Dominic’s lovely co-workers at the National Institutes of Health gifted us a visit to DC’s most waitlisted restaurant: Maydan. Their reservations are currently the most coveted in all the District, and it takes skill and lack of sleep to land one. But I finessed the system, using three devices and a constant refresher bot and managed to land one on Dominic’s birthday. He was THRILLED. You may be wondering now what all the fuss is about with this particularly exclusive restaurant and I’ll tell you. Quite frankly, its all of the rhythms and flavors of North Africa and the Middle-East combined together, cooked in a central location of the restaurant over a flaming, rotating hearth they call “the firepit.” People coming around the fire to eat together in family style is the very essence of what Maydan is as a restaurant. Abundance of food and an overloaded table of smoked dishes are what the waiters encourage their guests to experience. Abundance encourages sharing, especially if that flavor you love comes from a single plate. Even with its awarded Michelin star, the central theme of firepit food adds a rustic and authentic element to this restaurant, and there wasn't a single trace of fussiness here. You'll feel right at home at Maydan, and are encouraged to layback and simply exist in its immersive surroundings. Since it was Dominic's birthday the night we visited, I needed a certain special table that caught my eye as soon as we reached the second floor. A chair truly fit for a king. And once we had drinks in front of us, Dominic was 100% in his element. And before we knew it, our food was out in front of us in a series of courses that never seemed to end! It started with an introduction to a variety of sauces. Of course, we needed to try them all, not a problem when they come for $1 each. Tasting these sauces was a perfect appetizer, paired with a bottomless pile of pillowy pita bread. The two larger portions in the middle are garlic tahini and a delicious concoction called Muhamarra, consisting of walnut, red pepper and topped with pomegranate molasses. And now, ladies and gentlemen, I want to introduce to you the single dish that I'd pay any sum of money for (yes, even more than a Krispy Kreme doughnut). It's Seared Halloumi cheese with Dukkah, topped with sesame seeds, pistachios and a drizzle of the lightest honey. Super savory. 100% Mary approved. And then came the main courses of the Aleppo Kebab, lamb drizzled with crushed pistachios on top, and an entree of perfectly sliced duck breast. Not quite full enough, we asked for a dessert menu, and it took no more than a glance for me to figure out what I wanted. And thankfully, the birthday boy obliged! Maydan's Olive Oil Cake had such a refreshing blend of anise and citrus, quite the perfect contrasting end to the deep flavors from the fire pit. They even lit a candle for Dom! And just like that, our meal was over. But we had plenty of leftovers. We were not leaving any Maydan flavors behind! Lastly I just had to take a picture of the checkbook our bill came in. It was the cutest little book, filled with signatures of Maydan lovers past and present. We signed our names as well! So there ya have it. Maydan in all its glory. Book a reservation through Resy, and remember that the only way to get a reservation is 28 days in advance of your anticipated visit, starting at 10:00 AM that day. See you there!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Categories
All
Latest Posts |