We will not be visiting this spot again. The food was O.K. (I had the sabich, eggplant and egg drowned under a mountain of salad in a pita, my friend had the shakshuka which she said was delicious), but the service left much to be desired. We requested an empty table at the window and were told no, it was already reserved. But by policy, they don't reserve specific tables. So what gives? We requested our coffees after the meal, and were informed we'd have to order them later--our waiter couldn't be bothered to remember to bring them to us after we ate. But the piece de resistance came later. The bill arrived when we had yet to finish our meals. I had scarcely finished eating when my plate was snatched up by the waitstaff. Then, when we were sipping our coffees, the waiter came around and told us it was time for us to settle up. There were plenty of empty tables at that point, so there was no need to hurry us out. That kind of service just leaves a bad taste in your mouth. read more

I visited 12 Chairs for the very first time a few weeks ago on a random Tuesday for dinner with a friend. Getting a reservation online was simple and quick and I was excited to try out the food. Let me start by saying, the food is DELISH! From the fresh, warm pita to the hummus (the hummus is truly to die for) to the chicken pita -- it's all truly incredible. The baba ganoush was great too, but not my favorite I've ever had. The HUMMUS is the star of the show--probably the best I've ever had. The ambience and service were what were lacking for me. I understand the west village is full of cozy spots, but the sheer amount of people here plus the blaring music made it nearly impossible to have a conversation. Don't get me wrong, the food is excellent, so I know why it's packed. But this is not the place to catch up with a friend--it was truly just so loud for the great majority of time we were there. Our first server informed us as well in a bit of a snippy way that all orders (appetizers, mains, and more) needed to be taken all in one go, which made us feel a tad rushed and taken aback. I understand where they're coming from, it just felt very impersonal and overwhelming. Overall, I would come back for the food, but will likely come back much much later in the evening when the dinner rush is over. read more

Food here was phenomenal, really felt like I was back in Israel. Falafel was hot and fresh, the hummus was so creamy and the pitas were top tier and fluffy. The highlight for me was the Shouk Salad, so simple but every ingredient was fresh including delicious heirloom tomatoes and feta cheese. The portions for the sharing plates were very small, the halloumi came with three small pieces and same for the lamb kebabs. There's marketed for sharing but you cant really with more than 3 people. The hummus however I felt was a generous amount. The service here was good, there was always a pitcher of water on our table and servers coming around to pick Up plates. Food came out fast too. After 6:30/7pm the lights here dim and the music turns up. I loved the music so it was great but definitely made it difficult to talk to our group. Just something to note if you're hoping for a quiet dinner, this isn't the place. Vibes were great in my opinion! Would definite come back and being more friends. read more

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I wanted to love this place and it was just okay. I always judge a place by their hummus and I did not enjoy their recipe. Their other food was delicious though. The cauliflower is Amazing! And their soups are huge! Ordered way too much food for their tiny tables. Place is really really small making it difficult to get into your table and deal with winter layers or purses/bags. read more

We stopped by for a small little midday snack and shared a salad and arepas. Very very good! Highly recommend the arepas; they're so flavorful and the lamb is perfectly cooked and pairs so well with the tahini sauce. Salad was also very refreshing. Fast service on a late weekend lunch. We sat outside in their little patio seating which is heated. Would definitely come back to try more dishes!! read more

12 Chairs - Arepas - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

The best falafels in the city without question! They are fresh, crispy and very flavorful. Almost everything on the menu is a hit. Go for the small plates and warm pita to start. We got a bunch for the table and it worked as appetizers. I had the Chicken Schnitzel was very filling, they pack it with chicken. The restaurant overall is great atmosphere seems to be a place where all the cool kids go and good for all types of occasions. I will say the tables are very tight here. read more

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Food is mid and place is overhyped for no reason. You have way better options in the West Village compared to this dump

Best Israeli food in the whole city. From the moment we walked in, we were transported straight to the heart of Tel Aviv. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, with the aroma of freshly baked pita filling the air. Every dish was a vibrant explosion of flavors -- bright, fresh salads piled high, velvety hummus. Portions were so big we ended up taking a bunch home with us. Guess I know what's for dinner!! read more

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Excellent food. The israeli salad was so good, somehow better than any I have had before. And the chocolate mousse dessert was also an absolute star. My one gripe is that the whole meal felt rushed. We had a reservation for 4 people and after just an hour it was clear the wait staff was trying to turn over the table. read more

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Had a reservation for 8:30 and we were seated at 8:40. VERY loud music but super fun. They passed out tambourines. The service was great. Food was delicious. The 2 best dishes were the cauliflower and schnitzel. I have a nut allergy so I am usually very scared to eat Israeli food bc of nuts but the kitchen prepared with no nuts. Falafel and tahini was delicious. Israeli salad was decent. The fries were fine nothing special. Pita was great. Such a fun dinner just very loud. Highly recommend. read more

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Food was good. Wine watered down at $18. Very tiny restaurant , tables literally on top of each other. Had to move my food to the other side of table so someone's long hair wouldn't get in my food. Disgusting. Will not return. read more

Ordered takeout several times. Excellent and fast service. Great staff. Quick ordering and meal made fresh every time. Salad super tasty w nice greens, cucumbers tomatoes feta and hearty portions of chicken. Give them a try for a fresh lunch you'll like it. (Note takeout is on Houston not where full restaurant is located) read more

12 Chairs - Chicken Greek Salad - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

Such a lovely restaurant with lovelier food. My friend and I chose to share the 4 small plates for $30 which was so much food (we took some home). Our favorite was definitely the babaganoush, but everything was so delicious. Beware the spicy platter is VERY spicy. I have seen this place get very busy so i would suggest making a reservation beforehand. I'm very excited to try more of their menu! read more

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Enjoyed eating here as the food was delicious and service was great! Hard to pinpoint my favorite dish as everything was fantastic.

My new favorite downtown restaurant is this little oasis of Israeli food paradise at King & MacDougal. Where do I begin? Perhaps with the best shakshuka I've ever eaten. It's perfectly balanced and rich with intense tomato flavor - not overwhelmed by red pepper or spice like so many heavy-handed versions on trendy brunch menus. Or is it the Israeli salad (aka shirazi salad)? Again this was perhaps the best I've had at an American restaurant -- a perfect balance of tomato, onion, cucumber and herbs (and a generous portion served with much of the menu). Should I go on? The Eggs Siniya is a revelation, elevating simple tahini to luxurious entree. Pierogis are enhanced by addicting fried onions. Jachnun is a unique Yemenite treat. I could eat here every day for a week and never get bored. read more

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MacDougal is my favorite street in NYC to take a stroll down as it has such a rich history in just a 0.38 mile stretch. At the end of my 0.38 mile excursion, I always find myself running into a sidewalk FULL of people. So full to the point where I have to walk to the other side of the street or move like a prime Barry Sanders in traffic to get passed. This Coachella-like gathering of human beings is waiting to get into 12 Chairs. I whipped out my cracked Iphone 13 Pro Max and did a quick google search and realized it was an Israeli spot. After being to Israel a few times, I developed an arguably unhealthy love affair with the cuisine. Israeli couscous is literally CRACK. Anyways, all this to say I knew I had to get to 12 Chairs. 3 of us came late on a Friday evening, praying to Cthulhu that we would get a seat. Much to my surprise, we were seated almost immediately. Thank you Cthulhu. We sat on the heated outdoor patio and started with 4 small plates: Babaganoush, Falafel & Tahini, Matbucha, and the Beets Salad. All was served with warm pita bread that was to die for. The Babaganoush ended up being a bit of a let down, but that Beets Salad came out of NOWHERE to save the day. It was oddly reminiscent of when Carmelo Anthony went down in 2012 and Jeremy Lin came out of the shadows and put the Knicks on his back for 2 straight months. "BeetsSaladSanity." Easily the best Beets Salad I've ever had. I went with the Areyas for my main, which is pita filled with minced lamb. It was sensational, but was a little light on the portion size. The lamb is so juicy it kinda like squirts in your mouth on every bite. ahahahaha damn that was crazy phrasing but I really aint lyin. Overall the quality of food here is to die for, but I find the portion sizes to be a little light for the price point. I wish I could give 4.5 stars, but will give 4 here and 5 on Google. THANK YOU CTHULHU! IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov__ read more

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I prefer the Williamsburg location as this one doesn't have a liquor license. The space is tighter as well and not as vibey. My schnitzel dish happened to be pretty tasty and filling. A balanced meal of cucumber/tomato salad and deep friend chicken cutlet. The bread and dips that came with my bf's meal were interesting, not bad. I preferred my tahini dressing. I did not enjoy his shashuka however. It lacked flavor. Was just tomatoey with some bell peppers. Something left to be desired. Came here cuz it's close to me and had availability, but I can see why. It was fine, but nothing to rave about. I would still come back. read more

12 Chairs - Schnitzel Salad (tahini dressing) very good Shakshuka breakfast in the back. with bread and dips - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

i wasn't a fan of this place. first off the bathroom smelled like piss! gross. they could prevent the smell. my waiter wasn't the happiest guy to be working. its like i get it but you should get another job if you hate being there! i ordered the chicken schnitzel and it came with mashed potatoes. it was really good but very pricey at 28.00. you get 2 big pieces with honey mustard on the side. i couldn't finish it all so i took it with me. i'm sure there's other items that are good too but i just wasn't a fan of the atmosphere or the bathroom overall. read more

Food was amazing, the best we had during our 5 nights in NYC. Will I return? No. The bumping dance club music was so loud, it was impossible to enjoy the evening. It's a dance club pretending to be a restaurant. read more

Twelve Chairs is teeny tiny with the chairs literally next to each other. You are sitting next to your neighbors. There are more than twelve chairs. lol Two of us shared 4 apps and chicken snitzel over salad. The beet salad was delicious and the falafel was crispy and tasted great. The dishes are all shareable and it's very affordable. read more

12 Chairs - 4 apps to share with pita. - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

Really authentic Middle Eastern/Mediterranean food!!!!! I was a huge fan of 12 Chairs. If you can, make a reservation a week or two (or more) in advance to make sure you can get in at a preferred time. 3 of us split 5 dips and it was plenty of food. We were stuffed afterwards. My favorite was their hummus & babaganoush. The hummus was soooo creamy & had a strong tahini flavor. The Tabouli was super fresh - also one of my favorites we ordered. They also brought us out a little dish with pickle and olives and it was a nice touch that went well with all the dips. The softest, yummiest pita bread came with everything. We had to ask for another basket because it went so quick. They didn't have many drink options, just beer and wine. Overall, I loved this place and would definitely go back to try other things the next time I'm in NYC! read more

12 Chairs - Hummus, Labneh (yogurt dip), Tabouli Salad - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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Delicious breakfast! Came here three times in my one week trip to New York. The Israeli breakfast is the perfect combo of ingredients and is a great deal for your money. It comes with an egg cooked to your preference, bread, Israeli salad (cucumber and tomato), and various soft cheeses. A tea and a juice also comes with your meal. The service is quick and friendly, and I enjoyed getting to know the staff during my days there. Will definitely be back the next time I'm in town! read more

12 Chairs - Israeli Breakfast - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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The hummus is among the best I've tried. However, eating here will make you feel like you are being yelled at, at full volume, by the other 50 people in the establishment. Forget about trying to hold a convo with your meal companion. read more

Great food, good service, very popular place. Our first time here so wasn't expecting such a crowd and such a wait. We didn't have reservations but some other people did and they had a wait as well. They have a heated outdoor area on the street a main dining room and an adjoining building with a dining room that they use at times. It was pouring down rain, and unfortunately you have to wait outside under their awnings but still Not ideal . I wouldn't want to wait during winter months outside like that . The front of house could be a little more organized with seating, gotta say. The menu is great. Lots of vegetarian options. Staff was pretty attentive .food was nicely presented and very tasty. read more

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The first time I went to 12 Chairs, I LOVED it! I was with a party of five, and we had a nice table. This time, I was a tad disappointed. The food is great, but my party of three was sat at a table for two, so it was really crowded and hard to eat. It was fine, but it was a little crammed. Just keep this in mind when booking! read more

12 Chairs - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

DELICIOUS!! We opted for the small plates and they didn't disappoint! The Babaganoush and Falafel with Tahini were my FAVE!! The small dishes also come with pita and were more than enough for 2 people. We ordered the Shakshuka as well, and it was also very good! The place is very intimate, so I suggest to make a reservation a week in advance to secure a table during busier times. 10/10 would come back to try some more!! read more

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Slightly overpriced and slow service for what is served. The dips were small in portion and also took about 20 minutes to come out... The salads were a little too salty for my taste, so not sure if I'd order the salads again (the 12 chairs salad and the Greek salad) but I do applaud the cauliflower dish. Not sure if id return, but 12 Chairs has a good location and cute outdoor seating. read more

Authentic, filling, and well above average for middle eastern food. It's hard to give restaurants "5 stars" in the heart of Manhattan with fierce competition but there were a few unique factors involved: the interior feels like a living room with legit pots, framed photos, and antiques sprinkled across the walls. The wooden floor adds a cozy feel to the overall experience. Couple that with the kind of food prepared and you have yourself a real bargain. Another indicator of high quality lies in the hummus - smooth enough to feel like an army of chefs worked together for grounding the chickpeas into a true finished product. The tabouleh salad with drizzled tahini and chicken cutlet is also delicious and worth trying. Open kitchen, outdoor space, packed menu with a series of golden dishes = A+. Every time. read more

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Great food and speedy service. This spot is popular so expect there to be a wait! This also meant we were pushed out in order for them to clear the table for the next guests. They did this nicely though, just don't expect to have a long conversation and mill about here. read more

12 Chairs - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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Really good Israeli food. Excellent bread, hummus, and dip. Cauliflower was delicious as well. The burger was different and filling. Overall, good quality food and service. Just the venue is super tight so you'll be likely nearly touching somebody sitting next to you! read more

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The food tasted great, but made me feel HORRIBLE. Have had a TERRIBLE stomach ache for the past few hours since eating it.... And that's saying a lot considering I have no food allergies and a stomach of steel. We made a standard reservation ahead of time but were seated in the cold outside (there were only 2 tables out there). We really wanted to experience the fun atmosphere inside (especially with our friends visiting town) and were let down. The servers were kind but did not do their jobs well. We were barely close to done with our round of appetizers and our entrees were brought out and sat out on another table in the cold while we finished. It felt stressful. Good food, but poor experience all around. read more

Overhyped for sure. Honestly we didn't really care for anything we got, and we noticed the people next to us barely ate their food as well. The hummus had too much tahini where it literally tasted like peanut butter. The falafel were fine but nothing special. Lamb kebabs were ground lamb, kinda dry. The chicken skewer was just basic. Overall definitely will not be coming back. There's better middle eastern food from hole in the wall places. It was also extremely tight in the restaurant, very small. read more

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I heard a lot of good things about this place, so I walked up to the store on a Saturday around 11am-ish hoping to luckily grab a table as a walk-in. Although they didn't have any seats available inside (as they were all reserved), the host did offer to seat us right away in the outdoor seating area to which we agreed. The outdoor seating has a few tables fairly well spaced apart. I didn't really feel squished at all. They do have some heating lamps on top. I felt warm despite being outside. There was a server that mainly stayed in the outdoor area frequently checking on the customers that were seated outside, which was nice. My friend and I decided to share 2 dishes together to try a bit of everything. We opted to share the shakshuka and the shipudim. SHAKSHUKA The size of the skillet itself is slightly on the smaller side, so it's definitely not something to order by itself to make you full. The shakshuka is solid. It's exactly like what you expect - Tomato based sauce with 2 eggs. It also comes with Israeli salad and bread on the side, which was nice. The bread might help you get full, but overall, it's more of a side order or appetizer in a way. But, I did enjoy it like I had expected to. SHIPUDIM First of all, the presentation of the dish is 10/10. The way they placed the skewers on a wooden surface like a charcuterie board, the way they added the spicy cherry tomato salad on top with the tahini on the bottom of the skewers was so visually appealing. So that won points right off the bat! Secondly, everything on the board was delicious. The meat slid right off the metal rod. I was pleasantly surprised how soft the meat was to bite into. The cherry tomato was as you expect. The way they made the salad "spicy" was adding thin slices of peppers, but it really wasn't too spicy at all. It added some nice kick, but nothing anyone can't handle. They also gave an abundant amount of potatoes with this dish. This alone can help you become full within minutes. Overall, I loved everything that I had tried. Maybe it's because I think I ordered well for my first visit, I really did enjoy my meal as a whole. I think shakshuka is a solid and well known choice and it didn't disappoint. On the other hand, I was pleasantly surprised by the Shipudim. After my first taste, I highly recommend this dish. It can be a bit more pricey than some other dishes, but I think it's worth the price and won't disappoint. read more

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Food is great but check your bill. They add stuff to your bill when you are not looking. My bill was $205. I gave the girl my card, she turned the tablet and I added 20% tip. My card alert showed I got billed $340. I went back to the restaurant and had her pull my receipt. She had added $50 for drink supposedly by mistake from the time I gave her my card until she ran it. No apologies, nothing. Manager didn't even come to apologize. read more

12 chairs offers everything you'd want for a brunch: great ambiance and great food. I was in the area on a Sunday morning and was able to walk in without a reservation (we sat at the bar). 12 chairs has cute decor and a cozy atmosphere. I ordered the salmon eggs with Israeli breakfast. The salmon eggs were everything you'd want: smoked salmon and scrambled eggs with capers over a bed of buttered bread. I'd recommend making it in Israeli breakfast to get all the little dips, coffee, and juice. My favorites from the dips were the yogurt and guac. Overall, the service was quick and the food was great! read more

12 Chairs - Salmon eggs Israeli Breakfast - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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This place was alright. I didn't feel the food was anything different than fast Mediterranean or Greek food. It was good but over rated a bit. Nosey ladies sitting at the table next to us kept gawking at our food and nodding as if they approved. Strangers haha. More vibes here than anything. Hummus was fine. The pelmeni was pretty good though. Overall just alright imo. read more

12 Chairs - Hummus Mushrooms&Onions - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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Had a reservation for 9 pm and didn't get seated until basically 10pm. Waited on the crowded sidewalk. It was a Friday night and it seemed like the place in town to be. Although I'm not sure why. We had a reservation confirmed in advance for 11 people yet we were stuck in the corner and were packed shoulder to shoulder, squeezing multiple people in the bench spots to fit. Really really crammed and we barely had enough table space for our food and drinks. The food was actually really good - we did the pre fixed menu ($75 pp) and ordered wine separately. We kept ordering rosé and didn't stop. Yikes for my wallet. I loved the third course especially, Chicken Skewers, Arayes, Lamb Kebobs, and Home fries. The meat at 12 chairs was deliciously tender and juicy! Our table did not care much for the israeli pickles and shouk salad in the first course. But all the dip was good and they actually gave a good amount of pita (vs. other restaurants). They let you bring cakes and will bring it out and cut it for you for no fee. That's a plus. One funny happening is that we got brought the wrong cake. They were nice to fix it immediately. Only 1 bathroom for the whole restaurant, so there was constantly a line. Music was ok. Only like, 3 songs were bangers in my 2 hours there. Fun to try once but not dying to come back. read more

12 Chairs - Chicken Skewers Arayes Lamb Kebobs - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

The food here is so flavorful and fresh. Reminds me of israel! They have a small amout of tables all with a wait time. Its worth the wait! read more

12 Chairs - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

This place had the best sea bass dish my friends and i have ever had! Chicken kebab was cery soft inside. The chicken schnitzel was good but didnt stan out as much. The service was very fast as well, we came on friday at 6:30 and were seated instantly. The place has a cozy and intimate feel, was nice for a relaxing night out. read more

12 Chairs - Outside - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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Pretty solid BRUNCH spot! The shakshuka was good but wish that it was a little bit more flavored. Their pita bread is THE BESTTTTT. Soft fluffy and truly the best CARB FOR BRUNCH :) Advice is quick and attentive. There was a 20-30 min wait in a weekend. read more

12 Chairs - Shakshuka - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York