Al Badawi recently welcomed Upper East Siders to its new spot at 1725 Second Avenue at East 89th Street, marking the Brooklyn-born restaurant’s second location.
“During these trying times, our thoughts turn towards a future where lasting peace and boundless happiness thrive, fostering a peaceful environment where Jewish and Arab communities coexist seamlessly,” the restaurant wrote on its Instagram page ahead of its November 18 soft-opening.
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Al Badawi is considered the sister restaurant to Ayat, which has multiple locations throughout the city. While Ayat has a more casual, fast-food vibe, Al Badawai is considered a step up, somewhere in the middle of the spectrum between a takeout joint and high-end establishment. According to Eater, Al Badawi’s sophisticated kitchen equipment contributes to its ambiance, improves food preparation, and possibly even improves the taste.
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Abdul Elenani, Ayat Masoud, and Akram Nassir are the co-owners of Al Badawi, and they are on an “expansion tear,” Eater reports. Nassir is also the owner of Yemen Kitchen, and he previously operated a café and used bookstore in the same space. The lamb chops are considered a specialty at both Al Badawi and Yemen Kitchen, largely because the sheep are raised on a local farm near Pittstown, New Jersey.
Al Badawi’s dishes range from traditional appetizers such as hummus, baba ghanoush, and lentil soup ($7); to Middle Eastern flatbreads ($12-$21); meats ($17-$35), and family-style portions for two to four diners ($125-$270).
Alongside the Upper East Side expansion, Al Badawi is planning a new location in Somerville, New Jersey.
Finally something different on the UES.
FYI, the og location of Al Badawi is in Cobble Hill, not Bay Ridge. You’re thinking of the original Ayat. Just a minor correction.
Will they sell Taybeh ipa?