Israeli Food

Brunch at Bar Bolonat

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Bar Bolonat recently opened for brunch! I tried their brunch menu the second weekend they began service. It is still relatively low key and calm.

Food

I am a fan of the brunch food. The green shakshuka with spinach, cheese and eggs was well balanced and the perfect brunch meal. It's not too heavy but just enough to keep you content and gives you enough room for a little more. The mergeuz was also surprisingly really tasty, I've tried the same thing at several at other brunch spots and Bar Bolonat managed to flavor it's lamb sausage very well. Lastly, the only dessert they had for brunch so far was the star-shaped fried dough served with greek yogurt and honey—it was absolutely delicious. 

Ambiance/Decor

Obviously, the lighting was much better during the day. The vibe was very different during the day given the exposure to natural light. The decor was very simple with wooden accents. 

Quality

Excellent quality as usual. The food is very fresh and well prepared.

Price

Very reasonably priced (for New York that is) comparable to similar brunch spots. I'd say between $30-45 per person after tax and tip.

Reservation

Currently, no reservations are needed as they just opened for brunch. I'd imagine that it will become a hot stop in the near future. But for now, feel free to drop by sans reservation!

Green Shakshuka

Fried dough with greek yogurt and honey

 

Bar Bolonat

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First off, my deepest apologies for the horrendous flash photos as I had no choice. You could say that I am going for a Terry Richardson inspired style of photography with food. 

This newly opened restaurant in lower Manhattan serves nouveau Israeli food. I came here late on a Friday evening, only able to snatch a 10:30pm reservation a few hours before. 

Food

I love the food here. I can't wait to go back already. To start we ordered the Jerusalem bagel and fatush. The warm bagel served with za'atar and olive oil was perfect, really how all bagels should be. Not this rock hard like-situation you find almost everywhere else. The fatush, served with arugula, herbs, cucumber, feta and avocado, was surprisingly extremely fresh and tasty. I don't even like salads to be honest, but this fatush I did. 

That poussin though. I can't even. That little bird on crispy rice drenched with walnuts and pomegranate is delicious. This is how all chicken should be made. Soft, tender and slides right off the bone. Why bother even settling for subpar chicken? I can't stand that dry stuff. The pomegranate adds a nice touch of gentle sweetness and dynamic flavors. 

The lamb neck was also on point. Bathed in chickpea puree.  Again, so soft and tender. It was very well made. They REALLY know how to cook meat.

Jerusalem bagel and Fatush

Decor

The setting is dark and intimate. A little too dark for photos without flash. But it was a romantic and had a calm atmosphere. The music wasn't that loud and overall a very quiet environment.

Quality

Excellent. The food was very fresh and well made. I am impressed.

Price

It is pricey for the quantity. I've read several reviews on Yelp where the main complaint was the portions. However, for the uniqueness of food and quality, I don't think it's absurd by New York standards. It's a great date spot. I'd expect to pay about $70-80 per person after tax & tip. By no means cheap, but it's New York.

Reservation

You definitely need a reservation here, perhaps a few weeks in advance for a decent hour. However, they do have a bar seating that doesn't seem to be too hyped. 

Poussin

Lamb neck