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Au Za’atar Goes Big in Midtown
April 29, 2025, 4:33.54 pm ET

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Photos: Cititour.com

After ten years of building a cult following in the East Village, Au Za’atar has planted its flag in Midtown East—and it's not just another outpost. Chef and owner Tarik Fallous is going bigger, bolder, and smokier at this stunning new flagship (1063 1st Ave), complete with custom stone ovens, a dedicated Bread Bar, and theatrical tableside service that turns dinner into a spectacle.

At the heart of the experience is Fallous’s now-iconic Original Tableside Shawarma®, which helped launch the restaurant to international acclaim. Choose from chicken, lamb, beef, or Midtown’s exclusive soujouk sausage, and watch as a sizzling vertical skewer arrives at your table on a rotating spit, roasting in real time. It’s part meal, part performance. Servers shave paper-thin slices directly onto your plate, surrounded by warm pita, a mountain of crispy sumac fries, and bright house-made condiments. Think of it as Lebanese street food, reimagined as a celebration.

New to the Midtown location is the Mixed Grill Supreme, a fire-kissed showstopper meant for a crowd—six to eight hungry souls, minimum. It’s a sprawling platter of filet mignon, kafta kebabs, baby lamb chops, shish tawook, jumbo shrimp, and more, aserved on a blanket of house-baked pita and ready to be devoured family-style.

But it’s not just the meat that impresses. The Bread Bar is where the dough magic happens, as pillowy pita and richly topped Manaeesh are pulled from the flames throughout the day. Options range from the Za’atar Manouche with sundried thyme to the luxe Basturma W Jabne with salted dried beef and kahkawan cheese. Every table gets fresh bread, straight from the oven to the plate, including sesame bread with knafeh for dessert.

Spread across three vibrant dining rooms with 181 seats, this new space is a love letter to Lebanese hospitality—warm, generous, and meant to be shared. Whether you're building your own shawarma wrap or breaking bread from the stone oven, Au Za’atar Midtown makes sure every bite is memorable.



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