Authentic Albanian fare, celebrity favorite & NYT top 100. Must-try grilled meats, Qebapa & Tave Kosi in a setting adorned w/ 19th-century artifacts.
This Albanian restaurant offers a unique and authentic dining experience, praised for its traditional grilled meats and flavorful dishes like Qebapa and Tave Kosi. The ambiance is enhanced by genuine 19th-century Albanian artifacts, creating an immersive cultural setting. It has gained recognition as a favorite of celebrity Dua Lipa and was featured on The NY Times' list of the top 100 restaurants.
The restaurant is celebrated for its authentic Albanian cuisine, particularly its signature grilled meats like Qebapa and Tave Kosi. While many rave about the rich, homemade taste of dishes like Mantia and Tava Kosi, and appreciate the unique Albanian Tres Leches for dessert, a few patrons found the meat to be salty and tough, or the overall seasoning lacking. The restaurant is also noted for having halal meat options.
"Highly recommended dishes include the Qebapa, Tave Kosi, and Mantia, praised for their rich, homemade taste. The Albanian Tres Leches is also a standout dessert."
Customers generally have a very positive sentiment towards the restaurant, praising its authentic Albanian flavors and unique dishes. However, there are some dissenting opinions, with a few finding the food to be just okay or even negative.
Important Note
There are conflicting opinions on the quality of the food, with some users having strongly negative experiences, and others finding the meat to be tough or salty. There's also a mention that the Stamford, CT location might be better.
"The original poster expressed enthusiasm for the recommendation of cka ca qellue, calling it 'epic'."
Positive"Recommends cka ca qellue for amazing Albanian food, describing it as a cozy restaurant."
Positive"This commenter likes Çka ka Qëllue and mentions that most people seem to miss it."
Positive"This restaurant is listed as a recommended repeat spot."
Positive"The commenter strongly disliked Cka Ka Quelle, calling it 'hot trash'."
Negative"The commenter lists Cka Ka Qellue as a personal favorite, suggesting it for a group dining experience, and notes it is within the user's budget excluding drinks."
Positive"This user found the seasoning lacking for their palate, despite enjoying the appetizers and bread."
Neutral"This user believes the Stamford, CT location of the restaurant is better, suggesting the owners may have shifted their focus there."
Neutral"This user had a negative experience with the meat, finding it salty and tough, although they enjoyed the appetizers and bread."
Negative"This user agrees with the previous recommendation, indicating strong approval."
Positive"This user highly recommends the restaurant."
Positive"Cka Ka Qellue is recommended, depending on cuisine preference."
Positive"Ca Qa Quelle is recommended for excellent Albanian/Serbian food with a vibe of heavy meat, wine, and bread."
Positive"Cka ka qellu was mentioned as a restaurant on the NYT top 100 list that has halal meat, prompting the user to inquire about its halal status."
Neutral"This user referenced Çka Ka Qëllu, suggesting it should have been considered for the list from the Bronx."
Neutral"The original poster highly recommends Cka Ka Qellue, praising their first experience with Albanian food, noting that dishes like mantia, tava kosi, and shequepare felt homemade, super rich, and homey, contributing to a great meal with excellent ambiance."
Positive"This user unequivocally stated that Çka Ka Qëllu is 'one of the worst restaurants' they have ever been to."
Negative"This user harshly criticized Çka Ka Qëllu, calling it 'garbage in both locations' and stating that even two visits were too many, leading them to believe its inclusion brings down the entire list."
Negative"The user, who is leaving NYC, highly recommends this Albanian restaurant, stating it was their last favorite meal and encouraging others to try it."
Positive"Cka Ka Quelle is highly praised for its amazing Albanian flavors."
Positive
