Rafael

Came here with a group of girlfriends and we loved it! Delicious food, great ambiance. Such a gem in the neighborhood. Classic dishes but also innovative twists and really interesting flavors. We loved it and will be back! The cocktails were great too

Had an incredible experience at Rafael! The food was beyond expectations, these guys really know what they’re doing. The restaurant's design is spectacular, with plenty of space to relax and enjoy the atmosphere. Every dish was delicious, made with fresh, clean ingredients that truly elevated the meal. Highly recommend!

Very pretty restaurant with nice covered back sun room. Chicken and tahini crème brûlée were the highlights.

I loved their breakfast (best one I tried so far). Had the Mediterranean eggs (must try), Turkish eggs (average), Peach french toast (must try), side of muhammara and tzatziki (sooo good). For bread, the challah was amazing.

Our family dined at Rafael's for the first time and I can say it definitely will not be our last! The food was outstanding! We ate outside in the back and the atmosphere was so cozy and special. We felt like we were in another place! Such a wonderful place to go when you're visiting the UES. We also had amazing service. The servers were so kind and attentive. Our family (kids included) all give it 2 thumbs up with 5 stars!

Rafael on the Upper East Side is a Mediterranean gem that delights the palate with its vibrant flavors. The hummus is exceptionally creamy, embodying authentic Middle Eastern taste. The Chicken Ba Tanur, oven-roasted to perfection and served with mashed potatoes, glazed carrots, and za’atar butter sauce, is a standout, offering a harmonious blend of spices and tenderness that leaves a lasting impression.  The intimate ambiance enhances the dining experience, making Rafael a must-visit for those seeking a refined yet unpretentious meal.

I walked past this place, read the great reviews, and immediately added it to my list to try. It looks aesthetic, and the Mediterranean menu looking appealing. However, I came here for dinner and beyond the food being just rather average for very above average prices, I got sick while still at the restaurant from the chicken (food poisoning), and just as we were leaving we saw a rat run across from a wall of the enclosed fully-walled-off back terrace space to the center of the dining area, turn around, and run back. Safe to say I won’t be returning. As an added bonus, the cocktail I ordered on the recommendation of the server tasted solely of very very cheap tequila — to the point where I didn’t even drink it past one sip. I left feeling genuinely confused about the positive reviews.

This restaurant is a fantastic addition to the UES. The service is warm and welcoming, making you feel right at home. The Mediterranean food is incredible—fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. From the hummus to the grilled dishes, everything is spot on. The décor is stunning, with Mediterranean-inspired touches that create a cozy, inviting atmosphere. Whether for a casual dinner or a special night out, this place is a must-visit. We’ll definitely be back!

Came here for brunch on a Saturday and it was such a great experience! The inside is so cute and cozy and the staff is incredibly kind and attentive. We split the ricotta pancakes which are an absolute must get!! They weren't too sweet and the labneh with the honey was perfect. We also split the Turkish eggs which were delicious but wish they had slightly more seasoning. The portions are a bit on the small side so we ended with the flourless chocolate torte which was very decadent but so incredibly delicious. The inside is incredibly well decorated, the staff are so kind and the brunch was delicious!

I have been to Rafael twice and my friends and I still talk about how good the breakfast was from the first time! There is a lot of seating sprawled along multiple floors plus a back patio. When I went the second time, I dined solo in their downstairs area and quickly realized that I much prefer the coziness of sitting upstairs. Each time I ordered the middle eastern breakfast because I loved the eggs with the Israeli chopped salad. While their online menu does not include pita, the physical menu does say it includes pita. Both times I had to separately ask for the pita and although I wasn't given a hard time for asking, it's odd that it was on the menu as a part of the item description and had to be asked for. Portions are a good size as you can see from the pictures. I recommend coming with a group so you can share some mezes and sides!

First of all the restaurant is so cute and so quaint in the heart of the UES. The food was Mediterranean and all of it was tasty. Came out super fast and tasted fresh. Shout out to the potato pancakes, we loved them!

I wanted to love this place so bad. As a lover of Israeli food, and Israel, I was ecstatic to see a new Israeli restaurant opening in my neighborhood. Unfortunately the food was beyond lackluster. The service was impeccable so very happy there but it didn't make up for the rest. The shakshuka, my favorite dish ever, is something I get at any restaurant that offers it - I even review each one for a blog - this was the worst I have ever had. The eggs were over cooked, the sauce was quite literally Ragu tomato sauce esq with absolutely zero spice or flavor and extremely watery and the accompanying challah was as hard as a rock. The salad we got was great however it didn't make up for the shakshuka whatsoever.

A cute place but food didn't stand out to me. We started with the white bean dip, which was just okay (but I'm not the biggest fan of goat cheese, so I won't hold that against them) and I had the Bronzino for my main. It was a bit bland for me and I felt like something was missing -- maybe it was the watery sauce or just missing an accoutrement, but either way, didn't leave me impressed. For dessert we had the pastel de natas and there was one that basically had no custard filling so I was just eating the crust of it. That was disappointing, they shouldn't have served something like that. I will say, the service was great and our server was so nice.

Heard about this new Mediterranean place in the UES and stopped by for dinner on a Friday night! Not quite a 5 yet (but def more than just a 4) and has so much potential since it just opened! As a walk-in party of 2, they were able to accomodate us without waiting, but needed the table back after an hour. We started off with the 3 mezzes. It was hard to pick my favorite because they were all delicious. The muhammara had great roasted walnut, pepper, and garlic flavors. Texture wise resembled hummus the most out of the three. The chershi kara'a was primarily pumpkin with a spicy pepper sauce that gave it a nice kick. The baba ganoush was very eggplant forward and less creamy than other versions I've had. It came with a rich black tahini sauce that added depth to the flavors. We also got the roasted leek which was overall tasty with the spicy sauce and goat cheese, but wish the leek pieces had some sort of char finishing or crunchy aspect. For mains, the short rib was delicious! The meat was super tender and came right off the bone. The brussel sprouts were crunchy despite bathed in the well-seasoned sauce and shiitake mushrooms were roasted nicely. The branzino al ha-esh featured a nicely cooked piece of fish with a crispy skin. The meat was tender and not too dry. The seafood flavors were prominent amongst the sauce, but the veggies were slightly overcooked. For drinks, the oats n oats was like an alcoholic chamomile oat latte that was super refreshing and interesting! The gin wasn't too strong and the drink was appropriately sweet. The pistachio dream, on the other hand, was decent but pistachio taste was a bit artificial. The location itself was intimate with bar seating and tables, as well as a converted outdoor space. Staff were friendly and helpful. Compared to other NYC restaurants, food came out a bit slow on a busy Friday night. Overall I enjoyed my time and look forward returning!

This would be a good place for a date night or special night out because of price of the menu. We came to check this place out because of a TikTok we saw of the bread and how good it looked, but it was a little underwhelming. I was hoping it would be warm but instead it was cold and hard. I got the falafel appetizer and it was $19 for four falafel balls, and while they were absolutely amazing - I would never buy them again for that price. My friends both enjoyed their meals. The staff was very friendly and kind. I do believe they forgot to put our order in or there was some kind of mess up because both tables that arrived 15 minutes after us got their meals before us. I totally understand mistakes can happen and they did make up for it by comping our drinks without us saying anything about the long wait which is very appreciated!!

Food was pretty good, but salt in my omelette wasn't mixed in properly so some bits were super salty. Vibes were very cute though and service was awesome as well. Overall still a cute little breakfast/brunch spot

Not worth the price for brunch. All entrees were bland and unremarkable. The hummus had too much tahini and not much other seasoning. The shakshuka was also essentially tomato paste and oddly topped with two poached eggs. The Bloody Mary was very mediocre. Despite being the only patrons in the restaurant, they seated us right next to the crowded coffee/bar station which meant a lot of disruptive foot traffic interrupting your experience. The staff was very attentive... then again there were 8 of them in an empty restaurant.

came for lunch and had solidly delicious schnitzel. really crispy. came with perfectly fried french fries and a fresh, delicious little israeli salad. cute place. i would definitely come back!

Delicious food in a pleasant, upscale atmosphere. Full disclosure: my son was the server! I do recommend it, though.

What can I say love Rafael was there with friends and the place is just so special happy to have it open in the Naiberwhood and serving the style of food that I can see my self eating all the time the ambience is very relaxing and the space is gorgeous the service was very efficient and kind Yeah The food and cocktails was complementing each other menu offered variety of dishes, for picky eaters like us Mediterranean food is the best and Rafael definitely know what they are doing go out and check it out don't just take my word for it

Came for dinner and sat at the bar. Really great ambience and vibe - and love the decor! The leeks and king mushroom are unbelievable and the branzino was delicious! Also has a great wine list. What a great addition to the neighborhood!

The food was decent, but the service was definitely lacking and that spoiled the entire experience. The reason we're giving four stars instead of 2 is only due to the excellent manager who made it his mission to give us a good experience. In short, we had a reservation, but they gave our spot to walk ins and our group was forced to wait at the bar for over 45 minutes for a table to get ready. We were offered a drink as an apology, but the bartender ignored our group despite us being right in front of her for over 30 minutes! Once seated, the manager came and apologized and personally took care of us, got us our drinks, and served us himself. The food was good and he made sure the rest of the experience was pleasant, but the initial poor impression was really tough to overcome. I hope he gets praised for his customer service because it really was above and beyond.

I would probably rate it a 3.5. The space itself is beautiful with a great ambiance. It was mostly the service that left me with a bad taste in my mouth...we had to wait 15 minutes after being seated for our waiter to come over and take our order. He didn't check on us once asking how things were, had to flag down other staff to ask for more water, and wait another 20 minutes to get our check. The food itself was good - the dips were very tasty but for the portion and $33 for 3, the pricing seemed steep and I wish they gave you more pita to enjoy it with. We also got the corn schnitzel which was great and the mushrooms to share. Overall it was just an okay experience but maybe it was an off night.

Incredible new restaurant on UES! Food was fresh and staff was so friendly. The best schnitzel we've ever had! We loved the back seating area and the atmosphere in a former townhome. Will definitely be back!

Our family dined at Rafael's for the first time and I can say it definitely will not be our last! The food was outstanding! We ate outside in the back and the atmosphere was so cozy and special. We felt like we were in another place! Such a wonderful place to go when you're visiting the UES. We also had amazing service. The servers were so kind and attentive. Our family (kids included) all give it 2 thumbs up with 5 stars!

Really great addition to the UES. Food and service slapped. Nice setting. Happy to see cool places opening on upper east.

A lovely new addition to the neighborhood! We've been here for both dinner and brunch on the weekends. We especially adore the brunch menu here (opens at 10am Saturday and Sunday) - many different options, all tasty, and very well priced. Service is always excellent too. We will be back more often!

Great new neighborhood spot! In an area loaded with Mediterranean restaurants,almost all of which are good, Rafael stands out for having a unique menu. Not the same old Shish and meat/fish dishes most do well. The Beef Burkes were fantastic. Roasted Leeks delish and different. Short Rib on the bone melted off. The Branzino was very good but I'm a big eater and want both sides of the fish! Custard tart was different and also really good. Service and ambience excellent. We sat upstairs based on previously read review stating downstairs was noisy. I didn't find that to be the case but it is quieter upstairs. We had Martinis at the small bar. Bartender friendly and knew how to make a proper Martini! Had a lot of different syrups lined up so I believe the mixed cocktails are likely unique as well. Little on the pricey side for 2 but seems almost every place is pricey and not as good an experience from the food to drinks to service on the UES. Great addition to the neighborhood!!

We came in just before the kitchen closed Nd the food was still excellent. Service was efficient and friendly as well.

Loved the creative menu and those cocktails! We were sitting in the backyard, which was so cozy. Great addition to the UES!

based on the brunch menu we decided to try it....items described sounded so good and the food was fine. however for the prices they charged, no bread, no extras .such as salad...services was fine...but meal itself was lacking