
Barbounia
Quick info
About Barbounia
On Park Avenue South in New York, Barbounia serves Mediterranean food in a dining room with tall, soaring ceilings. The kitchen runs a menu of 293 dishes, with the spicy feta as a starting point alongside grilled octopus and a short rib tagine. Lamb dishes appear on the menu as well, and the mezze platter comes with flatbread for sharing. Panna cotta rounds out the dessert list. Reservations are recommended, including through OpenTable, and a wait is common even with a table booked. The entrance is step-free for wheelchair users, and high chairs are available for families with young children. Outdoor seating extends the dining room, dogs are welcome there, and free Wi-Fi runs throughout. For those eating off site, the restaurant offers both takeaway and delivery. It opens daily, giving diners a consistent schedule to plan around.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree of charge street parking · Paid street parking
- AccessibilityHas wheelchair-accessible entrance · Has wheelchair-accessible seating · Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Good for kidsGood for kids · Has changing table(s) · High chairs available
- DietaryServes vegan dishes · Serves vegetarian dishes
Menu & Prices
293 dishes · mains $5–44- TABOON FLATBREAD$5.00
- CRUDITE$7.00
- PICKLES & OLIVES$13.00
- LABNEH$14.00
- SPICY FETA$14.00
- HUMMUS$16.00
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention short rib tagine, grilled octopus, mezze platter and lamb dish.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention short rib tagine, grilled octopus, mezze platter and lamb dish.
Customer Review Summary
The short rib, whether tagine or slow cooked, draws the most consistent praise, alongside octopus starters and mezze platters that reviewers repeatedly call fresh and flavorful. Desserts split opinion: several single out standout dishes like tahini ice cream halva or panna cotta, while others found the Dubai chocolate tart or rosewater panacotta underwhelming and the Greek salad thrown off by heavy dill. Service runs from outstanding, attentive waiters to one account of a blunt, unfriendly server and another describing staff who repeatedly interrupted to clear plates. Cocktails mostly earn praise as balanced and creative, though one reviewer called them weak and sour, feeling the bar and kitchen operated on different levels. The lively, bustling atmosphere is consistently noted, sometimes as cramped and rushed when crowded. Several mention reservations being necessary given the wait. One birthday visit closes with a server bringing out a sparkler and the whole restaurant joining in song.
Customer Review Summary
The short rib, whether tagine or slow cooked, draws the most consistent praise, alongside octopus starters and mezze platters that reviewers repeatedly call fresh and flavorful. Desserts split opinion: several single out standout dishes like tahini ice cream halva or panna cotta, while others found the Dubai chocolate tart or rosewater panacotta underwhelming and the Greek salad thrown off by heavy dill. Service runs from outstanding, attentive waiters to one account of a blunt, unfriendly server and another describing staff who repeatedly interrupted to clear plates. Cocktails mostly earn praise as balanced and creative, though one reviewer called them weak and sour, feeling the bar and kitchen operated on different levels. The lively, bustling atmosphere is consistently noted, sometimes as cramped and rushed when crowded. Several mention reservations being necessary given the wait. One birthday visit closes with a server bringing out a sparkler and the whole restaurant joining in song.
Featured reviews
- Alex Schull
“Yeah just a heads up I’m gonna be glazing on this one. Barbounia is of my top five restaurants in the city. Every dish on the menu ranges from very good to outstanding, and the service is consistently polished and professional. Despite its popularity, the restaurant strikes the perfect balance - energetic and bustling without ever feeling overcrowded. I’ve been here for date nights, large group dinners, and solo meals at the bar, and it excels in every setting. The soaring ceilings, warm lighting, and comfortably moderate noise level create an exceptional atmosphere that’s both lively and inviting. Tonight’s martini was impeccably crafted, the octopus was tender and flavorful, and the steak was cooked to perfection paired with an Italian red (Chianti Classico, a Tuscan stalwart). A special shoutout to the tall Argentinian bartender (Johan?) who is the epitome of hospitality behind the bar. Knowledgeable, personable, and effortlessly attentive, he elevates the entire experience and makes every visit feel memorable. Barbounia continues to deliver one of the most consistently excellent dining experiences in the city.”
- Kiu Siu
“Friends and I tried this restaurant for dinner. We were seated on time, in the middle of a beautiful dining room. The menu is extensive with a good variety of mezze, appetizers, soup and salad, mains and dessert. The wine menu also has a good selection of domestic and international wines. We ordered a couple of mezze, the Portugal Grilled Octopus and the Kalamata Olive Flatbread for appetizers. These were very delicious, particularly the octopus which was tender and well seasoned. For entrees we tried the short rib tagine and the lamb kofta kebab terracota. These were also delicious. For dessert we shared the Silan and the Rosewater Panacotta. We were disappointed with the desserts. The Silan was overly sweet and the panacotta was unexciting. Overall we enjoyed our dinner at Barbounia. The service was friendly and efficient. And the atmosphere was lively.”
- Andrew Dabydeen
“Barbounia was a great place to share a meal with coworkers, especially since the menu is built well for trying a variety of dishes together. Everything we had was good and the overall experience felt polished and enjoyable. …”
- Arlene James
“I think I enjoyed the beautiful atmosphere possibly more than my dinner. My friend and I shared the short rib tagine and the grilled octopus. She loved her cocktail, mine was just ok. I can't remember the name of our dessert but it was my favorite part of the meal Overall It was good, and i'm glad I went, but i'd probably only go back for more of that dessert.😋”
- Manel Mirzoyev
“We celebrated our wedding anniversary here last week, and we had a blast! The food and service were exceptional, the ambiance was classy and cozy, and the location was excellent as well. We had a wonderful experience and would definitely recommend it.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
- Has fast service
- Serves great cocktails
- Serves great coffee
- Serves great dessert
- Has great wine list
- Serves local speciality
Amenities
- Has Wi-Fi
- Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Free of charge street parking
- Accepts reservations
- Has outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed outside
Show more amenities
- Has no-contact delivery
- Offers takeaway
- Serves dine-in
- Family friendly
- Serves vegan dishes
- Has bar on site
- Offerings· 13
- Serves alcohol
- Serves beer
- Serves cocktails
- Serves coffee
- Serves comfort food
- Serves happy-hour drinks
- Serves happy-hour food
- Serves healthy options
- Serves late-night food
- Serves small plates
- Serves spirits
- Serves vegetarian dishes
- Serves wine
- Crowd· 3
- Good for groups
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Popular with tourists
- Accessibility· 2
- Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Dining options· 7
- Serves brunch
- Serves lunch
- Serves dinner
- Has counter service
- Serves dessert
- Has seating
- Has table service
- Popular for· 3
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for dinner
- Good for solo dining
- Facilities· 2
- Has gender-neutral toilets
- Has toilet
- Parking· 1
- Paid street parking
- Planning· 4
- Brunch reservations recommended
- Lunch reservations recommended
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Usually has a wait
- Service options· 3
- Offers kerbside pickup
- Offers delivery
- On-site services available
- Highlights· 6
- Has fast service
- Serves great cocktails
- Serves great coffee
- Serves great dessert
- Has great wine list
- Serves local speciality
- Atmosphere· 4
- Cosy
- Romantic
- Trendy
- Upmarket
- Family-friendly· 3
- Good for kids
- Has changing table(s)
- High chairs available
Location
Mediterranean restaurants near Barbounia
- 2.2 mi$20–30
complimentary baklava, chicken kebab platter, velvety hummus
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbounia | 4.74,967 | — | $50–100 | short rib tagine, grilled octopus, mezze platter |
| Omars Mediterranean Cuisine | 4.8606 | 2.2 mi | $20–30 | complimentary baklava, chicken kebab platter, velvety hummus |
The 1 nearest mediterranean restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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