Queens is home to some of the most authentic ethnic food destinations in New York City. Amidst all this lies Sevan, a gem amongst the very few Armenian restaurants in the city.
Sevan, Bayside, NYC
Category Archives: MIDDLE EASTERN
Zizi Limona, Williamsburg, NYC
Nestled in the heart of Williamsburg is a delightful spot, serving food so fresh and authentic you forget where you are.
Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest to this establishment for a complimentary meal. All opinions expressed in this post are my own
Mangal Kebab Turkish Restaurant, Sunnyside, NYC
Ever since my favorite Turkish spot Roka in Queens closed down – I have been on a hunt to find anything even half as good. My explorations led me to Mangal Kebab in Sunnyside a local dive that seems to be patronized by a lot of the Turkish community.
Conflict Kitchen’s Virtual Iranian Cooking Lesson
Last weekend, I participated in one of the coolest cooking collaborations I have experienced. I was picked to be one of the participants from around the world in Conflict Kitchen’s virtual cooking lesson with Executive Chef Bahar Sarhangi live from Tehran.
Duzan Mediterranean Grill, Astoria, NYC
Byblos, Nomad/ Flatiron, NYC
Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest to this establishment for a complimentary meal. All opinions expressed in this post are my own
Persian New Year Norooz Pop- Up Dinner at Porsena, NYC
Ever get a craving for some really authentic, home-style Persian food? After trying what Louisa Shafia cooked up at her Persian New Year Norooz Pop- Up dinner at Porsena– I can tell you that I’m totally hooked.
Taci Beyti, Midwood, NYC
Food: ☆☆½
Service: ☆☆☆½
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $$
Must try: Adana kabab, Pastrami hummus
Roka Turkish Cuisine, Kew Gardens, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆
Cost: $$
Must try: Everything!! Acili Ezme, Babaganush , Adana Kebab, Kalamar
(This meal was complimentary which did not affect my review.)
Moustache, West Village, NYC
Bab al Yemen, Bayridge, Brooklyn
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $$
Must try: Hummus and Lamb Segar, Yemeni Omelet, Sal-Tah
Turkish Grill, Sunnyside, NYC
Bi Lokma, Midtown East, NYC
Miraj Healthy Grill, Williston Park , NEW YORK
Food: ☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆
Ambiance: ☆ ½
Cost: $$
Must try: Chicken Kabab, Kashkeh Bodemjan
Kabul Kabab House, Flushing, NYC
Pera Soho, SoHo, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆ ½
Cost: $$$
Must try: Adana Cut Roll, Bouillabaisse, Smoked Eggplant w/ garlic yoghurt and Whole Roasted Leg of Lamb .
Zaytinya, Washington D.C.
Food: ☆☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆☆
Cost: $$$
Must try: Any mezze, Kabab platter, Lamb special
Zaytinya is José Andres’s masterpiece in Washington DC.
Set in a striking space, Zaytinya offers modern mezze dishes from the cuisines of Greece, Turkey and Lebanon. The small plate fare here is exceptional. Dishes crafted with zesty vegetables, tender meats and a perfect balance of spices really keep both the palate and the soul gleaming.
The service was outstanding. Our dishes were brought in and whisked away with a gracious efficiency and the quickly disappearing basket of warm pita bread and drinks were constantly replenished throughout our meal. Everyone from our waiter to the maitre d’ kept tabs on how our meal was progressing. The head chef Michael Costa even created a special spicy dip just for us when we asked for a side of hot sauce.
My experience at Zaytinya was near flawless. Other than a slightly chewy octopus dish, there wasn’t a bite or a moment that I didn’t relish at Zaytinya.
Here is some of what we ate:
HOMMUS
TZATZIKI
BABA GHANNOUJE
FATTOUSH
BANTIJAN BIL LABAN
SEASONAL WILD MUSHROOMS
FALAFEL
SPANAKOPITA
KEBAB PLATTER
PEYNIRLI PIDE
OCTOPUS SANTORINI
LAMB KLEFTICO
|
|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| Zaytinya | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| American New / American Traditional | |
| * Street Address | |
| 701 9th St NW , Washington, DC 20001 | |
| * Phone | |
| (202) 638-0800 |
Tanoreen, Bay Ridge, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆☆½
Service: ☆☆☆½
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $$
Must try: Kibbie, Eggplant Napoleon, Musakhan, Fried Brussel Sprouts
Wafa’s, Forest Hills, Queens
Taboon, Hell’s Kitchen, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆☆
Cost: $$$$
Must try: Mint Lamb Kababs, Vegetarian Grill
Sammy’s Halal Food Cart, Jackson Heights, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆
Ambiance: n/a
Cost: $
Dishes not to miss: lamb over rice
From cabby to foodie! Sammy is immigrant from Pakistan who knew that he needed to be more than just another Pakistani cab driver in New York City. That has been the journey of Samiul Haque Noor of Sammy’s Halal who won the Vendy award for best street food cart in 2006.
THE KING OF FALAFEL AND SHAWARMA, ASTORIA, NYC
MY RATINGS FOR THIS MEAL
Food: ☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆
Cost: $
I recommend: Falafel
And the winner of this years Vendy Awards is……….
Farez “Freddy” Zeideia’s – the King of Falafel and Shawarma.
I really do agree with the king of falafel part. Freddy fries up an unbeatable, oblong shaped falafel, which is absolutely delicious. Its crisp on the outside and the filling is perfectly spiced.
The best part is that you get to try a free falafel while you wait for your order to be cooked up.
Freddy’s halal cart serves up quite a variety of shawarma, falafel and chicken rice combinations.
I really liked the basmati rice that comes with their rice platters. It is very nicely flavored and the pickled turnips that they add to their salad really adds great bite.
All the people working at the King of Falafel and Shawarma cart are super friendly and even though it is a food cart, it has a nice homey, community feel to it.
So if you are in and around Astoria, do make sure that you go and pay homage to the king!
Here is some of what we ate:
FALAFEL
CHICKEN AND RICE PLATE
SHAWARMA PLATE
Ilili – Brunch, Gramercy/ Flatiron, NYC
Philippe Massoud has a story to tell at Ilili (which means tell me). Ilili is a high end, contemporary Lebanese restaurant, located in the Flatiron district.
Massoud’s culinary tales are woven into the nouveau Lebanese cuisine he’s created that draws on his beginnings in hospitality in Beirut and experiences that followed suit in the United States. Continue reading
Naya – Mezze & Grill, Midtown East, NYC
NAYA – MEZZE & GRILL
686 3rd Ave
(between 43rd St & 44th St)
New York, NY 10017
(212) 557-0007
http://www.nayarestaurants.com/
At Naya, traditional Lebanese cuisine meets designer chic!
The sleek, modern space consists of a narrow passageway lined with cool glass and white leather cubicles. It opens up to a bright back room which is suitable for group seating.
The food at Naya is outstanding and so well priced. You could just eat their Mezze and be full! Continue reading
53rd and 6th – Halal Cart, Midtown West,NYC
MY RATINGS FOR THIS MEAL
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆
Cost: $
“The Best Halal. Delicious Chicken and Gyro – We are different!” scream the yellow shirts worn by “The Gyros Guys” on 53rd and 6th avenue.
They have no official name and are known as anything from the Halal Cart to Chicken and Rice to Platter!
There are many Halal Carts around that block but this one in particular is in a class by itself. They are known by their distinctive yellow sweatshirts and plastic bags that read ” The Best Halal……….”
They are only open at night from 7:30 PM to 4:00 AM. It doesn’t matter what time of night you go – they always have a long line of eager night owls waiting to get their fix.
This was the line we found when we got there at 2:30 AM on a Saturday night!!
But here’s the BIG secret. They usually charge $6 for a chicken rice platter but for $10 – you get to cut the line!!!
So, if you dont want to wait and are willing to pull out the big bucks……. all you have to do is go up to the guys directly and tell them that you want the ten dollar deal!!
Needless to say their food is fabulous. There is no better way to wind down the New York night scene.
They have two options on their menu – the chicken and rice platter or the chicken gyro sandwich. Their sauces are to die for!
Apparently the recipe for their white sauce is top secret – that’s where all the flavor is and they have a kick-ass hot sauce. I’m a spice hound but you really have to take it easy on this one – its is SMOKING hot!
So delicious!!
So if you ever get those late night munchies and need a hit of something cheap and fabulous……53rd and 6th is the place to go!
|
|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| The Halal Guys | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| Brooklyn / Middle Eastern other | |
| * Street Address | |
| 6th Ave & W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019 | |
| * Phone | |
| (347) 527-1505 |