al Badawi - (Near Brooklyn, NY)

5 /5 Mei Deng: FIREEE Palestinian food. Def need to come back, esp for the knafeh. Service was a little slow tho w/ food - Complimentary pita w/ olives, oil, and seasoning: Warm, fire - Kousa mahshi: Mid, lacked flavor - Mansaf: 11/10, lamb fell right off the bone, and flavor was yummy. Like the soup it came with - Msakhan: 9/10, a little sour, but I really liked all the onions. Chicken itself was tender but tasted like every other rotisserie chicken - Knafeh: 11/10 MUST GET. Best knafeh I’ve had in nyc

5 /5 Kosta Rica: Excellent middle eastern restaurant. With all the classic dishes like hummus and tabuleh, and good quality shawarma. They don’t have lamb but chicken and beef. Beet salad was excellent. Combination appetizer platter was excellent too - recommend it highly. Overall, a nice experience and great food.

5 /5 Kiran Kaur: Solid Palestinian food on Atlantic Ave! We got the Ouzi Lamb and Mixed platter kebabs with the lamb chop; and ended with the knafe. Lamb was falling off the bone- the Ouzi Lamb tasted like it was cooked in a Palestinian’s grandmothers home and served fresh - flavors were warm and fragrant!! Kebabs had a ton of flavor; rice was fluffy and the knafe was probably one of the best I’ve had in the city. Service is slow but they are extremely busy! Would love to be back - if you can get a seat, def try it out!

2 /5 Amiya J: Food was ok but I was with a party of 10+ and we were never formally greeted. I couldn’t tell you who our waiter was. Waited over 30 minutes just to get the menus after everyone finished the complimentary bread. The table they had us sitting at was so tight we could barely fit and it was so bitterly cold the entire time despite the heat being on that half the party ate with their winter coats on! Service should have been much better, especially for a party so big.

3 /5 MOE JARADAT: This restaurant came to my attention through a strong recommendation from a devoted fan, so I made it a point to visit while in New York/Brooklyn. It was fairly busy for a late Sunday lunch or early dinner, which initially seemed promising. Unfortunately, my experience was somewhat disappointing. The first item we attempted to order, laham ajun, was unavailable. The menu felt a bit cluttered and slightly overpriced for what was offered. While the restaurant appeared well-staffed, a noticeable language barrier made communication somewhat difficult. The food itself carried good flavor, though I am uncertain whether it truly represents Palestinian cuisine as advertised—it didn’t quite evoke the familiar tastes I associate with authentic Mediterranean dining. Portion sizes were generous, which was appreciated. The most surprising—and frankly disheartening—moment was when hot tea was served in a Turkish-style china cup poured from a coffee pot. It felt inconsistent with the restaurant’s cultural presentation. Overall, while the visit was underwhelming, I do believe the place deserves a second chance.