Motek

I had already bookmarked Motek after seeing it pop off on TikTok so I was thrilled when my office announced it would be the site for our holiday party in December. The restaurant feels a bit out of place in flatiron – in a good way. When things are dark and rainy in the wintertime, it was so nice to walk into an explosion of sunny yellow. There’s a bright yellow car almost assaulting you upon entry and the ceiling is dripping in faux flowers and oversized macrame light fixtures. It’s all very Miami; again, in a good way.

Our meal was family style so we got to try most things. The only items I was hoping for were the schnitzel and the shakshuka because I’ve heard they’re both great. If there was ever a reason to plan a brunch, that would be it.

For appetizers there was tuna tartare, mushroom hummus, and tzatziki- all served with some amazing flatbread. The hummus was everyone’s favorite. We were all lapping it up and had to remind ourselves to slow down because we knew there was plenty more coming. There was a Greek salad (great feta), a pomegranate fennel salad, pita flatbread pizzas (one with artichoke and goat cheese, one with beef), ribeye, salmon skewers, dumplings with labne, chicken shawarma, a huge fish, and a trio of desserts (knafeh, malabi, and baklava). Honestly, everything was delicious and felt more substantial than I would have expected from such a vibey place.

This spot is gearing up for some pretty rapid expansion (planning three more locations in nyc alone) and I hope it doesn’t lose anything as it grows. As is, this is a great meal in a bright atmosphere.