Besa Grill

The Best New Restaurants in NYC: August 2024

"Anchored to a neighboring butcher shop, this bright, sparsely decorated Albanian grill delivers notably good meat: a mixed grill with four stubby qebaba links, two plump qofte patties, and a piece of fatty, salty suxhuk that smell of smoke and are grilled to juicy, lightly charred perfection. The tomatoes are vibrantly red rather than watery, and the plate is rounded out with a few pieces of bread, cucumber, a lightly vinegared potato salad, and an excellent shredded cabbage salad that’s worth ordering on its own. Service is lean—two employees run the place—and occasional shortages (like no fli) happen, but a side of red-pepper sauce is an easy request to elevate the meal." - Edward Hart