Dupont’s ala Has New Patio Just in Time for Spring
The patio is back in play at ala, where a $1.5 million refresh has reopened the doors (and the doors to the outdoors) after a four-month overhaul. The longtime Levantine favorite in Dupont (1320 19th St NW) trades its pre-1998 look for something brighter, breezier, and built for gathering.
The redo runs the full footprint: bar, dining room, upstairs event space, and a now-expanded patio primed for peak-season perching. Capacity climbs accordingly (about 60 in the dining room, 80 upstairs, and a patio that can host up to 100). The aesthetic leans Mediterranean with a sustainability-minded edge, preserving standout details like the original granite bar top while refreshing the rest with light, openness, and intention.
On the plate, the menu modernizes as well. Expect Levantine-leaning dishes like charred zucchini with labneh and walnut, delicately spiced basturma with beef tenderloin, and hearty hits like kufta with potatoes or slow-sautéed ghavourma. Drinks follow suit, with Silk Road–inspired sips. Think: herb-laced spritzes and fruit-forward cocktails with a whisper of anise.
Dinner runs Tuesday through Sunday, with a weekend brunch that brings a free-flowing Levantine spread, and a mezze lunch set to soon join the lineup. See you there!
