After reading some great web reviews, I convinced my friends to travel with me to Astoria to sample Egyptian cuisine at Al Omda. Although it took a while to find the place, we were rewarded with fantastic food and service. The atmosphere is informal and welcoming. Many of the patrons seemed to know each other and conversed freely with the Egyptian owner. Needless to say, we were happy to be dining at an Egyptian restaurant that draws a number of Egyptians. Presumably they know where to find the best homestyle food. Our food arrived quickly. We shared baba ganoush and tahini. I consider myself to be a big fan of baba ganoush. I eat it whenever I can. Al Omda's baba was incredible. Unlike many other restaurants, Al Omda doesn't ruin it's baba ganoush with faux smoke flavor. The dip was pleasantly spicy with a true-smoke flavor. Exquisite! Entrees come with salad, pickled vegetables, and rice pilaf or french fries. Portions are large. I couldn't believe what I saw when my entree arrived. THREE lamb chops graced my plate. I gave two chops away - not because I didn't love the flavor of the perfectly-cooked and delicately flavored meat - but because I couldn't possibly eat anymore!
Pros: Delicious food & great service!
Cons: Tough to find
more