FARIDA - MIDTOWN

"This Central Asian spot might just be one of the best places to eat grilled meat in all of Midtown West. Owner Farida Gabbassova-Ricciardelli and chef Umitjon Kamolov serve serious charcoal-grilled shashlik; the chicken thigh skewers balance crisp skin with fatty juiciness and tender flesh. Be sure to try the Uzbek national dish that is plov, rice pilaf made sweet from aromatic carrots and funky with tender chunks of heady lamb. As of 2022, there’s also, a Fidi location, too. (For kosher Uzbek fare, check out the excellent Taam Tov in the Diamond District.) Accepts reservations." - Eater Staff

"Serves a Central Asian menu with tender lamb plov." - Eater Staff

"Proximity to NJ Transit or the LIRR, unfortunately, might be part of the equation when determining a spot for dinner. If you’re looking for a place near Penn Station that doesn’t feel like it’s anywhere near Penn Station, go to Farida—a charming and casual Central Asian restaurant with excellent Uzbek plov, manti, and lamb dishes. The menu is extremely meat-heavy, so this isn't the best place for vegetarians, but as long as that’s not an obstacle, you’ll all love it." - Hannah Albertine, Kenny Yang

"Farida is an intimate restaurant in the Garment District that specializes in Central Asian and Uzbek cuisine. Their shashlyks skewers are fantastic and juicy, and their plov is also a great choice - it’s a wonderfully meaty mix of beef, lamb, and sauteed carrots in a rich rice pilaf. Don’t forget to get their colossal-sized, handmade manti. Even though they’re an appetizer, we sometimes like to order them as an entree because of the huge portion size." - Jiniya Azad, Sameen Choudhry

"Plov at Farida: Deep-pocketed gourmands often have a lot to say about the complex perfume of white truffle risotto." - Ryan Sutton