Shuka

West Village

After last week's Bible, I've decided to keep it short with one of my classic lunch spots.

If you live in NYC, or were on New York TikTok in the summer of 2022, then you know about Shuka. Shuka is a Mediterranean spot in the West Village, located on Mcdonald Street right across from some fabulous Italian (Roscioli) and next to a Japanese staple Raku.

It's not a spot I would make a point to go to, we aren’t going around screaming, "SHUKA IS THE BEST," but it’s damn good Americanized Mediterranean food.

It's simple: get the mezcal cocktail, Turkish cigars, one of the dips, and a kabob (this is for two; throw in an extra kabob for three, and then for more people, you will need to order more).

The dips are great—classic, creamy, and come with a good amount of fluffy pita. The cigars are like mozzarella sticks, except not at all, because they are wrapped in rice paper and stuffed with feta and cilantro, fried and then dipped in Calabrian chili oil.

The kabobs are a classic—large, charred on a grill, and partnered with chimichurri and a yogurt dipping sauce. They have a small side salad and are just a classic.

That's it. Shuka is good when you need a nice lunch or a healthy but filling dinner. The outdoor seating and front bar seating are great. It's a photogenic place with photogenic food. Go with a few friends, have three drinks, then wander around West Village while trying to avoid your Hinge date from last week who is 28 and just moved "west" from Murray Hill.