MIDDLE
EASTERN
Al-Baraki
184 River St., Troy, 270-9404. Paul Chedrawee turned his
pizza place into a Lebanese restaurant in a tiny storefront
that offers a wonderful array of choices. The sampler plate
will get you started (the falafel is excellent) and there
are wraps and salads as well. Serving 10:30-8 Mon-Sat. AE,
D, MC, V. $
Ali Baba
2243 15th St., Troy, 273-1170. Turkish cuisine and pizza,
which means you can get seasoned lamb on your pie. Most
meals come with puffy lavash bread. The kabobs are terrific;
best of all is the durum-wrapped kabob, a Turkish gyro.
Serving 11 AM-midnight Mon-Sat. Closed Sun. AE, MC, V. $
Mamoun’s Mideast Café
206 Washington Ave., Albany, 434-3901. Serving such Middle
Eastern dishes as shish kebab, tabbouleh, falafel, hummus
and stuffed grape leaves. Special vegetarian menu. Takeout
available. No alcohol. Serving 11:30-10 daily. MC, V. $$
Marmora Café
203 River St., Troy, 266-9300. Wonderful homemade soup and
good deli sandwiches are available, but also try chef-owner
Moheb Habib’s Egyptian specialties, such as his variations
on hummus, baba ganouj and falafel. A casual dining room
open for breakfast and lunch, and don’t forget the baklava.
Serving 8-5 Tue-Sat. MC, V. $
Rita’s Lebanese Café
188 N. Allen St., Albany, 437-3537. Sandwiches include falafel,
marinated beef, chicken, kafta or kibbeh;
dinner selections include hummus, baba ghanouj and
tabouli. It’s well-crafted Lebanese fare with tasty
kebabs as well as an extensive selection of vegetarian items.
Serving 11-6 Tue-Wed, 11-9 Thu-Sat. AE, D, MC, V. $
Columns
& Opinions
