12 Chairs

5. So exceptional here. Service is warm and attentive. The food is packed with flavour and the portions are generous. You can’t go wrong with this menu - there is something for everyone - with many vegetarian and vegan options. The vibe is fun and the atmosphere is inviting. Great for a group with lots of options for sharing, but also lovely for an intimate dinner. The appetizers came out quickly and the pita bread was hot. The falafel was delicious and the Israeli salad was fresh and crisp! Also highly recommend the dips and the schnitzel! Bathroom is accessible and on the main floor. This location does not yet have cocktails- just wine and beer (but a nice selection). Also- patio seating is available.

Went for brunch with a group of 9. Sitting outside on a summer morning was very pleasant. Waitress Anna was attentive despite the store being busy. Food tasted great but be careful of the big portions. Highly recommended.

This place is a fantastic Israeli restaurant! 🇮🇱 12 Chairs Cafe servers a wonderful selection of classic Israeli dishes 🍽️ - definitely try the Chicken 🐔 Schnitzel Salad 🥗, Eggs 🍳 Siniya, and Hummus with Falafel! 🧆 Service is quick and staff 👨‍🍳 is super friendly and welcoming! Ambience 🎶 is wonderful and they have Israeli music 🎵 playing all the time! I wish I knew about this place earlier!

Amazing amazing food and great service - get the lamb arayes!! They are so juicy and flavorful and come with a lovely tahini sauce. - the falafel hummus was also delicious and comes with a yummy mint vinegar (?) on top. Plus a side of olives and pickles Everything is larger than you might expect. We didn’t finish 2 dishes between two of us, and waiter said most people over-order. We could get a seat as a walk-in at 2pm on Friday. Our waiter was sooo friendly and happily moved us inside.

MacDougal is my favorite street in NYC to take a stroll down as it has such a rich history in just a 0.38 mile stretch. At the end of my 0.38 mile excursion, I always find myself running into a sidewalk FULL of people. So full to the point where I have to walk to the other side of the street or move like a prime Barry Sanders in traffic to get passed. This Coachella-like gathering of human beings is waiting to get into 12 Chairs. I whipped out my cracked Iphone 13 Pro Max and did a quick google search and realized it was an Israeli spot. After being to Israel a few times, I developed an arguably unhealthy love affair with the cuisine. Israeli couscous is literally CRACK. Anyways, all this to say I knew I had to get to 12 Chairs. 3 of us came late on a Friday evening, praying to Cthulhu that we would get a seat. Much to my surprise, we were seated almost immediately. Thank you Cthulhu. We sat on the heated outdoor patio and started with 4 small plates: Babaganoush, Falafel & Tahini, Matbucha, and the Beets Salad. All was served with warm pita bread that was to die for. The Babaganoush ended up being a bit of a let down, but that Beets Salad came out of NOWHERE to save the day. It was oddly reminiscent of when Carmelo Anthony went down in 2012 and Jeremy Lin came out of the shadows and put the Knicks on his back for 2 straight months. "BeetsSaladSanity." Easily the best Beets Salad I've ever had. I went with the Areyas for my main, which is pita filled with minced lamb. It was sensational, but was a little light on the portion size. The lamb is so juicy it kinda like squirts in your mouth on every bite. ahahahaha damn that was crazy phrasing but I really aint lyin. Overall the quality of food here is to die for, but I find the portion sizes to be a little light for the price point. I wish I could give 4.5 stars, but will give 5 here and 4 on Yelp. THANK YOU CTHULHU! IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov__