Food was tasteless. Worst. 3rd time I tried no improvement. Waste of $. You can do Better at home. The worst read more

We have been eating here for many years with different guests. We have yet to be disappointed in the quality of the food or attentiveness of the staff. I am a critical patron, having once owned my own restaurant. read more

I went to this place with my boyfriend, two cousins and their wives/husbands. I wanted to like the place because of its cute location good reviews. Unfortunately I was disappointed. Firstly on Saturday nights they have a band play that the restaurant does not pay. Instead they ask the patrons to pay the band at $5 per person. They do this in two ways. Firstly when you're seated there is a flyer on the table informing you that there is this charge. Additionally when the band takes a break a member will come over, inform you about the policy and ask you to pay by putting money in their jar. I'm sorry but I didn't go there knowing I'd have to pay an extra $10 (for my boyfriend and I ) all because the restaurant won't pay their entertainment. Secondly my food wasn't anything special at all. Their hummus appetizer was very tasty but my chicken and couscous was something I could have easily made at home and had it taste the same. My boyfriend got a "burger" which was basically a burger patty inside a pita. Because this is a Kosher place they won't mix any dairy with and meat so there was no option of a cheese burger. For my bland chicken and my boyfriends pita burger (along with 2 split appetizers among 6 people) my bill came out to $60. A bit pricey if you ask me. Third, it was COLD in there. I wound up wearing my jacket the entire meal. That did not add anything enjoyable to my experience. All in all it wasn't the worst experience I've ever had but I won't be going back. Oh and it is a BYO but you can only bring kosher wine, just FYI. read more

So sad that this is what you get around here , nasty staff , very bad middle eastern food . Prices suitable to Manhattan Which I'm happy to pay for good ones . Save your money go elsewhere. read more

Tavlin has good shwarma and falafel. Also, they have live folk music on Saturday nights.

Would not accept the yelp 10% off. The food was subpar and very small portions They said they don't participate with yelp yet it's rt her in the site read more

I heard that management changed and the restaurant is much better, so I figured I would try it again. We ordered a hummus platter with falafel, and the waitress dropped the falafel on me, and didn't even apologize. We ordered a dish that we never got and when we asked about it they were surprised. The waitresses didn't have a smile on her face the ENTIRE time, didn't check up on us and touched my food when placing it on the table. I insisted they make me a new dish as I do not know where her hands were. The food was mediocre. Shawarma was dry, baklava was too soft, which means it was sitting out too long, and the pargiot skewers were tiny. I will NOT be going there again. read more

Was craving the avocado salad, as the last experience had been stellar. This time, however, they served with completely spoiled avocado. (See photo.) It was a take-out order so I did not see it until I got home. I didn't even bother calling them. I will simply not eat there again for a while. Too bad because I really love their hummus! read more

Tavlin - I removed the avo, naturally! - Mediterranean Near Me - Tenafly, New Jersey

Great place for kosher food meditation style. Great ambience, nice people good service. When I miss home food I go there. read more

Was recommended to try this restaurant by friends of friends. Was a little hesitant to go there in Shabbat evening as they keep Kosher and only open for 3 hours in the evening. We walked in the restaurant was empty and we were told the kitchen will open in 10 minutes. No problems. We ordered Moroccan Cigars, Israeli salad and falafel plate for appetizers. Everything was very fresh, came out I no time and was very tasty. Fast enough and before dinner was served place started to fill up AND to our surprise a live band showed up and played nice classic music. Dinner was as good, we had Kabobs and mixed grill platter, was all fresh and tasty. Very happy with our decision to eat at Tavlin and will definitely go back again. Oh and when I checked in Via Yelp app I got a 10% discount. read more

See all

Tavlin is a great local place with excellent food. The best hummus in Bergen a County. Great staff, great service. The owner Eric really cares about every diner and goes out of his way to make sure you come back. Great place for lunch and kid friendly as well. read more

Tavlin - My kids and I love Tavlin! - Mediterranean Near Me - Tenafly, New Jersey

Came here for lunch with my hubby and loved it! Amazing food and especially, of course, the hummus. The hummus bowls are delicious. Also love the decor :), our table was decorated with orange lentils. And all of that for good price. Can't wait to return ! read more

Enjoyed a nice family lunch here after spending the morning hiking along the Palisades. My Jerusalem mixed grill ("griddled, marinated turkey and chicken combined with sautéed onions and mushrooms") with a side of Israeli salad was great. We shared sides of beets, olives and pickles as well as delicious pita bread. Later, a strong cup of coffee and piece of sweet baklava was a nice way to finish the meal. Ambience was nice and service was attentive. We sat by the window and enjoyed a mellow weekday afternoon here... read more

I love the place and the owners! Been here a couple times and always enjoyed the food. I especially love the hummus and pita. This is the best hummus I have ever had. I had tried all their hummus varieties (original, mushroom with onion, steak, and chicken). All very excellent but my favorite is the chicken. The pitas are incredibly delicious. The owner told me that they are flown in daily from Israel. Soft and moist yet light and delicate, these are some great pitas. The only problem is that the hummus dishes, which are quite big, only comes with 1 pita. I usually have to order a couple extra pitas. The hummus and pita combination go so well together with their different tastes, textures, and flavors. Although I only eat Mediterranean once in awhile, when I do, Tavlin is a great place to get it. Please note that this is a kosher restaurant and a BYOB so you must bring kosher wine with you. read more

Saturday night lively and romantic music makes this a special, memorable night out with fresh delicious healthy vegetarian and savory meat food choices and plenty of smiles! Ok. And the warm soft, puffy pita goes so well with Sinatra style music! We had a caring duo of waitress and server who accommodated every need. Shawarma, chopped salad, hummus with toppings... mmmmmm!! read more

I hadn't eaten here in some time so was looking forward to a nice dinner with my family. Found the food to be decent but not worth the high prices. Service was horrible and after waiting almost 40 minutes for our order, some of which was incorrect, it would have been nice to have received an apology or something. Not likely to return. read more

Phenomenal personalized service. Arik makes this restaurant one of the finest there is in Bergen county. His ability to distinguish the acquired taste for Mediterranean diet. A heart-healthy eating plan The heart-healthy Mediterranean diet is a healthy eating plan based on typical foods and recipes of Mediterranean-style cooking. If you're looking for a heart-healthy eating plan, the Mediterranean diet with Arik's supervision might be right venue for you. Add a splash of flavorful olive oil and perhaps a glass of red wine -- among other components characterizing the traditional cooking style of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Tavlin is by far a good choice for good Mediterranean food. read more

Although the food is quite good, the service at this place is terrible. We have eaten at Tavlin numerous times. We had to wait 1/2 hour to be told they are out of chicken breasts and our order has not been started. This was with hungry tired young children. meals never come out at the same time. No waiters came to check up. Not sure we will return to this restaurant even though the hummus is fantastic. read more

Everyone from the servers to the busboys to the owner are super friendly, they always make me feel special and at home. 9 out of 10 times the Hummus is amazing! I love the salads and all the appetizers and I love the side dishes the broccoli in particular is my favorite. I'm not a huge fan of most of the grilled entree's- but I think it's just me. I love the decor and it's a great place for a date a birthday or a business meeting. read more

They have upped their game. There is nothing like it in the universe of kosher food. The atmosphere is intimate. Service is great and the food now includes some very healthy and clever salads. The owner is pleasant and friendly. This place is kosher so please make sure you bring kosher wine. :-) read more

Disappointed. Had heard good things and was excited to give it a try. Service was slow and awful- pretty sure not one staff member smiled the entire time. No one came to check on us after bringing the food. Not even to refill the water. After ordering, we were told they had no schwarma (it was Sunday at 2pm, so not after a dinner rush) and half of us had to change our orders. Ordered the burger med-well- came back well-done and dry. My husband got the seasoned chicken with hummus, which was just alright. Hummus was okay, but nothing we couldn't make at home. We had ordered cake for the birthday we were celebrating, but after half an hour, gave up. read more

I've been hear a few times and ordering the same exact thing. I highly recommend the pargeot or baby chicken from this restaurant, maybe get some tahini or israel salad on the side. Sit down in the quiet environment with middle eastern vibes or take the food to go. Either way you will be satisfied. read more

Went for dinner last night. We have been here a few times and each time i have the same comment. Great food. Terrible service. Well last night it was good food - not amazing and still horrible service. The humus was great. The shwarma was 1/2 fat and very dry. But what continues to be shocking is that the service is bad. I had to ask for the bill from the busboy. No one asked us during the meal if things were OK. The restaurant was 3/4 empty. Then the server gave us the bill with no comment and I had to go to the counter to pay for it. I had waited for 10 minutes to see if someone would pick up the bill. There are other restaurants that serve this kind of food in the area. I am not sure if I am running back to Tavlin. read more

Went back to this place again, and service unfortunately contains to have an elitist attitude. Food is ok, but still overpriced, even for Tenafly read more

I had heard good things about Tavlin and was excited to try it. It was disappointing on so many levels. We were there at the prime dinner hour on a Sunday night with good weather and it was a holiday weekend and it was only half filled with diners. The decor was nice but looked like it was left from the previous Israeli restaurant that was there. Our table rocked and maybe we should have said something. The lighting was dim and strange and I noticed that my food was in my shadow. I really could not see it. When looking around a lot of the tables were set up this way. The lighting and/or tables have to be re-arranged. The food. We started with the combination platter which we shared. It had 2 falafel balls, 2 cigars and 2 pastels. The fresh pita was also excellent. All were excellent and I was excited for our main courses. The main courses were a disappointment. I had Siniya which was very good. Both my husband and I liked this. My husband had the mushrooms and onions in a hummus bowl. Neither of us were impressed. I thought it was "ok' but he said that it was like the fried onions you put on a hot dog. I thought about it and he was right. Both our bowls were rimmed in hummus which looked nice and should have added to the dishes but not at all. The hummas which should have been the center piece of the meal was a disappointment from the beginning. We make our own at home and know to soften the chick peas you have to soak them in sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). There was a distinct after taste as if the chick peas were not rinsed well after the soaking. A little corner cutting as seemed prevalent throughout the place. The presentation was nice but better than the taste. The hummas was bland and yes it is a family restaurant but "eh". It also says something when you have an ethnic restaurant and there are no people of that ethnicity eating there - meaning no Israelis. I kept comparing the place to another hummus place in Englewood. From the presentation to the food the Englewood place was head and shoulders better than Tavlin. It pays off if you do your research and don't cut corners. I know Manhattan people who come to the Englewood place just for the food and I have to start asking around if they have tried or would try Tavlin. If you are the only game in town (kosher/Israeli) like Tavlin is, then you should be filled with diners. The business plan needs updating and they have to pay more attention to the food and decor or this place will surely not last. I am getting in the car to go to a top notch hummus place, Tavlin will sadly not be it. read more

Felafels at a Mediterranean restaurant are like the cover of a book. Being the most basic, fundamental Mediterranean representing appetizer , I often "pre-judge" the Mediterranean restaurant based on how good their felafels are. Having said that, I ordered felafels and shawarma sandwich at Tavlin. Unfortunately Tavlin didn't flip my standard. The felafels, while heavily seasoned with spices and herbs, was lacking crunch texture and flavor. It tasted slightly better to eat it with the white sauce that came along. Shawarma was mediocre, like the felafels. I only liked the pickles and the bread in my sandwich. I could tell they definitely baked their own bread as I've never tasted pita bread like this. It was warm, soft, slightly chewy. I think the bread was the only thing memorable. The interior decoration was nice. Good, clean outdoor seating, the staffs and waiters were very friendly too. As a resident of Tenafly, it's nice to have a restaurant like this in the heart of down town but I don't think it's worth, say a 20 minute trip just for the food. read more

Probably the best hummus and baklava I ever had. Both are definitely better than sex.

aside from an excellent waiter, the place is forgettable, not terribly bad but just not very good. our london broil was so tough we had to send it back, though they replaced it graciously. the mezes were pretty good, hummus and eggplant. the boneless hen was said to be good (wife) and eh (mom). delicious dessert. good turkish coffee. just not a fabulous place. read more

This used to be the most brilliant israeli/Mediterranean food restaurant in Bergen county under prior management and a different name (hamsa). Unfortunately this place has been going down hill since then. Became a favorite of Orthodox Jews as they don't really have too many options in the area . The food is not fresh. The humus which is very delicate and other salads are kept until last moment and sometime one moment too late. When you take hummus to go you being served from the oldest stock that is not good to eat the next day. Such a shame . read more

Delicious mix of plates shared by the 5 of us. Fluffy pita was warm & yummy, & their baba ghanoush was among the best I've ever tried. Hummus (bowl with mushrooms) was smooth and delish. We had chicken cutlets, beef kabobs, skirt steak, & quinoa salad. The combo platter was very good--Morroccan cigarettes, falafel, & eggplant salad. The kabobs weren't a favorite, but the baba ghanoush definitely was!! Driving along 9W after crossing the Tappan Zee as we head south, & picked from a Yelp search. Yet another success! If we're ever back in Tenafly we'll return. read more

We've been to this restaurant many times before and enjoyed the food. But went tonight and I don't know if it's under different management, but it was extremely unwelcoming. The reaction to our entering the restaurant ranged from indifference to outright coldness (we didn't have a reservation in a half-empty restaurant). We were brusquely seated at a table in a very cold, unwelcoming room. We gave up and walked out. I don't know what they think constitutes customer service, but they certainly don't seem interested in their customers. Off of my list. read more

A nastier owner I have never met. Disrespectful. To top it off, the food was not very good. There are much better places to eat and to have s pleasant experience. This is not the place. Rude!'n read more

Have been here many times and food is always great. Service was really good!1 Not sure why people put not so friendly remarks. Today was my Birthday so my family took me out. A party of 10 waitress was always there when we needed here, they made the food really good and juicy and made it special for us to come back!! Ownere came to our table a few times to make sure everything was good! read more

The food is so good that I make a weekly excursion to Tavlin from Westchester County. I always get the Shawarma Platter, it tastes authentic - tastes just like it would in Israel. The service and environment are great and the owners are really friendly. read more

Ordered take out yesterday was horribly inedible . Kids nuggets totally burnt ! Burger was dry and tasteless Grilled chicken was tiny and rubber What a shame that a restaurant can put out food like this . read more

Walked right by it the first time, but once inside you are immediately seduced by the food aromas. I had a hummus bowl with falafel, which had some of the best hummus I've had in a while. The pita bread was warm and delicious. Friendly staff. read more

Best hummus, pickles, and falafel I have ever had! Chicken is a little dry but tasty. Sesame bread, you can tell was reheated and not freshly made the same day. They can do better on these. But the hummus saves their overall score. Just go for hummus and falafels and the trip is well worth it. Nice area, gorgeous store. Love the lamps. read more

Just had a great take out from here. Falafel Shwarma chumus. All fresh and delicious. Great place to sit down too.

Four of us went to dinner on Saturday night, we were served LEFOVERS ! other than the Chumus which was 8 out 10, the dinner was below 4 and lousy. It seem the use the lowest cuts of chicken and turkey meat,not trimmed and fatty, for their Shawarma, They also put 50% old vegetables as filler...they called it Jerusalem Shwarma, I have eaten Jerusalem Shwarma in Jerusalem many times, not even close ! the other 3 dinners, were just as bad... On top of it, they had a noisy band playing, we ask to sit far from the band, and after 20 minutes of playing a guy from the band came to us and DEMANDED $5 per person for the band ! I have never seen a restaurant band that demanded money.!!! If you insist going their for dinner or lunch, order Chumus only, the rest is simply bad food and not worth the money ! read more

Great new place with a very engaging new owner, Erich. I had the Siniya which for us Italians is a Jerusalem mixed grill severed on a bed of hummus. It is not spaghetti and meatballs but it sure was good. What made it more enjoyable was the warm smile and attentive attention paid to us by Erich. Lou B read more