By Heather Carreiro
The Paterson, New Jersey area is home to a significant Arab population and a host of Arabic restaurants. From local kabob joints to posh Middle Eastern clubs, Paterson is certainly a place to enjoy Arabic cuisine and entertainment. Not only can you whet your appetite with falafel and hummus, but belly dancing beauties also can captivate you while you sway to live Arabic music in one of the Paterson area's Arabic eateries.
Al-Basha Middle Eastern Restaurant
Owned and operated by Palestinian native Yaser Basha, Al-Basha restaurant serves up traditional Arabic appetizers, meat platters and light sandwiches. For a light lunch, one of the Al-Basha sandwiches will be easy on your wallet. As of January 2010, you can get a sandwich for less than $5. During both lunch and dinner, the restaurant offers an extensive Arabic-style buffet, and on Sundays, it offers an affordable Sunday brunch. New Jersey Monthly magazine named Al-Basha one of New Jersey's top 114 restaurants in 2005. The restaurant is located in Paterson's Lake View area on Main Street.
Al-Basha Middle Eastern Restaurant
1076 Main St.
Paterson, NJ 07503
(973) 345-3700
albashanj.com
Mazaj Restaurant
Mazaj Restaurant serves up traditional Lebanese cuisine, including dishes like hummus, tabouli, falafel and skewered meat kabobs. Slightly more upscale than Al-Basha, Mazaj plays host to live entertainment Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The entertainment varies from week to week, but you may catch a belly-dancing show, Arabic singing or a one-man act. No reservations are required. Mazaj is open for lunch and dinner; the restaurant also provides catering for events. Mazaj is located in the Lake View area of Paterson near St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center.
Mazaj Restaurant
1255 Madison Ave.
Paterson, NJ 07503
(973) 278-7559
mazajrestaurant.com
Club Aladdin
A chic restaurant serving up Lebanese and other Middle Eastern cuisine, Club Aladdin is a 15-minute drive from Paterson in Hackensack, New Jersey. Diners from all around the New York City metropolitan area head to Club Aladdin for dinner performances Friday and Saturday nights, or to simply enjoy some Arabic specialties. At this restaurant cum nightclub, you can smoke hookah pipes, see belly dancers, listen to the house band or catch a performance by a famous Arab singer. The menu features more exotic items like quail, as well as a variety of vegetarian options. During dinner performances, there is a minimum per-person charge.
Club Aladdin
382 Main St.
Hackensack, NJ 07601
(201) 498-9500
clubaladdin.com
Resources
About the Author:
Heather Carreiro is a certified English teacher who has been writing since 2008. The editor of Matador Abroad, her work has appeared online at BootsnAll, Matador Network, GoNOMAD, Journey Beyond Travel and Expat Women. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in linguistics and Middle Eastern studies from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and is pursuing a Master of Arts in English at Bridgewater State University.
