Palestinian feast in the East Village

Ayat / Al-Badawi is an excellent Palestinian mini-chain we've enjoyed repeatedly. Let's meet at one of their newer branches. Expect lots of dips and vegetarian appetizers and pita, plus grilled meat and rice, for around $35-$40/pp. **Small group this time.**

Some likely menu items:

Mezze Filistini - platter of hummus, baba ghanoush, muhammarah, tabboulet, salata tahina, & labneh
Zahir - fried cauliflower on tahini, drizzled with pomegranate molasses
Hot appetizer mix - falafel, wara dawali (veg-stuffed grape leaves), malfouf (meat-stuffed cabbage leaves), cheese rolls, kibbeh, fried halloumi cheese, kousa mahshi (veg-stuffed summer squash)
Beitenjan - eggplant drizzled w/tahini & pomegranate molasses
Beef Shawarma or Beef Kebab or Kefte Kebab platter
Fattat Lahma - 6 layer dish of meat, rice, chickpeas, garlic tahini, crispy pita, slivered almonds, & mint, w/rice, hummus, baba, & salata
Monster homemade chocolate chip cookie w/tahini ice cream
(OR we might go to Laboratorio del Gelato for dessert)

Yelp link (4.1 stars): https://www.yelp.com/biz/ayat-new-york
Menu link: https://www.ayatnyc.com/main-menu/

Please be considerate with your RSVPs and change to No ASAP if not coming, so as not to inconvenience the restaurant or other diners. We do keep track of no-shows, and three will get you removed from the group. Also, please bring cash and some small bills: makes everyone's lives easier.

Transit: 6 train to Astor Place or F to Houston (get out at east end of the train) or L to First Ave (get out at east end of train), then start walking. It's a bit of a hike from any subway, sorry.

Who's in?