I have notoriously referred to the Upper East Side as a "food desert." Well actually I haven't, as…read moreI always paraphrase Anthony Bourdain who called it a "food wasteland." This way, anyone who disagrees with me is really disagreeing with Big Tony. It's a great way to grab the head-turning polarization of a hot take, but without any of the personal responsibility. A way to say something controversial without saying anything at all. A genius chess move to be sure, but complete and utter RAT behavior. I say this, my dear reader, as a reformed rat. All this to say, I recently moved to the UES and have been desperately trying to prove Big Tony wrong. One of my big bros recommended Chamoun's way, saying it's one of his favorite takeout spots in the city. I've been desperate for a decent, non-slop bowl takeout restaurant up here so I went the next day. I walked into a clean hole in the wall, and was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of choices on the menu, but ended up going with the Chamoun's healthy bowl ($14.99) and some grape leaves. After 1 bite my faith in the good lord, and in the Upper East Side, were restored. The chicken and rice were both phenomenal, but the veggies were really what showed out. The turnip pickles and jalapeno peppers were clearly fresh, which leads me to believe everything coming out of here is fresh. It felt like I was eating the home cooked meal of someone's Lebanese granny. The grape leaves were also clearly just wrapped, as the rice inside was warm with the leaf being room temp. You gotta respect this attention to detail. I've already been back a few times since, and it is my new goto takeout spot in all of NYC. I'll probably get it again tonight. BIG SHOUTOUT TO CHAMOUN FOR SHOWING ME THE WAY! IG @johnny.novo Tiktok @jnov__ Substack @johnnynovo

Such an amazing place for a quick bite at lunch time!…read more My wife works at MSK and I work from home nearby, so we always meet here for lunch. She always gets a falafel wrap, "their way", and I always get the beef shawarma rice bowl with extra garlic dip. The food is ok. It doesn't blow you away, but it is authentic Lebanese. That being said, I don't even care what the food tastes like because the servers are SO nice! When I bring my kids, they always leave with some free french fries. If I show up after the lunch rush, the owner is always around and asks me how I'm doing. When I get up after eating and start cleaning my table, the owner always just shows up behind me and amicably tells me to leave, and he will clean the table himself. You will always be greeted with a smile here, treated respectfully, and leave well-nourished. I wish nothing but success for this place!

This place is absolutely amazing. The second you walk in, the employees make you feel welcome…read more We started with the hummus and mixed dips with warm pita bread--absolutely delicious. You can tell immediately that everything is fresh. For the main course, we had a platter that came with steak, chicken, and lamb chops, and everything was cooked to perfection. The flavors and seasoning were top-tier. For dessert, we had the warm baklava, which was absolutely delicious with every bite. If you have kids, don't worry--they also have an appetizer that's similar to a mozzarella stick that was absolutely delicious. I just can't remember the name of it! They play all types of music, and even though the space is big, the personal and intimate connection with the employees is what really made the experience special. The manager, Joselyn, was incredibly warm and welcoming. Our waitress, Vivian, was on top of every single request. Bravo! I only wish I had been able to meet the chef because I would personally shake their hand. The food was truly amazing. This is definitely a place where you could throw a birthday party, have a professional dinner, or simply enjoy a beautiful night out with your wife. It has all the qualities of a great restaurant, and I feel like NYC is starting to lose sight of that kind of hospitality. Eating here honestly reminded me of my travels to Egypt. The hospitality was A1. BRAVO! And I can't forget the bartender--he definitely knows what he's doing!

Always on the hunt for a tasty kebab! Checked out Au Za'atar with some friends, and we shared the…read morespicy hummus, fattoush salad, and their mixed grill platter. The spicy hummus isn't spicy (unless you keep eating it repeatedly on its own, at which point there may be a very mild spice building up in the back of your throat but nothing crazy). Now it may not be very spicy, but it is damn well one of the best hummus I've had because it was so velvety smooth and perfectly pureed with that fragrant nuttiness (hence why I was devouring it on its own at a certain point). The mixed grill platter is a good plate to share because it has a variety of meats like chicken and ground beef - beautifully roasted and so juicy. Personally wish it could come with rice instead of fries, but that's just a preference. Fattoush salad really complemented the whole meal with its fresh greens and tangy acidity to balance the creaminess of the hummus and savoriness of the kebabs. With good service and a cozy rustic interior, I'd recommend Au Za'atar as a solid spot for Middle Eastern cuisine :)

Their design choices show the same care as their cooking. All parts create a cohesive whole. Staff…read moremembers provide outstanding, speedy attention with incredibly delicious food. They balance reliable cooking with friendly interactions. Only good things experienced.

The quality here establishes what excellence should mean. You'll feel welcome in every corner. This…read morerestaurant delivers on flavor, fair prices and attentive staff. Employees here know how to make customers feel welcome. I'll definitely return, impressive quality.

Our party of 7 tried a number of mezze and platter dishes and there were plenty of vegan options…read morefor our vegan in the group to select from. Among everything we ordered included hummus and spicy hummus - both bowls were scraped clean, it was soooo good -- plus moussakaa, falafel, and cauliflower mezzes. Everything was delicious! I had the lemon sole, which could've done with a lot less salt, but the whole dish was delicious and I left nothing behind (except for some bones). Our dinner was made all the more memorable by our waiter who was funny/super nice! Knowing it was my birthday, once dinner was over, out came a birthday torch and accompanying baklawa w delicious cotton candy topping (on the house, which was a nice surprise). Two others celebrated their birthdays there while we were there, so it's quite popular for birthday celebrations. I look forward to returning some day soon, and I will recommend this restaurant to my friends.

3.5 stars, a beautiful dimly lit dining room and huge no less. There are a few steps walking up to…read morethe dining area. Great for groups of all sizes, reservations suggested but on this weekday visit, it was not too busy. We had a resy any way. Service was fair. Our waiter checked in with us once after we ordered and we had to beckon him twice - once for water refill and second for condiments/questions. What I didn't appreciate but understood, since we were two people dining, we got a corner table for two. It was not busy so we asked for the table next to us since we ordered plenty. They did not accommodate us saying they may need it for later. I did not think that was necessary since the place was not busy. This was 6pm on a Wednesday. And to boot, huge dining room - plenty of seating available. This was off putting as we said we ordered plenty. Our plates barely fit and they brought everything almost at once. Onto the food, I may not have ordered their popular dishes but nevertheless, nothing to rave about. Portions were shareable but it was just okay. There was not one stand out dish. I had higher expectations based on other reviews and photos but it was likely what we ordered. This was a vegetarian meal for me since I was dining with a vegetarian. - Moussakaa, this was a very tomato based sauce dish. Fried eggplant and chick peas combined had a nice texture. Mild flavors. - Arayess cheese - sorely disappointed. Very little flavor and I love my cheeses. It needed something to make it more appealing. It literally looked like cheese in a pita. And yes, by description it was. No condiments or side of anything to offset the plating. Visually flat. It could've used a sun dried tomato paste or some acidic side dipping sauce. - Yara Fries - shockingly simple, zaatar and spices. But they didn't put enough. It still looked like regular fries. And by the name, I expected more punch of flavor. It was not there. - Falafel - tricky dish if it's not cooked well. Simple again by name but the ingredients were just mild in flavor. Crunch was perfect. The chickpea, onions, cilantro and garlic was not pronounced. It was ok. Not memorable. - House wine, by the glass, decent and went well with what we ate. Would I return is the question... Likely not. The menu was so promising but nothing to bring me back.

A group of us were here for brunch on a Saturday and we had such a great experience…read more It's a huge beautiful space with both indoor and outdoor seating and we chose to sit indoors. The staff was extremely warm, kind and welcoming and a special shoutout to Irem who was amazing, gave us some great recommendations and took care of us throughout. I went for the $39 prix fixe brunch which is honestly such a great deal and comes with quite a spread. I had the muhammara, hummus, shakshuka and dessert and thoroughly enjoyed my coffee too. We also ordered the tuna Niçoise salad, which is by far the best I have had ever. One of my friends was accidentally served the wrong order and they immediately replaced it with the right one and made her meal completely complimentary, which was such a nice gesture and something we really appreciated. We also loved that nobody was rushing us and we could just sit, chat and enjoy our brunch. Great food, beautiful ambiance, wonderful hospitality and even the restrooms were spotless and very well maintained. Overall such a positive experience and easily a 5/5 for me.

We went for Mother's Day brunch. When we arrived a few minutes early we did have to wait a bit. The…read morerestaurant 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.

Simply some of the best food around - been coming here for years. The owner and all the staff are…read morealso incredibly friendly and are real staples in the community. The hummus, sandwiches, meat pies, rice platters are truly delicious - my family gets tubs of the hummus for many family events. Not to mention all the great sweets like knaffeh they have. Recommend this place in my top 5 spots in Queens for a solid meal while not spending too much. God willing they'll be in Sunnyside for years to come!

Amazing giant chicken shawarma wrap for only $10! The entire length of my forearm - the owner Jason…read moreis so incredibly nice and deserves all the attention he can get on this small Lebanese store! Family-run, and his mother made kechk that he shared with me and my friends too. Very limited seating and best as a grab and go spot - casual and friendly vibes all around! I ended up getting another to take home shortly after finishing one.

Came here twice for happy hour and each time was a great experience. The first time the hostess…read moregave my son a motek car before seating us. He loved sitting in the high seat trying different foods. The place is very busy as their happy specials are very popular. There was a line to get in at the start of happy hour but not to bad. We tried almost all the items on the extensive menu happy hour. There were only 2 I did not like. This was not because they were not good only that they were not my taste. The second time I was told they were cashless when handing in cash. Our server James went above and beyond and took the cash and put it on his card. Did I mention the exception service!!!! The music was very lively. My son loved it. Pro tip. Get the extra bread if you get dips like hummus:) Start ordering your drinks for happy hour as soon as you get there since time is limited:)

Was excited to try Motek finally! I did make a reservation for indoor dining but they told me the…read morewait would be half an hour which was kind of a disappointment given that I arrived on time. I ended up dining outside instead since I did not want to wait. The wait staff were all very kind and helpful with recommendations. The pitas here are definitely the star so I'd recommend getting the hummus or one of the oven pitas. I really enjoyed the French pita as it had a hint of truffle and the potatoes made it interesting. The chicken shawarma was super moist and had a ton of flavor. I liked that they served it with a pita under and with some spiced hummus and salad. Would definitely recommend it!

Got a 2 Good to Go box here. The meal was fine, felt mostly like a hot food bar leftover mix of…read morerice, chicken, and a saucy vegetable medley. Chicken was dry. I kind of wished it would be the juicy rotisserie chicken I read other reviews on. But I also ordered a separate side of hummus and grape leaves and wow, these were delicious. Grape leaves were flavorful and filled with rice and vegetable the guy said, but it felt mostly like rice to me. The hummus was the best thing I ate. 10/10. So creamy, buttery light, almost whipped, so fresh and good! I never want store brand hummus again! $5 for a small, which is quite a big size dish that will last me for days, so 100% worth it. I would get this again. The actual 2 Good to Go platter was not my fave, but I'm so glad I got that hummus and grape leaves. Both were $5 and a big portion, so very good deal. Service was fine. Ambiance is very casual, narrow walkway with the food display on one side and bar stool/counter top on the other side, with a little middle eastern style market and butcher bar in the back.

Al Nour is a small neighborhood ethnic grocery store which sells various middke eastern/south asian…read moreproducts including halal meat. The front of the store is a restaurant with steam trays and kebabs. There are a few counter seats for dine in. We had the steam tray plate which comes with a choice of three dishes. They were ok, would not have it again though since it was a bit bland. Will probably try the kebabs next time. The meat section looks fresh though.

I stopped here for a quick bite & enjoyed it very much- the chicken however was a bit dryer than I…read morewould've liked it to be but it was alright overall. The portion is more than adequate & it's any topping(s) that you want. I also wanted to give a shout out to Lara who is a really sweet employee & deserves all the best.

Fresh Mediterranean food. I opted for the chicken shawarma salad bowl…read more The salad consists of green lettuces and cabbage. I liked the plethora of toppings offered (sumac onions, jalapeños, cucumbers, tomatoes, banana peppers, feta olives and etc). The chicken shawarma was tender and I got a decent sized portion. The toum was garlicky and creamy. I really like the spicy green sauce! A pleasant deviation from C**a! I'll be back.

Food 10/10 Atmosphere 10/10…read moreService 10/10 Everything about this place, including the food, service, the inside decor was amazing. Brunch menu had a little bit of everything, Mediterranean to classic brunch menus. Chai latte was served HOT which was awesome!!

One of my favorite cafes ever! in general I am not a fan of French toasts but I LOVE their…read moreblueberry mascarpone French toast, so delicious! I also tried their Lebanese coffee and the avocado toast and it's soo good! Service is very professional and polite. Beautiful ambiance, modern and cozy. The place has a classy cafe vibe with nice lighting and a cute outdoor seating.