Lebanese Au Za’atar in Alphabet City (East Village), NYC

We joined Au Za’atar’s publicist at this Middle Eastern restaurant, to sample many of Chef/Owner Tarik Fallous’ authentic Lebanese family recipes focusing on fresh seasonal ingredients.

We began with a huge presentation of mezze served in six small bowls on a metal tree, accompanied by lots of pita pockets. This consisted of their hummus (puréed chickpeas with tahini sauce, $10); baba ghanoush (char-grilled eggplant purée with tahini and lemon juice, $12.00); tabouli salad (wheat bulgur mixed with fresh parsley, tomatoes, scallions, mint and fresh lemon juice, $12); foul medamas (beans with garlic, lemon juice, cumin $11.50); batata harra (spicy potato cubes with cilantro, garlic and red pepper flakes, $11.50); and arnabeet bi tarator (fried cauliflower with parsley tahini sauce topped with toasted pine nuts, $15.75). All good, with my favorites the cauliflower and potatoes.

Although that would have been enough to satisfy me, the food kept coming for us to sample more of their menu.

Next, we were served their grilled halloum ($14), a Cypriot cheese, served over tomatoes and cucumbers followed by another metal stand with three baked flatbread open-faced Lebanese sandwiches, manae’esh. The za’atar manouche ($9.00) contained
sun-dried thyme, sesame seeds and sumac; the falafel pizza ($14.00) came topped with tomatoes, peppers and onions topped with falafel then covered with cheese; and the lahme bi ajin ($14.00) with minced meat, onions and tomatoes.

I wouldn’t suggest ordering one of the three (lamb, beef or chicken) tableside shawarma after all those apps — as you might not have room for it! If you decide to order it, be aware it could take 25 to 90 minutes to be served to order it once you’re seated.

We selected the most classic lamb version served with a mound of sumac-dusted french fries to pack in a pita pocket then garnished with some or all of the accompaniments: hot sauce, tahini, pickled radishes, pickles, garlic toum and/or aioli ($98, feeding 3 to 4). Obviously, after all we had eaten, we only had room for a small amount!

Same for the tasty desserts! We tried their homemade pudding with honey, pistachio and fresh banana (Ashta, $9.50) and the baked cheese topped with shredded filo dough soaked in orange blossom syrup topped with fresh pistachios (Knafeh, $12.50).