A Mediterranean restaurant serving Turkish, Greek and Lebanese cuisine opened Friday in the 6,500-square-foot space beneath the Hyatt Regency Bethesda that sat empty for more than five years.
Agora Bethesda, at 7400 Wisconsin Ave., is the third location for owners Betul Uslu and Ismail Uslu, who also run Agora DC in Dupont Circle and Agora Tysons in Virginia. Executive Chef Ismet Sahin, a native of Marmaris in southern Turkey who has led the kitchens at both existing locations, oversees the new restaurant.
The space includes a large outdoor patio that the Hyatt's property owner, The Meridian Group, had specifically sought to preserve when selecting a new tenant. Charlie Schwieger, a senior associate with The Meridian Group, said in a 2021 interview that the space also provides room service to hotel guests, a function the firm wanted to maintain.
"That space provides room service to hotel guests — the kitchen component, that is. So, we certainly want to preserve that," Schwieger said at the time.
What's on the menu
Agora Bethesda features a mezze-style menu with flame-grilled kebabs, house-made künefe, and pistachio soufflé, according to the restaurant group's press release. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available.
The owners said they plan to collaborate with Maryland farms and winemakers to source ingredients and beverages for the Bethesda location.
During its soft-opening period, Agora Bethesda is serving dinner only: Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., according to the restaurant's website.
The backstory
Ismail Uslu became sole owner of Agora DC in 2008 after three years of hands-on work improving the restaurant. Betul Uslu left a banking career in 2016 to join full-time, focusing on private events. Agora Tysons has appeared on Northern Virginia Magazine's "Top 50 Best Restaurants" for four consecutive years, and Agora DC was named to Washingtonian magazine's Best of Washington list.
The Bethesda location was designed by Urbane Architects, the D.C.-based firm that also designed Agora Tysons in 2019 and renovated the Dupont Circle restaurant in 2021.
