Al-Baraki returns
Al Baraki's Paul Chedrawee in his old Lark Street space.
Help is on the horizon for those of us going through chicken shawarma withdrawal.
Al-Baraki is coming back.
The Lebanese restaurant was a big hit when it moved to Lark Street from Troy, but a fire in the building next door closed them down in the spring.
We followed up on a tip from Ryan and it turns out that Paul and Simone Chedrawee are reopening Al Baraki -- but not on Lark Street. They're heading to Remsen Street in Cohoes.
It's a much larger space than the old Lark Street location, with tables and expanded menu.
Simone and Paul are getting the new Cohoes location ready to open in early October and are planning a grand opening celebration in mid-October with food, music and belly dancers.
Al-Baraki on Lark Street was a tiny place with a small kitchen and take out menu. The new place will have seating for fifty to sixty people and an expanded menu. They'll be open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday and for dinner Thursday though Saturday -- at least to start. They may expand their hours later as business picks up.
Al-Baraki started out in Troy, in the space that is now Beirut. When the fire shut down the Lark Street location, Simone and Paul had to decide what they were going to do next. " We loved being on Lark Street," Simone says " and we loved our customers. But it was taking so long to repair the building. Also, the space was so small we could not expand the business the way we wanted to."
Since the fire they've been working on packaging their food --including their amazing garlic paste --and selling it in co-ops and ethnic markets around the Capital Region. "But customers kept asking 'When are you going to reopen.'" Simone says.
"When we opened in Albany," she says, " we handed over the Troy business to wonderful people who make very good food. We didn't want to open the same kind of business in the same city. We really love Cohoes. It's such a great old city and we were able to get this really nice space. It's right off 787, and we're ethnic food, so we think people will come."
(Thanks, Ryan!)
Earlier on AOA: Bread and Jam closing
photo: Ryan H
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Comments
Yay!
but...
Nooooooooooooooo!
... said Jay on Sep 23, 2010 at 2:17 PM | link
A dirty shame!!
If I'm getting in my car for a shawarma, I might as well drive to Dearbon, MI
... said MattW on Sep 23, 2010 at 2:36 PM | link
Keep us posted on the grand opening date! Al-Baraki is sooo decilicious. Sad they won't be right up the street from me any more, but just glad to see they'll be back in business soon!
... said Marcie on Sep 23, 2010 at 2:46 PM | link
bad idea...if you don't want to be in albany, just move back to troy...nobody's going to cohoes for love or money.
... said ike on Sep 23, 2010 at 3:29 PM | link
Yay! A bit closer to me, but the drive to Phoenician's wasn't too bad.
... said Ellsass on Sep 23, 2010 at 3:54 PM | link
I agree with Marcie... also, that's a MUCH longer walk than just up the hill from state street... I'm going to have to take longer lunches ;)
... said Andy on Sep 23, 2010 at 4:27 PM | link
Thanks for investigating, guys! The sign didn't say they'd be open for dinner also.
Sorry you lost Al Baraki, everyone. Their new place is about ten paces from my house. Maybe you all should just move to Cohoes?
... said Ryan on Sep 23, 2010 at 5:00 PM | link
ugh, we have enough sit-down restaurants. Al-Baraki on Lark Street was just what we needed for grab-and-go food, i think it was as close to street food as we get in this area. i'm just sayin. :-\ i wish they could've reopened the lark st. location, and if they really "needed" an actual restaurant, open up a third location? meh.
... said Kim D. on Sep 23, 2010 at 5:57 PM | link
I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Paul also sells his Al-Baraki delights (garlic paste, falafel, etc!) at Cardona's on Delaware Avenue. You can sometimes find him near the produce and cheese handing out samples.
... said Joe on Sep 24, 2010 at 9:05 AM | link
They also sell Al-Baraki delights at Roma Importing in Latham.
... said llcwine on Sep 24, 2010 at 9:57 AM | link
It won't make up for Bread and Jam closing, but it will be great to have some good new choices on Remsen Street!
... said Jeff on Sep 24, 2010 at 2:08 PM | link
Al Baraki's products are also at the Nisky Coop. That being said, I will happily be making the shlep to Cohoes for the best shwarma this side of Tel Aviv.
... said Leah the Nosher on Sep 28, 2010 at 11:13 AM | link
Hi everyone, join Albarki in celebrating their grand opening
on Sunday oct 31st 12-3:30 great food, live entertainment, belly dancing..... lots of fun
... said Simone on Oct 17, 2010 at 1:45 PM | link
Simone has been so busy it has taken a while to get it all together.
But be sure to be in Cohoes on November 14th for the First Annual Lebanese Festival
... said Ed Tremblay on Nov 4, 2010 at 11:36 AM | link
ALBARAKI IS IN COHOES SO WONDERFUL
I LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT MEN
I AM LOOKING TO LIVE IN THIS TOWN SOON VERY SOON S WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR
BEEF SHAWARMA MEN
BEEF SHAWARMA THIS IS WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR
... said POLI on Nov 21, 2010 at 2:56 AM | link
What a treasure Al-Baraki in Cohoes is! If only more people knew about it! I hope to find their goods in the Pioneer Coop in Troy and Honest Weight Coop in Albany.
... said Elianora on Jun 14, 2011 at 1:14 PM | link
I was all psyched to check them out (this was back in the winter), then the first time there I got food poisoning something fierce... Disappointed cuz the food was yummy.
... said Slacker on Jun 14, 2011 at 1:34 PM | link