Elle D.
Yelp
This place is wonderful. My family and I first found out about it from an NYT piece a few years ago (see www.nytimes.com/2010/02/21/nyregion/21dinenj.html), and our initial visit represented our first foray into exploring Paterson's Middle Eastern neighborhood. We went back recently and the food and overall experience completely lived up to our memories.
We enjoyed everything we ordered -- I'd recommend going with a bunch of friends and/or family and trying as many items as you can (especially the apps/small plates) because they're all so good. This is what I can remember getting:
- Muhammara
- Baba ghanouj (extra smooth and delicious)
- Musabaha (like hummus with whole chickpeas on top)
- Labaneh extra (the "extra" means it has garlic and walnuts)
- Fried kibbeh
- Meat arayes (think of it like a quesadilla but with just meat, no cheese)
- Arabic salad
- Mixed grill -- this includes aleppo kebab (ground meat), shish kebab, and chicken kebab. The chicken was so moist and flavorful that it was my favorite of the meats, which is pretty much never the case. The platter came with rice (or you can get fries), grilled tomatoes, and pita underneath that soaked up the delicious kebab juices.
The owner is very welcoming and friendly, and he was happy to answer our questions. It's not a fancy space, but I like it the way it is -- it's homey and the prices are very fair.
Both times we went the place was empty or nearly empty. I'm not sure if it's because we've gone at slightly odd times (between lunch and dinner on Sundays), but I hope this restaurant continues to survive (and thrive!) for many years to come. We'll be back!