Kenneth D.
Yelp
A cute little cafe on perhaps the most commercialized block of East 14th Street, Bite serves Mediterranean and thusly inspired fare that I would describe as "vegetarian adjacent". Others might use the term "flexitarian", but I don't think a dietary lifestyle lacking commitment or principles deserves a special moniker. As with any restaurant, there are standouts and also things I might encourage someone to step back from, but all of the offerings appear to be freshly made with consistency and quality ingredients.
My personal favorite comes from the panini section of the menu, and is the Mediterranean tuna which, to quote the menu, mixed with olives, pickled jalapeños and red pepper with plum tomatoes, and Moroccan tomato sauce. Glued somewhat together with Swiss cheese, this refreshing and light take on the tuna melt is something I often wake up craving. Their take on Moroccan Cigars is, I am told by a close Israeli friend, remarkably true to expectations. Like a taquito in spring roll clothing, a savory bean paste is sheathed in phyllo dough and fried to absolute perfection; if your favorite thing about cocktail parties is the hors d'oeuvres service, do not miss these. They are served with tahini which is a little loose in texture for my taste but works as a nice (if unnecessary) accompaniment. Whatever its place with the aforementioned, it is otherwise integral to the delightful but unseasoned fried cauliflower. These are panko crusted, but it is the fine grind type that more closely mimics traditional breadcrumbs, so adjust your expectations accordingly.
There are a ton of sandwiches I have yet to try, and some that I have but wasn't particularly nuts about. For example, I wanted to love the eggplant pesto panino, but it desperately cried for cheese that was not there; perhaps I'll make a special request in the future, though I do try not to be that guy. As for the rest of the menu, I was disappointed to learn that the black bean and lentil soups are the same soup with different beans, because the first one I had was not to my taste, and the second was... well, like I said. The fries are of the shoestring variety, seasoned with za'atar, and can be excellent when crispy. The salads are extremely generous, and they even have a decent hummus - something that is surprisingly hard to find. There is a breakfast menu that is merely aspirational for me, because I'm not often up and about early enough to catch that; maybe someday.
All said and done, I feel quite fortunate to have Bite so close at hand. It is a fairly priced and healthy lunch option that is practically right outside my door, and a wholesome asset to a block that is currently trending heavy on bars and smoke shops.
