We Tried This Mediterranean Restaurant In NYC - Here's What You Need To Order

If you haven't been to Motek yet, you are seriously missing out on one of NYC's most exciting Mediterranean spots.

Motek Flatiron on Broadway brings Miami's beloved kosher-style restaurant to Manhattan, and honestly? It's giving us all the warm, bright, share-everything vibes we need right now. The space is bright and modern with warm woods and Mediterranean touches. It's the kind of place where you can do a casual lunch or bring your parents for a nicer dinner.

The Starters That'll Make You Skip Your Entree

Roasted Eggplant Hummus - This isn't your basic hummus situation. Topped with a perfectly jammy egg, tangy amba aioli, and pickled onions that add the right amount of bite, this dish had us fighting over the last scoop.

Crispy Artichoke - Okay, this might've been the table favorite. The artichokes come out golden and crispy with this insanely good garlic cilantro aioli that I'm still dreaming about. It's the kind of dish where you tell yourself you'll have just one more piece and then suddenly the plate is empty.

Mains That Actually Deliver

Braised Lamb Shank - This is the dish that made everyone at the table go quiet for a minute. The lamb is ridiculously tender, sitting on roasted garlic skordalia (basically the most delicious garlicky mashed potatoes you've ever had), with an herb salad and pomegranate seeds adding brightness. It's hearty without being heavy, which is kind of a miracle.

Flatiron Half Chicken - Boneless chicken that actually stays juicy? Motek figured it out. The shifka aioli and lemon pickled onion cut through the richness perfectly, and it comes with market greens that you'll actually want to eat. The portions are generous enough to share if you're not starving.

Moroccan Fish - The Chilean sea bass is chef's kiss. It's swimming in this spicy tomato sauce with tahini and harissa that's somehow both comforting and exciting. The fish is buttery and flaky, and the sauce is so good you'll want to drink it with a straw.

Harissa Spare Ribs - These braised lamb ribs with harissa glaze are fall-off-the-bone tender and packed with flavor. They're messy in the best possible way. Bring napkins and your appetite.

The Dessert You Absolutely Cannot Skip

Halva Silan Ice Cream - Listen, I don't care how full you are. Order this. Vanilla ice cream topped with shaved halva, candied sumac pecans, and silan (date syrup) is the perfect ending. It's sweet but not too sweet, creamy and crunchy, and the sumac pecans are a total revelation. This is the kind of dessert that converts people.

Motek Flatiron is the real deal. The food is fresh, flavorful, and made without seed oils. Everything we tried felt like it had thought and care behind it, from the family recipes to the modern twists. Whether you're Mediterranean food-obsessed or just looking for something different in the Flatiron area, this spot deserves to be on your list.

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23 Valentine's Day Gifts That Prove 2026 Is All About Self-Love, Great Sleep, And Very Spoiled Pets

 Forget the chocolates - this year's hottest gifts are for glowing skin, healthier hearts, and pampered pups.

1. 1MD's CardioFitMD

For the health-conscious sweetheart, this beet-powered superfood is like a love letter to your heart. Developed by cardiologist Dr. Heather Shenkman, CardioFitMD delivers a one-and-done daily dose of vitamins and minerals. Be sure to drink it every morning - it is one of those rare finds that's both smart and soulful.

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2. Astrology as a Spiritual Path by Jim Sher

This book completely reframes astrology as a living map for personal growth and evolution. Written by philosopher and former social worker Jim Sher, who discovered astrology through profound synchronicities in his clinical work, it's described as esoteric, grounded, and quietly transformative. Perfect for anyone on a journey of self-discovery.

3. Baldacci Family Vineyards

When it comes to Napa wines, the Baldacci Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon is a total charmer. This family-run estate delivers rich, ripe notes of black currant, wild blackberry, baking spices, and sweet tobacco leaf. With consistent 90+ point ratings, it's the kind of sophisticated bottle that says 'I have excellent taste.'

4. Barkada Dog Tags

These personalized dog tags are ridiculously adorable, blending pop culture, fashion parody, and pure joy. From the 'Barkcoin' tag shaped like a Bitcoin to the 'Cartiarf' bone for bougie pups, plus pop-culture nods to Tamagotchi, soup dumplings, and 'The Goodest Boy' award medal, every design is a tiny Valentine for pets.

5. Big Sipz Diamond

This year, diamonds come in a cup. Big Sipz Diamond is a disruptive wine-based cocktail that shifts away from standard seltzers with a bold citrus mixed berry blend of raspberry, blueberry, and cranberry. The Gen Z-forward aesthetic is sparkly, confident, and unapologetically extra.

6. C & D Beauty

Founded by best friends Caroline Glass and Danae Treadway, this brand offers professional-grade makeup in luxe presentations. The kiss-proof Sangria Peel-Off Lip Stain is amazing, along with romance-forward favorites like creamy blush sticks, Ecstasy lip oils, and light-catching glimmer sticks.

7. Charlee Bear

Named after a teddy-bear-ish pup, these functional dog treats are crafted with wholesome ingredients like strawberries and protein-rich chickpeas, plus natural Algal Oil high in Omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin and shiny coats. Adorably named flavors include Bearcuterie Bites, PB and Beary Parfait, Shepherd's Pie, Straw-beary Swirl, and Sunny Side Up.

8. Dental Fresh

Pet parents love their furry friends, even when their kisses are less rom-com and more clear-the-room. Since 1999, Dental Fresh has made at-home dental care simple with a water additive that helps reduce plaque and tartar. Just add it to your pet's water bowl: no wrestling, no drama, no toothbrush required. It's the kind of no-brush love story pet owners can get behind.

9. Done Being Single: A Late Bloomer's Guide To Love

This book is a wink and a wake-up call all at once. Funny, honest, and wildly relatable, it's part guide, part confessional, and part permission slip to stop stressing about timelines and start trusting your own path. Perfect for anyone who's done with bad dates, bad advice, and rushing love. It reminds readers that the best relationship might just start with themselves.

10. Echo Flask

If self-love starts with the basics, hydration might be the ultimate love language. The Echo Flask is the industry's first smart hydrogen bottle, delivering ultra-high concentrations of hydrogen water on demand. This sleek, rectangular stunner comes with a companion app powered by advanced sensor technology that tracks usage and personalizes protocols.

11. Fine Moments

Kitschy grocery store cards can now be retired. Fine Moments offers cards with gorgeous white space, amazing art, and fresh copy. Their Legacy Notes set includes 36 gold-gilded notecards with matching envelopes, a pen, and thoughtful prompts in a beautiful vegan leather box.

12. Hygia Blue

Some self-care rituals feel performative; this one feels real. Hygia Blue's Self Love Bath Salts turn an ordinary bath into a quiet reset, infused with mineral-rich salts and a calming, soul-soothing scent. Pair it with the Self Love Roll-On, a pocket-sized grounding moment to swipe on pulse points whenever the day feels loud. Thoughtfully crafted and genuinely comforting, this duo proves self-love doesn't have to be loud to be powerful.

13. Illo Sleep

After Valentine's Day romance, sleep is the next favorite thing. This wearable pillow goes on your head instead of under it. The anywhere, anytime sleep companion blocks out light, softens ambient noise, and creates a cozy sleep bubble perfect for nights, naps, and especially flights. Made with cooling mulberry silk and breathable Modal fabric with a lightly weighted, contoured design, it makes post-romance rest feel just as indulgent as the main event.

14. IntelliWHITE

A smile is usually the first thing a potential crush notices, which is why IntelliWHITE made the list. With fun 70s-inspired neon-marquee-styled packaging and celebrity dentist founder Dr. Jennifer Jablow, this professional meets at-home shade-lifting technology needs only 7 days to show results. Used by runway models, talk-show hosts, and music stars, it's self-love worth flashing.

15. Larkmead Vineyards

Larkmead is considered among the elite of Napa Valley producers. Their Estate Cabernet Sauvignon earned a Wine Enthusiast 97 rating and embodies legacy and luxury. Rich with brooding fruit, soft tannins, and layered complexity of berry, cocoa, and baking spice, this bottle is ideal for collectors or anyone who appreciates a worthy California cab.

16. Mi Sueño Winery

The immigrant story of Rolando Herrera, who came to the U.S. as a teen and worked every part of the wine process before creating his own vineyard with his wife Lorena, makes this Latino family brand feel authentic and inspiring. 'Mi Sueño' means 'My Dream' in Spanish, connecting fans who see the wines as personal dreams fulfilled. The Sauvignon Blanc blend is affordably priced and delivers juicy fruit with notes of lemon curd, candied citrus, and a touch of vanilla.

17. Rancho La Gloria

If a margarita sounds like the perfect way to toast your bestie, this is the ultimate no-bartender-required Galentine's cocktail. Inspired by the iconic Rancho La Gloria Hotel in Tijuana, these festive premixed margaritas are crafted with premium agave wine in flirty flavors like Classic Lime, Strawberry, Mango, Watermelon, Peach, and Pineapple Jalapeño.

18. RAWZ

Cat people know you have to earn affection, and RAWZ gets it. This first-ever line of freeze-dried cat treats comes from a brand built on more than six decades of trusted pet nutrition experience. Made with limited ingredients and premium proteins, these snacks satisfy the poutiest of pussycats.

19. Remedy Organics

Developed by holistic nutritionist Cindy Kasindorf, Remedy Organics' Ayurvedic-forward formulations blend plant proteins with botanical herbs and prebiotic ingredients. Their matcha protein shake is a grocery store favorite, and their newest immunity shots (created to remedy performance, protein, power, and calm) are yummy, energizing, and trustworthy.

20. RevitaLash Cosmetics

This physician-developed eyebrow conditioning serum features exclusive, scientifically advanced technology to protect against breakage while improving flexibility and shine. Created to address visible signs of eyebrow aging due to chemical and environmental stressors, over-grooming, and styling products, it delivers healthier-looking, more luxurious brows.

21. Saatva Candle Collection

Inspired by the stages of sleep, the Saatva Candle Collection turns any space into a serene, intimate retreat. Hand-poured in California with a natural coconut wax blend made from non-GMO certified coconut oil and premium fragrance oils, each scent sets the tone for unwinding, reconnecting, and resting well. This four-scent collection makes an elevated Valentine's Day gift for couples who appreciate quiet evenings and slow mornings.

22. The Immigrant Journey and The Immigrant Lens

Indian immigrant and award-winning marketing leader Jo Madnani wrote The Immigrant Journey: Lyrical Insights for Navigating Between Worlds after years of being asked to choose between cultures or versions of herself. Written poetically in a self-help format, it pairs her reflections with a companion journal, The Immigrant Lens, for immigrants and anyone navigating big life changes to meet transition with compassion.

23. Two Moons Health

Loving your body means honoring its natural rhythms, and seed cycling is a favorite way to do just that. This wellness practice rotates seed nutrition throughout the menstrual cycle, using ground pumpkin and flax seeds to support estrogen balance, and sesame and sunflower seeds to support progesterone naturally. Two Moons Health modernizes this ancient ritual with the first-ever seed cycling capsules, making science-backed self-care easy for mood, skin, and overall cycle health.