After hearing so much about this place, and since i live walking distance i had to try it. This was not just a meal, it was an experience. Knowing it was small and imagining it would be busy, my fiance and I arrived at about 6:30 which is early for us. We dined for about 2 hours, gotta expect a long meal here, Ali takes his time, as he should, this is slow food. When we arrived there was one other person getting take out, but he left and for the majority of our meal we had the place to ourselves. When others did arrive it was clear that they were all locals who knew Ali well.
The place itself is like walking into a kitchen or a living room, When you walk in your surrounded by amazing looking food right in front of you... and the smells! It smelled incredible. Such a small place with not much of an outside, i never even noticed it before. But i'm glad i went.
Awesome meal! We tried the sweatbread of i believe lamb, thu it might have been veal, for the first time and loved it! It was heavy on the salt, but rich with flavor. The lambs cheek was good, not great, kinda this big black mushy stew with an egg in it, very strange and not appealing in appearance. The appetizer plate with hummus and apples, falafel and a few more dips was amazing. Not oily at all, and most dips were a bit chunky, which i enjoyed. From where i was sitting i could watch Ali cook, it was really interesting.
After the appetizers Ali left to go to the store or something so we hung, thankfully he was back 10 minutes latter to take our dinner order.
"What are you in the mood for? We have fish... Whole bronzini, porgies, grilled sardines, soft shell crab... meat? Lamb, goat, duck..."
No menu, which was fine as it was an experience and i imagine he is telling me whats best and fresh and recommended.
My fiance ordered the duck. Very tasty and moist with rice and Asian broccoli, which i really enjoyed, and i generally don't enjoy that stuff very much at all. I ordered the stuffed lamb. It was very good but not great. Not enough meat for me, and to many carrots, but the flavors were fantastic and the spinach was really good too. We both enjoyed our food very much. Had a crepe type dish with yogurt and fig jam for desert, it was fantastic, smooth, rich, hot, perfect way to end the meal. Which was good to because we were totally stuffed!
One thing i really liked was the music, it was like i was at home! fantastic mix of jazz, drum and bass, and world music, really enjoyable to listen to for 2 hours.
Including tip we paid exactly $100, which is kinda expensive, but we ordered alot of food, 3 apps, 2 drinks, 2 entrees, and 1 dessert, so i guess $100 is not that bad. Very memorable meal, we will return for sure. Highly recommended for unique food and for a unique experience. The place is so small you have to interact with the other patrons, which is kinda nice. I'm not giving it 5 stars because the lamb and the lambs cheek were not great, but if i could give it a 4.5 i would, this is one of the most memorable places i've ever eaten in, i cant wait to go back!
(I've been back 3 times after this first visit)
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