It may not classify as the best Mediterranean restaurant I've ever eaten at (that designation belongs to a restaurant in Cary, N.C.), but the food and ambiance at Ali Baba's Palace in Warner Robins is worth a try if you're looking for something different.
I visited there on a recent Friday evening with several of my friends. The service was speedy and we were well attended to, but it was also a somewhat slow night for the restaurant. The decor is fun, like something out of the Disney movie "Aladdin," and there was a belly dancer who performed throughout the evening.
To start off the night, we ordered a sampler platter as our appetizer. It came with hummus, falafel, baba ghanouj and grape leaves. The hummus was a little runny and lacked flavor, but the baba ghanouj, a mixture of roasted eggplant and other ingredients, was a taste-bud pleaser and the perfect consistency. The grape leaves, stuffed with rice, olive oil and lemon, had a lot of kick and took some getting used to. I thought they tasted a little minty, but one diner said they grew on her throughout the evening and that she really enjoyed them.
The salads that came with our meals were all fresh and loaded with flavor. A major plus at Ali Baba's that we noticed is that at no point do they skimp on the feta cheese. Our salads were loaded with yummy feta and were all the tastier for it.
For her entree, one of my companions ordered the chicken kabobs, which came with basmati rice and hummus. The chicken was extremely tender and had a great flavor. It tasted like it was fresh off the grill and was accompanied by tomatoes, green peppers and onions, which were all just as satisfying.
Another companion ordered the combination platter, which came with chicken and lamb gyros, spanakopita and dolmathes (vine leaves stuffed with rice and seasonings). The dolmathes on this plate were similar to the grape leaves on the appetizer plate, but weren't as potent in flavor. Both meats were extremely tender and the lamb was some of the best flavored lamb I've ever had - it had a kick without being too strong. My friend also raved that the spanakopita was some of the best she'd ever eaten, and in fact, she's still talking about it. It was loaded with feta cheese, was perfectly salted, and the phyllo dough was buttery and just crispy enough.
I ordered the lamb gyro, which came with steak fries and tzatziki dressing on the side. As with the other meals, my lamb was tender and the flavor was so good. I love tzatziki dressing so I can't say anything negative about it. The fries were somewhat bland, though, and nothing about them stood out.
For dessert, we shared some baklava and chocolate cake. The chocolate cake was extremely rich and was more like a thick, thick mousse. The baklava was scrumptious but a little tough to eat.
If all of this isn't enough to tempt your fancy and you really want to make your dining experience unique, Ali Baba's Palace offers the chance to smoke a hookah in apple, strawberry and rose flavors, but you have to sit outside on the porch for any smoking.
Ali Baba's Palace
1804 Watson Blvd., Warner Robins
Three stars
Phone: (478) 992-0680
Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday,
Price range: Up to a $11.95 for a combination platter
Payment: Cash, credit card, debit
Reservations: Not required
Alcohol: No
Noise level: Moderate
Latest health rating: 100
Wheelchair accessible: Yes
Dress: Casual
Children's menu: Yes
Vegetarian selections: Yes
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