New Lebanese Restaurant in Georgetown

Villa Yara opened last weekend at 2815 M St NW. The Lebanese restaurant, bar and garden was designed after the tale of Yara – a character inspired by the famous Lebanese singer Fairouz – and features nods to 1970s art and music. The menu ranges from cold and warm mezza offerings, to charcoal-grilled meat dishes. Try the makanek (lamb sausage with pomegranate molasses), yara ghanoush (grilled beets with tahini and pistachios), rakakat jibneh (cheese rolls), or fattet batinjan (fried eggplant, crispy pita, yogurt tahini sauce, and fried nuts). Cocktails include the Mardalida featuring tequila, chargrilled pineapple, and jalapeno, or the Georgina’s with prosecco, gin, citrus and ginger. Finish off the meal with tahini sesame ice cream.