Omar's Kitchen & Bakery Reviews

Standard middle eastern restaurant (i think the owner is Turkish) with a menu geared more towards a lunch crowd. The kofta kabobs are great, as is the vegetarian plate if you want to avoid meet. The decor is minimal, but that is not why people come here. Make sure when your order to state up frontnif it is to stay or take out!

Amazing authentic fresh food. Great prices too. We had the chicken kabob platter with hummous and chips / French fries - the first place I've been to in America that does proper chips! There is only around 9 tables for seating but the food is definitely worth the wait.

Omar's has great food (the line extends outside the place, even a mere 30 minutes after opening!), so I took some coworkers there for lunch. We wanted to sit at the table, but we were unsure if there would be space, since the dining area was filling up and there were many people on line in front of us. So we told the preparer that the order was to go, and he began filling out containers. We figured that by the time we got to the front of the line, if there was space, we would take out bags to the table and sit. But when we got to the front of the line and started toward one of the only open tables, the man between the register and dining area in the front of the dining area vehemently berated us for telling the preparer that we wanted our lunch to go, but now wanted to sit. He harshly said, "If you tell us you want to sit, we will tell you if there is room! That is why we ask! It is simple!" He angrily demanded that the cashier empty our bags, since we were staying after all, and ordered another worker to put settings down on the open table. Fine (not really) if he wants to treat his customers so brusquely, but it's terrible that he takes his anger out on his staff. I can't imagine what it is like working there. My coworkers and I sat and had our lunch. As we were leaving, the man said (less harshly, but pointedly nevertheless), "Next time, say that you want to stay, please." Don't worry, sir: There won't be a next time. We're not coming back.

Stopped by for lunch while staying mid-town. Chicken shawarma was amazing - very tender and flavorful without being at all dry. Went well with the freshly baked pita. Yes, there is a line out the door at lunch and ordering is a perfunctory process. But they put out a superior product and are very serious about it. Looking forward to going back and trying more items on the menu. Also, if you sit inside away from the hustle of the lunch line, the staff are quite gracious.

we went there 3 times within 6 days,food was excellent,service very good and not expensive,must visit

We were heading to another arabic restaurant when we passed Omar's. The delicious smell drew us in. The people are friendly and the food is delicious. We shared a chicken shawarma platter. Straight off the spit. It was moist and plenty for the both of us. The hummus was not quite what I'm used to, but still good. Salad with parsley, tomato and cucumber was amazing.

Had the falafel, spinach and chickpeas, rice. All dishes made by hand, very friendly staff. Be sure to show up for lunch early, they're so popular that the line extends out the door and down the street! A MUST TRY!

Platter dinners were great tasting and full of choices. Portions were large. Atmosphere was relaxing and kind of nice after a busy day of sight seeing. Complimentary baklava at end of meal topped off a nice dining experience.

It's a simple review, really. The food is fresh, delicious and we ordered entrees for 8 bucks each. It was tasty.

You can close your eyes and order anything from the Halal menu, you would not be disappointed. My favorite is the Mixed Grill Meat Kabob - Smoked Grilled Chicken Breast, Lamb Adana and Chicken Kabob served with 2 side orders of your choice. My side orders was Spanish with Chickpea over tomato Sauce (Hot) Mediterranean Rice and Hummus. Monday thru Friday, you have to get to the restaurant before mosque finish to avoid the long line and their is no delivery.

We we no high expectations for a meal in this relatively small and modest restaurant. Hence it was a big surprise to experience delicious authentic Arabic food here, including all typical ingredients and tastes. All dishes we tried (in several visits) - salads, falafel, lamb kabab, shawarma, humus, baklawa, and more - were just perfect in make and in taste. HOORAY! Service is typical Mediterranean - attentive and fast. The place is clean and prices are reasonable.

Delicious and mouth watering shawarma and kebabs. Definitely a place to get your middle eastern fix and service is fast and friendly. Try their signature platter.

Definitely the go to place for Shwarma in Midtown. I tend to go back there for the Lunch platters. You will not be disappointed.

Eat here if this is your type of food. It's absolutely fantastic.....falafel is especially good. Staff are friendly and accommodating .

Popped by here thanks to a Trip Advisor recommendation, and we were so happy we did! The food was abundant, affordable, and absolutely delicious. I would have given 5 stars, but service was slow, and they were stingy with their (delicious!) fresh bread. But they comped us a plate of heavenly baklava at the end of our meal, so all is forgiven. The only thing I wouldn't order again was the eggplant (not the babaganoush - the other eggplant). Nothing wrong with it, but everything else was SO good, and this was just average. Also - we brought our three young kids, and they accommodated us quickly and with kindness. I'm always so glad to find a family-friendly spot in midtown!

Excellent food at reasonable prices, though the drink selection was a little lacking. Large portions, well seasoned and a friendly staff.

Wow! Go for the falafel! Light, delicious and if you get the pita wrapped version, smeared with humus and topped with lettuce and tomato. Very busy weekday place, but great on weekends without the crowd. 100% yum.

Long line of people waiting but the staff are fast and efficient so waiting time was minimal. The chicken shawarma Hummus and Greek salad plate to take out was truly delicious the chicken was coated in a mix of middle eastern spices which just makes the chicken taste amazing everything was fresh and of good quality. The dips that come with it are equally good, and the baklava was just the right amount of a sweet treat not to feel guilty about. Definitely a place I’d recommend to visit whilst in NYC

Best shawarma I've eaten not only in midtown but beyond. The lines look ridiculously long, a la Soup Nazi episode (for those who watched Seinfeld), but it moves quickly. Just know what you want as soon as you move over to the counter area :-) The sides are delicious, babbaghannouj is smokey and the hommas is excellent. You even get a piece of baklava which I like to save (at least, I try to) for later in the afternoon with my coffee. The guys are very friendly and the price is great given it's midtown and it's enough for 2 meals (even for a guy my size). Every time I work out of our midtown office, I'm queued in that lunch line by noon.

Went here with my family for dinner hummus and chicken kabobs were great! overall was a great experience! They did get one knock for not serving any tapwater for the family.

Very personal service (Omar served us) and the plate with mixed meats was very flavorful. Also falafel sand which was good and pita bread was fresh.

Not much to look at from the outside, but once you are seated and away from the buffet service, then everything begins to fall into place. We ordered their signature Mediterranean dish with a selection of meats, Turkish eggplant, and baba ganoush. They are well worth a visit. And I would say a solid recommendation

Great place to get some really tasty middle eastern food. They do amazing kebabs and kebab meals! If you're going at lunchtime be prepared to queue outside. But they have loads of staff so you won't have to wait long!

Cheap, delicious lunch place in Midtown East. ~$10 for a plate of schwarma, two sides, pita and dessert. Go before noon to avoid the lines.

I'm in New York usually at least once a month with work and always look forward to eating here. Sometimes I eat in and other times takeaway and never been disappointed. The hummus and baba ganush are amongst the best I've tasted the world over. Very good quality food at reasonable prices. If you love meze then don't miss out when in New York.

The restaurant on the inside is on the small side, but most people took the meal to go. Our server was very helpful. I order the shawarma platter, which came with two sides. The portions were so large that I did not even come close to finishing all of it. The meat was very good. Also, make sure you save some room for the baklava at the end of the meal because it is delicious. As we were leaving, the line was out the door, so I assume that is a pretty good sign of the quality of the restaurant.

What an absolute gem, our hotel was right next to it and there was always a queue Got the Chicken Shawarma to take out, absolutely delicious and you get lots of sides, inc a piece of baklava Staff were great as well

The service is terrible and staff very rude. Food is ok but they need to respect people and be polite. The person who will prepare your sandwich will ask you you are from which country and if he doesn't like will turn his face it's remaining me of sunfield and the soup guy but he can't refuse you as he is not the owner of the place. Thanks

Really great atmosphere in this little place! Omar greeted and thanked just about every guest that came in! The food was enough to make our short stay in NYC worth it! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

Had the shawarma platter, very fresh, I greatly enjoyed it. Very reasonably priced. Service was great and they have a welcoming nice atmosphere.

The food here is amazing. I loved their mixed grills. Food is also very reasonable for the quantity they serve.

Great food and great service. Chicken Adana was absolutely lovely. Defiantly recommend and would defiantly come back again!

Walking past I noticed the long line of people queuing for lunch, a friendly face explained why, so I joined the queue. It's worth the wait, an authentic menu from Turkey, I chose the lamb platter, it was delicious, great taste and freshly prepared. It's also good value, the queue is just at lunchtime, visit after or better still anytime on the weekend. Take out or enjoy in the cosy restaurant and friendly staff.

You cannot find any better place to eat than here. It may not look like much, but the food is incredible. Better than any high end restaurant.

Everyone is very quick and super friendly. The food is amazing. The only hard part is that a lot of people feel that way and the line can get long. It is the best middle eastern food in midtown and one of the best in NYC.

Went in on a Friday night around 7. Maybe half filled. Within the hour it was packed and the carryout line was out the door. Prices were reasonable with most dinners less than $15. incl salad, hummus or other side dish. Smallish menu but certainly adequate. Had chicken Schwarma which was tasty but a little dry. The dish came with Greek salad and hummus. My husband and son got Chicken Kabobs with salad and hummus. Pita was tasty. A little strange that the restaurant had no ice for water. They really need more than one waitress, esp since she was a little hard to understand. Overall we would come back again.

I wanted to find a great mediterranean / Arabian type food place. This is a good one. Service: Excellent - friendly and you can take-out or eat in. Environment - plain, but I was there to enjoy food; not look at environment. Music was from the region. Food: Excellent. Simply great. Everything I had and/or shared with my business partner was excellent and as good or better than other experiences I've had. Falafel, schwarma, hummus, pita, and several things that frankly I'm uncertain of how to spell, but it's all wonderful. Price: Two of us ate like kings for $35 plus tips. No alcohol, but enjoyed Mango juice and waters.

One of the best chicken shawarma and hummus i ate (and i use to eat them around the world). Great, nice service, clean, not for a romantic dinner but to be happy!

I was visiting NYC & staying at the Carvi Hotel (next door). I walked by & the queue was out of the door, which peaked my interest. The food was amazing. The garlic sauce & spicy one should be bottled & sold! Only downside is that it's only open 12-8pm. Ideal for an early supper. I'd definitely recommend it if you're in the area.

Went there for lunch on Saturday. Got the combo platters and it was plenty of food for the 4 of us. Only problem was that it was about 12 degrees outside and they didn't have any hot coffee or tea. REALLY??? The food was really good, and we'd go back, just not in the winter....

We always visit Omar's when we r in New York City. Halal food. Neat and clean restaurant , owner always present and very hardworking, always welcomes with a smile. Yummee grilled chicken and shawarma . Very tasty food. There is a Mosque right above the restaurant. They even give free baklava for desert . Would love to eat there when in New York City.

What a find. The falafel was soft and airy - the bread was too. The shawarma was fresh and delicious. They also give you a baklava piece for desert - yum yum. You will enjoy. BTW- the line is out the door!

This place was delicious, the service was fantastic, they were all very nice, prompt, and offered us each a small drink on the house. I would absolutely come back here many many times.

I go to the usa all the time in new york ive found the freshest most delicious food ever in omars friendly staff nice healthy food a platter for $10 fills u up in a good way only place i eat when i go new york now simply delicious

If you are looking for Halal food near Lexington 50 to 60 street this place is best with its varieties of delicious grilled food. Try thier shawarma nd the omer special platter. Rates are also reasonable so go and enjoy the best food in town.

I could find a place to write a review so I'm writing here. A mixed bag for me. Had table service. Hated the bread as it was doughy and not like pita. The Baklava tasted like cardboard. I ordered an iced Tea and they said they had no lemon because the produce hasdn't come in today. I liked that they give you hummus gratis, but it was way too smooth and thin for my taste. Each entree (table service) comes with a small greens only salad with no dressing! I enjoyed the lamb adana and the yogurt cucumber dip and the eggplant side. Also, the air conditioning wasn't working yesterday in an extremely hot day. Finally the service was barely adequate at best. I had to call them over to order and to pay the check. All other times they paid no attention even though the place was empty.

Outstanding food. The shawarma is the best. Everything fresh and very flavorful. One small complaint is that if you ask for water, they bring you a bottle and charge you $2.

I was so excited to finally try this place. I arrived to find the line out the door. There was no menu to look at while you wait, but upon entering you were expected to know your order. They were kinda mean when people needed a minute to process. They wanted to charge $4 for a cup of white sauce, when all I wanted was a small side for my pita. I would have paid 50 cents or even a dollar, but why would one person need such a large amount. The food was good. But the service and attitude persuaded me it isn't worth going back!

We visited as part of a large group so had an opportunity to try most of the items on the menu. Everything was delicious, fresh and well spiced- the eggplant was a stand-out for me. Service was fast and friendly. Definitely visit worthy if you are looking for middle eastern food.

Went there and ordered a Chicken Shawarma and it was very nice and very tasty. Not expensive at all . Very busy at lunch time Service is nice and they always have a smile.i will go back.

Not bad food, I ate Shawarma in pita and it was ok. However service was so-so and needs more cleaning.

We were in NYC for 27 days and ate at restaurants every day. Omar's was so good we went back for a second visit. Best food of this type we have ever had and we are serious foodies. The hummus is leagues ahead of its competitors and the signature dish, which is a generous variety of middle eastern food, is outstanding. Good friendly service, and delicious fresh food at a surprisingly modest price, made Omar's to the top of our list. This was the Omar's at 154 E 55th St. (not to be confused with several other Omar named restaurants).

Superb food. Large portions at very reasonable prices. Good selection of Mediterranean food. Staff friendly and helpful. Van get busy especially around lunch time.

The food here is Mediterranean served cafeteria style. The menu is not extensive but every dish is perfectly seasoned and expertly prepared. Cheap eats at $10 for a main with 2 sides. I'm not sure about the kitchen "& bakery" since I didn't notice anything baked. I had the chicken kebab with hummus and potatoes that also came with a small side salad. My friend and I ate inside but many people were getting theirs to go. We went early but by the time we left there was a line about 30 people long. Awesome place and a must try in midtown east.

Great food at this little gem. You walk in and are hit with the amazing aromas and sights of many different Mediterranean foods in the display to choose from. The menu is pretty comprehensive. And the prices, for NYC, are reasonable for what you get. This isn't a fancy restaurant with tablecloths. What you do get is a bustling place, with excellent food and ample portions for the work crowd who seem like regulars (based on overheard conversations) during lunch. I gotvthere shortly after they opened. On the way out, the line was out the door. Definitely recommend.

So delicious. Although I'm generally an adventurous eater, I had been wary of eating shawarma (probably due to a comedy sketch about it I had seen during a trip to Amsterdam fifteen years ago), but I finally tried it. I read some pretty good reviews about this place (from a different review site). I was nearby and decided to finally try the shawarma. I am so glad I did! I got the platter - comes with two sides... I got the hummus and the eggplant salad. All the food was fresh and full of flavor. I will return next time I'm near that neighborhood.

I came across this restaurant by chance; I saw a huge line down the road at 11.30am for lunch (takeout), so I thought "why not". It was great. I mean it's great grilled chicken, homemade pita and nice salad. The point is, its was tasty, well cooked and busy. Worth a visit. $8.95.

Fantastic always visit when in NYC. Food excellent, authentic middle eastern food. Have the platter with chicken kabob. Very busy at lunch, tip to go just before 12. Fast friendly service. Can sit in but not huge. I have eaten in and take away! A must when in NYC!!!

I visit Omars every time I'm in New York and have been since it opened. Expect an outside queue at very busy lunchtimes from all the local office workers who are willing to stand outside in all weathers for their delicious Pitas and platters, but what does that tell you? It's good...very good. The owner is always around and works as hard as the rest of his staff to get the you served as quick as he can but try to know what you want before entering(pick up the take away menu) as there's no time for waiting for your decision. To be honest I try to visit after the busy lunchtime when the service is much better, although I only ever get a take away. My favourite is the chicken shawarma but be careful of the spicy sauce..it's hot and the garlic sauce is, well surprisingly very garlicky so best not to have before a special date or meeting!! The complimentary piece of baklava is a nice touch it's a bit sweet for my tastes but saying that I still eat it!

I am not even that big of a fan of Mediterranean food and this was OVER THE TOP GOOD! Freshest softest most delicious pitas EVER. Chicken amazing, all the sauces superb and the hummus is outrageously fresh and delicious - best I've ever tasted. The Baklava is super yummy too - again I cannot stress FRESH FRESH FRESH enough - service is friendly and efficient and the prices are reasonable - especially glad to hand over my $$$ when food is this good and this fresh. I went for the first time today - there were easily 40 people in line out the door on the street. I waited for 7 minutes and was NOT disappointed!

My friends took me to Omar's this week; incredibly busy restaurant with customers taking out orders and eating in, AMAZING food, inexpensive, wonderful owner (Omar), extremely pleasant and accommodating staff. Don't be intimidated by the lines as the service is very fast and efficient.

Delicious food and great sized portions. Worth a visit if you want something hot, quick, cheap and tasty.

Ordered the shawarma from this place and I was not disappointed . Great food made in front of you. Won't disappoint

The Middle Eastern restaurant offers great side dishes that you can pair with swarma chicken. I liked the hummus and taboule. The bread was good and the service friendly. No alcohol.

Went there for a take away lunch. The queue was quite long but moved quickly. Many people in the queue were obviously regulars. Had a sharwarma pitta which was so tasty, lots of salad. Also came with a small square of cake which was delicious. Will definitely go back next time I'm in NY.

Omar's was recommended to me and they were right. There were lines, but they went REALLY fast (you better be able to make your decision quickly because they move on super fast.) Food was good, clearly a favorite with area working folks.

I love writing 5 star reviews. My wife and I are attempting to live a healthier lifestyle that includes Vegan at home and vegetarian as much as possible when dining out. I had meetings in NYC with clients and needed to source a place that offered a few options for meat eaters as well as my needs. After reading reviews of Omar's Kitchen I knew this place had the right "ingredients". There was a long line when i arrived at 1:20 pm. Each patron was greeted with smiles and a friendly but organized progression down the line of amazing looking food. My Vegetarian platter came with Hummus, Tabouli, Baba Ganoush, Falafel and hot pita brought to my table. The staff was engaging, happy I was trying this for the first time and even cracked a joke that "I see you tomorrow" as a sign that they were convince this was going to be great. Well, the food tasted amazing, the place is a bit tight, and conversations were loud, however it was a treat to see everyone happy and get amazing value for my dollar. $10.00 for a fulfilling plate and a smile is worth a $100 in my book.... I Will be back... thanks to the staff. In my business it make all the difference when you engage, smile and are genuinely happy to be "of service". Bravo.. From Dan Ziegler - CEO YCDB Inc... Hospitality and Restaurant Coach. YCDB . Com #YCDBinc @YCDBinc

Omar's is my current favorite and I love absolutely everything they make! I go there every week for veg falafel or chicken shawarma! The food portions are huge and everything is tasty. I absolutely recommend this place to everyone! 👍🏼 Tip- Don't get dissuaded by the never ending loonngg queue - they are extremely efficient and super quick!

Clean, bright restaurant featuring both time-out and full service. The wait staff is friendly and efficient, and they don't hustle you out. So go, enjoy the fine fare, and linger over baklava & sweet tea.

Every time we are in NYC we visit here and it never disappoints. Best shawarma and hummus around. Falafel is great too. Great, fast, convenient.

Quick, convenient, reasonably priced food. We stayed recently a few blocks away and this definitely beat the hotel food on all fronts!

The place was colder than outside .. Food was good and the workers are nice One platter is good for two Prices are in average

Stopped in here for lunch takeout and ordered the Veggie Combo - it was delicious. The portion was very generous 5 Falafels, giant dollops of Hummus, Baba Ghanoush plus Tabouli, pita bread, tahini and hot sauce all for under $10 - great deal. Definitely coming back.

First, don't let the line outside to door scare you during lunch. The people lined up right outside the door is about to order, and you usually have your food within 10 minutes. I usually get the shawarma and lamb kaufta. You can order it with the pita or the platter (with 2 sides and pita bread). Most of their sides are cold such as the potatoes and eggplants (babaganoush). They also have tabouli, cucumber yogurt salad, and mixed green salad. They give you little containers of the tahini and garlic sauces, and a free bite size baklava. They have seating in the back with plates and flatware. I usually come here for lunch, but met my friend here for dinner. I thought the seating would be cramp, but much to my surprise it was roomy and comfortable. I highly recommend this place is you're in the mood Mediterranean food.

The line was out the door at 1:30 for lunch, but the friendly staff kept it moving and it didn't take long before my companion and I were seated and eating some very good Turkish meats, eggplant salad, salad, rice and bread - all for under $14 each. There were lots of other cheaper (and less filling) options too. I'll definitely go back; there's a reason for the line out the door!

One of two of the WORST SERVICES I've ever had. So the first time: It is a Friday night, we are bowling nearby and know how crazy the wait can be so we go ahead and send 2 people to put our name down. They said its a 30 min wait, which was fine. We get there 5 min before the 30 min mark, and are WAITING ANOTHER 30. theres now been an available table for 10 mins thats waiting for us, all it needs is to be bused and cleaned off. Theres about 3 guys walking around, they clearly see we are waiting and have been for so long, they don't even double check or ask. We tell one guy in a red hoodie that we are waiting on a table, and he's like let me get someone for you...we watch him go inside and start TAKING SHOTS with other customers, not even communicating with anyone else that we need to be seated or he could of cleaned the table himself. Another guy comes by so WE ask again, he rushes to clear off the table, but at this point we are all OVER THIS place and their service so we go somewhere else. I've ordered take out before and we were so excited to dine in and support, however one of the members of our party has had TWO PREVIOUS BAD EXPERIENCES dining in, we should of listened to her. Definitely won't eat here again.

tasty and cheap!! definitely a steal in Midtown east!!! Lunch line up is always long but it's moving quick, I usually spent about 10 min from waiting to get out, good stuff worth the wait! Love their chicken shawarma and lamb kofta, oh they always give every customer a free dessert, ;) $10 lunch platter usually last me 2 days!

I love the food here but the problem is the chicken kebab is so good I don't try their other dishes! I'm going back again today as its a great healthy option. The restaurant is simple , clean and spacious. The staff courteous. The platter is a great deal at 10.95$ or 7.50$ as a pita.

Delicious food, excellent Turkish eggplant, baklava was *not* soaked in honey syrup making the nutty flavor come through. A real find!

At lunchtime there's always a line for Omar's. Now I know why. The food is terrific. Try the vegetarian platter: The hummus and eggplant dips were some of the best I've ever had. The lamb adana was very well and interestingly spiced, and, like the rest of the meal, came in large portions. The place is inexpensive (a filling meal for around $10). Service (at least at a non-busy time) is quick; it's like an English pub -- you order at the counter and sit down and food is brought to you. No alcohol and no coffee (a nice, thick Turkish/Greek coffee would have finished off the meal perfectly), but what they do serve is great. '

I ate at Omar's regularly when I worked and lived up the street from them. Their platters were a delicious way to end the day, a delicious combination of meats, salads, and bar ganoosh or hummus and bread. Just delicious.

The food quality was and price well. The portions given are more than enough for most. We were amazed at what little time it took to serve us, as there was a line out the door when we arrived.

They have a really good food for a decent price. Ask then for a suggestion and you will be ok. Don't forget to try their sauce...