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| - I'd seen the Ali Baba hype on Yelp, and I was in the area exploring Pitt, so I figured I might as well try my luck at the purported best Middle Eastern restaurant in Pittsburgh. It was a fine experience, but nothing special.
I patiently waited in line to order takeout, and got the spinach and lentil soup and the spinach pie, both highly recommended. The soup was definitely the better of the two, with a strong lemon juice flavor as I usually make it myself. The spinach pie, rumored to be so good, was a real let down. Another reviewer called it "best in the country"? Cmon, are you serious? If I came here again I would definitely get the kibbee or something.
I couldn't help but notice the mass confusion at the counter, either, between the owner and the waitresses. The takeout ordering system, which should honestly be quite easy, was causing many problems and making everyone a bit awkward. They couldn't match the tickets with the completed orders with the ticket copies sent back to the kitchen.
Considering the other options for lunch in the area, I do recommend Ali Baba. Next time I go, maybe I will have a better experience, but the thought that their quality hinges so much on what you order doesn't make me feel better.
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