by Corey S.

How is this place even still in business. Terrible food, terrible service...must be some sort of money cover or drug ring running out of this dump.The Kabobs were awful, Ive never made one but am conficent I could do better. All in all this shit show is over priced, dont go.How is this place even still in business. Terrible food, terrible service...must be some sort of money cover or drug ring running out of this dump.The Kabobs were awful, Ive never made one but am conficent I could do better. All in all this shit show is over priced, dont go.

by Abigail T.

Oh, gawd.... I give this place a year tops to survive.  If I'm wrong, I would be very surprised.I don't even think this restaurant deserves me to write in prose form.The Good:- loved the decor, I really felt like I was on vacation in Morocco- Nice, open fully-stocked looking bar, with lots of elbow room- authentic looking waiting area, with small tables and felt, comfy chairs- huge stage- nice looking private room upstairs that looked like it could fit about 100-200 guests- the scallop appetizer was tasty...although the scallops were slightly overdone - The rack of lamb special was well-liked, but it seemed to be a tiny lamb!- Two friends got the tagines: one was lamb and I think the other was seafood.  They seemed to be very pleased with their choices.- the belly dancer was good- I loved the band...reminded me of Volare (Gipsy King cover band) and I loved how people got out there and danced...I tihnk I appreciated it only because the people actually looked like they were from that region and not some culturally obnoxious drunk people.The Bad and yes, UGLY:- a Moroccan spot whose opening entertainment is Flamenco dancing? last time I checked that was a Spanish style of dance. - a Moroccan spot that whose soup of the day is New England freakin' Clam Chowder? I should have just left after that disclosure.  A menu without cohesion is a suicide attempt doomed for success.- my friend tried to order a cocktail, but they were out of one or two of the ingredients.... umm, ok.- we tried to order the stuffed lamb spleen; however, the waiter said they were out of all organs....so that meant no kidneys either.  So annoying when a restaurant has something on the menu, but fails to carry it in the kitchen.  So unprofessional.- my filet came out TOTALLY well done (it was grey in color) despite my request for it to be medium.  when it came back out, it was too red for me. The manager came out and apologized, which was nice. He said they would give us a complimentary dessert. I wonder how many times this happens?- the music from the stage was just a bit too loud to have a normal dinner conversation. All in all, I would not dine here again although I would come for drinks and to hear and see some talented artists.

by Kevin A.

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO FAKE A SEIZURE?If so, DO IT!  Or tell your friends you came down with a 24-hour case of bubonic plague.  Or say you got leprosy.  Do what ever it takes to get out of going to dinner here!The Food: Meh. I've had better at take-out places.The Cost:  Astronomical.  $50 for a sampler platter of hummus and olives?  Expect to pay $50-60 per person. The Service: A joke.  We had to wait 15 minutes for the last person in our party to get their meal.  The Entertainment:  Aight.  Nothing really special.Avoid avoid avoid!

by iddells E.

The only time I would dine at a place like this would be if someone took me out to dinner or if I receive a gift certificate because it IS an expensive restaurant.  I went here last weekend based on the latter and I thought that it was such a beautiful place.  Alhambra Palace is so elaborately decorated and the space is huge!  We had reservations on a Saturday night at 7:30 since the plan was to watch the Flamenco dancing at 8.  It didn't start until 9 when we were done with our meals, but we stuck around to watch some of it....it was pretty cool.Service was very attentive; the waitress would occasionally stop by at our table or a busboy would be a few feet away.  The food was good, not amazing.  I ordered the Alhambra Grill, which had beef, chicken, and seafood kabobs on a bed of cous-cous.  I liked the selection of meat and seafood; however, it was not too tasty.  It was a huge serving, though, and lasted me another 2 days!  My fiance's filet mignon was more flavorful.In conclusion, I enjoyed by time here, but I don't think I'll be coming back, unless I get another gift certificate.  Also, if you want to impress people, this would be a good place to go.

by Lisa A.

Two stars: one was for the Flamenco Dance show they have on the weekend - another one was for the decor of the place, makes you feel like you're in a palace somewhere -and at anytime, there'll be a couple of harems feeding you grapes and fan you with the fur fan .. (that was my guy friend's imagination, btw -not mine).The food: mediocre.The drink: mediocre.The price: outrageous.The service: friendly yet so slow!Will I be back? Heck no!Two stars: one was for the Flamenco Dance show they have on the weekend - another one was for the decor of the place, makes you feel like you're in a palace somewhere -and at anytime, there'll be a couple of harems feeding you grapes and fan you with the fur fan .. (that was my guy friend's imagination, btw -not mine).The food: mediocre.The drink: mediocre.The price: outrageous.The service: friendly yet so slow!Will I be back? Heck no!

by Jill D.

Went here with a large group for a friend's birthday and had an amazing time!  I was a little nervous since I'm not a huge fan of middle eastern food, but everything was delicious.  We had a large sampler plater for an appetizer and got to try a little bit of everything.  I'm not the most adventurous, so I had chicken kabobs that were tasty.  Everyone had great things to say about the lamb though.I would recommend going later in the evening for dinner so you get to see the dancers and both bands.  Request to sit on the main floor so that you can join in the fun!

by Stu S.

Ok I will agree with all the previous reviews that the food is nothing special. Its typical middle class Persian food (not cuisine). However, after ignoring the negative reviews and trying for myself what this place is truly all about I discovered that its strength is NOT being a fine restaurant but rather it being an entertaining cabaret and nightclub and should reviewed along these parameters until they shape up their cuisine. First, we were not charged a cover to get in and we enjoyed an exquisite live performance of Flamenco music and dancing on their ornate stage followed by a live Persian band with a belly dancer.The service must have improved since the previous reviews because our wait staff consisted of three waiters rotating different roles for our table of 6. Our water glasses were always filled and they gave us everything we asked for in a timely manner with politeness. Now the food is nothing extraordinary and does not match the lavish interior and presentation of this place. And yes it was overpriced for its quality, however, we did not pay any cover for the live entertainment. So it balances out in my book.I recommend experiencing this place because it is a wonder inside, but I would say go on a weekend when you know there is live entertainment to make the experience more enjoyable. Also order the standard dishes such as kabobs. Don't try anything that claims to be different because the head cook is not that great.My recommendation for improvements to this palace is to fire the head cook because he or she is NOT a true chef. Hire a head chef who knows traditional refined Persian cuisine or at the very least understands about proper meat temperatures. Still offer some of the Americanized classics for those who require it that but make the majority of the dishes unique to this restaurant and not offered anywhere else. I have an extensive and full color photo Persian cookbook where I have seen some of the most amazing dishes that I have never seen on any American / Persian restaurant menu. Usually Persian restaurants in America always offer the same stuff, kabobs, hummus, plain rice and baklava. Comon show us the real stuff! I know Persia has a rich and amazing culinary culture! Why don't we see it on the menu!

by Shradha A.

Went here last spring for the first time with some out-of-town friends (yeah, I just forgot to write my review then). But then went back last summer when my parents were visiting. We're vegetarian so can't speak much for the other dishes, which appears to me less-than-good/clean from all the other Yelpers' reviews, but at least their baba ghanoush, dolmeh, hummus and falafel were fresh (back in 2008 at least) and I went back a second time after the first good experience. The place is HUGE and the decor is lovely, service is a little slow though, but their live music/entertainment was fun!

by Dani B.

First let's clarify a few things...AlHambra bills itself as French-Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisine, so the gentleman reviewing it as a Persian restaurant understandably was disappointed!  The woman confused as to why there is Flamenco dancing in a "moroccan restaurant," probably doesn't realize the restaurant is named after the AlHambra Palace in Grenada, SPAIN (a Mediterranean country, FYI).  The myriad comparisons to Disney and Cheesecake Factory with their molded décor and caricaturized replicas confuse me, as AlHambra is a showcase of hand-carved woodwork from Morocco and Syria, hand-laid mosaics, paintings from Iran, real leather furnishings, tapestries, copper sculptures that replicate the inlaid wood designs of the dance floor, and immense REAL chandeliers!  Yes, it is over-the-top and not to everyone's taste.  But "gaudy" implies cheap and ill-matched, and AlHambra is not.Now the service has been remarkably inconsistent; astonishing for a venue that has so much invested in its décor!  Overall, most issues have substantially improved and most of the current and recent staff are incredibly competent and gracious.  The current chef has improved the cuisine tremendously as well.  But yes, there are some odd choices that do not fit even within the broad category of mediterranean fusion! It seems, however, the sheer volume of staff creates breakdowns in communication...definitely room for improvement.As for the complaints that the music is "too loud," why would anyone dine at a venue designed around live entertainment and expect peace and quiet?  There is a front dining room far from the main area specifically for patrons who wish to enjoy their meal WITHOUT entertainment.  The strangest reviews state that the music is "cheesy," when it is middle-eastern pop, classic, and dance music.  Is that some sort of western-centric prejudice? If it was traditional, acoustic  mid-east music, the crowd would complain they could not dance to it. Enough said.  Having attended the performance enough times, I can attest that the crowd is comprised of mixed nationalities of all ages, and usually young bachelorettes and birthday girls showing off their dance moves are more prevalent than "middle-aged men drooling over the bellydancer." Why would I care enough to review this restaurant? Because I cannot stand misinformation and I actually applaud a place that dares to stand apart from the rest.  I wish there were more restaurants this unique and distinctive, for good or for bad!First let's clarify a few things...AlHambra bills itself as French-Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisine, so the gentleman reviewing it as a Persian restaurant understandably was disappointed!  The woman confused as to why there is Flamenco dancing in a "moroccan restaurant," probably doesn't realize the restaurant is named after the AlHambra Palace in Grenada, SPAIN (a Mediterranean country, FYI).  The myriad comparisons to Disney and Cheesecake Factory with their molded décor and caricaturized replicas confuse me, as AlHambra is a showcase of hand-carved woodwork from Morocco and Syria, hand-laid mosaics, paintings from Iran, real leather furnishings, tapestries, copper sculptures that replicate the inlaid wood designs of the dance floor, and immense REAL chandeliers!  Yes, it is over-the-top and not to everyone's taste.  But "gaudy" implies cheap and ill-matched, and AlHambra is not.Now the service has been remarkably inconsistent; astonishing for a venue that has so much invested in its décor!  Overall, most issues have substantially improved and most of the current and recent staff are incredibly competent and gracious.  The current chef has improved the cuisine tremendously as well.  But yes, there are some odd choices that do not fit even within the broad category of mediterranean fusion! It seems, however, the sheer volume of staff creates breakdowns in communication...definitely room for improvement.As for the complaints that the music is "too loud," why would anyone dine at a venue designed around live entertainment and expect peace and quiet?  There is a front dining room far from the main area specifically for patrons who wish to enjoy their meal WITHOUT entertainment.  The strangest reviews state that the music is "cheesy," when it is middle-eastern pop, classic, and dance music.  Is that some sort of western-centric prejudice? If it was traditional, acoustic  mid-east music, the crowd would complain they could not dance to it. Enough said.  Having attended the performance enough times, I can attest that the crowd is comprised of mixed nationalities of all ages, and usually young bachelorettes and birthday girls showing off their dance moves are more prevalent than "middle-aged men drooling over the bellydancer." Why would I care enough to review this restaurant? Because I cannot stand misinformation and I actually applaud a place that dares to stand apart from the rest.  I wish there were more restaurants this unique and distinctive, for good or for bad!

by Melissa M.

My friends and I decided to try Alhambra during Restaurant Week.  We had a 3-course dinner for $32.  I wouldn't necessarily give the food five stars.  It wasn't bad, but I did feel that it lacked flavor.  I also had a MaiTai from the bar which I thought was very weak.I loved the decor, ambience, and entertainment.  We went on Friday night which has Flamenco dancers at 8pm and a belly dancer around 10:30pm.  I believe there's also salsa dancing afterwards, but we didn't stay for that.All-in-all I paid approximately $65 for the evening (for my meal, drink, valet parking) which would have been much more on a normal night.  I didn't particularly mind because I felt like I was paying for the entertainment as well.  However, I'm not sure that I'm willing to pay much more than that unless the food and drinks improve.I won't necessarily return for the food, but I will for the atmosphere and entertainment.

by Donato C.

I'll be entirely honest.  I was very leary to try this place as I had read the reviews here on Yelp and my expectations were really low.  Also, when we arrived for our 7:30 reservation, we were the only people in this rather large restaurant!But, I really can't find fault with this place!  We ordered baba ghanoush and dolmehs as appetizers and both were very good and gave off the impression that they were made on the premises.  As an entree, we ordered the Alhambra Platter for three.  It was more than enough food for us and everything was very well-cooked.  The platter had a little bit of everything...chicken, shish, and kefta kebobs.  A wonderful rice underneath.  I liked it all.  The service was very good...how could it not be?  We were the only people there!  However, our server went the extra mile and took us on a fantastic tour.  We had no idea how large this place was and I'm sure this would be a great place to hold a large party or go to a dance event.  The owner has definitely spent a small fortune on the furniture and various tchotski's (sorry, couldn't resist).  I would definitely go back!

by Lindsey C.

I was really excited when I walked in. I really thought this was going to be an awesome night. We had 2 tables, one of 10 people and one of 6 people. For some reason each table had a different server. Our server was really quick and efficient. The other table was always about an hour behind in ordering. We got our appetizers, which were really good (the small Mezza platter) in about 15 minutes. The other table looked over enviously as they waited another 45 minutes for their appetizers.The food in the platter was really good, baba ganoush, falafel, fried chick peas, spicy olives, etc. They only brought about 5 pieces of bread though so we immediately asked for more. And even then each person only got one piece and we needed more to scoop up the food with! Weird.So we all ordered our entrees as the other table was just getting their appetizers. I got the eggplant parmesan and I may not be terribly familiar with middle eastern food (and I realize this wasn't very mid-east) but I'm pretty sure rice needs to be cooked the same way no matter what country you're in. The rice was so under-done. It was hard. I couldn't even eat my food the texture was so disgusting. The food here is pretty expensive as well. The plates averaged about $22/entree.We got there at 8:00pm, and the other table got their food at 10:15pm. Ridiculous. So we sat and waited for them to finish eating. In the meantime there was entertainment which was pretty cool. They had spanish dancing and flamenco, etc. The two male dancers they had were really odd though and super stuck on themselves. They watched themselves dance in the mirror and it was really odd. The ladies were excellent though.Then, the main entertainment. The belly dancer. I was under the impression that there would be more than one. This woman was pretty good. I am very impressed that she was able to just keep dancing for about an hour straight. However, for a belly dancer she didn't shake it very much. By the time she got on stage though, the volume had escalated to a deafening level. I was yelling at the guy directly across the table from me and he was completely unable to hear what I was saying. It was really frustrating and I'd been sitting there waiting for our other table to be served. I just wanted to leave.I went to the bathroom and they had people pumping soap into your hands and offering paper towels. Usually I just avoid this, but there was no getting around it. I refuse to tip these people for doing something that I really didn't need help doing. They also had women walking around selling roses. This really lowered my expectations of the place making it a very expensive cheap place to visit.We finally left around 11:00pm when the others were done eating and when I got outside my ears were ringing so bad that it hurt. I don't think I'll be coming back here. I was quite disappointed.

by Bowen S.

My girlfriend and I were in Chicago for the weekend.  It was a short trip and she was staying for business the following week.  So we had a little time to experience a lot since it was my first trip to Chicago.  We were meeting some business associates of hers and this was the restaurant that was chosen.It was an interesting place.  I'll say that.  We enjoy ethnic foods and enjoy new experiences.  That's why it gets two stars and not one.  Very elaborately decorated, kept with the theme or the restaurant - very impressed when I first walked in.  I was looking forward to experiencing this kind of food.  Typical wine list...unimpressed with that.  I expected some more of a different variety, but it wasn't there.  Some decent cocktail recipes.  We were sat in the main show room.  If you plan on talking to the people you're sitting with, ask not to be seated here for your meal.  In fact, make reservations ahead of time to sit elsewhere for your meal.  They do have another room specifically for dining, or so I was told by our server (more on her later).  The music was incredibly loud for the show aspect.  They have belly dancers and the like performing throughout the evening.  Which is fine, but when the performances were not happening, I would have preferred the music be turned down a little bit.  The TV's with the ethnic music videos playing above the stage were a little over the top and cheesy in my opinion.  They didn't really go well with the environment.  I know that's a little picky, but hey, this is a review.The appetizers were good.  Not great, but not terrible.  We got some Falafel and some Kibbeh.  For the main course, I got the Lamb Tangine, and my girlfirend the Seafood Tangine.  When the food came out it looked great.  But I couldn't eat it.  My silverware had been taken away with the appetizers.  I struggled for about 5 minutes or so(it felt like longer) to get the attention of my server.  Then waited for almost another 5-10 minutes as I watched her walk past my table 3 times with no silverware.  I got up, walked towards the kitchen, stood there, pointed at employees asking the question, "Can YOU help me?" 5 or 6 times before someone stopped to see what I needed.  Finally with some silverware, I'm able to sit down and eat.  More disappointment.  Very bland, uninteresting, forgettable food.  It wasn't just mine either.  My girlfriend said the same thing.  We tried some of each others just to be sure.  I felt like I was eating something from the tray-lunch line from my high school cafeteria.  But then again, even that had more flavor than this.  Another 5 minutes or so, I'm still eating for the simple fact that I'm starving, and my server finally shows up with silverware and proceeds to lie to me about how there wasn't any clean silverware!!  Actually, it just went down to one star.I've worked in the industry a lot, and for a long time.  I'm more understanding than most.  I don't believe all the servers there are like this.  But the overall feel of the customer service there was terrible.  And if you happen to go, sit down, and a short girl, with curly, blond, neck-line length hair comes to your table...get up and move.  Or better yet, leave and spend your money elsewhere.My girlfriend and I were in Chicago for the weekend.  It was a short trip and she was staying for business the following week.  So we had a little time to experience a lot since it was my first trip to Chicago.  We were meeting some business associates of hers and this was the restaurant that was chosen.It was an interesting place.  I'll say that.  We enjoy ethnic foods and enjoy new experiences.  That's why it gets two stars and not one.  Very elaborately decorated, kept with the theme or the restaurant - very impressed when I first walked in.  I was looking forward to experiencing this kind of food.  Typical wine list...unimpressed with that.  I expected some more of a different variety, but it wasn't there.  Some decent cocktail recipes.  We were sat in the main show room.  If you plan on talking to the people you're sitting with, ask not to be seated here for your meal.  In fact, make reservations ahead of time to sit elsewhere for your meal.  They do have another room specifically for dining, or so I was told by our server (more on her later).  The music was incredibly loud for the show aspect.  They have belly dancers and the like performing throughout the evening.  Which is fine, but when the performances were not happening, I would have preferred the music be turned down a little bit.  The TV's with the ethnic music videos playing above the stage were a little over the top and cheesy in my opinion.  They didn't really go well with the environment.  I know that's a little picky, but hey, this is a review.The appetizers were good.  Not great, but not terrible.  We got some Falafel and some Kibbeh.  For the main course, I got the Lamb Tangine, and my girlfirend the Seafood Tangine.  When the food came out it looked great.  But I couldn't eat it.  My silverware had been taken away with the appetizers.  I struggled for about 5 minutes or so(it felt like longer) to get the attention of my server.  Then waited for almost another 5-10 minutes as I watched her walk past my table 3 times with no silverware.  I got up, walked towards the kitchen, stood there, pointed at employees asking the question, "Can YOU help me?" 5 or 6 times before someone stopped to see what I needed.  Finally with some silverware, I'm able to sit down and eat.  More disappointment.  Very bland, uninteresting, forgettable food.  It wasn't just mine either.  My girlfriend said the same thing.  We tried some of each others just to be sure.  I felt like I was eating something from the tray-lunch line from my high school cafeteria.  But then again, even that had more flavor than this.  Another 5 minutes or so, I'm still eating for the simple fact that I'm starving, and my server finally shows up with silverware and proceeds to lie to me about how there wasn't any clean silverware!!  Actually, it just went down to one star.I've worked in the industry a lot, and for a long time.  I'm more understanding than most.  I don't believe all the servers there are like this.  But the overall feel of the customer service there was terrible.  And if you happen to go, sit down, and a short girl, with curly, blond, neck-line length hair comes to your table...get up and move.  Or better yet, leave and spend your money elsewhere.

by Vivian Y.

If you don't have the money to go to the Alladin Hotel in Vegas, then come here.  It's like a Rainforest Cafe but for adults! The place is stunning and the performances here on Saturday nights are alot of fun.  There was a great flamenco show from Spain and just watching the facial expressions of all the dancers was entertainment enough!The belly dancer was HOT and in much more sultry than the other belly dancers I have seen as both A La Turka and Sushi Samba.We had a big group of 15 people come here and we were seated right in front of the stage which was nice.  We shared a number of appetizers and all of the appetizers were DELICIOUS.  Probably the best baba ganoush I have ever had.  Dolmas were awesome.  Service was great and attentive. Why the 3-stars?  The Entree's tasted like banquet food.  Oh wait, this is a banquet hall.  I had the kefta and it was dry.  I also had some of the lamb shank tagine and the tagine was cold. they don't actually cook anything in it, but use it as serve ware to look pretty.   As the tagine was cold, the lamb cooled way too quickly.  I'm glad that I didn't decide on this place for my wedding due to the food!Although the food was edible, I was highly disappointed that the entree's weren't amazing. Afterall, you're paying alot more money for the same kind of middle eastern food that you can get up north.  I realize that I'm also paying for the entertainment but people will stop coming if the food is no good.

by Melanie K.

FYI: This review is for dancing/drinks only. 5 stars for dancing.4 stars for drinks. 2-3 stars for the rumored-to-be-overrated food.Salsa is made exponentially more enjoyable by a live band....and live bands are hard to come by. For that reason alone, Alhambra is a great place to be on a Tuesday night. You will feel like a queen when you enter their performance space complete with vaulted ceilings and cozy seating. The opulence is incredible. And the people turn out for salsa. Come early for the lesson, stay late for the movers and shakers. My mojito was tasty and the beer was solid - but next time I would probably just rock H2O (and maybe one drink). For all of the spinning you are going to do, who needs the spins early? (Water is pricey, sneak in your own bottle - sorry, Alhambra)Salsa is on Tuesdays/Fridays and soon to be Wednesdays. Tuesday seems like their bigger night. RSVP to the site below for reduced cover by 3pm the day of the event.http://4fantasticevent... I definitely will be going again - but only on the dancing nights (thanks for the warning, Yelpers)

by Janet E.

So based on the reviews it looks like people really liked this restaurant or really hated it. I didnt really like it, but didnt really hate it either. We had a group of 20 with reservations at 7pm on a Friday night.  There are three floors to this restaurant with the main floor being the Alhambra room.  The ENTIRE floor in the Alhambra room was empty except for our group. So where do they sit us? In the very corner where you barely see the stage. Minus one star.My BIGGEST complaint was their Restaurant Week Prix Fixe promotion.  THEY DO NOT OFFER THE RESTAURANT WEEK MENU IN THE ALHAMBRA ROOM (where the music and entertainment is held). What the ?!?!. WHY NOT?? Instead, they only offer the restaurant week menu in the Babylonian room, where there is no music, no dancing, no life. Minus half star.Now onto the entertainment.  The entertainment was supposed to start at 8pm.  We chose not do the restaurant week menu so that we could see this "show".  8pm. No show. 8:10pm. No show. 8:20pm No show. 8:35pm, finally some dancing. Nothing too spectacular but it was better than nothing.  Of course, I couldnt really see too much being seated in the corner of the restaurant behind the pole which was behind the fake palm tree stump. Minus half star.The food was ok. I ordered the eggplant. It was like eggplant parmigiana with rice. The pita bread was delicious and the olives were good. Everyone around me ordered something different and it all looked delicious. I didnt really hear any complaints so it was probably good.There is limited street parking in the area but the restaurant offers valet service. Overall an ok experience.  Be prepared to drop some $$$ because this place is not cheap. Sultan Market is still my favorite.

by Dan D.

I came two times and I received two different types of reviews...The first time, I had amazing food.  Alhambra gives tons of food for the money and offered quality things. The hummus was tasty, eggplant cooked quite nicely, and the chicken just amazing.  However, I went here just this week and I was devastated.  The food was so greasy.  The eggplant was just swimming in a bowl of flavored grease - I couldn't even stomach it. Further, the hummus was so oily that it was sorta running off the pita.  That is a bad sign.  To top it off, the servers would bring just enough pita for about 5 minutes... then we'd search for another server to bring more.  Overall, it was a terrible meal and both of us felt a little sick and bloated from the food.However, the dance floor is a good time and they play good music.  Salsa Tuesdays are a good time and a nice break in the week. If you come between 8-8:45pm, it is free admission (otherwise just about 5-10 bucks). They play good music and there are many great dancers!  (Just dont come for the food before dancing...)I came two times and I received two different types of reviews...The first time, I had amazing food.  Alhambra gives tons of food for the money and offered quality things. The hummus was tasty, eggplant cooked quite nicely, and the chicken just amazing.  However, I went here just this week and I was devastated.  The food was so greasy.  The eggplant was just swimming in a bowl of flavored grease - I couldn't even stomach it. Further, the hummus was so oily that it was sorta running off the pita.  That is a bad sign.  To top it off, the servers would bring just enough pita for about 5 minutes... then we'd search for another server to bring more.  Overall, it was a terrible meal and both of us felt a little sick and bloated from the food.However, the dance floor is a good time and they play good music.  Salsa Tuesdays are a good time and a nice break in the week. If you come between 8-8:45pm, it is free admission (otherwise just about 5-10 bucks). They play good music and there are many great dancers!  (Just dont come for the food before dancing...)

by carolynne r.

Alhambra is theatre, pure and simple.  Everything looks amazing and gorgeous from afar, but don't look too close unless you want to see the flimsy materials holding it all together.If you come here, you want to come late, and you dont want to spend a whole lot on drinks food, because it is all numbingly expensive for what you get.  Everything looks beautiful, but what I ate ranged from "eh" to poor.  Rather, come here for the outstanding decor (you really do feel like you are in a palace), and the entertainment.  I had originally thought the service was too slow, and that we were being forgotten, but then I realized that this place expects you to stay - pretty much all night.  So after you eat, you have to wave your server over if you want something, otherwise I felt they were cool with you just hanging out watching the shows.  A BIG problem I had with this place was that I had reserved a table and noted in the reservation it was for Restaurant Week.  Well, we get there and we are seated very close to the stage that they were setting up for the Flamenco show.  When I asked for the special menus, the server said that wasnt "offered" in this room, only in some weird back room away from the music and dancing.  This made me pretty sore, as it felt totally like a bait and switch - like, Hey, seat them in the GOOD room so they can see what they would be missing and then they will HAVE to order from the regular menu!  Not cool, Alhambra, not cool at all. I ended up ordering some falafel, which came on a bed of lettuce with some tomato and cucumber and one teaspoon of sour cream.  So for $6 there are 6 patties on a plate which you must eat dry. They were nicely prepared, but come on - at least a little more sour cream would have helped.  Then I had the Shrimp Charmoula which I highly recommend AGAINST ordering.  Four medium sized shrimp were served in a bowl with some lettuce, tomato and some vile dressing that tasted like French.  The shrimp were overcooked, dry, and extremely salty.  A complete waste of $12.   Andy M had a chicken wing jones from a show we had watched earlier on the Food Network, so he got the "Moroccan" wings, which are nothing more than standard Buffalo wings.  Tasty, but totally out of place here.I knew what I was getting into before we went, so I cant say I am all that surprised.  But really, Alhambra should maybe stop trying to be a restaurant and focus more on being a nightclub or something along that line  They do the entertainment side great, but stop with the food, really.

by Dima M.

When I first heard about this place I imagined a really cheesy Middle Eastern restaurant slash entertainment spot with a belly dancer, and a lot of gross middle aged men gawking at the belly dancer.  I also imagined mediocre middle eastern food, priced way more than its worth.  I imagined a cheesy palace decor as a horrible attempt at imitating one of the most beautiful historical spots in the world (which is in Granada, Spain, and it is indeed glorious!)I imagined all those things, and I was right.  I might have been a little curious the first time I went there, and the few times that followed I was nearly literally dragged.  I hated the atmosphere, the food, and even worse than both was the service.  If you want good Middle Eastern food this is not the place to be, and if you want a cheese entertainment and belly dancer, I don't know, go somewhere to get help as I cannot understand the entertainment factor in that.  Then again, I am not a gross middle aged man.

by Brenda S.

Very nicely decorated, great service, kabobs are the best.

by nikki s.

I just had to say a 'lil something about Alhambra. Don't know why it took me so long, but I was inspired by one of the other entries. Kudos to Dani B. for giving it to the people straight. I guess it's a place where you either really like it or you just don't--for whatever reason.I can't comment on the decline in service, as I haven't dined there in a while, however, when I went, I had no complaints on the food or the service. Perhaps there's been a change of hands in kitchen? Service was excellent, but the food was just okay for me. I'm not partial to spending $30ish dollars on a meal that was just okay. I was hoping for more Morrocan, but instead, it was upscale Mediterranean fusion. The decor and the music are what I could appreciate most. The space is grandiose and unlike any other restaurant I've ever been to. From talking to the owner--and like our fellow yelper, Dani B. conveyed, the elaborate furnishings and decorative pieces come from Morrocco and Syria and are by no means gawdy. It is way over the top, but heck, what palace isn't? C'mon people, think palace. Perhaps one must expand their artistic eye to appreciate it. I felt like I had been swept away to another country.I've not experienced some of the other performances, but I can say that the live Middle Eastern band I saw was phenomenal, and I loved seeing the different cultures--especially those of the middle eastern descent, get up and dance. In fact, I took it as an opportunity to learn another cultural dance. The belly dancer was by far the best one that I've ever seen. I am a woman and I like men, but from dancer to another dancer, the things this woman was doing in her performance? I couldn't take my eyes off of her! She would give Shakira a run for her money. Currently, I only go to Alhambra for salsa dancing. Parking is treacherous on Randolph, but there's always valet. Firstly, it has the best dance floor of open space in any salsa venue in the city of Chicago. Secondly, I know that some of the city's best dancers will be there. In other words, I'm not tripping over non-dancers boppin' around/chatting it up w/friends on the dance floor, nor is it hit or miss to find a good dance partner. (If you're in the salsa "matrix" of Chicago, you know this is serious business). Tuesday nights start way too late for me so I rarely make those, but since they're now doing Fridays again, I'll occasionally deter from my usual Rumba quest for my salsa fix and head to Alhambra. It's like a salsa reunion, as they "jack" practically the whole Friday crowd from Rumba. Live music and plenty of room...ahhhhhhh Alhambra.I just had to say a 'lil something about Alhambra. Don't know why it took me so long, but I was inspired by one of the other entries. Kudos to Dani B. for giving it to the people straight. I guess it's a place where you either really like it or you just don't--for whatever reason.I can't comment on the decline in service, as I haven't dined there in a while, however, when I went, I had no complaints on the food or the service. Perhaps there's been a change of hands in kitchen? Service was excellent, but the food was just okay for me. I'm not partial to spending $30ish dollars on a meal that was just okay. I was hoping for more Morrocan, but instead, it was upscale Mediterranean fusion. The decor and the music are what I could appreciate most. The space is grandiose and unlike any other restaurant I've ever been to. From talking to the owner--and like our fellow yelper, Dani B. conveyed, the elaborate furnishings and decorative pieces come from Morrocco and Syria and are by no means gawdy. It is way over the top, but heck, what palace isn't? C'mon people, think palace. Perhaps one must expand their artistic eye to appreciate it. I felt like I had been swept away to another country.I've not experienced some of the other performances, but I can say that the live Middle Eastern band I saw was phenomenal, and I loved seeing the different cultures--especially those of the middle eastern descent, get up and dance. In fact, I took it as an opportunity to learn another cultural dance. The belly dancer was by far the best one that I've ever seen. I am a woman and I like men, but from dancer to another dancer, the things this woman was doing in her performance? I couldn't take my eyes off of her! She would give Shakira a run for her money. Currently, I only go to Alhambra for salsa dancing. Parking is treacherous on Randolph, but there's always valet. Firstly, it has the best dance floor of open space in any salsa venue in the city of Chicago. Secondly, I know that some of the city's best dancers will be there. In other words, I'm not tripping over non-dancers boppin' around/chatting it up w/friends on the dance floor, nor is it hit or miss to find a good dance partner. (If you're in the salsa "matrix" of Chicago, you know this is serious business). Tuesday nights start way too late for me so I rarely make those, but since they're now doing Fridays again, I'll occasionally deter from my usual Rumba quest for my salsa fix and head to Alhambra. It's like a salsa reunion, as they "jack" practically the whole Friday crowd from Rumba. Live music and plenty of room...ahhhhhhh Alhambra.

by bailey h.

gaudy  [gaw-dee]  -adjective 1. cheaply showy in a tasteless way; flashy. See also: Alhambra Palace.pavarotti would love it here, if he were into tacky mediterranean deco and wild salsa dancing. waaaaaay overdone.a friend and i have been exploring options for salsa classes, and decided to give their tuesday night free class with miguel a shot. we were told no cover before 9. we show up at 8:50, and the douche that is carding gives us crazy face and says that it's no cover before 8:45. really?!? we left, and took that $15 cover elsewhere for some drinks. that was 2 weeks ago.went back last night, and made sure to get there BEFORE 8:45. we made it, and then waited around forever. the salsa class started half an hour late, and is NOT for beginners, as we were told. it consisted of a bunch of medium to awesome dancers standing in a circle while miguel yelled at everyone and tried to demonstrate some seriously complicated moves. i ended up spending an hour making a damn fool of myself, receiving barely any help from the instructor, and having to dance with a short and sweaty beast of a partner who was possibly a worse dancer than i am!the one redeeming quality was being able to watch some of the amazing dancers that came in after the class!  sadly, you will have to go super early and wait around forever or pay $15 cover to see this spectacle.pass.

by Melissa M.

It's been a while since I've been to Alhambra -- and for good reason.  My experience there was absolutely terrible.  Service - awful.  Food - dry and tasteless. Ambiance - there was NO ONE in this restaurant.The decor is really gaudy but good food and service would have made up for this.I will NEVER return. Ever. Don't even bother.If you're looking for Middle Eastern food  try Fattoush or something -- where you can get the same meal for 1/10th the cost.

by Michelle C.

My boyfriend I dined here a couple weeks ago for a nice evening out. It was a Wednesday so the main dining hall is not offered til the weekends, which a a tad bit disappointing. We were seated in the front marble room, which was very well lit and it definitely had the ambiance of an ancient palace( very Cleopatra, the movie with Elizabeth Taylor). The light fixtures are orientate metal lanterns, seats were plush red velvet, and the drapes were flowing from the ceiling onto the mosaic floors. We first ordered drinks. I had a dirty martini,which was a bit too dirty! But the food made up for lack for service. Ordered was the Tabbouleh Salad, a "little spicy" and paired wonderfully with the falafel, which had just the right flavor of garlic, chickpea, and onion. I also dipped the falafel in my hummus topped with olive oil gardineria. Lebna(traditional spiced Greek yogurt ) came in the middle of our falafel dish and it was my favorite part of the entire meal because I was able to dip just about everything in it including the spicy, paprika covered Batata(potatoes). I will have to have this dip again very soon! It's to die for. I just hope I have a different server better bartender when I return.

by Mandy M.

Honestly, I really went into the night at Alhambra with some pretty low expectations.  Out with some work colleagues in from out of town who wanted dinner and a "show."  Said colleagues are not the most interesting of people so I was all for someone else entertaining us to avoid some awkward conversations and even more cringe-inducing silences.Not to mention all of the really bad reviews on here... but whatever, it's 2 blocks from my condo so I figured if it was really THAT bad, I could just excuse myself to the bathroom and sneak myself home.But I digress... on to dinner.  We arrived around 7:10 for a 7pm reservation and requested to sit in the main dining room with the stage.  The girl at the hostess stand informed us that they usually don't seat that room until 7:30pm but she would go check.  She came back within a minute and told us we could be seated even though we offered to wait at the bar.  That was nice of her.Everyone got one of their cocktails from the long list they offer ... and now I can't remember my drink's name!  It was black cherry I think?  Whatever, it was good.  I got a glass of red wine with dinner which was also pretty good.We ordered a bunch of appetizers to split: falafel, lebna, hummus, batata and kibbeh.  Now the kibbeh was an ordeal... there was a private party going on upstairs and they apparently ordered the crap out of the kibbeh and there was no more left.  One person in our group was THOROUGHLY pissed and mentioned to our server more than twice about how ridiculous it was that there wasn't any more kibbeh in the kitchen.  I really felt bad for the server guy, it's not like it was his job to make sure there was enough for this party and our DBag friend.  And then... miraculously... it appeared.  A whole plate, just for him.  I didn't like it but he loved it so I'll just assume I don't really like kibbeh.Onto the meal... I had the Shrimp Kebabs.  Seasoned perfectly, the rice was awesome with the pistachios and raisins and all that.  I would have liked more of them actually.  I was so full by that point that I could only eat half and take the rest home to my fiance.During the meal (we went on a Friday), the Flamenco dancers were awesome.  Women of all ages and shapes, it was pretty cool.  We stuck around for the belly dancer who was supposed to come on stage around 10pm but she didn't mosey on out until around 11pm.  She wasn't my favorite, she looked kinda plastic.  My friend swears she works at Admiral after she leaves Alhambra but that is TOTAL rumor starting material right there.So overall, the decor was beautiful.  The bathrooms were beautiful.  The food was good.  Entertainment was entertaining.  I don't see why you wouldn't come here?  Maybe it's changed since some of those bad reviews??Honestly, I really went into the night at Alhambra with some pretty low expectations.  Out with some work colleagues in from out of town who wanted dinner and a "show."  Said colleagues are not the most interesting of people so I was all for someone else entertaining us to avoid some awkward conversations and even more cringe-inducing silences.Not to mention all of the really bad reviews on here... but whatever, it's 2 blocks from my condo so I figured if it was really THAT bad, I could just excuse myself to the bathroom and sneak myself home.But I digress... on to dinner.  We arrived around 7:10 for a 7pm reservation and requested to sit in the main dining room with the stage.  The girl at the hostess stand informed us that they usually don't seat that room until 7:30pm but she would go check.  She came back within a minute and told us we could be seated even though we offered to wait at the bar.  That was nice of her.Everyone got one of their cocktails from the long list they offer ... and now I can't remember my drink's name!  It was black cherry I think?  Whatever, it was good.  I got a glass of red wine with dinner which was also pretty good.We ordered a bunch of appetizers to split: falafel, lebna, hummus, batata and kibbeh.  Now the kibbeh was an ordeal... there was a private party going on upstairs and they apparently ordered the crap out of the kibbeh and there was no more left.  One person in our group was THOROUGHLY pissed and mentioned to our server more than twice about how ridiculous it was that there wasn't any more kibbeh in the kitchen.  I really felt bad for the server guy, it's not like it was his job to make sure there was enough for this party and our DBag friend.  And then... miraculously... it appeared.  A whole plate, just for him.  I didn't like it but he loved it so I'll just assume I don't really like kibbeh.Onto the meal... I had the Shrimp Kebabs.  Seasoned perfectly, the rice was awesome with the pistachios and raisins and all that.  I would have liked more of them actually.  I was so full by that point that I could only eat half and take the rest home to my fiance.During the meal (we went on a Friday), the Flamenco dancers were awesome.  Women of all ages and shapes, it was pretty cool.  We stuck around for the belly dancer who was supposed to come on stage around 10pm but she didn't mosey on out until around 11pm.  She wasn't my favorite, she looked kinda plastic.  My friend swears she works at Admiral after she leaves Alhambra but that is TOTAL rumor starting material right there.So overall, the decor was beautiful.  The bathrooms were beautiful.  The food was good.  Entertainment was entertaining.  I don't see why you wouldn't come here?  Maybe it's changed since some of those bad reviews??

by Amanda B.

So today I ventured all the way out to Alhambra (West Loop?) to have lunch at the place that my kids potentially want to hold Prom.  I was very skeptical before we arrived, as my kids sometimes have dellusions when they look at these places for 650 students.  First of all I'd just like to say that the street that this restaurant is on, there are many, many other restaurants on that same street that I would like to go to!We walked into the Alhambra at approximately 1 PM ready to eat lunch.  We were ready to feast and the place was absolutely empty.  However, once you're in the inside you for sure feel like you are in either Northern Africa or Southern Spain.  It was beautiful.  I got shown around becuase I obviously had to see the entire joint for the Prom.  Although I do not think we'll be able to have Prom there because it's just a bit too small, I think it'll be fabulous for a luncheon.  The staff was incredibly helpful and helped me with whatever I needed, and as well invited me to their Open House on Wednesday night of my birthday -- might just stop by.For lunch my friend and I tried one of the best sauvignon blancs I have ever had.  My absolute favorite, and I have NEVER found one that is better, is Nobilo, and the one that I tried at Alhambra is a close rival. It was a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, just a WEE bit too sweet, but absolutely crisp and delicious.For an appetizer we split the shrimp, which were the size of your head. They had been sauteed in garlic I believe and was served with a sort of dressing that was much like 1,000 Island dressing but better.  They were fabulous. When we got them there wer only 4 and I thought I could have gone with one more for each of us, but after getting my meal I'm glad we didn't.For my entree I was originally going to get the eggplant dish which looked fantastic:  eggplant sauteed with tomato sause and parmesean cheese on top.  Then I saw he menu and saw that they had salmon on it which is my favorite fish, soI had the lunch salmon.  It was topped with a sauce that the waiter said he was going to ask about for me, I was curious as to what it was, but he never got back to me come to think of it.  At any rate it was delicious nonetheless and it was served with roasted veggies.  I got double instead of the couscous, which I'm sure is equally delicious, just trying not to consume so many carbs.  My friend got the beef kabobs and he said it was incredibly tender and the rice that came with was delicious.I'm at the point where I've got to enough Mediterranean restaurants that I'd be curious to start comparing some of the staples that are sold at these and see how they compare.  I feel this restaurant would be a lot of fun on a Friday night and apparently at some point during the weekend they do belly-dancing and all sorts of stuff.  They used to apparently have hooka, but with the new smoke ordinances they had to get rid of it, which is a shame.  There's also beautiful outdoor seating which would have been perfect for today, but I really had to get a feel for the inside.  Great place, lots of fun due to the ambiance!

by Jennifer P.

Decent food, though not as flavorful as I would have expected. Dancing was fun to watch, but make sure you have a seat that gives you a good view of the dance floor. NOT GOOD FOR GROUPS. We had a group of ~15 and the service was really bad. We should have had 2 waitresses/waiters for a group that size, but we only had 1.  Every request had to be made twice, and these were basic requests like a napkin, silverware, drink refills. Appetizers were late and ended up coming at the same time as the entrees. When there were additional servers, they were a little rude. This service did not justify the 20% gratuity that is charged to a large group. I will not go back.

by Arlene G.

Kinda pricey but really good Mediterranean food! I went during the week night, but I want to go back during the weekend to see the dancing!

by oni b.

I was pretty persistent on trying this place! i was thinking; middle eastern food, nice entertainment and maybe some balanced food quality/pricing.Ohhh, I saw the prices, sampled the appetizers and left the place thinking: If I ever will be in a mood for middle eastern food, then i will go somewhere else. People, go there for entertainment but not for a special meal!I was pretty persistent on trying this place! i was thinking; middle eastern food, nice entertainment and maybe some balanced food quality/pricing.Ohhh, I saw the prices, sampled the appetizers and left the place thinking: If I ever will be in a mood for middle eastern food, then i will go somewhere else. People, go there for entertainment but not for a special meal!

by Morgan C.

Three stars mainly for the Saturday night floor show... at least the early part with the tribal bellydancers. I actually much preferred them to the single lady they had dancing with the "band" later on.The space itself is cool and deceptively big. Like when I first walked back to the main room, I was very impressed. Two story, high ceiling, big chandelier, lots of sort of neo-futuristic Middle Eastern ambiance. The table setup is a little funky; if you're not facing the stage, you'll be craning your neck the whole time unless you watch one of the flatscreens that they might be showing a wide shot of the dancer(-s) on. And there were a lot of employees around... like security or owners or something... sort of angry looking gents in jackets and open-collared shirts. I kept waiting for them to swoop in on someone.Nice segue to the crowd. It IS in River West. It's not particularly a "young" crowd, more 30's and up. I don't know how many of them intended on going out dancing, per se. Again, sort of a dressier place. A place to see and be seen, I guess. Or to be a 40's guy hitting on/dancing with one of the aforementioned 30's girls.Food was meh. I just nibbled on the appetizers my friends had ordered. It was all right, I guess, but I could get it a lot cheaper somewhere else. Some of the pita we had to flag down our waitress and ask for, was rock hard. Bleh. And for appetizers starting at $7-8 bucks... entrees in the $15-30 range... the cheapest drink was a bottle of Bud Light for $6. Again, sure, you have to pay for the space and the dancers... so yeah... if you're looking to drop cash... Service was pretty mediocre, too. It was a Saturday night, but it definitely wasn't crowded. Our lady would just randomly disappear for extended periods... took forever to get orders... even just have a busboy come by with water...And it's loud. Like you-can't-have-a-conversation loud. I didn't know what I was getting myself into. Maybe if friends and I drank beforehand, then went to split some appetizers and possibly get some water here and here... and to watch the early floor show... I really doubt I'd plan an evening around here.

by Erika G.

I went here a couple of Thursdays ago after the Najat Aatabou concert at Millennium Park. I'd gotten the hookup via my mad WHPK cred to go to the after party, and see the fabulously talented Najat sing some more! What a powerhouse! Included in the ticket ($60 for everyone else, FREE for me!) was a pretty lavish buffet of middle eastern goodies and salads. If this is representative of their standard fare, I have to say I was impressed - the food was VERY good. The interior . . . yaa laa teeeef! I want to live here. Other reviewers have rightfully noted that this restaurant is named after the fabulous Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain. The style of this gorgeous Moorish palace is pretty well represented - I'd call this an "homage to". The many private rooms, the over the top decor, the lavish balcony lounges. It really made this sassy odalisque want to recline on a couple of poufs, clap for the harem boys to bring tea and a nargila and then summon my Sultan!The decor is pretty beautiful, if a little over the top. It combines Moroccan painted wood ceilings, Syrian style furniture and a few Ayssyrian touches - big stone lions on the stage. This is a great place to see live music, and the dance floor is GIANT.It's pricey, though. See and be seen. Dress up and bring dollars!

by Megan S.

I first discovered Alhambra Palace one day on my way home from visiting the always great Goodwill. I slowed down my car to see what a sight this gigantic structure was. I wrote down the name and first thing upon getting home, I searched for it online. The pictures, the menu, the appeal it was all there .... a perfect place to celebrate my boyfriends upcoming birthday! Middle Eastern food is always a treat for us, and whenever we find a new joint, we have to try it out.  So the day came !! I was so excited to take my special man to Alhambra for some good eats ... let my review begin !!! 1. The host was very kind, and on top of his game. 2. The decor is creative and authentic looking, yet very cheesy !! 3. Your chair sits much lower than the table, so if your short, your out of luck !! You may need to ask for a booster seat. We both are 5'11'' and we had to stretch our spines to get to our foods.4. The manager, or whom I presumed was the manager, was literally RUNNING through the dining room. 5. There was one waitress, whom seemed to not have much experience in the serving world! She was a bit flustered, which happens, although ..... under staffing was an obvious issue !! Amateur !! 6. We ordered a bottle of the red Lebanese wine $34 and it's worth every dollar. If you have never had a bottle of Lebanese red wine, treat yourself to the wonders ... sadly it's rather hard to find outside of the Middle Eastern dining rooms !! 7. During our wait for what we hoped would be a splendid dinner, my boyfriend and I took a stroll around the Palace. We were looking at 13 million dollars of furniture, artwork, painted ceilings, a dance floor, and center stage and 400 plus table ... it was surely a wonder !! I have to admit, the place was pretty cool, yet still a tad cheesy. 8. After finished our adventure around the Palace, we returned to our ever so low chairs and our food was delivered within moments. Lamb Shank and a Seafood Platter !! ...... bite one ...... bite two ...... bite three ...TERRIBLE !!!!!!!Slow roasted lamb ... didn't taste a thing like it.Shrimp, scallops, salmon ... rubber !!! What a disappointment .... with only a few bites take we were threw !! There wasn't even a slight desire to try their 8 dollar piece of Baklava. We figured we wouldn't chance another bite ... we'd rather go to Saltin's Market and get a box of amazing Baklava for $4.99 !!! So $123.00 dollars later,  we got out as fast as we could !!! If it's entertainment your looking for, stop in on a Friday or Saturday night. Have a Scotch or a bottle of wine. Enjoy the Belly and Flaminco dancing and relax for the night ..... but if your looking for an authentic Middle Eastern dinner this is NOT the place!!

by isha a.

I have to say, I don't understand all the negative reviews. I am a die hard fan! What's not to love about this place? The food is amazing, so professionally cooked and as best as the Mediterranean cuisine could get! I am very iffy about ordering lamb in particular from anywhere because not many people can cook it right, but I'm never thinking twice at this place. And it's all halal! What a deal!!! The sea food is exquisite! You just can't get enough.Superb service, making sure everything is ok from time to time. But then Arabs are known for their hospitality and rightly so. Our server was Raid or Ray, and he deserves a five star rating of his own. You want a real image of what life is like in the Middle East? you have to see this place then. And the live entertainment, the belly dancers and the most beautiful of love songs in the sweetest of all languages! Wallahi, if you don't like this place, you were in a bad mood to begin with :) And the extravagant decor, is like a palace out of fairytale setting! I wish there was a seven star rating for this place! Absolutely love it, will go back again and again!I have to say, I don't understand all the negative reviews. I am a die hard fan! What's not to love about this place? The food is amazing, so professionally cooked and as best as the Mediterranean cuisine could get! I am very iffy about ordering lamb in particular from anywhere because not many people can cook it right, but I'm never thinking twice at this place. And it's all halal! What a deal!!! The sea food is exquisite! You just can't get enough.Superb service, making sure everything is ok from time to time. But then Arabs are known for their hospitality and rightly so. Our server was Raid or Ray, and he deserves a five star rating of his own. You want a real image of what life is like in the Middle East? you have to see this place then. And the live entertainment, the belly dancers and the most beautiful of love songs in the sweetest of all languages! Wallahi, if you don't like this place, you were in a bad mood to begin with :) And the extravagant decor, is like a palace out of fairytale setting! I wish there was a seven star rating for this place! Absolutely love it, will go back again and again!

by J D.

I've been wanting to try this place for months.  The exterior just looks so cool, and I'd heard good things.....We went on a Friday night at 7 p.m.  The place was deserted.  I actually asked the hostess if they were open, that's how empty it was.  Despite being at one of only 3 occupied tables in a room which holds probably 50 tables, the service was awful.  Our waiter was nice, but wow, not attentive at all.  We waited 20 minutes for a glass of wine, and then another 20 for our hot appetizer.  It seemed like maybe they forgot about us.  There was just never a "rhythm" with the service.  We were never asked if we wanted another glass of wine, the waiter never checked back to see if the food was good, etc.  When our entrees eventually came, the food was good (better than mediocre, but nothing to rave about) but not good enough to overcome the bad service and eerie emptiness of the place.  Overall, I was unimpressed.  We did, however, park for free on the street, which these days, is a major bonus.

by Lisa P.

I love the Alhambra palace!  Then again, I'm closer to age 50 than 40, or 30.  That said, the ambiance and entertainment is fantastic, and the crowd, a nice, clean collection of grown ups.  The food is tasty, and the service impressive even in a crowded setting.  The interior is reason enough to at least get in there and take a peek!

by R K.

I had to go here for a friend's birthday. I went in with low expectations and it still managed to disappoint. Food- Creme brulee- $8 for what tasted like a vanilla pudding cup. no caramelized crust and the custard base was so poorly done! I'm not sure why they call themselves Moroccan. For example, one dish we ordered was the chicken tagine. What came out was a piece of dry chicken breast with their version of Indian (not Moroccan- no cinnamon, no paprika, etc) spices, a mound of peas and carrots (def out of a frozen veggie bag) and rice. There was no dark meat on bone, large vegetables, olives, chickpeas. These are the typical ingredients, slow cooked together in a tagine to allow the flavors to develop and compliment each other. The other dishes we tried - lamb tagine, kabobs, etc- just as poorly done. Pricevery poor quality, non authentic food for apx $50/person (that does not include drinks/ appetizers, just the meal and half a dessert) Servicewent on a sat night and it was pretty busy, but for some reason they had one waitress for several very large tables. if they had additional waitstaff, it would have made it a lot less slow/ inefficient.I would not recommend going there at all.

by HungryChicago M.

Amazing decoration like Disney World! Great entertainment events. Poor food. Arrogant people. Go for belly dance and salsa nights or drinks. Not food.They are pretty strict about your attire. The lady before us wear average cloth with not-so-bad sneakers. They deny her and her friends access even though they already made a reservation. The situation was not solved until the manager came out to the door. The probably won't let me in with my new Pumas.Don't go there for food. You will cry. The Dolmas (minty leaves rice wraps) are the most horrible I have ever had. It was loose wrap soaked in salty and sour tomato sauce. It sounds fine, but it is not!I love the Tuesday and Friday salsa nights there. I used to go every week. Great floor, great music and great people. I also love the Friday night belly dance show of Alexandria on the first floor main hall. She is a very decent belly dances with great entertainment skills. The live band is pretty authentic as I am an experienced belly dancer myself.Recommended for groups and couples.Amazing decoration like Disney World! Great entertainment events. Poor food. Arrogant people. Go for belly dance and salsa nights or drinks. Not food.They are pretty strict about your attire. The lady before us wear average cloth with not-so-bad sneakers. They deny her and her friends access even though they already made a reservation. The situation was not solved until the manager came out to the door. The probably won't let me in with my new Pumas.Don't go there for food. You will cry. The Dolmas (minty leaves rice wraps) are the most horrible I have ever had. It was loose wrap soaked in salty and sour tomato sauce. It sounds fine, but it is not!I love the Tuesday and Friday salsa nights there. I used to go every week. Great floor, great music and great people. I also love the Friday night belly dance show of Alexandria on the first floor main hall. She is a very decent belly dances with great entertainment skills. The live band is pretty authentic as I am an experienced belly dancer myself.Recommended for groups and couples.

by MARIA O.

Review for Tuesday night Latin dancing:Wow, the moves I have seen on the dance floor here are enviable. F'en B to the girls that shake like that! I have Alhambra written in on my calendar for Latin dancing on Tuesday nights. This is where the best of the best show up to sweat their tails off. It is refreshing to know that there is a culture of Latin dancers out there that simply get together to have fun, dance, mix mingle and share each others company. No worries about drama like you would have when you go out during the weekend. Everyone is so cool and respectful. No one competes, no one causes problems, so much fun. Not to worry friends, sooner, rather than later, I too will be one of those chicks getting swept across the dance floor.  Haha!

by Ellen S.

Based on both my own experience and the collective experiences of my fellow reviewers, I don't get how this place stays in business. The food is mediocre at best and inedible at worst. The service leaves a great deal to be desired and there are certainly other places around town to see belly dancing.If you're in the neighborhood and want to stop by for some groove thang shaking, still with drinks only. Anything else, caveat emptor.

by Lisa D.

Yayyyyy!!! Finally, water served when you order food! Also, wine in a glass glass, I feel so adult.See you at Salsa Tuesday! I still love Salsa, I still think this is the best floor for dancing on but I'm just so offended by…

by Lisa D.Ellen S.

Yayyyyy!!! Finally, water served when you order food! Also, wine in a glass glass, I feel so adult.See you at Salsa Tuesday! I still love Salsa, I still think this is the best floor for dancing on but I'm just so offended by… Based on both my own experience and the collective experiences of my fellow reviewers, I don't get how this place stays in business. The food is mediocre at best and inedible at worst. The service leaves a great deal to be desired and there are certainly other places around town to see belly dancing.If you're in the neighborhood and want to stop by for some groove thang shaking, still with drinks only. Anything else, caveat emptor.

by Lisa D.Ellen S.MARIA O.HungryChicago M.

Yayyyyy!!! Finally, water served when you order food! Also, wine in a glass glass, I feel so adult.See you at Salsa Tuesday! I still love Salsa, I still think this is the best floor for dancing on but I'm just so offended by… Based on both my own experience and the collective experiences of my fellow reviewers, I don't get how this place stays in business. The food is mediocre at best and inedible at worst. The service leaves a great deal to be desired and there are certainly other places around town to see belly dancing.If you're in the neighborhood and want to stop by for some groove thang shaking, still with drinks only. Anything else, caveat emptor.Review for Tuesday night Latin dancing:Wow, the moves I have seen on the dance floor here are enviable. F'en B to the girls that shake like that! I have Alhambra written in on my calendar for Latin dancing on Tuesday nights. This is where the best of the best show up to sweat their tails off. It is refreshing to know that there is a culture of Latin dancers out there that simply get together to have fun, dance, mix mingle and share each others company. No worries about drama like you would have when you go out during the weekend. Everyone is so cool and respectful. No one competes, no one causes problems, so much fun. Not to worry friends, sooner, rather than later, I too will be one of those chicks getting swept across the dance floor.  Haha!Amazing decoration like Disney World! Great entertainment events. Poor food. Arrogant people. Go for belly dance and salsa nights or drinks. Not food.They are pretty strict about your attire. The lady before us wear average cloth with not-so-bad sneakers. They deny her and her friends access even though they already made a reservation. The situation was not solved until the manager came out to the door. The probably won't let me in with my new Pumas.Don't go there for food. You will cry. The Dolmas (minty leaves rice wraps) are the most horrible I have ever had. It was loose wrap soaked in salty and sour tomato sauce. It sounds fine, but it is not!I love the Tuesday and Friday salsa nights there. I used to go every week. Great floor, great music and great people. I also love the Friday night belly dance show of Alexandria on the first floor main hall. She is a very decent belly dances with great entertainment skills. The live band is pretty authentic as I am an experienced belly dancer myself.Recommended for groups and couples.