East Falls Church
Yayla Bistro
For: Flatbreads
2201 N. Westmoreland St., Arlington
There is life beyond cheese and its name is lahmacun. A crisp flatbread topped with ground beef and lamb, onions and garlic—and enough red pepper flakes to let heat swirl around your mouth—doesn’t need a layer of suffocating mozzarella to complete it. At Yayla Bistro, which opened in March, there is plenty of recognizable Mediterranean items, especially that starter of hummus (more chunky than creamy), labneh (thick, tangy) and htipti (a deconstructed version with red peppers and feta). The grilled calamari could use some zing, though it’s cooked well, and the zucchini patties were a little gummy. But the servers are glad to help with suggestions, and help you pronounce the Turkish dishes.
(October 2014)
