Cannot rave about Shalel enough. This was the ultimate find. We came here solely based on the ambiance, which was uniquely romantic - photos do not do justice, this place is simply beautiful. We sat next to the waterfall, which was so tranquil. Next, let's move onto the foooood. Oh my oh my, new favorite spot alert!!! I took a bit into the Angelo's Pizza Bianca (truffle oil and chopped pistachios!) and was on cloud 9. I'm a pizza junkie and this was, hands down, a 10/10. Get it with a side of the pomodoro sauce if you're like me and can't decide between a white or red pie. The service was also impeccable. We spent about 2.5 hours here for dinner on an off night and our waitress was so attentive and sweet. Since we're not in the city too often, I typically don't like to visit the same restaurants twice, but this will definitely be the exception - amazing experience, can't wait to come back! read more

Shalel - Pistachio pizza. Best. Thing. Ever. - Moroccan Near Me - New York, New York

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Perfect for a date night, very intimate and cozy. Very friendly staff and amazing food! I can't wait to go back read more

Shalel - Moroccan Near Me - New York, New York

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Shalel is such a special place. The candle-lite atmosphere is unique with it's cozy little nooks hiding away small dinner parties or intimate partners. We sat in the back next to the mini-natural(ish) waterfall with its soothing trickle. Their menu has a vast selection of tempting options. We ordered three entrees plus a mezze and salad all to share. Every bite was fantastic. The chicken kababs were tender and delicious, especially with the house-made tzatziki and za'atar flatbread. The lamb tagine was a blast full of spices, flavors, and textures. The mushroom risotto was just spectacular. We also enjoyed the za'atar flatbrad. I wish it had much more za'atar, but the bread was fresh and perfectly cooked with both crunchy and chewy parts. Plus, the fattoush salad was refreshing. Be sure to make reservations since it's a small space. If all that weren't enough, the ekmek kataif dessert (phyllo pastry, sweet cream, and honey) was perfection. The peach bellini was good; however, I wish there was more peach! read more

Horrible Hole in the basement !! Scary decor: bare rocks walls, curtains between tables, old chipped tables tucked in the corners, Service extremely mediocre: they don't even change silverware between courses Waiters wear black scrubs usually worn in the hospital operating rooms, so you can not tell it's cleanliness Food is unpalatable: over salted, frozen and reheated fish, grilled meat is not really grilled ! STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE !!! read more

This place is an absolute gem - a dining experience so very different than any other place I've been to in UWS. I've had my eye on this place since we moved to the neighborhood [it can be missed as it's underground and entrance is off Columbus], so when I heard NYC was instating an outdoor dining/takeout/delivery-only ordinance beginning today, 12/14 - I HAD to get my boyfriend to join me for an unregrettable, very spaced, indoor dinner in their restaurant which resembles the Andalusian caves of Southern Spain. Service and staff was fantastic and welcoming, like family; the food came out quickly/appropriately [even though they removed one of the sparkling bottled waters from our tab when they thought it had been too slow without us saying a thing], coursed correctly and the server provided just the right amount of 'table-touching'. BUT, I know what you're thinking, "hey, didn't you say that they're outdoor/takeout/delivery only right now?" - yes, reading your mind is a perfect transition to my review of the food. Cliffs Notes: Just really damn good, all of it. Here's a rundown. Hot Mezze: * Mushroom Saganaki - delicious, but rich, if you are easily turned off by the ooey gooey goodness of melted cheese, with meaty, yet tender mushrooms, and a surprise of pomegranate arils, then this is not for you. * Jamon Serrano Croquetas - SOO glad we got these, legit spanish jamon not that cheap ham you find in some of these and a hearty portion of it in the croquetas - these have a kick given the serrano, served with an awesome aioli * Braised Spanish Octopus - really tender Octo and potatoes, in a delicious broth, that we wish we would have saved for our pita later As Main: * Chopped Israeli + Chicken - certainly a dinner-sized portion with moist, seasoned chicken similar to that which is on the chicken kebab * Yogurt Marinated Chicken Kebab - the sautéed red peppers almost outshone the rest of the dish because they were THAT good; chicken, rice, the whole shebang was great - a safe option but done right IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE, READ THIS: Restaurants' primary role is to provide excellent food at a good value, this place checks that box. But they also provide a place for an excellent first [or 401st] date, a place to explore new tastes with friends/family, a place to create memories - so please help to support this restaurant during these new restrictions so that you can have the pleasure of making memories in its indoor dining space once it's back. read more

Me and my wife visit the Shalel Lounge every year for our anniversary. She's from Greece, and often craves good Mediterranean food. This one is her favorite. And let's not forget the outstanding service and romantic, mystic ambiance at this hidden jam. Highly recommend. read more

We had a delicious and authentic meal. The restaurant is in a very cool and intimate setting with a cozy feel.

Loved Shalel!!! From the decor to the service to the food to the wine to the dessert to the pot of mint tea!!! No complaints whatsoever! I felt like I was in a riad in Marrekesh. You should definitely opt for main dining area when booking your reservation. My friend and I had a spacious booth that could easily seat 8 people all to ourselves. Granted we did book for 5:30pm but we were there until 9::30pm and did not feel rushed at all. I will DEFINITELY return. Order whatever tickles your fancy, you won't be disappointed! I can speak personally for the chopped israeli salad, braised octopus, prawn cigars, and warm date tart. My friend loved her chicken tagine and said "did they put a whole chicken in here?!" read more

We had a really delightful experience here the other evening, when we stopped in for a few mezze before a movie. The Israeli salad, gambas al ajillo and meatballs were all really delicious. The ambiance was lovely and intimate, and the service was great. We will definitely be back! read more

Ooh so datey, definitely a place to take your better half no doubt. Super dark basement in the Upper West Side that has a real datey and intimate ambience to it; they've done a nice job making a good space and serving up good food. Came here not too long ago with my wife; we hardly ever come up this far in Manhattan, but we wanted to change things up in terms of where we go for a date night, and so we heard about Shalel. This place does not disappoint! ASSORTED MEDITERRANEAN: Started with this for an appetizer, full of the normal spreads you'd see in any Mediterranean restaurant (hummus, baba ghanoush, tzatziki, olives). Good way to start the meal. CHICKEN TAGINE: Very earthy tasting due to the ras el hanout. The whole dish packs a punch in terms of flavor. A good amount of chicken on top of a bed of couscous and chickpeas. Really enjoyed this dish because the flavors were so in your face, and that they didn't skimp on the chicken, either. BRAISED SHRIMP: Pasta dish that came with, not just braised shrimp, but BIG braised shrimp. I didn't know shrimp could get that big. Tossed with pasta in a tomato and garlic-based sauce. Hearty dish, for sure. Overall, the food was good, the ambience was dim and ooh-la-la. If you're looking for a date spot in the upper west side, this is certainly a place I'd recommend! read more

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Stunningly intimate vibe and delicious Mediterranean food! The atmosphere here is really remarkable and unique. Start by walking down the staircase with flower petals lining the side. Then enter into the dark dining space, with comfortable lounge seating or close table seats. The smell and calming sound of a waterfall emanates from the background. The underground space really transforms the dining experience. Sit in the lounge by the entrance, or choose a more hidden area in the corner, or right next to the indoor mini waterfall. As for the food, I can highly recommend the lamb meatballs as well as the shakshuka. I'm sure you won't go wrong with any choice. Definitely a good place to bring a date! read more

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Nice ambiance, delicious food. Will be back. Make a reservation in advance. Recommend.

I have to agree with my fellow yelpers, the atmosphere here is very romantic and intimate. My boyfriend took me here for our anniversary about three weeks ago on a Thursday night. The restaurant was full (but not crowded) with other couples and small groups of friends. The soft music and dim lighting (damn near pitch black, had to use our phone lights to read the menu) puts you in a relaxed, sensual mood. Our waitress was kind and friendly, and did not rush us throughout the night. Our drinks and food were EXCELLENT! We did not leave any food on our plates. We had two drinks each, an appetizer, two meals, and two desserts (because we couldn't agree on one lol) for $120. All in all a good place to check out when you are in NYC. read more

Shalel - Romantic ambience - Moroccan Near Me - New York, New York

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I have been dying to come here since I hear about this place a couple of years ago. One I love Moroccan food and two what girl doesn't like romance :) My bf surprised me by bringing me here for dinner on a Friday night. The minute we arrived I was wowed they had rose petals on the steps going down to the restaurant. We entered and sat at the bar to wait for our table, we ordered a couple of cocktails that were not only tasty but had plenty of liquor. We were soon walked to our very private intimate table, we had our own waterfall and our table was full of rose petals and candles (pictures don't do this place justice) We decided to start with the goat cheese/beet salad and a platter of spreads. We couldn't stop eating either since both were amazing and everything tasted super fresh. For my entrée I went with the chicken tagine with couscous and it was great, chicken had a little kick but nothing crazy. The chicken was super tender and the flavors were totally on point. My bf had the chicken kabobs, I had a taste and it was just as great as my dish. We were way too stuffed for dessert, I even had to take most of my chicken home. However I did order some mint tea and it was pretty good. I'm so glad this place was so great and can't wait to come here again. read more

Shalel - Pictures don't do this place justice - Moroccan Near Me - New York, New York

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It has 3 outside seatings underground with heaters, and a cute grocery during this pandemic. This is a true gem, magical underground setting with a romantic ambiance. The owner, from Ereikousa, is very friendly and caring, as are all staff who work here. Food is hearty. We love all different kinds of cheese used in their dishes. Nice wine selection goes well with their dishes. Their warm pitas and olives, curated cold and warm mezze, chicken tagine, lamb tagine,.. so delicious. Our recent discovery was eggplant kefta with kefalotyri cheese: so rich in taste with a right kick of spice, crispy outside. We recommend this restaurant to all my friends. read more

I realize a lot of restaurants are struggling and have had to increase prices but I am disappointed that it costs $18 for a mezze plate of hummus, baba ganoush, harissa and pita. Two drinks, the mezze plate and a sparkling water cost over $70 which even for the UWS is over priced. read more

I've been here twice and absolutely love it. You can't beat this cozy warm atmosphere. And the food is to die for. The lamb kofta tagine was exquisite. read more

Had this place bookmarked for a couple years after I'd read somewhere that it had an unbelievable ambiance and yes, it didn't disappoint in the least on that end. This spot absolutely ooooozes romance with its rose petals, candles, garden-like atmosphere and cozy little nooks in every corner for a very intimate setting. Perfect date spot to have some cocktails and conversation. However, while the ambiance here is a 5, the food we tried were all barely a 3. We wanted to have variety and shared the lamb cigars, octopus, assorted Mediterranean spreads and the crispy cod cakes. Portions were all generous but nothing really stood out that we'd order again. The octopus was cooked perfectly texture wise but lacked creativity (only lightly glazed with balsamic vinegar) and the Mediterranean spreads and cod cakes didn't have enough spices/seasoning to make either of them very memorable. Overall, on a do-over, I'd prefer to have dinner elsewhere and then make a pit stop here for a night cap. True to its name, it's a beautiful "lounge", not really a restaurant. Do that and you can have the best of both worlds! read more

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Where do I begin? If you're looking for the perfect date night spot, look no further. This is it. From ambiance, to food, to service, to the kindest, sweetest owners ever, Shalel does not disappoint. This is truly one of NYC's hidden gems. It's definitely something unique and 100% worth the visit. We got a variety of dishes and desserts, all of which were amazing. The Greek owners incorporate a variety of Mediterranean cuisines and so you really have your choices with the extensive menu! Highly recommend the visit!! read more

Fabulous!!! I can't say enough about this place. Monday evening 7 pm and this place is open. So no worries about making reservations. But be prepared! This place isn't for big crowds. Expect if you have more than 4 people in your party to call ahead and ask for help accommodating you. This IS an intimate place. So 4 or less is best! The menu is amazing and my suggestion is to do a "family style dining" and share the plates. It's a bit pricey, approx $100 with two mains, a starter and a bottle of wine. Totally worth it. Meet your friends at the bar, there's plenty of seating. Or meet your significant other or bff, it's a great place to just chill and enjoy amazing food. read more

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Can be a lounge but we use it like a restaurant. Mediterranean/Moroccan food is flavorful and reasonably priced. We got lots of apps and some mains. Decor is really interesting with lots of nooks that allow for added intimacy. Great local spot, if you can find it. read more

Very romantic, great date place. Get's very busy. Can't comment much on the drinks and food. Would definitely go again for ambiance alone. Speakeasy points: 2.5 out of 5 in difficulty finding the place (extra 1.5 points if they would get rid of the stupid lighted menu placed in front of the "secret" entrance- your place is packed! people know where you are! where's the challenge! make it more speakeasy- esk!!!!) read more

Shalel - Basement entrance - Moroccan Near Me - New York, New York

Amazing and romantic hidden gem on the UWS. Great for drinks, dinner, or both. Shalel is a cute little Moroccan themed lounge & restaurant, tucked away in a little cellar. Food is Mediterranean style and features a large selection of wine and cocktail offerIngs. We had a cucumber-Gin cocktail which was super refreshing and tasty as well as the Lychee infused cocktail. Both were excellent! read more

Shalel - Moroccan Near Me - New York, New York

I had a girls' night with my best friend here tonight and it was fantastic. The food was so good, the ambiance was perfect--no one will bother you, rushing you to get up and the service was lovely. It's so nice to feel attended to without feeling like someone is on top of you. There are a lot of places in NYC that offer similar cuisine to this, but none of them (that I have been to) feel as intentional in their menu and atmosphere choices as Shalel does. We'll be back! read more

My wife and I had a late dinner here this evening and we loved it! I really can't believe we've never been here before. It has a really fun and rustic atmosphere. It is dark and romantic with lots of little private nooks. The food was wonderful! The service was terrific! We loved everything, especially the cod croquettes, the vegetarian moussaka, and the date tart! We had just come from a performance at Lincoln Center and it was the perfect choice! We still look forward to coming back! read more

Should you come here on a first date...having already eaten dinner, only order a beer, constantly talk down to your date, and have her inexplicably stick around while you...talk negatively about her culture, your opinions about hooking up via Tinder, assert that you have no issue sleeping with people right after meeting them, repeatedly mention how amazing you are, not drink your beer, watch her eat, talk about your amazing plans for later that do not include her, awkwardly watch her pay the check, and order an Uber for yourself while you're still sitting at the table? Nope. But some guy did. Should you come here with a date prepared to have a very nice dinner complemented by a unique ambiance you'd be more apt to find in the village than on 72nd street? Yes. Since it was just two of us, we weren't able to make a reservation (4+ only), but given we went out when the weather was 100% terrible, there was no wait at all. In fact, I think we got one of the best tables in the restaurant. It was in the back, directly behind the wall of the bar, at a long table up on a ledge. We sat next to each other, and faced a nice stone waterfall. The "couple" in question was seated nearby--close enough to hear, but not close enough so they could see our eyes rolling. The cocktails were great - balanced and easy to sip slow. One lychee, one plum. Both excellent. We got a few small plates to start and split a main. The hummus was good, not amazing. Unfortunately I compare all hummus to Naya and Dizengoff...so the bar is high. It needed to be a little warmer, and needed some salt. The Saffron Chicken Brieues were good, though I didn't think they'd be fried...not sure how I missed that one. Both the Israeli salad and whole Bronzino were very good, though I do compare all whole fish to Avra Estiatorio, another high bar. When the meal is over, roll the dice and get some Turkish coffee without knowing what it is. The scalding hot thimble they deliver to your table will most certainly make you laugh for a few minutes before you take your first sip. Five starts for the ambiance, and just shy of four for the food and drinks combined. We'll be back--there's a lot of menu to try and probably a few more awkward conversations to overhear. read more

This food was DELICIOUS. Some of the best mushrooms I've ever had. Also the ambiance was great - I loved the decor read more

Shalel - Mushroom Saganaki, Sicilian Cauliflower and Halloumi Cheese - Moroccan Near Me - New York, New York

Good spot for a romantic, intimate dinner in a unique setting. The food was fresh and very tasty although a little pricy. Our table was next to an indoor cave-like water feature which made for an interesting conversation piece about what the cellar (which now houses the restaurant) had been in a past life. If possible, I'd rate this more as 3.5 stars due to the expense (~$200 for 4 tapas, a bottle of wine, and tip) and the service was slow. Thankfully we didn't have any other plans that night but if you do, be sure to tell the server and perhaps they'll be a bit more attentive. In summary, with all the other options for amazing food in the city, not sure we'd go back but am glad we tried it. read more

Shalel - Indoor cave! - Moroccan Near Me - New York, New York

This place is amazing. Ambiance, food, staff, all number #1. The place is busy call ahead. The best table in the house is in front of the waterfall. This place is great for small groups and couples. read more

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Shalel was a Yelp find and the food was pretty good. I got little plates, as I was not super hungry, and really loved the lamb meatballs. I had recently had a TON of lamb on a vacation abroad and was really honestly kind of sick of it: but these were not too lamb-y at all! Delicious in an amazingly stewed sauce. The hummus/dip platter was alright, no better or worse than anywhere else. The atmosphere however, was a little strange. It felt very dungeon-y, with tables placed in nooks, crannies, rooms and hallways. I legit felt like an elderly person because I couldn't read the menu by the sparse tea light candle on the table. I had to pull out my phone to read it by cell-light. Embarrassing! The service was also PAINFULLY slow. Not sure if it's because our table for 2 was in a little hallway tucked away, but even after I had gotten the waiter's attention, I still waited a LONG time for the check or drink refill. read more

This Mediterranean restaurant, based in a basement in the Upper West side, has the potential of being a go-to place for a romantic dinner or night out with friends. The menu is not limited to Moroccan. On top of the lamb tagine, you can also order pizza, pasta, fish (branzino and salmon) and Israeli salad. While Moroccan may be the specialty, there are options for those interested in venturing out of Morocco. All of the plates we have tried are full of flavor and of generous sizes. The basement decor could convince you for a second that you have been transported somewhere in the Mediterranean. Unfortunately, like in many NY restaurants, the service seems to revolve around turning tables quickly and trying to maximize spending per table, at the expense of the experience. If you arrive and your whole party is not present, don't expect to be seated. If one of the members of your party orders one of the smaller plates, expect to be reminded that there is a $30 minimum per person, even if that person has already ordered a $15 sangria. Order a desert for the table, and you'll be told that it won't be enough to share--you should get 2 or 3. Your bill will come with a note that if you pay with a credit card, an additional fee will be added. At the end of the hour, the experience feels quite transactional, robbing you from what otherwise could have been a special night out. These are all behaviors the restaurant could improve on. They may lead to less spending per table in the short term, but to more repeat customers and therefore more business in the medium term. As the restaurant does not seem to cater to tourists but rather to New Yorkers looking for a night out in a different type of restaurant, a customer service strategy geared toward repeat customers may help the restaurant out. read more

Absolutely delicious Mediterranean food with options spanning all the way from the Jamon Croquetas and the Gambas Al Ajillo from Spain to the delicious and authentic Greek Spanikopites. Highly recommend the Chicken Tagine a la Fez, the Whole Branzino, and the Mixed Grill, but in reality you can't go wrong. All of this great food inside a quiet, cozy, romantic underground lounge. read more

We were so pleased to have stumbled across this gorgeous space. Very cozy and intimate, great food and the staff was super sweet. We'll certainly be back. Daniel & Steve read more

This is the kind of venue you don't want to leave a review for because everyone will start going there and the secret will be out! Shalel is a cozy, intimate space that will transport you from NYC to a charming Mediterranean village as fast as you can get down the stairs. It is romantic. Drippy candles, flowers, and small tables romantic. I am married, but if I wasn't and a date took me here I would know he means business. The staff is friendly - the food is simply prepared and delicious. Can't wait to go again! read more

We ate at Shalel Lounge on both of our last two nights in Manhattan this trip. We had been craving basteeya pie, which we love and can't find near home anymore. The basteeya at Shalel met and exceeded our expectations. Wanting a bit more to eat, the spanikopitas were as good as we've had anywhere. In addition, the place is charming and the staff is wonderful. (Our waitress, Zoey, was as lovely as a person can possibly be.) We'll be back on our next trip. read more

If you're served by Rebecca, good luck. Ask for someone else. Especially if it looks like you're Arab or Middle Eastern. If we were given anyone else, this experience would have been much more enjoyable. Food is incredible. Ambiance is beautiful and unique. Perfect setting for an intimate and romantic dinner. However, having a very rude, pushy and unpleasant hostess and waitress made us leave with a bad taste in our mouth and likely never to return or recommend. We were seated and had to beckon the waitress over after 15 min of waiting for water or a menu. When we asked for the restroom, we were given an attitude like we were inconveniencing her. She came over and asked what we wanted but we had no menu so it took another 10 min to come back and take our order. At this point, we have been at the restaurant for 40 min. No water, no drink order taken. There's a $30 min per person to eat here. We ordered two $14 dollar glasses of wine, one $15 dollar dish, and another $14 dollar one. We had the full intentions of ordering dessert, but with Rebecca unable to do the math on what we've already ordered, she insisted we need to order more food and demanded our dessert order before we had any part of our meal or even drinks arrive. She didn't even give us a chance to have one drink and decide if we want another which would very well put us over our $30 min per person. She said getting to our corner of the restaurant was difficult for her and she needs our orders for dessert to put into the computer because she doesn't want to deal with getting back to our table to ask for our dessert order when we're done with dinner. The rest of the evening, we were served by a lovely man who was sweet, accommodating and attentive but Rebecca was just so unpleasant. We're very timid and caught off guard by her attitude towards us. My sister and I were trying to celebrate two life milestones, and we were not looking for conflict. Ask for someone else to serve you if you decide you still want to go! Some reviews here mention a nasty hostess- I would trust them. read more

Definitely glad I checked this place out. It's a lot of fun and I would have definitely never found it just by walking by - entrance is an inconspicuous set of stars on 70th. You walk down and enter a dark bar with a bunch of rooms that branch off. There's a waterfall... a room behind the waterfall... and a bunch of other tables all nestled in their own rooms/nooks. I have to say, though, after sitting down and taking it all in, it all seemed a bit gimmicky (like for instance there was a sound machine used for the waterfall). The food was good... not the best I've ever had... same with the service. I'd suggest going here once to get the experience, but with so many other great places in the area I probably won't be going back. Unless, I had someone visiting from out of town who likes those gimmicky things (like maybe you're a huge fan of Rainforest Cafe). read more

Very good food, I wish they didn't close the kitchen so early or we would order from them more! read more

Shalel - Lamb & Beef Meatballs / Bacalao with Homemade Ribbon Pasta / Salad - Moroccan Near Me - New York, New York

Great setting, love the subterranean feel. Take a look at all the tables and pick one before you commit, they each have their own feel!

If not for a recommendation from my son I never would have tried this place. At street level there is a menu and a set of stairs down to a basement. Once inside the place had a very unique character and charm. The hostess, who was also one of our two waitpersons, sat my wife and I, and the other couple we were dining with in a little private room. This was great as we were looking to catch up with this couple. We started with a carafe of sangria, which was great. We had an artichoke special and the cigar rolls for appetizers. Both were good but the artichokes were definitely the better of the two. For dinner we had the filet mignonette kabobs and a vegetarian dish. Both were great. We were offered a complimentary after dinner drink which was an anise flavored liqueur. Two of us liked it, but if you are not a fan of anise flavored drinks you won't. Service was very friendly and a little laid back, which we were fine with. Overall it was a very pleasant experience. read more