Mom and Pop at night in the Mosaic District (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Shawarma at NAJA Mediterranean (courtesy of NAJA Mediterranean)
Two eateries around the Mosaic District’s central green space are teaming up to bring new late-night experiences to the mixed-use district.
On two Saturdays (March 7 and 14), NAJA Mediterranean and Mom & Pop will host a late night shawarma and coffee pop-up outside the latter’s location (2909 District Avenue in Merrifield) from 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.
NAJA Mediterranean will serve its chicken shawarma wraps with toum, Lebanese pickles and house-made pita bread. Mom & Pop will keep its shop open late to serve its coffee and espresso drinks. NAJA Mediterranean’s chicken shawarma wraps are sold at $15, while Mom & Pop’s prices vary by drink.
After the two pop-ups, NAJA Mediterranean will host another late-night event called NAJA Nights: Mount Lebanon After Dark on March 21 from 9:30 p.m.-2 a.m.
NAJA Nights will feature Arabic and Afro House music by DJs TEMSA and SAGA, a special late-night menu of snacks and the full drink menu. In addition, the cocktail of the night will be a espresso martini made with Mom & Pop’s espresso. Food will be served until midnight.
The restaurant hasn’t released the full NAJA Nights food menu, but one of its featured items is a shorbat adas red lentil soup. Reservations are available through OpenTable.
Owner Tariq Alaeddin told FFXnow that NAJA Nights combines his passion for music to offer a night of music, food and culture.
“NAJA is the first introduction many of our guests have to Lebanese culture and to cultures across the Middle East and the Mediterranean,” Alaeddin said. “During lunch and dinner, that introduction naturally happens through the food. But those places offer so much more, from vibrant nightlife to late night gatherings that bring people together.”
NAJA Mediterranean opened in fall 2025, replacing Kirby Club where Alaeddin had been a longtime employee. The restaurant kept some of Kirby Club’s signature dishes, while introducing a wider range of Mediterranean food inspired by Alaeddin’s travels and his grandmother Najah’s cooking.
NAJA Mediterranean and Mom & Pop have not confirmed if they plan to host additional late-night events beyond March.
Dining and Cooking