Stopped by ala on Friday afternoon, September 11, and discovered their All Day Happy Hour as a nice way to start the weekend. My cocktail of choice was the Khavyar, which featured gin, Portan cucumber, dill, and lemon. Refreshing, crisp, and a great start to the afternoon. For food, I tried the Hummus + Pita, Za'atar Pide, and Tawook Burger. I sat at the bar, where Isabel was gracious, welcoming, and attentive throughout my visit. There was a nice crowd, pleasant music, and a relaxed energy. I tried the Hummus + Pita, Za'atar Pide, and Tawook Burger. The standout for me was definitely the Za'atar Pide. Made with Palestinian za'atar, creamy feta, and labneh, it was flavorful, savory, creamy, and easily my favorite dish of the afternoon. I would order it again without hesitation. The Hummus + Pita was a great start, and the Tawook Burger with two breaded chicken breasts, cheese, onion, mesclun, tomato, and house-made sauce on brioche was hearty and satisfying. Good food. Pleasant atmosphere. Attentive service. And much love for that Za'atar Pide! I'll be back for it. read more

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This is now my 3rd dining experience at Ala and it has not gotten better. In fact, I have downgraded it to only 2 stars. Maybe 2.5. The outside seating area is nice so I give them that. We went on a Thursday night so it was not crowded. We got a table immediately. The restaurant has recently been renovated and I don't think it helped the place. The banquettes and seats are really uncomfortable. The interior decoration is overdone in some places (how many Turkish divas can you have in a room?) and underdone in others (the lighting in particular looked like a dorm room gone bad). The service was uninspired at best. Slow, uninterested and just ample to get you some food. The food was meh. We were so unhappy with the shrimp that we complained and - to be fair - it was taken off our bill. But, honestly, 3 small shrimp that were mostly shells should never have been on the menu to begin with. The other dishes were okay but - as with my initial review of this place - too much seasoning, too many herbs. The cauliflower had something on it that made the dish unpleasant; we did not finish it. Some of the sauce on top was dried out so that tells me it had sat there for some time. The food falls flat and is distracted by all the accompaniments. The dolmas were okay but the filling (rice & beef) was bland. Will I go back to Ala? Probably not although it is very close to my work. Do I recommend it? Probably not. There simply have to be better Turkish restaurants in the area. read more

Was invited to try Ala through a fellow Yelper and grateful for the introduction because this place delivered-ish. The all day happy hour menu is the move and we took full advantage. The Batata Hara: fried potatoes with garlic were dangerously good. Overpowering with the garlic but in the absolute best way possible. The Karahab fried brussels sprouts and the Tawook chicken breast burger were both delicious and well executed. The only miss for me personally was the ribeye gyro but that's less about Ala and more about me finally confirming that gyros and I are just not meant to be. The food gets a solid 5 stars. The seating situation however deserves a conversation. Yelpers were directed to either the bar or outside with no other options offered. The weather cooperated and it wasn't a bad experience outdoors but when the hostess specifically stated that Yelpers sit at the bar or outside, that landed differently. The restaurant appeared beautiful from what I could see and assuming the inside was as lovely as it looked, that felt like a quiet form of segregation that the restaurant should probably revisit. Guests are guests regardless of how they found you. Our waiter was attentive and never forgot about us which is always appreciated. Overall a great experience with one note worth addressing. I'd return but hopefully at the main table next time. read more

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Ala is in an incredible location right in the middle of Dupont Circle, and the outdoor space is spacious and really nice. That said... the mosquitoes were absolutely relentless I got eaten alive. Our server actually offered us bug spray, which I appreciated, but eventually we admitted defeat and moved inside. We ordered off the happy hour menu and basically worked our way through every appetizer, along with the pandora cocktail. The Brussels were SO good, but my absolute favorite was the burger. Honestly, it was substantial enough to feel like an entree. The bread was also really good. Our server could not have been better. He brought my daughter a little cake at the end since her birthday was coming up, which was such a sweet touch and made the whole experience feel extra special. Inside, the decor is super modern and the music was definitely vibing, but not obnoxiously loud. We were able to have a full conversation without yelling across the table, which honestly can be surprisingly hard to find at a trendy DC restaurant. Overall, I'd definitely recommend Ala. Great location, fun atmosphere, really good happy hour food, and excellent service. Just maybe bring your own bug spray if you're sitting outside. read more

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It had been a while since my last visit, and was happy to retry. The last time I went it was order from the server style and was a bit slow. The method had changed quite a bit and the bigger style is so much more preferable. The food was good and our server was very prompt and quick with following up. I will not that it was about half meat, so heads up to vegetarians if you are looking for more options. I was satisfied and mostly kept to the dips, salads, and desserts. I appreciate that they provided larger plates to avoid the constant up and down. Great brunch option and really good price point as well. read more

ala - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Hidden DC gem with great vibes, food, and drinks. Easy to walk past, but worth finding -- nice covered patio, modern stylish interior, and our bartender was attentive all night. Standouts: the Fehleq (fruity, citrusy, perfectly balanced with tequila), Batata Hara (some of the best potatoes I've had -- harissa-seasoned, garlic sauce, huge portion, 10/10), and the Basturma Pide (fluffy flatbread, pesto, cured beef). The Garides shrimp was smaller but still delicious -- fire-kissed flavor, cooked just right. Great spot for a meetup. Will be back! read more

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My friends and I get together once a month for brunch or dinner, and this month we landed at Ala in Dupont Circle--and whew...this brunch did NOT disappoint! If you're hungry, come with an appetite because their bottomless brunch is the real deal! The buffet is packed with options including braised lamb, braised short rib, crispy chicken, fish, beef sausage, turkey bacon, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, potato latkes, hummus, salad, and so much more. There was truly something for everyone. And don't even think about skipping dessert! They have a full dessert table with brownies, baklava, fresh fruit, donuts, and other sweet little treats that make it way too easy to go back for "just one more." The bottomless drinks are an incredible value too! For just $15, you get unlimited mimosas, Bloody Marys, and coffee. Our server was absolutely fantastic. She was attentive throughout our meal, and the moment she noticed our champagne bottle was getting low, she brought us another without us even having to ask. Now that's service! The restaurant itself is on the smaller side, but they have a beautiful patio that's perfect for enjoying brunch on a nice day. And let's talk value because it's hard to beat: $36 for the all-you-can-eat brunch and $15 for bottomless drinks is an absolute steal, especially considering the quality and variety. They also offer plenty of other cocktails and beverages if mimosas aren't your thing. If you're looking for a fun brunch spot with delicious food, flowing champagne, and excellent service, Ala is definitely worth adding to your list! read more

ala - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I came here for brunch which is a great deal for unlimited food. If you're looking to try a bunch of food, their deal is a great option. We had a slight issue with our reservation when we came in. They seated us outside even though we asked to sit inside. Because of that, we had to wait a bit. Because it was a very hot day, we definitely had wanted to sit inside. The ambiance is great. I think they have a private room upstairs and they had plenty of room. It does get crowded for brunch so if you have a preference for inside or outside, I recommend a reservation. They did have plenty of bar seating though, which has the regular menu. read more

ala - Brunch - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I went for restaurant week, it was $35 for all you can eat brunch. The staff here are lovely and there is a good amount of savory and sweet options. The stand outs for me was the Adana meatballs, the olives, the short rib was good although I wouldn't say that dish is as Mediterranean as the others. The baklava was also really good. The breads were okay. Overall it was satisfying! read more

I had a very disappointing brunch experience at ALA. The buffet felt like a confusing mix of flavors rather than a well-executed Mediterranean brunch. Many of the dishes were tasteless, and the variety didn't complement each other--it just left my taste buds confused. The waffle bites didn't taste fresh, and while the pastries and baklava were okay, they were nothing extraordinary. For the price and the way the restaurant presents itself, I expected much better quality. Service was also inattentive. At one point, we ended up asking the table next to us to take our pictures because our server was nowhere to be found. The seating area itself didn't feel particularly upscale or special either. Overall, the brunch buffet was a terrible experience. ALA may present itself as a Mediterranean dining experience, but I would save yourself the disappointment and skip it--I'd go to founding farmers or pinstripes read more

Had dinner here tonight and hostess were nice initially but as it gets crowded they are circling trying to get tables cleared. Our waitress was not attentive and a bit rude. Food was great and tasty but they could do better with service. read more

ala - BABA GHANOUSH - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We were only able to secure outdoor seating, and unfortunately the ambiance outside is not great. The patio was wet even though it wasn't raining that day of the day before. There is nothing pretty or appealing about seating outside. The buffet is inside the restaurant which also makes it a bit of an inconvenience. The restaurant inside is on the smaller side and feels a bit crowded near the buffet area. They had a lot of food selections which was great, however, we were disappointed that the taste of the food did not match the great presentation of each dish. Overall the dishes were bland, lacked flavor, and were too oily. Even the mashed potatoes were bland and not tasty. Nice selection of desserts too, but again, nothing exciting, juts a typical dessert buffet selection (brownies, cupcakes, chocolate fountain..). The standout were the baklavas. The highlight of our outing was the service. Everyone was very attentive and nice. read more

Three stars isn't the actual rating; I'd say more 3.5. Stopped by after visiting the Dupont Circle's weekly farmer's market to try their Sunday brunch buffet. Was warmly greeted, seated, and given an overview of the menu and brunch package options; decided to opt-out of the bottomless drinks, which had an alcoholic (mimosas and Bloody Marys) and NA (juices, sodas, drip coffee and black tea), as I wanted to try their more speciality coffee and tea. The drinks I ordered were the Turkish coffee, Levantine-style tea and digestive tea. All were quite solid. The Turkish coffee was as robust as espresso, yet not overwhelmingly bitter and slightly sweetened. The Levantine tea was a smooth black tea with natural sweetness and layered with a mint steep and floral notes of hibiscus, and rose petal. The digestive was more herbaceous with fennel and pomegranate zest, in addition to a steep of spearmint. The food was more hit-or-miss. On one hand, the meat and seafood was all very delicious and well-made. The braised lamb shank is their speciality, and well-deserved, as it's moist, savory and tender. The short rib similarly so, and the chicken casserole, lamb biajeen, Adana kebab and steamed lavraki (sea bass) were all similarly flavorful. On the other hand, the sides and mezze options were more mixed; the dolmas and fresh bites cheese with za'atar/nuts were delightful, however, the borek, cheeses, and some of the dips tasted reheated and/or not super fresh, the Brussels sprouts were quite scorched, and the savory salmon waffles were bone dry and flavorless. The French onion soup had the right flavor profile, but not the intensity; it tasted watered-down and even looked it, due to the noticeable oil blebs on the surface. Dessert was similar; the melon and fruits were fresh enough, the yogurt bar was quality, the kadayif nutty with the sweetness balanced, and the layali lubnan was intoxicatingly tasty, but many of the baked goods looked rather packaged and the fondue station was mediocre. The staff, however, were extremely friendly (my special regards to Mia, she's a great conversationalist and a sweetheart!). They answered all my questions, and one of the bartenders even gave me half a lemon to zuzh up my tea with. As I said at the start, more 3.5 stars than 3 stars. The core of their offerings are all quality, so I can't quite dock them a full two stars for the food quality because they had buffets aren't usually renown for said quality. You really can't expect perfection from AYCE, even though I naturally encourage the management to avoid sourcing pre-made items from Sysco if possible. The friendly staff and eloquent Eastern Mediterranean ambiance allows me to still say I enjoyed this experience, and may be back for dinner in the future. read more

ala - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Small plates middle eastern-fusion restaurant with a cool vibe and great food Table, booth, and bar seating I came here with my fiancé and we split small plates of hummus, falafel, brussel sprouts, and a chicken skewer. The hummus and Brussel sprouts were the best, and the chicken was solid as well, but we didn't love the falafel. Solid selection of drinks. My fiance got a passionfruit cocktail but thought that it was too sweet for her taste On inKind! read more

Brunch review ahead!!!!! Ambiance- perfect for a cute date, time with friends, family members, or coworkers. The ambiance welcomes it all. Hospitality- The hostess was incredibly friendly and seated us upon arrival. Waiter- Eric was an AMAZING waiter. Bubbly personality, very polite and personable. His service was definitely a 10/10 Brunch- My friend and I decided to try their Easter Sunday brunch and my only regret was not visiting here sooner and not selecting an earlier time to dine, LOL! The entire experience was phenomenal! Bottomless mimosas- SO worth the extra $ Standout dishes: Adana meatballs Braised lamb Chicken Golden cauliflower Crispy Falafel Desserts: Baklava Brownie Kadayıf Sadly we did not get to experience all of the brunch menu items because brunch ends at 3pm and our reservations were at the heel of this time. Nonetheless, the standout dishes and desserts were enough for me to come back. I've enjoyed their happy hour, cafe area, and now their brunch. Can't wait to return. read more

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Checked out ala for a weeknight dinner this past week. The restaurant was lively and had a lot of people seated at the bar. We came to dinner not overly hungry, so we opted to do a bunch of cold and hot mezze plates - ended up ordering the baba ganoush, duck prosciutto (2 plates because we were so excited about it), salmon kibbeh nayah, tawook shish chicken kebab, and golden cauliflower. Overall, our picks were solid. The duck prosciutto had a nice crunch with the chip(?) underneath and very interesting, lovely salad base and vinaigrette. Can't go wrong with the golden cauliflower with its yummy sauce and pomegranate seeds. Salmon kibbeh was my least favorite but perhaps I'm just not used to the texture/taste of bulghur wheat.. the salmon itself was great tho! I've heard lots of good things about brunch so I would come back for that, and/or try the short ribs or branzino if I'm back in the area for dinner! read more

ala - golden cauliflower - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Went recently after a few years with a friend and I feel like the food had gone downhill from where I was here years ago. We had gotten the chicken, brussel sprouts, cauliflower and hummus. It was all decent but for the price nothing wowed me like it used to. read more

We saved Ala for our last meal in DC and went all in on their all-you-can-eat brunch--and let's just say, I left a few pounds heavier and completely, absolutely unbothered. No regrets. You know it's serious when I'm saying that. The menu hits that perfect sweet spot: extensive without being overwhelming. There's so much variety, but it never feels chaotic--just thoughtfully curated and incredibly well-balanced. That's the beauty of Levantine cuisine, and this place truly does it justice. Every dish felt intentional, flavorful, and harmonious. The hospitality deserves a special mention. They even offered me a complimentary tea in exchange for a Google review--which, honestly, felt refreshingly generous. Most places just ask; they don't give. Their tea selection, by the way, is excellent. Now the food--because wow. The lamb, chicken, fish, sausage, meatballs, and all the egg dishes were spot on. The lamb was so tender it practically fell off the bone, and the chicken was juicy and perfectly seasoned. And then there were the bureks--cheese and lamb--just unfairly good. And just when you think you physically cannot eat another bite... the dessert spread appears. I'm not exaggerating when I say it felt like I ascended (Fitting, considering we went on Easter.) There was a chocolate fountain, for starters. Beyond that, an incredible spread of pastries, sweets, fruits, jams, breads, and even some gluten-free options. It was one of those moments where you're full but still emotionally committed to dessert. The value for money here is fantastic, especially considering the quality and variety. Service throughout was warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. The space itself is cozy with a unique charm, and the music added a fun, lively touch--honestly, it gave me flashes of Slavic party vibes in Belgrade, which I didn't expect but fully enjoyed. Overall, an unforgettable meal and the perfect way to end our DC trip. This one stays with you. read more

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Fun brunch, really cool on the inside. It's a buffet so there's a lot to choose from. Really liked the selection. Decent price as well. Service was good and bottomless mimosas & bloodies are a good deal as well. read more

Went here for brunch, when I first walked in it was packed with people. The smell of meat will welcome you in the door and the ambiance of the restaurant is so cute! The buffet was vast they had all different kinds of meat such as lamb, chicken, beef and fresh veggies. My favorite things on my plate were the deviled eggs and lamb. I was so full after but they also had a dessert bar so o had to grab the baklava and try the dates they also have a chocolate fountain, which was really cool. The brunch was about $36 and if you wanna do mimosas with it, it's an additional $14 the pricing was good for the range of food that you got to try. read more

ala - Buffet food - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Such an unexpected pristine experience! The staff was amazing, and the food was out of this world. Definitely add this to your list of glorious restaurants with divine flavor!! read more

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got a chance to try their all day happy hour and absolutely enjoyed myself! check it out if you're near the dupont circle area! read more

ala - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place is AMAZING and specializes in Levantine (historical geographical term referring to the eastern Mediterranean coastal region, encompassing modern-day Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, and Jordan from Google AI) and Mediterranean cuisine. They also have a $58 tasting menu option where you can order any three dishes from the cold and hot mezze menu. Very cool interior decor and service is very attentive (I believe our server was named Joseph or Jacob). Highly recommended if you are in DC! read more

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Pricey but delicious!! The vibes inside were awesome with a great ambiance for my friend's birthday dinner. We shared many plates like the spreads platter (their pita was so airy and light we kept ordering more), brussel sprouts got the hype but they were okay still yummy but not worth all the hype they got online for lol, this chicken dish tasted like some sort of cumin curry very very delicious, we got the tartare which again was worth it! The prices added up quick especially w the drinks. All the drinks are so exotic and worth the try though. Waitress was very kind and directed us through the menu. read more

Went here with a few friends for dinner last night and it was such a pleasant surprise! We did the $58 tasting experience with 3 entrees per person plus dessert and it was plenty of food for the whole table. My favorite dish was the falafel, it tasted so fresh and I loved how crunchy it was. I'm allergic to pomegranate and when one of the dishes had them the server was kind enough to take it back to the kitchen and have it remade. The ambiance was very classy and upscale. I'd definitely return! read more

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Great food with a nice atmosphere. Ala has a great location. Metroing in is super easy as the station is just across the street, and parking is available (although sparingly) on the streets nearby. They have an excellent patio area as well, as well as very beautiful interior design. My friend and I did the choose 3 option with dessert. The price we calculated I believe ended up showing that if we wanted dessert, then the option was worth it. The food was very good. The flatbread was our favorite and I'd come back just for that honestly. read more

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Restaurant Week 2025 Tried 8 different items. My favorite was probably the Brussel Sprouts. Baklava was amazing. No items were bad. I'm not an expert on West Asian cuisine, so much of this tasted very new to me. I think the owner and several of the waiters are Turkish, but I wasn't sure what to classify this cuisine as. "Modern Mediterranean"? Service and ambiance are great! But it was delicious. Portions are generous. Food has great color. Go! read more

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Came on my 31st birthday for dinner and it was amazing! I would make a reservation as it can get busy, but it's because it's so good! My boyfriend and I did the tasting experience because we wanted to try a few dishes and we're so glad we did! Everything on the menu sounds amazing and the items we got were so yummy! The drinks were also very good! Our waiter explained the menu and a little history and overall service was amazing. The whole vibe there is wonderful and we will totally be back! read more

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Ala is a Mediterranean restaurant with locations in DC and Bethesda. I visited the DC location for the brunch buffet and really enjoyed it. They have a wide variety of options and everything was very fresh and flavorful. The service was great and the staff were very attentive. They also have all day HH at the bar M-F. read more

ala - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Place has a very nice ambience and is tapas/mezze style. We ordered a few mezze dishes, a mix of hot and cold, and one large dish to share. We got the Adana kebab dish to share which was one large skewer of the kebab served with harissa on the side which was delicious. We also got duck prosciutto which was interesting and the roasted/fried cauliflower which was delicious. We wanted to try the tahini crème brûlée but they ran out, so we tried the layali lubnan ( a semolina flour Mediterranean dish) and was great. Our server was very sweet and brought us complimentary champagne since we were celebrating an occasion. read more

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We came here on a Monday night so the place wasn't too busy. The menu options all sounded so good we had a lot of trouble picking what to get, but we ultimately decided on a mix of spreads, vegetables, and two protein dishes--a good variety and meal size for three people. The waiter was very helpful in guiding us towards some of his favorite / more popular options. The first item we received was the Mixed Spreads sampler. While a lot of Mediterranean restaurants in DC have great spreads, what Ala really impressed me with was how fresh and amazing the pita was! Absolutely delicious. The chicken skewers (Tawook Shish) were perfectly cooked with a little bit of char on the outside and tender juicy chicken on the inside. I also really enkiyed the Golden Cauliflower and the Hazelnut Halva Semifreddo. Lastly, I really appreciate Ala being a member of the Inkind network so dining out here is a little more wallet friendly. read more

ala - Za'atar Pide - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Attentive staff, delicious food, cute modern vibe. I was so upset I was dining alone because I wanted to try more and more but I was so full! read more

ala - KARANAB, ZA'ATAR LABNEH - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I'm a fan of Ala Bethesda, so I had high hopes for Ala DC and it definitely delivered! Brunch here is a full experience, very similarly to the Bethesda location. The value is hard to beat when you factor in the bottomless drinks...you really do get your money's worth! Food-wise, the Adana slider was still one of my favorites. The lahm bi ajeen was another favorite.. I had quite a few of them lol. Overall, the atmosphere was lively, but not chaotic. I also appreciated how warm and attentive our server was. For these reasons, Ala DC is definitely a place where I'd come to again! read more

ala - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We have been to Ala twice now and loved it both times! Our first visit we tried the dip sampler (we loved all four dips though my personal favorites were the baba ganoush and labneh), chicken tawook shish (very juicy chicken paired with a tasty sauce) and the crispy Brussel sprouts (these were perfectly crispy with sweetest from the pomegranate and raisins and converted my bf from a brussel sprouts hater). Our second visit we had to redo everything we tried the first time but added the carrots which became my new favorite dish here and the shrimp which were also well cooked and flavorful! Overall can't go wrong with the food, especially the mezze! We also felt well taken care of during our meal. Our waiter was wonderful, he joked around with us, recommended new dishes and checked in often. Another member of the staff also checked in towards the end of our meal and offered us some Turkish tea/ coffee to end with. Lastly, the location and ambience were great, with the outside patio being perfect for the summer evening weather. Will definitely be back! read more

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Came here for happy hour where they have $10 cocktails (two choices) , $6 wine and discounted food. We sat at the beautiful bar and split the ZA'ATAR PIDE , HALLOUMI WRAPS and FALAFEL. The pide was a Turkish white flatbread and was delicious! The halloumi wraps came with a nice sauce and was also good. The falafel was thin, burnt to a crisp and no sauce on top, only on the garnish on the plate. I would skip the falafel next time as it was disappointing. Bathroom was clean and spacious. To drink I had the fehleq which is a passionfruit margarita which I enjoyed. read more

I want to like this place more than I do. The food is good, the service is fine. The atmosphere inside is nice - but for some reason it is missing something for me. I have been here a few times and I am always satisfied with my meal, but never impressed or blown away by anything. I want to be, which is why I keep coming back. I'll keep trying. read more

ala - Coffee and mimosa service - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Based on the reviews of excellent brunch recommendations, Ala was one that came up multiple times. My friend and I were surprised by the incredible and endless spread of delicious and healthy options presented to us by Ala's brunch menu. We didn't feel rushed and service was great in terms of attentiveness. As for the ambiance, I loved the intimacy and colors in different parts of the restaurant. Would love to come back again as this will be a top brunch option in the city for me! read more

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We came here for the bottomless brunch on a Saturday afternoon and it wasn't the best experience. The food is pretty good and the buffet selection is solid. The bad part was the lack of transparency. We were told that bottomless drinks were automatically added to our brunch because we're a party of 6, but that's not stated anywhere. We had people in our party who don't drink alcohol and tried to ask our server questions and explain, but he made it seem like the drinks were included no matter what, due to our size. It's frustrating that we didn't get a choice because we would've gladly had none of us drink. read more

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Wonderful spot for some of the best Mediterranean food in DC! I visited ala for a casual Friday dinner with a few friends, and we absolutely fell in love with this place -- the space is super cozy and beautifully decorated, the service was friendly, and the food is amazing. We initially snagged a spot on the patio because there weren't any open seats inside; while the patio was spacious and gorgeous, it was sweltering outside (shoutout to DC summers). The staff was really thoughtful and offered to move us inside the second a table opened up. The interior was just as gorgeous as the patio, and I loved the comfy circular booths all around the restaurant -- it's a cozier dining experience compared to the standard rectangular ones, and it makes sharing food so much easier. Speaking of food -- we got a bunch of items to share. We started off with the dip combo, tabbouleh, and grilled halloumi, then transitioned to the grilled shrimp and roasted cauliflower for our mains. Everything was absolutely incredible. I loved each of the dips, but you can never go wrong with a rich and creamy classic hummus. It went wonderfully with the soft, pillowy, and warm pita, but also with the crispiness of the fresh veggies. The tabbouleh was great on its own, but topped with an extra bit of creaminess and punch of flavor from either the hummus or baba ghanoush? Life-changing. The grilled halloumi was, well, grilled halloumi -- how can you NOT love a chunk of cheese that's been grilled and slathered with honey, herbs, and nuts? The grill brought out more of the natural flavor of the cheese, and it was rich and slightly melty; the savory cheese went perfectly with the sweet honey, and I loved the extra bit of crunch from the nuts. The shrimp was super flavorful and tender, with a great hit of spice and savoriness from the Urfa peppers and garlic. It typically comes with Turkish sausage, but you can ask for them to omit it if you don't eat red meat (although everything in their restaurant is halal, including the cheese). Last but not least, the golden cauliflower was outstanding! It was beautifully roasted on the outside, with the char adding the perfect hit of smokiness to complement the rich, nutty tahini sauce. To lighten up the dish and add a bit of brightness, they also topped the whole head with pineapple amba and a lovely herby, lemony chermoula. Unfortunately, the center of the cauliflower was a little bit undercooked so it wasn't quite as tender as I was hoping, but it was still a phenomenal dish. read more

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Ala offers a great balance of fresh and hearty options that are a great fit for any meat and veggie lovers alike ! They have such a large spread and my most favorite part is that you can make it your own with the large variety of dips and toppings! They also offer a selection of a la carte option that you can order on top of the buffet offerings. We also opted for the all you can drink for an additional $12 and it's certainly a deal! The service was also amazing! Our waitress promptly came by to welcome and introduce herself . She was also very helpful when it came to the bill. We had several staff who also came by to ask how things were and how everything tasted! The restaurant is great for an intimate setting. They have some two tops or tables for larger groups. The decor is also beautiful as it ties in some greenery with the colors from the many Moroccan style decor. read more

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