Au Za'atar - Midtown East

I have been to Au Za'atar in the East Village. A few weeks ago I went again with my family to celebrate my father's birthday. It was out 1st time at the Midtown East one and it did not disappoint. The food was delicious and our server, Hassan, was so awesome. He was very nice, very helpful and patient with us. He helped us with the menu and what was delicious to order. The restaurant was beautiful ! We ordered for starters, the Mezze & Dips Spinner (2 tiers). Wow, it was so delicious. We also ordered the Shawarma. There was no kid options and my kid is a picky one. They were nice enough to make her some plain fries and she also had some naan bread. We will definitely go back again.

Love the atmosphere! The food is incredible! We sampled a lot of dishes that had so much flavor! Cocktails were great, too! Highly recommend!

I had a great experience here. The vibes were really nice and the service was excellent, the staff kept checking on us and everything came out quickly. The food was phenomenal. We ordered the lamb kibbeh nayeh, and it was incredibly fresh and flavorful. The grilled cheese was also really good. We tried the grilled quail as well; the quail itself was tasty, though the rice wasn’t my favorite since I prefer the fluffy aromatic Middle Eastern style.<br><br>One small suggestion: it would be even better if the tables were spaced a bit farther apart for more comfort.

Everything was great, the food was delicious and flavorful. Our server Vivienne was amazing, she was kind and helped with the menu. Also, the decor was beautiful. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone wanting to try Lebanese food.

We had a wonderful experience at dinner the other day. The food was all delicious, and some standouts were the the ARNABEET BI TARATOR (Fried cauliflower topped with tangy yogurt tahini sauce & toasted pine nuts), HALLOUM MEKLI (Fried Cypriot cheese drizzled with garlic honey olive oil), and KAFTA KARAZ (Sautéed kafta balls in a cherry sauce). A dessert highlight was CHOCOLATE SALTED CARAMEL SOUFFLE<br>(Moist chocolate cake with a heart of creamy salted caramel). It was so good. The cocktails were so good each person who ordered them to two each, and so was the n/a FROZEN MINT LEMONADA (Blended fresh mint and fresh lemon juice). Also, our server was Viviane, and she was terrific. Friendly, attentive and helpful.

Trendy Lebanese restaurant in Midtown Manhattan. They went viral for their “tableside shawarma” which is carved in front of you with a whole presentation.<br><br>For starters we got the classic Hummus and the Zaatar manaeesh. They were both fantastic and served with various dips and pickles to accompany. The drinks were also solid, definitely worth getting the strawberry vimto if you like fruity and sweet. Mint lemonade is OG and a good choice.<br><br>We figured since we were there we should try this viral tableside shawarma experience. We opted to get the chicken shawarma. From a presentation perspective, it was a 10/10. Served with a mountain of sumac spiced fries, pita bread and the same dips and pickles (all unlimited and complimentary). The chicken was bland and super dry, not a fan.<br><br>Overall: 6/10

Not was the food phenomenal, especially the lamb shank, but the service by Kyle was next level. He knows his Arab food and he recommended such delicious dishes and was always there to serve us with a big smile. The decor of the restaurant and the vibe in general was very nice too. Thank you!

The food was delicious, but I think it had a bit too much salt.<br><br>The wait to get the food was very long, about 55 minutes, which was not pleasant.<br><br>The service and atmosphere were good.

I visited this restaurant a few days ago and honestly had an amazing experience from start to finish. Everything about the place exceeded my expectations. The food quality was outstanding — fresh, flavorful, and clearly prepared with great attention to detail. Every dish we ordered was delicious and perfectly presented, making the whole dining experience memorable.<br><br>A special shoutout to our server, Kyle, who truly made the night exceptional. He was professional, attentive, and incredibly friendly throughout our visit. His service was top-class and he made sure we were comfortable and well taken care of the entire time. It’s rare to come across service that genuinely elevates your experience, but Kyle absolutely did.<br><br>The atmosphere and vibes of the restaurant are out of this world. The decorations are beautiful and create a warm, welcoming environment that’s perfect whether you’re dining with friends, family, or celebrating a special occasion. The energy of the place feels lively yet comfortable at the same time.<br><br>Since we were fasting during Ramadan, I was especially touched that they thoughtfully provided dates for us to break our fast. That level of care and cultural awareness really stood out and showed how much the staff values their guests. The entire team was very friendly, respectful, and accommodating, which made the experience even more meaningful.<br><br>Overall, this restaurant delivers excellence in food, service, atmosphere, and hospitality. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for authentic Lebanese cuisine and a fantastic dining experience in Midtown East.<br><br>Definitely a 10/10 — I will absolutely be coming back again.

Food was 10/10 - loved the beiruty hummus and the mixed grill platter. Meat was cooked to perfection and everything was so flavorful. Kyle & Heidi are PHENOMENAL. So attentive and kind. Great experience all around 🙌🏼🙌🏼

Took my husband out last night for his birthday, and I'm so glad I did! Our server Amelia was extremely knowledgeable and made great recommendations. The food was beyond exceptional, and the ambiance was perfect for the night we wanted to have. Great crowd for Sunday night, and even with the volume, everything came out timely. We will definitely return for our next celebration!

I’d been hearing about Au Zaatar for a while, so when I finally had the chance to travel to New York, I made sure it was on my list. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect and wasn’t sure if it would live up to the hype—but I was so wrong.<br><br>The moment you walk in, the space is beautiful and welcoming. The staff are incredibly warm and attentive, which makes the experience even better. And the food… every single dish we tried was packed with flavor, fresh, and absolutely delicious. You can tell a lot of care goes into both the presentation and the taste.<br><br>My only regret is not having enough time to go back again before leaving New York. Au Zaatar is definitely a spot worth visiting—and revisiting.

I stopped by this restaurant for a late dinner after work and was pleasantly surprised. The ambiance is charming and welcoming, perfect for winding down. The menu is extensive with plenty of options to choose from, and the food is beautifully presented. I especially loved the homemade pita bread, freshly baked in their ovens, it makes a big difference!! The drinks were also excellent, well-balanced and flavorful. Overall, a great experience and I’ll definitely be coming back!

Wow wow wow, this was our second time here and it did not disappoint for a birthday celebration! This was such a big hit with our friends.<br><br>For our first time, it was just the two of us and it left such a great impression. At that time, we had a special eggs Benedict, the grilled herbed salmon with bulgur, and the pita with sauces and dips. We cleared our plates so fast and left in awe and satisfaction. So when it was time to pick for a birthday celebration, this place was at the top of my list!<br><br>When we initially visited the first time, I inquired about the table side shawarma but they recommended it for 3-4 people. So this second visit, we had a party of 5 ordering the beef shawarma with fries and two sides of vermicelli rice. We also ordered two small plates to share- the kibbeh kras and jebne manouche to our waiter’s recommendation (it’s an impressively extensive menu). So all of this plus the endless pita with incredible sauces (garlic toum and Zaatar aioli was our fave!), we did not finish our food. Everyone was satisfied and there were no complaints. Everything was flavorful and tasty, the sauces just added extra depth which each bite. The house cocktails and mocktails were also superb.<br><br>So the place gets busy especially at dinner time. I recommend making reservations but be warned that your party won’t be seated until everyone is present. We had a hard out in like 1.5hrs that we communicated to the waiters and they did a wonderful job getting us out on time. They were also very accommodating throughout the meal, checking in if we needed refills on anything and very prompt at that. Be aware that the table side shawarma takes a minimum 30min - 1hr to prepare. The atmosphere and decor of restaurants is wonderful and on the fancy side. Little bit hard to take pictures because the inside is dim and you only have your table lamps.<br><br>Overall, a wonderful experience and can’t wait to come back to explore the menu some more! Our friends said that they would definitely come back in the future.

Great Lebanese spot! The hummus was amazing,probably the best in the city, the pastries tasty, and the chicken salad was nice.They also bring delicious snacks and sauces (especially garlic sauce). The filet mignon was a bit dry and tasteless, but overall I really enjoyed the place and would come back again.