Albasha

4250 South Sherwood Forest
(225) 293-1100

By: Mark

If you live in Baton Rouge and are craving Greek and Lebanese, then you are in luck. A different restaurant seems to inhabit every block; all offering their spin on chicken schwarma, gyros, and hummos.  While most are tasty, some can be mediocre traps. One restaurant stands out in my mind as a place with consistent, good Greek and Lebanese food. This restaurant is Albasha.

My friend’s wife was leaving in a few days for Italy, so we decided a farewell dinner was in order. Myself, and five close friends, made our way to Albasha on a Sunday night. Sunday dining in Baton Rouge can be a bit tricky, as many places are closed for dinner. We were promptly seated at a large, round table which was perfect for having a conversation. I don’t know why more places won’t utilize the large, round table novelty. It makes for a more pleasant experience.

I have dined here many times, but this was my first as a critic. I looked around and noticed the beautiful paintings which adorned the walls. Rich, vibrant drawing of famous Greece landmarks surrounded the diners and set the scene for an ethnic meal. The restaurant was very clean. All tables not in use were spotless and the floors were free of any spilled food and debris.  There was also a full bar where some patrons were enjoying a drink before the busy week began. The restaurant is very comfortable on the inside and gives off a relaxing vibe; allowing the patron to enjoy their meal.

Drink orders were easy as we all opted for their signature Lebanese tea ($1.95). Lebanese tea is unlike any other drink. Aromatic tea is brewed and mixed with rose water and pomegranate molasses. The rose water and molasses both aid in giving the drink a heady aroma and a tart/sweet taste. The tea is served with a pinch of raw pine nuts, which offer a crunchy, creamy texture while sipping this refreshing drink.

For appetizers, we started with the hummos ($4.50) and the meat-stuffed grape leaves ($5.95). The hummos was nice and creamy with hints of fresh garlic and olive oil. One minor complaint was it seemed as if too much tahini paste had been used in this batch. This caused the hummos to have almost a “peanut butter” taste. Six meat-stuffed grape leaves were served arranged around fresh lemon wedges and a refreshing sauce made of yogurt, dill, and cucumber. The sour leaves were stuffed with a seasoned mixture of ground beef, ground lamb, and rice. The cool sauce was nice in taming the bitterness from the leaves. We also ordered a side of baba ghanouj ($5.50). Baba ghanouj is made of roasted eggplant, olive oil, garlic, and tahini. It has a rich, bold smoky flavor which melds well with the soft, warm pita bread.

For our entrees, it was no surprise when the majority of the table ordered the chicken schwarma ($11.50). Ranked #17 in the Top 25 Foods of Baton Rouge, the schwarma lived up to its ranking. Mounds of juicy, tender chicken were served with a spiced rice pilaf, hummos, and a side salad. The chicken was seasoned perfectly with aromatic Lebanese spices and cut thin, which gave a nice contrast of the crisped outer part to the tender inner part. The rice pilaf was full of roasted pine nuts and had a nice, peppery flavor. The salad was made of crisp romaine lettuce topped with a house-made creamy garlic dressing.  One diner dared to be different and ordered the gyros plate ($11.50). The gyros are a combined mixture of lean ground lamb and ground beef; perfectly seasoned and sliced thin, it is served with rice pilaf, hummos, and salad. Accompanying the meals are baskets of warm, soft pita bread; perfect for dipping into the hummos, or combining all ingredients into a sandwich. Other recommendations are the shish kabob plate ($12.95) and the mousaka ($10.95).The portions are large and almost everyone at the table needed a to-go box. The only negative part of the dining experience was the empty appetizer plates remained on the table for almost the entire meal. The restaurant wasn’t very busy so there was no reason for this. Also, the restaurant was very dim when we entered and as the meal progressed, the lights seemed to get lower and lower. More light would be appreciated in the future. However, both were minor drawbacks to a solid meal.

Only one diner was able to take on dessert. She opted for the house made baklava ($2.95). A flaky pastry is stuffed with chopped walnuts and then drizzled with honey. Though the piece looks small, the dish is so sweet that a small amount goes a long way.

A very big positive for Albasha is that the wait staff will go the extra mile for their diner. My girlfriend asked the waiter at the end if she could have some more pita bread to take home with her meal. He said he was sorry, but the kitchen had closed. No big deal. A few minutes later, he came back with six pieces of pita wrapped in foil. It would have been so easy for him to have said no and not bothered, but he went the extra mile for the customer.

Baton Rouge is a city with a big Greek and Lebanese dining scene. However, Albasha is tops in the city for its wonderful consistency and friendly wait staff.

Pros:

-          Fresh, consistent food which is friendly for carnivores and vegetarians
-          Very clean restaurant
-          Friendly, attentive staff

Cons:

-          Slow to clear appetizer plates when entrees arrived
-          Restaurant was very dark