We were quite excited for Galit. First, it's a Michelin star and we have found that to be a very good indicator of the experience we can expect. Second, we very much like Israeli-influenced food and the menu looked great. Unfortunately, the experience just didn't come close to meeting expectations. For starters, we were blown away by how lackluster the service was. Our server was not friendly and not helpful. Restaurants can have their reasons for including a tip in the bill automatically, but this was a great example of why it's not ideal from a customer experience. We never tip less than 15% and go up to 25%. This was definitely a gritted teeth 15% night if we had control but it's clear the server didn't feel at all compelled to earn his rather hefty 20% tip. Further, food was brought to the table by two other individuals. One was new and let us know that. We had empathy for him but he struggled with serving the food. The other had a very, very thick accent. We were already struggling with the names of many of the ingredients but when uttered by her, it was completely unintelligible. One star restaurants can have their pick of the best servers. Clearly Galit has low standards. As for the food, it was just ok. The pita was fantastic, and 2 of us loved the hummus, 1 found it too salty, one felt it was just too adventurous. The middle courses were good but not amazing. And the mains just were, in a word, unimpressive save for the pastrami which was outstanding. Desserts at these restaurants usually are creative and divine. Both the date cake and the chocolate caramel dish were unremarkable. We have no problem paying $600 for a rare, memorable, tasty and impressive experience. Paying $600 for something that looked like a great menu but missed the mark and was accompanied by disappointing service, that makes it memorable for all the wrong reasons. read more

Came with a group of 4 (ideal size to be able to share everything). Service was great and ambiance is super cozy. Some of the highlights: Foie gras torchon - this was amazing; the bread is crispy and soft at the same time and there was foie gras with some jam? which went really well honeynut squash - my husband loved this dish; didnt think squash would go well with basmati but it's a good combo bass - the glazed skin on top is super tasty crispy phyllo pie for dessert - a must get as I've never had this type of apple pie before read more

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TLDR: get the brisket spread, pastrami entree (trust), and the phyllo dessert. had such a delicious meal at Galit with my sister this past weekend. The atmosphere was lovely and the staff was friendly and prompt attending to our table. We started with the brisket spread which is unskippable. The brisket was delicious and tender. The dips that came after were all good but i didn't love the one (red one) and i almost wish we could've picked our own ... but at the same time happy to try something new. The labne was a little bit heavy usually i like it lighter and more spreadable. We then got the falafel which was good but not knock your socks off. and the phyllo goat cheese dish (also good, 7/10 knock your socks off factor). for entrees we got the fish (looked pretty, relatively average tasting although it was cooked wonderfully) and the PASTRAMI! another unskippable. holy smokes the pastrami was good. I'd get that over and over again. for dessert we got the phyllo something ALSO unskippable. a top tier dessert (and i know my sweets) this dessert was scrumptious - one of the better desserts i've had in my lifetime trust. read more

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We got the 4 course dinner, $105 per person. It's $105 per person but we're only getting 1 dessert to share which is ridiculous... I've never encountered another restaurant in which you pay for a full meal and only get 1 dessert per 2 people. When we ordered we wanted to order dessert after dinner so we see how we feel post food and which dessert we would like then, but the server demanded we order everything in advance. How am I supposed to know what I would feel like for dessert before eating? Paying 105 per person I don't feel like being pressured into ordering things right away, I want to enjoy the experience and not commit to something when I don't know what I would feel like after dinner. It's not just about food but also about enjoying my time, it just felt like they're doing me a favor for feeding me and I had to remind myself that I'm paying top dollar and I insisted that I want to wait with dessert decision. We first ordered the masabaha that was really good. The Salatim were good too, especially the Labaneh. Everything that came next was a total disappointment. We got the corn basbousa that was overly sweet. Felt like we were eating a jar of honey and the corn itself was flavorless. We also got the foie gras torchon - the challah was dry and the foie gras had a bitter aftertaste and honestly barely tasted like foie gras. We got the cucumber salad instead of the basbousa, it was just ok, nothing too interesting. At that point we were already pretty bummed, but hopeful for the main dishes. The shawarma, even though I stressed I cannot eat spicy, was spicy. The pastrami was pretty flavorless and the Malawah that accompanies it which I was very excited about was dry. I've never had a dry Malawah. Then the server again asked us about desserts and even though we needed a minute to decide she pressured us into ordering something even though we were only there for an hour and fifteen at that point and couldn't understand why we needed to be rushed. We got the strawberry prafait which was the best thing after the masabaha that dinner. It was light and nice, nothing jaw dropping. Pretty disappointing experience for a $300 meal. read more

Delicious food nice waitress great atmosphere, would be back again soon and recommend everyone

Delicious! Pomegranate soda was perfect! The first course really shines with that pita, hummus, and veggies. We loved the sunchokes and parsnips in the mezze course. For mains, we had the mushroom schnitzel, Turkey shwarma, pastrami, and walleye. Pastrami and schnitzel were great! The walleye was a miss for us. Both desserts were excellent but the chocolate cake with the crunchy hazelnuts was my fave. Service was excellent and even timed the meal so we could get to a show on time. Overall, an excellent experience. read more

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Excellent service, great flavors of food and size portions for our big group. I will say though that I wouldn't choose to spend around $150 for my coursed meal here but glad I did it for the experience. We had some great red wine with our meal also- pricier bottles but better than getting multiple cocktails with this type of food. The hummus and spreads were tasty with the warm delicious pita - probably the most filling part of the meal! The falafel was okay, nothing special. The lamb sausage corn nugget dish was better. The sea bass was delicious, and the turkey schwarma was surprisingly tasty as well. The stuffed peppers definitely helped fill in the meal to make it a real dinner. Desserts were nothing special- I only liked the chocolate mousse cake. The sesame chocolate chip cookies were a distinct sesame taste as well, so it wasn't something I enjoyed. Overall, would I consider this michelin star material? Eh I've had better and would rather spend less for better Mediterranean food in my opinion. read more

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TL;DR: Great menu that is filling by the end of the meal; special occasion This is great place to celebrate a special occasion and feel full by the end of dinner. The fixed menu is $88 per person, but I felt like I got two much good out of it and was full by the end of the night. I went to celebrate an anniversary and they also gave us complimentary Champange and a card signed by the workers - it was very sweet. The hummus was really good at the start, but it is fun that you get to pick some of your items. The drinks are also pretty tasty. You can't go wrong here and this is perfect for a celebration read more

Really nice birthday special occasion dinner! They reached out for my husbands name in advance so they could write a birthday card. It was a nice touch! The food was really delicious but the portions were huge! That's not a bad thing, but a warning not to stuff yourself too early like we did! We were stuffed by the time entrees came. Overall it was a great meal, with decent wine options! The vibe is casual and open. Would recommend! read more

Galit - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My first time at Galit and at a Michelin star restaurant. You pick all your courses at once and then they bring it out one by one. We sat right in front of the kitchen and got to watch them make everything. The brisket hummus was delicious. Best hummus I've ever had. The pita was pillowy and warm. For mezze we got foie Gras and falafel. I've had better falafel but the foie Gras was very unique. It was described as an adult PB&J. For mains we had mushroom schnitzel and pastrami. Pastrami is a must try! The schnitzel was also good for a veg option. Lastly for dessert we got Phillo (not pictured) which was absolutely incredible. It was also a birthday and they gave us a card signed by the kitchen & cookies to go. read more

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Super excited to be writing a review for Galit. Reservations were a bit more challenging to get and I recommend planning at least a week out to secure a seat at a table. Okay cool, now onto the food, experience, and more... We were sat down extremely quick (given we had a 5:15pm res time). The restaurant was almost empty and we were greeted by a very nice waiter. Extremely knowledgeable about the menu and helpful in navigating good vs great dishes. We had dirty martinis to start and decided to do the Bubbe's brisket hummus (interesting by very good). The hummus was unreal and it's hard to think that any of them could be bad. All of the small side dishes they bring out are also amazing. My favorite was the Labneh. For Mezze, we did the falafel and the Iraqi Kubbrh Halab. I think I recall the Halab being called Kibble at other places. Super amazing, but I do wish they put more lamb inside. It seemed like it had more breading than meat. The falafel's on the other hand were unreal. The mango really brought the funk and that labneh kept it grooving. The "Over Coal" dishes I ordered threw me off unfortunately. For this section, I expected to be really mind blown, but the Striped bass and Lamb Kebab didn't fully live up to it. If I was to avoid one, it would be the striped bass. The tomato sauce with it just didn't work for me. The lamb kebab had a very unique, almost smoky flavor that worked really well. However, I think they were slightly underwhelming compared to all the other dishes I had post/prior. If you are getting Dessert, please order the Phyllo Pie. I wish I wasn't full by the time it came out because this thing was like a baklava on steroids. Really hit all the right spots. I went a lil over board on getting different drinks so the tab ran quite high, but I think you could enjoy yourself a dinner for two around $300. I would love to go back if they have al carte items. read more

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I was a little disappointed, food was okay and it was way too expensive for the value. You'll get a lot of food but I didn't feel like anything was incredible. I've been to much better places in Chicago (that were also cheaper) wouldn't come back! read more

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Have been wanting to check out Galit not only because I love middle eastern cuisine BUT I'm also a Michelin star junkie :) I went on a weekday evening ( it is usually very full so would recommend making reservations to ensure a spot versus just walking in). I would say they have a very affordable tasting menu (~$80 per person for 4 courses) AND you will leave feeling very full. Now the food itself was delicious, but some of the items I chose wasn't my favorite (esp in the Mezze course; wouldn't recommend the foie grad blintzes). The hummus course was amazing as was the chocolate dessert I got. The entrees all looked good as well, and I ended up going with the lamb kebabs which were good and had a unique presentation. Overall would recommend checking out Galit for a nice dinner out! read more

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They lost a star because of the price. For just under $300 I was completely underwhelmed. Take this with a grain of salt because I'm no aficionado of Mediterranean cuisine however I could've went to another one or two star Michelin establishment. There were no luxuries served here such as caviar nor truffle. Not a single dish blew my mind. It's not to say the food isn't good but nothing was great. I'm a tad spoiled because in the past my young daughter has been catered to in restaurants however it wasn't the case here. The lobster was the star of the night as was the bday card which was signed by the stafSeveral dishes were average at best. I won't be returning. read more

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A well-deserved five star experience. Lots of high quality food at a great value. Our waiter Mario was the best - super attentive, helpful, and knew the dishes really well. The energy of the place is very "come as you are, we'll take care of you," which I love. Not a lot of frills or uppity-ness that you get at some fine dining places. We loved everything but the standouts were the tehina/hummus spread, the pita (it was divine), the lobster, and the cheesecake dessert. The carrots were also very good. read more

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I have never eaten such good hummus! Everything was sooo good! Great combination of flavors and very vegetarian friendly. Service was quick and kind. Not crowded, well lit place. Recommend! The 94/person is definitely worth the variety and amount of food! read more

Galit - 1st and 2nd course! - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Food: had the starters. Bread was excellent! Pre entree: falafel and halab Entree: fish and turkey Dessert: cinnamon roll with chocolate. Overall, great attentive service. Food was excellent. Exceptional food (the appetizer for sure!). The rest was flavorful but I would not return for them. It's that bread that got me! read more

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Decided to try out Galit with a friend for a casual Friday night dinner. We were able to sit right in front of the kitchen, which was fun to watch everyone working their magic. Service was great, menu was diverse and atmosphere was fun. Words if we use- go hungry because you will be full! I loved that it was a choose your own adventure dining experience, which jeans it would be great for a date night. A combination of sharables is perfect for adventuresome diners! I highly suggest this Michelin star restaurant next time your unsure of what your in the mood for. I bet you'll be able to find items on this menu that will please your pallet and belly. read more

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Nothing special about this restaurant. Service poor. Served a martini in chipped glass. Food costs here must minuscule. Very disappointing. Shocking it's rated highly! Chicago has so many great places hard to believe this a tough reservation. read more

I wanted to book a reservation as I can understand how busy this restaurant is I didn't want to walk in my group and take a chance of a long wait. I was doing my best to reserve a table for six when I simply could not get through. Several times I called and got a busy signal. When the phone did ring it simply didn't stop Nobody answered! I checked the hours to make sure they we're open I called after 5:00 and nobody would answer the phone. Not even a voice mail. I wonder if their phones we're working? I called at least six times and finally gave up. Why don't they answer their phone? I called another restaurant they answered after the second ring and we're nothing but kind and considerate. I booked a table for six without any issues. I don't know what's going on with Galit but I guarantee I would never call of attempt to book a reservation with them again and I encourage others to do the same. read more

If I could describe our experience at galit in two words, they would be lackluster and underwhelming. Starting with the food, the brisket hummus and pita were good but the meal sort of went downhill from there, as most other folks mention. The foie was extremely whipped and too much rhubarb jam was thrown on the challah alongside it, the iraqi kubbeh halab was dry and lacked salt, the turkey shawarma was not even shawarma and tasted very fatty and unappetizing, and the pastrami was decent but the radicchio was extremely salty. Do not get the parsnip cake for dessert. I couldn't stomach more than a bite and I usually never leave any dessert on the plate so that speaks volumes. The cocktails, though, were uniquely refreshing which is why I'm adding a star. They market this as a 4 course tasting menu but 2/4 courses are one small dish to be shared among 2 people which seemed unusual. At $125 per person with a cocktail each, this should be revisited. In addition, the service left a lot to be desired. I've never felt so rushed at a "nice" restaurant before - the pacing was very off and courses were brought and the previous taken away when we were clearly still picking. No one asked us once how we liked the food or if there was anything else they can get for us, and the restaurant was half empty on a Saturday evening. I was excited to try this spot because I love Middle Eastern food and they earned a Michelin star, but this experience has me doubting the Michelin guide altogether... by far the most disappointing and unmemorable Michelin experience I've had. If you choose to visit, look at the lower rated reviews before you do. read more

Galit - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great customer service. Super attentive server. Had some trouble with the volume of the music. They were very helpful with turning it down. Even then the ambient level of sound mars the ambience itself. See the sound meter readings. Peaks of 90db. That is a shame because it detracts from sharing impressions of the marvelous food. We tried every vegetarian option on the menu. Only the mushroom main dish was middling. The rest was fantastic. read more

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Fixed price of $88 per person for a four courses that will actually fill you up. The masabacha had a smooth creamy texture that paired well with the fresh olive oil. The pastrami was tender, well seasoned and had a phenomenal melt in your mouth mustered butter paired with it. I wish the sea bass was better as there wasn't much to it other than salt, pepper and squeeze of lemon. The sauce added a hint of flavor, but didn't give me the wow factor I'm looking for at a Michelin Star restaurant. read more

Galit - Mousee - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm quite sad to write this review because I was very excited to try Galit but walked out pretty disappointed. Before we even address the food, let's talk about the fact that they say they will add an optional 5% of your total as "Employee Insurance Contribution" (as in, they want you to contribute 5% of your bill towards their employee's insurance even though this is a fixed price establishment) then go on to add that 5% to your bill before tax so that what they are swiping your card for includes the 5% - before tips and without the option to not include it. I don't mind contributing to help but they can either adjust their fixed price to cover their employee's insurance or make the 5% contribution an optional addition after tax, on the tip receipt you sign. I would gladly contribute but this feels like a greedy company feigning care for their employees but actually putting the cost on patrons. Moving on to food, the most special thing about their food is the presentation. The food itself tastes VERY average. It tasted like food I could have had anywhere else. For our fixed 4-course menu, we had Masabacha hummus and the Salatim to start with freshly baked bread that was somewhat burnt. For Mezze, my friend had Foie Gras while I had Iraqi Kubbeh Halab - the only outstanding thing in all of our food was the saffron sauce that came with it, the flavor and consistency was wonderful. Next, I had Maqluba while my friend had the Stripped Bass - both so beautiful that it felt even more disappointing when the taste was pretty bland. For dessert, we got Labneh Parfait - very confusing flavors that didn't go together. Also, sitting by the kitchen is not worth it because the wall is so high that you can't actually see them cooking, you just see the chefs/cooks from the chest up. I will never go back there and do not encourage anyone to go. read more

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Like others , only good things to say about this spot. The menu layout is awesome , and gives you an opportunity to try an array of options. The portions are pretty big and I left feeling incredibly full. The staff is also incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and I'm so glad we listened to their recommendations. The must haves : mezze - Iraqi kubbeh halab (by far one of the best things on the menu) Main - pastrami (Incredibly succulent with a melt in your mouth feel) There honestly wasn't a bad thing on the menu and I'd absolutely come back. read more

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This was a very good meal with lots of great flavors and lots of food for the price, great value. I just don't care enough about this type of good to likely come back. Foie gras and lamb were great. read more

Do not go here! These prices are KRAZY!! $400 for two? ...no alcohol on our tab. Pretentious, offete, food is whattheheck? They throw "everything" into puzzling dishes and it is a mess. Noisy! You can't hear yourself think or have any sort of conversation...There are many, many, excellent Mediterranean places in Chicagoland... go there. I have extensive experience all over the middle-East, am US but have Israeli citizenship. Nothing tasted like anything I have ever tasted... none of it. Bread was good...Waitstaff? Smug...arrogant. read more

Here's what you need to know: we had a lovely prix fixe dinner on a Saturday evening at Galit, but it didn't blow me away. I would definitely recommend it to friends, but it will be a while before I go back if the only option is prix fixe dining. I would love an a-la-crate option as after tasting the entire menu, I would like to focus on just a few items. In fact, if I only ate those particular items last night, I would give this restaurant 6 stars. Ambiance is excellent with the open kitchen and bright energy of the restaurant space. Portion sizes are massive for the prix fixe menu. It's a LOT of food namely those items are falafel and carrots from the mezze platter, walleye and lamb kebab el babor from the mains, and chocolate cream pie with caramelized banana from dessert. The mezze and mains were the best expression of these popular middle eastern dishes I've ever had. The rest of the menu was enjoyable too, but ultimately unmemorable. The coal fired flavor is always delightful. Service was just OK, and felt a little mechanical and rushed. It was forced smiles and lacked warmth or charm, which one would expect from a top level restaurant. read more

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Galit has held its Michelin star for years now and with good reason! Galit is a beautiful restaurant with open kitchen concept. The service is amazing and they'll guide you through a typical Israeli meal though quite a bit more elevated than homemade Mediterranean food! It's priced per person, everyone starts with a hummus of your choice, and then you'll be served a hot steaming pita with several small dips / pickles, which IMHO may be my favorite course. The mains are incredible, always rotating and seasonal, and the phyllo dough dessert was the best of my life. Love this restaurant and the quality that they consistently serve. read more

Galit - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A very good meal but not the stand out you'd expect when going to a Michelin-starred restaurant. The hummus, pastrami, and Iraqi kibbeh were my favourite dishes, with some dishes like the cold asparagus and desserts being disappointments. read more

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I was completely blown away by galit! I was recommended this spot from a local! As someone who is from the Middle East I can really relate and cherish this menu! The 4 course tasting menu was phenomenal and offered so many different varieties and flavors catered toward middle eastern cuisine. The wine list was phenomenal and had wine from my home town in Palestine! The staff were so kind and considerate and even wished me a happy birthday! read more

Galit - Wine tasting menu - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's been since pre-COVID that we've visited Galit and can only say it's only improved since then. We loved the pre-fix menu and did family style with our guests. There were so many stand-outs but to call the best ones out: - Brisket hummus: this is by far the best hummus I've ever had. Smooth and delicious with the perfectly cooked pita. - Carrots: full of flavor and had the crunch that we like in roasted vegetables. - Pastrami: The top stand-out! A unique smokey taste that made this dish shine. - Chocolate cake: perfect amount of sweetness to end the dinner. We love the ambiance. We were lucky to get a seat in the back which provided enough quiet space but not feel like we weee missing out in the lively vibe at the front of the restaurant. read more

Beautiful food. I loved the pickled items and the yogurt butter. The fish was so delicious. I would come here again. They also gave us cookies for the road on our way out. I think they over booked because they place was packed and they charged us for "call", which is weird and I had never seen a that before. read more

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Went to dinner at Galit. Food was outstanding. When we were leaving waiter asked if we would like various items to go. We said yes. There was half eaten pita loaf he asked if we wanted said sure. While he was away a bus person came by, I asked if there was any fresh pita he said of course and promptly brought us a hot fresh pita bread. Waiter needs to be trained how to do customer service and satisfaction read more

Disappointed with the 2 extra "service charges" for "benefits" and just "service" I guess? Guess it's hard to make money at $94 per plate. read more

Galit - 2 extra "service" charges. Disappointing. - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Took the wife for our anniversary. All I can say is this place is wow. The service the place itself and the food are all top top notch. Everything we had was fire. Highly suggest you try this place. You won't be disappointed. read more

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Zero. This place had more than 60% tables empty and they told us we can't be sat. We wanted to order 3 plates. And go. Food hop. 2 seats only from the 40+ available. Don't come here. At 6pm. Wow read more

This place was really good (but not great). Because of all the hype around how great it is I kind of expected more. The starters and pita bread were spectacular but I felt like the rest of the meal was good but again not great. Service was good, atmosphere with the open kitchen was really fun too. And for the price it was a good deal to get your full meal for $78 a head. I added the lobster which was +$10 but totally worth it read more

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Excellent food and service here! It's a 3course meal and all the food was so delicious! The brisket hummus and pita to start, amazing! Don't worry if you're not familiar with items on the menu. I wasn't either but you will not be disappointed. I really loved the Turkey Shawarma and the phyllo pie for dessert. Hard to go wrong here. I highly recommend. read more

Delicious dining experience and great place for a small group! I went with a group of 3 which was a perfect size to try a little bit of everything. We started with the brisket and tehina hummus both of which were delicious. I particularly loved the tehina and the amazing olive oil that surrounded it. A great dish to enjoy with the delicious pita bread. The salatin was a great mix of dips and pickled veggies. We all shared the carrots, knish, and malfouf as our first course. The carrots were beautiful but a little underwhelming in terms of flavor. I was very pleasantly surprised by the knish and the malfouf. The knish was sweet and savory and the malfouf was very bright and fresh. We then shared the bass, lamb kebabs, and the honey nut squash entrees. I am typically not a huge fan of lamb but this dish was the best of the three. The flavors were warm and the spices were strong on a good way. There was more delicious pita to soak up the broth of the dish. We finish with the phyllo apple cake and the pretty cool colab desserts both of which were delicious. The service was very good overall but our server could have been more friendly. The meal was great overall and was nicely paced. We enjoyed ourselves! Highlights: tehina hummus, pita, knish, malfouf, apple phyllo cake read more