Ali Baba

me and 3 friends visited ali baba yesturday. i must say the food was delicious and the price was reasonable. The restaurant was clean and nicely laid out the only thing letting Ali Baba's down was the atmosphere and the lack of welcoming feeling from the old lady serving us. not one smile a very grumpy looking face by the end of the evening she refused to come to us (as we were having such a good time and laughing) she sent her son who came with the same face as his mother and his fists clenched at the table.

This was not good customer service at all. :-( if the customer service was better i would surely recommend Ali Baba's . so its a thumbs down for me. Very bad customer service.
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naadia
4 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 8
Sunday, February 05, 2012

We visited this restaurant recently in Ramadan which was pleasant enough as we joined others to break their fast.My kids loved the bamia and moussaka,and I thought the tabbouleh, fuul and vine leaves were as good as any I have had in Egyptian families.However the bill came as an unpleasant surprise-the waitress apologised and said she had been using the 'old' menu.(Is this the oldest trick in the book?)Revised it came to £45 for 3 of us which is reasonable,though I object to £2.50 for a bottle of tap water.'New' prices would therefore be £62 which I suppose is OK for the quality we got.

It IS genuinely Egyptian food but very hit and miss service; the older lady is still the Queen of Mean and did not smile once during our visit,which I found off-putting! Smoke also drifted through from the front outside table.
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7 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Sunday, August 07, 2011

I love this restaurant. I am almost reluctant to put up my review here in case people start flooding it. The food is authentic and fabulous the place is simple and comfortable and the prices are reasonable.

I will be going again this month.
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Lorna
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, April 28, 2010

We visited this restaurant many years ago and remember enjoying the food, good value and BYO policy. We went again recently with a group of 8 and have come away with very mixed feelings. We booked a table in the back dining room for a Saturday evening. The atmosphere wasn't quite as I'd hoped as there was an important football match on. It was a bit loud but I was thankful that there was only 20 minutes left to play. We were served by a young and an older man who were helpful enough but the service was a bit haphazard, with a couple of things being forgotten. The starters we ordered included foul, hummus and falafel which were all good, then for mains we had the Ali Baba house speciality of lamb shank, with rice and a tasty sauce and also mixed grills which again were delicious. For dessert some of us had Baklava which was good but I had the version with shredded wheat and dried fruit and unfortunately the fruit was all burnt which made it very bitter. Someone else had a kind of rice pudding which they said was very nice. We finished with coffee which took a long time to come as I think that they had forgotten some of us. Overall we really enjoyed the food and it was very reasonably priced. As we left the older lady at the front didn't even look up, smile or thank us which wasn't a nice departure. I recommend the food at Ali Baba but not the atmosphere unfortunately.
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Sam
6 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Ali Baba restaurant is not for those looking for decorated plates but rather for those who just want to have an amazing tasty wholesome food. they make the best falafel, the best mulokhia, the best bamia I have ever tasted anywhere. the family that runs this restaurant have ancient egyptian features which make dining there a very special experience.
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Dr Hesham El-Essawy
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Sunday, November 22, 2009

I have been very recently during the month of Ramadan. It was busy for a family run restaurant. The mother supervising and cooking. The husband and two daughters are serving the customers politely. I bit of disappointed as we turned to the place without booking some tables at the main dining room was reserved for no one to come. we had to eat at a garden table at the lobby

The Egyptian famous moloukia was our main dish and it was outstanding. The rice was simple and fresh, the grilled lamb meat was very delicious. Do not expect expert welcoming service, is just does not exist.

Eat well and run type of a place. Average price £20 each.
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H K
7 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 8
Sunday, August 30, 2009

We had a really fantastic meal here, great food and good friendly service, and brilliant value. the menu wasn't translated brilliantly but our waiter was happy to explain the dishes and make recommendations. We had starters, mains and pudding and coffee for less than 20 pounds a head. the egyptian bread pudding is highly recommended. a great meal out.
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10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Monday, May 25, 2009

I actually know the family for many years (this is why i wont be putting my name) and every review is absolutly correct, the service is terrible, all they do is stare at you, no friendliness, occasionaly the food is nice.
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3 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 4
Monday, April 06, 2009

I often pass by Alibaba and stop for a falafel sandwich and some home made basbousa which are always nice. This time I stopped at the restaurant, looking forward to some home cooking. This was a bit disappointing, I guess "home made" doesn't neccessarily mean good. Take the example of my mother, she's a terrible cook! Unfortunately, the same was the case here. We ordered Alibaba's special: rice, a lamb shank and tomato sauce, there was nothing special about this. We had the mouloukhia, not really to my taste...but perhaps that was the Egyptian style. To me it tasted fishy, even if it was served with chicken. We had the moussaka, which I reccomend! We had a side of tabboulah, which was lovely and a normal salad which has some weird spicy dressing and the lettuce was all wilted.

As for the service, sour faces with a tendency to forgetfulness. The prices are OK. Our bill came to £34 for three mains and three sides.
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Sarah
3 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, March 25, 2009