The staff and owner are so friendly and courteous and welcoming…read more The establishment is clean with limited seating. They establishment is a store and freshly made Balkan food. Balkan ethnic food served, burek, qevape, fli,... always freshly made food. Absolutely recommend when in the are.

Great Albanian food. I love it so much I can't live without it. Thank god we have good Albanian…read morefood in Westchester now.

From start to finish, this restaurant did an incredible job of preparing the food, making us feel…read moreincredibly comfortable, and also giving us a sense of the Albanian culture to the extent that we could establish that over in the Bronx. Our group of six ended up having a little bit of everything from sausage dip and pepper dip to Albanian dumplings to the Mix Grill Platter, and everything that we ordered was delicious. I don't think that we were able to finish everything, and we ended up taking some stuff home. However, it truly felt authentic and It felt real. We also paired that with some Albanian wine, which was delicious as well. it was a very homey location for people to come try some new food and have a hilarious and great time. I'd also be remiss if I don't call out that the bread that they gave was delicious, so light, so airy and that we were begging for more after the first round. They pair so well with the dips that we got and trust that I'll be back for more of that alongside the entire menu.

Cka Ka Qëllu is an Albanian restaurant by Arthur Ave in the Bronx, previously well-known as Bronx's…read moreLittle Italy but in recent years with a more prominent Albanian community. It was my first Albanian dining experience - the restaurant seemed traditionally set up with Albanian decor and (what I'd imagine) music. It was quite easy to get a table for evening dinner though they do take reservations. They have a large dining room in back with numerous tables and decor hung up. The staff were warm, welcoming and quite attentive throughout the meal and helpful for recommendations. The menu offers nice descriptions of dishes and of cultural significance for certain ones as well. I started off with a yogurt dish and bread - the bread seemed fresh out of the oven in being hot and steamy when cracked, revealing a soft interior. The yogurt was light and refreshing and helped balance spices in the mains. For starter I got the Fli- a multilayered pancake slice with layers of crepe that was primarily buttery. It didn't have a strong taste but went nice with yogurt. For the main I got the skenderberg - veal filet mignon stuffed with cheese, a crispy potato exterior wrap and covered in cream paired with potatoes and sliced peppers. This dish was excellent and very filling with strong flavors - tender, juicy meat, creamy hot cheese and cooler vegetables to balance the hot temperature and strong flavors. I was so full I deferred dessert though they have a few options. Overall a great meal with a large menu and great dining experience, I would definitely return! They have a location in Manhattan I haven't checked out, but per the staff that location is basically identical in menu but more expensive.

It's mostly become old news at this point that the Bronx's Little Italy is gradually transforming…read moreinto Little Albania. In addition to the famous Cka ka Qellu for a sit-down meal, there are a number of cafés and casual purveyors of börek. Dea falls in the latter category, and serves both slices of börek pies as well as tubular böreks that in Türkiye are known as kol böreği. We opted for a slice of the spinach pie, which tasted a bit more like spring onion. The dough itself is beautifully layered, but the filling was quite bland, and ostensibly undersalted. Service is mind-numbingly slow, so prepare yourself for a wait.

Im a long time customer. Always fresh , consistent Delisous food. I have tried many bureks. The…read moremeat, pumpkin, veggie, and cheese to name a few. The yogurt is devine. Nice juxtaposition with the stuffed burek. Great customer service . Donna and Helena are so nice and hard working. Cute cafe vibes. The best cappuccino in the Bronx. Affordable too.

Great service. Sat quickly and plenty of seating inside bright room and the waitress knew…read moreeverything very well. Cocktails are strong and spirit forward. Well mixed. Caesar salad - not enough Caesar dressing and didn't like the greens with it. Pass. The Brussels sprouts were very good - glazed with sugar and crispy. Get. The calamari was perfectly fried and delicious. Get. The calavetti was way too healthy tasting and all broccoli. Pass. The pork pasta was much tastier. More sauce. Get. The clam ink pasta was 5 clams. Decent portion, but barely any clams! Chicken wings were spicy and good pepper. Get. Overall, mixed bag. Portions were good. Some plates were not much flavor and some were excellent.

Well go through the good and the bad... I was excited to try…read moreMabel's after seeing their tiktok videos and menu. Who wouldn't like the vibes, the setting, the environment and the food. Set into such a cute background it's hard to pick apart the scenery. I met my friends and we sat in the lounge area. It was comfortable, cute, we loved it. I settled for the yoshi drink (it was matcha based and quite amazing!) my friend had the rotary which he said was great as well. We ordered a hodgepodge of appetizers and food to share amongst ourselves.. the oysters were good, they were small and didn't really justify its cost. Smashburger was exactly that, nothing mind blowing or memorable about it and we had no complaints. We got the focaccia with whipped ricotta and honey. But out came a focaccia with tomato sauce on top and Mozerella. We had to ask the waitress about it who replied the kitchen may have updated the menu and substituted that in its place... I don't know what your thoughts are but whipped ricotta with honey is not even in the same category as a glorified pizza cheese bread and our bellies really didn't want this imposter of a plate. But our waitress had it corrected. When it came back out we were met with the whipped ricotta and honey with bread which was great! But it wasnt focaccia... disappointing but if the menu was going to state focaccia than focaccia is what should be served not the sourdough bread we got.... So sad! their charcuterie nachos board was to die for, the meats sliced perfect and olives that were so fresh, it came on a board with beautiful presentation. We ordered cheese fries too but that was mediocre at best. We were there for a while so more drinks ordered. We had to send a rotary back because it was definitely not made with woodford reserve and had some other drink mixed into it. My friend had an internal meltdown because it was soo bad, accidents happen at the bar so our waitress personally watched the bartender remake it and it came back perfect and all was right with the world again for my friend... Now off to desserts. We had the 17 layer chocolate cake, the upside down pineapple cake sundae and the butterscotch pudding. The best one out of all of them was the butterscotch pudding. The upside down pineapple cake sundae was meh.. and Mabel's should just take the 17 layer chocolate cake off the menu. I was offended for the ambience to allow a cake of that caliber to be served there. It was dry. It left our mouths feeling like we bit into sand after each bite. The chocolate frosting also felt like it was a rolled sugar after thought. Had the texture off marzipan and lacked taste. It was disappointing I think we wanted to cry.... The chocolate shavings they had on the cake for presentation was dry and showed visible signs of age. Like they had rolled the shavings days before and put it into a tub to use throughout the week. We made it through some of the cake by spooning the upside down pineapple cake sundae into each chocolate cake bite.. All in all the vibes is cute but the food did not hit like we wanted it too. My recommendation to the restaurant is to revisit the menu and personally taste it and be very honest with the plate and ask themselves if the bite matches the mood of the restaurant and if it doesn't take it off the menu and replace it.... The goal is to keep and retain customers so they continue to recommend and recruit more people and for this place it should start with being proud for the food being served and the accuracy of the quality of the food.

This restaurant was a new experience for me just days ago. The food quality showed its newness and…read morehad great flavor. The restaurant's downtown spot pairs with exceptional staff work. You can taste the care in their cooking. This place should attract repeat customers.

Amazing food so good. The service was excellent. Amazing Balkan food I will come again soon.read more

So yummy. Food is delicious ! I love it Space is so cute…read moreand elegant. Elegant ambiance and vibes Service. Well it's Russian ! So you can imagine

I went here for a birthday dinner and it was amazing!! The food was great and it was super nice…read moreand clean. We loved it so much. And we're willing to come back soon!!

Such a charming and eclectics place, Cafe Bubamara is an absolute delight. The service was…read morefriendly and welcoming. The decor is very flea market chic. They also have beautiful garden seating. I ordered Turkish coffee, fresh grapefruit juice, Gurmanski dorucak, mini burek with spinach and cheese, and fruit cake. I love Turkish coffee and this was very good. The juice was tart and delicious. The breakfast platter was a showstopper. Two fried eggs, tomato, feta, two meat patties, and homemade bread. The flavors of the meat blew my mind. Who knew that Croatians make the most delicious burgers. This is a hearty and fantastic dish. Also, the burek was flaky and light and not very mini. I took home the cake and enjoyed it later. Light, delicate and not overly sweet, this was a star. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you should stop in for any meal. Not cheap, but you get what you pay for and you get a lot of bang for your buck. I can't wait to r

Cafe Bubamara delivers a warm, attentive dining experience with service that feels both welcoming…read moreand well-organized. Seating is first-come, first-served, and guests are placed based on availability, which keeps things fair and efficient even during busy times. The tables for two are intimate and cozy, perfect for conversation, though they can become a bit tight when ordering several dishes at once. That said, the staff was attentive and checked in often enough to clear plates and make room, which made the experience much more comfortable. The dessert menu is separate, allowing guests to enjoy their meal at an unhurried pace before deciding on something sweet. Their beverage offerings are thoughtfully presented. Herbal tea options include green tea, chamomile, and English tea (Stash), and the tea is served in a container that provides two full servings. The cappuccino is well made and served with a sugar crystal stick, adding a distinct old-world charm that enhances the café's European feel. I regret not asking for an additional order of Turkish coffee so that's a regret . What we ordered: * Greek Salad - $18.50 * Cappuccino - $6.80 * Herbal Tea - $6.00 * Uštipci - $17.25 * Musaka - $22.95 * Šnicla (Cutlet Sandwich) - $20.75 * 2 Diet Cokes - $8.00 The musaka is a baked dish and does take about 25 minutes to prepare, as it's made fresh with baked eggs, seasoned beef, and sliced potatoes layered on top. The wait is well worth it, resulting in a hearty, comforting dish that tastes authentically homemade. The Šnicla (cutlet sandwich) arrived beautifully presented on a wooden board, adding a rustic, elevated touch that matched the restaurant's aesthetic. Mom felt it lacked in seasoning but she Didnt leave any crumbs . The Uštipci were a standout--served with feta and honey, generously portioned, and so plentiful that we happily took some home. We were too full for dessert this time, but it's absolutely on the list for a return visit. Due to winter weather, we couldn't explore the back of the restaurant, but even from the main dining area, the decor is undeniably charming and full of character. Overall, Cafe Bubamara offers authentic flavors, generous portions, attentive service, and a cozy, old-world atmosphere that makes it a place worth revisiting.

Great food and reasonable prices. My only complaint is that it is nearly impossible to find parking…read more(but that has nothing to do with the restaurant!)

This was my first time trying actual Romanian food, as most restaurants I have been are marketed as…read more"eastern European" with the cabbage rolls, pierogi, etc. Thus, it is hard to give an accurate star rating since I don't really have an adequate baseline of what Romanian food should be, but combining the food and the excellent service, this place deserves a 5 stars. We were a party of 7 and we walked in on a Sunday dinner, and there was no wait. There was a wedding nearby in the restaurant, so it was a bit loud, but it was a good vibe. We ordered a bunch of dishes, such as the Platou Taranesc, Salata Bouef, Pomana Porcului, Pastrama, Mititei, Sarmale, Papanasi, and Coltunasi Platou Taranesc - country plate, basically bread and cold cut, Romanian style. It was a good experience but something I would normally not go out of my way for, since I don't like cold cut. But it is worth trying since Romanian food has a lot of cured meats and such, so the variety here is apparent Salata Bouef - bouef salad. Not beef salad. It is like a potato salad with chicken and veggies. Fairly hearty despite looking like small portions Pomana Porcului - traditional style pork fried meat - does not look fried, but it is a bit cured. A bit tough, maybe that's how they prepare it, but nonetheless flavorful. Pastrama - lamb pastrami - also a bit tough but cured. I liked the flavors but definitely need to eat it like a fork and knife style, not one bite Mititei - Romanian skinless sausages - kind of like a kofta (ground beef) and I loved this meat dish the most Sarmale - stuffed cabbage roll - one of the best cabbage rolls I have tried. Manageable size for each roll, and the cabbage has just the right amount of softness and the filling is super flavorful. Would recommend this 100% Papanasi - Romanian donuts - they say 2 pieces but the pieces are huge and sweet and hearty. A great way to conclude the meal, and enough to feed 4+ people after a nice meal Coltunasi - dumplings - we got beef. These are good but did not stand out. A nice starter Service was amazing and deserving of the auto 20% gratuity. The only miss is the water refills are not as frequent but the server gave us some sides on the house and gave us amazing recommendations of what to try for food for the first time and brought out everything we needed to enjoy the meal.

Cute spot for Albanian eats off of Arthur ave in the Bronx. Meals are reasonably priced. Staff is…read moresuper sweet and speedy. Albanian music bumping. My only problem with the place is they don't take card. Only cash or Zelle.

The food is amazing, and the new location is fantastic! The service is excellent, and the owner is…read moretruly incredible. The ambiance is wonderful, making this place a must-visit. You won't be disappointed!

This was my second visit. And, unfortunately, it was not as good as I remembered. We visited at…read moreabout 2 PM on a Friday. My companion and I both ordered the salad with grilled salmon for $20 each. The salmon was a handful of tiny cubes of salmon filet with skin on and was a bit fishy. The restaurant is clean and nicely decorated. The service was fine. But, I do not know that I would return.

First time I came I was SO impressed. This time I was equally disappointed. My friend and I came…read morefor a late lunch. We both ordered the salmon salad for $18. Perhaps I wrongly assumed we would get a salad with piece of salmon on top. We got a chopped salad - which was fresh and tasty and well-dressed, that included literally 4 at best, 1 inch x 1 inch chunks of salmon - with the skin on. And the salmon tasted fishy. For the price, one expects at least a small filet of salmon on top of the salad. And at the very least one that doesn't taste fishy and aged. Not sure I want to take a chance again.