Alara
Mediterranean restaurant · Georgetown
1303 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007
Highlights
Modern Mediterranean with meze, lamb chops, seafood, and happy hour
Modern Mediterranean with meze, lamb chops, seafood, and happy hour
"Alara, a Mediterranean restaurant from the team behind Ottoman Taverna, is now open in Georgetown. There's a four-course prix fixe dinner as well as à la carte options like chicken shish kabob, moussaka, and tahini crème brûlée." - omnia saed
"D.C. hitmaker Hakan Ilhan calls his latest project Alara, which refers to a “beautiful water fairy” in Turkish mythology. Seasonal menus and wines focus on the four coastal countries of Turkey, Greece, Lebanon, and Israel. The restaurant kicks off with a selection of meze and hot and cold dips like red pepper-and-walnut muhammara, followed by lots of meaty mains like lamb chops, and Greek interpretations of seafood (branzino). Alara also imports best sellers found at Ilhan’s Turkish stalwart Ottoman Taverna in Mt. Vernon Triangle. Alara, which brings Georgetown a rare new late-night dining option, takes over the address that long housed Italian darling Paolo’s Ristorante until 2018." - Eater Staff
"Alara, a Mediterranean restaurant from the team behind Ottoman Taverna, is now open in Georgetown. There's a four-course prix fixe dinner as well as à la carte options like chicken shish kabob, moussaka, and tahini crème brûlée. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists." - Omnia Saed
"Chef Hakan Ilhan says his latest project takes its name from a term that refers to a "beautiful water fairy" in Turkish mythology; the seasonal menus and wine program concentrate on the four coastal countries of Turkey, Greece, Lebanon, and Israel. The menu opens with meze and hot and cold dips such as red pepper-and-walnut muhammara, and moves to meaty mains like lamb chops and Greek interpretations of seafood such as branzino. Ilhan will also import best sellers from his Turkish stalwart Ottoman Taverna in Mt. Vernon Triangle, and the restaurant occupies the address that long housed Paolo’s Ristorante until 2018. Opens in January." - Tierney Plumb
"D.C. hitmaker Hakan Ilhan is calling his latest project Alara, which refers to a “beautiful water fairy” in Turkish mythology. Seasonal menus and wines plan to focus on the four coastal countries of Turkey, Greece, Lebanon, and Israel. The restaurant will kick off with a selection of meze and hot and cold dips like red pepper-and-walnut muhammara, followed by lots of meaty mains like lamb chops, Greek interpretations of seafood (branzino), and potentially Moroccan tagine. Alara will also serve some best sellers found at Ilhan’s Turkish stalwart Ottoman Taverna in Mt. Vernon Triangle. Like his other establishments, expect a strong happy hour component and “very approachable” prices from day to night. The Mediterranean restaurant takes over the address that housed Italian darling Paolo’s Ristorante for over three decades till its closure in 2018." - Tierney Plumb
