This authentic restaurant in Bay Ridge is the epitome Yemeni cuisine, which is all about homey comfort food that soothes your soul whilst introducing your palate to amazing flavors. There are many highlights of this Yemeni restaurant. These include the kabsa, a versatile rice dish with chicken; the fish; and the lamb haneeth.
Kabsa is a luxurious colored rice cooked to a perfect al dente and it has a wonderful and slightly smoky flavor. It is the great companion of all the other entrees and does not clash with any protein you may choose. The haneeth, which is slow roasted lamb shank, has a richly tender flesh (like butter) and goes quite well with the sahawiq, a cross between hot sauce and chutney. The sahawiq is like a modern Arabian twist on chimichurri with peppers, scallions, cilantro, and heirloom tomatoes. It has a spiciness that brings the other dishes to life and yet still manages to remain fresh, like a salsa. The fish of the day is one of my favorite entrees to dine on. It has a red spice rub that evenly coats the fish and a subtle note of lemon-lime. It is perfectly flaky and is cooked with extreme care and consideration. The chicken, contrary to many other dining facilities, is well cooked and has no sense of dryness whatsoever. It has a cacophony of flavors all harmonizing in one bite.
The tea was delicious and I quite like the cardamom infusion that fills my taste buds. It has a majestic sweetness and burning undertone of spice at the back of your throat. Although I have said much about the foods, I haven’t gone into depth about the service and waitstaff. They, along with the food, are sources of comfort and their presence is heartwarming. My family and I frequently dine at this gourmet hotspot since my relatives and I live in close proximity to this place. Thus I rate this restaurant a 10 out of 10 on my scale of restaurants!
Yemen Café
7130 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11209
The Swerve 