For diners exploring restaurants on New York City’s Upper East Side, Shoo Shoo UES offers a distinctive take on contemporary Mediterranean dining. Located at 1477 2nd Avenue near East 77th Street, the restaurant brings together flavors and techniques inspired by Mediterranean and Tel Avivian cuisine in a setting designed for everything from weekend brunch to relaxed dinners.
The Upper East Side has long been associated with classic New York restaurants, neighborhood cafés, and sophisticated dining rooms. Shoo Shoo adds a modern Mediterranean option to that mix, with a menu that includes hummus, labneh, falafel, salads, grilled meats, seafood, shakshuka, schnitzel, and other dishes that work well for both casual meals and social occasions.
What Is Shoo Shoo UES?
Shoo Shoo UES is the Upper East Side location of Shoo Shoo, a New York restaurant concept centered around a contemporary interpretation of Mediterranean food. The restaurant describes its cuisine as a modern take on Mediterranean cooking, with an emphasis on Tel Avivian staples.
The UES location is situated at:
1477 2nd Ave.
New York, NY 10075
It is positioned at the corner of East 77th Street, making it convenient for people living, working, shopping, or spending time around the Upper East Side.
Unlike a restaurant focused on just one type of dish, Shoo Shoo’s menu provides a broad selection. Guests can start with traditional Mediterranean-style small plates, move into salads or grilled dishes, and finish with desserts such as pistachio knafeh or cheesecake.
A Contemporary Mediterranean Experience
One of the biggest attractions of Shoo Shoo UES is its approach to Mediterranean food. Rather than presenting a strictly traditional menu, the restaurant combines familiar ingredients with contemporary preparations.
Mediterranean dining is naturally suited to sharing, and several dishes on the Shoo Shoo menu fit that style. Warm hummus, labneh, baba-ganoush, falafel, salads, and other starters can be ordered for the table, allowing diners to experience multiple flavors during one meal.
The menu also incorporates influences from different parts of the Mediterranean and Middle East. Ingredients such as tahini, za’atar, harissa, eggplant, chickpeas, olives, herbs, and preserved flavors appear throughout the menu.
This combination makes Shoo Shoo UES particularly interesting for diners who want something beyond standard American restaurant fare.
Popular Starters at Shoo Shoo UES
Starting with smaller plates can be one of the best ways to experience the menu.
The Shoo Shoo Warm Hummus combines whole chickpeas, tahini, Tatbila sauce, and Arabic olive oil with pita. It provides a familiar Mediterranean foundation while incorporating the restaurant’s own flavors.
Another option is Labneh, a strained yogurt cheese served with za’atar, fresh mint, Arabic olive oil, and pita. Its creamy texture and fresh herbs make it an easy choice for sharing.
For eggplant lovers, the Baba-Ganoo-Shoo features roasted eggplant, garlic, tahini, and Alice’s harissa. The combination of smoky eggplant and spicy flavors gives the dish more character than a basic vegetable appetizer.
Other starters include Japanese eggplant, falafel salad, Israeli chopped salad, Greek salad, and avocado beet salad.
Mediterranean Salads With a Modern Twist
Salads at Shoo Shoo UES are more substantial than simple side dishes.
The Israeli Chopped Salad combines tomatoes, Persian cucumbers, radishes, onions, herbs, bulgur, and tahini. It is a colorful option that works well as a lighter meal or as part of a shared table.
The Greek Salad features tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, green bell pepper, Kalamata olives, and feta cheese. Diners can also add chicken for additional protein.
For something different, the Avocado Beet Salad combines beets, avocado, baby arugula, homemade cashew butter, sprouts, preserved lemon, and olive oil.
There is also a Caesar Cauliflower Crumbs Salad, which combines crispy cauliflower, a soft-boiled egg, anchovy Caesar dressing, Parmesan, romaine lettuce, and parsley.
These options make Shoo Shoo UES suitable for diners looking for lighter meals as well as people who want something more filling.
Main Dishes Worth Exploring
The main menu offers a combination of vegetarian dishes, poultry, meat, and seafood.
The Shook-Shooka is a natural choice for anyone who enjoys shakshuka. Shoo Shoo’s version includes two poached cage-free eggs, tahini, cilantro, tomato, cucumber, olives, za’atar, and challah bread.
The restaurant also serves a Kabocha Squash Steak, making it possible for vegetable-focused diners to find a substantial main course.
For meat lovers, options include the Shoo Shoo Schnitzel, Harissa Burger, and Steak Shishlik. The schnitzel features sesame-crusted chicken thigh with mashed potatoes or herb fries, along with Tatbila sauce and mustard.
Seafood selections include Shoo Shoo Branzino Schnitzel, Grouper Fish Shawarma, and grilled branzino.
The variety is one reason the restaurant can appeal to different groups. A table can include someone looking for vegetarian food, another person interested in seafood, and another diner wanting grilled meat.
Brunch at Shoo Shoo UES
Shoo Shoo UES is also a destination for weekend brunch. The official restaurant schedule lists brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The brunch menu includes the Shoo Shoo Breakfast, featuring two cage-free eggs, Israeli chopped salad, smoked salmon, oregano-roasted pepper, sour cream, za’atar, feta, olive tapenade, seasonal fruit, and a Turkish sesame bagel.
The Shook-Shooka is another brunch option, while the Moroccan Green Omelet offers parsley, cilantro, and dill with Israeli chopped salad and green mint labneh.
For a sweeter option, the Brioche French Toast comes with rose water, tahini, date cream, fresh berries, and organic maple syrup.
This makes the restaurant particularly suitable for a weekend meal when diners want something more interesting than a conventional brunch menu.
Drinks and Cocktails
The Shoo Shoo UES experience extends beyond food. The drinks menu includes cocktails, mocktails, wine, beer, spirits, coffee, tea, and fresh juices.
The signature Shoo Shoo Cocktail combines vodka, St-Germain, and lemon with a choice of blackberry, peach, or strawberry purée.
Other cocktails include the Mi Tierra, Es Vedra, Kobayashi, Purple Rain, Moroccan Breeze, and several familiar classics such as margaritas, espresso martinis, Negronis, Moscow Mules, and mojitos.
For non-alcoholic choices, guests can choose drinks such as apple-based mocktails, fresh juices, Moroccan iced tea, and the restaurant’s green juice.
The menu also features Albert’s Moroccan Mint Tea, made with fresh mint, rose water, and raw honey. It can be an especially fitting choice after a Mediterranean-inspired meal.
Desserts at Shoo Shoo UES
Dessert provides another opportunity to explore flavors that go beyond traditional New York restaurant menus.
The Hot Pistachio Knafeh combines crisp kadaifi filo with mascarpone and ricotta, finished with rose water, pistachio butter, and crushed pistachios.
Guests can also order Eileen’s NYC-Style Cheesecake, topped with homemade raspberries and lime, or a Dark Chocolate Mousse made with Belgian chocolate and espresso-infused whipped cream.
Baklava is another option, available in assorted or classic pistachio varieties.
Shoo Shoo UES for Different Occasions
One of the strengths of Shoo Shoo UES is its flexibility.
For a casual lunch or dinner, diners can choose a salad, hummus, falafel, sandwich-style dish, or one of the restaurant’s main courses.
For groups, the Mediterranean-style menu works particularly well because many starters can be shared. Ordering several small plates allows everyone at the table to sample different flavors.
Weekend brunch provides another reason to visit, especially for people looking for a neighborhood restaurant on the Upper East Side.
The restaurant also lists private events and catering among its offerings, making the location relevant for larger gatherings and special occasions.
Shoo Shoo UES Location and Hours
For anyone searching specifically for Shoo Shoo UES, location is an important part of the experience.
The restaurant is located at 1477 2nd Ave., New York, NY 10075, at the corner of East 77th Street.
Current listed hours are:
- Monday–Thursday: 5:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m.
- Friday–Saturday: 5:00 p.m.–12:00 a.m.
- Sunday: 5:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
- Saturday–Sunday brunch: 10:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Because restaurant schedules can change for holidays, private events, or seasonal adjustments, checking the official restaurant information before visiting is a smart idea.
What Makes Shoo Shoo UES Different?
New York has no shortage of Mediterranean restaurants, but Shoo Shoo UES creates its identity through a combination of contemporary presentation, Middle Eastern ingredients, Israeli influences, and a broad menu.
The menu is not limited to hummus and falafel. Diners can move from vegetarian dishes to chicken, beef, lamb, and seafood without leaving the restaurant’s Mediterranean-inspired style.
The use of ingredients such as harissa, tahini, za’atar, labneh, preserved lemon, pistachio, Moroccan mint, and Israeli-style salads gives the menu a recognizable personality.
At the same time, familiar options such as burgers, French toast, cheesecake, espresso martinis, and steak frites make the restaurant accessible to diners who may not regularly seek out Mediterranean cuisine.
Tips for First-Time Visitors
If you are visiting Shoo Shoo UES for the first time, consider ordering several dishes rather than focusing on one large entrée.
Starting with hummus, labneh, or baba-ganoush provides an introduction to the restaurant’s flavor profile. A salad can add freshness, while a main dish such as chicken shawarma, schnitzel, branzino, or steak can make the meal more substantial.
For brunch, the shakshuka or Shoo Shoo Breakfast can provide a more traditional Mediterranean-inspired experience, while the French toast is a good option for diners who prefer a sweet start to the day.
Checking the current menu before visiting is also useful because restaurant menus and prices can change.
Final Thoughts
Shoo Shoo UES offers a modern Mediterranean dining experience in New York City’s Upper East Side. Its menu combines Tel Avivian-inspired favorites with broader Mediterranean influences, creating choices for different tastes and dietary preferences.
From warm hummus, labneh, falafel, and Israeli salads to schnitzel, shawarma, steak, and branzino, the menu provides plenty of variety. Weekend brunch adds another reason to visit, while the cocktail and dessert selections make the restaurant suitable for a longer evening meal.
For people searching for Shoo Shoo UES, the restaurant stands out as an option for contemporary Mediterranean food in a convenient Upper East Side location. Whether the occasion is brunch with friends, dinner with family, a casual meal, or a night out, Shoo Shoo UES offers a menu designed to make Mediterranean-inspired dining feel modern, social, and distinctly New York.
