Perfect Pita began as just as a kosher food take-out restaurant and expanded into a counter style sit in food eatery after their reputation for serving very good kosher food at reasonable prices. Perfect Pita is very popular kosher food restaurant for people who enjoy Middle Eastern dishes such as Moroccan pot roast and falafel as well as the Cholent which the traditional Sabbath stew of meat, beans, vegetables and potatoes.
About little over a year ago, the store front next door became available and Perfect Pita expanded into a sit down restaurant featuring a party room which can seat more people.
Perfect Pita's kosher counter staff is extremely friendly and our service dependable as well as fast to please our customers "on-the-go" lifestyles.
Today people of all backgrounds are enjoying the middle eastern taste that Perfect Pita has to offer. From Hummus with falafel, to Beef shish kebab, Perfect Pita Restaurant will satisfy your middle eastern taste bud as well as your wallet!
I have only had falafel here but wow, it is truly the best falafel I've ever had. I would eat this every day if I could. Each ball so full of flavor and the pita is fluffy and holds the falafel perfectly. Make sure you get hummus and tahini sauce on it. I usually get the Israeli salad and slaw mixed together as my side salads. I highly recommend perfect pita to all falafel lovers out there.
Just got a Falafel Platter and it was delicious! Huge portion of 5 large Falafel balls with eggplant salad, carrot salad, and cucumber salad. Also, half a dozen different little sauces and a really great fresh pita for $11.00. Great deal, will be back often. The place was being renovated, so it's not fair to judge how it looked, but suffice to say its basically a take out joint.
The best shwarma around – we just went to Golan Heights in Washington Hts today and while their shwarma is good, Perfect Pita blows theirs away – very fresh and juicy and generous amounts.
Hands down best schawarma I've ever had. I prefer it on pita with hummus and tahini. The service is excellent. Everyone is friendly and extremely hospitable. I am completely baffled by any less than perfect reviews on this page. I've been coming for lunch for over a month now, almost every day. Being from Fair Lawn my only regret is not discovering this place sooner.
The best Shwarma around – we just went to Golan Heights in NYC today and while their Shwarma was good, Perfect Pita blows theirs away – very fresh and juicy and generous amounts.
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- ספרים למנויים
- לפני 8 שנים
המקום הכי טוב שאכלתי -
- ספרים למנויים
- לפני 8 שנים
The food is great, just love coming back here! -
- ספרים למנויים
- לפני 8 שנים
good shawarma, nice people
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Kulushkät is some of the best advice we've ever gotten. It literally means 'shut up and eat,' but that's just Grandma's way of saying 'food first.'
Israeli Breakfast or Shakshuka? No need to decide! Come try both! We are OPEN for Brunch at our Prospect Lefferts location @ 11am today! 1137 Washington Ave.
Absolutely blown away by this place. Came here on a Sunday afternoon the place was empty. Very simple sleek black and white decor. I had no idea what to order, Gila was there, she helped us…
I feel compelled to write this review after eating what may possibly be the best falafel I've ever had. Freshly prepared, lightly fried, topped with cucumbers, tomatoes, hummus and a spicy sauce that…
My sister, friend and I stopped by Gila's for a quick lunch on our first day in the city. The food was awesome but the service alone made it worth the trip. Gila's warm, welcoming and quirky personality …
Nestled among the faux bistros and precious bars of Nolita, Hoomoos Asli is a welcome, no-fuss spot offering quick and cheap Israeli cuisine. Ceiling fans whirl above small wooden tables and cheesy '90s trance music plays over the speakers. Lunch draws a large international crowd of 20-somethings and NYU students, who come to feast on falafel, which arrive tucked in homemade, ridiculously fluffy pitas overflowing with chopped tomatoes and cucumbers. Dinner boasts an equally laid-back scene as couples enjoy entrees like schnitzel, pan-fried chicken covered in breadcrumbs and spices, and the Jerusalem mixed grill, a succulent combination of lamb, chicken and beef served with caramelized onions over rice. Lingering over cups of Turkish coffee and talking politics is encouraged. And although Hoomoos Asli doesn't serve liquor, the bring-your-own-wine-and-beer policy adds to this hole-in-the-wall's casual charm. — Dakota Smith
Recommended Dishes
Babaganoush, $5.17; Jerusalem mix grill sandwich, $11.16
על המקום:
This place is fantastic. The best food and the best value for money in Greenpoint. The shwarmas were extraordinarily delicious. The food is great quality and the deserts are amazing. Best rice pudding that tastes of pistachio and rosewater. Best baklava ever. And the food comes fast. Also, I was in the restaurant one day too, and the staff were very warm and friendly. Eat in or take out – you won't be sorry.
Really good! And pretty fast. Everything was very tasty and fresh, and the portion sizes were huge: we ordered a mixed vegetarian starter platter (which also comes with falafel as a surprise!), a falafel plate, and a chicken shawarma plate, and there was enough food for 4 meals. And we're BIG eaters. Everything came with loads of fresh pickles, salads, and side additions, and they sent PLENTY of sauces: Very happy, will definitely order from here again.
זמני פתיחה:
Delivery Hours
Mon
6:45PM – 4:30AM
Tue
6:45PM – 4:30AM
Wed
6:45PM – 4:30AM
Thu
6:45PM – 4:30AM
Fri
6:45PM – 4:30AM
Sat
6:45PM – 4:30AM
Sun
6:45PM – 4:30AM
Pickup Hours
Mon
6:45PM – 4:30AM
Tue
6:45PM – 4:30AM
Wed
6:45PM – 4:30AM
Thu
6:45PM – 4:30AM
Fri
6:45PM – 4:30AM
Sat
6:45PM – 4:30AM
Sun
6:45PM – 4:30AM
Olympic Pita offers a variety of authentic, delicious traditional Middle Eastern Dishes, such as Falafel, Shawarma, Kebabs, dips and fresh salads. Our menu also includes specialty platters such as morrocan cous cous, spicy morrocan fish and many more, using fresh, high quality ingredients . The beer and wine lists include a selection of Middle Eastern imports. Be sure to try one of the desserts for the perfect finish to your meal.
A Critic's Pick in the New York Magazine Restaurant Guide
In fact, New York Magazine rated us as one of the seven best falafel sources in New York. A quick search on google will show nothing but positive reviews of our restaurant.
f you know the original location on Brooklyn's Coney Island Avenue of this Israeli restaurant, you'll be amazed at the sumptuous decor of its garment center outpost, and that improvement extends to the food as well. Centerpiece of any meal is the outsized sesame-dotted pita that flies from the tandoor, deposited hot at your table and replenished whenever you finish the last one. The kebabs are splendid (pick baby chicken or Iraqi lamb instead of the unexciting schwarma). You are well advised to substitute unlimited visits to the salad bar for the choice of two sides on the menu. Open till midnight.
Hours:Sun-Thu 11am-11pm
ChikChak Food Truck takes authentic Middle Eastern cuisine, and brings it right into your neighborhood. We’ve got the same Kosher menu you’ve come to love, but with double – no, triple – the convenience.
We’ve scouted some of the best locations in the city to set up shop, and you can track our progress online through your smartphone, computer, or other device. But it gets even easier to dig in: ChikChak Food Truck offers catering for events of any size. You’ll never be without your falafel fix again.
Follow along on social media as we post location updates, action shots, and tales from the mean streets of Boston. We’re on a noble mission to spread ChikChak across the city – won’t you join us?
I was hesitant to try Rami's because of the other Yelp reviews, but my brother and I gave them a shot today.
Let me just say, the kebabs and falafel are mind blowing. So, so, so good! It's as good as any falafel that we've had in Israel, if not better. The kebabs are moist and flavorful.
We ordered Rami's special, so we got a sampling of falafel, kebabs, shawarma, humus, pita and Israeli salad. The pita was hot and fresh, the humus was delicious and the shawarma was well seasoned. We also tried the Moroccan cigars which had a crisp exterior and moist, spicy beef filling. I could probably eat those three times a day. The salad provided a nice cool balance to the mix.
After ordering and eating our meal, we went back to try the baklava and were not disappointed!
The line was long, which should be expected with a good food truck. It seemed pretty clear that everybody knew where to find the best food. The wait after ordering was average. If you're planning to just pop over and grab something quick to go, it's not going to work out for you. It was probably about 20 min. from the time we got in line to when we had our food handed to us.
The prices were reasonable. This isn't McDonalds, it's authentic Israeli cuisine. Expect to pay a little more, but expect to get your money's worth. Anybody who's eaten at a kosher restaurant knows that Rami's pricing is very reasonable.
If you go to the Powder House Square location, there's plenty of space to lay out a picnic blanket or sit on park benches.
Overall it was a great food experience. If we're ever in Boston again, I know that we'll be visiting Rami's.
Enjoyed a variety of items from this food truck at the SoWa Food Truck Court. Shawarma in a pita, Moroccan cigars, and falafel balls with hummus. All were delicious and well made. Reminded me of the cuisine from my recent trip to Israel. Everyone should definitely try and track down this food truck wherever it may be in greater Boston!
Grill 212 offers delicious dining, carryout and delivery to New York, NY
Grill 212 is a cornerstone in the New York community and has been recognized for its outstanding Mediterranean cuisine, excellent service and friendly staff.
Our Mediterranean restaurant is known for its modern interpretation of classic dishes and its insistence on only using high quality fresh ingredients.
ביקורת:
This is a non-pretentious, very authentic, very teensy Mediterranean joint tucked semi-underground. The portions are enormous; you can definitely split an entree and both end up quite stuffed! This is doubly true if you go for the salad bar, which is magnificent – especially the eggplant dishes. Yum. It would be nice if the food had a bit more salt/herbs/spices, but if you're ordering for home use you can just drown it in your favorite hot sauce. It's supremely affordable.
very low key and delicious. Ive spent some time with yemenite folk and the chicken soup with koubanah bread and hilbeh at Grill 212 is like sitting down with them. Generous salad bar, great laffa, nice staff, moderate price….how could you go wrong?
Incredibly fresh food. Excellent shakshukah. Tiny, tiny dining area. Friendly service. Hummas is delicious and homemade. Baby chicken was succulent. Will certainly return. Great place to take out, as well. But you cannot beat the sizzling freshness of dining in.
Delivery Hours
Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat: 12:00 PM – 10:15 PM
It's really, really delicious: well balanced, round, refreshing, flavorful with little redundancy in flavor from side dish to side dish. That being said, I've never successfully made it past the side dishes. Raised on meat and cheese you can guess what menu choices usually trump. At Black Iris, my fave delivery, I so rarely part with my precious $$$ on delivery (I'm a restaurant kinda' nom-nomer) that I put it all down on sides and some extra orders of pita. It's not knee bending amazing every single time (but when it's not it's obviously an extremely busy night for them) but this day, 08/21/2012 at 9PM I received the most perfect preparation. Whoever made the salads and sides sold at this time… I dedicated prose to you silently in my head for my entire meal. Plus, it's nice to completely gorge yourself on a meal—an lo! I feel peppy, hell, I'm ready to go dancing. I'm beautifully full!! Clearly this is the kinda' stuff we're intended to supply our bodies with. FAVES Spinch & Chickpea: It sounds humble but by god, try it. Rosy tomatoes with little acidity, crispy fried onions dressing the top—good gracious. Olive oil and lemon. YES. Labana: Yogurt with stuff on-top, but this yogurt isn't fucking around. It makes that $6 small container of whole fat yogurt from the grocery suddenly seem so mundane. I love this yogurt-stuff on bread, bits of everything in my fridge… hell, I'd put it on cheese. Beet Salad. BeetSaladBeetSaladBeetSalad! <3 <3 <3
This place is great. Delivery was exceptionally fast, food was delicious and very cheap for both the quality and quantity. The falafel sandwich is enormous and delicious and only $4.50, highly recommend. Everything tastes fresh, flavors are complex and just right. And again, a great bargain.
פתוח 7 ימים בשבוע.
על המקום:
The latest entrant in Yorkville's fast/casual/healthy category is a winner. While the food is delicious and the decor is stylish, the real beauty of Abaleh is the people, who are helpful, cheerful, and genuine.
I got lured in by the smiling guy who's regularly stationed outside with a tray of samples: soup one day, smoothies the next. The strategy worked, and our resulting meal did not disappoint. My falafel was maybe a bit overdone, but the pita was absolutely stuffed with veggies and pickles. The chicken shwarma was fabulous: moist, flavorful, and also gigantic. Hummus: smoooooth. The smoothie we shared (dates, bananas, tahina) was a little bland, but a good counterpoint to varying degrees of spice.
It's a bit pricey but I think totally worth it for a meal that's so fresh, tasty, customizable, and generous.
BTW: The name is an affectionate way of saying Dad in Hebrew (if you've ever referred to anyone as "Pops" you've got the idea).
בקורת:
It is not often they can make a fillet mignon skewer cooked to a perfect medium rare. It was juicy, tasted fresh and everything on the plate tasted great. We did the lunch special, 2 apps, one entree for $27. It was worth it, they give you a lot of food! Delicious food, really classy ambiance and service was great. I am definitely coming back to try more things on the menu!
Many people do not get middle eastern correct. It's either too much quantity but not enough flavor or good flavor but not enough quantity, This place got it down! Left a happy man!
I came here on a Sunday and it was very quiet, so the dishes came out quickly.
Hummus with Cauliflower: it's delicious with the fried cauliflower. I like the creamy hummus mixed with the crunchy cauliflower.
Moutabbal Almayass: mashed beetroot, fresh lemon, sesame paste, garlic. It's very citrusy, the lemon juice seems to overpower the sweetness of the beetroot.
Spicy Potatoes: fried potato cubes, fresh garlic, cilantro. The potatoes had a nice flavor from the fried garlic.
Garlic Paste: it's has the texture of a buttery garlic puree. It's quite sour, like it has a lot of lemon juice in it.
I enjoyed the hummus and the potatoes contrasting to the tangy flavors of the moutabbal and the garlic paste. The dining room is beautiful, it has a classic decor and ambiance.
Pardon my ignorance, but the name sounds like where I end up after slipping on black ice. Arrived at this Lebanese spot to pick up their excellent Moutabbal Almayass $10.00 (Mashed beetroot, fresh lemon, sesame paste, garlic.) with just enough pita for the dip. Shame they didn't think the bright pink beet spread warranted napkins.
This is probably going to be one of my favorite Lebanese restaurants in the city. I came here tonight (Friday night) and we had a reservation. It wasn't too busy but there were a good amount of people in the restaurant. It is a pretty high class fancy place. Dishes range from $24-$40 and the appetizers go from $6-20.
We had the hummus amalayass which was delicious. They gave us pita bread both soft and hard and it was an amazing mix with the hummus.
For the entree, we had the chicken toufta, sweet and sour, and the filet mignon cubed.
The chicken toufta was great, the sweet and sour had I believe cranberries or raisin of some sort that blended in very well with the meat. I have got to say my favorite was the filet mignon. There was a spicy kick to it.
The owner of the restaurant came to us at the end and asked us how we thought the meal was. I liked that he came to us because it showed that our input is valuable to him. Everything there was amazing and I would definitely come back again.
Chefs and owners Aaron Israel and Sawako Okochi share their unique culinary perspectives at Shalom Japan, a restaurant collaboration that highlights their individual cultures, diverse cooking backgrounds, and passions for food.
The menu is a playful and seasonal approach to New American cuisine, highlighting the chefs’ connections to their respective Jewish and Japanese roots, and taking advantage of the great resources New York City has to offer, such as the wonderful produce at its greenmarkets and the wide range of specialty products available from the city’s diverse population. Plates and meals are designed to be shared among diners in a casual and refined atmosphere, complemented by a beverage program designed by general manager Thierry Morpurgo that includes beer, wine, cocktails, and nonalcoholic drinks.
The restaurant is conveniently located just three blocks off the Williamsburg Bridge, a short walk from the J, M, Z, G, and L lines, and across from the Rodney Park Playground in the eclectically vibrant neighborhood of South Williamsburg. Come join us and let us take care of you.
חוות דעת על המקום:
has a super whipped, creamy consistency to it that pairs well with the more well seasoned food. Had the chicken tabouleh and it was superb. The staff is high energy but down to schmooze when its not as busy. The owner, Ronnie, is super passionate about bringing good service and making you feel at home. Kosher/Halal friendly! Would recommend
Really calm and casual spot with charm.
Nice for a date or outing with small group of friends. Was there for early dinner Saturday post Broadway show. Small staff was very busy but managing to keep waits reasonable.
The hummus was great, and my date had soup for starters which she really enjoyed.
She had chicken and couscous and I had the Moroccan fish and couscous. Both dishes were in a stew type sauce. I asked for low spice version of the Fish, but it was still quite spicy yet tasty. The hot apple cider with brandy was a highlight for me. Desert choice limited but we still found something to share which we enjoyed, was similar to Turkish delight. Just to note, they have a very limited bar and the food is Kosher but no less cool or interesting. Overall we enjoyed it and would come back again.
Great restaurant in Hell's Kitchen with many vegetarian options– mostly vegetarian and vegan with some meat available. Really good & smooth hummus here! Tons of different types of hummus- plain, chickpea, tahini, mushroom etc (basically the same base hummus with different toppings). The hummus platter is great for sharing.
I love that they serve warm fluffy whole wheat pita as an option!! Much better than plain white pita. The whole wheat pita was very soft and yummy. They don't serve a lot at a time so you have to keep asking if you want more.
There is a variety of salads, entrees and a "tapas-like" options where you can pick three different items. Really good selection of clearly-market vegan options! I had the falafel, cauliflower (AMAZING) and tomato/cucumber salad.
I would recommend hummus kitchen for a healthy plant-based meal. The restaurant was nice with a good atmosphere. Not overly crowded either. Service and prices both acceptable.
Ben’s New York Kosher Delicatessen Restaurant & Caterers
We Cure Our Own Corned Beef, Our Chicken Soup Cures Everything Else!SM
Ben’s is a family-owned and operated restaurant & delicatessen that has been serving up the finest authentic New York Kosher delicatessen and eastern European comfort foods for more than 44 years. Customers love Ben’s homemade soups, hot pastrami, fresh-cut cole slaw, baked knishes and crunchy all you can eat pickles. All of Ben’s soups, salads, sandwiches and dinners are freshly prepared. Ben’s has seven convenient locations: Three on Long Island in Carle Place, Greenvale and Woodbury, and one each in Midtown Manhattan; Bayside, Queens; and Scarsdale, NY; and Boca Raton, Florida with free delivery service available to many communities near the stores.
Best shawarma in town. The meat is always tender, they don't put any fat in the mix unless u ask for it. The spices are just right.
If you don't Luke shawarma you can get other things as well so they offer a variety.
But aside from the shawarma that brings me back all the time is the salad bar where you can get to taste so many different Israeli goodness.
Always fresh, clean and consistantly tasety
I work around the corner so I'm here about once a week. I always get a shawarma in a laffa because it is really good.
Outstanding shawarma. I didn't give it 5 stars because there were a few menu items that weren't available. My son wanted the soup or a hot dog but neither were apparently available. Other than that, it was excellent. Lafas were soft, the shawarma had a nice spice, and the people who worked there were very nice.
You want Israel? Here, you got Israel. Try the chetz-chetzi (half-half) shawarama and schnitzel in a laffa. you got the fresh salads and sit down and eat a-la-kefak in this nice look fast-food joint.
They're great! Simple, good, and good service. And they don't skimp on the goods. My only complaint is that the fried eggplant gets eaten up so quick they need to be more on top of replacing it. Also, a few more salad choices would really set me above any other schawarma joint.
Drawing on the cuisine we have become known for at our popular Taboon Restaurant…
we have created a clean comfortable space that captures the warmth of a rustic kitchen in a modern quick service sandwich shop. The emphasis here is on fresh articulated flavors and ingredients from our signature "Middleterranean" pallet, merging the kitchens of the Middle East and Mediterranean with some home-style recipes and our love for hospitality.
Salmon, Steak, Zucchini Cakes, Calamari, Pulled Pork and Brisket!… just some of the fresh homemade specialties offered up at breakfast, lunch and dinner… all in a Pita!
We are looking forward to the flexibility of being a sandwich shop so that we can experiment and have fun with our “Middleterranean Pocket Food” Concept… And although the inspiration is the pita pocket, you can also enjoy everything made at Taboonette in a Middle Eastern Laffa (a wrap) or as a rice/salad plate, all balanced by those great Taboon favorites of Labane, Tzaziki, Tahina and lemon with fresh herbs and spices.
We want to have fun with our customers and our food! Come in and enjoy a welcoming atmosphere in our kitchen with a little funky music to get you in the mood…
Hummus Elite was founded on the idea of comfortable prices for healthy dishes without compromising quality, freshness, and service for its customers. Based on the typical Israeli style with a modern twist, Hummus Elite holds strong ties to its Mediterranean origin. With a growing demand for greater selections, Hummus Elite has decided to expand its variety of dishes while still retaining its original concept. In addition to dine-in service, we provide delivery, pick-up orders, and catering.
At Hummus Elite we use only the best ingredients, including organic produce and eggs. Our Hummus is freshly made several times a day with the highest quality imported spices, with no preservatives added. Freshness and quality are of great importance, and our chef creates dishes that revolve around the produce that is in season. Our menu offers many vegetarian dishes as well as some vegan ones. Low in calories and cholesterol, and suitable for people with diabetes, our Hummus is a great option for those looking for a tasty yet healthy meal. Whether you’re looking for a quick business lunch or a nice relaxing dinner, Hummus Elite will be glad to accommodate you.
Giyora Malka
Owner and Executive Chef Giyora Malka was raised in a small Israeli village on the Mediterranean coast, where he was exposed to a rich variety of cooking traditions including French and Moroccan influences. From an early age, Chef Malka was surrounded by food and the love of cooking, and always enjoyed creating food for the pleasure of his friends and family. While visiting New York during a break from Business School, his then close friend and now wife, knowing his true passion, registered him to the French Culinary Institute in New York. After graduating he worked in two of New York’s finest restaurants – Union Pacific and Sushi Samba Park, where he eventually became a Sous-Chef. He later taught cooking classes and assisted in recipe development for restaurants. Chef Malka brings to his restaurant a refreshing style of cooking that is influenced by Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine.
Shlomo Cohen
Owner and manager Shlomo Cohen has always been passionate about opening his own restaurant. While he owned his own business for 20 years, he always wanted to be a part of the food industry. Meeting Gioyra Malka 15 years ago, not only resulted in a close friendship, but also planted the seed for making his dream become reality. Familiar with Englewood’s demand for more Kosher restaurants, Shlomo came up with the idea of opening a restaurant that suits not only the needs of the local community, but also the growing need for healthier and affordable cuisine.
Is Kosher Food Better?
In recent years, consumption of kosher food by non-Jews in the United States has risen. The reason is health consciousness and a general perception among the American public that kosher is healthier and is in some way "better" than non-kosher food. This movement is helped by the recent trends toward greener, cleaner eating among Americans
Eating Kosher for Health Reasons
Recent trends show that many Americans are going kosher. The switch, however, is not religiously motivated. Instead, many people are finding their way to kosher eating because of the health consciousness that it promotes. According to a survey done in 2008, of those who buy kosher regularly, 62% buy kosher for its quality, and 51% do so out of a desire to purchase healthier food
אין חוויה ישראלית יותר מלשבת במסעדת "12 כסאות" המעולה ולאכול ג'חנון, פלאפל, מג'דרה או קוסקוס ביום שבת בבוקר עם חברים. בדרך כלל זמן ההמתנה ארוך, אבל ככה זם עם מסעדות טובות, אבל ההמתנה בהחלט משתלמת. מומלץ !
ABOUT US
NISH NUSH (Hebrew for snack) offers the opportunity to custom-blend your hummus with a variety of options.
Our hummus & Falafel are made FRESH daily with the best-quality ingredients. Our Falafel is GLUTEN FREE and made-to-order for the best flavor and freshness.
The chickpeas and tahini we use are top of the line and a good source of vegetarian protein and calcium.
על המסעדה:
This is a quick, yummy place to stop and grab a bite while shopping and/or working in the area.
I had the "Red Hot Chili" (whole wheat pita with falafel, spicy hummus, Israeli salad and pickles). It was DELISH!! Everything was served perfectly – not too sloppy or stuffed in or pieces falling out as you bite into it.
I also sampled the Cajun fries – now, as a person who LOVES spicy food, this was cute. If a dish doesn't have scotch bonnet peppers infused then it isn't hot at all in my opinion but for those of you who rarely eat spicy food, this maybe spark the palette a bit.
Beer always goes great but I also had the homemade mint iced tea – very refreshing. Everything came up to $23 (spicy pita, Cajun fries, blue moon beer and iced tea). That's a bit pricy but I guess that's the going rate for the area.
Some buds may have heard of Aroma before because it is one of the biggest and most successful espresso bars in Israel. They opened up in 1994 and have about 25 locations in Israel and have recently opened up a couple of locations in NYC and in Florida. They pride themselves on their coffee and they have their arabic beans imported from Africa. They are currently expanding to more international cities and I foresee a lot more success in their future. The menu is influenced by Israeli culture as well as various Mediterranean and Middle Easter flavors.
Aroma sits in the upper west side on 72nd between Amsterdam and Columbus, but they also have additional locations in the lower east side and in Soho. The decor is modern with lots of red and blacks, comfy chairs and long tables for communal dining. The location in the UWS has both downstairs and upstairs seating and with wall length windows, the espresso bar has tons of natural light coming in. The upper level actually has an outdoor deck so they get major bonus points for that feature.
The cafe is definitely busy but despite the continual bustling crowd, the noise level never gets unbearable. Because of the various communal dining tables throughout, it definitely has the feel of a place that if you came every day for a few months, you would be easily able to make friends with someone else who came everyday for a few months. It has a good mix of both locals and tourists which sometimes is difficult to find. The major drawback of Aroma is their lack of free WIFI. The city that never sleeps has also become the city that is always connected; therefore, it only makes logical sense that any establishment that markets themselves as a “espresso bar” which in layman’s terms is just a coffee house, there should be free internet. I understand that this is to limit the individuals who will come and sit for the entire day, order one coffee and get refills, but if that is the case, they just need to password protect and it and put a time limit on it. However, not having free WIFI just makes people angry and not want to visit your establishment regardless of how good the food is and how awesome your upstairs outdoor deck is.
Onto the food. Aroma serves up both breakfast and lunch with various hot options for both. For breakfast, they have the standard egg sandwiches, omelettes and also french toast (which looked delicious), and they serve breakfast all day. They also have your typical collection of pastries but those give a sort of starbucks pre-made feel (though they are baked fresh daily) and judging from other reviews that I have read, there is nothing spectacular about them. For lunch, they offer numerous types of sandwiches and salads ranging from an avocado sandwich with avocado spread, red onions, parsley, jalapeños, lettuce, tomatoes to a vegan portabello with grilled mushrooms,pesto, tomatoes, arugula, red onions to a steak sandwich with steak, mayo, jalapeño, sauteed onions & red peppers, and swiss cheese. They really cover their bases by having a little bit of everything for everyone because they also have a grilled chicken sandwich, a turkey sandwich and a salmon sandwich, so essentially no dietary constrictions are not considered. They also have numerous different and fun salads which I was extremely happy to see because my biggest pet peeve is when places have a caesar salad, a house salad and some salad with some pre-frozen grilled chicken strips thrown on top. Really? Come on. For example, Aroma has a quinoa salad with organic quinoa, tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, mint leaves, and red onions (I know, right!), a mozzarella beet salad with mozzarella cheese, beets, tomatoes, red onions, homemade garlic croutons and arugula, and a warm garbanzo bean salad with garbanzo beans, hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, homemade garlic croutons, and a tahini sauce. You must be wondering how I made my choice. Let me tell you, it was extremely difficult and I had to let a couple people go ahead of me before I finally came to my conclusion
I ended up opting for a salad because I knew that I would be having authentic Italian that evening, so I had the Sweet Potato lentil salad which had arugula, red onions, lentils, sweet potatoes, granola, goat cheese, olive oil and a lemon dressing. Yes, it was delicious. Everything was fresh, yummy and came together extremely well. Although I know that they were trying to keep the dressing simple, I did feel that the dressing could of at least used a little bit of seasoning because it really added nothing to the salad. However, the ingredients of the salad itself featured a little bit of sweet, a little bit of pungency, a little bit of sharpness and a whole lot of flavor.
Oddly enough, despite my being in an espresso bar I did not opt for any coffee on that day (really, this is a major shocker), however, as previously discussed they really pride themselves on their coffee and judging by the many people who just came in for a quick cup to go, I am certain that it is good. The prices are not cheap but wont break the bank (around $10.00 for a full meal with drink), so it is definitely comparable to other similar style restaurants and cafes.
All in all, I did enjoy my lunch and I would be inclined to make a weekly stop in. I think they should definitely reconsider their stance on WIFI and continue to expand to other cities because their inventive sandwiches and salads are definitely a huge draw.
בקורת:
Guys,
The chicken shawarma is some of the best I've ever had. Their produce, specifically the tomatoes they put on their pitas, are always fresh. And I don't know what their hot sauce is — it's super unusual — but I have regular cravings for it. The pita is fine, but I'm weird and usually just eat everything INSIDE the pita and toss the pita, anyways.
It's also the best deal in this part of town. You should remember, however, it's cash only and there's no ATM inside!
I have literally passed by this place for over a decade and have never stepped in…until the other day.
A co worker decided to treat me to lunch and I was craving falafel, so we came here.
The two men working behind the counter were super friendly and my falafel was created very quickly. I also added cauliflower on top of it to make it really tasty. Because I'm a glutton, I also asked for a baklava as well.
My coworker handed them his card to pay, but alas, it was cash only! Fortunately I had cash, so nothing was lost.
When we went back to the office to eat, I ate the Falafel, but I must say it was pretty underwhelming. Maybe because I'm comparing it to Maoz (which makes my stomach hurt, so no more of that), but the sandwich was pretty dry. The pita was thin and overall it was just okay. The baklava was super dry, like the honey just evaporated.
I might come back and try them again…but not for a long while.
Value for money. Super fresh falafel Nicest people. Smallest restaurant EVER! Say hello to Jamal. Discuss Syria and what is going on there. Enjoy home made freshly fried falafel. Super crispy fresh salad. Spicy dressing. And a lovely warm pita. $4.50? Insane! This is a beautiful fun worthy and interesting experience. Go now!