We recently went to Çka ka Qëllu, a rustic restaurant offering modern Albanian and Kosovan dishes. I knew they had Bronx location, which seems to be even more authentic when it comes to the interior and atmosphere. But then again, the NYC location is easier to get to, so we tried the NYC location. The exterior was decorated for the holiday, very festive! The vibrant red door was inviting, and perfectly matching the Albanian theme.
Their outdoor seating space was really nice too. Complete with windows, lams, wooden walls and floor, and the soft waves on the sealing with the cloth material, it was cozy and homey. It was a bit too cold to eat out, so we didn’t sit outside.
Once you step inside, you are transported to a warm, old-timey, authentic space. It is covered with wood and bricks, earthy tone that makes you think of grandparents’ or great parents’ home, maybe. Look at those exposed wood beams! Impressive! There is a nice-size dining room at the front, and another dining room in the back. In between, there is a connecting space with a few more tables.
We had a reservation, and we were taken to the dining room in the back. It seems like the tables in this room is mostly for reservations. The artworks on the walls were beautiful and lively. And the room, well, the whole restaurant, really, looked like a museum!
The owner of the Çka ka Qëllu spent years collecting 18th and 19th-century Albanian artifacts to decorate the restaurant. No wonder it looks and feels like a museum. It was said that the owner of the Çka ka Qëllu tried to find an authentic Albanian restaurant in NYC but could not find a single spot. Therefore, he decided to create such restaurant himself!
We ordered a glass of wine each to go with our dinner. They were out of Chianti, so we went with Barossa Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, 2017, and Mer Soleil SLH Reserve Chardonnay, 2018. The Cabernet pairs well with grilled meats, with notes of dark plum and blackcurrant. It was a better choice for our dinner here than the Chardonnay. The Chardonnay was crisp with refreshing notes of lemon, apricot, and honey.
For appetizer, we ordered some dips with bread and a salad. We want to try Mediterranean Salad or the Village Salad, but somehow, the server simply put in order for the Shop Salad ($14.50)… It turned out nice, so we were ok with it at the end, but it seems like you need to demand what salad you want, otherwise, it might be selected for you??? Anyways, the Shop Salad is made with chopped cucumber, tomatoes, red pepper, and shredded feta cheese in olive oil & vinegar. The veggies were very fresh, cucumbers had nice crunch to it. Feta was great, and just the right amount of olive oil and vinegar. It was a really nice salad.
For the dips, clockwise from top left, we got Tarator ($7.50), which is a chilled yogurt blend with minced cucumber and garlic drizzled with parsley, Pickled Pepper ($5.25), traditional Albanian style dip, Sausage Dip ($7.75), which is a classic traditional Albanian veal sausage dip, and Ajavar ($6.75), a piquant red roasted pepper spread.
The bread came piping hot! And they were nice size too. The inside was hallowed, made it easier to tear apart and dip into each dip. The Trator and Pickled Pepper dips were chilled, while the Sausage and Ajavar dips were warm. They were all very tasty! The creamy ones had more of a mild flavor, and the chilled ones had more distinctive, strong flavors. We enjoyed them all.
For the main, we ordered Mixed Grill Platter ($20.50) to share. It comes with a combination of qebapa, qofte & sausage. Qebapa is finger size skinless sausages prepared with ground veal, onions, garlic, and seasoning. Qofte is traditional Albanian meatballs made with ground veal, onions, crushed red pepper & herbs. They had similar flavors, but all so tasty! Packed with flavors, so delicious. The side of cucumbers were great accompaniment for pallet cleanser between the meats. Might look like a small portion to share, but it was actually filling, especially after the dips and bread.
We ended our dinner with a dessert to share as well. We ordered Albanian Trilece ($10). It is an Albanian tres leches cake, and it had this nice, gooey caramel sauce on the top. It was decadent and sweet, but somehow not overly sweet. It was pretty darn good dessert! It disappeared quickly…
They have one gender-neutral bathroom all the way in the back. They might’ve had two bathrooms in the past, but one of the doors was closed off with their equipment and such blocking the door. There was a nice courtyard looking space right next to it, but it was all cleared up. I wonder if they use that space as another outdoor seating during the summer? The bathroom had no heating, so it was freezing… But otherwise, it was roomy and clean.
We had a nice dinner hear, certainly interesting. My husband who has traveled to Albania in the past thought the food was authentic and delicious. The service was not so warm, but our water was always filled, and we were well taken care of. A nice change from any other cuisine you find in the city.
Çka ka Qëllu – 118 E 31st St, New York, NY 10016