Gothamist: The Hungry Cabbie Eats The Outer Boroughs: Kabab Cafe

COKNOSE JOHNSON

Mon, 30 Oct 2006 21:23:55 -0500

THIS PLACE LOOKS LIKE AN ARAB SCHMORGASBOARD - YUM!!!

Polecat

Sat, 07 Oct 2006 14:30:05 -0500

I don't know how much you all need to worry about big crowds - this isn't the first I've seen this place praised in the press at large, or, for that matter, on a blog. What I can't believe is that I haven't hit this place yet. Dave, what are the dishes pictured? Dorothy, thanks for the tips.

dorothy

Sat, 07 Oct 2006 13:16:34 -0500

Nick, some menu suggstions. The specials are good but if you're on a budget, you can't go wrong with what's on the regular menu. Or even if you're not on a budget, start with the basics and just order a lot - this is a good way to start the first few times you go to the cafe. Ali will be happy to give you containers to take food home if you cant finish. Either way, start with a mezze plate for the table - a mixture of hummus, falafal, baba, crispy, crispy amazing swiss chard, apple slices, mysterious spices, ali's homemade hot sauce - everything good. sometimes this is the highlight of the meal for me. with this, ali will also bring warm pita to the table that he's heated on his indoor grill. again, don't feel the need to eat everything here - you'll fill up too fast. everything but the falafel is good to eat the next day. also ali will enlarge the mezze plate according to the size of your party. before you even order, just tell him - please, we'll take a mixed appetizer plate whenever you can bring it over! after you order the mixed plate, well, now the menu is yours. everything really is that good, i don't think you can go wrong. i happen to love the chicken with apricot. anything with lamb is worth ordering. if you are vegetarian, try a warm salad with a side of hummus. if you aren't vegetarian, split a warm salad with your meal! it's delicous. service isn't fast but it's not slow either. that said, you're going to want to just go ahead and order as you can. ali won't mind you getting his attention to ask for something or to bring you the bill. in fact, he'll appreciate you effort because he's torn between conversing with everyone, being the master of the food AND trying to deal with logistics. he's really doing it all - and while it can be difficult for a *chef* to do, i have to say he really pulls it off. the service is more european style and by that i don't mean bad. just as the hungry cabbie points out - ali doesn't want you to rush over your meal; he will never rush you out! also, you will be charged for water because it's bottled (not sure why people complain about this on chowhound - it's not overpriced and who wants tap water from the old pipes in that building?). also, it's truly BYO - he has some wine but don't feel guilty about bringing something yourself. a really dry, robust red will compliment the spicy stuff you're eating. if you forget to bring some, there's a pretty good liquor store on the corner of astoria blvd and steinway; make a left at the end of steinway before the grand central. after you are done, sip some mint tea. tip big. exit to the right and walk a few blocks down steinway. on your right is a middle eastern bakery (not a cafe; a true bakery with cookies and a display case in the front of the shop). it stays open late. get an espresso and 5 dollars worth of mixed middle eastern pastries. the decor is nothing special but the people who work there are warm and again, the food so delicious. i hope you go!

paki

Sat, 07 Oct 2006 00:34:10 -0500

This place is great. Great choice. Great article. You really captured Ali's character

nick

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 22:23:29 -0500

so we've all established that ali is one cool dude... how about some menu description/suggestions?

Laura B

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 17:18:23 -0500

Dorothy is right!! Ali and his restaurant are one of the gems of this entire city, not just Astoria, He got royally ConnEd back in July, and would be thrilled to have more business. In fact, I should head over there myself sooner rather than later.

K. Thor Jensen

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 17:06:52 -0500

Yeah, one of the best meals you're gonna have in the city here. As for the above commenter complaining about "pictures of food" - what are you, some kind of fucking e-anorexic? JPEGs don't got no calories, whiner.

dorothy

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 16:53:25 -0500

i happen to know ali would love the business and NEEDS the business. the blackout screwed over so many people in astoria, including ali. he lost a lot of money during it. please go. you won't regret it. it's amazing food at the very least. at the most, it's an amazing night of meeting other fans, talking with ali, and sitting in a cozy, cozy spot. try during the week (not on a monday - he's closed) if you are worried about getting a seat. otherwise, if it's crowded, take a walk down steinway st, stop in the middle eastern bakery nearby, smoke a hookah, explore. ali's was the first middle eastern restaurant 17 years ago on steinway - now it rivals atlantic ave. i can't make it back to astoria as much as i'd like, so when i go, i really go all out. bring your own wine, just make sure to offer ali some. tip big. he's your busboy, waiter, chef and friend. i treat the kebab cafe like a nonprofit - ali's food is his art, and we're the lucky patrons.

Kate

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 16:31:46 -0500

hmmm, so you were finally able to find it Dave? next time get the pumpkin dumplings... delicious.

disgusted

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 16:23:04 -0500

please stop putting up these god awful photos of the food. it's really making me sick.

an Adirondacker

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 16:03:28 -0500

Does some of his chest hair get into the food? I've never seen a chef have his bare chest out in the open while preparing food before.

pk

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 15:55:47 -0500

Does the place still only have something like 5 tables? It truly is one of the restaurants I miss most since moving out of the city.

CR

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 15:30:21 -0500

2 to 1 says he's not happy about getting more business.

anonymous

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 14:58:40 -0500

good for him. i'm sure he'll be happy about getting more business from locals.

annie

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 14:54:09 -0500

I am sooo bummed you just wrote about this restaurant. I live in Astoria and its one of my FAVORITE places to eat. Now its going to be busier now that its out! And not to mention that Ali is one of the funniest chefs in the neighborhood.