Amazing food and the atmosphere is beautiful yet calm. Perfect for every situation. Plus the bar has a great selection. A place you will want to visit again and again. read more

I previously dined at Zara with just my husband. I recently stopped by again with my small kids and I've never received such amazing service when dining as a family. We were promptly provided high chairs for the kiddos and our server, Veli (apologies if spelling is wrong, I dined on Saturday ~4-6pm), is the service any family would hope for when they dined. I like to have the kids dining at restaurants to practice their table manners and order their own food. Veli was VERY patient and took my kids' orders from them. Of course the food was delicious, but all the small moments that Veli provided (coming by to check on us, playing around with the kids, providing them color books for entertainment) were all things that made us feel like we were eating at a family member's house. Of note, I confirmed the "auto 18% gratuity" was removed even though it may be on the menu. But with service like this they deserve 18% and MORE. The restaurant is also very spacious and can fit parties of 2-10+ easily. I can't wait to eat at this restaurant for future family parties and/or celebrations. read more

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Wonderful experience here. Stopped by for a date night and upon entering, it is a gorgeous environment. Beautiful ambiance and decently spaced throughout the restaurant. They asked if we had reservations and we didn't but it was still easy to get a table. The wait staff was welcoming and it made us feel valued as a patron. Food is amazing. Got the mixed appetizer with 5 dips and comes with giant, fresh baked bread. This should come with a warning because when you rip into it, steam comes out so be careful to not burn yourself. The mixed platter was just enough for two people to share. Good meat options with fluffy rice and salad. The golden passion drink ($17) was delicious. Our waiter, Ithink his name was Mert or Merk, said it was a good choice and not too sweet or sour. He was spot on. Great drink! Would definitely come back for special occasions. read more

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We were excited to try this new restaurant. I don't usually like Turkish food so I was a little worried but everything we ordered was good. They did a good job redecorating the space. It is a nice layout and very spacious. The staff were very attentive and responsive. I ordered the beef shish kebab and my husband ordered the mix grill. The plates came with a salad, rice, and a tortilla. It was a decent amount of food. The meats were grilled well with smoky Mediterranean flavor. The cuts of the meat were fair. The free bread that came out before the food was impressive. It was big and hot. The bread came with olive oil for dipping. They also had an interesting dessert menu that we need to come back to try especially the chocolate souffle. read more

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Surprise trip to Forest Hills led to a good surprise. Decor was opulent. Staff was friendly. Food was absolutely delish and cooked perfectly. Complementary fly bread with olive oil and olives. Had the grilled octopus, Zara mixed grill and a dirty martini. Will be back. read more

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Had a delicious Turkish dinner at Zara Austin restaurant in Forest hills with a group of friends. I actually arrived early at the restaurant and decided to have a lychee martini and I was able to take my drink with me to the table when the rest of the group arrived. They brought out this huge fresh bread from the oven with olives. And we ordered calamari for appetizer; which was totally delicious. For entree, I had the chicken shish kabab that was the most delicious. It was served with tasty grilled cube chicken that was flavorful, fresh salad, a small hot green pepper, red pepper, and yummy delicious basmati rice. For dessert we had Turkish coffee that was served with a piece of chocolate. Our waiter was from Istanbul and he was amazing. Lovely place to dine! Would definitely go again. read more

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I finally had a chance to check out Zara in Forest Hills. My companion and I shared the mixed appetizer (yum) and the shepherd's salad with shredded feta (extra charge). A Shepard's salad should include feta, BTW (take note, Zara)! We also added the falafel appetizer to our order. The falafels were crispy and flavorful. For cocktails, my friend ordered the espresso martini, and I went with the pomegranate. Everything was delicious and our server, Carolina, was wonderful, too. We didn't have any space for dessert, but I plan on changing that with my next visit. read more

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So this new Turkish place opened up in my hood and every time I walk by there's tons of folks eating so once it was my college friends meetup decided to try this place and everyone was willing to try. We loved the ambiance. Huge beautiful space and the women's bathroom was so pretty. A few ladies were taking selfies since mural was beautiful. The food was good and plentiful! We had 5 of us and the waiter recommended the platter for 4 and we still couldn't finish. Three of us brought leftovers home. We also ordered the babaganoush and falafel appetizer. We got their 1st complimentary balloon bread as well as pita bread to eat with the babaganoush. The balloon bread came with olives and olive oil. It was definitely a popular birthday spot. There were quite a few folks celebrating their birthdays so no joke they kept singing happy birthday pretty much the whole time we were there. Definitely a lively spot and good for groups. We all enjoyed so maybe heading back. read more

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Came for a Friday dinner with girlfriends. Located in the heart of Forest Hills/Austin Street next to the Target. Made reservations and were immediately seated. The interior is beautiful, large open space and different types of tables and seating. We were put in the middle of the restaurant. There is a large bar seating area, they have a wood burning oven where they make their breads and food fresh. Also a salad prep area next to the oven. Right when you walk in, there is a large fridge displaying all the meats they offer. We were brought their popular bread to share with oil/olive to dip. We decided to go with plates to share, we ordered the platter of mixed meats which came with a small salad and rice on the plate and the shrimp skewer meal which came with 2 skewers of grilled shrimp with onions/peppers, arugula salad and rice on the plate as well. The food was outstanding, flavors on point, meat and fish cooked perfectly, and more than enough to share and have for take home too. They give sturdy take home containers and bags. We tried their drinks too. The Verde drink is a slam dunk, I would have never imagined matcha to pair well with liquor but I saw the light at Zara! It had a lychee flavor that made the drink even better. The lychee martini was as expected. The pomegranate drink was not great. Bill included tip and came to just under $170 for three people, full meals, and 3 drinks. I would suffer through the traffic and headache of parking to visit again! read more

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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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We came for my birthday dinner on a Monday evening. We didn't have reservations but we were seated right away. The restaurant is huge and has a great layout. You can see how the balloon breads are made and the cold apps being set up. The mixed platter was really good and we even asked for extra gratis balloon bread. The chicken platter was good too. The lamb gyro, however, was NOT it. It had a really gamey smell and no flavor. I couldn't finish it. We also didn't like that the waiter sort of was just lingering around while we were paying. Gratuity is already added to the bill so keep that in mind since the final receipt also has an extra tip line for some reason. I would return for the balloon bread. 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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Wow what an awesome experience! The ambiance is warm inviting and modern! Service was top notch! Handsome waiters! We ordered chicken Adana kebab, mixed appetizer, chicken shush kebab. The Adana was very flavorful. The pilaf rice was fluffy and tasted so well with the tabbouleh salad. The chicken shush kebab was so tender and juicey. The fresh bread they bring is a warm cloud of perfection that compliments the mixed appetizer. It has hummus, garlic yogurt, eggplant salad, tabbouleh and a spicey chickpea salad. I walked here but there doesn't seem to be available park lot. Lucky if you get on the street parking. Gorgeous restrooms! read more

Zara Austin - Chicken Adana kebab - 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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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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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

My fiance and I went to Zara to celebrate our 6 year anniversary. We made a reservation for 8:30 and were sat immediately. That was great. Service on the other hand was horrible. Looks like it's going to be so fun from the outside. Feels cheap on the inside. Food tastes even cheaper. And the staff is rude and inattentive. read more

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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The food was so good. The mixed appetizer plate was great. Of the dips I felt like the eggplant was the least good but still delicious. I got the sautéed beef and my colleagues got the chicken kebab and lamb. Everyone was happy with their food. I think the best thing on the menu was the rice. The Verde drink was also delicious. read more

Nicely decorated, very spacious. Chicken Adana was okay but the lamb kefta was bland and dry. Service was good but not the friendliest. Loud ambiance. read more

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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I walked by a few times, curious about this place. I wasn't a TGI Friday's regular though and wondered what the new space looked like. I noticed they were busy last Tuesday at 6:00 so I gave in to my curiosity and walked in, asked for a takeout menu and quickly looked around ~ nice space! We made a reservation for 7:00 last Saturday and were promptly seated in the back of the room when we arrived. Our server (Seret?) was patient and professional, our drinks came quickly (mister had an Efes beer and I enjoyed a glass of Sancerre), and we loved the fresh, hot bread with olives. We shared a Mediterranean salad then tore into our lamb and beef kebabs ~ YUMMY! I spied Baklava on the menu, so we asked for a takeout container and split an order. More deliciousness! The women's bathroom is beautiful, elegant, and so clean with a beautiful mural and statue of a pair of bunnies taking a selfie ~ so sweet. We're DEFINITELY coming back though I admit the 18% automatic tip is a turn off since we usually tip 22-25%. Dear Owner: please, please rethink this 18% automatic tip practice. New Yorkers TIP! Please trust our community to tip your excellent staff. Please! read more

Zara Austin - The beautiful mural in the ladies bathroom with two sweet bunnies taking a selfie in foreground. - Mediterranean Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

My husband and I were passing by and saw people having a good time with delicious food by the window, specifically a large meat platter on fire for a what seemed to be a birthday. We decided to go inside and try it ourselves and we were pleasantly surprised by how great the food and service were! The decor was very pleasing for the eyes as well. I would definitely go back for more. 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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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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Amazing place. Not sure what's better, the ambiance or the food. Order the octopus for an appetizer and the ZaRa Family plate for dinner (more food than you can imagine). Also, there is plenty of parking on the street, but if you can't find one there, there is a paid parking lot on top of the building (enter next to Target). Definitely give this place a try. You will be glad you did. read more

Zara Austin - The Octopus appetizer and the flat bread. - Mediterranean Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

Went to this restaurant upon recommendation from a family member who enjoyed dining at their Staten Island location. Decor is indeed beautiful but does not justify high prices. Don't know what my family members ordered but we found food quality to be barely average. Service ok but nothing special. Felt totally ripped off. Will most definitely not be going back there!! read more

My friend and I went here after looking for a place around Forest Hills to have lunch. There aren't many Turkish restaurants on the area and the other reviews on Zara looked promising. The food was amazing, wells seasoned and everything came out hot. The place is surprisingly spacious and well decorated. The staff was also quite pleasant. I'm definitely coming back :) 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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Been here a couple times, and we love this spot so much. Our waitress Beyza was so fantastic, the balloon bread, baba ghanoush, and mix grill were delicious. Cocktails were yummy and strong. We'll be back here regularly, so happy there's a nice spot on Austin Street. read more

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

Ambient is very nice , food quality is average , overpriced , service is average , we will never visit again

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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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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Horrible delivery experience! First and last time I'm ordering from them. They did not deliver my baklava, and when I called them back, initially they were going to send it over, then I got called back saying that it's been 5 hrs since I placed the order, so therefore the manager told the delivery person that they aren't gonna send me anything. Outrageous! When I asked to speak to the manager, she initially said to wait, then I hear someone yelling in the background and the girl said, sorry, the manager is not here anymore. How blatantly dishonest! They also tried to blame the Grubhub delivery guy, although the bags came full to the brim and tied up. The food was okay- liked the chicken adana and lamb gyro. The salads did not look too fresh, and the manti was cold and dry inside. What a big disappointment- I really like turkish food and was happy that have manti on their menu. Not a lot of turkish restaurants do... read more

My boyfriend and I tried this new restaurant ,Zara on Austin located on 69-32 Austin street in forest Hills Queens , NY. The food is delicious and served instantly. The ambience is beautiful and well lit. The decor is attractive and roomy .Our waiter Burak, was very charming and cordial. We recommend this restaurant and definitely be back. read more

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

I didn't think I would like this restaurant but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it. The food selection was really good so it was easy to find something. The decor is beautiful and the set up was really nice. When we sat down we were given this huge bread which was enough for the 5 of us to share. The portions were big so we did share some of the orders. Had a delicious lychee martini to start and shared a lamb gyro sandwich and fries. Was so good. For dessert we shared the baklava and chocolate lava cake with ice cream. Then the ladies room was redone and beautiful and so clean. I enjoyed it so much and can't wait to go back to this local restaurant. I highly recommend. read more