Fava Pot - Egyptian, Middle Eastern Food - Falls Church, VA

7393 D Lee Highway

Falls Church, VA 22042
Telephone: (703) 204-0609

To sum it up: Run, don't walk, to Fava Pot.

We won't mince words here. We loved everything about Fava Pot. There are at least NINE, yes, 9, great things about Fava Pot just off the tops of our heads that we wanted to share with you. We could probably think of at least one more to make it a 10, but by the time you finish reading this review, you could have been already in the car on your way to the restaurant. Besides, we wanted to give you a chance to think of what possibly we missed and to suggest a Number 10.

Here they are, not necessarily in ranked order:

1) Great food. A wide menu selection with an extensive variety of sides and appetizers that are sure to please everyone's taste buds. ALL FOOD IS MADE FROM SCRATCH in the kitchen, according to the owner, Dina Daniel. Vegetarians and vegans, as well as carnivores, can find delicious plentiful options. The portions are healthy, ample and filling. Fava Pot serves all three meals of the day - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. We came here on a sunny June Sunday for a late lunch. 

OH, by the way, ONE IMPORTANT NOTE ON BAKLAVA. While there are five great desserts available at Fava Pot to choose from, we noticed the traditional Baklava is not an option. This is because everything at Fava Pot is made in its very own kitchen and since Baklava isn't made there, it isn't sold there. That's A-OK with us, since there are more than enough other delicious desserts.

 Appetizer / Starter of three side dishes selected by you.  There are 15 options to choose from! We selected the Baba Ghanoush, which was a little on the sweet side, the Spicy Feta Cheese, which had a slight kick, not very spicy, and the tangy mild Tzatziki, all sprinkled with olive oil and adorned with pomegranate seeds and all delicious. Served with a basket of freshly-baked pita bread. 

 This drink is not to be missed, especially on a hot summer day - Iced Mint Lemonade, the owner's creation. Its minty sweet freshly-prepared taste leaves you quenched and refreshed. 

 We both got the Chicken Kabob Platter. The chunky kebob pieces came accompanied by a Spring mix salad with marinated red onions, roasted potatoes (options are either Egyptian Rice or Roasted Potatoes), half of a hearty pita bread and a dollop of a fabulously strong garlic sauce on the side. Those who are salt-conscious may find the Chicken Kabob a bit on the salty side, but when coupled with the Tzaziki or the Pita, the combination is perfect.

 The pita deserves its own mention. It is a hearty thick bread made from a mixture of wheat and white flour with a healthy layer of baked-on grains. Use it to scoop, to dip, or to open up and use as a pocket to stuff a bit of everything into one bite. It is definitely not flimsy and will not fall apart. Wow.

Since Fava Pot is famous for its roasted potatoes, per Dina, we chose this side with our Chicken Kabob, and were certainly not disappointed. Perfectly seasoned and roasted, these are excellent.

2) Great location. The Shops at West Falls Church is a great location: Easy to navigate, easy to park and can get some errands done while there, such as grocery shopping at Safeway or pick up some treats for your pooch at Petco. 

 The Shops at West Falls Church at the intersection of Lee Highway and South West Street.

 Fava Pot is a stand-alone single-story restaurant. 

3) Dina the owner. Is wonderful. Period. Some of our neighbors raved about the restaurant on our neighborhood's Nextdoor.com page, as well as about Dina's welcoming friendly personality, but meeting her in-person is truly a treat. Not only does her down-to-earth spirit form the foundation for her solidly appealing culinary creations, it also permeates throughout the restaurant's atmosphere in its cheerful staff and the satisfied returning clientele. You cannot help but catch her positive dynamic energy and carry it with you for the rest of the day. Brava, Dina.

4) Falafel ... THE BEAGLE! Those eyes! Those ears! Other than our very own most beloved beagle, this is probably the cutest beagle ever. Falafel is 4 years old and tries to be on his best behavior. Best behavior is not always easy with so many delicious smells and adoring fans around, but make no bones about it, Falafel is an intrinsic delight in this establishment. He is Dina's envoy to the patio, may be one way of looking at it. We loved him as much as the food, or maybe even more. Hands down... we will only sit on the patio so we can hang out with Falafel.

5) The story.  Truly inspirational success story. Well-loved Food Truck transitions to a Brick and Mortar neighborhood restaurant. We love stories like this, and there are many. American Dream. Immigrant Dream. Female entrepreneur starts a tiny food business and transforms it into a popular neighborhood restaurant gathering spot, creating jobs and offering a taste of her previous home to her new community. Culinary Diplomacy at its best. 

Fava Pot - Culinary Diplomacy

6) The setting. Fava Pot serves typical Egyptian / Middle Eastern food, but it is not what we would call an ethnic dive, a term that may well be on its way out, anyway. It stands as a stand-alone single-story eatery with large windows, a nice-size L-shaped dining hall and a sizable outdoor open canopied patio that faces the parking lot and the other stores in the shopping center. The setting is bright and clean. Murals with faces of famous Egyptians, some we know, some we don't, grace the walls. 

7) The customers. For privacy reasons we are not posting photos of the families, friends, couples, etc. who were dining in the restaurant and on the patio, or the constant stream of carry-outs in large paper bags. We will also not post photos of customers standing in the fast-moving line to order food, which is brought out to the table quickly by friendly and efficient staff, or sometimes even Dina herself, with a bright smile. We just wanted to note the relaxed, pleasant, casual atmosphere that permeates to and through the patrons.

8) Prices. Prices are a bargain, especially considering the generous portions of delicious food in a friendly vibrant clean setting. It's no wonder that the Washingtonian magazine has listed Fava Pot both in the "Cheap Eats" category and also in the category of Washington D.C.'s 100 Very Best Restaurants of 2019. 

9) Values. Being successful is admirable in its own right. Translating success into improving the lives of marginalized young children is transformational. Fava Pot donates a portion of its profits to improving the lives of Coptic orphaned children back in Egypt and toward helping improve literacy among girls and women in areas of the world were women are regarded as second-class-citizens. This is a new program launched by Dina as a result of her passion for helping these marginalized groups after having worked with them in the past. In this way, Fava Pot does not stop at good food. Its values reach back into the corners of the owner's former community, connecting Fava Pot customers to great causes on the other side of the world.

Can you come up with a 10th reason to love Fava Pot? Or is nine enough? ;) Please feel free to post in comments on this website or in social media. 

Aldeerah Saudi Arabian Restaurant in Vienna, VA

262 Cedar Lane
Vienna, VA 22180
Telephone (703) 992-9994

In a quiet out-of-the-way small shopping plaza in Vienna, VA, Aldeerah shines as a one-of-a-kind restaurant in Northern Virginia. For someone whose familiarity with Middle Eastern cuisine is centered around those common in our area, such as Lebanese, Iranian, Moroccan or Israeli, this is a uniquely new experience. Aldeerah serves up a distinct taste of the Arabian Gulf, offering some dishes that are very different from the familiar flavors.

If you were not aware of Aldeerah's existence, you're not alone: the restaurant notably caters to the Saudi population in the Washington, D.C.'s suburban Northern Virginia area, with no particular penchant for accommodating "American" tastes.  The very friendly staff is happy to provide a small plate to taste an unfamiliar dish to newbies, which is highly welcome, as the menu is quite different from the typical Middle Eastern restaurants that are abundant in Northern Virginia. 

The setting is colorful and traditional. The restaurant is split in half, giving you the option to sit on floor rugs, surrounded by pillows, or, on the other side of the wall, at tables adorned by cultural reminders of Saudi Arabia, down to the salt and pepper shakers depicting a man and woman clad in native traditional Saudi garb.

We arrived with an open mind willing to try new dishes. Not ready to commit to something that could potentially result in diner's remorse, we were offered a taste of two items on the menu that we were considering, namely Jireesh and Qursan with vegetables, both pictured below. We are thankful to have been offered a taste, as neither of these appealed to us. Had we ordered them, we would not have enjoyed them.

Some of the familiar appetizers and salads, like the Samboosa, or the Tabbouleh, are available, as well as Hummus, and a few other items that one can find in other Middle Eastern restaurants. But we chose to forgo those. 

Any chicken dish you order here will come with the same roasted half-chicken served intact, roasted to perfection so that the meat falls right off the bone. We opted for the traditional Chicken Mandi dish, which has two ingredients: RICE and CHICKEN. It was deliciously prepared, though very simple. It did not not disappoint in flavor.

The ambiance was pleasant with soft Arabic music playing the background and quite a few happy patrons in both dining halls. Patrons were both families and same-gender groups, seemingly regulars. The restaurant offers silverware, though the regulars eat with their hands. There is also no alcohol served here.

The all-Indian staff was friendly and knowledgeable. We appreciated their help navigating the menu and learning from them about Saudi cuisine. We had a great dinner and a lovely experience, though unlikely to return for dinner any time soon, as nothing on the menu looked worthwhile to explore for those of us who are not lamb eaters. If do we go back, it will be on a Friday for a $14.99 lunch buffet to try a variety of options that are not typically available on the regular menu.

 Samples of Jeerah (left) and Qursan (right). Both were bland and thick.

 Aldeerah does not skimp on the traditional decor, and offers a 20% student discount Monday - Thursday.

 Groups and families are the norm in Aldeerah.

 Chicken Mandi was delicious, wonderfully complemented by a side order of Yogurt Labneh.

  Delicious Chicken Mandi falls off the bone and the rice cooked and seasoned to perfection.

Amoo’s House of Kebab - Wholesome Persian Food - McLean, Va - Revisited

6271 Old Dominion Dr.

McLean VA 22101 (703) 448-8500

There’s nothing certain in life but death, taxes, AND a great meal at Amoo’s House of Kebab.   So good in fact, that we’re revisiting our earlier posting to update on our experience and reinforce the notion that if you’re seeking great Persian food in Northern Virginia, look no further than Amoo’s. 

We’re not going to run the reader through the many great details of this family run Middle Eastern gem, so please refer to our earlier post on Amoo’s.  We would not be doing justice in describing our most recent visit without first mentioning the charismatic and enthusiastic host, Sebastian.  The owner’s son has the perfect mix of attentive hospitality and boundless energy that speaking with him for a few minutes proves that he is the hub of a family who thoroughly enjoy serving their food from their part of the world to their diners.  For such a young man, he understands the needs of his customers and is willing to stretch the typical kebab house with a more eclectic and energetic vibe.   

So lets get to the meal.  We started by sharing an Ash (pronounced “Ahhsh”) Soup.  Words cannot describe this amazing dish.  Served in a homemade restaurant-baked sourdough bread boule, this wonderful mix of beans, mint, yogurt, and countless other ingredients, was so plentiful, we used the remainder of the bread throughout the rest of the meal.  Sebastian highly recommended the soup and on a cold winter’s day was the perfect beginning to the meal.  We shared the soup--and that was a good thing because if ordered for one, there would be no room left for an entrée.  After the Ash, we were served two different skewered chicken dishes.   Elena had the Tandoori Chicken, a skewer of chicken cooked in a jalapeño marinade.  Bill had a Chicken Breast Fillet.  Both were served with saffron rice and grilled tomatoes.  Elena also ordered a side of Mast-o-Mousir, a creamy yogurt blended with minced shallots and seasoning - the perfect condiment for these chicken dishes.

 

The soup was so filling, we were able to take home and enjoy half our entrées the next day.  This blog continues to highly recommend Amoo’s over its abundant competitors.  We will surely be returning soon.

Amoos House of Kabob - Persian Cuisine - McLean, VA

6271 Old Dominion Dr.
McLean VA 22101
(703) 448-8500

This was an unexpectedly wonderful surprise.  Located in a small nondescript restaurant strip along with a pretty good Chinese restaurant and a dry cleaner, Amoos House of Kabob is a jewel!  If not for the Groupon, we would not have tried this place even though we drive past it often.  This is one awesome ethnic dive!!! Definitely recommend.

Décor is simple and rather cheesy.  But the food and service more than makes up for it.  The daily special – Fesenjoon – was a delicious chicken stew with just the right amount of spices, if not maybe just a bit too sweet, but definitely tasty.  It came with a healthy helping of rice.  The Koobideh (ground beef kabob) was perfectly prepared on a plate with a lettuce salad and wonderful rice. Appetizer Salad Olivieh was a delicious mixture of chicken and vegetables surrounded by fresh vegetables.  The food was truly delicious, and a testament to this fact was the constant inflow and turnover of satisfied diners, many of whom were clearly regulars. 

The owner and his daughter were delightfully welcoming hosts, offering suggestions, explaining dishes, unwrapping napkins.  Their wonderful personalities were particularly pleasant, making this dining experience something we will return to again and again.

To add to the surprise of a chance restaurant visit was that the owner happened to own a restaurant we visited in the past.  The Rose Restaurant on West Broad Street in Falls Church City became La Caraquena, which we reviewed on this blog.  When he sold it in 2007, he opened Amoos House of Kabob.  Although he looked very familiar to us, we did not put the 2 and 2 together, but he recognized Elena and reminded us of the same great meals and wonderful service we had at The Rose Restaurant.

We hope this place stays around for a long time exactly as it is because we want to try all the dishes on the menu and to enjoy the great, unimposing and warm atmosphere of Amoos House of Kabob.