We stopped here for lunch first and foremost to escape the heat, and ended up really enjoying our food! I'm not sure what their airflow/fan situation is but the temperature inside was HEAVENLY. So much so that there was a sleeping baby two tables down from where we were seated. The inside was very inviting yet spacious and (literally) airy. Now onto the delicious food and drink! I got the Mediterranean Summer cocktail which was basically a Moroccan mint lemonade with vodka and thin cucumber slices. It was so wonderfully refreshing and hit the spot! My boyfriend and I decided to share the mixed hummus but really shouldn't have- it was delicious but WAY too much for the two of us. Three of the little dishes had plain creamy hummus with lots of tangy tahini. Then the other three had the same hummus base but different toppings- chickpeas, sautéed mushrooms, and stewed fava beans. All three were delicious textural and flavor complements to the hummus. This platter came with a fresh tomato cucumber and parsley salad, and a big basket of stretchy, chewy saj pita bread. We also ordered a plate of vegetable dolmades which were outstanding- so fresh and full of flavor and easily among the best I've had! Then as if we hadn't eaten enough the waiter gave us some homemade pastries for dessert. There was a flaky and fragrant baklava type treat with pistachios, and two crumbly fig cookies. All were excellent and unexpectedly free! The hospitality, cool and relaxing atmosphere, and delicious food definitely make Gazala's worthy of a return trip!! read more

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Gazala's Mediterranean Restaurant is located near West 84 St. & Amsterdam Ave. serving up delicious Middle Eastern Food. The dimly lit space is large, nicely decorated & welcoming with plenty of seating indoor & outdoors. The staff is friendly, accommodating & the service is pretty quick. Of course, the stuffed grape leaves were tasty & the salad, rice & meat dishes were delicious. So if you're in the upper Westside area, drop in & enjoy some good Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food. read more

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They used to have a second location in Hell's Kitchen. I grew up going to that place, my parents loved that they made the bread in the front window counter so you could watch whenever you walked passed. They have since closed that location and focused on their main location here. The food is still absolutely amazing. Hummus is so smooth, the chicken is tender, and the grill marks on the kebabs are perfection. We ordered a whole bunch of dishes to share and the waiter checked with us to confirm they could send out the dishes whenever they were ready. Everything tasted fresh and delicious, and it was a lovely lunch with my parents who usually don't travel all the way to the UWS for lunch, but were especially missing this place. read more

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We ordered the food for takeout. The suja bread was huge and pretty good. It was quite chewy though. The hummus was incredibly smooth and I liked the flavor a lot. The Israeli salad was super fresh and yummy as well. The beef kofta had good flavor and was cooked well. The rice was really yummy. The baklava was also super delicious. I loved the texture and the flavor was so yummy and not too sweet. Would definitely get the food here again. read more

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First time eating here. I think honestly there are many gems on the menu but it's variable. The Kibbeh was ok . I liked the Karnabeet more. Service was very friendly. The desert cookies something different read more

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Druze food is similar but also distinct to traditional Arabic and Israeli food and Gazala's is a great restaurant at which to try it. They get an "A" for service (thank you Olga!), "A" for food quality and an "A" that we came at 4:30PM on a weekday afternoon when the restaurant was not crowded. We began with cheese and spinach cigars (borek) that were fresh, hot and with the tahini dipping sauce, addicting! For the main course we ordered kafta in tahini that is served on a sizzling platter and simply delicious. It came with rice and cabbage & corn. And of course we had to try the suja bread which is different than traditional middle eastern pita as it resembles Ethiopian injera in texture so you can wrap them around your kaftas. What more can I say, if you like ethnic food packed with flavor, try Gazala's! read more

Gazala's - Kofta in tahini sauce - the sauce is addictive! - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

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The food was all delicious as can be seen. The platter was packed with tons of appetizers. The service was alright- we were in a tight corner so our waitress couldn't come around as much..The space is tight, and the lighting is low, I went with family and it was great for a catch up, but I could see it being a nice date night too. read more

Gazala's - Gazala Platter - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

The food was delicious and the service was exceptional. Four of us had lunch and everything was great

We gave this place a try and ordered several different things, but it just wasn't for us. We got their pita, roasted eggplant, hummus, carmel salad, and a kabab plate. Everything was okay but slightly bland. We were hoping for a bit more from each dish. read more

I've been meaning to try this spot and finally got to. I believe this is the only Israeli Druze restaurant in the city! We went on a Sunday around 5 pm, few people in restaurant but it picked up as it got later. I believe the owner was the one who took care of us. She was very friendly and gave us her recommendations. We ordered the vegetarian platter which was a sampler of cigars, falafel, tabouli, grape leaves, matbucha, labne, babaganoush, hummus. We also ordered the artichoke hearts and the spinach and cheese boureka. Everything was perfect. The boureka was crispy flaky and buttery, fresh with soft salty cheese in the middle. The baba was smokey and charred - we were fighting over this. The artichokes were a bit awkward to eat as well as pricey- with only 3 on the plate - however they were absolutely delicious. The falafel was fresh and crispy - I tend to prefer more herby green falafel and this was definitely more spice forward but none the less it was great. At the end of the meal we were stuffed but the owner insisted we needed to order baklava saying it's the best in the city. We wanted to order to go but she said we had to try it fresh. Worth it definitely, 10/10. It was warm, not too syrupy, so fresh and delicious. It didn't make it through the night we demolished it when we got home. Definitely recommend to all!! read more

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Exceptional, Excellent, Outstanding, packed with flavor, hands down some of the best Mediterranean cuisine I have ever tasted. Just exceptional. We were warmly greeted by Olga upon arrival and she was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. This is a very casual unassuming neighborhood spot with two dining rooms, with an older tin ceiling, one features the bar and an open kitchen with some great tile details. In fact this place has some nice family pictures, flags and interesting sconces that add to the decor. It appears they accommodate large groups. We started with the mezze sampler which can be vegan or meat based. We opted for meat. The falafel and tahini sauce was so delicious. The grape leaves were perfectly cooked to temper any bitterness. I am not a huge grape leaves fan but everything was superb. The cigars were stuffed with meat and were fried to perfection. The sampler came with tabouleh, yogurt, babaganoush, a spicy tomato relish, and a fantastic hummus with a smoky undertone. It was served with a terrifically thin pita. Next up our server Olga suggested we try the Moshakal (Mixed Combination). This was so savory. It has grilled chicken that was marinated perfectly, kafta, lamb, and chicken shawarma. The food we ordered was perfect to share and could have easily accommodated four. The meat combo also was served with rice and a cabbage and corn mix, that was so-so, a bit bland given the standout flavors of the other items. Definitely leave a little room for dessert. Again Olga recommended Osh-Al-Saria, which was a wonderful cake and custard mix topped with crushed pistachios. I probably should have went with the dessert sampler as well but at this point was stuffed. I also had an authentic Turkish coffee, a wonderful ending to a standout meal. Although the restaurant was not particularly crowded for a Wednesday. I noted that the delivery business was very busy and with falafel and meats this tasty it's no wonder. read more

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Happy to support the Druze community with the delicious food here. The veggie dishes are really the standouts. We had the artichoke hearts (perfectly crispy and tender), grilled halloumi, Carmel salad (more halloumi!) and hummus with sautéed fava beans. Very into the Druze pita which is light, thin and more like a crepe than bread! My friends had the spinach and cheese boureka and loved; only less than perfect dish was the chicken shawarma, which was spiced nicely but very dry and chewy. Would definitely come back, order veggie only and be very happy! All in all a great neighborhood restaurant with fast service and fresh, yummy and unique dishes. Make a reservation, it definitely gets busy. read more

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Amazing food, atmospehere. So cozy. We ordered chicken kebab, falafel. Food was delicious. Very good wine. Good service and they do not rush you. Will be back. read more

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Food was amazing. Great menu, but when we (guests of 10) came to the payment portion of the evening, our waitress was not happy with the tip we left for a $479 bill. All reservation apps and the menu should state a mandatory set tip fee. This way any waiter will never have an issue like this again - turns out there was an error on our part so I take back previous review but waitress needs better decorum. If there is an issue with the tip always go to the person who made the reservation. I tried to interject a few times to settle the issue and I was ignored by the waitress because she was upset. Will not come here again for that reason. read more

The food here is absolutely phenomenal. As in, you can't not come here and eat it. Look, I've eaten Middle Eastern food all my life. But I'd never had Druze food until this meal. And it is... wait for it... absolutely phenomenal. Delicate kebabs shot through with fresh herbs in a savory tomato sauce. Toothsome cauliflower doused in rich tahini. Bread as soft and lithesome as satin sheets. And perfect little side dishes to add heft or acidity. I didn't even notice the room. Didn't even care about the prices. I just ate the food, and I'm still thinking about it. read more

I will never get over this meal!!! Hands down one of the best meals I've had since moving to NYC. The flavor on the chicken (and everything honestly) was unreal. Attentive service! Cute ambiance read more

Gazala's - I - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

Enjoyed dinner here! Everything felt very authentic and we liked what we ordered and were especially fascinated by the stretchy pita bread--had never seen anything like it, but I absolutely loved it with the hummus. Service was great also read more

First time having a middle Eastern meal. This place specializes in Druze cuisine a sub sector of Lebanon. The humus and napkin bread appetizers was the highlight of the meal. The bread is thinner than a napkin that I mistook it for a napkin covering the bread. Breaking it apart was so fun and it was delicious with or without the different dips. We shared 4 meats, lamb, pork, steak and chicken all were good, we had cheese cigars also unusual and good. Would certainly go again and try more items read more

Gazala's - A little of everything! - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

Very salty food, extremely. They need to reassess how much salt they put in everything. Other than that it's a nice and casual place. read more

Great, first experience with Israeli/ Druze cuisine! Every single item that we ordered was amazing. My faves were the tabbouleh and the cabbage salad that came with my hummus. The food had so many different fresh flavors and I found it hard to stop eating despite already being full after the platter. We ended our meal with a dessert which I forgot the name of but it had pistachio on it. I highly recommend this spot because the food is fresh and the portions are pretty good for the prices. read more

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Charming spot with vegetarian options. Both I and my friend had the cauliflower dish that was covered in a tahini sauce. It was yummy, but it would have even better if cauliflower had been roasted. The sides of a little salad and herby rice and a fresh pita were good background singers to the main show. Wines passable. Chianti if you must have one. read more

I really wanted to like this place, but it just didn't deliver. The service was very slow, and when our food finally arrived it wasn't hot and didn't taste fresh. For the price, I expected much better. The atmosphere also felt a bit neglected -- tables weren't very clean, and it made the whole experience less enjoyable. I hope they can improve, but for now, I wouldn't come back. read more

Food was delish! Lamb and hummus! Vegetarians will be happy too. Good portions! Reasonably priced! Would be happy to return.

Fantastic food and service. Started with a salad and hummus, mouth is watering just thinking about it. Then went with the lamb kebabs as an entree. Just can't wait to come back for another go. read more

A small restaurant with a big heart and great food! Traditional, fresh ingredients that create ae a feast to the eyes, heart and belly! We enjoyed every dish we tried, especially the boureka and kibbeh. Highly recommended. read more

We shared the vegetarian platter and I have to say the babaganoush is the best I've ever tried it was smokey and delicious. It was fun to try lots of things on the platter. Also order cucumbers on the side it was nice to have some fresh veggies to dip in the hummus. read more

Delicious and some of the best on UWS. Right around corner from us but would travel farther if needed too.

Had a fun impromptu birthday lunch with a friend while in town. Started with Turkish coffee that had a hint of cardamom- it was really good. Also had fresh squeezed lemonade with mint and another with passion fruit (both great with a shot of vodka) the sangria was very good too. We had the falafel brunch wrap, chicken kebab, chilled cucumber soup and a salad. Our server was excellent. Ambience was great for a Saturday afternoon. Would love to go back for dinner some time. read more

Gazala's - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

Had dinner at Gazala's tonight and it was one of the best Middle Eastern dishes I've had. It's Druze cuisine and everything was fresh and very tasty. The shawarma, Labane, falafel, Humus and salad were all outstanding. We will definitely be back read more

Here is the Takeaway: very good food that has a slightly different twist of flavors than what has become the standard pallet Middle East food. Decently priced. Three of us shared the vegetarian mezze playter which has a selection of three different vegetarian appetizers. The plate was the perfect size though if you were truly hungry we might've needed to order a few other appetizers or a small plates. Instead of pita we were treated to a very thin, large, crêpe like bread that was both tasty and interesting texture. We also enjoyed a goat cheese flatbread. Service was good and helpful, the ambiance is that with a relaxing upper West side café. I highly recommend coming to this place read more

Middle eastern spot with fairly expansive menu, as well as both a bar and dining area I came here for lunch with my GF and a friend, and we had a very good experience. My GF and I both got the chicken schwarma lunch special, which included a mimosa, side of table salad, fries, and cookies for desert all for less than $20. To make this deal even better, it was all delicious! The only downside was that the servers never checked on us during our whole meal, and we eventually had to go get them when we wanted to pay the check read more

Just ate at Gazalas in NYC tonight! I can't say enough good things about this place! The appetizer combo was INCREDIBLE! We were 5 for dinner with each person ordering something different. Every single one of us found our favorite new restaurant! The rice was perfection the cabbage/ corn mix was tangy and delicious THE PITA WAS EXTRAORDINARY!!! The main dishes were ALL scrumptious! I drove in from South Jersey and this place was absolutely worth the trip!! I plan on coming back for more soon! Tonight's dinner was just fantastic! Oh and I have to say that our waiter was awesome & attentive! Gazalas is now officially my favorite spot !!! read more

We sat down towards the end of the service time, and the food came out fresh and the easy, and the service was thoughtful, as if it was several hours earlier. I can't wait to go again read more

Cozy place serving Israeli food. The menu description says that everything is made from scratch and I would say it looks like it! I got the spinach pie which was a bunch of spinach wrapped up by some sort of pastry. The fact that it was unevenly shaped probably meant that the dough was rolled out by hand. The spinach pie itself was probably the size of your palm, pastry wasn't flaky or anything, more on the tough crusty side. Spinach was fresh. Service was friendly and was able to service a big party quickly. Interior was nothing to rave about, but they had a lot of seating inside with a few outdoor dining options. read more

Gazala's - Spinach pie - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

Lovely place with ample seating. Should easily accommodate a midsize group. Wasn't busy when we arrived late in the evening. The service was efficient, friendly, and not overbearing. Solid food - the lafa was unusual. Enjoyable kebab and rice dishes. Looking forward to the next visit. read more

At long last, after two failed attempts to visit their now permanently closed outpost in Hell's Kitchen, I was able to try the famous bourekas of Gazala's Israeli Druze cuisine. Quite filling and delicious! We had a sundried tomato and cheese variety, which was served for brunch as part of a generous platter that included scrambled eggs, hummus and babaganoush, and Israeli salad. Surprised this place wasn't more crowded for weekend brunch - definitely much more interesting food than many of the mediocre brunch spots on Amsterdam. read more

Gazala's - Boureka special - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

Hum well a great local place with a menu of food that I feel like was home cooking. It was nice we ordered a few dishes to share and I'm always happy to do that so we can all try a few things. Chicken kebab, Kafta Tahini, Karnabeet (roasted cauliflower). The food was really nicely proportioned and seasoned perfectly. read more

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It's a great restaurant, friendly staff, and wonderful food. I would definitely go back there.

This is the best Israeli Druze cuisine in the NYC metropolitan area...from the insanely good falafel and humus, to the spinach and cheese pie, everything here is tops.. On top of that, its a very pleasant space, and the owner, Gazala herself, is very very welcoming and sweet. Try the Meze Gazala platter for a little bit of all the apptizers. Owner is from Haifa. Thnk you!!! read more

Food was fine but our simple lunch for 2 turned quickly into $80 including tip, f do own to the $9.50 for sparkling water.