Baba Shuk

I visited Baba Shuk at The Commons and had a mixed experience overall. Before coming in, I called to check whether lamb was available, since I’d seen online that it’s sometimes not offered around lunchtime. The person who answered the phone came across pretty nonchalant and a bit difficult to communicate with. I’m not sure if it was a language barrier or just tone, but it didn’t feel especially welcoming. When I arrived, the lamb kebab platter had already been prepared, even though I had only asked about availability and hadn’t placed an order yet. When it was brought to my table, it was cold. I asked if it could be reheated, and they did take care of that. I will say the woman working at the cashier (possibly the owner or manager) was kind and polite, which I appreciated. I ordered the lamb kebab platter, tabbouleh, muhammara, and harissa chicken wings. --- The lamb kebab platter was good, but not great for me (around a 3.8/5). I really liked the variety of salads, pickles, and sides — those added a lot of flavor and balance. That said, I’ve had more flavorful lamb kebabs at other Lebanese spots, so the lamb itself didn’t quite stand out. ---- The tabbouleh was a highlight — fresh, light, and refreshing (4.5/5). ---- The harissa chicken wings were flavorful and moist (4/5). I did notice they were slightly pink closer to the bone, which can be normal with grilled or smoked chicken, so this may just be due to the cooking method. ----The muhammara was good but didn’t fully wow me (3.8/5). This may come down to personal palate, as it was my first time trying this particular version of the dip. The food came out fairly quickly, which was a plus. One thing that stood out was the 10% service charge (which I understand may be standard at The Commons). However, after the food was dropped off, no one checked in during the meal. While I didn’t need anything, it felt a bit odd to be charged a service fee without much actual service beyond food delivery. As I was leaving, I noticed another customer’s plate being taken back to the kitchen. I don’t know the reason for it, but it did make me wonder whether the issue I experienced was isolated or if there may be some consistency or quality control things still being worked out. Overall, I think Baba Shuk has a lot of potential, but it feels like they still need to iron out some kinks — especially around consistency, quality control, and customer service. There are definitely good elements here, but the experience didn’t fully come together for me this time. I’d give my overall experience 3.5/5

3 months ago