Ottoman Taverna - Calumet-Norvelt

This place is out of control unreal. The interior is so sexy, there is not a single thing on the menu I know how to pronounce but there's not a single thing I ate that wasn't the best food I've ever eaten in my life. My husband can speak Turkish and every waiter, staff member, manager he spoke to was so endearing and kind and helpful. If we didn't almost implode from eating so much I would still be there trying more food. Y'all are god's gift to DC.

Unfortunately, I will not be returning. The restaurant added a large surcharge to the bill, even for our table of 3, to comply with DC wage laws. I did not see anything about the surcharge until the bill arrived. There was also an expectation to add a tip in addition to the surcharge. It would be far better to raise menu prices than surprise patrons with a 20% surprise fee at the end of a meal, and expect a tip on top of that.

Beautiful restaurant light and airy. Great food with simple presentation, but fantastic flavors. The waiter was very personable and made recommendations as well as helped us with the pronunciation of the dishes, so I felt like I learned a new language too. It was fun!

The food was delicious and we had a great time at dinner. I just wish the service wasn't so slow. The three of us waited almost half an hour for our first round of drinks. However, the drinks were delicious and the staff was friendly.

The restaurant is okay and the staff is kind. Average food