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Ali Baba Middle Eastern Cuisine
Category: Restaurants Mediterranean Mediterranean [Edit]
175 E Main StNewark, DE 19711
(302) 738-1111
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
44 reviews for Ali Baba Middle Eastern Cuisine
Review Highlights
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"Stuffed grape leaves and hummus are the best." In 3 reviews -
"The hommus with Pita was very good." In 12 reviews -
"The meat literally just falls off the bone." In 3 reviews
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44 reviews in English
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Review from Jennah L.
Edgewater, NJ
5/22/2012
I have a special spot in my heart for Ali Baba for a wonderful reason: introducing me to the world of lamb. Because of its distinctive smell, lamb obviously can be pretty unpleasant to eat when cooked improperly, and it seems uncommon to find people who actually love eating lamb. (Mamoun's Falafel in NYC is an exception though. I will write a review on this one day, but seriously could anything taste bad when you are drunk at 2am?) Nonetheless, lamb is one of my favorite food and I eat lamb whenever I have a chance.
So, what is so special about this cute little restaurant located in Newark, Delaware? Honestly, it's been years since I graduated from UD, but I really have not found any other middle eastern restaurants that make lamb shish kabob better than Ali Baba. It's pretty impressive considering that I have tried eating at numerous middle eastern restaurants located in the heart of New York city, yet nothing really beat Ali Baba. Hmmmmm.... how sad.
Back in the days when I was still a college student, Ali Baba wasn't too well known and rather often empty. By the time I graduated, Ali Baba was packed during dinner times, and there would be a long line of people waiting to be seated. I don't know if it's still busy like that now days, but please be reminded that my review is purely based on my experiences from over 5 years ago!
I haven't tried too many dishes from Ali Baba (because I kept getting the same dishes over and over) but I highly recommend these two dishes:
1) Lamb Shish Kabob ($14) : I love medium-rare steaks, but I always order my lamb medium. The portions at Ali Baba are pretty generous and the lamb cubes are cooked perfectly pink in the middle. I hate it when I order my lamb medium and it actually comes out dark brown - rubbery rock hard. Ali Baba's lamb was extremely juicy and tender, and had absolutely no bad lamb smell whatsoever. It was also perfectly seasoned and not too salty.
2) Moroccan eggplant salad ($7) : When I first ate at Ali Baba and ordered this eggplant salad, I remember the price being $4 or so but now days it is $7. Ouch. This eggplant salad is simply fantastic, and I could eat this every week. Moroccan eggplant salad is chopped eggplant cooked/simmered in oil, tomato, special spices, garlic, etc for hours and mashed later. It is served cold or slightly warm. If you like eggplant, you will love this dish. It tastes almost sweet, but the tomato does not overpower the overall taste balance and the spices and garlic blend perfectly together. With pita bread, this dish is phenomenal, and this dish remains as my favorite eggplant dish of all time.
In conclusion, if you want to try something new and exotic in DE, definitely give Ali Baba a try. Whenever I pass by DE to get to DC these days, I get slightly upset about the fact that I can't stop by Ali Baba! -
Review from Peter C.
Newark, DE
3/25/2012
As an Israeli living in Newark, I like Ali Baba. It is run by Israeli and Lebanese Druze. The food is authentic. Try the Moroccan chicken. Delicious mezze. I believe that the food is halal.
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Review from Annie R.
Manhattan, NY
3/18/2012
I went to UD and starting going to Ali Baba when I was there. The food is so fresh and delicious - particularly the Moroccan Green Salad, Moroccan Chicken, hummus and the wraps (during lunch). The decor is really cozy and fun, and they have hookhas now too. Mango juice is also very yummy. As far as Newark goes, this is something different and fun, especially for a group dinner.
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Review from Robert K.
Newark, DE
2/7/2012
Try the stuffed grape leaves. Note that it isn't usually open for lunch.
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Review from Izzat A.
1/18/2012
Finally got to try this place. Me and the fiance have been wanting to eat here but seemed to always come during closing time. Went here for dinner and it is well worth it. For apps we got the spankopitas (must must get), the lentil soup (very good as well). I got a chicken shawarma sandwich and it was pretty good. Not the best that I've had, but certainly not the worst. She got the chicken kabob skewers and she liked them. You get a ton of food for the price. Service was friendly but seemed a little slow. Will definitely come back here though.
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Review from Mark K.
Wilmington, DE
12/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
One of my favorite restaurant. Food and service are great.
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Review from Emily Z.
Bear, DE
4/18/2011
Service is sometimes spotty, but the food is always great and more than
makes up for it!
Parking can be touchy, but once you figure it out, it's easy. -
Review from Bob D.
Elkton, MD
2/20/2012
Awesome. LOVE the Spicy Moroccan chicken and Baba Ganoush. For dessert you must have the baklava. Ambiance is great, but we usually order as take out. Wish we lived closer, we'd be there weekly.
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Review from Savannah M.
Renton, WA
10/30/2011
I love their Shish Kabobs!
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Review from Yingbo W.
Newark, DE
Updated - 7/11/2011
I must remove a star from my original rating of 4 because I came back here and tried some of their other dishes (bean soup, shrimp kabob, Morocan chicken) and found them all to be subpar. They were all pretty bland dishes. The Morocan chicken was bathed in some oils spice sauce blend and it was heavy on the taste of cumin. The chicken itself had no flavor whatsoever and the sauce did not make up for it. Shrimps were big but tasteless and rubbery. Bean soup was way over priced. $2 for a small bowl of boiled beans and lentils!
Overall this restaurant has some great lamb dishes and some good chicken dishes, but everything else I've tried was bad. This place is a hit or miss.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/21/2011
I've eaten here one 5 different occasions in the past 5 years and I have to say their food and… Read more »
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Review from Kelly C.
Newark, DE
5/31/2011
Excellent place to go and enjoy some authentic middle eastern food. If you like ambiance this is also a great place! Tables and pillows make you feel like you are in Aladdin.
The food is amazing! The waitstaff excellent! We had a great lunch! I well def. return!!! -
Review from Gaz H.
5/10/2011
I wanted to like Ali Baba, but I couldn't. In the end, the kitchen and the front office fundamentally failed to execute. Service is the primary issue; there is something important about how to manage a restaurant that these guys don't get. From the initial greeting by the manager, to being seated at a table we didn't want, to the long long wait for drinks, to the long long wait for food, the service distracted from the dining experience.
Even so, I was waiting for the food to make it all worthwhile. Not to be. Although it was nice to see pastille on the menu (and it was a competent incarnation, although short on the chicken and the nuts) and the tomato and cucumber salad was tasty, the kitchen has problems too. For one, they use the wrong rice and season it poorly. Getting the rice wrong is a big problem when it comes to Middle eastern food. Even the Moroccan chicken - which was nicely cooked with crispy skin and an interesting lemon sauce - failed to excite. The baba ganoush tasted too much like something else - tahini overload. The pita were fine, but neither hot nor compelling.
There was an effort made in the decor of the back dining room. The front room less so and the outside dining area not at all. The men's room reminded me more of...well, let's just say it needed attention.
"Ali Baba" can be a word for thief in Arabic. These folks certainly stole an evening from me. If you like this restaurant, you'll be blown away by a people who actually get it right. Try Marhaba in Lambertville NJ or Baba's Kitchen in Baltimore. -
Review from Abhijit G.
Philadelphia, PA
11/6/2010
Food 4*
Service 3*
Ambiance 4*
The food was pretty good for a restaurant in Newark. I live in CC Philly; so not sure what I wud compare this against. But the Moroccan chkn I had was really good. Rest of the stuff we ordered was avg/ above avg.
The service was pretty bad. We didn't have menus for abt 10 mins after we sat down. No one came in for our orders either until we flagged some1 down.
The ambiance was kinda relaxed and conducive to long conversations.
All in all, pretty good option of u live in the area! -
Review from Mike M.
Wilmington, DE
7/5/2010
Six reviews in, I suppose it's time I award my first five stars to a truly deserving restaurant. I visited Ali Baba's on Main Street, Newark, about a year ago for lunch. I was impressed then and I am again impressed with this Moroccan/Lebanese/Israeli combo of flavor. I am a big fan of the clean, fresh, not-too-heavy flavor this cuisine offers. It's tough finding friends who want to try something outside of the box (the box being your standard and crappy dime-a-dozen chains like Applebee's and Ruby Tuesday's).
A friend with whom I'd been out of touch for some time suggested we meet up for some delectables at Ali Baba's tonight; I didn't argue! I arrived a little early and was seated and served a beverage right away. My friend soon followed and she was served just as quickly. We decided on some appetizers, salads, and would share a main.
We started with the baba ghannouj, an Arabian dish of mashed eggplant with a variety of seasonings. It had an amazingly smoky and piquant flavor, no doubt imparted by the roasting the eggplant went through. Combined with a good amount of tahini (to give it a gorgeous creamy texture) and lemon juice (to cut through the heaviness of the tahini and eggplant), the only other thing to make this dish jump over the top was the generous drizzle of olive oil on top. The pita served with the baba ghannouj could have been a little warmer, but I'm niggling here.
We also ordered the falafel. Now, I've had better falafel, but it generally comes from a city with a population above 1,000,000! For Newark, this falafel was fine. A good, solid crunch on the outside gave way to a tender, savory mix of herbs and chickpeas on the inside. I paired it with some of the carrot and cucumber salad provided along with our main course. With a little yogurt sauce and served on a pita, this was a perfect bite of food.
For our main, we ordered the Moroccan chicken in the lemon and olives style. It would be a challenge to write something critical about this dish because the half-chicken we were served was perfect. Even the white meat (as often as it is overcooked) was beautifully tender and required nothing more than a fork to free it from the bone.
We also ordered the warm Moroccan eggplant salad, an eggplant-y, tomato-y, garlicky amalgamation of flavor. A flavor, explosion, if you will...the meatiness of the eggplant standing up well to the earthiness of the herbs and spices so inherent in Moroccan cuisine.
My friend and I really had an excellent meal. I need to get to Newark more and forget about my severe distaste for its population of obnoxious college kids. If only for restaurants like Ali Baba's, it certainly would make that decision much easier. -
Review from G D.
Wilmington, DE
8/23/2010
Good food, ambience for a great price.
To begin with I was very excited with the ambience of the restaurant. The outside could be very deceiving given whats inside. It has booth like seating outside and inside has more of lounge like seating area. The place was quite crowded given a Sunday evening.
The food is moderately priced, every entrees range around 12$ but the portions were huge. We ordered thinking that the portions would be moderate given the ambience but we when the food arrived realized that we could have ordered one or two less appetizers.
We ordered the hummus and bastilla for appetizers and I have never had such soft pita breads ever.
This is definitely a place I would take friends/family who are visiting if you want to enjoy some good food at a good place. -
Review from Yasmeen F.
Newark, DE
9/23/2008
We've been going to this establishment for a few years now, a quaint, but beautiful restaurant on the main street of the university. Everytime I seem to go, alot has been upgraded to tailor to the needs of their guests which is ever increasing since they first opened.
The food, by no means, has not yet been commercialized... or... dare I say, Americanized by the national standard. They serve the right amount for a decent price, and service is very polite and generous. There has never been a time when I felt rushed by our server, as it is mostly understood that this place, among the cushion-clustered seating arrangement and lively middle eastern music with occasional bellydancing, that they'd prefer you to take your time the moment you settle in.
The chef is no slouch either. Plate presentation is authentic, and it reminds you to eat with your eyes first but just a few bites of your meal and shared portions from that of your companions is really a treat. The food, by popular vote, is extremely good and has not lost it's cultural presence that is also expressed so creatively in the tapestry, dining furniture and music. When you enter this restaurant, you automatically "feel" like you're embraced in the warm welcome of middle eastern hospitality.
So next time, take your date, a few friends or your family and try something new. It'll be worth it. -
Review from Billy C.
NJ
8/29/2007
My friend and I went to Ali Baba based on several recommendations by local Delawarians.
Nice place with lots of Middle Eastern arts and designs.
What we ordered:
1. Ali Baba's Hommus w/ Pita - $6
2. Spinach Pie - $4
3. Ali Baba's Salad with Feta (Friend) - $7
4. Dajaj Mashwy - Home-style baked chicken - $11
The hommus with Pita was very good.
I didn't like the Spinach pie that much because there was a lemon type sourness to it. As for the baked chicken, it was served on a bed of rice with a side of hommus. The baked chicken was so tasty and tender. The meat literally just falls off the bone. Very good dish.
Service was good. Would've been nice if they took away the empty dishes. Seemed short staffed that night.
Mastercard and Visa only.
Free Parking lot in back of restaurant.
Update: 09/12/2007
-------------------------------------------------- ----------------
Other delicious dishes of note: Raising this place from 4 stars to 5 stars
- Baba Ghanuj - $4.00
- Morrocan Chicken (Spicy) - $13.00
- Mujadara (Vegetarian) - $7.00
- Kafta Kabob (Ground Beef) - $11.00 -
Review from Momo J.
Newark, DE
1/2/2009
Just the hummus and fatoush salad are worth coming here for!
As soon as you're seated you start to forget that you're even in Delaware. The colors, motifs, and seating is nicely done giving a warm, casual, exotic feeling. This is a great place to bring a date, come with friends, or just to have a satisfying meal. Start off with a couple of appetizers (did I mention the hummus and fatoush!). You can't really go wrong with anything on the menu.
A very welcomed destination away from the ordinary! -
Review from Natalie M.
Philadelphia, PA
1/26/2009
I really can't say enough good things about Ali Baba's... I never really realized just how often I came there when I was in college at UD (1998-2002). It must have been a lot more frequently than I remember, because even though I only make the trip to Newark about once or twice a year now, they STILL remember me and treat me like a VIP. Not only do you get 5 star service, but the food and the ambiance is amazing.
I was always a fan of Casablanca (their sister restaurant in DE) before Ali Baba's opened, and I certainly didn't think anything could improve on their 7 course meal. Much to my surprise, this restaurant definitely did! Being able to order all of my favorites from Casablanca ala carte AND choose from a ton more dishes really did the trick! Now when I go, I tend to order a bunch of the salads and appetizers and just make a meal of them, but you definitely won't go wrong ordering entrees.
It's a great place for a group dinner as well; they are great about taking reservations and the benches and low tables in the back make for a great group setting, plus they don't rush you. They also now have a liquor license, which is pretty awesome. All in all, I have only glowing compliments to give! Ali Baba is one of the few reasons I wish I still lived in Newark... -
Review from Tom G.
Wilmington, DE
1/8/2012
Great chicken kebabs as long as you don't mind sitting amongst college kids who are too cool for school and occasionally their not so cool parents. Great service, great food and try the nectar fruit drinks!
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Review from Siobhan S.
Penns Grove, NJ
7/26/2011
I miss Ali Baba's & writing my review makes me miss him & his amazing falafel that much more :-(
I haven't lived in New Jersey for about 3 months, but when I did, I would drive the 23 miles (ONE WAY), just to go to Ali Baba's. I would plan my trips to the Newark dog park around the restaurant's schedule. In fact, I came back for a visit (I now live in Vermont) and drove past my grandfathers house in NJ straight through to DE to get my falafel fix first. It's that good. It's not super salty like so many other places I've tried. It's never been burnt or under-cooked. The spices in the falafel are the best I've ever had. I always get it with tzatziki and tahini sauce and they never charge me the full amount. I love the toppings they put on it. Everything about this thing is amazing and I'm going to try to go next time I'm in NJ (for a wedding....maybe I'll skip out on the food at the reception and hit up Ali Baba's instead...) -
Review from Stefan E.
Long Beach, CA
8/19/2011
Awesome chicken shwarma pita! Quick service, open late and great value!
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Review from Dan W.
San Francisco, CA
8/3/2010
I was excited by the atmosphere walking into Ali Baba- they asked us if we wanted a booth or table. We responded table and were ushered into a very comfortable lounge area- clearly where you used to be able to smoke hookah and lounge about.
Opening the menu was, well, disappointing. You see, we had arrived for dinner excepting that dinner in a college town would have reasonably priced options, but despite plenty of cheap "LUNCH AND CARRYOUT ONLY" options, we were stuck with the mostly $12 and up dinner plates.
I opted for the beef kabob, and was treated to two large sticks of meat and a massive pile of rice. I found the seasoning on the rice and meat to be unimpressive and bland- but thankfully the yogurt sauce helped me to accentuate my meal. I felt like most of my meal was derived from the basket of seemingly bottomless pita bread.
As one of my dining companions just noted out loud, "Maybe we just got the wrong thing". She, like a previous reviewer, got the baba ghanoush- but missed out on her opportunity to be reminded of Seinfeld. -
Review from May S.
North East, MD
5/24/2011
Good local place. Pretty consistent good food. Prices are reasonable. Nice menu with vegetarian choices, in addition to the chicken and other meats. Cozy atmosphere. Parking is a little tight as they have a shared lot with other local merchants - free if you can find a spot, otherwise expect to walk a ways. The only reason I can't give it 100% is because service is often very slow, even when it's not very busy. I'd go much more often if I could trust service to be faster.
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Review from rex x.
Newark, DE
7/17/2011
best staff/service: quick, kind, and attentive
phenomenal food: great portions & unique flavors
and cool atmosphere!
if your looking for a unique dining experience in Newark, Ali Baba's is the place to be! -
Review from Katy E.
Smyrna, DE
5/31/2011
This is one of my favorite restaurants.The hummus and baba ganouj are delicious, and the stuffed grape leaves and falafel are amazing. The spinach pie is good too.
I usually get the vegetarian platter or the Dajaj Mashwy. The Dajaj Mashwy chicken is moist, tender, and flavorful. It just about falls off the bone. Make sure you order it with hummus and tabouli on the side instead of rice; you don't want to miss out on the hummus here! -
Review from Stephen M.
Newark, DE
2/6/2011
I've only ever done take out here, but it's good food and good value. I normally get either a doner or a kebab - both are good and I've tried a few different varieties. Hummus is another winner - if you do take out, you'll get enough pita bread to feed an army.
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Review from Julia W.
Ridgewood, NJ
8/11/2010
This is not a review of the food.
My boyfriend and I enjoyed a great hookah session of mixed berry ($18 - I think). The wait staff was cordial and accommodating, especially since they were closing up the inside restaurant area. The outside seating at night in the summer was packed but still relaxing. They also had a great $3 any-beer offer. -
Review from Eugene H.
Rockville, MD
3/4/2009
The staff here are very friendly and helpful. I came here with my co-workers and everything we got was delicious.
I got the baked chicken and the meat was very tender and fell right off the bone. It comes with tasty rice and makes for a nice dinner. One of my co-workers got Baba Ghanoush since it reminded him of Seinfeld, and it wasn't what we expected, but still worth a try.
The atmosphere and seating arrangement is so unique from any other restaurant in the area. That, plus the extensive menu choices makes this place worth a try. -
Review from Jim O.
Aventura, FL
4/2/2011
Order the Moroccan Chicken. You won't be sorry. And if you are so inclined, the front porch is the ideal location for an after meal hookah session.
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Review from Sara O.
Yorklyn, DE
1/25/2009
Hubba yumma, just go!
1. They finally got a booze license.
2. Takeout is quick and reliable.
3. They are nice to kiddos.
BUT. A bit noisy on weekend nights.
4. Bastilla.
5. Moroccan roast chicken (spicy or lemon).
6. Any appetizer.
BUT do not get a house cocktail--they have some crazy, undelicious ones that might ruin your buzz. -
Review from Samantha Q.
New York, NY
12/11/2008
The best Middle Eastern food I've ever had in my entire life. I used to go here when I went to boarding school, and I've since been going to college in NYC and I can tell you that there is not Middle Eastern restaurant in NYC (and there are a lot) that is better than Ali Baba's.
Even with all of the good food here, I constantly find myself saying, "God, I wish Ali Baba's was right here in NYC!" Everything I've had here has been awesome. Here are my favorites though.
Baba Ghanoush/ Baba Ghanuj
Lamb Kebab
Chicken Kebab
Moroccan Chicken
Samosa Fingers
They also have absolutely amazing falafel, and baklava. The salads are good too. Everything is good. The portions are very generous. -
Review from Roger G.
Wilmington, DE
1/18/2011
This is my fifth visit. Whenever I'm in Newark, usually attending a play at the Chapel Street Theatre, I dine here. The food is well prepared, the portions are not overwhelming. You'll enjoy fine Mid-Eastern cuisine, attractive ambience, friendly and accommodating service. This is not a fast-food joint, instead a place for leisurely dining. Ordering a home-made soup or a starter, which arrives soon enough, you'll not notice if your entrée doesn't rush to the table. Of special note: there is no attempt to rush you out. And the baklava is loaded with pistachios; don't pass it by.
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Review from Jeffrey K.
Falkville, AL
8/14/2010
What a great little place. I was traveling through Newark DE for some work and found this great place. I have never done a Middle Eastern place but this was just great. The food was very flavorful and the portion sizes were very generous, all matched with very reasonable price. I had the baked chicken and rice. On top of all that the atmosphere was really authentic.
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Review from Sana M.
New Castle, DE
4/19/2011
The food at this place is fantastic with a great ambiance as well. Only downside, service is often very slow. Especially once you're finished eating, it can take too long to get your check.
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Review from Connie C.
Philadelphia, PA
6/18/2011
I love this place. The owners are so friendly and the hookah is great! The food is delicious. I am a frequent customer of this restaurant.
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Review from Musin Y.
Newark, DE
2/26/2007
The lamb wraps are delicious with a cool tahini sauce. I've also tried the chicken pastry dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar and it basically tastes just as weird as it sounds.
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Review from Ric S.
Delray Beach, FL
3/20/2010
Found this via Yelp- thanks. Two beers, baked chicken, rice and more pita than I could eat for under $20. I'd come again.
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Review from Thomas K.
Newark, DE
8/22/2010
My experience with Middle Eastern food is decidedly limited. I've had it maybe 2 or 3 times total. However, I can say that Ali Baba's is a great restaurant even if you're not familiar with the menu, just be sure to go with someone who is. I recently visited Ali Baba's on a Friday for lunch with 14 people (we had reservations). The staff were very friendly and seated us in the back room right away, where they have couch-style seating. The decor and music are appropriately Middle Eastern (or so it seemed to me). For appetizers, we sampled the Ali Baba's hummus, and two other dishes that I forgot the name of, but they were some sort of potato roll and the other was a cinnamon pastry-type dish. All three were tasty and great for sharing. The rest of the menu is very extensive, and the prices are very reasonable. I got a lamb pita wrap for $6, and I think the most expensive thing there is only $15! The lamb was tender and marinated in some kind of sauce, and the other ingredients tasted fine. Others in my group who got kabobs said that they enjoyed the meal. Finally, we got baklava for dessert, and it was probably the best I've had! The only minor complaint I have is that sometimes service is a little slow, I only saw two people waiting tables. But I would definitely recommend Ali Baba's to anyone whether they like Middle Eastern food or they've never tried it.
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Review from Ramsey H.
Newark, DE
10/12/2009
You will be hard pressed to find better Middle Eastern food without traveling to Philadelphia. I've gone here with friends, dates, and by myself, and have always been very happy afterwards.
I'm half Arab and grew up with most of the food they serve. I've tried hummus from just about every place in Newark (Iron Hill, Homegrown, Pita Pit, UD) and they're all junk compared to Ali Baba. I can honestly say that the only hummus I've had that I thought was better was my mothers. As far as the kebab, chicken, and falafel go, I haven't had anything like Ali Baba since I was last in Amman, Jordan.
I've tried most of the stuff on their menu and it's all delicious. I'm a big fan of lebne (thick yogurt) and if I was going to recommend something that people haven't tried before that would be it.
I believe the owners are Lebanese, and I think almost all of the staff is also. As a result they know Arabic food. They are very friendly and take service very seriously.
They also serve hookah (nargila) on the front patio. This is very popular amongst college students. While I generally skip the hookah, since I have my own, I've always been happy with the quality of their hookahs and shisha. Besides they're the only place in Newark with hookah.
I only have one complaint about Ali Baba. The decor. It has the spirit of a Middle Eastern restaurant, and I'm sure most people find it really fun and different. But if you're used to seeing authentic Middle Eastern decor and construction, you might find it a bit tacky. This is pretentious nit-picking on my part.
Funnily enough when a friend of mine was visiting from Palestine he went to Ali Baba, and told me that he was surprised how good the food was. That being said, he had no desire to go back there, since he wanted to eat American food (Burgers and Hot Dogs).
