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

"Landing in the sunny, glass-enclosed penthouse level of Space Lounge between 13th and 14th Streets NW, Yalla — meaning “let’s go!” in Arabic — serves family-style plates in a party-starting setting. Chef Marcel Chehaieb splits the family-style spread into four parts: cold, hot, grilled, and sweets. First, he whips up three types of hummus: classic, “Beirute” with tomato and herbs, and an umami-rich duck confit variety. Cooked plates include seared sheep’s halloumi over puckery pickled rhubarb, phyllo-wrapped sweet-and-sour shrimp, and jibnet rolls — crispy sheep feta-mozzarella and za’atar sticks with a harissa apricot coulis." - Tierney Plumb, Emily Venezky