Taïm is the love child of husband and wife team, Chef Einat Admony and Stefan Nafziger. In 2005, homesick for the favorite street food of Tel Aviv, they heard of a tiny store front available on quiet Waverly place and decided to open their own falafel shop. Relying on her years of international cooking experience as well as her roots, Einat created a menu centered around street food with a gourmet twist. The freshness and quality of the ingredients coupled with Taïm’s spin on traditional falafel flavors give new meaning to the concept of fast food.
PURE COLD PRESS IS A VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT LOCATED IN COOLIDGE CORNER IN BROOKLINE MASSACHUSETTS.
We believe that eating seasonal locally grown food is the best way to achieve a healthy lifestyle. All our food is prepared fresh everday and our menu is constantly changing to give you the best the area has to offer.
Since I wrote my first review just a month ago, I've fallen in love with Pure Cold Press.
Their custom salads are pricey – at least 10 dollars – but worth every penny. The ingredients are fresh, creative and delicious. Options include less common items such as lentils, cauliflower, black sesame seeds, pickled onions… I could go on and on. The many salad dressings are also very unique and you can opt for fresh squeezed lemon juice for a lighter salad. Plus, the portion sizes are generous – they really pack the greens into those containers. This is my go-to for a pre or post-workout meal now.
The service has also significantly improved – it seems like they have more staff and it's paying off. The place is often packed, (awesome to see), and they keep the line moving along with fast yet friendly service.
My only remaining suggestion is that they offer salads in real dishes in order to reduce the waste. I saw that they were serving food on plates – why not salads too?
I was so glad to discover Pure Cold Press! Unlike most of the other juice places in the Boston area, Pure Cold Press has an expansive food selection (salads, sandwiches, oatmeal, pancakes, acai bowls, even Belgian waffles). Also, they actually have space, which is a rarity among Boston juice joints. Owner is extremely friendly and really cares about making his customers happy. Definitely returning soon!
Just stumbled on Cold Press as we were doing some shopping in the area. I would definitely recommend grabbing one of there Cold Pressed Juices. I tried "Blue Dream" on a recommendation and I'm glad I did, wow what a delicious cold pressed juice. I even paid for a less inexpensive bottle "NRG" ($7.99) and the owner swapped me out for free to the "Blue Dream" ($9.99) because he was looking to satisfy the customer. The vegetarian options for food made my wife's mouth water. She ordered the Red Lentil and Cauliflower soup and slurped it down within seconds, and enjoyed a Hot Coco to go. Their price point is just on par with other juice bars and places that sell Cold Pressed, except I was blown away how delicious the blend I had was. I would come back again, and again
Even though they are not officially open they are selling juice, some salads in jars, coconuts, and bowls. I've gone to the shop twice and both times the owner(s) were very nice and let me sample some of the juices available .
Grass Roots (all organic) is my current favorite raw juice they offer. I'm drinking for health and taste. I liked all of them I tried. I love raw juice and I'm excited for some healthy options in Coolidge Corner.
They have been slow to open but that's business and I'm not holding it against them. The labels are hard to read on the bottles and I have great vision (I hope the considered this). The interior is what I expected –modern rustic. They will officially open June 22nd (they say). Their hours will be 7am-9pm. I'm looking forward to every thing once they settle in.
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 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?
Rami & Mirav Cohen Owners
Rami and Mirav Cohen moved to Boston from Jerusalem to start a new life. Soon after arriving, they missed the taste of home as there was no authentic falafel available in the Boston area. Rami, being a third generation “Falafel-teer” realized that if he wanted a real Falafel he would have to make it himself, so he opened Rami’s in May of 1991 with his wife, Mirav. Being old-fashioned and traditional, Rami has kept his restaurant consistently producing the freshest food around, as everything is home-made on a daily basis.
Haim Cohen Manager
The son of Rami and Mirav, Haim is a fourth generation “Falafel-teer.” Haim has been managing Rami’s since 2004. He enjoys keeping consistent with the old school traditions that have made the establishment famous for over twenty years. Keeping up with the current demands of consumers, Haim has added corporate catering, online ordering, (links?) and new menu items. Haim speaks Hebrew & English.
Outside of the massive population centers which can support a wealth of highly-targeted ethnic eateries, the best kosher restaurants are the ones which transcend or outright obscure their religious peculiarities and sell themselves to the general public simply as quality eateries.
Tiny Rami's has mastered this dance and stood the test of time, seeing neighboring kosher eateries come and go, and surviving despite constant threat from nearby non-kosher shawarma "kings" and other, lesser vassals of falafeldom.
During a busy lunch hour, they run the cramped shop with exacting precision. ("We're here to work; we're not here to play!" I once overheard being said to a dawdling customer, to my impatient delight.) At calmer moments, they're happy to offer tastes and shoot the breeze.
Their shawarma is expertly cooked so the meat chunks remain juicy but slightly crisp at the edges, stuffed into the softest pita this side of Jerusalem, covered with freshly chopped veggies, and slathered with sauces — ranging from hot, green s'chug, to smooth, garlicky hummus, to sesame-laden techina, to the mysteriously spicy orange amba.
Kosher or not, you'll find that the thrill of delicious shawarma grease dripping down your arm as you try to tame your burgeoning sandwich is a spiritual experience.
All in the crunch of the falafel, creamy and incomparable hummus, and pillowy pita bread. Coolidge Corner's Rami's serves just this including other Middle Eastern staples like baba ghanoush (eggplant spread), kabob, and shawarma.
Falafel is smaller than some and usually made to order. Warm and fresh. The hummus and baba ghanoush, with a light pour of olive oil, are the perfect compliments to these hearty and crisp delights. Get a little hot sauce to dollop and mix.
Imported coffee
Checkout our various tyes of imported coffee.
Great Music
Our DJs will entertain you like never before.
Finest Cuisine
From Italian to Tex-Mex, you will find all types of food
Nice Staff
You will never forget our smile and professional attitude.
When my husband and I were in the East Village to see an off, off Broadway show, we happened across this eclectic eatery called Spiegel. We both loved the choices of interesting international dishes. I had the fish tacos which were excellent, with two big pieces of Mahi. My husband had the Tunisian sandwich which is a creation of marinated tune, chick peas, potatoes and harissa. He described it as tuna with layers of flavors and textures. We will be coming back the next time we are in the neighborhood.
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
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.
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!
"Simple & filling
Israeli eats…like excellent
falafel…and even
better hummus"
Zagat, 2013/14
Westchester Magazine
Readers’ Pick, June 2012:
Middle Eastern
Restaurant
Westchester Magazine
“$20 and Under” selection
Oct, 2011
“Taiim Falafel Shack
Serves Up Middle Eastern
Comfort Food”
Rivertowns Patch
Oct, 2011
“Falafel Sells Out in Nyack”
Nyack-Piermont Patch
Sept, 2011
Westchester Magazine
“50 Best Dishes”
July 2011
Best of Westchester
Food & Drink
Westchester Magazine
June, 2011
One of the “19 Hottest
New Restaurants…”
Westchester Magazine
June, 2011
“Israeli Soul Food” —The New York Times • Oct, 2010
Westchester Magazine
“Taiim Falafel Shack Hits Hastings… and the Best Thing That Ever Happened to
a Chickpea”
Westchester Magazine
Oct, 2010
Mile End is a Jewish delicatessen in New York City committed to breathing new life into old-world traditions. With locations in Boerum Hill Brooklyn, and NoHo Manhattan, Mile End redefines delicatessen classics by fusing the spirit and craftsmanship of the past with a thoroughly modern sensibility and aesthetic.
What began as rooftop experiments, Mile End was conceived throughout the summer of 2009 by Noah Bernamoff, his wife, Rae, and close friend, Max Levine. Mile End Delicatessen opened January 2010, in a tiny converted garage in Brooklyn with the simple mission of producing and serving the Jewish comfort foods of Noah’s Montreal youth. Word of Mile End Delicatessen’s opening spread quickly and before long, hungry New Yorkers lined snowy Hoyt Street in search of hand-sliced smoked meat, steaming bowls of Nana’s chicken soup and warm, neighborhood service.
Since those early days, Mile End Delicatessen has grown from a quirky startup into a real family business. With a team of over 60 talented men and women, Mile End creates and produces a wide variety of cured and smoked meats and fish, pickled goods, and freshly baked bagels, breads, rolls, and pastries along the historic Red Hook waterfront. From James Beard House dinners to Chinese food on Christmas, Mile End is proud to participate in New York City’s finest food festivals and markets and to actively contribute to esteemed organizations within our community.
Mile End Sandwich opened May 2012, in a former hardware store on gritty Bond Street serving the heart of the delicatessen playbook, replete with a newfound enthusiasm for the sandwiches of yore. Released in September 2012 by Clarkson Potter, The Mile End Cookbook looks back at the past three years of working and cooking and a lifetime of dreaming to spread the philosophy of good, homemade Jewish food. And finally, a home online, mileenddeli.com, brings up-to-date musings, techniques and hand-crafted products from our kitchen straight to yours.
– See more at: http://mileenddeli.com/about/our-story/#sthash.1SJCvJ2C.dpuf
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
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.
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.
“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!”
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 !