Shalel Lounge

This place is amazing and the ambiance is romantic for a first date. I went on a Wednesday and was able to get a table with no problem. The food was also excellent and they offer a pre-​fix menu daily which is fantastic.

Got mezze sampler and a lamb dish. Out of all, only tzatziki sauce was good. Lamb dish was salty and just didn’t taste well.

This was really a cool experience eating at Shalel Lounge; basement setting, dim lighting, petals galore, nice waitress, and cool Moroccan restaurant.
However, there were some things that were not cool about this restaurant. It was so dark that I could see my food or my husband, who was sitting across from me. I felt like I was a blind person. Luckily I did not poke myself with a fork or spilled wine.
The drinks and appetizers were outrageously priced and portions were underwhelming, even for NYC. My beef sofrito with the dates was flavorful, but considering it was «slow cooked», I was expecting my beef to be softer.
If you go there, just have dinner. Go to another place for your alcoholic beverages.

I love this place. Great ambience, drinks. They have great spreads with pita. Would love to visit again.

Okay. This place is definitely romantic and off the beaten track, plus it’s in my neighborhood. I really wanted to love it. The waitress was super nice even though she had to work the whole place herself. We found a table in the corner and it was really a romantic setting. Only in NY can someone create such a sweet spot in a dingy basement. There is a waterfall, but I think it is likely structural damage. The rose petals everywhere was a nice touch.
But the food, meh, I have had better. The polenta was just ok… I gave my whole portion to my husband, not worth the calories. We ordered the tomato risotto with salmon, which was to be served medium. Nicely spiced, but was definitely well and the risotto… not worth the calories.

I… can’t see my food.
It’s okay. It’s all part of the ambiance here, one of the cooler ones I’ve ever seen in a restaurant, let alone in New York. Feels like you’re exploring King Tutankhamen’s tomb as you find your dining spot… along with the ethnic music and candlelit tables, it’s really a gateway to another world.
Food was excellent. Loved the potato gnocchi, my wife’s beef sofrito was excellent too.
the –1 star is a big one. They were understaffed. Waitress was really super nice, but I think she was the only one in the whole restaurant, charged with serving multiple tables while navigating the restaurant like Indiana Jones. Long waits at times despite having an early Sunday dinner.
Also, my god, the drink prices. $ 13 for a tempranillo? $ 9 a piece for a Hoegaarden? $ 9 for a bruschetta appetizer with a child-​size portion? This place is not a good value, that’s for certain.
Still, I’m rounding up to four stars, because everything else makes for a really cool dining experience. Just watch your drink orders and the bill won’t skyrocket.

– This is a vegan review of Shalel Lounge –
Dark, downstairs and just a bit dungeon-​feeling — that is how I like my lounges to be. Shalel Lounge fulfills all those characteristics without feeling the least bit shady.
Located a few blocks away from Lincoln Center, Shalel is the type of place that would easily go unnoticed if you weren’t expressly looking for it. Luckily, I have some cool friends (shout out to Simon and Kristi!) who help me discover cool joints!
Ambiance: 4 carrots (near confection perfection!)
Shalel Lounge is just off the corner of 70^th and Columbus Ave., and you’ll miss it completely if you don’t see their glass pedestal menu and the staircase banister leading into the entryway.
Once inside, it’s all candlelit, soft yellow light, brick arches and tassel-​cushioned Moroccan-​style benches with low tables. After my dirty candle discovery I wasn’t too happy to see toxic wax being burnt, but I figured I’d make a concession this one time.
It’s completely dark in here, so if you want to get a good look at the menu, you’ll have to either ask them for a brighter candle (they brought a long candlestick for us after we asked), which is kind of unwieldy. But it does force you to focus on dinner and your dinner mates, because using a smartphone here is highly noticeable and so discourages anyone obsessively (and meaninglessly) checking their phone for silly insta or snapchat notifications.
There are recessed, semi-​private dining «cubbies» with booth seating further into the restaurant. Shalel is surprisingly large, and towards the back there is a shallow, stone-​framed pool with fresh rose petals strewn hither and dither. Now, that’s quite a bit of maintenance!
Service — 3 carrots (fair, but really, can’t you do better?)
The staff here is pretty direct — they take your order, bring out your food, and maybe check on you once during the meal. Nothing special.
Potato Gnocchi — 3 carrots (fair, but really, can’t you do better?)
This dish must be veganized. Please tell your server upon ordering.
Gnocchi is quite a rare treat for me, since it’s hardly ever vegan. This dish reminded me very much of the one I had at Piccolo Café. The gnocchi was pillowy and chewy in a satisfying way. The sauce was balanced and the mushrooms were decently fried.
I enjoyed the dish a lot, but for 16 bucks, it’s simply too much for too little food. I’d say another half portion, at least, would bring it up to normal standard. Granted, it is a «lounge» and not a certifiable restaurant, but I do expect to get the most bang for my buck. Not here, though.
One line rhyme-​mary:
Great place for a date but not a full plate.

What a nice place! I’ve never noticed this place before. It’s my first time here, and it’s nice and comfortable, the waitress (forgot her name) was great! I just love this place.

Great place, awesome atmosphere at the bar. Great food and the service was great. It was a really fun place to visit with a lot interesting people.

Went with my friend here based on reviews. Wow. Felt like I had been transported into another world. I don’t know what Moroccan is supposed to feel like, but I imagine this must be it. Every table and corner felt like its own cozy area. It was amazing how many nooks and crannies there were to sit in. Felt both bigger and smaller than what it really was. I loved the waterfall that we were sitting across from as well. I never expected a basement to feel so special.
Food was also dope too. Hah

I absolutely adore the setup and the mood. The place feels nothing like upper west side and this is a huge compliment on my end, you go down the stairs and you are in a very different world. A world of mystery, great (yet quiet) music, good food. Middle Eastern is my favorite cuisine and these guys deliver a solid ⁴⁄₅.

The ambience is rustic almost like a war-​torn basement hovel, which makes it only that much more interesting. Nooks and crannies with comfortable chairs to sit in for intimate dinners or conversations. The tapas, meals and desserts are excellent. One of my new favorite hangouts.

super cute romantic place! Difficult to find because it’s located in a basement but the stairs are strewn with rose petals and the inside is like a cozy little cave. They have a variety of appetizers and drinks (try the spread platter!!) and the whole place was candle lit. Come for a date or a day with ya girlfriends!

This place was amazing. The ambiance was great. My GF took me there for date night and I felt like it was our 1^st date. It was so Romantic. The place its self looked like your in a cave. The dim lighting was perfect. Each seating area felt personal. The music was good. The food and drinks were really good. I’ll def go back. Out server was really nice and did a good job.

Went here on a date and going in I was a little nervous, the description/​first few photos made me think I was walking into a hooka lounge or something… I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Situated in a basement, you’d think that you were halfway across the world, talk about an ambient atmosphere. The cocktails were amazing too.
Don’t let the reviews fool you, this place is well worth your money. It’s the perfect date spot if you want to impress

Tired of all our go to places in the upper west side we tried and loved this one. Rose petals lead you down the stairs past a heavy curtain where you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to another country. The area for dining is crammed but well worth it with an extremely romantic setting candles light the tables with flowers and more petals decorating the areas around you. We went in for a quick bite and drink but stayed for hours drinking and trying different plates. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. Theirs a bar and more seating inside but stayed in the entrance corridor full of people on dates. I highly recommend trying this place good late and have fun.

Romantic: Check
Good Food: Check
Service: Check (well, okay, slightly slow, but it was Valentine’s Day)
The perfect place to set your belongings (or self!) on fire if you aren’t careful: Check!
I came here on Valentine’s Day as a few other recent reviewers did, however, we opted to sit in the very small front room so as to avoid the prix fixe menu. We started with the pita and hummus (super fresh, warm pita), and ordered the eggplant parmesan and chicken kebobs with yogurt sauce. I will say, had we not had the appetizer to start, we both would have been hungry after our entrees alone. The eggplant parmesan, however, was honestly my favorite I’ve ever had! The perfect amount of tenderness without crossing that line into «soggy.» The tomato based sauce is quite different from an Italian sauce (which I anticipated), but what I didn’t anticipate was how much more I preferred it!
I do think they could stand a bit more light in here; I couldn’t read the menu without the assistance of my phone and noticed others doing the same. Also as I mentioned, the candles are a beautiful touch, but I was so hesitant any time I moved!

Super cute lounge which is a great date spot! I wasn’t thrilled with the food (chicken tagine, lamb cigars, date tart, baklava), but you’re really there for the ambiance and the romance.
I did ask for extra veggies in the tagine and they were super accommodating, which was really nice.

I’ve been to Shalel a bunch of times and I love it. Just walking down the stairs you feel like you’re going into some secret, cool place.
Inside there are lots of cozy little nooks decorated in lovely Morroccan fashion, with low bronze tray tables and lots of lanterns and cushions. Totally sexy. Great date place.
The food is very good and I’ve tried almost everything on the menu. If you enjoy middle eastern fare, you really can’t go wrong.
The only small issue I’ve ever had was that the place can be stuffy and a bit warm. I’ll just wear layers next time.

Whoaaa this place is sexy!
Shalel Lounge is a GREAT date spot, with 4 stars alone for ambiance! It’s a subterranean lounge that’s dark and cavelike, with tucked away seating in hidden corners, candlelight and rose petals scattered everywhere.
Sit near the bar if you’re looking for a more casual evening of conversation and staring into each others eyes. If you’re not on date number one (or even if you are, because who am I to judge), try to get the prime seating in the back area, which is perfect for conversation and canoodling…
The cuisine is Moroccan, and if you’re hungry they offer small plates to nibble on, but I found the food to be just ok. The cocktails also, but I think it depends on what you order. If you like very sweet drinks, you might actually enjoy them. Regardless of what you’re looking for, it’s worth stopping in for the killer ambiance. Chances are good that you will not be going home alone either. Enjoy!

Nice romantic atmosphere, with lots of flowers laying around, all foods are so good…
Great place for locals or the regulars, I am saying this because for other first-​time walk-​ins; lean the menu from your heart, because it is very hard to read from candle lights !
Definitely I would stay away from the the cocktails which are extremely sweet, for some of these a bit over priced, such as Leicheetini, 13 dollars with most of the stuff out of a canteen?
«Sahara» is made too sweet, I am not paying my 14 to taste a lots of Grenadine! At least, I was not confident with the bartender that night…

Love this gem. Has to be one of the most romantic places in NYC. Cozy dimly lit and intimate ambiance w candles, roses and interesting rod iron, lamp and distressed brick and stone details. Even a little waterfall toward the back.
Hidden on a side street, rose petals strewn down the steps and on the tables … Roses roses — candles and little lamps throughout. Little nooks where you can sit privately on cozy sofas and chairs… Character abound and feels like you’re in a cavern with little hidden cavernous alcoves to sit with a date or even groups.
The drinks are well made. This time I had a chocolate martini and it was delicious. And the server this visit was very sweet and attentive.
I have not eaten here so cannot talk to the Moroccan food but have been here for after dinner cocktails many times.
Definitely recommend as a romantic date spot.

This is one of the ultimate date spots in NYC. I came here post-​watching a movie at the Lincoln Sq Theatre and was blown away. Firstly, I’m a sucker for Harry Potter — esque things and I thought it was adorable how the sign for Shalel Lounge had the address 65 ½ W 70^th St.
Anyway, not to defocus from the main experience. Once we arrived and saw the sign for Shalel Lounge, we climbed down the stairs and we noticed (a very small section) of outdoor seating. It wasn’t really tables and chairs, but mainly a bar-​like seating arrangement with a high-​top ledge and high-​top stools.
Inside the underground cavern, the place is dimly lit with candles galore. There are multiple rooms for seating. There is a private room right at the entrance with comfy sofas and cushions to recline on. Once you pass the first private room, there is a general area with a bar and tables /​chairs. We ended up in the «Red Room» towards the back (another private area). This one is semi-​enclosed by curtains lining the stone walls with a circular sofa and table in the middle. It was an area fit to seat 5 – 6 but was nice to have the spot for the 3 of us.
In terms of food, there were plenty of options to choose from with dishes coming from all parts of the Mediterranean. Choosing was probably the most difficult part. We ended up getting a hummus sampler platter to share and I got the Tarte Flambee. I have never had a Tarte Flambee before and loved the taste! It was, however, on the sweeter side.
Our server was superb. She gave us suggestions about what to eat, was very attentive to our needs and set us up with the sweet spot in the Red Room. I would recommend this place, especially for an intimate romantic night out.