Food was pretty solid but vastly overpriced for the amount that you get, especially the dips . Complementary fresh pita was a pleasant surprise even though we had to request it. Service was also incredibly slow and our dinner lasted over two hours. read more

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Visited this place with my friends for a late dinner. We previously had made a reservation, so we didn't wait at all to be seated. We opted to sit outside with the great evening weather! As soon as we sat down, they promptly brought out pita and olive oil, olives, and za'atar to dip. The pita was also continually served throughout the night! As a group of 4, we ordered 3 dishes family style. The servings were very generous, and even though we were very hungry, we were still able to take a decent amount home with us. * Mezze Filistini: a sharable platter with baba ghanoush, muhammarah, tabbouleh, labneh, hummus, and salata tahina. Very much recommend! Everything was so delicious and was a great starter with variety. * Za'atar Margarita: Simple margarita pizza with za'atar topping! A cool fusion that we enjoyed. * Mansaf: SO delicious! The meat practically fell off the bone, and I loved the variation in texture between the nuts/rice/lamb. The flavors were all so vibrant yet not overwhelming. Still dreaming about this dish to be honest... Next time I come back, I would definitely try the M'sakhan! read more

Ayat - Mezze Filistini - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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I had a delicious Iftar meal at Ayat. My dad and I wanted some comforting and flavorful Arab food to break our fast on our first day of Ramadan, and Ayat was definitely a good choice. It is an authentic Palestinian restaurant with typical dishes from the country, and all the food was incredible - I especially enjoyed the muhammarah from the cold mezzes, the kousa mahshi and kibbeh from the hot appetizers, and the fattah main course. Everything was so fresh and bursting with flavor, and the portions were huge - we weren't able to finish it all! The restaurant itself is so beautiful - the decor is so aesthetic, and it really feels like you are in a part of Palestine. The staff were so friendly and accommodating, and service was great. Overall, it was a very positive experience - I'd definitely recommend Ayat if you're looking for comforting, delicious, and authentic Palestinian food. read more

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The meal I had at AYAT was one of the best meals had this year. Everything was bursting with flavor and was presented beautifully. My friend and I shared the coffee and both enjoyed it black. I loved that the menu clearly marked what was vegan and gluten free. My favorite dish was the zahir, and the mujadara was great too. all around beautiful restaurant and kind servers. read more

I've had Ayat in my bookmarks for so long and I'm so glad I finally got to try it recently! While they have both covered outdoor seating and indoor seating, I was very grateful that they had indoor seating available as it was a nice relief from the hot day. The menu at Ayat is quite extensive, and our server was very patient in explaining their most popular dishes. After pondering for a while, we went with the Mezze Filistini, which was a mixed platter of different dips (hummus, baba ganoush, labneh, and a few others. It came with some warm pitta and the portions were huge! Definitely a dish that is meant to be shared. The mezzes were fresh and flavorful. Perfect for a hot summer evening. We also ordered their mansaf, which was a lamb stew over rice. Again, portions were HUGE! Certainly enough for at least two people. The lamb was so tender and tasted so homey. For dessert, we had tahini ice cream, which was just vanilla ice cream with tahini drizzled on top. Had I known earlier, I probably would've picked another dessert but it was still a pleasant sweet treat nonetheless. Can't wait to go back and try out more dishes at Ayat! read more

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I really wanted to support this Palestinian restaurant but sadly did not get served in a timely or friendly manner. My partner and I are visiting from Texas and were looking forward to trying the food but unless the service improves we won't be coming back. We had a reservation for Friday at 4:45pm but arrived at 4pm and decided to stop in earlier since it wasn't busy We were quickly and kindly greeted by one of the kitchen staff as he was walking in. I wish the actual servers and greeters were as pleasant; they gave me the impression that they did not want us there. We were offered the complimentary bread with olive oil, spices, and olives which was great and enough water to refill ourselves. They took our order not too long after, but that was the extent of our service. They had a big table next to us so I understand our food taking a little longer but by the time we sat down it looked like most of their food was already being served. I wouldn't have minded they wait if there was some sort of communication from the server. They only came by once to check on us when we finished our entire jug of water, but kept coming back and forth serving the big table. I honestly want to believe that they forgot about us and didn't place our order, but it's hard not to conclude that we were not served due to cultural difference. read more

Written 11/16/23: I came to Ayat for dinner on a Tuesday at 6:30pm in a group of 4 people. We had a reservation which I would recommend since, even though the restaurant was relatively quiet when we arrived, at 7pm it became packed and there was a long line to dine without a reservation. This restaurant is very cute and cozy, it has brick walls, colorful mural paintings, and warm toned decor which makes the place feel very inviting and casual. There are big windows which makes it feel very open as well. We were seated promptly in a table in the corner. Our waiters were very friendly and helpful in answering our questions about what dishes to order. Food was all delicious! We tried: - Mezze Filistini: delicious spread of several dips. This is the perfect thing to order if you have a big group. Came with basically a lot of the apps you'd want to try on the menu and is very well balanced. My favorites were the creamy labne, the muhammarah which was a little spicy and tasted like roasted red pepper with nutty hints from the walnuts, and the Salata tahina since it was refreshing but also had hints of nuttiness from the tahini. Great with their freshly made pita! - M'sakhan: half chicken over a pita with grilled onions and suma. This was a very good concept, it reminded me of a pizza in a strange way since the edge of the pita was thicker than the center, like a crust. The chicken was a little overdone but the flavor was great. The pita, soaked in the chicken juices as well as flavor of the sweet flavor of grilled onions, was divine. Very filling and tasted really homemade (not oily, not super salty). - Fattat Jaj: this is delectable. I've had it before and it's probably one of my favorite dishes of all time. We ordered the small size since we were sharing other plates too. The layers of rice, chicken, chickpeas, mint yogurt, crispy pita, creamy garlic sauce, and slivered toasted almonds is just so rich and perfect. Very comforting on a cold day. A little bit on the heavier side but delicious when shared. - Mansaf: another hit! My first time having this and I was very very impressed. We were told it was the most popular dish here and I can see why. The lamb was so tender and just fell off the bone with the fork. It was so juicy and these juices complimented the bed of rice and Laffa the lamb came over so well! The fermented yogurt sauce was very mild and added a nice creaminess to the dish which made everything even more delicious and comforting. Would order this again in a heartbeat. - Tahini Brownie: I was so full at this point hit a friend highly recommended this dessert so we had to get it. This was a delicious brownie that was fudgey without being too sweet topped with a delicious tahini ice cream that was chewy and had a very nice flavor. The presentation was very aesthetic. Would highly recommend this one too! The food was truly incredible! My only complaint is that the service itself was pretty slow -- Our pita for the dips appetizer took 10-15 min to come out after we had the dips in front of us so we sat there salivating staring at the plate for the longest time. The bill also took another 30-35 min to get to us at which point one person in our party had to leave in a rush. While I appreciate not being kicked out of a place, the waits were longer than I was hoping for. This place is definitely one you want to allocate enough time to eat at so you can fully enjoy the ambiance and food without any rush or stress :) . The experience was excellent and I would definitely come back for the delicious food! Truly one of the highlight meals I've had in the city. Would highly highly recommend!! read more

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Large menu with lots of options - from platters to pizzas, they've got something for everyone! We were a large party and shared an assortment of dips, pizzas, and large platters (chicken and mixed proteins) - all were delicious and we were stuffed. read more

Ayat - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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While eating dal pakwan at a small stall in Chembur's Sindhi Colony, I started thinking about how after partition much of the vegetarian cuisine of that region must have disappeared. It now lives in absentia in Bombay. Will the same be said of the cuisine of Gaza one day? And similarly the proprietors of Ayat are doing their best to protect that legacy across the world. With airy, spacious environs, I find their new East village location to be the most successful. The muhammara and roasted cauliflower with tahini are must order items that almost convinced a friend to join me in vegetarianism - the hummus is good too, but if you have space for only one mezze, absolutely do not miss the muhammara. If you come with a large appetite, go for the vegetarian mezze platter, so that you can also sample the excellent roasted eggplant and mujaddara as well. read more

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These days, finding good food at a reasonable price that is a decent portion size has me feeling like Indiana Jones cautiously putting the bag of sand replacing the gold figurine. Typically, you can only get 2 of 3 which I had kind of chalked up to just being life, especially in New York City. Can't have everything. But, every now and then, you stumble across a unicorn that checks all 3 boxes to restore your hope in the universe. Ayat, my dear reader, is that unicorn. We stumbled in here at 2pm fresh out of bed, hungrier than that dude posting a story of his Dostoyevsky book is for a "Oh my god you read Dostoyevsky you're so deep and artsy" DM. After a 5 minute wait we were seated and the staff immediately brought 2 warm pitas that you can tell were authentic middle eastern pitas with fresh olive oil. They were those pitas that you touch and the little dough gets on your hands. Real ones know. Oh you haven't been to the middle east? As we were ripping through the Pitas and had yet to really scan a menu, no word of a lie 3 separate waiters came up within a 2 minute span and asked if we were ready to order. Like DAMN they really tryna get us up out of here ahahahaha. But I chalked it up to being authentically middle eastern as it's just different culturally. Oh you haven't been? We opted for a feast, as everything looked SO good. Our lineup consisted of the Margherita Pizza, the Wara Dawali (stuffed grape leaves), Falafel, Chicken Shawarma Sandwich, and the Fattat Lahma. I normally highlight just one or two plates in these reviews, but everything was the star. A total team effort like the 2003-2004 Detroit Pistons. The pizza started us off with a BANG. The stuffed grape leaves will be the breakout dish of 2024. 4 BIG falafel at $6 left me stunned like a prime Conor Mcgregor counter left hand. The Chicken Shawarma sandwich was literally perfect, as the wrap was crisply toasted on the outside and the chicken was delicious. The Fattat Lahma.... yeah tbh this the only thing I wouldn't get again but it was under the "Traditional" section of the menu and I just felt I had to try something from that section because I'm cultured af and I've been to the middle east.... Oh you haven't?! Ahahaha I'm just yanking your chain, it's all love from me I just try to make these entertaining you know? All in all, a quality meal that had me STUFFED and didn't leave my pockets on featherweight was something I had lost hope for in NYC. Hope is a dangerous thing for a man like me to have - but I have it. Unicorns do exist. THANK YOU AYAT! IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov__ read more

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I love how generous the portion and delicious the flavor Palestinian food are! Tried out the quite well known @ayat.nyc and the people there were super nice. I actually ended up liking the starters, especially the hummus and the labneh, more than the traditional plates, compared to other places. Next time I think I would order more of those to try! read more

Ayat - Lemon and garlic roasted chicken ouzi - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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I enjoyed my dinner at Ayat. My table ordered the sampler appetizer, the mansaf, the maklooba, and the chicken shawarma platter. All of the food was great and tasted homemade. My favorite was the maklooba and the sampler appetizer. Each dish can easily feed 2 people so the prices are also very reasonable. The restaurant also has a homey cozy atmosphere great for any occasion. read more

Ayat - Mansaf - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

It was my first time at Ayat last night and it was a delicious experience. The pita bread is brought to your table warm and accompanied by olive oil. The Fattat-Jaj was so flavorful and hearty. Also shared the lamb kabobs, which were juicy. We will definitely come back when in NYC! Highly recommend! read more

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Came here with a reservation for 8 people for a birthday lunch. Loved the vibe of this place, it's very rustic feeling and they have a completely covered outdoor seating area. It was raining that day so we were protected, but I could see it being lovely on a nice day. They serve you complimentary pita, olive oil, zatar and olives. All of the food was amazing, we ordered a mixed platter which served 4 and we ordered 2. It was about 40ish per person. It came with a bunch of dips and a small salad, and a platter of lamb, chicken, and beef on top of rice. Everything was seasoned so well and the meat was juicy and tender. We also ordered the pizzawarma and fried halloumi which was also yummy but definitely overkill, so we had lots of leftovers! They also give you the cutest, functional bag for your takeout. Docking one star because our server was repeatedly a bit aggressive about clearing the table of dishes we weren't finished with yet when there was still plenty of space. But I highly recommend and love supporting a Palestinian business! read more

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I LOVE Ayat and will visit one of their locations at least once a week. Their chicken shawarma is some of the best I've had in the city, and the portions are so generous that I always have leftovers. The service is friendly, and their spaces are beautiful and green with lots of seating. read more

Ayat - Chicken shawarma - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

Been sick and it's snowing out. Craving for lentil soup so I ordered from Ayat. I was never a fan of lentil soup until I had it at another Palestinian restaurant, AlBadawi in UES. Ayat's lentil soup didn't disappoint!!!!! Just what I needed on a cold day. I love pistachio flat bread. And, of course, Maklouba! It was a lot so I was able to share it with my son. This restaurant has been not only providing amazing Palestinian food but also supporting community so much. Next time I'll make it to the restaurant and bring friends. Love the bag my food was delivered. So beautiful. Thank you for the great food and what you do! read more

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Awful experience with this place. The food we ordered was not tasty, we have not finished eating. OK, maybe we chose not the right meal... But, in addition, the waitress was not very helpful: it was hard to get her to the table, and when I asked her to lower AC flow she told me you need to speak to the manager (I assume that it's a waiter job to speak to a manager if a client's asking). When we wanted to get to the restroom there were a line formed by the restaurant's workers who finished their shifts and wanted to visit the restroom before going home, how funny (again I assume they had to let clients go to restroom first). read more

I love this part of the city, and stopped in for a late lunch. SO friendly, SO good. The pita was delicious, the olives and olive oil were just so flavorful, and the platter we got with hummus, baba ganoush, salad, etc. was just so amazing. We could just not stop eating. PLENTY to share - 2 of us could not finish it. Vegan items are very clearly labeled, which makes things easy. 10/10 would recommend. Walk by the river, stop in to one of the many community gardens, then come here to eat. A lovely day. read more

Delicious food. Fall off the bone lamb. Fresh warm pita. Smoky baba ghanoush. Great service, and cute interior. Also has outdoor covered seating. Definitely worth checking out. read more

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10/10 fantastic meal! Definitely recommend getting the mezze platter with all the dips! They were all so good!! And they keep the warm fresh pita bread coming :) I also got the falafel plate which was so good and also lasted me two meals! We also got the eggplant to share and it wasn't my favorite because I'm not a huge eggplant person but the flavors were impeccable! Would definitely get the cauliflower version of this dish next time. Overall, amazing food and I will definitely be back! read more

Ayat - Falafel platter - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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Ordered: Mezze Filistini (~$28): mix platter of hummus, baba ghanoush, muhammarah, tabbouleh, salata tahina & labneh Shrimp Scampi Sensation Pizza (~$21): grilled shrimp, tomatoes, onions, & a garlic butter sauce Araby Mix Shawarma (~$17): pressed chicken and beef shawarma sandwich served with fries & pickles Mansaf (~$38): stew of bone in lamb chunks & fermented yogurt sauce served over a bed of fresh sajj bread & rice, topped with slivered almonds Limonana (~$5): made with lemon juice, sugar, & fresh mint leaves Aya's take: I visited Ayat back in December 2023 but wasn't able to write my review due to the check-in and review features being disabled on Yelp due to the ongoing Palestine-Israel conflict. Being Middle Eastern myself, I was excited to check this place out and support a Palestinian-owned restaurant. We started off with the Mezze Filistini which is a classic way to start any Middle Eastern meal. The muhammarah was better than I've had at most places and the hummus and baba ghanoush were pretty solid too. The Araby Mix Shawarma was delicious; from the well-seasoned shawarma to the toasted bread and crispy fries. The real star of the show was the Mansaf. The lamb chunks were super moist and succulent! The yogurt sauce helped cut through the fattiness of the lamb and the rice was so soft and fluffy, soaking in all the juices from the lamb and yogurt. It was great for sharing among 3 people. Great spot to try if you're curious what Palestinian cuisine is like! read more

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Booked this restaurant for my birthday and was very excited about celebrating here. I've have eaten and ordered takeout from here many times so was looking forward to sharing this experience with my friends. From the start was met with attitude when I asked if there were any tables inside we could be switched to, totally understand they are very booked and that's great for them, but they didn't have to be so dismissive and just point across at the table that was booked for my reservation. The servers were pretty inattentive; we had to flag people down to help us order especially when they made it known our table reservation time is short. Most of the food was decent till it came to the Araby Mix shawarma, which was tiny minuscule, the plate was 90% french fries. I've ordered this many times before so I know what a large filling plate it is. Here however it looked like a finger food appetizer. And it also took so long to come out and was very disappointing. Once we wrapped with dinner we had to ask for the dessert menu (since dessert is not listed in the main menu) and when we tried to order the Kanafa, were told that we should have ordered it with our meal because it takes 25 minutes so we were not allowed to order it now. This was not mentioned explicitly on the menu, and we were not informed of this when we sat down. It was a chilly night and we were seated outside, the overhead heater was not turned on and when we requested if they could turn it on, we were told no as they wanted the turn the table over for the next guests. I want to support this restaurant and Palestinian food, but this overall experience is making me reconsider ever coming back. read more

The food is authentic, delicious and a regular choice for dining in and take-out, the service is always spot-on - and the teas heavenly. The decor, murals say it all - Sahtein :) read more

The Maqlouba made me cry! I haven't had it since my friend's grandma made it for me over ten years ago. She has since passed and this was the first time I've had it. It was delicious and tear inducing. We didn't plan on coming here, we were just driving past, and decided to stop for lunch. It's beautiful inside with it's murals and greenery. We were able to walk right in and be seated. And we had a wonderful meal. We started with the Mezze Filastini, which is a MUST. It's perfect for sharing, and really gives a great starting off point for what's to come. Also a great nosh while we waited about an hr or so for our food to be made fresh (so worth it). There were 10 of us (7 adults and 3 kids), so we ordered lots of food. And we were in for a real treat. We were brought warm pita, Za'tar, olive oil, and olives as soon as we sat down. The Lamn Ouzi royal fell right off the bone, it was so tender. No gamey-ness at all to it.The chicken Ouzy was crispy, juicy, lemony, garlicky goodness. Now I say this knowing I'm not a fan of sour yogurty tasting things. The Mansaf wasn't for me, but my family devoured it. It was a personal preference thing for me, but the rice was delicious. Also, if you like spice, ask for the spicy chilli garlic sauce. They make it in house and its insanely good on top of everything. They also have delicious mocktails. I loved the mango one, and the lemonade was also a hit. The staff was super friendly and really made us feel welcome. I could taste the love and pride they take in preparing the food, and Ayat is a great display of it. I hope to be back and hope to see you guys thrive for generations to come. The generations that will see a Free Palestine! FTRTTS read more

This restaurant is a staple in the community. Especially to the existing community that has fought to make it what it is today. I truly appreciate this restaurant with their fundraising that also feed our own community. Their food is delicious and appreciate their fundraising efforts for a good cause. read more

The food is wonderful. I get delivery. Their packaging is beautiful. I get fried fish plate . It taste home made. Hope to visit soon! read more

Ayat - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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The food here was excellent and the service was efficient, albeit could have been friendlier. The place has a casual feel and they get you in and out quickly. We and the group in front of us were just waiting around for over ten minutes to even have someone come speak to us. Even if the host person was away or busy, it would have been nice if a staff person came up to us and said that the host person would be with us in a few minutes to at least acknowledge that we were in the right place. The grilled halloumi was delicious, and the baba ghanoush creamy and tasty. I plan to come back, but hopefully this issue won't happen again. read more

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New to area and lucked up on this place for a late lunch. I had the lemon and roasted garlic chicken, and an order of falafel. The bread was also *chefs kiss*... I could've also made a meal of that with olive oil and zatar, and been in heaven! Everything was good and far more food than I could finish in one sitting. I ended up with two more days of leftovers. The staff was welcoming and attentive. The restaurant was beautiful, there's indoor and outdoor space. It was hot so I opted for the AC inside. One thing I would say to consider when visiting is the current state of the world, in particular for Palestinians (while eating at a Palestinian restaurant). Understandably, you may get a more somber presentation from some (or maybe all) of the staff. A few of the staff (none serving me) were kinda glued to their phones, and I can only imagine what they might be seeing or the loss they've experienced thus far. Just as in visiting any ethnic spot that's serving food and culture different from your own, try to hold reverence for their difference rather expecting assimilation-no-matter-what. All in all, I'm really happy I found this place and look forward to going back. read more

Ayat - Bread for the table, and Falafel... delicious! - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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What a spectacular dining experience. Already thinking about my next visit. I had the privilege of visiting the original Ayat in bay ridge and their sister restaurant Al Badawi prior so I was familiar with the menu already upon coming to manhattan's Ayat location. I was so glad for this opening of this spot in Manhattan because it meant I could finally go more often to a location that was a lot more easily accessible. The beauty of Ayat is that most platters are made for sharing so it is the perfect spot to bring friends and family and sample a number of their amazing dishes. Prices are reasonable for the sheer amount of food and the evident quality and long prep that goes into their dishes. You get free bread to start with the famous Palestinian olive oil and Zaatar. The fattat jaj has always been my favorite and having the chance to introduce it to my friends was such a treat because it's life changing. Garlicky well seasoned chicken, a garlic yogurt sauce, toasted nuts, crunchy fried pita. So amazing. Admittedly it tasted a little different from the one I had at Al Badawi so I'm assuming maybe the recipe is slightly different but it's still a crowd pleaser. The small size is also a lot of food so I recommend getting one of those and then one of the other bigger platters like the Maqlouba. Anymore than that amongst three people and you will not be able to finish. Trust me, my two friends and I couldn't even finish those two items and had the delusion of ordering a cheese manaqish too. We were too ambitious with how much we could eat lol. Bathroom was super clean and the beautiful murals and the message on the to go bag are plus points in my book. Of course I will be back again and again. read more

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My wife is Palestinian and grew up eating Palestinian food made by first generation immigrant parents her entire life. We love supporting Palestinian businesses and visiting Palestinian restaurants in different cities (e.g., Reem's in SF) whenever we can. Our experience at Ayat's Alphabet City location was, unfortunately, a real let-down. :( First off, we made a reservation through Resy for an indoor dining spot. When we arrived, they seated us outdoors in a poorly-lit location that was around the corner from the main dining room. Service was super slow, probably because we were out-of-sight, out-of-mind... The food was pretty "mid", though... The Muhammarah and Khyar Ma Laban were both tasty. The hot appetizer mix we got were was a mixed bag (e.g., the Wara Dawali was the best out of all the items). However, the grill meats (we ordered the lamb chops, chicken kebabs, and spicy kefta) were overcooked (very charred in case of the lamp chops) and dry... Customer service was "meh" as well... I asked for a diet pepsi since my first choice lemonade was all out. The waiter told me they were out of diet pepsi as well. There was a bodega right next door to the restaurant. Honestly, it really wouldn't have taken much to send someone over to get a diet pepsi or coke... We were so excited about visiting Ayat, but we paid NYC prices for a very average and disappointing meal. The reality is that you could get far superior Palestinian food at restaurants in Anaheim, CA for far cheaper. Ayat has leveraged its original success and grown to multiple locations (eight) but dropped the ball in terms of maintaining the quality of food for which it was originally recognized. Prioritizing profit over quality is not a recipe for long-term success.... Also, the idea you have to pay extra ($9 in our case) for paying by credit card is a tad ludicrous. Who carries around large amounts of cash nowadays? With eight locations, Ayat is not some mom-and-pop business... Paying CC merchant fees is the price of doing business. read more

TLDR: GREAT food, terrific service at the expense of poor ambiance and chaotic energy due to high volume of takeouts and deliveries I really wish I had the best things to say! But there's room for improvement.... Ayat was a mixed bag because the menu and food are well regarded, and the dishes themselves are flavorful, thoughtful, and served beautifully fresh. Our mezze platter (which a bit too much oil topping for my liking) was sumptuous. The pita was hot and we watched the kitchen prepare it right in front of us. And the portion for everything is huge!! Expect leftovers, which IMO justify the prices :) The shrimp kebab is a fantastic amount of food as well, and each element of the dish, including the spice mixture on the shrimp, are well done. I'd order with greens instead of potatoes next time so I don't fill up as quickly, but that's a small critique. The dish my dining partner had was a traditional layered chicken and rice dish with abundant texture and crispy elements that make it undoubtedly cravable. I'd share dishes if I go back All that being said, I found that there was such a chaotic atmosphere inside of the restaurant with deliveries being packed and handed off to drivers, tons of foot traffic of the servers, and rather unpleasant ambient bright light. This made dining stressful and unpleasant, which took away from the delicious food. The service is incredible and all of the staff were friendly. My dining partner and I were well tended to and the food came out relatively fast. We asked to move tables away from the cold breezy door (which was open permanently because of the takeout /delivery situation) and the staff moved us quickly. We weren't rushed and everyone was friendly Recommendation for the restaurant is to streamline the takeout service so it's more separated from the dining room. It's obviously a bustling business and must drive a lot of the restaurant's revenue, so improving the way they process and deliver should be a priority to not take away from actual dine-in. In sum, I'd order takeout from here again, or sit outside next summer to get away from bagging and delivering orders :) read more

Ayat - Shrimp Kebab, Fattat Jaj SM, and Mezze Filistini - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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Great food, great size, great price, great service, and will definitely be coming back. The Mezze sampler was delicious and the fattat jaj was well worth it! read more

Ayat - Fattat Jaj - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

Phenomenal food. I had the vegan platter, which came with pita, falafel, stuffed grape leaves, eggplant, cauliflower, mujadara (rice and lentils), pickles, and salad. Everything tasted so fresh. The plate had so much contrast in flavors and textures - just about everything under the sun on one plate. For $22, the portions were also incredibly generous. read more

Ayat - Vegan platter - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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My friend and I went to Ayat in Alphabet City on Friday night. We didn't have any reservations, however the kind staff was able to seat us within ten minutes of waiting. We were lucky to have gotten seating without waiting too long. The owners place good effort at making the decor beautiful through the various tile patterns and painted brick walls inside. The faux tree inside adds a feel of being inside an olive grove garden. I regularly eat middle eastern cuisine, and Ayat's does not disappoint in its freshness, flavors, and authenticity. The portions were plenty for two people. Upon getting seated, we were served fresh pita along with green olives, olive oil, and zaatar. My friend and I ordered the Mezze Filistini ($28) and the Mixed Grill ($36). Ordering both dishes allowed us to get a sampling of numerous dishes. First, the Mezze Filistini - it comes with hummus, baba ghanoush, muhammarah, tabbouleh, salata tahina, and labneh. All tasted fresh and flavorful! My favorite out of all this is the muhammarah, as the pomegranate molasses and walnut pairing add a depth of warm sweetness and subtle nuttiness. The Mixed Grill includes chicken kebab, beef kebab, kefta, and lamb chop. It also came with a side of salad and a little bit of rice and tahini sauce on the side. All were decadent - just the right amount of char on the outside while still juicy inside. Upon the first bite, it is an explosion of flavors - the charred meat with the blend of spices and herbs. Dipping any of the meats in the tahini is optional but does add a deeper flavor profile. All were delectable and flavorful, and reminiscent of what my in-laws make at home. The excellent customer service along was excellent. Though the place was full and crowded, my friend and I were able to have a hear each other comfortably and have a good conversation. I highly recommend this place, and I am eager to return and try the other dishes! read more

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Avoid this place and all ayat restaurants like the plague. I'm all about supporting Palestinian owned businesses but I've been to all their locations and their food is Terrible! I'm Middle Eastern so I know what this type of food should taste like. If you see any good reviews, it's probably from people that have never had real authentic good Palestinian food or they're just trying to support this business by posting "good" reviews. The food was atrocious. The chicken didn't taste like it had any sumac on it. It was so bland! The meat in the meat pie tasted disgusting. The mensaf should not be called Mensaf. They need to fix their food and fix their service. They charge you an extra service fee and tell you this is our policy. Now you're just being money hungry. Tell me how for four people we ended up paying more than $300 for food that is not edible. We left all the food on the table and walked out. read more

Had Ayat catering at an event and my god, some of the best food I've ever eaten. Certainly the best falafel. Everything was delicious

Amazing food! The salad had one more cheese and watermelon slice that I ate before taking the photo...Highly recommend. read more

Ayat - Hot Appetizer Mix - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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Incredible authentic Palestinian food and service. The interior features an open kitchen which added a nice homely atmosphere. We ordered the dip appetizer platter and their homemade house bread was phenomenal. We also ordered the m'sakhan and the chicken chops - both of which were excellent. For dessert, we had the tahini icecream which was the perfect finish to a great meal. read more

Ayat - M'sakhan 11/10 - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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Ayat NYC, bringing you authentic the most mind blowing Palestinian food experience from across the sea. The ambiance is like no other. The walk in and the tables are small enough to fit a part of 2 or 3 but that's how I like it. Your dining experience is more intimate and you can enjoy yourself better. My journey started with their incredible menu selections of authentic Palestinian cuisine. We started with their lentil soup, falafel and fresh olives, oil and spice which are complementary. Served with their freshly baked pita bread, you have to get a falafel with the spice and olive combination which would take you on a journey. Freshly baked pita bread, and a dash of their spicy dipping sauce which name i forgot but it was the perfect amount of heat which would be bearable for anyone. Crispy falafel and house sauce. The lentil soup was savory and so devine. Especially with the lemon that had the spice zest on top of the lemon so when you add the lemon to your lentil soup, it enhances the flavors of the lentil and tangyness of the spices. For my main dish, I ordered the chicken shawarmas 10/10 highly recommended. Freshly baked pita roll bread with just enough char on the bread with their delicious all white meat chicken chunks inside. Served with their famous garlic sauce and fries. The garlic sauce wasn't too garlicky and worked perfectly with the chicken and enhanced the flavors and took me on a food paradise adventure. I would like to give a huge thank you to our waitress, she was beyond amazing and a sweet heart. We all can agree on bringing love, peace and justice to our brothers and sisters of Palestine, so we honor our friends and families over seas and stand by them through these times. We drove 2 hours for Ayat and I would have to say that I'm already planning my next visit. We had a phenomenal experience, definitely will be back. read more

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I ordered from here a few times and it was alright, but last Friday it was terrible. The Vegan Platter was ruined by terrible old eggplants full of seeds. If you claim that you serve authentic foods, then you should know the difference between a good eggplant and an over ripe eggplant. I think this place does not know food at all. Never order from here again. read more