Cheap Eats 2009: Cafe Divan

Reviewed by Todd Kliman , Cynthia Hacinli , Ann Limpert , Kate Nerenberg , Rina Rapuano

Great food, low prices, lots of fun

Cafe Divan

1834 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20007
Phone: 202-338-1747

Cuisines:
Turkish, Middle Eastern

Opening Hours:
Mon,Tue,Wed,Thu:
General: 11:00 AM - 10:30 PM
Fri,Sat:
General: 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Sun:
General: 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Nearby Metro Stops:
Foggy Bottom-GWU

Price Range:
Inexpensive

Dress:
Informal

Crowd:
Sophisticates young and old.

Noise Level:
Chatty

Reservations:
Not needed

Special Features:
Delivery, Weekend Brunch, Kid Friendly

Website:
Click here to open in new window.

Best Dishes
Sigara borek; sous borek; hummos; baba ghanoush; iman bayaldi, the classic stuffed-eggplant dish; doner kebab; iskander kebab; lamb kebab; yogurtlu kebab with beef; kuzu guvec, a lamb-and-eggplant casserole; whole roast baby lamb (Thursdays only); lamajun; pizza with kasseri cheese and fried eggs; Sucuk Pide pizza; kazan dibi, a rice-flour pudding.

Price Details:
Appetizers $3.95 to $5.95, entrées $5.95 to $16.


 

Reader's Rating:
No Reader Reviews

Why go: This stylish restaurant across the street from the Georgetown Safeway is no trendy pretender: The Turkish-style mezze and kebabs would be right at home in the cafes of Istanbul.

What to get: Sigara börek, crisp feta-cheese-filled cylinders of phyllo pastry; the airy fish-roe dip tarama; doner kebab, seasoned and marinated shavings of spit-roasted lamb, either solo or Iskender-style, layered with pita and yogurt; spicy adana kebabs, made with ground beef.

Best for: Diners who don’t want to sacrifice style in their search for authenticity.

Insider tip: Thursday is whole-roast-lamb night—and it’s a treat. Delivery (within three miles) is free.

Open daily for lunch and dinner.

>> See all 2009 Cheap Eats restaurants here