Malka — Restaurant in New York

My recent visit to Malka in Manhattan's bustling dining scene arrived with a mixture of anticipation and curiosity. We stepped into the restaurant at 8:16 PM, a minute after our reservation, to find a lively yet overly cramped space bathed in dim lighting and reverberating with the din of conversation—a setting that promised vibrancy but initially felt less than welcoming.

The hostess, armed with a glass of wine and a decidedly reserved demeanor, informed us that despite our nearly punctual arrival, our incomplete party disqualified us from being seated. This policy was peculiar and unexpectedly rigid. By 8:25 PM, another friend had arrived, but the explanation for our continued wait shifted to our table being occupied, an inconsistency that was both puzzling and frustrating.

After a few more minutes, which seemed to stretch longer due to the growing impatience, we were finally ushered to our table, located inconveniently close to the restroom. Despite the less-than-ideal placement, we remained optimistic about the culinary journey ahead.

The meal commenced with an array of appetizers that were intriguing in presentation yet perplexing. Golden cardboard platforms served as the base for dishes like the Focaccia and Beetroot Carpaccio—a presentation choice that diverged starkly from the expected elegance of an upscale establishment. While the Beetroot Carpaccio was a delightful explosion of flavors and the Hummus stood out for its airy consistency and rich taste, the Focaccia was unremarkable, and the Eggplant slices were regrettably not overly flavorful with a charred taste. We also ordered an appetizer called a bag of bread, which was literally just two pieces of store-bought bread with three olives, which felt extremely underwhelming and a little bit embarrassing on their part.

In the interim between courses, our server, leaning with both hert elbows on the table, confided her exhaustion to us in a moment of candidness that, while human, felt misplaced within the context of our evening's reprieve from the hustle of the city. It was a stark reminder of the demanding nature of hospitality, yet it cast a shadow of unprofessionalism over our dining experience.

When the main dishes arrived in rustic clay pots, steaming and hearty, they provided a stark contrast to the establishment's ambiance. While the tenderness of the lamb ribs and the succulence of the chicken were undeniable, the homestyle presentation seemed incongruent with the restaurant's more upscale pretensions. The necessity to use our phones' flashlights to combat the restaurant's dimness further detracted from the overall experience, disrupting the ambiance and the visual appreciation of our food.

In conclusion, the experience at Malka was a mix of minor successes overshadowed by several missteps. From the inconsistent service at the start to the underwhelming presentation and ambiance, it was a night that stood out more for its flaws than its culinary achievements. My overall rating for Malka remains a 2.5 out of 5, reflecting a dining experience that could benefit greatly from more attention to detail in both service and...

We had a family gathering at Malka in the Upper West Side, and honestly—it was one of the best dining experiences we’ve had in NYC. Hats off to Eyal Shani for creating something truly special.

On their website, they say “Malka wraps all our dreams, a meeting place between worlds.” After eating here, I’d add: you’re dining in heaven.

Here’s what we tried—and loved: • Golden Focaccia – Warm, fluffy, and beautifully crispy around the edges, drizzled with olive oil and flaky salt. A perfect way to start the meal. • Pile of Green Beans – Lightly blistered, tender but with a bite, seasoned with spices and maybe a hint of lemon. Fresh and vibrant. • Thin Layers of Eggplant – Smoky, silky, and slightly sweet, layered like a savory pastry. Melts in your mouth. • Roasted Broccolini Tree – A whole broccolini, fire-roasted with a deep char and rich seasoning. Earthy, bold, and full of texture. • Roasted Potato Carpet – A stunning visual and taste experience—crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, laid out like a golden mosaic. • Nostalgia of Old City Mezze – A mix of traditional spreads and small bites—each one balanced and nostalgic, with a Middle Eastern twist. • Green Garlic Pasta – Bright, herbaceous, and garlicky in the best way. The pasta was al dente, and the sauce was creamy without being heavy. • The Most Famous Malka Schnitzel – Giant, crispy, and full of flavor. The crust is perfection, and it comes with a creative twist that makes it more than just a schnitzel. • Lamb Chops – Tender, juicy, and perfectly cooked with a bold marinade. Rich and satisfying. • Cowboy Chop – A massive bone-in steak, deeply charred and seasoned to perfection. A carnivore’s dream. • Very Marbled Short Rib – My personal favorite. Fall-apart tender, deeply flavorful, and served with a luscious sauce that tied everything together.

The service was warm, professional, and made the entire evening smooth and celebratory.

If I had one suggestion—it would be to space the tables just a bit farther apart. The energy is lively, but a little more room would elevate the comfort even further.

This place is bold, soulful, and full of heart. I’ll absolutely be back—and recommending it to everyone who loves food that...

If I could get give this place zero stars I would do it with a heartbeat. The manager is greedy, money-hungry, and could not care less about customer service nor the customer’s happiness.

We ordered two potato pancetta and both came cold, not even warm - with an extreme garlic taste and fatty lamb. You could not even chew the lamb, there was no meat.

We told the waitress after one bite and she took the plates away, mind you the other plate was not even touched. We told her that we would just like it taken off the bill, and we would not like a different plate at that point since we had already ordered the schnitzel, hummus, and two golden focaccia’s.

The bill comes, and the manager refused to take off the two potato pancetta’s that we did not eat and had removed from our taken within 2 minutes of them being brought to us. He did not even have the decency to come talk to us about it and instead sent the waitress back and forth to repeat his words. It was only until we started talking in a loud voice about how the food is inedible and this is horrible customer service that he decided to come to our table like a clueless person after pacing back and forth trying to listen into the conversation between the waitress and us.

He went on to explain how he can’t just take them off the bill because he would lose money. Long story short, he’s money hungry and greedy. Instead we got a lamb plate of lesser value ($31 - covered) and still charged for the two potato pancetta’s ($48). We eat at restaurants all the time and I have NEVER had to write a bad review. We are disappointed, as Eyal Shani would be as well.

Miznon (the previous name) had excellent customer service. This place though, garbage. Save your time and go somewhere else. Don’t give this dirty manager your time, because if you get brought out a cold inedible expensive plate like I did, you’ll still have...