Ali Baba — Restaurant in Gżira

I have been a client of this restaurant for about 6 years now.

It has everything to guarantee enjoyment and serenity. However, Staff pushy to order drinks, which is unpleasant. I generally mention I would like to order only food and if I need a drink I will say it. However, instead of adapting to my wish, they circumvent it. They would say " no water? sparkling?" such a provocative attitude was making me loose my serenity. Moreover, in a restaurant of high standing, you would expect staff to be attentive to detail. Nevertheless, it happened several times that while my mouth is full and I can't talk they come and ask me if everything is ok. The owner who is almost always present never asked me about feedback though he knows I have opinion from our interactions during his previous ownership of a street restaurant called "baba". The moment I felt there is something not right was 2 or 3 years ago when I ordered mohalabiyyeh dessert for take away. I like eating every bite with crushed pistachios and pistachio cream. Initially there used to be a lot of cream and suddenly it was significantly reduced. I asked the reception to make sure they add more of it. The owner answered that I have to pay an extra, which was equivalent to about 50% of the price of the dessert. I found that exaggerated but I took the challenge and I bought a box of pistachio cream. The mohalabiyyeh was 6.5 Eur and the pistachio cream about 1Eur cheaper. Yesterday, 20 June, at the end of my meal, I ordered mohalabiyyeh and a separate box of pistachio cream. I told the waiter to confirm the price of the cream before validating the order. I was told the cream is 10 and the dessert 7.45. I was shocked that cream is now 2.5 above the dessert while previously it was cheaper. I did not validate the order. The waiter then came back and said the dessert was already prepared. Then the owner came from the kitchen speaking aggressively very close to my face and telling me here is the mohalabiyyeh "on the house" and he hit it on the table. He started reproaching to me that there is nothing that I like and that I have disputes with the staff. He shouted 3 times " he is not welcome anymore in this restaurant" while other clients were listening. I told him he has to listen to me as well. He replied that he does not want to listen to me. Then I said I do not want him to tell me anything either. However he kept speaking in a pushy way and told me this is his restaurant and he can do what he wants. He dropped his veil of formality and mentioned pistachio costing him 75 Euro per kilo and that he is losing money. I never disrespected anyone in the restaurant and was always giving precise feedback, which he recognized once in one of our interactions long time ago. The attitude of the owner was clearly one that reminds me of Feudal society. I must show allegiance or else I will be kicked out. There was no professional reason to tell me I am not welcome anymore. Probably, my refusal to be an object on a production line squeezed to buy more ( unconditional readiness to accept any price for a custom request and ordering drinks during meal) pissed him off and he could not keep himself under control. You cannot treat clients like that in a free society. Thanks to freedom, we climb the social ladder and we want to be rewarded with a good service. The owner's attitude seems to take this rule for granted. I left without the "on the house" mohalabiyyeh. I want to eat with dignity, not bend to the unwritten rules of hypocrisy.

Edit: Note the arrogance, denial and unsupported claims of disrespect in the owner's response. I kept coming despite my remarks because I believe in improvement, which he doesn't understand. Regarding the pistachio cream, you did not read or your couldn't bear the truth thus you resorted to creating the false impression that I want free stuff. You ask me to kindly respect your decision, playing nice and civilized because you are running a show not a restaurant and my words disturb you. Make no mistake, you'd have to beg me in order...

Ali Baba offers authentic Lebanese cuisine to taste the unique flavours of Lebanon N35°54.374' E14°29.802' in October 2021, we took the Valletta-Sliema ferry from Marsamxett harbour tot Sliema and walked for 15 minutes along Sliema’s beautiful waterfront to a small side street in the Gżira district.

From 1987, this popular restaurant has been promising the best Lebanese flavours in Malta. Ali Baba offers over 50 different dishes, designed to be shared in mezze style, include black sesame-seed tahini, chicken and pistachio sausages, brik pastries filled with pigeon and quail. Reservations are highly recommended. It has an impressive website.

For dipping, we ordered Muhammara (oven-roasted red bell peppers, cashew nuts, pistachios, brown bread crumbs, garlic, chilli, pomegranate molasses and olive oil for €5.50), the cold mezze Tabbouleh B’Burghul (chopped parsley, tomatoes, onions, bulgur (cracked wheat), lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil for €6.25) and the hot mezzes falafel (dried chickpeas, onions, leek, celery, garlic, parsley and coriander, mixed pickles, yoghurt and tahini for €5.50), Halloumi Meshwi B’za’tar (grilled halloumi cheese with thyme, sesame seeds, sumac and basil oil for €7.65) and Sabeedish Meshwieh (marinated and grilled calamari, citrus juice and zest, coriander and harissav for €19.95). After our recent experience of mezze in Istanbul, we really enjoyed the flavours and textures of the Libanese mezze, especially the calamari.

We ordered a bottle of Domaine des Tourelles Blanc, as we wanted to experience Maltese white wine. During the tasting, we had our doubts and reservations about this wine, but accepted the wine to get to know its special taste. This wine was not bad, but we did not enjoy it. We hope Malta & Gozo produce better quality wines.

For dessert, we ordered Mouhallabieh, milk and rosewater pudding with pistachio cream, cinnamon and ground pistachios (€5.95) and Clafoutis Tart, a cake with ground almonds and roasted peaches, served with vanilla ice cream (€6.95). Delicious dishes to conclude a very good dinner.

Lebanon is not a tourist destination now. Ali Baba offers authentic Lebanese cuisine to taste the unique flavours of Lebanon. Highly...

Impressed! & definitely going again. We tried to book same day but they said fully booked, unless we would take a table until the reservation arrived which was approx 1.30hours. This was fine for us so we went for it. Coming up to the place the location is slightly shabby but makes you love it even more! Gives you the feeling of stepping into a different world (hidden gem). The service was undoubtedly the best so far, the waiters always noticed the tables needs they weren't looking at us all the time or stay right behind you, just perfect they would give recommendations if they notice you struggling or if something is not available (out of stock or season). The food was delicious especially the mezzes the portions are quite sized. We went for the experience so we tried to choose traditional items. We took even Lebanese wine which i recommend. Im not a big fan of wines but they have an astonishing wine selection pricey but good, dont expect 15€ bottles. The only negative on the food is the mains are expensive for what we got, I had lamb cutlets and one or two of the pieces where on the blue side (raw) still enjoyed it. Overall great unexpected experience definately going again hats of for...