First, I did not post about this place because I felt I needed a few more meals under my belt. Then, I did not post because I could never remember the specials from the days when I was not there. Now, however, I have belated news that demands I finally get around to posting about Bab al Salam.
Now, not being fully an expert on Arabic migration patterns in the Chicago area, I can offer that I have noticed an increased presence on the western and closer by suburban northwestern, segments of our metropolis. My family and I have taken advantage of this migration of good places closer to our home. For instance, we find excellent shopping at Middle Eastern Flair, 4311 N. Harlem, and not just because all shoppers get a complimentary falafel ball. Somehow, one day, we found ourselves a bit further west, to Cumberland, and we espied Bab al Salam in a strip mall. It had that combination of many people in dingy surroundings that caused my chowdar to ring-ting-tingle. There had to be something to this place. Little did we know that some of the something was that it was a new incarnation of everyone's favorite place from the old strip,
Salam. I report this to report this. Not to take a side or an angle in the long Salam thread linked, not the least, because I have never been to the new Salam on Kedzie. Still, if you love Salam, old or new, you might want to check this place out.
The Salam connection did not jump at me. Granted state law now prevents the smokiness of the old Salam. And Bab al Salam may be dingy, but it cannot match the dinginess of the old Salam. There are the daily specials, the upside down and mensef, but that's not that unusual, right? Really, the give-a-ways, or rather lack of give-a-ways are the prices and the green sauce. Bab al Salam is not especially expensive, but it is not the ultra bargain that Salam was. The green sauce here is a bit more diluted, almost like a salsa verde, instead of the very tiny chunks heat of Salam memory. So, on previous visits the Salam-ness was never guessed.
How'd we learn. They told us. Well, it started like this, with the waiter. When we arrived for lunch yesterday we noticed our old friend from Dawali, who was our old friend from Salam. You all will recognize him too. He gave us a little story about how business was off at Dawali and the owner there thought that things could perk up if he hired instead pretty young women. We all reminisced about the days of Salam and enjoyed our lunch: a big bowl of standardly delicious yellow lentil soup; chicken shwarma heavy with curry the way I like, and the daily special of a mound of yellow rice accompanied by a platter of baked kefta, roasted potatoes and tahini gravy. When we were paying we chatted with the owner as we had chatted before. He never before mentioned Salam, but this day, when Salam was on our tongues, he revealed that yes he was indeed Mr. Salam. That he had built it. Run it. Tired of it. Retired from it all only to find himself bored and lonely of restaurant companionship. He had sold the Kedzie Salam and now he was in business several miles west on Cumberland, as Bab al Salam.
As I mentioned, do not go here fully expecting Salam. Do expect, based on our experiences, excellent, homey Middle Eastern food, with an emphasis on daily specials. The usuals, like the falafal and hummus, more than hit their required notes. There also offer something not as usual, a falafel fried with hot sauce inside, something I've never seen before and as good as it sounds. I always liked the food a lot better than the comfort at Salam. This place hardly one-ups the old Salam on atmosphere, but we have found, always, much more warmth in service and feel. One of the reasons we kept on returning, without any knowledge of the Salam connection.
Now, of course, we want to return even more. I need to hit all the daily specials, except for maybe Sunday. When Mr. Salam (before I knew he was Mr. Salam) gave me the rundown of daily specials, he told me that Sunday was family day, when the women did not cook and everyone came in for kebabs. Sunday special means kebabs, the same kebabs you can also get during other days. I bet more than a few of you will want to sample the old Salam which now the new Bab al Salam.
Bab al Salam
5050 N Cumberland Ave
Norridge, IL 60706-2903
(708) 779-5094
Think Yiddish, Dress British - Advice of Evil Ronnie to me.