The husband has been wanting to try Wafa’s in Forest Hills for years now - and even though we go to Forest Hills a fair amount, for some reason we hadn’t stopped in this Lebanese restaurant until this past month.
We went on a Saturday night last year around 7pm, and were lucky to get a table for 4 within a few minutes upon our arrival (despite cold/rainy weather, Wafa’s was completely packed). The space itself is fairly small (one rectangular room) and the overall setting was very casual - a mix of families with children, couples, and groups of friends populated the restaurant when we were there.
Although service was a bit slow because of the crush of people who seemed to enter around the same time as us, the service was both friendly and helpful. Between the four of us at our table, we sampled a number of their dinner platters and many vegetarian offerings.
We started with the Fattoush salad and Foul Mudammas. The Fattoush was fantastic - the vegetables were very fresh and were perfectly completed by just the right amount of tangy dressing and pita chips. The Foul, or fava beans, were also really tasty with some zip from the lemon juice and fresh tomatoes.
(Fattoush)
The main courses were equally well prepared - with a good amount of seasonings and balance between spiced flavor and the underlying meal base, whether it be vegetables or grains. I had a vegetarian platter for my main course - the tomato bulgar, cauliflower and falafel. I also tasted the rice and lentils and green salad that accompanied others’ meat dishes.
The falafel was well cooked, and not too oily or too dry, and the tomato bulgar was also cooked quite well. The cauliflower - which was fried - was a little oily, but did have a relatively good flavor. I ordered it because our waitress said it was a very popular platter accompaniment, but in the future, I think I might try the okra, tabouleh or another vegetarian side.
(Vegetarian Platter)
Generally though, the portions were enormous (one platter is certainly enough for two people, or one meal and another full meal or two of leftovers), so ultimately it was a very well priced and very delicious meal out. Definitely a restaurant repeat when we are next in Forest Hills - and because they deliver, maybe more incentive for us to move to FH in the near future!
100-05 Metropolitan Avenue
Forest Hills, Queens
Approximately 1 mile or a 20 minute walk from the E/F/M/R trains at 71st Avenue/Continental, and slightly shorter walk from the Forest Hills LIRR stop
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