Balade Reviews

Food was bland. Service poor and environment noisy and crowded. Need I say more. Yes, the pita was fresh! There was nothing outstanding out of more than 10 dishes on the table.

We got such a warm welcome even though we arrived 6pm when we actually booked for 8pm. We got great service and a lot of suggestions on the menu. 4 people and we took two big platters, one with lamb kebab (best lamb I've ever tasted) and some kind of chicken kebab with such good flavours. Its served with grilled vegetables and fries. And then we took 6 mezze aswell. Baba ganoush (really good), hummus with lamb (best hummus), labhne, falafel (4 of then and omg so good), lebanon national dish (4 of them, like filled falafel with minced meat) and grilled halloumi. The Lebanese red wine on glass was amazing! We loved this restaurant and would so go here one more time when visiting NYC again.

excellent lebanese cuisine very fast service and helpful staff ti guide you through menu very tasty and healthy food great neighborhood

Make reservations ! Especially on the weekends! Hummus , pita and lamb is the way to go ! Thank me later!

The hummus here is unlike the hummus I have had anywhere else. There must be some secret ingredient - and the texture of it is very smooth, more creamy than chunky. The babaganoush however is like all babaganoush you find anywhere else. The place was absolutely packed on a Saturday night at 9pm and they handled our party of 14 with ease. The venue is tiny but the activity, the scene, the vibe -- these are all wonderful. The next day I did get very sick but maybe it wasn't due to the restaurant ?

Wide variety of appetizer plates to share. Many vegetarian options. Delicious meat and chicken platters. Scrumptious desserts to share with your loved ones. Baklava is served in tiny bite sized pieces good for sharing.

My husband and I went to Balade during our 10 night stay in New York over Christmas and New Years - we are from Australia. We wanted to go to a lebanese restaurant and found this place on open table and booked it on Christmas Eve. The place was really quiet, the staff were excellent and we really enjoyed the food. I noticed there wern't very many reviews on this place which is why I wanted to write my review. We have had excellent Leanese food before so I had high expectations and this place was definitely up there - excellent value for money and as mentioned excellent food!

Went there with friends and shared several dishes, and most of them were very good. My favorites were mixed grill, vegetable mezze special, and salad. Baba ganoush was especially flavorful. The baklava and pudding were very nice too. My friend had a mint tea, and the smell was amazing and so fresh. The service was attentive and accommodating. Recommended.

We arrived at 830pm and were very warmly greeted by the hostess. Everything we ordered we loved. The house bread is delicious + the fantastic mix grill. We will recommend this place to all friends

Although I did complain about the excess of salt in our otherwise delicious food, I recommend this restaurant warmly. There's a bar but not a lot of noise. The diners ranged widely in age, so this is a restaurant for everyone including solo diners. Just ask the waiter not to add salt to the salad, and see if they make their lamb dishes to the order of each diner rather than from a large vat of pre-salted meat. . If so, then ask for a quarter of the salt that they usually use and add your own to your taste later. Anyway, NY City is soon to require a little label on restaurant food identifying the percentage of salt. Now, on to better topics: We had the prix fixe dinner, a very good value at $38, as I recall, with three courses. All the food seemed fresh and it was served attractively by a friendly but not overly chummy waiter. The other wait staff seemed equally pleasant and prompt. You won't go away hungry after the mixed grill. The baklava dessert was deliciously buttery. The baba ghannoush appetizer was creamy and delicious without excessive garlic. In fact, everything was appealing. We live not far away and will make this a regular destination. It's at the edge of the East Village on First Avenue, easily reached by the L subway line, and buses on 14th St. and on First and Second Avenues. Now I'm sorry that I've given this such a good review: It might make the restaurant harder for us to get into.

Visited for the first time, and it was a great experience. The service was very good and the food was great, a feast!

Balade came highly recommended and, given that we love Lebanese cuisine, we had high expectations. The restaurant is modest in size, pleasant, and not noisy when we there on Christmas Day. The service was most accommodating – they turned off the annoying Christmas carols, the manager let me use his WiFi as there is no public WiFi there, and the servers were attentive and flexible. A vast menu with very specific Lebanese specialities, many of them not generally found on middle eastern menus in New York. The food, however, was somewhat disappointing. I love fattoush, but this one ($11.00) came packed into a medium bowl not loosely tossed, made with iceberg lettuce (should have been romaine or other salad green that is actually green) and freezing cold). The baba ghanouj was deliciously smoky and rich but also ice cold – freshly made it should be warm or at room temperature. The mouhmara was excellent, but it was not a "dip," but a stiff spread, with whole walnuts and very tasty indeed. This too should be at room temperature. The kebbe kras, 4 zeppelins in the order, was fine, if a tad greasy. The main dish, mixed grill (beef kafta, lamb kabab, and chicken tawook, french fries, and chargrilled vegetables) at $30.00 was enormous, enough for two or even three people, if you also order appetizers. This dish was fine, though the chicken was somewhat dry. The mint tea was not hot enough and arrived unceremoniously in a standard stainless steel tea/coffee pot. Considering the aspirations and the menu, the excellent service and pleasant interior, and the handy location, this restaurant could be so much better.

I enjoyed myself as did my group of friends. Delicious food and atmosphere and The staff is friendly!!!!Can't wait to return

There are very few Lebanese restaurants in NY and this is one of the best at a moderate price. Don't let the neighborhood surroundings put you off, once inside you will find an oasis of calm with a knowledgeable and friendly staff. I do not know Lebanese wines but the "Les Cedres" was excellent. All plates are shareable and a good idea to get to know many aspects of this fine cuisine.which w

This is a small Lebanese restaurant that is worth a visit. They offer dishes like falafel, schwarma, shish kabob, spinach pies, and a nice variety of dishes including pita pizza. I especially liked their version of the spinach pies which were crispy and very tasty. The lamb shish kabob was good as well. The service could have been more attentive. It was ok but we weren't asked about drinks at the beginning and were only checked on once. However, I'd still go back for the food.

Balade - the lebanese restaurant in East Village gave you the vibe of being in New York. The place was crowded and noisy . Well it was a Friday night , so I guess it came without asking. Packed to capacity spoke of its quality of food and service, much more than any reviews could do. We were a family of 5 and we ordered for the table. The quantity was enough I would say , except for the repeat order of the hummus . We ordered the Hummus lahme, which was a regular hummus topped with lamb chunks, the labne- cream cheese infused with garlic , a wonderfully lightly sauteed shrimp, rkakat - cheese filled phillo rolls , and sheikh el shawarma . The welcome bread basket had some nice homemade lebanese bread served with zaatar a sesame seed spice mixture. The pot of lebanese tea was quite refreshing The fact that everything was wiped off the plates is proof enough of the authenticity of homemade Lebanese food which was satisfying. A great place to dine.

Balade is in a spruced up defunct dinner space, but you can hardly tell. It's the sort of restaurant that makes New York great: an unpretentious ethnic dining spot where the food is lovely prepared and excellent, the prices are fair and the service is personable. The daily specials are delicious and the standard dishes outshine the neighborhood competition. A great low-key find.

We tried this casual East Village restaurant, hoping it was up to the demanding standards I have for Lebanese food. It did. Our waiter was friendly and the place was quiet and uncrowded at 6 PM. I thought the kibbe (fried meat balls) and mouhmara (dip of red pepper, walnuts and pomegranate) were top notch. The bread was thin, white pita; wish it had been a coarser, whole-grain pita to go with the earthy dip on a cold winter's evening. We'll be back.

My daughter and I wanted to have Arabic food with her schoolmate, so the best choice was Ballade since she's been there a usual customer there. The restaurant was nice and cosy. The ambience was warm and pleasant. The place somewhat empty since we came real early. We ordered a selection of appetizers and were very tasty! For the main course we had grilled chicken, and grilled seabas. The chicken was good, but the fish was under-cooked! Matter of fact the fish was cold from the inside, and there was no sign of grilling!!! For dessert, we had a kunafa and it was Ok! The cost was a bit high for an average NYC restaurant. I am not sure I will recommend anyone for this restaurant!

If you pick and choose from menu you can have delicious creative meal. Quail was very good. Service competent.

My brother and I decided to celebrate Christmas lunch at Balade. He had made reservations the week before, and we called ahead to confirm our time of arrival. When we arrived at the restaurant, I was a bit surprised that the decor had zero Middle Eastern flavor. It looked more like an upscale bistro. Not to say that it was bad or anything, in fact, it was rather nice and cozy. I had plenty of time to admire the restaurant because we weren't even approached by a hostess until I flagged her down - 5 minutes minimum. At that point, we were asked 3 times about our reservation (note that we had called 2 hours prior to confirm). Finally she found it, and it took another 10 minutes to get us a table. The place wasn't packed - most tables were full, but there wasn't a large crowd or anything of the sort. After being seated, I had to flag our waiter down to get some water. My brother and I decided that the best way to approach this was to place our order in its entirety in one shot. Sure enough, after waiting for a while, our server (who doubled as the bartender) showed up - apologetically, and took our order. The food didn't take very long, but I still had to go up to the bar and ask for a glass of water. At that point, I was becoming a little frustrated, and hoped that the food would make up for the lack of service. Luckily, the food was EXCELLENT. We ordered a lot of appetizers (mazza), including the hummus, baba ghanouj, labneh, tabouleh, grilled cheese, and lentil soup. All of the dishes were very authentic (a jarring departure from the restaurant atmosphere), and the grilled cheese was unbelievable. We ordered seconds of the hummus and the grilled cheese. For mains, we both ordered the mixed grilled platter (one with fries, one with salad). The chicken and kabab were very good, but the meat skewer was chewy and not very good unfortunately. The owner approached us to apologize for the service (after our waiter realized how long we had waited and that there really was no excuse for it), and he was pleasant and polite. I don't think the service is like this frequently, and so I would still recommend this place because of the food. Get the gilled haloumi cheese, you won't regret it.

Balade has gone downhill, very unfortunately. I was a huge fan of Balade in the past and have been here many times. Recently though, after adding the outdoor structures which basically tripled the size of the restaurant, things changed. Balade is clearly very popular, which I was happy to see as a Lebanese, but it seems like they are overbooking reservations and the place is not run as good as it used to be. As a result: the staff (all very nice) is very overwhelmed, waiting over half an hour post reservation to get our table (we had requested in the reservation and in a call to be seated inside given the cold), and some of the food arrived cold. Granted though - once we were finally seated, service was fast overall. I understand that things may be difficult given the effects of the pandemic, but something needs to be done as things may continue getting worse at Balade. Every time I've been there in recent times, given how overrun it's been, it has not been as pleasant of an experience. It's just way too busy. Perhaps actually making the available space bookable on OpenTable and getting rid of one of the two outdoor structures might help. At this point, next time, I will be going to Yara, another (amazing) Lebanese restaurant in the city, instead.

After doomscrolling through Open Table and Resy for hours my fancy was finally tickled by Balade. Although there were not many reservations left I was able to grab a last-minute just after primetime reservation on a Friday. I felt like the reservation gods had blessed me especially when I saw that they had a late-night happy hour that we were going to get with our reservation of time at 8:45 (Happy hour starts at 9 pm). Happy hour is great but a late-night happy hour is the fastest way to my heart. I will admit was worried for the first 15 minutes of lag time before the happy pricing started. To wait or not to wait? That is the question. The good news is that I didn't have to choose. There was a line out the door that looked as if they were giving out free meals to the hungry. People of all walks united in anger as we waited to get seated with our reservations in hand. A classic case of the overbooks. Although the half-hour wait in the cold and windy was not a great start to the meal the manager knew he screwed up and was handing out healthy pours of free wine to pass the time. It looked like an honest overbooking mistake rather than a ritual. Now I will be getting off my soapbox because that is the last of my complaints about this fine establishment. The drinks the food and the vibe of this place are top-notch. I'm a sucker for all things Mediterranean cuisine. A Mediterranean food trip is on my bucket list but I feel it would be a disappointment after the hummus and lamb that graced my mouth in the middle of East Village. I had the three meat platter but I wouldn’t get it again. All the meats were fantastic but the lamb cast a bigger shadow than Peyton and Eli on their third Brother. The lamb was so mind-blowing I forgot what the other two meats were. The baba ghanoush was truly authentic and was paired with fresh warm pita that could be a meal on its own. Great date spot but I recommend getting the full romantic ambiance with inside seating (but make sure you have a condom in your pocket.) Balade, we started rougher than sandpaper on baby skin but you smoothed me over with great service, tasty food, good drinks, and a great atmosphere. You scored an 8.3 (9.1 if not for the wait)

I am glad I stumbled on this place. The food was good and delightful. No where on the world you can have an authentic Lebanese cuisine if it is not prepared by your mum or grandma. It is just the way it is. But I assure you Balade is close to what I used to eat back home. I will definitely come back again. My friends from work were blown away with the food selection I chose for them. We all love the garlic paste and the desert selection. Thank you.

Had a reservation for 10 people. When arrived on time, I was asked to wait for more than 30 minutes so few left in anger. The space can not accommodate for large number, 30 max. For those who decided to stay, he food was very good. Had an issue in the invoice as it reflected items that we did not order or eat!! Don't go there on week ends.

I tried Balade for the first time recently and was really impressed with their menu, service and atmosphere. The food is Lebanese/Middle Eastern and they have a really great selection of small and large plates. The service was good and the atmosphere is warm. My only complaint is that I ordered a salad with a piece of tuna on top and the tuna was way overcooked. Admittedly, I could have sent it back, but I was feeling lazy. My partner's pita pizza, however, was awesome.

My wife and I were on our way to Penn station headed back towards Albany. We ordered the lamb kabob and special of the day, to go. By the time we were able to eat, it was cold, but still had so much flavor. I could imagine how it taste at the restaurant. I good recommendation for anyone.

this is my 1st time in NY and i was looking for a nearby restaurant when i found this one. Coming from the middle east i though it's another restaurant trying to make food close to what we are used to. Actually i was surprised.. The food quality was amazing, the variety was very good and it has a mixed of hot/cold mezzas and a lot of main dishes.. Being a lebanese i'm not easily impressed with Lebanese food especially outside my home country. But this restaurant has nailed it. Even the ambiance was very quite and charming. Even the price was very "cheap" compared to what we usually pay for such food quality/quantity BTW, their food is Halal for who's looking for it. Bon Appetit

Excellent food, attentive service. We had an early dinner sharing a few small dishes and one daily special between us (family of 3 adults). So good we bought a gift certificate for a friend.

The tabbouleh was fresh and delicious. My Greek pitza was filling, and my husband's chicken kabob wrap was unusual and a nice change--watch the aioli dressing--it's very garlicky. The meal was a very reasonable price in a very small restaurant. The staff was friendly and helpful.

Ordered delivery. Chicken kebabs. Hummus. Not big fans. Big portions. Hummus was ok. Pita was terrific. But there are better in town.

I discovered this cute little place while down near Union Square. What a Gem - their falafel and hummus are homemade and delicious! They also have a great selection of Lebanese wines to try. It's within walking distance of Union Square and the lower East Side on 1st Ave. Don't miss it - you'll have a wonderful meal - AND they deliver in the area!!

One of the best food experiences I have ever had. Small, cozy and intimate setting. The staff was very nice and attentive. My boyfriend picked this place for our last date night on our vacation and because I had never had Lebanese cuisine before. We decided to share about 6-7 dishes between us and everything we ate was PHENOMENAL. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu, it's all amazing. I have told everyone since that this is a must-visit while in New York. if I lived near this place, I'd be here every day (and eventually very broke).

I would like to say something about the food at Balade, but unfortunately I didn't get past Lady Macbeth, the manager and hostess, last evening. She was condescending and nasty and so I left before ordering. I will not return.

Everything here is delicious, the dishes are authentic middle eastern presented beautifully. Service is attentive and very nice - it's lovely restaurant and well worth a visit!

i'd been looking forward to visiting this lower east side restaurant for some time. reservation was for 7. took them about 10' to seat us. restaurant was crowded and already somewhat noisy. brick walls & tile inserts don't do much to absorb sound. after ordering we waited 30' for the appetizers. started w/2 mezes. tuna over greens salad. it was way over-cooked. ($14) and shrimp w/a spicy sauce. turned out to be 5 smallish shrimp. ($9) the entrees took another 45'. mahi-mahi, the fish of the day, was again way overcooked & dry. ($25) the 3 baby lamb chops were smaller/thinner than usual and grilled 'til 2 of them were charred. ($28) the accompanying rice w/both entrees was awash in oil. the house wine was OK. as we waited & ate the table next to us went from 6 to 24! we had to move over a bit to give #s 23 & 24 access to the end of the table. the noise was all but intolerable for conversation. the waiter noted our displeasure and when we commented on the food & the ambiance, he told us the manager would be over to see (placate?) us. he never came. instead the waiter reappeared & offered us more wine or dessert. the baklava was small & also very dry. when the waiter tried to explain the problem of too many people & noise he said they hadn't expected the "crowd". isn't that what reservations are for...? i assume the kitchen was also overwhelmed and that's why the food came out slowly and ill-prepared. otherwise, i'd never return to /recommend this restaurant. too bad. it could be a nice place despite its somewhat inflated prices.

I will be back again! We were here during the week for dinner, and after we sat down and ordered they got kind of busy as they are slightly understaffed. I would suggest going before 8pm during the week. The food was amazing and super flavorful. The server was knowledgeable about the full wine list and was able to suggest a great bottle for us and our meal. We ordered the mixed appetizer plate with hummus, taboule, falelfal, and baba ganjoush. All of them were so tasty! For our meals we had the beef shawarma and tarboosh chicken pita pitza. Both were so delicious and we had tons of leftovers to have again. One of my new favorite restaurants in the area, plus they are on scoutmob!

Small friendly and comfortable. Excellent staff and grilled chicken wing mezze. Other mezze good too.

Most of our lives we lived in Detroit where there is an abundance of the full range of Middle Eastern food, including Lebanese. The kids live in NYC so on our last trip to visit we met them at Balade in the East Village. Our standards are high based on our experience and we were thrilled with our meals at this cozy, well run restaurant. From the moment we arrived early for our reservation and were seated, through our traditional hummus and tabuleh appetizers and our entrees, we were completely satisfied and well attended. I recognized our favorite dishes with some unfamiliar spellings -- like the mujaddara w riz (spelling I am used to) -- that were prepared slightly different that I was accustomed but excellent nevertheless. This was true of the chicken schawarma sandwich my son had -- slightly different but delicious. Good wine selection by the glass,especially well priced considering locale. The service was attentive but not overly so and a mixup in our order, that was clearly our fault, and for which we were happy to pay for, was corrected by the kitchen at no charge to us. Alghazaleen mint tea was a clean and warm finish to our meal. We will certainly add Balade to our favorites for future trips to NYC and I believe other TA members would be very satisfied with this selection in the city of endless choices!

We were in NYC for a Mashrou Leila concert, and decided to stay in the Middle Eastern ambiance and found Balade on Trip Advisor. The food was very nice, the service was exquisite. The manager recommended the mezze with a couple salads and a plate of mixed grill, it was certainly plenty of delicious food...certainly a very good find!

The night started off on the wrong foot. We were a party of 3 and waited on line for a table. We were told we would be next as we watched the restaurant empty out. We were not seated next because suddenly there was a party of 12. They sat them before us even though only one third of the party was there. There were other open tables, but they were not for us. After a heated discussion we started to walk out of the restaurant. We were then asked to stay and wait at the bar with a complimentary drinks. We agreed and sat at the bar. Place settings arrived and it was assumed that we would be dining at the bar. We went with it and ordered our dinners. I ordered fish and it was excellent. With some coaching on their people skills this has the potential to be a very good restaurant.

Among the many small plates we shared, we especially enjoyed the baba ghanouj and the fatayir with spinach and feta.

we ordered almost a little bit of everything on the menu I can tell you everything was amazing will be going back for sure

Friendly wait staff. Authentic cuisine. Nice wine list. Side selection could make an entire mark. We'll be back!

Discovered this place based on groupon offer and loved it since. Also recomended to many friends and family members. The food was PHENOMENAL from appetizers to deserts. Wait staff was friendly and provided great description of menue items.

I really enjoyed my beef shawarma with hummus — the beef was quite spicy, and the hummus had a nice citrus edge. The chicken and veg soup I started with was also a quality dish, and rather larger than usual. A good choice of beers too, including Jordanian and Lebanese.

Visited Balade last night for dinner. Amazing food with right amount of flavor, Youssef the manager & his staff was very friendly and accommodating. We were a party of 6 & 2 of us are vegetarians. We had enough options for us. Selection of Lebanese wine was good as well. From small plates to our meal every dish was very tasty and just rightly spiced. Hot sauce was home made and delicious, It's a small place but definitely not a hole in the wall. Great Experience

Very friendly and attentive wait staff and a pleasant interior, with a lunch special that's hard to beat: $10 for appetizer, lunch entree and a dessert. Food was great! Will be going back.

Best Lebanese food I have had in many years, Our table of six shared Mezze plates with the Shifa & Batata Harra being the standouts of a very good bunch, plus one mixed grill platter

Went there with friends and had a nice time. Food was quite alright, not amazing but definitely not bad either. However, it was over priced. The staff was very nice, attentive and friendly.

Lebanese food and drink, excellent service and input from staff. Table of 5, enjoyed the Mezze Supreme which satisfied the entire table, something for everyone and a lot of it! Our vegetarians at the table had a good selection and enjoyed the meal. Will be back!

The entire dining experience was awful including the appetizers and the main course. Overall, the food was lackluster in taste without one iota of association with true Lebanese food. In our opinion, it was as if the owners do not care one iota regarding their patrons as evidenced by their providing very mediocre food as well as small portions and charging fairly high prices for such low quality meals. Even the tap water was warm. My wife and I eat frequently at many Mediterranean restaurants in NYC and quite frankly this was not only the worst Lebanese food I have ever consumed BUT the worst meal we have had in years.

Found this cute little Lebanese restaurant by chance. The staff were really nice. Nice space. Got to taste a couple of wines before settling on a bottle of perfectly acceptable Saugivnon Blanc from the Bekaa valley. The food was really good. We shared the Romaine lettuce salad, the babaghanouj and a Lebanese pizza. We all had variants of kebabs. They were all good (but we were all really thirsty after dinner). The rice and French fries were good. Two minor things- we had ordered the pizza as an appetizer and it was brought out with the entrees. Their coffee is undrinkable. I would definitely go back to this relaxed Middle Eastern place.

We order Balade take-out at least once a week and also go there in person occasionally. It's one of our favorite restaurants and I'm leaving this review in the hopes more people will visit it.

The food was excellent. We started with the hummus, grape leaves and baba ghanouj, and the baba was maybe the best that I have ever tasted. Then we had the falafel sandwich, hummus and shawarma platter, and chicken shawarma sandwich, all of which were excellent. We also tried the rose water, which was good. The bill for much more food than three could eat was $83 before taxes, which seemed reasonable. The atmosphere was nice, and service was friendly and efficient. The only drawbacks are that it is a bit loud and cramped (we were seated facing a brick wall). Definitely worth checking out.

We had a wonderful dinner at Balade during our trip to NYC. The restaurant is tastefully furnished and conveys a pleasant atmosphere. Our waiter, Hamza, provided impeccable and very friendly service. He was attentive and readily available to answer questions about the menu and make recommendations. Hamza also treated us to special Moroccan mint tea and delicious baklava-type desserts after we finished our meal. Each plate we ordered was delicious! From the hummus with fresh pita bread as an appetizer to the main courses of Beef Shawarma, Chicken Shish Tawook and a large salad with grilled chicken, everything tasted well seasoned and fresh. We would absolutely go there again!

We were a party of six with no reservations, but the staff managed to squeeze us In even when it was packed. We ordered different variations of the fixed menu with great success :) Friendly staff, small and I think authentic cuisine, reasonable prices and many different possibilities. Even for a vegetarian. We had such a good time and we will return the next time we visit NY.

The food in New York is good but this was the best. A nice small restaurant inside, well decorated and friendly staff (which often isn't the case in NY). The meal was superb, beautiful salad, mixed grill and some mezze. Wine was nice as well. We ate every morsel!

Wow. Where to begin? The noise level was quite unbearable. At least play some Arabic music. The space very cramped. The lighting too dark. And that was the best part. The food lacked any flavor. Had to add salt to everything and even then the taste didn't live up. The meat was undercooked and flavorless. I've lived in the Middle East so I know authentic Lebanese food, this isn't it. But the worst part was the more than one hour and half waiting for our tasteless food to arrive. By that time I just asked him to bring the check with the food so we could leave. Will never go back and wouldn't recommend it to anyone. The only positive was the very helpful African American waiter who tried to make our painful visit somewhat bearable.

Its a small restaurant ... but with a amazing food . It can be noisy some time because its get overcrowded.

This review will resemble a child on a slide.The child starts off on top and then quickly hits the bottom. This is a nice looking restaurant (see my photo below). The house bread, served hot, was delicious. The Grilled Halloumi Cheese (see photo below), $10, served warm, with tomato and cucumber, was again delicious. The lean Beef Kafta, $20, which comes with rice or fries or salad, was very dry, and seemed like it was prepared in advance and heated when ordered. It was very unsatisfying in regards to flavor because it was so dry. One order has two cigar shaped Kaftas. The two waiters there seemed like they were bored as they went about doing their jobs and my waiter seemed indifferent at times.

The food wasn’t fresh but reheated. The bowls were chipped. The bread was stale. The service was terrible. Very disappointing. We have visited this place many times. However this time was drastically disappointing.

Nice restaurant, loved the food. Cozy feel and great ambience, each dish was full of flavors. We just kept ordering one dish after another. If you like spicy and tangy do order batata harra.

Our lunch at Balade started off well enough, with the complimentary warm rolls and spread with sesame. Our hummus and our Baba Ghanouj also were excellent. Things went downhill with our luncheon entrees. Our daughter's Skinny Shawarma salad was flavorful. However, my husband's Chicken Meshwe salad was a small over-grilled chicken breast and had some tasteless rice. My Mediterranean Grilled Tuna salad was a good-sized piece of fish, but it had been grilled to death and was not done as I had asked for it to be. However, I did not send it back because it had taken soooooo long for my entree to come out after the other two entrees that I had to tell my husband and daughter to go ahead with their food, since I didn't want them to have cold food waiting for my entree to come out. The house dressing, which we all had on the side, was excellent. Service was drive-by. Because of the acoustics, one loud group can permeate the room, making it difficult for others to converse.

We had a delicious meal of mezze at Balade. This local Lebanese offers very good food and wine in a friendly setting. We opted for a light supper of small plates - great babaganoush, fava bean appetizer, stuffed grape leaves, and excellent chicken livers. We also had a glass of very good Lebanese Sauvignon Blanc and Cote du Rhone. Loved the food and friendly, helpful service. The menu has so much choice. The food was extremely well prepared and fresh. Very good. We will be back.

We were walking around after a business meeting and chanced upon this cozy little place. The staff, very welcoming and over the top polite. We tried the Ksara Reserve Lebanese wine, which was very nice. Be careful if you order the Tabouleh appetizer, it's really BIG. Big enough to share with three in my opinion. for dinner we had the Ladme Baajin and the Balade Pitza. The Pitza has a hummus base and is really tangy so be prepared. All in all, a great choice and good food. The only complaint if I have any, it took forever to get the check, so when you want your check, you may want to make it VERY CLEAR you want your check. I still tipped well. I'll be back again, to try more things.

Fab mezza, hot and cold dishes. Baba ganoush, wonderful. A red peper and nut tapenade was outstanding. Plenty of thin, fresh pita served. Friendly, pleasant wait people, especially Salome. They played their music a bit too loudly, and the tunes could have been a bit more middle eastern sounding, but they turned the volume down when we asked. We could hear each other -- a good thing as we hadn't seen each other in a while! Extensive menu, moderate prices. Fast service.

My test of a Middle Eastern restaurant is the baba ganoush. There must be a smoky flavor, and Balade did not disappoint. The appetizer was delicious. There was plenty of warm, freshly baked pita. We shared a kibbe dish, which we both liked. The Ukrainian waitress was friendly and helpful, and we enjoyed a very pleasant, unhurried lunch. The cook came out and chatted with us. The restaurant also had a charming oriental ambience. A very agreeable place.

This is a charming restaurant with great service. Enjoyed the lahme baajin and jebne lunch specials. The lahme baajin goes well with the lebne. Also highly recommend the mouhmara and sawdit djej. The sawdit djej is sautéed with pomegranate molasses and garlic which is excellent.

Six of us went to Balade for dinner. We split a variety of things including hummus, baba ghanouj, fava beans, and sautéed green beans. I had the chicken and veggie soup and the artichoke salad. Most of the food was very good, not great, but the service was somewhat slow. The restaurant is nice but a little dark and loud.

I was craving Lebanese food and saw the good reviews for this restaurant. Sadly, it turned out to be very disappointing. I have tried several Lebanese restaurants throughout the world and the food here lacked the wonderful flavor that is the trademark to Lebanese food. The lentil soup tasted like a mix of water, lemon and lentils, with very little flavor. The main course arrived very late, our waiter was very generous and offered us tea on the house. Unfortunately, even the Lebanese tea with mint that he offered lacked flavor. On to the main course, the grilled chicken was not bad, had it been thoroughly cooked, it was crunchy from not being fully cooked. We ordered the 3 course meal which came with a dessert, the baklava was not bad as was the pudding. The restaurant is dark, crowded and noisy.

Really tasty food and great attentive service in a downtown restaurant. We had mixed grills kebabs which were cooked to perfection... flavours I have never tasted before.

We went there to celebrate my daughters birthday. I have never been and was extremely pleasantly surprised.The staff was extremely attentive and answered all questions we had. I am familiar with Middle Eastern food but not Lebanese. All the food was presented well and tasted great.They have a pre fixe menu which is truly the way to go. I can't say enough on how wonderful the staff was. The place is nicely decorated and intimate. I will definitely go back.

Very yummy plates here great for sharing Fresh ingredients and flavorful dishes Would definitely go back with solo or with a group

The food, service and ambiance were just perfect! The flavors were amazing! I would highly recommend this place!

I love this restaurant. I have been here many time with friends and family when we want to eat in the neighborhood. The food has been consistently delicious and the service is friendly and helpful. Everything I've had has been yummy.

The decor is warm and inviting although the seating is rather tight. More important is that the food and service were excellent. And the fare is reasonably priced (for Manhattan!).

We were a party of four and had a great meal. We are vegetarian and had many options. The best things were the Foul Medamas, garlic aioli, harissa sauce, labne and batata. The manager, Hobart, and the other staff were very friendly and let us stay as long as we liked. We never felt rushed. They didn't frown upon us for not ordering alcohol. Great experience.

They were so wonderful to us and made me feel special on my birthday. Food was fantastic and service was great!

The chicken and beef shawarma was pretty tasty. The combination of the hot sauce, pickles, chicken / beef, lettuce, cilantro and onions were perfect! It was almost like a chipotle style restaurant inside. I'd definitely recommend this place and will be returning!!

Ok. Don´t expect too much but the food tastes good and it is not so expensive. The service is ok, the atmosphere is nice - really looks like you are in some arabic place. Good to try food from the other countries.

I really like the feel of this restaurant. It had a great Friday night buzz and the food was delicious. The stuffed grape leaves were excellent and the Friday night eggplant special was wonderful. I'd definitely go back when in NYC.

We come to NY often to visit our daughter and her family and are always looking out for new places to eat out that will not bankrupt our budget. 1Y Cafe is such a place. My wife suggested we try looking for places on A or B Avenues because they are near our pied-a-terre and we had never done that. We saw a few places that looked ok but nothing caught our eye and appetite until we came to this place. It is small, less than 10 tables but very nice and clean. To start we ordered steamed vegetable dumplings which for $5 (6 of them) was a good deal. They were pretty good. My wife ordered Sesame Chicken($11.95) which she said was pretty good and I ordered Maryland crab cakes that were excellent. Both came with a nice portion of house salad. For dessert we shared an apple crumb pie ($5) that was delicious. The service was excellent, provided by a young man who was among the best, friendliest waiters we have dealt with. Without us asking he recommended we go for the carrot dressing for our salads. I decided to pass and went for the vinaigrette instead but decided to try the carrot one because I found it unusual. After I tried both, I used half my wife's carrot dressing, it was so good. For us, this place was very good and the prices reasonable for NY. We will be back.

Balade offers fresh, local dishes in a small, intimate, well-run restaurant. We've dined there twice in the last month and been very happy with the food, service and ambience. The wait staff, in particular, are helpful and friendly and make the experience personalized. The dishes are about what you'd expect for a Lebanese restaurant, but the ingredients and preparation made all the dishes we ordered truly delightful. We ordered a mixed mezzes plate, but asked for only vegetarian dishes, which they gladly did for us. We've also tried the prix fixe lunch which had more food than we could possibly eat, all of it delicious. We'll be back soon.

Recently visited Balade. My second dinner there (previous was 9/2013). The staff were helpful and hospitable. Especially good was the Skinny Schwarma salad and the disc specialty. Not especially cheap, but good value for NY city. Busy, reservation suggested. Definitely on my plans for a repeat visit.

Great Arabic food. I've traveled all over the Middle East and this is the real deal. Had the Hummus, halouhmi cheese and chicken swarms plate Try it, you'll like it

I lived in New York city all my life and this is the worst restaurant I ever been to. The mixed grill dish was burnt, dry, overcooked and uneatable and the grilled fish tasted like cardboard. We sent back both dishes and only one replacement came 40 minutes later and it was the same exact thing!! We both got up and left and I hope you avoid this place!

Seeking middle eastern food, we happened upon this Lebanese restaurant in the east village. We were accommodated without a reservation. We enjoyed a lebanese rose wine, creamy hummus, a beef entree and the sea bass, then finished with a dessert we'd never heard of before, ashta, described as a pudding, but that's not quite it. In any case, we definitely enjoyed it. The whole experience was delightful.

Had a reservation at 7.30 pm. After waiting 10 minutes the host came and said he was very sorry and the table would be ready in 10 minutes. 20 minutes passed by and we asked him, how much longer. Again he said he was very sorry and the table would soon be ready. After we had been standing waiting for 45 minutes we left. Not a good experience.

I have been here twice. The first time was this past winter and it was outstanding. Went with a friend, the staff was very helpful and the food was wonderful. Great experience so I thought I would head back this past weekend (4th of July) and left somewhat dissatisfied. The staff was not friendly or attentive, they were out of the Lentil soup but didn't tell you that until 25 minutes after you ordered it, and in the middle of a heat wave there was barely any AC on. The redeeming factor that made up for the experience was that they accept OpenTable reservations and if you check in on FourSquare there is a special that takes a certain percentage off of your lunch or dinner if you go Sunday through Thursday so that helped. I will hopefully be back at some point but I will not be rushing over.

Been in NY for so long and truly they had the most authentic tasting Lebanese shawarma. It's just a little fancy, a smallish nook with live music on Saturdays (best to check with establishment though). Their lunch deal is incredible and perfect for a first try!

Balade has a great variety of middle eastern food at very reasonable prices. One of their best dishes is their chicken soup which is on middle eastern style and slightly spicy. The shawarma and salads are also delicious and they have a very fast take out service.

After visiting the 9/11 memorial and museum, we grabbed lunch here . As it was early afternoon, it wasn’t busy but I made reservations prior just in case. At first it took a while to get seated as the host was in the kitchen but after that service was friendly and attentive. Their homemade lemonade was the BEST I ever had, so freshing! The food was incredible as well! Will definitely return.

Unexpected find for great Lebanese food. Brought friends from the South here and they loved the experience. Atmosphere warm and inviting. Food was exceptionally good. Service friendly and accomodating.

The food is phenomenal. Try the red pepper and walnut pomegranate spread. The wines are great as is the service. The best Lebanese in nyc.

Very fresh tasty dishes.Large dishes,extra pita bread, home made soup and main dishes,special sweet drinks.

Tired of all the bland lunch food in the Herald Square area? Ballade has great flavors with the option of spicing it up with their hot sauce or garlic sauce. Having had everything on the menu I have not had a loser! My favorite is the kofta with rice/salad and lots of toppings especially the parsley sumac mix!

Excellent food, superb service, nice atmosphere, clean restroom, reservations were promptly honored. There was a slight issue with food temperature but it was quickly resolved, with appropriate follow up (and dessert on the house). Note: limited seating if they have a party going so make reservations accordingly. We will surely be back again, and again.

We were a party of 8. We all thoroughly enjoyed our meals. Great appetizers (hummus, wings, cheese) and delicious entrees. I had the chicken and toum dish and it couldn’t have been better. Good service, too!

We ordered from Balade for an office lunch on a Wednesday. They set a new 2015 record for delivery time from order - 90 minutes! The tuna over the salad was good, but very inconsistently cooked. Half was medium and half was rare. They also forgot to put any dressing on the salad.

Balade was very tasty! My friend and I both got the vegetable platter and the lamb kebab. The food service was quick and some of the best Mediterranean food I have had.

I have to say after very long I have had a good Lebanese food. Great spot with a cozy feel to the resturant. Friendly staff and good service. From appetizers to main course everything we ordered was good and felt that it was coming from my kitchen. You have to try the famous Mouhallabie it's a desert, which can shared between two people. Also freshly squeezed lemonade to die for. Overall I will definitely recommend this place and will be stopping by for another good meal soon.

Small, authentic cuisine, friendly, staff, reasonable prices. Anyone who knows Lebanese food will say this is the real thing. A welcoming staff that wants you to enjoy your visit! What more could you want from a restaurant in this price range?

Great friendly service and awesome food, my wife and I really enjoyed stopping here when passing by. Highly recommended.

We stopped here for dinner on a girl's trip and really enjoyed it. The restaurant is beautiful and seating was comfortable. The menu had a great variety of items and the waitress was very accommodating with some of our food allergy needs. She was able to change up some of the fixed mezza plates to swap out some items that my friend could eat and share more in the appetizers. We ordered to much food and couldn't finish it all. I wished they would have had stuffed cabbage or mini eggplant on the menu as an everyday item vs a week day special because we weren't able to get any and I had been craving it! The baba ghanoush was really good. I usually am not a big fan of it, but it was really good. Soujouk was also so tasty and so were the grape leaves. We got a mixed grill to share and the meat was a little tough and the falafel was a bit on the dry side, but overall the rest of the samplers were really tasty. Would recommend going.

Tip: Sunday thru Wednesday they run a Prix Fixe menu - get 3 courses! I started with the Baba Ganouj - tasty, fresh, authentic! I have tried it in so many places and it is dry - not tasty, oily eggplant spread. I had a beef dish which was very tasty, and for dessert - I tried the very fresh and authentic Baclava - with flaky pasty, dates, walnuts, honey.... The meal was great! People may write mixed or bad reviews based on price, but ignore these reviews - remember: you get what you pay for!!!

I have been to Balade for dinner before and loved the food. A friend arranged for a birthday dinner for me -10 people. They created a delicious prix fixe that was so generous that at the end we asked them to pare down the entrees and there were still left-overs. The service was great, especially considering the large group, crowded Saturday night, and they were patient when some of the party arrived late. The appetizers are all delicious as are the entrees. I would go back again.

I really enjoyed this Mediterranean restaurant. We happened to come here because it was close to our late night plans and I am so glad we did! They have so many great vegetarian options here that I know I'll be going back a few more times just to try everything on their menu. I loved all of the mezze plates we got. The food is well seasoned and the portions are the right size. The only disappointing part was that some of their food items are only served during lunch or Monday through Thursday.

Really good Lebanese food, quite gourmet too! Ideal place for a romantic dinner or dinner between friends. Personnel was really nice! I would definitely come back here!!

Sooooo Good. Everything we tried on the menu was phenomenal. The wiat staff are very well expreienced. Its a hidden place in the east village, you must visit.

The food was fantastic and the service perfect! The place has a relaxing ilumination .The best Libanese food in town!!!

They have excellent hummus, lentil soup to start then chicken shawarma and I have a delicious Knafeh. Service is excellent and they offered us thyme + olive oil with hot bread on arrival. Everything was perfect and it was almost full around 7 PM.

Busy place great food fun friendly service Would definitely go back Beer and wine offered no cocktails Inside outside seating

Really impressed with this restaurant. The food and service were both impeccable and faultless. I went here with a large group and the staff coped really well. The food was brought out in a timely manner, waitstaff were very helpful with menu queries and wine listings. The ambiance is warm and inviting. Like I said, can't fault the place.

This place has really good Lebanese food. The main attraction here is the mixed grill, which is meats inside a fresh bread. They cut the bread open at your table and the meats are inside. The Baklava was really good too.

Been going since they opened. Always looking for lunch with some flavor! Standard lunch arrangement with a base of salad or rice, protein, and toppings. I like their kofte and lahem b'ajine plus baba ghannouj is good. Tasty food, good portions, decent price. I'm a regular!

With a lively and friendly atmosphere, Balade serves excellent Lebanese cuisine at a very reasonable price. We left it to our waiter, Jusef, to compose a mezze selection for us based on his recommendations. He did a fantastic job in presenting us with the best from their kitchen. The meal was absolutely lovely, the staff friendly, professional and knowledgeable. Make sure you book a table!

I had a good feeling as soon as I stepped inside Balade - the lighting in and smells brought me right back to my time in Beirut. The ambiance is ruined at times by the high level of noise, but who cares about that when you have an incredible plate of food in front of you. The food also helped me overlook the significant lack of ability the server had to answer any of our questions regarding the menu. The meal commenced with a basket of warm pita bread and zaatar dipping sauce (not going to lie, I would go back just for this). Then taboule was presented in its heaping parsley glory - just as it should be...a pile of fresh herbs with just a touch or burghul. The fare was so good, we couldn't stop there...so we continued with foul and hummus and halloume sandwiches. Everything was on point. We liked it so much that we went twice in the span of just one week.

Nice and cool and and clean and quiet on a hot summer day. Fresh and authentic Lebanese food for lunch served by attentive staff. The '961' brand Lebanese Lager was a chilly revelation!

Nice place for a group to share multiple dishes. Very friendly service, great staff and food was nice.

I'd categorize Balade as eclectic Med/Near Eastern in its food offerings. We shared a Mazmeez, which is what it sounds like, a sampler of tahini, hummus, green beans (a disappointment), and falafel (excellent, we'd go back for it alone). Two fish dishes, Samke Harra and the other samke mechwiyeone, one the whole fish, the other fileted and spicy. Both rated as very good. Don't ask me which was which. Ask the waiter, who was extremely pleasant and helpful. I went with the familiar lamb kabob. Tender, but rather ordinary. A very good portion of rice to go with it. If TA had a "good" rating I'd give them that. Let's put it this way:Balade is a pleasant and satisfying dining experience.

Absolutely love this place! Each and every time I come here the customer service is just excellent, the staff is friendly and delightful to talk to. The food is superb! I brought my friends here for the first time last week and they loved the food as much as I did. I'm happy with how they have maintained consistent good quality in their food, it's always delicious and I've yet to have a bad experience with this Balade. Keep up the good work!

Happened upon this place when plans to go to Momofuku Noodle Bar fell through. Looked good enough so my girl and I gave it a shot. We ordered the hummus, laban w/ cucumber, halloumi cheese, and the chicken shwarma, and boy were we surprised. Hands down some of the best hummus we've ever had. The laban (similar to tzatziki) was the perfect consistency and the shwarma was seasoned almost perfectly. I was very impressed by the beer selection, no american or local beers at all. The only beers they had were from Lebanon which was great. Ordered the 961 Red Ale which complimented the food wonderfully. (Reminded me of a Killians Irish Red.) Just writing this review makes me want to go back. In fact, I think I know what dinner is tonight.

Perfect dinner, amazing food, beautiful place, staff were very kind and sang happy bday to my aunt! Thank you! Best Lebanese cosine in town!!

Found this spot on OT and absolutely loved everything about it. Fabulous food, great atmosphere and amazing service. Can’t wait to come back!

Just visiting New York for a long weekend. Wonderful lunch spot. Great variety of outstanding Lebanese food. Highly recommend.

This was an amazing experience. Food is delicious here. Service is great too. Had a great time. Kafta dish was amazing!

Fresh Hummus, Excellent lamb and the fish ! Just dont BYOB they charge $50 ! Make sure to call ahead and make reservations especially on weekends !

Went there for special dinner, will not go again: 1. They don’t know hospitality. Manager greeted us warmly but young woman server was socially clueless. We wanted to talk a bit over appetizer and drink before ordering. “Kitchen wants you to order everything at once soon after being seated, will you do that?” “No.” (They want to turn over the table ASAP). 2. She didn’t tell us that what we ordered was appetizer size. When arrived had to order something else. Tasty but small portions. Exception, platters are huge portions. 3. They do not serve cocktails, coffee, or tea. !! I can understand only having a beer/wine license but no coffee or tea??? What to drink w dessert? Again, discouraging lingering. 4. Too expensive for the meal.

I´ve been there for lunch with two friends and each of us has ordered one special dish. The food was superb and "authentic" as one can read in the folder. Excellent music and a very nice girl to help us. No doubt, it is a place to keep in mind when in NYC.

Celebrated Mother's Day with hubby and my son and his ladyfriend a night early. Had reservations for 7 PM and got there about 10 minutes early and our table was indeed ready at 7! We had a table overlooking the busy Manhattan Street -- service was atttentive and efficient. The restaurant is cozy and warm with lots of wood accents. As we were seated near the bar, it did become rather noisy. Complimentary mini pitas arrived warm with a sesame seed, olive oil, balsamic vinegar reduction. Our baba ghanoush and red pepper spread with walnuts arrived with whole wheat pitas. We did have to remind the waiter that we had ordered different flavored falafels which arrived warm and were worth the wait. The special of the night was kibbe which was a little too dry, the chicken skewers were extremely dry, the vegetarian lentils were well spiced and well cooked. We ordered two bottles of Lebanese red wine recommended by our waiter at $36 each. We placed one order for baklava and when it arrived had 4 pieces of assorted baklava which were devoured. Prices seemed most reasonable but as I was not paying not sure what the final bill was. Loved the location in Manhattan't East Village and would enjoy returning when the street level window/doors are open to take in the lively street scene!

Excellent service, very clean restaurant , The people very friendly and The food was amazing ! Very nice to find this !!

I purchased "Mediterranean Meal for Two with Appetizers, Entrees, and Wine at Balade" deal for $39.00 through Groupon. I am glad that I made a reservation as it is a very crowded restaurant. My husband doesn't drink wine and the waiter was nice to substitute it with beer. We had Flavored Falafel and Mouhmara for appetizers and loved the flavored falafel. I had Banadoura Harra (V) lebanese pizza which was made with Diced Tomatoes, Onions and Spicy Flake Pepper which was very tasty. My husband loved the Moudardara which is Cooked Lentils and Rice, Topped with Caramelized Onionsand served with a Side Salad. The ambiance would have been more romantic had the music not been so loud!!!

This was my 4th time at this place in recent years. Great food, nice service, basic but fun decor. Balade never let me down. Their internal organisation could be a bit better.

It was what I was craving exactly. Very delicious and fresh Yummy to the max Friendly and professional service Only problem .... need bathroom upgrade

Balade is recommended by Zagat and Trip Advisor. Authenic ambiance. We were given a complimentary bread app.-two small puffed breads with a tasty sesame paste dip. We shared a parsley & tomato salad (large enough for 4 people), so large, we took 2/3 of it home. We each had spiced chicken schwarma - with peppers and onions over rice, also a good-sized portion.. For drinks we ordered a Lebanese draft lager beer and a hot pot of tea with mint leaves. For dessert we chose mini baklavah and a delicious large creamy pudding with bananas and strawberries..Entrees were in the $20-25 price range. Service was good.

I was given a friendly welcome when I arrived ahead of my friends and received just the right amount of attention Once we were all there, we ordered some pleasant Lebanese white wine to enjoy while we studied the menu. Warm bread appeared. So many temptations! We began by sharing a couple of appetizers (baba ghanoush and tabouleh) with which pita bread was served. Our main platters were all delicious. I eat slowly and didn't want to leave one bite. The waiter joked, saying we could take our time….he would be there until 11. We shared a serving of baklava which came in very small swirls of goodness. An excellent meal and pleasant atmosphere.

What a great surprise. My colleague found this while we were on a business trip to NYNY and it was the find of the week. A great mezze selection, everything we had was delicious (Hummus Beurite and Fatayir with spinach and feta deserve special mention) and I had the sea bass as an entree and I haven't had better - didn't need the rice or salad with it though, but the spicy tahini sauce rocked!! The limited wine list covered all bases including a couple of Lebanese reds what were surprisingly good. Staff were wonderful. Despite being busy they took time to interact with us, delightfully cheeky, and so very friendly. They made us feel very special. And considering the fine service and great food, it was the best value for money I've experienced in Manhatten. If I was staying longer, I'd certainly go back. Can't wait for my next visit to NYNY - Balade will be on my to-dine-at list.

Although everything else is pretty good too. Nice garlicky baba ghannouj. Kofta with rice/salad and garlic sauce with toppings is one I like. You sense a “garlic” theme? :) Been eating here since they opened. Solid place. Check out loyalty program get free meal!

I made a reservation for 6 people on Friday night. The table was open and ready on time and our server was very attentive. He had great suggestions and everyone enjoyed the starters and mains. He also gave great feedback and let us have a few tasters of wine to help us decide on our wine choice. The music was at a comfortable level that allowed everyone to hear each other's conversations. We finished our evening with a baklava on the house. We had a really had a great night out and would highly recommend it to anyone.

Food was delicious overall, our group particularly enjoyed the Halloumi grilled cheese mezze, it tasted phenomenal. We had ordered the falafel and chicken schwarma "sandwiches" both which tasted good. The falafel was super tasty while the schwarma could have used a bit more flavor. However their "spicy sauce" gave it a needed kick. Overall great ambiance and the wait staff was friendly and attentive. Would highly recommend!

This place is very cozy and romantic, food is similar to my grandmother artemis, very fresh and tasty.

Had 7:30 pm reservation on my wifes birthday, but they made us wait outside for an hour, promising us a table within 10 mins several times. The host let in his regulars and friend before us even though they had later reservations. After 1 hour of waiting in the cold we left. Horrible treatment and service. Never coming back.

Purchased a groupon for this restaurant... I should have known when I saw the tuna appetizer that i was in for a very special night.... From beginning to end the food and service were oustanding. The staff are extremely attentive and knowledgeable of their menu. Some may find the menu more middle eastern than french/italian/spanish. Just wish that we were 1000 miles closer so that we could make frequent visits. Thank you once again for a very special evening!!

Cool restaurant with a cozy and intimate atmosphere. We didn't book the table so we had to eat on the bar counter. The food was really good, generous portions, great service and really reasonable price. We spent $90 in two with 3 appetizers, 2 main plates, 2 beers and one dessert. Highly recommended!

Forget the negative reviews. This place was amazing. I reserved through Open Table and then reconfirmed with one of the managers, Siddiqui. Upon arrival, we were greeted with smiles from ALL of the staff. They seated us in a cozy area at the back end of the restaurant. The restaurant manager was great and attentive to our needs. During the course of our dining, a gentleman by the name of Siddiqui, who I had confirmed our reservations with, came out and greeted me. He was a delight. The staff was very patient, friendly and never rushed us. I do not agree with the negative reviews. Now for the food: Consult your dining partners and order a variety of the Mezze (small plates). You can't go wrong. A delicious melange of flavors. It is a great start. For those who are non-vegetarian, the baby lamb chops and Chilean Sea Bass is a must. If you are vegetarian, you must have the "Manakeesh", a pizza style entree with many different options. Regardless, if you are vegetarian or non-vegetarian, Balade has plenty of choices. For drinks, order their Lebanese wine. Unfortunately, I do not remember the name but we ordered it twice and yes it complemented the food. The Price: Very reasonable considering the quality of service and food. Finally the Staff: They were very attentive to our needs and yes they do care about their customers. While I was dining, I dropped my car key by accident. I started searching for it and the staff quickly came to assist me. They even made an announcement. The guests were equally kind and started looking for the key. To my amazement, the key was discovered by a guest on the back of the very seat I was sitting on. It lead to laughter and applause. Overall, my experience at Balade was 5 stars! Do me a favor, please dine here. Come in with an open mind and do not be afraid to tell the staff how you want your food prepared. They will accommodate. They are all friendly, not at all rude and accommodating.

Had lunch at this restaurant and was blown away by the authentic Lebanese cuisine. Fabulous food, great atmosphere, and excellent service, all at a reasonable price. Can’t wait to come back!

I went here last night with a friend. The second we walked through the door, the aromas of the Lebanese food made our stomachs rumble. The service was great (attentive, but not disruptive, and we were not rushed at all). We were also pleasantly surprised to hear live music (which, even more surprising, was not so loud as to make conversations difficult!). The highlight, though, was the food. We tried a Lebanese pizza, and a pita pizza - both were very flavorful. The chicken pita pizza with a dijon honey sauce (I know, not traditional..) was unexpectedly good. The star, though, was the hummus beiruti with tomatoes and scallions. I could have eaten the entire bowl (and do foresee future stops here to take an order to go when on my way home!). For vegetarians, there were a lot of options on the menu - which I will definitely return to try!

This restaurant is one block from my house. My husband and I ate there when they first opened and we enjoyed the meal but were not wowed. We recently went back with friends and feasted on an assortment of mezes. The meal was PHENOMENAL. The humus, the assortment of grilled/fried cheese, the sausage, the salads!!! Fantastic. We kept ordering more because we were enjoying it so much. This restaurant is a gem and I only dread the day everyone realizes it and I cannot get in without a reservation!!!

The Place is Small, but the cuisine is fantastic! The staff is Very Friendly. Quality/Price excellent. Very reccomended.

We found our first choice restaurant closed so headed to Balade. It was very good indeed. the mezza and dishes were tasty, authentic Lebanese. Service was polite and attentive, the establishment clean and a good atmosphere. Deserving of a visit if you're mid-town. Highlt Reccomended. Reasonably priced.

Let's start with the food - I came here with some Lebanese friends and they tell me it is just like home. We ordered the Jallab to drink. It is made from dates with pine nuts, super yum! The bread they brought out with some thyme flavored olive oil was very delicate and unique. We shared the Tabouleh, Rakkat, Hummus and Batata Harra as appetizers. Rakkat is a must try! Tabouleh was so fresh, I could eat a whole bowl! For the mains we had Chicken Shish Tawook and Sheikh Shwarma. Everything was very delicious. The service was quick in spite of being very busy. The ambiance is quite interesting as well. They have pictures of Lebanon all over the rim of the ceiling and in one corners, have several books tucked away as well. I wish we had time to flip them them all. Looking at the crowd, so we didn't linger much after we finished our meal. Will be back soon!