Dagon
New York
At a glance
Reviews
I was in New York last week and stayed in Upper West Side of Manhattan. We found so many amazing restaurants in the area. We were in the mood for some Mediterranean food, so I did some research and found Dagon. I was impressed by all of their reviews and they didn’t disappoint. Firstly, the ambiance was quite lovely. The service was flawless. The food was excellent! It was one of the best Mediterranean restaurants I’ve ever been to. The cocktails were delicious as well.
We came to Dagon with a party of 4 on a Friday night and were able to get a table outside right away. The waiter described the cuisine as Levantine and recommended the roasted lamb, which was very good. The Hummus was excellent, the Israeli salad also excellent. Will want to come back here for sure. Came a second time again with party of four. We just had appetizers. The Israeli and beet salad were very good. The hummus and baba ganouj were delicious.
Some places gain popularity through a truly compelling and well-executed culinary presentation—others, less clearly so. This feels like the latter. The food is adequate, but unremarkable, and the service comes across as somewhat awkward. The space itself is quite noisy and tightly packed, seemingly maximizing table count at the expense of comfort. There’s a palpable sense of rush throughout the service, which detracts from the overall dining experience and makes it feel less relaxed than it should be.
The hanger steak skewer I had here was delicious - it comes with a spicy green sauce that I would seriously eat on anything. The mezze trio option was great as well and the bread that comes with the dips is delicious. You MUST order the fried artichoke. Sounds weird but it was possibly the best thing on our table. Service here was very attentive and kind. The only critique I have is where our table was located near the bar felt like a high traffic / sort of squished spot with a bar behind us as well. Otherwise no negatives and it was actually easy for us to get a reso for three just a couple days in advance!
I am finally getting around to writing this review after a stellar experience at Dagon back in December, and the memory of that meal is still just as vivid. From start to finish, it was a flawless 5-star experience. The atmosphere was immediately festive and welcoming with their beautiful Christmas decor, setting the perfect mood for a holiday meal. The service was truly top-tier; our waitress, Mejda, and the entire staff were incredibly kind and attentive. What really stood out to me were the "little things" that demonstrate true culinary professionalism. I was so impressed when one of the servers, while helping us plate our shared dishes, was careful not to use the same utensils for the seafood and non-seafood items. That level of mindfulness and attention to detail is rare and highly appreciated. As for the food, every single dish was a hit. The steak skewers, cauliflower, and broccolini were standouts and absolute must-orders, but truly, nothing disappointed. The portions were very generous, and you can tell the kitchen takes great pride in the quality of their ingredients. I would return to Dagon in a heartbeat and highly recommend it to anyone looking for incredible food paired with thoughtful, professional service. Thank you to Mejda and the team for a memorable evening!
