Mezze Plates at Zaytinya (Penn Quarter / Chinatown)

NEW MEMBERS or 1st TIME EVENT GO-ERS
Before attending your first event, please take a moment to understand how our dinners work and what we ask of members.
→ Learn how DC Metro Dining works
→ Ensure Group Notifications are Setup (Announcements + In on Waitlist/Attending List)

RSVP CUTOFF
The final opportunity to change your RSVP from Yes to No is Sunday, November 8, at 10:00 a.m.

After that point, please do not change your RSVP without contacting the organizer. Last-minute cancellations, no-shows, and failure to communicate may affect future participation.

INTRO: We're heading back to Zaytinya, José Andrés's Mediterranean restaurant in Penn Quarter, for a dinner inspired by the cuisines of Greece, Turkey, and Lebanon.

Zaytinya is built around mezze, the Mediterranean tradition of ordering a variety of smaller dishes to share. Rather than choosing one entrée each, we'll have the opportunity to explore a broader range of flavors, from dips and vegetable preparations to seafood, grilled meats, and Turkish-style flatbreads. The format makes this a particularly good fit for our group, with plenty of ways to mix and match dishes according to individual tastes and budgets.

FOOD: We'll be ordering à la carte, giving everyone the flexibility to choose their own dishes while sharing a variety of flavors across the table.

Recent diners have highlighted several favorites, including hummus, grilled octopus, crispy Brussels sprouts, lamb, giant beans and dolmades (stuffed grape leaves). These offer a good introduction to Zaytinya's Greek, Turkish and Lebanese influences, with a mix of dips, vegetables, seafood and meat.

The menu makes it easy to mix and match smaller plates, adding seafood or grilled meats according to individual tastes. We'll be ordering from the regular dinner menu rather than a fixed-price tasting menu.

→ Explore Zaytinya's Dinner Menu: https://www.zaytinya.com/menu/dinner-1/

-= SPENDING EXPECTATIONS =-
Spending expectation: Approximately 45–70 per person before tax and the restaurant's service charge, depending on selections and beverages. Given the generous portions, sharing several appetizers or larger dishes can be a good way to explore the menu without everyone ordering a full entrée.

SPACE: Zaytinya has a sleek, contemporary interior with Mediterranean-inspired design, a large dining room and a lively atmosphere. The restaurant is popular, and recent diners have praised both the food and the service. The trade-off is that the dining room can become quite noisy when busy, so expect a spirited restaurant environment rather than a quiet, intimate dinner.

→ Visit the restaurant website:
https://www.zaytinya.com

• Tax/Tip combo is our required 30% tax/tip policy (see the FAQs for more details)

• Limited to 8 slots

See you there,
JoeN

CLOSEST METRO

Gallery Place–Chinatown (Red, Yellow, Green Lines) is the most convenient Metro station. From the station, use Exit B aka the 7th Street exit and walk west toward 9th Street NW, then continue to G Street NW. Zaytinya is at 701 9th Street NW, near the corner of 9th and G. Allow approximately 5–8 minutes on foot, depending on the exit and walking pace.

PARKING
Zaytinya is in downtown Penn Quarter, where several commercial garages are within walking distance. Street parking is available in the surrounding area, but spaces can be limited, especially when nearby venues have events. Is a Sunday though, street parking should be doable but watch the signs even on a Sunday!

For directions using the Metro, try using the Trip Planner | WMATA Rider Tools https://share.google/V5iOWbEbTGTvrqF8T

There are commercial garages throughout Chinatown, Metro Center and the surrounding area. For advance parking reservations, check SpotHero or Parking Panda.

Attendance Notes

• If you RSVP “YES,” please commit to showing up & timely responses to Event Lead DMs*. With 5,400+ members and limited seating, we can’t afford no-shows. It’s not fair to other members or to our relationship with the restaurant.*
• New Members / 1st Timers: Trying to get a slot? Join the Waitlist and check back frequently: spots often open up on the morning of the event. You may also receive midweek confirmation emails to reconfirm your RSVP, so please check your Meetup DMs and please respond timely to Event Lead communications.
• Billing Reminder - Add 30% for tax and tip to your food and drink total. This is part of our group’s expectations and helps smooth out service with the restaurant.

Looking forward to dining with you!

JoeN