Çka Ka Qëllu has been on my radar for a while now. I first heard about it several years ago when they first opened in the Arthur Ave neighborhood - standing out as a traditional Albanian restaurant amongst the sea of Italian eateries. Fast forward to the present day, and they have gained considerable attention. The restaurant has made the NYT's Top 100 Restaurants in NYC list for the past 4 years, they have expanded to two (soon three) other locations, and is a favorite among the social media and celeb crowd (this is allegedly one of Dua Lipa's favorite restaurants in the city). That being said, we thought it would be a great spot to celebrate a family member's birthday - so I booked a table and off we went. Çka Ka Qëllu is located on Hughes adjacent to the back entrance of the Arthur Ave Retail Market. The restaurant is gorgeous - it's pretty spacious with three main dining rooms. The decor is a showstopper in itself - the exposed stone walls coupled with the abundance of artwork and old world accents placed throughout the dining area make this seem more like a museum than a restaurant. The ethnic music that is piped throughout the restaurant completes the feel. I honestly couldn't stop looking around. There menu is pretty expansive - most of the items I had not heard of before, but it's also approachable as they spell it out for you in the description what each dish is. We were a party of seven, so to make things easy we aligned to share everything. My brother and I decided to take lead and order items from each section. We decided to start with the ajvar, sausage dip, and tarator. These were all delicious; essentially dips, they all had great flavor and were paired with hot crusty bread mmmm. We then got a bunch of other dishes: leçenik, burek, fili, fasule with smoked meat, mantia, mazë e zier, and a shop salad. As with the dips, everything here was delicious. It's hard to pick the standouts because everything was so good - honest food, full of flavor and depth. Okay you twisted my arm - if I had to choose, my favorites were the burek and the mazë e zier. I love a good burek, and this one was top drawer. The pull on the mazë e zier was out of this world, yet it was easy to maneuver with great flavor. We ended the meal with one of their grilled dishes - namely the mixed meat combo. We chose five meats and they paired them with some vegetables and potato. At risk of sounding like a broken record - this was delicious as well. Service was awesome - everyone was welcoming and the food came out at a good pace. Overall, Çka Ka Qëllu is an absolute yes - the food, the decor, and the service were all aces. The hype is real and they deserve all the accolades they have received. Goes without saying, but I would definitely return for another meal - take me back now! read more

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we liked the leçenik. the menu called it cornbread but it's different from american cornbread, w less corn flavor & an eggier texture. it reminded me of greek batsaria bc of the spinach & feta. the menu also said it came w a pepper sauce - it was like a cream sauce that had the 'green' flavor of green peppers, no spice. there was also a red olive garnish, which had a milder fruitier taste than green olives fresh complimentary bread came out w the entree, hot from the oven. they had a nice crust on the bottom & were rly soft on top. i tried them w the olive oil that was at the table, you could rly taste the olives our group got a mixed meat combo for the table. my fav was the suxhuk / sausage, it was flavorful w spices. we also liked the roasted potatoes, which tasted like they were seasoned w mustard(?), as well as the bit of cabbage slaw. i will say tho that this plate was a bit too salty for my taste the ambience is nice & rustic, w brick walls, traditional music, & even leather-bound menus. however they were understaffed so service was slow read more

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If you're looking for a great hearty meal, this is the place to go! We started off with three different dips: - The pepper dip - The sausage dip - The yogurt-based dip They were all delicious and packed with flavor, and paired with their warm, steamy, fluffy rolls, you get the ultimate appetizer. We followed that up by getting the grilled meat platter, and every single one was super juicy, tender, and flavorful, but I will say the kefta was my favorite. For dessert, we had the Albanian Tres Leches, which was good but didn't blow me away. The servers are very friendly, and I really like the atmosphere. It feels very authentically Albanian. This is a great spot and definitely worth checking out! read more

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I never tried Albanian food, but I am really glad that I finally did because it was absolutely delicious. First and foremost, the bread that they give you complementary is absolutely delicious with a little bit of olive oil, it is perfect. Second, I got the manti which I have had variations of before, but not with yogurt and baked at that. It was delicious and on top of that the service was great. I'm glad to see that they have more locations as I am not typically in the Bronx and would frequent those as well. read more

Cka Ka Qellu - Bronx - Modern European Near Me - Bronx, New York

From start to finish, this restaurant did an incredible job of preparing the food, making us feel incredibly 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. read more

Cka Ka Qellu - Bronx - Top is the sausage dip, bottom is the pepper dip - Modern European Near Me - Bronx, New York

Walking into the restaurant makes you feel like you're in Europe. Very cozy and rustic yet elevated. The staff was very friendly and helpful and service was excellent throughout the meal. We have never had this type of food before and the waitress provided some recommendations and after looking over the menu, we tried a few dishes. We started off with a meat dumpling that was very flavorful and served with a yogurt dip. Our main courses were white beans with smoked meat serve with fresh baked bread, and the other dish was a mixed platter sampler of three different meats served with yogurt and a side of vegetables and cabbage slaw. The spices were unique and extremely flavorful. The yogurt added a nice creamy element. For dessert, we tried their traditional homemade cookie covered in a lemon syrup with walnuts and that was a little dense but tasty. An excellent meal. Highly recommend trying. read more

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Packed on a late Sunday afternoon but spacious interior. They were able to seat a group of 7. Entire restaurant is decorated like an old style European cabin. Very cozy and the service is equally warm. The food is great. On the heavy side, a bit oily but not greasy. The complimentary bread is incredible. Crispy crust and an unbelievably soft interior. Their manti is good. Lots of variety in their mixed grill. Burek is good. Their sausage dip reminded me of a no pepper rotel dip read more

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It might take an act of congress or a $50 Uber to get to Cha Ka Qellu, but my recommendation is to do whatever it takes to get there. This Albanian restaurant is in Little Italy Bronx, and I'm sure that if you check it out, it will wind up on heavy rotation for you!! You literally can't go wrong with any of their selections! To start, we got the Sausage Dip (with the BEST bread), Mantia, and the Shop Salad. All of these are HIGHLY recommended. See the photos accompanying this post for some mouth watering images of these dishes. For mains, we shared: (1) the Sarma (cabbage leaves stuffed with seasoned ground meat, rice, and fresh vegetables); this is a must; and (2) the Skenderbeg (a crispy veal filet mignon roll stuffed with melted cheese and smoked meat); wow... just wow!!! Note that they don't have cocktails at CKQ but do carry yummy Albanian wine. The red was super tasty and went well with all the food. As for the wait staff, they were all super friendly and knowledgeable about the selections. Final Thoughts: I really, really enjoyed my visit and will definitely return... as soon as I can. I highly recommend you check it out, too! read more

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Want to go to Albania without hopping on a plane? Take the train to this restaurant. I've been to Albania and this restaurant did not disappoint. As soon as you walk in, it has traditional clothing and it just feels like you're in Albania. Unfortunately, I wasn't very hungry so I didn't get to try different things on the menu but what I did have was delicious even warmed up again at home. Our server was knowledgeable because she was Albanian herself and gave us tips on what we should order. I would love to go again. And I do highly recommend it! read more

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Excellent service and food. This was our second visit and would visit again. The ambiance is also worth going! read more

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I love the environment it is decorated so beautifully. I enjoyed to food too and I had a great time.

This place was absolutely incredible. We will definitely be coming back here. They also have two other locations (which we haven't been to, but will definitely go to). First off, stepping into this restaurant was like stepping into an old world restaurant. There's a really rustic, charming vibe that is absolutely transportive. We went for dinner in the middle of the week, so we were the old table while we were there, but the staff was so lovely and attentive. They definitely have a lot of pride for the restaurant and food and I get why. Now on to the food. Wow. The food was amazing and the price was so wildly reasonable. We started with the sausage dip, the pickled pepper, and the sesame baked cheese. The pickled pepper had the perfect bite to it and was a little spicy (think how a banana pepper is spicy) with great flavors for the veggies inside the pepper. The sausage dip was both familiar and interesting and so perfectly delicious. It came with these warm bread roll things that were steaming when we tore them open. The cheese was also nice, especially paired with the bread. We also had the Fli which is kind of like a baked layer pastry dish served with a feta cheese and was so good. Then we had the fasule with suxhuk. It's essentially a white bean stew/soup with a type of sausage in it. This was so hearty and comforting. I could eat a bowl of it in front of the fire on a winter day. It was simple with a depth of flavor that was on point. We also had the grilled octopus, which was cooked well and very delicious. Overall, the meal was an absolute delight and we truly had a great time. Everything from the ambiance to the service to the food to the price point made this place an absolute must visit. read more

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Cka Ka Qellu is a wonderful spot for authentic Albanian food. The dishes are flavorful, fresh, and satisfying, with friendly service and a welcoming atmosphere. Definitely worth a visit! read more

Went here after work with a few coworkers and ordered a little bit of everything and it did not disappoint. We sat near the front at a beautiful round wooden table. They had cool leather-bound menus and a rustic vibe. The mixed meat platter was flavorful and perfectly seasoned. The grilled octopus? Absolute perfection. The mantia was the STAR of the night for me, along with the olives! so fragrant with orange peel and herbs that I could have eaten them by the bowl. We also tried the Albanian beer that was smooth, crisp, and refreshing. The service was very attentive and provided some great recommendations. Would definitely come back. read more

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Cka Ka Qëllu is an Albanian restaurant by Arthur Ave in the Bronx, previously well-known as Bronx's Little 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. read more

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My friend and I decided to check out Çka Ka Qëllu on a Saturday after doing a NYBG trip. We made a reservation for 1:30, and I would recommend making a reservation if you are going at a popular time. The interior of the restaurant is unique, almost like you're in a stone cottage. The decor consists of Albanian artifacts, which is always a cool touch to the dining experience. Our server was extremely helpful guiding us through the menu, as neither of us had a ton of experience with the cuisine. We got the smaller order of the mantia ($11), which were veal dumplings. The dumplings were good, I just wanted a touch more flavor on the meat and a thicker consistency of the yogurt sauce. My friend got the tava kosi ($24), which is a lamb dish. This dish is flavored well, but it is on the saltier side! I got the gulash ($23), which I had a similar critique to the tava kosi. Once I ate the meat and potatoes, the rest of the gulash felt like I was eating flavored oil rather than a soup or stew, so I didn't wipe the bowl clean. The homemade bread helped to balance out the saltiness and sop up some of the liquid. Overall, I thought everything was very tasty, and I would return to try other dishes. Service was exceptional. From the moment we walked in, we were treated with the highest level of hospitality. Because we went on a hot day, we drank a lot of water. There was never a point where our glasses went empty! There were also multiple checkbacks. I would highly recommend checking out Çka Ka Qëllu if you're in the area at the garden or the zoo! read more

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I'd been wanting to try this place for a while and ultimately there were parts I did enjoy but some that I wasn't a huge fan of. -Started with the sausage dip: I don't know the typical texture for this dish but this was much thinner than i would have wanted for a dip. The bread was great, but it was fairly hard to scoop the dip onto the bread. Fair amount of sausage, I guess. - Fli: We were torn between this and the borek but the waiter very much recommended the fli. I'm probably just not a fli fan because I found this to be extraordinarily dense and difficult to eat without much flavoring to compensate. - Tava kosi: The meat of this was nice but the egg texture was similar to Korean steamed eggs but much less firm. The egg to meat ratio also was a bit off. - Mixed grill platter: Easily my favorite dish of the day. I enjoyed all three meats and the yogurt on top, while sparser than I would have wanted, was nice. - Can't say enough about the bread, definitely order seconds. The service was super nice. We walked in easily for a table. The decor was super interesting, quaint but well put together. Ultimately I think it's an interesting place to try for this cuisine. read more

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This was a surprising experience, as we had expected Mediterranean fare but discovered Albanian cuisine instead. Everything was fantastic - the food, service, and location. I recommend ordering a few plates to share so you can try a little bit of everything. read more

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We stumbled across this spot entirely by accident but I'm so glad we did! It's a really cozy spot and was bustling - people were in and out. And after eating here, I can see why! The food is delicious, the staff is really nice, and the ambiance is just relaxing vibes. Every dish was incredibly well seasoned - I loved the mantia!! The mixed meat combo is an amazing deal for two and the portion is more than enough for two people. By the time dessert came, we were full but couldn't resist the dessert, which was spongy and soft and yummy without being too sweet. Overall, this is a fantastic spot I plan to revisit whenever I'm in the area! read more

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Delicious food, friendly service, and inviting environment. We had matia, skenderbeg, mix grill platter, Mediterranean salad, burek, and trileqe for dessert. The savory items were meat filled pastry and sausage based. The skenderbeg was meat and cheese in a fried breading. The dessert was like tres leche with caramel sauce on top. Each item was flavorful. It was not spicy at all so for those who need spice, be prepared. Its 15 min from Yankees stadium so a great dinner spot after the game. Will be back read more

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Cka Ka Qellu is AMAZING! The Bronx location truly feels both traditional and authentic with the stonework and antiques throughout the restaurant. Staff are also dressed traditionally which completely adds to the ambiance. On top of that, my better half is actually an immigrant from Albania, so when we were in New York for a birthday trip a couple of weeks ago leading into the holidays, we had to try Cka Ka Qellu! Especially the Bronx location in the Little Albania/Italy part of the borough. The whole neighborhood has such a strong sense of community, and felt immediately welcoming. Definitely recommend coming to this specific location. Anyway, our servers were on it the entire time we were there, constantly filling water and checking in despite a full house, that kept growing fuller during our stay. We ordered house cabs that were full-bodied, the right measure of acidity, and floral. Now, let's dive into the food. I've been thinking about this food since leaving NYC! We ordered the village salad, which was the perfect palette cleanser leading us into the main courses, which in the most comforting way, are a bit on the heavier side. We were brought bread as well, and also ordered the soup of the day, which on this day was like a lemon-chicken soup that was just very bright and tasty. We also ordered the sausage dip to start, which we loved! For mains, we ordered a couple of Tava dishes which are cooked and brought in clay dishes, Tava Kosi and Fasul with Suxhuk on the side. The Tava Kosi was my favorite here, it was SO flavorful, and rich. The lamb on top was truly tender melt-off-the-bone lamb too. The Fasul was really good too and I ended up being sad because the Suxhuk (which is sausage) portions were so huge, with all the other food, I didn't have enough room to eat more of it. Lastly, we ordered Sheqerpare, which are like syrup-soaked cookies that were not overly sweet, nor mushy. And then a final surprise, because I put that we were there for a birthday in the res: a slice of Albanian Trilece with a sparkler going off. It was a truly memorable dinner, evening, and a special meal for both of us. Thank you!! read more

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The food is phenomenal and the service is great! Beautiful interior cozy and authentic. I wish they had liquor licence and some Albanian beer. read more

Came here for Mother's Day dinner with my husband. We had a great time. The food was delicious and the staff were really amazing and catered to us as we needed. The ambiance was nice clean it was some noise but not too bad. I really enjoyed the dinner and I will be back the food. I loved all the dishes we had I wanted my sausages a little more cooked and they did for me which was nice. read more

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First time having Albanian food!! It was a pleasant surprise, food was good, service was great, and the ambiance was calm. The bread is delicious! read more

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I stopped by for lunch solely because this place was listed on the NYC Top 100 restaurant list, but unfortunately the food didn't live up to the hype. The mantı was very dry, and honestly the only thing that made it edible was the yogurt sauce. The sarma was just okay -- I've had much better stuffed cabbage elsewhere. The one bright spot was the excellent service, which was warm and attentive. Given its location near Arthur Avenue -- home to so many incredible Italian delis and restaurants -- I wouldn't return. The food just wasn't memorable enough, especially considering the great options nearby. read more

Very nice food and good service and nice interior. And good price. Recommended and I liked it a lot. Pretty authentic food in my opinion. read more

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I happened to stumble upon this adorable Albanian eatery in the Bronx. The hostess welcomes you and assigns you a table as soon as you walk in. This space is comfortable on the interior, with lovely furnishings and a relaxed vibe. I had never eaten Albanian food before. I started with an order of the pepper dip, which is salty, creamy sautéed peppers served with a great pita, and the tartar, which is a chilled yogurt blend with minced cucumber and garlic sprinkled with parsley. I also got their shop salad, which has feta cheese shreds, chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, and red peppers with vinegar and olive oil which was super fresh and yummy. I had the mixed grill platter with sausage, qebapa, qofta, and cabbage salad for my main course.This was a great way to sample their menu, and my favorite was the sausage which had a little spicy kick to it. I also ordered the grilled octopus, which came with a side of arugula, and it was delicious, with well-seasoned meat. The freshness of the octopus made it the ideal partner for the mixed grill. The food arrived promptly, the pricing was fair, and the amounts were decent. They have a fantastic menu with lots of grilling options, lamb, and seafood! The dessert menu offers an excellent selection; the Baklava caught my attention. It should be noted that alcohol is not served at this location. The staff is polite, informed, and always willing to provide suggestions or help with unique needs. The kind and inviting service will make you feel perfectly at home. They take cash and credit card payments and the fact that reservations are not required is one of the restaurant's great features. I rate them a 9 out of 10. You can get there by public transportation or drive but you will need to circle around the block once or twice in order to find parking, because it's a residential neighborhood. Overall I rate them a 9 out of 10. read more

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2026 Feb 21 :1) facile 2) tradida mixed grill platter. 3) added a pepper dip. 4) Tradida mixed grill platter to go. read more

Cka Ka Qellu - Bronx - Impressive decoration - Modern European Near Me - Bronx, New York

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2nd time here food was good but expect to wait a very long time...Service hit ot miss... read more

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Wonderful! Very kind staff, beautiful space, and delicious food. We started with the red pepper / eggplant dip, then tried the goulash, the white bean dish, and the beef dumplings dish. All really tasty. read more

Service was wonderful. The server explained all of the dishes to us since it was our first try at an Albanian restaurant. Everything we ordered had a lot of cheese and very flavorful. Couldn't name the dishes, but they were very good. The bread was delicious, similar to a naan or roti. It is an absolutely gorgeous restaurant. Small, full of Albanians, some for dressed up for a fancy night out. A very nice date night vibe. read more

What a hidden gem in the heart of little Italy in Bronx. I was recommended by a friend to try this place. Even though it was ride for me for Long Island , I made the trip and it was totally worth it . This place comes in the Top 100 restaurants in NYC and definitely belongs there !! Food was phenomenal and the service was top notch. Must Try the Pepper Dip , with their fresh warm bread!! Service - 10/10 Parking - Metered Reservation Needed - I didn't have one , but got seated in a few. Ambiance - Cozy and Reminded me of Medieval Times read more

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Woah this place is simply amazing! We tried a variety of dishes here including tava kosi, fasul, bread with sausage dip, and the mantia. Everything was absolutely delicious and it was difficult to choose a favorite. Each dish offers an unique flavor but yet manages to balance each other well. I love the decorations they have on the walls as well and it's almost like a mini museum. The service is excellent. I would definitely come back again someday to try their other dishes. read more

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There aren't enough stars for this place. 10/10. I came here today for brunch with my Albanian friends and I'm so mad that I didn't check out this place before. First off, the restaurant is situated in the Belmont section of the Bronx. It's right near Prince Coffee House. The outside looks basic, but once you enter, you're literally walking into a beautifully decorated, rustic Albanian restaurant. It's filled with historical art, and so much nostalgic pieces. We sat at the table next to the window, for a table of five. They had us sit on cool animal throws and soft pillows. Like I'm telling you, the attention to detail is amazing. I hope my friends do the ordering, as they are much more verse, and Albanian cuisine than I am. My friend ordered so many different types of dips and appetizers. Everything was absolutely so delicious. The bread, dips, salad, and meats were absolutely seasoned to perfection. Best part is, the meat is halal. They don't serve alcohol here, but they do have soda and water. They even have Coca-Cola in a bottle. Our servers were extremely friendly. One of the waitresses was one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen in my life. They were so accommodating. They're even dressed up in their national attire so it's extremely wholesome to see. I'm so happy I came here. This place is definitely going to have way more business for me and my friends. Everything was absolutely delicious and I can't wait to come back here. read more

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This place is a real neighborhood gem. Right near Arthur Avenue, but much more interesting than the standard Italian places. Great Albanian cuisine, really nice staff, large portions, and reasonable prices. We came for lunch after the Botanic Gardens, and we will definitely be back. read more

THIS PLACE IS A GEM. Waiter was patient and kind. Every dish was absolutely amazing. I'll come back for sure next time I'm in the area. read more

This place was so disappointing, it's beautiful, the vibe and music are nice, even the food was good. It's just the service was horrible. We had to ask multiple times, 4 different waiters for normal things like water and bread, and were ignored by every single one. I understand that it's busy and things need time to bake but to be told "yes one second" and then ignored by multiple people every time is rude and disrespectful. When talking to the owner we were disregarded completely. It's sad that a place so nice looking but has a rude staff and owner. read more

10/10 recommend ! First time trying Albanian food & loved getting to learn more about the cultural and history ! read more

Cka Ka Qellu - Bronx - Sausage Dip Roasted Pepper Dip - Modern European Near Me - Bronx, New York

We clearly looked different from the other diners and were treated as such. It took forever to get our order in and servers were actively avoiding us while chatting up the other diners. Never coming back here again. read more

You can't find service like this often in NYC - they were so sweet and came by multiple times to make sure we were enjoying our food. I had never had Albanian cuisine but it was decadent, rich, and left us with warm full bellies. My friend brought me here, where she gets her comfort food. I will definitely be back and recommend to all. read more

Cka Ka Qellu - Bronx - Modern European Near Me - Bronx, New York

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