It's my neighborhood restaurant I literally can't order something that's not delicious. Everything…read moreis delicious. I always start off with a spicy smoky margarita. Delicious! Definitely have to order the delish Taboon Bread. I'm crazy for the Chicken "Musakhan". The tuna crudo is divine. And the heirloom carrots fab. You can't go wrong here not to mention loooove the back garden on a warm night.

Started with the Hummus and Taboon Bread on the side. Bread was nothing special but it was good…read morebread. Same with the hummus although I thought the portion was sooo tiny for the price. Also got the Falafel which was the crunchiest falalfel Ive had like that was so good. Then the Greene Shakshuka for the main which was fine. I liked the flavor of the sauce was good but it was so liquidy you couldnt really get much of it on the solid ingredients, had to use bread to soak it. But the eggs and artichoke were really nice.

Awesome place. We were looking for a place to grab some good food after a day at the museum. Lots…read moreof choices given the number of restaurants, so I am glad we ended here. The hummus and taziki dip were delicious did not taste packaged to pre-made at all. I got the lokal burger which is made w lamb meat and a fat slice of feta on top. It was delicious. Our table also ordered crab cakes, chicken wraps, and a kids cheese pizza. Everyone was more than satisfied w their meals. I would definitely love to go here again.

This place is perfect in every way! Great ambiance, excellent service, fantastic food! I could eat…read morehere every day.

Delicious food, bustling with customers, and a cute interior. Experienced great service at the bar…read morebecause they were packed on a Thursday evening. All their dips are phenomenal. I love their branzino though I wish the potatoes that came with it were more flavorful and crispier. The muhammura is epic. After coming here twice I had to recreate it at home and it's my new favorite dip. I even made labneh to go with it. Leyla has inspired my cooking at home! I make my friends and family muhammura now, and I can't get enough of Turkish cuisine. Cant wait to come back and try more of their dishes!

Lovely place for a drink and dinner. Drinks were fantastic - strong, flavorful and served by a…read moregracious bartender. We went for happy hour and got the 3 appetizers which were served with two types or bread - great size and deal. I ordered the Izmir kofte for dinner - very flavorful tender kababs, served with rice. I just found the sauce a bit light (watery) but otherwise filling and tasty.

The brunch was delicious. We had several appetizers, an entree and and dessert. Everyone enjoyed…read morethe meal. Service and ambience were perfect.

What a gem! We found Elea as we were walking around the uws. This is on a side street, which was…read morequieter and less noisy than on the main Columbus or Amsterdam avenues. Elea has an outdoor shed which was covered and very nice. We got a table in this shed with our baby and dog. The service was friendly. We ordered several dishes to share, the fried calamari, grilled octopus and lavraki, all on the lunch menu. I really enjoyed every single dish! I was so craving the fried calamari and this really hit the spot, I loved the dipping sauce (which was a light tomato's based sauce but it was not exactly marinara). I loved the octopus especially with hummus! And the fish which was a lot with 2 fillets of lavraki with a large portion of spinach! So yummy, we will absolutely be back and can't wait!

An amazing Turkish Mediterranean restaurant located on the upper west side of Manhattan. In…read moreaddition we were able to be seated right away on a Saturday late afternoon! After being warmly welcomed and seated you are treated to a basket of warm table bread sticks served with olive oil for dipping. Started with the Efes Turkish beer which was light and very smooth and the Mediterranean Pizza and humus as appetizers. You can't beat the special price of $14 for a wide variety of pies. The humus was creamy with just the right amount of tahini and garlic. The stuffed cabbage and Adana Durum lamb sandwich dishes were perfectly seasoned, generously portioned (for lunch) and all reasonably priced. The restaurant interior is artistically decorated and offers outside sidewalk seating as well. Overall a great restaurant serving excellent Turkish/Mediterranean food and offering outstanding customer service.

Highlight of the meal was the table bread: came out hot with high quality olive oil. Ordered the…read morebaba ganoush as well. Had a nice smokey flavor. The fish tagine was great as well, was creamy and cooked well. The leek appetizer was a little sour, I don't think I'd order that again. The pizza was solid, was a little light on the cheese, overall good flavor.

Lunch. Service was very good, very friendly. Larger…read moreportions. Food beautifully presented. Marinated beets. Extraordinary. Hummus. Great. Levantine "Caesar" with salmon. Terrific. Shakshuka. Very good but not as stellar as the other items. Bread served with most of these dishes - amazing. Totally loved it. Place was clean and looked nice. Mid-level on noise at lunch. Could imagine it being noisy at dinner but that is a guess. Enjoyed lunch a lot so for sure will go for dinner soon. Clean restroom on the main floor (did not use the rest rooms in the basement).

Pricey but classy and tasty seafood spot. Wine was expensive.Hummus was delicious. Very Upper West…read moreSide Vibe in the best way.

We had my sister's and niece's milestone birthday (50th & 21st) celebration at The Shell…read moreRestaurant. What a great choice!! From the moment we arrived the staff made us feel incredibly welcome and went above and beyond to make the evening special. The atmosphere was vibrant, yet elegant, perfect for a family and friends celebration in NYC. Every dish was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious, and the service was attentive without ever feeling rushed. They gave us all the space we needed for our huge party and handled our larger group seamlessly and made both birthday guests feel truly celebrated. A special thank you to the team - specially to the owner, Val, who was great to deal with during the planning of this birthday dinner, Rangu, who is also the owner AND an awesome Bartender, and to Anna and Christian who were great and attentive servers! If you're looking for a restaurant in NYC for a special occasion, this place is a gem - great food, drinks, ambiance, & service!! Highly recommend!

We had dinner at the Shell last week. It was a random walk in for us. We ordered the Mediterranean…read moreBranzino, Chilean Seabass, Seared Scallops and Sizzling Garlic Shrimp, Goat Cheese Salad. The food was extraordinarily delicious. The fish were cooked to perfection. The tastes of all the food was balanced (no excessive sauces etc). All four of us had a great culinary experience. We had Pear Tartlet, Affogato and the Shell Lava Cake for desert and all of it was done just right. Considering this is my first Yelp review ever, take my word for it and try out The Shell at 635 Amsterdam Ave. New York (just in case there are other restaurants with this name).

Came to Miriam on the Upper West Side a couple weeks ago and it's held up in my memory--which says…read morea lot. Food was excellent, cocktails were on point, and everything felt intentional. Not just good ideas--good execution. Service struck that rare balance: friendly, efficient, and never hovering. The space has a cool, polished vibe without trying too hard, and from an accessibility standpoint, it was easy to navigate and comfortable throughout. This is an easy return.

Excellent middle eastern brunch…read more Restaurant is very small and compact with very little room to move around. We sat outside where there was less room between tables. Food was excellent. We ordered the French toast, the middle eastern breakfast, and the Jerusalem breakfast? Their hummus, baba ganoush, labneh, and tzatziki was very delicious. Eggs cooked to perfection. Their freshly squeezed orange juice was something else. We joked about buying a gallon of it to take home. Service was painfully slow and unapologetic. We get it. It was busy, and we were not on a time constraint. But still painfully slow. Would recommend for a unique brunch.

I ordered the burger to be cooked medium . The meat was juicy and The fries were very crunchy but…read morenot oily. I like the chipotle sauce on the side, it had a slight kick to it but not hot. We have to keep asking for water though. So I'm giving it a 4 star. They automatically added 20 %tip to the bill.

This place was excellent from start to finish…read more The seafood tapas was the star. Fresh, bright, and full of flavor, not that sad "seafood-ish" taste you get when a kitchen is phoning it in. Everything we tried felt well-executed and confidently seasoned. No gimmicks, no overcomplication, just really good food. Service deserves its own shoutout. The staff was genuinely friendly, helpful, and present without hovering or pushing extra items. You can tell they actually want you to have a good time, not just clear the table and flip it. The atmosphere is relaxed and warm, perfect for a laid-back night with good drinks and small plates. If you're looking for a spot that feels easy but still delivers on the food, this is it.

Shalel is a beautiful space that really makes you feel transported out of the city. The interior is…read morewarm and inviting, and the whole experience feels a bit like an escape. Service was great, friendly and accommodating, even though we had a late reservation close to kitchen closing, which we really appreciated. The food was just as impressive, especially in both flavor and portion size. The baba ghanoush was delicious and tasted just like the ones I grew up eating. The mixed grill was a standout in terms of value, with tender, well-seasoned meats and a generous portion. The chicken tagine was equally satisfying, with moist chicken and vegetables that complemented everything nicely. We finished with the warm date tart, which was definitely on the sweeter side but perfect if you enjoy desserts like that. Overall, it's a great spot for flavorful food, large portions, and an amazing atmosphere.

We loved our first experience at Shalel so much that we came back with the kids…read more Bad. Decision. This time, the service was suspiciously fast--like "Are we being gently rushed out?" fast. We were in and out in 45 minutes, and the food... well... let's just say it peaked during visit #1. Here's the rundown of what went from "yum" to "meh": - Shrimp with Garlic - No. Just no. It had a funky taste, and shrimp should never be described as "funky" unless they're dancing. - Chicken Tagine - Tasty, yes, but we got two pieces of chicken. Two. The last time , hubby and I got at least four. What happened? Budget cuts? Chicken shortage? - Dates - These were actually delicious. - Cucumber Drink - Last time it was refreshing. This time it was... chewy? I don't know, but beverages shouldn't require chewing. And with that, I think we're done here...