Al-Basha Restaurant Dine-In Only

Update:I want to thank Mr. Wassim for taking the time to respond to my review. Your professional response shows that not only do you care about your business but about your customers as well. I’m going to change my original rating of two stars to five stars because I strongly believe you’ll make the necessary changes to ensure a better overall dining experience for your customers.Original review:We had dinner here for the first time last week. The food was okay but the service was lacking big time.The waiter was strictly business! Handed the menu, took the order, served the order, then handed me the bill! Was not warm or friendly at all. Why bother if you’re getting your 18% gratuity anyway. Right?!!!It felt more like I was ordering at a Chinese takeout than a dine-in restaurant.They have no problem slapping an 18% service fee (before taxes) on the bill! But provided almost no service!Used utensils, napkins and plates were left on the table the whole time and were never picked up even after the main entrées arrived.Come on now! If you’re going to charge a service fee, at least provide some kind of a decent service! Don’t make me (the customer) scramble to clean the table, organize it and try to make room for the main entrees on the already small and crowded table then charge me an 18% service fee.I could understand if they were understaffed or if I’m ordering at Hima’s street food cart. But that is obviously not the case here. They are a dine-in restaurant and they had several employees standing around doing absolutely nothing.The place was neat but the chairs looked and felt like they have served their time. The restrooms were clean but needed tissues. Parking was easy to find.Overall a decent place but it is certainly not worth traveling to! Not if you’re looking for a true “dine-in” restaurant at least.If you have found this review helpful, please hit that like button and follow for more travel adventures.

A childhood friend had suggested this place to us. He had dined here before and enjoyed the food.We parked our car on the street right outside the restaurant without any hassle. I took some pictures of the restaurant's exterior. The place was bustling.We had reserved our table for 7:30 pm. We were seated right away at our table for eight. We let our friends order from the menu. They chose a variety of Mediterranean starters and salads. They also got a large mixed meat platter that included chicken kebabs, shish kebab, filet mignon, shawarma strips and beef kofta kebabs. The mince meat falafel was amazing.Dining here was a five-star experience from start to finish. The food was excellent. The chicken kebabs were tender, juicy, and flavorful, grilled to perfection. We mostly drank Al-Basha's Mint lemonade drinks. They were refreshing and well-made.The staff was polite. The manager Wassim Henawi was everywhere, ensuring smooth service.The bill was easy to pay. The restaurant ambiance was cozy and quiet. The room temperature was comfortable and the food stayed warm for a long time.I strongly recommend this place for anyone looking for halal meat grill with an authentic Mediterranean flair.

Beautiful restaurant in South Paterson. Exquisite. The vibe of the restaurant was family oriented. The service is superb and the staff is so warming and welcoming. The food is amazing and at such a wonderful price. They have so many options that I’ll have to return to try them. My first experience will not be my last. Every single thing I had was not a disappointment. My favorite was their mint tea.

This restaurant needs no introduction, the quality of the food, the service, the morals of the staff, and the good reception. The family and I went to lunch. We ordered a mix of grills, hummus and tabbouleh. The food was delicious and fresh. Then we ordered mint tea and sweet baklava. Everything is beautiful, even the place is clean and has many tables. I recommend going and enjoying the food. tasty and fresh

I’m going back to start this review off on a great note. We ordered the mix mashawi for 2, and the lamb and beef were absolutely delicious and juicy. The chicken was a bit burnt but still tasty with the garlic. We also got some appetizers which were very good.Now, what really pushed my buttons were the fact that they didn’t have tap water. Being forced to buy bottled water at a premium price is annoying.I was also charged a 21 dollar service charge at the end. I was so surprised by this charge as I was tipping. But it showed up on my bill as a complete surprise.

First and foremost, I want to thank Al-Basha for accommodating my food allergy. The ingredient to which I am highly allergic is a very common ingredient in Middle Eastern cooking and I would have been happy for them to simply point out which items I should avoid. Instead, they eliminated the ingredient altogether wherever they could without sacrificing the taste. Much appreciated 🙏🏾Upon being seated, pita bread is brought to the table hot and fresh. The pita is incredibly fluffy and is made in house. We ordered the mixed mashawi and mazzah. The mazzah is a combination of spreads (dips) and 2 fried kebbah. Mixed mashawi is essentially a combination of grilled meats served with rice & a cucumber and tomato salad. I've never had kebbah before, but now I know what has been missing in my life. I really can't explain the texture of the dough, it's grainy and fluffy but crispy at the same time, and the filling is savory. It's seasoned well, and none of the ingredients stood out over the others. It was a perfect harmony. When I think of Middle Eastern spreads, hummus, baba ghanoush, and tabbouleh immediately come into mind, so color me surprised when mhamarah showed up to the party. It was definitely interesting in a good way, tomatoey, sweet, and citrusy. Think tomato paste with a tiara. The mixed meat dish was what we expected. Nothing was overcooked. The shawarma was cut in tiny strips, and not like the dry paper thin sheets of meat product you get from the silver carts in the city. The chicken breast was a bit dry for me (isn't it always??), but as it was one of several meats it didn't stop the show. Oh, and definitely order the mint lemonade. Thank me later. The portions are large, and you will have leftovers for certain.Where there could be improvement is the customer service. Don't get me wrong, the waitstaff is polite; however, they are so efficient and the kitchen is so streamlined that you feel rushed, but nobody is actually rushing you. Your order is taken on a wrist-worn tablet, and in a few minutes your order comes out. Then the waitstaff stands lined up on the wall, waiting for a dining party to leave, and then they will swoop down and clear the table. You don't have an assigned staff member per se. They work in a team attending to all the tables to keep everything moving quickly. Because the restaurant is so elegant looking, you want to linger, but it feels like you should rush through your food so as not to slow down the process. Having said that, it would not deter us from returning. We are already planning to bring visiting family members. 4/5 experience.

Came on a Sunday no reservations needed. For parking either Valet $5 next to restaurant or you can park on the neighborhood. The place was crowded but we got us a table and was served in few minutes.Hummus, salads and falafel were great. The Lamb shop was ok not that’s tasty, and the portion of meat was little. The mix mashawai was good loved the chicken the most. However the shish Kabab was kind of hard to swallow.The service was quite good but you feel some tension in the place. You don’t feel that hospitality or welcoming. Great atmosphere and the place is nice and clean. Will give it another try!Parking: Valet paring or you have to find a spot in the area.

Visited this location based on the recommendation of a friend.Upon arrival there was quite a wait. We didn’t have reservations and they accepted our walk in without hesitation.We were seated within the hour and menus were presented without much explanation.We ordered the Mix Mashawi. Our favorite was the grilled filet mignon, chicken kabab and kofta kebab. The shawarma was relatively dry but was filed with flavors.The service was something left to be desired. Nonetheless the dining experience was overall great and would love for someone to explain the dishes especially since we weren’t extremely familiar with the dishes offered at Al-Basha.The rice was tasty, the mint lemonade was good and the regular lemonade satisfied our thirst.A definitely must go! Thank you Malik for the recommendation.Kid-friendliness: Family friendly restaurant

One of the best paces to have Middle East food, I cannot say what I like the most because everything is perfect. The service is amazing, the environment perfect to enjoy a delicious food 😍I don’t mind to drive 1:30 hours to be there.I will comeback very soon again and will keep you updated.Kid-friendliness: They are very kind

It was a fantastic experience overall, and I was thoroughly pleased. I made dinner reservations a few days ahead for an outing with friends. We got there around 15 minutes before our reservation time, and the restaurant staff made an extra effort to seat us promptly and accommodate our large group comfortably. The food was delectable, and the service was outstanding. This restaurant truly lives up to its reputation.

Oh, the anticipation of sinking my teeth into Middle Eastern delights had me salivating for years! Finally, on a rainy Sunday, we ventured to this culinary gem ❤️🍉 As we entered, greeted by a warm smile, the ambiance embraced us with its charm. Despite the crowd, the high ceilings and olive trees created a spacious oasis. Fresh pita and Palestinian pickles teased our palates while the mint ice tea danced on our tongues, a refreshing delight. Our journey commenced with Mazzah, a parade of Hummus, Baba-Ghanouj, Bakdunsiah, Turkiya, Mouhamara, Labana, Tabouleh, and Fried Kebbah—all bursting with freshness. The main event, a Mix Mashawi for two, adorned our table—3 Kofta Kebabs, 1 Shish Kebab, 2 Chicken Kebabs, and Beef Shawarma—each morsel tender and exquisitely seasoned. With bellies content, we bid adieu, taking home remnants of our feast, a reminder of the culinary nirvana we experienced. Clean, efficient, and brimming with hospitality, this establishment has earned a permanent spot in our hearts—and future dining adventures!

Nice atmosphere and ambience. Systematic seating process and great food.The experience cannot be even put in words. The quality and freshness of the food was amazing.The starter / dips were awesome and the fresh hot pita was complimenting the whole experience.The meat platter was so good, Juicy and Tender.This is a must try place.

Amazing food. Service is perfect. Cleanliness is top tier!My gosh... I can't wait to take my family and friends here. Reasonably priced.The fried cheese were yum. They are not skimp on the meat. Only thing is no parking. They move fast too. Pistachio ice cream I'd order again. The rose and pudding one I'd pass but I'd try if never had it. Was worried it would be too sweet but it's perfect! It's like a light gelatin with rose syrup.

This place is literally my favorite restaurant in NJ!!They have the BEST food ever, I didn’t have this amazing food even back in Jordan!!Their lemon mint is just so fresh - I always ask them not to add sugar :)Hummus and falafel are super YUM! Not to mention the tabbouleh… beets salad with arugula…We always order the mixed grill for two (and if we go more than 2 people we order the one for four), I also don’t like kebab that much so we ask them to substitute with either meat cubes or chicken, and salad instead of the fries, and they’re always super accommodating and do it with a huge smile✨Service is phenomenal and so quick. Sometimes when I call in advance I get to reserve a table, if you walk-in you’ll have to wait a bit but it’s not crazy long…It’s an all-time favorite… if you want an authentic Palestinian food - this is your place to go!Vegetarian options: You have a lot of vegetarian options - reason I wrote here is that the falafel and hummus are a must! They’re special in this place :)Parking: You can easily get into one of the streets and park for free!Kid-friendliness: It’s a family place, so definitely kids friendly and kids can enjoy their yummy food!

Amazing dining experience! We had the grilled meats for four and baba ganoush appetizer. Food was plentiful, meats were tender and flavorful. Plenty of pita bread to go around for both the appetizers and meal. Only drawback for me personally was they only offer bottled water and sodas, no tap water.We dined on a Friday night, arriving around 6:20 and were seated right away. By the time we left, the lobby was packed with people waiting. They only take reservations on weekdays and weekends are walk-in only.

The food was phenomenal! Our platter was for four people and the entire experience was splendid. We started off with the bread and hummus and I am convinced everything was made from scratch. Their bread tasted very fresh and was a personal favorite of everything for me. The hummus felt like it was just made and had the chick peas on top that took it over the top. The rice was great and you can see from my pictures how good the meat platter was. We topped it off with the pistachios ice cream and ugh! Makes me feel like going back in time to experience it all over again. I’ll declare that the restaurant definitely lived up to its hype and I look forward to visiting again when I’m back in NJ.

The food here is absolutely SPECTACULAR and the best around! But what will make me go back again and again is their general manager Wassim. When you go to dine at Al-Basha, you’re dining at Wassim’s house the way he treats his guests, loves each and every one of them, and wants every person there to leave happy, full of delicious food and feeling welcomed and love. You can’t put a price on that kind of care 🥰. Absolutely can not wait to return again soon!

The Food was delicious, the service was spectacular, the atmosphere was so nice, the ambience was great, the decor is beautiful.The mint lemonades are delicious, definitely try it out!The shish kebab and kofta kebab were our favorites, the mouhamara and baba-ghanouj appetizers were amazing as well!

Beware of terrible parking options for lunch time in this area but amazing food, service and a shady prayer area! Have to go around what seems like Palestine to get their and maybe that is part of the experiment!! Since the door is clearly accessible from inside and we were sitting next to it but were sent around outside?!. Sambousek and all kabob platter are amazing, fries are great as well. Serving size and servers were great as well. Love the cola which was not coke!Parking: Terrible street parking for lunch timings. The other restaurants have reserved parking for a few spots but this one is not. Looks like neighbors have illegally occupied the spots ironically!

I had a wonderful experience at this restaurant! The food was excellent, and the service was top-notch. I loved seeing the great teamwork among the staff. Our server, Ali, was amazing, and the entire staff kept checking on us with smiles on their faces. We enjoyed the mix grill, falafel platter, lentil soup, and fresh bread—everything was delicious and perfect. The mint lemonade and coffee were both exceptional, with the coffee being strong and pure, just how I like it. For dessert, the pistachio ice cream and baklava were delicious. If I could give more than a 5-star rating, I definitely would!

I decided to start my month firmly at the top of the food chain. Al-Basha is about a 12-minute drive from my HQ, so I decided to give it a shot for a solo lunch adventure yesterday. Aside from a literal burning car by the Boston Market on 46, it was an uneventful journey, a few blocks off the highway and easy to locate in a really interesting foodie neighborhood.The parking situation is pretty atrocious. You're relying on street parking in a very busy area and the only nearby business parking is for an extremely popular Turkish bakery around the corner that's unlikely to have any open spots. I ended up having to park on the block behind Al-Basha on Knickerbocker Ave, so just be aware this may take a few minutes.To their credit, Al-Basha was legitimately hopping when I strolled in around 1:20pm. I took a gamble and didn't make a reservation, which easily could have been an issue here but thankfully they were able to get me in after a five-minute wait. You could also tell throughout the meal that they were well staffed and prepared for the lunch rush; there were servers and other staff constantly shuttling about with food and cleaning supplies. Impressive operation.I'd studied the menu beforehand and decided to go with the cheese borak app and the mix mashawi entree, along with a mint lemonade. I can see why so many other customers had the lemonade; I was a LITTLE apprehensive of a green drink that leaves residue on a glass (I always assume it's going to taste like kale or something) but this was really refreshing with just the right amount of tart and sweetness.It's pretty unusual for me to get Middle Eastern food so I tried to play it safe but also get items that seemed pretty popular. The cheese borak, based on taste and texture, was essentially the love child of a mozzarella stick and a taquito, with the cheese-like interior gooier than I would have assumed, with some seasoning. Really delicious and would get that again.The mix mashawi was really interesting and overall something I liked. It's four different types of meat presented in kabob style on a plate, more or less, with a side of rice. The lamb to me was the star - very tender and flavorful, and was the only meat I actually finished in the restaurant. The filet mignon was just okay for me, a little too tough, but the chicken helped cancel that one out. A touch dry but had unique seasoning on it. I've had shawarma before and it's just something I'm lukewarm on; I'm not a huge Mediterranean fan and it always gives off gyro vibes to me. But everything was well cooked and presented, and the serving size is huge. I got the option for one person but coupled with the app ended up still needing to bring about a quarter of the food home, which is sufficient for another meal. I was stuffed for the rest of the day.The service was really good in the sense that I had multiple people stop by my table regularly, and I never felt like an outsider at a place where I could easily stick out like a sore thumb (to be fair, there were a few other dining parties that were clearly not of Middle Eastern descent either). Everyone was very welcoming and accommodating. I'm not sure if it's because of the way it's prepared, but it took a solid half hour for the mix mashawi to show up, which is a bit long in my view especially for lunch but there may not be a choice in that regard.I'd definitely come back but given the price point? I think this is a better option for dinner, and I'd bring at least one other person if I were getting the mix mashawi again - even with the high quality food and service, it's tough to justify (with tip) a $50+ meal.

I recently dined at Al-Basha Mediterranean restaurant and I must say, they have the best Mouhamra in town - it’s my absolute favorite! The service was top-notch, the pita bread was fresh, and the tea was delicious. However, I would advise the restaurant to ensure that the olives are not served when they taste bitter.I highly recommend trying the Hummus & Foul, Sambousek, Chicken Kebab, Beef Shawarma, Falafel Platter, Hummus, Shish Kebab, Fried, and Mix Grill. Each dish was flavorful and satisfying, making for a truly enjoyable dining experience. I will definitely be returning to Al-Basha for more of their delicious Mediterranean cuisine.

The hype is real! Stopped by with a good friend after hearing so many positive things about Al-Basha. I had the chicken kebab and my friend had the lamb chops. Both dishes were absolutely delicious. The service was top notch and the atmosphere was great. The parking is a little tough but they do offer valet service. If you’re in the area and love Middle Eastern food this place will definitely hit the spot!

The most spectacular and BEST hummus in my life. Everything, and I mean EVERY-thing we got was next level mouthwatering cuisine. We got the mixed appetizer big platter to share and the meat mixed platter as well and I can't explain how perfect it all was. Do not leave without also trying their house lemonade and mint lemonade / and the pistachio ice cream is like nothing I've ever seen before, tasted like heaving. I'm from Puerto Rico and out of all different middle eastern food I've tried before this is hands down the best; no other restaurant compares to this place.

Came in for my mom's birthday on sunday early afternoon and had a great dining experience. There are no reservations on the weekend and its walk in only (approx. 30 min wait for us). Staff were super attentive and food service was well timed. Every mezza and component of the mix Mashawi were excellent. Possibly the best hummus I've ever had and all meats were slightly charred, tender, and juicy. It was also great to see such a diverse group of diners in one space. Highly recommended and will definitely be returning!

I am strongly recommending this place. I am Turkish and i am coming from Pennsylvania to eat there whenever we get a chance with our family! Great food and everything I tried is fresh and tested SOO good! Meats marinated perfectly its not hard to eat! Cold appetizers? Omg cold appetizers 😍 the best i have ever eat! 🤩 It is not just food it is an experience to try their food! Also atmosphere is amazing to enjoy your time with your loved once. My kids (8-5) love eating there! Last night My oldest son was saying “omg 🫠🫠🫠 ”for each bite! 😂

The food is AMAZING!!!! 5/5 recommend! It was my first time eating Middle Eastern food and I fell in love. EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS. The mint lemonade is such a refreshing drink, never had anything like it before.The staff are friendly and super quick. The restaurant is organized and clean. They are also quick to clean tables and any food or dishes that fall onto the floor. The wait time isn’t too long as they are working fast to get the tables and clean set up for the next group.JUST GO YOU WILL ENJOY EVERYTHING!

Excellent food! Mix Mashawi grill platter was awesome! Beef Shwarma was my least favorite but still good. Kebobs, chicken and steak were awesome! Lamp chops (ordered medium well) were also delicious! Pistachio ice cream was yummy! Palestinian tea was also super tasty! This has become our favorite restaurant now! I have a Pakistani background and I love the food flavor of this restaurant!Warning…parking is very hard and we had to struggle even on a Thursday night.Parking: Be ready to hunt for a parking spot for a while unless you get lucky

Love Albasha! Their hummus, rice, and bread are amazing. Minus one star for inconsistency of lemon mint drinks as well as inconsistent temperature of meats from visit to visit.I recommend their cheese borek (fried spring rolls), their mixed meats which I find to be plenty for the recommend size (party of 2 is enough for 3, party of 4 is enough for 5 maybe 6). The Arabic salad is included with the mixed grill and a choice of rice or fries.I applaud their use of non-Pepsi and non Coca-Cola brands.

First of all, make sure to reserve a table before you get there otherwise you would need to wait for 30 minutes at least. The food was really good, I’d suggest to put more napkins on each table, as well as salt and paper and other dressings. Also, they don’t have the desert and drinks on the menu which is weird! I’d add these to the menu.

Superb all around!!! This place happened to be recommended to me by 2 different sources, so I was excited to finally go... weekends currently are walk in only and we did have to wait awhile but it was well worth it!!! We sat and they immediately gave us fresh pita!! We knew exactly what we wanted so ordered quickly! Hummus was velvety and fantastic! We had the meat paties and the grill for 2, chicken shwarma and a steak shwarma!!! Everything was delicious including the seasoned fries!! Def try the mint lemonade which was so fresh and minty!! The wait staff was extremely kind, friendly and helpful. Can't wait to go back! Highly recommended.

After hearing about this place for a few years from a friend we finally made it up here to try it! Definitely lived up to its reputation! The hummus was probably the best I’ve ever had. So creamy and delicious! We ordered the mixed grill for 6 for our party and it was plenty of food. The fresh salad was light and flavorful. Meat was not dry or over cooked.Atmosphere felt elegant and special. If it were closer to us we’d for sure be back!