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Authentic Mediterranean fare at Ali Baba

Kelly Ripa visits Chefs 505

By Jane Welborn Hudson
The Daily Reflector

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Ali Baba has opened at 912 Moye Blvd., serving authentic Mediterranean fare.

Appetizers include Baba Ganooj (eggplant dip with pita bread) for $3.99; grape leaves wrapped around a mixture of rice, parsley, onions, tomatoes and herbs (10 for $7.99); and falafel (fried patties of spiced ground chick peas) for $4.99 for five pieces. Soups include lentil ($2.99) and Ali Baba Special vegetable soup for $3.49.

The salad menu features tabouli (diced onions, tomatoes and cucumbers with parsley, olive oil, lemon juice and crushed wheat) for $3.99; yogurt salad with sliced cucumbers in a mint and garlic yogurt sauce ($3.99); and fatoush (romaine lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers with pieces of toasted pita bread, seasonings, olive oil, lemon juice and spices) for $6.99.

Entrees include lamb or beef shish kabab (grilled on skewers) for $11.99; shawarma platters (thinly sliced chicken or beef marinated with Middle Eastern spices) for $10.99-$11.99; lamb chops ($15.99); and Jerusalem chicken (chunks of chicken breast marinated in garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and spicy seasonings grilled on skewers) for $10.99. Entrees are served with two pieces of pita bread and a sample of hummos (chickpea spread), Baba Ganooj and Turkish salad.

Sandwiches, including falafel and shawarma, are $5.99-$6.99. The children's menu includes chicken strips and fries or a Kofta Kabab (skewers of marinated ground lamb and beef) for $4.99.

Desserts include baklava ($1.69) and kinafa (a wheat pastry filled with soft cheese) for $4.99.

Soft drinks, hot tea and Turkish coffee are available.

There is also a small grocery area in the foyer offering Mediterranean staples such as curry powder, jars of preserved figs and olive oil, bags of cracked wheat and squash seeds, and cans of fava beans, sesame tahini and grape leaves.

Owner Ghazi Abu Hussein, a native of Jerusalem, has operated restaurants in Israel, Chicago, Miami and Memphis, Tenn. He sold his restaurants in Miami and Memphis to return to the Middle East, but decided to move to Greenville after a friend who lived here told him about the availability of the former Olive Grove restaurant. He visited Greenville and decided he liked the town and the restaurant's location. He spent the past three months renovating the space.

The dining room is decorated in warm colors of tan and brown. There are hand-painted murals of Middle Eastern scenes and a flat-screen TV. The non-smoking dining room features seating for 85 people at booths and tables.

Hours are 10 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. Catering is available, and the restaurant may be reserved for private parties.

Call 757-3700.

Chefs 505

Morning talk-show hostess Kelly Ripa was in Greenville Halloween weekend to celebrate her father-in-law's birthday with a surprise party at Chefs 505 restaurant. She had such a good time on her visit, she mentioned the party Nov. 3 on "Live with Regis and Kelly"

She told about arriving in "beautiful Greenville, North Carolina" on Halloween and pretending to be trick-or-treaters at the home of her in-laws, Tony and Camilla Consuelos. Then she talked about the surprise 70th birthday party at "delicious, wonderful" Chefs 505" and showed pictures from the event.

Kevin Brighton, who owns the restaurant with Chef Michael Santos, said, "To get a mention on the show was incredible. They always talk about what they did on the weekends, so I told my Mom to make sure she was watching it.

"My cell phone started ringing and I got text messages from uncles. We got a lot of great response.

"We even had a table of 15 people Homecoming weekend who have never been here before who said they heard about us on 'Live with Regis and Kelly.'"

The surprise birthday dinner party Nov. 1 was for Tony Consuelos of Greenville, who is the father of Kelly's husband, actor Mark Consuelos. The party at Chefs 505 was arranged by Kelly's sister-in-law, Adriana Consuelos Corder of Greenville.

Brighton, who, like Kelly, is a native of New Jersey, said he had the opportunity to meet her before the party. "She was here in the afternoon setting up tables. She is down-to-earth and so nice," he said. "They're a great family."