Au Za'atar

This place was absolutely amazing! Classy date night spot with the perfect ambiance. The service was top notch and our waiter Gio was well informed on all the dishes and had great recommendations. We ordered the hummus with pine nuts which honestly was the best I’ve ever had. The mushroom cheese pies with caramelized onions were also quite delicious and everything was really fresh. I also loved the chicken soup with veggies which reminded me of home. For our main entree, we got the kebabs which were packed with flavor and so good with the vermicelli rice, oh and let’s not forget about the sumac fries which were fried and crispy to perfection. I also loved all the homemade sauces that come on the side which include: tahini sauce, harissa sauce and the spicy green pepper sauce. This place honestly blew me away and was really well staffed. I can’t wait to come back the next time we are in NYC! Forgot to mention they do offer the shawarma towers but since they’re a specialty item they don’t have it listed on the menu. They’re pretty big and can feed 4 people so we opted not to order one but it also looked delicious and is available so just ask your waiter.

Great location and the vibe inside is very fun. Come here after work during the week and there will be a ton of people inside. The food was okay the drinks were definitely on the sweeter side. Glad we tried it out because a lot of people were talking about this spot. Would definitely recommend the mixed grill to a try a little bit of everything.

Fantastic mouth watering Mediterranean fare with tasty hummus, falafel and pita bread combo. Their green sauce was super spicy and very flavorful. If you're into spicy food ask for that. Small tables, lots of food and the place turns festive with birthday wishes with fireworks! Enjoyed the evening with friends and a friendly service. Lots of vegetarian options.

Huge shout out to the manager who was patient to all of my reservation updates and for accommodating our large party of 8. Atmosphere (5/5): We were seated in one of the private outdoor patio dining areas which could sit around 12 people. It had cute decorations and heat lamps available. It was warm enough to not need the heating and a sliding door kept the heat in. We loved the private setting although the space between the walls were very tight. Service (4/5): All individuals in the party have to be present before getting seated. Large reservations were difficult to adjust online, however adjustable through calling. The private dining naturally made it difficult to get service but the food came out at spaced interval and water was refilled with an appropriate timing. We had a Day 1 waiter but we made it easier by writing in a Note what our order was. I would suggest to the business in considering pitchers for self-refilling. Food Overall (5/5): I loved every dish! Wines were priced at $54/bottle; Mezze & Dips Tower - there was a medley of different things including hummus, eggplant, salad, cauliflower, potatoes, beans, and pita slices. We were able to get a refill of pita for free! Arnabeet Mekle - Fried cauliflower was nicely seasoned Traditional Falafel - a nice outer crunch, great seasoning Halloum Mekli - love the fried cheese and the hint of sweetness from the honey Shish Taouk Salad - this was very similar to the chicken kebab just salad instead of rice Shish Tawook (Chicken Kebab) - chicken pieces were large and juicy, marinated with spices, and complemented well with the rice Kibbeh Labanieh - the minced ground beef meatballs were swimming in a yogurt sauce, that was both creamy and tasty Our party of 8 ordered 2 bottles of $54 wine and all of this, including tip, it was just about $50

Pictured is the famous table side shawarma & it did not disappoint. There was a very generous amount of fries along with it and can easily feed up to 4 people. Be aware that it is on the pricier side (approximately $80) but definitely worth it! Follow our insta: @nyc.halal for more halal food reviews!!