Quick recap: -          Food: Very Good -          Portion size: Average to Large -          Service: Table Service -          Environment: Small NY restaurant with charm -          $: Average -          Perks: Outdoors table Overall? Very good food. Good portion. Nice service. Fairly priced. So why only 4 stars and not 5? Had to wait 1h30 to get our food... For this reason, I cannot give them a 5 star review. More details: We started with tabbouleh ($8.50) and Labneh ($9.50). I LOVE Lebanese bread and was so glad to see that this was not the thick Turkish/Greek pita that came for the apps!! Both were really solid. We were starting off a really strong start. Then we ordered the chicken shawarma platter ($19.50) and the Large Fattoush ($15.50). Everything was very good. A bit of a detail for most diners, but important let-down for me: the vinaigrette of the Fattoush was olive oil + balsamic, when it should have been Olive Oil + Lemon Juice. So that was a bit disappointing, but other than that, the food was tasty and the quantities were good! If they can fix their waiting time, I would DEFINITELY go back! Or maybe just go there when you know you have a lot of time ahead of you, the food is worth it! read more

Salma - Chicken Shawarma Platter ($19.50) & Large Fattoush ($15.50) - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

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this is a must for date night or dinner with friends. they're BYOB as long as you purchase apps or a platter. the food is tasty with large portions and a lot of good choices. the services was great. we sat outside but the inside was also absolutely beautiful. definitely going back! unbeatable prices too. read more

Salma - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

The only thing redeeming about this place was the ambience, the spicy potatoes and the hummus. Decorated in a super cute way with lots of plants and cute lamps, it gives off a very homely rustic vibe. Overall the food could be better! We ordered the chicken and lamb dishes and while the portions were amazingly big, the food could've been seasoned better. The falafel wrap was average and the fries were good but also heavily seasoned. The potatoes were a redeeming quality. Would definitely get the potatoes starters and just enjoy a meal of sides rather than the main dishes. The service was kind of confusing(?). When we sat down the host was definitely trying to rush us to order and kept coming to our table 2-3 times asking us if we're ready. However, our food took a pretty long time after. Our starters arrived quickly but we had finished them and still had to wait a while before our mains came. Although I can imagine they were busy for a Tuesday night, which is understandable, but then don't rush folks to order? read more

Salma - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

My friend and I got the mixed appetizer platter and the lamb platter which was a good portion for the two of us. The mixed appetizer was really nice since we got to try a lot of different foods. My favorite was the eggplant! The lamb platter was also delicious and was tender and flavorful. The rice included with the lamb platter was also a favorite. This restaurant is a bit smaller so it gets pretty busy and full in the evenings, but if you come on the earlier end then you might not have a wait. We came around 6:30 pm on a weekday and were seated immediately, but by the end of our dinner the restaurant was full. Our server was on top of everything and really friendly! read more

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Shish Tawouk (boneless chicken breast cubes) - ugh, it was dry, tough, flavorless. At least it came with side of hot sauce. Hummus Shawarma - hummus with the sauce was good. Love that there's pinenuts. But the meat (beef I think) was so dry, so tough, barely chewable. Fattoush Salad - missing small pita, very basic. read more

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If I could have given 10 stars I would have, but alas I am limited to 5. My fiancée and I found this place on a whim to grab a bite before the Tribeca film festival. I'm confident we picked the best if not one of the best Mediterranean restaurants in the city. We studied the menu before each deciding on kebabs. I got the filet and she got the chicken. Both were phenomenal. I didn't weigh it, but I'd guess there was a half pound of steak in there, big, tender, medium cooked just ever so pink-in-the-middle, juicy chunks of filet. There was some sort of mint and tomato salad inside that I believe is tabbouleh. The chicken was seasoned wonderfully and accompanied by a garlic spread and fries. Considering it's Manhattan, $16 for the chicken and $18 for the steak seemed like a bargain for such high quality food. Oh and the wrap was toasted in a way that it stayed firm and never got soggy. I had this yesterday and woke up thinking about it. It's been a while since I had a meal out that satisfied me this way. read more

"Are we in Lebanon?" While I was disappointed that the hood lost Duck's Eatery, a Southern style restaurant, this is a welcome replacement. Unlike a certain other Middle Eastern restaurant down the street with copious portions. But instead of quantity, this place focuses on quality. Some of the best Middle Eastern I've had in the city. What's to cheer - Great dishes and prepared in the traditional way, from Lamb to tabbouleh, and "cheese cigars" appetizers - Must try the falafel! - The owner is super friendly and has a real passion for food and wine. - BYOB for now - Attractive setting What's to jeer - not much! read more

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I was at this Lebanese spot with one of my groups. They are located pretty close to Au Za'atar and Balade but this is more of a casual setting with less stuff on the menu (especially regarding mezze) but with somewhat similar prices. As this group doesn't tend to share (begrudgingly,) we got separate meals though I would probably recommend getting the mixed platter if you're in a group as it is a much better deal than the rest of the menu. I would describe the service in the most polite sense as gruff. I'm not sure if he woke up on the wrong side of the bed but I didn't find him friendly and we spent a good chunk of change so he could have been a bit nicer. I started with the Batata Harra or fried potatoes with spices which was $11.95. The potatoes had a pretty good fry but they were less spiced then many of the other better varieties I've tried. It was alright and mostly worth it for the price but as noted I've had better. I tried the Foul (or ful medames,) which is more common in Egypt but their version was fine. I also tried the Kibbeh which was fine as well. As I was likely planning on taking leftovers home, I went with the Mixed Grill which had three kabobs for $38.50. This consisted of veal, shish taouk, and kabob halabi which is strange because both the first (veal) and last (halabi) kabobs don't even exist on the rest of the menu. It was served on top of bread and came with some rice, garlic whip (AKA toum,) and some mixed vegetables (which by the photos was a grilled tomato, grilled pepper, and grilled onion.) The veal looked more like lamb though it was less tender. The chicken/shish taouk (or tawook) in the middle was similarly a bit bland needing the toum. The kabob halabi was essentially kofta and was easily the best of the meats being pretty tender and quite flavorful but would just be passable at most other spots. The rice on the side both lacked the golden raisins listed in the photo and was undercooked and rather terrible and the dish also lacked the grilled onion shown in the photo. For around $40, this was not worth it (and frankly laughable with the rice.) I tried the lamb shawarma which was a lot tastier, the lamb kabob which was better (so I guess it was veal,) and essentially gave the rest of my toum to another person who was having a dry shish tawouk wrap. I'm not sure if I caught this place on a bad day but it's hard for me to find anything really positive about this spot at least from what I ordered. The best stuff was only good because the rest was bad and the passable food would be just alright in a good Lebanese spot. I understand if this place was comparatively cheaper than the other sit-down spots nearby but it wasn't. Go to Au Za'atar where the food is just better at a slightly higher price and the service is nicer. I don't get the reviews at all as everything was under-spiced or under-cooked. 2 at best. read more

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Salma is a beautiful, homey restaurant! Went with a few girlfriends to catch up and we had the most amazing experience. We decided to get the Labneh + the Family Grill Platter which came with Fattoush Salad, fries, Pita, and all the meats. Skip the Labneh but the platter is a MUST-TRY! The salad was delicious and it was so fun to try all the various meats - all juicy, tender and so flavorful! The staff was very kind! You can tell they take pride in their restaurant and customer satisfaction. P.S. it's BYOB! They don't sell alcohol but you can bring your own read more

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My husband and I had the pleasure of dining here last night and had the most wonderful experience. First off, the kitchen was closed and the owner Abu Yosef so kindly still allowed us to dine there. He did not rush us and went over the menu with attention to detail. The menu is as good as it gets and offers something for everyone. I have severe food allergies and the kitchen accommodated without hesitation or fuss. This is much appreciated as other restaurants in the city would not be able to accommodate me. These guys are experts and each plate came out with love and authenticity. Being from the Middle East and having mom's food, I usually don't come across true authentic middle eastern food. But Salma delivers! It's exactly how my mom cooks and the real deal. They pour flavors and innovative dishes out there for us to enjoy. Each dish from the fattoush to the mixed platter had a story to tell-and was a true culinary celebration of staple Lebanese dishes with a tint of modernism. Fresh ingredients, master chefs and the most perfect Owner-we feel we hit the lottery stumbling across Salma. I could eat here every week-and I hope I do. It's healthy, absolutely delish and affordable--what are you waiting for! Stop by for a bite or stay for a feast. You will leave with a happy face and tummy! Thank you Abu Yosef for sharing your kitchen and recipes with us! Lucky to have amazing restaurants to enjoy like Salma. read more

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I got some food from Salma togo, and unfortunately got food poisoning from it. I got the mixed grill platter and I'm guessing it was the lamb that gave me food poisoning. The lamb was a little red in the center, so perhaps it wasn't fully cooked. It was also extremely tough and chewy, even before the food poisoning I wasn't enjoying the lamb much. read more

Salma - Mixed Grill Platter - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

We came in as a big party on a Friday night and it was packed. Definitely make reservations. The place is a cute tiny restaurant, so definitely call for reservations ahead of time. We had a miscommunication with the server and Pierre accommodated and was more than happy to make things right. (Lots of respect for restaurant owners who make their customers happiness a priority). All the appetizers were delicious! The cheesy roll (forgive me I forgot the name) was similar to flaky crispy mozzarella sticks. The meats were savory and had lots of flavor. Overall such a great spot for snacks and food. **best of all, it's BYOB. With EV being a dominant drinking place, it's a great spot to pregame with a bit of food. read more

Salma - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Thank you for all the team at Salma (zaytouna bay) A very good service during a pick time Ramadan Iftar. Very good taste for the Food. i liked the ambiance. Thank you for Khaled who was serving us and For all the team read more

Last minute cancellation resulted in walk in to Salma. Without scanning the menu I was pretty confident to try some mezze and a main to share. We got Kibbeh and humus which were great especially the kibbeh which were crisp bite size and tasty. We almost ordered another set!! After starters came shish tawook and falafel platters, both with rice, pita, fresh herbs and plenty of red onions and garlicky toum. We tore thin pita up to make our own wraps with shish stuffed with vegg and bathed in toum. Will have to come back and taste shawarma and mixed grill as recommended by staff. read more

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Wow. One of the best meals I've had in the city in a while. The family platter for 4 was more than enough food for a group of 5. The proteins (chicken, beef, lamb chops) were so flavorful and juicy. The veggies and the salads were also very fresh. There is a bit of a wait here despite having a reservation. But, it was worth the wait! read more

Salma - Family Mixed Grill Platter - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

If you're craving authentic Lebanese food - you have to go to Salma. This cute little restaurant whips up some delicious food. Service is friendly and speedy. The kibbeh were by far some of the best I've had. The mint lemonade was freshly made and so refreshing on a hot NYC day. The kebabs were honestly so good. Ordered the lamb and fillet mignon kebabs to share. You know it's a good meal when you don't even speak, just eat. The garlic sauce that comes with it is to die for. I wish I had a tub of it at home to put on everything. We even had leftovers and those honestly tasted just as good, if not better the following day. I can't wait to go back here and try more menu items! read more

So I I had a delivery from here. I do not know how they're still in business! I know Lebanese food from around the world. This is American microwaved shit read more

Salma - This was supposed to be lamb Shawarma. No fixings whatsoever dry dead over cooked unidentifiable meat. - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Lots of mediocre dishes but some tasty ones too. Maybe a bit too pricey for what you can get in Astoria (bz grill for example). Service was mostly warm and attentive, although at peak hours (6pm and onward), it can get a little slow, especially if you're trying to close out. The pitas, although they were served warm, suffered from a cardboard texture just 5 minutes after hitting the table. Since I eat them with every dish, I was disappointed by this. And even at its freshest, this pita was a little flat and dense. We only ordered 2 dishes, but the chicken shish tawouk was my by far my favorite. It was fairly juicy, with nice grill marks. It also came with very seviceable french fries (light on grease and batter, which is a plus) and flavorful toum sauce (although it doesn't hold a candle to Shukette's toum. We also had the appetizer platter. This was fairly underwhelming in comparison, even though it was recommended by Robert Sietsema from Eater (0/2 on his recommendations recently). The hummus had a nice, clear chickpea flavor and was topped with olive oil and whole chickpea. The stuffed grape leaves were good; filled tight, with enough acidity. The kibbeh plus garlic sauce was the best part of this platter (served hot, with a light shell, and tightly filled). The salad was fine, but the msakaa was underwhelming (there was no clear flavor coming through). read more

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The one star is for the service. I called to ask if there were any tables since it was all booked online, the lady was very nice. I come in expecting way better. As a Lebanese person who's family makes these all at home. I was extremely disappointed. We ordered the mixed appetizers and 2 platters of the mixed grills. Before i started eating I took pictures thinking it would taste better than it looks. Ok.. first off the hummus is canned hummus. The hummus that comes from a can, the fatuous tasted like straight pomegranate sauce. I guess they forgot the olive oil salt, fresh lemon and fried pita on top. Because of how sour it was after eating some, i felt like i had acid reflux from it. The kibbeh was decent but burnt, the falafel was beige inside. I have never seen that in my life, good falafel is green on the inside because of the fresh parsley they put in. The wara enab , old and is 100% canned. We sent most of this to the garbage. The minute the meat platters came the smell just screamed nasty. The meat pieces were so hard to bite into and had a metal taste. I bite into the chicken and i can hear a crunch, I let the waitress know it was raw and asked her to take it away. Even the kofta kebab was red inside, meaning it was not cooked enough. Come here if you want food poisoning and to throw up all night. The best thing on the menu is fries. Wallah worst restaurant I've ever been in. Disappointed Lebanese here and will never return read more

Salma - Reciept we paid in cash? - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

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The waitress was friendly and attentive, but the wait for food was ridiculous: 30 minutes for some "parsley" salad, then another 20 minutes for "fava bean" salad with a weird smell. The worst was the "chicken" wrap, which was mostly soggy French fries with a few pieces of chicken and rice. The steak was good and a nice exception. Nonetheless, the $97 bill, not including the tip, was ridiculous. It's a shame because I was here last year and the place was excellent. They kept the doors closed, but there was no A/C despite the 90+ temps outside. We asked for outside seating, but they said that was only available on certain days. read more

The only time I really enjoyed the whole kebab. The meat was great and juicy. The garlic butter was great. The dessert was very special read more

Salma - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

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We went on a Monday around 6:15 and definitely no need for reservations. A group of 6 even walked in too. The place wasn't too big but it wasn't crowded. Around 7pm it was about 60% full inside the restaurant. They also don't have good ac, I was close to sweating while dining. It was a really humid and hot day and they kept the door open with a portable ac that was trying its best. We got the lamb platter (a little over $20) and the eggplant appetizer dip (a little under $10) which came with pita too. The eggplant dip was really good though and so was the lamb platter. The meat was cooked well and the yogurt sauce and veggies (roasted tomatoes and onion) helped so that it wasn't dry. The yellow rice with golden raisins that came with the platter was delicious! Come Again? Maybe, the food was pretty solid but there might be better places especially around the area in the east village. read more

Salma - @eatingsfrom - lamb platter - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

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If you're looking for healthy and delicious food that's also reasonably priced, this is your go-to spot! FOOD QUALITY: My friend and I ordered the mixed appetizer platter, the kafta kabab, knafeh, and fresh teas. We were pleasantly surprised by how much flavor everything had! (And we got cute tea cups.) AMBIANCE: Despite going on a busy Friday night, the service was quick. We ended up skipping going out with friends that night to fully enjoy the meal (and 3 pots of tea that left us VERY hydrated) and I have zero regrets. Salma's decor and live plants give the restaurant an open, almost home-like feel to it. WILL RETURN: The owner shared that he had a restaurant in Lebanon, which explains why this place is such a success. Little did I know that my vacation to NYC would have me fall in love with Lebanese food and culture! I'm absolutely returning next time I'm in town. read more

Salma - knafeh (pro tip -- eat while it's warm!) - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Great spot for authentic Mediterranean food , service and ambiance are great ! My second visit there didn't go wrong. Make sure u try Kenafeh for breakfast or desert! read more

Came on a Monday with a reservation, which was great because it got pretty busy. Delicious food, everything from the drinks to starters to platters was fantastic! Really nice service, great vibes, can't wait to come again! read more

Salma - Shish Tawouk Platter, lamb kabab platter, Hummus - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

Ate here a few times when they had a B health rating. Food was always good & portion sizes are generous. However, the last time my boyfriend and I ate there (about 4 months ago), we both got food poisoning. just walked by & saw they now have a C health rating.... read more

A reservation was made for this restaurant 6 days in advance through Yelp. We showed up to the restaurant at the appointed time only to be to told the restaurant no longer accepts reservations made via Yelp and there were no tables available. We left. Whose fault is this? Yelp for not letting us know the restaurant does not use Yelp? The restaurant for not honoring a reservation made? From my point of view both are at fault. In any case we will not be returning to this restaurant ever again and will not use Yelp to make reservations in the future. read more

Had a top notch lunch at Salma last weekend...the service was excellent and friendly, the food was delicious, and the prices were reasonable. I highly recommend the Mskaa, Mjaddara, Batata Harra, and my husband liked the Shish Tawouk wrap. We also ordered the Warak Enab and while the flavor was good the consistency was a bit hard. I wouldn't order that again. The kind owner gave us a carrot juice on the house as well which was so nice and welcome on a hot day. We'll definitely return! read more

Ordered on Uber eats. Did the BOGO deal for the filet sandwich. It was pretty good. Will get it again. Delivery- did not follow all directions on order but overall it came out ok. Would order the sandwich again. Great for a Quick meal. Also ordered the eggplant dip - it was not anything to write home about. So def skip that if you're eyeing it. read more

This place is incredible!! Easily the best Leabnese food I've had in the city, also some of the best falafel. The owner is incredibly friendly, the service is great, food is super fresh and everything was delicious, it's great value, and we got sooo much food for the money. The restaurant itself is super cozy and charming - great place for grabbing dinner with a friend, a group of friends, or a date. Mixed appetizer platter - this was a great way to sample everything. The falafel and kebbeh were especially standout. I'm not kidding when I say this is some of the best falafel I've had in NYC!! Family mixed grill - every single thing on this platter was a hit, but I especially liked the shwarma lam & chicken and lamb chops. The mixed grill was $88 and easily fed our group of 5 people (with leftovers). Tea - not sure what kind of tea this was, but it was really good! read more

Salma - Family mixed grill. So much food and everything was incredible! - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

I had such a lovely experience at Salma! I met up with a friend for brunch on a rainy Saturday afternoon and lingered for far too long waiting for the rain to dissipate. The service and food were great. We ordered the appetizer platter to share and I had a lamb shawarma. Everything was super fresh and halal. We had the pleasure of meeting the owner, who made sure we enjoyed everything we ordered and was willing to switch dishes if we were even the slightest bit unsatisfied. Luckily, we were happy with what we ordered. I'd definitely come back to try more! read more

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For people open to new and unexpected flavors, prepare to be impressed with this charming little oasis not too far from Union Square. The fattoush salad was just delectable, as was the pepper spread, but plenty of dishes for meat loving friends as well. read more

The food is absolutely nothing special. Chicken was not consistent (parts were dry), pita was same. Service was fine.

Tried this place for the first time today and I absolutely loved it. Coming from a Lebanese background I always judged Lebanese restaurants a little harder the the rest of the cuisines but this place did not disappoint! The ambience was warm and cozy with plenty of cool art and plants around. We had a very diverse order and each dish had unique flavor to it. The fattoush salad was light and refreshing, the hummus was smooth and authentic, the chicken had the perfect blend of char and juiciness to it, and the knefe just melted in my mouth. Phenomenal service, will definitely be back for more read more

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We came back on July 19 and shared a hummus , a labneh bel toum yoghurt and a shish tawouk to share. The shish tawouk is so good that we ordered another to go. The humus and yoghurt are very good too and the pita bread that came with the hummus is unbelievably good. Best middle eastern food in tri-state in my experience. read more

Salma - Grilled platter, lamb, chicken, sausage - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

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I came to Salma earlier this month on opening week. They were so new they didn't have everything on the menu quite yet, BUT I can assure you, I ordered many things, too many for only two of us! And everything was delicious. Pierre, who helms both the business ops and the kitchen, ensures we lucky New Yorkers get an authentic beirut bistro experience, even importing the knafeh dessert from his home country, which I'm still waiting to try. Saving that for Round 2 :). He and Debby really took the time to not only ensure our food was delivered to us in a timely manner, they also offered a few things on the house and genuinely engaged in conversation with us. I greatly appreciated that human to human cultural connection. You could tell they are just good people, incredibly hospitable. I have tried most of the Lebanese options in the city from Ilili, Naya Express, Au Zataar, Balade, Manousheh to Naya Mezze Grill, and this straddles a nice middle ground. Yummy, homestyle cooking in a casual but comfortable setting. Well portioned and price accessible to all. Well worth sitting down and dining there for if you've got time to kill. I'm not sure what the vibe is in the evenings or when/if they will get a liquor license but I could see this as a casual day date place. Or just come alone! You will be in good company :) read more

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Been here a few times and it never disappoints. We shared everything with foul, mutabal and a kebab platter. The owner was super accommodating, switching our lamb to beef because someone couldn't eat lamb. Everything came out perfectly seasoned and the meat were tender. I also recommend getting their tea, they use really good lose leaf tea in a big tea pot, perfect for sharing! I personally recommend getting a pot of black tea and another pot of mint and mix them together! read more

Lacked flavor. Service was very good though. We were hungry and ordered a lot of food so we were pretty disappointed.

Absolutely loved this place! Came by for lunch and had a fantastic meal. The owner is incredibly friendly, the atmosphere is warm and lovely. We sat outside, comfy chairs for outdoor seating, but can't wait to sit in the cozy inside next time. The labneh is amazing (but I'm a sucker for labneh in general), and the chicken shawarma is unreal. Pro tip, bring cash if you can! They take cards, but the owner offered a discount for cash since the processing fees are so high (don't know if that'll last forever but seems like it helps everyone to pay cash). I loved Duck's Eatery, but I'm thrilled the space is being run by this fabulous new place and I hope they stick around! read more

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Place was cute, it's a BYOB so that's nice, unfortunately the food was simply ok. I've had better shawarma from a food truck. Maybe if there weren't so many good reviews I wouldn't have been disappointed. read more