Balaboosta, New York NY

Flat out amazing good. Well designed and prepared. As you can see from my pics I was on a bit of a sojourn. Tried many items. Loved them all. I read the reviews about the service. I THOUGHT about it. From the hostess to the servers to bussers they were all very attentive and super accommodating. Very busy night. Maybe not the gooey cheerleader type of banter some expect. But informed. I’d go back again and again. Thank you Rachel for a wonderful experience.

Very delicious food, warm, accommodating staff and a choice of seating - indoor, outdoor (cabin or tables) or at the bar). Drinks were delicious! I rarely ever drink alcohol but my bf encouraged me to try his “yalla” and it was SO delicious! The ginger and lemon tasted super fresh.

Definitely get the hummus and whipped feta to start
Chicken entrée was our favorite- perfectly cooked and seasoned. Cauliflower side was also delicious.

The table next to us was eating stuffed cabbage - it looked incredible so will be back for that!

My brother really enjoyed his shrimp app- picture is so blurry bc he was too eager to eat it!

Add this to your list of West Village spots to try some new flavors. The eggplant was amazing and the whipped feta with date syrup is the absolute star (it was gone before I could take a picture)! Staff was very attentive

Love Israeli food. This was just OK. I thought it was very over priced with small portions. Hummus was delicious but small. There were 5 people and we had to order extra pita. The bill was over $70 a person and they charged for pita bread (i find that in poor taste). The appetizers we’re good for the most part. I would eliminate the mushrooms which were expensive and chewy. The hummus and cauliflower were the better choices. The steak was extraordinarily small, cold, and overpriced. The chicken was substantial and pretty good. The bronzino was fair. The rice was delicious but ridiculously priced. I always like to try new places but this was truly Disappointing.

Very rude staff. Gave the smallest table in an empty restaurant. And when I requested for a bigger table waitress said all the tables are small. Meanwhile they just sat 2 people who came after us on a table for 4. Tiny congested tables. Will never go back. Walked out.

Nice atmosphere, the food is good but small portion. While the hostess was very welcoming, we were super disappointed in our server’s attitude.

Great fine Israeli food!

Everything was extremely delicious, the vibes are great and the space was.spot on!

The olives (not in the photos because we ate them too fast) were phenomenal, and the hummus and market salad (also didn’t manage to take a picture), were great.

The cauliflower (in the photo) was amazing and delicious, the mushrooms were amazing and almost resembled meat (were vegan/vegetarian so didn’t try any meat), and the desserts… let’s just say I wanted to try them all after the first two but also had to walk home

Thank you Balaboosta!

The hummus and steak were top tier. The rice was drenched with butter (what's not to like).

The shawarma wasn't as flavorful as the steak.

Definitely $$$

Absolutely loved our dining experience at their bar the other night. We sat for two and our bartender was Leah. We had some small bites to share and everything was exceptional. We loved that Our bartender knew all the dishes so well, made it easy to navigate the small (and thoughtful) menu.

The mushroom dish was so satisfying. I loved the way the mushrooms were grilled perfection and served with all those delicious additions as garnish. We didn’t have a full meal but we tried a number of things. I recommend going here with people who would be willing to do the same. This is a great date night/ intimate dinner spot to order multiple things and share because I can’t imagine having one or two and being satisfied.

The soup dumplings were amazing. Delicious eggplant dish and ceviche was well. Portion sizes are small for almost everything we ordered so be mindful if you are super hungry or looking for a big plate/meal.

@Wendi Altman
Not sure if you know but we are currently in the middle of a global pandemic. NYC was hit particularly hard and restaurants/bars were closed. Any restaurant that is open is hanging on by a thread. These businesses are owned by people with families and employee people with families. They are doing their best to serve people (with families). It is hard, it is stressful, and customers are often not compliant with the ever-changing covid rules. You have to be really devoid of compassion and lacking common decency to give a bad review to a restaurant/bar during these times. This restaurant/bar doesn’t suck, you do.

I LOVE Middle Eastern Food.but as with any cuisine, you run into the problem of finding that the dishes are the same wherever you go.not here. Totally unique menu.and DELICIOUS! I ordered stuff I always order when I go out, but was pleasantly surprised to be served dishes that I were nothing I have ever had before!

Food came in tiny portions, so was quite overpriced. Also, do not get the cauliflower shawarma; it came out cold, soggy, and bland, comparable to something I could have made at home. Overall appalled I shelled out $140 for mediocre food.

Super delicious and creative Mediterranean.
The menu is built with all times classics along side with fun, seasonal dishes that you’ll regret missing when they’re gone. Awesome cocktails and great wine selection

Enjoy my meal it was very good staff is very friendly will recommend to friends and family. I'm the mother of one the Chef.

Food was soooo good. Great service and charming outdoor dining set up. Personnel were super prepared with masks and gloves

Good and classic Israeli food. There are only two 4 seat tables during the quarantine so better as a two person meal than family. The two restrooms inside remain open. The menu is limited and is only online but ordering and paying are more traditional. Service was prompt and overall this is one of the better quarantine dining experiences for those that need a break from eating at home. Recommend the humus and bread, and the beat salad. Would avoid the arepas as they were heavy. The chicken was generous in portion for those that are big eaters.

I adore Middle Eastern food. Lebanese, Syrian. This place had some authentic, delicious dishes like many I've had in Beirut! I loved the place.

This is our family's go-to takeout spot. Probably the best falafels we've had in New York. Delicious and fresh, everything I've tried has been a hit. The only disappointing thing about this restaurant is that they still use styrofoam to-go containers.

Place is so good! Good customer service. I feel like it's little bit pricey (for me) but the quality makes up for it! Highly recommend!