Aba

3.8/5

I'll be honest when I say I was not excited to go to Aba last night because the one time I've been before I was sorely disappointed. However, that was about 2 years ago, so I figured I'd give this one another try (plus I wasn't paying so what's the harm right?). Second time around and I am a lot more inclined to return. The ambiance itself was great, very knowledgeable server, things were coursed out so we never felt like we were rushing to turn the table. On to the good stuff you came here for:

Cocktails: 3.5/5
Mediterranean Mule: super refreshing, not overpoweringly sweet. Balanced, flavorful, do it.
Calabrian: Tart, zingy, good flavor profile. Don't be off put by the calabrian chili in the description, it adds warmth, not spice (though I'm not opposed to a cocktail with a kick)

Crispy Short Rib Hummus: 4/5
According to my world view, you can't go wrong with either of these on their own, but together they're great! The crispy short ribs add a really good contrast to the smooth which is super smooth and balanced. The short ribs are tangy, which I very much appreciate. That pita is a heavenly pillow covered in herbs.

Falafel: 2/5
I'm not gonna lie to you, I was not impressed. The avocado tzatziki and garlic tahini were bland, the falafel themselves were heavy and over cooked (I get that they should be crispy on the outside, but I shouldn't have to wrestle with it to get my fork through). Skip it if you go, there's better falafel out there.

Shawarma-Spiced Skirt Steak Frites: 4.5/5
Steak soft as butter, the berbere red wine jus was lovely, the fries were perfectly crispy, no notes. The dipping sauce is what didn't quite do it for me, so it's not a perfect 5 only because of that.

Passionfruit Semifreddo: 5/5
If you're a citrus person, this is the dessert for you. Light, airy, almost mousse like texture with a super zingy lemon curd topping. The coconut cream provides flavor balance and the toasted coconut is perfect textural contrast. Would happily get this by itself.