Al-Basha Restaurant
The Al-Basha Restaurant, located along the main shopping and restaurant strip in Paterson, serves traditional Middle Eastern cuisine in generous portions. Appetizers include various hummus and falafel dishes as well as a healthy salad selection. Meat platters include liver, lamb chops, chicken, lamb and kofta kabobs, plus beef shawerma. Al-Basha prepares a variety of modestly priced sandwiches, including falafel, chicken, beef and lamb. A small kids' menu, consisting of hamburgers and chicken nuggets, is also available. Rice pudding, baklava and kunafa desserts round out the menu, and the beverage list includes Arabic coffee, an assortment of teas, juices and soda. Al-Basha Restaurant accepts reservations and is open Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Al-Basha Restaurant
1076 Main St.
Paterson, NJ 07503
(973) 345-3700
albashanj.com
Sayat Nova Cuisine
The Sayat Nova Cuisine restaurant is located about 10 miles east of Paterson in nearby Hackensack. Serving traditional Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine, Sayat Nova is also a live entertainment venue and licensed hookah establishment. The restaurant offers a modestly priced lunch special, featuring various kabobs, platters, seafood, soups, salads and appetizers, such as baba ghanouj. The dinner menu includes fresh salads as well as hot and cold appetizers like shanklish (cheese platter with herbs, tomatoes, onions and olive oil) and makanek (sautéed Lebanese stuffed sausage). A wide selection of grilled entrees is available, such as tortilla-crusted tilapia plus lamb and beef shawerma. Homemade desserts include kazandibi, hatalia and baklava, and traditional beverages, such as Armenian coffee, are served. Sayat Nova is open Tuesday through Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m., and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. Sundays are reserved for special events and banquets, for which reservations are required.
Sayat Nova Cuisine
91 Main St.
Hackensack, NJ 07601
(201) 880-9434
sayatnovacuisine.com
Aladdin Restaurant
Also located in nearby Hackensack, the Aladdin Restaurant offers live entertainment in the evenings. The restaurant is a licensed hookah establishment, where smoking is allowed during dinner and entertainment performances. Salads, as well as hot and cold meza (appetizers), include lattoush, labneh, cheese platters and spinach pies. Large meza combinations (Prince, Queen and Royal) are also available. Eleven different entrees, including kabobs and surf and turf, are grilled on an open-fire pit. For groups of four or more, the restaurant offers three different feast packages: the Aladdin, Sinbad and Sultan. Each includes a vegetable platter, chef's selection of hot and cold meza and beverages. The Sinbad and Sultan feast include additional entree selections plus desserts. The restaurant has an outdoor cafe that's open Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. until 12 a.m. Dinner and live entertainment hours are Friday from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Saturday from 10 p.m. until 2:30 a.m. Sunday brunch is from 12 until 4 p.m.
Aladdin Restaurant
382 Main St.
Hackensack, NJ 07601
(201) 489-9500
clubaladdin.com
