by glenn s.

I work a couple of doors down and love to use this cafe for lunch.  The food is wonderful and Aziz is very amiable person.  He creates the art of middle eastern food that is unrivaled.  His catering represents this best in food preparations and professionalism.  Thumbs up!

by Dan M.

Finally, a unique offering amid the sea of bland Cosis, Au Bon Pains, and uninspiring lunch buffets that blight the downtown area.  Couscous cafe--featuring homey Algerian stews, sweet/savory bastillas, and now more traditional "Middle Eastern" fare like falafel, humus, and baba ganouj--has been rapidly earning a reputation among the more discerning lunch crowds that pour out of the K street office buildings each weekday.  At the corner of 20th and M, it's definitely worth a visit.  Don't miss their mint tea while you're there (iced or hot).

by jaime j.

Couscous Cafe is situated in the middle of the West end within the business district.  Sound easy to miss?  Well it could be.  I passed by it quite a few times thinking it was just another food place with those damn scales the word "Grill" attached to the name.  However, I was DEEPLY MISTAKEN and PAID THE PRICE by eating crap (well not really) for lunch the last couple days and not noticing a delicious little Algerian cafe instead!  First thing I noticed upon entry is that they made the very most of one of those typical all glass window entry spaces and transformed it into a cozy lunch Shangi la w/ Moroccan music added to the lunch time sound-scape.  The menu is not too vegetarian friendly however there are delicious veggie options on the menu.  Couscous aficionados will love the cous cous pasta.  It is very light and flavor consistent.  Veggie toppings could include, Zucchini, potato, carrots and other West African veggies, herbs w/ light spice.  You could also opt for the roasted Salmon on top.  The Fall soup is Butternut Squash; which turned out to be the best butternut I have ever had.  Now, I have never had Butternut Squash Soup at say, THE FRENCH LAUNDRY which I am sure could reach farther on my taste-bud scale.  But I have had my fair share of Butternut Soup run-ins to know that this is the place to have a bowl of this Fall specialty.  Why is it better?  Well, I think because it is different from the rest.  For one, Butternut squash should not attack the senses like most of them do and Couscous Cafe appears to have subdued that attack by allowing the true flavor to reach you in the finish.  They use other lively ingredients (and not so heavy on the cream or dairy butter) to celebrate the finale of a vegetable puree medley that concludes with the comfortable Fall taste of a Butternut Squash.   I will visit Couscous cafe again.  I understand that they have great homemade mint Green tea too + it turns into a Hookah bar on Friday nights I think.Lunch Price: 6 - 9.00Portion Dial Setting: Medium

by Amelia S.

I had lunch here last week and really enjoyed it. I had the falafel sandwich and I thought it was delicious -- not dry, tasty, good pita/sauce. The baklava was delicious too -- they use pistachios, not the other kinds of nuts you often get, and it really gives a nice flavor. Being able to sit outside on a nice day was a plus, too. Someone else remarked on the price. I'm sure it's not the cheapest falafel around (I got my sandwich, dessert, and a shot of espresso for about $11), but it was a good experience, and the cost seems about normal for the area.

by Robert F.

3.5 stars.  Nice to know there are still a few places with character.  They have a pretty diverse menu.  I'd give it a shot.

by Stefanie S.

The Couscous Cafe was oddly empty for a mid-week lunch, though there seems no reason for it to be so.  A good selection of food is available at reasonable prices, and the staff is very friendly.  The falafel platter is good and filling, and I hear the couscous is great.  There is a good balance of vegetarian options to meat (though the list for the latter is more lengthy).  The green tea with mint is fabulous!

by Tom D.

3.5 starsThis is a great little place to grab lunch downtown. B'stilla is very good as is the Chicken Tajine and  Merguez sandwich. The staff is very friendly. I just wish when you order something like the Tajine it would come with a salad and some bread/pita.......

by Elia P.

Weekday lunch in downtown D.C. What can you expect? Lines out the door at almost every to-go and sit-down restaurant  -- but not at Couscous Cafe. Perhaps the business folk are afraid of anything that's not a chain, but this spot is not to be missed.Food is well priced, mostly $7-$10, you can easily get a seat, and if you're a regular, an older woman who works behind the counter will serve you hot tea at the end of your meal.Talk about a different dining experience.

by Vicki B.

Middle Eastern Cafe featuring regional favorites like falafel, hummus, lamb, couscous, and the like.The prices are a tad on the steep side, but you are paying for the Middle Eastern food experience.  I went here because it's near where I work and the line wasn't too bad on a Wednesday.  I got the falafel and couscous because that was my daily meal in Israel.  Of course, it doesn't compare to actual Middle Eastern food, but it's close. I will probably go again, to try something else that they specialize in, such as the meat or the fish couscous/rice combinations. The portions are hefty.  I would go again just for the experience alone...it's very colorfully decorated  and always full but never a line on weekdays.

by Kathleen M.

Couscous Cafe is a solid lunch alternative. Even in the middle of the lunch rush, I was able to avoid a line completely-- amazing! The staff were all very friendly, even delivered my meal since they weren't busy. I loved the feel of the place: very calm and cozy: a welcome break from the rush of all the other places in the area. I ordered the falafel and it definitely wasn't the best. It was pretty small and the wrap was really tough. When I go back, I'll definitely order something different because they had a lot of options. They had fountain Pepsi (gross!) but also provided Coke products in cans (yay!). It was a little on the pricey side: I paid $9 for falafel and a can of Diet Coke. If I'm willing to wait in line, I can get a much better deal at Greek Deli. Still, I'm sure I'll be back to Couscous when I need to grab something quickly.

by alexis g.

Couscous Cafe is a great alternative to the downtown scene, which can get a bit repetitive as far as restaurants are concerned. I definitely recommend checking this place out for lunch if you work in the area. It's housed in one of this neighborhood's many glass boxes, but still manages to have a charm of its own once you get inside. It's decorated in cool, relaxing colors and doesn't try to be overly modern. I'm not the biggest fan of couscous, but they have WONDERFUL wrapped chicken and tomato soup.

by Mary Kay S.

This is the perfect place to come to when you are sick of the usual DC lunchtime merry-go-round of PotBelly, Corner Bakery and Cosi.  Six of us from my office came here the other day and ordered up a mess o' lunch plates.  Aside from some intial confusion stemming from the fact that we didn't want our boss to pay for his own birthday lunch, they handled us pretty quickly.  I ordered the chicken kabob, which comes with rice (only with rice, no salad or bread), and I swear it came out within five minutes.  Boss tried the cold cucumber soup, which he said was good. Another person got a lamb dish, but most of us got chicken.My chicken was tasty and mostly tender. Just a few dry pieces.  The rice was extraordinarily yellow with saffron, and a little oily (as opposed to dry and fluffy).  I thought it was very tasty.We ate at an outside table, and I heard several people walking by say "Oh yeah, that place has great kabobs!"  When we were done, one of the staff brought us a round of hot tea with mint, gratis.  It was a nice touch.All in all the meal was very civilized and filling. Next time I'll probably add a small salad just to be a bit healthier. But seeing as I work only a block away, I'm sure I will be back.

by Tony T.

This place is a solid 2.5 stars, the service was nice and so was the soup, but everything else wasn't.Went there because we were hungry and wanted to use the internet at the same time.  Prices are high and the food was mostly mediocre, although the lentil coup was good.  They were willing to make a fresh salad for us, instead of the self serve stuff, which was very nice because the self serve items didn't look too good.

by R C.

Couscous Cafe was a great surprise yesterday when my friend and I finished at Bally Total Fitness and wanted some tea.  I opted out of the usual Cosi or Starbucks (not a big fan of franchises) when I saw Couscou.  When we walked inside, the owner greeted us and asked if it was our first visit which it was.  I ordered their rice pudding and Café Viennois and my friend ordered the ginseng tea.  The rice pudding and Café Viennois were both amazing.  In particular, Café Viennois - a very strong Algerian frappuccino coffee concoction was a great alternative (both in taste and price) to the usual Starbuck's drink.  The rice pudding priced at $2 was a very refreshing snack.  The owner gave my friend and I some free baklava to enhance our pre-dinner appetizer.    I especially liked the interior of Couscous Cafe.  It was very homey and unpretentious; it felt like I was sitting and relaxing at someone's home instead of the typical mainstream coffeeshop that's overcrowded with 20something old yuppies with music assaulting your eardrums.  The free wifi is also a good touch for anyone interested in eating Middle Eastern cuisine while surfing the net or doing homework.

by Pete L.

I go here once in a while for lunch (including today).  It's a nice little meditaranean place, which gets busy during lunch.  They recently announced that they would start being open for dinner, but it's located right near a bunch of office buildings that make the area kind of a ghost town at night, so good luck with that.  If you like meditaranean food, you will like this place.  I had the Chicken Tagine today, but most of their food is really good, so it doesn't really matter what you get.  The owner and his family are nice and the decor is laid back.  This is a really nice lunch place to go with your co-workers, but it definitely has a take out vibe to it.  It advertises free wi-fi, but it hasn't worked the two times I have tried it there.  This place isn't fancy like Lebanese Taberna, so if you're in the area and are tired of the fast food, or salad bar places, this is a great fast alternative for lunch.

by Will L.

Okay I've only been here once so far - so this is subject to change but I can't really fault this place for anything. Yes, the portions aren't huge for the price but the service is homely, staff friendly, decor tasteful and the menu offers a good range of choices. But most importantly of course the food is delicious (and probably healthy). I also love couscous and I hate going to Corner Bakery, Cosi or Au Bon Pain for lunch (Panera Bread is okay but there isn't one around my office).The owner (and his sister and mother who staff the place) are Algerian (there's an article in the Post). You'll most likely see them there, especially if you eat in. They've recently announced they will be open for dinner. Just a note - if you're in a big group that there isn't a ton of seating inside and the place seems quite popular at lunch.

by Michael L.

I went there for lunch, had the chicken cous cous platter.Good:- Quick service- Clean establishment- Picture menus (I looOove pictures, who doesn't like to see what they are about to eat?)Moderate:- The food, nothing special, not worth the price, chicken was blaaandBad:- Not too much seating- Prices not that greatMaybe I will have a better review once I try the falafel.

by R S.

As I am a huge fan of middle eastern cuisine, I was happy to discover this place.  But the joy didn't last long...I really like the way the place is decorated.  I wish the food was as pleasant as the decor.  I ordered the Kemya platter.  It consisted of ratatouille, hummus, dolmas, baba ghanoush, and tabbouleh.  I know, I know, what doesn't belong?  The ratatouille, clearly.  There should be a falafel patty or two as part of that platter, instead of the ratatouille.  Anyway, I'll start with the ratatouille.  It's sort of tasty, but it's served cold.  It would be best served warm and over a bed of rice or couscous.  The tabbouleh was too oily and bland.  The hummus was the funkiest hummus I've ever tasted.  It tastes really weird, almost like a sharp cheese was blended in.  The baba ghanoush had a wonderful smoky flavor, but the texture was too gluey and seedy.  The dolmas was OK.  I guess you can't go too wrong with that, even though there wasn't any yogurt sauce to dip it in.  Speaking of dipping, the platter came with a few pieces of - for lack of a better word, pita bread.  I think it was a sort of flat bread, it wasn't exactly pita.  The bread was OK, though a bit chewy.  The platter was $8, which was way too expensive for the little bit of food they give you.  I have had a better, bigger platters for $6 elsewehere.

by Catherine R.

A few caveats: I've only been here once, and I have a bias towards independent cafes and Middle Eastern food.  That said, this is a charming little lunch spot that is a nice break from the Potbelly-Cosi-Starbucks glut in downtown DC.  The food was delicious and affordable.  I ordered a Moroccan mint tea and Chicken B'stilla Pie, which was somehow sweet and savory at the same time.  The service was friendly and fast, and the b'stilla came with a side salad which was drenched in dressing (if you don't care for  gobs of dressing, you might want to mention this when you place your order.)  It was a tad soggy and wasn't the Best B'stilla Ever, Ever, but for an 8.99 lunch platter it was pretty darn tasty, and I expect I'll be ordering it again.  Plus, which would you rather have for lunch, an exotic moroccan chicken pie with mint tea or a squashed ham sandwich from potbellycosistarbucks?  Just saying.  The cafe also has beautiful calligraphy on the wall and an assortment of intriguing goods for your perusal, like harissa and olives and Moroccan arts newspapers.

by Robert M.

If you have ever had real Algerian or Moroccan food this place will disappoint, yet if you are used to over Americanized international fare Couscous Cafe is sure to please. The cafe tries to have a North African/Middle Eastern flare but it feels more like another DC lunch spot with mediocre overpriced downtown food. If you're in the mood for something different than a half-smoke or potbelly sub this might do the trick but don't expect anything amazing. I ordered the lamb Couscous which was 8.99 on their website and now has a 9 pasted on top of the 8 on the menu in the cafe. The plate was cold with two small pieces of lamb of which one tasted a bit funky. There was one piece of each vegetable and the sauce was just dumped on one side. I don't think I'll be going back anytime soon to say the least. Oh and they have a credit card limit of 10 bucks! (which goes against visa and most other credit card policies for the companies using them) In today's day and age who carries cash anymore?! This makes it even harder to order a cheap lunch if you don't carry cash!

by Zach W.

While the food was a little on the bland side, it had a homecooked quality that I really enjoyed (especially when you find yourself eating fast food everyday for lunch).  The owner was from Algeria (which explains the ratatouille, in response to a previous post), and was really hospitable.  She even brought us some complimentary mint tea towards the end of our meal.  I ordered the lamb tagine, which was one of the specials of the day.  It was cooked with preserved lemon and green olives.  Again, the food was not amazing and was far too expensive.  However, f you are tired of eating burgers and burritos everyday for lunch, sometimes a semi-bland homecooked meal just hits the spot.

by Harry T.

I walked by today and noticed they were open for dinner so I decided to give it a try.  Usually I ignore restaurants like this as they normally cater to lunch only.  The open sign caught the corner of my eye so I said, "Why not?".  I should should've listened to my intuition and come here during lunch.  I liked the menu options with the vegetarian and meat dishes.  I decided on the chicken couscous.  It was rather disappointing as I was waiting for my food and hear a microwave humming along with my food being warmed up.  I can't blame him for reheating the food, but if it's a stew could you at least do it on a stove?  I don't mind waiting 10 minutes.  The white meat chicken was large pieces and dry.  The bone in dark meat was delicious and juicy with a lot of flavor.  The cut veggies in the stew were cut large and were cooked very soft which I liked very much.  The couscous was a little dry and clumpy.  All signs indicated the food was surplus from lunch.  I'm sure at noon time the food is amazing but at this hour reheated it doesn't have a chance.  I'm going to have to come again for lunch to really see what the food is all about.

by Christopher C.

This place has been around for five years?!?  I can't believe I never knew about it.  Tucked away on the less frequently traveled 20th Street, Couscous Cafe is a small, Algerian-run operation which, as you would expect, serves dishes from the Magreb region of North Africa (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia) in addition to your Middle Eastern staples of hummus, baba ghanouj and falafel.  As the name would imply, they make a damn good couscous here.  Served with the chicken tagine with preserved lemons and olives, it was delish and quite generously portioned.  They also serve merguez (spicy lamb sausage) sandwiches, chicken b'stilla (a sweet and savory pie) and, as has been noted, ratatouille (Algeria was French, after all).  The interior is warmly decorated, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn it's open till 9pm, making it more than just a breakfast or lunch option.

by Christopher C.Harry T.Zach W.

This place has been around for five years?!?  I can't believe I never knew about it.  Tucked away on the less frequently traveled 20th Street, Couscous Cafe is a small, Algerian-run operation which, as you would expect, serves dishes from the Magreb region of North Africa (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia) in addition to your Middle Eastern staples of hummus, baba ghanouj and falafel.  As the name would imply, they make a damn good couscous here.  Served with the chicken tagine with preserved lemons and olives, it was delish and quite generously portioned.  They also serve merguez (spicy lamb sausage) sandwiches, chicken b'stilla (a sweet and savory pie) and, as has been noted, ratatouille (Algeria was French, after all).  The interior is warmly decorated, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn it's open till 9pm, making it more than just a breakfast or lunch option.I walked by today and noticed they were open for dinner so I decided to give it a try.  Usually I ignore restaurants like this as they normally cater to lunch only.  The open sign caught the corner of my eye so I said, "Why not?".  I should should've listened to my intuition and come here during lunch.  I liked the menu options with the vegetarian and meat dishes.  I decided on the chicken couscous.  It was rather disappointing as I was waiting for my food and hear a microwave humming along with my food being warmed up.  I can't blame him for reheating the food, but if it's a stew could you at least do it on a stove?  I don't mind waiting 10 minutes.  The white meat chicken was large pieces and dry.  The bone in dark meat was delicious and juicy with a lot of flavor.  The cut veggies in the stew were cut large and were cooked very soft which I liked very much.  The couscous was a little dry and clumpy.  All signs indicated the food was surplus from lunch.  I'm sure at noon time the food is amazing but at this hour reheated it doesn't have a chance.  I'm going to have to come again for lunch to really see what the food is all about.While the food was a little on the bland side, it had a homecooked quality that I really enjoyed (especially when you find yourself eating fast food everyday for lunch).  The owner was from Algeria (which explains the ratatouille, in response to a previous post), and was really hospitable.  She even brought us some complimentary mint tea towards the end of our meal.  I ordered the lamb tagine, which was one of the specials of the day.  It was cooked with preserved lemon and green olives.  Again, the food was not amazing and was far too expensive.  However, f you are tired of eating burgers and burritos everyday for lunch, sometimes a semi-bland homecooked meal just hits the spot.

by Christopher C.Harry T.Zach W.Robert M.Catherine R.

This place has been around for five years?!?  I can't believe I never knew about it.  Tucked away on the less frequently traveled 20th Street, Couscous Cafe is a small, Algerian-run operation which, as you would expect, serves dishes from the Magreb region of North Africa (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia) in addition to your Middle Eastern staples of hummus, baba ghanouj and falafel.  As the name would imply, they make a damn good couscous here.  Served with the chicken tagine with preserved lemons and olives, it was delish and quite generously portioned.  They also serve merguez (spicy lamb sausage) sandwiches, chicken b'stilla (a sweet and savory pie) and, as has been noted, ratatouille (Algeria was French, after all).  The interior is warmly decorated, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn it's open till 9pm, making it more than just a breakfast or lunch option.I walked by today and noticed they were open for dinner so I decided to give it a try.  Usually I ignore restaurants like this as they normally cater to lunch only.  The open sign caught the corner of my eye so I said, "Why not?".  I should should've listened to my intuition and come here during lunch.  I liked the menu options with the vegetarian and meat dishes.  I decided on the chicken couscous.  It was rather disappointing as I was waiting for my food and hear a microwave humming along with my food being warmed up.  I can't blame him for reheating the food, but if it's a stew could you at least do it on a stove?  I don't mind waiting 10 minutes.  The white meat chicken was large pieces and dry.  The bone in dark meat was delicious and juicy with a lot of flavor.  The cut veggies in the stew were cut large and were cooked very soft which I liked very much.  The couscous was a little dry and clumpy.  All signs indicated the food was surplus from lunch.  I'm sure at noon time the food is amazing but at this hour reheated it doesn't have a chance.  I'm going to have to come again for lunch to really see what the food is all about.While the food was a little on the bland side, it had a homecooked quality that I really enjoyed (especially when you find yourself eating fast food everyday for lunch).  The owner was from Algeria (which explains the ratatouille, in response to a previous post), and was really hospitable.  She even brought us some complimentary mint tea towards the end of our meal.  I ordered the lamb tagine, which was one of the specials of the day.  It was cooked with preserved lemon and green olives.  Again, the food was not amazing and was far too expensive.  However, f you are tired of eating burgers and burritos everyday for lunch, sometimes a semi-bland homecooked meal just hits the spot.If you have ever had real Algerian or Moroccan food this place will disappoint, yet if you are used to over Americanized international fare Couscous Cafe is sure to please. The cafe tries to have a North African/Middle Eastern flare but it feels more like another DC lunch spot with mediocre overpriced downtown food. If you're in the mood for something different than a half-smoke or potbelly sub this might do the trick but don't expect anything amazing. I ordered the lamb Couscous which was 8.99 on their website and now has a 9 pasted on top of the 8 on the menu in the cafe. The plate was cold with two small pieces of lamb of which one tasted a bit funky. There was one piece of each vegetable and the sauce was just dumped on one side. I don't think I'll be going back anytime soon to say the least. Oh and they have a credit card limit of 10 bucks! (which goes against visa and most other credit card policies for the companies using them) In today's day and age who carries cash anymore?! This makes it even harder to order a cheap lunch if you don't carry cash!A few caveats: I've only been here once, and I have a bias towards independent cafes and Middle Eastern food.  That said, this is a charming little lunch spot that is a nice break from the Potbelly-Cosi-Starbucks glut in downtown DC.  The food was delicious and affordable.  I ordered a Moroccan mint tea and Chicken B'stilla Pie, which was somehow sweet and savory at the same time.  The service was friendly and fast, and the b'stilla came with a side salad which was drenched in dressing (if you don't care for  gobs of dressing, you might want to mention this when you place your order.)  It was a tad soggy and wasn't the Best B'stilla Ever, Ever, but for an 8.99 lunch platter it was pretty darn tasty, and I expect I'll be ordering it again.  Plus, which would you rather have for lunch, an exotic moroccan chicken pie with mint tea or a squashed ham sandwich from potbellycosistarbucks?  Just saying.  The cafe also has beautiful calligraphy on the wall and an assortment of intriguing goods for your perusal, like harissa and olives and Moroccan arts newspapers.