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 Bread & Olive
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 24 W 45th Street
New York, NY 10036
Cross Streets: (Between 5th and 6th Ave.)
Phone: (212) 764-1588
View Website
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User Rating
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8.5
Highly Recommended
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Editorial Review
This quick Lebanese falafel restaurant from the owner of al Bustan, is certainly cut from a different mold than your typical falafel joint. At first glance, the bright (day-glo bright) and modern atmosphere was hard to ignore. But we quickly warmed to the place, as the enthusiastic and friendly man behind the counter greeted us with excitement, curious about our day. After the mail-person came in—much to their excitement—and grabbed a drink, we again noted cheerfulness of the staff. But after hearing, “So will you be having the usual?” for the second time, we realized, this was more than a restaurant, it was a community. Forget the Olive Garden, when you're at Bread & Olive, you're family.
The menu had plenty of vegetarian options, but we mixed it up with a little bit of everything. I had the vegetarian moussakka ($5.52), warmed and served with a fresh pita. Admittedly the only, but still the most traditional moussakka i had eaten since my stint in the Mediterranean. My partner tried the special for the day (about $9)—a thick beef stew with vegetarian couscous, a pita, and a simple green salad topped with red wine vinegar. The nutmeg or allspice in the beef stew immediately hits the tongue with a hint of spiciness, but fades out with a nice, smooth cinnamon flavor. Like March, it rolled in like a lion and out like a lamb. The couscous, while slightly dry alone, was terrific when mixed with the beef stew. The salad was just a blend of simple greens and tomatoes with red wine vinegar, free of oil, but added a little tang to contrast the meal.
On the side, we had a smörgåsbord of options. First, we tried a some falafel ($4.60), agreeing that the fried chick peas were cooked to the perfect outer crunch and inner texture—some of the best I've had. They were served with a nice, creamy dip on the side. Then, we noshed on some warrak enab ($5.52), which were tangy and tart, but smooth grape leaves stuffed with rice and tomato. We particularly liked the spinach pie ($1.52), which was a flaky pastry stuffed with moist spinach and tart grilled onions. We finished it all off with some very nice baklava (2.30), which was sweet without having to be slathered in gooey syrup as most others I've had.
This was certainly enough to feed an army, and while we left satisfied, we weren't weighed down on our walk around the Financial District. With their midtown location going on three years strong, and al Bustan, a fifteen year staple of Midtown, this new Bread & Olive is a great healthy addition to an area that sorely needs it. |
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Restaurant Information
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Vegetarian Friendly
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Middle Eastern
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$ (under $15)
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