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    Balaboosta

    4.2 (134 reviews)
    Closed 5:30 pm - 11:00 PM

    Balaboosta Photos

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    BALABOOSTA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Romantic
    Classy
    Upscale

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    Recommended Reviews - Balaboosta

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    Yemeni dumplings
    Holly R.

    This is a small restaurant with some outside seating. The music was loud and lively, but I was easily able to have a conversation with my tablemate. The service was good. I am always thrilled when a restaurant offers something I've never had before. Firsts for me here included fried olives, pistachio flavored arak, and Yemenite soup dumplings! Those olives were just too easy to eat! The green sauce that came with dumplings was made with fenugreek and cilantro and tasted great with everything. The salmon skewers were perfectly cooked, but there was nothing to cover the hot metal skewers when they were brought to the table. The eggplant was a little spicy. It paired very well with the sauce on the plate (tahini and soy sauce mix) and fried onions. We were too full in the end to try dessert.

    The cockatil made with Fig Arak! It like a Manhattan but better!
    Kam M.

    Amazing experience, cozy restaurant, super friendly staff, the food was tasty, we ordered the chooped salad, artichoke, tahdig ( definitely recommend) and wgyu kebabs. The cocktails are also uniquely crafted. Really unassuming restaurant but what a gem!

    Barnali D.

    I had a lovely dinner here on a Thursday night! The food was delicious, the service was above and beyond, and the space was elegant and welcoming. My friend and I shared the following.: 1) Hummus and pita bread - incredible! 2) Prawns - tasty 3) Skirt steak - great 4) Churros- delightful My cocktail was excellent, as was my wine. Our waiter Mark was wonderful- warm, attentive, and thoughtful! The space is beautiful and classy. I truly had an excellent meal here with my friend (who lives in the neighborhood) and look forward to returning!

    Chicken and (purposefully and yummy) burnt rice
    Amy G.

    So good! The servers, chef, and owner were awesome. That wagyu kebabs were spectacular as well as the chicken!!!! Only thing I didn't like was that they only offered water and alcohol. A freezing cold Dr. Pepper at this fine establishment would've given this place 10/10. Oh and the ambiance was cool and pretty

    HUMMUS TAHINA
    Victoria G.

    Food 3/10 Overpriced Mediterranean in the West Village. A very limited brunch menu, and I felt uncomfortable and sick afterwards because of how greasy and oily the dish I got was. A very disappointing meal, as it went downhill after the pita and hummus. The duck pastrami was literally oozing oil. Atmosphere 8/10 Cute interior decor, quirky in a sense. Style over substance unfortunately. Service 7/10 Nothing wrong with the service, but nothing memorable either.

    Pastrami
    Charles B.

    If you look the perfect brunch spot up in the dictionary Balaboosta should come up! Everything is immaculate from the service to the food. I made a reservation for brunch at Balaboosta (highly recommended) and when my group arrived at the restaurant we were sat immediately. Once sat, the server came over quickly to greet us and took our drink order, all the cocktails/champagne were perfection! From there we placed our food order and here is what we had: To Share: - Hummus (must try! The warm chickpeas make this dish) - Whipped Feta (I have no words! But the date molasses was so good) - Pappas Bravas (if you like a good aioli this is your dish) Main Course: - Eggplant Shashuka (I love traditional Shashuka, but with eggplant this was truly elite; so much flavor) - Pastrami (never seen a dish like this, but the puff pastry and vegetables all go together in harmony!) The server continually checked in on our table and was warm and friendly; whenever she saw that our champagne glasses were running low she would ensure a new one was on the way. The vibes are super laidback with a touch of elegance. I love the fact that they use Aesop's soap in the bathroom. I cannot stop talking about how wonderful Balaboosta is and cannot wait to come back for dinner!

    Whipped feta, Moroccan carrots, steak, creme brûlée
    Marianne F.

    Walked in and snagged a seat out front. Everything was delicious, service was friendly. The creme brûlée with halva was an excellent recommendation.

    @cafeTAMbien  Pastrami SHAKSHUKA
    Tamara S.

    Brunch at Balaboosta, NYC Cute spot but very oily-heavy dish left me feeling bad. Ordered: - Hummus Pitriyot: Mushrooms, caramelized onion, baharat, pita - Eggplant Shakshuka: eggs, peppers, tomatoes, feta, sour dough pan deietoast - Pastrami on a Puff Pastry with honey mustard and pickled fennel: While the concept and presentation were on point, the dish was very oily. The dough was greasy and the pastrami was thin and mostly fat. With thicker cut of meat and a less oily puff pastry, this could've been a standout.

    Victoria X.

    There are mostly tables of 2 or 4 here which makes this place a great spot for groups of 2 or 4. The ambiance here is great for dates or a nice dinner out with friends. The food here is full of herbs given that it is an Israeli restaurant. The service here is attentive and friendly. We came at 6:30 without a reservation and was given a table (we just had to leave by 8pm).

    Salad

    Everything we ate was incredible. The skirt steak was cooked to perfection. The salad was amazing. The mint lemonade was refreshing. Desert was the best. Wow! Service was exceptional.

    Catharine N.

    After failing to get reservations at Laser Wolf in Brooklyn, we wanted to find comparable Israeli food. Stumbled upon this restaurant and so glad we did! One of the best hummus I've had!! What we ordered: 1. Hummus 2. Eggplant 3. Lamb 4. Rice 5. Calamari 6. Crème brûlée My favorites were the eggplant, lamb, and rice! Overall a delicious meal and left feeling completely stuffed!!

    Nice outdoor eating area
    Rebecca S.

    Very delicious food, warm, accommodating staff and a choice of seating - indoor, outdoor (cabin or tables) or at the bar). Drinks were delicious! I rarely ever drink alcohol but my bf encouraged me to try his "yalla" and it was SO delicious! The ginger and lemon tasted super fresh. Definitely get the hummus and whipped feta to start Chicken entrée was our favorite- perfectly cooked and seasoned. Cauliflower side was also delicious. The table next to us was eating stuffed cabbage - it looked incredible so will be back for that! My brother really enjoyed his shrimp app- picture is so blurry bc he was too eager to eat it! It was my mom's birthday so they brought a delicious Israeli Tiramisu over with a candle for dessert, which was very sweet of the Balaboosta staff to do. The bite I snuck of the birthday tiramisu was delicious and refreshing- it was frozen! Almost like an ice cream cake :D

    Paperdelle branzino and short rib

    We had a fabulous meal at Balaboosta tonight. Whipped feta, to die for... cauliflower with those pickled raisins?!? Get out of here. Rice w tahdig and the short rib?!? Too good! So many thoughtful and well composed dishes served with comfort in mind. Would def return!

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    Great food and restaurants. Also have a nice selection of food on the menu all tasted great.

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    Do they take reservations?

    Yes, through Resy.

    Do they have outdoor seating?

    Yep -- outdoor seating available during COVID.

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    Qanoon

    Qanoon

    4.2
    (215 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    We recently hosted an engagement celebration for a young couple near and dear to us at Qanoon, and…read morewhile we weren't sure what to expect, we were absolutely thrilled with the experience. This small, intimate, and bustling Palestinian spot in Chelsea delivers in a big way. Yes, it is crowded, but that only adds to the vibrant, cozy atmosphere of this charming location. The food, however, is the real star--everything was excellent. We ordered a spread of appetizers to share: the Hummus, creamy Baba Ganoush, flavorful Muhammara, and the spicy Chili and Garlic Shrimp were standouts, along with the unique Cauliflower Fritters and Majaddara Croquette. For the main course, the Musakhan (sumac chicken) was succulent and aromatic, while the Makloubeh and rice were perfectly executed comfort food. We ended the night with Cheesecake and a rich Flourless Chocolate Cake, both of which were fantastic. While the service was a bit spotty and the staff seemed overwhelmed at times, the quality of the food and the warm, authentic atmosphere made it a night to remember. Verdict: Highly recommended for intimate gatherings. We will definitely return to Qanoon!

    Had dinner at Qanoon in Chelsea on a weekday evening, which is a Palestinian restaurant that opened…read morein 2019. We arrived around 6pm, and the restaurant was fairly quiet. It is on the smaller side, with around 15 tables, creating a cozy atmosphere with warm wood finishes and natural design elements, and there's a television. I met a friend for dinner, and we shared several dishes. We started with the mocktail of the day, a frozen watermelon drink ($12), served in a pint glass and it was very refreshing and not too sweet (didn't taste like any sugar was added). For appetizers, we ordered the hummus ($12) and baba ganoush ($12), both served with pita. The hummus was good, with whole chickpeas mixed in for added texture, but the baba ganoush was very good. We also ordered a gluten-free option, a side of crudités ($7). Next, we tried the baked feta ($19), served with thin slices of peach. While the combination of flavors worked well, the portion was small for the price. For our main course, we shared the Kofa, Palestinian meatballs baked with cauliflower, onion, tomatoes, and tahini sauce ($38). The dish was enjoyable and very flavorful, and the tahini sauce well-complemented the meatballs well, but the portion size felt small given the price. The service was attentive throughout the meal. We had several questions about gluten-free options, and our server took the time to double-check each dish we asked about, which was appreciated. The pacing between courses was also well timed. Overall, I enjoyed the meal and appreciated the cozy atmosphere, attentive service, and thoughtful accommodation of dietary restrictions. The restaurant was quiet enough for easy conversation. While the food was well prepared and flavorful, the portions felt small considering the prices.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Baba Ganoush
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    Mujaddara Croquette
    NAYA

    NAYA

    4.0
    (13 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    This Naya location opened July 9 2025... was here for the Grand opening and $5 then for the Grand…read moreOpening Day.. Since then come here every so often when desiring Naya. Lines here move faster than the other location...though it can get quite busy during peak lunch hours. Option: get here earlier or order ahead for pick up. Your Options: Bowl or wrap, pick your protein, toppings, sauce. Add any beverage and appetizers and pay. Usually go for my staple: Chicken shawarma bowl... never usually deviate as that is the best dish for me. When they opened couldn't get points for purchase...but glad they were able to get that the system working.. If you have the Naya app, may sure to get points for every visit...

    This was my first time at a Naya. When I ordered, I was so rushed. The girl kept trying to close my…read moreplate even though I was still ordering. I get that it's the lunch rush but please let me finish ordering. . I was asking what the white stuff was and thank god I asked because I was very allergic to one of the ingredients. So maybe don't rush someone when it's their first time trying. Obviously I was a newb here. I reeked of uncertainty and lacked confidence in the options given. Very overwhelming experience. Beef was very salty, could not finish. Rice amount was small, not enough to help me wash down the beef. Will not visit again. Maybe I will try another location and hopefully have a better experience.

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    NAYA
    NAYA
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    Cafe Mogador

    Cafe Mogador

    4.2
    (2.3k reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    MY FAVORITE!! My friend and I went here for dinner and holy moly, I don't think I've ever loved a…read morerestaurant more. This is officially my new go to spot and I'm going to be telling everyone about it. I got there right at our reservation time, but the uptown trains had completely stopped and my friend had to walk all the way from Canal St to the East Village. It took her about 30 minutes to get there (), but the staff were so kind about it. They never made me feel uncomfortable or pressured to order while I waited, which I really appreciated. I did end up ordering a couple things so there would be food on the table when she arrived. We got the za'atar fries and the falafel with tahini and pita. Delishhhh For our mains, my friend got the chicken kebab which looked fantastic, and I got the veggie couscous bowl. It was unbelievable. It tasted exactly like the couscous my mom and safta made when I was growing up, even down to the broth being served with it. Eating it honestly made me feel like I was six years old again. This was one of my favorite meals as a kid and I haven't had it like that in so long, so I was so happy to find a place that does it this well. The vegetables were perfect with zucchini, butternut squash, cauliflower, and chickpeas, and I loved the addition of raisins and onions. Everything was also really reasonably priced for what you get. The energy in the restaurant was great and I loved that they have hooks for coats so you're not crammed at the table with jackets and bags. Overall just such a fantastic experience. This is easily my new favorite restaurant in the city and I cannot wait to come back.

    Lovely brunch food: the Moroccan eggs, halloumi eggs, and various mezzes (labne, baba ganoush, and…read morematbucha were all very good). The only reservation available the day before for a group of three was Saturday 10 AM, but I think we likely could've walked in later.

    Photos
    Cafe Mogador
    Merguez Sausage From the Grill
    Merguez Sausage From the Grill
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    Bastilla

    Balaboosta - mediterranean - Updated July 2026

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