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Bacchus of Lebanon
Review
About
The #1 Lebanese Restaurant in the DC area. Choice Bethesda destination with a casual vibe serving authentic Lebanese cuisine featuring live belly dancer shows on the weekends. The only year-round outdoor patio in the DMV.
Features
CUISINES
Lebanese, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
Meal types
Lunch, Dinner, Drinks
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
FEATURES
Accepts Credit Cards
American Express
Discover
Dog Friendly
Family style
Free Wifi
Full Bar
Highchairs Available
Mastercard
Non-smoking restaurants
Outdoor Seating
Reservations
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Street Parking
Table Service
Takeout
Visa
Wine and Beer
Location
Street Parking
Menu
Does this restaurant have a TV?
Save this restaurant
Hours
Open until 10:00 PM
Sunday
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Monday
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Tuesday
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Thursday
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Friday
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM5:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Saturday
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM5:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Contribute
4.1
127 reviews
Excellent
61
Very good
37
Average
17
Poor
7
Terrible
5
Stateside Scotties
Stafford2 contributions
Jul 2023 • family
We visited Bacchus for a small family celebration. Food was amazing - we ordered shrimp and a salad to start, entrees included both chicken and lamb rice dishes. All were cooked perfectly and were full of flavor.
All staff were very friendly and attentive. Total price was very good for the area. We will definitely return!
Written August 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ranna G
8 contributions
Mar 2023 • family
My family and I visited Bacchus of Lebanon on a Saturday night so we could see the belly dancing. We had so much fun and loved the food. Definitely try the shawarma, Kalage bel-jebne, (fried imported cheeses wrapped in fillo leaves with parsley), shish kabob, kafta, and lahm mechwi. For dessert we loved the baklava and this rose water flavored pudding (can’t remember the name of it). All the food was amazing and the owner was kind. The space was beautiful. Definitely want to go back.
Written March 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fluffnfold
Lehigh Valley923 contributions
Dec 2019 • none
My spouse and I dined at Bacchus of Lebanon for dinner on a Tuesday evening in mid-December 2019. Bacchus is open for lunch on Tuesdays through Fridays and for dinner daily (no lunch on Saturdays, Sundays, or Mondays). Guests can make a reservation using the restaurant’s website. (Note that outdoor patio seating cannot be reserved.)
Bacchus of Lebanon opened 30+ years ago on Norfolk Avenue in the Woodmont Triangle neighborhood. (We stayed nearby at The Bethesdan [a Hilton property that was formerly called the Doubletree], and it was a short walk from the hotel to the restaurant.) Interior décor includes wooden plank walls, tile floors, a white railing with columns that separates the outermost tables (some of which share a padded banquette) from the ones in the center of the restaurant, a waterfall feature of stacked stone in one corner, and potted plants. In warmer months, Bacchus has a large dedicated outdoor patio (including an outdoor bar) at the corner of Norfolk and Del Ray Avenues.
As its name suggests, Bacchus of Lebanon serves Middle Eastern cuisine. We started with their classic hummus (which takes 3 days to make) as well as their stuffed grape leaves. As our main dishes, we ordered the ouzi (roasted lamb served atop rice) and the combination platter (one lamb skewer and one chicken skewer served atop rice). For dessert, we shared the knafeh (dough filled with cheese and topped with rosewater syrup). Bacchus has a liquor license, so you can enjoy beer, wine, and some limited cocktails with your meal. (Note that there is no indoor bar at Bacchus, only a behind-the-scenes service bar.)
We enjoyed our dinner at Bacchus of Lebanon.
Written April 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pauline S
22 contributions
Jun 2023 • friends
I came here with friends to eat in their lovely patio. When I asked for advise about gluten free and dairy free food, the waitress pointed to several items. Unfortunately, I was sick that evening and the next day.
Written June 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
K T
Gaithersburg3 contributions
Jul 2021 • none
So disappointing!
This is a Lebanese restaurant serving the favorite meat of the Middle East...LAMB.
They should know how to prepare it!
The kabob made with lamb was INEDIBLE. It was so tough the steak knife had difficulty cutting through it. It had obviously NOT been marinated. Add to that the absence of any flavoring/spicing and it made the Bacchus Combination specialty a very disappointing meal that we left largely untouched.
Our companions ordered two specialty fish dishes that came to the table extremely overcooked and dry as well. They also left their meals largely untouched as a result.
We complained to the manager and all we got was "sorry".
Save your money and go to Moby Dick restaurant instead. The meals prepared at Moby Dick are flavorful, use choice cuts of tender meat, and are generally half the price!
On a good note, the waitress was delightful with a lot of personality. She was great even though she had only been working for them for a week.
Written July 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
more_gelato
Austin154 contributions
Dec 2023 • couples
Pleasant space, excellent waiters, but alas, the food wasn't amazing. We ordered 2 lamb dishes: the Mechwi was flavorful but very unevenly cooked, the Ouzi was just boiled. No flavor in the meat and the rice was watery. Pita was fresh and delicious. Kind of wish we had gone to the fancy hot dog place down the street.
Written January 4, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Edward P
Bethesda23 contributions
Aug 2020 • none
My wife and I have been patrons since it opened 32 years ago and Bacchus is still the best. The best Lebanese food, the best outdoor dining, and the best service. Our standbys are the hummus with fresh pitas, the village salad, the lamb and chicken kabob dinners, with baklava for dessert. All accompanied by the house Lebanese red wine. Not only is the food authentic, but the dinner portions are large enough for left-overs the next day. The outside terrace is an oasis in downtown Bethesda--inviting and quiet. The owner, Zaid Barsoom, has an attentive eye that keeps quality and service at a high level. Most of the wait staff are Bacchus veterans. Former wait staff come back as patrons with their families. I have also been there for many business dinners.
Written August 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Khoi N
Washington DC4727 contributions
Jul 2020 • friends
Disappointed in myself for never dining here before. I'm a big fan of Lebanese and Mediterranean food. Stopped by recently and had everything from the beef and swordfish platter, hommos, fried eggplant, bacchus shrimp, shish taouk with some friends. Everything here was delicious. We loved the lamb and swordfish. The fish itself was cooked so well we all thought it was meat. The sabanegh bel zeit with the bread and dipping oil had some great texture. They have an extensive wine menu which is perfect with all of this delicious food. The staff had on gloves and masks. Seats were 6 ft apart and they had hand sanitizer every where throughout the restaurant. My friends and I really enjoyed our experience here. Prices are reasonable and we left completely stuffed. I'll definitely be back to try their other speciality items and their konafah
Written July 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rhoda D
177 contributions
Jul 2023 • friends
Stunningly rude. We arrived at about 11:55 and the door was open so we went in. No one was around, music was blaring. We stood there, a manager came out and yelled at us (!), no "I'm sorry, we are not open yet or welcome" just yelled "We are not open yet" We said, sorry but the door was open, we didn't know that, and he turned his back and left us standing there. I said "Excuse me, should we leave or sit down" and he said, "You're in here, aren't you!" It was extraordinary. If we hadn't been waiting for our host to arrive, we would have left. The food is standard Middle Eastern falafel, etc. Never apologized even tho' we said, "Is this honestly how you greet your guests?"
Written July 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
grandmawawa
72 contributions
Feb 2020 • none
I had not eaten at Bacchus in several years and was pleased to find it as wonderful as I remembered. Gracious service, delicious food and quiet. Stuffed cabbage, swordfish, falafels, baba ghannouj, kalage bel-lahm were wonderful. I will be back soon.
Written February 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
K M
2 contributions
Aug 2023 • couples
Bacchus of Lebanon is fantastic. I don't understand why it does not come up right away in tripadvisor! The outdoor seating is great and the food is out of this world. The menu is diverse with plenty of vegetarian options. The lamb is fantastic and I love the fried Kibbee. You can just make a meal out of all the appetizer options. We were treated to a belly dancer too on Sat night.
Written August 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ishacn C
1 contribution
Aug 2021 • none
Food was decent but they overcharged me the tip. Check you card transaction after you are done eating here. Not coming back again.
Written August 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
venus802
Washington DC3 contributions
Feb 2020 • none
Bacchus provides inviting setting for enjoying Delicious dishes such as Kibble, shwarma, fatoosh ,hummus and other well known as well as some unique middle eastern fare.. Their luncheon specials are a real deal..
Written March 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brian M
14 contributions
Nov 2019 • none
Ate at Bacchus with family the day before Thanksgiving. This restaurant has very nice decor, a very attentive wait staff, and an extensive menu. We ordered a variety of appetizers, and were not disappointed. We especially enjoyed the fried falafel. The waiter brought us a complimentary plate of deserts at the end of the meal, which we didn't need but certainly appreciated!
Written December 3, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ChefPulitsir
Raleigh134 contributions
Nov 2019 • none
The food selection is wide. The offerings are fresh. Some of the food was bland — for example, I like more lemon on juice, a pinch extra salt and more garlic in my hummus. The warm pita was delicious. The meat dishes went down well with the omnivores in our group. My son’s fries with thyme were a joke — hardly a dusting of thyme. Just frozen fries fried in a hurry.
Written November 20, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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