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    ala - Bethesda

    4.2 (194 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 11:00 pm

    ala - Bethesda Photos

    ALA - BETHESDA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Classy
    Upscale
    Dogs allowed

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    Cassandre G.

    I've been here multiple times, but this was my first time coming for happy hour and my first time sitting in the bar area, which I believe is pretty new. The space is gorgeous inside, and while the menu is a bit limited, I really enjoyed the dishes and drinks I tried. The only slight downside was that I got some pushback from staff about standing near the bar while waiting for a seat. They were nice about it, but it was still a little annoying since it is technically a bar area. That said, I understand it's a tighter space and the restaurant is mostly set up for seated dining. Nonetheless, they offer all day happy hour, which is really hard to beat and definitely makes it worth coming back despite the small critique.

    Alan L.

    A good takeout option We ordered takeout from Ala on a very col evening, so that only one of us had to go outside. The Baba Ganoush was a highlight. It had a smoky flavor and was delicious. Everything else was very good. The order was available at the time promised by the delivery app.

    Short rib pide
    Meg P.

    What went well? Everything. We adored this fusion of Mediterranean flavors & the vibrant menu. It was two of us; we ordered 4 items & it was perfect! The fattoush al bir salad was incredible: the infused pears were phenomenal. The manti beef dumplings were delicious w delicious harissa & mint.... Still yum the next day. And of course the short rib pide - so satisfying! The service was amazing. We felt so welcomed on a wintry night. And it looks great for families as well.

    Kunafa
    Uyen N.

    This carrot dish is way too good. Lots of different flavors from tamarind, chermoula, feta. The spreads are normal. I don't really like the duck prosciutto. Falafel is not that great imo, the outside is too crunchy but in a hard way because of the seeds. Chicken is moist but I'm not a fan of the sauce. The flat bread is okay with a sweet and sour sauce. The cauliflower is good too. The kunafa is great, though I don't like how they put too many rose petals on it. I think it would be better to put some for decoration and infuse the syrup with rose petal.

    BATATA HARA
    Mike A.

    This was my first time trying Ala. I really enjoyed their menu. It is well indicated for allergies. I found lots of gluten free options. The waitress was also very helpful and was able to accommodate some dishes by keeping allergens on the side (bread, muts, etc) The restaurant is beautifully decorated, their setup provides a very enjoyable atmosphere. Everything we ordered was excellent. I particularly enjoyed the qouzi with lamb shoulder. They flip the pot in front of you, empty the content and add toppings and sauce on top while service. I'm adding it to my list of restaurants to visit when I'm in town

    Cocktails / Drinks Menu
    Iva N.

    Visited Ala for the first time and the food definitely worth the hype. They are on the pricier side honestly for the portion haha.. but otherwise all delicious and flavorful. Beautiful decor giving calming vibes. We are only a party of 2 and asked for a bigger table but was told there are plenty of reservations coming up, though a bit empty for a while, so that was a little bit of the downside. We ended up having to move around dishes and such to make sure we don't tip over anything. We had Manti (apparently homemade daily) , Dolma Bi Lahm - basically rice ground beef wrapped in grape leaves, Garides Kebab (shrimp skewer) and a latte. At first I got the Turkish coffee but given the turkey delights was out I decided on a latte, which def satisfying. Would come back and try happy hour in the future! :)

    KARANAB
    Taylor M.

    Delicious food, it's hard not to overeat! We loved the mujadara (lentil rice) and karanab (brussels) the most. The zaatar flatbread is so incredible! And the pida with labneh was up there too. The falafels were mostly crisp exterior - I wish they were a little more substantial on the inside. Overall a flavorful and satisfying meal, including for vegetarians. Salim made our experience great. He was so friendly, checked in right when we wanted more pida, adapted for allergies, and answered questions. The decor is a little different than the DC location. Still the same soft lighting but some of the tables felt like they had been packed in for space rather than comfort. We heard one couple ask to move to a more central table. Luckily we arrived early and were able to get a table location we liked.

    Dining room
    Mimi W.

    Originally wanted to reserve for dinner, but groups 7+ require reservations through email and a credit card authorization form, so I grabbed a friend for lunch instead. The space is stylish but relaxed, cozy, and intimate. Wasn't busy, which made it a nice, calm spot to eat and some were actually reading books while eating. I ordered the mezze lunch, while my friend went for the tarkhun lavraki (branzino whole fish). Didn't realize the mezze lunch is meant for the whole table to order, but they allowed me to order. I haven't had a lot of Levantine or Mediterranean cuisine, so I'm not sure how it compares. From the mezze lunch menu, I ordered the tuna tartare dolmades and the garides kebab (shrimp), as well as added the short ribs pide (flatbread). The tuna tartare dolmades wasn't what I was expecting - very little tuna tartare and the taste of the dolmades in your mouth drowns the flavor of the tuna. The garides kebab I've actually tried the exact same dish next door at Beth's - it felt overcooked again and a little tough. The pieces of short ribs on the pide were a bit scant and also overcooked and dry, but the flavor combination from all of the ingredients was nice. Also tried the branzino fish my friend ordered and while it was perfectly cooked and nicely presented, it lacked any special spices or seasoning to make it stand out. Food came out quickly, and both the server and hosts were friendly and checked in throughout the meal. Prices are a bit on the higher side for what the food was, but with the great service, food presentation, and vibe, it may be worth it. We weren't rushed or bothered and were able to enjoy a nice long lunch.

    Entrance to the hallway into the bathrooms.
    Tania M.

    The food and service is good. There's a good variety of dishes cold and warm in the brunch menu. The issue is that a person in a wheelchair cannot use the restroom because they have a piece of furniture where they store glasses and bottles obstructing the hallway into all the bathrooms. Also, they don't a have handicapped accessible stall.

    Olga G.

    Excellent middle eastern restaurant bringing the best of Turkish and Lebanese cuisine. I loved everything on their menu. I went for the lunch special, $28. You can't beat that! And if you want a glass of wine, it's extra $6 - it's really unheard of in 2026! Absolutely amazing interior design and I would definitely be back if I'm in the area.

    HUMMUS BABA GHANOUSH ZA'ATAR LABNEH BORANI SHAMANDAR
    Nila V.

    I've been to the DC location before, but this was my first time at Ala Bethesda and it definitely didn't disappoint. The space has a great ambiance and the service was spot on. Cocktails were on the pricier side, but worth it--they tasted amazing. For appetizers, we tried the hummus, baba ghanoush, za'atar labne, and the fattoush salad (one of my favorites). The adana kebab was delicious, and the short rib pide was packed with flavor. We didn't skip dessert either--the baklava was great, but the real standout for me was the kunafa with pomegranate ice cream. Absolutely loved it. We'll definitely be back!

    Half chicken
    Tola O.

    Stopped in on a Sunday for a birthday dinner. The restaurant ambiance is beautiful and their patio is lovely, though we ate inside. The servers were attentive for our party of 6. We were surprised to hear they had a restaurant week promotion and took part in their 2 cocktails, 2 wines add on and the cocktails were strong and delicious! I had an espresso martini that knocked my socks off literally-I was up ALL NIGHT! We had an appetizer. I had hummus -pretty standard. The goat cheese second course was better with bread, and would be better if it had the fig all over the cheese rather than right in the center. The star of the night was the paper bag bronzino which our server recommended. 10/10 would recommend. And the presentation table side was fun! A good time in Bethesda but a bit spendy. A nice way to be transported to the Mediterranean for a night!

    PITA HUMMUS
    Ayo A.

    Cozy restaurant for eastern mediterranean cuisine. I came for a birthday dinner so to make it easy, we selected the pre fixe menu that was (almost) like unlimited plates of food for the table for a certain price ($65 per person at the time I believe). I tried some new dishes and enjoyed a few (the thick pita was delicious! Went great with the hummus and I'm not a big hummus person. The halloumi wraps were also a pleasantly tasty dessert). A couple dishes were not my favorite but that might be due to my palate not being as familiar with the cuisine. The servers were extremely nice and the whole restaurant had family table feel. I would go back to try items from the a la carte menu.

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    1 month ago

    Food quality was amazing. Brunch selections were great. Outdoor sitting was also very nice.

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - ala - Bethesda

    Can we bring our wine for the party and pay the cork?

    Hi Igor, yes you can!

    View All 2 Questions

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    ala - Bethesda - mediterranean - Updated July 2026

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