My wife and I tried Taboonette after visiting a nearby exhibit. The fast casual vibe was perfect for a quick lunch. Staff were polite and professional. I enjoyed the lamb shawarma pan with brown rice. The sauces made for a flavorful dish and the bonus green hot sauce was a nice addition! My wife wasn't as happy with the Israeli salad but realized that she wanted something more than the cucumbers. Nice casual and seemingly healthy lunch! read more

Taboonette - Israeli (Chopped) Salad was vibrant! - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

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Visually stunning but lacking unique flavor. The pita bread and hummus are 5s! The rice and lamb are plain and fine. The rice even felt old to me. Or it felt dry. read more

Taboonette - Lamb Kebab (Köfte) (Pan) - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

I was underwhelmed by this place. I guess I missed the hype boat. I ordered the falafel sweet potato pan and the portion of rice was huge, but ratio-wise the amount of arugula salad was slim. And now I know why other places drizzle the sauce all over, because here the tzatziki sauce was just scooped in one area of my rice so you have mix it in yourself. I made the mistake of not mixing it and then ran out half way through. And by then a huge line had formed to order so not only did I have to wait to get the staff's attention but when I asked for more sauce they wanted to charge me $2.50! Now, I wouldn't have mind paying that price, but I think for the way the sauce was arranged, it's a little unreasonable. Also, the sweet potato falafel was very underwhelming. I thought like a good falafel, it'd be a little crispy on the outside and very soft and fluffy on the inside but the outside was pretty hard. I will not say hard as a rock, but definitely was nervous about cutting it open and using a plastic utensils with it, thinking they may break. I don't know if it was just a bad batch of sweet potato falafel but I personally would not recommend this option. It was a whole lot of rice and very little salad. I think with a little TLC the meal could be a lot better. Though ambience is nice though. It has a nice little city view. There could be a little more seating. It was busy on a Sunday afternoon. I probably would not come back here, a little disappointed. I did however enjoy the music and Shazamed a few tracks. read more

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What an awesome place! Love the food. Kennedy was a great server. I got the brisket platter. So so good read more

Taboonette - Brisket YUMMM - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

Food was pretty good. The shakshuka is served all day and was flavorful and hot. Good casual spot that's not crowded at all which is nice. read more

Taboonette - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

Excellent falafel pita. So good that I came back for it again the next day. Got the side of eggplant and hummus - both were solid, but not needed. The falafel pita was filling and delicious on its own, though the schug hot sauce is a must. Ample space to enjoy the food there or take out. Friendly and fast service. Will definitely be back next time I'm in NY. read more

Taboonette - Falafel pita - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

The only item I have ever had here is the warm kale salad which comes with hummus. You can pay extra for very good falafel. Everything is made fresh. I've only taken out what I've ordered because the atmosphere is really just that, a take out place with a few close tables so it's difficult to have a quiet relaxing meal. read more

Delicious fast casual Mediterranean spot. Get the chicken shawarma and chick schnitzel. Very affordable read more

Taboonette - Shawarma and schnitzel - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

SERVICE - located near union square park - small interior with seatings at benches for groups or counter for solo diners - takeout popular - order at counter then find a table - can get crowded during popular times - ambiance good for casual meal MENU - customizable hummus bowls and plates - vegan/vegetarian options available - average price ($16 per entree) FOOD - sweet potato falafel hummus bowl (7/10): six pieces of falafel on top of creamy hummus with a side of pita bread. Just looking at the hummus, it is creamy and light without being gritty. I liked the addition of the chickpeas and tahini on top. The falafel were okay but did not have a strong sweet potato taste. The portion is generous and can be shared between 1-2 people. WOULD I GO BACK? Yes! It makes an easy takeout dinner that is relatively healthy and customizable. read more

Taboonette - Sweet Potato Falafel Hummus Bowl (Vegan) - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

Dropped by here for a quick bite for lunch during work. It's a bit busy but the line moves. Odds are a few of them are waiting for their togo order. I got the lamb kebab plate which comes with hummus and a salad. Nothing much to say except it's pretty solid. No complaints, nothing crazy, and the kebab is tender and flavorful. The salad is a nice cool and light complement. Also, it's quite a bit of food - I ate it across two meals. Quick and easy service. They make it fresh. Grab your lunch here read more

Taboonette - Lamb Kebab (Kfte) Pan - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

Amazing falafel and chicken Snitzel pita with delicious homemade seasoned chips. So tastey. Side of eggplant was good. Counter service was fine. Music in background was great. Tables and stools were fine Definitely will return read more

In preparing to see a movie with my sister and them, I scoped out the general area and found this place for us to eat at. What immediately caught our attention on their menu were two things: 1) The prices are really... really good. 2) SWEET POTATO FALAFEL! They have a couple of tables for seating and the staff are super friendly. The drinks didn't quite match with what we saw online, but that was okay. My sister and I both got the sweet potato falafel pan -- yes, pan. It comes with tzatziki (she swapped for hummus), and an arugula-herb salad. It was absolutely fantastic. My sister ran out to run a quick errand, and I had her food covered while she was gone. While going through my food, I realized that the salad had almonds -- She's allergic, so I told the staff about it. If you go to the Sides category of the menu it tells you what's in the salad, but the pita/pan section doesn't have those details. I'm so glad to have discovered that because that would've been some havoc later. The staff were kind enough, even though like 15 minutes had gone by, to replace the pan and remove the almonds. Really happy they did that. Sweet potato falafel is truly a winner... and I decided to get baklava for dessert. Loved that too! The spot has been around a while, I can't believe I'm so late to it. But I'd recommend to anyone who loves Mediterranean food. read more

Amazing tender shawarma. Very flavorful. I highly recommend this place. The place is clean and has a good vibe and very friendly staff. read more

Taboonette - Braised lamb Shawarma - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

A fast casual place, delicious Mediterranean food!! There was no wait because it's more of a fast casual place, no need to wait for seats. Meat was tender and sauces were good! Got the lamb skewer plate and portion size was perfect. read more

Taboonette - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

Braised lamb shawarma pan yellow rice with a side of pita bread. Pita was soft. A bit more on the oily side for the rest of the dish.

I have been a fan of Chef Efi Nao for quite some time, as you could see from my recent review of his newer spot, Frena. I used to adore the place when it was known as Taboon, but I had never made it to his fast casual brand, Taboonette. However, I was meeting an old colleague for lunch the other day, and he suggested that we check it out, as it was a place he greatly enjoyed. I eagerly agreed, looking forward to indulging in more of Chef's hummus, among his other delectable items. The restaurant was small and very warm, as if the air conditioner was not working; thankfully, the door remained open to let in some air. There was a counter with stools along the front windows, as well as three long, communal wooden tables. Thankfully, it was not very crowded, so we were able to go straight to the counter to order, rather than needing to grab seats first. After we made our selections, we picked our spot at the end of one of the tables and waited for our number to be called. Our food was prepared rather quickly, and we went up to claim it before settling in for an in-depth conversation. We started by sharing a large side of creamy hummus, which was topped with zesty sumac and whole chickpeas. The delicious dip was served with a bag of house-made pita chips that were nice and crispy, but a bit too fried for my liking. For my main dish, I went with the Kruveet, a blend of Taboon-roasted cauliflower, eggplant, spaghetti squash, an arugula-herb salad, hummus, and tahini. I ordered that vegetable medley served as a "pan" rather than in a pita, and it actually did arrive in a small frying pan, which was a playful plating for sure. I also requested that the mixture was served entirely over the salad, rather than incorporating some sort of rice or quinoa. It cost $1 more to do so, but was the healthier option. However, I did wish that the "salad" was a bit more than simply arugula leaves. Overall, I thought the vegetables were nice and fresh, and I appreciated the scoops of hummus and tahini being included, as they worked as a sort of dressing for the otherwise unexciting, protein-less dish. Lastly, I ordered a glass of their Lemonana, which was a refreshing mint lemonade. Though I had preferred the Chef's more formal, sit-down restaurants, Taboonette was a great way to enjoy his fresh and well-seasoned Mediterranean specialties without having to dress up or spend a good deal of money. read more

Solid mediterranean lunch spot. Quick service and the pan dishes are actually served in small frying pans! The falafel was pretty good but a little dry and crumbly. The cucumber salad could have used some dressing, too. The tahini was great and tied it all together. read more

Taboonette - Falafel Pan - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

Freshly prepared Mediterranean dishes in an appealingly decorated dining room. A definite casual dining upgrade on East 13th Street. read more

This is one of the best fast casual spots I've been to in nyc. We tried two dishes on the menu and they were all generous portions. -Hummus bowl with kebab and eggplant: I love how they have so many topping options for the hummus bowls! We went with the kebab and eggplant and the eggplant part was my favorite. So soft and flavorful. It also comes with some slices of pita which was nice and the hummus was so smooth. -Chicken shawarma pan: The chicken shawarma pan was perfect for getting a taste of a bunch of different things in one dish. It came with chicken, hummus, chopped salad, pickles, and tahini. This one was my favorite of the two because the salad and pickles added a nice crunch and freshness to the dish. Overall, Taboonette was really good and I'm glad I tried this spot out. Our food came out quickly and they had seating inside. Everything we ordered was a big portion which was nice so we had enough leftovers for another snack/meal. read more

Taboonette - Chicken Shawarma Pan - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

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In the mood for an early lunch, I stopped at Taboonette and tried the Sabich. In a pita. It was delicious, front loaded with all the salady bits, eventually giving way to soft velvety never ending layers of fried eggplant. Yum! The only problem with the pita is that you tend to eat things sequentially rather than altogether so next time I'm going to opt for the bowl version. It's a nice bright space and the counter service was pleasant. Can't wait to go back and try the cauliflower. read more

Taboonette - SABICH -The Eggplant Pita - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

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Great little spot for Mediterranean food served "fast food style" for both take out and limited seating. Place was consistently busy with both. Really enjoyed the chicken schnitzel pan (which is a metallic pan) with a decent portion of rice and Israeli salad and a fairly good size of chicken. All was delicious. Friend had the schwarma pan which didn't seem to offer as much meat but still enjoyed it. We sat at a small counter that sat 4 people. There are I think two or 3 community tables that could maybe sit 6 each tops. read more

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Amazing slow casual food. It has a good selection and the sweet potato falafel is crispy and addictive. read more

Taboonette - Sweet potato falafel - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

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Wow. Clearly they gave this lamb a deep tissue shiatsu massage before cookin that mf cause goddamn was it tender. The tahini carried a deep nutty, rich, intensity that melded with the soft morsels of lamb in a symphony of umami -- cut through by the sinisterly acidic bite of the pickle. The unsung hero of the meal tho? The small flakes of dill sprinkled throughout, which added a playful fresh bounciness to each bite. Oh and the rice -- oh the rice. Cooked to the perfect springy texture, almost like a starchy Temperpedic pillow for the soft lamb being hand delivered to my gullet (sans lullaby). Oh and before I forget the small cranberries sprinkled in the rice were b-b-b-BUSSIN --balanced the salty fattiness of the tahini forward bites perfectly -- like the most naughty PB&J of all time. read more

Taboonette - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

Believe the hype. Soft warm pita, crispy falafel, tender pulled pork and great flavorful yellow rice. Each of these are delicious on its own, but all of these flavors come together wonderfully in a bowl like a superhero, or a combined Voltron. And the falafel is one of the best in town. The seating area is small with most of the tables arranged as shared space. Front of the house has large windows letting a large amount of light in with wood lining the walls adding to a cozy atmosphere. Orders are taken at the counter by nice staff, and food is served at a reasonable rate. Very easy and delicious stop to grab a pita pocket or a bowl. read more

Food: I ordered the lamb kebab plate which came with yellow rice (you have a choice of white rice, yellow rice, or quinoa), roasted eggplant, cucumber salad, tomato, and tahini. The dish was overall delicious, but nothing special. The lamb kebabs were a bit dry. The plate ($19) seemed overpriced for the portion and quality I received. Service: Staff members are friendly and helpful! Ambiance: The ambiance and decor is nice. They have two long tables and some seats along the window. You order your food with the cashier, choose a spot to sit down, and clean up after yourself when you're done. Overall, I would recommend this place if you're in the area and craving Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food, but I wouldn't go out of your way to come here. read more

Taboonette - Lamb Kebab (Kfte) Pan - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

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Food was excellent. We had the lamb kebab pan and the chicken shawarma pita and both were delicious, although the chicken shawarma pita was the star of the show. The pan was also a ton of food and we were stuffed by the end of the meal. Service was friendly and fast. No complaints and they offered free water. Ambiance was good although the AC was off/broken when we went. Consider taking food to go or eating outside. read more

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Pretty solid plates and pita. It's pretty reasonably priced given the quantity of food. The pita itself is really soft. read more

Taboonette - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

i enjoyed my salmon plate for lunch! It was the perfect amount of food! Ingredients tasted fresh and the rice was especially delicious. The white sauce was interesting- I wasn't sure if it was meant to be paired with the salmon, rice, or be somewhat of a salad dressing, or all of the above. I did takeout so I can't speak to the ambiance, but our orders were correct, so I can say from the limited interaction the service was good! Would recommend for a work lunch. read more

Taboonette - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

WARNING: MULTIPLE CHARGES + NO REFUND + BROKEN PROMISES I had an absolutely unacceptable experience at Taboonette and feel obligated to warn others. I paid $35 for my order. On MY end, the charge went through successfully. On THEIR end, they claimed it didn't. They then asked if they could charge my card AGAIN and promised they would refund one of the charges. I initially said absolutely not -- because I actually need my money. They assured me the refund would hit my account within 24 hours. That was a lie. Five days later, the refund still had not appeared. During this time, they gave me "homework" to do on my end in case the refund didn't show up. Only on Monday -- DAYS after the original charge on Friday -- did they finally call to say they would "put the refund through." Meanwhile, I was out $35 the entire time for THEIR mistake. When I said I expected some form of compensation for being without my money, they offered to "hook me up" with a complimentary menu item. I went all the way into the city specifically to collect on this promise -- and they offered me ONE SMALL SIDE DISH. Not a meal. Not a credit. A side. As of now, I am STILL waiting for my money to be returned. Bottom line: * My card was charged multiple times * I was without my money for days * Promises were broken repeatedly * The "compensation" was insulting * I do NOT trust this business with a credit card Think twice before giving this place your payment information. If this is how they handle a simple transaction error, imagine dealing with a real problem. read more

Got the pulled pork with yellow rice for lunch. Not bad. Pork has good flavor. Quick service. Staff is very nice. Seats and tables inside. Clean and good for a quick meal. read more

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Came here for dinner and had a pleasant experience. This is a smaller, hole-in-the-wall kind of place with a decent sized menu. My friend got the shawarma pan and I got the chicken schnitzel pan. The food was decent and fresh. For the two of us, the bill ended up being over $50 which I thought was expensive, even for the area. I had gotten one beer (a normal 12 Oz can) and that was $9. I've never had middle eastern food prior, so I don't have much of a prior basis to go off of and compare, but overall it was decent. Unsure if I'd be in any rush to go back, but I'm glad I tried it. read more

Taboonette - Crispy Chicken Schnitzel Pan - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

A fabulous find, cozy & delicious hidden gem. Hit the timing just right, almost empty as we arrived on a Sunday before noon. Soon after, packed. We sat in the window & watched passerby's. We both had the pans, which are actually small metal pans. I had the Lamb Shawarma with Brown Rice, but would have preferred the hummus or tzatziki instead of Tahini, so next time I will have the Chicken Shawarma instead. Lee loved his Sweet Potato Falafel, plenty to share. We could actually have one pan to share with some added sides or dessert. No way is this expensive IMO, homemade comfort food with fresh ingredients served in a popular area, Shake Shack is 20 bucks without a drink & folks can't get enough of that !! Try to pick an off time so that you can grab & seat & enjoy ! read more

Taboonette - Braised Lamb Shawarma Pan, side falafel - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

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Was looking for a fast casual lunch place with some seating. I've been here a number of years ago and remembered enjoying it, so decided to give it another shot and was pleased. Ordered the Lamb shawarma bowl (with yellow rice). It was delicious. Comes with a generous serving. Lots of lamb, which was very tender, and had a slight gamey taste. There were a bunch of other ingredients too, which went well with the lamb. Quite a flavorful meal. read more

Taboonette - Braised Lamb Shawarma Pan - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

For sure a hidden gem tucked away one street South of Union Square on the block by The New School. They serve Mediterranean food just like your typical CAVA, Naya, or even Mezeh, but without that assembly fast food mentality, so the food is made better. And it's a local business, not a giant corporation and that's always a plus. I got to try the Braised Lamb Shawarma served in a pan. This consisted of Tender colorado lamb braised in chef's seasoning, arugula-herb salad, amba, and coulis pickles tahini. With a pan, you get a choice of yellow - vermicelli rice, brown rice, or quinoa (+$1.75). I also got the Chicken Shawarma, which consisted of Freerange chicken, Chef's spice mix, chopped salad, tomato coulis, pickles, tahini, and hummus, served in a pita. This came with homemade potato chips. The pan generally costs about $3 more, but is a lot more filling as it comes with rice. The pita is great for on the go and for a smaller meal. read more

Really good pita that's chewy and not very dense with tender and juicy meat! Surprised at the quality of the food for a casual eatery Seating is a bit limited but can get seats if you really try Mint lemonade (not pictured) was ok -- a bit too sour with too much mint but still refreshing read more

Taboonette - Braised Lamb Shawarma Pita - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

I really liked the concept of the food at this place - Mediterranean pita sandwiches or bowls with lots of different choices but although it was acceptable I was not that impressed. The place is also more of a cafeteria style eating situation than a sit down restaurant which is not the idea you get from their website. I had a "cauliflower" pan with cauliflower, grilled eggplant, spaghetti squash, quinoa, hummus and tahini and salad. The hummus and tahini were very good and the salad but the rest of the plate was just bland and not redeemed by the hot green sauce they gave me on the side. It really needed something tomatoey. But great for vegans. They have several vegan selections as well as those for carnivores. My friend had a chicken schwarma sandwich she liked with house made potato chips which were pretty epic. Almost all the drinks have sugar in them so we just had water. The counter girls were very nice and helpful when you order the food which you bring yourself to the table. Definitely not accessible with three large steps to the entrance. Might go back if I was in the area but would not go out of my way. read more

Great spot for a quick bite / takeout. Their salmon is exceptional (and others have told me amazing for takeout too). Salmon is often too dry esp when it's made in bulk but this was juicy and packed with flavor. You can get your salmon as a plate (if you are hungrier) or in a pita, though the pita was somewhat messy to eat. They packed the pita with sauce, arugula and other toppings so it's somewhat spilling out. I got my food to eat at the restaurant, which is more of a takeout style/ fast food spot. You place your order at the counter and find your own spot, waiting for your order number to be called. The staff are very friendly and willing to explain their dishes. Tables are cafeteria style and long, so you'll likely be sitting next to a stranger unless you're a big party. read more

Taboonette - Salmon Pita (Salmon is deep in this pita but they are generous!) - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

Paid $18 for a cucumber sandwich, would not go back. Insulting amount of chicken in this pita. read more

Taboonette - Crispy Chicken Schnitzel Pita - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

Give me some sabich! I stopped by after meaning to for so long - there used to be a restaurant called Taboon and this was the quick food (not fast food) version of it. I only had the sabich and it was delicious and came with a side of chips with zaatar. It was filled with all the goodies and I got Zheng on the side. Yum! I'll be back for more goodies :) read more

Taboonette - SABICH -The Eggplant Pita With chips on the side (with zaatar?) - yum! - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

I've always walked by this place and wanted to try them out!! Inside was like a fast casual kind of pace where you go up and order and pick up when you're number is called. From ordering to pickup was about 5-10mins wait and people there were nice and efficient! Also the jarred spice decorations by the seating are are so cute. I know they have a Brooklyn store as well and I was so hyped about the food. I've never had Shakshuka but this breakfast pita was good. I would say the highlight was the tomato sauce thing that really lifted up the whole wrap. The bowl was good, too. I may have had too high of an expectation for some reason but they were good, not something I would go back for.... Although the shakshuka pita for $11 was a good deal!! read more

Taboonette - Braised Lamb Shawarma Pan - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

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