The food was delicious - it was only our second time eating Azerbaijani cuisine and our waiter took such good care introducing us to the menu. We loved the kutaby, and the grilled meat platter gave us a chance to try a fantastic array of meats. Dessert was delicious too!

We had a nice late lunch today. Found this place looking for a location with high ratings, not too far from our house. It was perfect! Nice rustic dining area, big open room The food was wonderful! We had 2 soups. The borscht was great! The piti was a very flavorful broth with some meat and potato. It was light and good. We shared a village delight salad, which was grilled eggplant, feta and walnuts. Delish!!! We tried 2 kebabs, both very nice. Lamb ribs and lamb lulya, which was ground lamb. Really well cooked. The kiata dessert was a simple cake, a tasty end to a surprisingly good lunch. Well be back!

They are still AMAZING! Re-visited a year later and the food is still great. I tired the shepherd salad, beef, chicken and liver kebab, meat kutab and the fries. A must visit if you are in the area!

Despite the wild storm last night, we ventured to this establishment for some traditional kababs and soup--and we were pleasantly surprised. The meal we shared was more than enough for six people, leaving our bellies happily full without breaking the bank. One of the reasons we love coming here is the friendly staff and consistently high-quality meats. The ambiance, though simple, is inviting and sets the stage for a satisfying dining experience. Despite the rain keeping the usual crowd at bay, we still enjoyed our time and look forward to returning.

Cozy Eastern European restaurant tucked away in the parking lot of a liquor store. Interior was a lot of wood giving it a cabin like feeling. We came early on a Friday night and were seated immediately; however, it looked like they were setting up a lot of tables for bigger groups, so I think we would have had a harder time getting seated later at night. We started with the tomato salad which included onions, jalapeños, scallions, dill, Anna generous amounts of oil. Nicely seasoned and delicious. Next we had the veal tongue which was served with horseradish, onions, olives, and dill. Tongue was great too. Next up was the fried potatoes with mushrooms. Super savory. Mix of very crispy potatoes with some greasier ones at the bottom. Another delicious dish. For the main course we shared chicken kebabs and lamb lulya kebab. Both were generously seasoned and came with some savory rice. Meats were very juicy too. Dishes came out incredibly quickly. Staff was very attentive. There was one gender neutral restroom.

Came by again with family on a Saturday morning 1130am. Place wasn't busy at all and spacious. Tried several things here family style and the highlight this time was the GURU HINGAL. Its minced lamb meat with tail fat and onions and handmade dough. Reminded me of wonton skins with ground lamb meat piled on top. It was flavorful and delicious. Comes with yogurt sauce which gave a nice contrast to the heavy meat. The lamb did not taste gamey at all. Highly recommend this dish. We tried the chicken shish which was quite tender but not something I would rave about. Lamb lulya kebab was still pretty flavorful and good. Mother in laws chicken was a bit overcooked this time so I didnt enjoy it. The mushroom and potatoes was pretty good. Family enjoyed the food and would like to come back again.

Side notes: Oops. Added photos but not the review. Place should be under Modern European as there's no broad category for Azeri/similar spots but they denied my suggestion. Would recommend the kabobs/shashlik. The kutab/qutab is also quite good. Any who: As is similar at Baku Palace and some other related places, there are two different experiences you can have at this spot and I have had both. The former is with a group who speaks Russian or Azeri (as this place is well Azeri/Azerbaijani) and the latter is with others. The former is more party platters and is quite popular among the people from the Caucuses. For an Azeri classic, look no further than the qutab/kutab. Available either with mixed minced herbs or stuffed with lamb (or less traditional chicken,) these mini pancakes are outstanding. The various kabobs (the Lulya/Lula/Lül in particular is outstanding as is the Sturgeon and Chahalach [aka mini lamb chops]) are excellent. The Chicken Kabob is alright as they are much more of a lamb specialist. The Potatoes With Mushrooms, a classic in many similar countries, is also very good here. The Mother-In-Laws Chicken is a cheesy delight and would make a rich main dish. The Plov here is also quite good. The Turkish Style Liver is pretty good here as well. For salads, the Journey to Baku is their take on the common eggplant salad found in various Turkic areas. It's quite good. Also recommended is the Veal Tongue Salad; their version of Salad "Tashkent." The Achichuk is solid as well as is the Avocado Salad. Of the salads, I wouldn't recommend the Greek Salad with Basturma. Too little of said meat and just generic. The desserts here are fine with a pretty solid Napoleon (Russian version not French) with a copious amount of filo and buttercream.

I saw Emily Fedner on IG naming the Village Cafe's guru hingal as the best dish she ate in 2022 so I was very curious to try them out. The restaurant is a little hidden and actually inside the parking lot of a liquor store on a somewhat busy stretch of Coney Island Ave. Parking is free and available inside the lot though there is also street parking available. I came early on a Sunday evening around 4:30 and there were already several tables of guests. Our server was really kind and patient and walked us through some recommendations for us, as it was our first time trying Azeri food. We ordered the Baku Salad ($15) to start which had grilled and chopped eggplant and tomatoes with bell peppers and cilantro. It had a nice smoky flavor but it also tasted like something I could get from NetCost. Nothing too special. We also received some fresh, fluffy Turkish bread ($5) that we were told were complimentary but I noticed they charged us for it at the end. Oops. But I didn't mind because I love Turkish pide and these were warm to the touch. We also noticed nearly every single table had a plate of kutaby so we had two orders of the lamb version ($3 each). They are kind of like flatbread with a crispy edge except these kutabi(s?) were filled with minced lamb so juicy I was surprised the bread wasn't soaked through. They were so fragrant but in a way in which the gaminess wasn't too strong. Seriously blew all other kutaby I had eaten before out of the water. For our entrées, we decided to do as the Romans do and order the lamb lulya (most tables had these and the kutabi), the chicken kebab and mother in law's chicken at our waiter's recommendation, and of course the guru hingal. The lamb lulya kebab ($12.50) came in three precious, delicious patties all wrapped in lavash. The outside was seared and biting into the soft sausage shaped patty unleashed a river of juice. Absolutely phenomenal! The chicken kebab was also excellent and nicely seasoned. I think their grilled dishes are really great and they must be performing some kind of sorcery to create the perfect juicy grilled meats. The mother in law's chicken ($18) was baked but very crispy and smothered in mozzarella cheese and mushrooms and served with a smear of mashed potatoes. I think out of all the dishes we tried, this would probably be the option I would recommend to someone who is not too adventurous or prefers some kind of familiarity as it did give me chicken parm vibes. This is not to say it wasn't good because it was delicious and decadent and very very cheesy. And finally, the dish that drew me here in the first place: the guru hingal. It's essentially a plate of thin, handmade sheets of pappardelle-like pasta with grilled minced lamb and onion, served with a herby, garlicky yogurt sauce. The lamb flavor is amplified because it's cooked with its own fat but the yogurt sauce drizzled atop simultaneously cuts through the heaviness with its sharp garlic notes but accentuates the richness with the cream. It's the most lovely dichotomous dish and I can see why it's one of their popular menu offerings. I would suggest to eat this quickly as the pasta can congeal once cold.

I am so grateful my cousin took us and the entire family here to eat. I have never had Azerbaijan foods before and I can tell you it was truly amazing! The waiter was very helpful and gave us excellent food recommendations. They were all delicious! I felt the love when I was eating the foods. I highly recommend this place. It is truly a hidden gem. We ordered to share: 1) Journey to Baku (Eggplant salad), 2) Creamy Mushroom Soup, 3) Borscht Soup, 4) Lamb Kutaby, 5) Chicken + Lamb Lulya Kebab w/ Pilaf, 6) Shaker Bura cookie. Journey to Baku (eggplant salad appetizer) - this was very delicious! The eggplants were super tender + marinated so well. It tasted like glazed balsamic eggplant. Creamy mushroom soup - WOW! I highly recommend this. One of the best creamy mushroom soup I had in awhile in NYC. Super flavorful and creamy! Borscht Soup - WOW! I also highly recommend this! This borscht has beef in it, so it is not vegetarian friendly. Super flavorful (esp after putting a few spoons of sour cream in it). Loved it very much! Lamb Kutaby - It was delicious but a bit oily. It was some sort of flatbread w/ lamb filling. If you close your eyes, it tasted like a lamb manti (dumpling). Chicken + Lamb Lulya Kebab w/ Pilaf - The chicken kebab was so tender + juicy + well seasoned. The lamb kebab was also delicious and well seasoned (not too gamey). The pilaf w/ onions was good (to mellow out the flavors of the chicken + lamb). There was some dipping sauce + I was not a big fan of it. Shaker Bura cookie - This cookie was interesting. It tasted like a butter cookie. It was nice to try, but I would not reorder this again. P.S - that bread was holy! It was so damn soft and delicious (by itself & w/ butter). The bread paired so well w/ the soups + the eggplant salad. Friendly and helpful staff + very comfortable seating. Love the decor - feels homely. I will be returning soon again!