Spork and Knife

Hidden amongst a nail salon, Fed Ex store and an out-of-service movie theater lies an Upper Northwest gem. 

From the outside, Cafe Ole doesn’t garner as much as a second glance.  Uninformed passers by think it’s just another Mexican restaurant or ho-hum cafe.  Little do they know that once inside the doors you’ll find a small brightly colored and casual bistro ready to serve Mediterranean cuisine “for the adventurous palate.”  We’re not talking fried creepy-crawly things adventurous, but cuisines from all over the Mediterranean such as Turkish, Israeli, Greek, French and Italian.  Enhancing the experience is a geometric wall mural of a seaside town, making you feel as if you’ve just landed on the other side of the Atlantic. 

The menu is tapas style serving both hot and cold “mezze” and it’s recommended that each person order 2-3 as an entree.  I personally think some of the mezze are filling in themselves, though it’s always fun to try more than one dish.  Unless eating an entire pizza is your idea of filling, 2 per person should suffice.   

If you’re with a group start out with the cold sampler platter.  You’ll get a basket full of grilled pita chips, accompanied with dishes of black bean hummus, baba ganouj, tapenade and classic hummus.  There’s something for everyone and it whets your appetite for the dishes to come. If you’re alone or with a friend, go for the black bean hummus.  The addition of cumin brings out the natural sweetness of the black beans and adds an extra spice not found in the dish’s classic form.    

Some favorites on the hot mezze side are Lebanese Celebration (Grilled chicken marinated in Lebanese spices, garlic, onion and olive oil, served over bulgur wheat and topped with scallions, hummus and lemon pepper aioli), Shepherd’s Pie Ole and Lamb Shawarma.  Without personal restraint, I would order the Lebanese Celebration every single visit.  The creamy aioli combined with the tartness of the lemon and sweet nuttiness of the bulgur wheat result in what must be the Mediterranean version of comfort food.

If you don’t feel like getting out of your sweatpants, Café Ole does an excellent job of packing things up and letting you enjoy their food in the comfort of your own home.  I used their take-out service for a surprise dinner with a group of 4 friends, and everyone was thrilled with the turnout. 

Adventurous menu items and flavor pairings, a bright and unassuming atmosphere, outdoor patio and very reasonable prices ($5-$7 per mezze) make this place a favorite amongst those in-the-know. 

Bonus: On Wednesday nights the special is half-price bottles of wine, so you can splurge a little and still keep the bill low. 

Café Ole

Washington, D.C.

202-224-1330