2.5 Finally made it here. Was it worth the trek from Manhattan? Perhaps. Were some of the dishes really as bad as the (few) worst 1 star reviews said? Unfortunately, yes. Eggplant Napoleon looked so good that we ordered two. Problem was the eggplant pieces were way too deep fried with too many bread crumbs. I have never had a more heavily fried vegetable. Couldn't even taste the actual eggplant or the flavor of the baba ghanouge underneath. The tomato basil type 'salsa' surrounding the dish was pretty good. Though the flavors just didn't seem to all blend right to me. Really wish we only had gotten 1 of these dishes. Lebne - the worst I have ever had. Thick and creamy but very bitter and sour. Not really edible. Hummus- same thing - barely edible and strange flavor. Should have returned but not good at that. The worst store brand would be a ton better. Beet salad- very average. Pre-made, served ice refrigerator cold. Said it came with walnuts but there were about 2 half pieces in there. Brussels sprouts- these were quite flavorful and good. Not too oily either even though the menu said they are fried. Chicken fatoush -- good thing I ordered this (due to 1 reviewer saying it was the best thing he had). Perfect blend of mint, spices, cucumbers, very fresh red tomatoes and tender seasoned chicken with perfect small amount of dressing. Star of the night. Pita bread served tasted like stale Sahara bread. Portions are great. Service: fast and friendly. Overall it was a fun experience even though half the dishes were a real miss. I also felt sick the entire next 2 days after eating here. :( We were too full to try their famed dessert seen on 'best thing I ever ate'. Good to know they have takeout available right next door. Wouldn't return for food, but that dessert might be good. read more

My favorite restaurant in all of NYC. Order a selection of the appetizer menu rather than the entrees so that you can experience the full scope of flavor. If you're a home chef the cookbook is exceptional as well. read more

My bff and I decided to try this place after walking by it for years. We decided one night to give it a shot. The service was very good. Waiters checked on us and answered all our questions since it was our first visit. The hostess or maybe it was the owner came by to check on us as well during our meal to be sure everything was ok so that was nice. Now the food, we both enjoyed our meals but we were pretty surprised there was so much green garnish around all the dishes, including the appetizers. We weren't sure if we were suppose to mix it with the food too. We did but it didn't enhance the dishes. My gf had the Mediterranean Eggplant and I had the Okra. She liked her dish. I liked the lamb more than the okra but it was still good. too much for one sitting though cause it is rich. We had the hummus and the lentil soup for appetizers which was tasty so that's probably why we were unable to eat all our dinner. THEN we had to try the Knafeh since it was noted on the menu it was on the Food Network. It was way too sweet for me. I loved the crunchies that surrounded it though. I ate all that. We even ordered the smaller plate. It's pretty rich because of the sweet cheese. still tasty but 1-2 bites was enough for me. Overall it was a nice dining experience and the food was tasty. I would go back. read more

I LOVE TANOREEN. After the first bite from the "Maklobe" i ran to the kitchen to check if my mom was back there cooking. Best middle eastern restaurant in NY, I am eating there again next week. read more

This place is amazing; you will love the atmosphere and service. Food is tasty, and fresh, try kunafa as a dessert it'll blow your mind.... read more

Tanoreen - Kunafa with tea, it will really change your mind about life, you will realize that you've missed a lot before trying it :) - Middle Eastern Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

NOT KID FRIENDLY AT ALL!!!!! Some joker there had the nerve to tell my 4 year old son as we were walking in " YOU NEED TO SIT DOWN AND STOP TOUCHING THE SILVERWARE"... we were still walking in mind you! he must have touched another table on our way to our own. we were there this past Sunday and found a hair in our food, we didn't make a fuss about, just told them and they removed the plate and removed it from our bill. So figured we will stop by again during the week with my mother and sister as there isn't a big selection of decent Arabic food in the area, and this is what happens. HORRIBLE!!!! absolutely unacceptable, maybe it wouldn't have been as bad had we been there a while and he was being rowdy! read more

One of the greatest spots in all bay ridge - incredible flavors, huge menu, great drinks and really friendly staff. You honestly can't go wrong with anything from here read more

This is it! I just found the place where I'm going to enjoy my Sunday brunch in Brooklyn from now on They have a long menu of great middle eastern food and you can enjoy whatever drink (they have Arak!) you'd like with a good taste I would like to taste the traditional plates next time i go read more

I cannot think of enough good things to say about this restaurant. The food is absolutely delicious and is matched by the service. Make your reservations in advance- the place fills up. I highly recommend the raw kibbe appetizer. It's only available on weekends and happens to be one of my main reasons for frequenting so often. Each dish is flavorful and memorable in its own way. A must try for those who enjoy middle eastern cuisine! read more

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This place is consistently amazing. The food is great, drinks are great and service is excellent! It's a must go to if you are in Bay Ridge! Enjoy!! read more

The environment is nice, and spacious. I recommend ordering a bunch of appetizers instead of an entrée per person. The appetizers are delicious and a good portion. read more

Time Out says this is one of the best 100 restaurants in NYC and I agree. I have been a fan since Rawia owned the smaller location...and it was easier to get in there! Try the Brussel Sprouts and Mhammara (forgive the spelling) for appy. Any entree will do- they're all great. Do order the special dessert...Knafeh- it's worth the wait! read more

Been here a few times. Very nice atmosphere. When the owner is there she walks around the tables getting feedback. If youre a vegetarian you may be pressed finding a non meat entree . You need to love lamb, however there's enough non meat appetizers. The best part was the za'atar crackers which is their version of bread. Dips as well. read more

food is good, nothing really amazing, alittle overpriced, place is really nice, and I love the staff, and very clean, so its worth it. just there are better Lebanese choices with your money read more

This place definitely has tasty Mediterranean food with good sized portions. Most dishes are over $20. It does come with pita spiced with zaatar which is a nice touch. That being said, there was nothing that particularly made this place stand out to me. Overall a solid place for a family dinner. read more

First timer here. The entrance is welcoming, the ambiance is calming, the bartender is courteous, and the waiter is knowledgeable. Aside from a minor misunderstanding with who I believe to be the manager, the night went swimmingly. My date and I were seated near the rear (close enough to enjoy the wafting aromas coming from the kitchen, warm enough to not feel a draft, and comfortable enough to not be interrupted by other patrons passing by) of the restaurant. Our waiter immediately started us off with water options (simple to most but I like having a choice) then suggested a decent wine to go with our meal. I appetizer (Lamb tart...can't remember the exact name) was pretty good. The tart itself was well put together, the lamb was a little dry but the dipping sauce provided added flavor. The entre came quickly and the waiters wine recommendation was a great one indeed. We weren't rushed; we were checked up on though which was very nice. The chef left the kitchen several times to ask us (and other diners) how the cooking was and she welcomed suggestions. It was a very good night...and an even better date ;) read more

First, I want to come back. We were sucked in by the great choices on the specials list and didn't really order much off the regular menu. And while everything we had was really great, I get the feeling that we may have only hit the tip of the iceberg. BYOB! read more

Tanoreen was the closest thing I can think of as being a Middle Eastern institution, in a neighborhood with many Middle Eastern establishments. I enjoyed dining at the original location, a very small space that did very brisk business; the food was excellent. Recently, I made my first visit to Tanoreen's new location. I'm immediately struck by the difference. The original location was very casual; Tanoreen now has the look and feel of a bonafide restaurant, and plenty of staff. It is spacious, welcoming, and warmly lit. Service is friendly and adequate. There is a bar. The menu has expanded, but continues the same style. Plenty of cold and hot appetizers, entrees, grilled entrees, and seafood. Most seem to be classics but many have a twist on the traditional versions. A page-long specials menu is also available. Many choices on their small wine menu hail from the Mediterranean. Everything was ordered from the specials menu that night, and since it was a few weeks ago, I've regrettably forgotten some of the details. For appetizers, the flatbread topped with spices, herbs, and chicken was absolutely delicious, an amazing mix of flavors and very bold. The grilled brussel sprouts were, in contrast, rather mild in flavor and a bit too oily. They were nicely grilled and cooked appropriately, but not memorable. For the two entrees, first was the fisherman's special, with a whole fried red snapper on a bed of salad and rice pilaf. This was the most disappointing order for the night, and may deter another try at seafood here. The salad and rice were fine, in fact the rice pilaf was richly flavored, brimming with ingredients, and I happily took that home. The fish was overcooked, very dry, and tasteless. I hardly ate it. The other entree made up for it: lamb with yogurt sauce served atop rice and vermicelli. The lamb was tender and tasty, nicely complemented by the sauce. I enjoyed this very much. All in all, the new Tanoreen location lives up to its reputation, and has gained much in moving to the new space. While not everything was a hit, the highlights were excellent and there is definitely something exciting about their food. I look forward to trying other foods there. Very importantly, reservations are HIGHLY recommended; their new location is constantly booked solid. On the Tuesday night I went, by 8 PM, it was packed. read more

We celebrated our COVID-impacted Silver Anniversary with a wonderful take out dinner from Tanoreen. Always delicious, authentic, and reasonably priced! Thanks Tanoreen for another great meal! read more

I guess Tanoreen doesn't need another amazing review but I have to give it one. We ordered a bunch of small plates and a bigger entree and everything was so delicious! I went with my boyfriend and another friend who have both spent time in the Middle East and they said this was the best hummus they've had since they were over there. It was definitely the best I've ever had. Highly recommend: Eggplant Napolean Pickled Eggplant Hummus Tabouleh (mostly parsley! yess) read more

I have been meaning to come here forever. Twice I made dinner reservations but had to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances. MY LOSS! Yummy! I just left and can't wait to go back! The place is very pretty, the service outstanding and the food delicious! My companion and I shared a bunch of appetizers because they all looked so appetizing. I couldn't decide and wanted to try them all. Well as many as my greedy little eyes, hands and mouth could take! Meat grape leaves: warm and filled with rice, lamb and Delicious spices Kibbie: A fried roll of goodness stuffed with lamb, pine nuts, onion and of course the Tanoreen spices Hummus: Of course! a well of olive oil and fresh chick peas in the center just wished the pita in the basket was warm. Sliders: lamb in little pita pockets with red onion, parsley, tomato and hummus. Pizza: OK it wasn't called pizza but looked like one topped with shredded chicken. No room for dessert :( The cocktail menu looked amazing, with wonderful ingredients like Orange Blossom, Rose Water, Cardamon and Pistachio in their drinks but unfortunately this girl is on antibiotics. Maybe I will just go back for desserts and cocktails! YAY! read more

Pros: I love just about everything about this place. The food is spectacular. The service is great. Staff is super friendly. I've dined in a few times and catered from Tanoreen. They are super accommodating. I don't even know where to start. I love their fried halloumi and fisherman's platter, apps EVERYTHING. There is really nothing you can go wrong with at Tanoreen. read more

Tanoreen - Not the best photo but catered- hummus olive paste mhammara - Middle Eastern Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Amazing authentic Lebanese food. Delish, homey, with good service, if in Bay ridge the place to go. read more

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Mid-May, 2011: This restaurant serves Middle Eastern food, and my son and daughter-in-law very much enjoy it. So, they took me and Lindsey's parents to it while we were all in town visiting. Clearly, the place was popular, and Lindsey said that it'd been written up or mentioned in something . Anyway, we went on a Friday evening, and the place was packed. The service was efficient and helpful, and we five sat at a circular table. Lots of candles around giving a nice ambient touch. Everyone nearby seemed to be enjoying themselves. read more

Maybe its just the company that was bad... Anyway, ordered the eggplant napoleaon, meat grape leaves, eggplant entree thing. Everything was just good. The eggplant napoleaon and enteree was good. But the meat grape leaves, oh lordy, disgusting. I tried one - gross. I tried another (hoping its just me) - blaurghhh. yeah gross. and pricey for me. I mean i could pay 10x more if its for better quality food, but it was just adequate and i felt i was cheated for the money. read more

Tanoreen is solid middle-eastern/palestinian fare. The mezze plate was good, as everyone here says, but my favorite was the baba ganouj - just the right blend of smokiness, eggplantiness, and tahini. Good consistency too. I had the kibbeh entree which was great - I always worry that kibbeh will be dried out but this was great. The salad it came with was good too. Hubby had the lamb kabab, which was cooked just right and came with rice that i wasn't a big fan of (had semolina in it which made it a bit sweet). It is far from the city, but we took the N and saved some time. In general, this is a good restaurant - byob makes it even better - but it's pretty standard fare and on par with most of the middle eastern restaurants in fremont, california (some of which are better). read more

This place is ridiculously amazing. It is a blessing in disguise that it is so far away from me because I would be there every day of my life! Customer service was excellent. Food was to die for. I honestly don't have enough adjectives in my vocabulary to describe how good the food tasted. The best way to enjoy this menu is to order a bunch of appetizers and only one or two entrees and share it family style. The portions are enormous so sharing is totally do-able. This is my new favorite place in the city. Hands down. Amazing. read more

Looking for something new (new to us, anyway) in the neighborhood the other night, Yelp's reviewers steered me to Tanoreen. YESSSSS!!! We got our meal to go: the Mediterranean grilled chicken, the chicken fetti, and side orders of cauliflower salad and the fried vegetable dumplings (sorry, I don't remember what they're called - starts with an "S," ends I think with a "K"). OMG!!! The only quibble was with the cauliflower salad, battered fried cauliflower florets with tahini and pomegranate sauce. Sounds great, right? Well, I'm sure it would have been if the cauliflower was cooked to order and this dish were served hot, but evidently, it's supposed to be served at room temperature (what do I know, I'm not Middle Eastern). Still tasty, but I detected the seed of a truly great dish in there if served hot, crisp and fresh. End of quibble! The rest of the meal was EXTRAORDINARY! The veggie pockets were SOOOOO good, crisp, fresh, so AMAZINGLY well- spiced and seasoned. (Not at all like typical Chinese take-out veggie dumplings, if that's what you're thinking - those can be good too, but this is a very different dish.) Filled with peas, potatoes, other stuff - I want some right now! (I wish they came more than 3 to the order, though.) Grilled chicken - sounds boring, right? Not here! Beautifully marinated thin chicken breast, scallopini style, grilled in olive oil and spices, with sundried tomato pieces and thick slices of fresh mushroom over perfect rice pilaf, again beautifully seasoned - really, I can't describe how good this was, but this was NOT the same-old-same-old grilled chicken! Chicken fetti - another unbelievably good dish. A sort of casserole of boneless chicken chunks and shreds, with rice (differently spiced than the rice accompanying the grilled chicken), tahini, and small strips of fried pita layered in. Spicing here was of the warm, sweetish, "brown spice" variety, which worked very well. Filling, too - we had leftovers for lunch the next day (heat this up in an oiled frying pan, don't you DARE put this even NEAR a microwave!). Spicing / seasoning is the thing here: they do it very, very well. Not cheap: all this was about $54, more than we usually spend for a take-out meal, but very much worth it. Looking forward to trying some more of their items (wonder how their falafel is!). read more

By far some of the best food. Absoloutely delicious. Try the hummos and the lamb wrapped in cabbage leaves. The fatoush is also good. read more

The company made the meal great. I was a little disappointed though, and I think my enjoyment of the meal was tainted because of a night out at ililil earlier in the week. The pita was flat and sad, a bad match for the hummus, which was very good. The brussels sprouts were OK, but they came out room temperature/cold - they would have been much better if they were hot! The schwarma sliders were cute and tasty and the chicken kabob was the best part of the meal; very savory. But for the love of God Tanoreen, please simmer down now with the parsley decor on the plate! Less is more. I got a cucumber drink that was way too sweet and syrupy and the glass was sticky. The pace of the meal was also kind of odd. The hummus and brussels sprouts came out almost immediately after ordering, and then we waited forever for the chicken to come out. Inside is very nice and the waiters are good. Tanoreen just wasn't what I had come to hope for. read more

Incredibly delicious and gorgeous space. I will definitely be back. The cauliflower was meh, I don't know why it is such a hit on the reviews Grape leaves were great Kibbeh was ok-great Lamb Fetti - this was the first time I ever had Fetti and it was AMAZING. even better reheated the next day for dessert, definitely get the Knafeh it is amazing. the small size is big enough for 3-4 we got another dessert too that was like a turnover with walnuts in it - not good, dont bother read more

My update is solely for my recent in-dining experience here whereas my previous review was based on take-out. Great food, great specials, great cocktail list, and great service. Chef Rawia is brilliant. This was the first time my sis and mom had ever eaten in a Middle Eastern restaurant bc they are less eclectic when it comes to food and prefer typical "American meals" and common, boring dishes. However, both loved their meals. I have more eclectic tastes and love trying different cuisines and after loving the take-out, I knew it was a must to visit too. It was nice to be able to sit down and take in the lovely atmosphere and experience the wonderful Service. read more

Tanoreen - Cauliflower stake special. Who even thinks of this? AMAZING!! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Came here with a friend for lunch early on a Saturday afternoon and were seated right away. We ordered about 5 small dishes to sample as much as possible. Far and away, the Brussels sprouts were best - they were cooked with panko breadcrumbs and served in an amazingly flavorful tart, salty cream sauce. The labeneh was also very good and I enjoyed it with the pita they served as an appetizer. The Eggplant Napoleon was a winner as well, but the shish kebab and cauliflower, while good, were not spectacular. I'd highly suggest a trip during the daytime to avoid the dinner rush, and for the best experience, sample as many dishes as possible! read more

I have this theory that appetizers are always better than the entrees. If i were just rating the appetizers, then this would be 5 stars. Further proof that you should always just order 5 appetizers for dinner. Unfortunately, the entree was bad. Appetizers: absolutely delicious: we ordered the eggplant napoleon (very nice, a little heavy on the frying, but good), a dip made with pomagranate molasses, red pepper, almonds that was addictive, and the fried hamaouli cheese. Very satisfying and tasty dishes. They also provide you with a wonderful bread basket with a variety of different types of bread. Some pita, some crispy thin bread, a crispy thin one covered in that amazing spice zataar. Entrees: we had a dish of ground lamb, spices, wrapped in dough. There was a dough layer on top and a dough layer on bottom and it was sliced into square sections. Problem 1: the dough had a very unpleasant aftertaste and a really unfortunate texture: it was neither crisp, nor chewy, just sort of limp. Problem 2: the lamb was heavily oversalted and had no real lamb flavor to it. Problem 3: the two things didn't remotely complement one another. I honestly didn't want to eat more than 4 bites of it, it was that bad. In sum, I would highly recommend this place to come for some wine and some appetizers, but don't worry about getting entrees, you'll be full because the portion sizes are large. read more

I have been wanting to try Tanoreen forever! It definitely met my expectations. Started with the Eggplant Napoleon and Grape Leaves. Eggplant Napoleon was cooked really well. I loved the flavors of the dish. The Grape Leaves were amazing! It was my first time trying Grape Leaves w/ lamb stuffing rather than the veggies stuffing and now I don't think I can go back to just the veggie kind. Had the Grilled Combination Platter for an entree. The lamb was the highlight. It was so tender and juicy. The beef was a bit tough and the chicken a bit too sour. The rice was delicious and everything was fresh. The restaurant itself is beautiful. It's casual but you wouldn't feel out of place if you dressed up. The staff is so friendly and helpful and you get a homey feeling when eating here. Loved my entire dining experience. read more

This place is a classic. I have been here numerous times and the deliciousness of the food never ceases. Lamb dishes are definitely the go to for me. last night i had kibbie, and sambousek, both amazing appetizers. One way to go is just do a bunch of appetizers from hot and cold menu, gives you a good taste of everything. Fatoush is definitely recommended. Their dessert, kenafe, is also very amazing so definitely leave room for that at the end. Also, weekends, you definitely need reservations and it doesnt hurt to have one on weeknights too. This place is popular and gets busy for dinner. read more

Probably one of the first Arabic restaurants where you feel a chef put work into the food including amazing flavor and presentation. Not your typical bayridge or Astoria middle eastern restaurant there is a bar and has very loungy feel. Would def travel through boroughs to visit again. read more

Never ceases to disappoint. They are constantly updating their specials and manage to create a unique gourmet spin on traditional mediterranean/middle eastern dishes. Tanoreen is a must if you are craving middle eastern food in huge portions with a great atmosphere, friendly staff, and normal prices. Stop what you're doing and go now read more

Tanoreen - Mansef and mousakhan - Middle Eastern Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Went with a friend and ordered hummus, mixed grill plate, and their famous dessert seen on TV. I hate to say this but...I was unimpressed. Yes, the restaurant is beautiful. The presentation of food was amazing. The ambience is magical! But if we took out those elements - the food is average. The flavors were not bold and everything felt safe on my palette. What I love about middle eastern food is the fresh flavors, the bold spices, the this-and-that, the variety on a plate. Everything was very one note. The dessert - was....just, well. Dessert. I was expecting extreme textures, crunch, smooth. sweet, salty, SOMETHING unique - but it was....well, sweet. I wish and want to give this place more stars but it's really all show and no substance. read more

Overall 3/5: Not sure they would be as popular without the Food Network review. Food 4/5: Kudos to the cooks. Flavorful, large portions, and well cooked (ie. nothing chewy/under or overcooked/over salted, etc.). We had musakahn, fisherman's meal, and something from specials menu with lamb and goat cheese yogurt sauce. I liked the lamb most...it had a good tang from the sauce and the meat was tender. The fish came with a really tasty sauteed rice with really yummy spices (consider it a Mediterranean fried rice). Drinks 2.5/6: i personally would skip fancy drinks and go for a vodka soda. If you're into fufu drinks....get the martini with grapefruit. It reminded me of a slightly citrus-eey red Skittle candy. Really sweet drink, but watered down from over shaking (honestly a sad excuse for a martimi...perhaps don't call it a martini). They need better specialty drinks (or a better bartender...) Staff 2/5: This is their biggest flaw, and the biggest reason for not more stars. Hostess was not well trained and rude with greeting me at the door. Other than my waiter the staff looked like they didn't want to be at work. This was a Tuesday night...wasn't crazy busy, and there were enough of them working, so there's little reason to look so miserable and angry. Price: More expensive than typical Bklyn restaurant. You can argue that it's a lot of food, but anyone who cooks knows adding a side salad and an extra cup of sauteed rice does not cost that much more and in that case....the experience is what counts and lack luster staff makes me question their pricing model. read more