Al Badawi

Came here for a large group (~18 person) dinner and could not recommend this place more! The vibe was immaculate, the service was absolutely excellent, and the food was fast, flavorful, and hot! Everyone said they loved the food (the Muhammara and Fattej were standouts) and there was a great mix of veg and non-veg food. Portions were huge and was relatively reasonably priced.We will absolutely be back soon and potentially for all of our future big group meals!

What a great experience I had celebrating my birthday here. From making my reservation to leaving the restaurant everything was so smooth and amazing. Food: delicious mix of starters and main. The lentils soup was so big and tasty, definitely hit the spot. The lamb was so soft and juicy, probably the best lamb I've had in a long time. Rice was well seasoned and portions were enough to feed 2 to 3 people.Drinks: BYOBService and Ambiance: they were top notch from the vibe of the place, lighting to all servers and people who works there. Celebrating here was a highlight for sure.

Al Badawi has delicious Palestinian food and welcoming waitstaff.We decided to sample a few different things from the menu to get a sense of it overall. The pistachio flatbread was very similar to a full size pizza, topped with a lot of pistachio (obviously). The Ouzi Lamb was tender, juicy, and very flavorful, and the slivered almonds were a nice touch. The rice itself came across as a little mushy, but overall the dish was very enjoyable still. We didn't know what to expect of the Fattat Jaj (6-layer dish of chicken, rice, chickpeas, crispy pita, garlic sauce, yogurt, etc). We were envisioning something along the lines of a lasagna which this very much isn't, but it is still delicious - just think of it mostly as those things piled on a plate in layers. Again, very flavorful (everything was!) and perhaps our favorite of the night.Also note that it is BYO with no corkage fee and there are a couple of good wine shops close by!

Oh, I am overjoyed that I discovered Al Badawi on accident. I was exploring the Upper East Side with a friend and the place looked so cute, we decided to drop by. The inside was beautifully decorated and the outdoor seating was a treat. We were immediately seated and placed our orders. For an appetizer, we decided to do the Mezze Filistini. I highly recommend that everyone gets it, as it's the perfect sampler. My favorites were the hummus and red pepper spread. It was also served with hot, homemade pita, which was the cherry on top. By the time we got the mains, we were already pretty full, so we decided to split the Ouzi Chicken. I had never had anything like it! It had almonds, deep fried pita, rice, and chicken. There was also a garlic sauce on it which made the dish come together. For desert, the server gave us some complimentary rice pudding on the house! It was warm and full of cinammon, which felt like a warm hug on a fall evening. We also ordered the kanafe, which was light and dense all the the same time. This was an incredible dining experienice and I highly recommend to anyone in the area!

The interior and the decor is so beautiful and inviting! We came for an early lunch and the food and service were fantastic. I got the mix shawarma platter and it was a very generous portion and had plenty for leftover. Highly recommend a visit!

I loved walking into the restaurant. It's beautifully decorated. Our waitress was really nice and the food very tasty. I'll definitely return.

I absolutely love the food here. Their mezze platter is the best mezze I've ever had- so much variety and perfect for sharing. The portions are massive too. I'm vegetarian but my friends who have had their meat dishes said it was really good. Their falafel, muhamarra, hummus, labneh, and baba ganoush are my favorite. They give unlimited super hot and fresh pita which is the cherry on top! The ambiance is beautiful, decor is simple and elegant. Service is friendly. I've gone here multiple times with my family and friends and have never been disappointed.

Came here with two friends for lunch. The food is beyond amazing! The portion is massive. Highly recommend the red pepper hummus and the flavored flatbread. The service was fast and friendly. All the meats are super flavorful too. Would come back!

This was my second time visiting and this restaurant doesn't miss. I had friends visiting NYC and we were in the area and I'm so glad I suggested this place. Everything is delicious. Service is quick. They have indoor and outdoor seating but I'm not sure about during the winter. Nice place to bring a friend or a date!

I was looking forward to trying this place because of the menu and the overwhelmingly positive reviews. I am mystified at the raves.First off, the restaurant was way understaffed. Just two people were serving the entire space, which was about full. They seemed well intentioned, but it was impossible for them to do an adequate job attending to all diners. OK, maybe someone called in sick. Stuff happens. But then there was the food. Having read that portions were large, I skipped the appetizers and ordered one of the traditional meals, mansaf. I enjoy lamb and had high hopes. The dish looked impressive, with three huge pieces of lamb on the bone. I dug in to find it was lukewarm. Not only that, but one piece of lamb was almost entirely fat, and another had just tiny bits of completely dried-out meat. Only one piece of lamb was edible, and it was bland. I poured the entire bowl of yogurt sauce over the dish, and still it lacked flavor. So I paid $44!!! for a plate of rice and a small amount of mediocre meat.On top of that, when the bill arrived, they had added a 20% service charge.Never again.