After seeing the “birthday crown” on my dining partner, our server Mark at Balaboosta, brought us bubbly to celebrate! A perfect start to our celebratory Mediterranean meal.

We shared all, starting with that night’s special burrata, basil-kale pesto and a tomato-cherry jam ($21) with grilled sourdough bread; their eggplant with an almond crumble and red pepper tahini ($18); and their cauliflower with peanut tahini, lemon, Bamba ( Israeli peanut-butter-flavored puffed maize) and pickle crumble ($19).

We then shared the pappardelle, chicken and greens, all worth trying. The pasta ribbons ($29) come tossed in a creamy mushroom and charred onion sauce; their tender brick chicken in muhammara (a red pepper and walnut mixture) comes with charred seasonal greens and pearl couscous ($34). The seasonal greens ($15) are flavored with apricots and almond dukkah (a seed and nut mixture). 

Although we were full, we had to have a dessert to sport our lit candle, so we finished with churros — the deep-fried cruller-like pastry sprinkled with sugar and served with two dips ($13) with a candle for dessert! Perfection.

I recommend a visit.

Balaboosta
West Village
611 Hudson St
New York, NY 10014
212-390-1545
balaboostanyc.com