Overview:
Israeli chef Einat Admony of Bar Bolonat and Taim opened Kish-Kash, New York's only couscous bar. Here, she makes hand-sieved Moroccan-style couscous from scratch to pair with dishes like chicken tagine, lamb & hummus. Everything costs less than $21.
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Golda is a 28 seat all-day restaurant in Bed Stuy Brooklyn, known for its excellent multi-roaster coffee program, creative pastries, and a delicious Cali-meets-Middle Eastern menu.
Overview:
One of Israel's prized chefs, Eyal Shani, has opened his first location in NYC. His restaurants, including outposts in Paris, Melbourne & Tel Aviv command big crowds. His newest venture is located deep inside of Chelsea Market and occupies a bustling fast casual space with counter and table seating. The food focuses on Mediterranean street flavors & the menu is divided into two sections: in a pita, or out of the pita. The "out of" section is a list of simply roasted vegetables like baby cauliflower, smashed potato with sour cream, and charred sweet potato. The pita section is really nothing short of fantastic overflowing with locally sourced vegetables and meat from the butchers inside of Chelsea Market. If you're feeling carnivorous check out the ribeye minute steak or reuben pita otherwise opt for the ratatouille pita with tomato perfume roasted eggplant, tahini and hardboiled egg.
Overview:
The team behind Emporio and Aurora have created the centrally located Fort Greene locale, Evelina. The bustling space is designed with deep blue banquettes, rustic wood, a sprawling bar and mosaic tiles. The Mediterranean-Italian menu focuses on seasonal ingredients in pastas and shareable plates, with a number of items prepared on a wood-fired grill. The pasta is notably tasty, like squid ink malloreddus with crab meat, sea urchin & chili or the strangozzi carbonara with porcini mushrooms & shaved Perigord trufflles. The restaurant is particularly great for a casual weeknight dinner or weekend brunch.
Information:
Address: 211 Dekalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205
Neighborhood: Fort Greene
https://www.evelinabk.com/
Price: $$-$$$
Overview:
This relaxed, intimate spot is a Greek gem in the West Village. The façade is done in fresh white and blue colors, leading to a raftered bar and front dining room complete with an enchanting outdoor patio with Edison bulbs. The menu is filled with seafood, vegetables, olive oil, yogurt and much else that falls under the Mediterranean diet. You are brought an assorment of mezzes with toasty country bread like creamy taramosalata, spanakopita, tzatziki and saganaki. To try a sampling, get the mixed grill for two option with lamb chops, sliders, kebabs and chicken grilled served with fries, tzattziki and toasted pita.
Overview:
Celestine is an Eastern Mediterranean restaurant located on the Dumbo waterfront. The space is situated just under the Manhattan Bridge and MY GOD what a view! You can see the entire Manhattan skyline and straight passed the Brooklyn Bridge. Patrons will come just for the view but luckily the food is worth staying for. The space is modern and sleek with floor to ceiling windows that flood the dining room with light. . The kitchen, led by Executive Chef Garett McMahan, serves seasonal, soulful fare that draws inspiration from Northern Africa, the Mediterranean coastline, and the Middle East. Graze on mezzes like taramasalata, baba ghannouj and fingerling skordalia. For an entrees check out the "for two" section featuring whole grilled fish with artichoke & couscous or the duo of lamb with kibbeh & saddle.
Overview:
You'll find Au Za'atar in a cozy corner spot of the East Village. Divided into three dining areas plus a handful of outdoor tables that run along Avenue A they offer plenty of seating. The décor is rustic with bare brick and wood-paneled walls. Named after Lebanon's signature spice mixture, the restaurant attempts to encompass the full range of typical food found in the region, calling itself an "Arabian French bistro." The food is fantastic and there is a seemingly endless list of hot & cold mezzes, dips, and grilled meats & fish to order. A range of spices and fresh vegetables go into satisfying plates perfect to share like familiar dishes of falafel and hummus or more adventurous offerings like fattet al-betenjane and mujadara. Mixed grill platters of grilled meats and sauces is fun & tasty to share. Comfortable neighborhood spot that is good for groups, vegetarians and meat lovers alike.
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Shuka is a brand new Soho restaurant from the same team and chef that ran the former space, Hundred Acres. Structurally the interior has remained the same with 3 distinctive dining areas but it has been given a whole new feel. The space has been washed with white and vibrant turquoise paint then decked out in beautiful decorative tiles and Moroccan prints. The menu is Mediterranean with a long list of dips, small plates and kebabs of grilled meats & seafood. Mezzes include fried haloumi, lamb tartare, bourekas & za-atar fries. Every single dish is seasoned aggressively and completely worth while. The vibe is fun and hip making it an amazing spot to come with a group and share tons of dishes. I can't wait to return time & time again.
Overview:
Timna opened in 2016 on one of the best food blocks NYC has to offer- St Marks btw 1st & avenue A. The space is cozy and rustic with an intimate feel. Here chef Nir Mesika creates modern interpretations of Mediterranean and Israeli dishes. No, it's not a bunch of hummus and falafel. It is thoughtfully crafted, beautifully plated Israeli food. Every single dish has a complex array of ingredients, sauces and accents that uplift the plate. You can select a chefs tasting or go it on your own and share dishes like kubaneh bread, roasted cauliflower with curry yogurt, Bedouin octopus or Morrocan duck. Whatever you order it will be familiar flavors, recreated in an interesting way. This is really an experience worth having in a city over saturated with dining options.
Information:
Address: 109 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009
Phone: (646) 964-5181
Neighborhood: East Village
Price: $$-$$$
Overview
Gato is Bobby Flay's most recent addition to New York City. Although the restaurant is large and buzzing, it still feels warms. The space features high exposed ceilings with a massive wrap around bar in the center and a beautifully tiled floor reminiscent of Portugal. The menu is Mediterranean with a heavy Spanish, Greek & Italian influences. The selection is vast and dishes are easy to share. They have no less than 13 tapas style dishes to choose from and a wide array of ingredients like scallops, razor clams, yellowtail, burrata, and tons of veggies. You can mix up with rest of your meal with pizza, roasted fish, or giant slabs of pork. The restaurant opened three years ago and even now it commands a crowd.
Information:
Address: 324 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012
Neighborhood: Noho
Website: https://gatonyc.com/
Price: $$$
Overview
Jean-Georges Vongerichten's ABC family of restaurants has added a third venture to their group, this time in the form of the vegetarian concept abcV. This venue is the most casual of the three with a takeout counter, tiny bar, and relaxed dining room. The white washed space is outfitted with quirky chandeliers and wall hangings from their furniture store counterpart. The food is more upscale than the space would indicate, and JGV is doing really interesting vegetarian plates. Vegetables stand on their own here, as opposed to vegetable protein masquerading as meat (talking to you, seitan). The menu is wildly diverse with influences from Asia, India, and the Mediterranean. Ideal dishes are the shallot labne with fava beans, dosas, fresh spinach spaghetti, and roasted cauliflower with turmeric-tahini & pistachios. The bar offers locally made organic spirits, a list of biodynamic wines & fresh juices.
Information:
Address: 38 E 19th St, New York, NY 10003
Neighborhood: Gramercy
Website: https://www.abchome.com/eat/abcv/
Price: $$-$$$
Overview
I love this place. No really, I fucking love it. Reunion is a corner café is located in Williamburg. The floor to ceiling windows flood the space with light so that it feels relaxed and airy. You can choose to grab a coffee from the counter or be seated at the casual wooden round top tables. The inviting space is great for brunch or working on your computer for the afternoon. The owner hails from Israel and his menu is charmingly Mediterranean. The colorful dishes are flanked with flavors of sumac, tahini, halva & spices. Their sabich bowl with fried eggplant made me die all over myself. The mixture of soft and crunchy textures with deep rich flavors of tahini made it one of the best brunch dishes I’ve ever experienced. I cannot wait to go back.
Information
Address: 544 Union Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Neighborhood: Williamsburg
Website: https://reunionyc.com/
Price: $$
Overview
Ilili has been renowned as one of the better, if not best Lebanese restaurants in the city for years. The food is casual but you can have said food in a very chic setting. The interior is breathtakingly grand with dramatic high ceilings and warm lighting. The room is designed to look like as though you are sitting amongst the windows in the streets of Beirut. Because of it's large size, the space is ideal for big groups & celebrations. You will find classic Mediterranean mezze throughout the menu perfectly designed to split, allowing you to order many dishes. For smaller dishes graze on hommus, labne, chankleesh (feta) & grape leafs. The main dishes offer a huge variety of grilled proteins like lamb & beef. Such variety of vegetarian, fish, and meat options will allow you to return many times and never have the same meal twice.
Information
Address: 236 5th Ave, New York, NY 10001
Neighborhood: Flatiron
Website: https://www.ililinyc.com/
Price: $$-$$$
Overview
Claudette is one of those tried & true restaurants in New York. I'm always content when I'm here; the food & warm service never disappoint. The dining room feels like a mansion in the Hamptons with bleached wood floors, white washed ceilings & wicker chairs. The menu takes influence from the Mediterranean and Provence with a little bit of everything and not too much fuss. There is a real focus on local produce, seafood and seasonality. This type of food is ultra approachable, so it's a place you can take mom & dad or your less adventurous eaters. Some of the best items are vegetable cavatelli, bouillabaisse, grilled branzino, and local squid with falafel.
Information
Address: 24 5th Ave, New York, NY 10011
Neighborhood: Greenwich Village
Website: https://claudettenyc.com/
Price: $$$
Overview
Tel Aviv chef Meir Adoni has touched down in NYC on 20th street, which seems to be the new hottest place to be. He has opened his first restaurant outside of Israel which is a 60 seat cafe with an ample bar. The space feels casual but still upscale and trendy. The food is Middle Eastern with stunningly plated dishes full of color and vibrance. Bread is a big deal here; they bake fresh pita, Jerusalem sesame bagels, and kubaneh (similar to challah) in house and each comes with a flavorful array of dips. You'll find elevated takes on Mediterranean comfort food like smoked eggplant carpaccio and lamb pitas. A must have is the stew with tomato, poached fish, and mussels with a glass of Middle Eastern sourced wine.
Information:
Address: 34 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003
Neighborhood: Gramercy
Website: https://nurnyc.com/
Price: $$$
Overview
The Smile is a great Noho spot that has managed to remain hip well passed the allotted time for most restaurants. The subterranean restaurant is dark, rustic, and filled with beautiful people & models. They are open for 3 services/day so it is a convenient place to grab a light breakfast or a cozy evening date. Dishes are Mediterranean-inspired with American classics. The daytime menu is simple; healthy-esque dishes like bibb salad, a mezze plate & sandwiches. For dinner the menu is more complex but still adheres to the laid back style of the restaurant. The food changes seasonally but you'll see things like fluffy gnocchi, poached cod, and insanely tender beef tenderloin. Prices are super reasonable so this could absolutely be your go-to neighborhood spot.
Information:
Address: 26 Bond St, New York, NY 10012
Neighborhood: Nolita
Website: https://www.thesmilenyc.com/
Price: $$
Good for: vegetarian, breakfast, healthy selections, people watching
Overview
ChouChou is located in a relatively restaurant-free zone of Alphabet City on 4th street. Once inside you'll find a cozy space that is reminiscent of being inside a cave (like if the cave was romantic, softly lit and full of wine). What separates ChouChou from other Moroccan restaurants would be the thoughtful plating of the food. Menu items arrive in beautifully vibrate dishes from Morocco. Entrees are served with seasonal mezze and warm pita for dipping. You'll eat contemporary takes on classic Mediterranean favorites like lobster tagine, lamb chop couscous, and Moroccan pastries.
Information:
Address: 215 E 4th St, New York, NY 10009
Neighborhood: East Village
Website : https://www.chouchounyc.com/
Price: $$
Attire: Casual
Good for: dates, something different
Information:
Address: 104 Bayard St., New York, NY 10013.
Phone: (646) 998-3406
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Website : https://lalitonyc.com/
Price: $$
Attire: Casual
Good for: breakfast all day, cheap lunch (all dishes under $15), bar scene
Overview
This was a culinary experience where I walked away thinking, "I don't know what the fuck I just ate, but I loved it." The concept comes from the brain of former El Rey chef Gerardo Gonzalez. The Chinatown restaurant is decorated in a minimalistic retro fashion. The food is truly out of the ordinary, amongst a landscape of restaurants that all open with the same menu. There are Mexican, Mediterranean, and Latin influences contributing to complex flavors in casually plated food with lots of vegetable-heavy options. Confusing flavor combinations of roasted yam & yogurt, cumin & bacon, or potatoes & pickled pineapple have been finessed into dishes that will leave you pensive for days. I respect any place that has a "celery salad" consisting of a mountain of bacon and 3 pieces of celery. Hats off to Gonzales for shakin' shit up.
