Gorgeous upscale dinner spot in midtown! We came as a group of 7 and were seated comfortably, lots of room within the restaurant. Great place to share several food items with a group. It was a little hard to hear and converse at times as it gets crowded, but the food was delicious and there are really unique items on the menu. Food: The duck shawarma was one of our favorites! The lamb and scallops were also flavorful and tender. The dips were delicious with the pita, but I wish the serving size for the dips were bigger. The fries were great - well seasoned! Also recommend the milky pudding, it was a nice refreshing way to end the dinner. Service: Our server was super helpful in letting us know what items are more shareable and his suggestions for cocktails. Definitely try some of the arak based cocktails. Vibe: Gorgeous interior, the mirrors and lighting really elevates the space and makes it a lovely spot for group dinners or dates. read more

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We went for Mother's Day brunch. When we arrived a few minutes early we did have to wait a bit. The restaurant had two floors, nicely decorated and cozy. We were lead upstairs to a table. There were 7 of us The seating was cozy but not cramped. We started with 7 family style small dishes: Hummus with Falafel Pops (chickpea purée, tahini, falafel, olive oil), Spring Burrata (roasted cherry tomatoes, toast, basil oil), Hamachi Crudo (passionfruit vinaigrette, citrus zest, cucumber, mint, sesame tuile), Scallops (carrot puree, serrano pepper, brown butter sauce), Tenderloin Skewer (zaatar chimichurri, fresh herb salad), and Shiitake Stuffed Grape Leaves (tomato coulis, yogurt foam, herbs). Everything was delicious. The hummus was well seasoned the falafel had a nice crunch. It went well with the warm puffy gyro bread that came to the table. The burrata was wasm and creamy. I love the vinaigrette on the fish. I ended up eating most of it. The scallops were the sweetest, most tender ones I have ever had. The tenderloin skewers were tender and well seasoned. I liked the grape leaves but the rice consistency was very soft almost mushy and you can barely tell there were mushrooms. There was barely any mushrooms flavor. Next we all chose an entree. I got the duck breast, my husband and daughter each had the beef tenderloin. The duck breast was smaller than i expected. The skin was nicely seared and very crispy but boy did it give my jaw a workout. It was done medium rare. It was juicy but tough. The small beef tenderloin was tender and smoky. The waiter poured the sauce over the tenderloin for added flavor. Finally dessert was a fruit plate with ice cream and pudding. The fruit was fresh and the flavors of the ice cream and pudding unique. It was a nice end to a good brunch. The price was a little expensive at $85 a person. read more

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This was a really awesome meal. The food was incredible. So much flavor and they made sure we always had enough bread to eat everything with. The cocktails were also really interesting and delicious. I highly recommend the lamb shank, fries, and octopus but I can't imagine there is any way to go wrong. The lighting inside the restaurant was cozy and relaxing. My family and I had a great time. Our server was super helpful with our order and very nice to talk to. Highly recommend. Really delicious. read more

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I always try to come here when I'm in town. Great space, modern and always full. I've probably tried everything on the menu. This time we had fatoush, kibbi, hummus, grape leaves, lamb chops. All were excellent. Our waitress was great and attentive. If you like lebanese food in a more upscale place, this is it. read more

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Hands down one of the best mediterranean/lebanese restaurants I've ever been to. It is upscale with beautiful interior decor, great service, and incredible food. My absolute favorites were the baba ghannouj, mekanek, beef skewer, and the lamb makloubeh. Their warm eggplant was heaven in my mouth. You can't go wrong with whatever you order here, everything is such a delight. read more

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3.5 rounded up to 4. I thought the duck shawarma, baba ganoush, and fried cheese pastry roll appetizers were pretty good. Though i didn't love the pita - I prefer them softer and chewier and these had a crisp edge to them but my husband liked them softer to each their own. My husband enjoyed the lamb and beef shawarma. The brussel sprouts everyone raves about were decent but nothing amazing - we found the sauce a bit too sweet and agree with reviews there was too much stuff in it. And the cauliflower was odd - just 2 or 3 small pieces sitting in tons of tahini with no pita. The sumac margarita wasn't bad. Overall, I found the food pretty average. read more

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Overall 4/5 Food 3.75/5 Ambiance 5/5 Service 5/5 Value 2.5/5 Ilili, Lebanese sharing dishes in a fine dining lens I was really excited to try Ilili since my husband has been raving about it. There were definitely some hits, but also quite a few misses for us and overall, portions were very small. We ordered 10 dishes for 6 people and still left hungry, so I'd describe this as more of a Lebanese fine-dining experience rather than family-style. Here's what we tried: Rkaykat bil jibneh 4.5/5: The standout appetizer of the night. The cheese pastry roll was flaky, savory, and delicious Moussaka 3/5: My first time having Lebanese moussaka, I didn't realize it's served cold, and personally, it just wasn't to my taste preference Beef fried kibbeh 3/5: A bit dry for my taste and didn't quite hit the mark Baba ghannou 2.75/5: Not a fan of this hummus, the smoky flavor was too strong for me Mixed grill 4.5/5: The meats were tender and well-cooked, but again, portions were much smaller than expected Hearth-baked loup de mer 4.75/5: Loved this, almost boneless and beautifully cooked with great flavor even without the sauce Phoenician fries 5/5: Some of the best fries I've ever had! We loved them so much we ordered a second round Kebab kerez 3.25/5: The sauce was too sweet and overpowering for my liking Tuna tartare 3/5: Pretty underwhelming and not very flavorful. Overall: beautiful restaurant, creative menu, but expect small portions read more

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This is a treat spot for Friday night date night vibes! Definitely grab a Resy because it gets busy. We were checked in and seated right away, though the lounge is gorgeous and wouldn't have minded hanging there. The space is beautiful and the staff is super kind and helpful. Apps were the highlight, we got the labneh and baba ganoush were a solid 9/10, simple and really well done with INCREDIBLE pita. It's perfectly fluffy. Mains were more mixed, the mushroom grape leaves (7/10) were okay but the tomato sauce was a bit too acidic and bitter for me and the lamb shawarma wrap (6/10) wasn't my fave because of the charred flavor. It's my personal preferable and missed it for me. Overall, didn't love the food as much as I hoped but the atmosphere and service are great. read more

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Very nice atmosphere! The food was great too. Enjoyed the lamb chops an kibbeh beef tartar the most!! read more

ilili NoMad - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

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Very Modern Middle Eastern Cusine . Quality ingredients and fresh clean food . Servers are well trained on dishes and great service. read more

ilili NoMad - Hummus , Kibbeh naye , pita - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

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Had lunch at ilili and we were a party of three. I have dined at ilili in the past for dinner so knew it would be a great option for Lebanese/Mediterranean but this is my first lunch experience. Off the bat, I liked the brighter and inviting lighting. My colleagues thought the space was beautiful too. Our server was warm and gave us several good recommendations. We had a pescatarian and a health conscious diner in my group. I must say, the menu at ilili definitely fit our needs. There were plenty of seafood options as mains and the appetizers were great bites to start our meal with. The grape leaves, mouhamara, and beef fried kibbeh were outstanding. A solid and charming business lunch option for this area. read more

ilili NoMad - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

Ilili was very busy for a Sunday night, which was a good sign -- the energy and ambiance were lively and inviting. We ordered the mouhamara, fattoush, kabis pickles, lamb shawarma, and chicken taouk duo. Everything was beautifully presented and full of flavor. The lamb shawarma was incredibly tender and melted in our mouths, and the chicken tawouk was juicy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. That said, we did have to ask for olive oil and salt for the mouhamara and fattoush, and it took over 10 minutes for them to arrive. Our server, Regina, mentioned that the restaurant was actually overstaffed that evening because it was a bit slower than usual, which made the delay and lack of attentiveness a little surprising. After taking our order, she only came by twice -- once to ask if we wanted anything else, and another time to fold my napkin when I went to the restroom. While she was friendly and offered great recommendations, we were never asked how our food was or if everything was okay, which left the service feeling somewhat disconnected. Overall, the food was delicious and the atmosphere was great, but the service could definitely use more attentiveness and consistency -- especially at a place with Ilili's reputation and price point. Would definitely try again, though! read more

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Overall: I went here for dinner with my girlfriend on a friday night. Reservations can be a little tough to get, so we almost got stuck outside but luckily were able to move to the bar. The place feels upscale and the food and drinks were definitely higher quality. Food was all good but not perfect. I'd definitely go back, but it isn't on my must-try list. Food: 4 Drink: 4 Service: 3 Value: 3 Atmosphere: 4 Food: The pita was some of the best I've ever had - definitely a must to order one of the dips. We also got the grilled octopus - it was a little cold and tough, but the flavor was good. We also order the the Chicken Taouk Duo dish. Flavor was good, but it was a little bit dry and tough. Finally, we had the duck shawarma. Flavor was great, but the construction of the dish didn't distribute the ingredients so each bit was just a bunch of one thing. Overall tasty food, but had a few things left to be desired. Drinks: I got the Beirut to Manhattan, which I found pretty mediocre. The flavors were all very muted. My fiancé got the Aleppo and Smoke, which she said was great. We land somewhere in the middle of the two. Service: Service was fine but not spectacular. The bartender was understandably busy so was a little bit slow to take our orders. But other that that things were fine. Value: Things were slightly pricy, with drinks costing $20-25, apps costing $15-25, and most entrees going in at $35+. Atmosphere: We started with a seat outside - this was terrible, right on 5th Ave. Definitely sit inside. We were lucky and were able to move to the bar, which was much nicer. Everything was upscale and it was fun to watch the bartender work. read more

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Ilili has a very nice ambiance with solid Lebanese food, though it comes at elevated prices. We ordered the hummus with pita, the fattoush salad, brussel sprouts, mekanek, and the chicken taouk duo. The hummus was basic, but it had too much olive oil poured on top. I wish there had been less oil and perhaps another flavor component. While the pita looked fluffy and pillowy, it unfortunately deflated when ripped apart and ended up being fairly thin, which was disappointing, and the taste was fine. The fattoush salad and brussel sprouts were my two favorites, followed by the mekanek lamb sausage. The fattoush had nice toasted pieces of pita and an herby dressing, providing a fresh taste with a good mix of textures. The mekanek was a sauteed lamb sausage that was very meaty and rich, served in a complementary lemon sauce. I didn't want more than two of them, but they were quite good and I was glad we ordered them. The brussel sprouts are very unique, though they have too much going on at once. They come topped with grapes, walnuts, mint yogurt, and a fig jam that I didn't quite notice. I think there should have been a bit less of all these toppings. If you order these, they are probably best shared with a group larger than two. The chicken taouk duo was a disappointment. While the portion was good, the breast was too dry and the thigh was fatty enough that I couldn't finish one of the pieces. It was served with a pink garlic whip that lacked flavor and didn't really help the dish. There were also a few small vegetables included, such as undercooked zucchini and overcooked tomatoes, that didn't add much. Overall, I don't personally have a desire to return to Ilili and would have given it three stars had I been the one paying. read more

I can't believe ilili (which means "Tell Me") has been a NoMad staple for 18 years and I'm just now discovering it! Located right on 5th and 26th, this spot is an absolute stunner. The atmosphere is beautiful--sophisticated yet warm--making it perfect for a date or a special night out. If you're visiting in December like I did, make a reservation. It is a very busy time of year, and the place was buzzing! Their philosophy is all about sharing, so we ordered a spread to split. Here is the breakdown: I paired my meal with a Sauvignon Blanc, which was crisp and cut through the richness of the dishes perfectly. We had some great dishes- Labne: A must-order. The strained yogurt with olive oil, fresh mint, and za'atar was incredibly fresh and delicious. Mouhamara: Made with walnuts, sun-dried peppers, and pomegranate molasses. To be honest, this wasn't my personal favorite of the night, but it was still an interesting flavor profile. Brussels Sprouts: These were very good! The combination of grapes, fig jam, walnuts, and mint yogurt is genius. Kebab en Kerez: The star of the show. Lamb and beef meatballs with cherry sauce, kataifi, and micro chives. That cherry sauce really did it for me--very, very delicious.Lamb Shank: Served with Lebanese dirty rice and roasted seasonal vegetables. The "old world jus" and mixed nuts added a great texture. The service was top-notch--attentive without being overbearing. I highly recommend checking this place out if you haven't yet. I'll definitely be back! I loved meeting up with friends I hadn't seen for a long time! read more

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Wow! So glad we found this spot during our visit to New York. Amazing food and service. We left determined to find a place like this back home. read more

The food was good, the restaurant is a little louder than the ambience would indicate they'd like. The staff was kind, but often made mistakes - they took plates before people were finished, charged us for the wrong bill and overall it was a bit expensive for what it was. I had a nice time with friends and the food was good, but I won't be rushing to return. read more

ilili NoMad - Family style to try a bit of everything. - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

{Overall: 4, Food: 4} Ambiance: 4, Service: 3 I really like ilili's vibe and food. It has an upscale, sceney New York vibe. It's also great for big groups. All of the food is very good. Some of my favorites: *Lamb Shank: incredibly tender, a huge portion that can easily be shared by 3-4 people, served over a bed of rice. *Mixed Grill: everything is great, especially the lamb chops. *Fattoush: bright, fresh, and delicious. The ambiance is trendy and lively. The restaurant is usually full. The one drawback is the service, which can be a mixed bag. I've had some very rude interactions, though it definitely varies. read more

the restaurant is beautiful and the food is very unique and yummy. i love mediterranean food and this place was no exception, but i wouldn't say it was my favorite. the warmed eggplant and dips (labne, baba ghanoush, hummus) were incredible, but i wasn't a huge fan of their brussel sprouts and some of the other vegetarian options they had (falafel burger, zaatar supreme, batatas hararas). it was a great weekend lunch or dinner spot. if you love trying unique dishes you will love this place read more

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Came here with a group of 5 people during the evening. I recommend reserving a table because when we arrived to the restaurant, it was packed. We still had to wait at the lounge area for our table, but the lounge is very nice. The vibe is great, the lights were dim, and place was clean. My friends and I were very impressed with the food we ordered. Although it is a bit on the pricey side, the food were delicious! We ordered 2 dips, fries, and mixed grilled. The dips and fries were amazing! The mixed grill was very flavorful and the meats were cooked nicely. I usually don't eat lamb but the lamb here was very good and tender. The servers were very attentive and kept refilling our water glass. I plan to come to this restaurant again. read more

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Gorgeous inside and not too loud. The food we ordered was really good. The only critique would be the fries were a little soggy but I prefer a crispy fry. The server took a while to come around to the table. read more

One of my staple haunts in nyc for years now. But did the lunch today and had the single skewer chicken Taouk. It was sooooo beautifully presented, and what a filing nutritious meal it proved to be. Came with pita, and their perfectly delectable hummus. Love love love their garlic cream. Normally I'd have their passion fruit infused martini but since I get pickled on one cocktail I decided to shy away from it. Otherwise highly recommend their martini. Quick service and great ambiance. I prefer the table side of the restaurant to the bar side personally - albeit I have been seated everywhere in this spot and still never found the food quality or promptness of service to waiver. Def recommend! read more

ilili NoMad - Chicken Taouk Mezze Box - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

The good: Overall, our food tasted great. We had fresh pita, several dips (the hummus was the star), fries, and Brussels sprouts for the table- all were tasty. I got scallops which were plump, well-cooked, and balanced. Our servers (in the lounge and the restaurant) were also very nice. The less good: Though tasty, portions were small for the price. For example, the scallop dish came with three scallops and cost $40. Similarly, the cocktails we had tasted really nice but were equally weak. None of this is egregious, but unfortunately the end of the dining experience really soured it overall. We had to ask for the check (not an issue but important context) and as soon as we had paid, the manager came over to our table and informed us that the next group was ready for the table and we needed to wrap up. I can understand if we were loitering but we were ready to go before the waitress AND we were already grabbing our things! read more

Liked the vibe and setting inside. Service was attentive and they did let us stay a while. We ate family style - mixed grill, octopus, hummus/baba ganoush good though a little light on volume, duck shawarma was excellent. Mixed cocktails were solid too. Would go back. read more

Absolute hit-- did to-go and got an unbelievable amount of extra pita for $2 (worth it in my mind) the shawarma was great and the mixed grill was hearty and filling-- always get more dip! Cheers! read more

ilili NoMad - Shawarma and Mixed Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

Came here for restaurant week and I have to say I was surprised by how big the portions were! Everything here was excellent and I was so stoked to finally try this place since I've been waiting forever to come here. It's hard to go over everything we got, and we couldn't even finish everything as four people who each got the restaurant week menu. Some highlights were the sausage, the eggplant, the drinks (get their espresso martini) and the dessert (get their chocolate bar). Not only were the latter 2 beatiful but also quite delicious as well. Their dessert is on the sweeter side. Everything is well cooked, and you're getting a lot of vegetables so it's a fairly healthy meal relatively speaking and what a great time to support Lebanese restaurants. Would definitely come back! read more

Coworker recommended the burger from here and a few of us went and got takeout! Got the American Lebanese Burger and it came with Phoenician Fries. Starting off with the burger, very very good! I loved this burger a lot, the bread was so soft, it was a nicely tender lamb patty, and the sauce on this was great. Not sure what phoenician fries are but they just seemed like regular fries. When taking them out too, they were a bit soggy, but still very delicious. I wonder if theyd be crispy if we dined in. They also gave a side of the sauce from the burger so i dipped my fries in there and that was excellent! read more

ilili NoMad - The American Lebanese Burger - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

Just an amazing experience. I wish I could give 10 stars for service alone. Our server was so passionate about the food and had amazing recommendations on not only what to eat but also how to combine it. Busboys were super attentive with water and clearing plates, and everyone was very friendly. Turkish coffee was incredible. Food was also great, especially the delicious hummus, house made pita, and rice! Such a cool ambiance with the high ceilings and lighting. read more

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Omg the food is amazing here! This place is huge! The lounge area is perfect while you await the arrival of your party. We ordered everything. Highlights include the Brussels sprouts and the gin cocktail (can't remember the name). The hostess even gave us recommendations. I'll definitely be back! read more

ilili NoMad - Lounge - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

One of my favorite spots in this area! I've been here about 4 times now and will keep coming back. There is seating outside but it is absolutely stunning inside with plenty of seating in their various rooms. Brunch here is fantastic and you can't go wrong with any option but if you want a classic, get the shakshuka eggs. The tomato sauce is rich and delicious to mix with the eggs and sop up with the toast. For lunch, I highly recommend their hummus (extremely creamy), baba gannouj, kibbeh naye beirutieh, and kebab kerez. There usually isn't a wait for a table (in my experience) and food comes out quickly. The wines there also pair well with their delicious menu. I could go on but you need to try it yourself. Perfect place for a more upscale brunch, lunch or fun dinner date idea. I can't wait for my next meal here! read more

ilili NoMad - Hummus, Pita, Kibbeh Naye Beirutieh - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

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We celebrated my niece's birthday here with a lovely brunch. The atmosphere is vibrant and welcoming, and the menu offers a creative Mediterranean fusion. It's a great spot to gather with friends or family for brunch or dinner. Definitely worth a visit--give it a try! read more

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A cute spot for Lebanese Mediterranean eats -- the dining room is decorated for Christmas and looks so festive! The service here is lovely and the waiters are attentive. It got fairly busy on a Sunday evening, so would recommend making a reservation ahead of time. It's a great spot to bring parents or for a group catch-up. Most of the dishes are small-plates and would recommend eating family-style -- personal favorites include Warm Eggplant, Labne, and Rakaykat bil Jibneh. The Pita here is also super unique and we got a large, warm stack. The Knafeh was super unique, would recommend getting to share! read more

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Went to ilili with friends yesterday for a girl dinner. The nomad location is pretty spacious with lots of seating. When you walk in there's a large waiting area and bar. The hostess and staff were very friendly. We ordered a bunch of dips and appetizers to split. About 8 dishes between the four of us was enough. I specifically loved the falafel and pumpkin kibbeh. My only con was that it was very loud in there I felt like I had to yell a bit for my friends to hear me. Other than that would love to go back to try more things! read more

Cute and cozy bar area with a cool vibe. The labneh and hummus were both fresh and tasty--definitely hits the spot as tasty starters or snacks. The other food wasnt as memorable. Nice place to relax and enjoy some good dips! read more

This is quite popular and busy Middle Eastern/Lebanese place in NoMad. We came early and sat in the lounge area for drinks and small plates/mezza. It was fairly quiet for a while, but then the noise level was going up and up. Difficult to talk. The atmosphere and decor are quite pleasant, the service was pleasant and friendly, but slow. Too busy! We did enjoy the food, no complaints whatsoever. We ordered some mezza, appetizers, and few other items to share. Invariably good. The cost was certainly high, as expected. That was my second visit, and I hope to be back and have proper dinner. read more

Came here on a Wednesday night with 2 friends and it is so beautiful and huge inside. My friend is gluten free and our waiter was super attentive to that and even made sure that we could have a halibut dish that was gluten free. We did have to check in to see which dishes are made in a separate fryer and a good amount of them like the falafel and fries are not, so just a note for anyone who is gluten free. We started with the hummus which is absolutely incredible and the labne which I liked but wish had a bit more flavor. The pita is so delicious as well and our waiter brought out veggies for my friend to use with the dips! We also got the falafel which was so delicious with the tahini sauce and the baba ghannouj was one of my favorites! The fattoush was also delicious and refreshing. For our mains, the Halibut that we got gluten free was so fresh and had a delicious sauce. We also got the chicken taouk duo which was good and the mushroom grape leaves which come in a delicious sauces We ended with the candy bar which is an absolute must get! It was decadent but not too heavy. Overall beautiful place, great service and would return! read more

ilili NoMad - Hummus, Labne, Fattoush, Baba Ghannouj, Falafel - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

Came here for the first time in years, and had brunch. The atmosphere is top notch. My french toast was good, I'm not sure I'd order it again but just because I'd go for something savory instead. But service was attentive, not intrusive, and polite. It was nice and quiet to make conversation easy. Will return, this time in less than many years. read more

Food: Food is excellent here! The dips are delicious and so fresh. Pita is served warm with the dips. The Brussels sprout appetizer was a favorite among our group. The grapes add a sweet touch, and the brussel sprouts were cooked perfectly. I would recommend this appetizer if you like brussel sprouts. The shakshouka was average. I would say you can skip this dish if there are others you want to try. The lamb burger was moist and flavorful; it's worth getting! This is an excellent restaurant for Mediterranean food in the city. Everything tastes authentic and delicious. Service: Service was phenomenal here. Our server was constantly available and checking to see if we needed anything. Ambiance: The ambience is very nice here. The restaurant is very large and can accommodate small and large groups up to 10 people. Seating is spacious and comfortable. Overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant! read more

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The restaurant is pretty centrally located on manhattan, the interior ambience is great for dates - low candlelight' romantic vibe. We had reservation and were seated pretty quickly. We ordered three appetizers and one main protein for two people, the portions were decent and didn't finished everything. The dishes were good, nothing too memorable. Would recommend this place more for the ambience than the food. read more

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Great Lebanese food in the city! The food was very fresh and flavorful. Loved the octopus. Probably the best dish. I enjoyed the falafel and all the dips. The pita bread is served hot and fresh. Highly recommend. The service was great! read more