Ayat

Ayat is a Palestinian restaurant on Avenue C, also known as Loisaida Avenue, at the corner of East 7th Street. It is the first Manhattan location of a family of restaurants that began in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, founded by co-owners Abdul Elenani and Ayat Masoud. The East Village restaurant opened in October 2023 in the corner space that was long home to the beer hall Zum Schneider, and it brings the same warm, generous style that made the original a Brooklyn favorite. The restaurant describes its cooking as Palestinian soul food rooted in za'atar traditions, with classic dishes alongside creative takes on Middle Eastern favorites.

Start with the Mezze Filistini plate to sample dips and small bites, then add a za'atar flatbread, and save room for a main to share with the table. The menu is halal and the restaurant serves no alcohol, but it has allowed guests to bring their own wine without a corkage fee. Ayat was featured by the YouTuber New York Turk in 2025, during a Ramadan series on breaking the fast in New York. During Ramadan the dining room fills at sunset for iftar, so book ahead. The corner location is a pleasant walk from Tompkins Square Park, and the restaurant also offers takeout, catering and online ordering.