Babylon Café

Babylon Café Restaurant Review:

Authentic Iraqi cuisine captures the cooking of the many cultures that formed the country. It's the food that Iraq-born Saad Marwad and his Saudi-born wife, Kelly Rafia, offer at their Atlanta restaurant. Some of the dishes will have the aura of familiarity to anyone who has explored the fare of the neighboring countries. Thus, begin with mezza, or snacks, such as chickpea-based hummus and falafel. Eggplant figures in many of the selections, like the baba ghanouj. But to get at the heart of it choose the whole roasted fish, plenty for two persons. A dramatic presentation, samak masquf is the Iraqi national dish. Fans of shawarmas will find them served on Iraqi flatbread, reminiscent of naan. Baklava is among the desserts, but singularly distinctive is kunafa, a sweet cheese-filled pastry, and heluwiat jizzer, based on sweetened carrots. There is a wine list, or bring your own (we suggest a rosé or medium-bodied red wine) and pay a corkage fee of just $15.