The September Hit List: ala, Bar Ivy, Grazie Nonna, and More

Known for its creative cooking, ala in Dupont Circle draws inspiration from the Levantine region with dishes from chef Ercan Sahn, a native of Turkey who most recently ran the kitchen at Del Mar. He joined the ala team this summer and added in traditional Turkish dishes, including a staple Adana kebab with minced rib eye, Maras pepper, bell pepper, sumac, onion, harissa, and grilled long chile pepper.

Grazie Nonna, the buzzy new Italian American restaurant downtown, recently launched lunch service for the 9-to-5 crowd. The menu includes unlimited soup, salad, and focaccia breadsticks. (Martinis are optional.) Chef Gerald Addison is behind new sandwiches on the menu, like the Italian Speciale with mortadella, Calabrese salami, and sharp provolone, and the Melanzana, a fried eggplant sub with Calabrian aioli, fresh mozzarella, and fresh basil.

Hot Lola’s is a concept that blends Nashville hot chicken with a Sichuan twist, from celebrated chef Kevin Tien. It’s long been a destination for dining in Arlington, and now Marylanders have a reliable option thanks to a stall open at Riverdale Park’s international food hall Le Fantome. You will find a selection of fried chicken sandwiches, fried chicken, sides, and drinks, all of which can be enjoyed on-site, for takeaway, or delivery.

 Walk-ins welcome.

Bar Ivy combines the cool vibe of the West Coast with a mid-Atlantic approach in the kitchen. That includes seafood dishes like Maryland rockfish with fennel, radish, and panzanella and peel-and-eat shrimp with boozy rum butter. Expect an elegant but laid-back atmosphere with an airy bungalow vibe.

Yasmine is a fiery new food stall offering iconic Lebanese kebabs and sandwiches. Every dish comes paired with delicious spreads like labne, hummus, and toum, and finished with fresh local herbs and sumac marinated onions. They are also rapidly expanding. A new location just opened in Tysons, Virginia, and another is coming soon to Chevy Chase, Maryland this fall.

Walk-ins welcome.

This Chevy Chase gem has been serving its neighborhood for several decades, with French classics from bouillabaisse to decently priced steak frites for $33. Save room for the luscious desserts — the must-try dish is the crêpes Suzette. Upstairs, you’ll find a wine lounge with regular opportunities to attend wine tastings.

Makoto is the District’s recently opened high-profile Japanese food hall — with several fast-casual options, dubbed Love on the Run. Here, you’ll find everything from ramen to fried chicken sandwiches, as well as prized sushi rolls at Dear Sushi. Chef Makoto Makua prepares a yuzu salmon and avocado roll with a citrusy-spicy yuzu kosho mayo that will linger in your emory; and his shrimp tempura enjoys flavor boosts from asparagus, eel sauce, and shio kombu.

The Imperial is three stories of fun, where you can find everything from a dimly lit cocktail bar to alfresco dining on a two-tiered rooftop garden. The kitchen, run by chef Chris Reynolds, channels mid-Atlantic seafood by way of southern France. Options include a reliable raw bar with local oysters from the Chesapeake Bay.

From brunch to lunch and dinner, this neighborhood bar and restaurant in Brookland keeps people coming back for more with seasonal dishes that make it feel as if summer never left. This includes a burrata with fresh peaches, fried Maryland catfish, grilled octopus risotto, and a fried green tomato BLT offered daily on the lunch and dinner menu.

This Navy Yard taproom is debuting seasonal fall beers just in time for patio season. That includes the Atlas Festbier, an Oktoberfest-style beer. To kick off the beer release, Atlas will host a party on September 14 complete with live polka music and giant pretzels. Of course, another reason to visit is to try Andy’s Pizza, which specializes in New York-style pizza by the slice.

Walk-ins welcome.