Ayat Bay Ridge
Palestinian restaurant · Bayridge ·
Authentic Palestinian fare with huge portions and flavorful dishes
Authentic Palestinian fare with huge portions and flavorful dishes
"As the culinary heartbeat of New York City’s Palestinian community, this Bay Ridge original founded by co-owners Abdul Elenani and Ayat Masoud in 2020 still feels like the brand’s soul. The team shows care from the start: I’m greeted with olives in olive oil, za’atar, and pita—dip the bread into the oil, then the spices—and the dining room’s huge fake tree lends an alfresco vibe. The menu includes some Arabic translation, overflows with halal dishes, and offers no alcohol; portions are huge, so come with a big group or plan to bring home leftovers in a proudly Palestinian takeout bag. For food, the hummus is absolutely silky (mix in the pool of olive oil), the muhammara is nutty and zesty with hints of spice and a touch of sweetness from pomegranate molasses, and the chicken shawarma platter is the move: a huge plate of big chunks of tender, juicy shredded chicken drizzled with white sauce over turmeric rice with an oil-drenched salad—use the dips to make little filled pita bites. For dessert, get the knafeh—truly, cheese-based desserts are too good. Take note: the Bay Ridge restaurant moved across the street from its original address in 2024, so don’t make the same mistake I did and try to sit down at the now takeout-only space. Insider tip: If you pay with cash, there’s a three percent discount." - Nadia Chaudhury
"The first restaurant from Abdul Elenani and Ayat Masoud to bring Palestinian street food to Brooklyn has been so popular since its opening that the owners opened a second location - Al Badawi (above). The Bay Ridge restaurant is smaller than its counterpart, but the portions are just as big with familiar dishes like shawarma joining more traditional entrees such as mansaf." - Khalid El Khatib
"One of the top Palestinian restaurants in NYC has opened a Bushwick outpost—the sixth location in the city. They’re serving all the Ayat staples—like hummus, fattat lahma, and mansaf with bone-in lamb— in a big space filled with on-brand foliage. " - will hartman
"I found that the owners converted Fatta Mano into a full-service sit-down Ayat location, while the original Bay Ridge Ayat that opened in 2020 has been repurposed as a takeout and catering kitchen." - Eater Staff
"Walk into Ayat and you’ll immediately be tempted by the spits of shawarma and deli case full of hummus and tabbouleh. All of these things are worth your time, but this Palestinian restaurant’s signature platters are the main event. The portions are huge, so you’ll need a group to help get through the six layers of meat, rice, chickpeas, tahini, almonds, and mint in the platter of fattat lahma. Decked out in faux flowers, Ayat's breezy dining room is perfect for a group dinner or casual summer celebration. They now have multiple locations all over the city, but this is the original. " - neha talreja
