Zou Zou’s

"Also in Manhattan West, this upscale Mediterranean spot from the team behind Don Angie and Quality Eats has creative food and big, shareable portions. Bring a group of friends for some lamb tartare, duck borek, and crispy manti stuffed with spiced beef. The high-ceilinged, glamorous dining room has a socialites-in-evening-wear grandness about it, but you’ll still feel right at home doing a casual get-together here. Even if you never have a reason to be in the Hudson Yards area, plan a special trip just so you can try this place." - bryan kim, willa moore, kenny yang, neha talreja, molly fitzpatrick

"How Far In Advance Should You Book? An hour or two. A few years ago we predicted that the then-new Zou Zou’s would quickly become easy to get into. It took a little longer than we thought, but you can now snag a table here whenever you want. This Manhattan West restaurant, with its mammoth dining room and pan-Mediterranean menu, is a useful place to keep in mind for impressive group dinners. " - bryan kim

"At this upscale spot from the team behind Don Angie and Quality Eats, the portions are big and there’s no real distinction between entrées and appetizers. That’s why you should bring a group of friends to share some lamb tartare with merguez spices, smoky lamb chops, and a refreshing fattoush. The high-ceilinged, glitzy dining room has a socialites-in-evening-wear grandness, but you won’t feel out of place at a casual get-together here. Given that Zou Zou’s is perpetually packed every night of the week, we can’t help but think that people who live and work near Hudson Yards have been thirsting for a restaurant they can finally brag about to the rest of the city.  " - neha talreja, kenny yang, carina finn koeppicus, will hartman

"At the northern end of the High Line, you'll find a shiny new development with vaguely dystopian undertones. It's called Manhattan West, and it's home to a few glitzy restaurants that are much better than their surroundings suggest. Ci Siamo, an Italian spot from Danny Meyer, is one of those of those restaurants, but if you want to grab an impressive meal with a group, go to Zou Zou's. The menu is full of fun twists on Eastern Mediterranean food like Moroccan fried chicken and a pistachio-covered duck borek, and everything's great for sharing. There's also a big bar at the front of the cavernous space where you can grab a post-walk spritz." - bryan kim, carina finn koeppicus

"Zou Zou’s, a glitzy restaurant in the Penn Station-adjacent development known as Manhattan West, fully embraces the vagueness of its Mediterranean label. Stop by for some Moroccan fried chicken, a spiral-shaped duck borek, or a skillet of flaming kasseri cheese with Lebanese focaccia on the side. The food isn’t traditional, but it’s fun, inventive, and great for sharing. Try this place for a big night out when you want to drink a turmeric Negroni in a space with sweeping red booths and an excess of globe lights." - bryan kim, will hartman