The flavors and furnishings of Albania served at Çka Ka Qëllu helped land it on a list of top restaurants. 

Owner Ramiz Kukaj said the restaurant aims to give diners an authentic European experience, and the interior of the eatery is full of historical artifacts from Albania. 

“When I decided to open the very first Albanian restaurant in the United States, I decided to make sure that I also bring in our culture and tradition,” he said during an appearance on “Mornings On 1” Friday. 

The restaurant has been around since 2017 – starting on Hughes Avenue in the Bronx and opening a second location on East 31st Street in Manhattan in 2019 – and landed a spot on The New York Times’ list of 100 best restaurants in the city this spring.