Reunion - Brooklyn

Everything we ordered was outstanding. Possibly the best pita I've ever had (and I've had A LOT of pita). The challah was underwhelming, but not a dealbreaker since it's basically a vehicle for (excellent) macboucha. The staff are attentive and warm. The atmosphere and space are cozy and adorable. Will definitely be returning next time I'm in Brooklyn--need to eat my way through the whole menu tbh.

Dinner was great, however the menu lists “amba” as an ingredient in several of its dishes. Amba is the Hebrew word for mango. Mango is an allergen. It would be safer if allergens on the menu were more clearly specified, such as by using its English name, or with a disclaimer that said “tell your server about any allergies you may have.” The server could also have asked about allergies while taking our order. I understand that I should have more carefully read the menu, but also, I would never have expected that falafel would have had a mango sauce. But dinner was absolutely delicious, service was prompt and friendly, and I will definitely be returning to this popular neighborhood spot!

The hummus was amazing and the Tubi Sour cocktail was delicious

Ambiance (4/5): The establishment has a lovely décor in their indoor dining area. There is also an outdoor dining option. The restaurant has medium lighting and noise levels. The tables however are very tight to each other. We set a reservation at 7pm and the establishment was only about a third full on a Tuesday. Service (4/5): I thought the service was great with 2 wait staff and multiple busboys. I felt like our orders and food arrived at a reasonable timeframe. The cocktail took forever to arrive and came after the appetizer was served. Birthright (2/5): I liked that there was a splattering of options in the mezze platter but most were just meh. The Matbouch I would recommend and actually order on its own! In order of favorite to least favorite: 1. Matbouch – aka Matbucha, cooked tomatoes and roasted bell peppers seasoned with garlic and chili pepper 2. Hummus – pureed chickpeas 3. Labne – Greek yogurt w/ olive oil 4. I think we accidentally got a small dish of the New Age Baba (smoked eggplant) instead of the Zhoug which is supposed to be green (green peppers, cilantro, chilis) Incredible Shawarma (4/5) – The tahini sauce was creamy and blended well with the chicken thigh pieces which was moist and flavored with a slew of spices. The cabbage provided a nice texture to the bite. However, the volume of the dish is mostly supplemented from the thick cut fries. FYI amba is typically made of pickled green mangoes, vinegar, salt, turmeric, chili and fenugreek.

Dinner vibes only, and we skipped the drinks. Pricey, and yet painfully average. Honestly, for every dish here, you can find a more impressive (and cheaper) twin just a few blocks over. Ambiance? Meh. Wouldn’t bring a date here I’m trying to wow. Quick bites: Fried Halloumi: Dreaming of a hot honey drizzle instead of this meh spiced honey. Also, where’s the crunch? Harissa Cauliflower: The whipped feta? A star. The cauliflower and harissa glaze? Not so much. Birthright: Cool name, disappointing execution. The hummus might just take the crown for Brooklyn’s least impressive. And those pitas? Yawn. Israeli Salat w/ Schnitzel: Would be top tier if it wasn’t robbing my wallet. Tiny salad, and that $9 chicken add on? Paper thin.