I don't even know where to start with this. Last friday, I had a remarkable dinner here, and I was wowed from the moment I stepped inside. As much as I love the cocktail bar next door, I had no idea this epic place was here. The inside is a bit dark, yet so welcoming and cozy. It's the waiting area if you are either early for your reservation or waiting for others in your party. They are kind enough to give you a glass of water and the cocktail menu in case you want to get started. We were fancy and did the hearth table and WHAT a journey it was. From surprise drink tastings and bites to pretty much trying all new food items and combinations, I would absolutely do it again. I could name the things that I had, but you may or may not know what they are. All I can say was that it was seven delightful courses that left me just right. The friendly, professional staff made it even better. Check the reservations and to the hearth table. Do it. read more

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KenScale: 8.5/10 Visit: March 2026 My wife Jun and I have been to Albi multiple times already and on every visit we end up ordering the exceptional lamb kebabs for our final savory dish. Earlier this year, I saw that the restaurant started offering a large duck rice dish on the menu and, knowing how much Jun loves duck, tried to see if I can book a table. We had a reservation in January but we had to cancel that due to a last-minute trip to New York, and really struggled to find an open seating on a reasonable hour (we just had no appetite for a dinner past 9 p.m.) until recently last month. As we opened up the menu, we were very sad to learn that the duck was no longer on the menu (our server couldn't give a definitive time on when the dish will be back), but that didn't dampen our enthusiasm for another outstanding meal at Albi. Since my last review of the restaurant was in 2023, I figured a re-review was in order, especially given that this visit was our 10th total. When it comes to Middle Eastern spreads, it's hard to beat what Albi offers along with a giant pita bread. At this point, Jun had tried the mushroom hummus with confit egg yolk multiple times, and yet she couldn't again stop marveling how addictively delicious the hummus was with alluringly smoky flavor of mushroom. One new spread that we saw for the first time and decided to order was msabaha with embered firefly squid and white peas covered in tahini; not surprisingly, it was another standout dish even if squid is not an ingredient one would ordinarily see in these spreads. Another item on the menu that we tried for the first time (and really liked) was malfouf, a wrap of cabbages stuffed with smoked beef cheek and red shatta condiment. By now, we have seen multiple variations of the lamb kebabs at Albi and every time we walked out of the restaurant happily stuffed. For the current season, we were greeted with loin and smoked belly shish accompanied by vegetables of charred turnips and brassicas. The lamb's texture as usual was quite outstanding, and the charred vegetables (as well as a side dish of Fattoush salad with orchard fruits and smoked feta) also offered a wonderful complement to the meat. If someone asks me to list the most iconic dishes in DC, I won't hesitate to include the lamb kebabs from Albi. During our trip to Jordan in February, we fell in love with a popular dessert called knafeh (made with pastry dough layered with cheese and soaked in syrup); we never had a chance to try the same from Albi until this visit, and Jun remarked that the delightful knafeh was just like how she remembered from a restaurant in Petra, except the pomegranate sorbet that was placed in the middle. It seems like getting a reservation at Albi is becoming more and more difficult over time. The reservation window opens on the first day of each month and once past that first day, it is really challenging to find a seating during early and prime-time dinner windows, especially for the main dining room. This visit was the first time we had to be seated at the bar as we were slightly late to the reservation party, but the bar seating actually wasn't bad at all, as we chatted with the friendly bartenders from time to time while enjoying the food. As always, the beverage list at Albi is outstanding, featuring many Middle East-based cocktails and wines. As we increasingly find ourselves in our culinary journey together these days visiting our old favorites more often rather than checking out new places all the time, Jun and I are very thankful that Albi is in DC. It still is firing on all cylinders even after being around for several years in the DC dining scene, and deserves to be one of the best restaurants in the city. read more

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This was hands down the best meal we had in DC. We did not have a reservation so we turned up 10 mins before they opened on a Saturday and managed to grab seats at the bar. The walk-in availability very quickly vanished and I heard people being quoted 2.5 hours for a seat, so if you want to walk in get there early. We had the tasting menu and it was a brilliant way to discover the menu and the cuisine, although it was almost too much food! The lamb is a must order. read more

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Very easily one of my new favorite restaurants in DC! The service was great and the restaurant is stunning and beautifully decorated, but the food was more than I could have imagined. I decided to do the Sofra tasting experience and I was not disappointed. Every course was rich in flavors that blended perfectly together, beautifully plated and leaving me wanting more! My favorites were the Sfeeha, Kibbeh Naya (lamb and peas), Squid Khibz. Dessert was also phenomenal! I got the Mahalabiya and the Twist soft serve! I can't wait to return. read more

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Agree with everyone that Albi lives up to the hype! The food was one of a kind. We enjoyed the sfeeha, oysters, crispy kibbeh (beef), mushroom khubz, squid khubz, lamb khubz, batata harra, malfouf, whole chicken (SO moist), and maqluba. I would 100% order everything again except maybe the squid khubz, the squid was a little brine-y. But wow that freshly baked, warm pita bread, too die for. We were celebrating a graduation and they had a handwritten card at our table, a nice touch. One note, and it's a problem with a lot of modern restaurants, is that the music was SO loud so it was hard to hear folks at my table. read more

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Fabulous dinner at Albi. Came here to celebrate a birthday and had an excellent experience. From the hostess, to the waiter, to the sommelier, the customer service was top notch and on par of what you expect from a Michelin star restaurant. We ordered quite a few dishes and everything was well executed and tasty. Didn't try one bad dish. My personal favorites were the oysters and the stuffed cabbage with beef cheek (picture doesn't look like much but it was amazing). The kibbeh naya was a unique dish for us...similar to beef tartare but not quite the same. The lamb kebab was delightful and probably my biggest recommendation for entrees. We also got a bottle of a red Palestinian wine. Woowwww blew us away and not something you can find everywhere. We also got Negroni's and they were excellent. We are a bit of Negroni snobs and always try one at every bar or restaurant we go to if they have it. This one was one of the better ones we've had in awhile. Snag a reservation and enjoy with friends and family or go treat yourself to a solo dinner. You won't be disappointed! The inside of the restaurant is breathtaking and I love the open kitchen concept. read more

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Wow - just wow. I didn't expect Albi to live up to the hype and it certainly did. Everything from when you walk in the door to your final sip of coffee or bite of dessert is a treat. Every interaction with every server, every drink put in front of you, every bite, and every view within the restaurant is well thought out and executed perfectly. The spot is beautiful, one of the most beautiful restaurants in DC for sure. Every server is wearing a nice outfit that matches the decor of the restaurant. It feels like there are uniforms, but you'll notice that there are not really uniforms, it's really quite the vibe. Every server is personable, and they truly make the experience one that you cannot stop enjoying. From a food perspective we did the Sofra. Definitely the right choice, I had more food than I could have possibly ordered brought to the table and everything was amazing. The real standouts included the batata hara, the lamb sneefah I think it's spelled, the labne, the hummus, and the lamb. Just every dish was so perfect. The coffee service at the end was also excellent, and every cocktail I had was great. I even ordered a ramos gin fizz that was done perfectly. I don't think the Knafeh was the best i've ever had, but it was still good, and honestly I was so full by the end I couldn't finish it! read more

Albi - Knafeh - Middle Eastern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We were so lucky to RSVP last minute. Beautiful restaurant. Very intimate and not too loud. The fattoush was phenomenal! Wonderful balance of salty, sweet, citrusy, juicy, creamy, and textures! The potato dish was very uniquely. Well seasoned, definitely heavy but desirable. The fried appetizer had a nice saltiness to it with a finishing sweetness from the apricots. I'm not much of a lamb person but it was cooked very well, seasoned through to medium rare. My boyfriend who enjoys lamb said it was the best lamb he has ever had. Service was great! They have a great choice of wine from Palestine and Lebanon that paired well with the lamb. Only downside is the price. It is quite expensive for the portion. Lamb was $85- it was a wonderful dinner experience but I don't think I'd go back! read more

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My boyfriend and I went here for our one year anniversary and this place is very much worth the hype! The coat check, the drink orders while waiting, the warm scented towels -- I'm a sucker for great service. To ensure I could secure a reservation, I stayed up since reservations drop 60 days out at midnight and that worked like a charm. This is not a book same month kind of spot. Labne: delightful, and the bread is as well. Manti (lamb dumplings): very flavorful and plentiful! Sfeeha: delicious textures. Batata harra: good but would skip this one and try a different side. Hashwei: out of this world! The squash, the brown butter and the flavors of the rice?! Immaculate. My favorite cocktail I had was no sleep til Beirut -- who doesn't love a good espresso martini. read more

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Albi still lives up to the hype! Came here the weekend after Christmas for a birthday dinner and was seated at the Hearth Table. The Hearth Table is located basically in the kitchen. you are so close to the chefs and team that are preparing your delicious menu. It was like i was in an episode of The Bear! Maybe not as intense, but it was an incredible experience. The Hearth Table menu varies slightly from the sofra menu. The chefs will bring dishes directly out to you and the CDC also came to present a dish. each bite was mouthwatering. I can taste it now as I type this yelp. Everything was so hot and fresh. I'm not a big lamb person, but i could eat lamb from Albi every day if I could. it did not taste very gamey, it was tender and so flavorful. Albi went through a renovation in 2025 and it is such a different vibe from the last time I came. the dining area is now very moody and romantic. the lighting leads to an environment free of distractions. it's just you, your food, and your partner. Reservations open the first of the month for the month and fill up quickly. One note I do find contention is the additional 3% added for employee wellness. the receipt and website state Albi includes a 3% employee wellness fee on all orders to provide a benefits package for our staff. This fee is not a gratuity tip. I'm all for the included 20% gratuity, but i don't think that customers should be supplementing the employers health packages for their team. to me that dampened the final moments at the restaurant read more

This is just the best restaurant in DC. Incredibly decorated, service is fantastic, and the courses and so imaginative. Run don't walk to albi if you can get a reservation. If you get anything, get the lamb belly skewers and the battata harra. Fantastic meal. read more

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I love Albi - I've been here twice within the last month because it's that good. My boyfriend who doesn't usually like lamb even liked the lamb here! The hearth cooking is incredible and you genuinely taste the flame in almost every dish. I loved the lamb kabob, but the star of the show was any of the menu items that came with the pita bread. Genuinely was the best bread I've ever had... All of the staff were incredibly helpful and knew the menu inside and out, giving great recommendations. I loved also being able to see the kitchen live as we ate, which added to the ambience. read more

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I've been to Albi twice now and its just so. damn. good. They are so consistently impeccable. The staff is welcoming and really help to walk you through the menu. From the sommelier talking through the regional wines, to our waiter making sure our meal was balanced with snacks, dumplings and proteins, everything was fantastic. And don't worry, we left FULL. I will say that even by dc standards this restaurant is very expensive. The ambiance is lovely and every dish that came out of that kitchen was a hit so I understand the high price, but they may be pricing some foodies out of the experience. read more

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Had a truly wonderful meal at Albi! I was in DC for work and chose Albi as a treat. The interior was gorgeous and warm, and I was seated at the bar. The staff are so friendly, helpful, and welcoming. They walked me through the menu and helped me select a few dishes. It was pricey, but well worth it. I hope to go back someday! read more

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Check your comfort at the door and here is where we landed on a date night. I'm going to start by saying I have never tried Lebanese food (so don't come at me with your "you don't blah blah blah?!") Please and thank you. With that said, friends have given glowing reviews of this place, so Albi, we had to check you out. Albi did an impeccable job with their service and decor, as usual, for a Michelin-star location. Our sparkling waters never dipped below half and the table was always cleaned off after every tasting. Speaking of tasting, if you've never been here, I recommend doing the tasting (as the restaurant does as well to take you on a journey of their food). 4-Star because while the food was indeed very delicious, almost every dish has some yogurt-base/infusion/side piece to compliment the dish and my lactose-intolerant behind doesn't do dairy products like that. Some dishes were hits (like that truffle dish generously piled with black truffle?! or the lamb bread light bites) and some others felt like misses for me (like the main dish- trout, sorry! and stuffed squash). Def would recommend their tasting menu (4 + 1 dessert) because they also draw from seasonal flavors and we def sampled things we would not have chosen to order. read more

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This was one of my favorite food experiences ever. The aesthetic and ambiance when you walk in is homely and welcoming. When we were seated, the server gave us a great explanation of the menu. We ordered the following: 1. Sfeeha which was a small lamb meat stick/mini pie with toom (garlic spread) 2. Mushroom hummus : This is a must try , I would love to try the other hummuses next time. 3. Lamb kebab bbq was the star of the show every bite was flavorful and it was very filling. This can be split among two people 4. We had the knafeh and labene (soft serve with pomegranate molasses) both were very good We also had the date palmer which was a Moroccan mint tea mocktail I was so full at the end of this meal but everything was really and could not recommend it more read more

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We had a phenomenal meal here! Everything was absolutely delicious, the service impeccable, and the whole vibe was enjoyable. We ordered the smoked duck awarma, smoked pumpkin, battata harra, carob carrots, gambari, and lamb kebabs. We loved all of them! From the olives (excellent) to the pide bread everything was perfectly seasoned and left me annoyed I had to share... This is one of our new favorite restaurants in DC. read more

One of the rare places where I enjoyed everything about the dining experience. So much flavor and spice in every single bite and dish! The interplay between acidity, spice, and richness all worked so well together, with nothing overpowering anything. I highly recommend trying the mushroom hummus! It had such great smoky flavor and depth of flavor. For the mains, we really enjoyed the lamb kabobs and the long rib - both were so incredibly tender and had the texture of brisket just melting in your mouth. You cannot miss knefeh dessert! The crispiness of the thinly shredded phyllo blew me away. All the components soaked in the rose water syrup just worked perfectly together and was not too sweet. It was the perfect way to end the meal. Along with the food, the dining experience, atmosphere and the service was excellent. The restaurant decor and vibes were beautiful and our waiters were very knowledgeable and on top of water refills and providing clean towels/napkins wherever we got up. All of the small details, from the food to the live flame candles felt thoughtful and intentional and I highly highly recommend trying Albi at least once! read more

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The food an experience was top notch! Being trying to get a seat in here for a while so when I finally got in the welcomed me with open arms. The staff made me feel at home and were encouraging and willing to help with recommendations. The decor and ambiance is low lit and intimate. Great for a date night or great to treat yourself to a quality meal. Harder to get into without a reservation but if you're in Navy Yard give it a try! read more

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This is my favorite restaurant in dc - I've been here multiple times throughout the years and I tell everyone visiting town to come here. I have not had a single "it was just ok" dish here - every dish is complex, full of layers, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. Service and ambiance is 10/10. Love the open floor layout where you can see the kitchen Some of my favorites: - Salata Arabiya (charred little gem salad with honey calamansi sauce + corn/tahini) - Warak Dawali (stuffed grapeleaves with bbq lamb belly + neck) - this one was crazy good.. like maybe one of the best dishes ive had - Grilled Branzino - i dont always see this on the menu so probably seasonal, but SO GOOD. When I ordered this before it had a crab topping and the sauce was insane - Labne soft serve - also insanely delicious. - cant go wrong with any of the dips + pita but I personally love the maryland crabs on hummus! read more

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Amazing dinner with my DC friends who recommended this Lebanese. We decided to go for the chef special and it was amazing from beginning to end. The ambiance was nice and is family friendly as my friends brought their daughter. read more

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I celebrated my anniversary at Albi with the hearth table experience, and it was an amazing experience! For about two hours, my wife and I were served super delicious food! There are only two tables available for the hearth table experience, and it's an intimate dining experience right in front of the kitchen. This was definitely an unforgettable night of dining! read more

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I had such an amazing experience dining here a few weeks ago. Our waitress, Erana took such great care of us and provided some great recommendations for what we should order. She also was very knowledgeable of the menu and ensured that we had the best service throughout our entire meal. Albi has now taken the place of Maydan for my favorite restaurant in D.C. Starting with the food, my girlfriend and I ordered the Sfeeha, Pumpkin Baba, Warak Dawali, and the Bobo's Chicken. Everything was delicious with my personal favorite being the chicken. It was packed with flavor and honestly reminded me of a steak. You can't go wrong with any of the cocktails. My personal favorite was the Halab Margarita. I am super excited to try out the newly renovated restaurant in May 2025 + the new menu. I will definitely make sure to update my review! read more

Incredible dining experience here at Albi. I did the tasting menu and wine pairing which both ended up being awesome choices. My taste buds went on a magical roller coaster ride throughout the meal and my belly was very happy. All of the staff were extremely friendly and provided amazing service. Really nice ambiance inside. They give you sooooo much food, omg. I almost passed out after the main course! Definitely must come here and try out all the goodness. read more

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Located in Navy Yard, there are plenty of parking lots and other options. We took a lyft here and were sat immediately with an option to check our coat at the front. Our server was friendly and attentive, explaining the menu. We opted for the a la carte menu instead of the tasting ($145/pp). We ordered a 1/2 bottle of sparkling wine which was a little acidic and paired decently with the starting dishes. While we didn't finish it before we switched to our bottle of red and main, they did help us keep it chilled until our dessert courses which was great. We ended up not finishing our red wine and they re bottled and corked it no issue from the decanter it was in. Our sommelier was great and was very helpful with all of our wine inquiries. We started off with Coal-Fired Mushroom hummus which was delicious and came with a pita that was seasoned amazingly. We loved it and we asked for more for our second set of dishes ~ Grilled Octopus Shish, Wood-Fired Malfoof and BBQ'd Warak Dawali. Everything was seasoned beautifully and tasted amazing. I loved the BBQ'd Warak Dawali. I never had stuffed grape leaves and the lamb neck in it was fantastic. For our main course, we ordered the BBQ'd Lamb Kebab which was very tender. There was some ground lamb that was cooked around cinnamon sticks which was also amazing but didn't really have too much of a cinnamon taste which was interesting. We also ordered the Majadarra (crispy-chicken fried rice). While not our favorite, the dressed lettuce it came with was refreshing. For our dessert, we ordered the apple cider soft serve which was so refreshing after all the food. We definitely ordered a lot of food for the two of us bit had no issues with boxing things up which we retrieved at the host stand. Everything was amazing and a greatly priced dinner. I definitely look forward to coming back to try their set course menu. read more

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Get the full multi course meal experience. Amazing pita, hummus, lamb, mocktails. Very lactose intolerant friendly and beautiful ambiance! read more

Albi - Chicken on pita - Middle Eastern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We visited Albi a mere few days after returning from an extended trip to the middle east, and I can say, without a doubt, fine dining in Albi is every bit as good as in Kuwait, Bahrain, or the UAE, with the added bonus of enjoying a glass of wine or cocktail with your authentic, delicious food. The staff and Albi was fantastic and steered us to the lamb which was exceptional. Exceeded expectations; an amazing dining experience. read more

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I saw Albi was rated #2 in The Washingtonian for best DC restaurants and had to give it a try Absolutely blown away with the food and portions. It was a bit pricey so I was thinking they would skimp on the portions and was I wrong! Left there very full Everything was SO SO good! If you can get a reservation, it's 100% worth trying and one of the best restaurants in DC. The duck was phenomenal read more

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I think this may be my favorite meal of 2024! We dined at Albi's Chef's table and had an amazing view of the kitchen. We opted for the wine pairing to go with our tasting menu. The food was outstanding. Everything was so fresh. The spreads and pita were delicious. And for relatively healthy fresh ingredients, the flavors were very rich! I think I dreamt about this meal for days afterwards. The service was very attentive and pleasant! One critique is that some of the wine is a little experimental. There were a couple wine pairings that we were not so fond of, but we still enjoyed trying them. I 100% would come back here, and I hope to do that very soon! read more

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One of, if not the best restaurant in DC. Everything about this restaurant is dialed in and exquisite. Cocktails and wine list are great. Food is amazing and the service staff are attentive and friendly. read more

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The dining experience was exceptional. Every dish we ordered seemed to outdo the last, but the dessert was truly a standout. We especially loved the meat pies in the fattoush salad--easily one of the best bites of the night. The service was impeccable. It's the attention to small details like that, along with the consistently clean and well-kept table, that made the experience feel so polished and thoughtful. read more

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This place is probably hands down my favorite restaurant in Washington DC. It is located at The Yards and it is a James Beard winner. So far, this is the only restaurant that is a James Beard winner that didn't disappoint. I highly suggest making reservations before heading here. We ended up getting a seat at the bar. We got the coal-fired mushroom hummus. I highly recommend this hummus. I was a bit scared of them putting an egg yolk in the middle but it honestly really made it taste better. I really liked how char like the hummus was. For the cocktail we got the za atar tini. I wasn't a big fan of the zaatar tini. I guess I was more intrigued on the cocktail containing olive oil and zaatar. It definitely didn't make a tasty drink (maybe part of a tasty dish). Baba ganoush was also charred. I really liked the pickled raisins and pine nuts. We also got the bobos chicken as our entree. I really liked how this chicken seemed very fresh. The dish overall was pretty good. Knafeh was the dessert we ordered. This dish was very sweet. I loved the pistachio on top of the dish. read more

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HOLY SMOKES people weren't lying when they said this is THE best restaurant in DC! Heck, it's the BEST RESTAURANT I've been to THIS YEAR!! I've been going to fancy Michelin star places and fine dining establishments this summer but wow-- this place just blew everything out of the park. I managed to snag a reservation for Saturday dinner at the bar. Vibes were amazingggg-- sooo dark and moody!!! I definitely want to sit near the chefs kitchen next time. Service was amazing too-- everyone was superrrr friendly! Now on to the main event: the food!!! Ofc I had to do the sofra 5-course tasting menu AND the wine pairing (as a wine lover). There was soooo much food I had to take some home because I was completely stuffed! - Oyster: 10/10 (fantastic baked oyster with a very juicy and buttery sauce and fish roe on top to add back the fishy kick) - Sfeeha: 10000/10 (this was my fav appetizer! It's like mind blowingly good. Like how do they even season that meat??? And the crispy flatbread?? And the garlicky toum spread!!!!) - Kibbeh naya: 10/10 (this dish almost reminded me of Korean ssam! You wrap the kibbeh naya with the veggies. Veggies were soooo fresh and slightly tangy from the vinegar sauce they put on top. Kibbeh naya was good!) - Crab hummus: 10/10 (excellent hummus! Very light and not too garlicky) - Fig and cream cheese spread: 100/10 (I forgot what this is called but omg this was heavenlyyyy to pair with the pita) - Pita: 10000000/10 (best pita I've had. Like ever.) - Shrimp: 10/10 (super juicy shrimp in super yummy sauce) - Batata Harra: 10000000000/10 (omg this crispy on the outside and soft on the inside potatoes were phenomenal!!! I still dream about this to this day) - Lamb kebob: 10000000000000000/10 (this was MIND BLOWING! Lamb was seasoned to perfection and it was soooo tender. Grilled veggies were heavenly. I legit laughed when I ate this because it was that good) - Brussel sprout: 10/10 (amazing and creamy! Good to balance out the heavier dishes) - Labne soft serve: 1000/10 (omg the soft serve with the honey and strawberry was just heavenly) - Knafeh with strawberry yogurt ice cream: 1000000000/10 (best knafeh ever. Like omg it's so crispy, the ricotta cheese is like heavenly creamy, and the strawberry yogurt ice cream adds a cold and nice kick to it) - Wines: 10/10 (loved all of them! Especially loved the orange wine and the red wine. The sommelier was like amazingggg he was so knowledgeable!!) I will be dreaming about this meal until I'm back. Take me back!!!!! read more

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The service, food, and drinks were exceptional. We always enjoy coming here and highly recommend it. read more

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We were so excited to try Albi for our 25th anniversary dinner. As vegetarians we were hopeful that their menu had something new to offer that would transcend the typical dishes vegetarians are offered. We decided to try the tasting menu experience at $165 per person. The first 2 courses did not disappoint. We were served multiple dishes for each course that met our expectations, new flavors and combinations and the dishes were beautifully prepared. Things started to go down hill when the third course arrived. A dish of roasted stuffed beets, looked a little messy on the plate and the beets were just a little underdone. The fourth course is where we were most disappointed. A skewer of zucchini, mushrooms, and onions, covered in an uninteresting green sauce and a "salad" that looked like it was thrown together. Desert was equally disappointing, a soft serve frozen yogurt and fried cheese/sorbet combo. Our meal, with a bottle of Cremant, was close to $800. For that price they need to do better. The dishes should be equally well plated and the vegetables served should be interesting, seasonal choices. Not zucchini and mushrooms. While we enjoyed the service and had a good time, we definitely would not return. read more

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Truly the best dining experience I've ever had. I booked Albi well in advance for my husband's birthday and it was such an amazing treat. We decided to order items a la carte and ended up wayyy over ordering because everything sounded so good. My cocktail was incredible! I love anything with lavender and pomegranate, and this drink had it all. The food...oh my god. Literally every dish we ordered was packed with flavor. Each bite I took was an experience in itself. I honestly don't think I've ever had food like this before. My favorite dishes were the tuna kibbeh naya and lamb kebab. The tuna dish just tasted so fresh! And the lamb kebab was juicy and seasoned perfectly. The service was amazing as well. I'm definitely not used to restaurants where plates and silverware are changed so frequently, but our server was on top of it! Overall, an amazing meal. Will definitely return for a special occasion because I can't afford this quality of a meal too often haha read more

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Grabbed a table for 2 for a birthday celebration and was really looking forward to the dinner - here was my experience Service - absolutely amazing, attentive, friendly and even worked with me for a take-away which is not something they do Ambience- nice decor , cosy , rustic, music was eclectic electronic , predominantly middle eastern vibes - definitely enjoyed it Food - now here is where it gets 3 stars. We did the 5 course chef curated experience - some of the dishes were fantastic , some were salty, and flavors were just meh. There was also a lot of lamb in the dishes , now I know that is the staple of the area but i was hoping for more variety - my bad cause I should have said that when they asked of any dietary needs. Top dish for me is the foraged mushrooms with egg confit and the shannandoa lamb - amazing flavors and well prepared. Least favorite was lamb kabob The food was alot and we couldn't finish all of it - practically needed to be rolled out of there - so you def get your money's worth. In hindsight , next time I will do a la carte read more

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A couple friends and I made a reservation for November 5 on October 1. After hearing so many positive reviews on Albi and knowing that we could enjoy a 1-star Michelin restaurant without making a nasty dent in our wallet, we were so, so excited. We arrived around 6:37 and left after an hour and 45 minutes. Our server told us her favorites and the popular orders. She was attentive in making sure we got enough water. We got our first plate of food about 15-20 minutes after ordering and the second one came pretty shortly after. However, we waited about 25-30 minutes for our third plate. Overall, service felt really slow today and we noticed other tables looking around, too. Also, the utensils here are not really good at scraping up the sauces on the plates, but not sure if that was just our problem. COAL-FIRED MUSHROOM HUMMUS (5/5) - 22 The mushroom hummus was definitely the best thing we had from Albi and I can see why it's so popular. The egg yolk mixed in the hummus made the texture extra smooth and creamy. The mushrooms were so smoky and tasty. The pita bread was soft and fluffy. Everything about this hummus was perfect. It left us with high expectations to what there is to come. YELLOWFIN TUNA KIBBEH NAYA (2.5/5) - 24 We were told to make lettuce wraps using the tuna tartare, pickled vegetables (cucumber, radish, and onions) and other garnishes like mint and garlic sauce. Not the biggest fan of this one. The tuna was really thin and felt very flat. The garlic sauce was pungent and tasty which was the only highlight. I enjoyed the pickled radish, though. My friends who typically liked cucumbers felt like it didn't add much to the flavors. Overall, this one fell short of expectations and we weren't impressed. SWEET + SUMAC CARROTS (5/5) - 21 The first bite of the carrot was the best bite because it had that smoky charred flavor that reminded me of a charcoal grilled steak -- yum! Our server recommended us the carrots and told us she normally doesn't even care for carrots. She was not wrong. The carrots here are special. It was sweet and there were nice little toppings like peanuts and dates along with a really smooth, nicely whipped goat labne on the side. Overall, pretty solid and our second favorite. BBQ'D WARAK DAWALI (3/5) - 28 This was stuffed grape leaves with a few pieces of lamb belly and some garnish/sauce on the side that was a mixture of molasses (?) and cinnamon. The stuffed grape leaves were OK, nothing too special. One of my friends did not like the grape leaves. The lamb belly was nicely seared and flavorful but there were only like 4 pieces LOL. The sauce on the side was good and the sweetness was perfect. SMOKED CHICKEN MUSAKHAN KEBAB (1.5/5) - 72 The pita bread was on the bottom with a huge layer of caramelized onions, topped with some pine nuts and then two big chicken kabobs perched on top. The chicken was well cooked and super juicy, but some pieces were overly salty. The pita bread was good but it was ruined by the unbearably sweet onions (cooked with molasses?) that ruined the flavor. The balance of flavors did not make sense and even when we scraped the caramelized onions off the pita bread, it was still way too sweet because the sauce seeped through it. Additionally, this was not most definitely not worth it for the price given the quantity and the subpar quality. We understand that there can be off days, and the menu does change seasonally. Unfortunately, we didn't enjoy our experience at Albi and we probably won't be back -- maybe for the hummus we'd be back. One of my friends thought it was the best hummus he's ever had and it's definitely up there for me. read more

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Absolutely phenomenal. We only managed to get last-minute seats in the Bar Room instead of the main Dining Room, but honestly, it didn't matter -- the space was still beautiful, intimate, and felt like part of the experience. The food blew us away: - Sfeeha (meat pie) - perfectly crispy crust, flavorful lamb filling with just the right kick. - Squash Blossom - such a unique bite. The tempura was crisp without feeling heavy, and pairing it with the lettuce "taco" kept it refreshing. - Amba khubz - INSANE. Probably the best pita I've ever had -- warm, fresh, pillowy. The combo of stone fruit, tangy labne, and honey was unforgettable. - Batata Harra - impossibly thin and crisp potatoes, seasoned perfectly, with a creamy toum dipping sauce I could've eaten by the spoonful. - BBQ'd Lamb Kebabs - the smoked belly shish was loaded with flavor, and the loin was solid too (I'm not usually a steak person, but still enjoyed it). Loved the dramatic presentation with the sword tableside! And the desserts -- wow. - Knafeh - warm, brown-buttered, loaded with pistachio, and perfectly balanced by the frozen yogurt. Hands-down the best way to end a meal. - "Twist" Labne Soft-Serve - repeat after me: you cannot leave without ordering this. Creamy, tangy, refreshing, and absolutely out of this world. On top of the food, the service was outstanding. Our waiter gave thoughtful recommendations that matched everything we had read online, and it really elevated the experience. Yes, it's on the pricier side, but completely worth it. I literally booked my next reservation before we even left. read more

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Received a gift card from my boyfriend's family for Albi! We dined here not knowing much about the restaurant. Wow--words can barely describe the experience we had here because the food, drinks, service were just outstanding and blew us away. Our server, Aaron, was very knowledgeable and made us feel comfortable when choosing our a la carte options. read more

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