Balaboosta - New York

Absolutely fantastic Israeli cuisine! Every dish was incredibly delicious, and the atmosphere was perfect. The olives (which unfortunately didn’t make it to the photos because we devoured them too quickly!) were exceptional, and the hummus and market salad (also no pictures, sorry!) were delightful. The cauliflower (shown in the photo) was mouthwatering, and the mushrooms were so tasty that they almost felt meaty (we’re vegan/vegetarian, so we skipped any meat). As for the desserts? Let’s just say I wanted to sample them all after the first two, but I had to save some room for the walk home! Thank you, Balaboosta!

Although we didn’t have a full meal, we tried a variety of dishes, and I recommend visiting with friends who are willing to share. This place is ideal for a date night or an intimate dinner where you can order multiple items, as one or two plates likely won't be enough to satisfy. The soup dumplings were amazing, the eggplant dish was delicious, and the ceviche was also noteworthy. Just keep in mind that the portion sizes are on the smaller side for most dishes, so if you’re very hungry or looking for a larger meal, you might want to plan accordingly.

The food, service, and atmosphere are all fantastic. I highly recommend trying the Shoshana cocktail and the Tahini crème brûlée for dessert.

Having traveled to the East and realizing that many local restaurants tend to dilute flavors for American palates, it’s still challenging to find truly good spots to enjoy some great pita. Balaboosta doesn’t claim to be completely authentic, but the fusion touches they incorporate are well-executed. We began with the whipped feta and roasted cauliflower, both of which were outstanding. I thought the cauliflower was particularly impressive, with its perfectly crispy, flavorful florets. For our main courses, we ordered the branzino, brick chicken, a daily special of salmon, and stuffed cabbage. The first three were impeccably cooked, especially the chicken, which was melt-in-your-mouth tender. I wasn’t a fan of the stuffed cabbage due to its sweet and savory flavor combination, but if you enjoy that mix, you might like it. I was hoping for a little more from the dessert menu. Other places, like Qawah House, offer authentic Yemeni desserts that are equally delightful at any time of day. Here, the selections were standard Western desserts with a hint of Middle Eastern influences, such as malawah churros and baklava ice cream. If I wanted churros, I’d go to a Mexican restaurant, and the baklava ice cream just felt like a soggy version of roasted ice. On a positive note, I want to give extra points to our wonderful server, who was almost always there for us when we needed assistance.

The food here is absolutely incredible. The hummus was a divine experience, especially paired with the rectangular pita wedges. The fried olives and sesame bagel were standout dishes as well. However, the true highlight was the crispy cauliflower. The staff was attentive and we were seated promptly. They also offer vegan options!