Cafe Divan
1834 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20007
202-338-1747
Neighborhood: Georgetown
Cuisines: Turkish, Middle Eastern, Breakfast
Opening Hours:
Open Monday through Thursday 11 AM to 10:30 PM, Friday and Saturday6 11 AM to 11 PM, and Sunday 11 AM to 10:30 PM.
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Nearby Metro Stops: Foggy Bottom-GWU
Price Range: Inexpensive
Dress: Informal
Noise Level: Chatty
Reservations: Not Needed
Website: http://www.cafedivan.com
Best Dishes:
Sigara borek; sous borek; dolmas; 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);
Price Details:
Appetizers $3.95 to $5.95, entrées $5.95 to $16.
Special Features: Wheelchair Accessible, Kid Friendly
Sleek and chic, this glass-wrapped Turkish spot supports the notion that style and value can coexist. An expanded dining room—with Brazilian-cherry floors and Turkish tile—makes it easier to get a table on weekend nights. And newcomers on the menu of mezze and bigger plates widen the culinary possibilities.
Among them is a lineup of vegetable starters cooked with plenty of olive oil—okra flecked with tomato and onion is especially good. Another addition, hunkar beyendi marries smoky eggplant purée with tender lamb. Don’t overlook old favorites such as feta-filled sigara borek, the eggplant-and-tomato dish called imam bayaldi, and Iskender kebab, a mash-up of pita, tomato, yogurt, and doner kebab.
Also good: Pide, a pizza-like dish with feta, parsley, and a fried egg in boat-shaped dough; whole lamb from the wood-fired oven (Thursday only); the lamb-and-hot-pepper pie known as lamejun; kazan dibi, a caramelized rice pudding.