Balade — Restaurant in New York

Tbh I came in before last year and didn’t have the best experience staff wise something was off but I said lemme give it another chance and I must say, it was an exceptional experience from start to finish.

From the moment we walked in, we were greeted warmly by the staff, setting the tone for an evening filled with authentic Lebanese hospitality. The ambiance was inviting, with a perfect blend of traditional decor and modern elegance, creating a cozy yet vibrant atmosphere the place was packed so we waited about 20 mins past our reservation to be seated.

Now, let’s talk about the food—absolutely outstanding! We started with a selection of mezze, including creamy hummus, smoky baba ghanoush, and the freshest tabbouleh I’ve ever had. Each dish was seasoned to perfection, bursting with flavors that transported us straight to Beirut. The falafel was crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, while the cheese sambousek was perfectly golden and filled with gooey, delicious cheese.

For the main course, we had the mixed grill platter, which was a true highlight of the meal. The lamb chops were tender and juicy, the shish taouk was perfectly marinated, and the kafta had an incredible depth of flavor. Every bite was a delight! showcasing the chef’s expertise in traditional cooking.

To end the meal on a sweet note, we indulged in some classic Lebanese desserts—knefeh and baklava. The knefeh was warm, cheesy, and drenched in just the right amount of syrup, while the baklava had the perfect balance of crunch and sweetness. Paired with a cup of strong Lebanese coffee, it was the perfect way to wrap up an unforgettable meal.

Beyond the food, what truly made this experience stand out was the service. Our waitress was attentive, knowledgeable, and always ready with recommendations. The real star, however, was the manager, who personally checked on our table multiple times to ensure we were enjoying our meal. His genuine warmth and attention to detail made us feel truly valued as guests.

Overall, Balade is a gem for anyone looking to enjoy authentic Lebanese cuisine with top-notch service. Whether you’re craving a light mezze feast or a full traditional meal, this place delivers on all fronts. I will definitely be returning soon and highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates great food...

After doomscrolling through Open Table and Resy for hours my fancy was finally tickled by Balade. Although there were not many reservations left I was able to grab a last-minute just after primetime reservation on a Friday. I felt like the reservation gods had blessed me especially when I saw that they had a late-night happy hour that we were going to get with our reservation of time at 8:45 (Happy hour starts at 9 pm). Happy hour is great but a late-night happy hour is the fastest way to my heart. I will admit was worried for the first 15 minutes of lag time before the happy pricing started. To wait or not to wait? That is the question. The good news is that I didn't have to choose. There was a line out the door that looked as if they were giving out free meals to the hungry. People of all walks united in anger as we waited to get seated with our reservations in hand. A classic case of the overbooks. Although the half-hour wait in the cold and windy was not a great start to the meal the manager knew he screwed up and was handing out healthy pours of free wine to pass the time. It looked like an honest overbooking mistake rather than a ritual. Now I will be getting off my soapbox because that is the last of my complaints about this fine establishment. The drinks the food and the vibe of this place are top-notch. I'm a sucker for all things Mediterranean cuisine. A Mediterranean food trip is on my bucket list but I feel it would be a disappointment after the hummus and lamb that graced my mouth in the middle of East Village. I had the three meat platter but I wouldn’t get it again. All the meats were fantastic but the lamb cast a bigger shadow than Peyton and Eli on their third Brother. The lamb was so mind-blowing I forgot what the other two meats were. The baba ghanoush was truly authentic and was paired with fresh warm pita that could be a meal on its own. Great date spot but I recommend getting the full romantic ambiance with inside seating (but make sure you have a condom in your pocket.)

Balade, we started rougher than sandpaper on baby skin but you smoothed me over with great service, tasty food, good drinks, and a great atmosphere. You scored an 8.3 (9.1 if not...

I had the absolute pleasure opportunity of visiting Balade for a nice ftoor meet up I had with one of my friends.

When we first arrived to the restaurant the place was packed and full, you could really tell that they’re known for their fine quality levantine food. I had originally booked our table for 7:45, but unfortunately was not seated till about 8:30 which was pretty disappointing but it appeared that on that night they had open tables, hence the overbooking.

When we first stepped in we were greeted with the warmest hospitality by the waiters and were met with the fine geacw scent of freshly baked pita bread.

We glimpsed quickly through the menu, full of the finest Lebanese meals and finally decided on getting Hummus Bal lahma, balade mixed grill, beef shawarma, and rose water.

I will have to say though their hummus bal lahma was very soft as hummus should always be when made finely, so it really settled well on our tongues. The mixed grill kebab was as fine as it got in terms of levantine kabab, their chicken shish tawoq especially had the most tender and mouthing watering texture that absolutely made your heart meltThe beef shawarma was served with rice and a nice Mediterranean salad; their rice was very soft and warming with the vermicelli cooked into it. Me personally, I’ve never been the biggest fan of beef shawarma but the experience I had at Balade completely altered my perspective, I definitely look forward to coming back and having their shawarma again.

Finally the rose water that really complimented the whole meal, something sweet and light that balances out the savory meats we had.

I do also want to emphasize on how soft and warm their pita was, hats off to the chef all the way.

Our waiter Jawad, if I’m not mistaken, was very welcoming and enthusiastic made us feel right at home and even helped us chose out their tastiest meals.

I’ve been to trying to find a table at Balade for so long now and I can’t emphasize on how it was definitely worth all the wait. I’m coming back again and...