Mediterranean restaurant ala will open its second location on March 1 in downtown Bethesda, offering a similar menu to its original location in Washington, D.C.’s Dupont Circle, the owners announced Wednesday in a press release.
“We have always wanted to open a second restaurant closer to our home, in our community,” Deniz Gulluoglu of Cabin John, who co-owns the restaurant with her husband, Celal, said in the release. “Bethesda restaurants offer an array of culinary flavors, and we are thrilled to offer the community ala Bethesda, an exceptional Levantine dining experience, in the heart of Bethesda.”
Opening in the former home of Positano’s at 4948 Fairmont Ave., the eatery will feature classic Mediterranean dishes, such as hummus, falafel and kebabs, but also offer less well-known fare, including mutabal (roasted vegetables and tahini), biber dolma (herb-seasoned-rice with stuffed bell pepper, red pepper infusion and pomegranate molasses) and manti (a Turkish mini bean dumpling with tomato sauce, labneh and fried mint), according to the menu.
The menu also includes a variety of drink options, ranging from wines from Georgia, Israel, Lebanon and Italy to cocktails adorned with turmeric, sumac, fig, rhubarb and dill. Happy Hour will be offered from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, according to the release.
Celal Gulluoglu also touted the restaurant’s popular weekend brunches, featuring bottomless mimosas, bloody marys and a three-course meal.
In the first month the eatery is open, diners will receive a 30% discount on their restaurant check, the release said.
Both restaurant locations are led by Corporate Chef Zachary Baker, a Maryland native, who has worked at José Andrés’ ThinkFoodGroup, Del Mar and most recently as chef de cuisine at Xiquet, all in Washington, D.C., according to the release.
The eatery will seat 90 people inside and 30 on the patio, but the restaurant team said in the release that it hopes to add a food hall and more dining concepts to the space next door.
“When the time came for Positano to undergo a renovation, AAG Interiors approached the task with reverence and respect for the memories that had been woven into its walls,” said Celal Gulluoglu, who is an architect for AAG Interiors in the release. “It was very important for us to understand the significance of preserving the essence of Positano while creating the space for ala’s new location.”
The space will have new lighting, renovated restrooms and an expanded bar with more seating, but the colorful Positano wall décor remains, the release said.