If I had a nickel for every Algerian restaurant I've been to in the past week, I'd have two…read morenickels, which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice. Also, something something Rock the Casbah. All terrible references aside, I went to this small Algerian restaurant with five others pretty recently. This chef, Amina, was very friendly, which was especially warming after walking through a bit of a storm a few days ago to get here. To drink, she poured us some complimentary hot green tea with a bit of mint, which was tasty. Outside of the tea, I also got a $3 can of Slim, a lightly sweet drink from Algerian soft drink company Hamoud Boualem. In this case, it was ananas, or pineapple, and it was very refreshing. As we didn't have many people, we got two orders of three dishes. The first was the $26 Lamb Couscous, consisting of steamed couscous with lamb shank, potato, zucchini, carrot, squash, chickpeas, and a red meat broth. The broth came on this side, and we were instructed to add it for taste to the couscous. I'm usually someone who prefers pearl couscous as I like the texture a lot more. However, this couscous was much fluffier and less dry than other spots I've been to, so it was a treat. The various vegetables were cooked down nicely, and the meaty shank fell off the bone with ease. The broth added a bit of richness, with the couscous soaking it up. Next to arrive was the Chicken Rechta for $24, consisting of a half chicken, homemade flat thin semolina noodles, zucchini, turnip, chickpeas, and a chicken broth on the side. From the taste and the name being similar to the Persian reshteh, I presumed they were egg noodles, with them being soft and fluffy. Outside of the tender and tasty noodles, the chicken was soft, and just like the other dish, the vegetables were cooked wonderfully with the slightly green broth, in this case, adding extra flavor. Last to arrive was the $28 Baked Branzino, consisting of said fish with roasted potatoes, sauteed red onions and cherry tomatoes, brushed with herby garlic lemon sauce, topped with spring onions and parsley, and served with perfectly toasty warm French bread. Like all the other proteins, the fish was cooked beautifully, though as usual for branzino, you have to look out for bones. The fish's tail was the highlight, with plenty of flavor and crunch. Outside of this, I loved the potatoes, and as someone who usually doesn't like cherry tomatoes, they were delicious. I don't have any particular favorites, as all the dishes were nice. This place, just like my previous Algerian spot Le Petit Pêcheur, was lighter on the spices, but for once I didn't mind. Everything was cooked wonderfully, the portion sizes were adequate, and the service was lovely. I would go back and try their merguez and other things. I wish I were in the area, as I would support this business heavily.

Algerian Cuisine in Sunnyside, Queens! Who knew such great Algerian food could be found in…read moreSunnyside, Queens?! Thanks to owner/Chef Amina for a wonderful and tasty culinary exploration! I don't think I've ever had Algerian food before, and I can't wait for a return visit to try their other interesting dishes! 6 of us from Manhattan, Queens and Long Island trekked into Sunnyside to checkout this restaurant. Needless to say, we were pleasantly surprised. This is a small restaurant, which can seat about 20 people. The restaurant is nicely decorated, and service & hospitality was extremely warm, welcoming and friendly. We were treated to complimentary hot green tea; expertly poured into warm glasses by Chef Amina. What a treat! Tonight's Menu (shared by 3): -- Lamb Couscous ($26): Steamed couscous with lamb shank, potato, zucchini, carrot, squash, chickpeas and red meat broth. The broth is served in a separate bowl, and when you're ready to eat, pour the broth over the entire dish. Great dish; couscous was very light and fluffy. -- Baked Branzino ($28): Baked whole branzino with roasted potatoes, sauteed red onions and cherry tomatoes, brushed with herby garlic lemon sauce, topped with spring onions and parsley. Served with perfectly toasty warm French bread. This was my fave dish of the night! Prepared perfectly, and was just delicious. Recommended! Get this! -- Chicken Rechta ($24): Half chicken, homemade flat thin semolina noodles, zucchini, turnip, chickpeas, chicken broth. When you're ready to eat, pour the broth over the entire dish. Great dish. I normally don't order chicken when I dine out but I would totally order this again. This was such a tasty, satisfying dish. The chicken was nice and moist. Overall, I was surprised at how mildly spiced all the dishes were. I was expecting bolder flavors but apparently, this is typical for Algerian Cuisine. I forgot to ask for Harisa, which would have kicked it up a level. But all in all, a terrific dinner! Like I mentioned earlier, we are already plotting our next visit to try their other dishes!

A no-frills and cash-only establishment. The lady behind the counter was friendly enough, but the…read morelanguage barrier made it tricky to ask questions about the menu. I just went with it and ordered the Ukus Style Burger. I wasn't sure what to expect as the menu kept the details pretty minimal. She made it fresh right in front of me. And overall, I was pleasantly surprised. The patty was thick, and I wasn't even able to finish the burger. I did find it to be a tad greasy, but it was flavorful. I enjoyed the sauce, which I think was called ajvar, and I like the bread which was similar to pita bread. Overall, 3-ish stars.

Ukus is a humble place with a lot of heart and great food. Located on a less busy side of 30th Ave,…read morethis mom-n-pop Balkan restaurant operated by a Montenegran family offers a variety of Balkan staples with minimum fuss and maximum taste. The burek is flaky and flavorful and I usually stick to cheese or spinach, but they also have meat, cabbage, and potato slices. I brought two friends along who'd never tried Balkan cuisine and they were instantly in love with the cevapi, which was grilled to perfection and complemented perfectly with raw onions, ajvar, kajmak, and develops warm bread. We also really enjoyed the pausili, which had a really delicious smoky flavor; this was my favorite dish and one I will definitely go out of my way for on cold days. We also tried the sudzukice, which I think I actually preferred over the cevapi because I found the thin beef sausages to be a bit more moist and flavorful. Great service and food make this cash only establishment one worth coming back to!

Wassup yall. I'm back again to tell yall about this amazing place down in Greenpoint area. Vibe is…read moredope, side doors are open to get that fresh air and release the good smell out of the restaurant. That's what sold me. Service was great. I had my drink given to me immediately and the appetizer came out piping hot and fluffy. I ended up getting the falafel with pita on the side. Very nice and crunchy for the pita bread. So soft and warm. The tahini sauce was immaculate as i poured some onto the bread and falafel. Now the main dish I got was the chicken pita which by far was good. The seasoning was just right and the chicken were nice big pieces and tender that it kept coming out of the sandwich. So good especially paired up with the sauce. Do recommend coming here for something nice, light and filling.

I love Turkish food, and it's hard to find some in this part of BK. So happy to stumble upon it…read moreafter Ertan's aka Newyorkturk's video. (prayers for him to get well soon!) The owner is super friendly and served us himself, we ordered chicken and lamb shish with their greek salad. Those platters come with rice and their side cabbage/greens, super delicious. Very flavorful! The hummus was amazing as well with the warm bread. Ambience is cozy and traditional. Recommend if you're searching for some authentic Turkish food.

I always get so frustrated with the lack of seating and general pandemonium of Williamsburg coffee…read moreshops but this one is a true hidden gem and a lovely spot to be productive. We came here to co-work on a Friday and it was not busy with plenty of seating. The burek is a must-try, you get two substantial flaky pastries with a nice little sauce to dip. I got the spinach variety and it was delightful. The cardamom Turkish coffee is served on an adorable platter and you can taste the quality and complex flavors. They even do decaf, which is a revelation and a rarity for someone who can't drink caffeine in the afternoon. The interior is full of light, little sweet details, and an incredible case of baked goods I need to come back and try. They had a fun playlist of folk rock on and even had outdoor tables with umbrellas, with very kind and accommodating baristas. This is what a local coffee shop should be !!

Randomly walked by and this place lured me in. They serve traditional Turkish coffee, a wonderful…read moretea selection and a great chai latte as well as they have the pastry case of my dreams. We stopped by for a pastry and a drink. They have to go or to stay options and when you sit inside, they take great care of you with nice tableware, bring out waters and plate your pastries very well. Will absolutely be back!

Food SMACKED A boy,…read morenot even our waiter, was extremely chill and gave us extra food Our waitress gave us stellar service and recommended us the best dishes to order after hearing how we ended up here. Lamb tagine was amazing. The complimentary bread made me nut Can't recommend this place enough. Had no idea Moroccan food went this hard!!

Their new location is beautiful - lots of seating! The service was friendly and attentive. The FOOD…read more- chefs kiss! I traveled here from Westchester based on reviews. I hadn't been able to find a Pastilla to match the deliciousness of the ones I savored in Morocco - until now! We had the Pastilla with chicken, lamb shank with apricots and prunes as well as chicken Tangine! All were amazing and cooked to perfection.

Visited Relax and Pyza (a few blocks away) on the same day. Pyza was the better spot, though they…read moredo have amazing pierogis here! Came for lunch on a Saturday at 2:15 PM and there was no wait. I tried the fried potato and cheese pierogis (fave), the fried meat pierogis, and the stuffed cabbage. The cabbage came with sides and sadly they were out of all of our first choices, but the carrots with horseradish and coleslaw were fine.

Absolutely wonderful! A cozy but spacious dining room with nearly endless menu choice. $16 for a…read moredinner of meat, potatoes, and 2 other veggies is unheard of in NYC these days except here. Can't wait to go back.

Ararat is a NYC treasure, and his food and stories need to be savored and cherished. Went for…read moredinner last night, in the middle of a storm, and stayed for three hours without even noticing. This café is as homey as it gets. Its walls are adorned by some of the most valuable memories from the chef's life story. Each table highlights a character from a story or an icon from real life so that, even if you're by yourself, you're never dining alone. Hand-drawn menus feature Ararat's handwriting and a small selection of offerings that keep you intrigued. This establishment emulates an evening with your favorite uncle cooking for you at your grandma's kitchen. The food is surprisingly complex, and you will find yourself getting fed way more than what you ordered. The creative soul of Ararat, who acts as host, server, chef, cashier, and conversationalist (as long as it's not during a Friday or Saturday night), spills through every plate that comes your way. Every item is embedded with a signature twist that will make you question your whole existence (not exaggerating). Between mashed potatoes sprinkled with orange zest, and a jalapeño jam on top of a chocolate mousse, I was levitating. Yes, there's a broken table on the first row. It relieves the pressure of perfection from the get go and allows you to immerse your soul into being present, trying something new, and truly enjoying yourself.

We had a lovely meal here, made by the hospitality and kindness of the owners. The food was nice -…read moreparticularly enjoyed the beet carpaccio (they gave us this to try!) as it has a perfect combo of flavors and textures. Our only downside- our mashed potatoes were cold and my veggie pie was barely warm, but I didn't say anything as I enjoyed the experience enough to compensate. Next time I would ask for extra hot! The dessert plate they gave us was also a stand out - the orange cake was beautiful!!

Located in Hunter's Point, LIC, this spot is a gem. The ambiance is casual and cozy and the staff…read morewas absolutely so friendly and welcoming. As it was my boyfriend and I's first time trying Turkish food, they helped explain some of the dishes to us. We got their appetizer spread, their lamacun, and their manti. Everything was phenomenal, but I highly recommend their appetizer spread and their lamacun. I loved the spread as you got the chance to try multiple different dips and it was a huge portion. Their lamacun was also the first I've ever had and it made me think: "Why haven't I had this before?" It was so good. Will definitely be coming back.

Safir is a small, cozy restaurant that makes for a great, relaxed meal. The service was warm and…read moreattentive, and it ended up being the perfect way to wrap up the weekend. The atmosphere is comfortable without feeling crowded, making it easy to settle in and enjoy the meal. The food was excellent from start to finish. The sigar borek were perfectly crispy, cheesy, and just the right amount of salty. The lamb beyti kebab was packed with flavor, and the accompanying sauces really elevated the dish. We also had the manti, Turkish dumplings that were well-seasoned and incredibly satisfying. Portions were generous across the board, and everything tasted fresh and high quality. It's the kind of place that leaves you looking forward to your next visit.