Tabaq is a Mediterranean restaurant featuring flavors from Morocco to Spain to Turkey. The rooftop has some of the best views of the city and the retractable roof makes for great open air dining or cocktails. Tabaq is located at 1336 U St NW.

Cost – $$

Service – B-
Depending on how busy the restaurant is, the quality of service can range. I have had nothing but good experiences but I have noticed others at nearby tables getting barely adequate attention. Brunch can be busy so you may have to temper your expectations.

Food – B-
The food isn’t quite as good or consistent as some of the other Mediterranean mezze restaurants but worth a try. I have had some pretty good meals and some that were lacking.

Decor – A-
The modern style coupled with the rooftop views and lounge in the basement makes Tabaq a pretty cool place to dine or for happy hour.

Feel – B+
Being one of the few modern restaurants on U Street, Tabaq usually has a good crowd and the rooftop is popular. The tables are close together and can feel cramped at times. Another good starting point for a night out.

What’s the Buzz:

November 25, 2007 – Tabaq (DC Eats) – I spent my birthday dinner at Tabaq. Located on U street between 13 & 14th St. off the Green/Yellow Line Cordoza Metro stop. Swanky & sexy with a Steven Starr restaurant type of feel it was definitely my steez. Tabaq has a Mediterranean theme with great drinks. The top floor (where the roof comes off in the summer) is where it is at! Full Article…

March 16, 2006 – Tabaq (Washington City Paper) – The buzz surrounding this U Street restaurant’s glass-enclosed roof deck has made it a popular place since it opened last August, and judging by the fact that the main-floor dining room was nearly empty on a recent midweek evening visit, it’s clear that diners want to see what all of the fuss is about. Though the greenhouselike terrace is clearly designed as a place to linger and snack in, it might be made more comfortable with fewer tables and a little more light. Full Article…

October 23, 2005 – Tabaq (Washington Post) – As I ease into some stuffed grape leaves at Tabaq Bistro, looking up now and then from my rooftop perch to see the Capitol dome and the Washington Monument in the distance, I consider a new answer to the question I hear almost every week: Where can I catch a view with a meal? For anyone who has tried to find a restaurant with a Washington backdrop and food that is equal to the scenery, the arrival of Tabaq is no small news flash. Full Article…

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