Limani - Washington

The location and ambiance can't be beat, and the food was fantastic. However, the level of disorganization was unreal! It appeared as if they had enough staff, but it took forever to get anyone to even come and take our drink order. There appeared to be no structure. When the waiter finally came, he didn't introduce himself. We constantly had to ask the waiter and staff as they flew by us for drinks, water, to take our order, etc. They may not have cared about the service because they automatically charge you 20% service fee. That being said, if they get their disorganization taken care of, it'll be a place to revisit...but for now, no.

Travel with me to a Mediterranean experience overlooking the beautiful Wharf.

Service: Upon arrival, my hostess was very unprofessional and not pleasant at all. After checking in with her, I sat for a few and upon my friend's arrival, she checked in with an actual pleasant hostess who then walked us to our seat. We probably should have seen her first before the short woman, long black hair, pinstripe pants, at the front around 11am yesterday. She needs refresher in customer service/hospitality.

Waitress service: ILSY is AMAZING! I would more likely ask which shift and section she's working and request her again. The most kindest and attentive waitress there is and one whose care for customers reflects in her questions such as "are you enjoying your meal?" "do you enjoy ____, can I recommend something your might enjoy?" I mean, impeccable service! I felt seen, appreciated, and valued as a customer. Thanks ILSY.

Drinks: It was an early start so I needed coffee. This place has some strong drip coffee, freshly made and a great caffeine start ($12 cup) They also offer almond milk so lactose free folks, we can enjoy!

Brunch drink: I ordered a glass of sauvignon blanc ($16) crisp and complimenting for the brunch menu selection. I later enjoyed a few glasses of Prosecco!

Brunch: Now, this is a bottomless brunch so I'll give you my menu selections in group ratings, starting from meh to love!

MEH: Burnt, dry, or lacking flavor:

- Keftedakia - Mini Meatballs in Tomato Sauce with shredded Kefalograviera cheese (burnt and dry)

-Chicken Souvlaki - Grilled Chicken Breast served with Warm Pita, Onion, Tomato, Tzatziki (lacking flavor)

- Roasted Leg of Lamb - Sliced Roasted Lamb served warm Pita, Onion, Tomato, Tzatziki (dry and lacking flavor)

-Beef Souvlaki - Skewered Beef with Onion and Pepper (burnt)

- Salmon Tartare - Fresno Chili, Shallots, Cilantro and Fresh Scallion (lacking flavor, avocado was way too whipped and needed a little salt to boast it)

-Greek Waffles - Quince Preserve with Greek Honey (short on flavor and fluffiness)

Safe to say that I immediately stopped eating these items and would not order them again.

LOVE: Simply divine and must try

- Greek Spreads ~ Tzatziki, Hummus, Ktipiti: the Ktipiti dip is all you need! It's SO delicious and has a little spice to it.

- Halloumi - served grilled over a bed of grilled Tomato and fresh Mint: exotic flavoring and well grilled.

- Shakshuka - Poached Eggs in a sauce of Tomato, Chili peppers and Onions, spiced, greek yogurt: this is SO delectable and well prepared.

- Greek Omelette: Tomato, Feta Cheese, Spinach, Peppers, Garlic and Herbs: fluffy and filled with flavor.

- Patates Tiganites - Potatoes cooked in our olive oil with mediterranian seasoning: they were crispy and a great to pair with the Shakshuka.

-Avgofetes - Greek French Toast - Honey, Rosewater Whip Cream: STAR OF THE SHOW! These were simply DIVINE! Buttery soft, balanced sweetness, and great by itself or even as a dessert.

- Baklava Pancakes - Whole-Wheat Buttermilk pancakes with cinnamon, pistachio, phyllo crumble and syrup: a MUST try! These were fluffy and flavorful! I could have ate more of this and the French toast.

These were my FAVORITE dishes ordered and ones I hope are kept consistent in flavors so that they continue to shine.

Not pictured but worth mentioning:

Baklava - Classic Greek Dessert
Bougatsa - Greek Pastry with creamy Custard filling

GET them BOTH! They were SO divine!

Overall, our bill came to $211 roughly and included our $55 brunch per person, sparkling bottled water, coffee, wines, and 20% service charge.

Would I visit again? ABSOLUTELY! I'm trying to get my boyfriend onboard. However, I do hope that the items I mentioned as being burnt and lacking flavor are worked on because sadly I said to my friend "I've had better versions of these at a food truck" not great or what you'd expect from a fine dining experience. I'd like to give these items another try if they take heed to reviews. Additional photos added to the Yelp gallery

Is it good for groups? ABSOLUTELY!

Good for kids? Not small kids

Romantic: Oh yes! Can you picture this place during the sunset? I would probably be lost in the delicious food and my partner's eyes lol

Overall, I had a great experience here and will return again.

This has been on my list for a while now. Mediterranean + Seafood is my perfect meal. Limani fell a bit short. If I could give half stars, I would give it a 3.5, but I cannot give it a 4.

Service (3/5) - The staff was kind, but honestly a bit overly attentive. There was always someone at our table filling up our glasses when they were still 3/4 full and asking if they could clear plates that were far from empty. I felt that the staff did not match the elevated experience the restaurant was trying to achieve.

Ambiance (4/5) - The restaurant itself was immaculate. The decor was beautiful, it was right on the water and the views were breathtaking. That said, I was a bit confused that they did not allow flash photography because it would "ruin the ambiance" yet there were people dining in Jean shorts and crop tops. If they want an elevated experience, they should maintain that across the entire restaurant.

Food (4.5/5) - The food WAS delicious. We started with the octopus which was cooked to perfection, not chewy at all. It was well seasoned and flavorful, highly recommend. We then ordered the stuffed calamari which were to die for. Very unique and packed with flavor. Also highly recommend! For entrees, I got the Loup De Mar and my fiance got the lamb chops. Both dishes were very tasty and cooked wonderfully. All of that said, I found the menu to be over priced. I do not feel the prices justified the food + service we received.

Overall, the restaurant itself is beautiful and in a stunning location. I would most likely not go back again for dinner, but could see myself returning to sit at the bar and get a cocktail.

Just in case you are looking for anything other than a brunch menu...Sunday brunch menu is the only option here (on Sundays). Ask to be seated on the top level and the views are not disappointing, and the balcony (top level) we decorated in cherry blossom garland for the season. Although service was a bit slow for a Sunday morning, the grilled octopus and all of the suckers were nice and tender and served with capers and onions.

Even through the oysters are a bit overpriced considering the local competition at the Wharf, the. Blue point were sweet and mediocre in size. I suggest offering mussels that aren't in a red sauce, and that that aren't on the brunch menu... Just saying.... Sometimes you just need something chilled and light. Sangria was dry, in case you are looking for a fruitier experience.

Bathrooms were spacious and accommodating for both male and female/ female

I had such a lovely meal at Limani! All of the food was incredibly fresh and the view was stunning! We also had great service and they were very attentive. There is a super cute side private room that you can host dinner parties.

Great food and atmosphere.
This restaurant is going to be a good spot to visit during the warmer weather days because it's on the waterfront. Everything we ordered was pretty tasty. The restaurant is really quiet though; would love to see some personality.

Beautiful view, great service, great fish, spanakopita and a dreamy strawberry pavlova for dessert.

Went here with a girlfriend to catch up and loved everything about it! We tried the calamari, spanakopita and scallops, all of which were divine. We also had a few espresso martinis, the bomb. Our waitress was very nice and even though we overstayed our welcome by being there way after closing everyone was still so nice.

The decor is also very chic and modern with pictures of the Greek islands all over. Very classy/sophisticated!

This is one of the best upscale dining experiences that I experienced in 2023. It is in my top 3 dining experiences. This is a Greek restaurant which serves Mediterranean influenced seafood and and selections.
My partner and I went here for a romantic dinner and the experience was top tier.

Everything that we had was phenomenal, all the food was cooked to perfection, flavored beautifully and extremely fresh, especially the seafood. Im a champagne girlie lol so I just had a glass of Prosecco but my partner loved the Sangria he got.

We had:
Appetizers
* CRAB CAKE - Maryland super lump crab meat served with gigantes.
* Calamari
* LEMON POTATOES - Extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice & herbs

Entrees
* LOBSTER PASTA
* Lobster with linguini and tomato sauce
* Cowboy Steak - 22 oz bone-in rib eye, dry aged 30 days

Drinks
* THEA'S SECRET SANGRIA - Tempranillo, Mextaxa 12, Honey, Orange, Spices
* Prosecco

The restaurant itself has 3 floors and it on the DC Wharf overlooking the Potomac River. It is very modern and upscale. They don't enforce a dress code but I recommend dressing business casual or showing up in your Sunday best. There are so many great photo opportunities as well in the space.

The staff is super friendly, attentive and accommodating, they recommended great food and drink selections too.

I definitely can't wait to go back and try their brunch menu and enjoy their dessert.

In terms of parking there is a parking garage within walking distance from the restaurant but there is also some paid street parking available.

Very nice and right on the water. I took a friend who is VERY picky about seafood and he loved the swordfish he got and the calamari we shared. I got the salmon and even though it was well done, it was still moist and delicious. We got the fries and asparagus as sides which were good. My friend got the mojito like mocktail and he loved it so much he ordered two. I told them it was birthday and got a free citrus cake with honey lavender ice cream. It was one of the best desserts I've had. The service was fantastic with several people making sure we always had exactly what we needed.