Week 3: Ali Baba's

What Teray Says...

I can't believe it is already week 3. I feel like we have been doing this blog for some time now. I just first want to say thank you to everyone who has been following the blog and giving us feedback. It really means a lot that you are enjoying this journey just as much as we are.


This week I chose Ali Baba's Lebanese Cuisine. The reason I picked it is because I was trying to find a kind of food that we didn't pick yet as well as that there was a restaurant.com coupon, which I got for $3 by the way (yay for coupon codes). The website suggested that we try the Sunday night special in which you got a bottle of wine, 4 appetizers and a whole entree of food and sides. Little did we know that you couldn't use the gift certificate on the special (it didn't say that anywhere on it) but we def. wanted the special.

The front of Ali Baba's (It is located at Eastern and Pebble)

I was impressed with the decor on the inside. I felt like I was in another world with all of the murals, some of them didn't seem Lebanese to me, but again what do I know. I loved the fact that we got to sit on couches with huge pillows, you could not get more comfortable. <3

view from our table

and the view to the right of us

After the debate about using the coupon, we had to decide between wine and champagne. I am not typically a red wine drinker, but I decided to go with it. It was one of the best red wines I have ever had, and I think I am now a red wine fan. The wait staff was very friendly and explained everything to us. I felt very well taken care of by the excellent service. Pita bread was soon brought out with our appetizers. We got four different things: hummus, tabouli, labneh, and baba ghanouj. The portion sizes were very decent, we even brought some home and I ate it for dinner tonight. The hummus had to be the best hummus I have ever had! They said it was famous, and man, do I believe it!

appetizers

Next, our dinner was brought out. We were given steak, chicken, veggie, and kifta kabobs. Again, the portion sizes were great. You could eat most of what was on the plate in addition to the rice that they gave without getting too full. The kifta was something I had never tasted before, it was very tender, and reminded me of a sausage like meat. After stuffing ourselves and drinking red wine, we decided to order dessert. 

Dinner with rice 

dessert

For dessert we took the waiter's suggestion of  Knafeh, which is sour dough with cheese inside and you drizzle honey on it. I was kinda weirded out that there would be melted cheese in my dessert, but it actually ended up being very good. After we ate we hung around a bit and found out that on the week-ends there is a band, a singer, belly dancers and it turns into basically a night club. They stay open until like 4 in the morning. You can also smoke hookah if that is your thing. Overall, I would definitely come back to Ali Baba's in the night time so I could see the entertainment. I think it would be really enjoyable with a group of people. I give this week's restaurant a rating of 4 out of 5.

What Brett says....

I'm not sure where to start this week, I'll go with a little background.  Teray chose Ali Baba's Lebanese restaurant, I was excited.  Growing up in Detroit we have a pretty large Middle Eastern culture.  I always remember getting Lebanese food with my family; spinach pies, tabouli, meat pies, and grape leaves.  It seems like we got it at least once a month.  There was also a Lebanese place we would go to at lunch during high school.  Then in college I ate Lebanese a minimum of one time per week.  So needless to say I know Lebanese food, even more so I know good vs. bad Lebanese food.

When Teray told me she chose Lebanese I was stoked, I was even more stoked when she told me she got a Restaurant.com coupon worth $25 (it was my week to pay).  We made our reservation for 6:15pm.  We show up to find another strip mall restaurant, they do a good job of setting a different image.  There are palm trees and other plant life surrounding a fairly large patio.  As we went inside we immediatly walked into another place.  We went from Vegas to the Middle East.  The place was cool; couches with pillows, wall murals (for some reason some of them were Midwest with Canadian Geese, LOL), cool lighting, and a small stage with instruments.  We were sat immediately, I think we were one of three occupied tables in the place.  I'm guessing there were about 35 tables, by far the biggest restaurant we have been to on our little tour.  I was excited we got a table that had a couch, I am all about relaxation and comfort.  We were immediately asked what beverage we wanted and pita was just as fast.  Our server (I think he was actually the manager) came over to take our order.  He saw our Restaurant.com voucher and instantly told us that we could not use it on the Sunday Special.  I completely understand them not accepting the voucher on the special; what upset me was the fact that no where on the voucher did it say that.  It clearly states when it can be used and that we couldn't use other coupons but no where did it say anything about a special.  I guess they are concerned that they might get busy on a Sunday and make some money.  Anyways...we ordered the Sunday special; can't really go wrong with 4 apps, a huge entree and a bottle of wine.

The Sunday special was awesome.  I have to say it is the best hummus I have ever had.  There was also an eggplant spread, plain yogurt, tabouli...all very good.  The entree was rice, veggies, chicken, steak, and a pretty amazing mystery meat (I still can't think of what it as).  The entree as a whole was good but nothing special.  It is hard to really screw up rice, veggies, chicken and steak.  The wine was a Cabernet, it had a good full flavor.  It was also a little sweeter then most reds I have had, I am more of a white wine guy but when your options are red or champagne I go red.  This was one of my other problems, why not offer a white wine as well?  Not everyone likes to drink the bubbly stuff or a red with dinner.  Whatever, not my special.  We also ordered dessert, we ordered Knafeh (melted cheese with good crispy stuff and honey...I put my culinary knowledge out there for all of you).  This was good, not exactly what you think of when you think dessert but it fit our needs well.  It was different, just sweet enough, and about the perfect size.

Another thing I wanted to mention that kind of annoyed me was that there was absolutely no music on until after our apps came out.  It was just weird sitting in an "authentic" Lebanese restaurant with no music.  Music is such a large part of their culture, not to mention it is weird being in a restaurant that is that quieter.  When they finally put the music on it felt a lot better.

Overall I have to say this place was pretty cool.  It was nice to go to a place that wasn't packed, that was relaxing, and gave Teray and I a chance to just sit and enjoy each other.  That is probably the best part of this whole thing we are doing, it is a set aside time we get to enjoy each other with no distractions.  The food was good too, like I said you can't beat the hummus.  I can't say that there was anything that I didn't like, just more things that annoyed me.  I would like to see it on the weekend at night when there is live music and belly dancers...apparently they party till 4am.  You can also smoke some hookah after your meal, we declined.  I would definitely return to Ali Baba's, I would just go later in the day.

RATING: 3.99 out of 5

Check out Ali Baba's http://www.alibabalasvegas.com/index.aspx?p=home




Teray again...
So I know that some of you follow this blog to see what I am wearing because I look so forward to dressing up each week for it. 

This outfit is of course from Patty's Closet, all of it from the Blue Diamond store (romper, belt, and shoes)

I have to say that I am sooooo beyond excited that starting next week Patty and Juan from Patty's Closet are so generously going to provide me something to wear each week for an outfit of the week for my date night. It's every girl's dream to be dressed fabulously for a date with someone special, and that is what is going to be happening. I cannot wait for you guys to see these fabulous clothes, and am so grateful for Patty and Juan being so generous and following my blog. They are awesome. If you don't already know them, then check out their site and hit up their stores like NOW, LOL.  I think I may be their number one fan. :)

Check them out and LIKE them on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pattys-Closet-Fashion-Boutique/234474963398

and on the web: http://pattysclosetstore.com

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Until next time, become a follower on the right hand side of the post and cheers to a fabulous week! xoxo