Au Za'atar - East Village

"Au Za’atar is justly famous on social media for their tableside shawarma towers, and it’s pretty damn satisfying to slice the chicken or lamb off the vertical spit yourself, again and again. Au Za’atar’s other Lebanese classics are also excellent, especially the creamy labneh topped with olives and a slick of olive oil, and the mixed grill platter with sumac-dusted fries. Go with a couple of people, get a bottle of Lebanese wine, and call ahead to order that shawarma tower, which comes with fries, grilled tomatoes and onions, herb salad, plenty of pita, and enough food for leftovers." - bryan kim, neha talreja, hannah albertine, molly fitzpatrick

"You may have seen Au Za’atar on TikTok thanks to their tableside shawarma towers. Even if you generally shy away from anything with a Foodie hashtag attached to it, don’t let that deter you from coming here. It’s pretty damn satisfying to slice that meat off over and over again. The chicken and lamb come already cooked, and you’ll need to call and order them in advance. Get at least a couple for a big group. Each spit comes with plenty of fries, grilled tomatoes and onions, herb salad, and pita for the group. " - neha talreja, hannah albertine

"Au Za’atar is famous on Tik Tok for their tableside shawarma towers. Even if generally shy away from anything with a Foodie hashtag attached to it, don’t let that deter you from coming here. Au Za’atar’s Lebanese classics are excellent, especially the creamy labne topped with olives and a slick of olive oil, and the grilled mix platter with sumac-dusted fries. If you’re eating with a couple of people, opt for a bottle of Lebanese wine and the shawarma tower on a vertical spit (which comes with fries, grilled tomatoes and onions, herb salad, plenty of pita, and enough food for leftovers). You’ll have a great time if you’re looking for a fun, meat-filled group dinner." - Hannah Albertine

"Lately, outdoor dining has felt like a get-in-and-get-out affair. How long can I withstand that winter breeze if the heaters aren’t warm enough? Is this dining structure safe? Is it really almost 10 p.m., and I have to down half my cocktail in 30 seconds before the restaurant kicks me out? I never felt rushed at Au Za’atar. Perhaps it was because there were fewer people dining out after last week’s snowstorm, and I felt perfectly toasty with two heaters casting an orange glow on my table filled with an array of mezze samplers (don’t skip the labneh). But I think it was the tableside shawarma that brought back the excitement of dining out that’s been rare during this pandemic. You can’t help but drop your jaw a bit when this contraption comes out with the meat spinning atop a mountain of french fries. The combination of spices hit you in the face — as does the heat radiating from the miniature spit." - Eater Staff

"Tarik Fallous, owner of Lebanese restaurant Au Za’atar in the East Village, plans to start donating a portion of the shop’s takeout and delivery sales to a fund supporting George Floyd’s family this week. Au Za’atar sustained a broken front window late last night. “All this can be replaced,” Fallous says. “However, nothing can undo or fix what happened in Minneapolis.”" - Serena Dai