My son had stopped here on the way to visit and based on some of the leftovers, we knew it had to…read morebe on the list. Traveling within about 5 minutes on the way to visit a good friend, and it happened to be right around lunch time, the opportunity finally came. It's a casual place, lots of 2 and 4 top tables, but what caught my eye when we went in was the cooler full of amazing side options. Then you look up and there's a beautiful oven and a dough station. This is looking great. We sat and ordered lamb kebab and doner kebab. A couple minutes later, a large (~11x17?) wooden tray appeared with a piping hot lavash bread and a plate of dill yogurt sauce. If the meal had stopped there, I would have been a happy camper. We had just had a few pieces when the kebab arrived, each with a pepper, tomato, some red cabbage, and onion. Both meats were authentic and delicious. My favorite way to eat my doner was with a bit of the bread, a bit of the dill sauce, some onion and cabbage, and a bunch of meat - a mini gyro, if you will. We took away about 1/3 of the generous portions and ordered a large mixed plate (all 10 of the sides) and baklava to take to our friend. It's a bit of a drive for us, but any time we're anywhere close, we're going to be back for sit down (if it's mealtime) or takeaway if it's not. I highly recommend you do the same.

Alibaba is probably the oldest Turkish restaurant in the Albany area, and it recently got a nice…read moreupgrade -- from the furniture to the serving plates and menus. The place feels much more modern and inviting now. Our family especially enjoys the beyti kebab, the güveç, and their pide. I haven't tried the pizza yet, but since their pide is very good, I imagine the pizza would also be solid. For me though, the real highlight at Alibaba is the mezze. In Turkish cuisine, grilled meats and kebabs are almost always enjoyed with a variety of mezze. They might technically be sides, but they're a big part of the whole experience. These days there are several Turkish kebab places in the area, but none of them offer a wide selection of fresh, house-made mezze like Alibaba does. At many places you're lucky if you find one or two options, often just a basic ezme. At Alibaba you'll find around ten different mezze and each one tastes distinct and freshly made. Every time I tell myself I'll just take a little... and somehow I end up filling a big mezze plate. Honestly, even when we grill at home, our motivation is picking up mezze from Alibaba to go with it. I'm not sure if it gets the credit it deserves, but don't skip the mezze here -- you'd be missing out. In fact, start with the mezze and figure out the rest later :))

Great spot for a quick, nutritious and filling lunch! I stopped by after landing at the Albany…read moreairport in search of a casual bite to eat before beginning a road trip and was fully satisfied. The young lady at the counter helped guide me through their menu options and made sure that I selected an option that would be best for my dietary preferences. Pro tip - the brown rice is cooked with chicken stock so if you're vegetarian, go for the regular white rice. I ended up with the falafel bowl and added most of their veggie toppings as well as the tahini sauce, hot sauce, and a lemon vinaigrette sauce. Sauce me up. The serving size was generous and everything tasted fresh. Just what I needed to fuel the rest of the day's adventures.

Excellent! Don't miss this place! Wow! The food is so fresh and so good, so many fresh flavors! I…read moregot the chicken kebab bowl. Chicken meat was moist even without white sauce. They don't drown it in white sauce unless you want it that way. The brown rice was flavored so well! You can choose white or brown. They give you all the toppings you want and they're all fresh, high quality. There are so many tangy, delicious flavors all together! Chicken is grilled fresh, so you have a 10-15 min wait, but I like that rather than premade chicken. It's a quiet, clean, peaceful restaurant with plenty of seating. Smells clean. They're very popular. People come to eat or for takeout. But you wouldn't know. Service was perfect! Shri was fast, efficient, so respectful, asking everyone how they like the food. She really welcomed me and every customer. I wish all people at such places were like her! Generous with servings and respectful, she looked like she really wants you to enjoy and come back! They have lamb chops, salmon, shrimp kebabs, all sort of Mediterranean foods. They won't skimp on toppings. You'll be full and want to return! Highly recommend!

Really enjoyed our dinner here! We ordered the platter for two, the Adana kebab, and kunefe for…read moredessert. Everything was fantastic, very tasty, and we would definitely recommend it. We will absolutely be back!

Upon entering the restaurant, it is very clean and well decorated. We were immediately greeted by…read morethe friendly owner who answered many of our questions and made great suggestions. We ordered the meal for 2,minds blown, fresh, great cuts of meat, to die for salads, fresh bread you name it. We finished our meal with a shared Turkish flan and Turkish tea. We will be back for sure. Between the amazing price and freshness, the icing on the cake was the friendly owner.

Owner was very nice and busy with to-go orders so took a little while to get service but the food…read morecame quickly enough. We had a chicken pita wrap and lamb pita wrap. For some reason there were a couple of steak fries in them which added nothing but bulk. Meat was ok, not enough lettuce, tomato, and sauce. It was OK but there are better places for Mediterranean or middle eastern wraps around.

This is my go-to Greek spot! They have the friendliest staff and the food is top notch…read more I recently went after the Troy Farmers Market on a Saturday afternoon. Heads up that they are CASH ONLY. I ordered the Chicken Shishkabob Plate, which came with chicken skewers, lemon potatoes, Pita, and tzatziki. Everything on the plate was delicious, and the chicken was nice and juicy. It also came with a Greek salad, which is one of my all-time favorites. Most places make it the American way with lettuce, but after visiting Greece, I realized it doesn't have any lettuce. It's cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, olive, and Feta. In the summer, it's especially good because it's light and refreshing. My boyfriend ordered the lamb Gyro, and it was cooked perfectly. Such a delicious meal! We also had a great conversation with one of the staff members, who was so welcoming and appreciative of our business. I highly recommend The Greek House!

I had the pleasure of dining at Seasmoke Waterfront Grill for my husband's birthday, and it was a…read morewonderful experience. The stunning views of the Hudson River and the beautiful indoor décor make the restaurant worth visiting on their own. We were seated on the outdoor patio, which provided the perfect setting for a special occasion. To start, we shared the tuna tartare, served over crispy rice with thinly sliced jalapeños and ponzu sauce. Every bite was flavorful and perfectly balanced. We also enjoyed the Greek chopped salad, prime rib, hot lobster roll, and finished the meal with the Candy Bar dessert. Each dish was thoughtfully prepared, beautifully presented, and made with high-quality ingredients. From the atmosphere to the food, everything exceeded our expectations. I would absolutely return to enjoy more of their appetizers and entrées, and I'd highly recommend Seasmoke Waterfront Grill for anyone looking for a memorable meal with spectacular waterfront views.

Beautiful atmosphere, friendly and efficient staff, and delicious food and drink…read more Portion sizes could be bigger, but honestly this a place to look good and fancy for a date you're trying to impress. It's not a great bang for your buck place that will fill the gut. The Spanish octopus, for example, was delicious, but the serving size is small, and it's in the share category on the menu! It's got a great view outside and was certainly packed during Valentine's day weekend. I'd recommend going if you want the experience.

Amazing food. I will definitely be back to try more items. Flavorful, fresh, just great all around…read more Service was fast and friendly, you just order at the front counter and wait. Not a whole lot of seating, mainly great place for takeout, but we did eat in and with not a lot of people it was comfortable. Definitely recommended!

Food was excellent. Service was friendly and quick. Place is clean. Will definitely come again.read more

Before Mamoun's Falafel, I would have confidently told you that I'm not a falafel person. Turns…read moreout, I just hadn't had good falafel before. And now that I have, it's actually a bit of a problem -- because whenever I travel and order falafel somewhere else, it almost always ends in disappointment. Mamoun's completely changed my opinion. The color, the texture, the seasoning, and that perfectly crispy bite in every mouthful -- whatever their secret is, this is the falafel that made me love falafel. The owner is also one of the kindest and most welcoming people you'll meet. Always polite, well-dressed, and genuinely warm. If you see him there, say hello -- he's a pleasure to chat with. Beyond the falafel, I've tried most of the platters on the menu. The kebabs are very flavorful and juicy. The baba ghanoush, hummus, and falafel are consistently fresh and delicious. The bourani might actually be my favorite way to eat spinach, and the mjadra is a fantastic, flavorful alternative to the usual white rice. I've been coming here for years and the quality has never changed -- which is rare and worth appreciating. I sincerely hope it stays exactly the same for many years to come. PS: unfortunately they are open just for take out since Covid-19

I loveeee the gyros at Mamoun's. It a go to lunch for me. My favorite thing to get is the falafel …read more It is so fresh and tasty, even the lettuce tomato and onion. Their sauce is fresh as well, and you have to try the mint lemonade. Fantastic! The owner is so friendly and sweet and they have been here for years. It's takeout only now so you have to either call and place your order or order online and pick it up. Works for me! Love it here!

I wanted to absolutely love this place since it's a favorite of a dear friend…read more The best part of our meal was the cold sampler: a variety of dips with warm pita, falafel and dolmas. I could have (should have?) made a meal of that, but I saw the Moroccan stew on the menu and was very excited to try it. Full disclosure...I used to make a mean Moroccan stew myself so I was expecting it to taste similar to the recipe that I followed....but I found their version to be rather bland, unfortunately. I would go back sometime and try something different...or maybe just get that sampler platter again.

Had an amazing lunch at Garlice Lovers, will be back for a dinner. Started with grape leaves and…read moretzatziki. Fantastic. The pita bread was crisp and hot. My wife had the spicy chicken on ciabatta bread really good with just enough kick to make it fun. I had the classic gyro, one of the best I've ever had. The owner Nabil was so personable and fun. A new favorite spot for us.

This place is a little honey hole. What a delicious and refreshing menu. I loved the Borek Plate…read morewith a side of baclava and a Turkish coffee. I will be coming back here again. I sat in the comfortable little cafe and enjoyed my plate while my wife had a procedure at the hospital, just a five minute walk through a beautiful park. Just gorgeous.

I can't believe it's been 3 years since I last set foot in Mumu's Cafe for breakfast. The visit was…read morelong overdue. I had some time to spare recently after dropping my dog off at a veterinary clinic in Troy. I ordered the Turkish Breakfast Plate which turned out to be the most expensive breakfast on the menu. It came with a lot of food. It included eggs, Simit ( a Turkish sesame bagel), grapes, toast, honey, olives and cream cheese. I also ordered a Turkish coffee which is a little stronger than what I'm use to. It hit the spot. Service is fast and friendly. The restaurant small but clean and cute. It looks as though the owners might have added a table. There are three or four tables in all. There's a new partition in the kitchen providing a little more distance between customers and those working on food prep. Gone are the beautiful ornate gold detailed Turkish dinner plates and teacups. I found them charming though not practical. I sort of miss them but they looked like heirloom items which wouldn't be appropriate for day-to-day use. They've been replaced by simple white dish-ware. Much more cost effective. FYI. There are no restrooms for customer use. That issue never came up for me but an older couple came in looking for a restroom and the owner advised them to go to the fast food restaurant down the street. As for the food, it was every bit as good as I expected. Some things don't change. I took the leftovers home and made another meal of it the next day.