The story
In an alley off Morse Street NE, a green door leads to La'Shukran – a bar, bistro, and rooftop terrace that feels like a modern Left-Bank watering hole transported to Washington, DC. The space, tucked behind a stained glass sign, is deliberately disorienting: Arabic-tinged elevator music drifts down tiled stairs, and the vibe shifts from late-night haunt to neighborhood gathering place. The name itself plays on the Arabic phrase “la’ shukran” – a quick refusal at a souk, or a gracious “you’re welcome” – capturing the restaurant’s embrace of contradiction.
Chef Michael Rafidi, named Outstanding Chef by the James Beard Foundation in 2024, leads the kitchen. His Palestinian-American heritage informs a menu that updates traditional Levantine flavors with Mid-Atlantic ingredients – a sensibility honed at his Michelin-starred Albi and stages at Noma. Radovan Jankovic runs the cocktail program, drawing on a career that includes Barmini and his own cafe Residents. William Simons, an Advanced Sommelier, curates a wine list that is irreverent and bookish, with a natural-leaning focus that complements the vibrant cuisine.
La’Shukran serves dinner until late, with a kitchen open until 10 or 11 depending on the night. The menu is described as “Levantine funk” – expect bold, aromatic Middle Eastern dishes built for sharing. Cocktails are transportive; wines are progressive. The space also includes a rooftop terrace and a bar that stays open late, making it a destination for a full evening out. The restaurant earned a Michelin Recommended distinction in 2026, a nod to its confident execution of Middle Eastern cuisine in an atmosphere that feels both nostalgic and utterly current.
Recognition
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