Ala To Offer Flavors Of The Levant At New Restaurant In Bethesda

BETHESDA, MD —Ala restaurant, known for its dishes inspired by the flavors of the Levantine region, will open a second location on Friday, March 1 in Bethesda.

Located at 4948 Fairmont Avenue in Bethesda in the former Positano restaurant space, the menu will be similar to the ala restaurant in Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C.

The cuisine melds the flavors of Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and beyond, an area of the world that has both a long history and a colorful past.

The Bethesda location of ala will seat 90 inside and 30 on the patio.

Owner Deniz Gulluoglu, whose family lives in the Cabin John area, said, “We have always wanted to open a second restaurant closer to our home, in our community.”

READ ALSO: Ala Restaurant To Open New Location In Downtown Bethesda

“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,” she said.

The kitchen of both locations is led by Chef Zachary Baker, a Maryland native, who has worked at Jose Andre’s Think Food Group, Del Mar and most recently as Chef de Cuisine at Xiquet.

The menu will include mutabal (roasted vegetable and tahini spread) and hot mezze like biber dolma (stuffed bell pepper). The traditional Turkish favorite adana kebab will be prepared with minced rib eye. Brunch will be offered every weekend.

Ala’s cocktail menu will include wines from Georgia, Lebanon and Italy and will feature cocktails adorned with turmeric, sumac, fig, rhubarb and dill.

Happy Hour will be offered from Monday through Thursday, from 2 pm to 6 pm.

The restaurant’s upgrades and enhancements include new lighting, renovated restrooms, and an expanded bar with seating. The colorful Positano wall decorations will remain and other Positano relics have been upcycled in the ala décor.

Ala diners will receive a 30 percent discount from their restaurant check during the first month of service. Ala will also offer parking reimbursement discount for each reservation.