We got really lucky! We had a big group and we didn't have a resy, so we were expecting a long wait because the place was packed. (Which is expected at a good food spot and next to a famous college) Luckily a table opened up really quickly. Everything on the menu looks good and tastes good. Due to our big party size, we got to order a little of everything and try everything. We ordered: Mezze Filistini- mix platter of hummus, baba ghanoush, muhammarah, tabbouleh, salata tahina and labneh (great way to sample the different dips) Mix Shawarma Sandwich (funny thing, this took FOREVER to arrive. Everyone was nearly done with their food and it still hasn't arrived. Not sure if we caught them on a bad day..So if you're starving maybe choose something else. And no they didn't forget our order, the sandwich was not cold when we received it) Salmon Kebab Araby Beef Shawarma Araby Mix Shawarma Lamb Kebab Mix Shawarma Platter Turns out they also have locations in NY. So definitely gotta check out their NY locations. read more

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We walked in to a full house but were immediately seated at the last available bar counter seating . Savaannah was our waiter and she was good . She was pleasant , quick, knew the food and walked us thru their best seller options in the menu . The place is quite compact but looks larger with the wall of mirrors ! We got our complimentary bread with olive oil n zataar and waited for our quick order of the spicy chicken kebab plate large portion with 10 pieces . The bread was soft but not anything unique or fancy . Just dough cooked through in their wood burning oven It took about 10mins to get the entree and it looked colorful and beautifully presented . Reddish orange hue of grilled chicken kebab , resting on a bed of log he colored rice and side of green salad , it was an inviting plate of food . The kebabs were juicy soft , - flavor bomb that ti be les your taste buds . The rice was delicious and the side salad fresh and crisp . We relished every bite of our meal . Picked up the pistachio dream cake to go and tried it the next day at home . It was just meh... nothing to rave about . Chocolate mousse and ground pistachios with a creamy texture didn't make it very appealing Parking is a breeze at Spring street garage that is just opposite to the restaurant. I will be back to try other kebabs z read more

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I have tried this place in there other locations and love the food. I ordered the mezze fillistini, this is a great option when you want to try all the different dips they have and which dip you like the best. All of them were good, the two that most stood out to me was the muhummara and the baba gnoush and with the hot pita bread just hits the spot. I'm glad they have multiple locations, this is my go to when I'm craving Palestinian. read more

Ayat - Mezze Filistini - Middle Eastern Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

First time at a Palestinian restaurant. The flavors are different but similar to Mediterranean food. We ordered a chicken and red Shaw platter and it was great' the pickle is different than your American deli pickle as it is less crunchy and more pickled pepper like. It was tasty. The hot mint tea came in little decorative tea pot and two little cups. I was told that is how it is served in Turkey.. it was refreshing and the service is decent. The restaurant has mirrored walls so it appears bigger than it is. I'd go back again. read more

Ayat - Chicken and beef shawarma plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Came here for my birthday dinner and it hit again. We were seated promptly and the staff were friendly and fast despite there being only one or two waiters. The bread is so good and we got the Mansaf and spicy beef kebab for mains. Both are super delicious and massive in portions. They also got me a candle on a dessert while playing a club version happy birthday song :) It's one of my favorite restaurants in Princeton. Update: realized I reviewed the wrong Ayat previously here's my original post Have been here twice and it's such always been an amazing experience! Their portion size is massive and the complimentary pita is fluffy and delicious with zaatar and olive oil. Highly recommend their fried cheese and muhammarah. For the entrees, the chicken and kefta plates are amazing and very flavorful. I've also tried their warm milk drink that has very nice rose flavor. We usually have to wait for 10-15 min before getting seated but it's very much worth the wait. The service was fast and attentive. The interior decor is chic and culturally rich. There are just so many options and I have to come back to try more entrees and drinks. read more

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I love Middle Eastern cuisine. This spot specifically specializes in Palestinian food in the heart of Princeton. We arrived as soon as they opened and every table was full within a hour. We started off the meal with complimentary warm pitas. You can see the guy making each one by hand, it's baked in the brick oven. They were served along with some olive oil and sumac which were highly addictive. The sumac had a unique flavor profile that resembled a dry rub. I couldn't get enough of it. Here is what we ordered... Appetizer: - Zahir The fried cauliflower is topped with a tangy yogurt sauce. Absolutely amazing and the presentation was IG worthy. Entree: - Lemon & Garlic Roasted Chicken Ouzi The aromatic rice had peas, carrots, ground beef, slivered almonds, and parsley. It was like Chinese fried rice but Palestinian style. So flavorful and delish. The chicken was juicy and tender and went perfectly with the rice. This dish is enough for 2 people. It's first come first serve. Reservations are only for groups of six or more and it's by phone call only. Shoutout to our amazing and attentive waitress, Savanna. I have to take my foodie son here when he comes back home from Tucson. read more

Ayat - Interior Space - Middle Eastern Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Came here for a girls dinner with my sister and a friend of ours. When trying to locate this restaurant we had some trouble because when you look up Ayat Princeton on Apple Maps it doesn't come up for what ever reason but eventually we did locate it. When looking up the restaurant make sure to search the address and not the restaurant name on Apple Maps. The restaurant was pretty busy for 8 PM. But luckily, we got seated fairly fast. I ordered the chicken shawarma platter and we shared the mezze filistini appetizer. Our food came out pretty fast which was nice but my chicken shawarma platter wasn't hot. I don't think the food is made to order just because of how fast it came out. I think most of the food may be pre cooked. I overall enjoyed my food. The chicken shawarma was good but the chicken was a little dry. As for the mezze filistini platter I would say I enjoyed some of the dips more than others. As for the service I would say they were friendly. Would I go back? Maybe read more

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Great food, service. Celebrated my daughter's birthday and Chinese new year's. We will come back again. read more

Ayat - Oven baked lamb shank with spiced rice encased with pita bread, pizza, and 2 flavors of chicken over rice, yummy. will come back again. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

This cozy spot near Princeton University serves mouthwatering Middle Eastern cuisine. I tried the Mixed Grill Mashawy and Mansaf. The Mashawy was awesome, offering a variety of juicy kebabs, especially the chicken ones. However, the Mansaf's portion was excessively large, requiring two people to chip in to finish it. I suggest the owners consider adding portion sizes to the menu to better inform guests. While the waiters were friendly, they lacked knowledge of the menu and failed to warn us about the generous portions. Despite these minor issues, this place is worth a visit for its delicious food. read more

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Absolutely delicious. Highly recommend the malfouf, and the fattat jaj. I always come here to share plates with friends and appreciate how quickly the food comes. The mirrors are a bit disorienting but does make the space feel a lot larger. Definitely my go to choice to eat in the area. read more

Ayat - Fattat Jaj, Malfouf - Middle Eastern Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

New favorite Middle Eastern restaurant in Princeton! Menu was extensive and had many vegan/vegetarian options to choose from. First time trying Palestinian food and saw a lot of different options from the typical middle eastern fare. We got the falafel which was very crispy, the cold apps platter, Margherita pizza, and tahini ice cream. Hummus was solid and the other cold apps (launch and muhammara) were some of the best of had. My family doesn't typically like Muhammara but we really enjoyed this version. Pizza was ok, could've used more salt in the sauce and tahini cream tasted similar to kulfi which was nice but not worth ordering again. Bread was really interesting, was a cross between pita and Naan. Will definitely be coming back to try other items read more

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The food here was amazing! Everything on the menu look good. It was so difficult to choose what I wanted to eat. I was not disappointed when I got my food. It was flavorful delicious, and a huge serving. The staff there were nice and helpful. And inside was beautiful with murals on the wall and what looked like a huge tree. It really felt like you were in a different place. I would definitely be back. read more

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Olive oil and zatar seasoning are on the table so you can enhance whatever meal you get. Servers were friendly. Food came out fast. Music was a bit loud. Food was hot. Portions come with a lot of rice. I'd prefer more salad and pickles. I went early around 5pm, by 6pm on Saturday the restaurant was full with people waiting outside for a table. read more

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We dined here before the holidays and we both enjoyed it. Tucked away on a lesser known side street in downtown the place was almost empty during an early weekday dinner visit. The small space utilized mirrors, murals and vines with leaves to create a warm atmosphere. Much warmer than the staff, but I'll come back to that. We started with the spinach and cheese cigar rolls, I liked but would want to try the meat versions next. And we shared the Maklouba, a layered rice dish with half of a roasted chicken on the top. We both liked this too. Very good rice with layers that contained eggplant, carrots and potatoes I believe. The chicken was tasty too but I would have preferred it cut up, esp since this is a two person dish. We both had plenty, and my friend got to home the leftovers. For dessert we shared baklava and the pistachio chocolate cake. I liked the cake better. A few friends had already tried this place and although liking the food, had the same issue as us with service. It wasn't bad mind you, just really cold and standoffish. I attempted a few questions about the menu but couldn't get an answer about recommendations. Even when finally getting our check there seemed no desire to interact or be friendly. We left happy that we were able to try this cuisine but thinking we would probably only get takeout in the future. Pro-tip, if bringing good wine, bring your own glasses. I'm NOT a fan of plastic throwaway ones! The food I am a fan of, barely squeaking in a 4 stars read more

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Such a new and refreshing find in Princeton! This is a Palestinian BYOB restaurant downtown. Ambiance was so cute, but the food was delicious! We ordered the cold appetizer mix "mezze filistini " SO Good! Followed by the Lamb kebab, mix shawarma and the bbq chicken. Beautiful plates (see pics). Super fresh and tasty! We will definitely be going back. read more

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Ayat is a Palestinian restaurant, decorated with an abundance of faux vines and large mirrors. It has a decent amount of seating. The service was slow, and my server didn't understand my Arabic. I do believe the team here is working hard to work out any opening kinks. The complementary pita was wonderful. We ordered the vegan platter specifically for the mujadara (rice with onions and lentils), which was unfortunately dry and tasteless. The fried halloumi was really delicious, but heavy. Perhaps the meat dishes here are stronger, I did not try any. Check out their bathroom, it's epic. read more

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Arguably one of the best dining establishments in Princeton, and in my opinion even edges out its East Village counterpart! Incredibly friendly and welcoming service with modern decor. To give you a sense of the food: I just had dinner and yet I still find myself salivating as I reflect on my lunch. Upon seating we were treated with some delicious, oven-baked pita with olive-oil submerged olives and za'atar. We decided to get the beitenjan to share (pan-fried eggplant, drizzled with tahini and pomegranate molasses), which was one of the most delicious eggplant dishes I've ever had. For my main I ordered "Fattat Lahma" from the Traditional tab, which is a six-layered dish of meat, rice, chickpeas, garlic tahini, crispy pita slivered almonds, & mint -- INCREDIBLE. All reasonably priced, especially considering the portions. read more

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It was very busy there was a lot of people. I have not been here before but my sister has and told us to try them out. We ordered the cigar rolls with cheese and also the beef, lentil soup, chicken and beef. They gave bread for free. I didnt really know what to order but i feel like they should have pictures next to each item on the menu. read more

Ayat - Middle Eastern Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Went with friends and the food was amazing again! Tried new dishes...got some of the same. So good!! read more

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This was my first time at a Palestinian restaurant that opened in downtown Princeton. Since they do not take reservations, there was a 25 minute wait. Once we got seated, we received freshly baked pita and condiments. There are tons of vegetarian options. The hummus was my favorite, super creamy. The mint tea was really good too. The vegan platter was OK, it lacked flavor. Service was slow. Ambiance was nice inside. It is a BYOB spot. I would definitely come back and try more appetizers, salads and beverages. read more

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First time eating at Ayat in Princeton. We give it 2 stars. Food was OK. We like to try new restaurants so we probably wouldn't go here again. read more

Fantastic food and people, check it out if you're in the area looking for great food and a nice space to eat in.

Ayat in Princeton is a BYOB Palestinian restaurant with a large menu featuring mezze, wood fired pizza and traditional meat dishes. We began with the mezze (and lots of freshly made pita). We went family style on the meats and shared the mansaf (bone-in lamb served with fermented yogurt sauce) and lemon and garlic roasted chicken, both served over fluffy rice. This is a welcome newcomer to the Princeton dining scene. We will def be back for a relatively affordable and unique dinner read more

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A beautiful and much welcome addition to the NJ food scene. From the moment you step in you'll feel your heart settle into ease. The lovely green foliage over your head and the beautiful murals on the walls will make you feel like you've reached an oasis. The waiters - from diverse backgrounds - are kind, happy to answer all questions, and quick to respond to all requests. The bread is HEAVENLY. Could've easily filled up on the fluffy stacks of bread they bring fresh from the oven. I like that the zaatar and olive oil is on the side so I can dip to my tastes. As far as food, you gotta get the Mezze Filistini. It's the best made mezze I've ever had, PERIOD. The hummus has deep tahini flavor, the majadera is rich in flavor, and the smokiness of the baba ganouch is superb. Next, the Mansaf is the best I've had in the whole NJ NY area. The huge portions of lamb shoulder, ribs, and shank are totally worth the price. The meat falls of the bone and when generously doused with the Mansaf sauce, it's enough to make your eyes roll to the back of your head with pleasure. The shawarma sandwich and pizzawarma impressed me with their generous portions. The meat did taste a little off, almost like liver, perhaps due to too much baking soda. I'd definitely either one again and maybe use some of my mezze platter to give some more flavor and sauciness. The grilled Branzino was unremarkable but very well made. The roasted potato's on the side were delicious. Overall, Ayat is one of my top favorite restaurants in the US, and I'm so glad they have a central NJ location now. Please come to the west coast now! read more

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All the Palestinian food is delicious there starting from hummus, shawarma, kibbeh, falafel and everything else. Ambience with arabic music makes it even more special read more

Lots of vegetarian choices and all the food was very good! Especially the fatoush and the 'pizza'. Service was a bit ok for my liking. read more

Loved Ayat! After a long wait, I was able to try the new location in none other than Princeton! The food is great, tasty and affordable! I love it when a restaurant starts me off with some carbs. The pita bread was baked right in front of me and so nice and warm. They just kept on bringing them out! I was certainly not complaining! We sat at the bar due to the crowd on a Friday night and it was great to see our pita bread being baked in front of us and put directly into our basket! My one qualm was that the rice was a bit undercooked on the night I went. I was really excited because I love this Palestinian style of rice, so it was a little disappointing when the rice felt a bit hard and undercooked. However I am not super picky so I would still come back and give them another chance - it could have been an off night. Rice aside, the appetizers we chose stood out to me most. I loved the fresh cucumber salad (salata filistini) - so refreshing and was a great little side to have during the whole meal. Really enjoyed the labneh with the warm bread that just kept coming at us. The beitenjan (eggplant with molasses) was delicious, but be prepared for a sweet taste. I also really loved their garlic sauce (so much that I asked for some to go with my leftovers!) that came with the chicken platter. The falafel platter was good too, especially for vegetarians, but I might try a new dish next time. Overall loved Ayat, can't wait to come again and try more of the menu! Also it is BYOB so do with that what you will! read more

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It is a nice casual place. We ordered halloumi salad, pistachios pizza and their traditional dish which was lamb and rice. All food was tasty, generous portion and casual atmosphere. Only thing is we can't make reservations and you have to wait . Which is still fine but you have to stand and wait in line read more

Ayat - Halloumi salad - Middle Eastern Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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Stale, under cooked food , pita was not cooked, did not receive full order, falafel was dry and tasted stale.

Inconsistent food. The 1st time I ate here everything was delicious despite being completely packed, staff was friendly, food came out quickly. This last time, the pita was completely undercooked on one side. Meat and chicken was completely dry and unseasoned (not even enough salt). read more

1st Time: Well, my husband and I went at their soft opening....even in spite of the expected chaos, we found the food (& pitas) wonderful! As in our greater neighborhood, we were excited to come back! 2nd Time: So far so good, enjoyed our food again and thought we found our go-to regular haunt. (Had the chicken shawarma salad, loved, loved the chicken: meaty, flavorful and what one expects! (Middle Eastern is my fav cuisine...also my husband's culture also has shawarma as a mainstay.) 3rd Time: Yesterday evening...a TOTAL STRIKEOUT! I ordered the chicken shawarma salad again, whereas my husband ordered the lemon chicken. In my first mouthful, I senses something fatty/chewy, not good; I spat it out and reached for my readers. (So I could see what I was going to eat since I didn't want to repeat that again!) I know was seeing rubbery chicken skins intermixed in my salad along with pieces of gristle which I accumulated on my bread plate. After awhile I gave up on it and left the remaining half due to my mounting inedible! My husband's chicken was barely warm and while a big piece (thigh and drumstick), he elected to only finish half. LATER he felt sick to his stomach and thought that perhaps it was sitting on the counter too long, etc. (Mind you, he has been in the restaurant biz mostly as head honcho for 30+ years...so not an uneducated guess perhaps.) Today I decided to finish the salad and again, got my readers out. Again collected quite a mound of rubber chicken skins, etc. After paying about $40 for a subpar dinner, sadly we will no longer visit Ayat....What a shame! Had potential and then devolved. P.S. I have photos of my salad & skin (etc.) mounds, but couldn't see where to post them. read more

Ayat - At Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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This place had great potential, went opening week, they killed it, food was amazing, the place is kinda cramped but so be it. Several visits after, you notice the kitchen is void of anyone of actual middle eastern decent. The love that was clearly present in the dishes being put out vanished. Inconsistent food, freshness is questionable, same dishes previously 10/10 are now at a 4/10. Dessert is inedible, kunafa was trash. You need to make that fresh, clearly not happening here, they are purposely sacrificing quality so that they can continue scaling up, rinse, and repeat model. people who actually come for the food in our local , fool me once, twice that's it. You also got competition. El Badawi in Somerville is leaps and bounds beyond this place. Fix your stuff, you owe it to our people :) read more

I thoroughly enjoyed being there today for lunch. The place has a nice vibe, and the menu is a big one, as authentic as I have seen it in the Middle East, to which I travel frequently. I'll certainly be back. The only thing that was a little too slow was the service. It was not easy to get attention from the waiters. In the whole experience of being there, though, this was not a big item. I really enjoyed being there, and the #1 reason was the very good food. read more

You feel like you're home when you walk in the door. Welcoming, and friendly staff. They were very attentive, answered her questions and brought out the food really fast. We had a wonderful lunch and will absolutely be back! read more

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I always am on the hunt of q good shawarma and this is one of the best i had tried here. Pita bread is made freshly right in front and it's the best. They have a wide variety of dishes in the menu. The mezze platter was also good but it had similar repeated items for the cost of it. I just wish they added different items to it. read more

Ayat - Araby Chicken Shawarma - Middle Eastern Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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I got takeout, so can't really comment on the service, but the food was fantastic- I ordered the haloumj appetizer- I can't pass over a haloumi dish ever, and I wasn't disappointed. For mains I got the fattat jaj- absolutely delicious, and could easily feed 2-3 people! read more

Great food, liked it more than the NYC location. Lamb is not my preferred choice of protein but whenever I visit Ayat, it is my #1 pick. the Grand Mezze is really good and diverse if the flavors they offer. The vibes are cozy and warm. read more

Food was good really good appetizers. Wasn't to fast but fast enough. The staff was kind. Kind of trapeze cuz they were mirrors everywhere and if you go into the bathroom they were tons of mirrors don't get too tripped out but it was really cool. read more

We were excited to try Ayat for dinner since it's a relatively new restaurant on Nassau and we've never been to a Palestinian restaurant before. It was pretty good and it met out expectations but didn't blow us away. We were happy about the portion size and 2 dishes were more than enough for the three of us. We ordered the Fattat Lahma and the mixed shawarma platter. Both were very tasty and interesting to eat. I would recommend ordering a dip to go with the pita that they bring out at the start and I'd pick the yogurt dill one based on what people around us ordered. The dishes were quite oily, not necessarily in a bad way though, and not as flavorful as adjacent cuisines. Some dishes I would come back to try are the M'sakhan, family platter(for 4+ people), Mansaf and Maklouba. The restaurant itself is very aesthetic and has a great atmosphere. Interesting bathroom since the walls were all mirrors. read more

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Honestly I can't see how this place isn't 5 star. The food is 5star The staff are 5star The decor is 5star. This is the best Palestinian food in the tri state area. Only place u can find better is in Michigan or Chicago. read more