Sababa is a Hebrew slang word meaning “great or cool” and can express enthusiasm and satisfaction. Sababa comes from the Arabic word tzababa, which means great or excellent in spoken Arabic.
Like the name Sababa, Israel’s food has its roots in both Jewish and Arab cuisine. The cuisine of Sababa exemplifies the true melting pot that is Israel. Israeli food encompasses the traditions of over a hundred cultures that have been in Israel and in Palestine, or moved from the Diaspora to modern-day Israel. There are foods from Bulgaria, Romania, North Africa, Yemen, Ethiopia, Georgia, the Balkans, Lebanon, Syria, Cyprus, and Turkey — just to name a few.
Sababa’s menu offers a small plates and large plates menu to encourage guests to share.
Dramatic Middle Eastern tent-like setting backdrops a modern Israeli menu, with a lounge for drinks.
Sababa translates to “cool” in Hebrew, and that’s certainly the ambiance here, as juicy kebabs, creamy labneh, and next-level vegetables are devoured at this …
Reviews
Sarah Manseau
Hidden gem in DC!!!
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Neha Dixit
Deliciously authentic Israeli cuisine served with warmth and hospitality. The sweet corn falafel was very crisp, the hummus creamy, and the eggplant charred to perfection. A must-visit for anyone seeking a taste of Israel in the heart of DC.
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Sar id (MyMobile)
The meeting of Sababa in Arabic is great or excellent.
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Olivia
We loved the food at Sababa! Everything is perfect for sharing and there are a lot of dishes to accommodate dietary restrictions such as vegetarian or vegan. The roasted halumi and the charred eggplant are pretty good! We also had the Israeli salad, hummus, and falafel. I tried their pomegranate-rosehip soda which was okay. I’m giving 3 stars because if you’re there during brunch hours but not having brunch, a single cocktail is $14 which is the same price as their bottomless. I get it, but it still seems kinda ridiculous.
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William West Hopper (DC Car Guy)
Great Middle Eastern food. Good service and a nice atmosphere. Can’t wait until the wine bar opens in September.
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Rachel Murphy
Absolutely recommend for brunch. We had the unlimited champagne, hummus, cauliflower, falafel and kofta. All were delicious and we were full but ordered dessert which was also really good. Definitely surpassed my expectations
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Mark Liniado
Modern Israeli. Atmosphere is very nice with dim lights and lots of wood carved panels on the wall. The hummus special with the harissa sauce had a nice spicy flavor. The Israeli salad was very fresh and had a night light marinate. The freshly backed pita bread was amazing and I loved the chicken kabob. The chicken was moist but with a nice char.
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Kelsey Moore
The food and team at Sababa is amazing! We hosted our wedding reception on the top floor and outside patio of the restaurant and it was fantastic. George, Sara and team set up the venue beautifully and were able to accommodate all of our requests. The food and wine were delicious, especially the eggplant, halloumi and salmon dishes. The service was excellent, everyone made us feel very celebrated. We appreciate it!
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Diana Needle
What an amazing experience we had in this restaurant.
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J.B.
This is a lovely establishment. Good food and nice ambience. It is a gem and a treasure in Cleveland Park. We’ve tried several items on the menu, but our favorites are the lamb shank and the Israeli salad. The atmosphere is laid-back and you don’t feel like you’re ever being rushed. There’s outdoor seating which is covered and also heated in the winter months. Right now there’s construction going on so it’s only indoor seating. The atmosphere is appropriate for date night, family night, dinner out with friends and almost any occasion. Carryout also is excellent — everything is packed carefully and travels well. Parking can be difficult, but the good news is that it’s one block south of the Cleveland Park metro.
