Sphinx Kabob – Cafe

Under cooked Pink in the middle chicken kabob, No bread. $ 8:50. Never again.

I hope we caught them on a bad day — one in which they were out of Baba Ganouj and Salmon by 11:30 AM. Regardless, my beef kabob was well-​done, in the sense that it was overcooked and grey in the center and dry. NOT in the sense that it was «well done». It was a very blah and essentially disappointing meal, and unfortunately for them, this is kabob country and there are many other better options.

I’m giving 2.5 stars just because service is not good. I would have given 3.5 stars if service is good. Food is okay but not great though.

The hookah is alright. It’s expensive than most hookah bars, food is alright too. Nothing amazing. They try to make it seem like a night club but it’s a Egyptian themed restaurant with hookah. Not a bad place to hang out though, if it’s during the week days.

Service was really nice when I went here. The manager came out and asked us how the food was and answered a few questions we had about the menu.
The hookah is decent. There is a fair array of flavors, particularly fruity, which is enjoyable and relaxing. The night life here is pretty interesting. It’s a little strange to see so many people fit into one space though, but they try to make it work.

Not sure what all the negative reviews were about, but I had a pleasant lunch.
No clue if this place turns into the nightclub that everyone else talks about but the owner served up some delicious food.
Had the #6 beef and kibbeh, along with a side of Hummus; which was yummy.

Not really a fan of the place, the service is wack and so is the crowd. Unless you’re in high school I wouldn’t recommend going here.

This is one of the best place around. Awesome food, great service, great music what else you want.

This is one of the sketchiest places in the area. The cover charge depends on who you are and how much you’re willing to intimidate the doorman. Honestly I wouldn’t bother.

While I waited for my order I was attacked by a couple of flies. They were buzzing loud, tried to sit on my shoulder, enter my ear. I don’t like any sort of flies at a restaurant… even fruit flies. As for the food the meat was a little dry but edible. The rice lacked flavor and tasted stale as did the bread. I should have gone next door to chopsticks instead. I ll do that next time.

The best kabobs I have had in the DC metro area (Have been to 5 – 6 different places).
Unknown as a lunch spot by most — we found it when I worked nearby. Absolutely outstanding kabobs. Have eaten here at least 20 times for lunch. Never been for dinner or later.
The owner was really friendly, we got to know him from going so much.
Order #7 for lunch!

Two and a half stars. Came here for lunch with an excoworker who was craving eggplant. Baba ganoush was quite good; had I gotten it to go I would be huddled under my desk licking the last bits off. Bread was on the thin side, toasted just enough to make for easy dipping despite the olive oil drizzle. The beef kabob and rice were acceptable and certainly worth the price point of the lunch specials, and the volume on the TV was turned down while we were there. Décor was cute, owner was super friendly. I’d be open to coming back to try the hookah here and reorder the baba ganoush.

This is a tricky one to rate. Back when I was in high school, I was one of those highschoolers who thought I was the shit for getting in to the place and smoking and dancing. It was like a club! The owner didn’t card (at the door, I was simply asked if I was 18, and I said «yes»), which made me feel even cooler for «getting in underage».
Fast forward a few years. I now go to legit bars and clubs and am not impressed with Sphinx and it’s middle school-​esque clientele (and the older creepsters there to mack on the underage girls). It’s not the place to chill and smoke hookah; it’s for dancing and wanting to party as you smoke.
I’ve never eaten the food, never had anything to drink besides water, and never been there before 10pm, so I can’t comment on any of that. But in terms of late nights at Sphinx, I can’t recommend it unless you’re under 20.

Unlike Aladdin or Prince (in Falls Church), you probably won’t get your life threatened here. I will give you one star for that.
They sell food and shisha here and it’s decent. Not the best, not the worst– but definitely smoke-​able. I’ll give you another star for that.
Kinda pricey compared to some of the other places I’ve been to. It’s always been really awkward when I go here. A few years ago it wasn’t as bad, but things have gotten worse…
And I will take away a star for this: there’s a cover on weekends (and it’s different for everyone… but wtf this isn’t DC…), this is a small space, it’s usually overly loud, and there are a ton of kids that think they are the coolest thing in the world because they have so many friends, can smoke so much, and are out past curfew because their parents think they are sleeping over at so-and-so’s house. O-​M-​G!!! (bleck…)
When I go to smoke it’s because I want to wind down from a night out, or maybe just relax a little. This is not the place. One star for you.

The kabobs were just okay and they don’t serve drinks except out of a can. Late night this place turns into a high school night club with kids smoking the hookah and the young girls start dancing like little freaks in training. Great for pedophiles.

Don’t know about the food cause we couldn’t sit down and eat or smoke Shisha since the music was way too loud and there were a lot of high school kids. Not really a good place to sit down, relax and smoke…

Double apple, rose, peach, and guava.
That pretty much covers the highlights of Sphinx Café.
If you’re looking for a place to relax with your friends and smoke a little hookah, then you’ll probably enjoy your visit here. An array of fruity flavors are available for your smoking enjoyment… the first three I mentioned, I highly recommend. The guava, that applies to the smoothies they make… very refreshing and sweet, but certainly not made with fresh fruit, so don’t have high expectations.
On Fridays and Saturday nights, I suggest that you DON’T come here. That is unless you want to be pay for a $ 5 – 10 (depends on their «bouncer») cover charge at the door and be surrounded by a bunch of high school kids who think they’re at a nightclub. Seriously, it’s a bunch of little girls with very little clothes and boys with Flava Flav’s fashion sense. It’s too loud, too crowded, and they will overcharge you.
As for the food, they attempt to serve Persian style kabobs and appetizers. but let me tell you now, they do no justice for it at all. Honestly though, isn’t it a little odd that a so clearly Egyptian inspired and owned establishment is serving food of a different culture? The kabobs are dry (I’ve tried the jujeh and kubideh) and often without flavor, not even served with somagh (ground sumac) which is absolutely necessary with Persian kabob. The rice, it’s not bad… could use a bit more saffron-​touched rice on top. As for everything else, I never bothered to try it, but I don’t expect much either.
There’s a big screen TV in the corner that is usually blasting Arabic music videos so loud that you can’t hear the person next to you… rather annoying… oh, and remind me again exactly why are they serving Persian food here?
Stick to the hookah, and maybe a glass of hot tea. Also, for your own sake, don’t drop the plastic tip for your hookah pipe… you just might contract a bad string of high school herpes.

Inexpensive, Persian-​style kabob dishes. A small restaurant with authentic looking furnishings and an eager owner/​host. Beef, chicken or salmon kabobs come with grilled green peppers, tomato and onions, handmade bread and rice. Great for carry-​out or casual lunches. Don’t be surprised if you get plastic knives and forks, or disposable cups… it’s just plain food at a fair price, just blocks away from Reston Town Center’s expensive restaurants.