NOW CLOSED...Formerly: Walk into Souk on a Wednesday at midnight and you'll think the week has fast-forwarded to Saturday. While the rest of us lie in bed with a book, Wednesdays (as well as weekends) welcome wining and dining crowds until 2 a.m. (3 a.m. on Saturdays), who come for the kabobs and stay for the belly-dancing and live music performance.
High ceilings and terra-cotta walls give way to a long, narrow space, which appears double its size thanks to a massive framed mirror in back. Twittering tea candles, a blood-red color scheme and shoulder-to-shoulder tables make for an ambience that's equally smooth and sultry. An extensive selection of wine and martinis keep the night flowing, such as Souk's specialty Red Sea martini, with dark rum, grenadine, lime juice and soda spiked with a touch of arak, "a flavored spirit valued as a healing agent by the Egyptians."
As for the menu, it's dressed-up Mediterranean eats. Vegetarians are advised to stock up on appetizers like fattoush (a lemon-vinaigrette-dressed bread salad), marinated olives, falafel and borek (phyllo pies filled with feta, eggplant, peppers and yogurt mint sauce). Lamb-lovers will delight in the long list of options: ground lamb kabob, grilled rack of lamb and braised lamb shank. Cumin-crusted salmon and paella lure the seafood fans. After polishing off the last of your couscous, let your food digest while puffing on a hookah ($20 for two hours). Then dive head-first into the homemade baklava topped with pistachio ice cream.
Reviewed By: Jessica Herman
