Tasting menu at Galit (January 2025).
I went with a fairly large group to Galit and tried most of the items on their 4-course, choose-your-own-adventure tasting menu. 6.5/10 overall.
Food - 6.5. The food was hearty and filling, but not particularly memorable. The flavor profile of most dishes was simple and sometimes too one-dimensional for my preference. My favorite bites were the carrots from the mezze course and the white chocolate crémeux dessert because they had greater complexity and textural variety. On the bright side, we were served our hummus and salatim courses right away after ordering and had fun trying tons of things at once and mixing and matching to suit our tastes. I was generally happy with the portion sizes, though it was challenging to divide some dishes as the balance seemed off between components. The presentation was straightforward with the exception of a few plates which seemed much more elevated. Our main courses were interpreted in a different way than we all expected, which was a nice surprise, but I don’t think any of us felt blown away beyond that. With the exception of the tehina hummus, which was unanimously declared a winner, opinion seemed divided on almost all other items. 6 people felt like the perfect party size as it enabled us to sample most of the menu.
Drinks - 8. I had the “Bee’s Knees” cocktail, which was pleasant but too sweet for my taste.
Service - 7. This was okay overall but didn't feel worthy of a Michelin star. Our primary server was welcoming and thorough with her explanations of the menu, but loud background music made it hard to hear when the staff later introduced dishes to us. This led to a bit of confusion around what the shared plates were since so many things arrived simultaneously. It would’ve also been nice to have more serving utensils to make it easier to share. The clearing and pacing of courses was inconsistent, with a noticeably long wait between dessert and the rest of the meal. They kindly provided us with cookies to take home, but strangely gave them to us boxed in pairs rather than individual servings, which led to some awkward reshuffling at the very end of the meal. They also charged for a side of harissa, which felt silly and really stingy on a bill that was almost $1000. These are just small, nitpicky details that would be totally fine at a normal restaurant but detracted from this feeling like a Michelin-quality experience to me.
Ambiance - 7.5. We ended up tucked away in a darker, more secluded part of the restaurant. I personally preferred the decor of the rest of the place, particularly its open kitchen, and would've rather sat out there. It felt a little loud to me, and I’m not sure if it was due to the acoustics of being in a more enclosed space or if the main area was also noisy. We were still able to chat amongst ourselves though, so I had a good time regardless.
Would I go again? No. Although I enjoyed my meal thanks to great company, I think there are better, more affordable options for Middle Eastern cuisine in the city. I’d rather explore a new spot instead. If you’re looking for a place that delivers an exceptional Michelin-starred experience, I’d say to look elsewhere.
Note: The bill for our party included an automatic 20% service charge (including gratuity) and a removable 4% employee benefits contribution surcharge. There was also a line to leave an additional tip which was clearly marked as such.
Lamb kebab el Babor - melty leeks, fondant potatoes, bordelaise, miso-pickled garlic
White chocolate crémeux - tea, medjool date, toasty meringue, dark chocolate ganache
Phyllo pie - Susie's apples, Commandaria sabayon, candied pecans
Persian cardamom cake - sweet potato, saffron, rose, barberry
