This place is SO worth that wait. Main dishes are a little expensive mix but if tu get the small plates to share you’ll have the full experience and your tastebuds will thank you. The tabouleh is something else. Loved the falafels and houmous too (way above average!)

Great vibes, good food, a bit too loud at times. After numerous visits I can say - the best Israeli food in Manhattan by far.

Representing some of the best food in the city, the Arayes are to die for. Moroccan Fish and the Labneh were pretty damn good too. Be warned if you're bothered by loudness or cramped spaces, but besides that, you're guaranteed a great meal at 12 Chairs.

Charming Mediterranean restaurant in Soho with indoor and outdoor seating. Some of the best hummus I've ever had (and I've had a lot!) And very tasty Tunisisn Nicoise salad (not your typical Nicoise). All dishes coming out looked amazing. Can't wait to return to NYC to try more!!

Sublime Israeli food! Fresh, bursting with flavor, and in portions most satisfying! The warm pita was divine. Got the spicy platter, falafel and tahini, Israeli pickles, and baba ghanoush as apps. Also delicious halloumi. And the Shakshuka was awesome too! I can’t say enough good things about this restaurant!! Completely neighborhood gem in SoHo!!

+1

Food is amazing! Loved the beet salad, shakshouka was great. The pita was warm and done just right. Limited options for coffee, but otherwise a great brunch spot

I've been to 12 Chairs several times, and dined in both the soho and Williamsburg location. The food is always exceptionally great and you can honestly never go wrong with any of the dishes! I personally love the Israeli breakfast and the hummus + pita bread. It's a great place to share the plates since there are so many options :) Since this place is very popular and packed, you can expect a long wait but that's typical of all great brunch spots in NYC. The wait is always worth it and the service is great. Come hungry and prepare to feast because I always leave full and satisfied. Can't recommend enough and 12 chairs has become one of my go to brunch spots as a local!

+1

Went for brunch with a group of 9. Sitting outside on a summer morning was very pleasant. Waitress Anna was attentive despite the store being busy. Food tasted great but be careful of the big portions. Highly recommended.

+1

Food is delicious!!! Eat here every time I come in to NYC even if I am visiting a different part of the city. One of my favorite Israeli/Mediterranean restaurants. 2023 update. Adding some recent breakfast photos.

+2

Full house for me... Went for breakfast on a rainy morning to try traditional Israeli food. While the ingredients are basic, the art is they put thi gs together in a creative way. I had the SINYA eggs which was interesting to see how eggs go with Tahini Sauce. Friendly staff, excellent service. The venue has downtown vibes with exposed red brick and has two sections, patio and bar Giving the name they hold, they are definitely not short of chairs... 😂

+6

Authentic food, fresh, and bright flavors. We came early before the place was crowded which was a great idea. We had the Jachnun and the shakshuka with the israeli breakfast. Also the shouk salad. Overall I'd recommend this place to my friends and family! The food was great, ambiance was great, service was great! Looking forward to coming her again.

I had a great breakfast here with my parents the other day. I had oatmeal with cinnamon an fresh fruit which was lovely and a coffee, my dad had scrambled eggs which he enjoyed and my mother had tasty guacamole with pitta bread. The service was friendly and efficient. I look forward to going back soon!

Had an amazing brunch at 12 Chairs Cafe. We had the sabich, schnitzel, & falafel appetizer. Everything was authentic and tasted amazing. Totally recommend!

+1

One of the best Israeli restaurants in town .. very fresh and light middle eastern food with great taste and it deserves to visit it again and again .. it’s my fav spot for breakfast on NewYork city , staff are very professional and respectful, cozy atmosphere. for sure i will be back to this restaurant every time I’m in the city

+2

last visited - 2017 Good food with nice twist, good service, clean. Not a typical new-yorker restaurant. It serves what considers to be an "Israeli food", but adoptive to everyone. I'll go again for sure next time I'm in the city.

Vibrant and fun Israeli food. The Hummus and Labne are great and fresh. Best Israeli food in the city if you ask me. Come here about once a week. Friendly and fun staff. Dance party starts on certain nights.

Very fun and festive restaurant! Super casual with absolutely amazing Middle Eastern/Israeli food. I strongly recommend this for a fun group of people. It can be very loud so if you're looking for a place for easy conversation this probably is not right for you. Atmosphere: 5 (but LOUD) Service: 4.5 Food: 4.5 Value for Experience: 5 This is a 'must go'!

+3

5. So exceptional here. Service is warm and attentive. The food is packed with flavour and the portions are generous. You can’t go wrong with this menu - there is something for everyone - with many vegetarian and vegan options. The vibe is fun and the atmosphere is inviting. Great for a group with lots of options for sharing, but also lovely for an intimate dinner. The appetizers came out quickly and the pita bread was hot. The falafel was delicious and the Israeli salad was fresh and crisp! Also highly recommend the dips and the schnitzel! Bathroom is accessible and on the main floor. This location does not yet have cocktails- just wine and beer (but a nice selection). Also- patio seating is available.

+6

Situated on MacDougal Street, 12 Chairs is a bustling spot for top notch Israeli/Mediterranean food. We enjoyed the perfectly cooked Falafels, the soft Pita breads, the delicious Cauliflower preparation, and the teas that were garnished with fresh mint leaves (both the hot and cold teas were great). The Tahini and Babaganoush dips weren't to our liking, with the Tahini having an intense flavor and the Babaganoush being rather bland for our taste buds. The service was super efficient, the place was packed and the music was loud, forcing people to strain their vocal cords to make conversation. All in all, it was a great experience and we look forward to coming back!

+6

One of the best Israeli gems in the city - been there a few times, and each time was awesome! Authentic Israeli middle eastern food, fresh and very good! Great music and great vibes! Shout out to May who made sure we’re having the best experience! Thank you guys at 12 Chairs 🤙🏼

+3

Run, don’t walk, to brunch here! Holy wow, it’s so fresh and delicious. Order whatever dish you want and make it “Israeli Style” to get the best experience. Everyone from the bar tender to the sever was polite and welcoming. The bathroom was clean. It checked every box for us!

Amazing amazing food and great service - get the lamb arayes!! They are so juicy and flavorful and come with a lovely tahini sauce. - the falafel hummus was also delicious and comes with a yummy mint vinegar (?) on top. Plus a side of olives and pickles Everything is larger than you might expect. We didn’t finish 2 dishes between two of us, and waiter said most people over-order. We could get a seat as a walk-in at 2pm on Friday. Our waiter was sooo friendly and happily moved us inside.

This is a very nice middle eastern restaurant with great options for appetizers and side dishes. We had chicken schnitzel which was fresh and crispy. The humus and falafel here were one of the best I’ve ever had. We also got the borek which was an interesting dish with egg, mashed potatoes, tomatoes, and sour cream - an unusual dish but very interesting to try. Overall, really enjoyed this place.

+5

A truly great spot! The shakshuka was incredibly tasty, and the warm, soft challah was just perfect. Staff were quick and friendly. The only downside was the dirty floor, but it didn’t take away from the overall positive impression.

Very cozy and authentic place to try Israeli food in the West Village! Friends recommended this place for a while, so decided to try it out and it did not disappoint 🙌 The restaurant is often packed, so better to make a reservation, especially for brunch. Keep in mind that tables are really close to each other :) but I guess that’s quite common for Manhattan … Ellen provided excellent service and recommendations: we had their signature Hummus (a Must!!!) served with the most delicious warm pita bread, along with cauliflower, for starters and shared chicken liver and lamb burger for our entrees. The potatoes served as side with the burger were phenomenal! The portions are also very generous :) so we ended up packing most of the food to go. Oh, and they serve Israeli wines too! We tried Vitkin Pinot noir which was a great pairing to our dinner. Overall, great place, great vibe, great service! Come check it out ;) Dear Fellow Traveler, thank you for reading all the way through this review, I hope it was helpful :) please PRESS THUMBS UP BUTTON if that is so :) If you have questions about the restaurant, want to see more photos and videos or just want to say Hi, feel free to reach out to my INSTA @daria.newyork ❤️ Cheers to good people, magnificent places and unique experiences!

+3

What an amazing place! even i have an incident with the food but they fixed it really quick and BUT the food 10/10

Came out for brunch one morning and was very pleased with this spot! They were extremely busy, but with a party of 2 the wait wasn't very long -less than 10 minutes (I do believe you can make reservations ahead of time). We Sat at the bar, service was impeccable, the space was extremely clean and well decorated, and even with it being so busy it really feels like an intimate space. Everything we got was delicious! I can confidently say I'd try anything on the menu and I'm sure it would be perfect. The price is high, but worth every penny. I'd highly recommend this establishment and would love to visit again.

+1

What a great surprise! Place was packed when we arrived but still the waiter managed to get us a table. Service was outstanding, great recommendations and the food - wow! Go for the hummus with onions! Plates are shareable and this is the beauty of this restaurant. Definitely worth going if you want a cozy and vivid place to chat with friends.

What a treat to eat here while visiting NYC! This was seriously some of the best Israeli food I've ever eaten. We stopped in last night after a show, and the server was happy to seat us (despite the fact it was already 10:30pm). We surveyed the menu and placed our order quickly. Everything came out super fast, and we devoured every morsel. So freaking good! I highly recommend the Hummus with onions and mushrooms. Can't wait to come back again next time I'm here.

What a meal. Easily one of my favorite Israeli spots in the city. The vibe is great and they have the garage doors that open on a nice day. We started off with some hummus (duh), Matbucha, and Labaneh. All three were amazing and I can’t decide which was my favorite. Oh and we also shared the Shouk Salas… so refreshing. I went with the 12 Chairs Lamburger which was super unique and tasty. It comes with spicy mayo on the side and I was dipping that thing in there with every bite.

+2

The food here was delicious! The orange juice was fresh and delicious, the pita was hot, soft, and chewy, and the baba ghanoush was light, creamy, and savory. The spicy platter was addictively tasty and hot. The cucumber tomato salad was SO good -- I ate almost two bowls of it. Overall the appetizer-type items were very excellent. I got the smoked salmon and scrambled egg. The egg was extremely creamy and a bit cheesy, and paired well with the not-too-salty salmon. I would've enjoyed this more if I wasn't so stuffed from the apps! We also got a special chickpea dish which was like a chunky hummus -- very interesting! I'd definitely come back! The salad and apps alone are worth the visit.

+1

Chef Mayaan Glass makes the best homemade hummus in Manhattan! It’s absolutely delicious and fresh. You can have a dinner party just around this recipe. 12 chairs in MacDougal continues to be an excellent Mediterranean restaurant for delicious food, drinks, events and elevated evenings out while enjoying home comfort cooking. I would highly recommend not only for brunch and dinner, but also as a beautiful event space.Kate Amrani hosts the best experiences, whether it’s a coffee, dinner or a lavish event in the space next door. Genuinely kind and passionate for the company, she treated me with a lovely experience. I always knew the food was great but I very impressed with how beautiful the popups and events she organized. I’m definitely planning to come here regularly including bringing friends for a dinner to explore unique dishes and recommending for events :)

It’s our first time at an Israeli cafe recommended by our daughter. It was such a great meal. We ordered shakshuka and arayes as recommended by our server. I really like the arayes which when eaten with the spicy salad is perfect.

Finally, a burger with flavor! Growing up, I loved burgers with seasoned patties, and I've often been underwhelmed by the blandness of American burger meat. So, when I saw the **12 Chairs Lamb Burger** on the menu, described as mixed with Middle Eastern spices, I was immediately sold. And it absolutely delivered! It was huge, incredibly delicious, and exactly what I'd hoped for. The real unexpected delight, though, were the **fries**—perfectly cut and crispy like chips, but with that satisfying potato taste of fries. Their freshly squeezed **grapefruit juice** completed the meal perfectly. I'm thoroughly satisfied and definitely coming back!

+1

This place is a fantastic Israeli restaurant! 🇮🇱 12 Chairs Cafe servers a wonderful selection of classic Israeli dishes 🍽️ - definitely try the Chicken 🐔 Schnitzel Salad 🥗, Eggs 🍳 Siniya, and Hummus with Falafel! 🧆 Service is quick and staff 👨‍🍳 is super friendly and welcoming! Ambience 🎶 is wonderful and they have Israeli music 🎵 playing all the time! I wish I knew about this place earlier!

+6

Keren Rosenberg

This Israeli brunch spot shines with dishes that feel both comforting and refined. The Jachnun is outstanding - rich, tender, and full of slow-cooked flavor. The Masabacha arrives warm and deeply satisfying, a true tribute to homestyle Israeli cooking. The atmosphere is vibrant and welcoming, the kind of place where the energy lifts your mood the moment you walk in. For anyone craving thoughtful Israeli flavors and genuinely great food, this restaurant is an easy recommendation.

wieke muller

I had the best chicken soup of my life here. Reccomended by this super sweet waitress girl🩷 It was incredible! Will come back very soon

Becca S

Amazing food Amazing service I love 12 chairs. My go to for brunch, birthday celebrations, date nights, you name it! For brunch today I had my go to borek- which is so amazing here pefectly crispy w potato and runny egg. Upgraded to an Israeli breakfast so it came with an OJ, coffee, delicious Israeli salad and bread and dips. I love how fresh the produce is! The labneh and tuna are my favorite dips but they are all amazing! My friend had the SMOKED SALMON SCRAMBLED- Soft-scrambled eggs over toasted challah bread, served with smoked salmon and capers with tea and grapefruit juice and really enjoyed it as well. She said the lox was very high quality and the eggs were perfectly cooked. We were not rushed at all and enjoyed a lazy, laid back brunch. We ended the meal with a chocolate pistachio halva mousse to celebrate her birthday that was exquisite. 12 chairs you will see me again!

+3

Talha Burhan Şimşek

Really tasty food and generous platters! I especially loved the chicken soup. It can get a bit crowded and noisy, but that’s part of the charm in NYC. The house wine is worth trying too. Our waitress was super kind and attentive — overall, great food and great service!

Lacy Kimberling

Great food and great vibes, the restaurant is always a bit loud so hard to hear friends sitting slightly far, but the great babaganoush makes up for it!

Kelly Lampotang

Every dish we got stood out!! I’m a big babaganoush fan for example but the one here was extra flavorful. Hummus was perfect. Pitas were super fluffy and soft. Moroccan fish was my favorite though - tasted so homey and healthy and delicious. Also appreciated our waitress took a lot of care to explain gluten free options and was careful about warning us which would have gluten and alternatives! Her recs were so good. Just a tad loud even at lunch but the food was amazing, would def come back.

Alan

I assume this restaurant is named after a very funny 1970s Mel Brooks movie. Middle Eastern or Israeli restaurant. I liked the food. Chicken skewers were excellent and so was the Israeli salad. Chicken schnitzel was a little dry but good. Loved the pickles but they were a little on the spicy side. I would go back again without any hesitation.

Ben Kutner-Duff

Georgia, the host, took wonderful care of us. Despite booking for 2 by accident, she heroically sorted the dining room out to accommodate us. The place was lively but it was easy to hear and be heard by my friends at our table of 6

Amber Worley

Loved this spot! This was recommended to me and it was great. The 4 for $30 deal they have is awesome. My favorite dish here was the hummus! This was the most AUTHENTIC tasting hummus I have ever had, so so good. I highly recommend stopping here if you are in the area. The service was spectacular as well.

Cute brunch place in the West Village! Came here for late brunch on a Sunday and wow it was packed-- honestly it was so packed to the point where I could barely hear what my friend was saying. This i…

Cute brunch place in the West Village! Came here for late brunch on a Sunday and wow it was packed-- honestly it was so packed to the point where I could barely hear what my friend was saying. Th…

I have gone to 12 Chairs multiple times and it never disappoints. Great group spot or even for take out. Delicious food and fast service. This spot has some of the best hummus in the city. The bowl…

I love 12 chairs. My go to for brunch, birthday celebrations, date nights, you name it!\n\nFor brunch today I had my go to borek- which is so amazing here pefectly crispy w potato and runny egg. …

I dream about this food all the time and pray for when I will be able to go back. Went for brunch once and went to heaven. The best hummus I have ever had by far but that's just the beginning... yo…

Every city in America should have one of these. The food is incredible. We ordered half the menu...it was all awesome. Service was outstanding, and the vibe is cool. Do not miss a chance to visit. …

Every city in America should have one of these. The food is incredible. We ordered half the menu...it was all awesome. service was outstanding, and the vibe is cool. Do not miss a chance to visit. …

Delicious food. We had vegetable couscous, hummus, pita, bsba ganoush, labneh, crispy cauliflower and salad. Everything was great.

We had a reservation and good thing we did, as the (small) restaurant was completely full. The waiter was friendly. The food was excellent, in particular the arayes. It is a fun ‘party’ atmosphere…

We had a reservation and good thing we did, as the (small) restaurant was completely full. The waiter was friendly. The food was excellent, in particular the arayes. It is a fun ‘party’ atmosphere…

What an amazing brunch, love coming here, delicious menu choices, nice atmosphere and great service. Always consistent. We have visited this place on several occasions, never disappoints.

What an amazing brunch, love coming here, delicious menu choices, nice atmosphere and great service. Always consistent. We have visited this place on several occasions, never disappoints.

Amazing breakfast, extensive menu with plenty of delicious choices. We enjoyed everything , especially Shakshuka and Potatoe Borek

Delicious brunch with friends. Fast service even though was a Saturday and busy. Quality food, good portion sizes and at a reasonable price

reservations are a must. Visited on a week night and it was packed. Fortunately we had a reservation. Small restaurant so tables are quite close together We had the baba ganoush, hummus wit…

The place was attended by very nice people, letting you feel welcomed since you get there. I stayed 6 days at NYC and this place was the best breakfast of that period. Very relaxed environment, com…

Very good vibe, good service, good music. The food is very good, Israeli and middle eastern food. Dishes are very big. Serve Israli beer as well. Have outdoor sitting. The chicken livers with the mashed potato was very good! The matbuha salad was also good and the Tabouli salad as well very good. The orange juice was not so good, maybe the oranges weren't good produce. The morrocan fish was not that good - the fish had sea taste, it is probably frozen fish that was not dealt properly to avoid that after taste smell. The sauce was like a soup, and the couscous came on the side, so it was not easy to eat. I would have used less sauce, and serve the fish with the sauce on the couscous so it will absorb the sauce taste. Reccomend and will come back!

Food is amazing as always. I’ve been here so many times. My only complaint however is that it is ALWAYS freezing, especially on the second side where they seat people when it’s busier. This isn’t the first time I’ve been sat on that side and freezing so I really wish they would fix this 🥲

Delicious food and quick and friendly service! We were sitting outside in the roofed area and my only complaint is that it was a bit loud and the tables are but very tightly together (indoors as well). The food is really good with a lot of vegetarian options.

Adorable brunch spot with tons of great food! My friends and I split a bunch of dips and pita. We also split their desserts which were delicious. I got the lamb burger, which was mediocre, kind of dry and wayyyy too much bun compared to the small patty. Make reservations far in advance for this place! Can’t wait to come back and try more things. Thanks!

+1

We went there on 1st Jan for brunch with couple of friends on another friend's recommendation. We ordered hummus with falafel, babaganoush, shakshuka with feta and falafel with tahini. Food was great. We end up ordering falafel again. Service was fast. I felt that seats were very close to each other and there was not enough space to move around for servers and coming guests. I definitely recommend this place for a Mediterranean meal.

+6

We had an interesting experience at 12 chairs! Made a reservation weeks in advance for a Saturday evening. Was a little disappointed with the table we received (was definitely better fit for 2 rather than 3). It was also basically on top of the register. After discussing this with the host, the best they could do was move us pretty much on top of the couple sitting at the table next to us. I understand the restaurant is small so we looked passed this, but the small table did make it hard to split plates and order dishes as we intended to (items stacked not pictured). Later in the evening, a server actually split a ton of dirty dishes right in front of us and it got all over my friend at the table. Some of the staff didn’t seem to care which was somewhat annoying. However, 1-2 staff members did show some remorse and had a little more urgency to get it cleaned up. I understand mistakes happen but I didn’t feel like they cared too much that dirty dishes (lots of dips) were spilled all over us. We did get 2 glasses of wine due to this, but it seemed like we should have gotten more, unfortunately. Despite this, I would still recommend coming here. It seems we just had an ugly evening. Maybe sit on the patio so you get more space? Or specially request a larger table? The food was really tasty and felt very fresh! My favorite was the cauliflower. The eggplant was a little bland, and my friends had a weird review that the hummus tasted like peanut butter. But I thought it was good! There’s a ton of middle eastern food to try here so give it a go!

Food is amazing!!! Atmosphere is not for me… very cramped - they literally cannot squeeze one more chair in that space. Luckily the food came out fast because I was ready to get out of there… again just because the ambiance is not for me doesn’t mean it was bad. The food was really awesome! I just like having a little space and privacy.

Came here at 8:30pm on a Wednesday and the restaurant was at capacity. We were seated inside and the vibe was lovely, but the acoustics of the restaurant were not great. Our table was in the middle of the restaurant and we could barely hear each other. We still had a lovely night and the food was delicious! I recommend that when you go you get seated outside. I highly recommend the beets salad with feta cheese 😋

Excellent and tasty israelian food and lively vibe with ethnic background music. The place is small and super busy at lunchtime, so try to make reservations in advance (usually available for next day). The blueberry pancakes were some of the best I’ve had!

+1

Recommendation: get a reservation and ask to seat outside. Inside can be super crowded and tight. The food is pretty good. We had the israelí breakfast egg shakshouka (it came with a side of salad, small dishes with halva, harissa butter, bread, pickled pepper, chickpeas and tzatziki plus a glass of juice and coffee we upgraded the coffee to capuchino) plus serving of hummus with side pita and side olives. I will get the hummus again but probably skip the shakshouka since it was salty for my taste and the eggs were too cooked. We had multiple servers. One of them went above and beyond and the rest were not as nice. Regardless I will probably be back.

There were so many people waiting for this place and it was a busy place. Fortunately we made a reservation! We had to order everything at once and they gave checks with already included tips. Food was amazing especially hummus! It was one of the best hummus I’ve ever had.

12 Chairs Cafe is a small restaurant tucked away on a hidden street in Soho. It has about 10-12 tables, so reservations are highly recommended. The tables are pretty close together, making it more cozy than private. The service is great—quick and efficient—but they'll pressure you to leave the table quickly. The food, however, really shines. Prices are quite reasonable, especially considering the generous portions per plate. All dishes are shareable. I personally recommend the chicken and potatoes as the main dish!

+1

I was very excited to try this restaurant. I had high expectations from all the positive reviews. I found the hummus and falafel to have an authentic Israeli flavor to it. The babaganoush was not my favorite but it was fresh and tasted pretty good. The arayes was by far my favorite. They had a delicious lamb flavor and it was well made. We also tried the borek, it was something different. I was not blown away. The chicken schnitzel was ordinary. Nothing wow about it. It was mediocre. I don't think 3 stars is worthy or 4 stars for that matter. If I could rate 3.5 that's what this is. Mediocre with some wow but nothing spectacular. If I go back I'd try a different selection of foods

+3

Food was great, fantastic menu, wanted to love my dinner here. But it was so insanely loud that my friend and I had yell at each other to be heard - literally the entire meal. It was a crowded restaurant but it wasn’t the people making it that deafeningly loud; it was mostly the blaring music. When the restaurant is that packed, perhaps lower the music or put on something a bit more relaxed - it doesn’t help the business either, we left before ordering dessert or coffee because we couldn’t hear each other.

Liry Levin

Great Israeli food good size for a meal for the city Great atmosphere Very crowded and loud and hard to get a table on Saturday

S M

The food here is great but to be honest the crowd here is insanely obnoxious. Thats not the restaurants fault obviously but just be aware this is not a place to go for a relaxing slow brunch. It gets ear-bleed loud in here because its the type of crowd where groups of young women are screeching like banshees across the table at other for no reason and youre sitting right next to them in a tight space. Literally your ears will be ringing. I'd recommend going on a weekday to try their food which again is nice

Casey White

12 chairs is located in SoHo just off of Houston street and is near popular venues such as the Comedy Cellar. My group of friends attended on a Friday night. They advertise serving Middle Eastern food, specifically Israeli. Food: 5/5 - We ordered a variety of spreads and small plates which came with pita and falafel. The hummus was some of the best I've ever had, incredible! I also ordered the Arayes, which are crispy stuffed pita with spiced ground meat, which were also amazing. Service: 4/5 - Service was friendly and helpful, however we were reminded multiple times that the table after us needed to be seated by 7:30 (our reservation was at 6:00). We are not slow eaters and did not ask for more time deciding on drinks or food, so we felt that if we were taking too long that it wasn't on us. Atmosphere: 3/5 - We were packed in like sardines. Seating is in small wooden chairs. I was sat towards the end of the table and my legs were essentially on top of my friends' who was sat at the head of the table. It is also quite loud with upbeat music being played even when we walked in at 6:00. I was told that the restaurant is popular on social media and that they bring out tambourines and people get up and dance, however none of this occurred while we were there. None of the decor choices particularly stood out to me. All in all, delicious restaurant with wonderful food, but could be an uncomfortable or overstimulating experience for some.

Isabella Grandic

Good brunch spot. Food was pretty good just felt very oily / made me super tired after. Really really filling. Don’t underestimate the sizes. The lamb hot dish was quite good. I liked the shakahula too. The Challah was a bit stale / dry and not warm. The pitas were 3.5/5. It’s super clean, trendy, casual on the inside. Menu has an overwhelming amount of options with no clear winner. Service was pretty hands off. It’s a bit loud inside. Indoor and outdoor seating. Hummus is supposedly what they are famous for. I thought it tasted more like tahini than hummus. It was almost too nutty - needed the lime mixture to balance with acidity. About $30 pp.

+18

Nicole Sparacio

What an experience! Went for dinner on Saturday night, took awhile to be seated, but to be expected as the place was packed. We did 4 of the small plates which were perfect for our group size of 4. Loved the shouk salad, really fresh. Sweet potato fries, hummus & Israeli wine were really good. Grilled chicken was ok. We enjoyed the chocolate mousse very much for dessert. Whole place was dancing on chairs / tables from 9pm onward. Great, loud music and energy from those dining and staff! Would love to go back!

+2

The hummus is among the best I've tried. However, eating here will make you feel like you are being yelled at, at full volume, by the other 50 people in the establishment. Forget about trying to hold…

Not worth the hype in my opinion. We walked in and the music was BLARING. And keep in mind this is strictly a restaurant with a small bar that no one was at. Certainly not a party place but with th…

Our reservation was at 9:30pm for a big group. This restaurant was busy and loud inside- you really have to raise your voice to be heard. They turn on music & the dancing on chairs is during the la…

Saturday night family dinner with 6 of us, food was a little different but tasty. I’m told it’s like being in Israel. I wouldn’t know. What I do know is, I left with my ears ringing. The music was so…

Saturday night family dinner with 6 of us, food was a little different but tasty. I’m told it’s like being in Israel. I wouldn’t know. What I do know is, I left with my ears ringing. The music wa…

Very disappointing. It was just so unpleasant. We used to love going to this location and the Brooklyn one and I would pick up at least once a week on the way home from work. But for my sons birthda…

The food was excellent but service was spotty. We went for brunch/ lunch on a weekend afternoon. It was busy and quite loud - both from the customers and loud dance music playing over the speakers.…

The food was quite good, and the atmosphere was warm and cozy. My problems were more around the service. I was there with a group, and the host told us to wait by the bar for the full party to arrive, then proceeded to tell us we couldn’t be standing at the bar, and would have to go to the “waiting area.” The waiting area was one of the outdoor sheds, without a door, and in the extreme wind and cold (<10 degrees). When we were seated, our table of 7 people have 4 tiny nearly shot glass sized glasses for water. They never gave us more. It was disappointing, because the food was delicious. I just felt like the service was pretty bad.

Been here several times. Always enjoyed it but yesterday was off. Went for an 11:30 reservation. By noon, the music was at volume 10 and everyone was visibly irritated. Could no longer talk. I’ve not had that experience in the past for day time reservations. Service was not good. One guest meal didn’t arrive and the server emphatically said it was coming. Then, she disclosed they didn’t make it and it ended up coming 15 minutes later. It wasn’t at all what she ordered. When we asked what was in the omlette the server said SHE chose an omelette on her own and added the cheese and tomato that what said he wanted. Just bizarre. To their credit they took it off the bill but still, she wasn’t looking to make it right and told him “you'll like it”. Food was just ok on this last visit. Was disappointed.

If only for the food I would rate it 5 stars, we loved the hallumi, falafel with hummus, shakshuka. Just wouldn’t order the beet salad again. Be prepared to leave with headache from the noise, it is insanely loud. The servers were not very kind and food took a while to come. Although the food is great I don’t think it’s worth the bad experience

+2

I would expect more based on all the good reviews and recommendations from friends. However even though the service was great, the food itself didn’t really get into my heart. Shakashuka is a bit overcooked. The roasted cauliflower was added too much lemon or vinegar. Only the falafels got its way right. The place is tiny and tends to be crowded during weekend brunch time, but luckily we didn’t wait too long.

I was a little confused about the host’s attitude toward guests during my visit yesterday. When I arrived for a light dinner, I was shown to a table that was placed very close to the bench, making it difficult to sit down without moving the table. The host left before assisting, so I ended up asking a busboy for help. I also noticed another couple being seated in a similar way, needing to adjust the tables themselves. Later, when I wanted to order a second dish, I tried to get the host’s attention by nodding, but instead of acknowledging me, he gestured for me to wait while continuing his conversation with someone at the bar. I believe the experience could feel much more welcoming with just a little extra attentiveness. I hope this feedback is helpful, as I know your restaurant has the potential to leave a warmer impression. I'm sure you can do better at making sure your customers feel welcomed.

Went here for dinner. The food was good, but the service was very disappointing. We had only been seated for about an hour when the servers repeatedly came to our table to clear plates even though we clearly still had food left, making it clear we were expected to leave ASAP. This behavior felt unnecessary, especially since there were many empty tables around us and no one waiting to be seated. Additionally, I raised my hand to ask a question about the menu. A server made eye contact with me for a couple seconds, then looked away and checked her phone instead of coming over. Overall, the service left a bad impression, and I don’t plan on returning. Edit: Came back and the service was a lot better this time around. Food was good, and atmosphere felt more lively. Averaged out my review.

Kitty French

This restaurant serves amazing food with lots of flavor. But the service was below average. Felt like they just wanted us to order quickly and get out. They didn’t ask how our meal was or if we wanted anything else - just put the check on the table. Unfortunately would not go back purely because of the service.

Ayda Pour

For the great food they serve, the service is unfortunately very low quality. Each time we’ve been there, we ended up feeling uncomfortable.

Irina Glazkova

The food at this restaurant was truly delicious! However, the service was not really . Unfortunately, they forgot to bring the tea I ordered, and since we split the bill three ways, we mentioned it, but I still didn’t see my tea . I’m fairly sure it ended up being included in the check anyway. Probably I’ll back again because food was really good!

Margalit M

Underwhelmed but maybe I will give it another chance. And I'm going to be unpopular and disagree with many of the previous reviews that said the shakshuka was great, because for me it was bland and the eggs were way too runny so I ended up eating a soupy egg yolk dish with tomatoes. The challah and Israeli salad were great. We also had a halloumi dish that was very nice but soooo small. Service was brusk and distantly polite. Is a cute restaurant but cramped but so are most spots in soho.

I wanted to love this place and it was just okay. I always judge a place by their hummus and I did not enjoy their recipe. Their other food was delicious though. The cauliflower is Amazing! And their…

I wanted to love this place and it was just okay. I always judge a place by their hummus and I did not enjoy their recipe. Their other food was delicious though. The cauliflower is Amazing! And the…

I was kind of underwhelmed by my experience at 12 chairs. I think the food is absolutely incredible, but I think the service and ambiance aren't great. The tables are extremely close together, the …

I was kind of underwhelmed by my experience at 12 chairs. I think the food is absolutely incredible, but I think the service and ambiance aren't great. The tables are extremely close together, the …

Been coming here for years and last night was the first unsatisfactory experience. Made a reservation for 3 for a Tuesday evening; always make a reservation because it gets packed. They seated us…

i wasn't a fan of this place. first off the bathroom smelled like piss! gross. they could prevent the smell. my waiter wasn't the happiest guy to be working. its like i get it but you should get an…

i wasn't a fan of this place. first off the bathroom smelled like piss! gross. they could prevent the smell. my waiter wasn't the happiest guy to be working. its like i get it but you should get an…

I prefer the Williamsburg location as this one doesn't have a liquor license. The space is tighter as well and not as vibey. My schnitzel dish happened to be pretty tasty and filling. A balanced me…

If you go here for dinner, it should be with a group of friends and if you are ready for a party atmosphere (definitely NOT a first date or quiet intimate spot). People are dancing on the chairs at…

Our group of five went for late breakfast early lunch when it wasn’t particularly crowded. Each of us ordered something different and all agreed the food is tasty. But OMG are they slow here. Ser…

Did not love this place. Probably would not return. We were sat down 15 mins after saying our table is almost ready. Not a big deal, but it looked like they gave our table to a different party. They charged us twice for a side of egg, and we only found out because we asked for a receipt. Still very kind, i’m sure they would have removed the charge had we asked. The atmosphere was very hot outside & a little unkempt. There were flies everywhere, and we had to ask them to turn the fan on. The food was mediocre. It was just standard middle eastern food. My favorite was the labaneh, but i’ve had a lot better before. The malabi isn’t bad, but I don’t recommend if you’re not into jelly like textures.

+1

two stars because one would have been just a punishment and we don’t know how the food is. you know why? cause we ask for a table and left the phone number as they told us to come back in half an hour. so we wait and then we come back and spoke to the waitress that told us to wait other additional 10mins. we waited, table were free but guess what? we never received a text from them about the table. according with the other reviews, I agree about bad service level and that’s a pity cause we were expecting to eat here for a long time. doesn’t matter, maybe they just didnt want us. bye

We were looking forward to our meal at 12 Chairs and to supporting an Israeli business. While we enjoyed our food very much, the attitude of one of the waiters (the man wearing a black beanie at lunch service today on Monday 12/22) really soured the experience. From the moment we walked through the doors we were greeted with a look on his face that made it seem like we were an inconvenience, to the two missing items from our order, to the repeated requests for the bill, we were made to feel like a pest and that he wanted to just do that bare minimum. And mind you, it was just the two of us and we didn’t ask for anything special, we just wanted to have a quick lunch for two. The cafe would do well to remind their staff that they are the face of the business and satisfaction with the food forms only part of the impression that lingers with guests when they leave. Thankfully, the other waiter was really lovely and helpful, big thumbs up to him, I’m just taken aback by how unprofessional the first waiter was. (Please do not ask me to write in my experience via email, I have provided enough information here for the management to do something about it if they wish).

Angela Zhao

Wow came here expecting a cozy neighborhood spot and left with a headache. The place is incredibly loud (night club level)— not lively, not buzzy, just straight-up obnoxiously LOUD. Tables are packed so tightly together that conversations bounce off every surface, and you end up shouting just to talk to the person across from you. The female servers here were extremely rude as well. Please don’t work in the hospitality industry if you don’t know what good service is.

The bathrooms looked like a war zone and hadn't been cleaned in decades. \n\nthe food was not worth the long wait we had. Actually, even if there was no wait, it wouldn't have been worth it.

The bathrooms looked like a war zone and hadn't been cleaned in decades. \n\nthe food was not worth the long wait we had. Actually, even if there was no wait, it wouldn't have been worth it.

The worst service I have ever experienced. waited 45 minutes for our reserved table, didn't tell us the kitchen closed, spilled water all over our table without apologizing.

The worst service I have ever experienced. Waited 45 minutes for our reserved table, didn't tell us the kitchen closed, spilled water all over our table without apologizing.

9/1/2025 Very rude and not friendly if you come without reservation. Was waiting for the host to let me know how long is the wait time. She ignored my question twice telling me "one second plea…

9/1/2025 Very rude and not friendly if you come without reservation. Was waiting for the host to let me know how long is the wait time. She ignored my question twice telling me "one second please".…

Food was good. wine watered down at $18. Very tiny restaurant , tables literally on top of each other. Had to move my food to the other side of table so someone's long hair wouldn't get in my food.…

1 star. Extremely disappointing experience. We made a reservation for 12 Chairs in Brooklyn and traveled nearly 30 minutes assuming everything was confirmed. Upon arrival, we found the restaurant com…

1 star. Extremely disappointing experience. We made a reservation for 12 Chairs in Brooklyn and traveled nearly 30 minutes assuming everything was confirmed. Upon arrival, we found the restaurant c…

I used to love 12 Chairs—great food, fun atmosphere, and excellent service when I visited a couple years ago. So when my sister’s wedding weekend came around, I thought it would be the perfect plac…

I used to love 12 Chairs—great food, fun atmosphere, and excellent service when I visited a couple years ago. So when my sister’s wedding weekend came around, I thought it would be the perfect plac…

I used to love 12 Chairs—great food, fun atmosphere, and excellent service when I visited a couple years ago. So when my sister’s wedding weekend came around, I thought it would be the perfect plac…

The most rushed I’ve ever during my lunch, food was basically thrown at the table all at once, and the server tried to clear out our table while we were mid food. Good food, love to support Israeli businesses but damn.. that was a lot.

$14.15 dollars for a “hummus” - the container was mostly empty, seriously I thought it was a joke !!! Never ordering from them again…. I feel like they laugh in customer’s faces

The food tasted great, but made me feel horrible. Have had a horrible stomach ache for the past few hours since eating it. We made a standard reservation ahead of time but were seated in the cold outside (there were only 2 tables out there). We really wanted to experience the fun atmosphere inside (especially with our friends visiting town) and were let down. The servers were kind but did not do their jobs well. We were barely close to done with our round of appetizers and our entrees were brought out and sat out on another table in the cold while we finished. It felt stressful. Good food, but poor experience all around.

Very disappointing experience. The staff were extremely unprofessional and completely ruined our evening. We came as a group of four to celebrate a birthday - had a reservation, arrived on time, and got seated. The atmosphere was impossible to enjoy: the music was blasting so loud and so techno that it felt more like a nightclub than a restaurant. We literally had to shout to hear each other. Even for New York, the volume was way over the top. After barely an hour and a half, while we were still eating and had just ordered another round of drinks - a server came up and asked if we needed boxes for our food. Every one of us still had more than half of our main courses left. We were shocked. Why rush your guests like that? In any decent restaurant, a table for four is expected to have at least 2 to 2.5 hours. Instead, we felt pressured the whole time - the constant hints from the staff to wrap things up were completely inappropriate. The food itself was average at best - nothing memorable. Overall, such disrespectful and rushed service completely ruined what was supposed to be a nice birthday dinner. Definitely do not recommend this place.

Saturday 2pm. Me and my son waited for more than 15 minutes, at our table, and nobody ever showed up to start our service. We were seated by an employee and that was the only interaction with any staff member. It was like we were ghosts… worst experience in a long time.

Staff is extremely rude and rushes customers to leave. We sat down for our reservation promptly at 5:30 and by 6:30 we felt the urge to leave as we had been checked on an uncomfortable number of times and asked if we were ready for a check when we clearly were not. Another server came by and asked if we were “good,” we said yes, assuming they were wondering if we needed anything additional, and they immediately started clearing the plate I was clearly still eating from. Staff cannot read the room and clearly does not care to try. Treats paying customers like vermin for having the audacity to chew at a normal pace. There is no need to rush a party of 5 that has been sitting for under one hour. Food is unbelievably average. Shuka next door is a wonderful alternative with very kind staff, ample seating, and much better food. I understand time limits, but pressing customers multiple times within an hour of being seated and clearing full plates without asking is insane. Store bought hummus truly tastes better. Unfortunately had to go to this restaurant with a party and couldn’t refuse, but I have heard similar comments about this restaurant from countless friends and have purposefully avoided this establishment even though I live steps away. Sad to say the experience was worse than expected

Honestly the food was pretty good but the service was horrible. I would never come back. There was a group of 5 of us and we were in this restaurant for less than an hour because we were rushed out. We ordered 5 apps and they came out within 2 minutes before we got our drinks. Just way too fast. The servers were trying to take our plates away when we visibly were not done. At about 50 minutes in the server told us they have another reservation coming in and that we need to leave. They gave us to go cups for our drinks. Weren’t even there for an hour. Very disappointing. Also we had a reservation and it did not say there was a maximum of 1 hour at this place. Never again

The server we had was so rude - I liked the Brooklyn location enough and then we went to the Soho location for a bday and it was so tragic. The server refused to give us recommendations when we asked about the menu, acted upset every time we asked about anything, and generally made the entire experience rough. Majority of us have worked in the hospitality industry and being kind is the bare minimum. The food was also so mid after everything. I’d skip it.

Ordered 2 Tunisian sandwishes. No spice. Unwrapped two different sandwishes, both super spicy. Took for ever to find a place that does Tunisian sandwiches in NY. I compromised on the pita vs the real bread and still both did not have the real recipe. So disappointed.

Placed order and they dropped off at wrong address. The host was dismissive when I asked for them to contact driver to resolve new address. Told me to call Uber Eats support, yet restaurant had their own carriers. Won’t be ordering again.

My boyfriend and I came in for a walk-in yesterday. Snooty girl at the front made a bunch of faces at us and then said ... maybe... but I'll need the table back in an hour. For the record, I think this is a totally normal ask of a walk-in but she was kind of rude about it. We ordered Babaganoush and Pita for $9. This fat thing of Babaganoush came out with.. one... pita... just seemed really weird to me. The Pita was alright. However, we asked for olive oil and then got the wateriest oil. I'm actually pretty certain it was low/cheap quality mix oil. We actually felt ill when we went home and my suspicion is that it had something to do with this being the oil they provide. The chicken was decent but the potato wedges that came out with it were bland. Additionally, we ordered the Greek salad. Which was fine, feta was pretty good. Worst part were the vibes. They have some really rude busser lurking around the tables being super off-putting. They jam pack you in that restaurant so tightly you can't hear the person across from you (although you can hear the people next to you), you have to awkwardly drag the table out to get in and out of the tables if you're in the booth, and finding a clear path to the exit is damn near impossible (and super awkward). Also, music is really really loud. Our servers were actually pretty nice though! Honestly, this place isn't worth the price or headache. I felt awkward and uncomfortable the whole way through. The food didn't sit right anyways. We spent the rest of the night feeling bloated and weird. I will never go back.

Extremely disappointing. Falafel was not fresh. It was likely cooked hours before seing served. Scnitzel was also dry. Wedged potato's were blant. Pita bread was horrible. It was hard! Lol. I'd skip and try other places that serve good Israeli food. Even though we didn't eat half of the food, they didn't even ask how was the food so it's clear they don't care.

Simcha Grieve

This review is specifically for delivery orders. The restaurant is nice and the food is genuinely great in person. Which is what makes the delivery experience so frustrating. Their delivery business has clearly become lucrative enough to justify a ghost kitchen on Houston Street, but the customer experience hasn’t followed. The delivery side feels detached and unmanaged. Israeli salad is a staple. The price stayed the same, the portion was cut in half. Maybe that’s just business, but there’s no option to order the regular size, and no one who can explain or address it. Utensils are another constant issue. They’re often missing, even when the box requesting them is checked. When I called, someone did pick up. The manager is never on site. I wasn’t given a phone number to reach anyone in charge, just an email to send my request to. It felt like corporate policy nonsense, you know the drill. The food is strong. The delivery operation is not. Right now it feels like they’re focused on scaling, not the customer.