babaganouch(sp) for an app, which was good I got the chicken gyro, which was very authentic and excellent. My bf got some italian sausage sandwich, which wasnt very good at all, but the fries they came with were.We then got the hookah (double apple and grape is $10 and the other varietals are $17). I've had hookah elsewhere and it was very good, but this double apple tasted like black licorice. It was relaxing and nice, but the taste was just very...off-putting so that loses another half star.This seems like it would be a cool place for lunch though.

by Sarah M.

Easiest 5 stars I will ever give.This place has the DC metro area's BEST sheesha! Lasted for HOURS without getting too harsh, great atmosphere (plenty of Arabs, Arabic music, and very lively), and very accommodating staff! I had the Starbuzz Sex on the Beach sheesha and it was made to perfection - the sheesha guys came and changed my coal without having to flag them down and beg for new coals, and it was well-maintained throughout. I love the atmosphere of this place - it's not run-down like most other cafes, and is extremely clean and fresh.TOTALLY RECOMMEND IT!!

by Jennie L.

came here and had a lovely evening with grape shisha and some unmemorable gyros.  i literally can not describe what my food tasted like because it was so standard.  not bad, not super good, just standard.

by Scott S.

Not even an okay choice for a late-night food option.  The waitresses are incredibly slow, the portions are tiny, the food bland and dry, and, to top it off, they refuse to give you water here.  This place straight-up sucks.

by Dominic C.

I live down the street from Tarbouch and I'm glad they've expanded from their simple storefront to more of a restaurant feel.  Definitely a great place in the warmer weather, they have a nice outdoor seating area even if you're only looking at a parking lot and Lee Highway.  Like others have said, if you partake in the shisha, you won't be disappointed.  It's open very late and even though they don't serve alcohol, still a great destination if you're looking for late night eats and exotic eye candy.

by Aaron T.e'roc b.rebecca m.Daniel B.Deborah R.

I really really enjoy coming to this place! It's a scene that's very new to me: the shisha, Mediterranean food, Melody on the TV (can't get enough of that music!!) but I've fallen quite in love, especially with Tarbouch. I've had two different kabobs and both have been excellent. I definitely prefer to sit outdoors but on the one occasion my group sat inside I had no complaints at all. A friend and I came here about a month ago and just smoked, ate, drank tea, and played cards for literally five hours. Absolute bliss! There was even one time a drunk text in Arabic was sent to me from a my girlfriend, then in Egypt, and I politely asked the table next to us if they would translate. I gave him my phone and he just laughed while telling me that, "my girlfriend must really like me." So as if the company of my friends isn't enough everyone else that goes there is polite and friendly. My only complaint about Tarbouch would have to be the waitresses. Everything seems to be done in slow motion, maybe that's more of a Middle Eastern or Eastern European thing?? I've never been so I wouldn't know. That being said, even if it takes a little longer than I would prefer to get the food or shisha it's definitely worth the wait!I dig this joint and will definitely repay a visit in the near future. They've got some straight-up all around good food, although I found the chicken a bit salty, flavorful, but too salty. The salad was quite fresh and large. The hummus is pretty slammin, as is their pitas. I've got my eyes on their beat salad and falafel for my next visit.Their patio can get a little loud and crowded with folks indulging in hookah puffin n' conversation, but I think this is something that adds to the charm of this little corner dive.I was in the area the other day and needed a quick bite for lunch. I've always driven by this place and wanted to stop in, but never seemed to have the time.The ambiance is nice---plush lawn chairs outside on the patio, and dark woods in the dining room. However, the positives end there.Mind you I was looking for a "quick" bite---and the sandwich and soup combo ($6.95) seemed like the right ticket. I ordered a shwarma sandwich and the vegetarian lentil soup. Despite a small language barrier I ordered my food without much to do.Over 20 minutes later finally my to go order was complete. Once I got back to work and opened up my to go containers I was slightly taken aback. The lentil soup had the weird oil spots (similar to Campbell's soup) floating on top and was watery. The shwarma looked like curry chicken in a wrap. Not one to judge instantly---I tried the soup, and nearly spit it out. Salty, laden with sodium, and no real flavor. After tossing the soup I tried the shwarma--- as for positives, the bread was good. And the chicken wasn't grissly. However, there were random things thrown in the mix (boiled potatoes?) and the sauce semi-resembled what i remember shwarma to taste like.....and also of note: for 3 hours afterwards my stomach was gurgling.Really good. I don't think that I have had anything that is bad from this place. Great fries, gyro's, schwarma, dessert. I am not into the whole hookah thing but this is apparently the place for it, I rarely have come in here when there aren't a lot of people sitting around downing the smoke.The food was okay, but that's nearly irrelevant. I don't think I've ever been as irate after a dining experience as I was after eating at Tarbouch.  When I arrived there for lunch, my 4 colleagues and I passed through a covered patio area (which was empty at the time), and to another area with tables (also sparsely populated). We placed our order and awaited our meals. Then, a man at the table beside us lit up a cigarette. I looked up and noticed a "no smoking" placard on the wall just behind him. In my gentlest, friendliest tone (truly!), I caught his eye, gestured to the placard, said "excuse me, sir, I think this is the no-smoking section... I believe the smoking section is out there," and gestured in the direction of the covered patio area.He was not hostile; he looked up at the sign, back at me, and said something (in a language other than English) that indicated to me that he would put out the cigarette soon. Then, an employee (the manager? owner? I really don't know) entered the section. The smoking diner spoke to the employee (again, I could not understand him, as he wasn't speaking English), gestured to the sign, and gestured to me. The employee went over to the "no smoking" placard, removed it from the wall, and turned it around.No, I didn't take it up with the management. Honestly, I was so flabbergasted at what had just transpired, I was speechless. I have not returned to Tarbouch, and shall not do so. There are many places in the area to get mediterranean food-- and in none of them have I experienced such blatant disrespect for diners, or, frankly, for the health code.

by i w.

I'm more "Yay! I'm a fan." than "A-OK".If you live in the area i think this place is worth checking out.  Its relaxed place(feels more like sit down deli-ish), you can sit outside, they have hookah,and friendly waitress' who will leave you alone so you're not feeling rushed to get up from your table(i hate that).So far i've only been here for their ramadan buffet (only throughout the month of Ramadanobviously) which is really good.  The only downside is its about the cost of 72 Mc Donalds chicken nuggets from the dollar menu.  The best things there were the lamb and this sweet tangy chicken(if anyone knows the name let me know it was written in arabic).

by Mikkela T.

I can't say much for their food as I've only had the beet salad. It was good. Tart, beet red and oniony. It looks like they've redone the layout. Now the indoor tables are hidden behind the counter. They weren't all that friendly either.

by e'roc b.

I dig this joint and will definitely repay a visit in the near future. They've got some straight-up all around good food, although I found the chicken a bit salty, flavorful, but too salty. The salad was quite fresh and large. The hummus is pretty slammin, as is their pitas. I've got my eyes on their beat salad and falafel for my next visit.Their patio can get a little loud and crowded with folks indulging in hookah puffin n' conversation, but I think this is something that adds to the charm of this little corner dive.

by emmy y.

I had only been here during Ramadan. The line was like 20 mins wait for a sheesha... that is just insane.  There are soo many places in DC that offer sheesha.