BARBOUNIA — Restaurant in New York

Barbounia Restaurant – A Culinary Masterpiece on Park Avenue!

It’s hard to put into words how extraordinary our dining experience was at Barbounia in Manhattan. Simply put—this place 🏠 is a must!

Touted as “A Mediterranean Affair,” that phrase barely scratches the surface of what awaits you. This is a one-of-a-kind dining journey through the Middle East, Lebanon, Morocco, Israel, and beyond—a vibrant explosion 💥 of flavors unlike anything you’ve tasted 😛.

From the first bite, your tastebuds 👅 are introduced to a harmony of exotic herbs and spices.

Having little experience identifying these aromatic and tasty blends, I won’t even attempt to give a written description of what my palate was privy too.

Chef Mor is a true culinary artist, with the rare talent to imagine flavors in his mind and bring them to life on your plate. Watching him meticulously inspect every dish before it left the kitchen was impressive. His constant dialogue with the floor manager showed his commitment to perfection in every detail.

We felt compelled to meet him and thank him personally—this was no ordinary meal, it was a crafted experience.

Our server, Grigo, was the perfect guide through the menu, leading us to unforgettable dishes that can only be described as OMG! Barbounia was buzzing inside and out—lively and energetic—but the ambiance, expertly made cocktails, and seamless service created an atmosphere of effortless sophistication.

The decor? Stunning. High ceilings, arched aisles, glowing globe lights—all set the tone. But let’s talk chairs 🪑. Cushioned, curved, and perfectly weighted, they were the most comfortable restaurant chairs I’ve ever sat in. Dining here felt like being cradled in luxury.

Now the food… 🥘

Starters We had the hummus, Israeli salad 🥗, and grilled octopus 🐙. •   The hummus—silky, creamy, blended with tahini—surrounded a pool 🏊 of crushed tomatoes 🍅, cilantro 🌿, olive oil 🫒, and chickpeas. Dipping the warm bread 🥖 into it was divine. A true slice of heaven. . •   The octopus 🐙? So tender, paired perfectly with marinated chickpeas, chillies 🌶️, oregano 🌿, red onion 🧅, olives 🫒, and labaneh. A great pairing of flavors. •   The Israeli chopped salad 🥗 was crisp, refreshing, and coated in a creamy, tangy tahini dressing, with mint, cucumbers 🥒, and crispy pita 🥙. These were the perfect start.

Main Courses Every dish was an explosion 💥 of flavor.

•   The Short Rib Tagine 🥩 was deeply aromatic—braised with Swiss chard 🥬, harissa, preserved lemon 🍋, and homemade couscous 🍚.

. It was a stew 🍲 that was so aromatic 👃 that we knew the taste would be unbelievable, which it was.

•   The Roasted Chicken Shish Kebab 🐓 came with braised freekeh, peas 🫛, almonds 🥜, sumac, and the standout: a green pea tahini dip so good we all dunked our bread 🥖 in it. The peas literally burst 💥 in your mouth! Extraordinary.

•   I had the Long Island Duck Shawarma 🦆—served on forbidden black rice 🍚 with mushrooms 🍄, amba, tahini, pine nuts 🌰 & sumac. Rich, bold, and plated 🍽️ to perfection—a true masterpiece.

Desserts •   A decadent red velvet and chocolate mousse with strawberries 🍓 and rose petals 🌹, dusted with a magical strawberry 🍓 powder.

•   And the star: a tangy fruit delight crowned with cloud-like ☁️ halavah cotton candy 🪶 that melted in your mouth 😛. Beyond amazing!

Yes, this review is long—but deservedly so. Barbounia isn’t just a meal—it’s an unforgettable experience from start to finish.

My Final two...

Generally, I'm not one to write reviews, but I'm so utterly disappointed with yesterday's Thanksgiving dinner at Barbounia that I feel compelled to share my experience. In short: it was an absolute joke. The wait for everything was excruciatingly long, the food was painfully mediocre, and several promised dishes were missing. The dinner cost $90, and after taxes and a tip for a party of six, it came to $117 per person for a three-course meal. The price-to-quality ratio was absolutely horrendous!

Let me describe what we received. Supposedly, we were to have three courses (an appetizer, main course, and dessert) plus a side of cornbread. The cornbread was served on a small plate, crumbling into bits, and each person received a tiny cube of bread. Then, we all chose to have the same dishes, only to find out they didn't have the appetizer we wanted. Later, when it was time for dessert (naturally, pumpkin pie), the waiter informed us that they were out of that too! My friends then opted for ice cream instead, and here's where it got unbearable: the served ice cream was just three ordinary scoops taken from a box, presented on a plate – I've never seen a more effortless dish or presentation.

The stuffing for the turkey was very good, but disappointingly, my main dish contained several inedible bones that should not have been there... The presentation of the dish is also something worth discussing, but instead of saying it, I will just post pictures below.And the icing on the cake was the music – not only was it mismatched with the setting, but it was also loud and uncomfortable.

Overall, this was absolutely the worst dining experience I've had. If you can't do Thanksgiving dinner right, then please don't do it at all, because you ruined...

I used to be a frequent customer at La Barbounia. I cherished their upscale dining experience especially before and during the pandemic. However, my recent visit revealed a disheartening experience one that not only marred the visit but also raise concerns about honoring customer service and satisfaction.

From the moment we walked in, there was an uncomfortable discriminatory undertone, evident in both the seating arrangement and the subsequent confrontation with the head manager, Ms. Karina Garcia. After we paid our bill and we were happily getting ready to leave (fyi: this was our first date night after having a newborn). She approached us and questioned our gratuity amount, despite leaving a reasonable percent for a “good but not exceptional” experience. Karina’s tone and verbal expression throughout the interaction added to the discomfort, creating an unwelcoming experience. She continued to reference a NYC protocol that requires tips to be above a certain percentage point. I explained to her that was intriguing to hear and that I will have to review that. The encounter was condescending, unprofessional and prejudice in nature. When this was communicated to her, her response was “I am a Latina”. Lady this has nothing to do with your ethnic background as it has to do with your demeanor and approach.

we paid for a service and deserve to be treated with up most respect as customers. This experience tarnished our overall experience at a place that held a special spot in my dining preferences for years now. Just saddening to see a once-gem in our neighborhood prioritize an employee’s ego rather than the customer...