| Address | 4044 S. 28th St., Arlington, VA 22206 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (703) 894-4401 |
| Fax | (703) 894-4405 |
The unusual rolled pita sandwiches are somehow crispy, not soggy, inside the foil, and at $5.50, a bargain for a lamb sandwich. They have an almond dressing that's not like anything I've ever tasted before, turns the side salad into a real treat.
Great value for good Med eats. I've never tasted anything like their roasted almond salad dressing and it was amazing.
What heats up a cold Thursday night? Try the belly dancer at Aladdin's dancing with candles on her head. Free entertainment at 8:00 and 9:00 on Thursdays, ok so the music was a little on the loud side, but well worth the 15 minutes of dancing. She even pulled two men from their dinners and tried to teach them to dance, the women who they were with found it as funny as the others in the restaurant. The menu is long, too many choices to make but something for the meat eater to the hard core vegetarian. The hummus is just right, not to much garlic, yet has some lemon and the texture is smooth. The Tuna is my friends favorite stand by be that on top of a salad or in a pita wrap. The desserts are breathtaking but I never seem to have room for them after eating. Over all for 2 drinks, one soup and 2 dinners for $25 and free entertainment , its a great deal.
I have returned to this restaurant about a dozen times. The flavors of their dishes are extraordinary. The service has been generally okay but I like my kubideh well done and this always causes a severe problem for them. They tried to explain to me that the kubideh is served medium and I had to explain to them that I am eating it and I want it well done. After a lengthy discussion among the staff and the "manager" they reluctantly agreed to cook my dish the way I wanted it. The last time I ate there the service was terrible and the food was cold and tasted stale, even though there were few other diners in the restaurant at that time. The desserts look terrific and I have had a few of them at various times, and every one of them was stale. They proudly told me their pies are trucked in from Chicago or Detroit, but this explains the staleness.
Alladin's has something for everyone with its extensive menu. Spanning beyond traditional Mediteranean to include some rather unique features, there is something sure to please even the most finicky palate. Fresh seasonal ingredients make mouths happy and leave you feeling like you did something good for yourself!
I keep swearing off Aladdin's. There's always something about it that tweaks me - the wait staff is always a little rude, or takes forever. Something is always a little too cold, too hot, too mushy, too raw, or not thawed (if you get one of those too-good-looking-to-be-real cakes, you know what I'm talking about). Plus the nastiest coffee ever.
Then I get the hankering for shwarma. Or something that isn't choked in meat or grease or cheese. Something clean tasting that I might have made myself that doesn't taste a fortune. Off I go again, mildly annoyed by the end, but mostly happy.
Some of the best Middle Eastern food around. Lots of vegetarian options and the staff at Alladin is more than willing to adjust dishes to cater to vegans and other types of special dietary needs. Great value for the money. When the weather is nice, there is outdoor seating where you can eat and watch the world go by.
This is a great spot to get food that is good and good for you. Their emphasis on the nutritional side of the diet meshes well with the tastfulness of Middle Eastern fare. The natural fruit smoothies are a nice drink option, and the soups perk you up quickly. All of the salads and entrees are proportioned just right - not too big or small. The servers are very attentive, and you can eat quickly or linger for a few. They even have belly dancers on Thursdays! All in all, this is a great overall value with fun menu options to boot!
The menu is a book and the choices are unlimited--be prepared to read, it is not an easy decision. It is easy to find your favorite and stick to it, like the falafel and hummus wrap, yes that is 2 in one or the tuna steak wrap. There are many options for the veggie in your party. There is an ample list of wine and beer options and the dessert list of cheese cakes is close to 20 different kinds, not all are available every night. On the last visit our waitress was slow and I had to ask 3 times for a glass of water, however in the past we have had excellent service with very attentive servers. Now that the warm weather is here they have set up the outdoor seating.
We visited an old favorite last weekend, and as always, enjoyed a wonderful and healthful meal at a reasonable price. With restaurants in Burke, VA and the mid-west, the Shirlington location is more spacious than most. Similar to their other VA restaurant, the interior is simply decorated and clean. Featuring Lebanese-influenced cuisine, the menu offers plenty of delicious and low-fat options. Especially noteworthy are the fresh-squeezed juices. Orange and apple are personal favorites. Equally wonderful are the fresh soups, including lentil, V-9 (9 vegetables), and chicken vegetable. Entrees include lamb, grilled chicken, and grilled beef, marinated/seasoned and served in platters, kabobs or wraps. Finally, desserts feature middle-eastern pastries and a choice of 5 cheesecakes, carrot cake, raspberry cake, coconut cake and others. All of these treats are prominently featured in a glass case, and although they taste decent, they're a lot better on display. Our only other minor gripe concerns the complementary pita bread; it definitely should be served heated. Otherwise, the reasonable prices and responsive service makes dining at Alladin's an extremely worthwile experience.
