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Alfanoose
Category: Restaurants Middle Eastern Middle Eastern
8 Maiden Ln(between Broadway & Cortlandt St)
New York, NY 10038
Neighborhood: Financial District
(212) 528-4669
- Nearest Transit:
-
Fulton St (4, 5)
Cortlandt St (N, R)
Fulton St (A, C, J, Z)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11:30 am - 9:30 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
126 reviews for Alfanoose
Review Highlights
"I can't wait to go back for the falafel."
(in 56 reviews)
"...blessing tucked into the heart of the Financial District."
(in 18 reviews)
"...get the opportunity to have vegetarian stuffed grape leaves."
(in 4 reviews)
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126 reviews in English
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Review from Santino S.
SoHo, Manhattan, NY
1/23/2012
I always order for delivery and it's always delish.
This may be my favorite middle eastern spot in the city. The falafel is so good. Everything always tastes very fresh.
They serve their sandwich on a large thin pita and its alwasy packed with goodies.
The brown lentil soup is excellent. I felt the red lentil was bland. Even the house salad is good.
try it! -
Review from Sophia K.
New York, NY
1/8/2012
I've been coming to this restaurant since it was a hole in the wall and not the big restaurant it is today.
I've never been disappointed. Everything is delicious and fresh, mainly the chicken kebab, lentil soup, bulgur with lentils, eggplant salad, etc.
Is there ambiance? No, none. But its the perfect lunch spot with extremely affordable prices. -
Review from dan naomi w.
New York, NY
12/30/2011
oh goodness! i can't believe the reviews....maybe it's just me, but this place is actually inedible!!
i was so excited to find a middle eastern place near my home, and left gagging! sorry to all the fans! :-/ -
Review from Gene P.
PECK SLIP, NY
11/28/2011
Everyone always raves about their falafel, but that was actually the least favorite part of my meal. The falafels are small and super crispy, which some may like but I prefer the bigger version.
That being said the hummus was delicious as was the mujadara (a lentil & rice dish). I think they deserve 3.5 stars, but I am rounding up to 4 because overall the meal was good. -
Review from Maddie B.
Financial District, Manhattan, NY
1/6/2012
Bad reviews here are ridculous. This is the best Middle Eastern place downtown. Hummus is creamy and delicious, falafel very good, but the chicken shwarma is incredible. Incredible.
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Review from Stacey G.
Hoboken, NJ
10/18/2011
With all inexpensive the falafel trucks around the financial district I never tried Alphanoose until recently after working in the area over a year. Boy was I missing out.
The food is so fresh and delicious you can tell the owner is passionate about his cooking. On my first visit I asked about the tomato couscous and he gave me a huge scoop to sample. It like everything else there is amazing and is served with a spoonful of fried onions on top. I get the chicken Tawook which is pleasantly spicy and not dried out liek some other middle eastern places I have tried, the babaganoushis some of the best I have ever tasted and the tabouli is lemony and deliciosu. The platter seems a bit pricey at almost $14, but is enough food for 2 lunches so worth it. -
Review from Hideki K.
10/21/2011
Decent Middle Eastern food.
I've been here a couple times and have had the Lamb Shwarma, the Baba Ghanoush, and Grape Leaves. None were exceptional, but each was serviceable. I don't find this place to be all that cheap though. -
Review from D A.
Westland, MI
11/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
I decided to try a new place tonight and walked over to Alfanoose.
Falafel seemed to be highly rated from the other reviews, and I agree. It was very good.
I tried the Chicken Schwarma, and like the rest of the reviews ... the chicken was dry. I ate half, and then stopped since I was not enjoying it.
I then tried a spinach pie. I was actually expecting something in pie shape, but that was not the case. It was kind of a very soft roll stuffed with a spinach and onion mixture. This was surprisingly good.
I finished up with baklava, which was probably the best that I have ever had. It was not overly sweet ... tons of nuts ... yum!
Overall, I enjoyed it. I would recommend the falafel and baklava ... stay away from the schwarma until they can figure out how to keep the meat moist. -
Review from Marc F.
Brooklyn, NY
9/27/2011
I don't think this place should have an overall rating of 3.5 stars. If I could give 2.5 on here, I would, but instead I gave 2 stars.
This place is mediocre. I got the lamb shawarma platter with baba ganouge. The baba ganouge was very good, but the lamb shawarma was not nearly tender enough. Since I tend to weigh things much more heavily on the main entree as opposed to any sides or appetizers or desserts, I would say overall this place is just OK. Maybe I'd have given 3 stars if I had the baklava that some people here rave about.
I may come back again because I don't know where else to get shawarma in the Financial District. -
Review from Lizzie S.
East Village, Manhattan, NY
9/27/2011
This place is THE BEST! I have been visiting Alfanoose for almost 7 years. It is the most amazingly fresh mediterranean food (and especially falafel) I have had in NYC- and I have had it all! Literally. I was living off falafel as a vegan and tried places in every borough and nothing tops this! The falafel is made while you wait, the hot sauce and pickled veggies are house-made. Everything is fresh every single day. I have never had baklava any better- even in the Middle East! It is made with rose water instead of honey so is even vegan!
The foul, soups, grape leaves, and tabbouleh are all my favorites too! Every time I go to this place even the rest of the people in line will talk about how delicious it is, how often they eat there, or how far they have come. A MUST try!
The ambience is very very simple- it's all about the food at this place. I have watched this family take impeccable care of their restaurant over the years. They do everything themselves including cleaning everything to crazy standards each night.
It's one of the main attractions for me whenever I am downtown! -
Review from Paul C.
Sayville, NY
11/30/2011
One of my favorite places when I go out for lunch. Great selection of middle eastern mains and sides and generous portions too.
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Review from Allison C.
Manhattan, NY
8/22/2011
Meh. The fact that I've ordered from here more than once speaks more about my desperate cravings for Mid-Eastern food (and my tendency to work later than the food trucks stay open) than the quality of the food.
Stay away from the shawarma: very, very dry (and I was given beef when I ordered lamb).
The baklava was pretty good, not great but the rosewater was a really nice touch. The hummus and falafel were good, but if that's what you're ordering, there is absolutely NO reason to pay more here than you would for a far superior and cheaper meal at the food trucks in Zuccotti Park (Sam's or Alan's: choose your rival!). Unless of course, you find yourself in the deserted FiDi at night, facing a dearth of food options. Then Alfanoose is one of your better options. -
Review from Bobby D.
Manhattan, NY
7/24/2011
I've been to a lot of good middle eastern places in the past and this one is mediocre compared to those. I think this is a more Americanized middle eastern spot tailored to the Finance guys in FiDi.
Service was friendly and this place was pretty empty when we were there. I didn't really get a sense of vibe from the place as it was very deserted. Again, very americanized and sort of a lunch spot for mostly non Middle Easterners.
I ordered the Lamb Kafta and it was very small and kinda dry. Everything else my friends ordered looked appetizing and was considered average. Probably wouldn't come here again. -
Review from Paul P.
Nashville, TN
10/31/2011
Sweet Syrian couple runs this place. Kind of quiet in the late afternoon. I could have mistaken this place for a dying business, but the kibbe and baba ghanoush were great and the falafel plate more than sufficed to sate my aching tummy. I would stick with the basics, however. The display case and kitchen are pretty rudimentary, but the dining area is homey and very Syrian with in-laid woodwork. If I actually worked in the financial district, I could probably be found here quite often.
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Review from Chris D.
Leonia, NJ
10/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here for lunch after seeing how popular it was. Sad to say it did not live up to my hopes. The chicken was mehhhh... the salad was blehhhh. and the pitas were like eating cardboard. The only thing that was somewhat enjoyable to eat was the baba ganoush and i only say somewhat because it was served too cold. Other then that it was heaven compared to the other stuff on my plate.
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Review from Harmony I.
Brooklyn, NY
10/9/2011
Made with good quality ingredients, this place certainly gives all the nearby falafel carts a run for their money. I enjoyed the freshly fried falafel and the pita ingredients. Although it is great falafel with good ingredients, I am still a fan of another place which has, in my opinion, better falafel, better sauce and softer pita. This is a good place to go, but I have had better.
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Review from Rich C.
Manhattan, NY
7/3/2011
This is not a place you come for decor, just good food. If you like Shawarma, it doesn't get better than here. The Kibbeh is also fantastic.
Ideal as a lunch spot for Wall Street / Financial district. Affordable and with every penny. -
Review from Sean R.
8/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good spot to grab a quick and relatively healthy lunch. They sandwiches are big, and the platters are huge. A platter and a side would be plenty of food for two people. Plenty of seating is a major plus, though it can be hard to get past people seated at the end of the table.
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Review from Ada L.
Torrance, CA
4/29/2011
I'm not from the NY area so I can't compare the food at Alfanoose serves compared to any other middle eastern cuisine.
But I can say....that while they fry the falafel freshly in front of you, I've had better falafel than Alfanoose.
Besides getting a small order of falafel for 5.00; I also got the lamb shawarma. While the spices on the lamb was nice and the proportion is rather large; the lamb was ridiculously overcook and dry. I found myself dousing my meat with yogurt sauce because of how dry the meat was.
While convenient, I'm not quite sure how this place got so many awards.
The service was good though. -
Review from Tom R.
Manhattan, NY
9/22/2011
If you are interested in middle eastern food which is not authentic, not fresh and poorly prepared, then this is the place for you. I have given Al Fanoose two tries and it ends here. The shawarma is dry, and the kibbeh is soggy and stale. They serve their food cafeteria style, so it's all prepared in advance, which is not a good practice for this type of cuisine.
Their service is also extremely slow, very long waits even when they are not crowded.
It's unfortunate there aren't any other middle eastern restaurants in the immediate area, I think they would do well here. -
Review from Angel C.
8/10/2011
Really yummy, perfectly spicy, fast service. A great lunch spot for quick pick up and punchy flavor. Cheap, filling, authentic!
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Review from KP r.
Jersey City, NJ
6/7/2011
One of the best falafels and hummus in the city, hands-down. (Yes, i have tried many places.) And the tahini and hot sauce have the right bite to them.
If you try the platter, try to mix/match the rice and the other offerings; the wheat and tomato has an interesting taste. And don't forget to request for a generous portion of the fried onions on top of it. Delicous!
Their baklava is also very good - on par with the ones Gulluoglu makes in midtown.
Service is not that friendly though. The owner has a perpetual harried and grim look and I have never seen him smile :D but his wife and son make up for his terse look. -
Review from Lisa e.
New York, NY
1/19/2011
I love love love this place. OK, so the service isn't particularly friendly or warm, but it's perfectly fine. The physical space and cafeteria-like seating is a bit depressing.
Biut the food! Ah the food! I always get a vegetarian type plate....the (fried?) cauliflower is divine but never greasy. The hummus, baba ghanoush? Awesome. The falafel is freshly made and light inside, slightly crispy outside. I also get er....is it a bulgar wheat salad...or something like that. Also very good. Oh, as is the whole chick pea salad.
They always throw some sauteed onion I think it is, and some pickled items on top.
Whenever I go here, I literally wolf all the food down. It's that good!
I'm rarely down in this area, so when I DO find myself downtown, I always make it a point to go to this place. -
Review from Taryn C.
6/28/2011
All you need to know is: falafel on pita with hummus. NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM. Any questions?
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Review from Michael S.
American Fork, UT
6/10/2011
In downtown from out of state, for some reason craving Middle Eastern food, found this on Yelp and was really pleased. It's dead in the evening, I was the only one there, and the guys working there still didn't talk to me. But gave me everything I asked for. The shwarma was dry, as other have mentioned, but tastily marinated. I agree with the Yelper who recommends the cracked wheat, tomato and pepper. And they subbed in their famous falafel for my other side. Great value for the price (mega portions).
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Review from Misty S.
5/22/2010 1 photo
Let me sum it up in one word - Ew.
First off, any restaurant that charges me the wrong amount for my order gets one star automatically deducted. It's not like it was rush hour and she was in a rush to ring people up. In fact, the service was slow for the 3 people that were in line. I'm glad I ate in and realized in the middle of my icky meat pie that I was overcharged. They refunded my money when I went up to inquire about my bill and it gave me a nice break from the cardboard filled dough they called pie. Seriously, it was drier than a popcorn fart. Was that stuff sitting there for a week? Say no to the "pies" here.
My friend had the wrap and thought it was gross and didn't finished it.
If you do find yourself here, I'd recommend the RICE PUDDING. I was scared to try it after the meat pie, but it was yummy! Then again, it didn't have a difficult act to follow. -
Review from Ki G.
4/15/2010
One night, my friend was craving meat. Halal meat.* So she called ahead to Alfanoose and was advised that "yes, they are a halal establishment" - or rather their meat was.
And down we walked to the very empty (yet still busy thanks to take-out) Alfanoose. I figured when in Rome, I'd order the lamb shwarma like my friend did and being greedy, we also ordered falafel and hummus on the side.
Their hummus is pretty fantastic - it reminds me of the stuff I make for myself. Nice and tangy with just the right amount of garlic. Their falafel was pretty good too. So far, so good.
Then I took a bite of the lamb in my shwarma...and it was flavorful...not too greasy...and dry? I swear that at some points, I thought I was eating jerky. I know it was the evening and the lamb has been slowly roasting all day, but it was disappointing to have something so dry. Thank god for the tahini sauce and the chili.
All in all, not a bad experience and maybe I need to come back during their lunch rush in order to avoid dry meat. Bring on the juiciness!
*out of the gutter, now!Listed in: Fi-Di Vittles
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Review from Ian R.
4/28/2010
Question: When is a shawarma worth $8?
Answer: It isn't
Alfanoose truly deserves one star for its uninspiring food and exorbitant prices. I lived 22 years in the Middle East and therefore have sand running through my veins and an overall affection for most things Middle Eastern so it pains me to give it one star.
Lets's start with the chicken shawarma. Meat is cold, overcooked, and barely seasoned. The sandwich is drowning in 'white' sauce and packed with lettuce. It is therefore a very messy creation. One would think that for $8 one would be getting a fairly hefty sandwich which is not the case.
The falafel is okay at best: crispy and not greasy. But very little taste to it.
If you want a real shawarma I highly recommend a trip to Patterson NJ. I am in the process of reviewing the myriad of restaurants there (had shawarms from 4 places so far) and the most expensive one was $5, the average seems to be $4. And they are much better than the Alfanoose variant.
I cannot get over the exorbitant prices this place charges. Simply stated $8 for a shawarma sandwich is a rip-off; even more so when the sandwich is of such poor quality. -
Review from Elaine W.
9/15/2010
For delivery, I ordered the combination platter (with falafel, hummus, stuffed grape leaves) as well as some falafel balls. The falafel was extremely good! Crispy shell and flavorful inside without being the least bit dry. And the hummus was also very notable, it tasted incredibly fresh and homemade!
Didn't particularly care for the stuffed grape leaves but the falafel and hummus more than made up for it. Mmm I'm salivating just thinking about that falafel... -
Review from Jen L.
New York, NY
11/10/2010
It's kind of like the stuff you can get at the carts, except that I kinda prefer the carts better.
Some would describe this as "authentic" middle eastern food with a down home vibe provided by the "family owned" kitchen staff ... it may have been all that, but the food ain't.
I tried the Chicken Shawarma Platter for lunch and had enough left over for dinner. It was a generous portion. The chicken was lemony and alright, the tomato cracked wheat (side) was actually pretty darn good, although I could have done with a little less. The hummus was a bit too creamy and heavy for me, but maybe that's authentic and I'm a fool ... it's possible. All this, plus a pita.
I think the chicken shawarma sandwich would have been a better way to go. At half the price, it still packed a punch and gave me that salad I was missing in the platter. -
Review from Lisa A.
Updated - 3/6/2009
These guys are nice, but minus a star for having to wait an eternity (more than 20 minutes) for falafel sandwiches and fried cauliflower (they had forgotten about the cauliflower). Seemed very disorganized behind the counter. I realize it's not lunch rush hour...but you really need a better system of taking and making orders.
Maybe next time we'll use seamless web to place our orders.
On the up side, really good spinach pie--just the right touch of lemon juice and not saturated in olive oil.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/1/2008
"*Finally*" said my friend and I, as we heaved a sigh of relief at finding a great, inexpensive… Read more »
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Review from Natasha L.
Washington, DC
1/28/2010 1 photo
Very good! We decided to try yet another spot in the neighborhood for lunch on Saturday and I must say, I was impressed. It was virtually empty which beats the way this place gets totally crowded during the week and the food was of the same if not better quality. I opted for the shish kabob sandwich which was loaded with fresh tomato, lettuce, onions and yogurt based sauce. DELICIOUS! This was even more enhanced with freshly baked pita bread and hummus. NOM NOM! We even had enough to take home as leftovers. Service and price were right as well.
I recommend if you decided to go here, go on Saturday because during the week, this place is jam-packed with Wall Streeters. And for good reason! Try it! -
Review from Chris J.
2/22/2008
Disclaimer: this review is based on the consumption of one item - falafel.
I'm Irish. I'm also Leb. As such a mongrel, I observe Lent (Catholicism). During the 40 days of Lent a "good" Catholic abstains from eating meat on Fridays. Today, NYC experienced significant snow accumulation. I work in the financial district.
How are all of these facts related? Alfanoose. Alfanoose offers Middle Eastern cuisine,and they deliver if the order is a minimum of $15 dollars. A couple of coworkers and I decided we didn't want to brave the elements for lunch and preferred to place an order for delivery. In observance of Lent, I ordered a falafel and it did not disappoint me. I've had many a falafel in my day - some delicious (Mamoun's), some soggy and terrible (no comment) and some that were just mediocre. Alfanoose's interpretation of the falafel was closer to the Mamoun's side of the spectrum than the mediocre side. The chickpeas were fried to perfection, and crispy. The lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and garlic sauce were very fresh and the appropriate amounts accompanied the chickpeas.
So why are you such a hater, why not give it five stars Chris J, for God's sake they even delivered it for you? To that I say $5.75 for one falafel. In my mind Mamoun's is the Holy Grail of falafel, the combination of product and price, and Alfanoose appears to be playing the role of Indiana Jones (in searching for it).
I will certainly eat here again (or order) because relative to the area the prices are reasonable.
Yula- stop snowing already. I want to go out and drink my face off.Listed in: Blue Horse Shoe loves...
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Review from Jim U.
1/23/2010 3 photos
Decent Lebanese food within walking distance of my apartment. Sighs. Thank you.
Coming here on a Saturday, you will pretty much have this place to yourself, but during the week it can be quite packed at lunch time with people lining out the door.
I opted for the schwarma sandwich and an appetizer of hummus. The schwarma was pretty good. The lamb was plentiful and soaked up the tahini sauce fairly well. I thought the lamb could have been a touch more tender, but it was still good. The vegetables were fresh too, and I thought all of the flavors came together quite nicely. Just a note though that the sandwich is particularly messy, so you will likely need a fork half way in. As for the hummus, it was decent but not great. At $5, I found it overpriced for what I got. Nonetheless it is still preferable to the typical supermarket fare. Recommend. -
Review from Clare B.
Brooklyn, NY
1/25/2007
$5.00 is a little steep for a falafel sandwich, I suppose, but the one at Alfanoose is the best I've had in NYC (maybe anywhere): Crispy and delicious falafel, really flavorful hot sauce (please... say "yes" to the offer of hot sauce), and they put a lot into the sandwiches, not just the typical lettuce, tomato, onion.
I also recommend the foul mudammas sandwich. This is a great cold sandwich for a summer day. Be sure to get the foul with tahini. (And again, yes to hot sauce!)
They also have a lot of other good food - many different salads, yummy deep-fried cauliflower, pilafs, soups, and desserts.
It gets very crowded at lunchtime. You can beat the rush by getting there at noon or go late - this is my favorite 2:00 p.m. lunch destination. And it's never crowded at dinnertime.
EDIT - Falafels are now $5.75, so getting lunch for under $6.50 is still just barely doable here. Still great, though.Listed in: Lunch Under $6, FiDi Lunch
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Review from Valentina P.
Brooklyn, NY
4/2/2007
I love this place, the food is so fresh and authentic, and the owners are extremely friendly! We used to go when they had a tiny hole in the wall on Fulton, and they line used to be ridiculous. Now that they moved to Maiden lane, there's lots more space.
Their prices are a little steeper now, but I would assume it's because they're paying more rent.
My favorites: the red lentil soup, hommos & tabbouleh sandwich, falafel, and the red bulgur side. Yummy! -
Review from Melissa W.
Marina del Rey, CA
3/25/2009
I'm really trying hard to understand why everyone on here has rated this place so high...
Let me preface this by saying that middle eastern food, particularly a good chicken shawarma, is one of my favorite foods. I have had plenty of good middle eastern food and know where to go when I want the good stuff..
I tried this place because of the reviews on yelp. My boyfriend got the shawarma and I ordered the beef kabob sandwich, figuring I could try his shawarma and have my beef kabob sandwich, and I'll know how this place does my 2 favorite orders at mid. eastern restaurants. Well...
They were both awful. His shawarma tasted like a-hole. I can't understand what they did to it to make it taste so bad, but it wasn't good. My kabob sandwich did not taste half as bad as his, but still was not good. The steak was dry as all hell and tasted gritty and flavorless.
The wait didn't help matters either. I will definitely not be back. -
Review from marie m.
Brooklyn, NY
8/30/2010
I wish I could rate the falafel separately from everything else they serve!
In a word - THE BEST falafel I've EVER had. Anywhere. Light, crispy crust, tender middle, extremely flavorful, not at all greasy, patties exactly the right size - falafel perfection. Served piping hot, as it should be. TEN stars for the flalfel!
But the rest of the food - meh, at best. Decent, not bad, but not very good either. No one here has ever heard of the concept of presentation, so your plate is likely to look fairly sloppy, thrown-together and unappealing. I've had chicken that was cold, dry, and flavorless, and some side items that should have been served hot also served at room temperature. Huge portions, but who wants a huge mound of cold, dry, inadequately seasoned shredded chicken? Decent hummus, nothing special. Two-and-a-half to perhaps three stars for the food other than the falafel.
My advice: if you're in the area, definitely get the falafel; skip everything else. -
Review from Brian C.
New York, NY
5/26/2010
I've been going to Alfanoose since they were in their old location ten years ago which consisted of nothing more than a small counter and two barstools (and a line at lunch that consistently stretched out the front door). They've since moved into a much larger space, but in ten years the food has not changed at all. The falafel is still made to order and is, by far, the best I've ever had in the city. The mojadara which they top off with carmaliized onions is one of the most delicious side dishes on the planet and I totally forgot how utterly amazing their hummus is. Their moussaka (eggplant and stewed tomato-based side dish)
While I do agree that his prices are a bit on the steep side for falafel or shqwarma (now $10 for the falafel platter which includes mojadara, a veggie side and a pita), I'll gladly pay that extra buck or two for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, the food is out of this world. Second, he is located in the financial district and after being forced out of his old place, he now has a place that actually has tables; thus, I imagine his rent has increased accordingly. Third, their portions are generous and you are NOT gonna leave here hungry. Typically, I'd knock off a star for food being a little bit overpriced, but let's keep it in perspective--this is still a cheap meal of $10 at the most. In a city where every corner deli charges you $7.00 for a lame cold cut sandwich, how can I honestly complain about $10 for a meal so good? The answer is, I can't.
The only thing that I can complain about is that usually when I go in there I'm craving the food so damn bad that I have a tough time waiting for it to be prepared. Again--the falafel is always cooked to order, so don't expect your food for about 5 to 7 minutes. Knowing how delicious everything is gonna be makes it a challenge to exercise self control; but the wait is always worth it.
The restaurant itself is always meticulously clean. The staff are always friendly and gracious and the owner is clearly a master of his craft.
After so many years, I'm glad to see that Alfanoose has not only survived, but is doing well. In a neighborhood that really can't brag on authentic, ethnic cuisine, Alfanoose still remains one of the few reasons to head down to the financial district... -
Review from Jesse S.
Brooklyn, NY
3/6/2008
Aside from the Middle Eastern food at Sahadi's grocery (which of course is take-away only), the only place in NYC that I've tried that even comes close to Bedouin Tent is Alfanoose. All the better for me that it's on Seamless Web and within delivery distance of my office. Even walking distance if I need to get a little respite from the recycled air of a FinDist office building.
I've never stayed in the restaurant to eat, and there's really no reason why you should: it's essentially a take-away/delivery restaurant with some tables. The food is what you want. I'm particular to the vegetarian platter, which, for $12, gets you three vegetables, some kind of spiced rice dish, pita, and all the extra tahini you could want. Definitely go for the falafel and the hummus. The baba ghanouj is somewhat missable, but still worth a try. Also worth a taste are their delicious grape leaves.
The one real drawback of Alfanoose is that their pitas sort of, well, suck. Nowhere to be found are the fluffy, pillowy pieces of flatbread that I sit up musing about at night. Instead, they have flat, bland pieces of pita pockets. If you're able, I'd suggest you put your hands on some decent pitas at a nearby market and use those instead.
Highly recommended! It's a little pricey, but (especially in the FinDist), it's definitely amongst your best bets as far as take-away/delivery lunch goes.
