Pic courtesy of Gothamist
Never mind the white space-age tunnel of a dining room: Naya‘s food is about as earthy as Lebanese cuisine gets in Manhattan—not that there’s a ton of competition here. Owner Hady Kfoury and chef Rafic Nehme take some chances, serving dishes New Yorkers who haven’t been to Beirut or been cooked for by a Lebanese friend likely won’t have tried, like silky kibbe naye (the Lebanese steak tartare, studded with bulgur and mint and scooped up in pita bread with raw onion and olive oil), or kibbe labniye (lamb dumplings in a warm yogurt sauce). Another welcome, overdue addition (see also Ilili) to the city’s microscopic list of ambitious Middle Eastern restaurants. Naya also has a mostly takeout branch called Naya Express in Midtown, at 688 Third Ave. between 43rd and 44th Sts.
Naya. 1057 Second Ave. between 55th and 56th Sts; (212) 319-7777.
Prices/Features: Moderately Priced/Elegant/Vegetarian-Friendly