I am so angry how we got treated we where a party of 8 and we had a reservation. And the manager was our waiter we all felt like he was rushing us not ask us what side we would like he did ask what we like to drink . When we told him nicely that we don't want rice he got mad . When I told him why he does ask or give us a change to tell him he got very upset we want to get up and leave . For sure we are not coming here again . read more

Beautifully renovated space, and good service. The menu options are good, and we were all happy with the overall experience. The lamb shish could have been more tender (it was quite tough and a little overcooked), but other than that everything else was fine. The food quality is average, I'd say, but the decor makes up for it, and it's a good addition to this neighborhood. read more

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New addition to the neighborhood and came here twice in one week. The interior blew me away compared to the old TGIF. They knocked down the walls and everything is so gorgeous and grand. Love how they bring out a ginormous freshly baked pita to the table at the beginning of the meal. It was sooooo good. Pro tip, if you're ordering any dips, ask the staff to wait for the dips to come out and to bring out the warm pita at the same time. Our first mistake after working out was to eat it right away. The first pita is complimentary but the second one is an additional charge. That's not really the issue but we were pretty full after chomping on the first one and then ordering a second one to use for the dips. We ordered an assortment of items to share. If it's your first time I would highly recommend the mixed meat platter to share. Everyone loved the shrimp casserole. The Turkish dumplings are fun to try. Cocktails are yummy here. Second time we also tried the branzino. Can't go wrong with branzino at a Mediterranean restaurant. Service was a little slow at lunch. Service at dinner was pretty attentive. Only issue was that they do this really loud presenting when any parties order the huge meat tray to share. At first we thought it was for a birthday but then realized that it was for delivering the tray. After the 5th time, it does get a little disruptive and annoying. We didn't order any dessert. Walked by and it didn't look too appealing or fresh. Great new addition to FH. Will definitely come back. read more

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Had lunch with friends today. Will go back for dinner and then make a final decision. However, lunch was not the greatest. Pros: They pour water constantly!! Cons: They spray the tables next to you (while you're eating) with Windex (they are not Greek lol). Who puts Windex on wood tables? Spray a cloth with cleaner in the back then bring the wet cloth to wipe the tables. The spray goes everywhere. All tables had salt and pepper, but not ours. All tables were served puffed bread and olives, but not ours. After our meals came, we had to ask for it. The bread was beautiful and delicious, the olives were bland. Two of our lunches arrived together and the third, which was just a side of rice...we had to ask for. No one asked how we were doing. They automatically add 18 percent tip to the check no matter the size of the party. Pretty nervy, so that's what they get even though I always tip 20 percent and above. The falafel was good, the salad was dry and flavorless, the rice was good. The club soda was nearly flat, so easy to fix. Next review for dinner. read more

Food was really great . Got the golden family platter for 9 ppl [including 2 kids] and it was more than enough. It came with rice and salad. When you order the golden it comes with loud music and a whole show of ppl clapping so if don't like attention I would ask to skip it lol. They have kids chicken and fries and apple juice boxes if needed. Fries are amazing. Octopus was also delicious. The service was ok the waiter definitely seemed overwhelmed but always helpful and kind. I think they need to hire more waiters. They also put on music for birthdays. The place is beautiful! read more

Zara Austin - Zaras Family Plate - Mediterranean Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

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Visited Zara Austin on Saturday night after they had just opened Wednesday in the old TGI Fridays space, and honestly this was one of the better accidental finds I've had in Forest Hills in a while. The space has been completely transformed. Warm lighting, upscale without feeling pretentious, and the open dining room gives it a much more polished feel than the old chain restaurant setup ever had. You could definitely tell they were still in grand opening mode because the staff was everywhere in the best possible way. Plates cleared immediately, drinks constantly refilled, everyone attentive and eager to make a good impression. We started with the babaganoush and falafel. Both were excellent, but the fresh bread might have been the standout of the meal. Warm, fluffy, and clearly made to be part of the experience rather than an afterthought. For mains we had the beef and chicken kababs. Both were cooked very well, flavorful, tender, and properly charred without being dry. Rice and salad were fresh and balanced the meal nicely. Finished with baklava, which was rich without being overly sweet. For a restaurant only a few days into opening, they looked surprisingly polished operationally. Service was sharper than places that have been open for years. read more

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This is a late review- I went on the 2nd day they opened. It was a very quiet opening, no announcements or anything. We figured the food would speak for itself! We came for a late lunch, were seated promptly as they weren't very busy yet. Had the complimentary baloon bread, and ordered fried calamari, the Zara family plate for four people, and the chocolate soufflé for dessert. The fried calamari, although evident of good quality squid, was different. It wasn't as fried, the batter quickly falls away from the squid, wasn't crispy, and overall very flavorful but a little bland even with the squeeze of the fresh lemon wedge. This one was a little disappointing. The Zara family plate had a beautiful presentation, with its meat platter or lamb, chicken, and beef. They explained there's also supposed to be falafels but as it was their second day of the restaurant opening, they didn't have it yet. There were two kinds of lamb, two kinds of chicken, and 1 kind of beef. The lamb was cooked nicely, and one of them had a minor kick to it. The chicken skewers were nice and flavorful, but the chicken bites were overly dry. The round beef patty was nice and wish we actually had more of that. In addition, the family plate came with 4 portions of sweet rice and salads. Overall a good dish to order if you're looking to try a variety of things. The chocolate soufflé was nice and full of chocolate lava from the center and paired nicely with the vanilla ice cream. Very heavy on the chocolate flavor so that was great! For the 2nd opening day, I'd say not bad but they still need to get things together in terms of how they cook the food. I probably won't come back for a while until they are able to cook the meat properly so it isn't as dry. There was a portion of the meat platter we just couldn't eat because it was dry and hard, particularly the overcooked chicken. However, presentation was on point and the open flame added that wow factor. Not to mention, the renovation of the restaurant was spectacular and has a more upscale feeling to it. The staff were nice and checked in once in a while as you're eating to make sure all is okay. But if you're waiting for them to come to you because you need something, it does take a while. They have different wait staff standing around. There's two who stand by the wall and they are mostly in charge of cleaning up. The waiters themselves who take your order, or answer questions regarding the food or gives the check, wear the same color clothes as the clean up crew and are running around quite a bit so it did take a while(over 5 minutes) if you need something. It was a little confusing at first why the clean up crew looked directly at us, watching us raise our hands, did nothing, and then watch us eventually put them down and sit there for a long long time unassisted. That was a little frustrating as we knew there were only the handful of window tables filled in the restaurant. But then again, for the 2nd day of the restaurant being open, it is understandable that they were still trying to figure things out and hopefully will be able to find their groove on operations and dry chicken. read more

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Food and ambiance were great! Love to see a new halal spot in the neighborhood. Real authentic Turkish food. Service was a bit hectic probably due to how busy it was. But overall great experience. Definitely recommend for date night or group celebration! read more

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The bread and hummus appetizer came quickly; the latter was somewhat bland, though it was smooth. The chicken thighs were visually appealing and generally grilled well, though a touch dried. Service was disappointingly inattentive as we didn't get our water refilled and we needed to flag someone to pay the bill, but perhaps the operations will improve. read more

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First and foremost, I would highly recommend for you to make a reservation. It's almost impossible to get a table without one. We came on a Saturday night at 6:30 and it was packed. The waiters were attentive and we got our bread and appetizers pretty quick (the ones I liked were the eggplant salad and the salad with the red bell peppers, the rest were rather bland). The food took a little bit longer but it was worth the wait. The branzino fish was amazing, the lamb chops were fresh and the steak was yummy too (pictures not included here because my party started eating by the time I got my phone out lol). For dessert I would recommend the tiramisu, it was one of the best I've tried in a while. We also ordered the mixed berry cheesecake but it did not taste like the typical American cheesecake, it was much softer (still good though) and the chocolate soufflé (will take 15 minutes to prepare) was a bit too sweet for my liking. I would definitely come back again! read more

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Tried Zara Austin in Forest Hills (the old TGI Fridays spot) and loved it. The Iskender Kebab was one of the best dishes I've had in a long time -- perfectly spiced sliced lamb gyro with yogurt on the side. So delicious. Prices are comparative. They also give fresh balloon bread and olives with the entree fresh from the clay oven, delicious. Service was very attentive too. Only difficult part is finding street parking on Austin Street as we all know. read more

Zara Austin - Iskender Kebab with yogurt - Mediterranean Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

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The food is very good. Service very nice. I had the gyro, great flavor. The rice is also very good. I really liked the hummus and the bread they give you is fresh and delicious. We also enjoyed the falafel. My husband enjoyed his mixed grill. Only improvement would be the runners - nice but forgetful with drink requests. I would definitely come back and already recommended to others. read more

Overall score 2.5/5 or 5/10. Food was a disappointment. Physical space is beautiful. Got the mix grill and stuffed grape leaves for the appetizer. The stuffed grape leaves had no flavor inside and were generally not tasty. I would give them a three out of 10. I then ordered the Zara mix grill, hoping to get a nice sampling of all the meats that they do. The beef skewer had no seasoning and on top of this, All of the meat was lukewarm or cold. I repeat all of the meat was lukewarm or cold. The only satisfying food I had there was there was the flatbread, which looks like they made fresh. All of the mixed grill items look like they had been reheated on a flat top before they brought it out. And the icing on the cake is the flavors were flat and not there. Very disappointing I wanted this place to be fantastic because we have so few good food options in this area which has become overrun with fast food garbage. The service was not on point either. The person next to me had to ask three times for his check and he waited at least 10 minutes for it. When I asked for my food to be packed up to go, they brought me a Takeaway box. This must be what casual dining is these days. I expect the way to take my food in the back box it up and bring it out, but I guess those days are over. read more

We ordered the chicken nuggets with fries, calamari, the branzino, the salmon, sangria, zara funte and the fruit blossom. The sangria was but apart from that everything was great.The restuandr looks very nice and I love the naan making brick oven. We will certainly be returning. The pricing is just as I would expect. read more

This place is a refreshing welcome addition. It is very well renovated, clean and spacious. It's so much better than the TGIFridays that occupied this space. The food was fresh and tasty. I would skip the burger and try some of the more authentic dishes. The waitstaff is very friendly and welcoming. They are still soft opening so there are hiccups. Sometimes there is a bit of wait for the food and the check. Also the breakfast options were not available. The place charges an 18% gratuity, which is stated on the menu. read more

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Food was unsatisfactory and very bland and dry. They served us rather quickly and the complementary bread came fast yet we had to constantly flag someone down for further assistance. The place is gorgeous physically but very poorly organized. Staff members were regularly arguing behind us. read more

We had exquisite chicken shish and lamb kebab. There are plenty of Mediterranean joints around, but we were so lucky to find this authentic Turkish place. read more

Zara Austin - Chicken shish - Mediterranean Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

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If the owners have enough money to turn the restaurant into a Mediterranean extravaganza, why can't they put that effort into training their staff and cooks. My husband and I were so looking forward to having a nice dinner but that didn't happen. To sum up my experience, we will not be going back there. read more

I just found out there's a 18 % tip on bill so I didn't know left 35 % cash so I tipped 44% , they should tell you! They don't tell you , happened twice , they do it on purpose, never will return, bad business practice! Look at your check closely! Scummy to do , waiter should say something or a sign you can see , foods not so tasty either , nice atmosphere, watch Zara !!!! read more

This is a mixed review. We've been to Zara twice. The first time it was a five star restaurant. Everything was just fine - - ambience, food, service, and the all-around vibe. We were very happy with the restaurant. However, our second visit was on a Saturday night. The place was packed, quite noisy, and we were seated in a crowded area in the back. The waitress, although very pleasant, was overwhelmed by the number of tables she had to cover and the busy crowd. The falafel was lousy - -tiny portion of hummus and over fried. The beef shish kebab was just OK. Truly, nothing special and the beef was a bit tough. Will give the restaurant another try on a less crowded night. read more

Not just your usual burger joint or sports bar. It's very well designed... Elegant is the word that comes to mind for the decor. Food was very, very good. If you live within striking distance of this restaurant, you're very lucky. We were seated for lunch immediately and with a smile. Food was excellent: lamb enter, , beef entre and falafel as a starter. Almost too much food, but we feasted it on it for several meals after our lunch. I wish I had had room for the avocado salad. The service was excellent. I don't know how the lone server (I think her name is Beza ?) was able to cover the whole place, but she did without batting an eye.... Even when the lunch time crowd started to gather. We were approached several times by the gent whom I assume was the manager. Very friendly, very attentive. will definitely return. Also... It seems to be a huge space so it might be a great place for a big party. Food was truly excellent. Don't miss this fine place! read more

Came for lunch today. Has the Iskender kebob . It was fantastic and definitely enough for 2 people... also comes with a huge balloon bread to start with so I suggest sharing if you're not starving... Service was great also.. BEYZA was my waiter.. she was very nice!!!!! the places, very elegant! I highly recommend it read more

I went with five friends to Zara Austin on Sunday. It is an absolutely beautiful restaurant with incredible lighting fixtures, comfortable yet elegant seating, and a completely new bathroom. The food is so tasty. The highlight for me was definitely the lamb shish; they got a perfect cook on the lamb. The desserts were amazing too. We ordered several for the table. My favorite was a piece of Baklava I tried. If you haven't eaten here yet, it is worth a special trip. Zara Austin is an incredible addition to our neighborhood! read more

Zara Austin - Lamb Shish - Mediterranean Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

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I don't think I've ever given a bad review. But unfortunately I got sick on their food and it could have been prevented. I was there with my sister We ordered the mixed appetizer I ordered the salmon and she ordered the beef medallions. I took one piece of the salmon and realized it was bad. I never sent back food ever in my life. The salmon tasted fishy and sour at the same time. My sister's beef medallions were okay but for some reason the potatoes that came with it were cold and the vegetables were waterlogged. She did not send hers back. I reordered the beef kabob and it came out tough and overdone. I am not sure if the chef did that intentionally because I sent food back. I really wouldn't recommend going here at all. It is a really really beautiful restaurant the wait staff does a phenomenal job but the food quality is very poor quality and for me made me sick. read more

Nice looking place, but the food was somewhat mediocre. The lamb was overcooked and tough and lacking in flavor. A very "mid" offering. I also find the included 18% tip comical. I don't mean the gratuity that's included for tables of 5 or more patrons. *Everyone* pays this tip. Word of advice: it's not a tip if it's mandatory - it's part of the price of the dish! By making it a forced tip, you are clearly engaging in a deceptive business practice to make food items look cheaper. And if I don't like the food or service, I don't have the option of lowering the tip. (Also, the service is courteous, but clearly inexperienced.) read more

They need some serious front of house intervention. Probably one of the worst dining experiences I've had in FH. It looks pretty inside but food was forgettable and the service was atrocious. Was hoping to have a new spot to go but it will take a lot for me to go back. And the automatic addition of an 18% tip to the bill is very off putting. The staff don't even have to try. Do better Zara. read more

As a brand new restaurant,Zara Austin has a hell of a lot of improvement to do! The staff is fresh, lack of experience, nervous, can't answer questions about dishes, and sometimes forget all about you... Which was my experience and others tables I observed.We were sat down and completely forgotten about while everyone else around us was being served. Another server could not carry a tray of two cocktails without visibly shaking and so scared that a martini is going to spill. I felt bad for him. We were brought the wrong entrées and then had to wait an additional 30 minutes for the correct ones. We had to keep asking for water even though there is a dedicated (Barback) that must refill close to empty glasses. A host or hostess should always be at a stand. A customer doesn't want to arrive having to search for someone they can ask for a table. Even as I left, I saw the confusion of incoming customers who couldn't find a host. We had a (Barback) who took away everything off the table before we even received the check. Before we even left, our water glasses disappeared. I hope that these complaints help to improve service. Currently service is awful. I only saw one manager on the floor on a Saturday . That manager has to run around and doesn't have time to observe every single mistake. Someone has to be eyeing, if not shadowing employees as they do their job here. Many lack the experience to make a new restaurant successful especially in an area that is overrun with restaurants. You do not want new customers to start posting reviews like mine, because it will affect the future. The near future. On the positive side... The entrees we had were great, the menu is promising. The decor is in theme with a modern take of Mediterranean life. Except the women's restroom transported me to a Cuban restaurant. I wonder what happened there. The bar needs to be more well lit since it is a nice looking bar. It would be nice to see it highlighted more. I will return but not for many months. I'll wait till they replace staff and improve service and operations. That would make the full experience at Zaera memorable and fulfilling. read more

The food was very tasty and the ambience and space absolutely beautiful. We went for lunch on a weekday so it wasn't crowded. The service was attentive and friendly and our water glasses were refilled constantly. We started with the babaganoush which was excellent and the warm, freshly baked bread was delicious. We then had the chicken shish kebab and the avocado, artichoke and asparagus salad. Both very tasty and fresh. For dessert, we had the baklava which was perfect, not too sweet with the crispiest phyllo dough. Overall, a great experience and a lovely addition to restaurants on Austin Street. read more

bad service - took forever to order; our appetizers finally arrived after half an hour. Obviously a big invester restaurant that lacks soul (clearly not owner run). read more

Service was very mediocore at best and then when the bill pay I knew why since the gratuity is included (party of 4). Food was decent, small portions. Drinks expensive $9 draft beer $20 cocktail read more

Food is ok. Chicken shish kebab was very dry and burnt. Service staff need serious training. They are nice people but completely lost.

Zara Austin's food and atmosphere made the celebration of my mural unveiling event very special! It is a memory that I will forever cherish! The food was fresh, generous portions, tasty and made with love and care. We shared an avocado salad and the mixed trays of dips with the balloon bread. The balloon bread had a nice char and was airy and light complemented by the peppery olives and olive oil. The dips were bursting with flavor with my favorite being the smoky eggplant dip! I ordered the kofte kebab and the lamb burgers were juicy and grilled to perfection. My mom got the chicken chops: tender fall off of the bone grilled chicken thighs that were well marinated. My friend got chicken kebab that was succulent and tender. Dessert consisted of tiramisu that was just the right amount of sweetness and baklava. To top it all off we had the honor of meeting the head chef that explained the process of how he makes everything and his dedication and passion shines in each dish that he hand crafts. Zara Austin is a gem to our Forest Hills community to enjoy amazing Turkish Mediterranean delights. read more

The food is delicious. I wish I took a picture but I couldn't wait. I ordered mix app, mixed grill, steak and lamb chops. Everything was perfect. read more

Slightly loud, but waitstaff was nice and the food was delicious. Would definitely go again!