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Ali Baba Grill Cafe Info
Amenities
Service options
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Outdoor seating
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Curbside pickup
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No-contact delivery
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Delivery
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Takeout
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Dine-in
Highlights
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Great tea selection
Popular for
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Lunch
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Dinner
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Solo dining
Accessibility
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Wheelchair accessible entrance
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Wheelchair accessible parking lot
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Wheelchair accessible restroom
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Wheelchair accessible seating
Offerings
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Coffee
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Comfort food
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Halal food
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Happy hour food
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Healthy options
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Quick bite
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Small plates
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Vegetarian options
Dining options
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Breakfast
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Lunch
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Dinner
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Catering
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Dessert
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Seating
Amenities
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Restroom
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Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
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Casual
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Cozy
Crowd
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Family-friendly
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Groups
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Tourists
Planning
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Accepts reservations
Payments
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Credit cards
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Debit cards
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NFC mobile payments
Children
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Good for kids
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High chairs
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Kids' menu
Parking
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Free parking lot
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Free street parking
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Parking
Best WLM Reviews
Some food was great!, some food tasted less flavor or missing something... Food came out fresh though. Just their service made me feel awkward.
We got there few minutes after they open for lunch. We were the first customer and no other customer were there yet. When we sat at the table, the server dropped off menu and started setting up each table entire the restaurant which they could have finished before they open, so he took a while to come our table for taking our drink or food order. AC was not quite working, so it was very warm in there. Food took a bit long time to come out. Paying system was quite strange. They won't bring us check to the table, so we needed to go at the front. He showed me the tablet super quick so at that point I did not know they charged us 18% of "Service Charge" for party of 2. I did not realize that till I paid tips, received the receipt, and went back to the parking lot. I felt this place kind of shady.
Do not let the exterior of this place fool you. This is a lovely restaurant for Turkish and Mediterranean fair. Apparently, it went under new ownership two years ago but was never announced online. The new owner did a complete renovation inside, brought in new group seating, comfortable chairs and tables, and even a lounge area. I had a Mediterranean salad with gyro meat and tzatziki, and it was refreshing. They even gifted me a small dessert of baklava because I was having a bad day, and they wanted to be nice. The server was incredibly sweet and friendly, and we enjoyed a nice conversation about when I lived in turkey years before.
Everything was phenomenal. Service was over the top. Kofta & Chicken Adana were grilled perfectly! Beyti Kabob was a savory mix of multiple flavors, hard to explain other than delicious! Sekerpare "a heavy, rich & sweet sugar cookie" was a nice ending to a great dinner!
My boss and I ordered the Greek salad with gyro meat and tzatziki sauce instead of dressing. The total for 2 salads was just under $50, which makes each salad right around $25 each, which is absolutely outlandish, unless the salad is gold. The salad was $14.99, but here's the kicker, the gyro meat was an additional $16.99?! The salad came with dressing already on it that was not tzatziki, and the lettuce was shredded so small that it looked like it should not have been used for the salad, but rather used for a gyro itself. The pita bread that came with it was cold as ice. This place definitely ripped us off.
Great Turkish food with relaxed ambiance. We were directly served by the owner and his son, who were very friendly and accommodating of our large group. The large meat plates were delicious. The baklava was some of the moistest I’ve ever had.
The most terrible restaurant in Destin! There is no air-conditioner in this place! They just leave the door open instead! You will feel you are in a hot sauna eating food!! Lots of insects and flies around you and your food! The most terrible spot of this "restaurant" is the restroom! (Pictures attached) completely dirty and messed up! I really don't know the manager of this place that doesn't take care of cleaning restrooms how he has been taking care of the kitchen!! The "manager" and managing is a joke in this place! And the most fun part is that they imposed 18% service charges on my bill ! So the tip is not an option in this place it's a "must pay" for a very low quality food, and people get charged for the service charge even if they don't like the service!! I'm really surprised with these hurrible conditions they could earn 4.2 stars!!
4 of us went to lunch today. The food was so delicious and authentic. And even had extra to take home for later. After the bill was paid we were starting to leave and the owner brought us some baklava to take home with us. Will definitely be going back again.
Title: Disappointing Experience at Ali Baba Cafe and Grill
I recently had an unfortunate experience with Ali Baba Cafe and Grill that compelled me to share my thoughts. I ordered a variety of dishes totaling $45 (that was also inclusive of the tip), but the experience left much to be desired.
1. Missing Hummus:
To my disappointment, the hummus was missing from my order. Given its significance in a Middle Eastern cuisine, this absence significantly impacted my overall satisfaction with the meal. The fact that I paid immediately but received an incomplete order was frustrating.
2. Burned and Rubbery Falafel:
The falafel, a dish I was particularly looking forward to, turned out to be a letdown. The falafel balls were overcooked, bordering on burned, and had a rubbery texture. The taste was far from the flavorful and crispy falafel I expected, making it a disappointing part of the meal.
3. Unpleasant Lamb Dish:
The lamb dish, which should have been a highlight, was far from appetizing. The meat had a terrible taste and emitted a pungent smell that was off-putting. It was a significant departure from the quality I anticipated when ordering a lamb dish.
4. Communication and Refund Issues:
Upon realizing the missing hummus and the subpar quality of the food, I promptly contacted the cafe. While they acknowledged the mistake, the communication regarding the refund was lacking. I was assured a refund on the same day, but unfortunately, no specific time was provided (which is crucial since food was picked up and missing item was mentioned). The inability to refund immediately, considering the circumstances, added to the overall frustration. The lady mentioned that the money will be Zelle to my account however my question will be, will it take more than an hour for Zelle to be completed? I have used zelle for transfers and it take seconds to be completed. Why do I have to wait when the restaurant didn't wait to take the money out of my account for the food I've ordered?
5. Overall Experience:
In summary, my experience with Ali Baba Cafe and Grill was highly unsatisfactory. The missing hummus, the poor quality of the falafel and lamb, and the communication issues regarding the refund left me disappointed. It's disheartening when a dining experience falls short of expectations, especially considering the investment made in both time and money.
I hope this review serves as constructive feedback for both the establishment and potential customers. It's essential to receive the quality of service and food that one expects, especially when dining out.
Photos attached and please judge yourself.
Update as of 1326hrs: After making another call to check on the refund, they then zelle me the money. At this point it's no longer about the money but quality and service.
Quick Facts About Ali Baba Grill Cafe
Today
Opening Hours
| Monday | 11:00 AM - 09:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 11:00 AM - 09:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 11:00 AM - 09:00 PM |
| Thursday | 11:00 AM - 09:00 PM |
| Friday | 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM |
| Saturday | 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM |
| Sunday | 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM |
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