Albi means "my heart" in Arabic, and it's very clear that chef and owner Michael Rafidi has put all of his into this Michelin-starred establishment in Navy Yard. Rafidi sends out plates that double as art and meld local ingredients with Levantine flavors. Always crowded, Albi's atmosphere is lively and fun, too—a departure from some other fine dining restaurants putting food out at this level.
Don't skip the pitas, which include a hummus plate kissed with Maryland crab, charred cabbage and a hot sauce-esque condiment called tatbili. Try the sweet sumac carrots, which are served with goat labne, dates, and peanut harissa; even the side dishes, which include a skewer of thinly crisped and spiced potaoes, are stars here. Fire touches many of the best dishes at Albi (thank the massive wood-burning hearth in the dining room); a mezze dish of smoky, melt-in-your mouth lamb belly lives in our dreams, and mains include a delicious smoked chicken kabob served with safrron yogurt and radicchio flatbread. End your meal with brown butter knafeh, a nest of shredded phyllo stuffed with sweet cheese and topped with pistachio powder and yogurt ice cream.