Fahad AlGheshyan

Sawa NYC is hands down my favorite Lebanese restaurant in New York City. The moment you walk in, you’re welcomed by the warmth of their brick oven and the irresistible aroma of freshly baked pita. The staff is genuinely friendly, the décor strikes a perfect balance of simple and elegant, and the atmosphere feels cozy and inviting. The service is warm and attentive, and the cocktails are creative, unique, and absolutely delicious. Every dish bursts with authentic Lebanese flavor. I highly recommend the Hummus, Muhammara, Tabbouleh, Batata Hara, Kafta, and Lahm Meshwi — but my absolute favorites are the Lamb Ribs and Beiruti Samke Harra. If you’re looking for a true taste of Lebanon in NYC, this is the place to be.

M S

Growing up in a Lebanese household, this felt as close to home as it gets. You can truly feel the love in every dish, perfectly portioned to share so you can taste a bit of everything. An absolutely amazing experience.

Mel J

Sawa has two inside seating spaces but we sat outside in the garden on a large table. The ambiance was lovely on a summer evening - sitting under the string fairy lights as the sky darkened. The food was delicious. We devoured 3 of the dips between six of us (my favorite was the baba gannouj) which come with warm fresh pita. We ordered extra pita for one each but I don't think it was necessary as they are large. The tabouleh was nice and refreshing. The heirloom tomatoes were also tasty and served with a chili oil and garlic toum. We enjoyed a few lamb dishes and all the lamb is from Australia so it tastes nice and not gamey. Lamb ribs and skewers were very good. The whole fish was also super nice, no bones and well cooked. The osmaliyeh was my favorite dessert. Service was a bit slow and weirdly timed with some odd breaks between.

Peter Brooks

Excellent elevated Middle Eastern restaurant, with a friendly service culture and a wonderful back garden for summer dining alfresco. I highly recommend the hummus, snap peas, potatoes and lamb skewers. This restaurant has an elevated Middle Eastern inspired cocktail offering as well, with my highlight being the Mezcal green drink, and the tahini genie.

+4

Brianna Johnson

Tucked into the heart of Park Slope in Brooklyn, Sawa is a refreshing and elegant reinterpretation of traditional Lebanese cuisine. The space blends warm wood tones with contemporary Middle Eastern design, creating an atmosphere that's both inviting and stylish. It’s perfect for anything from a casual dinner to a special celebration. The menu is rooted in heritage but isn’t afraid to experiment. Classics like hummus and tabbouleh are elevated with unexpected twists—think roasted garlic-infused tahini or heirloom tomato accents. The homemade pita was a standout: lightly crispy with the perfect amount of softness, drizzled with za’atar oil, and served next to a chicory salad. Mains like the Dorade fish in a delightful tomato stew, with a side of crispy potatoes drizzled with cilantro + garlic delivered deep, comforting flavors. Service was attentive without being overbearing, and the staff was happy to offer recommendations or share the stories behind the dishes. Whether you're new to Lebanese food or a lifelong fan, Sawa offers a modern, memorable experience that honors tradition while embracing innovation.

Reza

Really amazing food. The pita was so fresh and soft, a must have. We had the Batata Hara potatoes, Rakakat, and brussel sprouts, all of which were amazing, flavors were off the chart. The lamb entree was also amazing. Easily a 10 out of 10. Will definitely be returning.

Javier Kohen

I had a wonderful meal at Sawa. Every bite was delicious, and I found new flavors in very familiar dishes. I've never had such an amazing eggplant that was so perfectly caramelized. The indoor and outdoor spaces are very cozy and with plenty of space between tables. The backyard is gorgeous in summer. I can't wait to go back and try more dishes. It is really an ideal place for a group.

+4

Alex Wiley

We had an incredible meal at Sawa. Our server was super knowledgeable and helped guide us through the menu. Great drinks and wine list. We had tabouli, hummus with beef cheek, cheese rolls, garlic potatoes and the lamb chops. The hummus with beef cheek was a standout, the beef cheek was super tender and glazed with pomegranate molasses. The lamb chops were also a favorite, perfectly cooked and served with pickled green onions. For dessert we had the semolina cake with orange blossom custard. Everything was delicious!

+3

Louis Garza

Sawa was an excellent restaurant with gorgeous decor. The entrance transports you to a very well-designed, chic, and modern space that prepares you for their take on Lebanese cooking. Puffed pita came out piping hot, served with delicious hummus and cooling Labneh. The octopus was tender on the inside and crispy on the outside, paired with a lovely couscous. The mains were excellent, the desserts delicious, and while the semolina cake was tasty, the pistachio dessert was unique and a wonderful combination of flavors. The fresh mint tea served as the icing on the cake of a great meal. A fantastic neighborhood stop!

+1

Olivia N

Overall rating: 4.5 Price: $62 pp (total 2x w/ tax & tip) Leans more fusion than I was expecting. I didn’t like my drink and my waitress was able to swap it out easily. She was so sweet! Items my friend and I ordered: - Green with Envy cocktail: 5/5 delicious - Muhammara/ Rstd swt ppr dip: 3/5 not worth it - Little Gem: 6/5 obsessed - Lamb Ribs Shawarma: 3/5 too small for price Seems to serve more seasonal items so doubt you’ll be able to get this. Recommend giving it a try!

+3

Kyle Liu

Bookmarked this spot for a while and finally paid a visit. I completely agree with the other reviews about the dreamy pitas — soft, fluffy, and freshly baked to perfection. The aroma alone was incredibly inviting. Our favorite dish of the night was the special: the smoked cabbage. Such unique, layered flavors from the combination of sauces. The lamb ribs were just okay for me, a bit too sweet and saucy. The whole dorade was unfortunately disappointing; despite the heavy spices and sauces, the fish tasted quite fishy and didn’t seem very fresh. There are still many items on the menu we didn’t get to try, like the lamb baked pita pie, so would love to be back again.

+3

Jacob Shpilberg

The food was just all right. It would’ve been delicious in any other city, but there’s too much excellent food in New York. The pita was a highlight in the fish was delicious. All other things were just all right. Our waitress is very attentive and even helped us when one of the dishes was quite unsavory. This is good for casual, moderate food, but I wouldn’t expect anything out of this world.

yousef

The sight of the oven immediately set the tone—this is a place that takes bread seriously. At any Middle Eastern spot, the hummus is the barometer, the pita the measuring stick. The hummus is smooth, creamy, the olive oil pooling in its center. The pita is outstanding—puffy, warm, just enough chew to scoop without tearing. The samke nayeh is as vibrant in flavor as it is in presentation. Delicate slices of fluke sprinkled with kamouneh spices, black lime, and serrano heat. It is light but layered, the kind of dish that builds as you eat. The sambousek arrives golden brown with spiced meat filling and a swipe of sumac labneh. No notes. Just well-executed comfort. Then came the kafta. A touch overgrilled, a little under-seasoned, lacking that punch of garlic and warm spices. The chocolate tart feels like a battle between too much orange and too much chocolate—each overpowering the other. Service was stretched thin, and the dining room felt a little cramped. It’s clear where the heart of this place lies: in the pita and hummus.

+3

Amy Komento

This is late post - visited October 2024. Very hyped up, hard to get reservation on Resy, but did not live up to the expectation. The tables were so close to each other and felt very crammed. The octopus and whole fish were well cooked. Everything else including the cocktails was mediocre at best. The hummus and pita were quite disappointing, honestly would avoid. The chicory salad had way too much dressing. For how difficult the reservation is to get, I would not recommend this spot. Also very pricy for the neighborhood.

Marc S

We chose Sawa because of its high ratings and were excited to try it, especially since we traveled about 25 minutes from our hotel. Upon arrival, the service was welcoming, our coats were taken, and we were seated promptly with menus, which set a good first impression. Unfortunately, that impression quickly changed when we were informed that they only had one protein entrée available, with all other options sold out. This was very disappointing and frustrating, especially after being seated — at that point, it felt too late and awkward to leave. We ended up ordering baba ghanouj, tabbouleh, and some garlic bread. The appetizers were good. What truly shocked us was the bill: $120 for two people, just for appetizers, one soft drink and one sorbet. While the service was polite and professional, the lack of menu availability and the extremely high prices for such limited food made the experience not worth it. Overall, this was a very underwhelming and overpriced visit, and not what we expected given the ratings.