Yara

We arrived without a reservation. We found this placed based on Google reviews. We were seated immediately. Staff was very friendly. It was not overly crowded. It did take a bit for our initial service (I think they did have a larger party in the back), but after that service was prompt, courteous, and professional. The ambience was very nice and relaxing. The food was served promptly with us having a babaganoush appetizer. Everything was on point. Our main came out in a reasonable time and was delicious. I would recommend giving this place a try. We will return.

If you're looking for elevated Mediterranean cuisine in a stunning, modern setting, Yara in Midtown is a must-visit! 🌟 From the ultra-creamy beef hummus to the succulent mixed grill of chicken, filet mignon, and lamb—every dish is crafted to perfection. 🔥 Pair with white wine and red wine ( Musar Jeune) it will be an unforgettable dining experience. Whether it’s a cozy date night, a celebration, or a stylish night out with friends, Yara sets the perfect mood. With a chef bringing decades of culinary mastery and multiple Michelin Guide recognitions, you know you’re in for something special. And the desserts—decadent, rich, and the perfect sweet ending to an unforgettable meal. 🍰🥂

Yara in Midtown is serving up elevated Lebanese Mediterranean flavors in a stunning, modern space! ✨ From the warm, pillowy pita to the perfectly grilled meats, every bite was a hit. The All Grill Platter is a def must. Tender lamb, juicy chicken, and flavorful steak cooked to perfection. But if you’re skipping meat, don’t worry, the prawns are just as incredible! This spot is perfect for a chic dinner with friends or a date night. Highly recommend! Like & Follow me on @butteronaroll_ for more recommendations 🧈💛

The food at Yara was excellent. I ordered the filet mignon well done, and it was surprisingly flavorful and perfectly cooked. The portion sizes are generous, making it a great spot for sharing. The ambiance is ideal for large groups or birthday celebrations, with beautifully designed areas that are perfect for taking photos. Overall, I’d definitely recommend Yara if you’re looking for a memorable dining experience in Midtown Manhattan.

I really wanted to like this place and was very excited for a celebratory dinner, but this fell flat at best 👎🏼 For starters, the pita was horrible ☹️. This is the easiest win for any restaurant and to have dry pita pretty much ruins any Mediterranean meal off the bat. From there, I have personally made better versions of most of the dips we tried, and wouldn’t be able to tell the difference from theirs and Trader Joe’s. The good!: The mixed grill was good. The beef was cooked perfectly and the kofteh was pretty good but didn’t blow me away, and the lamb chop was pretty yummy. The chicken was fine. I have definitely had better mixed grill platters at equal or lesser price points in the city. Based on other reviews I am hoping this was a fluke, though I don’t think I will be giving it another try with so many other options in the city.

A poster caught my eye, music caught my ears, and the service here caught my heart. Nothing but top of the line workers here, great energy, very chill and an incredible appetizer on the house. I'll definitely be returning here no doubt and I'll be looking forward to trying one of the main dishes next💯. Lovely place. Thank you for your hard work and passion🙇🏽

Attended a dinner at this restaurant, and the food was absolutely incredible. Every detail in the dishes is carefully curated. And don’t get me started on the attentive service. The waiter was genuine human being who’s just good at what he does. Happy to have spent my evening here tonight!

Yara delivers an elevated Lebanese dining experience right in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. The ambiance is elegant yet inviting, with soft lighting, modern decor, and subtle Middle Eastern touches that set the tone for an amazing meal. Food is where Yara shines. The mezze selection is super thorough. Must try their smoky and smooth Babaghanouj. Perfect with their warm pita bread. Mixed Grill and Beef Shawarma is tender, juicy, and cooked to perfection. Theres also plenty of vegetarian options available. Service is attentive without being intrusive. Ask their knowledgeable staffs about the menu as well as their wine and cocktail list which features a nice Lebanese selection. Don’t skip their flaky, fragrant, and perfectly sweet baklava! Yara is an excellent spot for a date night, business dinner, or any occasion that calls for a bit of sophistication.

Great experience at this great looking restaurant. Service was excellent and without any delays. Food presentation was great and the portions were good. Looking to go back soon to try more from their menu as this is one of most comprehensive Lebanese menus I have seen in a while!

We were looking for a last minute dinner reservation in midtown last week, and ended up at Yara because everywhere else we tried was booked (holiday dinners!). I went in with low expectations, but was pleasantly surprised. They have TONS of vegetarian options, and everything we ordered was delicious. For three people, we ordered: Falafel Spicy hummus Spicy potatoes Fatayir Cauliflower Yara Tzatziki Their spicy sauce and spicy hummus were legitimately spicy without being over the top. Also, their portion sizes are pretty big compared to NYC standards, so this was more than enough food for three of us. Highly recommend checking them out...I know I'll definitely be back!

Ordered: Hummus ($13) Babaghanouj (~$14) Warak Einab (~$15) Tabouleh (~$17) Fatoush (~$16) Fried Cauliflower (~$16) Sambousek Meat (~$15) Sambousek Cheese (~$15) Yara Fries (~$10) Yara Mixed Grill (~$58): shish tawook, filet mignon, kefta, lamb chops and shrimp, served with grilled vegetables, rice and garlic aioli Aya's take: We were looking for a Lebanese restaurant where we can have a family gathering (9 people) and was so thankful to have come across Yara! They have a semi-private dining section which is slightly tucked away from the regular dining area. It's classy, traditional, and cozy. From the brick wall to the colored wall to the chandelier, it actually feels like you're at home sitting in a dining room. About 2 weeks before, we contacted them to inquire and received a prompt response from Norman. Norman is the man!! He was super responsive and was there the whole time ensuring we had everything we needed, chatting with the families, and being entertaining lol. All the food came out in a timely manner and everything tasted delicious. Where do I begin? From all the appetizers we got to the Yara Mixed Grill, it was truly a taste of Lebanon in the heart of NYC. The must orders for me were the Hummus, Babaghanouj, Fatoush, and Yara Mixed Grill. You know the chef is talented when every piece of meat in the Yara Mixed Grill came out super tender, juicy, and well-seasoned. The Yara Fries were also super addictive! No matter what you order, you will not have a bad bite here. The chef even came out to greet us which was a nice touch. Being Lebanese and a native New Yorker, I couldn't have asked for a better place to have this event. I can't recommend Yara enough and look forward to coming back!

I reviewed Yara in the past when I ordered take-out. This time, we went to the restaurant to eat an early dinner. The food was delicious. I still stand by my earlier review, but overall very good and enjoyable in a beautiful restaurant setting. Will be back!

Lebanese cuisine seems to be the most universally popular cuisine. I have never met anyone who didn't like Lebanese food. And among the Lebanese restaurants in New York City, Yara is definitely among my favorites. The menu is rather extensive, but the food is consistently tasty. You will not find mulukhia on many other menus around here. The kibbe b laban is another favorite with its mildly tangy and garlicky flavors. Among the desserts, the sfouf (turmeric cake) wins me over with its simple deliciousness. Service is very gracious, and can take some time during the busy lunch hour as there is just one person manning the dining room. The dining room itself is bright and cheerful with fresh flowers placed on each table.

I've been here a few times and love the food and service here. This time I came for my birthday. The hostess was very thoughtful and offered a vase with water to place my birthday flowers in while we dined. They also sang happy birthday for me :) I always get the babaghanouj and kebab platter. The yara fries were so well seasoned. Great ambiance. Drink menu is a little limited.

The food here was delicious. I went with a large group and split several dishes. -Mezze- Pita - nice and fluffy, and came in a pretty large quantity which was good for a lot of people. Hummus - creamy and subtly flavored. Baba ghanoush - also very creamy, but with some welcome tartness. I would have preferred this to be a bit more on the smokier side. Beet falafel - crispy, with a subtle sweet and earthy flavor from the beets. I liked the variation here. Vegan warak einab - sour and herbaceous, provided nice contrast with the other mezze. Vegan kibbeh - crispy and filled with pleasant warm spices. -Platters- My group has the Yara mixed grill and shawarma beef, which they enjoyed. I didn't try these dishes because I'm vegetarian. Okra - great tomato sauce and pleasantly soft okra. Paired well with the rice served on the side. We got an enormous amount of food for a total bill of about $205. The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated and has plenty of space for large parties. Definitely give this one a try.

I'm not a huge fan of Mediterranean/lebanese food so I say I'm a rather harsh critic. But the food was good! The hummus was delicious and came with pita bread (5 decent sized pitas I counted lol). I got the goat fossolia which came with rice and the lamb was superrrr tender. Like you don't need a knife. My friends got the chicken shawarma and those fries were to die for lol along with the garlicky white sauce it came with. We also got the warak einab which was so comforting honestly. Our waiter was kind enough to tell us how to each certain dishes which was very helpful. Service was great and our waters were refilled several times. The place is rather quite fancy and upscale compared to places I usually go to but still casual enough for a random dinner! The owner I believe was super kind and even came outside of the restaurant to help us take a picture when we were struggling!! That was so kind of him and wanted to say thanks for making the pics perfect like he said he will!!!

The restaurant itself is imposing inside, but that's where it ended for me. I was the second person waiting to be seated. The abrupt concierge lifted a finger and asked me to wait one minute. There was "Welcome, sir" I am going to sit these guests, and then I will return to you". I waited for what seemed an age for her to return, and she asked me again without emotion to wait further. Eventually, I was seated - but again, it took several minutes before anyone arrived to give me the usual greeting water. I got some water, and what followed was quite shocking: stale pitas broken with mooli and vegetable oil. You´ll read just now how they recycle the pitas you do not use as a welcome starter. I ordered Falafel, followed by the Shish Tawook. When my Falafels arrived, they were tasteless, albeit well-cooked. Some of the accompanying sauce was very watery. Then, they arrived with what looked like bread wrapped in a serviette. That's correct, but it was, in fact, four pittas warmers put and tied in a plastic bag (those were recycled in your welcome starter). How crass is this? Have you ever had that experience in a so-called good restaurant? I never have! I complained about how awful it was to serve warm bread in a tied plastic bag, and she told me it was to keep them warm. That is a fair comment; it is not what you expect from an upmarket restaurant. I was three-quarters through my starter when my main course arrived. I was tempted to say, "Can't you see I have not finished?" and believe me, I am a pretty fast eater. It was plonked on my table again without any smiles or courtesy. By the time I started to eat, it was barely warm. Again, it looked nice but had little taste. They also added a cheap form of Aioli, which was awful considering it was so easy to make. This was a sad experience for me as I give everyone the benefit of the doubt, but the staff here need better training, the food could have more taste, and they need a more friendly manager to greet you and make you feel welcome. There is so much evidence of poor training here, on the floor and in the kitchen, when it could excel, having that fantastic ambience and location.

OUTSTANDING!!! What a gem of a Lebanese restaurant in NYC. We went for Valentine's Day and didn't know what to expect. The restaurant has lovely ambiance and beyond hospitable and friendly staff. The food is Authentic Lebanese cuisine. There's no fusion or funny business. This is Lebanese dining as if you're sitting at an eatery in Beirut. The Kibbe naye (lamb tartar) is out of this world. Very generous portion for the price charged. The best part was our server Charles whose knowledge of the menu and cuisine was very much appreciated. He checked in on us often and was extremely personable and attentive. We also had the pleasure of meeting Linda one of the owners, who was so gracious in making sure we received our complimentary heart shaped falafel and rose for the occasion. I watched her check in with every table to make sure that everyone was well taken care of and enjoying their experience. Yara far exceeded my expectations. It's warm, welcoming and most of all the food was outstanding. Can't recommend this place enough to anyone looking to enjoy a real Lebanese treat while in NYC.

Excellent food and service. Edder was an amazing waiter. We had the cauliflower, hummus, and hand cut fries, beet falafel, and regular falafel . A must visit when in New York City. Will definitely will come back!

My family came to Yara on New Years Eve in the afternoon. It was pretty empty, but it worked for our needs. Our waitress was mostly attentive. The menu had some nice variety and some items that aren't as common as others. We liked the beet falafel, vegan kibbe, and spicy hummus in particular. I wasn't in love with my lamb okra. I didn't realize it would be so soupy. The shawarma beef platter was definitely the winner. We got a white wine that tasted a little off. We didn't send it back, which is on us. Get the namoura and baklava. We weren't fans of the tumeric dessert. Modern, upscale feel. It was also nicely decorated for the holidays.

The food is very good for Lebanese styles The services is excellent and atmosphere is Very present Finished w a mint tea

My friend and I were looking for a place in the area to a nice lunch during the week and catch up. We were seated right away without a reservation even though it was quite crowded, there was plenty of seating. Inside was cozy, comfortable lighting, spacious and sleek. The waiter came over and he was so friendly and familiar, we felt right at home, he immediately recommended the chicken tenders and we ordered Baba ghanoush with Pita bread to start. WOW! He was right, everything was delicious - I would not call myself a baba ghanoush snob by any means but my past experience was inconsistent and this was definitely one of the best I have had (balanced flavor, creamy, not overpoweringly garlicky or anything). The pita came out warm and fluffy - it was addicting we couldn't stop- we had to have seconds. They said after the meal that it was made inhouse. The chicken tenders came with two hearty skewers, rice and vegetables. Very generous portion and very juicy, delicious well seasoned. Honestly, I was impressed by the service and food. I can't wait to have this again and bring more friends and family in on this place!

Excellent service and we enjoyed our meals. Nice, comfortable atmosphere with some space between the tables (you're not right next to others like in many Manhattan restaurants). .

Unfortunately I would not recommend Yara. There are (much) better places. My partner and I came in on Valentine's Day for dinner and were greeted at the door with a rose, which was super cute - that was where the hospitality ended. Our waiter was very short, blunt, and slightly rude - he did not come over to check up on us even once during our hour long time at the restaurant. When we asked for the check early, because we weren't enjoying our meal, he responded with "that was fast" and didn't think to ask us why. We ordered the hummus and fatayir as our appetizers, both of which were good and tasted authentic to Lebanese culture, as someone who is Lebanese and grew up eating home cooked food by my immigrant grandma. The portion sizes were a little small for the price (each were $13-$15). My partner ordered the Shish Tawook, which was subpar at best. At $30, you would expect it to be good. The real kicker - the chicken "shawarma" is what I ordered. It was wet and mushy, had little to no flavor, and came with extremely soggy bread. Chicken shawarma is supposed to be on the drier side and crispy, as the meat is cooked on a rotisserie. I did not enjoy it at all but of course didn't have the chance to tell my waiter as he hadn't checked on us. While exiting, the hostess asked us about our experience, so I expressed how unimpressed I was. She almost didn't believe us, as she said "we never get bad reviews" and "at least he enjoyed his meal" when my partner told her his meal was okay. She told me she is also Lebanese so I expected her to understand where I was coming, but that only made her want to disagree with me more. Another woman (who appeared to be the manager) was very sweet and apologetic about our experience. Although, we were still out $100 over a dinner we did not enjoy. I am probably not going to give this restaurant another chance, as there is another middle eastern restaurant nearby that has never once missed out of the dozen times I have visited.

This restraunt was so nice on the inside. The owner is Lebanese and It was such a nice vibe. The mixed grill was really good and so was the spicy potato. They also had live music. I felt like the prices were good. Prepare to pay around $50 a person after appetizers and drinks and entrees. I really like the spicy potatoes and the beef hummus. Service was fast as well.

Try a different special dish every night. Service was fine for a busy night Ithe decor

Great for large groups! I came with 25 people for a work dinner and the staff was so accommodating and patient with us. I ended up ordering a bunch of mezze for the table and everything was a hit. I particularly enjoyed the falafel and labneh, and the pita came in abundance. Highly recommend.

I had such an amazing time at Yara yesterday for my boyfriend's birthday. The food was stellar, incredibly fresh, and was some of the best Mediterranean that we've had (and we like to think we're quite seasoned restaurant goers). Major kudos for the falafel, amazing crisp on the outside with a great soft, warm inside. He was a big fan of the lamb-- having grown on a ranch himself, he said it was some of the best quality meat that he's had since being at home. High regards. The restaurant had great ambience, slightly dim lighting, and soft music playing in the back. Great environment for date night or catching up with friends. The server was very kind, checked in when he noticed I hadn't touched much of my entree (I had gotten too full by the large mezzes!). They topped it off by packing the rest of our hummus and giving us a whole new bag of pita for the road. Kind people, yummy food. Definitely swing by!

Best Lebanese food in Manhattan. Must order the fattoush salad, cauliflower kibbeh, koussa and the black tea with mint. Service was good. Nothing outstanding, but the waiters were very efficient. Music was excellent, good ambience. Not too upscale, but not low scale either. Perfect for a birthday celebration or intimate evening. Overall, I would return again.

A large restaurant space with beautiful atmosphere. Loved the fir tree decorated with Valentine bulbs! The hostess seated and served us our meal. The music playing in the background was unobtrusive, and tables were spaced far enough apart that we at the table could speak normally. My Moussaka was delicious. I was surprised it was served at room temperature. Very tasty nonetheless. Pita bread was a nice addition, but served cold and frankly, a bit stale. My companion raved about Beef Shwarma. We finished with the suggested Milk Pudding, and though I was not a fan, it was beautifully plated.

We had a great experience at Yara last Saturday evening. We had a reservation and were immediately seated. The service was very attentive. The ambiance was very pleasant. The food was great. We ordered Tabouli, Beef Hummus, Kibbe Mukleyi and Sambosik Cheese. All to share and it was more than enough for the two of us. The tabouli and the beef hummus were specially delicious.

The 6 of us had a good selection to try. As mentioned their hummus is very good, and also as mentioned the shawarma is a bit dry and needed a sauce to wake it up. Portion was small so needed the apps and pita to fill up. Also as mentioned the service is weak. They were pretty busy and I needed to request the Tzatziki sauce multiple times. We also needed to wave down servers a few times. It's a very nicely decorated main room which is great for talking until they turn music up to a very uncomfortable lever to sing at a table. They have a nice little bar area downstairs in case you have a wait and want a drink. We felt the apps were just ok, which included the Grilled Halloumi (good), grape leaves (so-so), Yara Fries (good, MUCH better than the side fries). Wife enjoyed the lamb chops ($42) but no other dishes were noted as outstanding. I would rate 2.5 stars if available.

midtown generic restaurant with a v good menu/offerings. food was nothing special/marginal. place is open/clean. service was horrible. had to ask for and remind about everything. note: party of 6 so tip was included. which def worked in their favor bc poor service. don't recommend as many other options close by.

Great food, poor service. If it hadn't been for the lamb fassoulia and mamooul, we would not have had a good time. There were customer service issues and a weird restroom setup that resulted in male and female customers using the wrong bathrooms. On top of that, we felt our water ignored us for long periods of our meal and was only prompt when we decided to leave and pay the check. All in all a mixed experience, with good food but poor service.

Excellent middle eastern food. The mixed grill platter is definitely big enough for two, great kafta and filet mignon. All the hummus and veggies also great. Good service too. Also, the atmosphere was very authentic Lebanese. Very very good!!!

Upon walking in we were immediately impressed with the ambiance. I made a reservation for 6 people as I had visitors in town and we wanted a quiet yet filling brunch. The restaurant was fairly empty which was great so we could have conversations and hear each other. We were also seated at a circular table which makes it easier to converse We ordered the fried halloumi, Yara fries, and hummus for the table which were delicious. the halloumi was definitely a hit we ordered two. I got the kefta for myself which came dry but after adding hummus and green sauce it brought out the flavors. The servings here are a little on the smaller side I wish the sandwich came with complimentary fries or salad. In terms of the service this is why im giving Yara 2 stars. Our hostess/server was not attentive at all - we had to hunt her down to place a food order. Never checked in to see how the food was either. What really tipped me over is when we were ready for the check we waved at her and she very rudely gave us a pointer finger gesturing to stop talking. When we entered the restaurant another party came after us and she assisted them before us. Will not be returning purely out of the service here.

I visited here for Easter, the restaurant was quiet and very very spacious. My husband, sister, baby, and I were seated towards the front of the restaurant on the side so the stroller wouldn't get in anyones way, the restaurant was quite accommodating in that sense, however the wait staff seemed easily irritated and were very pushy. We ordered some mezze and sandwiches for our lunch: shankleesh, meat sambosa, hummus, zatar fries, fatoush salad, and the falafel, chicken shawarma, and regular shawarma sandwiches. For dessert we ordered baklava, Turkish coffee, and mint tea. The food was certainly not impressive, not memorable, and lacked depth. The shankleesh was way too chunky, the feta pieces were so huge it was hard to eat. The meat sambosa was a little *too* meaty, and the hummus lacked depth. The zatar fries were delish, and the fatoush salad was also pretty good but also somehow the most expensive thing we ordered, certainly not worth $16?! The sandwiches were also just ~ok~ nothing special, and the shawarma sandwiches had way too many pickles, and just overall way too many competing flavours. The restrooms were a little weird... you walk in and there's a Mens door on one side, womens on the other, but essentially everyone's walking into the same bathroom. It was clean and did the job but a little strange. I don't think I'd go back with better Mediterranean options in the city!

I have eaten at Yara three times. That indicates its quality. I selected it initially because of location. That is an important consideration of course. I use Yelp sometimes when I happen to be someplace I do not know, and I have no regular spot. Reliability is a significant criteria for restaurants, and this satisfies the standard. But sometimes you need to try new venues. To experiment with food makes you better as a person, in my book, and I confess I may be less enthusiastic about making friends with those who are unwilling to try new cuisines. So I found this place here on Yelp. I often am in mid town for business, then headed back home to Queens. This is en route. Then after an exploratory dinner, I concluded I could trust this place as fun and festive, with excellent food and respectful service (polite and unobtrusive, willing to offer recommendations). It would be irrational to come here alone or with people unwilling to share plates. That is the only disadvantage, and even that comment is directed more at dining companions than this establishment. Tapas, dim sum, and other small plate styles of feasting demand a crowd. So I would not consider coming here alone, unless I were prepared to take home enormous amounts of leftovers (two meals worth). The last time I was there was with a friend with whom I have worked a bit (we co-authored an article, or, rather, I was credit with a "with help from"). He had a new boyfriend. He is a native New Yorker, while his date hails from mainland China. They were traveling through the States, having visited Boston and en route to New Orleans. We had probably ten dishes. My friend is partial to lamb. There are many choices here. They unfortunately were out of the tartare version. Nonetheless, we enjoyed tabouli (a huge portion, enough for a half dozen), babaghanouj (less pureed than I am accustomed to but very good), moussakaa, grilled halloumi, meat pastry, kefta, and baklawa, among what I recall and am sure of. On prior visits, I have had beets, hummus, falafel, chicken liver, and fries. The wine list has moderately priced options. That is a plus. Alcohol is expected to be marked up. I am not enough of a connoisseur to appreciate the pricey selections, nor wealthy enough to indulge. I have Yara on my list of favorites. They have no idea who I am, because I visit only infrequently. I am pleased to commend it. If you need to get over the 59th street bridge afterward, you're set.

It was great in terms of ambiance and space around the tables, but the food left a lot to be desired. Started with the hummus and pita which was good, but not particularly memorable. For my entree, I had the lamb okra which felt underseasoned. It felt bland and underwhelming in terms of flavor, even the lamb wasn't all that flavorful, lacking in the gaminess you typically expect from it. The okra itself was fine and cooked well. The Booza we had for dessert was probably the best thing out of the meal. It was interesting that the pistachio flavor had no stretch whatsoever whereas the vanilla and chocolate were fine texture-wise. Sadly, the pistachio tasted the best but was lacking in that nice stretchy texture. I would say there are probably better options if you're here for the food, but if you want a nice dining setting, this could be a good spot for you.

We're regulars at Yara and always enjoy it. Hosting dinners for friends there has been a hit--they all appreciate this wonderful and lovely restaurant. A few of our friends became regulars as well. On Monday, we treated friends who were staying with us to dinner at Yara. They enjoyed it so immensely that they asked us to change a reservation we had at another restaurant on Friday to Yara instead. Se we ended up visiting Yara twice this week. In both visits the food was superb. As we were seated, they brought to the table a plate of exquisite pink pickled turnips (their vibrant hue from red beets in the pickling process) along with zaatar in olive oil. We also ordered tahini. The combination of dipping pita into the tahini and the zaatar-infused oil, paired with the pickled turnips, is a true delight of Levantine cuisine. The only downside? It's utterly addictive (we ordered extra). Following the pre-appetizer, we indulged in a feast of mezze delights: eggplant salad, foul moudamas, hummus, classic falafel, beet falafel, vegan kibbe, fried cauliflower with green tahini, and more. Every dish was exceptional. The smoky flavor of the eggplant salad was particularly irresistible - we couldn't resist ordering an extra serving. The warm foul moudamas, with its delightful lemony zest, accompanied by a plate of onions, pickled turnips, and sliced tomatoes, is equally addictive - perfect as a main dish for a light lunch. Savoring the exceptional vegan kibbe with a side of hummus and/or tahini is another delightful Lebanese treat. After our mezze feast, we were pleasantly full but couldn't resist ordering the lemon sole fish dish, which was absolutely delightful. It was so good that we ordered it again on both occasions. Our friends were delighted, expressing their eagerness to return to Yara on their next visit to NYC.

Their lower level might be my future venue for networking events and parties, both personally and professionally (writing this down as we speak). I'm not going to do the culture justice as I say this (and perhaps this is the Jersey kid in me talking), but their "empanadas" matched perfectly with the Lebanese beers the bartender recommended. This may be a gateway for more Mediterranean in my future.

Amazing Mediterranean Lebanese place! The inside was bit exotic (in a good way), eccentric and warm and cozy and welcoming. Have some interesting and unique items on the menu. The mouhamara was delightful - great combination of sweet, tart, and spicy. Grounded walnuts adds a great texture and flavor to the whole dish's profile. Grilled Halloumi has a chewy and dense texture kinda like extra form tofu. Well seasoned with olive oil some spices and paired well with the sliced tomatoes. Lamb okra was very thiccc, flavorful and hearty.

Tasty, well-prepared Lebanese food. Service is attentive and considerate. I eat here fairy often and recommend it highly.

Met new friends for lunch, and they suggested this place; they'd been here for dinner but never for lunch, so new experience all around! Ambiance is cool, quiet, upscale. Frankly, I was pleasantly surprised by the more casual, both price and food, menu for lunch. Very tasty food! Hubby and I don't eat beef or lamb, but they have chicken, fish, and vegetarian options galore. Two of us had the falafel wrap, one had chicken shwarma wrap, and I had the beet falafel wrap. Everyone was very pleased with their lunches. Warning, the wraps are messy to eat! I think all the tahini sauce for mine was on the outside; when I unwrapped the foil, it was whitish and drippy - but tasty! Many of the wraps, including the one chicken shwarma at our table, have fries included - IN the wrap. The ones of us who had falafel wraps chose them partly because they do not have fries incorporated in the wraps. No rush, we were chatting as we ate, but it was more than half empty when we arrived so hey were quite tolerant of our leisurely meal. But when we were done, we *had* to see the dessert menu. Oh, boy, lots of yummy choices there! Our friends shared one order of baklava, and we shared one order of namoura, something we've never had before. It's a dense, syrup-soaked, absolutely delicious, cake. They serve 6 little chunks on a plate, so he had 3 & I had 3 and that was quite satisfying to the sweet tooth. One person had Lebanese coffee - in a tiny espresso-size cup, looked like mud to me! The other 3 shared a pot of fresh mint tea. This was served from an elegant, polished silver (stainless steel?) teapot, into small, cut-glass cups on cut-glass saucers. The tea was dramatically poured from a height, maybe a foot?, above the cups. Waiter didn't spill a drop. When we had emptied our little teacups, I poured more for each of us, and I was trying to emulate the waiter; he was walking past our table and commented, "higher!" So fun! Now husband and I will have to come back for dinner; we're thinking we'll order several of the vegetarian mezzes that sound amazing and probably won't disappoint. Deceptively small place from the outside, several tables filled up while we were eating, spacious dining room. GO!

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! Food, ambiance, service, all amazing. Very highly recommended.

Excellent service by the owner himself. Took my husband here for his birthday. For starters we ordered their hummus, baba ganoush, and chicken liver. For the main we had their mixed grill. For dessert the owner wanted to surprise my husband and I and he brought us their panna cotta with some pistachio cookies and baklava with a candle and sang happy birthday for him which was beyond sweet and thoughtful. I loved their chicken liver and baba ganoush. My husband enjoyed their hummus. The mixed platter was decent. However, their pita was a bit dry. I wish they had that thick, soft, buttery pita but nevertheless cute spot, with a modern and a rustic feel. A good place for conversations, and some good food. Will return to try other items on the menu.

I came here last night excited to try the food again after the great experience we had last time. They either changed the chef or had a real off night because the food and service were both terrible. There were only two servers on a Sunday night, and our waitress could not have cared less. It was terrible service, we had to ask 4 times for a to-go container. We tried the namesake Yara salad, instead of the fattoush, and it was so sour it was almost inedible. My Lebanese boyfriend came specifically for the mulukhia, and he was really disappointed in the dish. They also had no bartender so no cocktails. Bummed that this place went downhill.

Decent Lebanese place. The servers friendly and efficient. The dips were great, although the pita was a bit lacking. We shared a bunch of bigger plates and the lamb tartare was fantastic! Highly recommend trying if in the area.

Terrible lamb chops, at $50+ they should be excellent. Tough, they were some strange kid of lamb chop , owner did not know what kind.

I should have left after the stale bread arrived on the table. After we complained he told us they were making fresh bread at that very moment. Hummus came and was delicious so we stayed...a regretful mistake. We ordered fish and it was so rubbery it was nearly impossible to cut, I have sent one thing back in my whole life and this was the second, absolutely inedible. The waiter told us the chef agreed with us, filled up my wife's wine on the house and brought us dessert but it's a meal I wish I had back. I am not sure if they were trying to use up yesterday's leftovers on the early dinner service or if the cooking is just that bad. The hummus was great and the mixed grill OK but lacked flavor. Overall a severe disappointment.

Very good Lebanese food with no fuss. The environment is very friendly and the service was great. We had the hummus, a lentil appetizer and the Mixed grill between two people it was more than enough. I would definitely return, all the food was so flavorful. The parking garage right next to it is great as well. Under $20 for the night when they have the weekend special.

The food and ambiance were great. I had the lamb chops - seasoned well and the baklava (with ice cream) for dessert. They were both yummy and I would definitely return.

We really enjoyed our experience at Yara. We came in for a very early dinner and did not have a reservation. We were seated right away. The dining room is beautifully decorated. There are interior brick walls with chic wall hangings. The waiter was attentive, and the service was prompt but not rushed. We ordered the Lebanese beers, which were great! For starters, we had the hummus, eggplant salad dip, and falafel. The hummus was delicious. The pita is the really thin (almost crunchy) kind. We prefer a fluffier pita. The eggplant salad dip was fantastic and flavorful. We loved the falafel! The tomatoes on the side were very fresh. The pickled radish on the side was a bit too sour. For our main course, we split the mixed grill platter. All of the meats were amazing!! I loved all three! The vegetables and rice were very good, as well. One complaint was the dipping sauce. There was a white creamy garlic sauce on the side, and it was potently garlicky to the point that we could not find it palatable. It was acidic and intense. We did not need the sauce to enjoy the meal. The meal was lovely otherwise. Very delicious and hearty. We were very full! I would recommend checking out Yara.

We really enjoyed our meal at Yara. I had read some reviews about inattentive service but that was far from my experience. We were seated immediately, our food came out quickly, the water was always filled- the service was excellent. The food was amazing too. All the meat was delicious. The lamb chops were our favorite but the hummus with beef was a close second. We also really enjoyed the mixed grill. They also have really good halloumi. It's not over salty like what I usually end up finding at other places. We also enjoyed the dessert. I recommend the knafeh. While it is a bit different from regular knafe (crumb topping vs semolina) it is still very good.

Everything about this place was great. The appetizers , the fabulous dinner items and the staff are friendly. Must try this if you lov

Amazing service and huge variety of great dishes! Ordered delivery for a work event and food came promptly and they listened to all additional comments (re: allergies and sauce/ pieces on the side). They were also really helpful when I called with questions about dietary restrictions before ordering. Food came packaged well and nothing spilled. Hot food was separated from cold too! I got the sfiha with lamb, which was a bit dry. But everyone else loved their food and their baklava was great. Will be back to try their hummus and other appetizers!

Overall fantastic restaurant. Went with family and ordered several vegetarian appetizers. The waiters had great recommendations and did not try to make us to get too much food, which we appreciated. Delicious hummus and other dips, unique beet falafel, warm pita bread - it was a wonderful sampler! Also, the restaurant is beautiful and spacious, extremely well designed.