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Had a great time, food, service, and atmosphere were all on point. Our server was Gigi and she was fantastic! Got seated next to the larger waterfall which honestly was a very small trickle but cute nonetheless. For food, we split a lot of dishes -
- mezze platter: hummus wasn’t good, baba ganoush was ok, everything else was good
- spanakopita: had really high hopes for this but this was average (2 pieces)
- cheese bourkas: these were good, but they are a bit heavy (2 pieces)
- jamon croquettes: these were the best app, flavorful and the perfect portion (4 pieces)
- lamb kofta tagine: absolutely delicious and i’m glad it was somewhat healthy too (at least it seemed like it), lamb was flavorful and the dish was 10/10, would definitely get again
- chocolate cake: a bit like a lava cake, but also like a warm chocolate cake at the same time. Very small, perfect for when you’re stuffed and want dessert - as far as chocolate cakes go, it was ok. Ice cream that came with it was delicious
- date tart: not what i expected, not very good (unless you LOVE dates)
- pomegranate marg: delicious
- shalel manhattan: pretty good
Really cool atmosphere, inside a cave with a trickling waterfall! The food was all fantastic, with lots of great options from Greece, Italy, Spain... and yes the espresso martini was top notch. The service was friendly - Autumn was the best!
Been here 3 times and only have positive things to say. The ambiance is very calming and romantic, the food is delicious and the service is excellent. Highly recommend for your next date night.
This a a very unassuming from the outside, Middle Eastern restaurant. But when you step in you'll be blown away. The decor is so wonderful you wouldn't expect this in a basement. Everything was done in a world class manner. The drinks were excellent. We really enjoyed the pomegranate margarita as well as their not sweet sangria. The moussaka was a vegan dish that even carnivores would enjoy. The mixed grill is a good sampler and the desserts with labneh are so good.
My partner and I had our anniversary dinner here and it was delightful. This is a restaurant that is lit by candles, mosaic lamps, etc and it’s great mood lighting. The food was wonderful! Everything we tried was great from the chocolate cake, to the sampler, to the entrees. I have an alpha gal allergy and there were more than enough options I could pick from!
Really lovely restaurant - cool atmosphere - tasty food and excellent service! Do not hesitate!
Overall rating: 4.4
This is a very unique spot in UWS. It feels like a cave and I absolutely love it.
I wish I gave it a 5 star, but the service was absolutely terrible.
Also the “waterfall” people mention is barely a waterfall. It’s water going down a slope.
The food was good, but it was impossible to get multiple drinks because of the slow service. We went towards the night and definitely overstayed past the closing time! But we didn’t even realize it was closing because we never saw staff.
The food was gooood. I don’t know if I just didn’t like what I ordered. But I’m interested in coming back again to try other foods.
It’s a very small-seated spot & intimate, so I don’t recommend for parties or groups of 3 or more.
Def more date night vibe, vs catching up with a friend.
Shalel was fantastic! Everything about this place is a 10/10. The ambiance was so cozy and romantic. Food was delicious and the service was great. I will be back and would recommend it!
Lovely, unique, romantic Mediterranean restaurant with amazing food! My husband hat a lamb dish and I had a seafood item, both very delicious. The staff was also very helpful and friendly, recommending wonderful appetizers and dessert items which we loved! We went there for our anniversary after watching a show at the nearby Lincoln Center.
We came here last week for a date night, and we didn’t know that the restaurant is located in a basement, but just after came in the vibe was mysterious, bohemian, like a secret place, it was a really nice surprise, in other words, exclusive.
We ordered some appetizers, including the Moroccan cigars, Ham Croquetas, and the meatballs. All of them were delicious, but the croquetas were absolute mouth watering.
For main course we ordered the Grilled mix and a porcini risotto; they were not our favorite, but we enjoyed them.
To finish, we ordered two desserts, but I really don’t remember their names, but they were so delish that we cleaned the plate.
Highly recommended, not only because of the food but also for the ambiance, the nice vibe and good service.
Stumbled upon this beautiful and intimate Mediterranean restaurant in the Upper West Side. It is a small restaurant with limited seating but is done up tastefully.
The food was great - we enjoyed the Babaganoush, Gambas Al Ajillo and the Moroccan Mint Tea. The Patatas Bravas are a tad bland and the Mushroom Saganaki may not be for everyone (uses a rather strong smelling kefalotyri cheese).
The service was great and we really enjoyed our visit. Would recommend this place for a romantic dinner date!
The experience at this beautiful and mysterious little hidden gem was impeccable. The food at this Mediterranean restaurant was truly lick your plate worthy. The ambiance is sexy, moody, private and intimate. The staff was sweet. Definitely would visit again and recommend to friends. Everything was superb but my top recommendations of the night were both the pizza and Mediterranean spreads as appetizers, Branzino for entree and Ekmek Kataif for dessert.
UPDATE: they came back and replaced it with real couscous, so giving it 5 stars for service
This is not real couscous. Very disappointed. They used Ptitim instead of actual couscous.
Fabulous intimate setting, great food, nice twist on drinks, and great staff.
I just LOVED this place!! What a dreamy atmosphere! Eating by candle lit. The food is really good. Everything tastes fresh. The cocktails are intriguing. Everything was reasonably priced and very good. We ate at the pantry table and I have to say, I loved it. It was like we had our own private room. It is a very intimate setting so great for special occasions.
Shalel is a hidden gem of a restaurant and cocktail bar perfect for impressing that special someone. Tucked away down a flight of stairs and a short corridor, it's practically a speakeasy - the place that makes you feel like you've stumbled upon a secret oasis in the city. Once inside, the warm and cozy ambiance transports you to a world of 1001 nights, making it an ideal spot for a romantic night out (just maybe not a first date unless you're already serious!). The staff is super friendly, and the Mediterranean food is delicious. If you're on a budget, go for the hummus - it's a great value. And remember to try the drinks - the red sangria is a must-try.
I absolutely adore this place! It's my first time back since the pandemic, and it's just as wonderful as I remembered. The staff is great and very accommodating and there are many great options for meditation cuisine on the menu. The food is exquisite, and the ambiance is charming and cozy. It's a perfect spot for a lovely date night.
It’s just the end of our block we never knew about this hidden Jem. The pictures don’t do any justice, it’s 100% will be a new experience. There are cute private kinda tables insides, the outer room you seen with the bar is not the only room, so that was cool. We got 2 entrees and one of them was good. Other one was average. The food did take a lot of time may be not fully staffed or something but the place n hospitality n food drinks were good. It’s bit pricy of course but yeah go for the experience u will love it
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