Bethlehem-inspired murals line the walls, mana'eesh sizzle on a saj in the open kitchen, and bottles of olive oil sit stacked in tribute to the Levant's olive groves. At Ayat and Al Badawi, two of New York's most popular Palestinian restaurants, food is inseparable from identity.
Step inside and the message is immediately clear: this is Palestinian space. Through their decor, menus and open kitchens, the praised Palestinian chains embrace heritage and political presence despite hostility, vandalism and hate-filled reviews.
"Our food carries history, heritage, and love," Abdul Elenani, CEO and founder of both establishments, told The New Arab. "It tells the story of a people whose culture has endured."
The upcoming Upper West Side location of Ayat will bring dishes like mansaf and shawarma just blocks from Columbia University, the epicentre of the 2024 pro-Palestine campus protests.
The expansion follows Al Badawi's Upper East Side opening two years ago, which brought Palestinian cuisine to one of Manhattan's most affluent neighbourhoods, possibly for the first time.
Ayat – Hind's Hall
Demonstrating his commitment to cultural and social awareness, Abdul announced on Instagram that the Upper West Side location of Ayat will be renamed Ayat – Hind's Hall, in tribute to five-year-old Hind Rajab, who was killed by Israeli forces in 2024.
Hind's final moments were captured in a phone call with the Palestinian Red Crescent that went viral, sparking global outcry and inspiring the Oscar-nominated film The Voice of Hind Rajab.
"We cannot bring her back, but we can refuse to let her be forgotten," Abdul said, adding that carrying her name on the storefront is "the least we can do" to remind people that every child matters.
In his social media post, Abdul explained that Ayat – Hind's Hall "stands just steps from Columbia University, where students renamed Hamilton Hall to Hind's Hall in solidarity with Gaza. We choose to honour their gesture and carry that name forward."
Such a public display of support for pro-Palestinian student activists is uncommon in a neighbourhood where pro-Israeli counterprotests and attacks against Arab and Muslim students occurred regularly after 7 October 2023.
From kitchen to community
At the heart of Abdul's approach is human connection.
"We never wanted to be just a restaurant. We wanted to be a place of community, solidarity, and care," Abdul explained. To him, sharing his culture with others and fostering a sense of belonging are major parts of the job.
That philosophy is clear in the design and story of the restaurants. "Open kitchens and shared plates were intentional choices to create warmth and connection. The story has always been about welcome, beauty, and presence, a space that feels grounded, alive, and deeply human," he added.
As a result, his restaurants have often become sites of community events and free public dinners. Among them are celebrations of faith, Jewish and Muslim alike.
At an iftar dinner at Ayat Bay Ridge last year, Abdul said about 2,000 people attended.
"We cooked everything we had," he revealed. "This iftar was for all: Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, atheists, everyone. No questions, just kindness."
In 2024, he also hosted a Shabbat dinner at Ayat Ditmas Park, where over 1,300 people attended, at a time when he was receiving death threats and hateful comments online for his restaurants' open support of the Palestinian cause.
He continued hosting community dinners even after his restaurants were vandalised.
"We have experienced hostility and racism, and unfortunately, that still happens, but we have also received overwhelming support. That contrast shows us how deeply this work matters," Abdul said.
Abdul also shared that last year, he cancelled his family Thanksgiving to host a free dinner for anyone who had nowhere to go. "No one is eating alone this Thanksgiving," he wrote in an Instagram post, "I will host anyone and everyone that will be spending it alone with some delicious Palestinian food."
The restaurateur also hosted fundraiser dinners for Gaza with Palestinian photographer and influencer Motaz Azaiza, including a farewell dinner at Ayat Astoria in 2024 that raised money to send food into the Gaza Strip.
Separately, Abdul offered free meals to members of Zohran Mamdani's mayoral campaign.
"Our commitment to people, to showing up with love and generosity, will always be stronger than hate," he stated.
Flavours of the Levant
Abdul's values are embedded in the restaurant concepts, with Al Badawi calling itself, "The first family-style Palestinian restaurant in NYC."
Ayat's family platters are similarly designed for four or more people, staying true to the Levant's family dining format.
Traditional Palestinian and Jordanian platters like musakhan, mansaf, and maklouba may be hard to find elsewhere in the city.
Meanwhile, menu items like pizzawarma and shatta-fired wings are entirely new creations.
"Food has always been our way of telling a story," Abdul added.
Specialised options like the flatbreads, known in the region as mana'eesh, come in traditional zaatar and cheese as well as experimental offerings such as shrimp, chicken, and pistachio.
The mixed grill and appetiser listings are favourites, with the mezze filistini providing a harmonious blend of starters: hummus, baba ghanoush, muhammarah, tabbouleh, salata bi tahina, and labneh.
Arabic pitta bread for dipping, served in a side basket, stays warm beneath a cloth, with more always at the ready.
Fusion desserts like baklava sundae and Dubai chocolate cheesecake top off the experience, leaving guests both satiated and inspired.
Palestine to the world
"Manhattan is a global stage, and being here allows Palestinian cuisine and identity to reach people far beyond our original community," Abdul told The New Arab.
"It reflects our desire to share this food and culture with everyone, while staying rooted in the values that shaped us from the beginning."
The Arab-American restaurateur and his Palestinian-American wife, Ayat Masoud, have changed the food landscape in Manhattan by bringing Palestinian food to notorious and elite neighbourhoods.
In expanding to the Upper East and Upper West Sides, hospitality, community, and Palestinian values will remain Abdul's top priorities.
"I want guests to leave having experienced more than a meal," Abdul shared.
"I want them to understand that Palestinians have a rich, living identity, and that our approach comes from peace, warmth, and generosity."
Celeste Abourjeili is a Lebanese-American journalist based in the Middle East