Ali Baba Restaurant
212 E 34th St
(between 3rd Ave & Tunnel Exit St)
New York, NY 10016
Neighborhoods: Midtown East, Murray Hill, Kips Bay
(212) 683-9206
(between 3rd Ave & Tunnel Exit St)
New York, NY 10016
Neighborhoods: Midtown East, Murray Hill, Kips Bay
(212) 683-9206
- Nearest Transit Station:
-
33 St. (4, 6, 6X)28 St. (4, 6, 6X)Grand Central - 42 St. (7, 7X)
- Hours:
- Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 11 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
- $$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
172 reviews for Ali Baba Restaurant
Review Highlights What's this?
172 reviews in English
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Review from Drew K.
New York, NYDelish!
Loved it.
I took my girlfriend here to try out some authentic Turkish cuisine and we loved it!
We had the kebabs with rice pilaf paired with white and red wine.
Staff was friendly and the atmosphere was calm and lax.
Loved it all! -
Review from Cheryl L.
New York, NYLet me preface this by saying that I don't believe you can get good Turkish food in NYC period. Subpar and overpriced, these are two adjectives that could basically describe any Turkish restaurant in NYC (be it in Midtown, the Theater District, the Upper East Side, Murray Hill, Coney Island, Cobble Hill, etc.). I don't know why but it just NEVER tastes as good as in Turkey. I mean, Berlin Kreuzberg has astounding Turkish food, Gotham definitely has some catching up to do.
Mantı is my favorite Turkish dish ever: tiny dumplings filled with succulent ground lamb (sometimes beef) served with a wondrous sauce made of yogurt, garlic, butter, kırmızı biber (red pepper similar to paprika) and fried mint. It's an ancient dish, thought by many to be descended from Chinese mantou. Mantı certainly attests to the Central Asian origins of the nomadic Turks who settled Anatolia as it bears certain kinship with Afghani aushak and the oversized Lebanese/Syrian shish barak (a mere epigone in my opinion). I cringe when I hear the "Turkish ravioli" since that poor description does not do it justice at all.
As a frequent visitor to Turkey, I regularly scour Istanbul for the best mantı and I look forward to the day when, fork in hand, I can make a pilgrimmage to the Anatolian city of Kayseri (reputed to have the best mantı in all of Turkey).
But there are days when I'm in NYC and craving a plate of mantı and I make a straight beeline to Ali Baba knowing full well that what I'm about to eat is not going to taste anywhere near as amazing as what you get from even the most average restaurant in Istanbul.
Sometimes in desperation I will even buy frozen mantı from Tulumba dot com, Kalustyan's or one of those Turkish groceries dotting Ocean Avenue in Brooklyn. Yes, I have a mantı problem and Ali Baba is where I (sometimes) go to get my fix and assuage my longing/özlem for Turkey and its magnificent cuisine. In a city full of mediocre Turkish food though, Ali Baba is the best (of the worst).-
Ali Baba's mantı
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Review from Pamela O.
Jersey City, NJGreat hummus. Sauteed lamb very disappointing. Tasted like hamburger helper. If you want great Turkish food, try Lalezar in Montclair NJ. -
Review from Angela K.
Manhattan, NYAwesome food and service, it's definitely worth trying . Shepherd's salad is delicious, clean and fresh, Today we ordered the chicken kebab and got 8 large chunks of chicken with Rice Pilaf super buttery and delicious. Easy to share with two people. I have tried many chicken dishes here they are wonderful (very tender and flavorful). Try also the zucchini pancakes (lovely hot appetizers). I think eating here great; the wait staff is super attentive. Overall one of the best places to eat in Murray Hill. -
Review from Diana B.
New York, NYBeen there twice. Good Turkish food, good service, and fairly quiet. -
Review from Steven K.
New York, NYOne of the best lahmajun in the city. Very fresh salads. Freshly baked bread. -
Review from Joseph D.
I have only eaten the lunch special and it is a great deal. The fare is authentic, as far as I know, and the service is thorough. I have a bit of sentimentality since I usually go there with my father in law.
So, the lunch special is a pretty good deal. You can choose from a multiple of appetizers and an entrée. I have not been disappointed with any of my choices, i.e. baba ganoush, hummus, bean stew or eggplant salad. Entrees are also delicious, served with rice pilaf, salad and very spicy green grilled peppers (always a warning coming from the servers). The entrée meats range from lamb kabob to ground meat dishes. Spicy is not necessarily heat, but flavorful. I typically can't handle such spices, but this place is worth it. Curious what dinner is like...
(P.S. my father in law looks nothing like me. I mean, we are not the same nationality! But the server played along with him when he told her that he was my father. She told us how her son looks nothing like her. Very cute!) -
Review from S S.
Manhattan, NYYES! Yes! and Yes!
The service was impeccable,
Lamb chops were AMazing
I also had Lahmacun (Turkish pizza) as an appetizer and it was Delicious.
Cant wait to go back -
Review from Ahmed A.
I highly recommend the lentil soup, very delicious and goes good with the bread they serve.
I came here for lunch and got the chicken kebab. It wasn't that bad and I enjoyed the rice. The lunch menu is very well priced for a manhattan location. -
Review from Elizabeth P.
San Carlos, CA
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