Dupont Circle will get a family-owned Turkish eatery when Ankara opens its doors on Wednesday, May 20 (a soft-opening with limited hours will begin May 14). Jorge Chicas, formerly a head chef at Zaytinya, designed the menus, which will be offered for lunch, dinner, and a special Turkish brunch in the former Levante’s space; there’s no relation between the two restaurants, despite serving similar cuisines.*
A number of familiar favorites fill the sizable lunch and dinner menu, such as hot and cold mezze, flat breads cooked in a stone oven, salads, and grilled kebabs. Guests can opt for entrees over grazing, including seared Skuna Bay salmon with chickpeas and garlicky yoghurt, or braised lamb shanks. Members of the Aslanturk family, who’re behind the restaurant, plan to recreate lesser-known dishes from their homeland, such as ankara tava, a comforting pilaf dish with beef, tomatoes, and peppers.
The 120-seat space takes on a rustic Old World look, and includes a patio of near-equal size for 115 guests. An outdoor happy hour is planned with discounts on food and drinks, as well as al fresco brunch. The weekend prix-fixe menu ($35 per person) is modeled after a traditional Turkish breakfast, with small salads, fresh breads, jams, and honey followed by a choice of entree—think fried eggs in Turkish tomato sauce—plus complimentary coffee, tea, and a mimosa. À la carte options will also be available.
Ankara. 1320 19th St., NW; 202-293-6301.
*This post has been updated from an earlier version.
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
