Naya Mezze & Grill

One of the best things about living in New York is having the luxury of choosing among a plethora of authentic cuisines. A friend recently introduced me to what he claimed as "one of the best" Lebanese restaurants in the city. Though I have not been to many Lebanese restaurants, this little Midtown gem certainly caught my eye (and stomach, of course).

Featured Restaurant: Naya Mezze & Grill

Rating: ♔♔♔

Hidden among the construction and furniture stores on a fairly busy avenue lies Naya Mezze & Grill, a chic, 6-month old establishment specializing in authentic Lebanese cuisine. The space is illuminated with bright lights peering through the symmetrical, mini-triangular carve-outs in the walls. White, square booths line neatly against both walls, and as my friend so aptly described, there is a certain "gloss" to this place. The narrow hallway leads to a private party room in the back, which is cleverly played up with two beautiful chandeliers.

Our dinner started off with the house appetizer, freshly toasted pita chips with a side of green olives and a sesame, black olive paste.

We ordered a series of appetizers or "mezze" in Lebanese. The first was the Tabboule, with fresh parsley tossed in mint, bulgur, tomatoes, onions, and olive oil. The Tabboule was an extremely refreshing dish, as it cleansed our palates and prepared us for the richer dishes ahead.

Next, we had the Fried Kibbe, beef dumplings stuffed with minced meat and pignoli. The texture of the kibbe was similar to falafels, but softer and more moist, and the yogurt sauce added an interesting element to the flavor combination.

According to my friend, most of the restaurants in the city that serve grape leaves get them in cans from the Middle East. The Grape Leaves at Naya are freshly rolled in house and stuffed with parsley, onion, tomato, and rice. Though the grape leaves tasted fresh and tender, the flavor was a bit too salty to my liking.

This next dish was my absolute favorite! Batata Harra, which are spicy potato cubes fried and sauteed in vinegar, Tabasco sauce, and coriander. The tanginess of the vinegar and Tabasco did wonders for me, and I suppose one could essentially call these Lebanese fries?

For our entree, we ordered the Chicken Shish Taouk, which I strongly recommend for the garlic lovers out there. The tender chicken kebab cubes (served without the sticks) are accompanied by roasted vegetables, tabboule, Lebanese rice, and a beautifully white, buttery garlic sauce. The Lebanese rice is also cooked in butter with flaky vermicelli pieces. The dish was very flavorful and vibrant, and was all in all, a fabulous choice.

If you've never had Lebanese cuisine and are curious to try, I would definitely recommend Naya Mezze & Grill. A special thanks to Said for introducing me to this place!

Naya Mezze & Grill

1057 Second Avenue

New York, NY 10022

(212) 319-7777