Ali Baba Bucharest — Restaurant in Bucharest

This is a restaurant where we come for around 10 years, occasionally. It used to be good food consistently at relatively low prices, with a non pretentious design. I remember getting pickles for free, servis. The staff was very stable. Wide menu, good appetizers, good kebabs. As years passed, the competition around increased with new restaurants appearing, they also refurbished, costs went up and this reflected in their offer negatively. The last few times the dishes were inconsistent in quality. Now the baba ghanouj had a taste which seemed different and not in a positive wat, the appetizers were all in smaller sizes spread on the side of the plate thinly and the food is more expensive (still affordable) . On hot summer day the ayran was not cold enough. Lahmacun and haruf are good and good prices . The service was ok, very quick. More like 2.5 stars and we probably need to try their Turkish competition - beyond that, there are many small good restaurants in the neighbourhood where you can eat better...

Must be the 3rd or 4th time we went here after the prices started to rise and food quality to decline. At first it was subtle but every time we go, we end up even more disappointed than before. Prices are almost double than what they were maybe a little over a year ago and I understand inflation is a reason so would not mind paying the price if the food would be good but it’s very disappointing. Firstly the portions are smaller, then as far as quality goes - the flat bread is so flaky that you end up losing half of it, the falafels used to be soooo good but now are tasteless on a good day and with a sauce that can only be described as tahini on steroids (thick and grainy). The rasasfour is now bland and the sauce is mostly water with very little pomegranate sauce that can barely be tasted. The appetizers are fortunately decent though clearly not as good as before. We used to eat here at least twice a month until this started but now I’m not even sure we’ll give it another chance, kind of feels...

UPDATE2: This restaurant has become very hit and miss. In their good days is a five star food, in the bad it’s a one star. As if there are one good chef and a bad one. Today I almost broke my teeth with something stone-like in the HUMMUS. Also terrible chicken meat, to avoid it.

UPDATE: the taste of kebab has drastically gone down. Also you ask them to be well done they say ok and when you go to pick up then come back home you find a rare medium done kebab. Also the kebab meat is no longer as tasty and easy to chew as it used to be. Downgrading to one star until you return to quality food.

of all turkish/lebanese/arabic places, best kebabs in bucharest, best mutabal, best pita bread, best hummus!

good falafel, good lint soup, good tabouleh. I stayed at Anantara five star hotel in UAE and I can honestly say alibaba food IS BETTER!

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