I was excited to try this place after seeing photos. My expectations were high, but the overall experience was okay. Arrived early for dinner and stood at the door for a while with no acknowledgment. There were only a few customers so not very busy. I eventually walked to the back and asked a server if I'm supposed to seat myself. I was finally seated and then another wait. Almost felt ignored... A server finally came by to ask my order but since it was my first time I asked for suggestions. I settled on the vegan platter ($24) so I could try a variety of items. I also got the Labne and Shay Ma Na Na ($8) (mint tea).. They also provide a complimentary pita, olives, and zaatar. The platter is large enough to share between two. The dawali (grape leaves) lacked flavor, thin in size, and not much rice inside. Typically they have a nice tang to them and have more rice filling. There is a salad of just greens and large onion rings. I'd suggest using the olive oil as dressing. Falafel and dip was basic. The labne felt like something was missing, maybe needed more salt/zaatar or lemon. The tea was decent but the traditional pot it comes in leaks. I mentioned this and was told yea it does. I was given paper napkins. The traditional pot looks cool, but leaves wet drops of tea every time you try to pour in a cup. I'd suggest something else to avoid a wet table. My table was also wobbling. While the server tried to add paper to even it out, it still wobbled. Ended up moving to another table. There is a restroom downstairs. No elevator. Overall, loved the artwork and look of the place, but the food and service could be better. Perhaps I'll return to try the desserts someday. read more

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One of the few five-star restaurants on the strip. Swung by on a weeknight and was seated immediately. Would recommend not sitting directly in the aisle in front of the door if it can be helped as it's a major traffic area. We started with bread and za'atar, ended up getting the shawarma pizza and wings. So much food that we had to take the majority of the pizza home. Everything was so flavorful, cannot wait to come back. read more

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Truly a great experience in every way! We arrived at our friend's house after a flight and walked into the first restaurant nearby- lucky us! The food here is next level and while I've been to many many Middle Eastern restaurants in my life, the offerings at this place were more varied- from the familiar to completely unfamiliar. And most of our servings were very generous, so, hello lunch tomorrow. What we ate- I had a pizza that wasn't a pizza but was really really good. No meat in mine but the folks who had meat liked theirs. The only person who wasn't tripping over themselves with joy had ordered a simple lamb plate. Oh. And on the cold night? The warm beverage which had, not kidding, ground orchid bulbs?!- it was so good I'm going to try to find it on the west coast. The place was pretty crazy busy but the very welcoming host(who was also the server) asked the bus person to set up a table upstairs. Before that happened we had a table. Turns out it was Ramadan which explained the crowd level. Can't wait to go back next time I'm in bklyn to try other things. Thx Ayat! read more

I went here with my friends for dinner a few weeks ago and the food was amazing! For drinks we had the Sahlab, Hibiscus Margarita, Limonana, and Peach Soda. For food we had the Hot Appetizer Sampler, Beef Kebab Platters, and Salmon Kebab Platter, for dessert I had the Baklava Sundae. The staff were friendly, the ambiance was nice but the seats were too close/crowded near the wait staff area read more

Ayat - Ditmas Park - Salmon Kebab platter - Middle Eastern Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Ayat on Courtelyou continues to impress. The decor, hospitality and flavors make this restaurant a must eat in NYC. I love the labneh and baba ghanoush. The chicken is underrated in the platters. The beverages are intentional. Do yourself a favor and read the menu. Ayat is so welcoming! Arrive and enjoy :) read more

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I really liked this place! The service and food were great. The waiter had good knowledge of the menu and had good recommendations, they made accommodations for our party when we couldn't fit all the food on the table, and were really sweet. Favorites were the watermelon salad and the roasted chicken. Would definitely come here again in the winter, the food is hearty and filling. Place is hot inside as there's a wood oven for the delicious bread. read more

Omg the falafel is the bomb. So happy we ordered it. I wouldn't make it a platter next time. The dishes are all so amazing. RSVP is suggested which we did. The ambiance is family vibe. It's busy and lively inside. Food is hmm so good. I would go back for the falafel. I think the fresh pita bread is my second. The service is very nice. They always ask how we doing. The food comes fast and warm. Ambiance again is busy. I want to sit at their second floor next time. read more

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I've been wanting to try this restaurant for a while, so I was happy to join friends for dinner here. The interior was elegant, colorful, bright, and spacious, spanning 2 levels. We were seated upstairs, which had a sweeping view of the downstairs portion of the place. Decided to order the Fattat Lahma, which consisted of 6 layers of lamb, rice, chickpeas, garlic tahini, crispy pita, slivered almonds, along with a bit of mint. This was plated beautifully with lovely colors and quite the large portion size! The lamb was delightfully tender, juicy, full of bold seasoning and spices. Rice was perfectly cooked and irresistibly fluffy. Chickpeas were soft, while the pita and almonds were satisfyingly crunchy. I also got to try the Pistachio Paradise, which was somewhat like a pizza. A yummy crust topped with ground pistachio on a bed of mixed cheeses. This was absolutely mouthwateringly nutty with melty cheese! At the end of our meal, I shared Qahwa Arabia, which was Arabian coffee mixed with cardamom, and boiled in a kettle. It was cool to see the traditional way coffee was made, but I wasn't the biggest fan of the taste. It was too bitter and muddy for me. I requested milk, thinking that would help soften the flavor, but this took a long time to arrive. Service was pretty good, though seemed a bit chaotic towards the end. Overall, our waitress was friendly and helpful. Prices were quite reasonable especially for the amount of food we got. I would be open to returning to try the Hot Appetizer Mix (to share) and Seafood, as well as desserts, such as Baklava Sundae or Kanafe. read more

I placed a large order for pickup last night and it was so good!!!!!! The food took a bit over 30 minutes to be ready but we did get a large order of several platters and a side hummus, pita, and fries. The staff was very friendly and fast when we went to pick it up. I really have to shout out the mixed platter it was so delicious, the food was so flavorful and tender. the rice was great too! I will be ordering from here again and I am already excited. read more

First visit. The food here is delicious! We had both vegetarian and non-veg options. The mezze platter with the fresh homemade pita was amazing, so were the grilled kabobs and shwarmas. Everything was presented and prepared with love. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and on a Sunday afternoon it wasn't very crowded. There was plenty of street parking available, but I don't know if that's the case on weekdays. I'll most definitely be back! Happy Yelping! read more

Ayat - Ditmas Park - Middle Eastern Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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We went to the one in bayridge a long time ago. The restaurant has a cool feel and pretty decor. The service was good. Food came out pretty quickly. The server also came and check in on us and refilled our waters quickly. Our server was very nice and accommodating. The food was delicious. Love the platter and got the mixed platter. The tea was kind of disappointing. The presentation was nice but not much to ride home about the tea. read more

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On arrival we were deciding if we could find something on the menu to fit a vegan diet, and were encouraged to have a seat and relax while we made our decision. The service priority seemed to make sure we could relax while we made a decision. We were happy to see the Vegan Platter with a good sampling of vegan appetizers, and when paired with fresh pita was a very filling dinner for one or a nice mezze for two. The flavors were amazing. The potency of the herbs and spices were so flavorful. I couldn't get enough of the rice and lentil mix. The grape leaves were nicely balanced and not too heavy on the vinegar. The fried cauliflower was more like a roasted sautee with spices and with a nice tart sauce. Paired with a limonana as a refresher and palate cleanser, it was a very tasty vegan meal. There's a nice indoor/outdoor flow between seating inside and covered sidewalk space, with plenty of space around tables for conversation privacy, and lovely design touches that elevate the vibe. read more

Ayat - Ditmas Park - Limonana, Pita, Zataar, Oil, and Olives - Middle Eastern Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Insanely disappointing. I went to Ayat's first and original location in Bay Ridge years ago, and loved the food. Me and my husband were originally going to a neighboring restaurant on the block but he saw Ayat had a location in the area so we changed plans and ate here instead because he's never tried them. Wish we didn't. The service was mediocre. Our waitress was nice but she wasn't exactly friendly or approachable. She looked dead tired and was sitting at a nearby table diagonally from ours drinking coffee or something in a mug. Not very professional in my opinion. And I've worked restaurant service before and have never casually sat down near my customers while on the clock. There was a dad with his toddler and the toddler was screaming towards the end of their stay and nothing was said toward the dad who just mock screamed alongside his son. Very inconsiderate. We had a baby with us too who was sleeping. Onto the food, we ordered mixed shawarma platters each $16 and we were very disappointed because despite looking delicious, the meat was dry. Super dry. And the small drizzle of sauce was definitely not enough to aid in moistening your palette. The pita bread was warm and delicious. Their hummus was good but not great. The entrees were just so dry. We took them to go and heated the leftovers with added butter to try and moisten the meat a little more but it didn't work. Waste of time and money. Spoke to my friend who is also Yelp Elite and she and her husband went to Ayats other location on SI and had a similarly disappointing experience. Looks like only the original Bay Ridge location is the only Ayat worth going to. Skip this location. The atmosphere and experience was not up to par. The interior wasn't warm but I liked the murals on the wall of Palestinian people. read more

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I still haven't had the chance to visit the OG Ayat location (or any of the others), but I was so pleasantly surprised to see one open up in this neighborhood. I've eaten here 3 different times this year, and unfortunately agree with the mixed reviews. Like some others have said, I really wanted to like the food here, but I feel like in general there is a lack of depth and flavor - particularly the traditional rice dishes which I expected to be more of the standout dishes. However what stands out here are the simple things like pita, baba ghanoush, and the wood fired oven pizza/flatbreads. I've only tried the pistachio paradise, but considering how fresh their pitas consistently are I'm pretty confident everything else under the wood fired section of the menu is also good. But for some reason we keep giving the traditional rice dishes another shot and they always seem to fall short. The chicken in the maklouba was dry and bland, and the lamb in the mansaf and ouzi royale dishes were at least very tender and great in texture but also lacking flavor. Most recently I had the chicken shawarma platter which I actually enjoyed. If I return I'd probably get that again, a wood fired flatbread, potentially kefta, or maaaybe the mansaf would get another chance. Definitely not the falafel or maklouba. Helpful to manage expectations and know what the hits and misses are. Though a bit disappointing each time, I'll round up to 4 stars because I don't wanna give up on them! The ambiance is great, especially when there's live music. read more

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Last Saturday I finally got a chance to try out Ayat and I ordered it on Uber Eats to break my fast I had the mixed grill and a slice of the Dubai Chocolate cheesecake I was very satisfied the meats were delicious and I definitely would order again sometime soon maybe in person aswell and I definitely would recommend this place to all my friends and fellow yelpers as well read more

I have ordered delivery from this spot in the past, and genuinely loved the food there. The two stars here are for the food, which has always been tasty & consistent. My cousins were in the neighborhood and I suggested Ayat for a cute little catch up to try it in person. It was not cute. First, entry is pretty confusing & incoherent. There's no host stand to check in with, and I spent some time just standing there before I just left to see where the rest of my party (running late) was. When I went back in and finally spoke to someone, it didnt seem to matter I had a reservation, and there was no check in, but we sat fast. We were seated in one of the center tables near the Kitchen. I swear to you, almost every time someone walked past me on their way to pick up an order or take something to another table, my chair was kicked. Twice during dinner I asked my cousins to scootch the table back so I could try to move my chair forward. It was uncomfortable but I would have ignored that while we talked and ate, had not the night ended with the plastic chair snapping under me, and me falling to the ground in the middle of the dining room. I try not to write bad reviews, but I do think it's important that any bigger folk looking to dine here in person knows this is possible. It was humiliating, so spare yourselves. I normally love ordering their knafeh & had been excited to try it fresh, but dessert was a lost cause. I couldn't leave fast enough once we were packed up. I also thought it was kind of hysterical that while a few people profusely apologized, nothing material was offered, and even more so, we got our full price bill with a side of illegal surchage to boot. First bill said $6 surchage for using credit cards, so we switched to debit and still got a surcharge of $2, just cause. Best of luck to Ayat, but I will be putting the whole night & place from my mind entirely. read more

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Disappointed Not sure what happened. Heard good things so we gave it a go. The lamb (mansard)was poor quality. Chewy and had an odd taste. For $38 we were disappointed The spreads were not as good as they should have been. The kefta hIndia also should have been succulent. At 26$ it wasn't Well we tried but it was a big fail. Won't return read more

This is my local Ayat, but I've been to three other locations and all I can say is this the best Palestinian comfort food restaurant in NYC. While I love more high-end places like Tanoreen as well. Ayat is great for walk-ins, spur of the moment takeout and/or delivery. Food is consistently good, made with care and I appreciate all that Ayat does for the community (donating free meals and hosting community building events across the religious divide). May the have a long life! read more

One of my favorite go to spots! I've recommended Ayat to all of my coworkers and friends so it's a good thing they have multiple locations. FYI, my review is for takeout/delivery only. Their hummus is hands down one of the best I've tried in Brooklyn. Creamy, lemony, and love the chunks of whole chickpeas thrown in. Some of my favorite dishes are the hummus, baba, mujadara (OMG SO GOOD), cigar cheese rolls, the white pizza, and the eggplant with pomegranate/tahini sauce is amazing. Their sandwich wraps are also good and MASSIVE! Both times I've ordered their wraps (chicken, falafel) I've had leftovers for a few days that's how huge their wraps are. The one thing that's changed since last year is the pita! It's still good but it used to be fluffier and so soft, now it's more like laffa bread. read more

INCREDIBLE FOOD! The BYOB option is just icing on the cake. We had the mezze filistini and the lamb Lamb Royale Ouzi, dining on the terrace, and for two people this was enough food for a few days (the staff generously provided us with takeout containers that were custom-made for the items we were taking home). If you're not BYOB-ing, they have great non-alcoholic options -- ayran, mideastern sodas and colas and mocktails. We were there on a Thursday and there were a one or two service hiccups, but the staff was gracious and accommodating and warm and welcoming -- and it was also beyond slammed, just busy as all get-out. (It's telling that so many other restaurants we passed that night were slow and mostly empty, while Ayat was full and bustling!)x Really an impressive little spot on the "restaurant row" of Courtelyou; one of the top culinary experiences in this neighborhood that's already chock full of great restaurants. Don't sleep on Ayat -- this place is not to be missed! read more

I love Ayat! The restaurant is very cozy and a beautiful space to enjoy a meal with family and friends. I've ordered dinner both seated and for takeout; every time is a hit. They're food is delicious, cozy, and always received with a warm handoff. Some of my favorites definitely include the labneh, spicy chicken kebab, and the lamb chops. read more

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Pros: the food was excellent Cons: the dine-in service was abysmal. I tried to make eye contact with wait staff to order an appetizer. No luck. Eventually I had to flag someone down by waving at them. After about 10-15 minutes, same deal. We had to shout out, "Could we place an order"? It seemed like they needed one more runner just to accommodate Doordash orders. To top it off, on what was a very hot day, they elected to leave the windows open at the same time as running the A/C (?) And there was a mandatory tip added to the bill for a party of 5. I felt embarrassed to have brought friends here for a meal. Would try them again for takeout, but I did not feel warmly welcomed here for in-person dining. read more

When you sit down, you have small bowls of olive oil, green olives, and zartar, which are perfect to dip into the warm, soft pita breads. Our Mezze platter was supposed to have 6 different items. It was missing the muhammarah, and we didn't pay enough attention to ask where it was and why did we have 2 similar cucumber dishes instead. This was a disappointment. The grilled salmon salad was swimming in dressing, so much that there was a pool of liquid in the bottom of the bowl and it overpowered the lettuce leaves. If you get this dish, ask for the dressing on the side. The lamb Ouzi, fattat jaj and pistachio cake (which is more like a thick mousse) are all good. There were not many people in the restaurant when we were there, and felt a little bit neglected. Staff seemed more focused on to go orders than people at the tables. read more

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Falafels, Lamb shank in Pastry, pistachio pizza pie, assortment of humus, pepper spread Mazey was delicious, was down with mint tea for a family of 6. Service was excellent and ambience was great! Only down side was the 73 deg F temperature was breezy! read more

It was Halloween and after walking around and feeling hungry, I decided to give Ayat a try. My mom didn't feel like dining in so we opted to order our food to go. I ended up ordering their mixed meat platter and I though the chicken was lacking in flavor and the rice was a bit too bland. As for the lamb, it was kinda dry but overall it wasn't really good neither was it really bad. It just tasted average. As for service, I wasn't too crazy about it. The lady that took our order didn't mention to me that there would be an extra 4% charge if I used my credit card. If I was told before this, I would have given cash. I also did not like that they didn't ask me if I wanted a fork. I was only given a fork and some condiments after I noticed it was missing. Lastly, after placing my order, I was asked to wait outside of the restaurant as they prepared my food. The restaurant wasn't that crowded and I thought it was rude to ask that I waited outside instead of just letting me sit down and wait for my food. read more

Had a beautiful experience at Ayat! Shared the vegan platter and it was more than enough food to share between two people. As an omnivore, it was really delicious! Did not make me feel like I missed out by not ordering a non-veg app or entree. The pita was also so warm and soft as a pillow. Service was kind and welcoming! There are two floors to the restaurant so plenty of space. Did not need a reservation when we went on an early Saturday evening but it did get busier as the night went on. Would absolutely go back and take advantage of the BYOB! read more

I will start with the pros. The saving grace of the meal was the delicious BBQ chicken; it was juicy, seasoned just right, the skin was just crispy enough for me to have no textural issues, and it was worth it for the price ($16) and portions. You can feed 2-4 people in one sitting depending on what their appetites are like. The salads were bright and a bit briny from the pickles --which I loved. Though design-wise I didn't find the takeout bag wholly aesthetically pleasing--the message of support for a free Palestine was there and it's important for me to shop and eat my values. Sadly, the lamb kebab was a disappointment because it was so dry and the portion was meager for $29; you get what's essentially two kebabs. I probably wouldn't have mentioned the cost or portion if the lamb was moist and delicious. Sadly, the lamb chops were dry too. I was SO EXCITED to try the tahini ice cream. However, what arrived was a puddle of the remains of what may have been half a regular ice cream scoop. The way the ice cream was packaged is definitely the culprit, so I hope they keep coffee cups (with lids) on hand to help preserve the shape and keep the ice cream cool. I hope they work on the flavor and tenderness of their lamb options. I'd like to try them again. However, I'll wait to see more positive reviews and other plates I may want to try. Regarding the price points: I understand rent on Cortelyou Road is likely high, but so is the rent on my block so I can't always spend a lot on takeout. And yes, we gave the delivery person a healthy cash tip. read more

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Not a great time. Food was Mediocre at best . The staff wasn't very friendly. Disappointed because they are in the neighborhood and it could be a better experience read more

nice people, very bland food. i didn't have one item that was delicious or flavorful . lam's was so tough , it was difficult to cut even with the provided knife . also, why is a 1/4 chicken on a pita $32 ?!? read more

I am struggling with writing this review. Here is the thing: I liked this place, but I have some reservations. Ayat fits very well with the neighborhood. I've looked it up, and it seems to be a chain of restaurants with similar/identical designs and menus. I've dined with them already three times at this location. They have a good selection on the menu, vegetarian-friendly, and just good comfort Mediterranean food. Everything tasted fresh and delicious at the moment, but... a huge BUT! Three times my friend and I have eaten with Ayat - three times both of us got very bad stomachaches (and for the third time it is certainly not a coincidence)! I guess that their mezze is filled with so much garlic that it just becomes indigestible and not just mezze - all of their food is filled with garlic! And here is the thing: I support this restaurant because it is a great addition to this neighborhood, but for a restaurant, it is of paramount importance to think on a deeper level about what they serve their customers. Me, as a customer, I want to leave and feel good, full but not too full, definitely not thirsty, definitely without a heartburn or a stomachache. In comparison, in the neighborhood, we also have Mimi's humus, and previously we would always get mezze and other Mediterranean food with them - and we never had any similar problems with them! Also, to mention, one time we took a takeout with Ayat and were given raw pitas, those pitas needed a bit more time in the oven. I did like the overall design and all the drawings on the walls. It looks pretty cool. The furniture is okay, nothing too fancy. There is not much of a service offered to be able to rate it. Also, their covered terrace has hitting lamps, which I guess makes it rather comfortable for cooler times of the year. I guess my review would have been a bit "happier" if we had not encountered "the aftertaste math"! But I do hope that this will be read by the restaurant owners and well noted. read more

Ayat - Ditmas Park - Middle Eastern Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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First time I came here the food was good. The second time food is cold Rice was hard, you can taste rubbery thing in the chicken I was very disappointed. I didn't even get to finish my food. I don't know if they change the chef or what but I was disgusted!!!!!! read more

Lovely Palestinian restaurant near us that we have been meaning to check out. There is another branch in manhattan i believe. It was easy enough to get a reservation last minute on a Friday night, but the place wasn't empty! There's lots of seating. We had the vegan platter (which had a bit of most apps so we could try them), hummus, lentil soup and a couple of drinks. Warning- ayran is a savoury/salty drink not sweet! I didn't realize when I got it. Everything was tasty, well priced and delicious and were so stuffed we couldn't get dessert- although I will be back for that baklava sundae because baklavas have my heart read more

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Absolutely incredible food!! Felt like I took a trip to the Middle East. Started with the mint tea which was delicious and fresh. I had the fattat jaj - couldn't recommend more!! Get it!!!! You will leave feeling healthy and fulfilled. The plates are hearty as well - I took home leftovers. Will come again!! read more

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Ayat's hummus and pita bread are the absolute best in NYC, in my opinion. It's real hummus, comparable to what you'd get in Jordan or Palestine. The meats are delicious, but the vegan platter is my surprise favorite (very filling & delish). The restaurant space is spacious and beautiful. The only thing I'd critique is the wait staff sometimes seem overwhelmed and confused. I get the sense management is not giving them the support or training they need. I hope that changes! Other than that, I really love this restaurant and am very happy it's so close to my house. read more

"Best wedding catering ever!" was what one of our guests yelled to me, going for seconds (or thirds?) of shwarma, zahir, fattoush etc. We chose Ayat to cater our reception because it's a regular favorite for my wife and her kids. We love the zahir (cauliflower) and their shwarma is always devoured by the whole family. I'm so happy to say our experience with their catering matched or exceeded our dine-in experiences; they worked within our budget and the portions were HUGE, delivery was smooth even though our venue was in a park. The bread was STILL HOT when it arrived, and everything was perfect. Ten stars, hope they will do our anniversary next year :) read more

Their food tastes fresh in ways other places miss. Every item was wonderful at Ayat - Ditmas Park. Their service team demonstrated remarkable skills. Staff show kindness through their helpful actions. I'm eager for my next dining experience. read more

I took my mom to this Ayat for our Day of Mourning for Indigenous North Americans. We started a tradition of going to Ayat for our "Thanksgiving" last year. It is meaningful to us to fight for Palestine and to eat a delicious meal at Ayat. We started with bright, delightful chard and date salad, the perfect blend of tang and sweet and crunch.. we enjoyed hummus and warm, steamy bread, then my mom had her favorite fattat jaj, so much flavor and texture and warmth, perfect rice, crunch pita chips and creamy garlic sauce.. I enjoyed the salmon kebab with little roasted potatoes drizzles with pomegranate molasses and rice and salad. We topped it all off by splitting the warm brownie with tahini ice cream. Just lovely, lots of leftover to take home, but we really wanted to try different dishes. Abundant and special. read more

Went with a group of ten or so, and sat at a lovely table upstairs. The server was helpful in figuring out how much food to order and how to accommodate different dietary needs, such as vegan and gluten free. We ended up getting a bunch of appetizers and main dishes and sharing them. The platter with all the dips was so good, and the server brought cucumber slices for the gluten free folks. I've been back on my own and enjoyed it as well. Highly recommend! read more

Wonderful restaurant, delicious food. Lots of excellent vegan options. I especially love the Zahir, and this is some of the best hummus I've had in my life. Try the limonana! read more

The service was poor; the meat was too tough to chew--sent it back. The shepherd's salad was poorly chopped and seasoned. It's a shame this restaurant is failing--we need a good one in the neighborhood! read more