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?
Delicious shwarma. Don't expect the best service from the waitstaff, but the food definitely makes up for it. Authentic Mediterranean
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- ספרים למנויים
- לפני 8 שנים
I love the Shawarma wrap. They give you a lot of food, and it is always good.
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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.
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
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!
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.
על המקום:
So I'm touring the LES with my wife and friends when someone says, "Let's get some waters so we don't die today." We look across the street, and as if out a vision, the Holyland Market appears. Fortune had smiled upon us, as only on my birthday would I enter my first Jewish bodega.
As luck would have it, the entire bodega was out of water! But never fear, as they had something even better. Giant challahs.
I'm used to secret bodega gems like Zaragoza, where you can unexpectedly find tacos. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect a bodega of my people.
As we walked around the LES sharing bread, dipped in the bowl of chocolate that my sister-in-law randomly had, I felt like a big birthday mensch.
Standouts include the hummus (best and creamiest on earth), the borekas (homemade flakiness), the babka (chocolate or cinnamon, both dense circles of breakfast joy), the packaged snacks (junk food, but unique junk food), the candy near the register, and that Nutella-esque chocolate spread. They also carry pita from Pita Express, which is a beautiful, beautiful thing.
Also, Hebrew-language women's magazines, which will explain how to lose all the weight you've gained by shopping here.
Best. Pita. Ever. The super fluffy thick kind. And all the Elite chocolate you could possibly want! I ended up getting chocolates, zaatar, pita and other things that I have to request from my parents when they go to Israel. Now I can just hop on the F, go to St. Marks Place and by all that stuff that I crave. Will definitely make the trek back!
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.
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.
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).
Family owned Marrakesh serves the best authentic middle-eastern and North-African dishes in New York city. Come and try our signature couscous with lamb and seven vegetables or harrira soup. The menu is also rich with other middle-eastern kebab platters, falafel sandwiches, or Babaganoush. Marrakech Restaurant would love to help you celebrate any occasion with our unique, warm culture of fantastic hearty food, and state of the art catering service.
בקורת:
They did a pretty good job with the catering order. While the food was good, they didn't really give that large of portions for the 20 people I ordered for (I ordered enough serving size for 30 people). The food wasn't as flavorful as everyone thought it would be but there were no complaints besides that.
If I ever go here again, it will only be for the homemade lemonade, mint tea and Moroccan style biscotti. The couscous was bland and tagine not particularly impressive. I have had lovingly prepared, absolutely delicious couscous prepared by a Moroccan friend. This was a far cry from it. I am particularly peeved at the moment because I just opened the leftovers to heat up for lunch and saw that the salad was put in with the couscous. Perhaps they thought I'd eat the couscous cold with the salad? So much for my lunch of leftovers.
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.
"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.
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
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.
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.
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!”
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.
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