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| - I don't exactly agree with the reviewer, who wrote, this is not only the best Arab food in Phoenix, but everywhere! Well, having been to Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, I can happily confirm the last sentence to be a BIG exaggeration; but it's an exaggeration even for Phoenix.
We had the dolmas, hummus and babaghanoush; so to be fair, that's what my review concerns. I can't speak for any of the meat dishes, but while the hummus and babaghanoush are very good, my partner and I are in disagreement as to HOW good. We both find the hummus to be better than at Haji Baba, a staple and favorite of ours in Tempe. The hummus at Haji's is smoother; this one, more grainy. You would think smoother would be better ... while it's a matter of taste, I would argue it isn't. The grainier one leads me to believe it's most likely "homemade", while the smooth indicates mass-production. Not saying that's the case for either; but having tried canned hummus, I suspect, I'm not wrong. The babaghanoush here is of the same consistency as at Haji Baba's, but has a "smokier" texture. As far as those two dishes go, we rate them hands down better than Haji Baba (though I think not by much; my partner thinks they're significantly better). The dolmas ... meh. Tastes like they're out of a can, whereas Haji Baba's is very distinct and "non-traditional".
Now, here is a point, which, for some people --- including me --- is important: ambiance.
Just as Haji Baba is not a "real" restaurant per se, this place is located inside the shopping center. The difference is that while Haji Baba's grocery section is smaller and distinctly separate from its restaurant, eating here is akin to going to the hot dog and pretzel counter at Costco. There is NO separation -- except for a steel railing --- and as you eat, customers mill around the store. It does not leave an impression or quiet, calm and privacy. If ambiance is important to you, then this is most likely not the place to think about having a "real" meal. On the other hand, the service at the food counter is friendly and quick.
I will do a separate review of the store, Baiz Market, which is the REAL gem here, but overall, I'd say the food is good, but nothing spectacular
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