A long tradition of quality food and service.

For more than 33 years, Ali Baba Restaurant has been serving up Mediterranean and America cuisine to the Morgantown and surrounding areas. Ali Baba’s has become a destination for travelers from around the country seeking authentic dishes at affordable prices. Centrally located at the Morgantown Municipal Airport, Ali Baba’s provides an oasis for travelers seeking a quality meal with exceptional service. Our goal is to provide great food in a warm and welcoming environment.

Come experience for yourself why hundreds of people consider Ali Baba’s the go to place for authentic Middle Eastern cuisine.

History

Elias Hishmeh opened his first restaurant in the form of a small deli in 1978. The love for the foods of his home land of Palestine led him to begin serving some of them as specials on certain nights of the week. It didn’t take him long to discover that it was those nights that were by far the busiest. With this in mind, he rolled out a new Mediterranean inspired menu and name-Ali Baba Restaurant. The residents of Morgantown and the surrounding area were eager to try the unique menu with the exotic sounding names. They experienced a certain brand of hospitality, which kept drawing them back again and again.

Over the last 35 years, Ali-Baba Restaurant kept it’s commitment to quality Mediterranean Cuisine, superior customer hospitality and has continued to mature and improve as the Morgantown community has, expanding services to a full catering and banquet menu. Ali Baba has moved from Westover, to High Street, to its current location at the Morgantown Municipal Airport, where Elias has been greeting customers since 2003.

In December 2011, Elias saw an opportunity to pass on his legacy to Mike Rothenback, an experienced chef with a heart for family tradition and a love for the Morgantown area. With his wife, Dźeneta and daughter Juste, Chef Mike is fully committed to the same great Mediterranean Cuisine and hospitality Ali Baba Restaurant has always been known for. Come into Ali Baba Restaurant today, we look forward to serving you.

Mike Rothenback

Mike Rothenback, Owner and Head Chef at Ali Baba Restaurant has acquired more than 25 years of impressive food service and management experience. Mike graduated with an Associates Degree in Culinary Arts from The Culinary Institute of America, the “world’s premier culinary college”.

Mike is fully dedicated to his staff, “I believe in leading by example, and aim to inspire hard work and a rock solid work ethic, while having fun and providing the utmost customer service”.

Mike is originally from Brick, New Jersey, and has lived in Morgantown along with his wife, Dźeneta and daughter, Juste for the past five years. Mike has a passion for food, family, the Morgantown community, and is committed to every guest who comes to experience the Ali Baba Restaurant tradition.