Not great. Host was rude. Bartender NOT attentive. Flowers on the bar were dead. I could go on and on. Food was amazing.

A really delicious dinner on a very cold night!! My husband and I shared the eggplant carpaccio, fried artichokes, zatar pita, 700 cabbage and a perfectly cooked whole fish. Shared baklava for dessert. Great meal. Lovely service! Will surely return. read more

Had a wonderful dinner with my mother and fiancé at Bustan. We had a bottle of white wine from Turkey, which was wonderful and appetizers and small plates to share. Everything was fresh and well prepared. Plates were a wonderful size for yourself or for the table. Service was great and well worth a proper tip amount. These servers were very wonderful. Ambiance was quiet, and calming, which is nice if you don't want to shout over loud music. read more

Came here for a private event in the back garden patio which was lovely! Firstly, the service was really excellent - the waiters were very attentive and made sure our glasses were full throughout the meal. Luckily we got to try many of the dishes from the Mediterranean menu. We started with a selection of mezze dips with a delicious freshly baked pita bread. The hummus was the standout here. We also tried the burrata which was served on a bed of beets. Very fresh and tasty. I was a little underwhelmed by the Israeli salad which was just chopped veggies. For the main course, we tried the morroccan fish (branzino), the lamb kebab halabi, and the chicken musakhan. The lamb kebab halabi was awesome!! The presentation was great - served in a fresh baked taboon bread with the lamb sausages kept warm inside. The meat was super flavorful and juicy. They had a few tasty desserts as well for a sweet finish. Overall, we had a really wonderful experience. Everyone was very welcoming and the food was aromatic and flavorful. Would definitely recommend! read more

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The food was outstanding and the cocktails were well made. We sat in the garden in the back. Which is a pleasant oasis in Manhattan. The hummus bowl, the eggplant dip and the 700 degree cabbage were outstanding, as were the breads. The smoked trout special over potatoes with sour cream and dill was delicious, as was the mushroom main course we shared. Would definitely return. read more

Bustan - Eggplant Carpaccio, Hummus Bowl, 700F Cabbage, Housemade Taboon Bread - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

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The food here is delicious. The hummus is amazing, the eggplant dish is a must (although the raw onion is very hard to digest) and the malabi which is a creamy dessert is extremely interesting and worth trying. The branzino is also excellent. They just need to figure out how to properly manage the heat/draft for indoor dining because their outdoor space is really ruining the experience inside (cold when cold outside, draft even if not too cold). read more

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Excellent food and great service and vibes. Will go again and highly recommend to all!

A good date night spot on the upper west side.We had the taboon bread with feta,kebab helabi and leila (semolina cake with malabi cream) All of them were tasty and pretty good service. However i felt the entrees were a bit on the pricier side. read more

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AMAZING!! It's right near my neighborhood and I must say, one of the best Mediterranean food I've tried in NYC! The server was great and had a great list of wine options as well. I'll definitely come back and will recommend! Things I ordered: - one Mazettim, spicy feta - taboon baked focaccia (first one is free) - tuna crudo - taboon charred octopus - grilled Australian lamb chops (AMAZING) read more

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Such a shame. Made a reservation to celebrate my 50th birthday here with the nicest lady. Unfortunately we needed to change our reservation due to a conflict and bustan only had a late reservation. We took the late reservation but called back to see if an earlier time might be available. The male host was so rude! He said, "I told you already-8:45. How many times do I need to tell you ". I noticed there are several negative reviews about the male host. read more

A special place for a special woman. First and foremost, I must extend my deepest gratitude to Dani, who went above and beyond to set up a last-minute table for our group of 12 exuberant Brazilians. We decided on a whim to celebrate Mayna's graduation at her favorite Mediterranean spot in NYC, and Dani made it happen seamlessly. Dani's dedication to ensuring the table looked absolutely perfect for our newly minted lawyer is something I will never forget. His effort truly added a special touch to an already momentous day. I also want to express my heartfelt thanks to the other patrons who clapped when Mayna arrived at the table and personally congratulated her on her outstanding achievement. And how could I forget the food? It was absolutely delicious and added to the joy of our celebration. Thank you, Dani, and the entire staff, for making my friend's day even more extraordinary. We are all looking forward to returning soon. read more

On my post-Covid search for great delivery restaurants in Manhattan. I decided to try Bustan. I'm so glad I did ! To begin with, I called the restaurant directly. The person who answered to phone was highly professional and helpful. When I called, they were not accepting orders via phone; instead they recommended ordering via App. I did and it was very easy. But the best part was the actual food itself. The Taboon Bread was incredible! I ordered it plus 1- Chicken Musakhan - per the online description included "Roasted "Pargit", Taboon Bread, Tahini, Housemade Amba, Watercress, Basil, Sumac, Almonds". Reading the ingredients, I wondered how it would taste? Delicious! The chicken is served on top of the bread - the juices soak into the bread & the result is absolutely incredibly tasty. Highly recommend. 2- Eggplant Carpaccio - fire roasted eggplant & herbs with long hot peppers and sesame seeds. Very different from the chicken yet very delicious too. Definitely order extra taboon bread if you get this. I mixed it with the chicken & added some fresh goat cheese from my fridge. Wow ! Filling & full of flavor. Thank you Bustan - for offering great food that's as just as delicious at home as in a restaurant! While I'd love to eat out, I can only order delivery right now; I'm very grateful to restaurants able to provide top notch quality delivery service! Five stars out of five! read more

Chicken Musakhan really is to die for. They also offer a decent Happy Hour. Will be back.

We're moving to New York next year, and during our recon mission this was our first night out... immediately impressed and in love. The food was impeccable... a rare gem in the US, probably only found in NYC. read more

The food at Bustan is outstanding. All four of us agreed that we loved every single bite. I could not recommend this spot more highly.

Maybe the food here is good, maybe it is not. I can't remember because I was so distracted by the deafening noise, the uncomfortably crowded space which leaves you constantly jostled by people squeezing by while you try to eat, and the chaotic and unreliable service. We were seated inches from the front door and every two minutes the door would open and the cold November air would blow in, blowing our napkins and menus around. The rude manager scolded me when I tried to ask him not the hold the door open for long periods to avoid the cold air. I left feeling tense and unhappy. Why pay these kinds of prices when there two dozen other perfectly good restaurants within a five minute walk? No thanks and never again. read more

Stopped in here tonight for dinner and it was exceptional! The atmosphere of this place is really eclectic, and has soft warm lighting. Definitely gives off an intimate date night vibe. The staff was very friendly and attentive. The food is the real star here. The best dish we ordered was the 700 Degree Cabbage. So savory and soft. The Taboon bread and tzatziki was also phenomenal. The bread is pillowy soft and a little salty, while the tzatziki is creamy and full of flavorful herbs. Our table also enjoyed the octopus which was perfectly seasoned, and the perfect texture. The only dish that was a little underwhelming was the Israeli salad. Still good, but not out of this world like the other dishes. I would highly recommend stopping in here for dinner! read more

I love Israeli food and when done right, it's just amazing. Bustan has the potential to be very good but everything I tried was wayyyy oversalted. If the salt levels were reasonable, this could be 4 stars. I also wish they weren't so stingy with their carbs. I ordered the feta appetizer and got not one pita. We ordered the Moroccan vegetarian stew. And it was essentially a simple soup with some veggies and not much else. Cous cous was an extra $8, which seems kind of absurd. read more

Ate at this place last night and absolutely loved it. The food was absolutely delicious and the service was impeccable. Our server Lindsay was delightful and her suggestions were on point. The hosts at the door were very friendly and the decor is absolutely beautiful. Had a show to go to at the Beacon theater and this place was a great find. Will definitely be returning when I'm in the area. read more

Starting from the beginning - our reservation was made by a concierge, but this was not acknowledged by the host who seemed to struggle with the reservation. We were offered the least attractive seating choice, and got a bit of attitude. Most of the food was good. I don't know why they closed the kitchen before 9:30 - hours state differently. and worse while I was actually chewing, the table cleaning staff asked if I was done eating? It was still only around 9:30 also. What is the rush? This is very unpleasant. The waiter herself was excellent. read more

Excellent and authentic Middle Eastern food. Enjoy the delicious breads, dips, couscous and veggies. I will go there again!

Made a reservation for two on a Tuesday, which was the right call as the place was buzzing with activity by the early evening. Tables are very close together as we nestled into our seats and were eventually given menus. Decided to go the "mezze" route and order a bunch of small items. Between two people: Eggplant Carpaccio ($14), Hummus/Falafel/Spicy Feta Combo ($18), Taboon Bread ($4), and a glass of Israeli wine ($12 each). Loved the spicy feta and falafel combo, and the Taboon bread is super/warm soft which went well with the hummus. Eggplant dish was shallow plus cooked into an odd texture; best eaten with the falafel for texture. Service started off slow then improved as the night went on. Would have enjoyed more elbow room as tables are packed tightly enough to overhear most conversation nearby. Would come back for a less busy night. read more

Bustan - Mezze dishes - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

The taboon bread here is so delicious . I come back here mainly for the taboon bread. Get the spreads (the hummus and the spicy feta). Got the falafel too but found them a bit tough for my preference. Eggplant carpaccio was unique, light, and refreshing. Roasted octopus could've been boiled a little longer to soften it but the flavor was nice. The taboon roasted cauliflower was tasty. Main dish was the fish chraimeh which came topped with the signature bread. Laila coconut cake is also very good. Food is amazing. Safe bet on the upper west side. Service is odd and inconsistent. Check your bill before your leave. read more

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It was a very nice experience to eat at Bustan, we are going back. The pita was warm and flavored to perfection. We had several dishes and they where all delicious. We ate outside in the covered patio. Very spacious and the wait staff was excellent and helpful. read more

Loved this spot for brunch! Our party of 7 arrived without reservations at 11am (when they open) on a Sunday! Hostess was very nice and let us pick where we wanted to sit. Bar area plus table seating available and two unisex bathrooms. The atmosphere was on the quieter side and I loved the decor! Their boozy brunch special 1 hour for $19 includes unlimited mimosa, sangria, Bellini or Bloody Mary. We opted for this since one cocktail was $13 and we all expected to have at least two. I got the lamb burger $19 and it was delicious, so flavorful! My friend got an omelet and said it was bland. The service was great even when the restaurant filled up. The staff never let our glasses get less than half empty. I would definitely recommend checking this place out. Good spot for Mediterranean food! read more

I came here completely on a whim while in the area not knowing what to expect. Needless to say, I was impressed! It is the perfect spot for a date: dim lighting, intimate atmosphere. They have a decent wine list and delicious Mediterranean food that isn't always the typical options you see in restaurants of the same genre. I had the eggplant carpaccio, the falafel, and the homemade taboon bread. If you come here you must try the bread! I wasn't expecting it to be so amazing but it is one of the best bread experiences I've had in NYC. The wine list was decent and had a lot of options. The staff was super friendly (sadly, my waitress was the least friendly out of everyone I interacted with there...) and I'd definitely go back if in the area. Great atmosphere and great food to enjoy with great people. read more

Have eaten here twice and both times, food and service were excellent. Had hummus and pita for starter. Pita is cooked to order and amazing. Comes out hot and puffy and the hummus ( while small) is packed with flavor. Had carrot special both times which seems to be roasted in a wood fire oven. Delicious and you can really taste all the components. I had chicken musakhan and my husband had kebab halabi. Full of flavor and just the right amount of spice. For dessert, we had baked mousse which was also outstanding. It came with cookie crumbles which I tasted separate from the mousse and even the cookie crumbles were amazing. This place really is top notch both times we visited. I highly recommend. read more

I came here on a Saturday with my girls for a birthday brunch. The staff and food made this a great brunch experience. For starters, they have a very unique decor. Versatile wall decor and interesting seating. They also have an affordable brunch menu. Their brunch special includes a meal, dessert, and unlimited mimosas/ Bellinis (for an hour). I ordered the steak and eggs. It was very well seasoned. My friends gave the poached eggs raved reviews. Additionally, the staff were courteous and attentive. They promptly refilled my glass and were very knowledgeable about the menu. They also offered us a complimentary Bellini at the conclusion of our meal. I really enjoyed my experience here. If you ever find yourself in the Upper West Side, give this place a try. read more

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This spot is fantastic. Great date spot or a dinner with friends. Nice ambiance/atmosphere. They have a full bar. Food blew me away, it was incredible and delicious. The hummus came with fresh baked pita. Chicken Musakhan was so good. The kebab halabi was the star of the show , It was fantastic (I just wish it came with rice). Service was top notch as well. Overall I had a great experience would highly recommend. read more

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Amazing food, great atmosphere and superb customer service. Was my first time here and will definitely be back, tried a little bit of everything on the menu - attached a few quick shots read more

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Nice restaurant with good ambience. Spicy Feta was SO SO SO amazing!! Would definitely recommend. Hummus was a little thin, and falafel was a bit dry, but if I were to go back, I would still order the falafel again. I believe the pita was brushed with olive oil which totally elevated the taste. The interior of the restaurant is so beautiful, and the tables are a bit spread apart, which I really appreciate. Service was great. read more

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Great food, amazing staff! Everything was so fresh. They have a nice outdoor garden as well. Falafel was one of the best I've ever had. Vegetable couscous was delicious. Will definitely come back read more

If you'd like to try extraordinarily fresh, tasty Mediterranean cuisine - this is your place. They receive a fresh fish delivery daily, the bread is baked in their taboon oven in-house, and the Israeli salad is made to order. That alone shows the integrity of the place. This was my second visit in two weeks. I came here with three friends on a Saturday night, and our table of four basically ordered the entire menu :) it's not a huge menu, but you could tell that each item is prepared with thought. With that said, our server Bob was on point. Always with a smile on his face, he remembered every single item we ordered without writing anything down (on a busy Saturday night when the restaurant was nearly packed) and consistently made sure we were taken care of without being overbearing. The staff here is professional and kind. You could tell they themselves genuinely enjoy the restaurant and the dishes it serves, which you know is a big deal if you've worked in the food industry. Some food standouts we tried included: - burrata with beets and sunchoke chips is a must - crispy, fresh falafel and the hummus were some of the best I've ever had - homemade couscous w/tender, delicious veggies - branzino dish was my favorite main. The flavors on the plate tie so well together and the fish is served crispy yet tender. It's a good portion, but fresh and not heavy - the nemesis chocolate dessert and kisses meringue were our 50/50 favorites We also ordered cocktails, which were outstanding and unique. My friends and I kept passing them around for all of us to try. The Tunisian Sour was a big hit, as was the Persian Lemonade with rose jam. Such a nice touch with fresh herbs. You get a whiff of rosemary every time you take a sip. We left very full and pretty tipsy. Bustan has a talented team and you could tell they take great pride in their work and in creating a welcoming atmosphere. We'll be back for more soon. read more

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TL;DR: Great reinterpreted Middle Eastern cuisine with a fusion bent. Come here for cumin spiced beet burrata and eggplant carpaccio. Everything is a remake - nostalgically pleasant- with pops of Western influence that make for a surprising melody of flavors. We came here on a Thursday night and ordered the eggplant carpaccio, burrata, chicken, and basbousa (Egyptian dessert). Everything was excellent - the basbousa had the same gossamer sweetness of my childhood paired with a distinct plop of lemony whipped cream. The burrata was also reinvented, beets, mint, cumin and sumac - a well thought flavor profile. The eggplant and Chicken Musakhan were also artistically infused. The staff was especially attentive - personally, almost on the version of being a bit much - but they really wanted to make the experience enjoyable. Well worth the trek to UWS!!! read more

Nice restaurant in the upper west side. There are lots of places to eat in this neighborhood, but this one is a highlight. Great service and a menu that is updated by the season. read more

great service. wonderful creative food. exceptional deserrts. Danny the maite tre de, was warm and helpful. great night with wonderful friends read more

Very crowded and disorganized. Slow at taking orders and poor communication from serving staff to kitchen. Tuna credo was the best thing we had. The eggplant carpaccio was good as well. The branzino was overly salty and the dough was definitely raw. read more

Bustan - Raw dough from fish dish. - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

Had a lovely happy hour (bar only, 5-6pm) at Bustan last week. Enjoyed a $9 cocktail (surprisingly good), $5 mezze dips (hummus and feta dip, both delicious albeit very small portions), and ordered both of their $3 FABULOUS breads which were made to order. It's the perfect light bite at the perfect price! Lovely service. read more

Bustan - $3 Pita, two $5 mezze, $5 olives, happy hour $9 cocktail - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

I was really hoping to love this spot as its so close by and all the reviews I read were fantastic. TL;DR: Good food, extremely slow service We stopped by as a group of 2 on a Thursday night (with no reservation) and were told it would be a 20-25 minute wait. That seemed pretty standard so we decided to wait it out. When we returned in 25 minutes we were told it would be another 20 minutes but that nobody else was in front of us. We continued to wait and it appeared that tables were gradually clearing but other groups were being seated (granted some may have had reservations). Ultimately we ended up waiting a full hour before ever being seated. If you end up needing to wait for a table here - I would go grab a drink or snack somewhere else as there isn't a great spot to wait without being entirely in the way. We were thrilled to finally be seated - and absolutely starving, but unfortunately it took another 10 minutes before a server even recognized our table despite all of the tables around us being helped. We eventually ordered a few of the appetizers to share between the two of us for a meal. We chose the hummus/bread, octopus, eggplant capriccio and the cauliflower and also each enjoyed a glass of wine. My personal favorites were the hummus/bread and the octopus as they were both super flavorful and fresh. The other dishes were good, but nothing I would seek out again. For the few appetizers + 2 glasses of wine it shook out to $90 total pre-tip. Overall - the staff was very pleasant and polite but I was extremely disappointed by the extremely slow service and I wasn't overly "wowed" by any of the dishes. I think its definitely worth checking out if you are in the neighborhood, but I personally wouldn't go out of my way to visit. read more

Bustan - Taboon Charred Octopus - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

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My friends and I decided to visit Bustan after reading glowing reviews on Yelp... and the reviews were Spot On. Bustan was a fantastic experience. I applaud the quick, efficient, and friendly service. I asked if they had Happy Hour (this was something I saw online, but may have been from a few years ago), and the waitress helped double check this before confirming that they no longer do happy hour. We also informed her that we had a time limit and needed to leave in 45 minutes. The restaurant was able to accommodate bringing out all the food and drinks very quickly which we are very grateful for! It was difficult to choose since everything looked delicious from the photos we saw online. We decided on the housemade bread and three dips (Hummus, falafel, and spicy feta), Roasted Cauliflower, Burrata, and the fish chraimeh. For drinks we ordered Persian Lemonade, Tunisian Sour, and Smoke & Fire. Bread & Dips: The bread was deliciously seasons, and soft and chewy with a nice texture on the outside. I definitely wanted to order more so I could dip it in everything. As for the dips, Hummus and falafel was well done. The falafel was very crispy. But the star of the show was definitely the spicy feta: The sharp flavor of feta and a hint of spice was perfect with the bread. Burrata: I already love burrata but paired with sweet and slightly tart beets and crispy artichoke chips, the dish provided a fantastic medley of flavors and textures. Cauliflower: This was also very tasty. I really enjoyed dipping the cauliflower in the yogurt-like sauce on the bottom. There was definitely a nice fragrance from the sesame. Fish Chraimeh: The photos of the dish was what first drew me to it. This is a spicy tomato stew with fish served in a ceramic pot with a layer of bread baked over. When serving the dish, the waitstaff cuts open the top and rolls it back. Nice presentation, and so delicious! It was not very spicy at all, but the stew was just comforting and damn tasty with tangy notes from the stewed tomatoes, bright herb-y bites from the cilantro, and the fish was tender and meaty. We ripped off bits of the thin flatbread to dip into the stew intermittently. It was a perfect dish. Persian Lemonade: Refreshing, citrusy and rose(flower)-forward. I really enjoyed the taste of the rose. Tunisian Sour: I am a huge fan of egg white drinks. This cocktail incorporated Aquafaba (hummus water) which is very similar to egg-white properties/texture. The drink was nutty (reminded me of pistachio) and slighly creamy. Smoke& Fire: A very typical spicy mezcal drink. I only had a sip, but my friend said it was very well made. In summary, Bustan provides great service in a cozy yet contemporary space. The food and cocktails were fresh and well-paired, transporting you to a state of euphoria throughout the meal and you will leave satiated without feeling heavy and overwhelmed. read more

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