The food is very good for Lebanese styles The services is excellent and atmosphere is Very present Finished w a mint tea read more

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This is one of the best restaurants in the area. Whether it's lunch with co workers or family dinner. The hospitality and quality of service offered is just outstanding. read more

Yara - Just a snap shot near my dining table - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

Unfortunately I would not recommend Yara. There are (much) better places. My partner and I came in on Valentine's Day for dinner and were greeted at the door with a rose, which was super cute - that was where the hospitality ended. Our waiter was very short, blunt, and slightly rude - he did not come over to check up on us even once during our hour long time at the restaurant. When we asked for the check early, because we weren't enjoying our meal, he responded with "that was fast" and didn't think to ask us why. We ordered the hummus and fatayir as our appetizers, both of which were good and tasted authentic to Lebanese culture, as someone who is Lebanese and grew up eating home cooked food by my immigrant grandma. The portion sizes were a little small for the price (each were $13-$15). My partner ordered the Shish Tawook, which was subpar at best. At $30, you would expect it to be good. The real kicker - the chicken "shawarma" is what I ordered. It was wet and mushy, had little to no flavor, and came with extremely soggy bread. Chicken shawarma is supposed to be on the drier side and crispy, as the meat is cooked on a rotisserie. I did not enjoy it at all but of course didn't have the chance to tell my waiter as he hadn't checked on us. While exiting, the hostess asked us about our experience, so I expressed how unimpressed I was. She almost didn't believe us, as she said "we never get bad reviews" and "at least he enjoyed his meal" when my partner told her his meal was okay. She told me she is also Lebanese so I expected her to understand where I was coming, but that only made her want to disagree with me more. Another woman (who appeared to be the manager) was very sweet and apologetic about our experience. Although, we were still out $100 over a dinner we did not enjoy. I am probably not going to give this restaurant another chance, as there is another middle eastern restaurant nearby that has never once missed out of the dozen times I have visited. read more

Yara - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

The kitchen sends out plates that match the menu descriptions. Yelp users were correct about this place. Their menu features flavorful, fresh items with many choices. The diner service is notably impressive! This spot is suitable for all tastes. read more

Upon walking in we were immediately impressed with the ambiance. I made a reservation for 6 people as I had visitors in town and we wanted a quiet yet filling brunch. The restaurant was fairly empty which was great so we could have conversations and hear each other. We were also seated at a circular table which makes it easier to converse We ordered the fried halloumi, Yara fries, and hummus for the table which were delicious. the halloumi was definitely a hit we ordered two. I got the kefta for myself which came dry but after adding hummus and green sauce it brought out the flavors. The servings here are a little on the smaller side I wish the sandwich came with complimentary fries or salad. In terms of the service this is why im giving Yara 2 stars. Our hostess/server was not attentive at all - we had to hunt her down to place a food order. Never checked in to see how the food was either. What really tipped me over is when we were ready for the check we waved at her and she very rudely gave us a pointer finger gesturing to stop talking. When we entered the restaurant another party came after us and she assisted them before us. Will not be returning purely out of the service here. read more

Yara - Yara Fries, Grilled Haloumi, Hummus - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

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The negative feedback seems to describe a different restaurant than where I ate. Great taste and fair pricing given how much came on my plate. The cooking stood out separate from customized elements. Speedy assistance with warm interactions. I want to try every dish they've created. read more

I visited here for Easter, the restaurant was quiet and very very spacious. My husband, sister, baby, and I were seated towards the front of the restaurant on the side so the stroller wouldn't get in anyones way, the restaurant was quite accommodating in that sense, however the wait staff seemed easily irritated and were very pushy. We ordered some mezze and sandwiches for our lunch: shankleesh, meat sambosa, hummus, zatar fries, fatoush salad, and the falafel, chicken shawarma, and regular shawarma sandwiches. For dessert we ordered baklava, Turkish coffee, and mint tea. The food was certainly not impressive, not memorable, and lacked depth. The shankleesh was way too chunky, the feta pieces were so huge it was hard to eat. The meat sambosa was a little *too* meaty, and the hummus lacked depth. The zatar fries were delish, and the fatoush salad was also pretty good but also somehow the most expensive thing we ordered, certainly not worth $16?! The sandwiches were also just ~ok~ nothing special, and the shawarma sandwiches had way too many pickles, and just overall way too many competing flavours. The restrooms were a little weird... you walk in and there's a Mens door on one side, womens on the other, but essentially everyone's walking into the same bathroom. It was clean and did the job but a little strange. I don't think I'd go back with better Mediterranean options in the city! read more

Yara - Fattoush Salad, Shankleesh, Sambosik Meat, Hummus - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

The restaurant itself is imposing inside, but that's where it ended for me. I was the second person waiting to be seated. The abrupt concierge lifted a finger and asked me to wait one minute. There was "Welcome, sir" I am going to sit these guests, and then I will return to you". I waited for what seemed an age for her to return, and she asked me again without emotion to wait further. Eventually, I was seated - but again, it took several minutes before anyone arrived to give me the usual greeting water. I got some water, and what followed was quite shocking: stale pitas broken with mooli and vegetable oil. You´ll read just now how they recycle the pitas you do not use as a welcome starter. I ordered Falafel, followed by the Shish Tawook. When my Falafels arrived, they were tasteless, albeit well-cooked. Some of the accompanying sauce was very watery. Then, they arrived with what looked like bread wrapped in a serviette. That's correct, but it was, in fact, four pittas warmers put and tied in a plastic bag (those were recycled in your welcome starter). How crass is this? Have you ever had that experience in a so-called good restaurant? I never have! I complained about how awful it was to serve warm bread in a tied plastic bag, and she told me it was to keep them warm. That is a fair comment; it is not what you expect from an upmarket restaurant. I was three-quarters through my starter when my main course arrived. I was tempted to say, "Can't you see I have not finished?" and believe me, I am a pretty fast eater. It was plonked on my table again without any smiles or courtesy. By the time I started to eat, it was barely warm. Again, it looked nice but had little taste. They also added a cheap form of Aioli, which was awful considering it was so easy to make. This was a sad experience for me as I give everyone the benefit of the doubt, but the staff here need better training, the food could have more taste, and they need a more friendly manager to greet you and make you feel welcome. There is so much evidence of poor training here, on the floor and in the kitchen, when it could excel, having that fantastic ambience and location. read more

I want everyone at my table to try this right now. The entire workforce delivers quality service. We paid less than the experience was worth. Their cooking is consistently delicious. You're going to appreciate the cooking here! read more

Yara is a high end Lebanese restaurant located in Midtown with tasteful interior decor and white linen tables. Given their location and intended clientele, the menu was a little on the pricey side, but not unreasonable for a higher end Mediterranean restaurant. My friends and I shared four of the small Mezze plates and also two entrees. The dishes they did well were amazing: the babaghanouj was delightfully smoky, while their lamb chops were still juicy and tender while cooked to a medium well. All the ingredients were fresh and of a high quality, however overall taste was a tad bland. I really wanted to love everything a lot more, but unfortunately have had better falafel and shawarma at more unassuming restaurants. read more

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Very friendly employees, and the bar downstairs was spacious and comfortable. Thanks for a warm welcome to our group at a neighborhood get-together here. read more

Great food. Good service! Perfect spot for Vegan friends. Ambiance was lovely too! Will go back again.

Great food, poor service. If it hadn't been for the lamb fassoulia and mamooul, we would not have had a good time. There were customer service issues and a weird restroom setup that resulted in male and female customers using the wrong bathrooms. On top of that, we felt our water ignored us for long periods of our meal and was only prompt when we decided to leave and pay the check. All in all a mixed experience, with good food but poor service. read more

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Their lower level might be my future venue for networking events and parties, both personally and professionally (writing this down as we speak). I'm not going to do the culture justice as I say this (and perhaps this is the Jersey kid in me talking), but their "empanadas" matched perfectly with the Lebanese beers the bartender recommended. This may be a gateway for more Mediterranean in my future. read more

Amazing Mediterranean Lebanese place! The inside was bit exotic (in a good way), eccentric and warm and cozy and welcoming. Have some interesting and unique items on the menu. The mouhamara was delightful - great combination of sweet, tart, and spicy. Grounded walnuts adds a great texture and flavor to the whole dish's profile. Grilled Halloumi has a chewy and dense texture kinda like extra form tofu. Well seasoned with olive oil some spices and paired well with the sliced tomatoes. Lamb okra was very thiccc, flavorful and hearty. read more

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Food is not bad, but don't order drinks - $5.50 for a can of soda???!! No wonder price is not listed on menu

I had such an amazing time at Yara yesterday for my boyfriend's birthday. The food was stellar, incredibly fresh, and was some of the best Mediterranean that we've had (and we like to think we're quite seasoned restaurant goers). Major kudos for the falafel, amazing crisp on the outside with a great soft, warm inside. He was a big fan of the lamb-- having grown on a ranch himself, he said it was some of the best quality meat that he's had since being at home. High regards. The restaurant had great ambience, slightly dim lighting, and soft music playing in the back. Great environment for date night or catching up with friends. The server was very kind, checked in when he noticed I hadn't touched much of my entree (I had gotten too full by the large mezzes!). They topped it off by packing the rest of our hummus and giving us a whole new bag of pita for the road. Kind people, yummy food. Definitely swing by! read more

Yara - Spicy hummus, pita, and an order of (quite large) falafel. - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

Excellent food and service. Edder was an amazing waiter. We had the cauliflower, hummus, and hand cut fries, beet falafel, and regular falafel . A must visit when in New York City. Will definitely will come back! read more

Very good Lebanese food with no fuss. The environment is very friendly and the service was great. We had the hummus, a lentil appetizer and the Mixed grill between two people it was more than enough. I would definitely return, all the food was so flavorful. The parking garage right next to it is great as well. Under $20 for the night when they have the weekend special. read more

Met new friends for lunch, and they suggested this place; they'd been here for dinner but never for lunch, so new experience all around! Ambiance is cool, quiet, upscale. Frankly, I was pleasantly surprised by the more casual, both price and food, menu for lunch. Very tasty food! Hubby and I don't eat beef or lamb, but they have chicken, fish, and vegetarian options galore. Two of us had the falafel wrap, one had chicken shwarma wrap, and I had the beet falafel wrap. Everyone was very pleased with their lunches. Warning, the wraps are messy to eat! I think all the tahini sauce for mine was on the outside; when I unwrapped the foil, it was whitish and drippy - but tasty! Many of the wraps, including the one chicken shwarma at our table, have fries included - IN the wrap. The ones of us who had falafel wraps chose them partly because they do not have fries incorporated in the wraps. No rush, we were chatting as we ate, but it was more than half empty when we arrived so hey were quite tolerant of our leisurely meal. But when we were done, we *had* to see the dessert menu. Oh, boy, lots of yummy choices there! Our friends shared one order of baklava, and we shared one order of namoura, something we've never had before. It's a dense, syrup-soaked, absolutely delicious, cake. They serve 6 little chunks on a plate, so he had 3 & I had 3 and that was quite satisfying to the sweet tooth. One person had Lebanese coffee - in a tiny espresso-size cup, looked like mud to me! The other 3 shared a pot of fresh mint tea. This was served from an elegant, polished silver (stainless steel?) teapot, into small, cut-glass cups on cut-glass saucers. The tea was dramatically poured from a height, maybe a foot?, above the cups. Waiter didn't spill a drop. When we had emptied our little teacups, I poured more for each of us, and I was trying to emulate the waiter; he was walking past our table and commented, "higher!" So fun! Now husband and I will have to come back for dinner; we're thinking we'll order several of the vegetarian mezzes that sound amazing and probably won't disappoint. Deceptively small place from the outside, several tables filled up while we were eating, spacious dining room. GO! read more

Amazing service and huge variety of great dishes! Ordered delivery for a work event and food came promptly and they listened to all additional comments (re: allergies and sauce/ pieces on the side). They were also really helpful when I called with questions about dietary restrictions before ordering. Food came packaged well and nothing spilled. Hot food was separated from cold too! I got the sfiha with lamb, which was a bit dry. But everyone else loved their food and their baklava was great. Will be back to try their hummus and other appetizers! read more

Try a different special dish every night. Service was fine for a busy night Ithe decor read more

We really enjoyed our experience at Yara. We came in for a very early dinner and did not have a reservation. We were seated right away. The dining room is beautifully decorated. There are interior brick walls with chic wall hangings. The waiter was attentive, and the service was prompt but not rushed. We ordered the Lebanese beers, which were great! For starters, we had the hummus, eggplant salad dip, and falafel. The hummus was delicious. The pita is the really thin (almost crunchy) kind. We prefer a fluffier pita. The eggplant salad dip was fantastic and flavorful. We loved the falafel! The tomatoes on the side were very fresh. The pickled radish on the side was a bit too sour. For our main course, we split the mixed grill platter. All of the meats were amazing!! I loved all three! The vegetables and rice were very good, as well. One complaint was the dipping sauce. There was a white creamy garlic sauce on the side, and it was potently garlicky to the point that we could not find it palatable. It was acidic and intense. We did not need the sauce to enjoy the meal. The meal was lovely otherwise. Very delicious and hearty. We were very full! I would recommend checking out Yara. read more

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Thanks Yelp for the recommendation. We needed a restaurant that would accommodate a lot of people with various preferences and this definitely hit the bill. I was here with a pretty large group and we ordered a lot of dishes. We were a bit surprised at the portion sizes so we probably ordered a bit too much (and the surly waitress mentioned nothing.) The service here was just alright (if anything a bit poor for the amount of food we ordered.) They weren't super attentive when it came to explaining things or saying when things were ready or well bringing water. As we ordered a lot of food, i'll be ordering the appetizers and mains in order of preference from best to worst outside of my personal dish. They gave us some crispy pita chips and a dip with olive oil and some pickled turnips to start which was fine though it took them a very long time to re-fill. To Drink- Candela: Jefferson's Small Batch Bourbon, Sweet Vermouth, Bitters, Arak Rinse. I ordered this. The drink itself was pretty small but very strong as expected. There was a good mix of sweetness and a refreshing licorice aftertaste from the arak. The drinks I tried from the other people were good also; similarly portioned and pricey. Appetizers: Shankleesh- Yara Feta Cheese, with Tomato, Scallions, Zaatar and Olive oil. $12 I happen to love this appetizer as per other places. It's essentially a fermented feta dish with a bunch of textures and flavors. Very refreshing and tasty. Good portion size as per the other dishes. Foul Madamas- Fava Beans, Garlic, Lemon Juice and Cumin. Served with Turnips, Onion, Tomato and Fresh Mint. $12 This was a good variant and the portion size was nice for the price. As soon as this one came out, I think we all realized we over ordered. Good textures and flavors. The traditional accompaniments are there on the side to help with the richness and they are a nice touch. Sfiha- Pie Stuffed with Lamb, Onion, Tomato, Pomegranate Molasses and Pine Nuts. $13 This wasn't as sweet as in other places I have had it. Good flavors. I believe there were 4 for the price which isn't bad. Hummus- Chickpea Puree, Tahini, Garlic and Lemon Juice. $10 This was quite a good hummus though I preferred a good amount of the other dishes. Good texture Fatayir- Pie Stuffed with Spinach, Onion, Sumac and Lemon Juice. $12 This was fine. I found it a bit underwhelming compared to the other appetizers (not enough flavors and it definitely needed the sumac.) Good pastry as per the sfiha as expected. Mains: Sardi- Fried Sardines W/ grilled eggplant and lebne (I believe, on the menu but listed as a special) $32 I ordered this as I was quite surprised with the portion size (even with how big the appetizers were.) There were a ton of well fried fish. Not super bready. I disliked the grilled eggplant though as I found it to be a bit of a soggy mess. Perhaps them cutting it into strips would have prevented this. The lebne helped it from getting too overwhelming. Kibbe B Saynieh- Baked Lean Beef and Cracked Wheat Filled with Ground Beef, Onions, Pine Nuts and Spices. W/ Laban b Khiar $26 The person next to me had this and we each had some of each other's dish. There was a great mix of flavors and textures and I heavily preferred this dish. It wasn't as sweet as sfiha or kibbe. The portions of this were fine. Koussa- Grey Squash Stuffed with Ground Lamb, Rice, Onions and Garlic in tomato sauce. $26 The other person next to me had this. I tried a little and it had some good flavors. It reminded me of the Greek variety though with a less strong tomato sauce. Shish Tawook- Grilled Seasoned Chicken Tender W/ Grilled Vegetables, Rice, and Garlic Aioli. $27 I tried a little bit of the chicken. It was moist and fine though I personally wouldn't order it for the price even though the portion was fine. Another person had the Mudardara (Lentils with Rice, Onion, Spices and Caramelized Onions) and another appetizer (Falafel I think) as their main dish where I tried the former and it was good. Dessert: Kenafa- Baked Cheese Topped with Bread Crumbs, Crushed Pistachio and Yara Syrup. $12 We were mostly full after the rather huge dinner but we decided to order two desserts. The Kenafa/Kunafeh was very different from other places. It had the good amount of cheese though it wasn't as rich. The bread crumbs were a bit like the semolina found in some places nearby me. Booza- Lebanese Ice Cream $12 Astah and pistachio flavors were good though they didn't have the chewiness I expect from this type of ice cream. Just alright. It's hard for me to rate this place properly. I happened to love the majority of the food though I found it as expected for the area a bit pricey. The service was lackluster and at some times it seemed our main one was insulted or bored for whatever reason. 4.5 rounded down. read more

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We really enjoyed our meal at Yara. I had read some reviews about inattentive service but that was far from my experience. We were seated immediately, our food came out quickly, the water was always filled- the service was excellent. The food was amazing too. All the meat was delicious. The lamb chops were our favorite but the hummus with beef was a close second. We also really enjoyed the mixed grill. They also have really good halloumi. It's not over salty like what I usually end up finding at other places. We also enjoyed the dessert. I recommend the knafeh. While it is a bit different from regular knafe (crumb topping vs semolina) it is still very good. read more

Excellent service and we enjoyed our meals. Nice, comfortable atmosphere with some space between the tables (you're not right next to others like in many Manhattan restaurants). . read more

Decent Lebanese place. The servers friendly and efficient. The dips were great, although the pita was a bit lacking. We shared a bunch of bigger plates and the lamb tartare was fantastic! Highly recommend trying if in the area. read more

Yara - Menu - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

One of the best Mediterranean restaurants I have been to . I found them while looking on the Crave App. Decided to give it a shot. I had a made a reservation through the app. We were seated right away as the table was ready for us. They brought some complementary breads , while the waiter explained the menu. We went ahead and ordered his recommendations. Food and service was truly on point . I highly recommended it !! Ambiance- 10/10 Service - 10/10 Happy Hour - YES WiFi - Not Sure Reservation- Recommended Also they are Halal read more

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4.5* I was looking for a restaurant on the Upper East Side, an area I rarely visit, and came across Yara and its excellent reviews. I ended up having dinner there with my cousin, and we were extremely impressed. She had arrived a few moments before I had and was waiting for me at a booth in the white table-clothed, elegant upstairs dining room. There were bowls of pickled radishes and heavily fried pita chips already adorning the table. I munched on these snacks while sipping my Fidora Organic Pinot Grigio from Veneto, IT. The crisp white wine was refreshing, had a mild acidity, and offered light notes of fruit (pear & apple) and flowers. We soon transitioned to our entrees, both ordering the Shish Tawook. The grilled chicken chunks were tender and perfectly seasoned. While there were a decent number of poultry pieces, the sides were miniscule. There were only 4 pieces of grilled vegetables (zucchini and red pepper), a slice of fresh tomato, and a small mound of rice. The rice had great flavor, but contained a few hard clumps. There was a side of garlic aioli on the plate as well, which provide an intense blast of garlic that was as delicious as it was strong; it acted as a great sauce for the rice. Overall, we were very pleased with the flavor of the food. But, when it came to the service, the waiter was polite, but also seemed frazzled and ready to rush us out. We would definitely return, but I felt that there were a few minor tweaks that could have improved our experience. read more

I came here with my friends for a birthday dinner. The food and service was amazing! The restaurant is very nice inside as well. Everything tasted so fresh and the cocktails were made perfectly. I definitely would recommend this restaurant! read more

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For our last meal in NYC, my wife and I grabbed lunch at Yara before heading to the Airport. What a delicious meal that was filling, while also light enough so we were not uncomfortable traveling. The owner was an absolute gem and made us feel so welcome. read more

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What an amazing Mediterranean spot in the city! We truly enjoyed our dinner experience at Yara and I can't recommend it enough. My husband and I met my friend at Yara for dinner. We wanted to share a bunch of vegetarian mezze and enjoy drinks and luckily we were able to do exactly that. Between the 3 of us, we shared an order of hummus, cauliflower, beet falafel, bhabab ghanoush, stuffed grape leaves, and a spanakopita type mezze called sambosik cheese. Everything was so good and fresh and we definitely ordered the right amount of food. We also lucked out from a drinks perspective! Our server told us it was Happy Hour until 8 PM (not advertised) and they made an exception to grant us HH prices even though we weren't seated at the bar. Great customer service! Their drinks are really good and you can't beat the price for New York. The ambience inside is also very nice. They do a great job of keeping the restaurant looking nice and classy. I definitely recommend stopping by Yara for dinner if you're in the area! Food, drinks, and service are all excellent and I'm really impressed with how vegetarian friendly they are. read more

Yara - Hummus / Beet Falafel / Cauliflower / Sambosik cheese - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

The short: authentic, fresh Lebanese food in an open, chic environment... with some of the nicest folks around! The longer: this is such a welcome addition to the neighborhood. There are a bunch of salads and small plates, which are great for sharing, and then a ton of grilled meat and fish options. Everything we ate was KILLER. You can tell the food is fresh, homemade & clean. Mixed grill plate was an awesome way to sample the meats. Loved the filet mignon! Hummus and fried eggplant were perfect. Pita bread was warm and fluffy. Great, affordable list of wines. Overall- just super happy with the meal and will definitely be back. I highly highly recommend this spot! read more

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It was great in terms of ambiance and space around the tables, but the food left a lot to be desired. Started with the hummus and pita which was good, but not particularly memorable. For my entree, I had the lamb okra which felt underseasoned. It felt bland and underwhelming in terms of flavor, even the lamb wasn't all that flavorful, lacking in the gaminess you typically expect from it. The okra itself was fine and cooked well. The Booza we had for dessert was probably the best thing out of the meal. It was interesting that the pistachio flavor had no stretch whatsoever whereas the vanilla and chocolate were fine texture-wise. Sadly, the pistachio tasted the best but was lacking in that nice stretchy texture. I would say there are probably better options if you're here for the food, but if you want a nice dining setting, this could be a good spot for you. read more

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! Food, ambiance, service, all amazing. Very highly recommended. read more

Oh Mama. Oh Baba...ganoush. If you love Smoky, roasty, made by mama authentic Baba you are in for a treat! I had the honor of trying out a tasting menu of delicious foods offered by Yara. First let me say the space is gorgeous. Hummus/ Baba- both excellent. I preferred the Babaganoush. The owner mentioned the labor and prep involved and the fact that his mother prepares it. That just makes it that much more amazing! I loved how it had that smoky flavor. By far my fav one I've had in the city. The best thing of the evening was the Lamb Pastry. The owner mentioned it is not on the regular menu but available for catering. Let me tell you. It. Is. Amazing. Really really good. I hope it gets added because it was so tasty. Def try this place out. The food has a nice homestyle taste but the ambiance is classy perfect for date and fancy dinners read more

Yara - Hummus. Baba. See the lamb in the top right. That is money right there. Amazing. - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Stumbled upon this spot because another restaurant in the area was full. Was greeted by the owner which was nice! The inside is so elegant and intimate, I almost felt like I was at a wedding. Babaghanouj - 5/5 - The babaghanouj itself was spectacular! Smooth and chunky at the same time, had a Smokey finish which I always enjoy. The bread that it came with tasted stale however. I could just imagine if the bread was thicker, softer, and more fresh... this would be a 6/5! Filet Mignon - 4.5/5 - I love their seasoning and the amount of char on each bite without compromising tenderness. Vegetables were seasoned well, I've never had a taste quite like it. Sad because the amount of rice to meat ratio was low :( Shawarma Chicken - 4/5 - Good! Could use more pita. LOTS of chicken, very generous. Could definitely share this! The fries were good too. Milk Pudding - 6/5 - Oh my goodness, where has this dessert been all my life?! First time trying mahalabia and I'm glad I tried it here first. The milk pudding was so decadent with the pistachio and the hint of rosewater really shined through. Creative to put little strips of cotton candy on the top! We devoured the plate clean. They also have pretty good affordable lunch specials! Would probably keep this in rotation if I worked or lived in the neighborhood. Yummy! read more

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We had a great experience at Yara last Saturday evening. We had a reservation and were immediately seated. The service was very attentive. The ambiance was very pleasant. The food was great. We ordered Tabouli, Beef Hummus, Kibbe Mukleyi and Sambosik Cheese. All to share and it was more than enough for the two of us. The tabouli and the beef hummus were specially delicious. read more

I have eaten at Yara three times. That indicates its quality. I selected it initially because of location. That is an important consideration of course. I use Yelp sometimes when I happen to be someplace I do not know, and I have no regular spot. Reliability is a significant criteria for restaurants, and this satisfies the standard. But sometimes you need to try new venues. To experiment with food makes you better as a person, in my book, and I confess I may be less enthusiastic about making friends with those who are unwilling to try new cuisines. So I found this place here on Yelp. I often am in mid town for business, then headed back home to Queens. This is en route. Then after an exploratory dinner, I concluded I could trust this place as fun and festive, with excellent food and respectful service (polite and unobtrusive, willing to offer recommendations). It would be irrational to come here alone or with people unwilling to share plates. That is the only disadvantage, and even that comment is directed more at dining companions than this establishment. Tapas, dim sum, and other small plate styles of feasting demand a crowd. So I would not consider coming here alone, unless I were prepared to take home enormous amounts of leftovers (two meals worth). The last time I was there was with a friend with whom I have worked a bit (we co-authored an article, or, rather, I was credit with a "with help from"). He had a new boyfriend. He is a native New Yorker, while his date hails from mainland China. They were traveling through the States, having visited Boston and en route to New Orleans. We had probably ten dishes. My friend is partial to lamb. There are many choices here. They unfortunately were out of the tartare version. Nonetheless, we enjoyed tabouli (a huge portion, enough for a half dozen), babaghanouj (less pureed than I am accustomed to but very good), moussakaa, grilled halloumi, meat pastry, kefta, and baklawa, among what I recall and am sure of. On prior visits, I have had beets, hummus, falafel, chicken liver, and fries. The wine list has moderately priced options. That is a plus. Alcohol is expected to be marked up. I am not enough of a connoisseur to appreciate the pricey selections, nor wealthy enough to indulge. I have Yara on my list of favorites. They have no idea who I am, because I visit only infrequently. I am pleased to commend it. If you need to get over the 59th street bridge afterward, you're set. read more

We're regulars at Yara and always enjoy it. Hosting dinners for friends there has been a hit--they all appreciate this wonderful and lovely restaurant. A few of our friends became regulars as well. On Monday, we treated friends who were staying with us to dinner at Yara. They enjoyed it so immensely that they asked us to change a reservation we had at another restaurant on Friday to Yara instead. Se we ended up visiting Yara twice this week. In both visits the food was superb. As we were seated, they brought to the table a plate of exquisite pink pickled turnips (their vibrant hue from red beets in the pickling process) along with zaatar in olive oil. We also ordered tahini. The combination of dipping pita into the tahini and the zaatar-infused oil, paired with the pickled turnips, is a true delight of Levantine cuisine. The only downside? It's utterly addictive (we ordered extra). Following the pre-appetizer, we indulged in a feast of mezze delights: eggplant salad, foul moudamas, hummus, classic falafel, beet falafel, vegan kibbe, fried cauliflower with green tahini, and more. Every dish was exceptional. The smoky flavor of the eggplant salad was particularly irresistible - we couldn't resist ordering an extra serving. The warm foul moudamas, with its delightful lemony zest, accompanied by a plate of onions, pickled turnips, and sliced tomatoes, is equally addictive - perfect as a main dish for a light lunch. Savoring the exceptional vegan kibbe with a side of hummus and/or tahini is another delightful Lebanese treat. After our mezze feast, we were pleasantly full but couldn't resist ordering the lemon sole fish dish, which was absolutely delightful. It was so good that we ordered it again on both occasions. Our friends were delighted, expressing their eagerness to return to Yara on their next visit to NYC. read more