Here’s everything we know about Liba, the new kosher meat restaurant in Williamsburg

The rise of truly great kosher restaurants in New York continues: places with a real point of view, a strong design sensibility, thoughtful wine programs and menus you’d want to order whether or not you were looking for a kosher meal. Malka helped kick things off uptown, redefining what kosher dining could look like in Manhattan and then in Brooklyn.

Now there’s a new name to add to the list: Liba, the first entirely new restaurant concept in more than 20 years from the team behind 12 Chairs Café. The chic new kosher meat restaurant, which has opened inside The William Vale in Williamsburg, is positioning itself as part of a new generation of elevated kosher dining.

What’s on the menu at Liba?

Liba’s menu draws from across the Mediterranean and Middle East while borrowing techniques from French and global cuisine. Much of the cooking revolves around an 800-degree brick oven, with house-made breads, market vegetables, raw fish dishes and charcoal-grilled meats taking center stage. The restaurant also features an in-house dry-aging program for select cuts of beef.

Signature dishes include Brick Oven Bread served with olive oil “butter” and Egyptian dukkah, a bluefin tuna Tartlet de Tunis, Steak Tartare Sando on challah, Hamachi Bishbash with carrot vinaigrette, Kebab Napoleon grilled on a steel skewer and a 14-ounce dry-aged ribeye. Dessert leans just as creative, with Pistachio Pavlova, Corn Crème Brûlée and a tableside S’mores Chocolate Mousse.

Who’s behind Liba?

Liba comes from the team behind 12 Chairs Café, one of New York City’s best-known Israeli restaurants. Leading the kitchen is Culinary Director Chef Maayan Glass, who has spent more than a decade with 12 Chairs, while General Manager Liad Matatyahu brings more than 20 years of hospitality experience. Together, they’re calling Liba a vision of “New Kosher,” with nearly everything—from breads and sauces to pickles and condiments to spices imported from Israel—prepared in-house.

Is Liba kosher-certified, and how much does it cost?

Liba is under Mehadrin Kashrus supervision, with Rabbi Avrohom Marmostein serving as the mashgiach. The restaurant also emphasizes carefully sourced kosher-certified meats and a concise kosher wine list. Expect to spend somewhere between $85 and $125 per person.

Where is Liba located?

Liba is located inside The William Vale at 107 N. 12th Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The restaurant seats 65 guests indoors plus another 20 outside, with a separate bar area reserved for walk-ins. It’s currently open Sunday through Thursday from 5pm to 11pm.

How to reserve a table

Reservations for Liba are available on Resy, though the restaurant is also designed to be walk-in friendly, with bar seating reserved for guests without reservations. You can also keep up with the restaurant on Instagram at @libanyc.