Harissa Grill, a new eatery located in The Factory, in Long Island City, held its Opening Day last week on Thursday March 7th, and we were invited to check them out!
As I walked up to the venue, I could tell that it was a foodie hot spot. There were food trucks lined up outside and people in every restaurant! It was evident that a lot of customers were there during their lunch break, as it was a weekday.
Harissa Grill found it’s home at The Factory, along side places such as Vanessa’s Dumplings, Papillion Cafe + Bakery, Coffeed NYC, and Pizza Factory.
Harissa is a upscale Mediterranean fusion restaurant offering plenty of vegan and vegetarian options, in the form of flavorful dishes from the Middle East. Meat lovers shouldn’t fear, as there are many carnivore options as well! Owner, Chef Daniel, who was raised in Israel, and uses fresh and natural ingredients to produce these savory dishes.
The menu hanging on the wall, breaks down all of your meal making wants and needs. There are a total of 5 steps when building, and the menu displays each option very well.
Step 1: Choose your Main
Options include Falafel, Lebanese Chicken Breast, Moroccan Chicken Thighs, Tel Aviv Beef and Greek Lamb Gyro
Step 2: Choose your Type of Meal
Options are a Pita, Wrap or Platter
Step 3: Choose Two Sides
There is plenty to choose from! Red Cabbage, Greek Eggplant, Quinoa Salad, Mediterranean Rice, Rainbow Cauliflower, Israeli Salad, Moroccan Carrots, Baba Ghanoush, Chickpea Salad, Tabbouleh, Beet Salad and Corn Salad
Step 4: Choose Three Toppings
You can choose from Lettuce, Tomato, Pickles, Marinated Onions, Spinach, Cucumber, and Shifka (hot pepper)
Last and 5th Step, Sauce It!
Choose from Tzatziki, Schug, Tahini, or Harissa
Specials include Stuffed Grape Leaves, Hummus Mashausha, or a Salad Mess made by choosing 5 sides.
For my dish, I choose the Greek Lamb Gyro as my main, on a pita, threw in a few sides and toppings and sauced it with some Tahini.
I also got a Falafel and Hummus Plate! The presentation of the food was amazing; I loved that it was served on newspaper print!
Our first visit to Harissa Grill was a success! The food and atmosphere surpassed my expectations.
After eating, I sat down with Chef Daniel to talk more about the restaurant. He touched upon how he incorporates the best meals from various countries into his Mediterranean fusion dishes. He was proud of the great quality proteins, toppings, and snacks items that he offered. I also learned that Harissa Grill is a new venture from the very popular food truck, Meatoss, which sat outside of The Factory. Since costumers already know its merit, they flocked to the restaurant for it’s opening. Transitioning from a food truck to a restaurant is a lot easier when you already have regular costumers!
Credit: NYC Plugged
Harissa Grill will be open Monday to Friday, 10am – 5pm, and soon opening at 7am to serve breakfast! Located inThe Factory at 30-30 47th Avenue in Long Island City, @harissagrill is running a sweepstakes next month, where you can win a $200 Gift Card! Follow @thefactorylic and keep your eyes peeled!
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