Another Hummus Kitchen? Yes! Koshertopia has confirmed that a new location will be opening at 2 West 14th Street (Corner of 5th Ave. & 14th St.). This new location, as well as all other locations are supervised under the International Kosher Council (IKC)
Hummus is the new favorite! The fast growing chain, Hummus Kitchen, is working on their newest store. Koshertopia has confirmed that Hummus Kitchen will soon open at 416 Amsterdam Avenue (corner 80th St.). With many options in the area already (Hummus Place, Alibaba etc.) some might be wondering the need for another Israeli inspired restaurant.
Hi.
I am the new Kosher Kritic. I felt I should open this blog by introducing myself. So….
Hi.
I am the new Kosher Kritic.
For my first review in this position (I have previously written featured reviews for Blossom and Ariel’s Kosher) I decided to go to Golan Heights, an old favorite from my college days (that’s right, I went to College. Impressed?) when I would stumble in at 1 in the morning fresh out of the library (Hi Mom) badly in need of some good comfort food.
Golan Heights, located on Amsterdam Avenue between 186th and 187th, is a classic Middle Eastern restaurant in every sense of the phrase. From the food – an extensive collection of Mediterranean delicacies available in a laffa (soft doughy flatbread), pita, or on a platter – to the atmosphere – the bustling crowds, the Israeli ordering system (read: yelling as loud as you can), the entirely exposed kitchen, and that distinct “we’ve been cooking schwarma in here all day” smell – to the prices and portions – reasonable and overwhelming.
I know what you’re thinking – “I get that it is a schwarma place, I actually figured that out from the name believe it or not, but how about you tell me if it’s worth my time!” We’re getting there. I’ve been eating at Golan for almost six years now, and I’ve had almost everything on the menu – no small feat. You can order arguably the best schwarma laffa in the city (as huge as it is succulent) or you could be a bit more adventurous and order teriyaki chicken – grilled juicy dark meat pieces that are my personal favorite.and If you’re not feeling particularly Middle Eastern you can order a hot dog pita (only four dollars!) or “Zaidi’s Nuggets,” spicy fried chicken on loan from the late Ari’s Deli. If you’re there on a Thursday night make sure you try the chulent, and if you’re lucky enough to be there on one of those glorious days where they have lamb shish kabobs disregard everything I have said until now and order that instead.
This is only the tip of the iceberg but this review is running long so let me sum it up. Golan Heights is the ultimate comfort restaurant. You don’t go everyday (college kids excluded) and you don’t go on a date; you go there cause you’re hungry, it’s close, the food is great and it’s reasonably priced.
Golan Heights
2553 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY 10033
(212) 795-7842
Following our article on October 26th, we have now confirmed that Green Olive located at 300 E. 45th Street (between 1st and 2nd Avenues) has opened under the supervision of the OK (Organized Kashrut Laboratories).
Green Olive will offer healthy Mediterranean food ranging from falafel, hummus, shwarma, fresh salads and a host of other popular Mediterranean options.
And yet another new restaurant is in the works for midtown…Koshertopia has been informed that Green Olive is set to open soon on 45th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenue under the supervision of the OK (Organized Kashrut Laboratories). Green Olive will offer healthy Mediterranean food ranging from falafel, hummus, fresh salads and a host of other popular Mediterranean options.
Stay Tuned for more information & Opening Specials.
Yummy Yummy is one of the newest gems for kosher diners who work and live on the east side of Manhattan. Yummy Yummy offers a dairy Mediterranean menu, primarily focused on their highly touted falafel. Although their menu isn’t necessarily ground breaking, it’s their attention to detail that really sets them apart from like menu’d restaurants in the area.
The front of the restaurant is opened to the street in classic Israeli style, which is quite inviting. The interior is clean, sleek and modern. Although the look of the restaurant is welcoming, the atmosphere in the restaurant can be a bit overwhelming. On my visit to Yummy Yummy, there was loud techno music playing, and the place was very busy, as it was during their lunch hours. While both of these by themselves are not bad, coming in to that from the hot summer sun makes it all slightly off-putting.
The negatives come to a screeching halt at this point, as the food at Yummy Yummy definitely lives up to its name. I approached the counter and was greeted by friendly staff, who were more than happy to recommend their favorite items. I began my meal with a split pea soup, a bold choice on a summer afternoon, but even on such a warm day it turned out to be a good choice. The soup was creamy, but not to thick, and had just the right amount of spice to make it really interesting. To make sure I covered all the recommendations I was given by friends, I ordered a Falafel box, which came with 6 falafel balls on a mound of chumus, along with 2 sides and unlimited use of the salad bar. In addition, I ordered a Sabich sandwich which consists of eggplant, chummus, and a sliced hard boiled egg, along with all the salad you can fit inside. The chummus had a really authentic homemade Israeli taste which is a giant upgrade from the packaged supermarket variety that is often repurposed and used in restaurants. The falafel was crispy on the outside and soft and warm in the center, and even when I asked for a bit of olive oil to be drizzled over the top, it still was not overly oily. The Sabich sandwich was a new experience for me, and one that that I will be sure to repeat. Gearing up to try the Sabich is when I found the hidden gem of Yummy Yummy: authentic Israeli Amba sauce (Mango Chutney). Whenever I visit Israel, I drizzle Amba over almost every dish I have, and their version brought me right back to the streets of Jerusalem. I had my Sabich in a whole wheat pita, with Israeli pickles, and a healthy amount of Amba over the top. I highly recommend this for anyone looking to have a filling lunch, without going into a “heavy food coma”. The last dish I tried was the classic Potato Boureka. I wasn’t expecting much from the Boureka, but I was pleasantly surprised. The dough was flaky on the outside but still held together well, and the potato in the center was quite tasty.
One thing that you will notice in Yummy Yummy is the diverse crowd. Most kosher restaurants attract mostly kosher customers, however, at Yummy Yummy, the majority of patrons were not Jewish. It definitely seems like they have made a great impression on more than just the kosher the community in a very short amount of time.
All in all it is nice to see a new kosher place open up with a real focus on customer service, and attention to detail. The prices are highly competitive and the staff is friendly and helpful. I highly recommend giving Yummy Yummy a try!
Insiders tips:
- Try and check it out a little before noon or after 1:30 for a calmer experience.
- If you’ve had your fill of falafel recently, make sure to try the Sabich Sandwhich which is fresh, light, and delicious.
Click here for the Yummy Yummy listing
