Lakror’Ane — Restaurant in Tirana Municipality

I really contemplated writing a review on this place because I was really torn about my experience dining here. Just based on food this is a relatively good place in my opinion. There were some starters that stood out, and the dough was good, some fillings better than others such as spinach. However if you have ever spent any significant time in any Eastern European country the flavors will not seem revolutionary to you. Although I do appreciate that I got to taste Albanian flavors I don’t think these were executed as well as they could’ve been. If you are familiar with these flavors you know how much they can be elevated, especially when they are cooked at home. Since this restaurant’s premise relies on the idea that they are serving home cooked authentic type of food I don’t really think they live up to that expectation. I think you would have a better chance eating better food at any Albanian home than this place. I am not saying this to insult their cooking, but to highlight the area in which I think they are lacking in. Onto my main concern with the place, service. So every restaurant is entitled to their way of serving their customers. Usually it aligns with their style though. This place appears to be a humble, home like, cosy space but their way of serving their customers appears more like a robbery. Their main idea is to make you order as much food as possible so they come up with their rules such as you need to order x amount of starters for x amount of people. Like I said, this is an acceptable approach, but I am sure that they are only doing this for more profit as it does nothing for their brand as a humble authentic little local spot. I understand the need for more profit, but even with the main courses there is this pushy approach to make you consume more than you can, that is not acceptable in my book. If I am to appreciate a restaurant and enjoy my time there, I don’t accept being treated like a bank. I think there is a delicate balance here and their way of handling my table, as well as all the tables around me left a very bitter taste in my mouth. One of the tables next to me wanted their leftovers packed and the whole place heard the waiter sigh in boredom. My experience with the server revolved around a type of communication I would never want to have with anyone. They do this little dance of “how do you not have a reservation?” in a half empty restaurant, and then they start bossing you around on how to order. So I snapped back, not something I even remotely enjoy, but we genuinely had to make our waiter leave the table to decide on our order. Once he realized we were not having his attitude he went quiet and even served us free treats! Good job! Would’ve much preferred to get treated like human beings in the first place. I think they either need to change their brand, make this place a high end, reservation only type deal, or they need to come down to earth a bit to embrace the authenticity they claim they have. Having experienced Eastern European hospitality in so many other places, I don’t think this lived up to that at all. If you can’t do this without making people miserable, then maybe you shouldn’t. Funny thing is, no Albanians in this places comments. The ones that did comment though all complain from all sorts of things. Can’t say I am surprised. Next time I’ll take it from the...

I rarely leave neutral or negative reviews for restaurants, but this place left such an unpleasant impression during my trip to Albania that it’s hard to forget. If the restaurant has any objections, feel free to check my other reviews for comparison.

We were really craving some authentic Albanian pies, so we chose this restaurant named after “lakror.” Unfortunately, it turned out to be a huge disappointment. On a day when the temperature was close to 37°C, we arrived and waited for about 10 minutes without anyone acknowledging us, until my local friend got up and went inside to ask if we could see a menu because we wanted to order something. Only then were we handed a menu.

The first shock was that this was the first time I’d seen a per-person pricing system in Albania rather than prices listed per dish. What’s worse, each “set menu” was shockingly limited in variety and nothing like the rich selection shown on their other online listings. As of today, their Instagram still has a pinned post from January 13 showing a far more abundant menu. I can understand changing menus during peak tourist seasons, but shouldn’t that be made clear?

The explanation we received in the restaurant was essentially: “Either eat this or leave.” So we left. In my view, such treatment is simply unacceptable.

Secondly, as a restaurant located in a residential area, the complete absence of local customers is suspicious. With no advantageous location and a rude attitude, I don’t care if they ignore local orders or think that serving only pies is beneath them. When the only positive reviews come from obvious tourists or accounts that look like travel agencies, while the negative reviews are mostly from locals, it’s hard not to conclude that they simply cannot win the trust and satisfaction of local customers, so they focus solely on attracting tourists in hopes of “going big.”

Then there’s portion control. They know exactly how large a serving of their pie is, so it’s no surprise that the appetizers were laughably small, especially considering the price. At £10–£12 per person, you can easily find generous, fresh appetizers of this type elsewhere in Albania. Don’t kid yourself or market your food as “surprisingly good,” because if that were truly the case, your restaurant would be bustling with customers instead of nearly empty.

Finally, if you name your restaurant after this product but then downplay or deny that pies are your main or profitable item, there’s really nothing more to say. If you want to position yourself as a high-quality restaurant but refuse to focus on the basic bakery side, then realize your sales may not be enough to stay profitable and try to force customers to order other dishes — well, unfortunately, I suspect the taste of your food doesn’t live up to your...

First of all, we’re so thankful! In a quiet neighborhood of Tirana, you’ll find a small, unassuming restaurant that truly feels like a hidden gem. Nestled between everyday homes and narrow streets, this place doesn’t rely on extravagant decor or a long menu to make an impression. Instead, it offers something far better—an inviting warmth that makes you feel at home the moment you walk in.

The food, while simple, bursts with a freshness that’s rare to find. The pickled salad, with its vibrant carrots, tasted as if it had been plucked straight from a garden that very morning. The lakror, a traditional savory pie, arrived at the table perfectly warm, with a flaky crust and a filling so fresh it reminded us of comforting homemade meals. There were no overly elaborate dishes here, just honest, skillfully prepared food that celebrated the best of local ingredients.

As the evening unfolded, the atmosphere became even cozier. (Although It could've been the amazingly crisp white whine). The setting was relaxed and unpretentious, exactly the kind of place where you feel you can linger, enjoy your meal at your own pace, and let the evening stretch out comfortably.

This restaurant feels like a slice of home tucked away in the heart of Tirana—genuine, unassuming, and full of warmth. The food is satisfying in its simplicity, and the friendly, geniune interaction with the waiter made the experience all the more personal, as though we’ve been welcomed into a close-knit community. More importantly, it reminded us of the effort and care that’s been put into this cozy and traditional family restaurant. It’s the kind of place you’ll want to return to, time and time again.

Kind regards from The...