"With its Medieval-esque stone walls, flickering candelabras dangling from double-height ceilings, toe-tapping accordion soundtrack, and display case of antique Balkan weapons, Çka ka Qëllu in Stamford has the unique vibe of “last good supper before going off to war.” Fortunately, it’s only good times ahead when dining here, particularly if you go with a group, get a round of cocktails, and order any sort of meat sitting in or drizzled with white sauce. No table at this Albanian restaurant is complete without the creamy sausage dip, fasul (a savory white bean and sausage stew), mantia (browned, pillowy veal dumplings in yogurt sauce), and the mixed grill, which includes variously shaped ground meats that push the boundaries of acceptable levels of salt, in a good way. While the vast quantity of animal products across the menu might scare a vegan away, pescatarians will be more than satisfied with the crispy and not-too-chewy octopus served with a peppery arugula salad. Stave off the end-of-meal meat sweats by ordering the creamy trileche cake and pair it with a delicious cereal milk cocktail, which tastes exactly how it sounds. photo credit: Sam Schwab" - Chloe Zale
