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 …
They have a large menu with many quality options and they stay open until as late as 3:00 which is obviously a huge plus in regards to convenience. The only minor issue with the restaurant is that it can get a little crowded during their peak hours of the day.
A small place but with a big heart
Once you tested the food it will linger in your mind
I am proud to say that I am not authentic, but I am original .
I say so because I believe that the second generation should be
better then the first.
What I believe in fusion. Adding the goodness such as ginger, flax seed,
soy, oats, and the abundance of herbs and spices of other nation infused
with the flavor of Middl Eastern cuisine
I nominated Azuri to become a servant to the community, by showing
care and hoping that you will notice my intent.
Add .50C for take out orders
"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
ABOUT
Glasserie is located in the former home of Greenpoint Glass Works. The building was erected in 1860 by Christian Dorflinger, an immigrant from Alsace, to house his expanding Glass Factory. The operation included kilns, docking facilities on Newtown Creek, and a production line. The factory itself also included housing for the employees in its wings. This cut glass was so highly regarded that special pieces were requested for the White House collection. In 1882 the factory came into the possession of the Elliot P. Gleason Manufacturing Co, and in 1902 was renamed The Gleason-Tiebout Glass Co. Gleason-Tiebout operated out of the building for years, employing around 300 people. The prints throughout the restaurant are from original glass fixture catalogues (kept safe by the Corning Glass Museum). We are told that divers in Newtown Creek have found some of these original glass fixtures. Gleason-Tiebout continued operations in the building until 1946 when it moved across Newtown Creek to Queens.
OUR FOOD PHILOSOPHY
Glasserie believes in good food. We do our best to find the freshest and most superior product from as close to us as possible. We then manipulate the product as little as possible to achieve the desired result and still honor the integrity of the plant or animal in its original form. We value old recipes from our grandmothers and great grand mothers and bring them to our neighborhood in an approachable way. Our roots are in the Mediterranean and focus is on Middle Eastern flavors and culture mixed in with contemporary techniques.
JOIN TEAM-G
Glasserie is growing quickly and often looking to fill new kitchen and front of house positions. We would love to hear from you !
Please email resume and cover letter to [email protected] to join Team-G.
Chef: Eldad Shem Tov
General Manager: Andrea Graugnard
"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.
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.
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!
From authentic falafel to juicy, flavor-infused meats, we've perfected our cooking process to offer the best tasting, healthiest quick dining experience option out there. All of our dishes are made in-house using the highest-quality raw ingredients, Mediterranean spices, and classic cooking techniques. The experience truly begins at our salad bar crafted with fresh vegetables, because we know an apple a day is not enough to keep the doctor away. When you're craving a cold drink, our freshly pressed juices will quench your thirst with greens, fruits, or a combination of both.
More of the great taste, less of the guilt.
Join us in our restaurant where nutritious meets delicious.
בקורת:
Ate here on the suggestions of other Yelp reviewers. Was not disappointed.
Had a whole wheat pita with chicken schwarma and hummus. Filled it with amazing fresh ingredients and got a side of sweet potato fries. Everything was excellent.
In fact, it was so good I went back the next day for lunch and tried the beef schwarma. Also excellent.
Can't beat it for the price.
This place was great as far as food goes. It tasted very good and it was reasonably priced. The location was convenient too! So I really liked that.
What was actually pretty cool was the wide variety of free toping you can add to your food. It makes for a different meal every time.
Another thing I really liked was the look and feel of the place. It had nice décor and it felt very unique and homey. The only complain I have about this place was the staff. They weren't very friendly and they were talking with each other the entire time. So that's the only downfall, in my opinion.
Price is extremely reasonable and food is fresh! I received my chicken schwarma on a pita with hummus piping hot, and was left to add whatever accompaniments and sauces I wanted from the salad bar. This included broccoli and cauliflower, tomatoes and red onion, tabbouleh, olives, chickpea salad, beet salad, and other Mediterranean sides. I was giddy with excitement at the prospect of not being limited to only a few toppings. After a long stretch of walking in the city, Maoz Falafel definitely hit the spot and satisfied my need for food in my belly
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.
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.
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.
בקורת:
I have been to several restaurants that serves hummus and this is by far my favorite place in town for it.
Hommus: chick pea puree, tahini, lemon, olive oil. I believe their hommus is made to order, because it's served at room temperature. It's just more pleasant to eat than cold ones. It's also drenched in good olive oil.
Warm Eggplant: tomato, scallions, tamarind molasses. It's more interesting than the baba ghannouj because the eggplants are warm and the molasses makes it a sweet dish.
Phoenician Fries: sumac, parsley, garlic whip. I really like these fries with the aioli! They came out piping hot.
Whenever I want some fresh made hommus, I like to come to this place. I don't need the bread, I simply like to order 3 plates of mezza and eat them by the spoon.
Definitely coming back here for brunch! I trekked through the winter storm Jonas to eat with a friend who was visiting– despite the horrible weather conditions, the waitstaff were incredibly polite and courteous.
The brunch prix fixe menu lets you have two drinks, a main dish, and a side. For $28 in NYC, I think this has one of the better brunch values. The lamb burger is definitely amazing- the melted feta and pickles take the cake.
I'm a huge fan of the roasted beet side dish- the Aleppo honey butter just made it perfect. The sausages were a tad too salty, but they give you a basket of pita, so you can dip it in the grease and use it to balance the saltiness of the meats.
My first restaurant week menu coming into the new year. Picked Ilili because I do not have to worry about eating unhealthily even if I go wild during the night (cannot go too wild anyway given the limited amount of RW course set up).
At Ilili, you first choose from two appetizers (as opposed to one), followed by a main dish, and eventually the dessert. My friend and I were basically sharing everything – hummus, garlic eggplant, falafel and the marinated chicken liver. Like the eggplant the most as it was refreshing; chicken liver was a bit disappointing…Both the chicken and lamb chop were fantastic, juicy! I opted for the vanilla panna cotta for dessert. Thanks to the sour raspberry on top, it was not too sweet.
Service was for sure a minus point here – cannot blame them as we all sort of understand how RW could mess up the whole thing. My suggestion would be to visit Ilili during a normal hour and see how well it goes. Took away one star here and look forward to adding it back.
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!
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.
I used to eat in this area more. Unfortunately, a number of places have closed down. I loved Diamond Dairy, which made wonderful latkes and pierogies, and I really miss it. A few years back, a friend of mine introduced me to a Kosher Uzbek restaurant, which has also closed down. Last week, I had lunch with a friend who keeps Kosher. On a lark, I did a Yelp search for Kosher Uzbek, and I found this place. I'm glad I did.
We started out with samsas, which are pastries filled with meat and onions. The meat inside was juicy and tasted wonderful. My friend and I then shared an Uzbek rice pilaf, with beef and veggies. The dish was large and easily shared by two people, and very filling. We also ordered a side of bread, which was freshly baked and wonderful.
The only bad thing I can say is that we really loaded up on the carbs. I was so full that I skipped dinner, which isn't a complaint.
We finished off with a Turkish coffee and a pareve (no dairy) cake. I'm used to Turkish coffee being more "muddy," but this was pretty good. The cake was nice as well.
I saw lagman, an Uzbek meat soup, on the menu. I've had this soup before at the previous restaurant, and it is wonderful. One day I have to try the lagman at this place.
One note: since this place is Kosher and serves meat, there is no dairy here.
I noticed that they also served Chinese food here. I didn't try it, so I don't know if it is good or bad.
All-in-all, my friend and I had a great experience here. If you are curious about what Uzbek cuisine is like, and you don't want to go out to Queens (I have read that there are some great Kosher Uzbek restaurants in Queens), this is a great place to visit.
זמני פתיחה:
Hours
Mon 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Tue 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Wed 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Thu 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Fri 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Sat Closed
Sun Closed
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.
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.
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 falafel I've had outside of Israel. Delicious, warm, and crispy. I was hesitant because of the Yelp reviews but this place was so good!!! The service is great- kind and attentive.
I thought I had tried everything in the Coolidge Corner area until I was introduced to Jerusalem Pita & Grill by a co-worker. It's a bit off the beaten path on Pleasant St, one block away from the main thoroughfare of Harvard Ave. I'm so glad he introduced me to it!
First off, the restaurant serves kosher foods, so if you can only eat kosher foods, it's a great option. Usually kosher means more expensive, but I didn't find the prices overwhelming. We got the Beef Asli to start – apparently it's one of the more popular appetizers. Note, however, that it's found in the Hummas section. The meat was cooked perfectly and the hummus added just the right amount of texture and flavor without overwhelming the dish. The best part of all? The bread. Apparently it's homemade and fresh every single day. I have rarely gushed about how good the bread is, but this is one of the best breads I have ever eaten. Spreading the hummus and beef over the bread and chomping down on it is quite an experience.
For my entree, I got the Beef Burger and my co-worker got the Shawarma. Both were excellent and both portions were HUGE. Neither of us were able to finish the meal especially after having consumed the appetizer. Kosher beef certainly has its advantages and it showed up in the taste of the burger. While I do often prefer greasier and fattier burgers, this is one that you won't need to run 5 miles to get rid of the grease afterwards.
Overall, an excellent option in Coolidge Corner. They have so many other options on the menu that I'm looking forward to trying again.
The food itself was good. I had the turkey shawarma, which was as good as I've had anywhere. Be warned, even the "mild" has some spiciness to it. The chicken wraps were good and juicy (and not spicy).
Before the meal they brought out little plates of appetizers/salads. These are tasty, but it would be nice if they'd automatically bring out extra forks and plates with these, especially when it's a group. Otherwise it can get rather messy.
Also note, it's some kind of unwritten rule that the service at kosher restaurants will be very slow, and it was no exception here. Expect to wait before ordering, to get your food, for the bill, for everything. The servers were nice, just slow.
Do you know that feeling when you're hungry and looking for something to eat that's comforting, filling, kinda healthy (but not reaaally that healthy) and out of your normal pizza/burrito/tikka curry routine? No? Maybe that's just me… the point is Jerusalem Pita & Grill is what fills that craving.
The restaurant is bright, sunny and conveniently located right in Coolidge Corner. Good for take out or table service, you're served a trio of exotic Mediterranean salads as a teaser to your meal. In my aforementioned "healthy but not too healthy" craving, I chose a chicken pita, which was absolutely brimming with juicy, hot white meat chicken, fresh and crunchy green veggies, tomatoes and homemade hummus and a dash of special hot sauce. It was delicious, huge and hit the spot.
The waitstaff was so attentive and friendly, and I honestly felt more like a guest than a patron. Constantly refilling my water and helpfully answering any and all questions, they won me over. I'll definitely be back. Oh, did I mention, they bake their own bread in house?
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.