Food was DELICIOUS and service was amazing. We shared everything, no negative comments everything was spectacular. I ordered the chicken and it was not dry at all. It came with a garlic sauce as well which was kind of like a Tzatziki / Greek yogurt, paired amazingly. My friend got the kofta and it was mouthwatering. Best beef shawarma I've tasted so far as well. read more

Al-Basha - Chicken kebab, Hummus, Beef Shawarma, Kofta, Arabic Salad, Pita - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

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5 Stars - The best hummus and mint lemonade in Jersey! If you are in Paterson, Al-Basha is an absolute must. We had an incredible spread, but let's talk about that Signature Mint Lemonade first. It's iconic for a reason, bright green, perfectly frozen/blended, and so refreshing that it balances out the rich meal perfectly. We ordered the Falafel Platter, and you can tell they do it the right way here. The falafel was crispy on the outside, light and green on the inside, and not oily at all. When you pair it with their Hummus (which is hands down the creamiest I've ever had, especially with the warm meat and pine nuts on top), it's perfection. The Mix Mashawi (grill platter) was also fantastic, tender lamb and chicken that actually tasted like they came off a real charcoal grill. Great portions, authentic vibes, and the service was super welcoming. I'll be craving that mint drink until I come back! read more

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I was in the area and looking to get a falafel platter. I found the business on yelp but couldn't find the full menu online so I called. Luckily I asked for them to confirm the address because the pickup location is different from their eat in location. It was hard to find parking in the area so I went around the block a couple times until double parking. When I went inside, I went to the wrong section and nobody helped me. After watching people come in, I realized I had to go pay and then show receipt to the people who packed up the food. The falafel & rice were very good, but this seemed very plain & overpriced. I was also very disappointed by the single use plastic. It's no coincide that the streets of Paterson are covered with trash. read more

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We came in a group of 4 and ordered the Mix Mashawi platter which had filet mignon, chicken kebab, kofta kebab, and beef shawarma slices. The flavors across the board were really good. The kofta and shawarma especially hit. The filet mignon and chicken were cooked a bit past where they should've been so the filet got tough once it cooled down and the chicken was on the dry side, but the seasoning was definitely there. The hummus with shawarma on top was excellent, and the fresh baked pita was some of the best we've had. The Mint Lemonade is a must-order! It's easily one of the best we've tried anywhere. One thing to watch out for: they automatically add 18% gratuity for parties of 4, but the receipt still shows an open tip line as if gratuity wasn't already included. If you're not carefully reading the itemized breakdown, you could easily double tip without realizing it. The food is worth coming back for, but make sure to check your bill before you sign. read more

Al-Basha - Hummus - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

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This Middle Eastern spot has been on my list for a while, and it definitely lived up to the hype. The Crooks Ave location is dine in, while the takeout spot is just about four minutes down the street. Parking is mainly street parking, but they do offer valet which honestly helps because oh my god, this place was PACKED. Even with how busy it was though, the service never lacked; everyone was super attentive and on top of everything. The sparkling mango drink was mind blowing, I literally got two because it was that good, but the mint lemonade was also really refreshing. We started with the hummus platter for the table and it was so fresh, light, flavorful, and honestly one of the best starters to share. Then we got the meat platter and it was a LOT of food, but everything paired together perfectly. The meats with the jasmine rice and fresh salad were such a good combination. Overall, every dish felt well balanced and flavorful, definitely a spot worth coming back to!! read more

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Thought this spot was pretty good! Things I liked: the garlic sauce, free pita and pickled veg, mixed mashawi grill was pretty good! The filet in the mixed grill was definitely dry. Also didn't love the arayes, I wouldn't order them from here again. Don't love that they don't offer a tap option seemed like just bottled water. My partner got the mint lemonade and it was good. It's a blended drink. We got seated after only a 10 min wait went on a Monday at 7. read more

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Absolutely delicious Palestinian food! The mezza platter is an absolute must. We went to the takeout location which had a considerable amount of seating. The service was absolutely excellent and we're given these Palestinian sodas to try. I do recommend double checking your order prior to leaving since I've had an item missing in two separate instances. read more

Al-Basha - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

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Food here is amazing with good portions. I came here on a Friday night and it was packed. The Al Basha mezza which is their mixed spread is great for someone wanting to try all the different dips they have. We immediately got pita when we sat down, they do come around and refill your pita bread for free. I came here with a group of 5 and al basha mezza and mix mashawari for 4 was enough to feed all of us and was left stuffed. The presentation of the mixed meat was the star of the show and was absolutely delicious with the rice, salad and garlic sauce they provided with it. I also recommend ordering the limona drink, majority of the table around us ordered it as well. Service can be a bit better, it was hard to get a hold of our waiter but other than that, great spot! read more

Al-Basha - Mezze - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

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The food at Al-Basha was superior to most Middle Eastern food that I have had previously. We stopped in for lunch and picked a few hot appetizers and of course the Hummus. They were amazing and so much food that we brought home a large part of it and had for dinner. Their Pita is smaller that others but puffy and out of this world. I can't wait to go back again. I would like to bring friends but am pretty sure that they would want to bring wine, but it is not allowed. I understand the reason. I forgot to mention their mint lemonade is great too. It was very busy for lunch but sufficient staff on duty to take care of the customers. There were many family's with children which gave the restaurant a nice homey vibe. read more

The food was extraordinary. Every dish had it's own hero. The service was amazing. The staff always had a smile! read more

Al-Basha - Amazing Food!!! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

Service was quick for a Friday night without reservations. We got seated 5 minutes after arriving around 6 for four people. Our food came quickly , and our waiter was decent. Had the mix mashawi and it was decent nothing extraordinary. The rice was good was tasty... the filet and chicken were okay nothing too memorable. Good ambiance looks upscale but can be for casual dining read more

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Solid spot for Palestinian food in nj. Came here for a party of 2 and ordered the Al basha mezze which is a sampler of all sorts of dips, it's a good way to try variety of their delicious dips and comes with complimentary pita. We also ordered the mix for 1 and all of this was good enough and we were left full. The only downside was they didn't have tap water, only bottled water and it was hard to find parking around the area or you can do valet parking. Overall service was nice and quick with our foods. Definitely a place I would come back for. read more

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Best service in all of the US by far for a middle restaurant. Great ambiance and the food is just phenomenal. All reasonably priced and delish options. Loved the service the most and will recommend anyone to go there just one complaint which is parking. I feel like this is an issue for many restaurants in the Jersey area! read more

Al-Basha - Mixed grill for 1 - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

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Whenever we have guests or are celebrating a special occasion, we always go to Albasha in Clifton, New Jersey. It's everyone's favorite place! The beautiful décor, clean and welcoming atmosphere, and delicious appetizers make every visit enjoyable. The food is always fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. We truly love dining here and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a wonderful Middle Eastern dining experience! read more

THE GOOD ---------------- + Middle Eastern food at its very finest! ++++ Complimentary pita bread and Starter Arabic (Cucumber Tomato) Salad - Was a perfect way to start the meal. The bread was nice and warm and the salad was super fresh, however, the bread does not come with any dips or sauces, so make sure to order one from the menu's list of spreads. ++++ Mix Mashawi (for 2) - Was super duper flavorful and the meats (Filet Mignon, Chicken Kebab, Kofta Kebab, Shawarma ) were very tender! Typically, Chicken Kebob meat can be dry, but it was really good here. The portion was huge too - so big that we only ate half of it and brough the rest home. The Jasmine Rice was spot on too. ++++ Mint Lemonade - I have 2 words for this - GET IT! The drink is so refreshing and addictive. ++++ Sparkling Mango - Was good and was like a Mango seltzer, but I preferred the Mint Lemonade more. ++++ Pistachio Ice Cream - Possibly the very, very, very BEST pistachio ice cream I've ever had. The ice cream was creamy and the pistachio flavor was strong, but it was sooooo good. THE NOT SO GOOD ---------------------------- - 18% gratuity was automatically applied to our bill ... for 2 people? I read about this and, like others, am a little baffled at why it's automatically applied. - No private parking lot. All customers must park on the surrounding residential streets. MIXED THOUGHTS --------------------------- = Service was up and down. ++++ Food arrived fairly quickly. ---- Our waiter was pretty on point and cordial, BUT we were never checked on to see how things were and we never were provided water. RANDOM OBSERVATIONS -------------------------------------- = It was busy even on the Monday afternoon of New Year's week. The restaurant wasn't jam packed by any means and there were still tables, but they had a steady stream of customers. CONCLUSION -------------------- = Yes, Al-Basha comes with a monstrosity of foodie hype, but, make no mistake about it, the grilled meats here are undoubtedly the real deal!! Are they the cream of the crop? Having grown up in NYC, and being spoiled by the list of world class options to choose from, it is hard to say if they are up, up there. However, we would DEFINITELY come here again though to try other things! read more

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- Very spacious restaurant with sleek, modern décor; a full wall of floor-to-ceiling windows floods the space with natural light, and there's a private dining area tucked in the back - Steady flow of diners on a Monday afternoon lunch; moderate noise level - Service was efficient and attentive, but interactions felt more transactional than warm or welcoming - Food was delicious overall: the Mixed Mashawi (for two) includes filet mignon shish kebabs, kofta kebabs, chicken kebabs, and a generous mound of beef shawarma atop paper-thin shrak bread; all the meats were perfectly seasoned and cooked--tender, juicy, and full of flavor; Arabic Salad was light and fresh; rice was warm and fluffy; could have used much more yogurt sauce! - Complimentary warm pita and spicy pickled vegetables were a nice touch - Mint lemonade and sparkling mango drinks were cold and refreshing; the pistachio ice cream was excellent with bold pistachio flavor and covered with crushed pistachios--though a bit pricey at $12 - Portions were generous with enough leftovers for another meal read more

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Reviewing the take away store front! Got the chicken shawarma which wasn't too fatty, as in it wasn't drowning in sauce. It came with some toom garlic spread on the side. They have kiosks for order or you can order from the front. It took awhile for the shawarma to come out, kind of defeats the take away concept to an extent. Also thought the speciality drinks priced around the same as a shawarma isn't fair. Looks pretty clean! read more

Al-Basha - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

I've been coming here for about 15 years--way before the renovations and even before this new location opened--and the taste is still exactly as I remember it! Every piece of meat is packed with flavor and unbelievably juicy. The restaurant looks so beautiful and modern now, and they even gave the original location the same stunning makeover. For appetizers, I got the beef shawarma with hummus--my absolute favorite! I always order one just for myself and then another for everyone else to share. Their falafel is also a must-try, perfectly crisp on the outside and so good with the tahini sauce. Love this place!! I can't get enough!!! read more

After having such a great experience the first time coming here, I was looking forward to dining in again for a second time. We came in on a Sunday evening around 7pm as walk-ins for a table of 2. The restaurant was bustling and packed! Tons of big groups, lots of noise, and a continuous flow of traffic. We waited around 15-20 minutes to be seated. For starters, we received complimentary pita bread, pickled vegetables, and a tomato & cucumber salad. The pita was fluffy and fresh and the salad was refreshing. Now for the disappointment of the night. We ordered the Mix Mashawi for 2 ($48). The dish is a combination of char grilled signature meats- chicken kebab, filet mignon, kofta kebab, and shawarma. Halfway through munching on our apps, we were told that they ran out of shawarma... which was a bummer because that was my absolute favorite meat :/ They offered to substitute it for any of the other 3 meats, so we opted for chicken. All of the meat was seasoned and cooked well. And of course I had to wash down all of that meat with a mint lemonade ($7). I can never get enough of this drink. So refreshing and tarty! read more

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Amazing service, Delicious and tasty food, atmosphere and decoration. Went to Paterson Falls and stopped here for Dinner minutes away and was full but only waited 15 minutes to be seated. The food had an amazing taste and served at fair time but quick. Ordered the Mashawi for four, Fries, and Mint and mango lemonades. Was very delicious to or taste buds as we are Puerto Ricans and Polish compared to our food. A MUST GO TO PLACE to eat and the staff were on the ball and serving nonstop. Will be back! read more

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El Basha in Paterson is honestly one of those spots that surprise you. The food is always so fresh and full of flavor, like you can taste the love in every bite. I got the soup and it was so good, warm, and seasoned just right. It actually hit the spot. The people there are super chill and nice. The energy is good, the food is good, it's just a whole vibe. If you're in Paterson and want real homemade style Mediterranean food, El Basha is the place. Trust me, once you try it, you'll keep going back. read more

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Food never disappoints! I always order the Mix Platter because I love everything and a side of hummus extra pita. The food is always fresh! I crave it at least once a week. read more

Great food: flavorful and good portion. We ordered the mix combo for 2 people, definitely enough portions and more. Service was great. We didn't have reservation, waited maybe 10-15mins. But I definitely recommend reservations , this place is packed!! Very upscale decor inside. Chic and elegant. The staff is very very attentive. I'll absolutely come back for more. read more

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Finally got a chance to visit the renowned kebab place in Paterson. We went in for a Sunday lunch around noon. They have valet parking for $15, but I preferred doing street parking nearby. The place was already full, though we were lucky to get a table within 5 minutes. The restaurant appears to be small but later I realized they have a huge section in the back. Very modern, gorgeous interior. The menu has breakfast items, appetizers and entrees. We ordered the mix mashawi that came with grilled filet mignon, kofta, chicken and shwarma kebabs. We got complementary salad, rice and bread with the dish. Also got side of yogurt and chili sauce. They cook the meat after the order so it does take some time. But I had a delight feasting on that giant platter of kebabs. Kofta was my favorite, followed by shwarma and filet mignon. The filet mignon got little extra grilled. The service was excellent. The staff were super attentive. Helped us with packing left overs. Gratuity of 18% is automatically added to the check. Overall we had a great lunch, and we are looking forward to our next meal here. read more

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The mixed platter was Amazing!!! The lamb kebab was so tender and perfect seasoning and so tasty. Then the chicken shwarma sliced so nice and juicy. I really loved the food and ambiance here. The pita made to order with hummus and some other dipping like Baba Ganoush. I had a great experience here. read more

The food is really, really, good, the ambience is really unique and comforting can't wait to go back and try more of that great food.

Al-basha is a must try for every Nj resident! An absolute favorite! the portions are huge & i absolutely love the fresh warm pita! Also the service is great and they always check in tip: try the mint lemonade it's DELICIOUS!! read more

Al-Basha - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

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This was the first time I tried Palestinian food and I am so glad I did. I ordered take-out at their Main St. location (dine-in restaurant is on Crooks Avenue). Even though I was quoted 35-40 minutes for the order, my food was ready 10 minutes after I placed the order online! The mix mashawi plate was awesome. It had shish kebab, kofta kebab, chicken kebab, and beef shawarma, and came with fragrant rice and Arabic salad (almost like a salsa with cucumbers). The meats were seasoned well and grilled to perfection. Their hummus & foul was very smooth and creamy, for both the hummus and the fava beans parts. The tatbila (green hot sauce) added a nice kick. The generous drizzle of olive oil made the dip even more rich. The pita bread was pillowy soft and fresh; I loved mopping up the hummus and olive oil with it. I am generally not the biggest baba ghanouj or falafel fan, but thought the ones here were some of the better ones I have had. The falafel was crunchy on the outside with soft onions and sumac on the inside. I ended the meal with a burma baklawa for dessert; the kataifi dough was extra crispy and it was just the right amount of sweetness. I did notice that they forgot the tahini sauce and garlic sauce that I ordered with my dishes. I am willing to let that slide this time, as I'm sure I will return for more. The portions were large, so that more than made up for two missing sauces. read more

Al-Basha - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

Absolutely delicious food! Ordered the mezzi appetizer and the for 2 mixed entree. It was two skewers for each meat with fries. When I say we ordered for two there was really enough to feed 3-4 people. So much food and everything was on point. The place looked great as well. It was a little hard to find parking but other than that food was quick considering it was packed and prices wasn't bad either. Highly recommend if you're in the area! read more

Al-Basha - Bread - my son loved it! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

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We came to this place on Saturday night around 7 and was told the wait time was around 1 to 1.5 h. Luckily we got the table within 45 min. We ordered Mix Marshwl for 2 and Mezza plus Falafel & Arayess. The unlimited fresh pita was fresh, steamy hot and yummy. read more

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Wonderful restaurant. Loved everything we ate here.Sauted lamb with onions was the favorite. Service was great. Mint lemonade was amazing. It gets busy pretty often and there is a wait. They have valet parking.Street parking is difficult to find. read more

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I decided to start my month firmly at the top of the food chain. Al-Basha is about a 12-minute drive from my HQ, so I decided to give it a shot for a solo lunch adventure yesterday. Aside from a literal burning car by the Boston Market on 46, it was an uneventful journey, a few blocks off the highway and easy to locate in a really interesting foodie neighborhood. The parking situation is pretty atrocious. You're relying on street parking in a very busy area and the only nearby business parking is for an extremely popular Turkish bakery around the corner that's unlikely to have any open spots. I ended up having to park on the block behind Al-Basha on Knickerbocker Ave, so just be aware this may take a few minutes. To their credit, Al-Basha was legitimately hopping when I strolled in around 1:20pm. I took a gamble and didn't make a reservation, which easily could have been an issue here but thankfully they were able to get me in after a five-minute wait. You could also tell throughout the meal that they were well staffed and prepared for the lunch rush; there were servers and other staff constantly shuttling about with food and cleaning supplies. Impressive operation. I'd studied the menu beforehand and decided to go with the cheese borak app and the mix mashawi entree, along with a mint lemonade. I can see why so many other customers had the lemonade; I was a LITTLE apprehensive of a green drink that leaves residue on a glass (I always assume it's going to taste like kale or something) but this was really refreshing with just the right amount of tart and sweetness. It's pretty unusual for me to get Middle Eastern food so I tried to play it safe but also get items that seemed pretty popular. The cheese borak, based on taste and texture, was essentially the love child of a mozzarella stick and a taquito, with the cheese-like interior gooier than I would have assumed, with some seasoning. Really delicious and would get that again. The mix mashawi was really interesting and overall something I liked. It's four different types of meat presented in kabob style on a plate, more or less, with a side of rice. The lamb to me was the star - very tender and flavorful, and was the only meat I actually finished in the restaurant. The filet mignon was just okay for me, a little too tough, but the chicken helped cancel that one out. A touch dry but had unique seasoning on it. I've had shawarma before and it's just something I'm lukewarm on; I'm not a huge Mediterranean fan and it always gives off gyro vibes to me. But everything was well cooked and presented, and the serving size is huge. I got the option for one person but coupled with the app ended up still needing to bring about a quarter of the food home, which is sufficient for another meal. I was stuffed for the rest of the day. The service was really good in the sense that I had multiple people stop by my table regularly, and I never felt like an outsider at a place where I could easily stick out like a sore thumb (to be fair, there were a few other dining parties that were clearly not of Middle Eastern descent either). Everyone was very welcoming and accommodating. I'm not sure if it's because of the way it's prepared, but it took a solid half hour for the mix mashawi to show up, which is a bit long in my view especially for lunch but there may not be a choice in that regard. I'd definitely come back but given the price point? I think this is a better option for dinner, and I'd bring at least one other person if I were getting the mix mashawi again - even with the high quality food and service, it's tough to justify (with tip) a $50+ meal. read more

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This place is super delicious! I went for my birthday and had the beef shawarma. The service was pretty fast and it's self order. I also loved how clean the place was and how intimate the seating is. It was a beautiful place to eat but the food was the top tier win. read more

OMG, we absolutely love @eatalbasha ! We have eaten in and ordered takeout many times, NEVER DISAPPOINTS! This restaurant is the BEST place to visit, if you want to try real Middle Eastern and Lebanese dishes. The food here is beyond GOOD, their flavors are exceptional, and their customer service/staff are extremely friendly and attentive. Even thou, they can be a little on the pricey side, their food portions are huge; You will definitely be taking leftovers home! Everything is FRESH and made to PERFECTION. Our dishes consist of: -Arabic Salad- the freshness and the colors are so vibrant. -Hummus- OMG, their hummus is out of this world! I can never eat any other hummus again. It was so fresh and nothing like the ones we buy in supermarkets. -Mix Mashawi for 2 w/Rice- the meats are juicy, flavorful and cooked to perfection. -Baklava w/Pistachio Ice Cream (SO GUD ) We highly recommend this place to all of our friends and family read more

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Let me start by saying I'm a Latina who had been craving hummus from a real place so I googled it and Al-Basha came up as the best hummus in the area. They were 100% right. Delicious, fresh, warm steamy pita bread. The staff was so nice, friendly and organized and the place was clean! Between the service, the cleanliness and the food, I'm going to include this place as my go to for hummus! read more

Al-Basha - Small plate of hummus and pita bread - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

Authentic Middle Eastern food in a modern setting! The restaurant has a large seating area and plenty of helpful staff. We went on a Saturday afternoon and there was barely any empty tables. Service was quick. The food was delicious and true to Middle Eastern flavors. Portion sizes were large. Al Basha has an excellent menu, wonderful staff and a lovely setting to enjoy one's meal. A must visit for anyone who loves Middle Eastern cuisine. read more

We waited a long time but it was worth the wait The mint lemonade is a must ! Try not to order alot because its huge potion of food read more

At the beginning in the entrance, we had to wait a little bit because it was busy, but we had the table within in a couple of minutes Food as always amazing we did the hummus, which was great We loved it, we did the mix Grill for two, And the lamb chops It was so much food because it was only two person The service was on point they took care very fast of us always attentive, trying to help all the time. Loved the tea pot . Very relax, ambience read more

Al-Basha - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

A really delicious middle eastern restaurant. It has been around for a while. I love their pita bread, hummus and their mint lemonade. There is a ton of seating and this place is popular for a reason. read more

Best hummus ever. They really have it down. Only drawback is you cannot bring alcohol. Aside from that it's a ten read more