Lokal Mediterranean Kitchen

This is the most amazing Lamb Burger in the city. It’s super juicy and fresh and every time mouthwateringly good. I love lamb and the burger combo is just so delicious. I had it with home fries which are great. I highly recommend it!! You gotta try it! The grilled octopus was also good. The atmosphere is nice and staff is very helpful and down to earth. This is a place you can eat well, relax, and recharge. My DD Verdict: Eat Here! Try It!

Food is delicious we ordered dorada, skirt steak and branzino. They also gave us some bread at the beginning that was so good with some olive oil and vinegar. Waiter was so detail oriented that turn around the plate to face it correctly.

The food was excellent. Lamb chops were very good, so was the skirt steak. The grilled shrimp were over grilled and a little dry. The soap was also very good. The service was mediocre at best. The food was definitely way better than the service.

Delicious finds at Lokal! The Greek salad was refreshingly fresh, and the Virgin Mango Margarita was a sweet treat. The Falafel entree stole the show, served with creamy hummus and flavorful rice. Can't wait to come back and try more….

I had a great dinner at Lokal Mediterranean Kitchen. The vibe is really cozy and welcoming, definitely the kind of spot that works for a casual night out or a nice dinner with friends. The food was fresh and hit the spot. We started with the meze spreads the beet and hummus were favorites, especially with the warm, herb-topped bread they bring out. The grilled octopus was also a standout; it was super tender and had a nice char to it. For the mains, the grilled salmon was cooked perfectly and the lobster ravioli was rich and flavorful.

I rarely leave reviews, but this place deserves every bit of praise. From the moment I took the first bite, I knew I was in for something special. Every dish was perfectly cooked, beautifully presented, and bursting with flavor. You can really tell the ingredients are fresh and that the chefs put thought and care into every detail.

Nice spot for brunch! We got the Hummus and the Bread that came with it was great! French toast was nice and sweet! We came at around 2:15 and there was no wait!

I been coming here for a few times with friends and always is amazing everything, great service, amazing food , such a cozy place , everything is so good

I have reviewed this place before and it still stands. The biggest thing for me is that they have the music at a reasonable level so if you're talking you are not shouting. The food is amazing, fab friendly service and at the bar you'll get an excellent meal or appetizer or stand alone dinner. Great for a group with comfy booths to one side. It's the quality of the food that stands out. The authenticity and quality is top notch. Salads are amazing and the Mediterranean platter with fresh bread is excellent. They have a decent happy hour, Monday to Thursday. I've never been disappointed here. Great for after Museum of Natural History lunch or dinner too.

On surface level, this is a typical Mediterranean restaurant with not much unique dishes to offer, but despite serving typical fare, there are a few standouts that make this place worth a visit. We got the Lokal's favorite dips platter which had hummus, baba ganoush, spicy veggie, labneh, and red caviar. It comes with unlimited complimentary bread. The bread was where this place shines - nicely soft inside and toasted outside, with dill and olive oil infused. We got 3 rounds cause it was that good. It goes really well with the dip. I liked the spicy veggie the most and my least favorite was the red caviar since it was too fishy for my liking. The others were good but fairly standard. The platter is huge that the 2 of us couldn't finish and ended up with some leftovers and we were so stuffed by the end from just that alone. Cocktails were okay. We got the A Little Passion and it was good but uninnovative. The cocktail pictures were misleading since the server pointed most of the aesthetic cocktails are no longer in the menu, but the picture implies those cocktails are one of them on the list. Service was good as water refills were frequent and they bring bread refills and other requests fairly quickly. This place is generally not too busy so definitely a good option in the area if you don't want to bother making a reservation to some popular restaurant weeks in advance prior to your trip.

My favorite bite of the night was the potato--perfectly cooked with a crispy exterior and a soft, fluffy inside. Absolutely delicious. The stuffed cabbage was good, but it didn't quite live up to Mom's version. Still, it had great flavor and was enjoyable. Service was fine but not particularly attentive. A little more engagement would have been nice, but overall, it didn't take away from the experience. Would I come back? Probably--especially for those potetoes. But a quick ride to Astoria might keep me away.

This gets a reasonably high rating which I don't understand at all. Greek salad is one of my favorite things to eat but this one was soggy, oily (not in a good way) and under-seasoned. I was about to ask the waitress for vinegar when I noticed a small lemon wedge in the salad. Too bad I didn't see it until nearly halfway through. Still, it wasn't enough to mitigate the sodden lettuce. The dip trio was decent but they brought the bread out long before the dips arrived; as we were hungry and the bread came nicely warmed we started eating it right away so by the time the dips got to the table there was hardly any left to scoop them up with. Also, having filled up on the bread, we didn't really want to eat more and wound up taking most of the dips home. The atmosphere was spoiled by early 2000's rock and pop which I didn't enjoy much then and like even less now. It wasn't an enjoyable lunch. We really don't understand what others see in this place.

The food here was amazing!! The salads had a good amount of protein, the chicken was juicy! Nothing to complain about!! We ordered an appetizer sampler - eggplant, tzatziki and spicy veggies, octopus and calamari salad and chicken shish kebab. Everything was A+!!! The service was really great and our waiter was so nice and accommodating. It was so cozy and just perfect for a cold NYC evening!

An excellent option if you want a moderately priced sit down meal in the upper west side. The ambiance is casual but not like a bar/pub, so you can have a conversation without shouting. The service is prompt and friendly and the waiters fill water without being asked (a big plus). The food is great! We had the cold mezze option with a beet dip, babaganoush, and a yogurt dip. A great plate to share between 2-3 people! We also had the grilled sausage plate which was tasty and not too filling/greasy. Overall I would definitely recommend this place for a meal or drink at the front bar!

Walked in on a Saturday afternoon for brunch and the three of us were seated in a very comfortable seating at around 1:30 pm. The restaurant was not that busy, and noise levels were on the lower end. Our order consisted of Ajvar ($11), the Lokal Burger ($27), and Falafel Entree ($25). We found the food just ok. nothing spectacular, but the portion sizes were really generous justifying the portion size to price ratio. The fries with the Lokal Burger were quite disappointing - very very dry. We ordered a hot sauce on the side and were told that its a mixture of five difference spices, including some Turkish spices. Spice level on the hot sauce was amazing. Very flavorful sauce! Service was excellent and team was very friendly and welcoming. Will definitely visit again with friends and family!

Delicious food, beautiful space, phenomenal service! Our party included two vegetarians and a person with a peanut allergy. The server went above and beyond to make sure that the food was safe for our allergic person, and the vegetarians had many options to choose from on the menu. Leave room for dessert and order the kunafeh, which we ordered at the server's recommendation (with pistachios on the side): it was the highlight of the meal for us, and big enough to share.

I would definitely come back. Great ambiance and roomy! Food & cocktails are great !! Hummus is outstanding.

Lokal is what I consider a neighborhood joint of flavorful Greek food, especially if you don't want to trek to Greektown in Astoria. Service is always attentive with sizable portions. The two times that I've been there, I've sat outside basking in gorgeous weather so can't really comment how it is inside-assuming it's great. You won't be disappointed by the food at least.

I have been coming to Lokal 83 for about 6 years. I typically go for their happy hour when they have nice wines at great prices as well as great mezze items. The food, wine and service are all excellent. I'm sure it's great after happy hour as well. Stopped in yesterday (4/9/2024) after some time away and it was just as good as all the other times I had been. Definitely give it a try. Cheers.

Food was excellent as well as the service. Great place for a snack when done with the Natural History Museum.

Such a lovely little Mediterranean place on 83rd and Columbus. Stopped in for dinner while I was in town. The restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes with fresh fish and seafood arriving each morning for the day. It's cozy, welcoming, and a great spot for a casual dinner, or a nice date night. The restaurant features a full bar with a nice selection of wine, beer, and craft cocktails​. There's even a Happy Hour 7 days a week from 3 - 6 Monday - Thursday and until 5:30 on weekends. Staff was friendly but service was a little off this night. We ordered 2 dishes. I wasn't very hungry so I ordered the grilled Calamari Small Plate and my husband ordered the Grilled Shrimp entree. Fresh hot bread with olive oil and herbs came to the table first. 15 minutes later our server brought the shrimp dish and 2 plates. We waited a few minutes for the calamari and I told my husband to start without me. I'm not sure where any of the staff went, but no one was around. The Shrimp plate was big with 6 large shrimp on a surrounded by fresh vegetables. The aroma from the dish smelled so good, I couldn't help myself. We both agreed this dish was fabulous, everything about it was special and it actually was big enough to share. Once we finished, cleared our plates. I actually thought they forgot the calamari and that would have been ok, but a few minutes later it showed up at the table. After the shrimp dish and the bad service, it was a let down and a bit bland. All in all, it was a nice evening. I will go back I hope the service will be better so I can enjoy the entire meal. Hi

The best restaurant in Manhattan. I come here all the time just for the pink queen dip. It is incredible. The service is top tier and the food is just incredible. The place is nicely decorated and it's a great spot to relax and enjoy some delicious food.

We checked this spot out for dinner when in the area. We called ahead and they had a great table available for us within 10 minutes when we got there. Service was SUPER attentive and within moments of seating, we had great fresh bread to start with. The spot is super cozy and warm - the kind of spot you can have a leisurely dinner in. They were very child friendly as they have a kids menu, crayons/coloring pages, and straw cups. Also did not mind my toddler son completely throwing crayons on the floor. My daughter tried the ravioli off the kids menu and ate most of it. A big win for this picky eater. And now for the adults - we split the trio appetizer ($26) to start. The AJVAR dip in particular was standout - slightly smoky, fresh, and good flavor. My husband got the crab cakes small plate ($18) while I got the zucchini pancakes small plate ($17). Both were delicious, flavorful, fresh - the zucchini pancakes came with 3 and were super filling. All in all - great dishes. We also split some sangria - they have a full bar with cocktails, wine, beers.

Very lovely Greek food. I've been here twice now and the salads are very large, perfect for a meal or to share with the table. Wine selection is small but to the point and the Rose Sangria is lovely, light, and strong! Tzatziki is fresh, tasty, and crave crushing! I enjoy the patio and people watching during my meal. The restaurant itself is clean, spacious, and floor layout is well thought out. Service is always concise, easy, and pleasant. I can see myself becoming a regular. I always enjoy my time here!

Very cute Mediterranean joint in the upper west side offering cuisines from Turkey to Portugal. If you sit inside, be prepared for how dark it is! My mother and I started with the Labneh and pickles with feta. Labneh was creamy and tangy. The bread it was served with was absolutely delicious but I would have preferred pita. Pickles were amazing and I loved the cabbage that came with it. The feta was also great, with a mild taste. The lamb sauté was very good as well, although I thought serving it in a fajita dish was semi weird. I also don't think there was enough rice served with the dish. But the rice was also amazing. Overall I think the food here was perfect. service was very good as well. Besides the rice and pita, I just thought the restaurant itself was very hot. I saw an AC on the wall but my mother and I were sweating throughout our meal. Usually I would take a star off for something as such, however, the food was way too good!!!

While admittingly I'm not the biggest fan of Greek food, Lokal was pretty awesome. The team was very nice to accommodate the three of us last minute during a busy dinner service. Shepherd salad was great. Grape leaves were huge although I'm not the biggest fan of them. Hummus was creamy and tasty. The zucchini pancakes were fried and yummy. The sea bass was deboned for us and quite delicious. People in there were so kind.

4+ Good food and ambiance. Very comfortable with diff options for seating. We love going in a group so we can try more.

Great food ..good vibe .... And the drinks are amazing and great service..cool spot to chill and have a good time

Went for dinner a few weeks ago with friends. Loved the bread, which they supplied in abundance, and the Portuguese Octopus. The Shepherd salad was fresh and flavourful. We couldn't get enough of the beats mixed with yogurt. The Baba Ghanoush was okay: it didn't taste different than what I get in the supermarket. The lentil patties were the one dish that was really disappointing. A welcoming, warm spot on a very cold night with great service and delicious food.

First Impressions: My husband made reservations for a romantic dinner date and planned the whole night. Very well lit and open. I was a little taken aback because it was dinner time so I was expecting more of a low lit, cozy ambiance.... but the service was quick and attentive. The restaurant was very clean and observing all the covid social distancing and protocols... I felt perfectly comfortable in the space. The Noms: We ordered the hummus, tzatziki, and labneh to share. It was very cooling and we loved dipping it with the complimentary bread. It was so warm and buttery, we asked for two more helpings and the staff generously brought us more. I ordered the chicken shish and my husband ordered the ground lamb grilled meatballs. I enjoyed the chicken but the lamb was sooo good. Very tender, very flavorful. We ate the meat slathered in some hummus and wrapped in the tortillas (?) that they came served with. I like that it was a thin type of flatbread because after all the complimentary bread we ate, anything carby that was heavier would have been too much In Conclusion: Since our first date here in the summer of 2021, we have been back twice more. The service is always quick and attentive and the food is consistently good and the portions are perfect. 10/10 would recommend coming here and would come back again and again.

Food was great. The staff was so wonderful with our 6-month-old, playing with him and accommodating our stroller. Even gave us the long bench seat so we had plenty of room to move around. Great experience for our whole family visiting from out of town.

Delicious seafood and starters. Octopus, squid, hummus, etc. Nice after long walk in the park.

After a few more sit down meals, all with impeccable service, here's our personal world view of Lokal: Every appetizer, dip and small plate is amazing. The mucver is pan fried to a crisp, but not heavily greasy as it is at some other establishments. Eggplant salad, babaganoush, hummus, and labneh are always favorites in our household, and verge on magical when paired with the beautiful little loaves of house bread. Focus on these, on the fresh, beautiful fish, and other seafood and you will be a very happy customer. What I have personally enjoyed less well within the past six months or so: skirt steak with chimichurri, lamb and other simply prepared meats where seasoning and technique mean everything. All meat is beautifully cooked to our requested temperature, juicy, and tender -- but recently, all dishes of this genre also seem to be consistently undersalted, underseasoned and bland. (I don't remember this being the case a year ago...) Marinated meats (e.g. Turkish meatballs, kebabs) do not suffer from this problem. I don't know if there's a cultural skew or deliberate intent behind the dialed back seasonings (we can certainly tell that the ingredients are impeccably fresh), but as salt fiends, we would like more of that, please! It would be nice if dishes like kofte came with labneh or ajvar on the side, as well. We usually order these as appetizers, but without such garnishes, meat dishes can come across is unidimensional. The indoor dining space is pleasant: attractive, elegant and relaxed. You can dress up or down as you wish and children seem welcome. Really enjoy having this little joint in the çevre.

We went to Lokal 83 after a performance in Central Park. Lokal 83 has nice ambiance, good service, excellent food. We had the grilled octopus and grilled calamari and they were delicious, with salad to accompany. Also excellent hummus, tzatziki, and Pink Queen beets dip. Would definitely come again.

Must try: Brunch Steak & Eggs! Why: Skirt Steak was tender, juicy, and melt in your mouth goodness. I got my eggs sunny side up and broke the yoke over the the steak and home fries, which added even more flavor. I loved that the home fries had cherry tomatoes and baby onions. I loved that there was a side of watermelon cubes and orange slices as dessert. Everything tasted delicious as I washed it down with a Mimosa! Lastly, the house bread was really good too. It was hot when it came out with the bottom of loaf was a perfect crunchy with a warm fluffy inside and herbs on top for more flavor. My friend got the Falafel entree and loved it. I had a bite of a Falafel ball and it was tasty! Notes: Spacious indoor dining with outdoor dining option. Very clean restaurant and they had two bathrooms. The staff was great also - friendly and attentive. Overall, fantastic lunch experience and I can't wait to come back and try their Mediterranean dishes!

I got the chicken shish and stuffed cabbage since those were highly recommended online. Chicken was moist and vegetables well cooked but the overall dish could improve flavoring throughout. Stuffed cabbage was decent. None of the meal was memorable. Service- attentive waiters and ensured our water glasses were full, which I appreciated. Sat outside. Chill vibe. Will I rush back? No. Would I try the lamb next time, sure.

Honestly we weren't blown away. Ordered the calamari and cheese fritters and they both weren't super flavorful and felt heavy. Also ordered the greek salad and was really disappointed by the amount of lettuce in it. Service was great, and we had a kind waiter.

Ok where to start with Lokal 83. Service is good friendly and fast atmosphere is good. It comes down to the food it's just there it does its job fills you up but does not wow you thank the lord for salt it does not taste. It just falls short . Mediterranean food has so much to offer when it comes to flavors and meats, fish ,vegetables ,spices and herbs I could just go on and on. The menu needs a revamping , simple flavorful items well priced. Because as of right now You leave asking your self why did I not say anything about my meal, But at least the wine was good. So if you do end up at Lokal 83 Mediterranean stay simple and don't expect to be wowed, But do expect to feel like you over payed for the experience.

This was such an amazing experiance. My family and friend had made a reservation at a different restaurant and weren't happy about the place so we decided to have Mediterranean food for dinner during our day in the city !!! And it was spot on we made the right decition!! The food was outstanding. The wine list extensive. And drinks were great. The appetizer sampler plate was some of the best I've had. The falafel Entree and 5 cheese ravioli was the best I've had in the city. And the atmosphere of the place is great. Most of all our server was very kind and helpful. He made us feel so welcomed !! I can't wait to go back and we'll surely be back.

Best food around. Great service very attentive and friendly! Always tasty food. Pickup or eat in it's great

Kendyl says this place is a great find. The stuffed cabbage was great. Pesto pasta was also good.

After reading the reviews, I decided it was time to try Lokal; so my Son & I went there around 5:00 PM today. Both the food and the service were excellent. Since the reviews are excellent, we expected the place to be crowded; but there were only 2 other people dining during the time we were there. Seems a bit strange since the Italian restaurant next door with less desirable reviews was doing a great business. We ordered a carafe of red sangria which was quite tasty. Also, we decided to try 3 dips - Labneh, Whipped Red Caviar, and Pink Queen (red beets & yogurt). All 3 were delicious as was the wonderful bread served with it (so hard to find good bread nowadays). We also ordered the crab cake appetizer, which came with 2 crab cakes & a wonderful remoulade sauce. So far, this is definitely the best Mediterranean restaurant I have tried in NYC and, as prices go relatively reasonable - Sangria $48, Dips $27, crab cakes $18. ASAP I want to get back.

It's a great place with really delicious food. We sat outside on the sidewalk it's nice but does get crowded. It's nyc after all. The portions were great, everything was good but nothing was really out of this world. Brunch wraps pretty standard as expected, great mezze Plate but on the expensive side and nothing extraordinary.

Great Mediterranean place to grab a bite and a few drinks on the UWS. Been coming here for years...... actually headed there again tonight. We typically like to sit at the bar and just get all sorts of appetizers. You can't go wrong. Service always excellent as well

Lovely location and decor inside. Peppers and Eggplant with warm garlic bread.....yum! Zucchini pancakes and crab cakes....yum yum! Dessert.... Baklava!!!!! Nice and friendly servers! Give them a try next time you're on the West side.

Nice, neighborhood-feel restaurant with excellent Mediterranean dips and decent other dishes like chicken, octopus and stuffed cabbage. We came here looking for a family-friendly spot to do dinner out after the Natural History museum. We really enjoyed the ethnic food, although it's not the best ethnic food in New York. The hope was it would be good for the kids and a nice blend of the two. That was mostly true, but not completely. The kids only dabbed at the rice and plain grilled chicken despite it being good. The Mediterranean dips were the biggest stand-out. We got the labneh and smoked eggplant dips and they were phenomenal, flavorful and set high expectations for everything else.. We also got octopus and stuffed cabbage. The octopus was solid, but I love octopus and this one just didn't quit put it over the top the way I usually find it does. It wasn't disappointing, but it wasn't the usual revelation I have at finding octopus on a menu and having it be that amazing meaty, rich meat without being chewy. The stuffed cabbage was good, but nothing to write home about.

I was SO happy to have found this place again. We come to NYC every year, and ate here last year and LOVED it. I forgot the name, but remembered the neighborhood. Really good mediterranean food. This time I had the lamb meatball wrap; yummy. There was so much food with the delicious fries. I asked for hot sauce to mix with the mayo for my fries. Their hot sauce was HOT and delicious. My husband had a salmon wrap and really enjoyed it as well. We'll be back next year!

Came here with a group of 16 including kids and so glad they were able to accommodate! It was a comfortable space for the group and we were able to order lots of small plates to share. Started with complimentary bread then the variety of dips, really enjoyed the whipped caviar and hummus. Then had crab and zucchini cakes, octopus, shrimp, all delicious! Also ordered the steak with chimichurri sauce and the Lokal veggie wrap from brunch menu. Staff was super friendly and attentive, had a great experience!

The food is very healthy and delicious. We asked to sit at a booth, but they said that that was only available for a larger party. We were there for a long time and we did not see anybody come and sit in the booths. There were some people at a large table who were very very loud. The staff did not seem to do anything to improve the noise level. A for the food. C for the service.

After a visit to the Museum of Natural History, needed to refuel - conveniently located 4 blocks from there as well! The restaurant's ambience is quaint with a lot of blue! Our waitress was very smiley and attentive :) Between 2 gals about town, we ordered: 1/ Hummus + Bread - Hummus could be a bit more flavourful; the breads were warm and fluffy! 2/ Shrimp Clay Pot - MUST ORDER; fresh jumbo shrimps with a well balanced tomato-based sauce 3/ Pilaf Rice - It was buttery and perfectly cooked and paired well with the Shrimp Clay Pot 3/ Bottle of Rose Pro Tip/ They require physical cards and cannot accept Apple Pay. Will give restaurant another visit to try other dishes when in uptown!

Excellent food with great service. We will definitely visit again ! Ambiance was wonderful!

Great place with really tasty food. We ordered a burger (comes with fries), a dorado fillet, an ice cream, and baklava. Everything was delicious! I can definitely recommend the place and will save it for our next NY trip. Great job here!

Surprised I haven't reviewed Lokal before; tonight was definitely not my first time here. I've enjoyed all the meals I've had at Lokal but tonight was definitely the best! My friends and I ordered 3 dips, 3 mezzes and a salad and finished it off with a dessert. It was the perfect amount of food. Always love the baba ghanoush. The lentil patties were my favorite! The yogurt in the stuffed red bell peppers was very different but in a good way since I don't like all yogurts. The sweet pumpkin was delicious. Not overly sweet. It was very quiet tonight compared to every other time I've been here so I usually always make a reservation

Had a delicious and hearty dinner celebrating my birthday at Lokal last night. Our group of 13 enjoyed everything from the bread and dips sampler, crunchy falafels (several friends raved about it), lamb sautéed, shrimp casserole (my favorite), grilled lamb meatballs, grape leaves, zucchini pancakes, baklava and Kunefe (one of my favorite desserts and they do this so well!). The restaurant was also kind and sweet to give us two sets of blueberry cheesecake and tiramisu. All plates were wiped clean at the end but bellies were very full! Customer service was great! Our food attendant (I didn't get his name) was on top of our orders, and how they were equally distributed to each table. I appreciated his caution when I almost over ordered at the beginning. This goes to show that there's customer focus and integrity. I'd also like to thank Murat, the restaurant manager, for being flexible with our reservation and giving us plenty of space in the back area with our large group and a baby. We'll definitely come back and highly recommend their resto!

Lokal was a bit disappointing. Started with delicious dips (the baba ganoush is so good!) and cocktails. Unfortunately the rest of our dishes were not as good. The gambas (sautéed shrimp) were over cooked and bland. Grilled octopus was a very tiny amount of actual octopus over a salad. Neither were worth the price at all. The avocado and tomato salad was okay but a little bland. Service was great at the beginning but we never were offered more drinks and had to ask for the check after sitting for more than 10 minutes after they cleared our plates.

I would like to leave a review mostly about the server that I had that day. So I just arrived in NY - it was a very difficult flight - the early morning one, then it was late, so I was super tired and annoyed that day. I went to this place to have lunch and my mood completely changed when the server approached the table. He was extremely nice, friendly, smiling all the time, and had great food recommendations. His name was Sinan. So I had a good meal, and great communication that changed my day completely for the best! Thank you, Sinan for your service and friendliness! The management should appreciate employees like this!

Came recommended to meet with a client in the upper west side, an area of Manhattan I am not in too frequently. Now, I don't foresee ever wanting to eat anywhere else when in the area! EXCEPTIONAL and fresh food all prepared with pride. Everything tastes home made! I would honestly venture all the way to the area for their lentil soup. Thank you to the lovely staff that didn't mind me staying approximately 3 extra hours after my lunch to catch up on work :)