A Tiny Oasis in the East Village
Written: May 01 '01 (Updated May 01 '01)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Food and Presentation: |
 |
|
| Ambiance and Decor: |
 |
|
| Quality of Service: |
|
|
|
Pros: Laid back relaxing atmosphere.
Cons: Not too busy.
The Bottom Line: Sahara East is a small restaurant in the East Village serving traditional Arabic staples.
|
|
|
| soothsayer's Full Review: Sahara East |
Sahara East is an oasis within the relatively laid-back atmosphere of the East Village. Although there are several nearby places for Middle Eastern food, such as Moustache on 10th Street, most do not have the same leisurely charm Sahara East does. The restaurant is normally not busy most of the time leaving you to linger about as long as you please. You can dine outdoors in the tiny backyard garden, or lounge on a bench out in front with either a mint tea in hand, or puffing on a hookah filled with apple flavored Egyptian tobacco ($8.00).
Sitting inside the restaurant is just as cozy as sitting outside. The interior is richly furnished to the point of opulence. Paintings and photographs of Egypt adorn the walls, and it is dimly lit for ambience. The restaurant is located next door to a mosque, and to other small homestyle “hole in the wall” restaurants.
Food at Sahara East is authentic; it is not some cheap falafel takeout spot. Sahara East does make falafels, but make them light and delicious tasting instead of heavy and sodden. Meals at Sahara East start off with soup, appetizers, or salad. Soups are $2.50; appetizers are on average $6.95. Appetizers are your traditional Middle Eastern affairs such as baba ghannouj, or homus, but you can also get shakshuka, which is an Arabic omlette made of onions, peppers, tomatoes.
Entrées begins at $11.50 for vegetarian, to $13.95-14.95 for lamb and chicken dishes. The menu is not too adventurous, it sticks to Arabic staples such as shish kebab, couscous Moroccan style, lamb chops, or grilled marinated chicken. Entrees come with vegetables, and an abundance of rice. There is also a daily special depending on what is cooking that day.
Desert is $3.50 for baklava, rice pudding, or kanafi (birds nest made of shredded wheat, walnuts and honey). I think the best thing to do for dessert is to visit any or all of the nearby Italian pasticcerias like DeRobert’s one block down same side of street, Veniero’s on 11th Street, one block to the west, or the polish bakery/store (inexpensive, excellent) on the corner diagonal from Sahara East on 11th and First Avenue.
Perhaps the best thing on the menu is the lunch special. Lunch is served until 3pm each day except for the half hour to an hour around 1 pm when the restaurant is closed for their lunch.
The lunch special cost $4.95 for pita bread, a lettuce and tomato salad, and your choice of a vegetarian item, e.g., falafel, baba ghannouj, tahini, tabouli. Alternatively, you can get shish kebab, or shawarma with pita bread and salad for $5.50, or combination platters for $6.95. Mint tea, normally $2.00, is included free with lunch. If you decide to take out, the mint tea is served to you while your lunch is prepared.
As I’ve mentioned, I’ve tasted the falafel and it was light and delicious tasting. The hommus they had was tasty and fulfilling.
The biggest draw of Sahara East is probably its quiet relaxing atmosphere rather than its food. In case you find the atmosphere too quiet, you can try Sahara East’s other location, recently opened Rico Café on 9th Street and Ave C – bordering the park. Remember the recent cigar bar craze among older generations? Well Rico Café is a hookah lounge, so you can guess that this will be the next big trend at least among younger generations.
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Best Suited For: Friends
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.