Ali Baba Restaurant

(212) 683-9206

212 E 34th St
New York, NY 10016 40.7455 -73.9779

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Neighborhoods: Kips Bay, Midtown

ALIBABATURKISHCUISINE.COM

Hours:

Monday 11:30 AM - 10:00 PM

Tuesday 11:30 AM - 10:00 PM

Wednesday 11:30 AM - 10:00 PM

Thursday 11:30 AM - 10:00 PM

Friday 11:30 AM - 10:00 PM

Saturday 11:30 AM - 10:00 PM

Sunday 11:30 AM - 10:00 PM

Price:

$$

Last updated 10.17.11

Category:

Restaurants, Catering

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Outdoor Dining, Private Rooms, Lunch Spot, Date Spot, Food Delivery, Prix Fixe Menu

General Info:

Open 7 Days

Cuisine:

Pizza, Mediterranean, Turkish

What People Are Saying About Ali Baba Restaurant

Featured Review

Kathleen Squires

Contributor

In Short – Behind the easy-to-miss storefront lies a quaint space in which lemon-toned walls, exposed brick and warm wooden trim deliver more atmosphere than the average falafel joint. The menu offers a Grand Bazaar's worth of Turkey's culinary riches, from the spot's signature lahmacun (pita pizzas) and pide (stuffed breads) to an enormous array of meze, appetizers hot and cold. Still hungry? Explore a wealth of kebabs, a luxury of lamb and surplus of seafood dishes like whole orata. –

Editor's Tips

What to Drink:
Beer and wine are served, including a good variety of Turkish labels.
Prix Fixe Menu:
Take advantage of the $9.95 two-course lunch special, Monday through Friday, 11:30am-3pm.
When to Go:
Enjoy live belly dancers on Tuesdays at 9pm.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. The Turkish music playing in the background was also fun.
  2. the food and atmosphere are both impressive and the place is always packed!
  3. its not too small, romantic but crowded, and the food is delicious!
  4. The place is small and cozy and the staff is friendly.
  5. strongly recommend this restaurant very tasty good service and try to they new location on 46 str and 2nd ave is call alibaba's terrace be.
  6. outdoor terraceor inside still gives good view Very reasonable with a good variety of mediteranian dishes
  7. Once you go beyond the unpretentious atmosphere, you will find friendly waiters and delicious Turkish specialties such as lahmacun, babaganush, doner and other kebabs.
  8. Perfect location.
  9. While the ambience is not the greatest, the excellent food and low prices make up for everything else - DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED!
  10. Decor is very comfortable, and the food is very tasty best service
  11. The decor is alittle cheesey but everything is great.
  12. strongly recommend this restaurant very tasty good service and try to they new location on 46 str and 2nd ave is call alibaba's terrace best food good service they have nice terrace.
  13. The service was friendly, the atmosphere was low-key but pleasant, and the music was funky Turkish pop (actually good!)
  14. We had such a fun night, with wine, a delicious dinner, dessert, and Turkish coffee on the house!
dessert
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. We had such a fun night, with wine, a delicious dinner, dessert, and Turkish coffee on the house!
  2. Overall, I would recommend the appetizers and the dessert, and perhaps we didn't order the rights stuff for our entrees.
  3. The deserts (flan and baklava) were also outstanding.
  4. We thought it was for compensating the terrible service but at the end the desert were on our bill.
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. The red Turkish wine is acceptable with meat, but cannot pass muster on its own.
  2. The tea and coffee are nice.
  3. We had such a fun night, with wine, a delicious dinner, dessert, and Turkish coffee on the house!
food quality
94.44000244140625% positive
  1. however, the authentically delicious food makes it very worthwhile.
  2. Food very testy I recommend adana kebab fresh hand chops meat and ALINAZIK KEBAB
  3. The red Turkish wine is acceptable with meat, but cannot pass muster on its own.
  4. have to say, nothing was amazing, though the kasarh pide was fluffy, doughy, and just delicious when it came right out from the kitchen.
  5. The food itself though was pretty good.
  6. order food from this place at my work, and i have not had any problems.
  7. Ali baba has good turkish food, but service is verp poor.
  8. Thankfully, they've put an end to the 'za, and are focusing instead on amazing lamacun (Turkish pizza), kebabs and salads.
  9. Once you go beyond the unpretentious atmosphere, you will find friendly waiters and delicious Turkish specialties such as lahmacun, babaganush, doner and other kebabs.
  10. We ordered babbaganoush to start, which came with warm Turkish bread and was out of this world.
  11. Good turkish food
  12. We've eaten there 6 or 7 times and have never had a bad meal.
  13. The food is constantly good and so is the service
  14. They have great food, great service.
  15. It was my first time trying Turkish food and the staff was very helpful in recomm.
  16. Food is fresh, very well prepared, fantastic turkish bread, almost a meal in itself.
  17. nice bread basket is served.
  18. It is a good place to get food if you are in a hurry.
  19. great salad terrible terrible service
  20. good food, poor service
  21. We had such a fun night, with wine, a delicious dinner, dessert, and Turkish coffee on the house!
  22. Very good food
  23. its not too small, romantic but crowded, and the food is delicious!
  24. fresh delicious Turkish food.
  25. While the ambience is not the greatest, the excellent food and low prices make up for everything else - DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED!
  26. The menu is excellent, full of juicy, flavorful meat dishes and salads; the.
  27. This is the best turkish food in the US.
  28. It's probably the most authentic turkish food you will find.
  29. Highly recommend the mixed appetizer plate and the chicken kebabs.
  30. We enjoyed the falafel with a tehini sauce which was excellent.
  31. So overall, I thought the food was good but the service could;ve been better.
  32. Ali Baba is a great restaurant for people who love Turkish food.
  33. flavorful rice pilaf accompanied our entrees.
  34. enjoyed this place, the servers were extremely nice and we enjoyed our food.
  35. This place cooks with a variety of spices and the quality of the dishes is pretty good.
  36. While the food is good (not great), the delivery is extremely slow.
  37. Charming, non-descript restaurant with excellent service and most of all, unbelievable, tasty Turkish food!
  38. Also the coban salata (tomato salad) and pide (Turkish pizza) is excellent.
  39. Amazing food, amazing service - amazing price!
  40. The kebabs are good and the mixed grill has plenty of food perhaps enough for two.
  41. strongly recommend this restaurant very tasty good service and try to they new location on 46 str and 2nd ave is call alibaba's terrace be.
  42. This past summer, we went to Turkey and up and down the whole eastern coast, we couldn't find a meal as good as the ones we get here.
  43. Great family run place serving fresh, tasty food.
  44. The food is amazing, the taste and the price.
  45. My favorite dish (eventhough I've loved everything I've tried) is the Special Beyti.
  46. this is the best Turkish food in the city
  47. strongly recommend this restaurant very tasty good service and try to they new location on 46 str and 2nd ave is call alibaba's terrace best food good service they have nice terrace.
  48. But shortly, the food is amazing, whether it is the juicy kebabs, the sautes, the yogurtlu kebabs or the lahmacuns, pides, the appetezers, the soups,my god, my mouth is watering.
  49. This place is the best for traditional realistic turkish cuisine.
  50. In fact, I am so addicted to the mixed appetizers with the fresh bread, that I have it almost twice a week.
  51. can't compare it with Sipsak because Sipsak is the best restaurant I've ever been and the best food I've ever tasted.
  52. The kebabs were excellent, and the bread tasted like it had just come out of the oven.
  53. The food here is delicious.
  54. Decor is very comfortable, and the food is very tasty best service
  55. Delicious food
  56. strongly recommend this restaurant to anyone who likes Mediterranean food, and challenge anyone to find a better place for Turkish in the city.
  57. If you want to have a good Turkish meal do yourself a favor and head over to Ali Baba!
  58. As a mediterrenean, I keep going back there, and never had a bad food.
  59. the food and atmosphere are both impressive and the place is always packed!
  60. Good food, reasonable prices, make sure to make reservations
  61. Cute restaurant, great food
  62. outdoor terraceor inside still gives good view Very reasonable with a good variety of mediteranian dishes
  63. We had the mixed appetizer, and the Sigara Boregi (Pan fried fillo dough stuffed with feta cheese and parsley), both were absolutely delicious.
  64. Owner He is actually a very nice we like his new place 862 2nd ave corner 46th str you have to go se and tasty food i love his kebabs
  65. Good food, horrible service
  66. I enjoy ethnic food and Turkish is one of my favorites.
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. outdoor terraceor inside still gives good view Very reasonable with a good variety of mediteranian dishes
  2. This place cooks with a variety of spices and the quality of the dishes is pretty good.
  3. The menu is excellent, full of juicy, flavorful meat dishes and salads; the.
overall
88.88999938964844% positive
  1. can't compare it with Sipsak because Sipsak is the best restaurant I've ever been and the best food I've ever tasted.
  2. Ali Baba is a great restaurant in NY with few great restaurants.
  3. Ali Baba is a great restaurant for people who love Turkish food.
  4. Not a good place for a special night at all.
  5. this is easily the best turkish restaurant in the city.
  6. It is a good place to get food if you are in a hurry.
  7. Ali Baba is a great restaurant in an area with few great restaurants.
  8. We will open best turkish restaurant cross the street.
  9. Owner He is actually a very nice we like his new place 862 2nd ave corner 46th str you have to go se and tasty food i love his kebabs
service
77.60000228881836% positive
  1. Once you go beyond the unpretentious atmosphere, you will find friendly waiters and delicious Turkish specialties such as lahmacun, babaganush, doner and other kebabs.
  2. Atmosphere very nice, friendly service.
  3. strongly recommend this restaurant very tasty good service and try to they new location on 46 str and 2nd ave is call alibaba's terrace be.
  4. Amazing food, amazing service - amazing price!
  5. Right from the beginning, the service was terrible.
  6. They have great food, great service.
  7. We thought it was for compensating the terrible service but at the end the desert were on our bill.
  8. good food, poor service
  9. The place is small and cozy and the staff is friendly.
  10. The service in general is very good.
  11. But the service is terrible.
  12. Food is ok, But service and owner terrible.
  13. The service was friendly, the atmosphere was low-key but pleasant, and the music was funky Turkish pop (actually good!)
  14. Charming, non-descript restaurant with excellent service and most of all, unbelievable, tasty Turkish food!
  15. Never rude.
  16. special thanks to the great servers.
  17. Ali baba has good turkish food, but service is verp poor.
  18. enjoyed this place, the servers were extremely nice and we enjoyed our food.
  19. great salad terrible terrible service
  20. It was my first time trying Turkish food and the staff was very helpful in recomm.
  21. These people are so good and so busy that there is usually a line outside, and a delivery time of 1 hour during the rush hours.
  22. The service is quite good and the prices are reasonable.
  23. people LOVE this place.
  24. So overall, I thought the food was good but the service could;ve been better.
  25. Attentive waiters and fast service.
  26. The food is constantly good and so is the service
  27. Ali Baba is a great restaurant for people who love Turkish food.
  28. strongly recommend this restaurant very tasty good service and try to they new location on 46 str and 2nd ave is call alibaba's terrace best food good service they have nice terrace.
  29. After paying, on our way out, no one said good bye or thank u, which I find strange, because I have never been to a restaurnt in my life where the staff didnt thank me or say good bye or some kinda greeting after i left.
  30. Good food, horrible service
  31. Decor is very comfortable, and the food is very tasty best service
  32. Great value, great taste and great service.
value
100.0% positive
  1. While the ambience is not the greatest, the excellent food and low prices make up for everything else - DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED!
  2. The food is amazing, the taste and the price.
  3. Amazing food, amazing service - amazing price!
  4. Great value, great taste and great service.
  5. Good food, reasonable prices, make sure to make reservations
  6. The service is quite good and the prices are reasonable.
wait time
75.0% positive
  1. While the food is good (not great), the delivery is extremely slow.
  2. Yes sometimes you wait for a table alittle longer or for your delivry order couple of minutes long but this place is truelly great.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/19/11

BEST RESTAURANT IN NY

by hasan25

kEBOBS ARE OUTOF THIS WORLD AND THE SERVICE IS VERY PROMPT AND HIGH QUALITY.

HIGHLY RECCOMMENDED, FOR MIDDLE EASTERN LOVERS...

3 Star Rating: Average

10/08/11

great ambiance

by farzanaM

poor service. i enjoyed the turkish bread, but took forever to get our food. def will not return anytime soon

2 Star Rating: Below Average

11/04/09

great salad terrible terrible service

by f00dl0v3r

I went there for lunch and ordered the lunch special. Nobody there took care of us, I even had to ask for the waiter to take our order. After I finished my salad they still didn't serve my entree, I had to ask the waiter 3 times where's my entree... Finally I couldn't wait any longer, any restaurant should know lunch time can't take more than an hour. I asked them to wrap my entree to go, it took them 15 minutes to wrap it.

Overall I spent 1 hour 30 minutes just to have a salad and a glass of water. It is very annoying and upsetting and I am starving. Since I already took 1, 5 hours in the restaurant, I can't go back to my office and eat there....

  • Pros: great salad
  • Cons: horrible service
2 Star Rating: Below Average

11/04/09

Good food, horrible service

by al10128

Delicious food, especially the meats. But the service is terrible. Takes a while for the server to come to take your order, no initial drink order offered, servers clueless about the food and cannot answer any questions while being borderline rude (or simply stupid). Do not expect an offer to refill your water, or to have another drink offered (with your empty glasses in plain view). We went there twice so far, same exact thing happened. Better call for delivery...

  • Pros: Great meats
  • Cons: Terrible, terrible service
2 Star Rating: Below Average

09/20/09

Way over rated!

by Food Critic

I ordered the Doner (Gyro Kebab) to go. When I got to eat the dish the meat was so dry and the bread was hard, on top of that there was no Tzatziki Yogurt Sauce. The only thing that made the meat even edible for me was mixing it with the rice. I am not even a big rice eater. This cost me $17 and I feel I wasted the money for this junk food no wonder it was so quiet inside there sitting area, BLAND food!

The Zagat must of been paid off by Ali Baba himself for the score they gave this place.. Out of a possible 30, Ali Baba grills up 22 for food, 14 for décor and 18 for service. A meal costs $31.

Save your money and go to Uskudar 1405 2nd Ave

New York, NY 10021(212) 988-2641

orderuskudarnyc com

This place is a lot smaller in size but I have been there 3 times and the food is the best, located on the UES!

  • Pros: The rice was good.
  • Cons: The meat was dry and the bread was hard. Came with no sauce

The Details on Ali Baba Restaurant

Place Categories:

  • good turkish food
  • great this place
  • good amazing service
  • great turkish restaurant
  • terrible service
  • juicy yogurtlu kebabs
  • reasonable low prices
  • never bad turkish meal
  • fantastic turkish bread
  • great salads
  • busy people
  • really liked experience
  • loved everything
  • great taste
  • good bye
  • amazing turkish pizza
  • fantastic falafel
  • recommend highly
  • very tasty good service
  • excellent pide
  • absolutely amazing baklava
  • especially liked excellent flavor
  • extremely nice servers
  • full restaurant
  • very helpful staff
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