Thanksgiving weekend is a little different this year. A bit more mellow, which we didn't mind. To take advantage of the nice Fall weather, we decided to walk over to the Navy Yard for dinner. I really wanted some different Mediterranean flavors to break up the typical turkey leftovers. We made reservations for a table outside, however when we arrived we had to enter the main dining room and walk inside through the restaurant and past all the other diners to go out the side entrance to our table outside. I did not think this was a wise choice.
Once outside, we were pretty remote at our little table off the side. While heat lamps were available, the weather was mild enough that we did not need to turn ours on. After perusing their long and interestingly categorized wine list, I chose a bottle of red from the Levantine region. The description of this section read: "Whether it’s on the abrupt rise of Cyprus from the Mediterranean Sea, the
surprisingly humid regions along the Israeli coast, or the high-elevation Bekaa
Valley sandwiched between two massive mountain ranges in eastern Lebanon,
the vine has a long - seriously long, like thousands of years, and then a few
thousand more - history in this part of the world, and in a lot of cases, it’s only
just now being rediscovered."
The 2018 Dar Richi, Hanan, from Bekaa Valley, Lebanon stood out to me. The dry red was a nice blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Sangiovese and paired perfectly with our meal.
To start, we shared the Pita + Burnt Eggplant. A smooth Baba Ganoush was served with shawarma cauliflower and pine nuts. The mix of spices and flavors enticed my palate and really set me in a good mood.
We also shared a mezze of Coal-Fired Beets that were topped with muhammara (a roasted red pepper spread), walnuts, and kashkaval cheese. The earthiness of the beets were amplified by the charcoal flavor. Another rustic dish that married nicely with our red wine.
Next, I enjoyed the Grilled Black Bass topped with Maryland crab, mushroom tabouli, and grapes drizzled with green chili oil and black lime yogurt. The generous portion is enough for two people to share. Keith ate some of the collar - his favorite part. I found the fish to be delicate yet meaty enough to hold up to all the bright toppings. I really liked this dish.
Keith ordered the BBQ'd Lamb Kebobs - one is chunks of loin and another is kefta (ground meat). The kebobs were served with roasted vegetables and super sweet yam jam. The whole plate was drizzled with tahini
aji dulce honey and a small dollop of seven spice yogurt adorned the plate. Keith liked the lamb but found the yams to be too sweet.
Overall, we had a great dinner at Albi. Being seated in that side table outside, we did not feel like we were forgotten at all as service was quite attentive. An eclectic mix of modern, pop, rap music - all in Arabic - played that helped keep the mood upbeat despite the concrete view that overlooks a parking lot. We were treated to shortbread cookies with caramel sauce in the center with the bill. There are a few other mezzes that stood out and we'd like to share next time we return.
Total Rating: 3.93
Food: 4.5, Price: 2.5, Service: 4, Ambience: 3, Accessibility: 5
