EST. 2011 BY LIZ RUEVEN
Maimonides of Brooklyn (M.O.B) & Thin Crust Pizza

Maimonides of Brooklyn (M.O.B) & Thin Crust Pizza

by Java Nooryani, Brooklyn dweller, vegan explorer.

I try not to judge restaurants by their websites but it’s exciting when a place lives up to its own online design and hype. This was the case with M.O.B or Maimonides Of Brooklyn, a vegan restaurant in Brooklyn’s Boerum Hill neighborhood. On M.O.B’s website, interested foodies can read all about their origin and food philosophy, as well as look through their detailed, pictured menu.

After repeatedly scanning their site, I finally went to eat at M.O.B. I immediately loved their décor and layout; it’s a very well-lit, open space that’s inviting and stylish. There’s a bar and garden but the front room is where you want to be for a winter meal—with its exposed brick, high ceilings, and communal tables (with drawers full of napkins and utensils!) you’ll feel comfy and only faintly trendy.

M.O.B hits all the aesthetics of Brooklyn restaurants without the pretention; the wait staff is friendly and ready to answer all your inquisitive questions about their seasonal, vegan menu.

The health-conscious, Brooklyn-loving Cyril Aouizerate is the creator behind M.O.B. Aouizerate was influenced by the Jewish philosopher and Rabbi Maimonides and his writings on healthy eating, as well as the revolutionary roots of old-school hip hop. As stated on M.O.B’s website, Aouizerate hopes to popularize healthy and delicious foods with the city’s masses by keeping the food affordable.

While the restaurant offers numerous scrumptiously innovative seasonal plates, I fell hard for their signature dish: the M.O.B. The self-titled offering is a unique flatbread, shaped like the arches of the Brooklyn Bridge. M.O.Bs come in 5 different concoctions, each wonderful with their various veggie toppings. All M.O.Bs come on a secret, house baked dough (with a gluten-free option) that’s soft and slightly sweet with a thin and crispy crust.

I decided to order one seemingly traditional pizza-like M.O.B and one more adventurous M.O.B: the Smiley and Warming Glow, respectively. The Smiley comes with a light cherry tomato marinara sauce topped with arugula and tofu marinated with picholine olives and oregano. The tofu reminded me of a soft, mild cheese, blending well with the saltiness from the olives and slight sweetness of the marinara sauce. As flatbreads, M.O.Bs don’t try hard to mimic traditional pizzas by using any fake vegan cheese.

The Smiley succeeds in utilizing non-meat and non-dairy produce so effectively that it didn’t make me miss conventional, non-veg pizza or flatbreads. As much as I enjoyed the light and complimentary fusion of The Smiley, I absolutely loved the combination of flavors on the Warming Glow.

Topped with fresh, oven-warmed guacamole, squash roasted with chocolate and chilies, and pickled radishes, the Warming Glow is one of the most inventive and surprisingly delicious flatbread I’ve ever eaten. Both the guacamole and squash have a perfectly soft texture and freshness that never makes the dough soggy (I had cold leftovers the next day and it was still amazing).

The chocolate and chilies on the squash are subtle, while the pickled radishes give the dish a great sour and crunchy kick. The Warming Glow, like the Smiley, filled me up while leaving me with a craving to try the other M.O.Bs. Each M.O.B makes for a solid meal for one person or an appetizer for two.

With its tasty and healthy food, great service, and cool ambiance, M.O.B is a dining experience I highly recommend to all New Yorkers.

Although they’re secretive about their flatbread dough recipe, M.O.B is very open to sharing its ingredients. On their website, you can find all the ingredients and allergy warnings of their menu items (some dishes change based on season).

All photos courtesy of M.O. B.  Thank you!

Below, you’ll find an easy recipe for thin-crust pizza from Leah Schapira, Fresh and Easy Kosher Cooking . I included the toppings list found on the Warming Glow, from M.O.B’s current menu,  to help you invent your own unique and healthy flatbread.

M.O.B. Brooklyn is at 525 Atlantic Avenue – Brooklyn, NY 11217
718-797-2555

M.O.B. Paris is at 32, rue Charlot
75 003 Paris
01 42 77 51 05

8 Comments

Leave a Reply

SIDE DISH
Photo by Jerri Graham Photography

Hi. I’m Liz and I welcome you to Kosher Like Me.

When I’m not caressing fruits and veggies at my local farmers’ market you’ll likely find me chatting with like-minded eaters, probing the scene in NYC or seeking inspiration in my spice cabinet. Life outside of this blog is all about my family, tasty travel adventures and power walks deep in the CT woods or along the shore.

Please brew a fragrant cup of tea, grab a nosh and stay a while.