208 1st Avenue (between 12th and 13th Sts.) 212-529-6868 www.baladerestaurants.com
Lebanese. Mouhmara. It’s a word I didn’t know until dining here and am now unlikely to forget. Like so much about this restaurant, it made a truly indelible impression.
Not at all versed in Lebanese cuisine, I was seriously appreciative of the knowledgeable and proactive nature of the server. He recommended several dishes, some of which I would never have tried were it not for his enthusiastic endorsement. (See Mouhmara.) This signature dip is a delicious mix of spicy fresh peppers, walnuts, pomegranate and an excellent compliment to the stellar hummus. Both so good, my pita was conflicted about where to turn first.
The meal ultimately ended with Chocoba (homemade dough baked with Nutella, topped with banana and pistachios). I would have had ten, but that meant being deprived of their expansive and enticing menu. I did look up long enough to take in the very inviting room – wood beamed ceilings and walls graced by cross sections of tree trunk. But then it was back to my plate because I’m no fool.