Mamlouk Restaurant
New York, NY 10009-7213
Phone: (212) 529-3477
- Price:
- $$
- Cross Street:
- Avenue A and Avenue B
- Directions:
- F to 2nd Ave.
- Hours:
- Tue-Sun 6pm-12am
Editorial Review for Mamlouk Restaurant – by Dan McAlvanah
The Scene
The background music starts the journey, a modal Arabic mix of sitar and tabla. Patrons are guided to tables named "Damascus," "Beirut" and "Jerusalem" by a motherly hostess who addresses them as "baby" or "darling." By the end of the meal--especially after taking pulls from the strawberry tobacco-filled hookahs--you'll be convinced you're in a Paul Bowles novel, ready to wander out into the moonlit desert night.
The Food
Middle Eastern fare that runs the gamut from the familiar to the outre, scoring big in each category. Six courses are served; their composition is left up to the kitchen. Highlights include zatter, a flat, round bread topped in a dark, dried smear of sesame seeds, olive oil and thyme; a brilliant, virtually narcotic vegetarian mousaka; and mjadarra, a strange and wonderful sweet-spice-flecked lentil puree usually served with tender grilled chicken kabobs.
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Insider Tips
Know Before You GoFood is not served a la carte. The $40 prix-fixe menu is the only option.
The ExtrasCheck out Moustache in the East Village.
User Reviews for Mamlouk Restaurant
03/24/2008 Posted by eatdrink15
From the moment we sat down we were left with no options. We came with a group of 5 unaware there no options. When we asked for a menu, the waitress replied, "We just bring out the food." We had no options on what we wanted to eat. They said there would be a bellydancer at 9pm but we were there until 10pm and there was no bellydancer.... after the appetizers, we asked for the bill because we didn't know how much we would be charged or what type of foods we were going to get they said, "You'll be losing money." We told them to charge us for what we ordered and let us go. Eventually, after 20 minutes of asking for the bill we were allowed to leave....... I would never go there again. I don't think it's realistic to not know what you're going to get to eat..... Plus, the bellydancing is all a scam. There was no bellydancer.
Pros: none
09/25/2007 Posted by missjavorka
After searching for good hookah in New York, this seemed like a good bet. My friends and I weren't disappointed! The tobacco was top-notch, and the two appetizers we ordered (stuffed grape leaves and cheese turnovers) were devoured in minutes. I loved the atmosphere and the music. The one thing that all of us noticed was somewhat poor service. Perhaps we just caught the waitress on an off-night, but once we had our hookah, no one came by to check on us for about an hour and we had to flag someone down to ask for a change of coals. Once we asked, it took another 10 minutes for someone to come do it! My friend and I ordered our appetizers at the same time and her stuffed grape leaves were brought and eaten... while I had to sit and wait an ADDITIONAL 20 minutes after they were gone before my turnovers arrived. We had to again flag someone down to bring our check. The wait-staff was pleasant, just not very attentive. Otherwise and very fun and relaxing evening.
Pros: Very reasonable hookah price, great ambience
Cons: Far from subway, wait-staff not very attentive
