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Kabab Café
25-12 Steinway St., Queens, NY, 11103
nr. 25th Ave.
718-728-9858
| 4.9 | "Mixed Reviews" Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10 |  |
Eating is traveling
Elenaj from 11106 | Posted on 10/18/09
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In Kabab Cafe you feel like being transported in Naguib Mahfouz or Alaa el-Aswany books. I didn't expect anything and I spent a great moment eating the plater prepared by and talking food with Ali. I just asked him what he would eat if he wasn't too hungry: An Egyptian mezze, a baklawa and a couple of mint teas. And I felt well-fed, yet light.
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I like this place.
Nchssmaria from 11714 | Posted on 10/17/09
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Next time, I want to have the desert sampler and mint tea. We ordered 5 appetizers but of fish, goat brains, kidney, and falafel.
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Horrible experience, save your money!
billyao from 10036 | Posted on 8/31/09
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Went here for lunch on Sunday. Will admit that Ali is a personable guy but this was the biggest ripoff I've had in NY in many years. First of all we were overcharged. Grossly so. They refused to give us a menu (as per other reports). There is a menu posted outside though, and when we checked afterwards we realized they charged nearly double. The mixed appetizer plate was $10 and we were charged $18. As per earlier posts, they refused to pour tap water (their excuse was that they didn't have ice). The food was average to bad. The appetizer plate was about what you'd expect, nothing special. Entrees were the red snapper and goat in pomegranate sauce. The snapper was completely tasteless and dry. We had to dip it in the pomegranate sauce in the other dish to give it flavor. The goat chops were better, but tiny. Five chops each of which wasn't even a mouthful worth of food, for $25. We left $110 poorer and still hungry. We didn't make a fuss about the bill but wish we had. This guy is a thief in a snake oil salesman's body.
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Delicious
FOODLOVE from 10003 | Posted on 8/17/09
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This was a very special experience. The food beat my expectations and meeting the owner, Ali, is worth the trip out of the city alone. Don't go with expectations other than the desire to explore and taste out of this world food.
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Amazing food, amazing experience
Andree from 07040 | Posted on 5/21/09
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When you come here you should know you are about to eat food made with experience, love for cooking and flavorful ingredients. It is not an Applebees or a Chili's so if you are looking for a server to say my name is TJ, you just let me know if you need anything. You are not going to get that. Just ask him for his recommendations and enjoy! Best food I've had in NY in years.
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Waste of time and money
varickwt from 11233 | Posted on 4/5/09
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that says it all...
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Abusive
varickwt from 11233 | Posted on 4/5/09
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The owner is abusive and the place is ridiculous. For what it is and the prices you can go to a much better Egyptian restaurant called "Casa La Femme". It was recommended to me by my friend whose family is from Cairo.
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In shock...
varickwt from 11233 | Posted on 4/5/09
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I have been to his other restaurant Mumbar and this was an even worse experience. 1.) The guy is a thief. He deliberately overcharges for food and drink. I said I did not want bottled water and he started opening the water anyway, then I had to say in a firmer tone "I don't want the water" 2.) When we had questions about the menu he started in on his assy behaviour which may fly in Egypt with people of a lower class than him but does not fly here. 3.) The platter of mezze we had plus three mint teas (tea is always on the house in middle eastern restaurants normally) cost $28.00 after we decided to cut our losses and leave. We left not because the food was bad but because of the incredibly rude treatment we received as paying customers. I go out to eat because I want someone to serve ME, honestly I can stay home and cook food 9 times out of ten better than most restaurants or on par with them...I eat out for the service AND the food. This place should be out of business...
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Overpriced Dump
nytauro from 10003 | Posted on 3/25/09
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"This is not the Italian countryside. Give me a menu! Go to a staples and print some out for $3 for Gods sake, don't have me order and Triple charge me for mediocre food! Don't sap a bit of Baba ganoush and hummus on a plate and charge me $18. This was a plate that should cost $8 anywhere for anyone who has ever eaten Egyptian in NYC. Checking the menu online when I returned home I noticed we were GROSSLY overcharged, for muck. The rest of the food was simply poor. and the place filthy. What did Anthony Bourdan do to this place. Did h just have an off dayor ws it truely worth it before he got there. STAY AWAY! too bad."
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Stinking Fish
licnyc from 11106 | Posted on 2/7/09
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This hole in the wall reminds you Cairo but it charges Manhattan prices. I guess this is the effect of the NYMag "critics pick". We were served the most stinking sardines I ever seen and smelled. They must have stayed outside the fridge for a couple of days. We smelled all the dishes while prepared the kitchen is practically next to you and our clothing smelled for days later. We were overcharged for the appetizers (2X). He poured me wine without asking me and then he charged me for it. Save your money and go elsewhere.
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