Located in the West Village, Bar Bolonat is an exuberant celebration of modern Mediterranean and new Israeli cuisines. Bold flavors and spices are staples on Chef Einat Admony’s playful, seasonally-inspired menu and sharing is encouraged when selecting from small plates, appetizers, and entrees. Menu offerings change often, and we use local, seasonal, sustainably harvested produce where possible.
Our wine list is hand-chosen for flavor, uniqueness, and tradition, featuring an array of small productions from various Mediterranean countries, including Israel. We work to .ensure that our selections are organic and biodynamic whenever possible
Every dish on Nargila Grill's Mediterranean-influenced menu is kosher, whether it’s a rack of short ribs, a grilled salmon steak, or a lamb kebab. But that’s not the only way to feed a family: a Shabbat to Go menu lends dinner hosts a hand on Friday nights with meals that take all the performance pressure off the stove. Inside Nargila’s dining room, guests may look up to find lacy glass sconces illuminating the varying brick and coral walls that add the feel of home. Woven rugs, hookahs, and mosaic tiles fill out the decor and provide a warm touch inspired by the East. Some guests even bring along a treasure of their own—a chuppah—if they're getting married at the restaurant.
About TOP KOSHER GRILL NYC
Searching for great food at a reasonable price is a challenge even in a city as big as New York City.  Come visit a truly special place with tastes that will transport you to far off exotic lands. Everything is made fresh to order.  The environment is simple, but the traditional music, smells and words will provide you with a great experience. Whether you are looking for a Bureka, Gyro, Ghourmeh Sabsi,  KEBAB & GRILL
 & you will be surprised to find money still in your pocket.  TOP KOSHER GRILL NYC is family-owned and operated right here in Great Neck, NY. Since our company opened its doors in 2006, we’ve treated every customer like they were a part of our family. Other companies may offer similar services, but our services are the best, and come with a personal touch. TOP GRILL Best glatt Kosher GRILL SHAWARMA STEAK BBQ KEBAB BURGER STEAK CATERERS RESTAURANT > NYC GREAT NECK ny
We wanted to let you know that we offer the best services in Great Neck – you get special one-on-one attention. We have a lot of fun here, which means our employees are
happy. And we cost less than the other guys. Our customers are really important to us, and our friendly staff makes certain you are 100% satisfied. ur services and products include: (Hosting a party? Town Deli & Catering can cater in your home or hall – everything from a buffet to a full grill – we will even bring the waiters and full service! Let us make your event hassle free from beginning to the end – all you have to do is eat, enjoy and collect the compliments!
Town Deli and Catering is under strict supervision of the “Vaad Harabonim of Queens� with a steady Mashgiach from opening to close.
).Searching for great food at a reasonable price is a challenge even in a city as big as New York City.  Come visit a truly special place with tastes that will transport you to far off exotic lands. Everything is made fresh to order.  The environment is simple, but the traditional music, smells and words will provide you with a great experience. Whether you are looking for a Bureka, Gyro, Ghourmeh Sabsi,  KEBAB & you will be surprised to find money still in your pocket.  TOP GRILL Best glatt Kosher GRILL SHAWARMA STEAK BBQ KEBAB BURGER STEAK CATERERS RESTAURANT > NYC
Sababa Grill: The Flavor of Israel
Sababa Grill, located in the heart of Teaneck, NJ, has been serving quality Israeli cuisine since2005. Under strict RCBC supervision, all food is made fresh to order.
Come experience the authentic flavor of Israeli food! With dishes ranging from schwarma and schnitzel to delectable homemade salads, Sababa Grill provides mouthwatering choices you will crave to eat again. Stop by Sababa Grill today to enjoy friendly service and a tasty Middle Eastern meal in our newly-renovated dining room.
Stop by every friday and bring home delicacies from our shabbat menu to enjoy with family and friends.
We also provide catering for kiddushim, Luncheons, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Pidyoney HaBen, Yhartzeits and more…
Come experience the authentic flavor of Israeli and Middle Eastern cuisine! With dishes ranging from schwarma and schnitzel to delectable homemade salads, Sababa Grill provides mouthwatering choices you will crave to eat again. Stop by Sababa Grill today to enjoy friendly service and a tasty Middle Eastern meal in our newly-renovated dining room.
שעות פתיחה:
Sunday 11:30am – 9:00pm
Monday 11:30am – 9:00pm
Tuesday 11:30am – 9:00pm
Wednesday 11:30am – 9:00pm
Thursday 11:30am – 9:00pm
Friday 8:00am – 3:00pm
Saturday Closed
This place is really good. Great place for fast and inexpensive food, snacks usually provided while you wait for your order.
Their falafel is pretty darn good, and their spinach pie is AMAZING. I am seriously addicted! They also deliver quickly and reliably.
Sit by the laminated picture of the Dome of the Rock and enjoy great Mediterranean food.
שעות פתיחה:
Mon 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Tue 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Wed 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Thu 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Fri 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Sat 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Sun 11:00 am – 12:00 am
After a long day in which I worked through lunch, I stopped for a 9 pm dinner at the bar feeling worn out. I was greeted while walking in by a friendly hostess and immediately served by the bartender. They have added a TV to the bar area for watching sporting events like the World Series.
I got the duck spring rolls and rib eye. Both were cooked extremely well and served with sauces of choice. Everyone at the bar was friendly. Good times.
This place was great! The menu has something for everyone, and while modern, it retains classic flavors and dishes.
We enjoyed the restaurant's full bar, and we loved the steaks. The food is well-prepared and delicious. The starters were probably the best part of our meal, which, by no means minimizes the quality of the mains.
If you are not from the Philadelphia area, unless you head to the restaurant during rush hour, it is a quick 10 to 15 minutes from Center City, and even less from the University City area of West Philadelphia.
Though a bit pricey, it is worth it for a special treat! It would be nice, however, if the restaurant had more expanded hours.
Mon Closed
Tue Closed
Wed 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Thu 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm Closed now
Fri Closed
Sat Closed
Sun 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Our cozy little coffee shop offers a variety of gourmet desserts and beverages. Founded in 2004, Effy’s Cafe is the best kept secret on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Come and enjoy the unique homemade flavors combined with a warm and inviting atmosphere.
The Butcherie may not be perfect, may not have every item, but it is without question a true treasure for the Brookline Jewish community. Josh Gellerman is a true mensch and makes sure his customers are happy and find what they need.
First off the fresh deli is delicious. I highly recommend the knish! The store is larger than it…
The Butcherie is my favorite store in the boston area. This "little" store has so many great things to offer that you can't find anywhere else, including great prepared foods, handcut lox, deli, and the best kosher meat I've ever had. The store is much cleaner than when I started shopping here years ago, and the customer attention is better than any supermarket I've shopped at, they really take care of you…
thank you butcherie!!
Being a born-and-bred Brooklynite, and a Yankees fan, anything pertaining to Boston automatically carries a negative connotation to me. However, life has had an interesting way of bringing me into Boston at two occasions in my life, and both times in Boston, I had the opportunity to not only stop in here, but also to peruse all of the offerings at The Butcherie.
While we have dozens of kosher stores in Brooklyn, where one can find everything from parve cheese doodles, to cholov yisroel cappuccino beverages, kosher Dunkin Donuts and Krispy Kreme, to glatt kosher kibbeh and vegan dim sum, acheinu bnei yisrael living in New England lack these options. The Butcherie is their lifeline to Jewish observance, as it is the only kosher market in the region, and its selection and quality impress even this jaded New Yorker; deli, wines, cheeses, frozen foods, plenty of Israeli imports, and many other kosher specialties.
I find that the Butcherie's prepared foods are excellent and the quality is superb and prices not outrageous for an out-of-town establishment. My one and only complaint is that their hours are not friendly to tourists or night owls, but that seems to be a trend in Boston, regardless (the city is dead at 9 pm, whereas NYC is bustling 24/7).
I have had the opportunity to sample several of their specialties, including the New England favorite, American Chop Suey; this concoction of chopped meat, tomatoes, and elbow macaroni bears no resemblance to the Chinese original, but the Butcherie's version, I'm sure, presents this dish in its fullest simplicity and allows us kosher keepers to sample regional offerings we wouldn't otherwise have access to.
The parve cheese noodle kugel reminds me of my own version of this dish (one can tell that they've used quality parve sour cream, cream cheese, and margarine in making this dish as close to its dairy counterpart as possible), the chunky chicken soup is as heimish as can be (although it requires salt), and the knishes are all scrumptious, with a flaky dough; the beef knishes (both American and Jerusalem) and the spinach and cheese knish are excellent (At separate meals, of course!) and they rival many of the knishes we have in Brooklyn.
Likewise, their parve cheese blintzes are excellent, and the other prepared foods available are mind-boggling. The variety of prepared foods is astounding, and I've sampled the following: Parve tofu balls taste very close to their fleshig cousins, the beef pot pie is a true mechaye, treat, and the veal cutlets and patties are to die for.
Their Passover menu looks absolutely impressive, and perhaps a day trip to Boston may be in order before Pesach to sample these offerings, including chicken pot pie, chicken cacciatore, kreplach, couscous, veal patties, and other delights none of the Pesach stores in Brooklyn carry.
Hummus is one of the few foods that leaves you feeling satiated without spiking your blood glucose levels. It's tasty and nutritious, but also low in calories. Hummus is vegetarian dish, actually it's also vegan. Basically made up of 60 – 70% water, chick peas, Tahini (from sesame seeds) olive oil and lemon, it's considered a grain / legume, but if you eat it with bread it's actually a complete protein. A great source of dietary fiber, Hummus also packs the good monounsaturated fats like Omega 3 and is rich in vitamins C, E, K, and B6 to name a few, but it doesn't stop there. Minerals like Maganese, Copper and Sodium are accompanied by Iron, Folate, Thiamin, Calcium, Magnesium and Zinc.
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).
"I was living here for eighteen years, waiting for someone to open a place like this," says Moshe Harizy, a fifth-generation Yemenite Israeli and Upper West Sider. Evidently sick of waiting, he converted his stationery store into Alibaba, a eight-seat glatt kosher restaurant and takeout shop specializing in Yemenite-Israeli cuisine—with a macrobiotic twist. "Six years ago, my father was ill," says Harizy, who helped conquer his dad's heart problem by amending his diet and along the way changed his own. That accounts for the presence of brown rice and black beans on Alibaba's menu, a compendium of Middle Eastern fare like koufta kebabs, baba ghanoush, bourekas, and melawah (lightly fried dough with crushed tomatoes and a hard-boiled egg). He imports spices, fava beans, and fruit nectars from Israel and bakes his own lafah. — Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld
"I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Murray's Falafel! Their food is so fresh, delicious, non-greasy, and addictive. I usually order the falafel pita with a side of extra falafel balls. When I consider sharing some, I say to myself, "I'm not sharing my balls!!" Seriously, the food is so delicious. :)"
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Monday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Thursday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Saturday: CLOSED
בקורת:
I ordered large carrot salad, cole slaw, cucumber and eggplant salads. They came in pint sized containers and charged $12 each. The total for the 4 pint sized containers came to $56. Rude manager. It is a complete rip off and I can't imagine how they stay in business.
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!
Situated in the heart of Greenwich Village in New York City, Mamoun’s Falafel has been serving high quality Middle Eastern Food since it first opened its doors to the public in 1971. It is the oldest falafel restaurant in New York and one of the first Middle Eastern establishments in the United States.
Family owned and operated since the beginning, the restaurant is now part of the history and culture of the Village. Its tradition extends to serving the likes of many famous musicians, actors, and other celebrities. There is an energy and flare to the place that cannot be captured in words. Whether it’s the tiny “hole in the wall” charm, the high paced/ high volume energy, or the dynamic clientele, going to Mamoun’s for a falafel can transform a meal into a unique dining experience. Through the years, we’ve been featured on the food network, travel guide channel, and many newspapers, magazines and books.
What sets us apart from other Falafel restaurants is our rich tradition and history as well as our commitment to excellence. Our philosophy is simple: authentic Middle Eastern Cuisine served in a traditional environment. Everything we serve is made from scratch using only the freshest natural ingredients, the finest imported spices, and our signature recipes.
So come down and visit one of our locations. Whether it’s our flagship restaurant in Greenwich Village, our East Village location, our New Haven “sit-down” restaurant, or our newest spots in Hoboken, New Jersey, and New Brunswick, New Jersey, you are sure to get the same high quality food, fast service and budget prices.
And remember, accept no substitutes. Although many have tried to imitate us, there is only one Mamoun’s Falafel.
If it doesn't say Mamoun's, then it's not Mamoun's!
Falafel sandwich with hummus. It's worth the extra dollar, even though you might be thinking "Why would I load up on more chickpeas?" You can tell they don't skimp on the tahini, and it has the perfect level of saltiness. Their hot sauce also makes a great gift for those loved one who really love their eggs spicy. We're talking lip-chapping, tear-inducing levels of harissa. It's heavenly.
“Blame it on love. And his mother.”
When most of the tots his age were making messes in the sandbox, pastry genius Ron Ben-Israel preferred to observe his Viennese mother’s culinary magic as she whipped egg whites into frothy meringue or transformed flaky crust into ethereal apple strudel. “I was enchanted,” he gushes. “Watching a fruit reduction become a gelée was fascinating. But I certainly wouldn’t have guessed that the art and science of baking would become my life’s passion.”
Passion, indeed. Ron is fervent when he talks about baking and creating his extraordinary confections. His dedication to his art is both reverent and joyful at once: Each time he fashions a cake—and he’s designed thousands of stunning, one-of-a-kind gateaux in his career—he’s as thrilled as he would be if it were his first masterpiece. As Ron cheerily observes, “Each cake is like a performance—my team and I feel like we are attending countless opening nights every weekend.”
Ron certainly knows about opening nights: A former dancer, he fell in love with a chocolate-maker while on tour in Canada, and with typical resolve, he traded in his ballet slippers for a whisk and a spatula. Fortunately, the discipline he had acquired during years of scrupulous training and a rigorous performance schedule—and during his military service in the Israeli army—helped him as he pursued his new vocation. Like many aspiring chefs, he traveled to France and apprenticed in Cannes, Beaujolais, and Lyons.
Ultimately, New York provided Ron with the most exhilarating and challenging stage for his culinary visions. His artistry has become legendary and he has truly become America’s cake maestro, the wizard and darling of the industry. “I had originally gone to fine art school to study set design, but then dance took over. And now it’s fondant and cake. I am so pleased that the kitchen and I found each other. I’m where I was meant to be.”
And so today, the master confectioner choreographs in sugar. His specialty and wedding creations are consistently featured in national periodicals, including Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides Magazine and New York Magazine and are also prominently highlighted in books, such as Vera Wang on Weddings. Curtain up!”
PHILOSOPHY
What makes us unique?
Chickpea is the namesake of our company and at the core of our recipes. We make all of our food with only the highest quality ingredients.
We insist on baking all of our signature dishes, giving us flavorful results without adding unnecessary fats.
By using wholesome ingredients and our signature spices, we have created better cuisine that is Always Baked and Never Fried!
על המקום:
Yum- I have a newfound appreciation for baked falafel!
I'm glad I didn't read the Yelp reviews for Chickpea before going here because if I had I might have been more skeptical. I have wanted to try this place since moving in across the street a few months ago and yesterday I finally decided to head in.
The place was empty which seemed like a bad sign, but it might've just been that people were still coming home from work (it was a busy Wednesday). I decided to order the falafel platter with baba ganoush and hummus. The platter came with rice, 6 baked falafel, hummus (different flavors to choose from!), up to (4?) toppings, and hot whole wheat pita. I added feta for extra because, well, it's feta. The platter also came with a free drink- either a bottle of water or a can of soda (I got a water). I paid under $10 for all of this, which, in the city, is a friggen' bargain.
I brought my meal to Chelsea Pier to eat while I watched an outdoor movie (which I also recommend doing, btw), and it was delicious! The falafel was filling and honestly, I thought it was better than fried falafel, contrary to what everyone else is saying. Even the hummus and baba were above average, which is hard to do. Combined with the tahini sauce, rice, and feta, the falafel was incredible and filled me right up. I even had 3 falafel leftover after I was done that I still haven't eaten.
Check this place out for a quick, cheap, and healthy meal!
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.
OUR PROMISE
We specialize in crafting mouth-watering meals and providing superb customer service. Order online for delivery or pickup!
ORDER ONLINE NEW!
Place your order online for easiest ordering experience. To start, just click on any menu item to add it to your order.
שעות פתיחה:
DELIVERY
Monday 11:00 am – 8:30 pm
Tuesday 11:00 am – 8:30 pm
Wednesday 11:00 am – 8:30 pm
Thursday 11:00 am – 8:30 pm
Friday 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
VIEW DELIVERY MAP
TAKEOUT
Monday 11:00 am – 8:30 pm
Tuesday 11:00 am – 8:30 pm
Wednesday 11:00 am – 8:30 pm
Thursday 11:00 am – 8:30 pm
Friday 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Chef & Owner Rafael Hasid
Rafael Hasid (better known as "Rafi" to his friends and regulars at Miriam) is a native of Tel Aviv, Israel and opened up Miriam Restaurant in 2005 after graduating from the French Culinary Institute in 2001 and working as a chef in Le Pere Pinard and Yamamoto's in NYC.
Rafi named his restaurant after his mother, who still resides in Israel but makes the trip out to Brooklyn every year to spend time in the restaurant. Every year Rafi hosts a "Biblical Feast" menu where he celebrates the back-to-earth philosophy of eating simple, and uses quotes from the bible in the specific instances where the foods were mentioned.
Israeli Cuisine
At Miriam Restaurant the cuisine is uniquely, distinctly Israeli. Our menu is seasonal, and all of our beef is grass-fed, and many of our ingredients come straight from Israel. Yet what exactly is Israeli cuisine? Truthfully, to enter the subject is not unlike entering a sea by foot and feeling a sudden deepening. Unlike French food, Chinese food, Italian food, one does not unfold the menu at Miriam with a set of associations firmly in the mind. In truth, there exists no single dish, no single style of preparation that one might call uniquely Israeli. And yet this lack of identity is its identity, its beauty.
A bi-product of the cross-pollination that accompanied the gathering together of Jewish people from around the globe, one might say that, in itself, Israeli cuisine is as close to a true world cuisine as exists. When citizens arrived after World War II, each group brought a tradition of culture and cuisine as set in its ways and one of a kind as a river. And yet suddenly something different was happening around these peoples. They were breathing different air. There was a new climate and a new terrain. Things like figs, thyme, marjoram, and pomegranates were growing in their outlying fields.
Bound by a new common ground and also by a tradition of kosher, foods from Eastern Europe and North Africa began rubbing shoulders, mingling, conversing. Interactions occurred with traditional Middle Eastern dishes. As might be expected, friction was produced. We might say that there were two competing impulses: the new Israeli people felt a desire to preserve their particular identities and also a desire to forge an entirely new one. It is from this dual parentage that evolved and continues to evolve what we must call contemporary Israeli cuisine. It is from this heritage that Miriam Restaurant springs.
תגובות מהמקום:
Best pizza and falafel!!!! Whenever I'm around I take a trip to naomis. I've tried almost everything they serve and I have a few favorites.
The pizza is absolutely fantastic. They also make a really good cheese borekas. The falafel is like no other. Crispy, flavorful and absolutely satisfying. My mouth waters just thinking about it.
The atmosphere makes it feel like a family gathering and there is a regular following that I see when I'm in there.
This place knows how to do it right!
Highly recommended!
I have been coming here for years. I LOVE falafel. For me, it is the ultimate comfort food. Great falafel, great tahina sauce… I want one now.At times,the lettuce seems a bit wilted. Yet, I will return and return and return. Friendly service too. My only other criticism is that the place could use a sprucing up. However, it's all about the falafel.
This well-beloved eatery had been sitting quietly in my bookmarks for a few months since the moment I discovered it sits scant minutes from my house. I finally decided to pay them a visit today, figuring I'd drop in, grab a few falafels to go, and be on my merry way. To assume I'd be in and out within a few minutes was, I later realized, a gross underestimation of this restaurant's popularity. I was both amused and slightly dismayed to see that this small pizza and falafel joint was solely responsible for a gaggle of double-parked cars and a line that practically stretched out the door. Lines like these always pique my interest because if you find New Yorkers on a queue, you're sure as hell going to find something worth waiting for at the front of it. Sighing resignedly, I got on the back of the line and proceeded to watch the tightly controlled chaos behind the counter – servers took orders and ran expertly around each other to fulfill each one. All the while, one guy stayed planted at the fryer. It would seem that his sole role was to shape, fry, and prep fresh falafel balls. Just watching him made my mouth water with anticipation, so that fifteen minutes later, when it was finally my turn, I ended up ordering WAY more than I originally intended: six falafel balls, a half falafel (meaning three falafel balls with veggies and a smattering of tahini sauce), and – on a truly gluttonous whim – an order of french fries.
It was hugely gratifying to watch everything come fresh out of the fryer, which was why I was slightly confused that my first bite of Naomi's falafel should be curiously soft and even dense, not crunchy. Slightly oversalted and surprisingly white in color (both inside and outside), these were far from the best falafels I've ever had because I personally prefer mine verdant, hinting at the use of greens and herbs in the mix. However, these were also light years away from the dark-chocolate hues of overfried falafels you find at the random halal carts – these are clearly fresh and extremely tasty. The fries were just as one might expect – scaldingly hot, crispy, and totally unsalted, which I appreciated after several saline bites of the falafels. Unlike the vast majority of yelpers before me, I found the 'half falafel' to be just all right, for the taste, proportions, and general fussiness of eating. The falafels were buried deep into the pita pocket, with the salad and tahini thrown on top, so that the top bites were all salad while the bottom bites were naked falafels. Everything became disassembled as I ate, leaving me with a bit of a mess on my lap and my face by the end of it all. Still, I'm no dainty eater and I was generally happy with my meal, as must have been nearly half of Queens (or so it seemed) as they crowded the narrow restaurant with their appetites.
If you decide to make a visit, give yourself ample time to wait on line and for heaven's sake, don't make the line worse by not ignoring the clear and ample "CASH ONLY" signs like one woman did today by insisting "But you took my card just last week!" On behalf of everyone else waiting behind you, I beg of you – Don't be that idiot. Go to the bank first.
The creation of husband-and-wife team Chef Einat Admony and Stefan Nafziger, this “Mediterranean meets Middle East” restaurant has a diverse and playful menu that draws inspiration from Chef/Owner Einat Admony's Israeli roots. Weekly specials based on local seasonal ingredients and an extensive list of organic wines from that region demonstrate the personal touch that has made Taïm a critically acclaimed success. Chef Admony’s newest project, Bar Bolonat, is now open at 611 Hudson Street!
The Balaboosta cookbook is now available at your favorite bookseller – or pick up a signed copy at the restaurant!