Samovar halal restaurant مطعم سماور حلال

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.

Loved the kabob and the shawarma and the tea. The best I have had in a very long time. Highly recommended.

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.

Great food, very clean, fresh ingredients best quality in Pittsburgh. Definitely will visit again