Samovar halal restaurant

"We recently visited this spot during the winter holidays. The family was excited to have found a halal spot that was open during the Christmas weekend. The restaurant was warm and inviting. The menu options looked good, and service was just ok. The food taste and quality, however, was a shocker. Absolutely no clue what happened there. In years of writing restaurant reviews, I've never given one star to a business until now. We were speechless and triple checked the reviews to see if we missed something or were at the wrong restaurant. There was something off about the meat in the mixed platter apart from it being overcooked and burned (see pic). It tasted bitter and had a weird smell to it. We had to throw away more than half the platter, just couldn't eat it. Shawarma meat had the same smell. The cheese manakish was burned and distasteful as well (see pic). We have had Iraqi cuisine several times before but nothing like this, which is why it was a shocker. Not going there again. If it matters, request the management to look into food quality as well as consistency in taste."

"We came into town for a conference and happened upon this treasure of a place. It was warm and welcoming against the cold and snow of the day. The food is fantastic and they have a variety of canned beverages to choose from. I had the Iraqi style falafel sandwich and it was made to perfection. The atmosphere is familial, with patrons coming in and out regularly and speaking with the owner. We ordered dessert with tea and had some wonderful baklava. This place was a great spot for a dreary afternoon."

"Five star ONLY for food! Araghi kabob is delicious and reminds me of home. Chicken was okay but a bit dry. Tea and dessert was so goood. location is not really nice and although they have decorated it elegantly, staff does not really do their job well. Paper plates, no one comes to check on you, not been asked if we want appetizer or dessert menu, and no one takes dirty dishes… seems they lack some skills there :) candles on tables smells very strong and cheap, ceiling fan is annoying….I’d definitely be a customer again but for takeout only. Update: I got takeout the next time and was a better experience. Food is really good, just not a good service for dine in."

"Their food is absolutely excellent. I'm so shocked this place has this few reviews. It must be new. Samovar deserves the same number of customers as Salem's, maybe even more. It's one of my new favorite quick and cheap meals downtown. So, why not 5 stars? I originally ordered 2 cheese manakishes, but instead, I received laham ajeen. I wasn't expecting that, and was a bit disappointed at first, but I am glad they messed the order up. The laham ajeen dough/bread is made in house in their stone oven. You can taste its homemade. This is a thin, slightly crisp on the sides, dough. It's topped with lamb, seasonings, and a bit of veggies. This lamb has a bit of sweetness to it, which I enjoyed. The seasoning is perfect and there is a great portion of meat for the price. In fact, the entire flatbread is a great portion. And, this was only $3.50 per flatbread! That is incredible for the portion. If you come here, order this at least as a side. Even if you're full, just take one home. It's also an amazing cheap lunch or dinner. I will say it is a bit oily, but I believe it's supposed to be that way. Their desserts are also delicious. Quite sure they are homemade. I opted for the burma, and it's definitely the best Burma I've had in Pittsburgh so far, even though I'm new to this dessert. Not too sweet, still has crispness, soaked well, great portion for the price. What's not to like? All in all, you should absolutely stop by Samovar if you're looking for a cheap dinner. It's a hidden gem in downtown. Get the laham ajeen (or cheese manakish) as a side, appetizer, or even main dish (its pretty big, and very well priced). Burma is good as a dessert."

"The food was stellar, the service was awesome and friendly, and the room was decorated exquisitely. I'll definitely be back, maybe becoming a regular I enjoyed it so much. In my opinion, it's a must try."