Fodor's Expert Review Tanoreen

This restaurant put Bay Ridge on the foodie map when it first opened in 1998, and chef-owner Rawia Bishara’s refined Palestinian dishes—a tribute to her rich Middle Eastern heritage—continue to draw crowds and accolades. Vaulted ceilings and a glass-enclosed atrium are a stylish backdrop for the inventive interpretations of home-style meals. Don’t miss dishes like the cauliflower with tangy pomegranate molasses, the delectable eggplant napoleon, and anything made with lamb (but especially, if it's on the menu, the freekeh bel lahmeh, a type of ancient grain prepared with perfectly seasoned lamb). The signature dessert, knafeh—baked sweet cheese in phyllo dough, topped with rosewater and pistachios—requires a worthwhile 10-minute wait while it bakes.