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By Brittany Ho, May 31, 2010 11:28 pm

www.moustachepitza.com

Proprietor/Chef: ?

Category: Middle Eastern

Neighborhood: West Village
90 Bedford St, New York, NY 10014
(212) 229-2220

hummus dip

falafel sandwich

Mood: Casual, low key.. plenty of apps makes this place ideal for sharing.

Tastes Like: simple food you can appreciate, but just a little understated for me.  We ordered the babaghanoush & hummus platter.  The pita was amazing, but I thought the dips were so-so.  It lacked a punch of spice that would probably have enhanced the flavor a bit more.  After my experiences at Taim, the falafel pita just didn’t compare.  Maybe they had a one off night.  I love Middle Eastern food and find that it would be very difficult to mess it up.  Everything here was ok, at best.  Would I come back?  Sure.. I want this place to redeem itself.  And maybe I’ll try a “pitza” everybody rants the most about here.

Must Haves: I can’t rant about any particular dish, because they just weren’t stellar.

Stay Away: Which is not to say that there was any particular dish that was horrible either.

Ambiance: Very small shop with a handful of tables, but the environment is very relaxed.  I liked it.

Service: There was 6 of us…so kudos for taking care of our timely needs.

Caveat: I was so sure that this place would be awesome….but I guess I’m going to have to come back to try a few other dishes.  Somehow, everybody else that I was with loved it but me.  Cash only….and slightly a bit more expensive than most other average Middle Eastern restaurants to date.

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By Brittany Ho, February 24, 2010 3:21 pm

www.cafeorlin.com

Proprietor/Chef: ?

Category: Breakfast, Brunch, hint of Middle Eastern

Neighborhood: St Marks Place
41 St. Marks Place New York, NY 10003
(212) 777-1447

salmon eggs benedicte

millet pancakes (with chicken sausage & beets)

segafredo cappucino & fresh squeezed OJ

Mood: Waiting up to an hour + for extremely, severely great brunch food.  If you are up for the challenge, it will be worth the wait.

Tastes Like: Bliss in the morning. The complete roll over package for what you need for brunch and then some.  For their $12 special, I got my salmon eggs benedicte, poached perfectly.  Side of potatoes went well with their “hot sauce” harissa,  which was chunky, hot, sweet peppers.  It scaled the home fry potatoes 10x higher than where it should have been.  The harissa indeed had lots of fun textures and completed the dish well.  Lastly, the special came with a mini fresh squeezed OJ and a coffee.  The cappuccino, if indeed a segafredo brand, was fantastic. I couldn’t believe the difference in upgrade.  My overall experience was killer.  There were certain entrees that definitely had nuances of Middle Eastern, and I had a difficult time buckling down on just one dish to order.  I will be back to try a variety for sure.

Must Haves: everything is good here… their eggs benedicte are perfection … ask for a side of their harissa.  it’s orgasmic.

Ambiance: Adjoined with another room, making this café appear smaller than it really is.  A little bit of a tight squeeze, but you can maneuver around it.

Service: Swift to say the least…and they take credit card!

Rating: 5 stars

Caveat: I think without the little quirks in place (fresh squeezed orange juice, great coffee, great hot sauce) the actual food merits a 4 star, but my overall experience is a 5 for sure.  No other caveat, this place has quickly grown to be one of my favorite brunches in the city!

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By Brittany Ho, January 31, 2010 10:46 pm

http://www.53rdand6th.com/

Proprietor/Chef: ?

Category: Middle Eastern

Neighborhood: Theater District
53 St. & 6^th Ave, New York, NY 10079
(212) 677-3132

chicken & rice with white & hot sauce

chicken & rice in original package

Mood: Late drunken night after the club… chicken & rice.

Tastes Like: Chicken & rice for $6 (or lamb if you prefer that)… it’s all that any local or non-locals can rave about in the city.  They rave for two things: it’s super cheap for a pile of good junk, possibly considered the best drunk food… Secondarily, it’s the white sauce that completes the meal…not the chicken, not the rice….it’s all in the sauce baby!  And if you are a fanatic of spicy sauces and can handle it, add a little bit of their specialty hot sauce.   Just a little bit, burns from my lips, to the tongue and all the way down.  It’s quite exhilarating actually, but to most people, the thing straight up burns….  What this place really is, is great drunk food, but you can’t attach amazing to this place.  For somebody like me, you’ve just got to be in the mood for it, otherwise, stuff in K-Town can suffice just the same.

Must Have: More white sauce (on the side)!  Hot sauce!  Don’t be chicken shit, go on and add just a little bit!

Ambiance: if you like standing out in the cold ass weather, pouring rain..good luck to you.  Otherwise, I’ll get my chicken & rice fix in the spring/summer/early fall.

Service: Cash out, food in.   The line is quite long but moves rather quickly.  Can you imagine, a bunch of lunatics who actually do stand around the area to eat their food?  Yeah, no, we ordered to go.  I rather wait and eat in the comfort of my own home.

Rating: 4 stars

Caveat: Hours of Operation: 7:30pm – 4am… whatever you see at the other odd hours of the day, is not the original.

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By Brittany Ho, November 21, 2009 5:21 pm

www.taimfalafel.com

Proprietor/Chef: ?

Category: Middle Eastern

Neighborhood: West Village
222 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10014
(212) 691-1287

falafel on whole wheat pita

Tastes Like: Crisp falafel to perfection.  This place has got my vote over Mamoun’s anytime.  I tried the falafel sample (roasted red pepper, mild traditional green and harissa with Tunisian spices). It was lacking the spices I was looking for in traditional falafels…but the tahini dipping sauce complemented it real well.  I liked the fact that it wasn’t dried at all.  I also got to try their falafel (my choice of harissa) on whole wheat pita.  Filled with hummus, lettuce, tabbouleh, yogurt sauce, fitting for lunch or dinner.  Most other falafels fell under $6 and all platter meals fall under $10.  When it’s all over, feel good about what you ate… because it’s super healthy vs. your alternatives.

Must Haves: What else??? their falafels!  Hearty appetite? Try their platters.

Ambiance: Better for takeout.  I think there are less 7 seats total?

Service: When you order, they’ll ask you for your name.  Very prompt…though it can seem like you are waiting a really long time.

Rating: 4 stars

Caveat: Cash only folks