Kubeh: The Magic of a Middle Eastern Dumpling
Just a few blocks away from Parsons School of Design, Kubeh brings the flavors of the Middle East to the Greenwich Village of NYC in a contemporary and chic setting. Named after its specialty dish, Kubeh is known for its authentic Middle Eastern dumplings. This is your next cultural eating adventure.
At the entrance, you'll witness their bar seating area that serves approximately 12 people. If you're not interested in the bar, the hostess will usher you into the larger dining area in the back of the restaurant. This was where I sat. The ambiance is light, reinvigorating, and stylish. The service is friendly and knowledgeable.
I came to visit during brunch and needed a serious meal because I had a late night out the night before. I had a few appetizers. Notably, I enjoyed the Muhammara (red pepper dip - shown above) and the Warm Cauliflower. If you go with friends, Kubeh has a chef's tasting menu available for parties of 4 or more. The full tasting menu costs $45 per person and comes with several spreads, appetizers, and small plates to share as well as a main course and a dessert for each person.
As I mentioned earlier, Kubeh is known for its dumplings, or Kubeh! This dish has many variations and can be prepared different ways (fried, baked, etc.). Kubeh specializes in the boiled variety of kubeh that is stuffed with filling and served in a light broth. I got the Kurdish Siske Kubeh, which was filled with slow-cooked beef.
When it arrived to our table, we were unimpressed. It looked like a sad, underwhelming piece of mush. The broth looked dope though. But, when we started to enjoy the dish, I, personally, got really into it. Their kubeh has a really interesting grainy, chewy texture. The broth was light and flavorful. After the meal, I felt refreshed and alive. Together, the kubeh and broth combination is everything you didn't know you needed.
If you're in the area, I highly recommend stopping for some brunch or some late afternoon snacks. I might want to stop by soon to try their dinner and drinks menus. Overall, definitely going to revisit!
The interior is simple and colorful. The decor is relaxed and contemporary. It seems like Kubeh would be perfect for late afternoon snacks/drinks or brunch/lunch. There's plenty of natural lighting too!
The Warm Cauliflower was delicious. They were lightly battered and fried. Technically, we were eating a salad? I totally devoured this dish. It was seasoned with Sea Salt, Parsley, and Lemon. The crispy texture and mild lemon flavor was reminiscent of calamari. [$9 USD]
Of course, we got Avocado Toast. The Multigrain Bread was topped with Smashed Avocado, Bulgarian Feta, Roasted Tomato, Sautéed Onions, Fresh Mint, Scallion, and Parsley. While I think that Avocado Toasts are too basic, I did enjoy this one. I liked the roasted tomatoes a lot.
For an extra $2, we were able to add a poached egg on top. [$13 USD]
I also shared the Muhammara Spread. It comes with pita bread (not pictured) and you can spread the muhammara dip all over it. Muhammara is a hot pepper dip that originated in Syria. Similar dips are found in Turkish cuisine. The dip is usually made by mixing peppers, walnuts, spices, olive oil, salt, and lemon juice in a blender or food processor.
Kubeh's muhammara also has a little bit of pomegranate! [$6 USD]
Kubeh is known for its... Kubeh! These are flat, round, Middle Eastern dumplings. The texture is soft, slightly chewy, and a little bit grainy. I ordered the Kurdish Siske Kubeh, which was kubeh filled with slow-cooked beef.
For our broth, I chose the Tumia Broth that is made with Tomato, Fennel, Mint, and Arak. It was so warm, light, and refreshing. I was a little bit hungover that morning but that broth brought me back to life. Arak is a Levantine spirit that tastes of anise. Maybe that's why it woke me up... [$15 USD]
To satisfy our hunger, we ended with the Shakshuka. This hearty dish is popular in the Middle East and North Africa. The word "Shakshuka" means "mixture" in Arabic and is true to its name. Shakshuka is a dish made by poaching eggs in a sauce of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant.
Kubeh's Shakshuka was hot and delicious. It was awesome just dipping the pita in this concoction. FUN FACT: Tomatoes are great antioxidants and help reduce risk of heart disease and cancer. [$12 USD]