Zesty Tabbouleh

Wow—what an incredible find. Chef and owner Mohammad cooks straight from the heart, and you can taste it in every bite. From the fresh, vibrant tabbouleh to the beautifully prepared whole fish cage, everything felt authentic, thoughtful, and full of flavor. His warm smile is what first invited me in, and the food is what kept me wanting more. I’m currently on a ketogenic diet, and Chef went out of his way to make sure everything fit my restrictions. He customized dishes for me without hesitation and even brought out his homemade pickled vegetables and dolmades for me to try. That kind of genuine hospitality is rare, and it meant a lot. The restaurant has only been open for a month, yet all the 5-star reviews make perfect sense. Mohammad cooks everything fresh to order, so it’s worth taking your time, relaxing, and really enjoying the meal. I absolutely loved my experience here and will be recommending this place to everyone I know.

This is my favorite middle-eastern restaurant in the city from now on! The food tastes authentic with just the right amount of personal touch to make it stand out from the others. The owner/chef is very friendly and listening to him talk so passionately about his process was inspiring and heart-warming. He clearly loves what he does and it shows in the food.

The Halabi kabab was my favorite, well-seasoned, tender, and grilled to bring depth without overpowering the spices. The zesty tabbouleh was definitely zesty, the right hit of acidity, good amount of bulgur wheat and onions. I also tried the sfiha, which had a satisfying, savory filling on the soft dough, and the Halabi desert, which was similarly well-balanced and not too sweet. Overall, fresh ingredients, thoughtful seasoning, and a well thought out menu. A strong addition to the LES levantine list. Will return to try the shawerma & felafil soon.

Visited this restaurant today and was honestly impressed. The food was excellent, everything tasted fresh and well prepared. The atmosphere was comfortable, and the staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming. Definitely a place I’d come back to.

Fantastic new restaurant for the neighborhood. Chef Salemeh’s dishes are a delight, each one packed full of flavor. Highly recommend everyone gives this place a go, you won’t be disappointed!

Zesty Tabbouleh is hands down the best Lebanese food I’ve had in NYC. Not only for its food, but it’s wonderful chef and staff who made my friends and I feel extremely welcomed, took the time to explain the menu, his kitchen methodology and a bit of his story of opening this restaurant. Operating with a charcoal grill system, everything from perfectly seasoned lamb and chicken on the mixed grill platter to the red pepper and almond making up the delicious Muhammara is roasted to perfection. Also as the name suggests, it was the best Tabouleh I’ve ever had.

The hummus pesto, baba ganoush and Muhammad’s was great. The mix grilled plater was amazing. The people were so welcoming. The atmosphere is cozy. Will different come back.

What an amazing experience we had at Zesty Taboulé! Food was out of this world - pesto hummus, taboulé salad, caged fish and shish kabob. Mohammed is an incredible chef. Great atmosphere and friendly service. Can’t wait to return!