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Ali Baba Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Turkish Turkish
212 E 34th St(between 3rd Ave & Tunnel Exit St)
New York, NY 10016
Neighborhoods: Midtown East, Murray Hill, Kips Bay
(212) 683-9206
- Nearest Transit:
-
33 St (4, 6, 6X)
28 St (4, 6, 6X)
Grand Central - 42 St (7, 7X)
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Eddie H. said: "Pasha has some amazing dishes, many of which feature an array of flavors and ingredients that at first thought, I thought I would not like. But they have proven me wrong and I am a fan. Portion sizes are very generous for the price tag…" read more »
151 reviews for Ali Baba Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"Also, I would recommend sigara boregi and lahmacun (aka..." In 5 reviews -
"Chicken Adana and lamb doner kababs are real hits." In 5 reviews -
"The hummus was delicious - smooth and flavorful." In 22 reviews
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151 reviews in English
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Review from Maggie Y.
Woodside, NY
4/14/2012
This place is about a block from where I work, but I've never been. Today a friend suggested we go there for dinner.
We had quite a big party but they were very accommodating. We only had to wait about 10 minutes and were promptly seated. The hostess was great in letting us know when we will be seated and gave us all menus to look through while we waited. We ordered 3 appetizers to share: zucchini pancakes, fried liver cubes, and a caviar spread.
The warm bread basket was great. The bread was doughy and chewy and warm. It went very well with the caviar spread. The caviar spread was not at all fishy, it was very creamy and went extremely well with the bread. The zucchini pancakes were crispy, but they should have taken it off the pan a couple of minutes earlier. The grilled liver cubes were good.
I had the Abana kebab which is ground lamb made into skewers and grilled to perfection. It comes with pita bread, rice, and a small salad. Every grilled dish comes with a grilled tomato and grilled jalapeño pepper. The lamb skewers were cooked just right and were absolutely delicious eaten with the rice and grilled tomato and salad. The salad was tangy and goes so well with the lamb. Loved the dish.
This place was packed the whole time we were there and people were still coming in when we left a round 9:30. Definitely a good sign when you eat at a restaurant. -
Review from Sally A.
Ozone Park, Queens, NY
5/14/2012
-nice atmosphere
-good service
-food was not tasty, my kofte lamb kabab was hard and not juicy at all-lacked flavor
-the only good part of the dish was the side of rice.
ive had A LOT better middle eastern food. Will not be returning. -
Review from Cynthia M.
Long Island City, NY
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Extra star since manager/owner is so nice!
Came here for lunch today and I must say they have a really good lunch special. For $10.95 you get an appetizer and an entree of your choice. I had the cacik and manti and my friend had the hummus and chicken adana. Their hummus is quite tasty and they provide warm bread to go with it. The cacik is nice, but I think I would probably try something different next time.
For the entrees, the manti were tender little lamb dumplings which were so comforting and yummy in their yogurt sauce. Probably best to have on a cold winter or fall day. The chicken adana was tasty but a tiny bit dry so save some of the sauce from the appetizer to go with it. Overall though, this is a cute and friendly place great if you are craving some Turkish cooking. -
Review from Hulya K.
Chesterfield, MO
5/23/2012
I guess this is one of the most popular Turkish restaurant in NYC, but I was not impressed by neither the food nor the service. Food was very chewy and had almost no taste to it, we were there at around 3:30pm and they were out of doner (gyro), this was a big disappointment, also. Also who serves bread without either butter/olive/cheese? Here, they just give you bread, negative point for me. Service was very slow as well, I will not go back to this place again. Turkish kitchen is definitely a better option!
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Review from Tina A.
Plainview, NY
5/25/2012
WE love this palce. I don't understand!! It's such a great place and they have great service.
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Review from Pirle P.
Manhattan, NY
4/23/2012
Classic Go-To Turkish Food --- I love Ali Baba.
It remains one of my favorite restaurants and is a great place for a date or a family dinner. I always know that I will have a decent meal and great service when I come to Ali Baba.
In the past 10-ish years, this place has changed significantly - it's become a sit-down restaurant and the prices have risen significantly. Anyone who goes there now would never believe that, at one point, it was just a solid, quality place to get a falafel sandwich and pide ("turkish pizza). But, it (like the neighborhood itself) has changed.
I may not be a fan of the fake frescos on the wall but, overall, it really is a wonderful place and a nice treat for takeout. Like indian food, turkish food is a little pricey. If I could, I would give it 3 3/4 (3 1/2 for the food and 1/4 for the dependable pleasantry). -
Review from David S.
4/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Big portions, friendly people, happy paitrons...but really not the best turkish food to be found...the doner was disappointing. The chicken kabob and lentil soup on the other hand was nice.
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Review from Justin C.
Manhattan, NY
4/10/2012
Above average Turkish Cuisine. Ate a bunch of stuff that I probably wouldn't have if it wasn't so good. The app plater with hummus and eggplant and a bunch of other dips is top notch. Everything is really fresh and tasty.
The chicken kebab with rice is one of the better renditions in the city. Big, tender chunks of chicken, seasoned and charred to perfection. Really good stuff. -
Review from Matt B.
ASTORIA, NY
2/4/2012
Came here for dinner once on a Saturday night. The place was pretty packed and we had to wait for almost 30 minutes before we were seated at our table. There was not much space to sit and wait by the entrance, very narrow and a lot of people waiting around. I noticed several portraits of Kemal Ataturk and other well known people on the walls.
Even though the restaurant was full we got served quickly enough and had waiters that were attentive. I usually have lamb at Turkish restaurants, but this time decided to have some shrimps. They were good, but still lacked something, not enough flavour to make the dish excellent, and there was too much lettuce blended into the dish, I would have rather preferred some other kind of vegetables.
I might consider coming here again, but overall I like other Turkish restaurants better, like Turkish Kitchen or Turkish Grill in Sunnyside, Queens. -
Review from Michelle M.
Denver, CO
11/26/2011
My boyfriend and I sought out Ali Baba after two of our Turkish friends independently recommended it for its authenticity and high quality.
To be honest, it was damn good. We ordered Hunkar Begendi and the homemade Manti. The Hunkar Begendi was good, not great, but my boyfriend ate up every last bit, declaring it one of the best comfort foods he's ever had. It was my first time trying Manti and I will DEFINITELY come back to Ali Baba just for this delicate, yet comfy dish.
The service was some of the best I've experienced in New York. The entire wait team was very courteous and kind. Our waiter went out of his way to make sure that we understood the differences in the dishes and that we were ordering exactly what we wanted (I initially asked if they served halep kebap - they didn't but he helped me find a similar alternative). Definitely 5 stars for service.
The only reason they don't get 5 stars overall is the dessert was very, very good, but not fall out of your seat amazing. Same goes for the mixed appetizer.
P.S. If you DO have dessert, order the Turkish tea. :) -
Review from Annette M.
New York, NY
10/31/2011
Just to be clear, this review is for delivery only.
I want to give Ali Baba four stars. I really, really do. The doner sandwich is absolutely fantastic - tender, flavorful lamb on a fantastically soft bread. The falafel is practically perfect in every way (especially the sauce) and, like every Mediterranean/Middle Eastern restaurant worth its salt, the hummus is creamy and delicious. Oh, and delivery is always speedy.
So, why only three stars? Take a look at the menu and check out the prices for salads - no, you aren't hallucinating, Ali Baba really does charge $17 for a basic (and, quite frankly, sub-par) salad with chicken or lamb. The phrase "highway robbery" comes to mind.
Overall, Ali Baba is a solid choice - but order salad at your own risk.Listed in: Phone It In
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Review from Neelam P.
2/10/2012
Wasn't a huge fan of Ali Baba. I ordered the Turlo and while it was a good portion size, the flavors didn't really come together (for me). Maybe I just ordered the wrong thing. There are tons of meat options so carnivores will probably be in heaven.
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Review from El Q.
Philadelphia, PA
12/3/2011
Had the lunch special after this place was recommend by the Voice and yelp. I was pretty unimpressed. The appetizers were decent, but the meals were quite small. One piece of meat (which was pretty tasty), rice, and a salad. All three of us got different lamb dishes, but they all tasted pretty much the same.
I'm pretty sure the highlight of this place is the celebrity photo wall. Sup Padma Lakshmi!?! -
Review from Jando S.
8/1/2011
There is no shortage of Turkish places in NYC, good places can be scored in all corners of the boroughs. Ali Baba falls somewhere in between solid and amazing, making this place a decent choice almost every time. The food is good, the ambiance is lively, and the service is accommodating.
The first time around I came here with a large group for a bachelor party dinner one that was setup in the middle of the room just perfect for 14 people. That feat alone is amazing, considering how cramped it feels in here. The tables and seats are all situated a bit close together, but they've done a decent job at maximizing space while allowing for lanes of waiter traffic. The wait was a little on the long side, but good company kept it from being unbearable.
Once the food was served, it was a feast worth repeating. A hearty meal perfect for all hungry people and the kind that left you paralyzed from a food coma that comes with a smile. The stuffed cabbage (Lahana Dolmasi), mixed grill, ground lamb (Kefte Kebab), chicken adana, ali baba stuffed dough (Pide), were fantastic. From recent repeated visits, I can safely say these dishes are almost fail proof (#1).
Prices are going to be a tad higher for this part of town. For an appetizer + entree, be prepared to pay upwards of $30 with tax and tip and most group dinners will likely result in $50 per person from a sampling of entrees not including dessert, coffee (which is super strong here!), or alcohol.
In the end, it's still a great place for group dinners and certainly an interesting dining experience for the untrained Turkish palate. Come hungry and enjoy the occasional weekend belly dancers.
_______
(#1) I think I just set myself up.Listed in: Cawfee (NYC)
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Review from Hani J.
New York, NY
4/10/2012
the food is good, but most people i know think its great. my beef with this place is from their liberal use of garlic. turkish food should not be this garlicky. their deserts score very low in terms of authenticity and quality. if you decide to go, my advice is not to forget the mints!
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Review from Jermaine A.
Manhattan, NY
1/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Comfortable settings, nice service, pretty good food with a decent price, nothing really seem out of place everything was right with the world lol.
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Review from Saleh M.
New Orleans, LA
2/18/2012
I absolutely love this place. If you want the best Turkish cuisine outside of turkey this is the place. The only negative is its in manhattan and parking is a game of luck. The meat is fresh the bread is fresh. I have nothing bad to say.
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Review from Alexandra C.
New York, NY
8/19/2011
Different stars for different dishes and I like to think perhaps we just ordered the wrong things? Maybe that is why this restaurant, which my Turkish friend says is her favorite in Manhattan, just wasn't all that good?
First off - the appetizer or the sampling of eggplant, yogurt type dip, humus, etc. was excellent. 5 stars.
My dish was the octopus salad, which was really quiet awful. Tough, chewy, not at all tasty. 1 star
Bf liked his lamb kebab dish. Personally I didn't care for the taste of the lamb. He said it should have been more tender.
The rice served on the side was absolutely delicious.
Perhaps the chicken kebabs with the yogurt sauce is the way to go next time? Although there won't be a next time for dinner. (maybe lunch). Their prices are WAY too high for what you get and portions not too generous. We both agreed for what you are paying there for dinner, just not worth it. -
Review from Tom L.
Clayton, CA
10/30/2011
Not sure what happened here- but the falafels were really oily and smelly- maybe in need of some fresh oil. The lamb and chicken kebabs were decent but not the tenderest and could have used some more seasoning. Salads were small and needed salt- seasoning- anything...
But they were very friendly and the space is longer that what you would expect from the outside. -
Review from Karyna K.
New York, NY
7/1/2011
I don't know how to belly dance, even though I've tried numerous times, but the authentic food at this place makes me want to jiggle my hips Turkish style.
The food doesn't get any better than this. If I could give them 10 stars I would!
I've been here on numerous occasions as well as having food delivered and they have never failed me.
The lamb and chicken skewers are something I could have every night and never get sick of...and the rice which comes with the meal is the best G damn rice I've ever tasted!
Don't let the outside of the restaurant fool you - the food is 5 star!! -
Review from d d.
New York, NY
11/8/2011
I went here about 10 years ago and been back regularly 1-2 time a year. It used to be cheap but that was a long time ago, now it's kinda ritzy. Food is always good, spicy and tasty. Usually large portions and service is pretty good...
good to bring lots of people and split the dishes
good for intimate dates too -
Review from T. F.
New York, NY
4/7/2012
What's happened? Returned after an absence of 3-4 months and while the service remained unchanged --warm, cheerful, attentive-- the food we were served had definitely slipped. Less assertive seasoning (bland roasted eggplant, bland kebabs, bland lahmajun, etc., etc.) and slipshod presentation. The Efes beer was its usual terrific but something seemed to have gone terribly wrong in the kitchen during our (2 people) most recent visit.
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Review from Anupam J.
Jersey City, NJ
7/27/2011
The place has delicious food. I being a vegeterian was a bit skeptical about what kind of food i would get there... but in the end i just could not get enough of the food there. My friends ordered non-veg which i'm told was equally good.
It's a very nice place with good ambience and great food and it not too heavy on the wallet.
Must go if you are a food lover. -
Review from Sara U.
4/24/2011
I ordered takeout from this place as I perused Netflix Instant movies looking for something decent to watch (why is everything on Netflix Instant 10 years old and starring Julia Roberts? Conspiracy?). After spending about an hour trying to figure out what restaurant Seamlessweb was going to charge me for while simultaneously denying my coupon code, I finally came along Ali Baba. I started to get confused since I had Ali Baba on my Seamlessweb and Mystic Pizza on Netflix... seems as though it should be reversed. Alas, I did not watch Mystic Pizza, don't worry, but I did order some Ali Baba.
Felt like trying a couple different things with the hopes of saving enough to not have to make dinner for a few months... so I ordered the Sigare something and the Chicken Kabob something. I'm too lazy to find out the exact names so just deal.
The sigare stuff was phyllo-rolled feta. I Love feta. I love phyllo. Reminds me of spanakopita minus the nutrient-drained cooked spinach. However, I felt as though the feta was a little too salty in this case, so I admittedly only ate one and threw the rest out.
The chicken kabob stuff was on top of croutons. The croutons were pretty soggy so I didn't really eat any of those (they are in sauce though so I understand the sog). However, the chicken was amazing - so tender and flavorful. The sauce is like a tomato-based sauce and was equally flavorful. The best part about the meal was the bread that came with it, though - and it was huge!
Oh btw - I believe the bread comes standard with it. Don't be overly anxious like me and worry that you won't get bread so you end up ordering it as a side - I have enough bread to last me until next Passover when my box of Matzoh from 2005 will make its return. -
Review from Amit A.
Jersey City, NJ
1/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
We came here for their lunch menu which is $10.95 and totally worth it. The hummus and the doner kebab were really good.
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Review from Erica B.
Astoria, NY
2/9/2011
For an average-sized restaurant, it can fit a good number of people without sitting on top of each other The staff was friendly and welcoming.
I came with a large group. We ordered hummus for the table which was great! As my meal I ordered the Chicken Kebab. The lunch special is $10.95. You select one of the entrees from a list they provide plus an appetizer or soup or salad. Pretty good deal since the Chicken Kebab alone is normally $14.95. The portions are huge! It also came with a side of rice.
Great for the lunch deal!Listed in: Meals in Midtown, NYC
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Review from Sneha J.
Manhattan, NY
11/26/2011
Went here for lunch. The lunch specials are really awsome, awesomer if u r a meat lover. Chicken Adana and lamb doner kababs are real hits.... Also do try the cucumber pancakes. Side of rice (read super tasty rice) and the kababs......mmm sooo yum. Cant wait to go back!
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Review from Yelena Y.
Philadelphia, PA
11/9/2011
I was really craving this kind of food, and thankfully they were open and do delivery. I got the lamb kabob and it was so damn good. Even after enduring the journey over to our place, it was delicious. It came with vegetables and I'm pretty sure I remember having rice too. I devoured the whole thing in a few minutes and thinking about it makes me want to relive that meal. The lamb was tender and flavorful. Usually the stuff that comes on the side is just ok, but at this place it went together SO well, especially with the grilled vegetables. MMM!!!
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Review from Margaret T.
New York, NY
4/8/2011
So, I have to say, I don't like lamb. No, I hate lamb. I don't like the gamy taste of it so I try to avoid it whenever possible. Not to say I won't eat and appreciate a good piece of un-gamey lamb but, ugh, that dirt-like stinky taste....
So.
Came here with my coworkers for lunch a while ago. The three of us all ordered the lunch prix fix which lets you choose one appetizer and one entree from a limited menu for $11. I got Most of the entree choices were lamb so I had decided on the chicken kebab and the eggplant (with sauce!) as my appetizer....until I spoke with the waiter....big mistake. He suggested that I order the Kofte Kebab, promising that it was NOT GAMEY AT ALL. Well, guess what. It's gamey! Very gamey. Poops.
Luckily, my coworkers wanted dessert and we ordered some baklava which was pretty good. Still doesn't make up for the promises of ungamey lamb. humph. -
Review from Jordan J.
5/31/2011
I've ordered from here a few times (always delivery so far), and Ali Baba keeps coming through. Until now I had stuck with more standard plain grilled meat with rice type stuff - I believe I had the doner kebab and the kofte kebab, which were both well marinated and good, but not super memorable.
This time I decided to mix it up a bit and got the yogurtlu shish kebab, which is served on top of some bread croutons and doused in a yogurt/tomato sauce. I also went with an order of the sigara boregi, because I saw a few other reviewers mentioned that it was good, and how can I say no to warm feta in phyllo dough (Hint: I can't)?
I really liked the sigara boregi - the phyllo was light and crunchy, and the feta was still warm and just melty enough, even though this was delivery.
The yogurtlu shish kebab, meanwhile, was delicious. The meat itself was as juicy and well-marinated as the other things I've gotten here, and the yogurtlu sauce was REALLY good. Creamy, a bit sweet, rich, and tangy. Perhaps best of all, though, was the bottomless absorptive capacity of the croutons that they put in. Oh man......those things turned into landmines of deliciousness that gave an extra-concentrated explosion of sauce with each bite. Fantastic.
This place offers good prices on their sandwiches, but when you're looking at their dinner fare it starts to fall more into the category of "real sit-down dinner place" prices than "get some quick food/delivery" prices (though I did get enough food to reasonably split into a couple of meals). Very solid choice for delivery in Kips Bay/Murray Hill, and I'd imagine that it's just as good as an eat-in venue (hopefully will find that out for myself soon enough!).Listed in: Bips Kay/Hurray Mill
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Review from Al K.
ASTORIA, NY
3/16/2012
One of my favorite Turkish restaurants. I liked their Turkish pie ( lahmacun) and Iskender.
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Review from Seth M.
5/22/2011
I went here with my extended family for a sort of mini-reunion and to meet some distant relatives I didn't remember cause I haven't seen them in years. Luckily, our family at the time we met were the only ones there since we can be a loud and boisterous group as we share memories of past times and those who have left.
Being the group we are, we like to eat. Therefore, we ordered just a whole bunch of dishes and shared everything. The food was all amazing and delicious not a single thing I ate was bad and I could have ate a lot more.
We had the Grilled and Fried Calamari, Salmon inside Grape Leaves, Chicken Kebab, Steak Kebab, stuffed cabbage and more stuff I can't recall.
If you are looking for great Mediterranean/Turkish food I highly recommend this place. The service was wonderful and the staff was friendly and happy to take a whole bunch of photos for us as we re-united. -
Review from Elliot N.
5/12/2011
On a mission to try different cuisine, we stopped in to Ali Baba on 34th street to try our hand at Turkish. Like Ethos, Ali BABA delivered. NYLON!
Started off with some of the best grape leaves I've ever had. They were different than what I'm used to. Sweeter. Had chopped pine nuts in them as well. Delicious. Then some cheese and parsley wrapped in some Turkish dough which was phenomenal. I asked the waitress for a recommendation since it was my first experience in a Turkish spot and she recommended the lamb kebab. Unreal lamb. So much better than the STREET CART. I love the street cart too, so you can imagine how good this was. I washed everything down with a cool, refreshing Efes pilsener.
Modest prices, very good food, friendly service. Will actively search for more Turkish places from now on thanks to Ali Baba. -
Review from Saira K.
10/24/2011
This is one of my favorite Turkish restaurants outside of Turkey. The sigara boreki and hummus are great appetizers, and while the kebabs are perfect, my favorite here are the pides. The only other place I've enjoyed Turkish food so much - Istanbul and Ephesus.
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Review from John R.
New York, NY
11/21/2011
good Turkish food. I just have super high standards for Turkish food.
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Review from Alexandra K.
Astoria, NY
3/4/2011
After seeing The Fighter in Kips Bay, my friend Dennelle and I were hungry, and I have been in the mood for Middle Eastern food, and so we opted for Ali Baba. I wasn't thrilled with the attitude of the staff - not very friendly, and there was a caviar spoon on my seat, but the food was great. We had labneh as an appetizer with their delicious Turkish bread. Dennelle had some sort of chicken kabob dish and I did the turlu, which was a mixed vegetable, tomato-based stew. Both dishes were served with a rice pilaf, but mine was better without the rice.
The tomato broth was really very savory and decadent, and the vegetables were all perfectly cooked.
If we had dined a bit earlier, I'm almost positive the servers would have been nicer, because they were getting ready to close, but still, I think they shouldn't have seated us if that was the case.
I loved the ode to Michael Bloomberg on their Ali Baba wall of fame. -
Review from Felix L.
New York, NY
3/9/2011
Summary: Fairly inexpensive, tasty Turkish food - perfect for lunch!
Thanks to a co-worker's recommendation, I dropped by Ali Baba today for lunch and was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant is situated along a row of restaurants on 34th street (just east of 3rd ave) so it's easy to overlook it - but do yourself a favor and make sure to look out for it. The lunch menu comes with either an appetizer (or salad if I remember correctly) and then a kebab dish. I ordered the spicy lamb kebab which came with a small portion of rice, salad, and a somewhat spicy pepper. All told - a very yummy meal that came out to just under 14 dollars including tax and tip. Appetizers were pretty good - especially if you're into dipping bread into various yogurts and sauces.
Highly recommend this place for a trip during lunch time. -
Review from Derek Z.
New York, NY
10/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Nice food, nice service, reasonable price! Will come again!
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Review from Andrew H.
New York, NY
8/28/2010 1 Check-in Here
Ali Baba is my favorite Turkish restaurant in the city. Among the huge selection of lamb dishes, I recommend the Doner and the Beyti Kebab. The hummus is excellent.
The price is reasonable and the portions are generous. The service is good. -
Review from Christine Q.
New York, NY
3/19/2008
Currently my fave turkish restaurant in the city.
My fave kebab is the beyti kebab - chopped flavorful spicy lamb - it is excellant here, nicely charred and juicy. I thought I tasted some goods ones before but this one tops all. The bread is always soft and warm and never runs out. The salads are refreshing. The baklava is a plus++ here. The eggplant dishes are yummy. The kofte hot apps are savory. And the chicken and doner kebabs are also great delicious choices. I have nothing negative to say.
It's always busy but the waiters are attentive and quick. The manager seems odd to me sans warm and inviting.
Pricey? Hell no.
