Leyla
Mediterranean · Upper West Side · $$
Mediterranean · Upper West Side, New York, NY · $
Dagon, an exciting new restaurant on Manhattan’s upper west side is named for the Phoenician and Philistine god of agriculture and the earth, and features cuisine from “somewhere in the Mediterranean.” That phrase, which Dagon is using to describe the heritage of the food, is taken from the Voice of Peace, the offshore radio station that broadcast in the Middle East for 20 years from the former Dutch cargo vessel MV Peace, whose motto was from somewhere in the Mediterranean, we are the Voice of Peace. Owner Simon Oren and his partners David Sasson, and Gil Ohana remember the radio station fondly and will pay tribute to it with the music they play at Dagon. Chef Partner Ari Bokovza, most recently of Claudette, and who is of Israeli heritage, feels that the Mezze, and small plates selections are the soul of the restaurant.
“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!”
“Excellent dinner here! The food was unmatched in flavor, breads were soft and delicious, soup was hearty and the best veggie risotto I have ever had. The highlight was the dessert - Silan.”
“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.”
“I had a pretty disappointing experience at Dagon. Right from the start, things felt off. When I was seated, the host dropped a menu on the floor… it actually slid under another table and ended up near someone’s shoes. Instead of replacing it, she simply handed me the same menu, which was honestly pretty off-putting and unhygienic. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience didn’t improve much. The food across the board was mediocre at best. nothing really stood out, and overall it was just underwhelming. The service also left a lot to be desired. Staff seemed more focused on chatting among themselves than attending to guests, and at one point I even noticed coughing without much effort to be discreet, which didn’t help the overall impression. Overall, between the hygiene concerns, lackluster food, and inattentive service, it just wasn’t a great experience.”
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