by Casey Valerie Linsey
Şerefe! (or “cheers” in Turkish) to Dupont Circle’s Agora Restaurant, which unveiled its second-floor private dining space – the Solen Room – Monday evening.
Over a glass of the traditional Turkish drink raki, Agora’s general manager Ismail Uslu had difficulty explaining the chemical composition of the drink to guests. He noted, “I hate chemistry but I know what tastes good! And trust me, everything on the menu is so good that it all goes right into my tummy! Can’t you tell? Look how round it is!” 
The good humor extended well into the night as the intimate group of media guests including Jason of DCFud.com, Greg O’Neill of Greg’s List DC, and Girl Meets Food founder Mary Kong mingled and sampled Mediterranean cuisine prepared by executive chef Ghassan Jarrouj.
Though Uslu insisted on keeping the recipes a secret, Jarrouj laughed as he reminded guests that “all the recipes are already online if you want to try making it!”
*The Solen Room opens to the public this week and can be found above Agora Restaurant at 1527 17th Street NW.
