Arbri Café Provides Old World Dining Experience in Roslindale

Overview: Located on the Roslindale side of Belgrade Avenue, in the former home of Boston Brickhouse, Arbri Café is the neighborhood’s only Albanian restaurant.

When asked the difference between Albanian and Greek cuisine, the waiter replied, after a pregnant pause, “not much.” Indeed, many of the same ingredients overlap on their website with Italian and Greek offerings under their Mediterranean style. However, there are subtle differences between each country’s respective dishes, if only nominally.

Decor: Eclectic. The exterior is a simple brick façade, with tiny holiday lights dangling from the awning, over which block letters spelling “Arbri Café” protrude in red, enhanced by colorful lights at night. The entrance opens into a brightly painted red and yellow European castle, with medieval chandeliers, doric columns and coats of arms painted on the wall. The dining room exudes an Old World theme, juxtaposed with a large screen television over the bar. Not unlike the food, Arbri Café’s atmosphere draws from different influences, with distinctly European overtones.

Drinks: Arbri Café currently does not have a liquor license, so alcoholic beverages are not available. However, the establishment does allow patrons to BYOB and provides a corkscrew or bottle opener, if requested. Soft drinks and a fully stocked espresso bar are available. 

Appetizers: The Mediterranean and Middle Eastern equivalent to hors d’oeuvres is the meze. Arbri Café offers many, like gjethe rrushi, grape leaves stuffed with ground lamb, rice, tomatoes and spices ($6). The liptoa is Albanian yogurt dip, served with cucumber slices and baked pita chips ($6). It is comparable to Greek tzatziki and best shared with friends as a starter. The Arbri flat bread, topped with caramelized onions, olives, tomatoes, basil and cheese ($6), can be split, as well, or enjoyed as a small pizza for one.

Entrées: The Arbri menu boasts an extensive list of soups, salads, pasta, seafood and meats. Vegetarians have several options, including the garden salad, topped with creamy feta dressing and kalamata olives ($5), and the pasta with brie, which covers a bed of fettuccini with melted brie cheese, tomato, garlic and fresh basil ($12). For carnivores, share an order of shish kebob (skewers) with your choice of lamb, beef, chicken or shrimp, served with pilaf and roasted vegetables ($17). Also, moussaka is available, which is a Mediterranean casserole made with lamb ragout, eggplant, potatoes and yogurt béchamel ($15). For fish, choose between grilled whole trout, topped with lemon and oregano, and served with pilaf ($16) and grilled salmon, with lemon, potato purée and ouzo cream sauce ($15).

Desserts: Traditional Albanian sweets include baklava, made of layered fillo dough, roasted walnuts and cinnamon honey syrup, and kadaif, similar to baklava, but served with shredded fillo (both $3.75). If you prefer custard to walnuts, choose the qumeshtor ($4.50). Ice cream ($3.75) and a brownie sundae ($5) are also available.

Service: Friendly and laid back, yet eager to please, the skeleton staff offers competence, warmth and efficiency. The blend of characteristics reflects the seemingly disparate elements of the physical environment, yet both seem to work. Our waiter promptly served warm bread with butter before we ordered and rushed for a corkscrew as soon as he spotted our unopened bottle of chianti. With the same honesty offered when asked about the distinctions of Albanian cuisine, the restaurant indiscriminately posts guest comments on its website, which offer criticism, constructive or otherwise, as well as positive comments.

Ambience: Part enchanted castle, part espresso sports bar, this venue mixes some unlikely elements, which actually adds to the charm and creates a unique environment. The background music is easy listening, the volume of which is low enough to encourage conversation and it provides yet another ostensibly anachronistic, yet not unpleasant, element to the overall dining experience.

Price: $$

Chef: Marlon Hysi

146 Belgrade Avenue, Roslindale
617-323-0276

Open daily, 8 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
No reservations necessary
All major credit cards accepted