Sahara East — Restaurant in New York

BEWARE OF THIS PLACE

Gotta share a recent dining nightmare my friend and I went through at this place.

So, we showed up, and it was a gloomy day, so we decided to order some hot water. But guess what? They brought us ice-cold water instead. Not a great start. Then, the server brought us free hot tea, which we thought was nice until he zoomed off before we could say we didn't want the water anymore.

When we were done, we asked a different server to take the untouched water bottles off the bill, something we've seen done at other places. But oh boy, did it hit the fan! The guy got all worked up, mumbled something about the bill being printed already and refused. We explained the water was still sealed, and he got even more agitated.

Then, he called in someone who seemed like a manager, dressed casually in an orange hoodie. This guy told us he was off-duty and said our original server would deal with us after he came back from praying at the mosque. When the original server came back, he'd turned into a completely different person. He started yelling, saying it's custom to order a drink at a restaurant and that we had to pay up.

He said to pay in cash to get rid of the water charge, but my friend and I did not have enough cash on us. The server started calling us cheap for making a fuss over just six bucks. He even suggested he'd charge the full bill to our card and give us $6 cash back “from his own pocket” which was so incredibly rude. We weren't cool with that, more so since they'd already added an 18% auto gratuity. Due to their kind service at the start, we had planned to tip 20% but their attitude and hostility killed that idea.

I called my boyfriend who lives in the area and thankfully he was around to come save us. The server became extremely pissed when I told him my boyfriend was coming and kept pressuring us to give us his card because they had to “close us out and close the bill” but we were the only people in the restaurant.

I held my ground, said my boyfriend was on his way with cash, and that's when things got super weird. The three of them sat down on a bench near the door and stared us down until my boyfriend showed up. Suddenly, their anger vanished, and they treated him so differently than they treated us. No more yelling no more intimidation.

We figured out they were probably treating us like trash because we were two girls dining alone. It's messed up! I can't even imagine what might've happened if my boyfriend hadn't come to the rescue. On our way out the servers yelled “don’t come back” and oh boy, we certainly do not plan to.

Long story short, avoid this place like the plague. It's ALWAYS empty for a reason. Stay away!

TLDR; -Servers extremely rude and misogynistic Charges 18% auto gratuity on all bills without any warning on menus or posters Harassed incessantly for wanting something taken...

Best kept secret, except for those who know, there is an exceptional Egyptian restaurant at 184 1st Ave., between 11th and 12th St., in the East Village 38years called Sahara East. They are professionals in what they do, which is obviously why they have been a neighborhood trusted favorite for so long. Generous portions. Deliciously satisfying, high-quality food. Friendly service. Cozy atmosphere. The enormous year round temperature controlled hidden tent out back in the “garden”, which is a hookah lounge, is fun party space for all occasions. They have large screen TVs for watching sports also. Open ‘til 3 AM! Our baba ghanouj was excellent with a unique chopped parsley. We loved the flavor. The hummus was whipped to perfection with a smooth consistency, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil, tasting as good as it looks The lamb Shawarma with vermicelli rice was flavorfully done. The Argentinian Malbec wine was a perfect pairing The cottage fries had a crispy texture yet soft inside. The baklava came piping hot fresh out of the oven. Great rice pudding with rosewater, coconut, walnuts, and cinnamon. The peppermint tea with fresh mint was the perfect ending for a wonderful dinner. This was the first hookah lounge in New York City. I didn’t think that I was in the mood for Middle Eastern food, but as soon as it came, I cleaned my plate so fast and it was so good. I am grateful that my friend chose this restaurant with excellent fresh high-quality food! You will feel blessed ,...

Found this place on google maps and had to check it out! The decor inside is cute.. but that’s the patio and it’s hot in the summer…Obviously. They do put really big fans in front of your table. I just wanna notate that because next time I will sit on the AC inside because I can catch really bad headaches if I sit in heat too long. I feel like you’re at an Egyptian mom’s house here. You get mismatched utensils, the cups are different sizes when you get a refill lol, but.. Service was great! Very attentive. The Hookah is really good and you don’t wait so long for hot coal refill. The food is SO GOOD! I mean really good!! I loved my kofta platter. The meat tastes so good and seasoned. The lamb sliders were 12/10. I mean delicious. I loved the platter because you get salad and a side of hummus and grilled veggies and a few pieces of pita with your protein choice. Great plate! The fresh lemonade is so refreshing. I had a great first visit. Great food and hookah all in one. Only thing I don’t care for the music choices. Would’ve preferred maybe Arabic music or a different type of American music. It was too raunchy with curses. Still I give 5 stars!! And will be back! Oh and the nice guy gave us a few pieces of baklava on the house when we ordered...