"Namak in Adams Morgan is easily one of our favorite new restaurant openings of the year. The mix of Persian, Greek, and Turkish flavors is stellar. Case in point: the sesame-crusted fried feta that’s crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside, and paired with watermelon for a sweet-and-sour combo that’ll make you rethink every cheese dish you’ve ever tried. But the standout has to be the Greek chicken. It’s roasted just right and paired with zesty lemon potatoes. The restaurant’s beachy vibes—blue Mediterranean tiles and gold wicker basket lights—create the perfect setting to casually impress, whether you’re on a laid-back date or trying to show your in-laws that DC is more than just traffic circles and monuments." - omnia saed, tristiana hinton