Zyara NY
| Cuisine | Mediterranean |
|---|---|
| Price | $ (under 15) |
| Rating | 7/10 |
| Last Visit | June 7, 2019 |
| Location | New York: Lower East Side |
General Notes
Truly a hidden gem in the Lower East Side. Zyara NYC serves some of the best eastern Mediterranean food I've had at its price point. The restaurant looks fairly standard from the outside but the food is really something else - I honestly feel like this is the first time I've truly had tender meat at an affordable eastern Mediterranean restaurant. I would definitely recommend giving this place a visit if you're roaming around the LES.
Positives
> The food is incredible!
> Affordable - no item on the menu is more than around $13 or so, and the portions are reasonably large.
> This probably seems like a minor point, but I love that the food was served in wooden bowls/plates. For some reason I really enjoy wooden bowls/plates and think it really added to the aesthetic value of the dishes I ordered in particular.
Negatives
> At first, when I walked up to the counter to order I was just ignored for almost a minute. Then he took my order, but left me hanging (I was expecting a receipt or something, but didn't get one, which was fine). It also took them forever to get a water for me. In general I think they are friendly people but the quality of service is pretty questionable.
> The interior is actually pretty decent, but the rotisserie for the shawarma was literally right in front of the cash register, so I was blazing hot while ordering (i.e. waiting).
Dishes Tasted
- ★★★★ Shawarma Plate -- The food tasted excellent. The chicken was incredibly moist, tender, and flavorful. The sauces on top were creamy and zesty and complemented the chicken well. The rice was well-cooked and flavorful. Obviously I'm not the biggest fan of cucumber so I didn't enjoy the salad much, but it was prepared pretty precisely and well. All around an amazing dish, all for just $11!
- ★★☆☆ Grape Leaves -- Your typical grape leaves, nothing too noteworthy
Shawarma Plate
