Shawarma Photo: Shutterstock
Even on a rainy day during Ramadan, there is energy along Palestine Way. Shoppers and diners stroll the five-block section of Main Street in the heart of South Paterson, sometimes referred to as Little Ramallah or Little Istanbul. Paterson is home to the second largest Arab American community in the United States, with about 20,000 people.
They come from Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Morocco and other lands. Local businesses reflect that heritage.
Restaurants are a major draw, and Al Basha is among the most acclaimed. USA Today named it one of the country’s best restaurants in 2024. Al Basha serves Palestinian cuisine in its airy Crooks Avenue dining room, with take-out at its Main Street location. With a menu designed for family-style eating, Al Basha features a sizzling platter of grilled meats as a signature dish, with cubes of succulent chicken and filet mignon and a pile of shredded beef shawarma. The baba ghanouj is so creamy you’ll want to lick the plate. Luckily, pillows of pita answer the call. The bread is exceptional, so tender that it sighs when you tear off a piece. Service at Al Basha is handled by a team of friendly waiters who check on you just enough.
For dessert, take a walk and choose from among Palestine Way’s many bakeries and cafés. At Baklava Home, there is a display case full of its namesake pastry, in traditional pistachio and walnut as well as variations such as chocolate. A lighter option is gullac, a Turkish dessert traditionally served during Ramadan. Paper-thin sheets of wheat dough soaked in rosewater and milk are layered with ground pistachios and topped with pomegranate, like a heavenly dessert.
Adjacent to Baklava Home is Mokafe, a Palestinian coffee house with Yemeni coffee and desserts both traditional and trendy, including a luscious Viral Dubai Chocolate Brownie with pistachio filling, topped with chocolate drizzle and warmed to order. The vibe is chic and nightlife-y, with luxurious olive-green velvet booths and late hours. You can hear it in the beat of the music piped in at a whisper-low volume during the day, hinting at evening festivities to come.
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