Sawa

This was probably a top 3 new restaurant for me in 2024. Worth the hype and fighting for the res. The restaurant wasn't trying to get out over their skis on creativity - they executed what they advertised very well. Have recommended to a number of people. FWIW - I am not a huge Mediterranean restaurant fanatic, but I loved this.Staff was very polite. Ambiance was great. Low yellow lighting. Great for a date spot.We came here with a small group and ordered the following:HummusBaba ghannoujLabneh - insanely good MuhammaraTabbouleh - so much flavor. Must getKibbeh- must getBatata haraLamb shank - my favorite. So tenderBeiruti samka harra - amazing sauceKaftaKastalettaWould definitely come back here. Very pleased with it.

Really cute spot near Park slope! Would come back for the Batata (super crispy flavorful potatoes with toum), octopus dish and the kafta kebabs!!!We also tried the halloumi sticks and the hummus topped with wagyu - also really good. The wagyu has a slight touch of sweetness.Their drinks are super interesting as well. I tried the Jeelab - super refreshing and sweet drink with rose water dates, pine nuts, raises and pomegranate! I've never had anything like that before. The beer is also nice and tart! The only thing I didn't care for was the dessert mainly due to the flavor profile (lots of options with semolina, orange blossom and pistachio but if you are a fan of that then get it!)Service was excellent! Everyone was super friendly

I was able to get a table for two the same week of the reservation. The restaurant was on the smaller side with a very tight entrance which made it hard for multiple parties waiting to be seated. We got the muhumarrah dip which came with one warm pita. We paid an extra 4 dollars for an additional pita. I didn't really think much about it, but other reviewers did mention how ridiculous it was that they would charge 4 dollars for an additional pita. I guess I never really appreciated that Al Badawai serves unlimited warm pita. We split the chicory salad, octopus and lamb chops. Everything was done very nicely and well seasoned. The octopus was on a bed of heavenly green acidic sauce with couscous. The lamb chops came in four medium rare pieces on a bed of seasoned and cooked green onions and a spicy yogurt sauce with a kick. I would come back again if the reservation isn't hard to come by.

This was excellent. The baba was among the best versions I've had -- super smoky in a way that really hit. The hummus with beef and muhammara were also excellent, as were the kibbeh nayeh and especially the samke nayeh.

I'm hardly in this area, but when I am I have to check out the different restaurants. This time around my friend suggested this place. We made reservations, so it wasn't a problem dining here. The place itself is very minimalistic in their design. Anyways, we started off with drinks so I got the non-alcoholic one called toot toot (more on the sweeter side) and my friend got the ksara merwah which is a Lebanese wine. I tried it and it was a bit on the dry side for myself so I just ordered the mocktail. The hummus with beef cheeks + pine nuts were just alright. The sambousek which are deep fried meat pies were really good. Last but not least the akhtabut was my favorite dish with the Octopus that comes with Couscous. All in all, this is a great restaurant if you're in the mood for light food.

In the end, we enjoyed this meal and it was definitely worth trying but did we absolutely love it? I'm not sure we did.We went for a later meal and the staff was super friendly and inviting, which was nice. The space is a BIT cramped and we happened to be between two large parties. Started with the hummus and wagyu beef cheek. While the wagyu was bound to be good, I'm not sure if added much to the hummus. The hummus was fine (certainly not the best I've had) and the pita was actually a bit thinner than I would have liked. Got the rakakat, mostly because it's a fun word to say. This was like a fancy cheese stick. Overall good but nothing terribly special. Kibbeh nayeh was next, which I was on the fence about ordering (not a huge tartare fan) and was pleasantly surprised by this. Akhtabut was next and is a must. We were always going to love this dish and it really was the star of the night. Cooked perfectly and aesthetically a beautiful dish- I think all octopus should now be served with pearl couscous. We rounded out the meal with the lamb shank, which was also a really delightful dish with fall-off-the bone tenderness and plating that was very well executed.

Another wonderful dinner at Sawa. Such a beautiful restaurant. I love the minimalist aesthetic. It was busy but the vibe was chill and quite relaxing. We were lucky to have the same server, the amazing and kind Jenny. She offered excellent recommendations and we enjoyed each dish. The standout for me was the octopus. Heavenly, laid on a bright green sauce with soft couscous. The best tabbouleh and hummus to accompany. We also shared the whole fish, beautiful preparation. Ended the meal with a lemon sorbet, a very special dessert. Highly recommend for a superb evening meal.

Nice outdoor dining space and a few standout dishes! I would come back for the crispy potatoes with toum and the heirloom tomato salad (also with toum, seasonal). The muhamara, lamb, and octopus were good but not as memorable as the other two dishes.

Nice atmosphere, good service. The hummus was just ok but I loved the fresh pita bread. The heirloom tomatoes were special, a lot of flavor for such a simple dish. The rakakat were delicious. The cauliflower appetizer had a nice spice to it and was perfectly cooked. The meat pies had a cinnamon spice that was kind of overpowering. The kafta was incredible and interesting dish. The meat was full of flavor, the garlic whip was outstanding. The lamb shank was a bit dry but the sauce and the grains and greens were perfect.

This restaurant had quite a bit of hype and so we went to try it out. Our starters were the hummus and tabbouleh. The hummus came with wagyu beef cheeks, which didn't taste fresh at all. The tabbouleh was very sweet and had too much pomegranate. The mains were the fish, which was excellent and just delicious, with a side of batata harra. The side dish was way too salty and garlicky, and not enjoyable.