Palestinian Bistro 'Ayat' to Open in East Village
Ayat, a popular Palestinian bistro with several locations in Brooklyn, is preparing to open a new outpost in Manhattan's East Village. Signage for the new restaurant has been installed at 107 Avenue C. While an official opening date has not been announced, the new location is expected to open soon.
- The restaurant is named after co-founder Ayat Masoud, a Palestinian-American lawyer, by her husband and co-founder, Egyptian-American entrepreneur Abdul Elenani. Elenani says he created the bistro in honor of his wife's passion for cooking authentic, home-style Palestinian food. - Ayat's mission is to communicate the Palestinian experience and culture through its food. The founders, who are vocal supporters of Palestinians, have faced both strong support and backlash for their public stance. - The menu features traditional Palestinian dishes that are meant for sharing, such as Mansaf, a tender lamb dish with yogurt sauce, and Maqluba, a layered "upside-down" dish with chicken and vegetables. It also includes a variety of mezze, grilled meats (mashawy), and wood-fired pizzas like falafel pizza. - The new East Village location at 107 Avenue C was formerly home to Zum Schneider, a popular German beer garden that operated in the space for 20 years before its lease was not renewed in early 2020. - The first Ayat restaurant opened in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, in 2020, and the group has since expanded to multiple locations across New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, with plans for further expansion. - Ayat's restaurants have received positive recognition, including being featured in the Michelin Guide.
