Flies everywhere, extremely dirty, tiny bugs in the walls and on the table. You could have the best food here (average quality for NYC) and your experience would be ruined by the maintenance of this place.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 4
Sarah Alice
Ordered food from here for a catered event and oh my gosh, best food I’ve ever had catered.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
nina s
Came here for lunch and my first instinct walking in was that there was a faint scent of sewerage. Awful. It smelled damp. While the server was attentive enough with refilling our water, he didn’t take into account that the condensation on the jug was dripping onto our food as he reached over to pour into the glass (I had to the glass to the out side of the table to remedy this). While the flavors were good in the meat platter, the meat was overcooked and dry. Lastly, I had a glass os sparkling wine which was warm. Would I come back here? No. Overpriced, overcooked, unpleasant smell, warm sparking wine.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Dana Sullivan
Very nice ambiance. One of my friends described it as “upscale hole in the wall”. It’s classy but down to earth and you don’t feel like you need to be dressed up or anything to be there. We were a group of 3 with no reservation Monday night and just had to wait a few minutes for them to clear a table. The staff were all very welcoming and were very mindful of my friend’s nut allergy. I had the batenjen. It was perfect, the eggplant was cooked to melt in my mouth the chickpeas had this buttery texture. The rice on its own was actually just as delicious, and the vermicelli pieces added an interesting texture. The side pickled vegetables (ordered separately) were a nice compliment to my food. Also got a Balade jallab (date juice garnished with pine nuts) which had a really unique floral taste. Since dates are a very sugary fruit I was worried that the drink might be really sweet but it was actually very well balanced. I remember one of my friends ordered the chicken shawarma sandwich(?) and can’t remember what the other ordered, but they both said their meals were great too. It was a little expensive but worth it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Krystal Vigliano
The chicken shawarma wrap is so good!
Natalia Serova
It was one of the best dinners that we had in New York in a while. And not just food, service was outstanding! We were treated like a family ❤️ We probably overdid on the food order - 6 Mezze For 2 of us to share (hummus with lamb, fattoush salad, baba ghanouj, fatayer, mouhmara and makanek for appetizers.)
Chargrilled chicken and veggies for main course.
Ashta for desert.
And everything was delicious!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Katherine R
The food, the service, Talliah. Such a good go to adopt spot
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jean Robbins
Talya took care of us at the bar!! She was amazing - she recommended this delicious appetizer that we wouldn’t have gotten without her guidance and it was the best dish of the night!
We sat at the bar and even though this place was packed on a Saturday night; we were truly well taken care of! I would highly recommend Balade - not just for the amazing food, but also for the exceptional service.
10/10 would recommend and return again!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yara Ismael
Hosted my big birthday dinner here and absolutely LOVED my experience. The food was soooo good, so many options, big portions, and affordable pricing. The staff was so so kind and accommodating especially for a big group. Everyone who came loved the experience and enjoyed their time. I can’t recommend this place enough. Never disappoints food service or atmosphere wise.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jonathan Ngo
Great food. Great atmosphere. Great service. What else could a man ask for?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Taste of Lebanon, Supreme Platter
From the moment I stepped inside, the air was filled with the rich aromas of warm spices, grilled meats, and freshly baked bread. The soft glow of lanterns, the hum of conversation, and the gentle clinking of glasses set the stage for an experience that felt like a sensory escape to the heart of the Middle East.
The meal began with labneh, its creamy, velvety texture melting onto my tongue, the tang balanced perfectly by a drizzle of golden olive oil. I scooped it up with warm, pillowy bread, each bite soft and comforting. The lahme hummus was next a smooth, nutty base that gave way to the deep, savory richness of tender, spiced beef, creating a luxurious contrast of flavors.
Then came the shawarma platter a masterpiece of sizzling, spice-infused meat, its juices soaking into the soft bread, creating the kind of bite that makes you close your eyes for just a second longer. The grilled halloumi was golden and crispy on the outside, giving way to a warm, salty creaminess that paired perfectly with the crisp freshness of the herb packed salad.
And just when I thought my senses had reached their peak, the dessert arrived a mahalabia so delicate and silky, it dissolved effortlessly on my tongue. The floral notes of orange blossom and rose water lingered, while the crunch of pistachios added a final, satisfying contrast. It was the kind of dessert that wraps up a meal like a perfect ending to a story light, fragrant, and utterly unforgettable.
With every bite, the warmth of the staff, the authenticity of the flavors, and the magic of the ambiance made this meal one I’ll be dreaming about. This wasn’t just dinner; it was an experience one I can’t wait to relive. ✨
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Max Feinberg
Top service from my guy Arif ,food was beyond amazing and the music was top notch
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Katie O'Connell
Went for restaurant week and absolutely loved! Everything we ate tasted fresh and delicious. The cocktails were great. The atmosphere is both intimate and lively, and every member of the staff was so kind. Will definitely be back!
Zahra Hussain
Had a great time eating at this wonderful restaurant, my server Ali and aliyah took such great care of us. Food was excellent! Great vibes, good for date night
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Andreas Zamanian
This restaurant was incredible. Talia was a delight, she walked us through the menu and was attentive. Will definitely be back!
Flies everywhere, extremely dirty, tiny bugs in the walls and on the table. You could have the best food here (average quality for NYC) and your experience would be ruined by the maintenance of this place.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 4
Ordered food from here for a catered event and oh my gosh, best food I’ve ever had catered.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came here for lunch and my first instinct walking in was that there was a faint scent of sewerage. Awful. It smelled damp.
While the server was attentive enough with refilling our water, he didn’t take into account that the condensation on the jug was dripping onto our food as he reached over to pour into the glass (I had to the glass to the out side of the table to remedy this).
While the flavors were good in the meat platter, the meat was overcooked and dry.
Lastly, I had a glass os sparkling wine which was warm.
Would I come back here? No. Overpriced, overcooked, unpleasant smell, warm sparking wine.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Very nice ambiance. One of my friends described it as “upscale hole in the wall”. It’s classy but down to earth and you don’t feel like you need to be dressed up or anything to be there. We were a group of 3 with no reservation Monday night and just had to wait a few minutes for them to clear a table. The staff were all very welcoming and were very mindful of my friend’s nut allergy.
I had the batenjen. It was perfect, the eggplant was cooked to melt in my mouth the chickpeas had this buttery texture. The rice on its own was actually just as delicious, and the vermicelli pieces added an interesting texture. The side pickled vegetables (ordered separately) were a nice compliment to my food. Also got a Balade jallab (date juice garnished with pine nuts) which had a really unique floral taste. Since dates are a very sugary fruit I was worried that the drink might be really sweet but it was actually very well balanced. I remember one of my friends ordered the chicken shawarma sandwich(?) and can’t remember what the other ordered, but they both said their meals were great too. It was a little expensive but worth it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The chicken shawarma wrap is so good!
It was one of the best dinners that we had in New York in a while.
And not just food, service was outstanding! We were treated like a family ❤️
We probably overdid on the food order - 6 Mezze For 2 of us to share (hummus with lamb, fattoush salad, baba ghanouj, fatayer, mouhmara and makanek for appetizers.)
Chargrilled chicken and veggies for main course.
Ashta for desert.
And everything was delicious!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food, the service, Talliah. Such a good go to adopt spot
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Talya took care of us at the bar!! She was amazing - she recommended this delicious appetizer that we wouldn’t have gotten without her guidance and it was the best dish of the night!
We sat at the bar and even though this place was packed on a Saturday night; we were truly well taken care of! I would highly recommend Balade - not just for the amazing food, but also for the exceptional service.
10/10 would recommend and return again!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hosted my big birthday dinner here and absolutely LOVED my experience. The food was soooo good, so many options, big portions, and affordable pricing. The staff was so so kind and accommodating especially for a big group. Everyone who came loved the experience and enjoyed their time. I can’t recommend this place enough. Never disappoints food service or atmosphere wise.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food. Great atmosphere. Great service. What else could a man ask for?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Taste of Lebanon, Supreme Platter
Restaurantji Recommends
From the moment I stepped inside, the air was filled with the rich aromas of warm spices, grilled meats, and freshly baked bread. The soft glow of lanterns, the hum of conversation, and the gentle clinking of glasses set the stage for an experience that felt like a sensory escape to the heart of the Middle East.
The meal began with labneh, its creamy, velvety texture melting onto my tongue, the tang balanced perfectly by a drizzle of golden olive oil. I scooped it up with warm, pillowy bread, each bite soft and comforting. The lahme hummus was next a smooth, nutty base that gave way to the deep, savory richness of tender, spiced beef, creating a luxurious contrast of flavors.
Then came the shawarma platter a masterpiece of sizzling, spice-infused meat, its juices soaking into the soft bread, creating the kind of bite that makes you close your eyes for just a second longer. The grilled halloumi was golden and crispy on the outside, giving way to a warm, salty creaminess that paired perfectly with the crisp freshness of the herb packed salad.
And just when I thought my senses had reached their peak, the dessert arrived a mahalabia so delicate and silky, it dissolved effortlessly on my tongue. The floral notes of orange blossom and rose water lingered, while the crunch of pistachios added a final, satisfying contrast. It was the kind of dessert that wraps up a meal like a perfect ending to a story light, fragrant, and utterly unforgettable.
With every bite, the warmth of the staff, the authenticity of the flavors, and the magic of the ambiance made this meal one I’ll be dreaming about. This wasn’t just dinner; it was an experience one I can’t wait to relive. ✨
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Top service from my guy Arif ,food was beyond amazing and the music was top notch
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Went for restaurant week and absolutely loved! Everything we ate tasted fresh and delicious. The cocktails were great. The atmosphere is both intimate and lively, and every member of the staff was so kind. Will definitely be back!
Had a great time eating at this wonderful restaurant, my server Ali and aliyah took such great care of us. Food was excellent! Great vibes, good for date night
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This restaurant was incredible. Talia was a delight, she walked us through the menu and was attentive. Will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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