Alara
Mediterranean restaurant · Georgetown ·
Modern Mediterranean meze, lamb chops, branzino, and brunch
Modern Mediterranean meze, lamb chops, branzino, and brunch
"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
"Hakan Ilhan’s new Alara focuses on the coastal cuisines of Turkey, Greece, Lebanon, and Israel with seasonal meze and hot-and-cold dips like red pepper-and-walnut muhammara, meaty mains such as lamb chops and branzino, and even potential Moroccan tagine—expect approachable prices, a strong happy hour, and some Ottoman Taverna favorites." - Tierney Plumb