Levantine Experience
unique food | rare drinks | loving hospitality,
Welcome to ala !
know.
Welcome to a gastronomic gem that transports you to the sun-kissed shores and rich culinary traditions of the Levantine region. Nestled discreetly within a charming corner of the city, Michelin-rated restaurant ala invites you on an unforgettable journey through the flavors and aromas of the Mediterranean.
Step into a world where heritage and innovation harmoniously intertwine, a place where passion for authenticity meets avant-garde culinary techniques. As you enter, you'll be captivated by the warm and elegant ambiance, adorned with tasteful hints of Middle Eastern motifs that effortlessly blend with modern chic.
The thoughtfully curated wine list complements the menu perfectly, offering a carefully selected range of regional wines, arak, and innovative pairings that elevate the dining experience further.
A Michelin-rated Levantine restaurant experience is an encounter with the art of flavor, the celebration of tradition, and the embracing of modernity, all within the intimate walls of this extraordinary establishment. Prepare to be enchanted by the brilliance of the Levantine cuisine and the experience that has earned its well-deserved place in the revered Michelin guide.
- ala dc - bottomless brunch - michelin restaurant - vegan restaurant - Mediterranean restaurant
OUR
STORY
taste.
When you join us at ala, we want you to feel the overwhelming sense of being one with a variety of colors. From the colors of the ingredients you are enjoying or the cocktails you are sipping to the colorful expressions of each of our team members & guests who surround you, ala provides an experience for everyone who enters.
Derived from the French word “Levant” (rising sun). The phrase Levantine was first used roughly 500 years ago to refer to people living or working near the Mediterranean Sea. Often, Levantine people were known for engaging in business deals with the East (then Ottoman Empire) and the West (Europe).
Times were changing, and the Middle East was threatened by the merging of Eastern and Western life. Many feared this would taint the rich culture and traditions of the Mediterranean people. As a result, people labeled as Levantine were not considered fully Middle Eastern or fully European. Often seen as “culturally impure”.
Like many other minority groups, oppression brought the Levantine people closer together. Art, literature, languages, and foods were shared, and as a result, a new culture was formed.
This culture has changed shape and name since then. as in the whole world. It is a kitchen that we can say has enriched itself by preserving its essence in all these changes.
We focus on cooking & mixology from the Levant, an area of the world that has a long history and a colorful past. Over 10,000 years ago, it was in the Levant that humans began their first trial with agriculture - where cities, irrigation, and civilization later followed. What came next were the first diners, table settings, and menus. It was then that the first members of our human race settled in excitedly for their very first served meals. At ala, we remember this journey as we take a path of new flavors and scents all while in an environment of bringing the human race together - through color, food, drinks, and love.
According to Deniz, ala is a place with a mission.
From Deniz:
It is necessary to tell a little about the culture we grew up in. The guest is very valuable to us. If there are guests, dishes and tables cannot be ordinary. We grew up with proverbs about hospitality and the applications of these words. You don't know whether it is good or bad. But today this allows us to do our job with love. Authentic Middle East hospitality is perfectly compatible with the restaurant and service industry. We care about all our guests. Because our soul is like this.
When I moved to America, I noticed how fast-paced everything runs; maybe keeping our culture alive is not very realistic in today's conditions. But I don't want to cut out the parts that bring us joy, the parts that keep us alive. Hospitality and our healthy meals come at the top of what I want to keep alive. This is why I wanted to bring the Turkish dining experience here but this idea still was weak. Then we thought that something more should be added to Turkish cuisine. So we decided to experience the kitchens of the neighboring Middle Eastern countries.
