by Krisztina F.

I've been here a few times in the span of the past couple of years, and my best recommendation, while the food is fairly tasty, don't bother...go elsewhere for cuisine, then go for drinks on the top floor.  It's one of the only places around U-street that harnesses the power of a potent city view.Here's the thing, it's not like it's not a good offering in the food department, but the service will have you tearing your hair out.  If you're starving, just order an appetizer and a little drinkie-poo, and you'll be far less frustrated.  Go late, sit back, relax, and enjoy the romantic ambiance and the city vista.

by Sila D.

Horrible excuse for a Mediterranean restaurant...not worth it.Plus, the service there sucks...

by Zoila F.

Ambience: Great view of course.  I love the rooftop.Food and Drinks:I think the cocktails are pretty good.  Creative.  Pricey but this is DC so what do you expect.  I love wine and I've had wine here.. I'm not a wine connoisseur by any means but I'm pretty happy with the selection and what I've had.Hummus is okay.  I can make a better hummus.  and you eat with the bread they give you at the beginning I guess. No pita.the last time I was there, I ordered shrimp with this green salsa/sauce, seafood risotto, spinach cigar borek, and foie gras.  They claim that the spinach is really popular, but honestly it wasn't really that good.  I tasted more cheese than spinach.  The shrimp was okay though a tad overcooked. I remembered liking the seafood risotto, but the foie gras was a disappointment.  It was served seared and was really gooey/melted on the inside.  Anyway it was gross.  You couldn't even taste the foie gras, just burnt something.The dessert was just okay too.  The tiramisu was a bit dry.  My friend liked her profiteroles though.Service:  Not very good.A few things that left a bad tast in my mouth.- the advertised RW menu was very different than the menu I actually got when I sat down.  The entrees were pretty much the same, but the appetizer choices were greatly reduced in the actual menu.  Also, we arrived one early evening when the restaurant was nearly empty.  When we requested a better table (so we could get a better view), our hostess/server refused saying that the table we wanted was reserved for four and there were only two of us.  Well the table we wanted sat empty for 45 minutes when I noticed the same person who sat us sat another 2 person party there anyway.All in all, I will not go back.. Unless I'm shit faced and want to sit at the bar to get a nice view.

by Justin S.

What a perfect place to have brunch! I was kind of incredulous at first since their brunch menu (on their website) didn't look that amazing to me, but this place is really good. Walk up three (or four) flights of stairs to the top of a rowhouse and find yourself in this glass-enclosed conservatory overlooking the low skyline of Washington, D.C. with all the monuments and civic buildings in the distance. My friends and I stopped in on a sunny Saturday morning and were totally charmed. The food was good and somewhat typical for brunch fare, but I can't complain about that. Mimosas are only $3.00 and that made me very happy too. I had the spinach and herb omelet which was really good, and not forgetting that this was a Turkish restaurant, I kept my eyes peeled for signs of authenticity. Much to my delight, my friend with whom I had traveled to Turkey last year ordered Turkish apple tea, which they had and which was excellent. The service was efficient and friendly (we couldn't get over the fact that the waiter was conspicuously wearing large amounts of concealer (which I later observed on the bathroom sink)), and we made a reservation to go, but it turned out we didn't need one. The crowd was young, attractive and hip. I'm looking forward to going back here again very soon.

by Gi A.

The magic is to go at night, not during daylight.  Think of it as a bar or lounge, not a restaurant.  Not that it's not a perfectly acceptable restaurant -- the food is fine, the decor dashing, and the service smooth.  (Alliteration!!)  And Melie, one of the owners, is the most gracious host.  But when the sun goes down, the joint becomes all things to all people.  The basement is perfect for tete-a-tetes, the main level comes alive when the DJ starts spinning, and the rooftop gets you closer to the stars that you never see from your basement rental.  Some of the bartenders need remedial bartending classes, but after a few of even their drinks, the music is better, the people prettier, and you -- you are fabulous.

by melanie j.

3.5, easily. the night my group went to tabaq, it was very rainy and humid...and the upstairs dining area was, at times, fairly sweltering. i understand the roof/windows couldnt be fully open, but for being as crowded as it was, a faint breeze would have been very welcomed. the food itself was pretty great. while the baba ghanoush wasnt anything to rave about, the vegetable flan was fabulous. it came with a tomato sauce that was sweet and very flavorful. two people in my party had the lamb dishes and they were also great. the lamb shank was especially succulent with the cheese puree being pretty perfect.the drinks were also very nice- the berre and grapefruit puree were very fresh and were mixed with skill. the only bummer (along with the humid sticky-ness) was the overcrowded table next to us. when people begin sharing seats, its time to ask for a bigger table. (also, one of the frat brahs totally let one rip towards the end of our dinner- hilarious, but gross).

by Nooshin X.

I like this place and the food has always been really good. Small tapas style plates and overall very tasty. I always sit on the rooftop floor as it obviously has better views. If you order a bunch of plates, make sure you order one by one otherwise you will get your cheese plate at the same time as your paella...hmmm not a good combination.

by Noel S.

While on a quick visit to DC, our hotel concierge recommended Tabaq for it's good food and rooftop atmosphere. I first read other Yelper reviews and have to say, I felt that they were over critical. Atmosphere: it was really nice for our evening visit. You can see the tops of a few monuments and a city of lights. I can however understand that it may not be as appealing in the daylight. Service: the waiter was prompt, friendly, and helpful with suggestions. The owner also stopped by our table to see if we were being taken care of.Price:  The portions are smaller and on the pricey side, but I expect that for tapas style meal and it didn't effect my judgment. Food: We chose about 5 items some of which were recommended by the waiter. We each had our favorite and everything was good.I would return to Tabaq and have recommended it to my friends that live there and have not tried it yet.

by Jessica C.

Tabaq Bistro completely ruined my friend's birthday dinner. The restaurant doesn't care about you, your meal, your experience--they just want your money and you can leave. If there was bold on yelp, I would write in HUMONGOUS BOLD LETTERS to the extent of how HORRIBLE THE SERVICE IS. The foundation to a good dinner is at least adequate service right? Satisfactory service? But NO this place had horrible service, I can't stress that enough. I wished  I had understood the seriousness of Dan K's emphasize on WORST. SERVICE. EVER or else I wouldn't have gone there.Let me begin to list why this place sucks:Let's just say after our party arrived, it took us AN HOUR to get served (there were fourteen of us). ONE WHOLE HOUR...I think we should have left after our first bad sign.The waiter could not explain the food on the menu. He replies with "I don't know... " what, is this a joke?!?! I NEVER GOT MY DRINK ORDER. NEVER. I asked several times only to be told "one moment please." He was too busy to remember. I was so thirsty at one point, I had to get up and walk to the bar and ask for a glass of water. Absolute ridiculousness. Don't even think about getting your water refilled. Oh, and to add on--the food took forever to arrive.When the food finally arrived..30 minutes later, I was dissatisfied with my dish. The chicken was super dry and the small plate of spinach and cheese fritters had no taste. What a huge waste of money.Finally, the worst part--we brought a cake for our friend, and the manager tried to charge us 2.50 PER PERSON, to eat the cake in the restaurant after our worst dinner experience ever. After arguing with the manager for ten minutes, he wouldn't waive the price after we explained our horrible service and was too busy checking his iphone for messages while speaking with us-- can this restaurant get any worse...Overall, we wasted three hours in this restaurant for bad service, bad food, and a rude manager.I say, find another place in the neighborhood. Stay away from this one! Unless you're there for some red wall light decoration and a horrible experience waiting... waiting.... and waiting for disappointment.I

by Tara T.

Tabaq is another trendy "bistro" in the U Street corridor, serving mezze, tapas and other small plates, mixing overpriced signature martinis, and offering a decor full of Ikea and Pier 1.  That said, there is a lot about Tabaq that people overlook.From it's glass rooftop terrace, Tabaq offers one of the only DC skyline views in the U St/Columbia Heights/Mt. Pleasant area.  The daytime view is less than great, but at night the street lights blur the worn down row houses and a great view of the Washington Monument can be enjoyed.  I believe when they first opened, Tabaq controlled the flow into the terrace bar - once the tables and bar seats were full, people were no longer permitted to enter.  I've noticed more recently that the upstairs bar has been a bit more crowded, but you'll never find yourself "three deep" at the bar or waiting more then a few minutes for the bartender's attention.The "signature" martinis are overpriced, but there are a few gems on the menu that stick out for the average too-sweet, flavored vodka standards.  The Lychee combines vanilla and citron Bacardi with lychee juice and fresh fruit for a tangy, not too sweet cocktail.  The Fiore combines an artisinal French liqueur, St Germain Elderflowers, with Absolut and champagne for a light, flowery, fragrant springtime flavor.The bartenders are hit or miss - sometimes the drinks cause your face to pucker form the bite of too much vodka, other times you find yourself wondering if you just bought a $13 Snapple in a fancy glass - on a good day they're perfectly mixed and worth the price.Besides the rooftop terrace, Tabaq offers a cozy red lounge on the first floor with comfy ottomans and small tables, the main dining room with less then great services and mediocre food, and a private room decked out with art by local artists and a full A/V system for private parties.My take on Tabaq is that the service and food are definitely sub par, the five flights of stairs can be annoying, and the bathroom is generally far away no matter where you're seated - but the concept is spot on.  If you're patient and laid-back, give this spot a try just for the experience.

by Robin F.

Went here for brunch on Memorial Day with friends and while the company added a lot to a good time, I was pleasantly surprised with our meals. I had the chicken in waffles (why I finally decided to try this after never trying it while living in Atlanta, I have no idea why), but the waffle itself was really good. My boyfriend had an egg white omelet and thought it was tasty. Now I must say that would probably be 3 1/2 stars if there was an option since the orange juice was probably from concentrate and while I had mine with champagne, my friend had his straight up and it had way too many bubbles in it for regular OJ. Nonetheless, good brunch option if you're up for hiking up four flights of stairs and a slight warm room with a great view :o)

by Francesca C.

The food is great. Middle Eastern/Mediterranean cuisine. Mostly good for their tapas, try their baby octopus, halloumi olives, or gnocchi . The cocktails are expensive at about 13 bucks a piece, but are inventive and STRONG. My fav is the Lychee Martini. I always say just one.. and then have 4. YUMThe service is HILARIOUS. a while back, i was there with two of my lady friends. the wait staff was hitting on us, and ending up sitting down with us? the manager of the rooftop profusely apologized while our waiter was absent, and exclaimed how much of a flaming homosexual he was. i then asked what the manager was, since he seemed to be quite flaming himself.. and he told me .. "im bisexual, i love to eat pussy and i love hard cock". ..... Really? .... Seriously? ive been since, and neither of these guys work there anymore. the wait staff seem to have it a little more together. but mostly i go for the view. bar none, this is the best few of dupont and the district at night, *especially* if you get to sit in the right hand corner of the TOP FLOOR...great for dates, intimate conversations, and wonderful if your looking to impress someone with your knowledge of the city.

by Stephanie T.

If I could give this place 0 stars, I would.I cannot even begin to express to you my hatred for Tabaq Bistro. In fact, I can only think of one place in all of DC that I will never step foot in again and, congratulations, Tabaq, you've definitely earned it.My boyfriend and I rolled in here one sunny weekend morning for brunch. We were on a loose schedule - we arrived some time around 11:30AM and he needed to be somewhere by 3PM (somehow, they still managed to miraculously make him miss his 3PM appointment). We were led to the rooftop for our brunch, which presented us with an incredible view of the U Street Corridor in all its glory. Needless to say, the view was the only positive aspect of this miserable experience.While we were seated almost immediately, it took us damn near 30 minutes just to order. We literally had to place our drink orders (nothing special - coffee and a mimosa) THREE TIMES. In the end, we only ever received the coffee, and never the mimosa.And I haven't even gotten to the food yet.Upon ordering our meal (I picked the Belgian waffle with Nutella), we passed on our menus to a patient and hungry-looking couple at the table next to us (clearly, they had been neglected too). If I had known that their moronic waitstaff would not remember to place our order, I would have kept my menu on-hand. We waited. And waited. And waited. At least three neighboring parties had been seated, served, and left before we could even THINK about receiving our meals. Mind you, we reminded our waitress multiple times only to be told that it would be on its way momentarily. I should have taken this as a sign and simply left.By this point in time, my boyfriend and I had taken bets as to when we would receive our food. I placed my bet on the fact that she most likely forgot to place our order and would come back in a half hour to ask, in a sideways manner to deflect any blame we might place on her, what we had ordered. Not only did I win this bet, our waitress managed to pin the blame on anything and anyone but herself.When we eventually received our food, approximately TWO HOURS LATER, I was completely underwhelmed. My attempt to set aside my sour experience with the horrific service did not help the food taste any better whatsoever. For an $8 Belgian waffle, it was approximately the size and the quality of something I could have popped out of my own $30 waffle-maker at home - but less filling. I'm not sure how they had the balls to still make us pay for this ridiculous meal, considering that in the time we were stuck there, I could have driven home to Herndon, made a Belgian waffle, eaten it, and then driven back.Unless you want to waste 3.5 hours (yes, we were there for that long) eating overpriced, mediocre food, do yourself a favor and go to Saint Ex down the street. As for me, nothing can be done to replace those 3.5 hours of my life that I lost to this horrific experience.(Note: I should also add that it was not exceptionally busy. I'm a fair and forgiving person, having spent years in the retail/food business. However, in their case there is simply no excuse for such awful service.)

by Irena N.

I must echo most other Yelpers' sentiments on this place. How such mediocrity stays in business in DC considering the competition, I'll never know.The vibe: red, loud, packed, hot, and did I mention PACKED? The space itself is nice enough, but much too narrow for the number of tables (bulky ones, with large chairs) they've got crammed in.  As a result, there's really no way to move without bumping into several chairs and people. Very uncomfortable, borderline claustrophobic setup.The service: our waiter was clearly overwhelmed but tried his best and kept a smile on his face throughout the chaos of waiting several tables, one of which was a party of 15. We got our drinks regularly enough, the food came out fairly fast, and really there wasn't anything else he could have done to make our experince more pleasant.But the food... oh, the food... whole other story. Their hummus... didn't taste much like hummus. I had a taste and would have spit it out if manners allowed. The S.O. and I ordered the tuna steak, the beef kofte, the lamb shank, and the spinach cigar borek (their take on spanakopitas.) The tuna steak was completely tasteless. The beef kofte was pretty okay; the lamb shank was pieces of shredded lamb floating in a watery, unseasoned eggplant puree, and the spinach cigar borek would have been all right but were served in a marinara-esque sauce which completely overwhelmed all other flavors. And as previous Yelpers stated... everything was cold. I'm talking barely room temperature. Gross.Drinks: decent enough. Strong, and decently priced for DC. Nothing amazing. There are other places on U Street that are just as good or better.I suppose the view from the top floor is pretty sweet - if you've got out-of-town guests, bring them here for a drink. But this isn't a place I'd recommend for their tapas, that's for sure. I'll be sticking to Zaytinya for that from now on. 2.5 stars

by erin w.

Sorry Tabaq, I will not be baq.Another adventure night with the boy led us to Tabaq on the U Street corridor... we had no expectations besides trying something new, and I was mostly excited to experience the glass rooftop on the third floor.  After seeing the reviews on Yelp though, I had my doubts.  But who cares,   we ventured forth anyway.For starters, the ambiance and decor are pretty cool.  Kind of minimalist, Ikea kind of stuff.  Not my cup of tea normally, but whatever - we venture onward.We had made reservations beforehand, but it obviously didn't matter.  The hostess (who we had to seek out), just said "Go upstairs and have a seat."  Okay - do you want to know our NAME?  Huh?  Weird.  So upstairs we go, and wait for the usual hostess-seating deal there.  Nothing.  A waitress just came over and said, sit anywhere.  Okay, whatever - venture forth we did.Let's talk about the scenery here.  The glass roof and walls are great, yes I admit that.  But looking out of glass walls to spy a slummy neighborhood and the back patios of run down cramped town homes is NOT ideal scenery.  It was a major turnoff.  I would rather be surrounded by dusty unfinished dry wall than to witness that.  Yuck.The small plates were pretty good, although nothing special.  Our food was delivered quickly at first, however our dessert order took about 35min to arrive.  Our waiter was also hard to capture, even though there were only 4 other tables to attend.  We had to physically wave him down just to get some attention.What was good about this place?  They have candlelight on the tables, which looks nice at night.  The music was good - a bit of electronica/instrumental stuff.  The website says they have a Brazilian band play on Thursdays - but this is NOT true.  They have a DJ only.  In fact, the wait staff management had not ever heard of a Brazilian band playing there - ever.  Very weird. They also advertise valet parking - NOT!  The valet parking stand was empty and unattended the entire night.I was glad when the venture was overIf you're looking for an adventure and want try something new - back it up.  Tabaq is not the place to go.

by Cat B.

1.5 stars -  I had such high hopes for Tabaq.  Sigh.  At brunch with a friend, her fruit salad tasted fermented, like the grapes wanted to be wine and the Tabaq staff was doing nothing to stop their journey.  Her replacement potatoes came well after we were finished with the rest of our meals.  The crab cake benedicts we had were delicious - one of the only redeeming parts of the meal aside from the view and the company!  Poor friend also noticed a hair in her water.  It can only be described as a floor hair that came out of a dusty corner somewhere with dust bunnies hanging tight.Once we decided to cut our losses and ask for the check, the waiter brought us our neighbor table's check.  They had just paid and left.  He went back to correct the mistake, but realized that the other patrons were gone.  So he brought back the incorrect check, and said "just pay this one, it's a few cents cheaper."  We suspected he didn't want to bring the mistake to the attention of his boss, and had been waiting quite awhile, so we paid and left.Against my better instincts, I went back for dinner with my boyfriend.  We ordered 4 small plates.  Left hungry and with empty pockets.  Sadly, Tabaq is a waste of a wonderful view.

by Marco S.

There was a time when U street was not jammed with traffic the entire length of 14th to 9th Street on a Friday night. A time when gobs of smiley blondes in tory burch waited in stupid long lines at 14th and U for entry into a mobbed roofdeck at Marvins.  A time when Natalie Portman did not stop by the Gibson for drinks on a Monday night. A time when every derelict building around 14th and U was not in some stage of some plan of some developer.  And into this pre-"it" neighborhood came Tabaq in 2005.  I really think its immediate success started a dining/lounge revolution in the area; love it or hate it, the neighborhood has not slowed down since. While I think the food is not as good as it might once have been (though the lamb shank is alwasy a sure bet), the view from high on floor 4 never fails to impress the out of town guest, or even the jaded ol dc-hater.  The first floor lounge still looks sleek, red, smooth.  The place is not as packed as it once was, but that's a good thing. Take some time to savor your mojito (all varieties of which I am a big fan of) and if the weather's right, a nice breeze flowing in through the retracted roof.  And though I only make it there about once a quarter now, the owner never fails to greet me with a huge appreciate smile and a slap on the back and sincere questions on how I have been. Human touches like that keep this one close to my heart.

by R C.

I came here twice for dinner and brunch and enjoyed it both times. Brunch - Tabaq is the place to go on Saturdays and Sundays if you want to avoid the long waits in the Dupont and Logan Circle restaurants. You can get seated in under 5 minutes and have a pleasant brunch experience without the intrusive feeling at a place like After Word Cafe at Kramer's. Additionally, the prices at Tabaq are relatively low ($8 for Benedicts) and the options include fruit or something else. I recommend the Norwegian Benedict which are two poached eggs and salmon served on an English muffin (?). The $3 mimosas and Bloody Mary's are also great to jumpstart your morning. The service was superb and I have to thank our server who allowed my friend and I to hold our table of 6 until the rest of our entourage finally poured in 30 minutes later.

by Stephanie B.

Came here for some after dinner drinks last night and am very glad I did because I had no idea this place existed. We just happened to walk by, hear them playing Biggie, and my date insisted we check it out. The red room had a very sexy vibe, with high red booths, which were surprisingly comfortable. The music was also pretty good and it wasn't too crowded for a Saturday night. The downside - $13 for their signature Martini's, very pricey. They also took a while to come clean off the tables as people left. I hate sitting beside a dirty table for longer then 10 minutes. Oh, I'm so mad we didn't know they had a rooftop terrace until I just read a few other reviews about this place on yelp. I was wondering why everyone was going upstairs.. bummer. Overall, I still enjoyed myself, loved the drinks, and would love to go back, even without the terrace.

by Kim H.

Went to Tabaq Saturday night for drinks.  We got there around 12 and the first floor lounge was completely dead.  Walked up 4 flights up stairs and there was and upper deck section with a retractable roof.  It was slightly more crowded up there.  The DJ was great.  He played a lot of old school 90's hip hop.  Other than that, the place wasn't that great.  Go there with good company or else you'll be bored.

by Yasmin E.

AMAZING!  Such a quaint little place to experience good food, a romantic view/setting and such simplicity....all in one!  Sure, I was out of breath after trecking up the three flights of stairs, but I was astonished to find how darling this place was.  My dinner date was on a Sunday evening, so my experience may be different than those who are posting based on Friday or Saturday reservations.  This place isn't huge and the tables are literally side by side.  There weren't many other people that were there on Sunday, so the space between us was very suitable.  I can see how a more popular night would be a bit less romantic and more crowded though.All in all however, the skyline + rooftop combo was so magical, and the tapas were large enough where ordering 2-3 per person was enough (just make sure you ask them which tapas are generously rationed....some orders can actually be SMAAAAALLL portions).  Oh, and beware, the French onion soup is a ball of cheese with hardly any liquid.....consider yourself warned :)

by F T.

Im a big fan of the roof top deck. It has an amazing view of DC and the drinks are also delicious. It tends to be a bit overpacked for sunday brunch adn the food really isnt anything out of this world, so i wouldnt recommend for a full out meal but it is a great spot for cocktails with friends.

by Brian F.

File this one under "I won't return if it's the last safehouse after the Zombie Apocalypse".  A friend made reservations here for her boyfriend's birthday because they're members of two of the world's hardest to please demographic groups - vegetarians and smokers.  Admittedly, we were a few minutes late for our 9 p.m. reservation, but ended up waiting nearly another entire hour for a table to free up.  The hostess offered up lame excuses such as "We just seated a table of 18" (18?  WTF?) and "Someone else just sat down at your table". Every time she walks past us she gives up an update only slightly more hopeful than the last few works of Cormac McCarthy, such as "They have their bill" and "They're paying".  Not sure who "they" are, but I assume they're the people standing (or sitting) between us our table.Finally, after very nearly an hour of sitting at their "trying too hard to be cool" bar I ask the hostess if there's anyone stopping people upstairs from just sitting down, and she advises us "I'm the Gestapo.  Nobody will sit down without my permission.".  Nice use of a Nazi metaphor there!We head upstairs, and the roof deck host seems a bit confused by who we are.  They have a table for 8, but we are a party of 5 (soon to be 6).  While they vacillate like Dervishes on a bad trip trying to figure out if the table is meant for us, we sit down, thinking the possession and 9/10ths rule has to take effect.  Finally, the host come over to inform us that the table is ours, doing her best Ric Romero impersonation of explaining the painfully flipping obvious to us.We specifically picked this place because the last time we had dinner there we were able to smoke on the rooftop deck.  My friend lights up a cigarette, and the previously sloth-like waitress descends upon us with unaccustomed speed to inform us that smoking is no longer allowed at the tables.  We can get up and walk to the seriously overcrowded bar 4 feet away and smoke, or we can walk the 57 flights of stairs down to the ground level to smoke.  We inquire about this, and they explain that they don't allow smoking at the tables prior to around 11 because they received complaints from diners.  When I ask for a manager, I get a trustafarian dressed in what looks like table busser's clothes.  When I ask for the general manager, she informs me that I can talk to her, or that she can get her husband, the owner. How about the food?  Other than the mushroom pide, everything else is largely forgettable and can be found better at other places.  Almost every Middle Eastern or Mediterranean restaurant has better hummus and other dips.  Anything Turkish that you want is probably better at Meze on 18th.  The lamb is far better at Parthenon in the Chevy Chase Circle neighborhood.The service is slow and inconsistent.  Forget about ordering appetizers and main courses.  Things will either arrive in a torrent or one at a time (for the geeks out there, think parallel and serial ports).  The noise level before the DJ starts is just short of airplane takeoff, and only gets louder as the evening progresses.  And the crowd has devolved into what I can only describe as "DC U Street Douche".  For further examples of this, you can stroll down the street and look at the throngs of future white collar criminals and Arlingtonian DC-wannabees blocking the sidewalks smoking, waiting for entrance to Marvin and Local 16, or both.  Needless to say, this place has entered the short list of places to which I WILL NEVER RETURN.

by Bahareh M.

I can only speak for the brunch here, but I've been a few times.  I've had the Tabaq breakfast once, which comes with a couple eggs, some bread, a meat side, roasted tomatos, and some other delicious things.  It's a nice combination of food.  Not mind-blowing, but pretty solid.I've also had the eggs benedict.  Sadly one of my egg yolks was cooked all the way though on one order.  This makes me sad.  All I ask for is a little run to my egg.  They took it back and brought me a new one, but it took kind of a while, and sort of bummed me out for the rest of the meal.  But at least they remedied the situation.Otherwise, $3 bloody marys or mimosas.  For $3, there's not much to complain about.And the glass rooftop is a lovely way to start off a morning/afternoon.  Definitely not a bad U Street brunch option.

by Clara L.

My friends and I went on a monday evening to try and take advantage of this buy one get one free deal at Tabaq.  The downstairs part looked closed.  So, we climbed the 3 flights of stairs up to the Glass Terrance to find a very small crowd up there.  We were seated quickly and asked the waiter about the happy hour specials.  Sadly we were informed that those only took place downstairs and from Wed through Saturday.  DOH!  Well he probably saw our disappointment, but we figured it'd be rude to get up and leave, so we stayed for a drink. I ordered the caipirinha which was very strong and tart... but quite good and boozy. Haha, it was a good last drink before heading to the 930 club.  The glass terrance had a nice view of the city, but I guess we will have to come back to get a fuller experience at Tabaq in the future.

by talia r.

The Birthday Happy Hour turned into a mini-bar crawl and we ended up on U street trying to find a place to continue the fun and the buy 1 get 1 drink sounded too good to pass up.It definitely has that trendy feel to it-- Lots of red (it is called the 'Red Room', darker wood, small tables and seats packed close and a really small, dark, tiny seated area downstairs.  I didn't get a chance to see the terrace.  Since we were just here for the special I didn't get a chance to sample any of the food but from what I saw it could be good?I had the framboise and something ale thinking it would be a more alcoholic version of a regular framboise but I felt like I was back in middle school drinking wine coolers and mike's hard lemonade.  This is my fault for choosing such a pansy drink, but I fault Tabaq for charging $10 for it.  The only reason why I found it ok was because that would mean my mojito would be free.  The first mojito that was brought to our table tasted like minty water, the other mojitos had a little more taste to them, but just a touch more.  I guess it is fine, instead of paying $20 for a crappy 'beer' and a watery mojito I got away with paying half that.  I would come here for the bogo special, getting other drinks, and to try the tapas.

by Kim T.

Correct me if I am wrong fellow Yelpers, but I feel this place could be so much more. The menu brings something special to U Street and yet the food itself is underwhelming. I have been here a number of times because I think the roof top is a fantastic setting for brunch or dinner. Everytime I hope that the food will improve but I am always disappointed. Then to add insult to injury, some members of the waitstaff just aren't very pleasant. My recommendation: skip the gym, walk up the countless steps to the roof instead, sit at the bar, and don't order anything more complicated than the hummus.

by Samantha R.

Awkward space for dancing, my first night there five of us stopped in lured by the DJ seen spinnin' from the window. While the music was on point the floor was practically empty, besides my small group 4 others sat at the bar and the bartenders entertained themselves and us by doing vogue walks down the middle of the empty dining room turned runway. It was perfect for us that night, we had plenty of space to spread out and dance and act a fool but I can't imagine what it would be like if it was even half full, so narrow and long it would be impossible to move. Subsequent visits have been to hang out on the roof and to see a band performance on the third level. The roof is definitely the best part of this place, glass encased views for days and, for what it is, a decent amount of bar and table space, although again once it's at capacity even the servers seem to have a difficult time moving around. Still the roof is definitely one of my top picks in the city to meet up with friends for drinks. Just know ladies that you'll be climbing 4 flights of stairs so be careful, it would suck to be looking cute wearing your fly stilettos only to end up taking a misstep and falling flat on your ass. As a performance space Tabaq falls short. The narrowness of the layout makes it impossible to view the band unless you're in the front two rows and once you're there decide not to get thirsty or have to use the bathroom cause if you leave your spot you have no chance in hell of getting it back. Stick to appreciating the view and enjoying the drinks and you won't be disappointed...

by Tara L.

Sexy, sophisticated and serene are the words I would use to describe my experiences at Tabaq. Although I know many with mixed feelings about this place, my feelings are pretty clear - this place is enjoyable.I'm in love with the skyline at sunset. To sit in a glass walled and roofed room, looking out towards the monument and the capital at sunset as the glow of day looms and dims is magical. On the right night, the wrong man could appear more charming in this setting.I'm not sure if I've only been here on off-nights, but there is never a crowd. I've always been seated immediately and served attentively. In fact, this is partially what makes Tabaq so inviting for me. I love that I can sit here and drink wine for hours and I love that I can get loud and not disturb stuffy patrons.  As for the food, although tasty it's nothing I haven't experienced before - Mediterranean tapas and small plates that are tasty but less than memorable. This time my dining companions and I ordered the puffed shrimp, stuffed scallops, mussels, beef kofte and arugala salad. The arugala salad was exploding with flavor! Between all the chatting and the wine, I can't remember everything that was in there but I do remember a decoratively cut radish, black and green olives, goat cheese, pear and some kind of sweet and tart dressing. Whatever was in there made my taste buds dance! The mussels were bathed in white wine/cream/garlic sauce and delicious! Too bad I didn't really like the bread that was served - it would have made an excellent dipping sauce for it! The rest of the items we ordered were pretty good, but not at all memorable.  In fact, the beef kofte reminded me of a meatball turd. (I know, I know...I'm elegant.)And then for our gluttonous dessert splurge - we tried a bit of everything. The tiramisu was ok, but lacked some of the coffee flavor kick however the baklava was delicious! We also had some sort of custard/ice cream covered in a shell of dark chocolate type thing. Sorry for the bastardized details on this item, but again - three generous glasses of a tasty pinot noir coupled with dessert ADD and I'm reduced to limited descriptors.  But I can tell you that all of the desserts were G double-O - D!Overall, a wonderful experience in a very laid back and soothing environment.

by Pamela A.

I love the food and people.. I have came for a romantic dinner, just for two. It was intimate, sweet and quit, the roof was open!!!  Then I've been there for there weekend Party's which are crazy!! music's great and so are the Drinks. I love it...

by Melissa P.

I chanced upon Tabaq Bistro for brunch while nursing a hangover with my closest girlfriends and while I am normally conservative on my Brunch choices in attempt to maintain my statuesque figure I threw caution to the wind and ordered their chicken and waffles. It was a food-gasm to say the least. The waffles offer a delicious balance of warm soft goodness with a satisfying crisp around the edges, coupled with the perfectly battered and fried chicken and smother it generously with warm maple syrup and you've got the stuff dreams are made of- and it would have to be to get me out of bed on a lazy Sunday....

by Melissa P.

I went here for a Sunday evening dinner and was really dissapointed.  I will say the glass top roof/view is amazing, but the view does not make up for the food or the poor service.  My friend and I started off with a glass on wine.  I drink a fair amount of wine, and this wine was terrible.  It was watered down and weak, something was just not right.  I asked the waiter if perhaps this was on old bottle because it didn't taste right and he said no it was opened about an hour and a half ago and instead of asking me if I wanted another drink he simply walked away and seemed annoyed at my question.Now, on to the food, we ordered the following:-hummus-  First of all, the hummus does not come with pita, just the bread they bring you for the table.  Secondly the hummus lacked flavor.  It tasted earthy (and by earthy I mean it tasted similar to dirt)-mussels-  They came is some kind of cream sauce, which had about zero flavor.  The mussels themselves were puny and were of poor quality.  -lamb shank-  I can't say there was anything wrong with this dish, it was fine but nothing great.  -puff shrimp-  The shrimp in this dish were the tiny shrimp that come frozen in a bag at the grocery store.  -cigar borek-  About the same as the lamb, nothing was wrong with it, but it was not great.I guess I was mistaken that this place served good food.  I guess you only go there for the atmosphere.

by Andrew K.

Worse than I recalled. Sort of outdated in a 2002 sort of way. Did I really just walk up 5 flights of stairs for a wanna-be breathtaking view, and pay $13 for a "nutella martini"? Sounded so promising, but tasted like coffee and nothing like nutella. The views are OK. Nothing else about it knocks socks off.

by Karen T.

Anyone who can surprise me at brunch deserves four stars, and Tabaq definitely earned theirs. I've become so complacent when it comes to the traditional staples: eggs benny, mimosas, blueberry pancakes, etc. etc - I've seen pretty much every variation there is. So when I saw I was going to a place that was also a "club" for brunch, you can understand my skepticism. It sounded like the worst. idea. ever. in life. and I've heard a few, like a japanese / mexican fast food restauranT. However, I was pleasantly surprised by Tabaq.First, we were seated up on the rooftop on a beautiful summer/fall Sunday morning. Mimosas were a reasonable $6. I split french toast with freshly whipped cream and strawberries and an omelet with my girl friend. I haven't had french toast in a long time, but ours was as good as it gets. Lightly dusted with powdered sugar, the perfect hint of cinnamon and egg, and just a morsel of crisp friedness with every doughy bite, the french toast was just orgasmic. Now, we were with my friend's friends, none of whom I'd ever met sober previously, so I tried to be graceful and restrained myself from shoveling in breakfast. Ditto with the omelet - the potatoes were some of the best breakfast sides I've had in a while. Ideally seasoned, there was no ketchup needed, no undercooked or overfried bits. I've also been back since for some evening events - valet is $10. Tabaq makes the transition from brunch to bar surprisingly smooth. Of course, it probably helps that it has three floors to work with. So points all around for executing everything well. I'm sure I'll be back.

by Nikki D.

Okay so we tried out Tabaq this past Saturday for a friend's b-day.  The Sky Lounge is fab if it's just you and your party.  Nice ambiance throughout the club, but just way too crowded.  When I say crowded, I mean squished, uncomfortable and there was no dance floor.  This would be a nice romantic dinner date spot but not a happy hour party spot.  The speciality drinks were decent and the first floor music was old school hip hop (Biggie, Mobb Deep, etc.), also they had valet ($20) right out front.  Don't know if I would go here again, unless it was maybe for a party of two and not 20.**winkwink**

by Chris D.

Ehh.. The food was alright, actually pretty decent. The happy hour was good.. Buy 1 drink get one free.. But the drinks were subpar. Not really that great. I might go back for the food, but probably steer clear from any cocktails..

by Paul M.

On a recent evening, having walked away from a one hour wait at Bistrot Du Coin, and a two hour wait at Marvin, this place welcomed us and we were the only people there at about 9.00pm. It soon got busy, but the food was barely average and the drinks werel ess than memorable.I came here years ago the week it opened and sat at the bar and had some lovely drinks. It seems somehow a buit downdy now - it is  - at all of 10 or 12 years old-  the Gtrand old Dame of the new improved U street, but I think there are better options around....

by Semra E.

I'm half Turkish and it's HARD to find food that reminds me of ANYTHING my grandma would have made for me as a kid, but...this keeps it classy and traditional with a dash of Middle Eastern fusion. Me likey, aloty. The view from the top floor might be the Jerry Maguire moment to be honest ("you had me at hello"), but outside of being wooed on the roof top there, they can make a mean cocktail, which I am most definitely into. The prices for these tapas can be a bit over the top for me, BUT...I understand that it's about the atmosphere that you get along with the food. Plus you get a work out walking up 5 flights of stairs just to get to the top floor. I think the location is prime because no high rise new condos have blocked out the actual traditional view that THAT part of DC had before everyone and their mama started venturing into the neighborhood. Best place to take friends visiting from out of town and you want a quick something before you start bar hopping the U St. strip. Make SURE that you make a reservation for the roof top tables because it's the one part that gets filled up immediately after a certain hour no matter what day of the week it is, but especially on Fri. Sat. and Sun. nights

by Ani P.

Well, there's an upstairs area that's outdoorish.  The views are okay.  Nothing to trip over and die for.  However, the stairs leading to the upstairs could kill you (high heels + one drink = flat on my ass).  I don't mind stairs.  I like cardio whenever it's possible. I ordered the mojito.  It was sweet and sucked.  My friend's chocolate martini tasted like coffee in a bad way and I like coffee (coffee fiend actually).This place is so whatever.

by d. h.

Went for a late Saturday brunch with a group that took up 1/2 of the atrium.  I received my french toast and smoked bacon side quickly, although I joined the group after they put their orders in.  The waiter appeared to get everyone's orders right (at least those of us at my table) and didn't give the few of us paying with credit cards attitude.  These are all basic elements of service, but I felt the need to mention it because DC is not a city known for exemplary customer service at its casual restaurants, esp. when large groups are involved...   I had been a little apprehensive about a brunch invite to Tabaq, because I expected the menu to have more East African or Mediterranean-inspired dishes.  I'm all about the basics when it comes to brunch.   It doesn't have to be sexed up, just give me killer pancakes or french toast, fruit, and your standard breakfast meats, and I'm happy.  I was pleased to find french toast and real bacon on the menu.  The food was decent.  Generous amount of french toast, with crispy, full-sized pieces of bacon.  Not much else to say about the food.  I can't see myself planning a trip there just for brunch, but if I felt the need for brunch at 3:30 on a Saturday, it would be an option if I was already in the area.It can get extremely bright in the atrium, so make sure you bring your shades if you had a night that made that 3:30 brunch a necessity.

by d. h.Ani P.Semra E.

Went for a late Saturday brunch with a group that took up 1/2 of the atrium.  I received my french toast and smoked bacon side quickly, although I joined the group after they put their orders in.  The waiter appeared to get everyone's orders right (at least those of us at my table) and didn't give the few of us paying with credit cards attitude.  These are all basic elements of service, but I felt the need to mention it because DC is not a city known for exemplary customer service at its casual restaurants, esp. when large groups are involved...   I had been a little apprehensive about a brunch invite to Tabaq, because I expected the menu to have more East African or Mediterranean-inspired dishes.  I'm all about the basics when it comes to brunch.   It doesn't have to be sexed up, just give me killer pancakes or french toast, fruit, and your standard breakfast meats, and I'm happy.  I was pleased to find french toast and real bacon on the menu.  The food was decent.  Generous amount of french toast, with crispy, full-sized pieces of bacon.  Not much else to say about the food.  I can't see myself planning a trip there just for brunch, but if I felt the need for brunch at 3:30 on a Saturday, it would be an option if I was already in the area.It can get extremely bright in the atrium, so make sure you bring your shades if you had a night that made that 3:30 brunch a necessity.Well, there's an upstairs area that's outdoorish.  The views are okay.  Nothing to trip over and die for.  However, the stairs leading to the upstairs could kill you (high heels + one drink = flat on my ass).  I don't mind stairs.  I like cardio whenever it's possible. I ordered the mojito.  It was sweet and sucked.  My friend's chocolate martini tasted like coffee in a bad way and I like coffee (coffee fiend actually).This place is so whatever.I'm half Turkish and it's HARD to find food that reminds me of ANYTHING my grandma would have made for me as a kid, but...this keeps it classy and traditional with a dash of Middle Eastern fusion. Me likey, aloty. The view from the top floor might be the Jerry Maguire moment to be honest ("you had me at hello"), but outside of being wooed on the roof top there, they can make a mean cocktail, which I am most definitely into. The prices for these tapas can be a bit over the top for me, BUT...I understand that it's about the atmosphere that you get along with the food. Plus you get a work out walking up 5 flights of stairs just to get to the top floor. I think the location is prime because no high rise new condos have blocked out the actual traditional view that THAT part of DC had before everyone and their mama started venturing into the neighborhood. Best place to take friends visiting from out of town and you want a quick something before you start bar hopping the U St. strip. Make SURE that you make a reservation for the roof top tables because it's the one part that gets filled up immediately after a certain hour no matter what day of the week it is, but especially on Fri. Sat. and Sun. nights

by d. h.Ani P.Semra E.Paul M.Chris D.

Went for a late Saturday brunch with a group that took up 1/2 of the atrium.  I received my french toast and smoked bacon side quickly, although I joined the group after they put their orders in.  The waiter appeared to get everyone's orders right (at least those of us at my table) and didn't give the few of us paying with credit cards attitude.  These are all basic elements of service, but I felt the need to mention it because DC is not a city known for exemplary customer service at its casual restaurants, esp. when large groups are involved...   I had been a little apprehensive about a brunch invite to Tabaq, because I expected the menu to have more East African or Mediterranean-inspired dishes.  I'm all about the basics when it comes to brunch.   It doesn't have to be sexed up, just give me killer pancakes or french toast, fruit, and your standard breakfast meats, and I'm happy.  I was pleased to find french toast and real bacon on the menu.  The food was decent.  Generous amount of french toast, with crispy, full-sized pieces of bacon.  Not much else to say about the food.  I can't see myself planning a trip there just for brunch, but if I felt the need for brunch at 3:30 on a Saturday, it would be an option if I was already in the area.It can get extremely bright in the atrium, so make sure you bring your shades if you had a night that made that 3:30 brunch a necessity.Well, there's an upstairs area that's outdoorish.  The views are okay.  Nothing to trip over and die for.  However, the stairs leading to the upstairs could kill you (high heels + one drink = flat on my ass).  I don't mind stairs.  I like cardio whenever it's possible. I ordered the mojito.  It was sweet and sucked.  My friend's chocolate martini tasted like coffee in a bad way and I like coffee (coffee fiend actually).This place is so whatever.I'm half Turkish and it's HARD to find food that reminds me of ANYTHING my grandma would have made for me as a kid, but...this keeps it classy and traditional with a dash of Middle Eastern fusion. Me likey, aloty. The view from the top floor might be the Jerry Maguire moment to be honest ("you had me at hello"), but outside of being wooed on the roof top there, they can make a mean cocktail, which I am most definitely into. The prices for these tapas can be a bit over the top for me, BUT...I understand that it's about the atmosphere that you get along with the food. Plus you get a work out walking up 5 flights of stairs just to get to the top floor. I think the location is prime because no high rise new condos have blocked out the actual traditional view that THAT part of DC had before everyone and their mama started venturing into the neighborhood. Best place to take friends visiting from out of town and you want a quick something before you start bar hopping the U St. strip. Make SURE that you make a reservation for the roof top tables because it's the one part that gets filled up immediately after a certain hour no matter what day of the week it is, but especially on Fri. Sat. and Sun. nightsOn a recent evening, having walked away from a one hour wait at Bistrot Du Coin, and a two hour wait at Marvin, this place welcomed us and we were the only people there at about 9.00pm. It soon got busy, but the food was barely average and the drinks werel ess than memorable.I came here years ago the week it opened and sat at the bar and had some lovely drinks. It seems somehow a buit downdy now - it is  - at all of 10 or 12 years old-  the Gtrand old Dame of the new improved U street, but I think there are better options around....Ehh.. The food was alright, actually pretty decent. The happy hour was good.. Buy 1 drink get one free.. But the drinks were subpar. Not really that great. I might go back for the food, but probably steer clear from any cocktails..