Elaine's

Review summary

1. K

   Katrina

   Greater Boston

   2 reviews

   2.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 2

   I had a hard time with this one. The vibe was off almost the second we walked in the door. You know that feeling you get when you walk into a room where people just finished arguing about something? That's what it felt like. A lot of tension in the air. The food... most of the food was good. Not out of this world, but good. The portions, however, are extremely stingy. The mezeh was good, but if you want more than a thimbleful of pita, that's extra. For dinner, I ordered the scallops which... well, they were very pretty, but it was 5 scallops on a whisper of purée and a lot of garnish. It was not an entree portion of food. At all. The scallops themselves were cooked well, but very sandy. Sandy? Really? It just left quite a bit to be desired for a $37 entree. Our server was very nice and attentive, but the owner was off-putting and cheap. He gave us a free dessert (rice pudding - very bland and underwhelming) but said nothing about the unpleasant entree. Thanks I guess. Skip it. You'll find a much better atmosphere, value and palette elsewhere
   

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2. T

   Teresa

   VIP

   Washington DC

   14 reviews

   5.0

   14 reviews

   Dined on 11 January 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We celebrated my Birthday there. The owner sat us and explained some cocktails and dishes. Our server acknowledged my Birthday. Was nice and patient. Received our cocktails. The gin cocktail and pistachio martini could have been less sweet but were pleasant. The Appetizers were wonderful and our entrees delicious. Will highly recommend the restaurant and will visit again.
   

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3. A

   Angelica

   Washington DC

   3 reviews

   2.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on 4 January 2025

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 4

   Went after hearing good things, unfortunately our experience was less than stellar. First the good: appetizers… Hummus and pita was fantastic as well as carrots; but the main courses were hit and miss… lamb shank special was very good as was the chicken shish. The Egyptian roasted chicken looked great but the chicken was overcooked and dry so our friend did not eat much. The pan seared scallops was a disaster. This 37 dollar dish was small, the scallops were tiny (unlike the picture on their online menu)and were as dry as rocks. I ate two of the 6 small scallops hoping it was just one that was bad (my spouse tasted one of the two to see if I was being over critical… I was not). We could forgive this, but when the server came to collect my dish and saw it was mostly full he asked if it was ok. I very politely told him that they were so dry I could not eat them. He stated he would tell the chef, but we heard nothing more. My spouse saw the dish was on the bill and normally would have questioned it, but he had just met the other couple we were with and didn’t want to risk making a scene since they were my work colleagues he was just meeting for the first time. I am very disappointed since this restaurant is just a few blocks from my home and would have been nice addition to our rotation. We will not go back due to the lack of care for my feedback on a dish I did not come close to finishing. I must emphasize, the server was very nice, but the lack of response to my polite feedback was disappointing. With so many restaurants in the area, we will reserve our time and money to other establishments where our experience has been consistently good.
   

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4. J

   Jennifer

   Washington DC

   2 reviews

   4.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on 1 January 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   Very cute spot. Feels cozy like you are visiting a friend’s house for dinner. The owners were very welcoming.
   

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5. A

   Austin

   VIP

   Dallas

   6 reviews

   5.0

   6 reviews

   Dined on 31 December 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   We had a magnificent evening for dinner at Elaine’s. We were greeted immediately by the owners at check in who welcomed us and explained the inspiration of the cuisine. We were seated promptly and had attentive service throughout the meal. Starters were salty feta, crispy Brussels, and hummus. I had wanted to order the halloumi goulash but it was unfortunately unavailable. The highlight of the meal was the braised lamb shoulder; I’d say the must order item. We also ordered seared scallops and steak shish. We finished the evening with classic baklava. The lamb shoulder alone would be reason to go again, the ambiance and service added to our experience. I would certainly recommend.
   

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6. T

   Tatia

   Washington DC

   2 reviews

   4.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on 29 December 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The owner is very warm/welcoming - told us how she just opened the place 19mos ago. The meals are all based on her mom or grandma’s recipes, and the restaurant is named after her.
   

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7. A

   Alyce

   Washington DC

   16 reviews

   5.0

   16 reviews

   Dined on 26 December 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We went for a birthday lunch and enjoyed delicious food with fantastic service. Aly was our fantastic server. They asked about any allergies and accommodated as they could and provided phenomenal recommendations, including the app sampler, drinks, and pumpkin dessert. I can't wait to try again!
   

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8. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Washington DC

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on 25 December 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   This is my new favorite restaurant in Old Town. The food was delicious and I love the ambiance and the kindness of the owners and servers.
   

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9. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Washington DC

   1 review

   2.0

   1 review

   Dined on 25 December 2024

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 4

   The owner(s) were exceptionally friendly and welcoming, creating a warm atmosphere. While the staff seemed relatively new, their effort to assist was evident, though service was a bit inconsistent—missing plates, silverware, and napkins required reminders. The drinks were average, but the bartender's friendliness made up for it. The food was flavorful and well-prepared, but it took over 30 minutes to arrive and was served extremely hot, almost too much to enjoy immediately. Despite these hiccups, the overall experience had potential, and we’ll likely give it another try.
   

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10. k

    kimberly

    Richmond

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 25 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    We had a lovely meal. Christian took good care of us. Cocktails were great too.
    

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