Review: Albasha Greek & Lebanese Restaurant

Albasha is a Baton Rouge-based restaurant that specializes in Greek and Lebanese cuisine. They have three locations in Baton Rouge and offer conventional American fare—e.g. hamburgers and french fries—which is great for kids and traditional eaters. They take credit cards, offer take-out and are great for groups. You can find out more by visiting their web site.

Menu and Food

When you walk into Albasha, you’re immediately greeted with the incredible smells of foods from afar. When you peruse the menu, each dish has a melliferous name. It’s so entrancing, it’s difficult to know where to begin. But it’s OK—in fact, that’s a good thing. It means that you’ll be coming back again and again to try different dishes. I recommend the friend cheese as an appetizer, which is goat cheese sauteed in olive oil and garlic—delicious! I also recommend the chicken shawarma sandwich. It’s their well-seasoned chicken shawarma wrapped in pita topped with Grecian sauce (which is a homemade yogurt-based condiment). It’s quite delectable and was a welcomed dish even for the newcomers that were with me. I also recommend getting the Lebanese iced tea. It’s part lemonade, part tea and garnished with pine nuts. It’s a wonderful compliment to the cuisine. Of course, their hummus is also fantastic. You’ll always find something incredible to try and it’s always served hot and fresh.

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Waitstaff and wait service

One of the hallmarks of Albasha is their waitstaff. They are a courteous and efficient. When you walk in, you are quickly seated, given menus and the opportunity to order. If you’re unsure of what to order (Mediterranean is quite different from other cuisines), they are helpful and patient. The kitchen is quick, too. I have never gone in hungry and stayed that way for long. On a typical lunch date, I’ve been served my full meal in under 20 minutes; appetizers in less than 5. Thereafter, my drinks and pita baskets have never been lacking. They’re really on top of refilling. I’ve never had a bad experience with the staff and even after all these years I’m still quite impressed with their service.

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Overall Review

Overall, Albasha is a great quality restaurant. The food is good, cheap and fairly healthy, especially when compared to the typical American diet. There are a few restaurants, so location is convenient and the waitstaff is always great and, importantly, fast—which means it’s always a great place for lunch. We highly recommend Albasha, so it yields a great overall rating.

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