We have had take out from here at least 10 times in the last few years. It used to be awesome but lately, it seems the chicken ishkandar is always over cooked and the portions are smaller. They have even started cheaping out on the rice. Where's the rice? Rice is cheap guys! Heap it in the aluminum container like you used to do. And that sour purple shedded cabbage stuff is nasty. Does enyone even eat that stuff? read more

Adana kebab was the best I've had here on my most recent visit. My son loved the food here. read more

Ali Baba - With white sauce, very fresh and delicious! - Mediterranean Near Me - Troy, New York

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Always up for an adventure we stopped into Ali Babas while visiting RPI. We ordered an esme appetizer, a lamb guvec, chicken curry, wrap sandwich, and chicken with rice. The bread was phenomenal, the esme (like Turkish "salsa") was also very good if a little too oily. Some lime or lemon juice to cut the oil would have improved it greatly. I was not familiar with guvec and was told it was a stew. It was more like a ragout with nicely done lamb in it. Why it was topped with a pound of mozzarella cheese is a mystery. The veggie portion of the guvec was oily and heavy. I think they may have fried the eggplant in too much oil and it simply soaked it up and carried it into the dish. I could only eat the lamb, and left the cheese in a pile. The veggie portion (onions peppers, tomatoes, eggplant) was too heavy to eat. Flavor was fine, but too much oil will wreck my stomach. The wrap was eaten quickly and with gusto. Also the curry dish was given high marks. I can see them producing some fine pizzas with their excellent bread skills and their brick oven. I won't go back for guvec, but I might try something a little less complex next time. Prices were moderate. Four of us got out for under $100. No drinks, and no dessert. read more

During the pandemic, so far they are only doing take out, so I cannot speak to the ambience of the place. However, every dish we tried there was flavorful and delicious! I would highly recommend the iskender kabab and the mixed grill! read more

Ali Baba is a really solid place to get food. The only thing keeping it from being worth four stars is one of my biggest restaurant annoyances, which is inconsistent hours. They have a sign on their door that says they close the kitchen 45 minutes before closing time. This is more or less true, but they don't follow it closely. If you call them at any time past 8:45, you have about a 50% chance of getting food. They also claim to be open until 11 on weekends but I've never been able to get service after about 9:15, just like on weekdays. This one thing I find unforgivable when it comes to running a business. If you want to close at a certain time, say that you're closing at a certain time. Don't just tell me that you're closed when I walk into your restaurant and it says you're open. It's worth mentioning that Ali Baba is also extremely clean, which is a huge plus for me. The decor is quaint, but nothing special. Everything else is unremarkable, but good. Their beef durum is quite good, and it's pretty hard stuff to find in the states. They have an awesome wood-fired oven that they make bread and pizza in. I had the chicken shish one time and was quite underwhelmed-- crunchy rice and underseasoned chicken. So the menu is a bit hit or miss, but if you know what to order you can get some delicious food for a really good price. read more

Fantastic Turkish food. Beyti Sarma is one of my favorite dishes and their flat bred right out of the oven is sumptuous. Atmosphere and neighborhood are a bit dumpy but I eat here whenever I'm in town. read more

Two words - FRESH and FLAVORFUL!! That's all you need to know. We got the lavish w/ yogurt sauce, baklava, Mediterranean pizza, & small plate with 5 choices. Everything was delicious for a very reasonable $25. The location is in Troy and isn't overly appealing, but don't let that scare you away. The waitstaff was very helpful, courteous, and quick to serve. Highly recommended!! read more

I have been going to Alli Baba for years. The large mixed platter is to die for. Their islander and urfa kabobs great and they make a great thin crust pizza. Ambiance is no t much so I agree with some of the negative reviews about that. Wait staff is direct and not overly friendly but who cares. Food is excellent. Would be great if they served beer. read more

Ali Baba is a bit of a hole in the wall kind of pace, but is 100% worth a visit! From the outside, it may look like a laundromat or maybe a storefront, but take the moment to step inside and all you smell is wonderful food! The walls are decorated with woven fabrics, some pictures, and cultural artifacts. There is a glass case with baklava and containers of delicious looking foods. At the back there is also a large brick oven that the massive lavash bread is cooked in. There is a wide variety of food on the menu, with more recognizable dishes (like kabobs) and more specialized dishes that you don't always see. I always like to get either the chicken Iskender (like a chicken kabob) or their chicken curry. My husband likes to get the beyti sarma, which is like a meatball wrapped in dough and coated in a sauce (check out the picture I'm sharing with this review!). The portions of food here will always leave you with something for leftovers, especially the beyti sarma! We've also ordered takeout from here in the past, and it's always been ready when they said it would be, and it's just as good as sitting down and eating there. read more

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This place has no ambiance and it smells like pine sol inside. Unpleasant. However, don't be deterred. The food is SO GOOD. Ask them for iskender kebab, eat it and home, and keep coming back. You're going to love this! read more

Another great Troy find- a filling plate at an agreeable price. Such good food- I cannot state this enough. My favorite is the Chicken Iskender read more

Wow exclamation food absolutely fabulous Mediterranean food. Inexpensive, tasty and healthy. Five stars make a point to eat here. Try the appetizer sampler with lavash bread! read more

Ali Baba - Mediterranean Near Me - Troy, New York

My biggest regret in life is not eating their food every day while I lived next door. Literally order one of everything if you can afford it. read more

Update 8/2016: This is all still true. Still what I order every time I go, and still my favorite meal ever. Go get it! -------------------- LOVE Ali Baba. Curry Eskender is my all time favorite meal. I crave it. There will never be anything like it anywhere else around the area. I often call in my order and just do take out! I have had a few other delicious things, but highly recommend a large lavash and a curry eskender to share. I split it every time and end up very satisfied! read more

Decent food but absolutely terrible food safety conditions. No one was wearing a mask and the person preparing our food was sneaking bites of food as he was cooking. read more

Delish bread with yogurt dipping sauce. I tried sampler appetizers which were okay. I had grilled chicken with onions, white rice and red cabbage salad, excellent meal. The prices were reasonable the place clean and staff friendly. I'd go back just for the oven baked bread. read more

An authentic institution! The food is fresh and well prepared and so yummy. The apps are so wonderful.

We tried the Lahmajun from here it was decent, not the best, the girl on the cashier was nice, we asked her if they serve (Çiğ kofte) she try to find out, but the person she asked was so rude with her I guess he's the restaurant owner. read more

I just love it !!! Food test so good, a lot of authentic options

My first time eating Turkish food and I know I'll be back for more if for nothing else than the fresh yummy lavash that comes like a warm puffy pillow out of the oven and the fresh yogurt sauce for dipping yum! The chicken duram was good but a little plain I have to say I preferred the beef duram my husband had a ;little more. Service here was great and friendly will certainly be back to try new things! read more

I can write a long winded review explaining why they are so damn good... but I think these two words will suffice: LAVASH BREAD - Has San read more

Ask for the Chicken Durum with cabbage and onions and sauce both white and hot. It's so good

My husband ALWAYS orders the Beyti Sarma and love it. I really enjoyed the bread (we all poke it with a fork when it's still steaming hot from the oven), the yogurt sauce is out of this world (we even tried to recreate it, unsuccessfully), and the pide's are great (like pizza). Great location, service and cozy atmosphere. read more

Well worth driving to or getting off the highway for if you are driving through Troy. Superb, authentic Turkish food in a comfortable and family friendly setting. Am watching kids at next table gasping in awe as the huge steam-puffed pitas arrive fresh from the open oven. While the small pita that comes with the small mezze plate is generously sized, trust me, get the large. You'll need it to go with all the wonderful hummus and starters. Great food! Turkish rugs on the walls and marble in the bathroom offset the modest neighborhood locale. Look for the great neon Ali Baba sign out front. (Parking was easy, too.) read more

One of the worst food I ever had. I ordered lamb tandoor. Its was cold, and the meat was not fresh, tasted like left over of previous day. Next day I had Gastroenteritis. But the waiters were good and okay. And the bread was really was really good, but the stale meat spoiled everythingh. Being a medical professional I would say the food is unhygeinic Even my friend who accompanied me had abdominal discomfort. read more

I've been going to this place for years, probably since it opened maybe 10 years ago I think it changed hands once actually, the original owners opened another second location in Lake George, I like both spots now read more

I don't know why I'm not here every day. This place is amazing. The bread that puffs up about a foot off the table is amazing. All the food is wonderful. Atmosphere is basic. Food is wonderful. read more

I have been really impressed by the quality of the food at Ali Baba. The selection on the menu is impressive, without being overwhelming. Many items on the menu are simply depicted, without having a description of the dish. The prices are competitive, and the portions certainly justify the bill. Consistently, the food is well-seasoned, generously portioned, and appetizingly arranged. I've tried seven different dishes, and all but one was perfectly cooked and served. I will continue going to Ali Baba at every opportunity. read more

Delicious. Had the eggplant salad to start and the chicken shish as my main course. The food is flavorful and the service is great. Great for groups or solo diners. read more

Ali Baba - Mediterranean Near Me - Troy, New York

We were hungry and in the area so we fell upon this wonderful restaurant! It's Mediterranean food at its best. We got the appetizer where you can choose about 5 of their spreads and everything was delicious. We loved the bread we got. I also got the traditional Turkish dish with pita bread, chicken, red sauce, and yogurt that I absolutely loved. The service was quick and the prices were extremely reasonable. This is high quality Mediterranean food! read more

I LOVE this place. The food is fantastic. The service is attentive and friendly, and I like that you can watch some of the food being prepared. On the minus side, they should come up with a better system for tracking orders - we were served by about four different people, and as a result one of our orders was mixed up. read more

My wife and I spent a few days in Istanbul last summer, and Ali Baba was equal to the best food we found there. I love the cheese pide, but the plate of salads and spreads is my very favorite thing - a lovely assortment of flavors and textures. And the giant lavash are a joy. Excellent value, amiable owners. read more

Fantastic food, made with care, served by friendly people. I had the adana kabab, which was nice and juicy, with a good char on the outside, and well-seasoned, perfectly cooked beef on the inside. We also shared a sampler platter (which is a great deal, but better suited for 3 or maybe even 4 people) - the ajuka is amazing. My mouth is watering at the memory as I type this. Their version of baba ganoush has no tahini but was light, citrusy, and refreshing nonetheless. The platter came with a huge, puffy, alternately crispy and chewy lavash, flecked with sesame seeds, and breathing a steamy sigh when we tore into it. From our table it was very easy to peer into the belly of dragon where this beast was forged. It is really fun to watch the guy as he does it, because the care he puts into it is pretty plainly visible. I know that might sound a bit melodramatic, but it always confuses me to be in a restaurant that lets you see the food being made by a bunch of people who look like they're waiting for death to release them from the bitter bonds of short order cookdom. Who thought it was a good idea to let the customers see that? This is essentially the opposite - you see the guy spinning the dough, then going flick flick flick with the sesame seeds, the bread puffing up in the oven, then make its way to your table, where you can dig into it and discover the quality that went into its construction. Ok, I'm flying off the handle here. The food is good. Go there and eat some of it. read more

Ali Baba has never been a friendly place. I've been there scores of times & i'm treated like a stranger every single time. FIRST OFF, we asked them when they close. They said midnight... then proceeded to shut down/clean the lavash oven about 9 PM? A man came in to eat & he was turned away. He left looking completely pissed off. Last night was the last straw. The guys running the place have ZERO interest in their customers (unless their buddies are dining.) No one asked us how is everything? No offer for refills. They don't even try to entice you with a hot beverage or dessert. Our waiter was busy on his phone in the corner. The other 2 guys working there were doing the same. I got the plate of sides, and some of the options didn't taste fresh. (This wasn't the first time.) Choosing the sides i want is always a chore, b/c the guy behind the counter wants to steer you toward the hummus, which looks/tastes like nothing more than pulverized chickpeas. The owner clearly has not a care, and that hummus never sells. The bill comes, & there's close to $10 worth of lavash on there. I asked for an explanation: "We ordered sides, that comes with lavash." I went round & round with the guy about it. So, you get a free small lavash with a plate of sides, but if you order a large lavash, they're tacking $4 or $5 on the bill. So how much is a large lavash if you're charging an additional $4? We ordered 2 lavash, & he only brought one plate of tzatziki. yes, the lavash is heavenly, & it's only bread for heaven's sake. I know of no other restaurant that bread is the star of the show, & overpriced at that. I FELT LIKE WE WERE GETTING SCAMMED. I guess LAVASH is all they really have going for them, & even tho I enjoyed it as much as ever, the terrible service perhaps outweighs it now. We only ended up here because nearby, superior Cafe Marmora (6th & Congress) was closed. Come to think of it, the last time I ate at Ali Baba was b/c Cafe Marmora was closed then too. Even getting to-go stuff ends up feeling combative. You tell them you want the foil dish & they hand you the plastic clamshell. This area is not hard up for delicious Middle Eastern fare. Next time I'll suck it up & go to Mamoun's Falafel in Albany. I only go there once a year & the owner remembers me. Mamoun's is well-known for being open all the time. read more

I could probably live off just the lavash and yogurt sauce. My husband and I split a small mixed plate; the ezme was our favorite of the five salads we chose. I liked it scooped up with some hummus. We also shared lamb curry and beef durum. Everything was delicious, I loved that the meats were charred crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Perfect. Next time we may ask for things spicier but we'd probably stick with the same order. So yummy! read more

We stumbled upon Ali Baba and what a wonderful surprise. The atmosphere is modest but the food was delicious and the staff very friendly. We highly recommend it. read more

I've been back many times and it never disappoints. The appetizer sampler platter is a must try.

The food is good and the lavash bread is made fresh for the table. However, hygiene is a major concern. One guy came in and went right to work in the kitchen without washing his hands. Now I'm paying attention. Another guy who was waiting tables and working the kitchen took a customer's check, handled cash, and went right back to preparing food. Again, no hand wash. If this is what they're up to in plain view of customer's, I don't even want to think about what's going down behind the scenes. read more

Excellent Middle Eastern food at affordable prices. I recommend trying the dolmades. Flavos is pretty authenticand the decoration isquitecolorful. read more

This is our go-to place for Mom's Night Out! We get the large appetizer plate and lavash bread to start (a must!). The lavash bread is made fresh there and each of the appetizer dishes is amazing- but I like the eggplant salad the most. I enjoy the Turkish coffee, and they have tasty juices as well. Do NOT forget to end your meal with some Baklava! read more