A new Mediterranean eatery has made its way to Gramercy. Bis Bas is a casual, Halal, Chipotle-style restaurant catering to people on the go and to those looking to eat healthier on a budget.
Located on the northwest corner of 23rd Street and Lexington Avenue, Bis Bas is easily accessible to students. Baruch Computer Information Systems major Jimmy Zhang likes the convenience of Bis Bas’s location.
“I like this place,” Zhang said. “You get a lot of options, it’s close to school, and they have good prices.”
The new Bis Bas restaurant is the company’s second location, with the first in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Both restaurants were established by Norman Alsaidi, the former partner and chef of Semkeh restaurant in Williamsburg.
Alsaidi is a Yemen-born immigrant who grew up in Queens and appears on social media frequently. The Ticker reached out to Alsaidi, but he was unavailable to comment.
Bis Bas ran a pre-grand opening promotion, selling any sandwich or bowl with a house drink for $7. While there are no discount offers for Baruch College students yet, “it might be coming soon, because everyone keeps asking,” according to one employee.
The new location offers the same food options as the one in Brooklyn. Customers can choose between a signature pita sandwich, a “chef-created bowl,” soup, different sides, dessert, homemade drinks, and even build their own meal.
Protein options vary from cauliflower and falafel to chicken shawarma and kafta kebab, and there are various bases, toppings, dips, and sauces. Prices of sandwiches at Bis Bas range from $9.95 to $11.95, and chef’s bowls are $12.75 to $15.75.
Students are not the only clientele. The Mediterranean grill is also attracting local workers. Jayson Zaffino, a service industry professional at a nearby Italian restaurant, decided to give it a try.
Zaffino was satisfied with his first Bis Bas chicken shawarma pita, noting that “the yogurt sauce was very good and the chicken shawarma was perfectly spiced,” and expressed that he will be back to try the bowl options.
Bis Bas is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
