11/01/2026: In the name of God, the food is perfect! The kibbeh is absolutely amazing! Honestly, the restaurant has the best grilled meats I've ever tasted, the best knafeh, and the best kibbeh. May God help you and keep you at this level.
05/01/2026: Entering Alibaba is a complete sensory experience. Not so much for the aromas, but for the first eye contact with the counter staff, whose expressions are somewhere between "I've seen things you humans" and "this night won't end well." A welcome that doesn't embrace you: it looks you over. Methodically. The faces are the real appetizer. Eyebrows arched like works of hostile architecture and glances that seem to evaluate not the order but the life choices that brought you there. It's a service that communicates a lot, especially the concept of respect earned on the job. Or perhaps survived. The beauty is that, once the interrogation moment has passed, the food does its job with surprising honesty. Generous portions, bold flavors, no frills. A bit like the staff: direct, essential, emotionally impervious. Here they'll never ask you "Is everything okay?" because, ultimately, the answer doesn't matter to anyone. Alibaba isn't for those looking for plastic smiles and pats on the back. It's for those who appreciate rugged authenticity, the kind that stares at you from the counter as if to say "eat, pay, think." And you'll come back. Maybe even just to see if they'll grant you even the slightest hint of a smile.