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Layali Beirut Cafe Restaurant

3.6 (146 reviews)
Open 1:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

Layali Beirut Cafe Restaurant Photos

Business Info

LAYALI BEIRUT CAFE RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Outdoor seating
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Layali Beirut Cafe Restaurant

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Fried rice
Fateha A.

Walked in here at like 7 & was overwhelmed by the items on the menu since there are so many choices, 50+. We ended up ordering at like 7:20 but our food still came on time. They gave us 5 dates to break our fast. For appetizer, we ordered Jalapeño poppers. They were oozing with melted cheese. The sauce on the side was really good too. This place has THE BEST jalapeño poppers imo since it wasn't spicy, at all. After a day of fasting, I knew I wasn't gonna be running to the bathroom constantly cuz of spicy food. Even when I'm not fasting, I tend to not get jalapeño poppers since they're too spicy elsewhere. They also gave us 3 other sauces: a minced green chili sauce, a garlic sauce, & a sour cream based sauce. I liked the latter the best. My cousin got filet mignon with fries. The steak was good although a bit too burnt on the side. I also wish the steak was bigger. He also got fried rice which was good. My brother got lamb chops which he liked & I didn't try. It's 4 chops with a jalapeño & a slice of grilled tomato. My sister got lamb Tajine which was better than I expected. It was in a tomato sauce & didn't have the stench in the lamb meat that other places that claim they sell lamb have. I got the shrimp Tajine which was good, very different from anything else I've ever had. Not sure how else to describe it. We ordered way too much food. The Tajine servings were way bigger than I expected so we ended up taking our leftovers to go. My sister ordered Arabic coffee which we didn't realize would be black. It was way too bitter so we also asked for milk. It was still bitter with the milk but bearable. The server was kind enough to mix the coffee & the milk in a bigger cup. The service is excellent.

Mixed grill
Alina H.

After hearing great things (& the yummy looking food pics on Yelp), my boyfriend I decided on this place for a Friday night, after work dinner. The vibe was casual and cozy and perfect for the low key evening we envisioned. The place is filled with mostly young people enjoying hookah and breaking their fasts with shared plates around the table with friends. For my boyfriend who is Muslim, the loungey vibe without the alcohol and a strictly halal menu made him feel like he was back home in Dubai. We didn't partake in hookah, and were probably the only table there that did not have a hookah tableside, but service looked great and there are a variety of flavors. We ordered the: Hummus: simple, creamy and delicious with savory and sweet notes Mixed Arayess: a combination of meat and cheese pressed between two fresh pita. These were good with tender flavorful meat and a mild cheese (just wish the cheese was slightly more melted/it was served hotter) Mixed grill: everything you would expect from a standard mixed grill. It had a combination if chicken, lamb and beef chops and kebabs served with rice and a few grilled veggies. It was good and a great choice if you are hungry but don't want to feel icky after (super clean meal). Tips: Being cash. We didn't find out until the end of the meal that they did not accept cards. They do take venmo and zelle, but cash would have just been easier. If you are easily irritated by smoke, do not eat indoors. Its not a very large restaurant and each table had a hookah. It gets pretty smokey.

Ehab K.

I was iffy at first coming here. But I gave it a shot anyway. The hookahs were good and the guy who made and served the hookahs was very nice. The hookahs were tasteful and greatly priced. Took us a little while to order because they only had 1 waitress. And the poor lady was on break so we didn't want to interrupt. After ordering it took us a good 45 minutes to receive the entrees. Which wasn't all that. I had the falafel sandwich with fries (dry). And my guests had the combo plate with meats and rice. Lamb chops were super small and was mostly fat on there. Bill was kind of high considering the size of the entrees. It is wheel chair accessible and kid friendly for the most part. The environment inside was clean & middle eastern themed which was pretty cool. Different than the rest of spots on the block.

the outside of the restaurant
Kevin Z.

Attention to service is not a thing here. You better get your orders in one go or you would have to hunt down your waiter. We didn't see the waiter until we were leaving after our order. This is very chill place. We spent a good hour just smoking and chatting with a pot of tea. Love the tea set and almost want to buy a set if they sell them. After we got out hookah, we got a coal refill once after 20 mins or so and then that's all you got. He went on to watch someone else playing game a few tables away. We have to wave down a guy name Sinbab who convinced us to come to their shop initially to get our bill. They take Venmo, cash or Zelle. Good bye to your credit card point. Also it's weird to add a 18% tip to the bill for a table of 3. I didn't complain as it's pretty late but I bet someone did.

Parbattie K.

My husband and I come here all the time for hookah and dinner. The fried rice is absolutely one of our favorites paired with the garlic sauce. Each dish is so simple and flavorful. The flavors remind us so much of our recent trip to beruit.

Menu
Maram A.

This is a romantic hookah lounge. Among the many hookah lounges on Steinway this one has a fancier vibe. The decor and the fixtures are beautiful and the music isn't blasting. It is easy to have a conversation. Another thing that sets them apart is they sell food. Other places only offer drinks and hookah while allowing you to bring food from outside. Maybe I'll come back af try a dish. The shisha/hookah is decent. It's pretty light which is nice because it doesn't hurt your throat. I ordered a ginger drink which was very very strong. I didn't enjoy it but it was nice to get bits of ginger. Customer service was okay. The waiter with the glasses was working hard and was very friendly. It just like he was the only one working. There was another waiter or worker here too but he just kept walking back and forth, playing with his hair and acting like he didn't understand what customers wanted. At least that's what I experienced when I asked him for something. He never brought the things we asked for, the other waiter did. Before we left service around us did pick up though. Other servers came to clean the tables, collect checks and check on customers. Mera's Tip: Enjoy the decor with a hot cup of tea.

Inside
Miss P.

Want to share my wonderful experience with Layali Beirut cafe. We made reservations for iftar dinner and were greeted immediately as we walked in. The table was set and ready. Service was quick and attentive. Inside ambiance was perfect example of Middle Eastern flavor, nice and cozy. Place was clean and distance was observed. But the best thing was the food. For starters we had lentil soup and Liver, both are super delicious. For entrees I had mixed seafood tanjine and it was very good and very generously portioned, enough to feed 3 people! My family had duck with rice and they loved it. We also had excellent cup of tea with mint and excellent baklava. Overall it was awesome experience and we will be back to try some other items from the menu.

Layali Beirut beautiful fruits plate Saturday night
Mandi J.

Amazing treatment fruits plate Saturday night Nice music beautiful decoration Staff are friendly amazing food fabulous hookah It is awesome place

Ask for the swordfish.
Parvez K.

I do love Layali Beirut! If you are looking for the authentic experience, then this is the place. My friend and I went there recently for a couple of nights in a row, and were not disappointed either time. The owners, two brothers from Lebanon, have decorated the place with authentic majalis (low Arabian sofas), pillows, and decorations. The room is dimly lit, but so is the Middle East. The entire lounge/restaurant (because it's really both, and not one more than the other) is cramped, but again, so is the Middle East. There's only one unisex restroom, and....you know. The food, though, is prepared and spiced appropriately for the Middle Eastern palate. The shisha (if you like that) is smokey and flavorful (according to my friend). I think they use Starbuzz tobacco, FYI. Our waitress both nights was simultaneously attentive enough and rude, which is authentic. Whenever I get the urge to feel like I'm in a busy street somewhere in the Arab world, I long for this place. It's just authentic out the wazoo. Wallah.

Khalid S.

I don't know if the Shisha was all that, but Falafel was great, and the fried egg plant was incredibly tasty. I could go vegetarian off of this menu... mint tea was disappointing, but as Mia noted, the atmosphere is probably the best in Astoria. The loud music, the hot videos on LCD's, the perfect lighting and the smoke, the crowd, everything makes for a great outing. Minor inconveniences: * Please DO NOT order steak here, it was chewy as hell, and my buddy's jaws started hurting after excessive mastication * They don't accept plastic, I mean Hello.... * Parking is hard to find, but that's kinda expected

Lamb chops

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8 months ago

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4 months ago

The service was soo bad. One guy was sleeping he just came and just gone. Don't recommend come here

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4 years ago

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5 years ago

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18 years ago

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5 years ago

Bad service, falafel was horrible, babaghanoug was watery, they don't take cards, only cash

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17 years ago

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6 years ago

Good food, don't like the soup though. Hookah is great. Just wish the waitress was nicer. The owner is also nice.

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7 years ago

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ilili NoMad - Lamb & Beef Shawarma (6.5/10)

ilili NoMad

4.1(2.9k reviews)
4.2 miFlatiron
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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.

This was a really awesome meal. The food was incredible. So much flavor and they made sure we…read morealways had enough bread to eat everything with. The cocktails were also really interesting and delicious. I highly recommend the lamb shank, fries, and octopus but I can't imagine there is any way to go wrong. The lighting inside the restaurant was cozy and relaxing. My family and I had a great time. Our server was super helpful with our order and very nice to talk to. Highly recommend. Really delicious.

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3.7(31 reviews)
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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.

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4.6(105 reviews)
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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.

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.

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Layali Beirut Cafe Restaurant - hookah_bars - Updated May 2026

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