Alibaba Retro Club 5211 North Harlem Avenue, Chicago, IL 60656

"Polish place with live music. Little outdated, you can feel like in 90s. Mostly polish songs but nice to hang out"

"So I've dined here previously, on a handful of occasions from 2012 to 2016. The food is wonderfully sublime. The restaurant made a move to be only open during the weekend. I usually work weekends, so I've been waiting for some time to return, since I remember how delicious everything on their menu is. Every time I went, my experience was very favorable. Today, however, the owners were unbelievably rude. I called at 6:30, asking what time they will be open. The owner's wife answered and told me 6. I arrived at about 6:42 PM, with my family-mother, sister, nephew, and her 2 small children (1 baby & 1 toddler). The moment we walked in, we got stared at, as if we had 7 heads. I initially asked where we could be seated, as no one approached us and the 4 people inside the place just gawked at us. Also, our body language was obvious that we were trying to get settled. My mother, who is a senior citizen, and has hearing loss on one side, was walking towards the connecting room that was well lit. It looked like a main dining room. A haggardly appearing woman (which took me a moment to recall that she is the owner's wife) coldly told her, "Ehhhh, you can't go in there, private event." I was rather irritated by her tone & would have walked out, that instance, (that's my mother, this witch was speaking to like that. However, with the temperature outside, and to inconvenience my family when we were already inside, I remained cordial. Since she looked to be significantly aged than my 71 year old mother, I refrained from correcting the awful behavior of this wretched woman as I was raised to respect the elderly.) Then I politely asked where would be the best place to sit. It took almost 30 seconds (in the meantime, we were looking at each other, confused, waiting for them to tell us where to go and wondering why they were looking at us the way they were) for the owner to crassly respond that the restaurant is only open for an event. First of all, this wasn't posted online. Secondly, the idiot who answered the phone could have mentioned that, PRIOR TO us making the trip over there. It is 36° outside, on a Friday night in Chicago. Taking kids in and out, ESPECIALLY in this weather, is not an easy task. So basically, these people made a judgment based on the reason that we had small kids with us. Either that, or it is due to the fact that we are not of Eastern European descent, or from whatever population that frequents the establishment. We replied, "Okay." And immediately left. As we were heading out, a pleasant gentleman wearing glasses apologized to us, saying, "Sorry, he's the owner." (I already knew this from dining there, before. What I didn't know, and learned first handedly, was that the owner was capable of operating in such an unacceptable manner.) And guess what? I'm in the industry. I bartend and serve. I've never had this kind of experience, and if someone I worked with did this to a patron, they would be fired, immediately. If this poor excuse for a restaurant was indeed only opened for the event, that information should have been dispensed when I was on the phone (with one of the people who owns the restaurant, might I add). And that could have been immediately stated the moment we walked in the door, BEFORE we were all trying to find seating for our group. Clearly, they were sizing us up and we were discriminated against. No wonder why they are only open on weekends. Their attitude is unapologetically terrible. It is a shame, bc their food is so good. Due to the inconsiderate and awful treatment to not only me, but my family as well, I will never go back nor will I recommend Ali Baba Retro, any longer."

"Great place with very hospitable owners. On weekends, an excellent place to enjoy music, dance, drinks, and Middle Eastern and Polish food. On weekdays, a suitable place for business meetings."

"Interesting fusion of Middle Eastern and Polish cuisine ...and decor. Place for dance and entertainment with friendly staff. Great for private parties. Very unique!"

"I participated in a poetry event in Alibaba. I admired & enjoyed great musicians: Marek Kulisiewicz I Marek Kalinowski. Sweet & well educated waitress Joanna added to a great atmosphere of the evening. You can meet many musicians & poets there. I had a great time last night in Alibaba. Thank you, Magda Mlodozeniec"