Overall fantastic restaurant. Went with family and ordered several vegetarian appetizers. The waiters had great recommendations and did not try to make us to get too much food, which we appreciated. Delicious hummus and other dips, unique beet falafel, warm pita bread - it was a wonderful sampler! Also, the restaurant is beautiful and spacious, extremely well designed. read more

Yara - dining room - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Been here few times, price to portion size is not the best but tasty. The place is very unsuspecting from outside but very nice and low key inside. Busy nights can leave you waiting for a waiter but they're all great. Never had an issue finding a table or reservation. The music can sometimes be loud for conversation but if you get seated somewhere towards the back it's great for conversation read more

great atmosphere and ambiance, food was delicious and the drinks came out fairly quick! The owner of the restaurant was incredibly friendly and was consistently checking in on us as well as other tables! read more

I came here last night excited to try the food again after the great experience we had last time. They either changed the chef or had a real off night because the food and service were both terrible. There were only two servers on a Sunday night, and our waitress could not have cared less. It was terrible service, we had to ask 4 times for a to-go container. We tried the namesake Yara salad, instead of the fattoush, and it was so sour it was almost inedible. My Lebanese boyfriend came specifically for the mulukhia, and he was really disappointed in the dish. They also had no bartender so no cocktails. Bummed that this place went downhill. read more

I was craving middle eastern food, and this place was in the area of where we were, and it had really good reviews. I had never heard of this place before, but thought we would give it a shot! We made a reservation for two people on a Tuesday night. EXPERIENCE We were seated within 10 minutes. The service that night was very slow. Their kitchen randomly got overwhelmed, and the food was taking a while to come out. They did their best to keep us updated, and apologized many times. They even compensated our dessert, which was very kind of them. I wouldn't blame them as this seemed to be an unique circumstance, but it was kind of strange for a Tuesday night. Maybe they were not expecting it either. I would give them another chance though, and they did seem sincere in their apologies. FOOD (4/5) Hummus (chickpea puree, tahini, garlic, lemon juice) - This is a big portion. Probably better for 4+ people. Pretty creamy and tasty, I enjoyed it. (5/5) Yara Mixed Grill Plate (grilled chicken, fillet mignon, kefta, shrimp, lamb chop) - The shrimp was not really anything special, it was fine. The chicken was pretty good, but I've had better elsewhere, it was boarder line over cooked. The fillet mignon was cooked really well, nice texture and juicy, The kefta was amazing, one of the best I've ever had! It was super soft and flavorful, it somehow melted in my mouth. It had a lot of good seasoning and I wish there was more! (5/5) Kenafa (baked cheese topped with bread crumbs, crushed pistachio, yara syrup) - The dessert was great, if you haven't tried this dessert before, you must. Its cheesey, and has the intense sugar syrup on top. Theres always a really nice cheese pull, it is kind of heavy, but worth it. OVERVIEW The food here was very good, and the portions are quite large. The staff are very kind, and the ambiance was gorgeous! I would definitely come here again. I am hopeful that their kitchen will be better prepared to handle the volume of orders. Really solid spot. read more

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This is a gem of a find! If you read my reviews you know Mediterranean food is what I'm always looking for and OMG is this a wonderful place! They have chicken liver in pomegranate! And it is absolutely divine! Anything your order is delicious. Be sure to order hummus with beef and any of the chicken or beef/lamb skewers with rice. I can't say enough great things and I rarely go back to restaurants however I find myself ordering in from Yara few times a month now as well since it's in my neighborhood. I can't say enough great things. Service is excellent just be prepared to dine for a long time. read more

Yara - Chicken Liver - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

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The food and ambiance were great. I had the lamb chops - seasoned well and the baklava (with ice cream) for dessert. They were both yummy and I would definitely return. read more

Yara - Lamb Chops - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

I wish I could give 4.5/5. I really enjoy Yara and go frequently. The mezze are very good. The kebabs are more than just grilled meat, they have great seasoning and flavor. The other mains are interesting and very good. I'm going to keep going. read more

Seriously great food. From the basic hummus to the more elaborate mixed grill, shawarma, salmon, and chicken livers! Just excellent and unique in their preparation and quality. Was at a business gathering, and we were in their downstairs section: Nicley appointed bar area, and very comfy seating where we could talk and enjoy these superior presentations of traditional Mediterranean dishes. read more

They have outdoor dining! Great baba ganoush, mix platter, beef sharwarma, and Kenafa! read more

Everything about this place was great. The appetizers , the fabulous dinner items and the staff are friendly. Must try this if you lov

Stumbled upon Yara while looking for Mediterranean restaurants in midtown- what a find! Came here for dinner tonight and will be returning to this place pretty often. Ambiance - this is a pretty huge place and the decor is quite stunning. It's intricate and elegant. They also some very big tables which might be great for a celebration Food - This place serves Lebanese cuisine. we had the beet falafel and babaganoush- both were fabulous. The babaganoush had that charred eggplant taste which is a sign of a good one. For desserts we had the milk pudding which was light textured with cotton candy and rose pistachio syrup- a winner especially if you don't like overtly sweet desserts I was here with a vegetarian friend, but I so want to come back for the meat! Service - this is where this place exceed and surpasses all my expectations! The service is phenomenal - the servers are attentive but will not be lingering at your table. They give great recommendations. But my favorite part of the evening was meeting the owner(Linda?). She came and stopped at every table and asked about our experience. I didn't realize she was the owner then, but I stopped by later to talk to her - what a sweet person. I felt like I was talking to my long lost aunt! She then made me stand by the mosaic wall and took pictures of me (my heart ) Really so sweet! Definitely a must try peeps! read more

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There is honestly nothing I can complain about here. From the second I walked in, I was greeted by the owner (I think) and he showed us to our table. He made sure we were all set and took our orders. The service in general was very great. I think the the ambiance and the inside of the restaurant was the real stand out here. It was very beautiful and elegant. Very romantic and intimate. It felt like a place someone in a movie would have their first date. Very classic. The food was great as well! Our waiters brought out some pita chips and a very tangly vinegar based dipping sauce. I wasn't a fan of the chips because they tasted too stale. I got the spinach and cheese samboski which was very crispy and had a very juicy filling. I also got the beef hummus which was very creamy. The fat from the meat added a depth of flavor to the dish. It was a little pricey for $17 though. I got the combo platter for the entrée. It came with rice and roasted vegies. There was also a white yogurt sauce that also had a strong vinegar taste to it. The meat was very juicy. Chicken was great. Filet mignon was wonderful although more on the well done side than medium. Beef kebab was pretty standard. I would recommend this place for a nice night out! read more

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Great Lebanese joint. Newly opened but food was spectacular - they made one error by putting strawberries with kunafe (cheesy stretchy dessert soaked in sugar syrup). Otherwise, a beautiful menu with home cooked meals by a Lebanese chef. Try the kibbe nayeh (raw meat) like a tartare - exquisite. read more

I haven't written a review in a very long time. But Yara deserves ALLLLLL the praise. The owner and their staff are hard working without a doubt. The food is EXCELLENT. Best Mediterranean food in NYC. NY loves to boast about their middle eastern/Mediterranean cuisine but many have fallen short of expectations, Yara goes well above it. The food is well seasoned, fresh, and cooked with love and passion. Thank you Yara for an excellent experience. We'll be back soon. read more

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Yara is a traditional Lebanese restaurant with all the classical specialties. I had baba ghanouj (excellent), taboulé, and kibbe to start. Followed by shawarma, also very good. Excellent service. Good place for a quiet business lunch (I hate noisy restaurants!) Will be back! read more

Gooorgeous interior meets tasty pan-Middle Eastern/Mediterranean cuisine. The mezze were all very well done, especially the pickled vegetables. My vegan okra was hearty and filling, exactly what I needed after a night of heeeeeavy drinking (it felt like dwarves were mining for diamonds in my head). Speaking of heavy drinking, everyone else in my crew paid the extra $20 for bottomless mimosas and were quite happy with the results. So I guess you could say we all had dwarf miners in our heads by the time the brunch was over. read more

Terrible lamb chops, at $50+ they should be excellent. Tough, they were some strange kid of lamb chop , owner did not know what kind.

Had lunch at Yara today...here are my thoughts: Ambiance - we sat outside because of COVID and the weather was great. There is no formal set up outside, just tables and chairs, but the chairs are quite comfortable! Service - friendly enough but they seem understaffed and our food came out at 4 different times. We constantly had to ask for water, etc. Service is definitely lacking here which is troubling because 20% was automatically tacked on to our check. Food - is overall just okay. * Moussakka was not visually appealing at all and it needed salt. * Grilled Halloumi received good reviews but I didn't try it. * Spicy Potatoes were delicious, definitely the highlight. * Pita bread was cold and hard...disappointing. * Warak Einab never came out despite my asking several times. Not sure if they were out of it but I was sad we didn't get to try them. * Others had Shish Tawook, Filet Mignon, and the Shwarma. I didn't try these but reviews were mixed. Prices - they are VERY high here. $10 for a side of rice, $27 for the Tawook, etc. I've had much better food at half the price. Maybe they had an off day because the reviews here are mostly 4-5 stars? In any case I doubt we'll return. read more

My experience here was an absolute joy! I called earlier in the day to inquire if the restaurant was wheelchair accessible, so they had the metal ramp waiting for me when we arrived. Unfortunately, it was too steep for my heavy power wheelchair to get up to the dining room area, even though the owner and his staff tried mightily to assist me and my boyfriend. I was thinking we'd have to leave, but the owner insisted we stay and was quick to find a way to accommodate us. He set up a table in the waiting area (located right by the front window and not at all in the way or awkward) and the whole staff made sure we were well take care of. (My hope, of course, is that they'll get a longer, sturdier ramp so this isn't an issue for other customers!) As the absolute cherry on top of this excellent service, the food was incredible. We started with some mezze. I especially cannot say enough good things about the vegan kibbe, though I also loved the labneh. For dinner, my boyfriend and I shared shawarma chicken and kibbe b saynieh. Everything was delicious. read more

I should have left after the stale bread arrived on the table. After we complained he told us they were making fresh bread at that very moment. Hummus came and was delicious so we stayed...a regretful mistake. We ordered fish and it was so rubbery it was nearly impossible to cut, I have sent one thing back in my whole life and this was the second, absolutely inedible. The waiter told us the chef agreed with us, filled up my wife's wine on the house and brought us dessert but it's a meal I wish I had back. I am not sure if they were trying to use up yesterday's leftovers on the early dinner service or if the cooking is just that bad. The hummus was great and the mixed grill OK but lacked flavor. Overall a severe disappointment. read more

Tasty, well-prepared Lebanese food. Service is attentive and considerate. I eat here fairy often and recommend it highly.

I came on a Friday night and place was packed. Service was meh but I think it was because there was only 2-3 servers for the whole top floor. We waited a very long time for our meals. For apps, we got the beet falafel which was the best thing we had. Highly recommend. We also got the muhamra and halloumi which were pretty good. Honestly I would come back for these apps. For entree, I got the vegan okra. They didn't have many vegetarian options for entrees. This was okay,and most likely wouldn't get again. Cute ambiance, and the downstairs floor is a cute intimate bar lounge for drinks. read more

OUTSTANDING!!! What a gem of a Lebanese restaurant in NYC. We went for Valentine's Day and didn't know what to expect. The restaurant has lovely ambiance and beyond hospitable and friendly staff. The food is Authentic Lebanese cuisine. There's no fusion or funny business. This is Lebanese dining as if you're sitting at an eatery in Beirut. The Kibbe naye (lamb tartar) is out of this world. Very generous portion for the price charged. The best part was our server Charles whose knowledge of the menu and cuisine was very much appreciated. He checked in on us often and was extremely personable and attentive. We also had the pleasure of meeting Linda one of the owners, who was so gracious in making sure we received our complimentary heart shaped falafel and rose for the occasion. I watched her check in with every table to make sure that everyone was well taken care of and enjoying their experience. Yara far exceeded my expectations. It's warm, welcoming and most of all the food was outstanding. Can't recommend this place enough to anyone looking to enjoy a real Lebanese treat while in NYC. read more

Beautiful venue, has a nice, sophisticatedly elegant atmosphere. Staff are kind, like hospitality is perfect but their service is slow, and the food is okay at best. When we entered and requested a table for six, we were told we couldn't stay longer than 2 hours bc they had a full house of reservations later in the evening. This was fine with us, except servers didn't check in with us promptly enough for us to order our meals at appropriate times. (Everyone was sweet though). Food also came out late and at different times. read more

Yara - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Lovely mediterranean restaurant with ample seating, great service and extensive menu including vegan options. Enjoyed the mezze that comes with generous serving of pitta, and enjoyed the taste of warak enab. Vegan Okra tasted more stew-like than expected and not as flavourful as hoped. Otherwise brilliant place to dine and would visit again. read more

Yara - Yara Fries, Vegan Warak Einab, Vegan Okra, Mouhamara - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

Really enjoyed the food and vibe here. Felt like someone's home, there were live guitarists and the whole crowd was very diverse/cultured/vibrant. The service was slow hence the 4 stars but I'd recommend this place! read more

Yara - Lebanese Near Me - New York, New York

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Beautiful setting, along with an attentive staff. Sprinkle in good food and you've got yourself a winner. Unfortunately they missed the mark. We started with the hummus with beef. The beef that's added, tasted and looked like it was fried renderings/scraps from left over meat that was previously cut. I would skip that appetiser. The pita bread is from a supermarket heated. Hurry and eat it while it's hot, as it hardens as it cools off. We ordered the mixed grill. The three meats were tasty, while the vegetables were soaked in oil and the "rice" was maybe 1/2 cup on the plate as an mere after thought. There are at least a half a dozen mediterranean/Lebanese restaurants within a 8 block radius heading north up first avenue that have spoiled me. I wanted so much to have another place to call home, sadly don't think they will survive. We will see....... read more

I went to Yara with high expectations as some of my family members had raved about it and luckily all of my expectations were met except for one faux pas which wasn't a huge deal to me at the end of the meal. We ordered the sojouk and beet salad to start. Today was the day I realized that sojouk and sojouk pide were different in the sense that sojouk pide was a flatbread that had sojouk in it. The sojouk was delicious though so I didn't regret my choice. The beets salad was refreshing and a generous portion was given. For our main, we got the mixed grill which had grilled chicken, filet mignon, and kefta skewers. There was more than enough of everything. I loved the garlic aioli a lot but you have to really love garlic for you to enjoy it. I would definitely return in a bigger friend group to get the Yara mixed grill if I were to return to try the lamb chops as well. The faux pas was that they had no drink on the menu since they didn't have a bartender that night but I could care less since I believe a man who was the owner told us this in advance. All in all, I will definitely be returning. read more

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I'm very pleased to know that there are such great restaurants near my work like Yara. This Lebanese restaurant is a true gem of the midtown east! I've been here for a group lunch and I have to say the service here is outstanding! We were met by the restaurant manager who personally assured that we were taken care of. Yara truly cares about your experience! The food here is 5 star +! We ordered variety of appetizers such as babaganous, hummus, falafel, haloumi,etc. everything tasted great but especially hummus. Really the best! Their kabab is also really delicious, tender and flavorful. There is nothing on the menu that does not meet the expectation. Beyond great! 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

Staff at this 5-month old restaurant was very welcoming, hospitable and professional. Setting is spacious and decor is modern. Main dining room is street level; downstairs is the bar where you can also order from the main dining room menu. Menu is simple and diverse for vegetarians and non-vegetarians and dishes are reasonably priced. Tried a couple of mezze dishes (falafel and babaganoush) and an entree (vegan okra) for dinner. Great flavors at a great value in a beautiful room! read more

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Food is ok . No really a good flavor more on the plain side . The waitress no very gracious. She was not impolite but was in a hurry and we didn't feel welcome. The ambiance is nice, clean and modern . Love the Lebanese music . read more

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

One of my favorite Mediterranean restaurants! Not only is the decor incredible, making this the perfect atmosphere for a date night or even a night out with some close friends, but the food is fantastic. Everything is very authentic, the staff was incredibly friendly, and the food was to die for. The hummus, the babaganoush, and the beef kibbe were all solid, plus they have great cocktails. I ordered the Candella and recommend it. It was both strong and delicious. The babaganoush was the best! Some of my favorite babaganoush that I've had in NYC. I would absolutely go back to Yara and recommend it to everyone I know. Both the atmosphere and food are on point. read more

Visited Yara's based on the recommendation of a friend and I'm glad I did. Upon entering we were greeted by a friendly hostess but that was just the beginning of our great experience. The next thing that caught our attention was the decor and ambience, it was obvious that attention was paid to every detail, the place is gorgeous! After being sat we were greeted by a friendly waitress who took our appetizer and drink orders, not too long after, the Chef came to our table to greet us and give us some recommendations for our entrees. I ended up choosing the mixed grill platter and my date chose the Salmon which was the catch of the day. While waiting for our order, Jacob (the owner) came by our table to check on how things were going. He was very pleasant, funny and welcoming. Our food came out fairly quickly and as soon as we dug into each of our dishes, we were blown away by the wonderful flavors. Their Salmon is THE BEST I'VE EVER HAD IN NEW YORK!!! Yeah I said it! It was F'N AMAZING!! It was so good I suggested that they make it a permanent item on the menu. The mixed grill platter was also great but that Salmon...GEEEEZ!!! Both dishes were served with mixed veggies and rice. Don't forget to ask for a side of Toum(Lebanese Garlic Sauce). Yara has GREAT potential and I definitely see it taking off and becoming one of the "it" spots in the city. I can't wait to go back and explore the rest of the menu. read more

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This Lebanese restaurant is amazing! Definitely recommend you check it out. The food is so good and authentic. We ordered Hummus, Tabouleh, Shish Taouk, and Shawarma. It all tasted incredible. The service was also solid. The owners of the restaurant made my girlfriend and I feel right at home and doted on us, wanting to ensure that everything was up-to-standard. Lastly, we loved the decor of Yara and the atmosphere while there! All in all, it's hard not to give this restaurant 5-stars. Wish we had something like Yara in Boston. Anyways, can't wait to be back! read more

midtown generic restaurant with a v good menu/offerings. food was nothing special/marginal. place is open/clean. service was horrible. had to ask for and remind about everything. note: party of 6 so tip was included. which def worked in their favor bc poor service. don't recommend as many other options close by. read more

Lovely family-owned restaurant with traditional Lebanese cuisine and excellent service! Enjoyed a meal with some friends that extended well past closing hours.. we completely lost track of time until we realized we were the only ones remaining at the restaurant. The staff did not rush us at all, instead encouraging us to enjoy and offering tea & dessert. Such hospitable people! Food was tasty and great for sharing with a group tapas style. Most memorable were the beet falafel and kibbe with labnan. Modern and inviting interior decor. We had a nice table by the fireplace. Plenty of indoor space.. would consider hosting a dinner party at Yara in the future! read more

Came here for an anniversary dinner. Food was pretty hood. We ordered appetizers and main dishes. It was weird that we have not finished appetizers and they already brought the main course. I feel like food cake way too fast. Also it was Sunday night, waitress was not that attentive. Did not come to check if we need anything else. Also we reserved table on opentable, specifically said it was our anniversary and we did not get anything. Not a candle, nothing with words happy anniversary. Why do they ask then? It was first restaurant that does not care that it was anniversary. Usually if it is birthday/celebration at least your dessert comes with a candle or some words of congratulations, or at least a free glass of champagne. Just not very friendly. Food was not super impressive, was not bad at all. Portions were definitely on a bigger side. Dessert was pretty good. Food is 5 stars, service 2-3 stars. read more

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I never wrote a review. But this place is unique in its clean complex tastes from the Middle East and unassuming welcoming atmosphere. And the service was warm and not pushy. read more