Albi
Middle Eastern restaurant · Near Southeast ·
Hearth-fired Levantine dishes, unique cocktails, and wine selections
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22394649/Chateu_Musar_Rey_Lopez.jpg "Albi by Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.")
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23437848/Albi_dishes_credit_Rey_Lopez.jpg "Albi by Rey Lopez/Albi")
Hearth-fired Levantine dishes, unique cocktails, and wine selections
"This Navy Yard denizen is hip and lively. Arranged around a roaring hearth, the space also features an inviting bar. Albi is a sterling example of open-fire cooking at its best. À la carte is one way to go, but guests may just do better with the hyper-seasonal tasting menu. Regardless, Chef/owner Michael Rafidi's dishes are full of surprises as he weaves in the flavors of the eastern Mediterranean with a myriad of local ingredients. Favorites like baba ghanoush and kefta are handled with precision, but the tastiest dishes come from the wood-fired hearth, imbued with smoke and char. A dessert of brown butter knafeh with yogurt ice cream is a marvel, while the wine program flaunts a litany of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern labels." - The MICHELIN Guide
"Albi was described as drawing its flavors from Palestine, exemplifying the geographic and cultural diversity of cuisines represented across the North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list." - Matthew Kang
"At Albi in Washington, DC I experienced halva elevated as a centerpiece—Albi’s Halva Bar reframes tahini‑based halva with the same careful attention a chocolate bar receives, reflecting the city’s embrace of Levantine sweets." - Arati Menon, Megan Spurrell
"The 2024 James Beard Award winner for Outstanding Chef Michael Rafidi manipulates smoke with a master’s touch, sending out dishes from the wood-burning hearth at his recently renovated, high-end Palestinian restaurant that have a way of commanding a diner’s full attention. The Maryland native’s tweaks dishes to incorporate peak produce — see the crab hummus decorated with sunflower shoots — but the snack-sized lamb meat pies with toum and lemon should never go out of style. Cocktails, desserts, and a lengthy wine list full of hard-to-find Eastern Mediterranean labels all rise to the occasion. An a la carte menu joins a new five-course “Sofra” menu ($145) that’s a surprise on the plate every night, plus $65-$95 beverage pairings. For something more affordable, head to sibling cafe Yellow, which expanded to Georgetown with fiery pies at night, and added a Union Market locale with lively Levantine bar La’ Shukran up top. Best for: Date night, larger groups, an arak cocktail, and everything in between" - Tierney Plumb
"James Beard Award–winning chef Michael Rafidi will be among those offering off-court delights." - Evan Caplan