I had dinner at the newly opened Maydan near U Street recently. Following a growing trend of new D.C. restaurants opening in alleys, Maydan is at the end of an alley off of Florida Avenue. Its markings are subtle, making it somewhat difficult to spot on a recent very cold evening in D.C. But we were immediately rewarded upon entry with a very large fire pit, conveniently located next to the bar. And what a very nice looking bar it is:
Despite the cold weather and the somewhat early hour of 7 p.m. there was a thick crowd at the bar. Nevertheless, we were able to find a spot and obtain a menu in short order.
The restaurant explains that its “food tells the story of our own travels, from Tangier to Tehran and Batumi to Beirut.” Its cocktails do the same, incorporating ingredients with roots in the same parts of the world: