Zaytoons
Category: Restaurants [Edit]
Neighborhood: Brooklyn/Gowanus283 Smith St
(between Degraw St & Sackett St)
Brooklyn, NY 11231 (718) 875-1880
32 Reviews for Zaytoons
Zaytoon's is a great solid Middle Eastern restaurant to round out the neighborhood. I don't have anything bad to say about this place but it's not a standout so I can't give it 4 stars. Everything here is quite good, the meat is really fresh, the staff is really friendly and the atmospere is cozy. If I'm in the area and want Middle Eastern I will go here, but if I am craving EXCELLENT Middle Eastern food, I will go somewhere better.
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Solid Middle Eastern Food, but it really doesn't stand out or do anything particularly unique. The pitas were just plain pitas, the schwarma, while good, was a little on the drier side. The salad they served with the chicken schwarma platter was very fresh, so that is definitely a bonus (some places just toss whatever on your plate as a filler), and the hummus was definitely smooth and delicious. The waitress was friendly. Nothing was bad, but it wasn't a stand-out place.
This is a cozy little spot that would be nice to come to if you live around the neighborhood or are visiting the area. If you are really craving Middle Eastern, I am sure there must be stand out places that are much better.
Personally, I've enjoyed most of my experiences with Zaytoons.
However, my friend had a birthday dinner here and every single one of her guests got food poisoning and were sick for almost a week. No Lie.
But I ain't one to gossip so you ain't heard that from me....
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I'm giving zaytoons a 3 because when i eat at the restaurant i don't get painful diarrhea 20 minutes after consumption. When it's delivered i do.
I would give this 3.5 stars. Everything I have had has been slightly above average. They have good personal pizzas. Falafel hummus and lamb were all pretty good. cant say much more about it
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OK maybe it's just the fact that I'm not from the city so my standards are lower but I think Zaytoons is some of the best Middle Eastern/Mediterranean food I've had in the US. This local chain is a very nice BYOB establishment and everything I've ordered here has been excellent, from the babaganoui to the kebe. The price is right and service is friendly. Definitely a must-try restaurant in Brooklyn.
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Mmmmm.....yummmmmyyy.
Sometimes I'll be walking along and all of a sudden get a craving for Zaytoons. I'm very picky about hummus (I refuse to eat store bought except for Trader Joes) and I love theirs. The chicken schwarma is spiced just right.
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I come from a family of self-proclaimed Lebanese master chefs. Zaytoon's is very much like traditional Lebanese cuisine. We pretty much have the same menu come Christmas. Theirs stands up. Good presentation and a polite wait staff make it worth me going. Especially when I don't feel like rolling grape leaves all afternoon.
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Another one of my fav places in Carroll Gardens that I used to go to habitually. I seriously still crave their chicken shwarma platter with that yummy hummus, mmm.... Tasty, cheap and fast. What more could you ask for if you're in the mood for Middle Eastern food?
Just have to back Dana P's review with my own. I've always enjoyed the dishes at this place, but recently (September, perhaps?) I ordered take out and both my girlfriend and I got food poisoning. I'm not one to gossip either, but I sent them an email directly and discretely and received no reply. (Perhaps they didn't want to cop to the accusation.)
Would probably have just chalked it up to a random incident had another friend not told me that everyone in a group from her work who had eaten here the week before got sick. Enough is enough.
Carroll Gardens is not an area of Brooklyn I frequent, but on MLK Day I was on a mildly epic walk thru various neighborhoods, and found myself walking south on Smith St towards Union. I got hungry, so popped in here.
I don't find a lot of variance in Middle Eastern food--I usually just find it tasty, as it certainly was here. But I rate this above average for the ambiance/atmosphere--more of a cafe vibe than sit-down restaurant, prompt service but not intrusive..well, I guess all that is not atypical of ME food either.
It's on the NE corner of Smith and Sackett, so on a sunny afternoon the sun streams in from the south and west. That's nice.
One star off b/c the tables are a bit small and close together, so you can't really spread out. I was elbows up against the couple sitting at the table next to me, and couldn't help but overhear they're conversation..but you could take that as part of the vibe.
pretty nasty all around. smelly. and always a poor packaged take-out.. that's just unnecessary.
and what's up with the lentil soup tasting like chicken stock? and why are you known to some as 'shit-oons' ?!
i hate you and wish bedouin tent was closer.
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We ate here after a long, unpleasant flight from LA. I was cranky. Hungry. Sleep-deprived. I didn't think anything could lift my spirits. To my delight, that all changed as soon as our waitress placed the huge, beautiful $8 meza platter in front of me. It was one of the best vegetarian meals I've had in a very long time and I kicked it all up a notch by ordering baklava for dessert. Oh sweet, flaky, honeylicious goodness!
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Oh Carroll gardens I just can't hate you no matter how trendy you get! Another great find along Smith St. and right around the corner from where i'm residing, the perfect way to order in. The Kabobs are a generous size for the price and appetite. I feel like such a winner every time I order from this place. The service is fast when ordering to go and last time I was there they even threw in a little side dish for me free of charge. I definitely recommend this place if you're looking for a nice falafel to fill your creamy desires. Mmmm!
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Zaytoon's is amazing. The flavors are incredible and it is so cheap! I recommend picking out 5 appetizers for only $8, getting a falafel to split and getting a hot tea or iced tea. You can get a dinner for 2 for less than $15! There is also outdoor seating during the summer. HIGHLY recommended!
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Delicious Middle Eastern food with a twist. Good service, and many unique menu options. Bring your own beer/wine! The restaurant itself is on the dark side. Steady flow of diners and take-out, and there's a reason for that.
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I can't help but eat at this place all the time because it's 2 blocks from my home and in ordering range of my studio. It's pretty great - sometimes I have to chew the lamb a bit longer than I'd like and I have a theory that they start with one big pot of lentil soup at the beginning of the week and if you order then it's thick and delicious but as the week goes on it gets watered down and by Friday there are only a few lentils floating in water. This is probably not true at all - and this place is just good solid comfort food.
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Shwarma is my favourite of foodstuffs, chow of the gods. And that is why Zaytoons gets a 3: their shwarma bites. The beef is overseasoned, a little too dry. The rice is perfect, the pita magnificent, and the tahini salad above average. That said, the veggie pitza I had to accompany really rocked in a special kind of way. Above all this, the price for all the two entrees combined, with tax, was under $19. Okay, 4 stars. But I'm never touching the shwarma again--I wonder how much gusto the rest of the menu can claim.
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Consistent, speedy and very tasty (though not mind-blowing) middle eastern food at reasonable prices.
Typically I like to write reviews when average scores need balancing or when a place doesn't receive much coverage. However, I am happy enough to go with the mob for Zaytoons. If you are in the area and even _think_ that you _might_ like Middle Eastern food, then hit them up. The food is excellent, the atmosphere is relaxed, and the the prices are more than fair.
The pitas, which are made on site, are really sick. So effin good that you will be spoiled immediately. And you will surely be disappointed the next time you're sitting in your previous favorite BK ME spot and eating some gummy-ass pita.
The lamb platters are not to be missed, though high blood pressure types might want to consider something else, as the salt content might eff you up. To me, though, it's perfect.
I really think that the most appealing, and surprising, thing about Zaytoons is the value. You might be able to find cheaper ME food, but there is no way in hell it could ever compete with Zaytoons. I believe that they could raise prices 25% and I would still see a tremendous value.
Atmosphere is comfortable and unpretentious.
Please go if you haven't already.
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Shwarma, freshly made pita, cut up pickles, tangy hot sauce. There are a handful of great sandwiches available in NYC, and the Zaytoons Shwarma tops my list.
Now that I work like 6 blocks away, 'fraid I might start eating luch on a regular basis again!
Had the falafel for a change of pace the other day; nice. Great tahini.
Yeah, fresh pita is sick. Agreed aitsu i.
OK, before I sound completely evil, the food is good and I order from here at least twice a month. I've never had any complaints regarding the food delivered (though, the chicken kebabs are a bit overcooked at times). There how was that, good? Now, as for eating there. To the staff -- here's a tip, don't take my plate off the table and then ask me if I'm done eating. Don't have me choking on my food, before you remember that I asked for water, twice. Don't forget about me when I sit outside. It's called service, but it means "good service". There. I'm done. The hummus is good too.
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Delicious Middle Eastern food. I came here with a few friends and we shared the seafood pitza, veggie pitza, and small orders of babaghanouj, falafel, labneh, moujadarra, and fatoosh salad. The standouts for me were the freshly made pita bread, moujadarra, babaghanouj and labneh. I could have eaten those all night. The pitzas were decent but tasted too much like typical pizza to me and I found the seafood pizza to be rather salty.
Overall I really enjoyed me meal here. The food is very affordable, authentic (except the pitza I'm guessing), and the restaurant has a liberal BYOB policy.
Every time I mention Zaytoons to a Caroll Gardens resident, they reply with a slightly intoxicated, starry-eyed "Aaaahhhhh!" Rightly so, it's the best damn middle eastern joint in town (perhaps even all of NYC?). Always best to eat-in (falafal less dry, pita bread softer), a must is the babaganoush and mujadara. We eat there at least 2X per week!
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sometines i write reviews that aren't really necessary, since everyone has already said what i think.
and that's the case here.
zaytoon's = dependably delish, cheap middle eastern.
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As Dan B. stated this is frequently a really good and reliable dinner plan. Mainly we go for the falafel sandwich and the combo platter. The platter comes with 5 of the side selections and is perfect to share. It was here that I was introduced to labneh, homemade yougurt spread served with olive oil and mint. I always order babaghanouj, which I would eat truck loads of if I could. The "pitza", made on fresh pita, is excellent as well. My favorite is the sun-dried tomato. We have taken many out of towners here and all have been pleased. If they weren't in the neighborhood, I would be left hungry on a lot of nights.
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Go ahead and just try to find a better Middle Eastern restaurant this side of Jerusalem. While the falafel aren't the best I've ever had (though I'm not a huge falafel fan -- I think Mamoun's are better), the babaghanoush and the soft, delicious pitas are out of this world. The lamb and various shish platters are outstanding, and all of their wraps are delicious. Yes, it's crowded and hard to get a seat, but it's always worth it. I'd eat here every day if I didn't mind going up about 10 dress sizes.
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Cheap, yummy, and so veggie-friendly. Great mint tea, and the kind of pitza that's heavy on the cheese. But the baba ghanouj is much better, and the food in general a tad better, at Bedouin Tent on Atlantic. Also, service can be extremely slow at Zaytoon's.
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Holy vegetarian platter. I love this place.
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One more reason I wish I lived in Carroll Gardens. I love Zaytoons. I've been there twice and really enjoyed my food both times. I'm certainly not an expert in Middle Eastern food, but I do know when something makes me happy and Zaytoons is definitely it. I've had the chicken shawarma platter and sandwich and both were scrumptious.
This dimly lit and usually crowded middle eastern restuarant cooks up some of the best hummus ever created!
An open "kitchen" warms the limited indoor seating area which is usually filled with young people enjoying some totally affordable kefta kebobs. During the warmer months the crowd spills out onto Smith street where you feel invited to linger over your meal and people watch.
Take out here is simple and no mess, though I prefer to stay and eat my hummus with a warm pita.
HIgh marks!
hummus quite good. pita quite good. shawarma platter? keep a wide birth. its plenty of food, but pretty not very pretty good. i heartbrake zaytoons shawarma.
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