Tanoreen, Bay Ridge, NYC – The Restaurant Fairy

Food: ☆☆☆☆½

Service: ☆☆☆½

Ambiance: ☆☆

Cost: $$

Must try: Kibbie, Eggplant Napoleon, Musakhan, Fried Brussel Sprouts

Rawia Bishara is a force to be reckoned with both inside and outside the kitchen. I think her Levantine Bay Ridge food spot “Tanoreen” serves some of the city’s best, home-style Middle Eastern food.

Palestinian in origin, hailing from Nazareth in northern Israel, Bishara credits her love for good food to her mother.

At Tanoreen, she uses a mix of both traditional recipes learned from her mother and more experimental ones that she creates on her own.

The menu at Tanoreen is exhaustive. It really takes guidance from the helpful waiters to know what to order. Rawia not only oversees the kitchen but also makes a personal appearance at every table, at least once, to greet and chat with the customers. Her energy and passion is lovely.

The food at Tanoreen is divine! I’m already dreaming of going back and digging into their smoky baba ghanouj, the delicious Musakhan and the stunning kibbe ( made with lamb – not beef) . Rawia says that you haven’t really had good kibbbe till you have tried it with lamb – I have to concur.

Left to me, I would just eat off the appetizer menu – though you must try their Fetti and the meal has to end with their Knafeh!

When you do go to Tanoreen, make sure you go with a big group of people. There are just too many yummy dishes to try that can’t be eaten in ones and twos.

Yes – it’s a schlep to get to Bay Ridge, but let me tell you once you get there – it will really be worth your while!!

Here is some of what we ate: