Hello my Petits Gourmands!👩‍🍳👨‍🍳 We cover the most delicious gastronomic everything 🥩🥑🍇🥖🥬🫐 — restaurants, eateries, bakeries… and find the chefs in Washington D.C. 🇺🇸 that deserve all the accolades. Subscribe to read about the tastiest meals in town!😋

In today’s review… we’ll cover one of, if not the best Israeli restaurant in the District with a diverse selection of incredible dishes to share with all.

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here.

The Ratings

Our simple & honest checklist covers a restaurant’s key ingredients:
Ambiance, Service, and Food.

7.5/10

Situated up in Cleveland Park, Sababa looks like a hole in the wall restaurant from the outside. While perhaps not located in the most convenient of spots and a bit challenging to find consistent parking in the neighborhood, Sababa offers DCers a phenomenal go-to for the incredible food of Israel — probably the best in the District.

Upon entering into Sababa, you’ll find that the restaurant is quite quaint and is shaped rectangularly with tables stacked behind one another. The décor is simple yet with its ceramic tiles and sails on the ceiling, highlights a Middle Eastern elegance. The atmosphere is calm, amiable, and nice, but not fancy.

8/10

Great! Sababa’s staff are compassionate, prompt, and know how to handle the dining experience for everyone. Even when a customer at a nearby table to us was beyond rude and frankly, despicably insulting, the Sababa team handled the matter with professionalism and patience. Kudos to them.

9/10

You come to Sababa for one thing and one thing only: to share many delectable small dishes amongst family and friends.

Sababa is a pilgrimage to a melting pot of tasty foods and cultures for all to pass around the table… once, twice, and thrice!

Should you dare visit stuck-up and ordering a lowly dish for yourself, you shall be sorely disappointed, my friend.

The beauty and magic of Sababa’s cuisine is the necessity to mix and match dishes. To scoop up some of the Israeli Salad (chopped up cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and watermelon) and plop it onto a piece of warm Pita that you layered with a bed of Hummus Tahina… Wow! Or, to close your eyes and deeply appreciate the tender and soft Lamb Shank bite and then follow-it up with a spoonful of Jeweled Rice — a Hawaij-spiced rice with golden raisins, almonds, dried apricots, and other goodies that remind you of the fall weather. Spectacular.

Sababa is about the collaboration of your dinner party. You must ensure you order a little bit of everything, so you don’t miss out. Get some greens, like the Grilled Broccoli, and go for some extra dipping sauces, such as the Salatim — a collection of salads and dips for you to experiment with throughout your meal.

We recommend you don’t forget the Fried Cauliflower and the Harissa-Marinaded Chicken Thighs. But hey, you honestly can’t go wrong here.

In the end, Sababa is must-try restaurant when you have family or friends in town, or are looking to enjoy a convivial meal with the potential for the most outstanding leftovers.

Reservation & Menu: