214 Mulberry Street (Between Spring and Prince)
Last night my girlfriend and I really wanted to try something new. Even after some heavy name-dropping at Kenmare, we were still going to have to wait 45 minutes, so we decided to walk around the corner to another new Nolita spot I have read a few good things about. I’m glad we did; Balaboosta, on Mulberry between Spring and Broome was amazing.
When we went in, the Maitre de, Matthew, was warm, friendly, and we only had to wait a few minutes at the bar for a lovely table. From the minute we got there the atmosphere was lovely like this; an open-air kitchen giving the small dining area a family feel and bookcases full of Greek stories, Mediterranean cookbooks, and kitschy trinkets adding to the effect.
Next comes the food, we had the daily ceviche (arctic char), seared scallops, fried cauliflower, and skirt steak with sweet potatoes. The ceviche was delicious with little slices of grapefruit and cilantro, scallops perfect over an interesting Greek yogurt, and the steak melted in your mouth. Basically, everything was amazing, cooked perfectly, light but filling. The only thing I wouldn’t order again was the cauliflower.
Balaboosta has been open since March 2010, and made with mostly organic ingredients, the fare is “healthy” by NYC standards. Come to find out, the word balaboosta actually means “perfect housewife” in Yiddish, a name chosen by its Israeli chef/owner Einat Admony, of Taim falafel. Feminism aside, I have to agree, Balaboosta is pretty perfect, I will support this little lady anytime.
BY: LAUREN BROWN
