Alluring Alara Opens in Former Paolo’s
• February 6, 2025

Another culinary darling has made its Georgetown debut. Hakan Ilhan’s latest restaurant, Alara, opened Feb. 5 — but not after having a few private parties to celebrate. Located in the […]

Business Ins & Outs: Tesla, La Bonne Vache, Reverie, Alara; District Doughnut
• January 22, 2024

In: La Bonne Vache to Open Jan. 31 La Bonne Vache, “The Good Cow,” will have its grand opening on Wednesday, Jan. 31, at the corner that held the beloved […]

An Unexpected Summer of Art, Pop-ups & Public Programming  
• July 13, 2023

[Sponsored Content] Summer is traditionally slow in the District, yet there are a plethora of festivals, business openings, and initiatives well underway in Georgetown. The Capital Fringe Festival is back […]

The Latest Dish, July 2023  
• July 12, 2023

Ch-Ch-Changes: Georgetown’s La Chaumière owner Martin Lumet, (who bought it from longtime owner, Gerard Pain in 2006) has sold the country-style French restaurant to Gil Fornaris, formerly of P.F. Chang’s, Ruth’s Chris […]

Business Ins & Outs: La Chaumière, Alara, Fangyán, Greco
• June 29, 2023

Hakan Ilhan to Remake Paolo’s Space The long shuttered Paolo’s Ristorante space, most recently High Street Grill, will become Alara, a Turkish restaurant by Hakan Ilhan. Meaning “beautiful water fairy” […]

The Latest Dish: Puttery, Il Piato, Joy
• July 13, 2022

Joon Yang (Epic Smokehouse, American Prime) and Chef Jon Mathieson have opened UnCommon Luncheonette, a diner at 1028 N Garfield St. in Clarendon where Riverside Hot Pot and Bowl’d used […]

Il Piatto: Hakan Ilhan Gives Italian Classics a Value-Oriented Spin at BLM Plaza
• June 23, 2022

Il Piatto, a mecca for Italian classics in a classy, midtown setting, is restaurateur Hakan Ilhan’s latest offering to restaurant-goers looking for value. (His Georgetown spot is Brasserie Liberté.) The spacious dining […]

Brasserie Liberté’s Opening Party Draws Hundreds
• November 20, 2019

The new hot spot is keen to please its Georgetown neighbors and make a big impression on Washington’s restaurant scene.