Çka Ka Qëllu
Mediterranean restaurant · Belmont ·
Rustic Albanian eatery with traditional dishes, veal specialties, and unique decor
Rustic Albanian eatery with traditional dishes, veal specialties, and unique decor
"The Albanian presence in the Bronx has steadily grown since the 1990’s, with residential pockets taking root in various neighborhoods throughout. Now, lucky us, comes the delicious food of the motherland—most recently, the hard-to-pronounce-but-so-worth-a-visit, Çka Ka Qëllu.Located next to the rear entrance of the ArthurAvenue Retail Market, this dining room is a celebration of all things Albanian—picture glass cases full of intricate regional garb and ornate frames with sepia-toned photos. The food is simple, comforting, and filling—think burek, a golden-brown phyllo pastry stuffed with soft cheese, and sarma, or cabbage rolls filled with ground veal, rice, and vegetables.The brumat, featuring a number of Albanian specialties, makes for a great introductory course." - Michelin Inspector
"As the rest of this guide makes abundantly clear, there's no shortage of great Italian restaurants on and around Arthur Avenue. But if you're in the neighborhood and instead craving a meal from, say, just across the Adriatic Sea, then this Albanian spot right behind the Arthur Avenue Retail Market is an excellent option. Çka Ka Qëllu is a little like a museum, with servers in embroidered tunics and tools, instruments, and other antique tchotchkes as decor. You can't go wrong with any permutation of dips, meats, and hot, pillowy bread here—but you should definitely order the flaky veal dumplings in a creamy, garlicky, altogether wonderful yogurt sauce." - neha talreja, molly fitzpatrick
"On a quiet side street behind the Arthur Avenue Market in the Bronx, Çka Ka Qëllu looks more like a museum than a restaurant. Exposed wood beams and tools, instruments, and other antique tchotchkes decorate the space, and servers in embroidered tunics look like they could have stepped right out of the black-and-white portraits on the brick walls, or—in a possible Mannequin scenario—the glass display cases featuring examples of traditional Albanian dress. The menu at this charming spot (with locations in Midtown East and in Stamford, CT) is just as Albanian as the decor, with a particular flair for veal. You can't go wrong with any permutation of meats and dips, like a classic ajvar red pepper spread—but definitely order the flaky veal dumplings in a creamy, garlicky, altogether wonderful yogurt sauce, and don’t leave even a crumb of the hot, pillowy bread on the table. photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick Fuel up here before a visit to the Bronx Zoo or the New York Botanical Garden, both within walking distance. Note that this branch of Çka Ka Qëllu doesn’t serve alcohol, though you’ll find the Bronx Beer Hall just a short walk away inside the market. Food Rundown Ajvar The roasted red pepper spread starts sweet and finishes with unexpected heat, but the real reason to order this is the hot, puffy bread that comes with it. photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick Fli A blistered slice of savory, cheesy layered-crepe cake. It’s good, but not in contention for our favorite carb here—that’d be the bread. photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick Mantia Në Tavë These veal dumplings in flaky, lightly browned pastry pockets are delicious on their own. That said, the true highlight is the kiddie pool of warm garlicky yogurt (optional, but not really) they’re luxuriating in. Dip everything on the table in it. photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick Mixed Grill Platter The qebapa and the sausage are both plenty enjoyable, but the very juicy qofte is the platter’s standout. photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick" - Molly Fitzpatrick
"The Albanian presence in the Bronx has steadily grown since the 1990’s, with residential pockets taking root in various neighborhoods throughout. Now, lucky us, comes the delicious food of the motherland—most recently, the hard-to-pronounce-but-so-worth-a-visit, Çka Ka Qëllu.Located next to the rear entrance of the Arthur Avenue Retail Market, this dining room is a celebration of all things Albanian—picture glass cases full of intricate regional garb and ornate frames with sepia-toned photos. The food is simple, comforting, and filling—think traditional meatballs (qofte); finger-sized veal sausages (qebapa); or silky cream with polenta (kačamak). The brumat, featuring a number of Albanian specialties, makes for a great introductory course." - Michelin Inspector
"Çka Ka Qëllu, on a sleepy block in Murray Hill, serves little sausages, plenty of bread, and a smoked steak named after a 15th-century nobleman. The owner is Ramiz Kukaj, who came here from Kosovo in the mid-’90s, and went into real estate before becoming a restaurateur. The chef, also from Kosovo, is Afrim Kalgini." - Robert Sietsema
