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Adams Morgan newcomer Green Zone opened in late July with Lebanese street foods, rare beers, strong cocktails, and authentic Middle Eastern decor.
The two-story establishment (2226 18th Street NW) is filled with Moroccan tile bar tops, ornate bathrooms designed to look like Turkish baths, and lots of symbolic art sourced from across the globe.
The drink list features over a dozen seasonal, Middle Eastern-inspired cocktails, as well as several staff favorites. There’s also draft beer and a variety of bottled and canned selections from Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan, as well as Turkish coffee. Patrons can dance off $10-and-under bites (like falafel and spicy fries) at its upstairs bar.
Read on to hear what customers are saying, just a few weeks in:
The Something For Everyone News: Facebook user Yasmeen notes the “great vibe, great tunes, inventive drinks not to be found anywhere else in town. I love that we could pop in for a cocktail, or snacks and an equally delicious non-alcoholic drink.” And Facebook user Garnt Vogt enjoyed “stellar cocktails, great food, lovely people. What isn’t to like? If I lived closer this would be my daily bar.” Yelper Madhu R. says “the staff is super friendly and give you great service, even if you’re not a pretty white girl, which is refreshing. Michael is especially wonderful.” [Yelp, Facebook]
The Music and More News: Yelper Cole D. notes “the music matches the ambiance, though be prepared for a louder scene in the upstairs bar. The staff is friendly and the dry ice effect to clean glasses adds an extra pizazz.” Yelper Brooke T. says “the vibe was great, even for such a small place, with the music adding the perfect amount of good vibes without not being able to talk. It’s also set up really beautifully, with an open air front patio and Middle Eastern decorations.” [Yelp]
The Not In D.C. Anymore News: Yelper C. R. notes the “cool design, meets great atmosphere and music, combined with awesome bartenders and service ... they pull off the concept to a tee as well, truly felt like we had been transported to somewhere far away from DC.” Yelper Kayla E. says her cheese and za’tar combo with veggies was the “closest thing I’ve found to real Beiruti street food since eating Beiruti street food IN BEIRUT ... my date had the blended vodka-spiked mint lemonade, which was 100% the best summer cocktail I’ve had this year (and very close to how it would be in Syria/Lebanon).” [Yelp]
The Opening Kinks News: Yelper Jenny P., who visited on a “jam packed” Saturday afternoon, notes “they ran out of saj bread even when we came early, no napkins or silverware were given, and our waiter who promised to check on hot sauces never came back.” Yelper Kayla E. says “the only thing that wasn’t incredible were the wings. Sauce was great, but they needed another minute to cook and were super fatty.” [Yelp]
The Drink This News: Instagram user @hellococktail says “go there immediately and order my favorite, the indomitable “Janissary Corps” with @dcdistillers gin, lemon, pistachio, and magic.” Yelper C. R. writes “drinks were delish - we had a Lebanese #1 (my fave) and a F_*k Trump Punch.” [Instagram, Yelp]
The Street Foods News: Yelper Jenny P. says “the Arabic wings are coated in a finger licking blend of sumac, garlic and spices. The Lebanese falafel was so fresh, with a healthy mixture of parsley, mint and radish. The labneh with garlic was good, but don’t order this expecting to taste garlic! The dip tasted like tzaziki with none of the garlic.” Yelper Brooke T. says “I will be back just to try the hummus!” [Yelp]
