Baboush

Opened Aug. 8, 2011.

Sam Benoikken and Yaser Khalaf, the team that gave us Medina Oven & Bar in Victory, announces the opening of Baboush in West Village.

"Our menu combines the best ideas of Eastern Mediterranean (Lebanese) and Moroccan cuisine, " explains Benoikken in the press release. "The fine, fresh ingredients used in Lebanese cuisine come together with the dry, traditional spices of Morocco to create the exotic, distinctive flavor profile of our dishes."

The release continues: "Signature dishes include grilled beef kabobs marinated in pomegranate molasses, traditional Moroccan chicken pastila.... Everything at Baboush is made in-house including the saffron, cinnamon pickled cauliflower, Moroccan spiced olives, and pickled turnips used to garnish several dishes. Jars of the exotic preserves can be purchased from the restaurant's mini-market shelf." Cocktails have an Eastern Mediterranean slant, too, with ingredients like fresh tamarind juice.
-Kim Pierce/Eats blog (08/10/2011)