Ali Baba offers a simple dining experience with a lot of heart. My best friend and I love to share a bunch of a la carte items and a bottle of red wine. An order of hummus, baba ghanooj, grape leaves, and a cheese pie is incredibly satisfying and puts our total bill under $30. Apart from the delicious food, there's something to be said about the atmosphere of Ali Baba. Gorgeous pothos plants hang from the skylights of the otherwise minimalist dining room. And on a weekend evening, you may notice that certain customers exude a familiarity and comfort level which indicates they've been going to Ali Baba for years. Its reputation as an Oakland landmark is well deserved. read more

This is definitely one of my favorite places in Oakland! I love the atmosphere and it's a great place for lunch.the wait staff is really nice and I feel like the owner is always here seating guests. The food is absolutely delicious everything I've gotten here has so much flavor! And I can't get enough of the bread. I always ask for some to take home and they're always more then welcome to bag some up for me! read more

I had a tasty and reasonably priced meal here. The hummus and pita were really nice. I ordered something called sleek and it was my first time trying it. I loved how tasty and healthy it was. Really liked the fact that I was able to order vegan/vegetarian food. The staff was friendly and the service was pretty fast. read more

I happened upon Ali Baba by mistake -- we missed our reservations elsewhere -- and was pleasantly surprised. We had a huge platter of tasty appetizers and split a lamb kebab and salad for dinner. We BYOBed so it worked out great. The tabbouleh is among the best I've had. I would like to go back for lunch, as I'm not sure I would pay for dinner again. Service was a bit slow but a good pace for a leisurely dinner. read more

Got moussaka. Instead of bechamel, they put american cheese on top...interesting, cheap and not a tasty choice. So much lamb on the menu, it's hard to avoid. Just because it has lamb in it, doesn't mean its Mediterranean. Friend had beef platter. Beef too dry, too well done. For this price, you could get a lot better. Would not recommend read more

I think this is one of those restaurants for those who don't know any better. However I don't think anyone could enjoy their Moussaka. Obviously it had been reheated in the back in a microwave, bec. it wasn't warmed evenly through out the dish. If someone told me that their food came out of a can, I wouldn't at all be surprised. read more

Potentially the most underrated restaurant in the city. The hummus, the meat pie, everything I've had here has been very good. Very understated and relaxed atmosphere. But you will be very happy with what comes out off the kitchen. read more

Oh I just love this place. Great, quick BYOB that always delivers. We actually biked to Tandoor Indian Grill on Centre to use a Groupon, and the building is boarded up (FYI)! I really didn't mind since I knew Ali Baba was down the street and I could always go for good hummus. Theirs is awesome, along with their baba ganoush, falafel and bread. I usually fill up on all of those things so never have actually tried an entree. But the tossed salad compliments the pita and hummus well, seasoned and dressed with fresh lemon juice and olive oil. I've never had to wait long on a table and the service is always prompt. The bf fills up on various chicken dishes, and he is always satisfied. A few times the bread has been dry (I love when its warm and soft) but the hummus is soo good it really doesn't bother me! read more

One of my go-to options for delivery through Wheel Deliver. Love their hummus but I'm not so crazy about their baba ghanooj which is weird for me because I usually love baba and hate hummus; thanks for messing with my brain Ali Baba! The fatoosh is usually amazing (though there have been a few inconsistencies in quality) and the mujaddara is quite good. The falafil and stuffed grape leaves are skippable here as far as I am concerned. The pita is fantastic, and they give you tons of it with to-go orders or delivery, big plus! When dining in, I always truly appreciate the pleasant design of the restaurant, although it's a bit run-down and dated (dated 1982, actually). The best thing about Ali Baba, is the font used for the restaurant name; it adds to the character and appeal in a way that I feel unable to explain. read more

After a visit to the Phipps Conservatory, we headed to an area in Oakland, home of some campus-type fare (it's near U Pitt and Carnegie Mellon). Ali Baba was the place of choice, as my two friends had been there years past and had fond memories. The establishment wasn't very crowded when we got there at about 6, but afterward, it filled in, mostly with college students. But what a find. We ordered the maza platter that had hummus, baba ghanooj, artichoke and tabooli salads, feta cheese, olives and tomatoes, as well as pita bread. G ordered lentil soup (very tasty but a little different from what I'm used to), and we all ordered the lamb shank, which was in a light tomato sauce and came with rice with pignolia nuts. G ordered some kind of wheat dessert. The variety of goodies on the platter was outstanding, especially the homemade hummus and artichoke salad, and I'm glad we ordered it. The lamb shank? The only other time I ordered it was at Evvia, in Palo Alto, CA. For 1/2 the price and twice the amount, we had a delicious meal. The meat fell off the bone and the rice was scrumptious. I had leftovers for the following evening. The wait staff was friendly and knowledgeable. The only thing that ruined an otherwise fantastic experience was the lady sitting in the next table. She should have cooled it on the perfume. I don't give 5 stars often, but this place deserves it. If I had room for dessert, I would have ordered Baklava, which would have been amazing, am sure, but it would also have wiped the taste of the lamb from my palate. Maybe next time. I will be back when I'm in the area again. read more

Lamb here is good. Lunch is better than dinner with lower price and more choices.

Dropped in for a quick early dinner on a Saturday night and the place was not packed. I did notice the numerous awards that Ali Baba has been recognized for hanging up in the entrance. Ordered the humus to split for an appetizer and I had the stuffed beef eggplant with a side salad. Generous portions, good prices and delicious foods. I intended to not eat so much but I ate up everything! Waiter was attentive and friendly. I do feel like the decor has brought me back to my nursery school days though I'm glad I stopped on by. read more

Wonderful middle eastern food. I've never had a bad meal here. Syrian inspired dishes that are delicious and nutritious. BYOB and hookahs are on the wall. Staff are very personable and will assist with explanations of the various Arabic dishes!! read more

Best Middle Eastern restaurant in Pittsburgh IMHO. My family has been coming here for 40 years. Great for dates or dinner with friends. Service is always good and prices are reasonable given the high quality. I've never been disappointed going here. I always get the Lamb Shank, Grape Leaves, and Hummus. read more

The mezza have always been above average, especially the tabouleh and sleek. Service has been slow both times I've been in recently, which drops it from four to three stars. read more

Great restaurant if you're in the market for middle eastern. The food is good, the portions are large, and the price is right. We've been going here many years and have never been disappointed. Be sure to try the baba and the kibbie! read more

Every time I go here I can get something different and love it. There are also quite a few gluten free options, which makes dining out with friends easier. I also really enjoy the atmosphere. There are always real flowers on the tables! read more

What food I got to taste was...not optimum. I came in at 1:15PM and the place was nearly empty. I hadn't eaten all day and was ravenous- also moved recently from NY Metro area and missed having a good gyro. It took awhile to get noticed by the waitress- in an almost empty restaurant. I had a book so I read. I noticed 2 tables who'd come in after me being served- while I also noticed my waitress heading toward the front door not to reappear for 15 minutes. During that 15 minutes I imagined my lunch under a heat lamp. When she finally came back, she went to the station. Finally she noticed me- and went back to the kitchen. After maybe 5 or 10 minutes she came out. I took one bite. My gyro had big uneven slabs of meat- which were barely warm. Cold pita- a few crumbs of feta (I ordered it extra) and some runny sauce on the bottom- and big pieces of raw onion. I really think she forgot to give my ticket to the kitchen- but even for the time she was in there- who gives cold pita on a gyro? Or can't slice the meat and cook it? When I told her it was cold- she took it back and told me they were making a new one. At this point it had been 35 minutes- and I really only had an hour and had to go so I told her to cancel the order. She "apologized" by blaming the kitchen. As I left- I offered to pay for my undrunk glass of milk- and told the owner about the service. Instead of anything close to an apology- he told me no one else had ever complained about that before. TERRIBLE service and mediocre to bad food. I went across the street and got some NY pizza which had a great crust and rivaled anything I've gotten in Manhattan. read more

To summarize the whole exprience, it was HORRIBLE SERVICE & OK FOOD. honestly have to say i have never been more dissapointed in a resturant. For 20 minutes we were the only table in the place and ordered 2 beers along side the koftah kabob. It took 15 minutes for our beers to arrive and the glasses they gave us had lipstick smudge on them anyways we still waited for our food and after what felt like an eternity my food had hair in it for which they gave me 50% off for... read more

My favorite middle Eastern restaurant in Pittsburgh. Have been going to this place since 1975. My favorite dishes are the vegetarian plate, Spinach pie with lentil spinach soup. My wife's favorite is the lamb kebabs. The staff is friendly and welcoming read more

My owners have dined here many times, and we never get any leftovers when they do. That is because they usually get appetizers, such as the awe-inspiring Muhummara, a delicious dip made from walnuts, paprika, and (as internet recipes indicate) pomegranate molasses. They have pathetically tried to make it on their own a few times, to no success. Baba Ghanooj is also a wonderful appetizer choice. Our owners often just share a variety of small eats, rather than choosing more expensive and, in their opinions, less bountiful entrees. The value per dollar of the entrees, together with the occasional negligent/unfriendly service, are the reasons for not awarding all 5 stars. Thanks! Meow. read more

Extremely slow service. Food, when it finally arrived, was not at all memorable. Avoid the baklava (had a weird oily taste). Very disappointed. read more

Love their kibee and the grape leaves. The tabouli (sp?) is great too! This is one of my "must visit" places when I am home from college. :) It is pretty close to my old highschool too, so I used to walk here all the time after school for some quick nosh. Service can be slow sometimes so I recommend take-out! read more

I had almost completely forgotten about the place, but oddly enough this was the first restaurant I had ever been to in Pittsburgh. A graduate student took me here the weekend I came up to interview for my graduate program. The place is a great little hole in the wall in Oakland that is perfect for lunch or dinner. As a vegetarian, there were a bunch of yummy items on the menu that are relatively cheap. Here, though, I always go back to the falafel, which is incredible. It's good enough to prevent me from trying other stuff on the menu. Furthermore, the hummus/pita is another highlight. I know I can always stop in a have a good meal here. read more

This is a nice spot for lunch if you are working around Craig street. The place is fairly small so it can be packed during lunch hour but it is worth the wait. The food is authentic, delicious and fresh. The tyropita (cheese pie) and spanakopita (spinach pie) are "must try" and the omelet is great too. It is even good for lunch meetings since it is rather quiet and you can have a good conversation. All in all is a great alternative to the sandwich places for lunch. read more

I recently went to Ali Baba's with a large group (12) for dinner. We had a reservation for 10, but more people joined our party and the staff were extremely accommodating. Granted, are reservation was for 5:30, had it been later in the evening, when they are potentially busier, it could have been a different story. Regardless of our party size, everyone enjoyed the food! I had a curry lamb stew that was perfect, while the table shared a variety of appetizers. Several people got the falafel and it was ginormous. I don't know if I'd come back here for dinner, as I've more so enjoyed this as a lunch spot. Granted, the full dinner menu is quite appealing, but I'm more of a fan of the a la carte items. read more

Much better than Med Grill and Aladdin's, with just as reasonable prices. The loobee is delicious, as is the mohomara! I would suggest getting a selection of a la carte items from the menu and sharing them amongst the table rather than individual dinner platters - I tend to be disappointed by the very-well-done kebabs. Very speedy service, too, and a nice relaxed atmosphere. read more

A fan because its in a convenient location and it's cheap. Good baklava. Good service. Decent food. Nice mellow atmosphere. Good place for a business lunch. Casual dress. read more

There's not much to say about Ali Baba other than that it's decent Middle Eastern food in Oakland. The menu is fairly large, the hummus is good, and it's inexpensive. Good lunch place. read more

I first discovered this place years and years ago when I worked at a restaurant across the street. This is the best middle eastern food I have found in or around pittsburgh thus far. I am Syrian and Greek and grew up eating all that yummy stuff, so when I judge middle eastern food I'm comparing to what my great grandparents and grandparents made my whole life. We all know grandparents make the best food ;) love their kibbeh nayeh, moussaka, grape leaves, sleek, and leg of lamb, fetter treat meal....everything I've ever had here was GREAT. We always get at least 5-6 things to share between 2 people! read more

Delicious and amazing service!!! Everything was great, and we ordered a lot of things: hummus, falafel, chicken stew, cabbage leaves, tabbouleh. Yum. read more

We were there tonight . We think we wasted our money . We didn't like the food. We would recommend to eat somewhere else. Expensive and not good. read more

My girlfriend has treated me to ali babas both times i have visited pittsburgh with her. It isn't a large place and has mostly 2 tops, perfect for a date night. She always gets the maxa platter. Not sure if that is how you spell it but that is how it is spelled on their web page. I unknowingly enough order something else for variety. Funny thing though because we usually end up sharing. Sharing really means me saying"hey honey would you like some of mine"? In which her response is "I might try it but you can have as much of mine as you want". That's the answer I was looking for. On to the food! This last time I visited I tried the "Fetter Treat". Which in my experience was lamb on a bed of rice (Not white rice but not sure what kind) with pine nuts. It was very good for what it was, and it came with a small lettuce and tomato salad with a lemon dressing. I really liked it but I think I would have been slightly disappointed had my girlfriend not gotten the maxa platter. On the menu the Fetter Treat says it is cooked with mushrooms and onions and a savory mushroom sauce. I saw very few mushrooms and not a drop of sauce. All in all I would probably get it again. The maxa platter on the other hand was pure heaven. I could gorge myself on the Tabooli and Baba Ganooj. The Baba Ganooj had a great smoky flavor and I was really impressed at how fresh everything tasted. With the maxa platter it also has an Artichoke Salad which is really just Artichokes covered in some delicious sauce. Also, huge portions of feta cheese, hummus and tomatoes and olives in the middle.The maxa platter is all cold dishes which is also why I got something hot. Everything was really good and we enjoyed our dinner very much so. read more

we had lamb cheeseburgers with mint yogurt. great service, wonderful food. Just as it has been for many many years!

I was an undergraduate at Pitt when this place opened, I believe it was in 1972. Middle Eastern food scared me back then but within a year, I was hooked. I've been out of the Pittsburgh area since 1980 but have made a tradition of having at least one meal here each time I come back. It's great for my vegetarian husband who can always find plenty of food that he likes. I usually get a chicken kabob, a salad, and some rice. Hummus is a given and (if I'm really hungry or planning on stretching the meal out into another meal for the next day), an order of felafel as well. Parking has always been an issue in Oakland, but we found a pay spot about a block away so no problem. I've never had a bad meal here and enjoy making it a part of my visits when I'm back in the 'burgh. read more

Price is a little too high, but delicious food! I'd recommend the grape leaves and anything else on the a la carte menu. Awesome Syrian recipes and an Oakland Classic. read more

I stopped by for lunch with my family on a Thursday. There were a few other groups there. The restaurant is on the smaller side, with maybe fifteen tables for various sizes of groups. It's a nice atmosphere. The service was fine. The main reason I am rating this place two stars is their pitas. I had an gyro and my sister got pitas with her meal, and in both cases, the texture was reminiscent of cardboard. They weren't particularly warm, either. Aside from that, though, my gyro was average, as was most of the other food we got (stuffed cabbage, student special). The baba ghanooj was particularly fantastic; it had a great smoked flavor. I might return if I'm in the mood for some Middle Eastern food since it's so close, but I probably won't be missing this place anytime soon. read more

I always walked by this place and wondered if I should try. I love middle eastern cuisine. One day, I went here for lunch with a bunch of coworkers. The place was packed and the menu was short, which were good signs of a good restaurant. I ordered the kibbeh and it was just disgusting. I've had so much better elsewhere. It was very dry and tasteless. The only real attraction to this place is the student pricing. Dishes here are quite cheap. Now I see why. read more

Nice and spicy like I like Indian food. Family operated friendly service. Indian movies in the background. Careful, the plate that says "whole fish" is not a whole fish, but a portion. Nice experience otherwise. read more

Can't count the number of times I have been here...., the falafel, the lentil soup and the baklava...... Love love love it...,, biggest plus is the price......very very reasonable read more