Nur- 34 E 20th Street, New York

Nur, labeled as a "Modern Middle Eastern Cuisine" may just be the most sophisticated restaurant I've ever been to. The interior was sparsely designed with wooden benches & chairs, minimalist paintings and simple lighting, which worked with the long narrow space of the restaurant perfectly. It felt vibrant yet relaxing. One problem- the chairs and benches were immensely uncomfortable... maybe they could invest in some cushions?

We started with the Honey and Garlic Challah, which was a middle-eastern bread served with pickled red onions and crème fraiche. The bread was slightly sweet, and mixed perfectly with the slightly sour flavor of the onions. It was impossible to stop eating. Next, we ordered that night's special, the fluke tartare. The fluke was tender but overly salted. However, it was surrounded with an abundance of nuts, dried berries, and veggies, making for a full and delicious mouthful. 

For my entree, I had the Chickpea fried octopus, which came with a variety of thick sauces and pastes- a chickpea cream, black and white tahini, tamarind paste, and almond paste. While the octopus itself was perfectly fried, seasoned, and tender, the sheer amount of sauces overwhelmed the entire dish, bringing lots of unwelcome combinations to my mouth. My dad ordered the lamb shank, which was nothing very special; the highlight was my mom's dish, the seafood stew. A thicker bouillabaisse of sorts, the dish arrived with fantastically spicy cod, melt-in-your-mouth calamari, firm potatoes, and best of all, the world's best side bowl of couscous. It's almost impossible to describe- the rice itself was incredibly fluffy and it soaked up all the delicious flavors of the stew. A phenomenal entree that I wish I had ordered. Overall, I give Nur 4 pineapples. Till next time!

-tdg