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Balade
Categories: Restaurants Middle Eastern Restaurants Mediterranean Middle Eastern, Mediterranean [Edit]
208 1st Ave(between 12th St & 13th St)
New York, NY 10009
Neighborhood: East Village
(212) 529-6868
- Nearest Transit:
-
1 Av (L)
3 Av (L)
Astor Pl (4, 6, 6X)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 11 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
67 reviews for Balade
Review Highlights
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"Good spot, first time eating lebanese food." In 9 reviews -
"We shared the shwarma salad and the greek pitza." In 3 reviews -
"Fatayir with spinach and feta: this one was my favorite." In 3 reviews
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67 reviews in English
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Review from Jennifer S.
Manhattan, NY
4/11/2012
Awesome Lebanese food and perfect ambiance! I've been here once before, but didn't eat too much, so couldn't review. This time I came here with a group of like 6 from work and then a few friends joined as well. Had some white Lebanese wine, a number of appetizers, salads and as a main dish the chicken shwarma. It was really tasty.
The service was impeccable. They were very patient with our demanding and lively group. They were also very accommodating for a group our size considering the place itself is pretty small. The dim lighting and real middle eastern feel was great. The live music topped it off. Really a wonderful time. I would def recommend! -
Review from Kristen R.
Hoboken, NJ
4/3/2012 Seated via OpenTable
I really liked this place. They were very accommodating for a group of 5, even though we were late to our reservation. We all shared the Mezze Supreme, which gives you a little taste of all the best sharing dishes. Only downside was that the mezze was a little heavy on the 'dipping' dishes, would have liked some veggie or salad plates.
Waiter was very helpful with the wine list, which was great because I've never had Lebanese wine before. I would definitely come back here again to try some different dishes... Maybe even for brunch. -
Review from Matt K.
4/2/2012
Delicious seafood and great place for groups. Tasteful atmosphere featuring massive wine bottles and cellar oriented decor.
Date attended : 03/31/2012
Service : 3.75 stars
Quality of the food : 4.0 stars
Atmosphere : 3.25 stars
My rating: 3.75 stars
Recommended dish: Makanek - Spiced Beef Sausages Flambéed with Fresh Lemon Juice
Located in the heart of the East village, this Lebanese restaurant is a short walk from the subway and in a hoppin' part of town. The name of the restaurant 'Balade' makes sense, as I learned this means "Fresh, local; Used When Describing Produce of High Quality." The food was authenticand boasted strong, delicious flavors. We went with a group of 7 people which was perfect for eating Mezze style (sharing small plates).
For the 7 of us, we started by sharing the "Mezze Supreme" - Eight Favorites: Hummus, Baba Ghanouj, Labne, Mouhamara, Kebbeh Krass, Sfiha , Makanek, Halloumi Cheese $57. They served each item in 2 separate plates, so each side of the table had easy access.
Following, we shared:
-Fatayir with spinach and feta
-Sfiha: pastry squares stuffed with a combination of Meat
-Balade Mixed Grill: Beef Kafta, Lamb Kabab and Chicken Tawook Served with French fries and Char grilled Vegetables
I left Balade with the most potent garlic flavor lingering in my mouth for hours! This was pretty annoying since we were headed out to a bar after dinner. Regardless, great flavors throughout the entire meal.
Reasonably priced. We ate relatively early for a Saturday night, 7:30pm reservation - it was quiet when we arrived, but every table was filled by 9:30pm when we left. Restaurant is small and probably seats around 25 people. -
Review from Ellen S.
Irvington, NY
5/26/2012
Just walking up First Ave. early last Saturday evening, very hungry, looking for a place I'd feel comfortable eating dinner alone. Balade did not disappoint. I see that this restaurant has gotten some mixed reviews. I can only say that my experience was fine. Very delicious bread and babaganoush to start, then an excellent, juicy grilled chicken with a well made salad. Friendly, attentive service. I'd happily go back again, with friends, and try more. As I was eating, families with children came in, and they all seemed to be enjoying themselves too.
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Review from Cornbread T.
Newark, NJ
My Lebanese friend was itching to go here... I have never had Lebanese food before.
I find this area to be really seedy so I was shocked when I walked inside. Decorated beautifully!
Quite yummy and well worth the trip!
Everything is bursting with flavor - from the shawarma to the hummus - even the sauces.
Dessert was very delish! Very thick ice cream with a slight flavor of rose!
We topped it all off with a good strong coffee!
Can't wait to go back! -
Review from Jerry S.
New York, NY
Updated - 4/23/2012
As a followup to my review of 4/18, indicating that the food we ate at this restaurant was awful, the owner of this restaurant subsequently contacted this poster and politely discussed this horrific dining experience with us and offered a free meal, however we declined.The reason we did so was because it was not a matter of one or two dishes being horrific but just about the entire meal including a wide assortment of dishes.
As explained to the owner the food lacked substance, quality and flavor and we are not interested in a free meal to convince us otherwise. The very fact that the owner indicated that we should come in for this free meal when he is present does not speak well for the restaurant because there should be a standard of quality and taste of the food, regardless of the presence or absence of the owner. I can totally understand the desire to make a good profit for good food but will not accept being charged a hefty price for a grossly sub par meal.
It is interesting to note that on 4/23 another "poster" presents accolades regarding how wonderful the food of this restaurant is and that it is the "BEST" Lebanese/Middle Eastern restaurant in NYC. In my opinion, this raving review of the food and restaurant sounded very contrived and an advertisement, rather than an objective review. This "poster" also emphasizes that he/she is Lebanese in order to attempt to convince others as to how their opinion has more validity than mine or anyone elses who disagrees with theirs. In fact it doesn't.
Btw, we have also dined at many of the best and worst Middle Eastern restaurants in NYC, CT and NJ and this restaurant remains in the "Methinks not" category.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/18/2012
Extremely mediocre, tasteless and pricey Lebanese food including the lentil soup, the babagonush,… Read more »
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Review from Michelle J.
Cambridge, MA
1/30/2012
My friends and I decided to eat here because the food they serve is halal. We made sure to make reservations though due to some of the reviews that people had posted. Though for a Friday night the place wasn't that busy. Our waitress was such a sweet girl. we got there late and 1 of our friends was extremely late so we held off ordering entrees for perhaps half an hour longer than we should have but the girl serving us was super nice and understandable, which made the experience all the more enjoyable.
First off the menu has a legend which made understanding what we were ordering a bit easier. We started with a few appetizers. The hummus was delicious as well as the sfiha. After stalling as long as we felt we could we asked the waitress for recommendations and she answered all our questions about portion size and even left a spare menu at our table if we felt we wanted more food. Seriously, she was perhaps the nicest waitress I think we've ever met. For our entrees we had the falafel pizza and the mixed grill meat dish. All of the food was great. The lamb was a little dry but we ate everything on our plates. The entrees are big enough to share so if you've got a group then it actually works out well price wise.
The only bad thing I must say is that the bus guy who takes away the empty dishes was hovering a bit close to our table as if we needed to rush. When we asked our waitress to give us 15 to 20 minutes she went away and didn't come back until the 15-20 minutes. He should have taken the hint and did the same. If my back is towards you and I can still see you in my peripheral vision then you are hovering too close. Also when my friend asked if they served ham the bus guy was a bit dodgy with the question. But the waitress was decent enough to tell us that the only ham they do serve is on one of the pizza items, so it was okay.
Other than that awesome waitress + tasty food = we will return. -
Review from James F.
Manhattan, NY
1/25/2012
Very expensive compared to quality of food, drinks and service.
My wife and I decided to go for middle eastern food as we are big fans of this gastronomy. As soon as we got to the restaurant, which was not really crowded, the waitress insisted that we sit on the last table near the bathrooms and the kitchen entrance. I asked if we could choose any other location as there was plenty of free space, and in a very rude way she answered that this was the only table available.
We ordered a bunch of mezze's and some white wine to start. It took them more than 10 minutes to give us the glasses of wine (the first glasses where corked so we had to change them), and the same amount of time on top for our hommous. The mezze's where ridiculously small, with dishes the size of my baby's.
As for the main course, we where curious about the pitza which we never saw in any other middle eastern restaurant previously. We ordered one chicken pizza and a grilled lamb platter. The pitza tasted like crusty old bread with garlic and pickles, and the grilled lamb so hard and chewy that we couldn't finish half of any dish.
From our table we could hear all the staff's scream and laughter in the back which was really annoying without mentioning the number of time my chair got hit by one of the staff leaving and entering the kitchen, and our lack of privacy as there was always someone around the table.
Overall it was a terrible experience, and I would recommend cafe mogador for middle eastern food in the neighborhood. -
Review from Stephanie F.
Brooklyn, NY
12/20/2011
The food here was good. Decent portions, decent prices. Get take-out! Don't eat there.
The service however, left me with a bad taste. Our waitress was (this may be a cultural thing) pushy, rude and impatient. When we were placing our orders she was nudging/poking our guests (8 people) saying, "Ma'am, what do you want?" in a very aggresive tone. We were at a large table so unless she walked over to the other end of the table to take people's orders of course they wouldn't be able to hear what she was saying.
My friend and I had both ordered the lamb and we asked for yogurt sauce on the side (as our included dressing). When the bill came there was two additional charges of $5 for the dressing. I told her it wasn't fair to charge us extra because they menu clearly stated "Includes your choice of dressing" and then when we did order them, she mentioned nothing of an extra charge.
She proceeded to argue with me. Then she followed me back to my table to show me the menu, which still reinforced my point. Dressing included. I mean, what a grimy way to get a bigger tip? She took the dressings off because I wasn't backing down. She did it after giving me a nasty look and then rolling her eyes while at the register. Seriously though? That waitress ruined the whole experience. -
Review from Jane K.
1/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'd been curious about this place for a while and finally had a chance to roll in for dinner on a recent evening. Since it's Lebanese food they offer a lot of typical "middle eastern" dishes but with what I think is a nice, fresh twist. The service was friendly if not a bit absentminded and the menu was pretty vast. I absolutely love labne and don't often see it on menus so took my chance to devour every bit sandwiched between a pita and olives for my appetizer. For the salad lovers out there, Balade has a great selection. Throw in some wine and festive conversation and it was a perfectly nice evening out. My only gripes were that it was a bit overpriced for what it is and was quite cramped. It's nothing fancy but very pleasant.
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Review from Seth B.
New York, NY
10/4/2011
Uyyyy, where to begin.
So in all fairness this review is based only on my order from tonight off of seamless. First issue was delivery took about an hour. This is just too long for NYC. I dont understand why restaurants offer delivery if they cant manage to deliver in a reasonable time frame. Either figure it out or just be a dine in/take out restaurant.
After 45 minutes of waiting I now think to myself, "I cant wait for my cold food to show up" and 15 minutes later it did. When the delivery guy handed me the bag my first reaction was that something had to be missing, the bag was too small for two entrees, an appetizer and a side. To my surprise everything was there, just really small portions.
The $8 appetizer was for "fresh" green beans which tasted like mush from a can. It reminded me of stewed vegetables. Also I have no idea where the $8 went. The $14 salad was lettuce, tomato, onion and cucumbers with cold, bland shawarma on top. A $14 salad should at least fill you up, but this could have been something that comes for free when you order a sushi combo anywhere else.
At Balad, sandweechet is lebanese for mini sandwich. If only the meat wasnt cold and bland this might have been good. I dont know how they have a good review on seamless, but I wont be ordering from them again... -
Review from Hashem D.
Bronx, NY
1/10/2012
I'm Lebanese myself, fresh off the boat as they say having been here only for a few years, and i must say that this is my favorite Lebanese place in the city (compare to "ilili" which i strongly dislike). I've seen a lot of "Lebanese" people here on Yelp bash this place as it didn't equate with their memories of food back in Lebanon, and all i can say to them is "of course!! no ethnic food will be as good as having it home made or eaten in the country of origin!". Personally, i'm more a fan of other cuisines, but whenever i feel nostalgia hit i end up going to Balade to satisfy those cravings.
To start with, the inside of the place is very appealing, wood base-interior is reminiscent of Lebanese people's obsession with cedar trees and there are some old pictures from Lebanon inside. The seating is comfortable, the music is good and they regularly play old Lebanese music (Fairouz) as well as some instrumental music, which really fits the atmosphere.
They carry a selection of Lebanese and other wines, although the Lebanese wines get a bit pricey, as well as a selection of beers, including the Lebanese "Almaza" beer, which is very similar to Stella Artois, in case you were wondering.
First thing when you enter and sit down, they get you two piping hot pieces of pita bread freshly baked straight from their over, with a bowl of olive oil and thyme, both of which together are great, i just wish they offered more of that bread throughout the meal, but the rest of the pita bread offered later is not hot and fresh, which knocks them down a star (or a half star, the other half goes for the fact that sometimes, and it's not ALL the time, the wait staff are not so efficient).
As for food, since i've been here several times i've had a chance to sample quite a bit. For appetizers, i tend to have the vegetarian mezze platter with garlic labne (which is really creamy and very good), warak einab (cold stuffed grape leaves with rice and herbs inside, these are good but they only offer 3, whereas i usually want to stuff my face with them), shankleesh (which is really an acquired taste, somewhat bitter and not to everyone's taste to be honest, but i like their shankleesh, it reminds me of a milder taste of the ones i had at home), Tabouleh (lebanese salad which is parsely and crack wheat based, very refreshing and delicious), and hummus (which i think is the best hummus i've had on the road in NY or anywhere outside of Lebanon!).
On to the main course, where i tend to traditionally get the "balade mixed grill" which is enough for two people to share if you had a good set of appetizers, the kafta (spiced lamb meat) is quite good, and the chicken and beef kebabs are tasty (although on one occasion the chicken was a bit dry), and they come with string fries, a Lebanese staple when it comes to fries, and really tasty rice on the side. I have also tried "sultan el shawarma" (which literally translates to the emperor of the shawarma, for all you shawarma lovers out there) and THAT is a great twist on a traditional sandwich, with thinly sliceds shawarma with all the additives on pita which is then oven roasted (!!! yes, i was shocked as well, but it was a great presentation and it tasted really good!). I've also had their lahme bi ajeen (this translate to meat in dough) and it is minced meat with tomatoes, onions, and some spices and is very authentic, possibly my favorite dish here, as it reminds more of anything of the taste of the Armenian version of this dish, which i like a lot.
Finally, desserts (whenever i can still eat at that point) i have had the mouhallabie (which is a milk based pudding-like dessert with hints of rose-water) is good, and their kenafe is hit or miss (once great, once not so much). I would recommend the "halawe bi jeben" which is cheese based and very traditional, although that one is not on the menu and they only sometimes have it, but is by far the best dessert they have and unbelievably (& breath-takingly) delicious.
Overall, i like this place and i think it is as authentic as you get, and also to note that it is very reasonable and a good place to go with friends or on a date as you get a good chance to talk and enjoy an interesting meal and a delicious blend of flavors. -
Review from Manish J.
New York, NY
10/30/2011
Had a great dinner here for a friend's birthday. Large selection of Lebanese wine. Friendly staff. It was quiet and almost empty when we were there though.
The appetizers were the highlight of the meal - tons of options. And for vegetarians, a great option for Middle Eastern food. We had one of the pitzas. Not as good as the appetizers, but that could have been because we were stuffed by then!
Would try the spinach and feta pies, the mozzarella stick type rolls, the Haloumi cheese among others. -
Review from Adam K.
Hoboken, NJ
2/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
Pretty good Lebanese fare. Went here during restaurant week and got the hummus, tabloui, and loubeya for apps, entrees were lamb kebabs and shawarma platter. Everything was very good, although the hummus portion for the appetizer was amazingly small (I mean, come on -- it's garbanzo beans, don't skimp on us!)
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Review from Diana H.
7/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
I feel bad giving them 2 stars because the waitress and owner were so nice and personable but the food was not super.
Maybe because I am part Lebanese and grew up with the items on their menu that I am so critical of Lebanese cuisine so take that into consideration.
The Lebanese pizza was pretty bad with semi burnt meat. The grape leaves tasted more Greek then Lebanese. The foul beans were good but again you can buy the same can at the super market for .99 cents and since they barley seasoned them it would taste very similar.
Nice people, cozy atmosphere but mediocre food at mediocre prices.
PS: I ordered the mint tea like a lot of people recommended and I did not get it ? Tasted like regular lipton mint tea to me -
Review from Josh M.
Manhattan, NY
2/19/2012
Used a groupon for four people on a Friday night at 8:30. The place was extremely busy and packed when you walked in because there isn't much space for people to stand. However, they sat us almost exactly at 8:30 and once we got a seat everything was great from there. The food was great. The mezzes we order were top notch and I got the fish special in a spicy sauce that was remarkable. I'd recommend this place is the menu looks good to you. Make sure to make a reservation before coming in because the place is really small.
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Review from Sushil R.
Brooklyn, NY
2/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
Very good service, ambience and food. Extremely great value though the drinks are somewhat pricey. The pita pizza is uniquely delicious. I would recommend this place for a casual dinner with friends.
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Review from Vanni P.
Manhattan, NY
12/22/2011
Forgettable middle eastern restaurant. I've spent months in the Middle East so maybe I'm a little bit spoiled, but everything we had here was average or just below that. Considering there are lots of nicer Middle Eastern restaurants in NYC, why bother with this one?
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Review from Ira M.
8/18/2011
Fantastic dinner....left feeling filled up but not stuffed. Everything tasted fresh and was presented nicely. Really enjoyed the round baked pitas they served along with a dark, sticky, sesame seed laden sauce as a pre-appetizer. Also liked their hummus and baba ghanouj.
Ordered a Skinny Shawarma salad as my main. It's a very large salad with tons of meat and veggies. They served it with both a light oil dressing and creamy sauce for the meat. My only complaint is I would have preferred it to be lamb. The beef was a bit dry.
Nice decor. -
Review from Catherine B.
Brooklyn, NY
1/15/2012
I'm Lebanese and I've been overly harsh on Lebanese restaurants outside of Lebanon. I don't mean to be but when you grow up eating homemade Lebanese food you kind of turn out to be a snob. That being said, I loved this place! A friend and I shared hummus, tabbouli, muhammara, garlic labne, and shankleesh and we loved it. Everything was freshly made and was very flavorful. I'm definitely coming back soon.
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Review from Chris J.
3/13/2011
The only thing keeping this from a five star rating was the initial service that we encountered at Balade. We came here Saturday night and the restaurant was not as busy as one might expect on a weekend night, save one gigantic party in the back of the restaurant. However, the douche who was charged with seating us deemed we were not attractive enough to showcase in the window seat at the front of the restaurant, instead choosing to place us at a bar where we could not face each other and talk. He claimed the seats were reserved, but we had eaten our entire meal without a butt seated there.
I still think that those in the know, know that Middle Eastern food is best served in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. However, this place was respectable. The humus was nothing outrageously delicious, similar to what one might expect at Hummus Place. The tabouli was good, but overwhelming with tomatoes - too much for my liking. I ordered the mujaddara, which was tasty and reminded me of the way my grandfather used to prepare it (I would have liked more onions). She had a falafel pitza, which she enjoyed.
The best part of our meal: Almazza, a delicious Lebanese beer.
I'm halfie (Leb), but I'm not sure I'm qualified to pass judgment on the food's "authenticity." It was good, but I didn't have anything that rivaled a homemade meal prepared by my family. Although, my family doesn't serve Almazza.
The bill was $52 + tip. No hard feelings there. I would go back if I could sit at a table and talk to my girlfriend while we ate, as opposed to staring at a brick wall.Comment from Roland S. of Balade 3/14/2011
Hi Chris, Balade highly recommends to make reservations on… More » -
Review from Julie F.
Manhattan, NY
1/28/2012
I had a very good experience here, and so did my friends. I like the ambiance. It's small and cozy, although the music did get turned up a little too much at 9.
We got the labneh, which was DELICIOUS, and they give you a very generous portion! I got the schwarma pitza, which I really enjoyed. I thought the beef was very tasty, and I love tahini. Put that over crispy thin pita, and I'm happy!
My friend got the Fattoush salad, which sounded like it would be really basic, but was SO TASTY!! the salad dressing had great flavors and spices. Also, her Foul Madamas was really good, and was seasoned nicely.
The whole wait staff was very attentive and friendly, even though the place was full. I will definitely go here again for a very reasonable and tasty meal. -
Review from Evangelia K.
New York, NY
7/22/2011
It pains me to leave an EH review for this place, because the waitresses and hostesses are so sweet & attentive and the restaurant itself is super cute.
I guess because I am part Lebanese, I take it personally when the food isn't great. The best part of the meal should be the mezze and the vegetarian mezze I ordered at Balade was decent, but not thrilling. The grape leaves were pretty sadly stuffed and soggy. :-/.
The kibbe - unfortunately - was not good at all. An authentic Lebanese restaraunt needs to make their self proclaimed "national dish" much better than that. There's no excuse. The kibbe balls tasted as if they had been re-fried. And the lebnah... mmmm a bit bland.
The lamb chops - however - were delicious!!!!! They gained a star for that :) -
Review from Amber E.
Brooklyn, NY
8/15/2011 Seated via OpenTable
It pains me to give Balade 2 stars, especially since I had such a wonderful culinary experience here last summer, but I was a little disappointed with the food this time around--which I will explain. Being somewhat of an expert in Middle Eastern cuisine of all types, Lebanese included, (besides being an Arab, and having traveled throughout the Mid East for 10 years) I can review the following dishes rather objectively:
-hummos: superb. and I know good hummos--theirs is simply deeeeelish
- sfiha: way too much cinnamon, it kind of felt like I was eating a dessert and the dough was a little undercooked
-shankleesh: yummy
-loubya bil zeit: yummy
- laban with cucumbers: yummy
- mixed grill: a little dry, and the portions kind of shrunk since my last visit (although the kafta in this dish was cooked to perfection)
- jallab: far toooo thick, I thinned it out with water, and it tasted better
- Lebanese coffee: also too thick, there didn't seem to be enough water in the pot as most of the cup was actually the ground coffee itself
- service: excellent; we were well taken care of, and they were uber polite, friendly and accommodating
I would eat here again and would definitely give them another try (or several, if not for the hummos alone), but I would probably order other dishes to see what the experience is like. Maybe they were having a bad night? It could happen; I guess having such a tasty first experience, I was a little disappointed with the second go around, given that I always recommend this place to everyone I know because it's authentic. -
Review from Laura R.
1/23/2011 Seated via OpenTable
I read about their brunch on Serious Eats and made a reservation the next day. I think we were here for a leisurely two and a half hours and the staff never made us feel rushed (the place also wasn't that crowded). Our waiter was SO so sweet and gave us excellent recommendations.
What we ate:
-Eggs with dates-- scrambled. So simple but so delicious.
-Baba ganouj-- really, really good. Smooth, creamy and more pale than others I've tried.
-Grilled Haloume cheese-- salty, delicious. Good with the complimentary olive oil and sesame seeds on the table.
-Lahme Baajin-- three little pizzas with ground beef, tomatoes and onions. Spicy, smooth and simple.
The only thing that wasn't a stand out for me was the Osmalleya for dessert. Next time I'll try the baklava. Lebanese mint tea after the meal is highly recommended. Definitely coming back for dinner. -
Review from Pam L.
Fort Lee, NJ
11/14/2010
Cute decor. Dined here last friday with a group of 7 - granted we didn't order until around 8:15pm, but the wait for the food was RIDICULOUS. I mean, seriously? We literally got our main entrees at 9:48pm. I didn't think making 4-5 dishes would take more than an hour to prepare?! Especially when the dishes all consisted the same or similar ingredients -- hummus, pine nuts, rice, pita bread, and beef/lamb. The service was horrible. The staff seemed very inexperienced. Not once did they come over and ask if our food was OK AND they didn't give us the right amount of change ($5 short) when we paid - at that point, I was fed up.
About the food...the complimentary bread was great. I really liked the hot and airy pita buns that they served. The hummus was also good, but nothing out of the ordinary. The rest of the dishes were all so-so...considering that we waited for more than an hour for the food, the LEAST they could do was serve a HOT meal!!!! The food was WARM...which makes me think that it has been sitting in the kitchen for awhile. Whatever, at that point I was chowing down already. The pizza dish was good and I liked the yogurt that came with it, but the sausage dish and schwarma dish were too dry for my taste. The meat wasn't juicy enough. The lamb dish was decent, but like I said before, it would've been better if it was hotter. The portions of the dishes were not big enough either...I'm a big eater :(
I would suggest an early dinner if you want to dine here (perhaps 6pm?) Anytime after 8pm is crowded (esp on a Friday night) SO - if you are hungry on a Friday night and want good, cheap, and fast food, you are probably better off going to the Chicken and Rice stand on 53rd street and 6th Ave - not only will the long line be faster than the service of Balade, the portions are bigger, and it is only $6.50!!! (That's what we did). -
Review from Tammy L.
1/2/2011
I ate here with a group of 9 friends last night. They were so accommodating when we told them we needed a reservation for a large group. I got there a couple mins after our reservation time and everyone was already seated. The restaurant has nice candle lit middle eastern decor. Pretty titles and wooden benches with pillows against the walls. Our waiter checked our coats in a little closet since there wasn't much space for them at our table. Luckily we are all pretty small, or we might not have fit at our table. They did tell us that they would push another table up to ours once it became available. The table next to ours did end up leaving, and no one was sat there, so we did have some more room.
The bread they serve at the table was really good, fresh and hot, right out of the oven. The food was all good, though most of us got sandwiches or spreads, not really any entrees. I got the humus and tabouleh sandwich, which was well priced at $6.50. Their sandwiches are mostly wraps. My wrap was tiny, and had barely any humus. I had to use my friend's humus to make it a bit thicker. I wasn't too hungry, but it was definitely not a filing meal.
As a wrap up, this is a good middle eastern place for a small meal. Don't go if you're too hungry. I think I'd recommend it for small or large groups. The waitstaff was very nice and helpful. -
Review from Jacquelyn G.
Chicago, IL
5/10/2011
I'm by no means an expert on Lebanese food, but I was really pleased with a recent dinner at Balade. We went with a group of friends for a birthday on a Saturday evening, and the food and service were both very good.
Our server was very accommodating for our bigger group and got us our drinks right away, as well as some mezza. I'm a big fan of hummus and theirs was very good--as was the yogurt dip. The hubby and I shared a lamb dish and one of the Lebanese pizzas and both were tasty.
I can't remember what our total bill was, but I remember the whole table being pretty surprised at how reasonable it was for a table of six, including two bottles of prosecco and one bottle of wine. -
Review from Sundeep K.
New York, NY
12/20/2010
Had dinner there with some friends on Saturday night, and while the food was enjoyable, nothing we tasted made me go "wow" or feel compelled to return.
We shared the following dishes:
Kebbeh Kras - lebanon's national dish, worth trying but i'm not ordering again
Sambousik - pretty good puff pastry filled with seasoned lamb and pine nuts
Grilled Halloume Cheese - grilled cheese (not melted) was surprisngly unique in texture, rather salty.. but I'd recommend trying this
Lahme Baajin - delicious pitza! this would be great for lunch
Balade* Mixed Grill - delicious meats with some french fries.. meats were seasoned well, but the overly (way overly) salted french fries dumped on top took away from the dish
All in all, nothing upset me about the meal.. but nothing got my engines going. The only negative of the meal was when we told our waiter we wanted to order another dish, and after not being able to recommend anything that was materially "different" from what we'd already tried, he said: "sorry, I've already recommended all my favorites to you". -
Review from Michelle A.
Henrico, VA
3/29/2011
Went in last night looking for mezza... we had to get a little creative in ordering, but ended up ordering the vegetarian mezza platter (falafel, hummus, baba ganoush and grape leaves) and the mixed grill platter (which was lamb, chicken, and beef along with french fries and a few little pieces of pepper and onion)... and sharing them both.
Overall, it was very good. Everything was fresh- the dips didn't have too much lemon, all the herbs were fresh...
My friend got the fresh lemonade and said it was delightful- with just a hint of rose.
And, our bill for two people for dinner was under $60. FABULOUS.
The only thing that was disappointing about our meal was the desserts. We ordered the milk pudding, and it had this syrup that tasted so much like rose water that it actually tasted like soap. We couldnt eat it.
The baklava was ok though. It looked like it was the prepackaged variety- which isn't a bad thing, I've had some amazing prepackaged baklava... but this was a little dry and just ok. -
Review from Kat I.
Updated - 10/12/2011
Great for lunch! The prix fixe for $11 was delicious and satisfying. You have more elbow space at this time, and the service continues to be excellent.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/10/2010
Excellent! The food was great, can't pronounce half of it so I just pointed to the menu. The dough… Read more »
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Review from m. m.
Philadelphia, PA
3/20/2011
Dropped by for lunch with friends the other day. I was in a rush so I only got mezzas (baba ghanouj, labneh with toum and hummus) but they were out of this world. They also have some interesting fresh-made juice and herbal drinks to go with your meal. My friends also really loved their salads. I will probably stop back and try more stuff another time. Server was nice.
I only wish that when they packed up my dips to take home (since there was enough for about 2-3 meals for me) they'd included some extra bread with them for dipping, so I wouldn't have had to run out and buy pita chips. -
Review from Brian D.
Manhattan, NY
9/18/2011
Very pleased with this meal. They aim to be as authentic as possible and it shows in the details - even the water pitchers. It was a very quiet night and for a while we were the only ones in the restaurant, but the second we walked in a guy started playing music on a Middle-Eastern instrument (don't know what it's called) and was soon joined by a woman on violin. They played through the whole meal.
The food was good - but bring some gum for after the meal. -
Review from Mackenzie B.
Manhattan, NY
4/20/2011
I've eaten here a few times and each time the food and service are fantastic! You generally don't need reservations -- We've dropped in on Friday or Saturday nights and were quickly accommodated.
The first time here I ate the Skinny Shawarma Salad -- I wasn't particularly hungry.. But it was fantastic and a great sized portion for a dinner-salad. When I mentioned to them they had forgotten the olives (crucial! IMHO..) They quickly came out with a huge bowl for the table - so nice. My boyfriend ordered the Shawarma pizza, which was also delicious, and I, typically, filled up on the hummus and delicious oil they bring out beforehand.
Not sure if there was a language barrier issue or it was just a fluke, but one time we did ask for some of our food to go and only half of what we gave them was wrapped up. That is the reason for taking away a star -- I would have devoured those leftovers.
Either way, we will be back! -
Review from Jennifer N.
New York, NY
6/5/2010
I love any type of middle eastern food, but I've never had Lebanese food specifically. I went only based on proximity from the movie theatre and good reviews and I was not disappointed.
We let the waitress tell us what we should order based on everyone's individual proclivity for meat, fish or vegetarian dishes. She ordered for us the staples: hummus, baba ghanouj, falafel and also the Sheikh El Shawarma (Chicken with open pita and fries). The bread was fluffy and warm and delicious. We really enjoyed everything.
Nice atmosphere, decent wine list and excellent service. -
Review from Paul C.
New York, NY
4/19/2011
I hate having to give them 2 stars but at over $70 for 2 we expected much much better. I've haven't had middle eastern food in years so I was really looking forward to this. We had the veggie mazmeez for the appetizer and the Lahme Baajin (pizza) & Balade Mixed Grill for entrees. While the food tasted good I can't for the life of me remember any of it a half hour later.
Unfortunately, I'd rather have the lamb platter from the street vendor at the corner of my office building for $5. -
Review from Serena R.
New York, NY
2/27/2010
This review is in regards to delivery - I can't testify as to the service/ambiance of the actual restaurant.
That being said - this may be the best middle eastern food I've had since moving to NYC a year and a half ago. The grape leaves were perfect and not greasy, the babaghanoush was flavorful and tangy without being string and the spinach and feta pies were perfect. I can't say the falafel is the best I've had, but it wasn't bad by any means, Mamoun's just sets the bar a bit high. However, the labneh was the best I've ever tasted.
A note about delivery - they send you your food in divided plates so that everything doesn't get mixed together - this alone gives them big points in my book.
All in, a great find for upscale Mediterranean food in NYC, I can't wait to go try them out in person!! -
Review from Lena K.
Brookline, MA
3/15/2010
I ate at Balade and turned into a garlic clove.
No joke. Their garlic aoli, a.k.a toum, is really really potent. I couldn't talk to anyone for a full 24 hours after my dinner here. I'm not saying it tastes bad. It's actually really delicious. But if you're planning on being around humans for the next 24 hours, I suggest you stay far far away from the stuff.
Oh and after the first basket of bread, they charge you a dollar for each additional piece. Not each additional basket. Each PIECE. It's lame. They tricked us. I felt so deceived.
But the chicken schwarma sandwhich on wheat was yummy. I probably won't go back though. -
Review from Jason C.
New York, NY
1/12/2010 7 photos
I've never had Lebanese food & know very little about it, so I was not sure what to expect when I went to Balade tonight. It was empty when we arrived & we were greeted pretty quickly by complimentary wine (2008 Norton Malbec), warm, delicious flatbread & olive oil with sesame seeds.
I started with the Labneh w/Toum; Lebanese 'Cream Cheese' with Cucumber & my friend got the Fattoush; a salad with tomatoes, citrus & toasted pita bread 'crumbs' which added extra crunch. My dish was really garlicky (not a bad thing) with a hint of lemon & was served with warm pita bread.
My main was the Mujaddara Crush platter; a lentil & rice dish & a side of yogurt & cucumber with a hint of mint. I was sort of freaked out by the fact that this was a cold dish, but it was really good. It was topped with sauteed onions that were very sweet (vidalia perhaps?)
My friend had the Balade lamb platter with rice & the Lebanese Salata; a tomato & red onion salad. As soon as I tasted the lamb, I wish I ordered it! Well seasoned, tender & flavorful. The rice had a sprinkling of cinnamon, sauteed onions & diced almonds. (The cinnamon was an excellent touch)
For dessert, we had 'thick' Lebanese coffee which was served in a large beaten copper pot & drank from tiny cups. I ordered the Mouhallabie; a rice pudding & my friend got the Halwet el Jebn; a 'sweet cheese', both covered in sweet syrup & pistachios. My pudding didn't last long at all. The super-sweet almost herbal tea-like syrup was amazing! There was no need to put sugar in our coffee as it would have been totally overpowered. I tried the cheese dessert also. It had a nougat texture & honestly didn't really agree with me.
The service was great (albeit the place was virtually empty at 6pm on a Tuesday) & the food was really good. Although we ordered 6 actual dishes (not including sides), it feels that we didn't even make a dent in the menu. No dishes are over $20 (although the fish platter is Market Price). The portions aren't massive, but I was definitely full by the end of the meal. I really enjoyed myself & will be back to Balade for more! -
Review from Josh F.
Updated - 5/24/2010
I truly can not rave about Balade any more than I already do.
Fantastic service in a calming and unique environment highlights a food selection that is the freshiest, lightiest, and damn well deliciousyest middle eastern food around. (ok that last one is a reach)
I'm not sure how they do it, to be honest. The fresh simple ingredients transform what can often be a heavy and overspiced genre into something different and altogether better. Every dish here inspires and caresses the palette, leaving me ruined for future Lebanese offerings anywhere else.
The steadily expanding patronage of balade hasn't reached it's peak yet; I highly recommend making a trip while it is still new.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/16/2010
Balade is, as yelp succintly put it, as good as it gets.
Lebanese food in origin, Balade is a brand… Read more »
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