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Ayat is a Michelin Guide-featured Palestinian restaurant bringing the Za’atar to historic downtown Princeton. Where Ivy League meets authentic Palestinian soul, our cozy bistro serves the best of both traditional Middle Eastern favorites and fresh Jersey spirit to this this storied university town. All Halal, all delicious – join us in our charming Spring Street bistro, order online for takeout and delivery, or let us cater your next event. Run by a husband and wife duo, we serve everything from Mansaf or Maklouba feasts to Shawarma on the go…and every plate we serve tells our story. Good food, real talk, no filter.
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Princeton, NJ | Ayat | Middle Eastern Restaurant in NYC NJ & PA
Ayat is a Michelin Guide-featured Palestinian restaurant bringing the Za’atar to New Jersey’s historic downtown Princeton.
Ayat | Palestinian Restaurant |Middle Eastern NYC NJ PA
Ayat is a modern Palestinian restaurant serving honest, authentic cuisine … Princeton, NJ · Dallas, Texas; Philadelphia, PA (Coming Soon); Washington, DC …
Hours + Location | Ayat | Middle Eastern Restaurant in NYC NJ & PA
Hours & Location. 15 Spring St, Princeton, NJ 08542 · 609-356-0674 · Order Online · Get Directions. To navigate the map with touch gestures double-tap and hold …
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Reviews
Angela
The food was delicious! They have a big menu so there’s lots of options. I have the margarita pizza, pizzaboli, and the fattat jaj. My favorite was the fattat jaj and the margarita pizza. I thought the pizzaboli was super heavy, but my friends liked it the best. They also give bread with different dips and it was also really good. I’d definitely come here again. It was my first time trying Palestinian food and I was very satisfied.
… moreKaustav Bhattacharjee
This cozy spot near Princeton University serves mouthwatering Middle Eastern cuisine. I tried the Mixed Grill Mashawy and Mansaf. The Mashawy was awesome, offering a variety of juicy kebabs, especially the chicken ones. However, the Mansaf’s portion was excessively large, requiring two people to chip in to finish it. I suggest the owners consider adding portion sizes to the menu to better inform guests. While the waiters were friendly, they lacked knowledge of the menu and failed to warn us about the generous portions. Despite these minor issues, this place is worth a visit for its delicious food.
… moreSabine Ramirez
Maria was the best!!! She was so nice. She was the only one who looked happy and carried a great attitude. I’m so glad to have had her as our waitress. I will definitely be coming back when she’s here.
I had a pizzawarma and it was insane. Delish!!! The meat was so juicy.
… moreI had a pizzawarma and it was insane. Delish!!! The meat was so juicy.
Jinia Haldar
I had a very late lunch at Ayat at 15:30 on a Sunday, dining solo. The first thing I noticed was that the ceiling was covered in fake leaves, which I’ve never seen before. It’s nicer than a plain ceiling, for sure. The traditional music was soft and unobtrusive. The mirrors covering the walls make the space look far larger than it is.
For the food, I decided to get the mixed cold starters platter with the intention of packing most of it, and to get two hot appetizers for my main meal instead of an entree. One of my hot starters was Kousa Mahshi, or stuffed Persian squash, which was amazingly delicious. It came with a tangy sauce that reminded me of vinaigrette, but used the clear juice of tart tomatoes as a base. Whatever it was, it complemented the squash perfectly. Absolutely standout dish that I’d happily eat any and every day.
Unfortunately, the fried eggplant dish, Beitenjan, did not appeal to me. There was something strange about the aftertaste. I know it wasn’t the tahini or pomegranate molasses, which tasted fine when I dipped bread in them. It was something about the eggplant, but what it was, I have no clue.
The mixed cold platter was a great way to try all the different dips, although it didn’t come with enough bread. The platter came with 1 piece of bread. I think 3-4 pieces would be more appropriate. The platter is definitely a sharing dish, which is why I ended up packing most of it. I found the whipped yogurt, baba ghanoush, and hummus to be lovely. The muhammara was chunkier and not smooth like the other dips, and while it was good, it didn’t taste as great as the other three.
Service was friendly but slow. Even with the restaurant half-empty due to it being an off-peak time, the servers (there were only 3) seemed under a lot of pressure, and it took a long to be able to place my order or ask for the check, and I wasn’t able to ask for extra bread during the meal itself. The servers were all very kind and friendly, but I think that having more of them would be incredibly helpful.
The bill came out to $62 without gratuity. I do think that for the amount of food you get, and the speed of service, this feels like it’s pushing the line towards expensive. I do expect restaurants at this price point to have quick, responsive service, so I did feel like there was a mismatch between the atmosphere and price point.
Overall, I found the experience okay. I wasn’t wowed by anything besides the squash, but I’d like to come back to try the mixed warm starters platter and the zahir.
… moreFor the food, I decided to get the mixed cold starters platter with the intention of packing most of it, and to get two hot appetizers for my main meal instead of an entree. One of my hot starters was Kousa Mahshi, or stuffed Persian squash, which was amazingly delicious. It came with a tangy sauce that reminded me of vinaigrette, but used the clear juice of tart tomatoes as a base. Whatever it was, it complemented the squash perfectly. Absolutely standout dish that I’d happily eat any and every day.
Unfortunately, the fried eggplant dish, Beitenjan, did not appeal to me. There was something strange about the aftertaste. I know it wasn’t the tahini or pomegranate molasses, which tasted fine when I dipped bread in them. It was something about the eggplant, but what it was, I have no clue.
The mixed cold platter was a great way to try all the different dips, although it didn’t come with enough bread. The platter came with 1 piece of bread. I think 3-4 pieces would be more appropriate. The platter is definitely a sharing dish, which is why I ended up packing most of it. I found the whipped yogurt, baba ghanoush, and hummus to be lovely. The muhammara was chunkier and not smooth like the other dips, and while it was good, it didn’t taste as great as the other three.
Service was friendly but slow. Even with the restaurant half-empty due to it being an off-peak time, the servers (there were only 3) seemed under a lot of pressure, and it took a long to be able to place my order or ask for the check, and I wasn’t able to ask for extra bread during the meal itself. The servers were all very kind and friendly, but I think that having more of them would be incredibly helpful.
The bill came out to $62 without gratuity. I do think that for the amount of food you get, and the speed of service, this feels like it’s pushing the line towards expensive. I do expect restaurants at this price point to have quick, responsive service, so I did feel like there was a mismatch between the atmosphere and price point.
Overall, I found the experience okay. I wasn’t wowed by anything besides the squash, but I’d like to come back to try the mixed warm starters platter and the zahir.
Mildred S
What a treat. I wanted to try food of a new culture. This establishment came highly recommended. I’m so glad I tried it out. You are greeted at the door by a kind face who seats you. Hiram our server was delightful and answered all our questions. The Spicy Chicken kebob was so tasteful and delicious. Get the mint tea & don’t forget the pistachio cake, dessert.
… moreShama Ahsan
I have been to this place a couple of times and always enjoyed it. The food is very flavourful and the service is quick and efficient. On my first visit my server was Val – he was pleasant and made the experience even better. Definitely a spot l would recommend for a tasty meal and great service.
… moreAmer ABU Shanab
I like this place despite the service is not always the best. The food is freshly made but it takes time to prepare it especially when the place is full. You might wait to be seated. I tried Maklouba, Musakhan, Mansaf, and other dishes. Food quality varies. Overall nice experience
… moreSavanna Briel
I’ve come to Ayat here in Princeton twice now and each time has been nothing short of a great experience. The ambiance is great and the food and service is even better. I usually order the cheese and potato cigars for an appetizer. I’ve tried some other appetizers here that are delicious as well but I’m just a creature of habit and tend to order the same thing. The salmon kebab is my go to for my entree and is always delicious. The hibiscus margarita mocktail is so refreshing I always have to stop myself from drinking the whole thing in one go. Staff is super friendly and accommodating. Santiago’s service was top notch! He is extremely knowledgeable about the menu, gave great recommendations for what to order with my dietary restrictions and his recommendations did not disappoint! He even gave me an extra container of the garlic sauce, I believe is called toum, free of charge when I was raving to him about how much I loved it. If you’re in Princeton and looking for a place with a great ambience, delicious food and spectacular service, this is definitely a spot you need to check out!
… moreMary Dwyer
My boyfriend and I stopped in for lunch on a busy Saturday in Princeton and had a lovely meal for a great price! We had the chicken shawarma salad, chicken shawarma platter, and baba ghanoush. The food was fresh and delicious, portions were very generous, and the service was friendly and fast! There were so many things on the menu that sound amazing. It’s very easy to get gluten free and vegetarian/vegan options here and the menu is clearly labeled to indicate which dishes meet these needs.
We also bought a gallon-sized glass jug of imported olive oil from Lebanon that was only $37! We will definitely be back
… moreWe also bought a gallon-sized glass jug of imported olive oil from Lebanon that was only $37! We will definitely be back
Abhilash Yerra
Let me start off by saying the following, the ambiance was really nice. The decor, the music and the location were all part of the rating. However I’m more of a food person and so my rating is a 3.8. Personally, I’m a huge fan of middle eastern food so when I went here, I had some high expectations. Unfortunately, the spices here just didn’t sit that well with me. The spices, salt and general tastes were off that day. I’m willing to try it again but I think I need time
… more