Loading...
- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Al-Basha Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Middle Eastern Middle Eastern [Edit]
1076 Main StPaterson, NJ 07503
(973) 345-3700
Yelp Deals
$35 for $40 Deal at Al-Basha Restaurant
- Limit 1 voucher(s) per table.
- Not valid for delivery.
- Not valid Fridays and Saturdays.
- Promotion lasts for 1 year from date of purchase. After that period, your Certificate is redeemable for the amount you paid, less any value you may have received. Not valid with other certificates or offers. Only 1 certificate(s) can be purchased and redeemed per person. Up to 1 can be purchased as gifts for others. Subject to the Yelp Deals General Terms.
- Reg. Price $40
- Discount 13%
- Savings $5
- Hours:
Mon-Tue, Thu, Sun 9 am - 11 pm
Wed 9:30 am - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 9 am - 12 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
23 reviews for Al-Basha Restaurant
Review Highlights
23 reviews in English
-
Review from Amy D.
San Francisco, CA
5/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
The food here is fantastic! I loved the dips, especially the muhammara.
The service could be better. I hate how they really pushed bottled water, which is a huge pet peeve of the environmentalist in me.
Still, I would gladly eat the food from here again. It's a cultural experience to eat here. You will see families sitting at separate tables: father and sons at one; mothers, daughters and little babies at the other. -
Review from Salmaan T.
Washington, DC
3/1/2012
Ordered for takeout. They said it would be 30 minutes. Took about 55 minutes. We arrived at 5:30 on a Friday so not during peak hours. They said they were out of one type of rice and it would be 20 mintues (out of rice Friday at 5:30?). The good part is they offered us a rice with spiced meat and we gladly accepted. Ordered the lamb kabob sandwich, kofta kabab, and chicken kabab. Ordered baba ghanoush and hummus. Everything was very good with the exception of the chicken. Chicken lacked flavor but everything else was good.
I'd probably try other restaurants in the area. Very unique part of the area. -
Review from Nadia B.
Updated - 2/25/2012
OMG--- why whyyyyyy and HOW can service be THAT terrible? You would literally have to go OUT of your way to be horrible... and we had two waiters that split their time between a few tables (maybe 5-6). I understand that it was busy for a Thursday night but that should be a good indication to get MORE staff during that night, ow la'a?
The food is VERY good-- and we usually order a appetizer platter (mezzah) and an al-basha platter for a good amount of rice, meat and chicken (enough to feed 4 people).
BUT because their service was so awful, this is going down in ratings. i have been here plentttty of time. The service has always been bad (although I did not put that in my previous rating) and food has always been great.... consistent and inconsistent- how's that for a happy/bitter dinner. Our stomachs leave happy, our minds... not so much.
If you have 3 hours to spare for dinner, go because the setting and food is nice... but do NOT expect your waiter to come within 20 minutes of when you sit down to ask what you need. It was so bad that even when we finallly got our check (25 minutes after asking for it sipping on tea that also came out 20 minutes later)... we saw some errors and extra charges on it that happened by accident and we just paid it and left... because we feared how much longer we would have to wait for them to correct it.
Ya Basha-- mumkiiiin fix the service! SHUKRAN!1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
3/27/2010
I have always been surrounded my arab food... from traveling to the middle east, friends houses,… Read more »
-
-
Review from J J.
New York, NY
5/12/2012
Food is EXCELLENT! The NY Strip was well seasoned and perfectly cooked. Lamp chops, like butter. Chicken Shawarma, well seasoned and the appetizer platter, delish!
If only the service was more attentive and they took the pita bread out of the plastic bag, I would give it 5 stars. -
Review from Angela P.
1/21/2012
I crave falafel for some indescribable reason. I just know that when I get a falafel craving it must be met!!
I was missing falafel and home. My roommate took us here one night. She really likes this place and the management.
We ordered their Al Basha platter but the small version. It was so good. There was so much food involved. It came with shish kabab, kofta kabab, chicken kabab, and shawerma. So good!! All the meat was heavenly spiced and perfectly cooked. The platter also came with a big plate of rice. There was pita bread on the table and we asked our waiter to warm it up for us. We also ordered falafel balls which were so cheap. I think the deal was 12 falafel balls for 5/6 dollars!!?!! Cheap! I ate everything up like the falafel whore I was.
I really want to come here again for the shawerma and falafel. Some other day... -
Review from Shana C.
Manhattan, NY
1/3/2012
Never again!!!!!
We ordered a couple of platters for take out , and we were very much surprised!!!!
The chicken shawarma , was not what chicken shawarma normally looks like , we've been told so on the phone , but to our surprise it was just shredded chicken breast poorly cooked , and i can tell it was cut to small pieces to look like it was shawarma .That chicken did not come from the spit , that usually the shawarma is cooked on .
Everything else was not tasty at all !
Friends and family recommended this place , and when i decided to give it a try , i was NOT impressed by the quality of the food ,
I hate to say this but because we were lied to about the shawarma , i'm gonna go ahead and say that Toros across the street from Al bacha , never let us down . -
Review from Philip A.
Somerville, NJ
3/11/2012
Every time I go to Al Basha, I am almost squealing with happiness. I have been a patron for several years now, and have brought all of my closest friends and family there for a truly authentic Arabic mezze experience. Over the years I've tried just about everything on the menu, and the words that come to mind are "heavenly," and "consistent."
This review comes from an Arab-American with 25 years of experience eating Arabic food at home and in restaurants around the world. I have been to countless Arabic restaurants up and down the East coast and this is the best in my opinion!
Trust me when I say it doesn't get much better than Al Basha! -
Review from Danielle W.
Holmdel Township, NJ
9/30/2011
One of the best restaurants in Jersey. I love love love it! The falafel is amazing, anything on the menu is fabulous. I try to go at least once a week!
Check it out! -
Review from Leean O.
3/14/2012
I came here for some dinner and thought the food was very good. I went with the meat platter which happened to be the special for that evening which ran about $18. Do not be alarmed, the portions justified the price as we both ate from one order. One dislike was the service but from my travels I've learned that culturally "customer service" isn't emphasized the way it tends to be in America. In laymen terms the service was mediocre leaning more towards it sucked, but again I understand its the laid back culture of the people. Parking was alright to find since some business out back closes and you can slide in any spot there. AND.....being from Newark I know what pockets of the city are sketchy so do not be alarmed this wonderful business is in Paterson, it is on a main street, well literally Main St haha and a busy area with other area businesses and clean neighborhoods with working class folks who enjoy the perks of a busy Main St. Go check it out, you wont be disappointed.
-
Review from Far East M.
Paterson, NJ
Ordered the hummus with lamb meat appt. and it was more like an entree.
They have a steak Thursday special. I will repeat. Just need a few friend to go with. -
Review from Madeha K.
West New York, NJ
9/3/2011
I fantasize about the mixed platter here. It's enough for a family to share and it's soooooo good. The hummus with meat is the best I've ever had - my hubby and I go there occasionally and the whole fam loves it. I like to ask for the bread to be served warm and I'm drooling just thinking about scooping the hummus with meat with the pitas! The meat is tender and flavorful. Dont veer off the path and order the weirdo non- traditional stuff on the menu as I can't vouch for that. Stick with the meats and you'll go home happy as a kid in a candy store.
-
Review from Amani M.
Kearny, NJ
7/6/2010
I cant believe there is even a yelp page for Al-Basha.
When we're shopping in Paterson for bread and get hungry, we know we're going to Al Basha. It's the same stuff mom makes at home, but it gives mom a break when someone else serves it.
Delicious with ample portions.
Consider it middle eastern tapas spot. Super casual. Great for groups.
When it comes to service, understand from the get-go that Middle Eastern service is of its own kind. We are slow, take our time, and we're not tryin to kick you out either. Eat, have some "shay," kick your feet up, watch the soccer game, go home whenever.
Enjoy.Listed in: Places I love
-
Review from Coleena S.
Seattle, WA
4/2/2009 5 photos
This place was by far the most amazing restaurant ever. Perhaps I say this because where I am from we lack 5 star quality Middle Eastern fare, but hands down Albasha is still a 5 star restaurant. The waiter was really a nice fellow, polite and soft spoken. We were seated right away and didn't feel hurried at all.
I shared the following with my best friend and her mother: Hummus, Muhammara, Musabaha, Babaghanoush, Fattoush, Labneh, Kibbeh and Falafel. Take a look at my pictures if you want to see how delicious everything looked. Their mint tea was delicious!
Ok, so let me individualize my review by dish:
The Fattoush salad was really delicious, perfectly seasoned and dressed with plenty of crispy pita pieces, fresh tomatoes and vegetables, very light.
Albasha's Falafel is really crispy and flavorful. Some places lack flavor in their falafel or they taste too greasy. Albasha's is the perfect size and texture.
Kibbeh - I love kibbeh, but I think homemade kibbeh is a little better than this. I am also used to having pine nuts in kibbeh, I don't remember if there were any in theirs, probably chopped up. It was still top of the line, don't get me wrong. I just happen to know someone who makes the best kibbeh in the world. It's hard to match hers. :)
Musabaha - I've never had this before, but oh my Allah. This was probably my favorite dish on the whole table. I continually ate it throughout the whole meal. I know, I know, it's not much different than hummus, just whole chickpeas, but still...there was something creamier and amazing about their Musabaha. I have a new obsession. If you understood my hummus obsession before...you know this is bad, very bad for me to be living so far away from a food source that I crave so much!
Muhammara - This was a first for me also and I have to say, I would have eaten the whole plate's worth if it wasn't across the table. I loved the taste of this red pepper and almond dip. I went home right away and started hunting for recipes.
Labneh - Now labneh for me is special. I love making it, you can't really go wrong with it at all. One thing about a table full of mezze is when your tongue feels a little salty from all the other dishes, you just grab some khubz (bread) and dip it in some labneh and your palate is cooled and refreshed, ready to attack the rest of the dishes again.
Hummus - They're hummus is really really tasty. I consider myself to be a hummus connoisseur, so this is a very good compliment. It's very smooth and not too overpowering as some restaurants can overload the garlic or lemon. Some restuarants lack flavor completely, but not Albasha.
Babaghanoush - I first had babaghanoush when I was 10 and I don't remember being a fan of it, but as I got older eggplant became my favorite vegetable. I haven't had babaghanoush like this EVER. It's so succulent and flavorful that I wanted to lick the bowl.
I really really enjoyed my breakfast at Albasha's. Its unfortunate that I live so far away, but it's probably better for my waistline. I plan to return and try the kousa mahshi which is one of my favorite Middle Eastern dishes, but for now I will stare at my photos and drool...ever missing the delicious food at Albasha. -
Review from dave s.
Hackensack, NJ
10/23/2011
Everything here rocks. The Al Basha Mazza is a huge appetizer sampler of all the good dips and stuff - like 10 things came out. We were pretty full with just the app. Then we shared an Al Basha platter which had all the different kabobs and lamb chops and chicken and what not. we had so much left over we ate for days. Everything was great. My one complaint: whats with the store bought pita in a bag????????? everything else is so crazy authentic and the i get sahara pita in a plastic bag from the local shop rite????? very weird. I can look past that one thing as everything else rocked my world. would have gotten the 5th star if they made their own pita, or least got some from a local middle eastern bakery?????
-
Review from Hussam A.
Rahway, NJ
2/20/2011
great food, especially breakfast / appetizer type stuff ( maybe the best falafel in town) as well as their hummus and foul (fava beans). The service needs improvement. I once went and the table cloth was dirty, i asked them to sit me on another table, it's hard to grab a waiter attention , you have to follow up a few times on your food or specific plates that they may have forgotten ( not sure if they are under staffed or simply not as focused ) this is not recent this is from a while ago.
-
Review from Melanie M.
Newark, NJ
9/1/2010
My family and I just came from here. We usually go to Paterson to go to our fav Peruvian haunt, but for the sake of trying something, we went here. Boy, I'm glad we did! The food here is AMAZING! In my opinion, it is very decently priced (maybe I've been in Chicago too long) and the service was very good. The hummus....YUM! The chicken shawerma...YUM! The mint tea....perfect! The falafel...excellent. I ate GOOD!!!!! Only thing missing was the baklava - they didn't have any. But I was not angry about it...there's like 4 bakeries that sell it within walking distance.
-
Review from DerIck R.
Newark, NJ
Very good, first time at an Arabic restaurant and I really enjoyed it. We had a ton of appetizers not sure of their names, but I do remember sherwarma hummus... Mmm. For my entree I had beef kafta kabob, well seasoned and flavorful. Also had some sorta of chicken soup that was good as well. The wait staff was pretty slow and not very attentive. The food itself though was 4* service was 2* hence... 3*'s!
-
Review from Tina K.
Nanuet, NY
4/20/2011
The food was amazing. The wait staff was a little forgetful and you needed to wave them down for their attention (even though we were some of the only patrons in the restaurant). I had to request a drink three times which was a bit frustrating. But despite the lack of attentiveness, the food has earned the place 4 stars.
Also, there is a guy walking around offering to take pictures of guests in a Fez hat. He's persistent and over priced. Do not let him take your picture because then he will pressure you into buying it for ~$10.
In terms of the food, the falafel was delicious, the shawarma hummus was amazing, as was the Kebe and tabbouleh. I dont know what the other stuff we ordered was called, but everything was worth the visit. I would suggest going with a group of 5+ so that you can order a little of everything.
I will be back. -
Review from Allyson D.
Chicago, IL
12/15/2006
Their kousa mahshi is divine. I love their specials. This place is amazing.
-
Review from Zahi H.
Union City, NJ
8/21/2011
I was excited to eat at al basha after I read about it online and saw its reviews. However, I was extremely disappointed by the very bad service I received today. The worst thing about my experience is that I didn't have a chance to try the food! The waiters didn't want to take my order even after i reminded them twice that i wanted to order. They kept asking me to wait and didnt even ask what i wanted to drink. After sitting there waiting for 15 mins, I finally couldn't take it anymore and just left. Worst customer service I've ever had.
-
Review from Lisa W.
Fair Lawn, NJ
7/26/2010
Tried two Middle Eastern restaurants this weekend: La Ziza in Clifton & Al Basha in Paterson. I spent the better part of the week researching restaurants in this area, hoping to find the cream of the crop. Went to La Ziza first & loved it & just didn't feel that Al Basha was in the same league. The baba ghannoush was BEYOND salty....barely any taste of lemon/garlic, but SALT. We also had the stuffed falafel & they were so spicey I could barely eat them. I didn't think the tabouleh salad was anything to write home about, but the lamb kebabs were pretty good, as was the rice. As a matter of fact, the rice was the best part of the whole meal.
It's a cute place and I didn't have any issues with the service. Maybe it's just me, as most people really seem to like this place, but I'll be paying the price trying to deflate (from the sodium) for a few days, and that's just too high a price to pay for a meal! -
Review from Croapino G.
West Paterson, NJ
7/26/2010
Love Al Basha, especially their hummus. I can eat that entire tray in one seating. We've only done take-outs and the portions are huge. My husband and I can usually make a meal out of one entree and hummus or babaganoush app as a side. Was picking up food during Ramadan and there buffet set up looks so good. I'll have to try that next time. Only negative would be those pickled bright pink radishes they throw in. Never developed a taste for those.
-
Review from Alpesh S.
Morris Plains, NJ
11/22/2009
The food was great and reasonably priced, however we had issues with this restaurant. The waiter brought out bread, olives and pickled beats to the table. We assumed they were condiments that were part of the normal service, since we didn't order them. When we got the bill, we were charged for these items, even though we wouldn't have ordered and barely touched any of them. It was unfortunate to eat a good meal and then feel cheated as we left.
