Albi — Restaurant in Washington

We celebrated both my birthday and my husband's at Albi. The first time back in July, the food was very good but the no contact payment system was not set up yet. That was distressing. The second time food was mostly pretty good but some dishes needed a side veggie to make it more complete.Thankfully the no contact payment system was set up. Service was very good both times. We tried the following:

BURNT EGGPLANT baba ganoush charred peppers + pine nuts Very good and different. It had a hint of sweetness. Similar to the eggplant dish at his previous restaurant that I loved. Hummus with Lamb Very flavorful hummus. Lamb was very good and not gamey, Zaatar Pita Very tasty and addicting. batata-tots urfa chili aioli + garlic + herbs We loved this potato goodness. So crunchy on the outside and a must if you like potatoes. Yellow cafe, during the day has a less fancy version. GRILLED BLACK BASS MD crab + sweet corn + fennel + smoked serrano The fish was cooked perfectly and a good portion. The veggies were fresh and were high quality. BROWN BUTTER KNAFEH greek yogurt ice cream + pistachio powder lemon syrup We had this both times. I asked them to go easy on the syrup. First time was better. Second time it only had a coating of the syrup and did not satisfy as much. Crunchy crust with cheese in between. greek yogurt ice cream was very good. Cookie and brownie Cooke was a bit sweet but the sumac brownie was the best. You can purchase that at Yellow cafe.

Second time: MD CRAB LABNE vadouvan + urfa-thing bagel + grilled corn A very good dish. Just wish it was a bit bigger. More crab would have been nice also. falafel arayes tzatziki + kashkaval cheese It was a crunchy bread with a little falafel in the middle. It was good but not as impressive as other dishes. cinnamon stick kefta habibi sauce Our favorite dish of the night. Next time we have to order two. Exploding with amazing flavors. Very pretty too. It was seasoned perfectly and whatever sauce it had, I want more! Mushroom It was good but needed more to make it satisfying. SMOKED LAMB BELLY green harissa + stone fruits + sumac honey My husband ended with the better of the two pieces. It was very smoky and tasty. Mine was the fattier piece. Nice glaze from the sumac honey.

Update We recently had dinner here. My husband enjoyed the pomegranate chai shrub. We loved the mushroom hummus. Smoky mushrooms with smooth hummus. The stuffed pumpkin was mostly rice with not much lamb, but it tasted good. BBQ lamb kebobs were good. We enjoyed the loin a bit more than the kefta. We finished up with baklava custard that was on the sweet side.

Update Back in December we had brunch at Albi twice. The shakshouka with kefta was good. Eggs and kabob was tasty. We also got the cheese egg croissant that was more like a cup and a bit pricy but tasty. The mushroom hummus was a bit salty but delicious as usual. The lamb hash with potatoes and turnip was tasty.

Our last dinner at Albi was light and tasty. We started with cinnamon kefta with habibi sauce. It was pretty good. My favorite dish was the amazing manti dumplings. So good, I could eat it every day! Little meatballs inside each dumpling. Sauce was a bit spicy. The smoked lamb dolmas was tasty and deconstructed. The sauce was so good we could lick the bowl! For dessert rather than our usual knafeh, we got the labne soft serve with pomegranate reduction. A bit sweet for me but we enjoyed it.

Update We recently went to Albi with our out of town guest and we all loved the experience. we had the mushroom appetizer, mushroom egg hummus, crack potatoes!, lamb, fish, manti, knafeh. Our favorite was the lamb, potatoes, manti, mushroom hummus and knafeh!...

Albi: A Levantine Feast

I've been to a lot of great restaurants in my time, but Albi is one that stands out. From the moment you walk in, you're transported to another world. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with soft lighting and comfortable seating. The staff is friendly and attentive, and they're always happy to answer any questions you have about the menu.

The food at Albi is simply incredible. Chef Michael Rafidi takes inspiration from his family's roots in the Levant region, and he brings that tradition to life in his dishes. The ingredients are fresh and local, and the flavors are bold and exciting. I've never had anything quite like it before.

I had the Sofra menu, which is the chef's tasting menu. It's a seven-course meal that changes seasonally, but it always features the freshest ingredients and the most creative dishes. I started with the hummus, which was creamy and flavorful. The baba ganoush was also delicious, and the grilled octopus was cooked perfectly. For my main course, I had the lamb tagine, which was tender and flavorful. And for dessert, I had the baklava, which was sweet and flaky.

Everything I ate at Albi was absolutely delicious. The flavors were complex and well-balanced, and the presentation was stunning. I can't wait to go back and try more of the chef's creations.

I know it's hard to get a reservation at Albi, but it's definitely worth the effort. It's one of those restaurants that you'll never forget.

Here are some additional details about my experience at Albi:

The restaurant is located in the Navy Yard neighborhood of Washington, DC. It's a short walk from the Metro station, and there's plenty of parking nearby.

The dining room is small and intimate, with about 20 tables. The decor is modern and stylish, with warm lighting and comfortable seating.

The service was excellent. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable, and he made sure that we had a great experience.

We had a wonderful experience at Albi, and we would definitely recommend it to others. It's a great place to celebrate a special occasion or to simply enjoy a delicious meal with friends or family.

Here are some additional details about the menu, food style, and offerings at Albi:

The menu at Albi changes seasonally, but it always features the freshest ingredients and the most creative dishes. The food style at Albi is Levantine, which means that it draws inspiration from the cuisines of the Middle East. The offerings at Albi include a variety of small plates, entrees, and desserts. The restaurant also has a full bar, which features a variety of cocktails, wines, and beers.

Overall, I had a wonderful experience at Albi. The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. I would definitely recommend...

most restaurants have some dishes that are the star of the show and others that are more in the shadow. but every dish we tried at albi could steal the spotlight at another restaurant. just when i thought the food couldn't get any better, it did--my widened eyes reflected the gustatory delight of my tastebuds, i was at a loss for words by the end. • started off with mango marinated napa cabbage and olives. both were packed with flavor despite their small sizes. the olives were especially piquant, and together with the napa, covered a duality if flavor profiles. • kibbeh naya: my first time trying this style of a dish, and in such a playful way with the diy lettuce cups. although i think there were too many vegetables and a bit of a simpler dish would've been better to bring out the yellowfish more. • coal-fired mushroom hummus: when the pita came out, my mouth genuinely dropped at how soft and fresh and warm the pita was. the hummus was silky smooth and the black garlic mushrooms was a sultry umami that the rich yolk cut into splendidly. however, i wish there was some sort of incubator that could keep the pita warm. • little gem lettuces: not at all like i was expecting. another eye-widening moment. so many flavors and textures to unpack with this one, creating a complex almost taco-like biting experience. • prawns grilled over coals: my second favorite dish after the lamb. a must order mezze. the shrimp was juicy and large and packed with so much flavor. the garnish was appreciated but honestly not necessary considering the tangy spiciness of the actual meat. • Bbq’d lamb kebobs: genuinely life-changing. first of all, the presentation was incredible. not dainty like most fine dining, but rather wild and natural—like a fallen log in a forest clearing. the moment i bit into the succulent lamb and it melted in my mouth, i knew that this was a once-in-a-lifetime culinary experience. it was the moment i understood all the hype about Albi. (the actual kebobs i felt could benefit from a crunch factor.) • labne soft serve: i can never skimp on dessert and i don’t regret this one bit. probably the best soft serve i’ve had in the US in terms of texture and richness and level of sweetness. not at all icey and the salt contrasted through very well with the milky flavor. overall, while each individual dish were outstanding standalone, altogether they formed a cohesive meal that covered all the flavor profiles, textures, eating styles, and cooking techniques, reflecting the versatility and creativity of the menu and the talent...