Green Almond Pantry, a Mediterranean café and market owned by chef Cagla Onal, has reopened in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. The café, which is located at 3210 Grace Street NW, offers nearly double the seating capacity and features an open kitchen layout, allowing patrons to see the culinary creations being prepared. Onal expressed her excitement about returning to the neighborhood, noting that the journey began at the nearby Rose Park Farmers Market.
New Menu and Dining Experience
With the arrival of spring, Green Almond Pantry is set to delight customers with a fresh and vibrant menu. Onal highlighted the café’s offerings, which include freshly made focaccia, salads, dips, sandwiches, braised lamb, and roasted fish. Daily specials will be crafted based on seasonal ingredients sourced from local farmers and purveyors.
The new location allows for a gas-fired grill, marking the debut of grilled meats, including lamb and fish. In addition, the café plans to introduce a carefully curated selection of beer and wine that complements the seasonal dishes. Customers can also explore a market section featuring Onal’s personal pantry essentials such as tinned fish, imported grains, olive oils, and specialty herbs, all intended for takeaway or enjoyment at the café’s indoor and outdoor seating areas.
A Culinary Journey Rooted in Community
The concept for Green Almond Pantry first emerged in 2017 as a farmers market stall, eventually evolving into an eight-seat counter location in Shaw. Onal’s talent earned her a nomination for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic by the prestigious James Beard Awards in 2020. She noted, “In a way, Georgetown’s Rose Park farmers market is where it all started, so it’s like we’ve come full circle.”
At launch, the café will operate from Thursday to Saturday, between 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m., with plans for extended hours and delivery services through the café’s website in the upcoming summer months. As Onal puts it, “With spring here and all the beautiful ingredients that come with the season, this just feels right. We’re really excited to be back and to be cooking again.”
The reopening of Green Almond Pantry not only brings high-quality Mediterranean cuisine back to Georgetown but also reaffirms the importance of local food sourcing and community engagement in the culinary landscape.
