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    El Toum

    4.7 (101 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 8:30 pm

    Order El Toum Takeout or Delivery

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    EL TOUM ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Romantic
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - El Toum

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    Extra falafel
    Gordon Y.

    Cuisine: 7 Service: 8 Decor: 8 Value: 7 Overall: 7 This is a lovely little restaurant with a very friendly owner named Sammy. If you are looking for a neighborhood place to dine regularly, this spot is not a bad choice. As for food, I think the beat thing they make is the falafel, which are crunchy on the outside and loose on the inside. The rest of the El Toum Appetizers was just okay. I didn't love their hummus, baba ganoush, or tabouli. The accompanying pita bread was average as well. On the Mix Kebab Platter, the kofta was tender, though could be more juicy and flavorful. The lamb was decent too, but the surprise was the chicken. For Breast meat, it was extremely moist and delicious. I do wish the food was slightly better, but definitely decent enough that I would come back. Like I said, not a bad place to grab a bite if you live nearby.

    Maram A.

    Sami is wonderful and welcoming. He cooks everything in house, freshly made in the kitchen. It's small but plenty of magic happens there. The mixed grill is delicious. ALL the meats have a nice seasoning and flavor on them. The salmon was good but too soft for my liking. The artichoke appetizer was enjoyable but I wish it had some sumac and a bit of tahini on top of it to give it more flare. The tabouleh, famous, hummus and baba ganoush were very flavourful. The garlic was prominent. We also got the burger on a different day and it was perfectly cooked. The fries were thick. Very good fries. Dessert... I love that he doesn't add a lot of sugar syrup to his desserts. They are balanced so well. The taste of rose water with the sugar coating the phillo sheets is comforting. The restaurant decor is simple. I love the mosaic candle lights and the random welcoming signs and pictures of Lebanon landmarks. Mera's Tip: eat here

    Special dessert

    I came to dinner with my aunt and uncle and we ate falafel and I ate the shrimp with veggies. He also made us a specialty dessert which reminds me of home. Sami is the best cook in the world.

    Menu
    Tal K.

    Small out of the way place which I never would have found without help from a facebook group. Owner is the cook and it shows. I came in for one thing on the menu which is ful madames. It's not as popular as hummus and very hard to find here. Can't go wrong with a real middle eastern breakfast. Hummus with Ful some salad falafel balls and hard boiled eggs which is not on the menue but I will ask if he can make it next time. Very extensive menu which I saw people all around me eating but I was just enjoying traveling back in time to a breakfast I used to eat.

    Chicken kebab with roasted veggies
    Kern C.

    This is a solid restaurant . I didn't care for the chicken shawarma . It is smothered in what I presume is a sumac based sauce that is overpowering . Besides that , I loved everything else from their grilled chicken , crispy fresh falafel , breads and hummus . Very fresh feel good after you eat kinda food .

    Great ambiance.
    Suneel D.

    A genuine welcome by Sammy, the owner! A good man, 1 man show! He's on top of his game- service with attention to details, guest relations, quality of his items on menu and always with his smile. Kudos! A nice small Lebanese restaurant. Warm and cozy. Friendly environment. People come and enjoy the ambiance. I loved my small app of Hummus and Salmon as my main served w/ sweet pot's and roasted carrots. Made my day! Voila! Definetely a sit in-out place. Success belongs to you‼

    El Toum Burger
    Tommy H.

    Really the best burger in the neighborhood. The patty is about an inch thick and cooked to perfection!

    Knafeh
    Stephanie G.

    A small business owned neighborhood restaurant that really feels like a neighbor. The food was amazing. The hummus came with beef, pita bread, and salad -- making it the perfect combination. The subtly citrusy salad really balances the nutty hummus. The beef and hummus combo is out of this world. THE KNAFEH!! Omg, it's soo good! It's not on the menu, but I've had knafehs before and I loved it, so I had one. I swear the people sitting next to me ordered one too after watching me eat the knafeh. I couldn't be quite over how good it was. The chocolate baklava was also really good! The service was amazing. The chef/waiter/(potentially) owner of the place was so friendly and he gave us an extra el toum when he saw my partner digging into his last spoons of it for his lamb shawarma. The price was also reasonable -- the perks of being in Jackson Heights/Queens. We had the hummus and beef, lamb shawarma, Lebanese tea, Knafeh, and Baklava for less than $50 before tips. Overall, I'm really satisfied to have found this little middle eastern food gem in Jackson Heights. Will come back and bring more friends!

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    1 month ago

    Incredibly delicious. We ordered the lemonade, falafel(with hummus and baba), the lamb and the walnut baklava,

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    4 months ago

    Most welcoming neighborhood spot serving consistently delicious food is also a worthwhile destination. Just go.

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    6 months ago

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    5 months ago

    This restaurant is my favorite in Jackson Hts the food is excelent, and you feel at home. Sam is an excellent host.

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    1 year ago

    The lamb kabab is my go-to because it is perfection. With a couple of falafel on the side. Heaven! And, Sami is the best.

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    5 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Delicious food and the owner is very friendly. Definitely, I would come back here again. It's the gem in the neighborhood.

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    ilili NoMad

    ilili NoMad

    4.1
    (2.9k reviews)
    5.1 mi
    $$$

    Gorgeous upscale dinner spot in midtown! We came as a group of 7 and were seated comfortably, lots…read moreof room within the restaurant. Great place to share several food items with a group. It was a little hard to hear and converse at times as it gets crowded, but the food was delicious and there are really unique items on the menu. Food: The duck shawarma was one of our favorites! The lamb and scallops were also flavorful and tender. The dips were delicious with the pita, but I wish the serving size for the dips were bigger. The fries were great - well seasoned! Also recommend the milky pudding, it was a nice refreshing way to end the dinner. Service: Our server was super helpful in letting us know what items are more shareable and his suggestions for cocktails. Definitely try some of the arak based cocktails. Vibe: Gorgeous interior, the mirrors and lighting really elevates the space and makes it a lovely spot for group dinners or dates.

    We went for Mother's Day brunch. When we arrived a few minutes early we did have to wait a bit. The…read morerestaurant had two floors, nicely decorated and cozy. We were lead upstairs to a table. There were 7 of us The seating was cozy but not cramped. We started with 7 family style small dishes: Hummus with Falafel Pops (chickpea purée, tahini, falafel, olive oil), Spring Burrata (roasted cherry tomatoes, toast, basil oil), Hamachi Crudo (passionfruit vinaigrette, citrus zest, cucumber, mint, sesame tuile), Scallops (carrot puree, serrano pepper, brown butter sauce), Tenderloin Skewer (zaatar chimichurri, fresh herb salad), and Shiitake Stuffed Grape Leaves (tomato coulis, yogurt foam, herbs). Everything was delicious. The hummus was well seasoned the falafel had a nice crunch. It went well with the warm puffy gyro bread that came to the table. The burrata was wasm and creamy. I love the vinaigrette on the fish. I ended up eating most of it. The scallops were the sweetest, most tender ones I have ever had. The tenderloin skewers were tender and well seasoned. I liked the grape leaves but the rice consistency was very soft almost mushy and you can barely tell there were mushrooms. There was barely any mushrooms flavor. Next we all chose an entree. I got the duck breast, my husband and daughter each had the beef tenderloin. The duck breast was smaller than i expected. The skin was nicely seared and very crispy but boy did it give my jaw a workout. It was done medium rare. It was juicy but tough. The small beef tenderloin was tender and smoky. The waiter poured the sauce over the tenderloin for added flavor. Finally dessert was a fruit plate with ice cream and pudding. The fruit was fresh and the flavors of the ice cream and pudding unique. It was a nice end to a good brunch. The price was a little expensive at $85 a person.

    Photos
    Ilili Restaurant NYC's outdoor dining
    Ilili Restaurant NYC's outdoor dining
    Brussels Sprouts
    Brussels Sprouts
    Glass of Chateau Ksara 'Blanc de Blancs' 2023 (~$17)

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    Glass of Chateau Ksara 'Blanc de Blancs' 2023 (~$17)
    Au Za'atar - Midtown East

    Au Za'atar - Midtown East

    4.5
    (592 reviews)
    3.9 mi

    The best eat I had on my trip! One of the people in the group reserved this restaurant as they have…read morebeen here before and raved about the portions and how good the food is. Definitely did not disappoint. All the food here is sharable and for 4 people it was enough. Sadly could not bring it all with us, but would have if we lived here. From what I remembered, we ordered the Lamb Shank, Sumac Fries, and Kouda Bi Zeit. All delicious, all notably the favorite. Probably the reason why I remember these out of the rest of our order. Drinks were also delicious. We ended up ordering each other's favorite drink. Mine ended up being the Mediterranean C vs the Once Upon a Time. Overall, highly recommend! Best mediterranean food I have ever had.

    I genuinely wanted to like Au Za'atar, which made this experience even more disappointing. During…read moreour brunch visit for 3 on May 9th 2026, I experienced the first significant allergic dining reaction of my life. Rather than immediately posting a public review, I contacted management privately because I believed they deserved the opportunity to address the situation professionaly. Their initial response was that they would review the incident internally. After I followed up, they specifically offered to send me a complete ingredient list for everything we ordered so I could review it with my healthcare provider. I accepted that offer but, the ingredient list was never sent. Months later, there has still been no meaningful follow-up. My frustration isn't about demanding compensation or proving what caused the reaction. It's about customer care and accountability. Making promises that are never fulfilled leaves the impression that guest concerns only matter until the bill is paid. Once our $471 tab was settled, the commitment to help simply disappeared. The food and atmosphere may attract people, but how a restaurant responds when something goes wrong is what defines its hospitality. Unfortunately, based on my experience, the follow-through did not match the promises made, and I can't recommend a restaurant that handled a serious guest safety concern this way. Its NYC, 1000s of restaurants will charge less serve higher quality ingredients and treat you with greater hospitality, and this place is located in midtown east.

    Photos
    Bar area
    Bar area
    Mezze tower (3)
    Mezze tower (3)
    Frozen Mint Lemonada (~$14)

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    Frozen Mint Lemonada (~$14)
    Au Za'atar - East Village

    Au Za'atar - East Village

    4.2
    (1.9k reviews)
    5.0 mi
    $$

    Food and service are very goood. The only issue the wait time to get a table on weekends.read more

    First of all I've been talking up Au Za'atar since my first visit, have sent many friends their way…read moreand have gone a few times since my first meal. My most recent visit this month changed all that. I went with my son because we were in town. As it was the first place we knew we wanted to eat, I made a reservation well in advance and we showed up on time. It was noisier than usual and pretty hectic. We ordered a few appetizers and meals and a drink. No one ever checked in on us or refilled our water. I flagged someone down for to go containers as we wanted to save room for dessert and a second drink. They brought the containers and then we proceeded to sit again with no one checking in. We had been there for approximately 40-45 minutes total and were still waiting on someone to come back with the dessert menu when the host came to our table and said "there's a party with a reservation who needs tho is table so could you please leave soon?" Never has this happened to me. How insulting. When I expressed confusion stating we hadn't even received a check so why would we leave, rather than offer a proper apology and/or a "can we get you anything else?" She just said "oh that's not what I was told." And then a server brought us a check. I asked him if 45 minutes was the usual amount of time they give customers with dinner reservations and he said "I'm not sure. We're just really busy and probably overbooked." Again, no offer to make it right. Initially I wasn't going to leave this review. I reached out directly to the restaurant via email to tell them about the humiliating experience of being asked to leave when we weren't even done. Instead of offering to make it right (anything would have been appreciated - a dessert on the house next time - just some token indicating they valued me as a customer) they just explained that there was confusion and that they've talked to their staff so it doesn't happen to anyone in the future. Both the experience and the response put a horrible taste in my mouth and sadly I will probably not be back.

    Photos
    Outside seating. Exterior
    Outside seating. Exterior
    Lamb schwarma
    Lamb schwarma
    Hennessy Sangria

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    Hennessy Sangria
    Beit Zaytoon

    Beit Zaytoon

    4.6
    (66 reviews)
    12.6 mi

    Tried Lebanese food for the first time at Beit Zaytoon and it truly felt like discovering a hidden…read moregem. I ordered the lamb chops while my husband had the chicken shawarma, and both plates came with rice, vegetables, and a fresh salad with a homemade dressing that was incredibly tasty and unlike anything we've had before. The drinks were homemade too - we had the lemonade and iced tea - and the presentation of everything was beautiful, right down to the mint sprigs in the glasses that added such a nice touch. We were served by the owner, Elias, who was warm, personable, and provided impeccable service the entire time. Even though we didn't order dessert, he surprised us with baklava on the house - delicate flaky layers topped with honey and pistachios that were absolutely delicious. If you're looking for a relaxing place to enjoy great Lebanese food, Beit Zaytoon is definitely worth a visit. The atmosphere is comfortable, welcoming, and not cramped at all.

    What a great addition to the neighborhood! Authentic Lebanese Cuisine in the middle of Hempstead!…read more We started off with their complimentary olives & pickeled radishes; refreshing and a great palate cleanser. Then we were served Pita bread; not the soft & fluffy kind but more of a thin pita pocket type. This pita went so well with the spreads! Here is our menu (shared by 3ppl): ~ Baba Ghannouj ($10): outstanding. The smokey flavors were mouth watering. Recommended! ~ Fattoush Salad ($15): very good; fresh veggies with a fresh herb dressing. Another great palate cleanser ~ Samboussek Jibneh (feta cheese dumpling) ($12/4pcs): loved these! The dumplings are deep fried but weren't greasy at all. This was a treat! ~ Lahme Meshwi (grilled filet mignon cubes w.rice & veg) ($40): I thought this dish was a tad bit overpriced but great nonetheless. The filet mignon was so tender and prepared perfectly. The rice and grilled veggies were good also. ~ Kaftan Kebab (grilled minced lamb kebabs w.rice & veg) ($25): the kebabs were very flavorful but could have used a sauce. I ate some with the Baba Ghannouj and it was wonderful. The assorted grilled Vegs were great. Note that they do not serve tap water; must purchase bottled water. Beit Zaytoon is located in a small strip mall, so there is plenty of parking available! Recommended, and I would definitely return to explore other menu items!

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Baba Ghannouj $10
    Baba Ghannouj $10
    Complimentary Green Olives and Radish

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    Complimentary Green Olives and Radish
    Al Nour

    Al Nour

    3.7
    (31 reviews)
    1.6 mi

    We were craving a shawarma wrap and found this spot. They have a grocery section, butcher shop in…read morethe back of halal meats and they have a hot food bar too. They have some seating available for you to eat in too. My husband and I ordered a chicken shawarma to share. - Chicken Shawarma: we ordered without onions. The shawarma came with fries, lettuce, tomatoes, hummus, and garlic sauce. This was a pretty overwhelming combination to me and my husband. So many flavors mixed together. The chicken was delicious- perfectly cooked, moist, and very well seasoned. I ended up picking at the shawarma halfway through and just eating the chicken pieces. Based on typical Lebanese shawarma standards, the fries didn't taste fresh (they seemed like they'd been sitting out), and there was something in the shawarma that had a bit of a refrigerated taste (probably the hummus). I'm giving it 4 stars because what we had was a traditional Lebanese-style shawarma. While we personally would've preferred a simpler wrap with just chicken, pickles, and garlic sauce, that's on us- we came to the wrong spot for that, but we also could've asked for it with just those components.

    Always delicious food, great service and a homey ambience!…read more Came in on Christmas Day to pick up a hefty amount of food and they were open regular hours. Thank you for amazing food and service! Makes me miss Damascus every single time.

    Photos
    Inside shawarma grilling area and menu
    Inside shawarma grilling area and menu
    Chicken shawarma
    Chicken shawarma
    Outside

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    Outside
    Yara

    Yara

    4.2
    (321 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$$
    Vegan friendly
    Private events

    Live music was great, ambiance was very pretty, food was portioned well with plenty of different…read moreoptions. The menu was huge, and waitstaff were ready to answer any questions and make any customizations to menu items. Would recommend this place for upscale dining with a relaxed pace or for a nice celebration. Food was flavorful.

    3.5 stars, a beautiful dimly lit dining room and huge no less. There are a few steps walking up to…read morethe dining area. Great for groups of all sizes, reservations suggested but on this weekday visit, it was not too busy. We had a resy any way. Service was fair. Our waiter checked in with us once after we ordered and we had to beckon him twice - once for water refill and second for condiments/questions. What I didn't appreciate but understood, since we were two people dining, we got a corner table for two. It was not busy so we asked for the table next to us since we ordered plenty. They did not accommodate us saying they may need it for later. I did not think that was necessary since the place was not busy. This was 6pm on a Wednesday. And to boot, huge dining room - plenty of seating available. This was off putting as we said we ordered plenty. Our plates barely fit and they brought everything almost at once. Onto the food, I may not have ordered their popular dishes but nevertheless, nothing to rave about. Portions were shareable but it was just okay. There was not one stand out dish. I had higher expectations based on other reviews and photos but it was likely what we ordered. This was a vegetarian meal for me since I was dining with a vegetarian. - Moussakaa, this was a very tomato based sauce dish. Fried eggplant and chick peas combined had a nice texture. Mild flavors. - Arayess cheese - sorely disappointed. Very little flavor and I love my cheeses. It needed something to make it more appealing. It literally looked like cheese in a pita. And yes, by description it was. No condiments or side of anything to offset the plating. Visually flat. It could've used a sun dried tomato paste or some acidic side dipping sauce. - Yara Fries - shockingly simple, zaatar and spices. But they didn't put enough. It still looked like regular fries. And by the name, I expected more punch of flavor. It was not there. - Falafel - tricky dish if it's not cooked well. Simple again by name but the ingredients were just mild in flavor. Crunch was perfect. The chickpea, onions, cilantro and garlic was not pronounced. It was ok. Not memorable. - House wine, by the glass, decent and went well with what we ate. Would I return is the question... Likely not. The menu was so promising but nothing to bring me back.

    Photos
    Yara
    Yara
    Yara

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    Hen House NYC

    Hen House NYC

    4.6
    (106 reviews)
    5.2 mi

    All I had heard about Hen House was their cozy, innovative dishes and was excited to go. They're…read moreknown for their falafel and other creative flavors and I went with the staple shawarma plate. It was served with lackluster presentation, standard ingredients, and lack of creative flair I was expecting and heard about. I wouldn't count Hen House out, but believe this was a one-off, standard, experience.

    My friends and I arrived fairly early on Friday to dine in for brunch/lunch. We were greeted warmly…read moreby the cashier who told us to sit. The seating area is fairly small, which surprised me. We ordered the crispy garlic rice, the Piri Piri chicken sandwich, and the famous knefeh and chicken pancake. The server was so nice, she offered us a sample of the seasonal lemonade, which had rose water and turmeric. It did take a little bit of time for all the food to come out. We chit-chatted while we shared the garlic rice (a little crunchy, very mild) and the chicken sandwich. The PiriPiri sandwich came with a huge piece of fried chicken that was spiced and fried well. The chicken was juicy and not super dry. The little bit of pickled cabbage helped keep things from becoming too greasy. After a bit of wait, the pancake was served. It was such a fun experience with the crunchy kadayif noodles and the cheese hidden underneath a super fluffy pancake. The salty and cheesy flavors of the pancake went well with the rose maple syrup. The spice from the chicken added another note to the dish that made it such a great combo of flavor. I could not stop picking at this huge pancake. It's definitely meant to be eaten by at least two, if not three. If we had known, we probably wouldn't have ordered the other chicken sandwich. Overall the contrast in the chicken and knafeh pancake alone was enough to want me to visit again. The textural crunch, the melted pull of the cheese, the sweet syrup against salty and spicy flavors of the chicken. Not only was the whole presentation beautiful, but the dish itself tasted amazing. I would visit Hen House again for the experience.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Lamb Shawarma Platter with Batata Harra
    Lamb Shawarma Platter with Batata Harra
    The catering that gets done by Hen house is some of the best in the city. Custom menus, bbq kits and more.

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    The catering that gets done by Hen house is some of the best in the city. Custom menus, bbq kits and more.

    El Toum - lebanese - Updated August 2026

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