Balade

How's this for cred: Mom flies in from Beirut to train the chefs at your new Lebanese restaurant on how to cook her family recipes. Go, go, Mama! That's the scoop at co-owner Roland Seeman's (Atlantic Grill) new spot, where Mama is indeed braving New York's deep-freeze to bring her home-style dishes to the East Village. "She came on a mission!" laughs Seeman. The mission: specialty pita pitzas (chicken, Greek), as well as something called manakeesh—a pie-like dish that's thicker that a pitza and made with more olive oil. There are also pita wraps, mezze and larger platters with various grilled meats. A brunch menu kicks off in a few weeks, which should put a fresh spin on those tired eggs Benedicts with bites like beid bil fokhar—eggs baked in a traditional pot and topped with sautéed spiced beef sausage.

See more: East Village restaurants, Lebanese restaurants, Middle eastern restaurants