Frena — Restaurant in New York

Enjoyed our meal at Frena overall however there were a few detractors that caused me to give a lower rating. Given the delicious food I might go back again as it is a different offering close to the theatre district.

The pros: Food was excellent! Service attentive and honest.

The cons: Payment system error - pay attention Not timely if you are heading to a show - aggravated further due to incorrect order.

Hostess lovely and acknowledged we were there for my friend’s birthday. I reserved the “chef’s area” as it was advertised as the place to see the activity of the kitchen which is typically a special experience. The exact wording from Resy - “The Chef's Area offers views of the kitchen and a more intimate dining experience.” Upon arrival we were directed to a table for two permitting only one person any type of view and the other would have their back to the “kitchen.” Thankfully as we were there early prior to heading to a show. I spied a corner table and we were able to switch. As I looked around, I realized that the “kitchen view” was a view of the wood burning oven and food exiting the kitchen for service and service staff milling about to receive food to place on tables. Definitely not my typical experience of a chef’s area or kitchen view. Suggest they remove that seating option on their site as it is deceiving.

We told our waiter we needed to leave by 6:30pm as soon as we were seated at 5:10pm. We quickly ordered sambusak - spiced cheese bread, falafel, Moroccan cigars and the special fish entree. Initial dishes came out timely and were delicious. Then our entree arrived at 6:16pm which was fine as we could head out immediately after eating it quicker than we would have liked. However, it was the wrong dish. So it took time to find our server who apologized And went to make a swap - another special fish was in the oven for another table so we would have to wait. Our dish arrived at 6:26pm and we quickly ate it. Definitely no time for any birthday dessert celebration for my friend. In the meantime I also asked for the check and they kindly comped the one glass of wine ordered. I quickly paid and then realized that while I gave a generous tip of 22% because the server so quickly apologized for the entree order mistake and owned it, my card was charged much more than it should be. Had to have a manager come to look and sure enough the system charged a 33% tip! So this had to be corrected and now I have to monitor my card to make sure it is appropriately charged. After looking at the receipt, I realized that the tip was charged on the full order including the...

Frena is definitely a friend to me!

I mean that literally...

"Frena is a traditional Moroccan bread, baked in a local communal oven, on top of burning hot pebbles. This bread has a thin crust and a fluffy crumb, absolutely delicious!"

“Yes carbs are the enemy but we are suppose to love thy neighbors and thy enemies and I love thine bread!”

Like most of my city restaurant experiences, Frena was a random pick. On a Sunday in June, I happened to pull into a parking spot across from Frena and just like that, I decided to give them a try.

Upon entry the decor is beautiful, perfect for a date or a group event. You feel like you are dining in a private garden with the cascading plants off of the ceiling around the bar. Instantly you want to sit and stay for a while.

I started with a "Birds of a Feather" a signature cocktail made with Bourbon Rum. A perfect choice, it was well balanced and refreshing without being too sweet.

In addition an order of Hummus w/ Frena bread and Duo of Falafel was placed. The Hummus was absolutely delish, you can eat it by the spoonful, but the Frena bread was simply amazing. Order extra you will need it and it will be worth both the extra carbs and the extra charge. The Falafels are green herb and sweet potato falafel with tahini and mango chutney. Both were good, but admittedly, I enjoyed the sweet potato falafel with the mango chutney more than the traditional. They had a subtle sweet taste with a nice unexpected departure from the earthy flavor of the green herbs.

Of course the indulgence of the Hummus and Frena bread made it difficult to continue as capacity had been reached. However, an order of Schnitzel Shishi had arrived. Schnitzel Shishi a breaded crispy chicken flatbread with a shifka aioli and pickled red cabbage slaw. The schnitzel was both packed and traveled well. The server offered to pack the dish when it arrived noticing that we could not possibly consume another morsel.

Service was attentive and swift with serval staff members tending to the table. Some members were a little more engaging than others but overall no complaints.

Just A Note:

The Hummus and Frena bread is a MUST. Thank me later!

A Brunch Menu...

If you remember the old Taboon restaurant, you'll find Frena in its place, still under the same talented chef. This spot has long been an icon in the neighborhood, and the food continues to impress. Unfortunately, almost everything else falls short.

The ambiance is nice, but they've tried to fit way too many tables in the space, making it feel uncomfortably cramped. The decor, with an overload of trees, only adds to the claustrophobic vibe, making the place look smaller than it is. It's also very loud, so don't expect a quiet meal here.

Service is a major issue. The staff needs more training--they fill water glasses to the brim, mix up orders, and then disappear. Our waiter didn't check back with us, making it hard to order more drinks, water, or food. The entrance is another awkward point. There's no real spot for the hostess, so they just stand at the door, looking lost and making guests feel the same way.

Now, onto the food. The Frena bread is delicious, but it's no more than a glorified pizza crust and could use more seasoning to stand on its own. The tuna tartare has a strange bitter aftertaste, likely from too much sumac. However, the octopus is a standout--textbook perfect texture, super tender, brilliantly charred, and seasoned to perfection. The cauliflower gratin is another hit, light with a perfect char, and the tangy feta sauce is to die for. The gem salad shines with its citrusy, tangy vinaigrette. The Wagyu cigars, though, are just okay--nothing special, like pedestrian taquitos.

Expect to pay a premium for these "tapas" style dishes. While the food is decent, it doesn't quite justify the high price tag for such small portions.

In summary, Frena has the potential to be great, with delicious food and a chef who knows what he's doing, but the cramped seating, overdone decor, poor service, and high prices hold it back. Given the high prices, diners might expect a more polished and comfortable experience.

Frena has the potential to become a beloved neighborhood spot, much like Taboon was, but it needs to address these critical areas to...