Rooftop Middle Eastern restaurant Yalla opens on U Street

Yalla , a vibey Middle Eastern restaurant and bar, just opened on U Street.

Why it matters: After years of working in some of the city's best kitchens, including Maydan and Annabelle , chef Marcel Chehaieb is channeling his native Lebanon for a breakout project.

The vibe: The lush rooftop is designed to be more than just a restaurant, with weekend entertainment — DJs, belly dancers — and elaborate hookahs.

Dig in: Chehaieb riffs on Lebanese dishes like hummus topped with duck confit or crispy cheese rolls with harissa-apricot sauce.

• Other shared plates — dips, salads, grilled skewers— draw from the Eastern Mediterranean.

Drink up: Diners can sip traditional Moroccan tea service, or for something stronger, cocktails mixed with Middle Eastern spirits, herbs and oils.

• You'll also find beers and wines from Palestine, Turkey and beyond.

What's next: Yalla is part of an emerging international complex at Space (formerly Republic Gardens).

• The four-level building houses Casa Kantuta , D.C.'s first Bolivian pop-up bar, which just opened on the basement level. Latin sports bar Offside also recently debuted above for soccer and other sports fans.
• Sand Bar, a Moroccan shisha lounge, will open in the coming months.

If you go: Yalla , 1355 U Street NW. Open for dinner and late night.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that Casa Kantuta and Offside are now open.