Agora DC

We went to Agora for Valentine's Day and were blown away. It was a five course menu with two options per course -- everything was phenomenal, even the dishes I didn't love (blue cheese flatbread, for example) were well made, and I could tell that if someone was crazy for the ingredients they would have been happy. The ambiance was romantic and upscale, and the service matched the prices and vibe. Cocktails were fantastic, and even though it was clear they were super busy, we didn't feel rushed or neglected. They even gave us a palette cleanser course of orange sherbet which really made it feel like a luxurious experience. I definitely want to go back to try their regular menu! The lamb chops and the branzino were standouts. Had a nice decaf espresso after our meal to round out the night. Absolutely recommend!

Agora is a fantastic restaurant. I'm a flexitarian who mainly eats a vegetarian diet, but I couldn't hold back here. The ambiance was great, the lighting was perfect, and the setting was welcoming and comfortable. The service was terrific from the moment we walked in the door until the end of our meal. The host was kind and very hospitable. Our server was exceptionally knowledgeable and detailed when discussing the dishes. They provide endless bread, which is always a plus as long as I don't fill up on it. They had a lovely cocktail/mocktail menu, which felt accommodating because I don't drink. The Ottoman sunset was perfect. It wasn't too sweet, had the right amount of spice, and paired well with our meals. Initially, we started with a sampler (not pictured), which provides a variety of spreads, including Htipit, baba ghanouj, hummus, labneh, cacik, and taramosalata. We shared a nice selection of entrees. My Favorite was the Grilled Kalamar. It had a delicious chard and smokey taste. It was perfect, juicy, and full of flavor. My least favorite was the flatbread; it had a nice spice, but I'm not a fan of ground meat. Our bill was $120 (not including tip), not too costly, and worth every penny. Overall, we had a great experience; you should treat yourself to a wonderful evening at Agora on 17th St NW, Washington, D.C.

Great and flavorful Turkish/Middle Eastern food. The food is great and the plates are small yet filling. The spread dish was great, I really recommend getting that. The kunefe was yummy. It had the hints of rosewater and was a nice turkish version of the dish. It is pretty difficult to find Kunefe in D.C. so I was excited to see it on the menu.They also have a variety of drinks to choose from.The service was also great despite it being a busy restaurant.Be wary of sitting outside. My friend and I were sitting on the edge not very close to the heater and were freezing. By the time we were ready to eat certain plates they were already cold.

We came to Agora with a reservation on Valentine's Day. We sat in the Patio seating and ordered off the limited ala carte menu. Since it was winter it was definitely a bit chilly on the patio, even with the heaters, but it was okay! We started with the dip sampler which was delicious! The labneh and roasted red pepper were our favorites. They were all very fresh tasting. For our mains we got the grilled chicken and the steak kebab. Both wonderfully seasoned and tender. Wish the chicken was two pieces of dark meat vs one white and one dark. Overall amazing! Great service as well and the ambiance was beautiful even on the outdoor patio.

We went for the restaurant week brunch and were not disappointed. It's a bottomless brunch with too many options to choose from. We loved all the mezze, but were not as great as we anticipated. I personally loved the labneh, tzatziki and baba ganoush. The service was excellent though, and they kept the food coming. The place also has a lot of natural enough space so that you can have your individual conversation without overhearing everyone else. I definitely get the appeal!

Went here for restaurant week and should've known better. Tried a few items. The sample, beet salad, lahmacun nf, lamb chops, branzino, sorbet and baclava. It was honestly mid, mild flavored, except for the lamb chops, they were bursting with flavor. Would certainly recommend them. Branzino was dry and unseasoned. Hope you enjoy these pics though. Service was great and the atmosphere was warm.

Had a phenomenal experience at Agora! We were a large party of 8 and the staff were able to accommodate all of our dietary restrictions without issue (their menu also makes this easy).We ordered several small plates and a few larger plates, all delicious--especially the Anadolu Manti! I was honestly blown away by all the food here and can confidently say that it beats all other Middle Eastern / Balkan restaurants in DC (within the same price range)

Skip the Agora brunch unless you're just looking to get drunk and SICK! My friends and I visited Agora (my first time) last weekend and were left unimpressed. We were promised "all-you-can-eat" but only left with champagne in our bellies. The 3 course meal was supposed to come out and we were told whatever additional we'd like to order to place it with the waiter. Alas, never once was any of our request fulfilled. We received our first course, but a measly 2nd course and a more than disappointing dessert. Numerous times our cups of champagne were filled for mimosas but never water or juice, even after the waiter was asked. More than half the party of 14 I ate with got SICK because of the lack of attention. I wouldn't recommend anyone eat here, there's plenty of bars down the street that won't cost you an arm and a leg for alcohol poisoning.

We went here during restaurant week. We had a early reservation, when we arrived we were seated right away. The restaurant is really nice and quaint inside. Erick our server was fantastic he took time and went over the menu with us. It was a four course meal. First we started out with the beet root salad. It came on a bed on rose water inspired greek yogurt. It was flavorful and light a great way to start a meal. Next we both selected the Fethiye Kabak roasted zucchini stuffed with rice and ground beef on a bed if greek yogurt. This was very flavorful and filling. The third course we had Lamb Chops and Keske. The Keske was really good just the right amount. The Lamb Chops were cooked perfect with really good flavor. The only thing I would say is that they had a little to much fat left on them. The last course was the dessert we both got the Kazandibi which I would say was really different in a good way. It was not very sweet, but being made from rice paste and tree gum it was gummy. All in all it was a really good meal and I would recommend going to Agora if you are in D.C. and looking for some good Turkish food.

This place is beautiful. The food was also really good. Their toum is absolutely to die for. Its veryyy garlicky if thats what you like. The meat was juicyOnly complaint: the portions are veryyy small The agora kuzu is this lamb kebab dish that was $23 and had like 4 bites of lamb and 4 of fat. The kufta is $16 and comes with just one kebab. No sides.