Shuka

"You’ve had dinner on the calendar with your friends for a while now, but after suggesting pizza, someone threw a wrench in the plan and said, “Can we do something that’s anti-pizza tonight please? Sorry!” Shuka is a Middle Eastern spot that’s great for a last-minute anti-pizza group dinner that probably won’t be more than $40 per person. Plus, the kebabs, salads, and pink-colored beet hummus are all good enough to satisfy the people who really wanted cheese and bread in the first place." - hannah albertine, bryan kim, will hartman, neha talreja, willa moore, sonal shah

"Chef Ayesha Nurdjaja creates flavorful, colorful dishes that meld Tunisian, Moroccan, and Italian influences at this Eastern Mediterranean restaurant. Her brunch menu is a Soho favorite (opt for the shakshuka or the lamb burger), while the dinner menu focuses on dips, mezze, and kebabs. Large groups are accommodated with a fixed-price feast. The space is lovely, with ample windows in both the street-facing rooms and the greenhouse-like back area." - Robert Sietsema, Melissa McCart

"Certain restaurants are perfect for just about any scenario, and Shuka is one of them. Their Mediterranean food—like spiced beet dip and chicken shawarma—is solid, the prices aren’t astronomical, and the Soho space feels like the home of a person who makes a very decent living and probably does pilates. It's surprisingly spacious and charming, filled with rugs, string lights, and throw pillows." - team infatuation

"Somehow, you were unanimously elected to pick a dinner spot for all your friends (again). Trying to get a consensus on a type of food or even a neighborhood will require crisis-resolution skills far above your pay grade, considering you’re doing this for free, and while Kiki’s is always a crowd-pleaser, you can’t risk backlash to the inevitable wait. So just make a reservation at Shuka. This Mediterranean spot always has crowds, but it also has a lot of space and can usually accommodate big groups. The menu has options for everyone, and the location in Soho is convenient to most places if you’re going out anywhere downtown after dinner." - bryan kim, matt tervooren

"Shuka is one of the best spots in the neighborhood for a big group lunch. Everyone can share better-than-average Middle Eastern dishes like bright pink beet hummus, thick labne, and kebabs that come with fluffy pita. Plus there are plenty of vegetarian options, and almost everything costs less than $25. The dining room is surprisingly spacious, despite being located on a charming street where we assume every apartment is 400 square feet. The catch? Tables fill up fast, so make a reservation or show up right when they open at noon." - Kenny Yang, Bryan Kim, Carina Finn Koeppicus, Willa Moore, Sonal Shah