Layli Mediterranean

The Hottest New Restaurants Around D.C., July 2024

"Láylí debuts in the heart of Clarendon in June with a parade of Lebanese meze, meaty Turkish mains, and Greek taverna delights in a 7,000-square-foot corner space that formerly housed Bar Ivy. Beirut-born chef Samer Zeitoun revives recipes from Zenola, his critically acclaimed spot in Vienna that didn’t make it past the pandemic. For his latest act in Northern Virginia, Mediterranean-hopping highlights include kibbeh nayeh (Shenandoah Valley lamb tartare), roasted eggplant, fattoush, falafel, grape leaves, beef tenderloin shawarma, hummus with duck confit, grilled whole branzino, lamb shank, a wood-fired mixed grill, and Lebanese pastries. A leafy outdoor lounge is primed for summer, complete with a second bar slinging spicy pomegranate mezcalitas alongside alfresco DJs." - Tierney Plumb