• Mamlouk

  211 E. 4th Street, 212-319-3800

  "Mercy, mercy me. Never have I had so many delicious dishes in a single night. There were so many courses it is impossible to remember them all. Everything, from the Middle Eastern dips to the chicken kebabs to the baklava, it was all terrific."
  — carlito169, East Village.
  
  "Sahtein is the Middle Eastern version of Bon Appetit, and you will need a healthy appetite so as not to miss a single bite of the tasty feast reserved for you. Make sure you don't go overboard on the warm fresh bread and (very virgin) olive oil drizzled appetizers. And leave plenty of room for devilishly-yummy pastries brimming with pine-nuts and delicate rose-water flavoured sugary syrup."
  —bambola, West Village.

• Mombar

  25-22 Steinway Street, Queens, 718-726-2356

  "It's in Queens. You can do it, though. We did. We drank North African wine; red, full of grapes I'd never heard of. We ate lamb, and shrimp and tagines. The lamb chops were delicious, pink and tender. We drank small strong coffees laced with cardamom. The decor is other-wordly. Take a cab, a train. It is worth it "
  —marieviljoen, Midtown.
  
  "This teeny, tiny place is the epitome of good things come in small packages. It's pretty to look at and smells wonderful. It is like eating in some great chef's kitchen and being served by your favorite nephew. The appetizer plate and the glazed duck are wonderful."
  —willtraveltoeat, Nassau County.

From the 2003 Best of New York issue of New York Magazine