Social Profile: 
✔️Breakfast ✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in
… View more
Albi; Arabic for ‘my heart’ is the acclaimed debut restaurant from chef/owner Michael Rafidi. Opened in February 2020, Albi earned mentions on Best New Restaurant lists by Robb Report, Eater, and Esquire. Albi was named Eater DC’s Restaurant of the Year for 2021, and earned a Michelin star in 2022. Chef Rafidi takes inspiration from his family’s roots in the Levant region, bringing to the table the ancient tradition of the region’s coal-fired cuisine, local, seasonal ingredients, and a refined culinary acumen. The heart of the restaurant is Albi’s wood-burning hearth, and the Hearth Table which guests can reserve for Chef Rafidi’s Sofra – a semi-improvisational tasting menu – and an intimate view of the open kitchen.
Trendy Middle Eastern eatery whipping up hummus, fish & meat plates, plus unique cocktails & wine.
Hours
| Thursday | 5–10 PM |
| Friday | 5–10 PM |
| Saturday | 5–10 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 5–10 PM |
| Wednesday | 5–10 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 1346 4th St SE, Washington, DC 20003
Website: http://www.albidc.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: resy.comtripleseat.com
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
Albi DC
In 2025 Albi was ranked #34 on the inaugural list of North America’s 50 Best Restaurants – in that same year The Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema …
Book Your Albi Reservation Now on Resy
In an elegantly designed dining room, offering an array of textures and colors, Albi … The Resy Guide to Washington D.C.’s 2025 Michelin Winners. By Resy Staff …
Albi – Washington – a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant
À la carte is one way to go, but guests may just do better with the hyper-seasonal tasting menu. Regardless, Chef/owner Michael Rafidi’s dishes are full of …
Reviews
Brandee Bilotta
If this isn’t one of the best meals you’ve ever eaten then you may need to re-evaluate your life. We sat at the hearth table, so we undoubtedly got more food and attention; however, every single bite was delicious and every staff member was incredibly attentive and dedicated to our experience. This is not your average tasting menu—the portions are generous and satiating. The unique cocktails were also incredible. They even gave us some bites and Palestinian olive oil to go. I’ve eaten at several renowned Michelin star restaurants but I’ve got to say this was probably the most fun and satisfying.
… moreLichi Mahajan
Albi gets it right where it matters. Cozy without trying too hard, polished without feeling stiff. Perfect date-night energy.
The food? Straight 10/10. Every dish felt intentional balanced flavors, confident execution, no filler. This is Michelin-star cooking that actually earns the star, not just the label.
And the kunafeh yeah, that alone is reason to come back. Crisp, rich, not overly sweet. Ends the meal on a high instead of a sugar crash.
It’s the kind of place you remember after you leave. Warm, thoughtful, and seriously good food. Worth every bite.
… moreThe food? Straight 10/10. Every dish felt intentional balanced flavors, confident execution, no filler. This is Michelin-star cooking that actually earns the star, not just the label.
And the kunafeh yeah, that alone is reason to come back. Crisp, rich, not overly sweet. Ends the meal on a high instead of a sugar crash.
It’s the kind of place you remember after you leave. Warm, thoughtful, and seriously good food. Worth every bite.
Plated&Rated
After a long wait, I finally secured a reservation at Albi DC, and I was genuinely excited to try it given all the awards and glowing reviews. The restaurant itself has a warm, modern atmosphere that makes a great first impression.
I opted for the chef’s tasting menu, which consisted of five courses and was a generous amount of food. Albi also offers an extensive wine list and cocktail menu. I chose the wine pairing, which included four different wines from the West Bank and Lebanon—an interesting and well-curated selection. I also tried several types of arak, which were intense, bold, and quite impressive.
Unfortunately, the food itself was a major letdown. From start to finish, the dishes were overwhelmingly salty and lacked distinct or memorable flavors. To make matters worse, the service fell short. The staff did not do a good job explaining the dishes or guiding how they should be enjoyed, and I felt they were too busy to provide proper attention.
Overall, the experience was mixed and did not live up to the hype surrounding the restaurant.
… moreI opted for the chef’s tasting menu, which consisted of five courses and was a generous amount of food. Albi also offers an extensive wine list and cocktail menu. I chose the wine pairing, which included four different wines from the West Bank and Lebanon—an interesting and well-curated selection. I also tried several types of arak, which were intense, bold, and quite impressive.
Unfortunately, the food itself was a major letdown. From start to finish, the dishes were overwhelmingly salty and lacked distinct or memorable flavors. To make matters worse, the service fell short. The staff did not do a good job explaining the dishes or guiding how they should be enjoyed, and I felt they were too busy to provide proper attention.
Overall, the experience was mixed and did not live up to the hype surrounding the restaurant.
TR
I’ve been here twice and experienced both bar seating and a tasting by the kitchen. Both experiences are worth it. The staff is very kind and can make thoughtful drink pairing suggestions on any dish. Really delicious, interesting modern takes on Palestinian and Middle Eastern cuisine. The spreads for the pita (and the bread itself) are addictive. But everything from the meat and veggies down to the desserts are incredible. My favorite restaurant in all of DC.
… moreSultan Barazi
We visited Albi on December 30th, and it was the perfect way to cap off the year. This Middle Eastern restaurant delivered the best meal we’ve ever had. Even surpassing our experiences abroad. The food was exciting, the service was impeccable, especially thanks to Eric, who made our experience truly special. The atmosphere was gorgeous—one of the most beautiful dining spots we’ve been to. We’ll definitely return and explore more. Highly recommended!
… moreConnor Gan
Got the chefs course meal. At first, thought it might be a Michelin meme restaurant as the first thing that was handed out were four olives and 2 pieces of cauliflower, but boy was I wrong.
We were extremely full by the last two courses. Service was extremely attentive, ambiance was very lovely. Like the entrance area, very cozy and is nice that one can order drinks (great if waiting for other party members).
Can easily see why Albi has 3 stars at this point–one of the best meals I’ve ever had.
… moreWe were extremely full by the last two courses. Service was extremely attentive, ambiance was very lovely. Like the entrance area, very cozy and is nice that one can order drinks (great if waiting for other party members).
Can easily see why Albi has 3 stars at this point–one of the best meals I’ve ever had.
A N
The most gracious experience is waiting for you at Albi. I had the sheer privilege and opportunity to come up finding an availability on our only night in DC. Laith, Alex, and Diane were so kind and pleasant throughout our coursing tour. This restaurant is an absolute treat! As I was being lead down a road of delicious food, we were checked on throughout to ensure we enjoyed our experience, by the end I had not one inch of space left.
Laith curated our experience with genuine care. Thank you Albi for a wonderful evening.
… moreLaith curated our experience with genuine care. Thank you Albi for a wonderful evening.
Danielle Kruse
We recently went for the Hearth experience, which we were excited for and it was even better than we could have hoped. One of the most unique delicious tastings I have ever been to, with great service and an incredible wine pairing. The only minor note I have is I expected at least one Levantine wine in the pairing (I know they have a separate Levantine wine experience, but just given that it is one of the things they’re known for) and there wasn’t any, however the wines were amazing! The cocktails were also the best we had on our trip. Will be back!
… morePrer
I came here for a birthday celebration. We made a reservation. Food was phenomenal.
However service was not great. We were seated in the bar room in a corridor where direct cold air hit us every time the door opened which was at least 15 times during our visit. The restaurant was already cold and we were next to windows in the evening. The restaurant told us we could just wear out coats-this is not a solution. Also they kept removing our drink menus so it was difficult to order. In general we were treated poorly by the host staff as we observed other interactions.
… moreHowever service was not great. We were seated in the bar room in a corridor where direct cold air hit us every time the door opened which was at least 15 times during our visit. The restaurant was already cold and we were next to windows in the evening. The restaurant told us we could just wear out coats-this is not a solution. Also they kept removing our drink menus so it was difficult to order. In general we were treated poorly by the host staff as we observed other interactions.
Dan L
We arrived right at opening and were able to get seats at the bar without a reservation. Our server was friendly and provided great customer service throughout the meal. We ordered a la carte; the food and cocktails were outstanding. We ended the night with the Knafeh, which is easily one of the best desserts in the DC area.
… more