Layalina, web site, 5216 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA, 703-525-1170 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Reasonably good food, but a bit overpriced to me, not a place I am enthusiastic about.
Lebnan Zaman, 8411 Old Courthouse Road, Vienna, VA, 703-748-1400 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp]
A neglected place, surprisingly authentic given its Tysons location. The dishes with yogurt sauce are great, and none of the others are bad. Reasonable prices and good selection. The atmosphere is “order at the counter,” not fine dining. They have hookah in the front parlor, if you want to get stoned. Recommended, go soon in case they don’t make it in the long run.
Also see, “Local Hookah Bars,” by Monica Bhide, The Washington Post, September 25, 2005
Lebanese Taverna, web site, 5900 Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA, 703-241-8681, not far from Falls Church (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Economist | Silver Chips Online | WBFN | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Gayot]
Other locations
Very tasty Lebanese food. Draws an older, more traditional sort of Virginia crowd. Don’t let them put you off. Good yogurt sauce, especially when pomegranates are involved.
Bacchus, web site, 1827 Jefferson Place NW, Washington, DC, 202-785-0735, closed Sundays. A bit south of Dupont Circle, doesn’t open for dinner until 6:00. There is also a branch in Bethesda: 7945 Norfolk Avenue, Bethesda, MD, 301-657-1722 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Traditionally it has been the area’s ruling Lebanese restaurant. Very good on all counts, especially the appetizers. I love the chicken in yogurt sauce with pomegranate seeds. Not cheap, but worth it, this restaurant is a favorite for many people.
Update: Now closed.
Ceiba, web site, 701 14th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-393-3983 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo (cocktails) | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Pan-Latin, by Jeff Tunks of D.C. Coast and Ten Penh fame. Not cheap, and for me a bit unsatisfying given the price. I think I went in with my expectations too high. Many of the dishes are yummy but they don’t all connect with me as the mom and pops do. The bottom line: worth a visit, but not as good as D.C. Coast or Ten Penh.
Agua Ardiente, web site, 1250 24th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-833-8500 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [The Daily Colonial | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
Tapas and nouvelle Latin dishes, mostly of an Andean nature, and run by an Ecuadorean. It’s not quite a fancy place, but well above an ethnic place, a “tweener,” you might say. So maybe it won’t quite make anyone fully happy, but it is still one of the best Andean places around. And unlike the other Andean places, it draws from the entire region. And not all that expensive either, especially given the neighborhood it is in. Strange red décor. On weekends, they have active Latin night life. Recommended.
Cafe Salsa, web site, 808 King Street, Alexandria, VA, 703-684-4100, near Columbus Street (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Old Town Crier | WaPo (bar) | City Paper | Yelp]
Supposed to be best for tapas, not the main courses.
Gua-Rapo, web site (flash), 2039 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA, 703-528-6500, Courthouse area (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Supposed to be Nuevo Latino. Looks like a place for poseurs. I refuse to go here.
Gabriel’s, Radisson Barcelo Hotel, 2121 P Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-956-6690
Closed. Now the Hotel Palomar.
Formerly nouvelle Latin, but now only at brunch. It used to be a good restaurant, but I’ve yet to try the new regime.
Look also under the various Latin countries, most of these restaurants are Pan-Latin, rather than serving some pure national cuisine.
Pita Plus Kosher Deli, College Park, 4425 Lehigh Road, College Park, MD, 301-864-5150, corner of Baltimore Avenue and Knox Road (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window)
One reader recommends the lafah, not the pita bread.
