Albi

"“It’s our go-to place. The chef, Michael Rafidi, is so amazing. The storytelling, something as simple as having a card on the table with the names and the language, they bring you into the [Levantine] culture in this restaurant. Everybody from his sommelier to his sous chef, goes to the region to understand this food, so they are bringing back the culture and sharing it. It is warm and inviting and fresh and healthy. It’s food that you want to eat. The lamb and the smoked chicken and the smoked trout—anything coming out of the wood-fired grill is just incredible. The labneh, the mezze: this is the kind of place where you need at least four people—I would say six—so that you can order lots of different things, because the food lends itself to that.”" - brennan carley

"Albi, a Middle Eastern restaurant in Navy Yard, is the place to take your date when you really need to prove you know how to plan a fun evening. The $125 tasting is served with piping hot pita that might be the best in the city, and if they give you the lettuce wraps with the carrot and tuna pastes, savor the crispy, flavorful goodness. And if you want to be really impressive, book your dinner at the chef’s table and watch it get cooked over the wood-burning hearth." - tristiana hinton, omnia saed

"Arabic for “my heart,” chef-owner Michael Rafidi’s first solo restaurant relies on a wood-burning hearth and oven to churn out puffed-up pita, sfeeha (meat pies) made with ground duck, and Turkish manti dumplings served with an urfa chile crunch. Beiruiti hummus and fattoush are full of seasonal produce. Open for indoor and outdoor dining, with reservations via Tock." - Tierney Plumb, Emily Venezky

"This Middle Eastern spot dishes out some of the most delicious food in Navy Yard, including its Sofra tasting menu, which is the correct choice here (unless you’re in a rush on game day). You'll get some of the best pita in the city and crunchy, build-it-yourself lettuce wraps with carrot and tuna filling. Albi has a buzz, mostly thanks to diners excitedly talking about their meals. It’s not the spot if you’re looking for a rowdy, drunken pregame, but it’s perfect for a more tame group catch-up before hitting the ballpark or heading out for the night. " - tristiana hinton

"Verdict: Scoring a table at Albi's is like winning the DC lottery. With dishes like build-it-yourself lettuce wraps with carrot and tuna filling and the city’s best pita, the Middle Eastern spot dishes out some of the most delicious food in Navy Yard. The restaurant’s glass enclosed dining room is great for a weeknight date night or dinner with the parents (or anyone you’re looking to impress with food and not your personal resume). " - omnia saed