Cafe Mogador has incredible food in both locations, obviously. But the Wythe location in…read moreWilliamsburg is a stand out! It's much more spacious and has indoor/outdoor seating. Great ambiance! This is my staple restaurant that I've been going to for years. It's about time I left a review. It's overdue! My favorite menu is their breakfast/brunch menu. I will continue to frequent this restaurant for good reason.

My friend and I were looking for a quick lunch spot and stumbled across Cafe Mogador! There was a…read morewaitlist as we went around 1:30 PM on a Sunday but we only had to wait about 10 minutes. I ordered the lunch falafel pita with salad and the falafel was perfectly fried and crispy. However, I thought the food overall was a bit bland. I unfortunately wouldn't come back because of that.

The food was amazing. Had the Jerusalem breakfast (formerly known as the Israeli breakfast) and the…read morelamb shawarma terracotta. The lamb was a balance of sweet and savory. The presentation in a terracotta dish with a baked dough cover added to the appeal. Great place for a Friday afternoon celebration with attentive service.

Miriam has always been great, we've been coming here for 4 years, but they keep changing the menu…read more Every time we come now it's different which I understand to a certain extent but we also come for the dishes we love. My husband LOVED the burek, but then they totally changed it and now it's just gone. The food is still delicious, but unpredictable of what we can / will order. The new space is beautiful and open and airy, but sadly the service has dipped. This place used to be almost too fast, we were in and out and we consistently knew we could come here and get out in a very timely manner. But now I literally had to flag down our waitress and I still didn't get her attention, another waitress came over to help us get our check. We also didn't get checked on at all, luckily our food was good and right. The table next to us didn't get greeted for water or anything so they had to flag down the guy delivering food to get a waitress. I thinkkk it may be because the wait staff is servicing here and the location next store but it's really impacted the experience. Totally understand that a lot of places are understaffed, but we've never experienced this before Miriam we love you, but pleaseeeeee stop changing the menu.

Came with a friend to brunch on a sunny Spring day, and the vibes were alive! The pastel colors and…read moreMediterranean flare made the spot feel breezy and easygoing. The brunch menu has a lot of delicious looking options, so my friend and I shared several dishes. We had the mushroom hummus, pistachio sticky bun, kale salad, and Israeli breakfast all to share. It was a wonderful spread and everything was fresh and flavorful - absolutely delectable. Even the sides and breads that came with the Israeli breakfast were wonderfully prepared. Service was quick and the staff were all friendly and attentive. I cannot wait to come back for again brunch and to try their dinner menu!

Stopped by K'far for drinks and the vibe was really cozy and effortlessly cool…read more The My Boy Blue (rye, plum, blueberry, lemon, honey, egg white) was very tasty! Deep purple, silky foam on top and tasted just as good as it looked. Smooth, fruity and perfectly balanced. Had it alongside a glass of Cava which was the perfect pairing. Solid drinks, good energy.

Had an incredible dinner here! I made a reservation on Resy for indoor dining (they have outdoor…read moredining, but I thought it was too cold outside even with heat lamps). It's super cozy inside, and they also give you pillows to sit on. Our server was really friendly and gave us great recommendations. We ordered a few different things to share for our party of two: - Bacon wrapped dates (5/5) so good!!! - Short ribs (5/5) I actually don't usually eat beef but these were so good and not dry. The orzo on the side also balanced it out well. - Kale salad (5/5) This seemed like a simple salad but it was so yummy and dressed well. The pine nuts tasted good with this too! - Vegan fruit sundae (2/5) Sadly this was the only thing that missed the mark. I didn't like the raisins and the almonds didn't really work well with everything but that was just me. The sorbet was also pretty sour. The best thing about this was the white cream on top (it tasted like real cream)

Okay! Came in recently for a cheeky happy hour perusal of the menu. No reservation, just walked in…read moreon a Monday right as they were opening for dinner service and we were seated right away. Drinks were great, nice amount of alcohol in them. We tried many things, would 100% recommend the Patatas Bravas & Brussels. We both enjoyed the Beef Empanadillas but my friend through the Chicken Shawarma sliders were very cilantro forward. Dessert was nice as well, I think the only disappointing item was the Spanish Pitza which we both didn't like. Very nice space, aesthetically pleasing. Can definitely see myself coming back to continue exploring the menu

I've never seen a place where the line of people waiting starts before the place even opens... And…read morefor good reason. The food was extremely tasty. We had the short rib, hummus, the red snapper ceviche, the octopus skewer, and the short rib cure. Everything was absolutely amazing. I'd say the octopus skewer was probably our least favorite. It was crunchy on the outside, but it was a little bit tough and I wasn't too much of a fan of the spread it came on. I probably would've gotten rid of that dish. Great vibe overall. The service was absolutely amazing and kind. I would definitely come back! It's no wonder the lines it's so long even before they open. Totally worth it!

I came here on a sunday evening with a reservation and got seated immediately! We were out in the…read morepatio area which was cute, but extremely loud. Our waiter was super attentive and helped us out with what to pick from the menu. We ordered 4 dishes to share: Whipped ricotta (10/10) we cleaned the plate it was so good Short rib hummus (8/10) really good with a slightly spicy kick to it Mackerel skewer (9/10) this was a special and had really crispy skin. The Aji sauce was also good! Octopus skewer (9/10) perfectly cooked with a nice crisp! We left stuffed and would absolutely come again

Lucky enough to get a reservation for this restaurant while in town for the Holiday weekend…read more The food was excellent. We got the sourdough bread. The whipped ricotta with honey provided a nice hint of sweetness. The Scallop and Hiramasa Crudo were delicious. The Hiramasa is the better of both. For vegetables, the Maitake and Yellow Oyster mushrooms were really meaty. The Broccoli Rabe were charred nicely and the calm was cooked perfectly. From the sea, we got the Octopus and Sword Fish belly. Both were really tender. Would highly recommend both. For the large format, we got the lamb and the trout. Both were once again cooked perfectly. It was a nice end to the meal. For desserts, we got the doughnut, chocolate cake, and a smoke vanilla ice cream. That is definitely a uniques flavored ice cream. The service and food was excellent and I can see why reservations are hard to come by.

Ordered: Iara Cocktail (~$20): Cachaça, Mint, Coconut,…read moreMelon, Green Tea, Gentian Root Hildegard Cocktail (~$20): Bourbon, Fennel, Turmeric, Lemon, Verbena Ginger Foam Hiramasa Crudo (~$20): Finger Limes, Avocado, Dashi Whipped Ricotta Sourdough (~$17): Brown Butter, Honey, Sage Prawns (~$26): Honey Habanero, Pineapple Pico de Gallo Octopus (~$26): Smoked Shallot, Snow Peas, Freekeh Whole Butterflied Trout (~$48): Pil Pil, Harissa, Chermoula Doughnuts (~$16): Cranberry Pomegranate Jam & Crème Fraîche Anglaise Aya's take: Easy 4.5 stars and some of the best elevated seafood you will find in NYC. Theodora needs no introduction and the race to a reservation is proof. I was able to snag a reservation a month before I wanted to visit and opted for the chef's counter as many have recommended. I enjoyed sitting there and watching the controlled chaos in front of us. We were seated right in front of the Josper Mangal and Josper Oven which they use in many of their dishes. It offers the ability to preserve moisture while adding aromatics from the smoke. The Iara Cocktail was beautiful, light in flavor, and refreshing. If you're the type to sip on a cocktail throughout dinner, this is a good one! The Hildegard Cocktail was unified yet you can still taste the ingredients; I particularly enjoyed the Verbana ginger foam. So good! The Hiramasa Crudo was art in food form. A must get from the fresh fish to the citrus flavors to the garnishes. The Whipped Ricotta Sourdough was basically a dessert in the best way. The Sourdough was some of the best I've had and the whipped ricotta was fluffy, rich, and went crazy with the brown butter & honey. The Prawns were unbelievably delicious; I genuinely could've eaten 10 of them. It was smoky with a charred exterior and a clean, tender interior. The Pineapple Pico de Gallo was bright and tropical. The Whole Butterflied Trout was fantastic. The trout was buttery, moist, and so light. I can't decide if I liked the Harissa or Chermoula more. The skin got beautifully crisp from the Josper Mangal while retaining the tenderness on the inside. I wish we ended the meal there because this is where we lose the half star. The Octopus wasn't hot in temperature when we received it and it didn't have that smoky/char flavor like with the Prawns. There was also some flavor that was a bit off-putting I couldn't quite recognize. The Doughnuts were also pretty basic. They're essentially 4 doughnut holes at ~$4 each - an easy skip, in my opinion. All in all, Theodora is doing something special and is already booked & busy. If you snag a reservation, definitely go and thank me later!

Went to Sawa for dinner with a group of six on a Friday night, and it was a great dinner. When you…read morewalk in, you are immediately greeted by a giant oven baking fresh pita as well as an open kitchen. There is also an outdoor dining area, as well as a mid-sized dining room and we were seated near the window. Sawa serves Lebanese cuisine with some more modern dishes. Additionally, they have a mostly Lebanese wine list, which gave us an opportunity to try some new wines. We ordered both a red and a white for the table, and I was especially drawn to the red, as the red was served chilled, light-bodied, and very enjoyable. Nearly all of the reds and whites on the menu are from Lebanon, with just one red from Morocco, plus a couple sparkling options from Lebanon as well. We started with several dips for the table: hummus, baba ghannouj, and muhammara. The hummus was incredibly smooth, and the muhammara was especially flavorful with large pieces of walnut throughout. Everyone at the table receives fresh pita, and we ended up ordering a few more to share. We also shared the Brussels sprouts and the snap peas. The Brussels sprouts were rich and flavorful, but the snap peas really stood out. They were unlike anything I have tasted before, intensely mint, served with garlic mint labneh, and very delicious. For mains, we focused on lamb: two orders of the lamb ribs, two orders of the kafta, and two orders of the sfeeha. We probably over-ordered by about one entrée, but otherwise it was the right amount of food for six people. The lamb ribs were phenomenal, fall-off-the-bone tender and packed with flavor. The lamb pies were also very good and came with a delicious dipping sauce. The kafta was good, though not quite as memorable as the other lamb dishes, but still very satisfying. Service was attentive throughout the meal, and despite the number of dishes on the table, the staff handled everything smoothly. The table got a little crowded at times, but it was manageable. I would absolutely recommend Sawa, especially for anyone who enjoys trying something a little different. They do classic Lebanese dishes very well, while also offering some creative dishes that feel unique and memorable. I am already looking forward to going back.

Great place. Good food with great service. Cozy atmosphere…read more A great place to share multiple dishes to try. Gets pricey, but worth trying

Amazing Israeli food located on the roof of The Hoxton Hotel in Williamsburg. The location provide…read morefantastic views of Manhattan (go at sunset). The food and service were both top notch. The space itself is huge with an open kitchen and chill vibes. You can order a la carte, but might as well do the prix fixe. For $50-$59 per person, you get unlimited salatim which included some of the most delicious hummus, babaganoush, potatoes and 8 other options along with unlimited house made pita served warm and a meat option. I went with Lamb & Beef Koobideh which was so good. You end with brown sugar soft serve ice cream for dessert! Cocktails were great especially the No Big Dill (ford's gin, herb infused vermouth, olive oil vodka, cucumber). Reservations are a must! Go!!!

I visited this Israeli spot for lunch with a few others a while back. As others have mentioned,…read moreyou're partially paying for the very nice view, and since it's a hotel restaurant. It was a bit warm at our table, and the friendly staff moved us to a cooler area. To drink, I ordered the Wolf's Fang for $18, a blend of rums, falernum, arak, passionfruit, orange, and oat milk. As described, it was their take on a milk punch, and wasn't too sweet with a bright hint of citrus. I would recommend it. The hummus was good, being thick with a strong tahini flavor, though I have preferred others. Outside of the hummus, the daily salatim included a mix of mostly pickled items. First, there was some pickled cauliflower and carrots with a bit of turmeric. The second salatim was a more unique and spicier pineapple slaw, which was refreshing, and had some herbal flavor from parsley or something similar. The third was a cabbage slaw, which was alright, as I found it a bit too lightly seasoned. The last was a mix of cucumbers, olives, and other pickles, which was standard and tasty. Alongside all of this, the pita was warm and fresh, and the staff refilled everything when we asked. For the main course, I chose the Steak Shashlik, which they spell as shishlik, for $46, which came with tahini and some pickled onions. The steak was tender and well seasoned, and the tahini added a distinctive nuttiness. I especially enjoyed making a mini sandwich with the steak, tahini, pineapple pickle, and pita. Others at the table ordered the Spicy Lamb Kofta and other shashlik options, including Chicken and Trout. In terms of sides, someone got the $15 Fries with tahina ketchup, which they enjoyed. Overall, everyone enjoyed their meal, with no one ordering dessert as a few walked over to the tasty Bertoni Gelato nearby. This place is a tad expensive, but I wouldn't mind going back. Even as a fan of pickles, I wish the salatim were a bit more varied, such as including an eggplant or bean-based mezze. I presume the dinner version is a bit more varied, as there are many more salatim, but they should put a bit more effort into the lunch one as well.

This is an amazing Palestinian restaurant with great ambiance and relaxing decor. It feels like…read moreyou're in a different with all of the faux greenery and murals. We got the Mezze Filistini which is a mix platter of hummus, babaghanoush, muhammarah, tabbouleh, salata tahuna, and labneh. Truly delicious, highly recommend!

Truly a stunning Palestinian Restaurant on Atlantic avenue that has fresh, flavorful food, and is…read moreBYOB. On your table is zaatar and olive oil upon arriving. It feels like an indoor garden in the restaurant. Piping hot bread appears quickly. All the food is stellar, the portions are really big! The labneh was just absolutely amazing, the meat pie was too good to be true, and the lamb dishes are all fantastic! Don't walk away without halloumi though. Make this an afternoon, go for lunch, go to Sahadi's next door afterwards for some at home staples, and enjoy. Everyone is kind here, it's child friendly - it's a gem!

This gem in Brooklyn shouldn't be hidden. We had a group of 8 where a third of the party were…read moretoddlers and we were treated with so much care. The service was impeccable, understanding and kind. Now to the food,...chefs kiss. The bread Bastien was warm and soft. The grilled calamari is definitely an appetizer must. But the biggest surprise was the fried liver bites. I couldn't get enough of it. The seasoning, the juiciness, the joy it brought me was unexpected and highly appreciated. Not a fan of the fried calamari but the rest of the adult at my table liked it...to each is own. I didn't get a chance to enjoy my main course because the kids started getting rowdy but the rest of my party ate their meals and couldn't stop raving about the food. Was a little disappointment the almond pudding wasn't one that menu anymore. I really wanted to try it, but the tiramisu was delicious and the whipped cream with pistachio was light and delightful. I didn't get to take any pictures but I would definitely go back the next time I'm in Brooklyn.

We stopped into Tava around 3 in the afternoon for a late lunch. The restaurant was nearly empty at…read morethat hour and we received lots of great attention from the staff. The ambience is comfortable. The tables are a comfortable distance apart, something you don't often find in places in Brooklyn. We sat down and our server promptly offered us water and menus. It was one of the really cold day in early February and I ordered Lentil soup. It really hit the spot-both nice and warm and tasty. My wife and I shared the other dishes that included a superb mixed appetizer plate with really delicious baba ghanoush, humus, labneh and other middle eastern delights. The grilled calamari was a really nice surprise. We typically order fried calamari, our server suggested the grilled. The calamari was tender, sweet and truly delicious. Finally, we shared the Mediterranean sea bass that was also excellent. The fish was very good with a wonderful light sauce. All around a wonderful experience at a reasonable price.