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YouTubeAny body know what is going in at the old Ali Baba location on campus?
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion » Dining
Pera Opens in Former Ali Baba Space on Campus
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ianranderson
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Posted 6 months ago # -
vestanpance
Harrison West/at work OSU
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I didn't know Ali Baba went out.. damn I liked their stuff.
Posted 6 months ago # -
NerosNeptune
Goodale Park
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Just saw that they had a temporary sign put up. Pera - Fresh Istanbul Food
Looks like they have all the counters and tables set up, just some finishing work to do? Maybe they're planning to open up when all the students are back from winter break.
I wonder if it's the same people? It looks like the same type of food and they started work on it pretty much as soon as Ali Baba closed, but it's hard to imagine they'd close down for 6+ months or however long its been just to re-brand.
Posted 5 months ago # -
NerosNeptune
Goodale Park
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Pera opened up over the weekend and I tried it out for lunch today.
It is essentially Ali Baba reconfigured as a chipotle/piada/fresh 50/etc. etc.. assembly line type place. You can even get a burrito (wrap). The style/decorations are more like a chipotle now as well, rather than the cartoony middle eastern drawings on the wall of the old place.
The menu is simplified. You pick wrap, sandwich, or bowl. Meats/falafel/salad. Pick out toppings. Sides are $2 extra (babaganoush, eggplant, etc.).
The food quality is better.. the things I liked (falafel, babaganoush) are the same as Ali Baba was. The things I didn't like (stale microwaved bread) have been improved quite a bit. The bread is more substantial, has sesame seeds, and gets heated in an oven. They also have soups now. The lentil was pretty much what I expected to get.. nothing mind blowing but just what good lentil soup should be.
I think I liked the configuration of the old place better. I was wishing I could have gotten my falafel platter,, but the food is better now and following the chipotle style trend is probably a good idea for them to make more money and be more viable. This new configuration should probably make it quite a bit faster to get your food. They seem set up to have a large line of people moving through and getting out of there with their wraps in hand.
Posted 4 months ago # -
News
Columbus Underground
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Pera Brings Fresh Istanbul Food to University District
By: Walker
After a decade at Easton, Cafe Istanbul is rapidly expanding into other neighborhoods. Owner and executive chef Faith Gunal opened a second location last year in Bexley, and recently launched Pera, a fast-casual concept spin-off in The University District.
READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/pera-brings-fresh-istanbul-food-to-university-districtPosted 2 months ago # -
heresthecasey
OSU
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Never have seen this place very busy, but thought it was decent when I tried it out last quarter.
Can we get an Indian Piada next?
Posted 2 months ago #
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