Good food, ambience for a great price. To begin with I was very excited with the ambience of the restaurant. The outside could be very deceiving given whats inside. It has booth like seating outside and inside has more of lounge like seating area. The place was quite crowded given a Sunday evening. The food is moderately priced, every entrees range around 12$ but the portions were huge. We ordered thinking that the portions would be moderate given the ambience but we when the food arrived realized that we could have ordered one or two less appetizers. We ordered the hummus and bastilla for appetizers and I have never had such soft pita breads ever. This is definitely a place I would take friends/family who are visiting if you want to enjoy some good food at a good place. read more

I highly recommend this restaurant. I'm from New York (one of the falafel capitols of America) and If you care to look through my reviews, I'm quite the middle eastern fanatic. I would venture to say it's one of the best falafel I've ever had. Backed by 4+ visits on various trips to the area. The olive oil is drinkable it's so flavorful. Everything is always fresh. read more

-Food is fresh -Service is polite, prompt -Ambiance is cool -Lots of vegetarian options -Hookah bar on the patio (smoking is strictly outside; no smell or annoyance inside) read more

This place is heaven on earth. The food is excellent as the staff are sweet. Expect an adherence to recipe and attentive service. I would go back there and tip them generously! read more

Everything about this place is wonderful! I love that there is such an amazing Middle Eastern option in Newark, and that the town seems to be embracing it! I've been here with my family, friends, and on dates and have never been disappointed. The service is always above and beyond expectations, amazing food, funky decor...it's a great place to have a special night. Casablanca is their sister restaurant and is also worth heading out to. Five course meal with belly dancers and the same incredible service! read more

One of my favorite parts of trips home to Newark is Ali baba! Always delicious food, kind staff...can't beat it!

Their chicken was bangin! And my girl loves the lamb. I would recommend this place. However the service was slow AF. read more

Service is sometimes spotty, but the food is always great and more than makes up for it! Parking can be touchy, but once you figure it out, it's easy. read more

Food 4* Service 3* Ambiance 4* The food was pretty good for a restaurant in Newark. I live in CC Philly; so not sure what I wud compare this against. But the Moroccan chkn I had was really good. Rest of the stuff we ordered was avg/ above avg. The service was pretty bad. We didn't have menus for abt 10 mins after we sat down. No one came in for our orders either until we flagged some1 down. The ambiance was kinda relaxed and conducive to long conversations. All in all, pretty good option of u live in the area! read more

The best Middle Eastern food I've ever had in my entire life. I used to go here when I went to boarding school, and I've since been going to college in NYC and I can tell you that there is not Middle Eastern restaurant in NYC (and there are a lot) that is better than Ali Baba's. Even with all of the good food here, I constantly find myself saying, "God, I wish Ali Baba's was right here in NYC!" Everything I've had here has been awesome. Here are my favorites though. Baba Ghanoush/ Baba Ghanuj Lamb Kebab Chicken Kebab Moroccan Chicken Samosa Fingers They also have absolutely amazing falafel, and baklava. The salads are good too. Everything is good. The portions are very generous. read more

I love this place. The lamb kabobs and stuffed grape leaves are great. The back room is easy on the eyes and a good date spot. I've never been during peak dinner hour so I can't attest to the service when they are busy. Its been steady when I've sat down but I could see how it gets slow during peak times. The last time I went there I got take out and they gave me rice instead of the tabouli salad with my lamb kabob. The rice wasn't exciting and I wouldn't get it again. I love to finish off the meal with some baklava, even if I'm stuffed, which I usually am. They give you enough food for two meals. read more

Without a doubt one of the best dinner's you can get on Main Street in Newark. Don't get me wrong you'll pay over $12 for an entree (most range from $12-15), but the food is really really really good, and the portions are quite large. My roommate and I are big fans of the Lamb Kabobs. They're cooked perfectly, with a nice smokey char on the outside yet still delightfully pink on the inside. They're a great choice for a group with lots of dietary restrictions considering you can satisfy vegans, pescetarians and carnivores in one meal. Also very paleo friendly! (they swapped my hummous and tabouli for baba ganouj and carrot salad with my lamb kabobs) read more

Just love this place! Decent micro brew selection and they are all $3. That being said, if you like Mediterranean food, you'll like this. I got a vegetarian sampler with hummus, felafel, stuffed grape leaves and a salad garnish. They also give you a never ending supply of pita bread. Would probably go here more often, but my wife works a few blocks from there-- so she likes to spend her free time a little bit farther away from work. Truly a great place. FYI, there is an outdoor tented hookah lounge if you're into that. read more

Unique. 2.27.14 As soon as we entered I felt transported to the Middle East. The decorations, music, smells, guests, staff...and oh the food! It reminded me of a college study abroad experience through Jordan and Israel in the early 80's. The small tables made for an intimate squeeze. Hookah bar adds to the novelty. Tabbouleh: Fresh and zesty Parsley, tomato and onions Chicken schwarma ($? - not sure because our out-of-town friend grabbed the check...I'd didn't fight hard for it) (Insider tip, this is not on menu, ask with a smile) Perfectly seasoned chicken, crunchy on outside, tender in middle Hummus: smooth and tasty Sadly, because the service was a bit slow, the Pita bread got stale, but the first half was warm and chewy. The unknown white dipping sauce offered a deliciously powerful garlic punch. Shrimp kabob: ($16) Thoroughly enjoyed the two sticks of grilled plump, moist butterflied shrimp with peppers, onions and cherry tomatoes. We left 'fat & happy'. read more

The non-Delaware born and bred vegetarian is back to write her review about yet another over rated place. How is this place so highly rated?!?!? I've not been to Lebanon but have been to enough Mediterranean restaurants in the US and outside the States to know what's the deal. The food is passingly average and edible so I'm generous with the stars. The hookah was a joke as well. So weak and the folks would not change the coals despite constant requests. Won't be back. read more

I LOVE Ali Baba's! I have been coming here for about 6 years now and my favorite dish is the chicken kabobs. They have been perfect every single time - juicy, tender, seasoned deliciously, and the portions are huge! Food: everything I have tried here is excellent. I haven't found a dish that I don't like! I highly recommend getting the Bastilla as an appetizer, the chicken kabobs or dajaj mashwy for the main course, and then a mint tea and homemade baklava for dessert. You get large portions for your money. Service: The service has always been excellent and treats the customers so well. They are always smiling and make sure you have a great experience. I have gotten to know some of the waiters over the years and they are very experienced and super friendly. Ambience: You feel like you walk into another world when you enter Ali Baba's Restaurant. From the lighting, to the decorated walls with tapestry's and artifacts, to the brightly colored couches and tables, you will feel as though you are in Israel or Marocco. In the last few years they added a deck in the front of the restaurant. I love sitting outside and eating dinner or smoking hookah. Speaking of hookah, they have a ton of flavors. Today we tried the mango-peach which was awesome and very smooth. Ali Babba's is, by far, my favorite restaurant and I have been bringing my friends there for several years and they all loved it. Definitely check it out for a unique experience! read more

First time here and enjoyed the food and atmosphere. The service was good and plan to come back again. Plenty of Patrons, all look to be the local college crowd. I especially like the Mint Green Tea with dinner. read more

Excellent place to go and enjoy some authentic middle eastern food. If you like ambiance this is also a great place! Tables and pillows make you feel like you are in Aladdin. The food is amazing! The waitstaff excellent! We had a great lunch! I well def. return!!! read more

I LOVE this place. I have been going for about 10 years, and my husband longer than that. The food is always delicious. Depending on the time of the day you go, and the day you go (If you go Friday/Saturday evenings, expect a longer wait for seating and food), the service and food is fast. Between having 3-4 servers on any given night, I am surprised at how fast they are. The decor is gorgeous as well, and they take really well to kids. We have been taking our now 3 year old daughter since she was born, and she absolutely loves. They have recently expanded, and they also have hookah. I am not sure how much the hookah costs, but it seems popular as every time i pass the restaurant people are outside and the deck is full with a hook on almost every table. read more

While I'm not a middle-eastern food expert, Ali Baba is quickly becoming one of my favorite restaurants. It's kind of a hike from my house but always worth it! The inside is decorated nicely and the waiters are very casual but usually friendly. I've gotten the same thing every time because it's so good: the vegetarian platter, the grape leaves, and the fattoush salad. The portions are big so I can share this with 1-2 other people. The hummus and baba ghanoush are the best I've ever had. The fattoush salad is delicious, and I don't usually like tomatos and cucumbers enough to eat a huge portion of them. Lastly....the grape leaves. Not sure why I just discovered these a few months ago but I could live off of them. Ali Baba is a must if you're in the area! read more

For Middle Eastern grub for American palettes, I think this place is spot on. The ambiance and interior feel a bit worn, but service was quick and amiable. I had the kofta kebab, which was chargrilled perfectly, and nicely seasoned with balanced flavors. The rice was fluffy, as another reviewer pointed out, and pretty good. Overall, this was a solid meal. Would go back. read more

Delicious!!!!!!! Best gyro wrap I ever had! Tasty...Fresh..Delicious A wide variety of items to choose from on the menu. Lunch is inexpensive and excellent! read more

I would give it 5 stars if they ever got my food ready on time. The morrocan chicken is exceptional and the lamb kabobs are the best I've had. I've only gotten take out so my tip is to add 20 min to their estimated time. read more

The food is always delicious, never let down by the food. The atmosphere inside is awesome and comfortable very middle eastern. The service is good just a little slow. Great place for a casual dinner date. Some mint tea, backlava, and a hookah sesh is a perfect way to end a nice dinner at Ali baba. Fairly inexpensive as well. Would recommend to anyone. read more

Ali Baba - Lamb kabob, with the most perfect cooked and seasoned rice, and some mint tea - Mediterranean Near Me - Newark, Delaware

Was here for the first time a couple weeks back after living in Newark for 5 years. I was throughly impressed with the inside decor. The round tables and couches for seating was new and interesting although not necessary comfortable for big parties. I got the shrimp platter and it was delicious and SO MUCH food. Definitely satisfied and ready to return read more

So impressed! We came in for the outdoor hookah bar, but when the server told us it was a 30 minute wait for a seat at the outdoor hookah bar we decided to sit inside and have a snack. We got the humus and the lamb kabob. Both were delicious, but the lamb was seriously one of the most delicious things I have ever had. It was so tender you could cut it with a fork. We had the Lebanese wine and it was delicious and inexpensive. We were finally told the hookah table was available so we went outside and had a great time. They use a grapefruit instead of a ceramic bowl to hold the tobacco which adds a nice flavor. We got the double apple and sat outside for a good hour or two. While outside we got some mint tea and baklava which were both great. Can't wait to come back to Newark so I can try Ali Baba again! read more

Ali Baba - Very good Lebanese wine and relatively inexpensive - Mediterranean Near Me - Newark, Delaware

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We enjoyed the hummus and falafel, the 3 stars are just for the appetizers.. The entrees and overall service was lacklustre.... For entrees we had the kafta kebob and the much advertised day's special, lamb tajeen. The kebobs were very dry, we've had much much better elsewhere!! The lamb in the lamb tajeen was wonderfully tender but that was all to the dish... It had no flavor, the rice with it (some curried rice) was absolutely tasteless... read more

The food here is fantastic and the prices are reasonable. I highly recommend the Moroccan chicken.

Everything on the menu is incredible. My go to is the Fatoush salad and the shawarma pita. Perfection

Lovely decor and great vegetarian selection. Lentil soup could use a little more seasoning, but hummus and baba Ghanouj were awesome.

This has to be one of my favorite places in Delaware. It's a nice middle eastern restaurant serving hookah and loads of middle eastern delicacies. One of my must haves here is the Alibaba hummus. Ground beef on a bed of olive oil surrounded by creamy hummus with warm pitas, heaven. Moroccan chicken and grape leaves are a must try too. All day $3 beers are the cherry on the cake. Their hookahs are out of the world and so reasonable. They don't charge you to change the coal like a lot of other places in downtown philly do. The restaurant is always busy but the servers and owners are always very welcoming. Overall, great service, great food and great hookahs. read more

So delicious! We ordered takeout from here tonight and it knocked our socks off! Everything was fresh and delicious and they gave generous portions. I've been coming here for years and it's just still just so good! So so good. Kofta kebabs & baba ganoosh and stuffed grape leaves -- mmm! We will definitely be back in person, and order more online in the future. Thank you for being here Ali Babas! This area is starving for real authentic delicious food. Thank you! read more

There's a reason this place has won so many awards... because the food is so good... and plenty of it. Very fresh and tasty. This is a definite repeat restaurant. read more

The staff here are very friendly and helpful. I came here with my co-workers and everything we got was delicious. I got the baked chicken and the meat was very tender and fell right off the bone. It comes with tasty rice and makes for a nice dinner. One of my co-workers got Baba Ghanoush since it reminded him of Seinfeld, and it wasn't what we expected, but still worth a try. The atmosphere and seating arrangement is so unique from any other restaurant in the area. That, plus the extensive menu choices makes this place worth a try. read more

This is my favorite restaurant in Newark, DE and my boyfriend and I went all the time while in college. Pros: Hookahs Good sized portions Cozy atmosphere Cons: Can get over crowded Service can be slow Favorites: Bastilla Samke harra Moroccan chicken (spicy) read more

Would've liked to of tried this place but waited 15 min and wasn't even offerd water. Restaurant wasn't that packed to compensate for the bad service. Ain't be backed. read more

My favorite spot to relax on Main St. Try their lamb kabob platter, their pita bread sucks but the rest is amazing. Try hookahs outside or relax on their couches inside. Staff friendly and Arabian music relaxing. read more

Food is great, parking sucks, wait staff is friendly but sometimes short-handed. Remember this is $$. We go here regularly, and the quality is consistent. Any negatives are hidden by the enjoyment ratio: general yumminess divided by $$. Standard fare for us: hummus(5), Moroccan eggplant salad (5), lemon chicken (5), spicy chicken (5), lamb kabobs (4). We always share - its just easiest and yummiest. Don't be scared: grab a piece of pita, rip off some meat/veggie, put it on your own plate. The wait staff is friendly, when you get to know them. But if it is busy, just order a bottle of wine, hummus, and eggplant right off the bat, so you have something to do while you wait. Park over at Burger King or down the street at Newark Shopping Center, because the Evil Papa Johns (they hate their employees) owns the lot behind the building. read more

Food was excellent & love the hookah blows nice !!! It didn't get a 4 because the service is slow & it can become crowded . You only can smoke the hookah outside. read more

Don't go here, you'll literally get robbed. I came here on a rainy evening in mid-January. Entering, I noticed there were a few other patrons on the "hookah porch" out front (all appeared to be college students). I'd just been up the street for a couple drinks and thought I'd come here afterwards to relax and smoke a hookah, drink a cup of tea. Things appeared normal. I've been to other hookah lounges before a bit more upscale than this one. Staff seemed okay; was led out to the porch (which was ensconced in a "tent" so to speak, protecting patrons from the elements). Once again, seemed like the customers were mostly students and young adults like me. I smoked the hookah, and ordered a cup of tea. That was it. No meal, no alcoholic beverages - just a hookah and hot tea. Nothing more, nothing less. I went up and settled the bill. Including tip, this totaled $25.74. Essentially what you would expect for what I ordered. Flash forward a week or so later, and I'm looking at my bank account online, feeling totally speechless at the fact that there appears to be a significant amount of money just gone. I click on my checking account for details. Plain as day, I saw that I was billed on 1/18 in the amount of $396.00. Courtesy of none other than Ali Baba. The bank acknowledged that I was a victim of fraud/theft and are launching an investigation into the matter... was reimbursed but had to deactivate and shred my card. The bottom line is that someone employed at this restaurant (I'm gonna put my money on the guy who swiped my card) actively preys on poor college kids like me who can ill afford to be robbed - and sadly feels that they can get away with doing so. I was not accidentally overcharged - this was deliberately done. You can tell it was deliberate because the amount charged was an even sum, no change. If they care about their reputation, they'll do the right thing and comb through their staff to find out who the bad guy is, then fire that person and apologize to me and any other person who has been victimized. Because if it happened to me, it has probably happened to other people as well... or will happen to someone else in the future. If they accepted responsibility and did these things, I'd gladly remove this review. I mean, perhaps it was just one bad apple in the bunch, but you really never know; the manager/owner could've been in on it. I have the receipt saved from that night and would be glad to provide testimony in any legal proceedings against this crooked business. I'm surprised they've not been sued already, gauging from some of the other reviews that I've seen on here, which paint a disturbing picture. This is not okay. This is theft, pure and simple. Please stay away, and trust your gut when visiting an establishment, especially a hookah lounge. There are many others out there which are good in this area! Avoid Ali Baba unless getting robbed of nearly $400 is your thing. read more