I grew up in the middle east eating Lebanese food. I now live in New York and eating in Balade took me back to that authentic Lebanese food. Thanks George for recommending those awesome menu! Great service & beautiful ambiance. read more

Balade - Balade Lamb Chops Platter & Hummus Shawarma Platter - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

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Loved the food here! If going on a Friday or Saturday be prepared to wait even if you have a reservation but be kind to the servers they're trying their best! It gets super busy and the wait for food could be long - we were there from 7:30 until 10:30 but we enjoyed the food! read more

Came here with 10 coworkers at 5pm and had the place pretty much to ourselves until 7pm. Waiters and waitress were very attentive. Tried Lebanese's beer for the first time loved it. Also got the rose water drink and cutest bottle of Mexican coke. The cheese spring roll,pita bread, babaganous, hummus and lamb was very good, the bread around the Mezze Supreme was a highlight along with the steak. Wished the rest of the meat was more moist and juicy read more

Not the most authentic, but that doesn't mean it's not delicious. The Lebanese pita though knocked my socks off. The shawarma didn't have a ton of flavor. The hummus was really good. Place is dark, and the staff isn't super nice. Food is good and affordable though. (From @tastessky on Instagram) read more

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This restaurant was truly a gem . I discovered it while on being on The Crave App. It's was the first time I tried a Lebanese Cuisine. Honestly it was so good, that I am at lost for words. We tried out few appetizers like the their style wings , hummus and etc . Main course was very interesting, we went for "the taste of Lebanon" and Lamb Kababs. And last but the best was the dessert called Kanafeh, it's like a sweet cheese. Also it's a must try . Service - 10/10 Ambiance- 10/10 Parking - Street WIFI- Not sure It's also a Halal Restaurant read more

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Stopped by here on a Friday night and swung some late reservations which was a good idea; the place was packed by the time we got there. Can't comment on the vibe of the place aside from that it's best suited for smaller groups and there is a decent amount of indoor and outdoor space. Some of the best staff; super chill waitress, interactive and made solid recommendations. Vibe: 3.5/5 Food: 4/5. The food was great, nothing was tremendously surprising but everything that came out was well seasoned and authentically flavored. What we ordered and what I would recc: 1. Hummus - standard/food, pita was small, puffy and freshly heated up. 4/5 2. Kibbeh - get em, basically meat/veggies/nuts in a fried wheat shell. 5/5 3. Suhjouk - sausages. Good but nothing special. 4/5 4. Rkakat - Lebanese Mozzarella sticks x Spring rolls. So good. 4/5 5. Lamb chops - 5/5. Warm, cooked perfectly. 6. Mixed Grill platter - ordered two. Fries were good, crispy and seasoned. Meat was good but I feel it needed some of the garlic sauce to overlook the lack of moisture in some of the cuts (chicken specifically). Long story short; great meal and great company. Lots of Lebanese options and things to try. I would def come back. read more

Balade - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

Balade Mixed Grill Platter was terrific. Let's just say I won't be hungry the next day yadadamean? On top of that, the humus and salad was hella good. read more

Balade - Balade Mixed Grill Platter - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

Made a reservation here to see an old friend and her husband. 3/4 of the diners eat meat; 1/4 does not. Great options; all of the dishes are fantastic. I enjoyed the lamb and grape leaves the most. Service extremely rushed though....To the point of rudeness. read more

I've had my fair share of this type of cuisine but Balade stood out as being incredibly flavorful and authentic. Everything we ordered was delicious. The hummus was awesome- so creamy and flavorful, I ate my fair share of this with the tasty warmed up pita bread. We also go falafel- one of the best falafels I've ever had!! Add on dolmas, tabouleh, babaganoush (?) and these dumpling type appetizers... wow! The meats are also great- I especially liked the lamb. My group loved the lamb chops as well! The service was great. Our waitress was friendly and the food came out in good time. Last thing to add- the lemonade here is great!! I can't quite explain it but order it if you're a lemonade lover read more

Balade - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

: Supreme Mixed Grill (sharable w/ 3-4 ppl), Hummus & Pita (comp) The atmosphere at Balade is warm and inviting. A true Lebanese restaurant offering signature dishes that pay homage to the delicious cuisine. Starting off with appetizers, the traditional Hummus was topped off with cilantro and olive oil. It came with freshly baked pita bread right out of the oven. Couldn't get enough of the little pocket sized pita bread which was packed with flavor yet so simple. Sometimes warm bread is all you need. The Supreme Mixed Grill comes with Beef Kafta, Lamb Kabab, Chicken Tawook and Lamb Chops along with table-side reveal service. Being able to sample all the meats the restaurant provides is what makes this dish the most unique. All around delicious and presentation was appreciated! Food page on Instagram: @foodiemahmoodie read more

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Great food, great service! I'm middle eastern and am always looking for authentic options in the city and Balade definitely fits the bill. Flavors are delicious read more

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Delicious food! Had a great time with coworkers for a celebration. Try everything! The lamb, the steak, the garlic aioli. You can never have enough bread!!! read more

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2.5 stars. Maybe we came at an off night, or the restaurant is going through a rough period and it was much better pre-pandemic, but the food we had wasn't good at all - rather stale and lacked flavor, which was particularly disappointing and baffling after reading all the raving reviews. The table at which we were seated was really sticky. Our waitress wasn't not nice, but was very pushy and lacked professionalism. They also didn't have any of the pizzas available Friday-Sunday, which wasn't specified in the menu on their website. They should fix that because it only said the sandwiches weren't available. Overall it was a disappointing experience, and I was embarrassed to have suggested the place. If you want high-quality, mouthwatering Lebanese food and professional service, go to ilili - just a bit more expensive (though not excessively so) but absolutely worth it. read more

Great food & vibes! This place was packed on a Friday night even with a reservation we had to wait a few minutes for a table to clear. They have a good playlist too. Would deff come back! read more

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Great food. Waitress was nice and responsive. Would come again. It's a tried and true local spot

Everyone I've met from Lebanon says this place is the best in Manhattan for Lebanese food. I will say I love the variety and that almost everything I tried was delicious. Limited the order to items under the mezze (shareable plates) section and also a manakeesh (Lebanese pizza). My heart was set on one thing. I always look for Mouhamara. I've tried it only at one other Lebanese restaurant in the city and it's one of my favorite things to eat .. apparently the version at Balade is different - a complete 180 in presentation and taste Mouhmara: Our Signature Dip of Spicy Fresh Red Peppers, Walnuts and Pomegranate Don't be fooled by the description stating it's a dip because it's more a dish you need a fork to pierce and eat. The texture and flavors were not pleasant . Fortunately the other items were winners Loubiye Bzeit: Fresh Green Beans Sautéed in Olive Oil with Onions, Tomatoes and Aromatic Herbs Balade Falafel: Stuffed With Onions, Sumac, Crushed Peppers and Olive Oil Grilled Halloume Cheese: Grilled, Sizzling Cypriot Cheese Slices Served with Tomtoes and Cucumber Kebbe Kras: Lebanon's National Dish; A Mixture of Lean Beef and Crack Wheat, Filled with a Mixture of Ground Beef, Diced Onions and Pine Nuts. Served with Laban Lahme Baajin: Balade's Secret Recipe of Seasoned Ground-Lean Beef, Mixed with Finely Diced Onions and Tomatoes My favorite savory dishes were the grilled cheese and the pizza. The stars of the evening however were the desserts: Kenafa: Baked in the Oven Topped with Cheese, Bread Crumbs, Pistachios and Homemade Syrup Ashta: Homemade White Pudding with Honey, Pistachio and Fresh Fruits You must try both! This is a solid introduction to Lebanese cuisine for the novice. read more

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Great food and ambiance! Came here twice, once during prime dinner time when it was really packed and another time for an early dinner which was a lot quieter. The food was great, the portions are large and the service was memorable. We ordered Sheikh el Shawarma and Balade Mixed Grill. Both dishes had a variety of flavors and the Balade Mixed Grill is a good option if you're having trouble choosing just one dish. read more

Balade - Shish Tawook Platter - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

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The food was amazing but what was even more amazing was the service. George was friendly, attentive, and a joy to be around! We will definitely be coming back. read more

This is hands down my favorite spot in the city, and I highly recommend it! Love to get together with my friends and family. The team here is both friendly and professional. As for the food, every dish I tried was absolutely delicious! There wasn't a single item that was just "okay." Everything was exceptional! read more

Wonderful service, delicious food, small delicate space. I wanted to try everything but had to be selective because this place is expensive! The lamb was superb. Please try this wonderful restaurant. read more

Great experience. Our server Diana was fantastic. Our first time here so we took all her recs. She was also helpful keeping the order gluten free (celiac). - Halloumi cheese app, beef Kafta, and sish tawook for entrees. All fantastic. read more

I *love* Mediterranean food and this is hands down the best place I've ever been to. The food is so fresh and delicious + our waiter Bruno was amazing read more

Overpriced, amazing falafel, good service, mezze not so good. Ambiance is nice and clean. Pretty good hummus. read more

Balade - Balade Mixed Grill Platter - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

We love Balade! Outdoor seating is really nice and everything was so delicious. We love the late night happy hour

Amazing dinner! i just went to Balade for the first time and i am so happy to have found it. The Baba Ghanoush was the best I've ever had. The flavors were immaculate and had a nice smoky flavor. George was amazing, I hope the next time I come here I have him! read more

Balade - three bowls of food on a table - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

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Great food awesome experience! Will return. Feel free to stop by if you are in the area. You will not regret it! George is great!

Everything was excellent. The execution in the kitchen couldn't have been better. The food is traditional mediterranean & the service couldn't be more on top of the table. George was really attentive & professional, the place & the waiters are fighting the bid leagues. We'll be back & we'll recommend it to everyone we know. read more

Balade - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

Great food! Speedy service! And our waiter George was very attentive! I would highly suggest this restaurant as a dining experience...

I'm glad we had a reservation here on a Friday night because the place was packed. My friend and I shared the four mezzes and chargrilled chicken main. Our waiter was super helpful when we struggled to choose between so many options on the menu. He also was very accommodating to making a dish gluten free. Everything was delicious! I'll definitely be back! read more

We went to Balade for my brother's birthday dinner and had a wonderful time! We ordered the meat shawarma, supreme grill, hummus and sambousik and all were very delicious! George was our server and he was very attentive and helpful. Overall, we had a great time and will definitely be coming back and I highly recommend! read more

We had a wonderful experience at Balade last night. We arrived around 6:15 pm. Our waiter was kind, helpful and extremely knowledgeable when we asked for recommendations. We got the labneh, the smaller meat platter and cheese and phyllo dough sticks. The food was all delicious and very generous portions. The platter was more than enough for the 3 of us, overflowing with fries! Each of the meats on it was cooked to perfection and seasoned really well. The fries were crispy and sauces flavorful. As soon as our glasses were nearing empty, our server filled them up. He even brought us fresh bread and more of our favorite garlic sauce. Highly recommend making a reservation and visiting this restaurant. You won't be disappointed by the delicious food or attentive service! read more

Food was delicious and nice ambiance, small intimate with great service. We left full and happy! read more

Balade - Balade Mixed Grill Platter - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

From the service to the food everything was absolutely incredible here. They have both indoor and heated outdoor seating available, we decided to sit indoors due to it being a little too cold. We ordered the wings, the hummus and the family platter which came served in a huge pita bread. Instead of the fries we got rice on the side and also got their home made pudding for dessert which was also amazing. We got a bottle of their red wine as well. The meat was super tender and fresh and tasted absolutely amazing. Make sure you request to get their hot sauce and white sauce as it paired super well with the food. I will definitely come back here and try some more of their menu. read more

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After doomscrolling through Open Table and Resy for hours my fancy was finally tickled by Balade. Although there were not many reservations left I was able to grab a last-minute just after primetime reservation on a Friday. I felt like the reservation gods had blessed me especially when I saw that they had a late-night happy hour that we were going to get with our reservation of time at 8:45 (Happy hour starts at 9 pm). Happy hour is great but a late-night happy hour is the fastest way to my heart. I will admit was worried for the first 15 minutes of lag time before the happy pricing started. To wait or not to wait? That is the question. The good news is that I didn't have to choose. There was a line out the door that looked as if they were giving out free meals to the hungry. People of all walks united in anger as we waited to get seated with our reservations in hand. A classic case of the overbooks. Although the half-hour wait in the cold and windy was not a great start to the meal the manager knew he screwed up and was handing out healthy pours of free wine to pass the time. It looked like an honest overbooking mistake rather than a ritual. Now I will be getting off my soapbox because that is the last of my complaints about this fine establishment. The drinks the food and the vibe of this place are top-notch. I'm a sucker for all things Mediterranean cuisine. A Mediterranean food trip is on my bucket list but I feel it would be a disappointment after the hummus and lamb that graced my mouth in the middle of East Village. I had the three meat platter but I wouldn't get it again. All the meats were fantastic but the lamb cast a bigger shadow than Peyton and Eli on their third Brother. The lamb was so mind-blowing I forgot what the other two meats were. The baba ghanoush was truly authentic and was paired with fresh warm pita that could be a meal on its own. Great date spot but I recommend getting the full romantic ambiance with inside seating (but make sure you have a condom in your pocket.) Balade, we started rougher than sandpaper on baby skin but you smoothed me over with great service, tasty food, good drinks, and a great atmosphere. You scored an 8.3 (9.1 if not for the wait) read more

The food is very tasty, the atmosphere is nice, and the service is fast and good And everyone is cooperative read more

Balade - Beef Shawarma Platter - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

George our server was great. He made good recs. The chicken pizza was good, as well as the halloumi. read more

Balade - Outside where we sat - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

We love George!!!!!!!!! Everything was great . Loved the Lebanese wine and shish touk. read more

Balade - Baklava - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

I got takeout for the first time from Uber eats everything was really good and it was a buy one get one free! read more

Balade - Chicken platter - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

Had a great time here for my last night in NY! Everything was so tasty, the vibes were great, and our server George was very attentive. I may have to be back next time in here! read more

Was here for dinner and stayed for reverse happy hour 9-11pm! The shish tawook sandwich was good and service was nice and prompt!