Lebanese Taverna

I have to periodically travel for work and last week I was in Washington, DC. I arranged to stay in a hotel with a mini-fridge two blocks away from Whole Foods, so I knew I wouldn’t be at the mercy of area restaurants for sustenance. I did, however, venture out to try one restaurant which was not only recommended, but had gluten free options listed on their online menu, Lebanese Taverna.

The restaurant was easy to find. After exiting the Woodley Park metro station up one of the longest, steepest, and scariest escalators I’ve ever taken, it was right across the street. The atmosphere was warm and congenial and the service was outstanding. Since I couldn’t eat the complimentary bread, they offered to bring me rice crackers and my own seasoned dipping oil instead. I’m not particularly fond of rice crackers, but I appreciated the gesture and took advantage of the offer.

For a starter, I tried the lentil soup. I love lentils and I grew up eating various dhals from Indian cuisine. This lentil soup was different, but absolutely delicious. The lemon seemed to combine with the rest of the dish to make it seem lighter than most lentil soups.

For my main course, I had the stewed lamb on spicy rice, which is not listed on their online menu. It was tender with spices that enhanced, but did not overpower the lamb. It was a large serving and, if I hadn’t been traveling, could have easily provided two meals.

And, perhaps most importantly for someone with celiac disease, I didn’t get sick.

If you live in the DC area or have to travel there, I definitely recommend this restaurant.