Review: Kora Restaurant Crystal City

October 29, 12:10 PMDC Italian Food ExaminerSusan Ciriello

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A variety of Italian options await the hungry as well as budget-conscious at the recently opened Kora. Located in Crystal City, next to Jaleo, Chefs Morou and Amadou Ouattara provide lunch weekdays, dinner seven days a week as well as Sunday brunch. The brothers bring a depth of experience to their new venture—Morou from his highly-regarded Farrah Olivia in Old Town (with a stint on Iron Chef America) and Amadou from his restaurants in Rockville, Middleburg and work with local Italian chefs Roberto Donna and Francesco Ricchi.

In a large, airy space previously home to Jose Andres’ Oyamel then Roberto Donna’s Bebo Trattoria, the atmosphere is sleek yet comforting. Functionally designed with warm purple tones complemented by whites and grays, the restaurant’s bar area leads into the main dining room, offering booths or tables. Softly lit screen dividers create a warm glow while a colorful four photo canvas of Morou’s daughter, Kora, is splashed at one end. A separate, private dining room seems to need more attention with one wall draped simply in a series of purple curtains.

The menu offers a range of Italian-American standards including lasagna, veal scaloppini and pizzas. Some deliver a more creative twist such as fried calamari with a trio of dipping sauces or a Caprese salad with basil pesto. For the more hard-core, pappardelle coated in rabbit sauce, squid ink tagliatelle with shellfish or braised beef tripe are also available. Pricing options are varied with a la carte items; three course prix fixe lunch or dinner menus; pasta samplers as well as half orders or full orders; a four in one pizza sampler or pizza toppings served up as calzones.

Kora may have a bit too much variety as some items succeed while others are disappointing. Refining a smaller range of dishes could better accentuate the ingredients, flavors and cooking techniques. The Ouattara brothers have the potential to please an Italian palette if they stay true to the essentials. 

For more information:  Kora Restaurant