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    Shalel

    4.0 (736 reviews)
    Open 4:30 pm - 11:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    SHALEL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Shalel

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    Madeline A.

    Great date spot! I loved the little rooms and decor which made it intimate. Definitely make a reservation or be okay with sitting at one of the eight seats at the bar. We were a party of four and got this cute table in the back which felt so private. The service was great! I liked the pomegranate margarita; it wasn't too sweet and was refreshing. We also ordered a bottle of the Syrah which was great. Our favorite apps were the fritters and the bacon wrapped dates. I liked the lamb tagine, it was just a little salty for me. Overall, I would definitely come back. It was a little pricey for what it was, but the ambiance made up for it!

    Shirin P.

    Loved the vibe. The restaurant is a few steps below grade and comprised of all these small rooms around the main bar area. Food was flavorful. We got Tagine and mixed grill and a fatoush salad. Overall great experience and would love to go back with our friends

    Bacon wrapped Baked Dates, Roasted Beet & Orange Salad, gambas
    Alyson W.

    The ambiance here needs to be seen to be believed! It's downstairs in a cave-like atmosphere, and very dark. One room has a trickling fountain, and rose petals are strewn everywhere. So romantic - although hard to see the menu, that's how dark it is. Service was great - our server continually checked up on us, and the somm came by to open the bottle of wine. Food was good but did not blow me away. The chicken kebab was the best of the mains.

    Alan D.

    This place was great with an interesting space subterranean like with a river flowing thru it...very private little knocks and crannies. The menu was interesting with Moroccan fare I liked my tangine and the Moroccan cigars too.

    Chris B.

    Food and atmosphere was amazing. We shared the Jerusalem artichoke fritters, the salmon and steak kebabs were delicious! Blue pea flower tea to end the meal. Service was outstanding and the ambience was delightful!

    Spread Mediterranean Mezze Spreads
    Abby W.

    Went to Shaleh with a friend on a Sunday night without a reservation, and we were seated fairly quickly. The restaurant had an intimate atmosphere, with dim lighting and a charming interior -- definitely a great date spot. The service was prompt and friendly. We tried the spread mezze, vegetarian moussaka, and butternut squash bruschetta. The portions were on the smaller side. The moussaka was on the oilier side. The food was decent, but nothing special, so the ambiance and service played a bigger role in enhancing the overall experience.

    Trae F.

    The beau insisted we finally try this place after friends recently had a nice experience. I've always been hesitant because of the impression I get from the subterranean entrance. I'm glad we pushed through and went. Once inside you feel transported to a faraway land. It's dark and mysterious with a labyrinthine feel. We ate in the bar area which was quite lively and were able to watch the patrons come and go. This place was hopping on a Saturday night. Who knew?! Highly recommended for a romantic evening and something different. The food was good, the server was good (but never did deliver our pita) and the overall experience was enjoyable.

    Bar
    Gregg R.

    I came here on a Thursday night at 730pm with reservations. Half of us arrived early so we sat at the bar and ordered drinks. I ordered the Manhattan and my girlfriend ordered the pomegranate margarita. Both drinks were very good but a bit pricey. The Manhattan was $17 and the margarita was $18. When the rest of the party arrived we were seated right away and put into an almost private booth. The atmosphere is very rustic but cozy. We ordered the bacon wrapped dates and artichoke fritters as apps. Both were very good and I would order them again. For dinner I ordered the shakshouka ($20) and added the lamb meat (+$10 extra). The dish was very good but would have liked more bread to eat the dish with. Again the dish was good but a bit expensive for what it was. Overall service was great and food was tasty. I would say it's worth trying but due to price not sure I would come running back.

    Mediterranean Mezze Spreads
    Sydney G.

    Brought my mom here for her birthday dinner. Without knowing anything about the location, I booked the greenhouse which was a strange narrow storage closet at the entrance of the restaurant. I enjoyed the natural light and the privacy of the space, but once it got dark, I definitely wished we'd opted to sit in the actual restaurant. The space is really neat. Lots of little nooks and crannies that are unique and cozy. The food was great. We started with the MEDITERRANEAN MEZZE 25 (hummus, tzatziki, babaghanoush, tirokafteri, harissa, grilled pita), SPANAKOPITES, and SICILIAN CAULIFLOWER AND HALLOUMI CHEESE. For my meal I got the CHICKEN TAGINE A LA FEZ, and my mom got the FILET MIGNON KEBAB. All the food came out delicious and hot and our servers were very friendly. They stuck a candle in our olive oil cake for dessert for my mom which was a very kind gesture (although the cake itself was not great).

    Ammar B.

    Ambiance wins the day ( night) but food is amazing, fresh and well prepared. Great service to go along with it

    Mediterranean Mezze Spreads
    Dana L.

    A very cozy underground Mediterranean restaurant in upper west side. Perfect spot for a date night before a show at Lincoln Center or the Beacon Theater. Service was great. Food was delicious. Definitely recommend the spicy feta. The cocktails could be better. This was my second time here. The first time was just for feta and a drink at the bar. My drink then was just okay as well.

    Entrance to the basement
    Alex Z.

    A hole in the basement restaurant in UWS. I wouldn't say the ambience is romantic, while they dim the light really low that I couldn't even see what's in my food. The decor is morrocan but food is a mixture of Moroccan, Portuguese and Italian. The seats seem crowded and not comfortable. Don't book outdoor seating unless you want to be on a basement alley right under the sidewalk We didn't make reservation so we were seated at the bar, as we were told all the tables were booked. But the table right behind us that we asked for were empty the entire time even when we finished the meal, the restaurant didn't seem busy at all but they didn't want to sit three of us on the table. The service was awful. There were three of us but only two menus were available while the restaurant was only half full. Light was so dim and only candles were available, it was hard to read. Asked for the wine menu, we were also told that the menu disappeared. The food was mediocre for its price, lamb Tagine is $37 for couple pieces of meat on couscous. Flavor was alright, not very authentic to my taste compare to when you eat in Morocco. The only thing that stood out was the cod Croquets. The wine we ordered Shiraz was definitely a low quality wine but at a high price point. I don't see myself coming back here.

    Baked Dates and Butternut Squash Bruschetta

    Loved the atmosphere. Definitely wished for larger cups of water. Poor waiter had to come back so many times to refill. But he was so kind. Loved the bacon wrapped dates. Butternut squash bruschetta was spicy and didn't have a ton of flavor.

    Sicilian Cauliflower and Halloumi Cheese

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    Ask the Community - Shalel

    Does this restaurant have entertainment?

    Not when I was there on a weeknight, although the bartender was entertaining. Maybe on the weekends, but it's dark, intimate, and romantic, so I doubt it.

    Until what time is the kitchen open, specifically on Friday nights?

    Do you need reservations on a Saturday and any recommendations on best seating for couple?

    There's a very romantic rock waterfall in the back of the restaurant. You can request to sit there and it's perfect for a couple.

    Any gluten free items?

    they have a lot of meat options. so maybe stick to those and go carb-free? you can call and ask too!

    What are the best thing to get here? Do you need a reservation on Friday/Saturday?

    It is very busy I would make reservations. Table by the waterfall is best. All the food is amazing, but my favorite is the stuffed dates.

    Is this place halal?

    No .... its not. But you'd want to go anyways since atmosphere is amazing .

    View All 7 Questions

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    ABA Turkish Restaurant - Lamb

    ABA Turkish Restaurant

    4.1(671 reviews)
    0.7 miHell's Kitchen, Midtown West
    $$$

    Been to this place a couple of times and had great experiences. One nice perk is that you can earn…read morepoints through Opentable and redeem them for credit toward restaurant experiences, credit toward OpenTable reservations, or Amazon gift cards. You don't need to download an app, just sign up for an Opentable account at www.opentable.com. The place was exactly what we were looking for... Inexpensive, Turkish, and comfortable atmosphere! The place wasn't busy during lunch time but busy during dinner time. Amazing service and delicious food! The food was fresh and came out fast. Lunch specials are $21.95 for 2 courses while dinner specials are $36.95 for 4 courses. I had the Eggplant with Tomato Sauce and Beets as the first course and Lamb Adana Kebab as Entrée. Lamb Adana Kebab comes with salad, which I can't have since it's cold and raw, but they were able to accommodate me and replaced salad with more rice. I had Kabak Tatlısı, which has a nice sweet taste and is healthy. All were delicious, also gluten free, dairy free and soy free. Plus, the Turkish Tea as the fourth course was a great pair with my meals. Their menu offers a variety of choices, including options that are gluten free, dairy free, and soy free. I would definitely come back and suggest you give this place a try if you are in Hell's Kitchen or Columbus Circle.

    Great mid-town spot for Turkish food. The staff is great and the food is generally above average…read more It's got that great NYC shabby/chic vibe. Well worth checking out.

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    ABA Turkish Restaurant
    ABA Turkish Restaurant - Grape leaves (appetizer)

    Grape leaves (appetizer)

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    Hummus Kitchen - The Kitchen Kadaif YUM!

    Hummus Kitchen

    4.2(1.2k reviews)
    0.9 miTheater District, Hell's Kitchen, Midtown West
    $$

    Have been here a few times now for both lunch and dinner (weekends and weekdays) and the food and…read moreservice is always great. I first went to Hummus Kitchen at their UES location, but this one is equally wonderful. The space is on the smaller side (a bit narrow) and they have indoor seating for around 20-25 people. I recommend making a reservation in advance. The servers are friendly, attentive and the food comes out fairly quickly. As the name implies, the hummus here is excellent as is the thick pita it comes with (they have regular and whole wheat). If you haven't been before, get "the hummus kitchen" as it has 4 different types of hummus you can try. The mazze are also tasty, my favorite would have to be the grape leaves, but the falafel, cauliflower and babaghanoush are also extremely delicious (you can order any 3 for $28 and it comes with pita). For entrees, I highly highly recommend the chicken shawarma tacos (2 per serving) followed by the open arais tacos (also 2 per serving) and the Mediterranean red chicken (in that order). If you don't go with the shawarma tacos or want less bread, then the shawarma platter is also a good choice. The chicken shawarma tacos here are simply incredible, they serve them in their warm fluffy pita, sliced in half, open and fill the inside with chicken, onions and whatever else makes is so ridiculously addictive. This thing is bursting with flavor, it has to be the best chicken shawarma I have had in NYC. The tacos also come with a small side of hummus and babaghanoush along with pickles and some tomato salad. The portions are what you would expect as are the prices. Really a delicious spot if you are in the area or want a great/quick meal before or after a show.

    It had been a while since my dining companion and I visited our 'Happy Hummus Place' on 9th Avenue…read morein Hell's Kitchen. While we're making fewer trips into the city these days, our return for a pre-theater lunch proved that Hummus Kitchen hasn't missed a beat -- in fact, we both agreed that they've stepped up the entire experience. The Kosher Israeli food is fresher and tastier than ever. The Green Shakshuka off the Brunch menu was a standout, featuring a rich, spiced tomato sauce topped with fresh baby spinach and two perfectly poached eggs. A major highlight to me was the swap from the traditional pita bread to a mini challah bread for dipping. The bread's sweetness perfectly complemented the savory stew. We finished with Turkish coffees and the Kitchen Kadaif, which was absolutely incredible. It's hard to believe it's dairy-free with a combination of shredded phyllo, rich halva, and shredded coconut that's the perfect balance of texture and sweetness. The service was incredibly friendly and attentive without being overbearing, ensuring we were out with plenty of time for our show at Studio 54. If you're looking for an authentic Mediterranean hidden gem in Midtown, this remains a must-visit.

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    Hummus Kitchen - Yummy Israeli Food

    Yummy Israeli Food

    Hummus Kitchen - The amazing hummus with veggies

    The amazing hummus with veggies

    Hummus Kitchen - Green Shakshuka

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    Green Shakshuka

    Shukette - Tahini soft serve

    Shukette

    4.5(676 reviews)
    2.3 miChelsea
    $$$$

    The food and service were very nice! The serves took time to explain the menu and also had great…read morerecommendations. The inside was also not too loud and had a great ambiance for friends to catch up or go on a date. Ordered the frena bread and labneh to start (10/10 would come back just for the bread) Then got the grilled broccolini, kotlet (meatball), and shrimp alla plancha. Tbh I can do without these tapas. For the entree, we got the fish in a cage which was very good! I would reorder this dish again for sure. After sharing the tapas from meatier I thought I'd be too full but it was too good and ended up eating it all. Ended with the swirl soft serve!! The pomegranate part was veryyyy tart so def recommend getting the swirl.

    We had a reservation and were seated outside right in the front. I knew there could be a problem…read morewhen we sat down and there were purple blankets on the chairs. Soft blankets, but still, I was worried Our menus flew away so I went inside and asked if we could sit somewhere else. They were able to sit us on the side of the restaurant outside under a plastic enclosure. Sitting down I was a little bit worried because the chairs at the table seemed really rickety until I met Juan. I forgot all about the rickety chairs and tables once Juan and the food entered my life. Juan is a bright shiny star so happy self friendly so warm and he told us everything to order. He didn't lead us astray once and we love that in a waiter. This time during our our New York visit we were not only discussing our food we are also our waiters. As the hummus was being served, I was telling my table that I don't eat hummus anymore. I found a reason to go back on that here. A must order would be the very first bread in the bread slices for handstands down. So I must've said that it was my birthday when I made the reservation which my birthday is this month and our dessert came with a candle and Juan sang happy birthday to me. It was so freaking cute. I was with two non-dessert eaters but they dove in and I seriously got no more than 1/3rd of it, not one slurp bite or morsel more. I wanted to order another. The only chains I'd make is that I wish there were more bathrooms. I felt bad for the waitstaff peeking at the line and choosing not to stand in it. I hear the chef is up for a James Beard award and the menu is changing with more veggies for the summer. I'll be back in August!

    Photos
    Shukette - Dining room

    Dining room

    Shukette - Joojeh chicken

    Joojeh chicken

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    The mic drop

    Shalel - moroccan - Updated May 2026

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