Under the direction of celebrated Chef José Andrés and his ThinkFoodGroup team, Zaytinya offers an innovative mezze menu inspired by Turkish, Greek and Lebanese cuisines served up in a sleek and modern setting. Building on José’s deep knowledge of Mediterranean cooking and years of research and travel, the menu features shared small plates of authentic and innovative fare, creative cocktails, and unique Mediterranean wines, making Zaytinya one of the most exciting restaurants in Washington. Since opening in 2002, Zaytinya ranks consistently as a top DC dining destination, and was awarded a Bib Gourmand in the 2017 and 2018 Michelin Guide to Washington, DC. In 2018, Zaytinya’s second location opened at The Star in Frisco, TX and has quickly become a local favorite.
What Are Mezze? Mezze are the small plates of the Eastern Mediterranean, known regionally as meze, maza, or mezethes. Under the direction of James Beard Award-winning chef José Andrés, Zaytinya's menu reflects the rich regional diversity of classical Turkish, Greek, and Lebanese cuisines. Starting with authentic ingredients and traditional techniques, Zaytinya's talented chefs create original and unexpected dishes that bring these regional cuisines to a level never before experienced. Each plate is meant to be shared Often thought of as party food, the small plates style of dining encourages socializing - a drink, a little conversation, and a few mezze shared by friends and family. The experience allows everyone to sample a wide variety of excellent spreads and cheeses, vegetables, meat, poultry, seafood mezze, and creative desserts. Plus, traditional coffees and teas complete the experience. In addition, Zaytinya's wine list is the only in the U.S. to feature only the wines of the Eastern Mediterranean, including Turkey, Greece, Lebanon, and Israel. This region has quietly emerged on the world stage to compete with the established wine producing countries, with tremendous variety, value, and quality. And there's nowhere better to taste them for yourself and learn why. Combined with an exceptional and creative cocktail program, the Zaytinya bar is a destination in itself.