This was my third time dining at Habibi since they opened in 2023. I used to love this place but I am sorry to report that the experience is no longer as special as it once was. The food is good, but not blow-you-away incredible. What made this place incredible were the little extra touches that made you feel you were getting a unique experience. Many of these details are now gone. I’ll elaborate:
1. Old Habibi greeted everyone with a glass of bubbly upon entry. New habibi has done away with that luxury.
2. Old Habibi had an gorgeous industrial elevator decorated with plants and good music. The elevator was manned by an attendant that always passed the vibe check. The attendant greeted your party and set a great conversational vibe as they brought you upstairs to the dining room. New Habibi has removed all traces of this. Just a regular stainless steel elevator with bad lighting and zero whimsy/magic.
3. Most importantly: Old Habibi used to have a lovely hookah/cocktail lounge downstairs for guests to sit after dinner. The hookah was complimentary (nice touch!) and there was sometimes a live DJ. The lounge was a perfect place for your party to sit for 20-30 minutes having a cocktail while deciding their next move. This hookah lounge was essential to the experience for me—it added an element of surprise-and-delight luxury that made it worth paying a $$$ premium for otherwise basic Mediterranean food that you can find on Steinway street in Astoria for a fraction of the price. In short, the magic is gone and this place is now like every other restaurant.
Decent food? Yes. Good cocktails? Sure. An instagrammable dining room? Check!
Still, why would anyone want to drive out to industrial bushwick to pay $100+ for average dips and grilled meats though? The food may impress people who are new to Mediterranean/Arab cuisine… but connoisseurs know the offering is basic. It is clear that management has revised the experience to increase their ROI. Too bad! This place used to be more special ?
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Jason A. Simon
The service and atmosphere were stellar. The waitress and manager Alex were beyond reproach in their attention to detail and inter personal communication. The clash of brutalism and mcm makes the dining room setting to a movie scene. The quality of food wasn’t the issue. I appreciated not making things not too salty but if the sauces were meant to be authentically ethnic. They missed that mark to cater to palettes less aggressive. I already know if I want traditional cuisines but no frills head to a Northern Blvd, or Flushing Queens. However, despite being non committal-on flavor . You’re coming for an experience and I’d go back gladly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Floris Billiet
I could go in a lot of detail about each dish but to sum it up: this place is style over substance and because they focus so much on the former, the disappointment is the bigger because the food is so, so underwhelming and just not worth the price and the effort of coming all this way. But hey if being greeted by a doorman in a tux makes your day - go for it.
Across the board what we ate was bland, insipid, flavorless, and boring. Salt, spices and herbs are not something they have heard about in this kitchen.
There is an unappealing disconnect between the service and the atmosphere, and the quality and level of the food. It’s also plated and styled like a high school canteen.
It was also simply unpleasantly cold - the AC was so low you’d have to wear a jacket or shirt to be comfortable.
We voiced our opinion on the way out - when finally somebody bothered to ask us whether everything was okay - and they offered a refund. The host then walked off, never to be seen again.
Don’t bother schlepping all the way here for the food - it just isn’t worth it, and your local gyro place probably has a better grill master than they do here.
Drinks were great and servers friendly and punctual though.
Very disappointing.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Anthony Cousins
Fun spot. Food was mediocre and the service was tough. They kept forgetting things and İ think we waited more than 15 min for wine twice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Javid Turabor
How to make a reservation? Im not able to find u guys on resy, nor your website(((
Ismail Soliman
Loved the vibes and service especially Alex but was really disappointed with the food and drinks..ordered the mixed grill which was basically a combo of all that’s on menu and I was not satisfied with the flavors ..the meats were really chewy especially the lamb chops had tons of fat on it..for spending over 400 dollars for dinner for 2 I was hoping that the food would be out of this world I had to stick to eating pita bread all night to fill me up
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 5
Jennifer MacFarlane
Habibi is what dreams are made of ❤️ the ambiance the experience the service. And of course the food. But the vibe is ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
GOG 619
Really perfect! I guess it is the best Oriental restaurant in NYC. P.S. Probably here is the fastest and comfortable elevator in the city.
Booked Habibi long before leaving the UK with friends while visiting NY for a special birthday. I was really excited telling them about the 'lift' with waiters & bubbles as I saw on social media & the amazing rooftop garden - but the lift was just a normal one. We arrived at the bar to a nice welcome & a small prosecco... Then taken up to the restaurant floor, only to be told our table wasn't ready yet, so all had to trek back down to the bar. The beautiful rooftop I had seen in reviews was closed due to construction work. When we eventually arrived at our table the views of the NY skyline were fantastic. We were seated away from the main restaurant though near the toilets. We ordered cocktails which we all agreed were yummy. Then the 'crudités arrived - a bowl of whole raw veg & one small dip - the waiter (who was lovely & just doing her job) then made a big thing of cutting up a tomato & giving us a small slice each with a tiny square of feta - then left us to it while we waited for our food. We were all a bit perplexed! A little segment of tomato on an empty white plate was bizarre and we all thought it was really funny! When the food arrived (in dribs & drabs at different times) it was well presented & tasty but the rice was cold by the time the meat & fish was served. It was so dark in the restaurant we struggled a bit to see what we were eating. The music was a bit weird aswell - when we arrived to cool soulful funky vibes we thought this is great! But that changed to loud weird euro pop which left me grating my teeth a bit! The cake brought to us with a candle for my birthday was a nice touch & was delicious. We had a lovely evening and it was definitely an unusual experience - the staff were super nice so no complaints there. It was just a little different to what I was led to believe on social media. I'm sure once all the construction work is done it will be worth a visit if you are in the area. On the evening we came I just felt it was style over substance and was left a bit deflated afterwards.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Oscar Villalba
Really unique experience in Bushwick, very pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere and hospitality! Food was excellent!
If you're going for food, just don't.The vibes are insanely good, the music, the decoration the lighting the view, the service it's all mesmerizing. Just not the food unfortunately, got the shish tawook, the kofta, hummus awarma, baba ganoush. the shish tawook had this strange plastic like taste that very compelling but it was still edible, the kofta was better but was really salty, the hummus and the baba ganoush were really good and they were served with pita, the pita wasn't fresh but hey overall it's a very nice place and I'd come again just not for food. shout out to the guys downstairs at the door, they're amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Lauren
Have had better Middle Eastern food before but we did enjoy the ambience. Rooftop is really nice and the service was great as well
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Naika Colas
Best dinning ever. The 4.3 stars does not do it justice.
Some of the freshest, most delicious food ever
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This was my third time dining at Habibi since they opened in 2023. I used to love this place but I am sorry to report that the experience is no longer as special as it once was. The food is good, but not blow-you-away incredible. What made this place incredible were the little extra touches that made you feel you were getting a unique experience. Many of these details are now gone. I’ll elaborate:
1. Old Habibi greeted everyone with a glass of bubbly upon entry. New habibi has done away with that luxury.
2. Old Habibi had an gorgeous industrial elevator decorated with plants and good music. The elevator was manned by an attendant that always passed the vibe check. The attendant greeted your party and set a great conversational vibe as they brought you upstairs to the dining room. New Habibi has removed all traces of this. Just a regular stainless steel elevator with bad lighting and zero whimsy/magic.
3. Most importantly: Old Habibi used to have a lovely hookah/cocktail lounge downstairs for guests to sit after dinner. The hookah was complimentary (nice touch!) and there was sometimes a live DJ. The lounge was a perfect place for your party to sit for 20-30 minutes having a cocktail while deciding their next move. This hookah lounge was essential to the experience for me—it added an element of surprise-and-delight luxury that made it worth paying a $$$ premium for otherwise basic Mediterranean food that you can find on Steinway street in Astoria for a fraction of the price. In short, the magic is gone and this place is now like every other restaurant.
Decent food? Yes.
Good cocktails? Sure.
An instagrammable dining room? Check!
Still, why would anyone want to drive out to industrial bushwick to pay $100+ for average dips and grilled meats though? The food may impress people who are new to Mediterranean/Arab cuisine… but connoisseurs know the offering is basic. It is clear that management has revised the experience to increase their ROI. Too bad! This place used to be more special ?
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
The service and atmosphere were stellar. The waitress and manager Alex were beyond reproach in their attention to detail and inter personal communication. The clash of brutalism and mcm makes the dining room setting to a movie scene. The quality of food wasn’t the issue. I appreciated not making things not too salty but if the sauces were meant to be authentically ethnic. They missed that mark to cater to palettes less aggressive. I already know if I want traditional cuisines but no frills head to a Northern Blvd, or Flushing Queens. However, despite being non committal-on flavor . You’re coming for an experience and I’d go back gladly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
I could go in a lot of detail about each dish but to sum it up: this place is style over substance and because they focus so much on the former, the disappointment is the bigger because the food is so, so underwhelming and just not worth the price and the effort of coming all this way. But hey if being greeted by a doorman in a tux makes your day - go for it.
Across the board what we ate was bland, insipid, flavorless, and boring. Salt, spices and herbs are not something they have heard about in this kitchen.
There is an unappealing disconnect between the service and the atmosphere, and the quality and level of the food. It’s also plated and styled like a high school canteen.
It was also simply unpleasantly cold - the AC was so low you’d have to wear a jacket or shirt to be comfortable.
We voiced our opinion on the way out - when finally somebody bothered to ask us whether everything was okay - and they offered a refund. The host then walked off, never to be seen again.
Don’t bother schlepping all the way here for the food - it just isn’t worth it, and your local gyro place probably has a better grill master than they do here.
Drinks were great and servers friendly and punctual though.
Very disappointing.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Fun spot. Food was mediocre and the service was tough. They kept forgetting things and İ think we waited more than 15 min for wine twice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
How to make a reservation? Im not able to find u guys on resy, nor your website(((
Loved the vibes and service especially Alex but was really disappointed with the food and drinks..ordered the mixed grill which was basically a combo of all that’s on menu and I was not satisfied with the flavors ..the meats were really chewy especially the lamb chops had tons of fat on it..for spending over 400 dollars for dinner for 2 I was hoping that the food would be out of this world I had to stick to eating pita bread all night to fill me up
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 5
Habibi is what dreams are made of ❤️ the ambiance the experience the service. And of course the food. But the vibe is ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Really perfect! I guess it is the best Oriental restaurant in NYC.
P.S. Probably here is the fastest and comfortable elevator in the city.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shrimp Lobster Tail & Branzino Fish, Biryani
The hype is real. So worth it! The atmosphere, food, and service were all spectacular.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Booked Habibi long before leaving the UK with friends while visiting NY for a special birthday. I was really excited telling them about the 'lift' with waiters & bubbles as I saw on social media & the amazing rooftop garden - but the lift was just a normal one. We arrived at the bar to a nice welcome & a small prosecco... Then taken up to the restaurant floor, only to be told our table wasn't ready yet, so all had to trek back down to the bar. The beautiful rooftop I had seen in reviews was closed due to construction work. When we eventually arrived at our table the views of the NY skyline were fantastic. We were seated away from the main restaurant though near the toilets. We ordered cocktails which we all agreed were yummy. Then the 'crudités arrived - a bowl of whole raw veg & one small dip - the waiter (who was lovely & just doing her job) then made a big thing of cutting up a tomato & giving us a small slice each with a tiny square of feta - then left us to it while we waited for our food. We were all a bit perplexed! A little segment of tomato on an empty white plate was bizarre and we all thought it was really funny! When the food arrived (in dribs & drabs at different times) it was well presented & tasty but the rice was cold by the time the meat & fish was served. It was so dark in the restaurant we struggled a bit to see what we were eating. The music was a bit weird aswell - when we arrived to cool soulful funky vibes we thought this is great! But that changed to loud weird euro pop which left me grating my teeth a bit! The cake brought to us with a candle for my birthday was a nice touch & was delicious. We had a lovely evening and it was definitely an unusual experience - the staff were super nice so no complaints there. It was just a little different to what I was led to believe on social media. I'm sure once all the construction work is done it will be worth a visit if you are in the area. On the evening we came I just felt it was style over substance and was left a bit deflated afterwards.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Really unique experience in Bushwick, very pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere and hospitality! Food was excellent!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shrimp Lobster Tail & Branzino Fish, Biryani, Chicken Wings
If you're going for food, just don't.The vibes are insanely good, the music, the decoration the lighting the view, the service it's all mesmerizing. Just not the food unfortunately, got the shish tawook, the kofta, hummus awarma, baba ganoush. the shish tawook had this strange plastic like taste that very compelling but it was still edible, the kofta was better but was really salty, the hummus and the baba ganoush were really good and they were served with pita, the pita wasn't fresh but hey overall it's a very nice place and I'd come again just not for food. shout out to the guys downstairs at the door, they're amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Have had better Middle Eastern food before but we did enjoy the ambience. Rooftop is really nice and the service was great as well
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Best dinning ever. The 4.3 stars does not do it justice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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