ABOUT
KUBEH THE RESTAURANT
Kubeh a Middle Eastern restaurant in Greenwich Village, NYC, is the product of Chef Melanie Shurka and husband David Ort; a restaurant dedicated to authentic and lesser known cuisines of the Middle East. Chef Melanie is a home trained chef, with a deep passion for the cuisine she grew up with and all the regional variations she discovered in her travels. Kubeh is named after a dish with a rich tradition across the Middle East, and our restaurant is a tribute to that origin of warmth and care, creating meals perfect for gathering and sharing. Our food is the kind of food that sings of comfort and is bursting with flavors that will make you feel a whiff of nostalgia, whether you grew up with them or not.
Whether you're planning a large party or an intimate dinner, we invite you to experience the familial comfort that Kubeh offers, perfectly complemented by our fantastic cocktails and happy hour specials. We encourage you to order many dishes for the table, so you can savor the beauty of sharing and creating new stories with each bite. And if you’re looking for exceptional catering services in NYC, Kubeh is here to bring the flavors of the Middle East to your special event. We welcome you with open arms and hope you leave with full bellies and perhaps a new memory or two of your own to share along the way of your journey.
KUBEH THE DISH
Kubeh is a versatile and beloved dish across the Middle East, sometimes featuring an outer dough-like shell with an inner filling, sometimes with the ingredients ground together into a ball, and occasionally prepared in layers like a pie. It can be fried, boiled, baked, or served raw. No matter the form, Kubeh and every dish we serve at our Greenwich Village restaurant embody comfort bundled in freshness and represent a labor of love.
We specialize in the boiled version served in a broth, its origins in Kurdish, Iraqi and Syrian cuisine. In the 1940s and 50s Kurdish, Iraqi and Syrian Jews migrated to Israel and brought Kubeh with them, a few opened up Kubeh restaurants and today, Kubeh is a staple of Israeli cuisine. At Kubeh, we hand-roll each piece with the utmost care, using only the finest and freshest ingredients. Our meats come from small family farms in the US that practice humane treatment of their animals and are 100% antibiotic and hormone free. We also have many gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options. Perfect for large parties and catering events, our wide variety of Middle Eastern mezes, spreads, and main dishes are sure to please any crowd. Enjoy!
EXECUTIVE CHEF
Melanie Shurka is a native New Yorker of Israeli-Iranian and Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Melanie opened Kubeh to share the Middle Eastern dishes of her childhood with New York City. When living in Israel to study law at Tel Aviv University, Melanie explored the myriad of Kubeh variations. Quickly, Melanie realized that her love for Kubeh and all things Middle Eastern surpassed her desire to be a lawyer. She returned to New York and worked at Balthazar and Laduree while teaching herself how to cook. Eventually she began cooking Middle Eastern food for others as a private chef. Melanie went on to host several pop-ups focused on Kubeh. Their success led her to open Kubeh in July 2017. In developing the recipes for Kubeh, she spent time in homes and restaurants in Israel cooking with women from Iraq, Kurdistan and Syria. There she learned the tips, tricks, and nuances in each of the traditions that have been passed generation to generation of women. In 2020, Melanie won Food Network’s Chopped (Season 46, Episode 15, Skilfish Coping Skills) and donated her $10,000 prize to refugees and children via UNICEF. Her dedication to community and warm hospitality is reflected in every dish, making Kubeh the perfect venue for large gatherings and catering events. During Covid-19 Pandemic, Melanie and Kubeh team, with the support of the local community donated over 1500 meals to Hospital healthcare workers. In July 2024, Melanie competed in the Food Network’s Alex VS America (Season 4, Episode 2, Alex VS New York City) going head to head in the kitchen with Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli (which can be seen on HBO Max). On the Jewish holidays you can find Melanie pouring wine in a kiddush fountain. During regular service, you can find her reading Turkish coffee fortunes as her Persian ancestors taught her. Plan your next large party with us or join us for Happy Hour and experience the rich traditions that Melanie brings to every meal. And don’t forget to ask Melanie about catering your next event—she’ll bring the best of Middle Eastern cuisine right to your table.