Maydan serves an array of traditional Mediterranean small plates and shareables in a cozy, vibrant environment with eclectic decor. They are situated in an alleyway, which gives them the perfect setup for outdoor dining with strings of cafe lights all around- we sat outside and enjoyed the fresh air and inviting feel. I don’t comment on service all too often, but Maydan’s staff was above and beyond exceptional- the best I’ve had in the city. They overhead my table talking about DC favorite restaurants and hand-wrote us a list of their combined favorites and explained them all to us. Amazing.
My table all opted for the Tawale tasting menu- a $75 exploration of their most popular dishes from spreads to steaks. Tawale means ‘table’ in Arabic, and symbolizes their family-style, communal approach to dining. This experience includes a couple choices for bigger plates, and we opted for branzino and ribeye to accompany our spreads, bottomless pita, and assortment of veggies. I will preface this by saying I do not like steak. I do not order it out ever. I absolutely loved their ribeye- it was coated in flakey sea salt that didn’t overwhelm, and was absolutely delicious. Every dish was incredibly flavorful, with powerful blends of spices and herbs. My one note is that there was a fair share of bites that were much too spicy for me, so try new dishes with caution!

Word to the wise- take it easy on the pita. Maydan does not joke around with their portions, so come hungry! Overall, Maydan is the type of the spot that leaves you feeling like you have both a full heart and a full belly.

Note: The creators of Maydan are also behind Compass Rose- a quaint townhome-style restaurant that highlights the most popular dish from each of a handful of countries.