Yellow, a Levantine-inspired cafe, opens this Saturday for carryout in Navy Yard

1346 4th Street, SE photo by Scott Suchman

From a press release:

“Chef Michael Rafidi announces a May 30 opening for Yellow, a cafe and bakery with Levantine roots, located within his Navy Yard restaurant, Albi, at 1346 4th Street SE. The carryout cafe will be open Wednesday-Sunday from 9am-3pm, offering a taste of the Levant for breakfast, lunch, and all-day coffee. Chef Gregory Baumgartner, who oversees pastry at Albi, also leads the program at Yellow, which merges classic French technique with Middle Eastern flavors. Rafidi puts his mark on the menu with a selection of mezze and pita sandwiches.

Photo Scott Suchman

“Exploring Levantine cooking through the lens of a cafe offers a great counterpart to what we do at Albi,” Rafidi said. “Yellow will focus on boutique breakfast and lunch fare, making for an easy on-the-go meal that’s still interesting. I’m especially excited for the pastry program that Gregory has developed.”

Baumgartner’s sweet and savory baked goods, a cornerstone of the experience, are available throughout the day, along with a beverage program spanning from coffeehouse staples to specialty options like coconut-cardamom cold brew and sumac lemonade. Highlights from the breads and pastries include harissa focaccia, za’atar & labne croissant, baklava kouign-amann, and halva-chocolate chip cookies. Weekends will bring the addition of urfa and smoked fish bagels with various spreads.

For lunch, Yellow will serve an assortment of mezze, like batata tots, heirloom tomato tabouli, and tahini salad, along with sandwiches stuffing BBQ lamb, grilled eggplant, soft shell crab, and more inside homemade potato pita. Menu items will change regularly, but will all reflect Rafidi’s fresh perspective on Levantine cuisine using in-season Mid-Atlantic ingredients.

All items will be available for carryout from Yellow.”