Ayat’s East Village location. Photo by Flickr user Eden, Janine and Jim
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A Palestinian restaurant called Ayat has announced it will be opening on the Upper West Side, right near Columbia University.
“AYAT will be coming soon to the Upper West Side. Right next to Columbia University. Can’t wait to bring our cuisine to this beautiful neighborhood and be part of the community. See you soon, UWS,” wrote owner Abdul Elenani in an Instagram announcement.
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Elenani told Patch that since Columbia has so much pro-Palestinian activism, it will be a great location for the restaurant–but that “he has to keep the exact location a secret until it opens, since disclosing the location could lead to harassment.”
“We get a lot of complaints from certain groups of people that don’t like us,” Elenani told the publication. “They do a bunch of 311 city complaints against us, no matter what we’re doing.”
Elenani has been outspoken in his support for Palestine, recently promoting a fundraiser through Ayat (whose Instagram feed has very limited food content). However, this has led to harassment on more than one occasion, with Eater reporting a swarm of one-star reviews following the openings of multiple locations across the city.
Described on the restaurant’s home page as “Palestinian soul food,” Ayat’s menu highlights traditional Palestinian cuisine with a wide range of dishes.
Diners can start with cold appetizers like hummus, baba ghanoush, labneh, and mezze samplers, or opt for hot starters such as falafel, stuffed grape leaves, mujadara, or kibbeh.
The salad offerings include fattoush, tabbouleh, and options topped with grilled salmon or halloumi.
From the wood-fired oven, Ayat serves a selection of Middle Eastern flatbreads and pizzas, including zaatar, cheese manaqish, and fusion creations like Pizzawarma.
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Hearty main courses feature Palestinian classics such as musakhan, fattat jaj, and lamb ouzi. The grill section includes kebabs, lamb chops, and seafood like branzino and shrimp, all served with rice and salad.
For something more casual, there are laffa wraps and pressed shawarma sandwiches with beef, chicken, or vegetarian fillings. Larger groups can enjoy generous family-style platters, including mixed grills, maklouba, and vegetarian spreads.
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