After a day of Washington D.C. sightseeing while battling chilly, rainy weather, I was not too keen to trek across town for dinner after settling in to my hotel near Dupont Circle.


After doing some quick research, I decided to check out Zorba’s Cafe, a neighborhood establishment that I have walked by many times before when visiting D.C. Greek food is comfort food for me, and the close proximity to my hotel meant that I could get take out to enjoy in the comforts of my room.


With a menu that is labeled to guide gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan options, I knew that it would not be a struggle to explain the nuances of restricted dining here. With plenty of options and good reviews from Find Me Gluten-Free, Zorba’s Cafe was the perfect place for a low-key end to a busy day.

Not only is Zorba’s menu annotated to denote gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian options. French fry lovers take note, because Zorba’s has a dedicated fryer for them. Also of note, Zorba’s has gluten-free pita bread on hand (though I did not confirm if it was dairy-free).  

I ordered the aegean salad, which is a greek salad topped with two souvlaki skewers (chicken or pork). The only modification needed to make this gluten and dairy-free is to take off feta cheese and bread. I chose the chicken souvlaki, which was seasoned well and deliciously chargrilled and the meat was perfectly tender. The salad consisted of radish, red onion, tomato, cucumbers, and pickled peppers with Greek dressing. The veggies were in good proportion, and the dressing added a flavor to tie all the components together.

I also ordered the fasolatha soup, which is a traditional Greek soup made with beans, carrots, tomatoes, celery, olive oil, and herbs. The soup was divine, totally nailing the “comfort food” effect I wanted going in to the meal. The cup was just enough to satisfy, and was one of the best soups I’ve had in recent memory.

Zorba’s is definitely a good place to stop when you’re in search of gluten-free comfort food in Dupont Circle. The staff were knowledgable and the options are abundant which makes Zorba’s definitely a stand out.

Disclaimer: This review is based upon the information I have at the time of the review and does not reflect changes in ingredients or availability of items. Please contact the restaurant directly for up-to-date information and feel free to contact me with any questions or comments. I was not compensated for this review and it is a reflection of my personal opinion.