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Category: Middle Eastern [Edit]
Neighborhood: LakeviewMon-Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
"Cheap. Fast. Damn good. I've never had a bad experience at Sultan's. I can eat it every day. Nearly everything on the menu is flavored…" read more »
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I am not fluent in falafel - I just know it tastes good - so imagine my hesitation when my friend suggested we eat at Falafill. Fortunately I am not a picky eater and a falafel sandwich (choice of white or wheat pita, four falafel balls, and one trip to the toppings bar) only cost $4.95 without tax.
My hesitation grew when I received my open wheat pita that was balancing on a cardboard stand reminiscent of a coffee cup thermal sleeve. Wait, no plate? How am I supposed to not make a mess of myself while eating this? Or make sure the toppings are spread evenly throughout the pita? I spread a napkin on the table to catch whatever fell out of my pita, and I resigned myself to eating half a sandwich of toppings before I finally got to the falafel balls.
The trick to stuffing your pita is to use a utensil to shove everything down. Also, don't let the cardboard thing get in your way. You don't want to be like my friend who was sad to see that an eighth of his pita was just air.
I don't really remember what I put into my pita. It was kind of everything. I was in love with the tabouleh and will probably come back to Falafill just to order it as a side dish.
Where's the beef?!? Literally.
Love the Falafill eat 'n go cute and kitchy concept, but no one prepared me for the fact that they don't honor my strict carnivorous lifestyle. 'Tis falafel only and lonely up in this hizzy. Seriously. It's undeviatingly the Chipotle of Mediterranean fast food. Choose either a falafel salad, sandwich, bowl, roll or combo and top at will. Falafel is the stage and, well, the toppings and sauces are merely players. Tragedy. Or not.
The falafel was ok... not as crispy and moist though as one might hope, yet the bowl notion is one, as a dieter, that I quite enjoyed and appreciated. Choices-a-Plenty! Think not just a la carte veggies (though yes, there's those) but lots of prepared 'salads' featuring tasty treats like mixed beets, marinated cucumbers and tomatoes, chick peas married with fresh parsley and Moroccan olives. Yum!! Plenty of pickled garnishes leave you puckered in delight, but still don't substitute the place where chicken shawerma and lamb kefta should live in my belly. Harrumph. Can you tell I'm clearly not a Vegetarian ::shudder:: and never will be. It's true.
The bright and happy digs of Falafill are good for a convenient and quick falafel-only fix, but there's still plenty to be missed and sadly, better falafel to be had elsewhere. FalaFillUp or FalaFallShort... I guess it depends on how anemic you're feeling that day.
I actually hate falafels, so I don't eat them and I don't review them.
What I do love, eat, and review is SWEET POTATO FRIES!!!!!
Oh delicious orange food that falls from Heaven, how delicious you are. I can't believe a place with not just decent, but DELICIOUS sweet potato fries opened up right next to the gym. This is going to be the end of me.
They fry it fresh when you order, and give you a huge helping. I was so stuffed I barely ate dinner. And something like six sauces to choose from! One of them (walnut something?) tastes like Thanksgiving. SO GOOD. EAT.
Solid falafel balls in wheat or white pita pockets. The best part is the salad bar full of fresh and vegetarian salads. The harissa was not hot like it is over in the Albany Park, but if you are a vegetarian or in Lakeview shopping, the Falafill will do!
The falafels were better than I expected, but the pita was horrible. I would go for the falafel salad. The sweet potato fries are YUM. I really enjoy the concept of the salad bar, and most of the sauces are delicious.
The service is a toss up, and the seating is numbered.
Overall, I will probably go back because it's close and cheap and satisfying.
1
3
The title of best falafel in Chicago used to belong to Taza's downtown (or Pita Inn, if you include the suburbs), but Falafill has stolen the mantle - by a wide margin. This place may actually be better than Mamouns in NYC. The falafel are crispy on the outside, moist and perfectly spiced on the inside. I have been here six or seven times, and the quality of the falafel was off just once - and even then, it was better than Taza.
And I adore the toppings bar, where you can choose from over 20 different dressings for your falafel, including some uncommon but delicious ones like zhug (cilantro and chili sauce), toum (garlic sauce), and pickled turnips. The toum in particular took me straight back to the Lebanese chicken joint I frequented as an exchange student in Berlin several years ago. For five dollars, you can mix and match as many toppings as you want.
Speaking of chicken: as others have noted, there are no meat options for carnivores, but seriously - check the name. It's not as if they're engaged in false advertising. Chicken Hut is right next door to salve those cravings for flesh. But as long as you're craving ground, fried chickpea, this is your destination of choice.
Not too bad. Its a vegetarian place so no meat folks!
We got the falafel salad which came with 5 falafill balls and gives you the option of filling your container at their topping/side bar which has things like: tabbouleh, roasted beet salad, olives, cous cous salad, cabbage salad, yogurt sauce, etc.
The salad bowl is a good size, and they don't over fill it with lettuce (I would ask for the falafill on the side, so you can fill up your container with "stuff". Pita is extra $.
We also had the bean soup and it was good.
For under $10, its tasty, fast, and a good value.
The place is very simple and does not have much character, so grab and go. But I do have to say that the staff there was SUPER nice!!
Ok, here's the deal. I read the Yelp reviews. They were terrible. I decided I wouldn't try the place, considering there's a million authentic mediteranean places in this city. But then a friend really wanted to go, and I didn't have the energy to argue. So my mindset upon entering this establishment was "I'm going to hate it immensely."
It turns out, I didn't hate it at all. It was quite tasty and filling and satisfying. I would recommend taking Yelpers advice and doing the falafel salad instead of the sandwich, so that you can have more fun at the topping bar. The salad bowl is actually pretty huge, and they don't over fill it with lettuce. If you want to get a pita on the side they're only 75 cents, and you can build your own little falafel sandwich with all the toppings you crammed into your salad bowl.
Also, I must have gotten lucky with the staff that day, cause the two that served me were very nice and helpful.
Some points to consider:
- this place needs a new staff (only one person behind that counter knew what was going on, the rest seemed to have some sort of mental disorder, or were way too young to be working there)
- you order 4 falafel balls in a pita or a salad, and then go to a self-service bar of different options to put in the pita or salad. cool idea.
- a good quick bite
QUICK REVIEW: not good
Verbose Review:
I had been eagerly awaiting the opening of the place. My readers know that Mid-East is my favorite. I expected something very cool and interesting. I have been following the other yelpers; all are valid to some extent.
1. The falafel are not made to order and are nothing special.
2. The day i ate there, the place was manned by two kids who had very little food service experience.
3. All the Yelp drama about multiple trips to the condiment bar, where to put the stuff, what stuff to eat, can you get more harrisa, etc
are all very valid (read the other comments and decide for yourself)
4. My brilliant daughter placed her pita on a napkin on the table and then went and filled the serving case with selections from the condiments--IN YOUR FACE!!!!
5. All the talk about the potatos is really moot--they are freezer fries so why bother
6. The soda fountain machine did not work when i was there, so you could buy a can of coke for $1.50
7. Blah, Blah, etc--don't bother with the place
8. BTW, your clothes smell fried when you leave.
Unlike most of the other new specialty-trendy food item stores in the area, this one is actually relatively affortable and allows you to adjust your food amount (via adding what you want of toppings/salads at the salad bar) and food combination (with several different choices). The seating situation was iffy (lots of crammed tables and some broken stools by the window) so probably better to get it to go from here on a busy day. Worth more visits! Cute old fashioned system of taking your name and calling it out....but really did it take that long to put 6 fried balls on a minimal bed of salad in a plastic container? Apparently it took 6 minutes.
My first 5-star review for a fast food restaurant that doesn't have "Steak" or "Shake" in the name. And for that, picky bitches, THIS is the review you should read.
I'm not sure why everyone's whine-o-meter is cranked up so high, but remember the icky, vile Greek place (Sparta) that was here before. This restaurant is clean, well-lit and plays some of the most eclectic tunes I've ever heard.
First off, everything is fresh here. They deep fry the falafel balls and most everything else behind the counter in plain sight, so drop the "it's frozen, man" rant.
Second, have any of you ever been to Tel-Aviv or Jerusalem? Naw. Didn't think so, or you'd rate Falafill the cleanest, tidiest and friendliest falafel joint compared to any in Israel. Don't believe me? Check out how popular this place is around 1 pm on a Saturday after Anshe Sholom B'nai Israel lets out.
Third, they're trying to cut down on the amount of waste and morons who throw baskets in the garbage, so the little boat/paper thingys are a great idea. Sorry if your dexterity is off and can't balance it. I shove about a pound of fixings on top of mine and don't seem to have a problem. Then again, I usually hold mine carefully.
Fourth, the fixings bar is NOT all you care to eat, so don't bitch about them being stingy. Just because you see something that looks like a buffet doesn't mean you eat out of it like a trough.
Fifth, this is the CHEAPEST fast food place on Broadway. Seriously. $7.18 for a falafel sandwich and a Diet Coke; tax included. And man, I pile on the fixings until that thing looks like one of ex-Alderman Dorothy Tillman's hats.
A solid 3. You wanna go for 2.5? You're not making this easy for/on me, Falafill. Start offering better ways to serve and transport your product!! The paper boats/squares/origami/whatever doesn't work.at.all. The falafel doesn't fit in the package, it's awkward to try and eat and winds up being more frustrating than delicious.
Figure out a way to make the topping bar make sense. Either let customers choose from the beginning what they want (a la Subway, Chipotle, etc.) or let people have a 'more' container to put toppings in. So, after the first two bites, there's topping to enjoy, rather than just falafel.
See? See how helpful I am? If I come in here again only to have a lap full of falafel, we're breaking up and I am taking my mix tapes back. Yes, even the Tears For Fears ones. I mean it.
Those darn veggies!! Always trying to convert folks to their meat-free lifestyle! Sure, I… Read more »
I have to preface this by saying I hadn't had a falafel sandwich since living in NYC and um that was over 4 years ago. I just love Mamouns so much what can I say? Anyways my friend and I decided to pop in before a movie at Landmark since we'd heard pretty good things.
Clean, sleek interior as mentioned. Nice. The mediterranean spices kind of make it smell like a pretty ripe armpit but you get over that quickly. The falafel sandwich was perfectly yummy, I put a cucumber sauce and the garlic tahini dressing on top. Yum! I do agree with other reviews that the packaging part is a little odd, it's fine, but a plate or a larger paper wrapper would help in case you overdo it with the toppings.
The toppings bar concept is cool, but buffets in general frighten me a little and the fact that a homeless woman was in there asking us for our food didn't help matters. All in all I'd be happy to get a falafel there again and want to try the fries. Am I going to race back tomorrow? Meh probably not.
The food is not all that! Not even fresh it's all frozen food! The service was poor. The two teenie bopper boys that worked the counter wouldn't even bag out food to go. He said to do it myself cause he had dirty hands. WASH THEM!
I will not return nor recommend this place unless your looking for a McDonalds version of middle eastern, but then again McDonalds has better quality of service!
A widdle bit of a Fala-fail, most unfortunately.
The premise:
Counter service. Falafel fast food(ish) joint with a nice little "salad" bar type of setup including lots of lovely little accompaniments for your "chickpea balls rolled in oil, deep fried."
You order, then you pile it up with the stuff on the salad bar. One trip only, they make this really clear. Maybe they had problems in the past with it? I'm not sure there's really a way to go back twice...but, whatever, don't. Ok?
Little bit of seating, but meant more as an "eat 'n run" kind of thing. Interior is spunky. Clean. Greens and oranges, almost sterile...but hey, that's cool. I can enjoy the falafel high in any color theme, for real.
I decided on a falafel sandwich with whole wheat pita + a fountain Diet Coke (+1, yay!). It comes out in this box type contraption, hmmm...alright. I throw some random stuffs on it, pile it with cucumbery sauces and delightfully Americanized-Medi sides, and am on my way to sit and enjoy.
Then it all falls apart.
No, really. The pita just sort of...falls apart. And this box thing it sits in is flimsy and, I can't really eat it as a sandwich since it decided to just die on me. So I am like stabbing little pieces of falafel and other garlicky stuff with a plastic fork, trying to manage a meal.
So, my suggestions:
*Plates.
*Trays.
*Better Pitas.
I like the concept, and I'm sure it will fly well in this 'hood. However, after experiencing the earth moving pita + falafel flavor combos in Albany Park...this just doesn't quite cut it.
However, at the very least...the proper equipment to enjoy it would be most appreciated, and probably more worthy of a 4-star experience. After all, this is supposed to be fast food, and I can take it at face value...but not like, all over my face because I'm trying to eat a pile of food that belongs in a sandwich out of a box.
Mmmk. Moving on. :)
best effin' falafel in the city! even better than sultan's. i havent tried the extras yet, but im sure they will be amazing and i cannot wait to go back. im in love!
The hummus almost has the consistency of ketchup, or maybe the blandness of it reminded me of ketchup. Plus it's all at the bottom of the pita, so your last couple of bites is practically all runny hummus.
I'll probably go back given its convenience and late hours, but it's definitely nothin' special.
Of course I had to try this place because I LOVE falafels! What's not to love about it? It's healthy and when it's DIY, you bet I'm there! It's such a great concept and really popular in DC. Of course, like any new food joint, there are a few areas for improvement.
Service is quick as you walk up to the counter, order either a pita or salad bowl and then head over to the salad bar to pile on the condiments! The pitas come in a little cardboard pocket so that it's mess free, but unfortunately, it falls a bit short as my pita started to fall apart after a few bites. My friend definitely fared much better, so it may have just been me that doesn't know how to eat? Or else I'd simply suggest better pitas.
Either way, there are plenty of various compliments for your falafel to satisfy everyone! You get five falfel balls, which are delicious, and I was surprisingly full after one pita! There isn't much seating, but it's a good spot for a quick grab and go meal. I'll be back again!
I found this little place today at the Arts Festival. Wandering around, there it was. And how could I resist the call of the falafel sirens over Chipotle almost across the street? I had to try it.
I liked the place: clean, simple decor, well lit. They could use some art on the walls, though. However, cleanliness made up for that. Also, service was not bad at all.
We ordered 2 sandwiches and an extra side of falafel. The sleeves are kind of awkward, but hey, I was hungry. The napkins are generously big. I have to say the pitas were not like the ones I've had at other Mid-Eastern places (e.g. Pita Inn, Reza's) but definitely edible. However, the falafel was really good and the toppings were not bad at all.
I had my sandwich with spicy tabbouleh, carrot salad, cauliflower, ginger and the AWESOME cilantro/jalapeño and the yogurt dressings. Those 2 made the sandwich absolutely delicious. Seriously.
Price is right. For a weekend late-night snack Falafill will be my go-to place.
Falafill is a small, cozy food stop with a distinctive modern flair. It certainly doesn't remind me of most other falafel places which tend to be fast food joints with flourescent lighting (sometimes flickering and causing mild seizures) with a distinctly annoyed looking server behind the counter. Maybe I keep hitting the bad, shady ones?? ick.
The ambience reminds me of red mango...it's welcoming, brightly lit and beautiful. It's hippish, cool, and the colors are not the boring blue, black, red. It's like flashy orange, flashy green. You know whoever runs the place has attention to detail. The menus are clear and crisp, the font face is a blend of Tahoma, Verdana, and Arial which is pleasing to the eye. The drinks are distinctive...they want to be taken seriously. Instead of plastic or aluminum coke cans, they sell the elongated bottle version which i don't know about you, is very rare...or you can go less bold, and go fountain style. They also sell the several Middle Eastern drinks. Nice touch, however, water is expensive. Sorry, I try to eat healthy and have water with my meals.
Their falafels are crisp and good...admittedly I am not a pro when it comes to falafels so I can't comment on authenticity. But you imagine that if their name is a play on falafels, these brown balls of delectability (is that a word) better be good. I tried the hummus, and I suppose it could be better because I don't remember much about it.
Falafels come in salad or pita version...it depends on what you prefer. The salad version is a dollar or two more expensive at around $7 but comes with a bed of lettuce and a few more falafel balls. There is a salad bar and you get a complimentary all-you-can-fit-into-your-pita-or-salad-bowl helping. The salad bar is a welcoming addition. I did not expect that, so being mindful of getting my money's worth, I loaded my salad bowl with salad. I covered the falafels with so much salad, I couldn't see the falafels, and it was just a mountain of salad. I bet someone thought I was weird, but I am just being very mindful of getting my money's worth.
In that sense, I think you do get your money's worth but with the salad version. With the pita, you can only fit so much into the pita.
The sweet potato fries are pretty good. It's expensive but good. You have your choice of various condiments, so I tried the spicy ketchup and that works wonders. What keeps making me wonder is why are there so many ethnic places that pair ethnic food with FRENCH FRIES. I'm Chinese and I walked into a Chinese restaurant one time and they served buffalo wings. Man, I don't get it. I guess America's security blanket is french fries and buffalo wings because we can't trust ethnic food side dishes.
The people behind the counter are friendly. I think the cashier I keep handing my credit card too wears a lion hat, which made me stop and think for a couple seconds. Totally unexpected but very cool.
The bottom line is this is a nice place to fill your stomach with a different variety of foods rather than the chipotle or chicken hut nearby. Cozy, nice, comfortable, but doesn't blow you out of the world. I recommend the salad version since you get more of your money's worth via a friendly helping of the salad bar, and you don't eat clumsily with the pita version (admittedly, need to improve the way the pita version is presented because it tends to be messy, and this can lead to bad consequences...i.e. pita/salad stuffs fall on your shirt ruining your day because you couldn't hold onto the pita well, or the pita/salad stuffs fall on your girlfriend/boyfriend's shirt, ruining his or her day and great, you just ruined both of your days). Stick with the salad and you avoid the potential of ruining days.
Yes: I will visit Falafill again but not so gung-ho like "Yay! it's 6am, and I'm starving. Let's hit up the falafilll!!".
This place actually set up a stand in my lobby of where I live to hand out free small falafel pita sandwiches at lunch. That being said...I thought it was ok. I definitley like Sultan's Market way better but it was good and satisfying. I also like it that they had such spicy hot sauce. It was good. I did not get to experience the condiment bar or whatever else and to be honest, to get my fix of falafel, I will continue to go to Sultan's Market bc, they are cheap and AMAZING! Plus, who can turn down a free pita falafel when your starving at lunch time...not me. The lady was nice and she was offering me all kinds of sides to go with the small pita. I had some cucumber something and it was good.
I really wanted to like this place. I love Falafel and miss it here in Chicago.
The first thing that is inexcusable are the pitas. They are not fresh, not tasty, and fall apart very easily. Anyone who has ever had Falafel at even a half way decent place in Europe or the middle east and even NY knows that a fresh pita is mandatory.
The falafel balls are OK, but really not that great.
The salad bar is the only nice thing about this place. It's ashame you have to pay extra for Hummus though, it would be nice if it was included.
Eh. I'm over it. the idea is cool, I guess, but it's not that tasty, so what's the point? The falafel was kind of dry, the pita wasn't that great, and I just kept wanting it to be ZAD...
I guess once a falafel sandwich steals your heart, it's all over.
but like...i like sweet potato fries.
Unique idea. It's like a Mongolian grill for Pitas minus the um grill..
Simple menu, kind of like Chipotle. You can order either a falafel sandwich or salad and from there you can top it off with whatever you want at the "salad bar". The place is very "green" in that they use biodegradable products which is nice..If you're one that likes to take home a bunch of disposable silverware, this place is your jackpot. Not that I uh, do that..
But honestly, if you're looking for some good falafel or at least something a bit more authentic just go further West down Belmont and stop by Sinbads. Their pitas not only taste better but they're cheaper too.
The one thing Falafill does have that sets them apart from other falafel establishments is their very sweet potato-ey sweet potato fries. Kind of expensive (3 bucks) but they are pretty good..
Filled, I was...But the quality and prices have nothing on Albany Park/Kedzie's authenticity. I picture this place as a gas station: Fill up with something that's a bit overpriced and it includes Invigorating Longevity*. To get into the nitty-gritty:
Falafel--Supposed to be the best item with a restaurant title like Falafill, but simply an overfriend/hard exterior and chalky interior.
Hummus--Sour and blah.
Mint Cabbage Salad--Sounds better than it was but edible.
Beets--Great but you can't really mess them up when they're from a can.
Cilantro Chutney--Surprisingly good and fresh.
Sweet potato fries--Worth the upgrade price.
I believe we should rename this business Fryfill!
*This is used for advertising purposes only and not meant to be a promise for all customers (as with BP).
I have to say, it was darn good falafel. I dig the salad bar - I loaded up with some things I had never tried before and was pleasantly suprised. You get a choice of regular or wheat pita. Awesome. So yeah, they have that part going for them. Kudos.
Plus, it's a cool looking little place. Bright orange and green decor, modern feel, and extremely clean. Plus the guy who helped me at the counter was super friendly.
However, Falafill, man, you gotta get some to-go containers. I ripped the tissue paper holding my monstrous creation TWICE walking down Broadway, and nearly lost the entire thing. Considering the inside of your joint is so small and can't seat many anyway, it's a good idea to have some take-home packaging.
But here's the real issue I've never understood at falafel joints. Your combo side option is french fries? THAT'S what you're gonna pair with falafel? It just doesn't work for me. I don't want ketchup smothered 'taters next to my hummus. Eh, personal opinion. So I'll let that one go.
The falafel and salad bar were delish, and that's what really counts anyway.
Not sure what to say, The idea is actually great, but the actual place is not that impressive, I think its overpriced for the offer, 5 falafils in a pita bread sandwich with all that salad bar to top it off, it is pretty messy and not that good, the owner could have been different offering 2 or 2.50 bucks for each sandwich without offering the salad bar, that can be offered for 2 extra bucks if needed, but mixing all of it together is not a good tasty option.
I'm not sure why people overcharge for falafil, its so cheap to make, each one would cost 5 scents max to make...
Also that day, it was Friday evening when I went, the lady there was really not friendly. I wasn't a big fan!!
I've been stalking Falafill for the past 2 weeks. It got so bad, that I'd scurry into Walgreen's across the street for a better vantage point, or sometimes I'd duck into Cafe Latakia, as if I had meant to go there. But no, the sign 'coming soon!' was still firmly intact.
But, as an hour ago, no more scoping on the sly. They're finally open!
So, let's talk aesthetics. Falafill's design philosophy is utilitarian-- no nonsense, yet punchy. Predominantly a white space, the eatery's blank palette is sprinkled with bright bursts of orange courtesy of the mod seat cushions that line the front windows. Service is at the counter, and it's quick and knowledgeable considering they had been open for all of 5 minutes.
I ordered a falafel sandwich ($4.95) and took my prize to the complimentary topping/salad bar. All of the toppings are housemade-- everything from tahini, pickled ginger and cucumber, parsley, radishes, onions, yogurt sauce, cilantro chutney, Zhug (jalapeno/cilantro), harissa, roasted beet salad, cabbage salad, Armenian salad, olive salad... and more! They even serve sweet potato fries (as well as the regular variety) and you'd be crazy not to dip them in the garlic aioli. Everything (and believe me, I packed my pita) was fresh and delicious. A bit on the messy side, but their regular packaging arrives at the store next week. 'Til then, grab some extra napkins!
Falafill just may be the mecca for fried chickpea die-hards who want to eat their falafel but have their sauces, too. And don't overlook the refrigerated section-- they make Lebanese labneh and a wonderful roasted red pepper spread with walnuts and cumin to take home. And now those plain pitas in my fridge have a partner!
I thought the falafel sandwich was pretty good, but the topics made it fabulous! I knew it'd be a little hard to get toppings in there, so I grabbed a fork and shoveled it all in there, moving little falafel balls around, coating everything in about ten toppings. Plus curry aioli. Very good! I also like the clean, crisp decor inside. Who knows, maybe you'll see the cops arrest someone right in front of your window, like I did! Food and entertainment, what a combo!
I went to Falafill for the first time a few days ago. (I must say that the restaurant is very clean inside!) As you're waiting in line to order your food, there is a fridge with an array of uncommon beverages to choose from. I wanted to try them all!
I came in only wanting to order the falafel balls, (but if you do that, you aren't allowed to go to the salad bar or grab any sauce!), so I ordered the falafel sandwich instead. The sandwich (which comes in wheat or white) came packed with around 4-5 falafel balls, and a tiny spoonful of lettuce at the bottom. This of course left more room add toppings, or so I thought.
I went up and tried a little bit of a few of the toppings and sauces (most of which were things I had never put on falafel). I didn't want to load it up, just in case I didn't like something. After I had eaten the top third, I had nothing but falafel at the bottom. Now what to do? There's a big sign that said "only one trip to the salad bar". Shit. At that point, I had to make a decision. Once I realized I like the garlic sauce the best, I slyly grabbed a cup, scooped some in their and that is what I stuck with. Unfortunately, that garlic taste stayed with me the REST of the day as well. But, that's what happens when you're a garlic lover... Overall, this is a cute spot to grab a quick bite, but I'm not a fan of the complicated toppings situation...
Whatever with the 3-stars. i like this place simply because it gives me the option of having falafel within a 4-block radius. Food is good, not horribly expensive, and I feel like they do things right. If anything, this place reminds me of Maoz Falafel in Amsterdam --- fast food style, good stuff.
A welcomed addition to the neighborhood.
Total disappointment.
The gimmick here is you basically order a run-of-the-mill falafel pita (or salad) and garnish it from their extensive assortment of salad bar toppings, sauces, etc. Of course like everyone else who lives near Belmont and Broadway, I've been waiting for this place to open to find out if it's as good as it sounds.
The sandwich was your basic falafel, nothing special. The garnishes were nice, but here's the catch. It's not that cheap. I got their Sandwich combo, which is a regular sized falafel pita, a side of sweet potato fries, and a soda from the fountain. Total after tax was $10.75!
That's not really a deal. Then, when I asked for some serving cups for the salad bar, they told me to just dress the sandwich. They wouldn't even give me a little cup to put some ketchup in for dipping the fries. They insisted I just douse my fries with ketchup. But the thing was that they did have them. Other people had them on their tables. They said they didn't have anymore, and then when I insisted, he pulls one out from under the counter that was definitely dirty. Wow! So maybe they were out-- don't give the customer a dirty container. If anything they had these slightly larger containers that would have been perfect for putting a couple garnishes in, and my ketchup, but he wouldn't let me have one.
I think the biggest disappointment to me is their stinginess with the toppings, which is what they're trying to be all about. After getting through my first layer of what was a pretty decent falafel pita, I went up to the bar again to redress the second half, and one of the employees stopped me and told me I couldn't get any more. "One trip to the salad bar per order. We're going to get signs," he told me. Thanks for the great service dude. I had to eat the rest of it dry as a bone with no toppings, because none of it had gotten down into the bottom half of the pita. Shouldn't they want people to try as many toppings as possible, especially early on when they have just opened? And isn't this why I wanted a serving cup to begin with so I could add sauce as I went along? It's not that complicated.
I feel even worse about how this place, run by two very large and rich food service families (http://www3.timeoutny....), is peddling basic street food and overcharging for it and the bad service it comes with, while small independent restaurants in the area like Zad's, Fast & Fresh, and Sinbad's will probably suffer and lose business because this place has the vibe and location that appeals to the lowest common denominator.
Well, consider yourself warned.
Contrary to all the good reviews here, this restaurant failed me. i had never been so mad for such a long time...
1) this place is small. i wanna eat-in and there's no seats... and that's just the beginning of my bad experience.
2) its lunchtime and there are LOTS of people... there is a long line to order, and a longer time to wait for your food. i dunno how long i waited, but i had at least finished half cup of my drink (no ice) before the food is ready... so that must be a very very long time
3) how could you offer a combo meal with additional fries and drinks without trays?! mind you, there are no empty tables around your shop, its damn crowded, and your customers still have to fill up at the salad bar to complete the meal.
4) it doesnt matter if the salad bar is full of goodies, based on the tiny pita/salad bowl ur plate is filled up just with the sauce... im not kidding.. if you get a lid for the salad bowl, you might as well skip the salad bar or ur lid wont shut.
5) after struggling with my tiny salad bowl, and cup of fries, and drink in my hand around the crowded shop without a tray, i asked for a to-go bag and they do not even have a bag with handles like a normal shop do. their bags are tiny and it doesn't really help at all! one bag for my salad-bowl and one bag for my fries? no handles? oh come on!
6) and finally, they charged $3.50 for sweet potato fries and it comes in this large sized paper cup, and you thought it a great deal? you wish. about 1/3 of the cup is stuffed with wax paper (not even oil-absorbent paper)...so what you get is even way less than the McDonald's portion.
Forget about the "eye-candies" and fancy aesthetics, because what ultimately draws customers are the service and the food... considering the prices they charged and how they doesn't even get their act together, this restaurant is an epic-fail. The food doesn't impressed me much either. I walked away $12.00 poorer and cursed-around like a sailor.
Neek Hallak!!!!!
Fala-dont--fill-me up to much, more like it.
Some things I really get and like. Other things I dont. Since I am generally positive person I will start with the highlights. I actually enjoyed the falafel and the toppings. I thought it had good spice and large balls. Love me some large balls. I splurged for the feta and herbs for an extra $1.00. No shock there if you know me well. Overall, it was a great and filling meal, although I have absolutely no idea what I ate. They have the general stuff (taboulleh, eggplant salads, american salads, etc)
The sandwich will run you $4.95 and the salad $6.95. The drinks and sides were quite pricey, most running at least $3.00. $3.00 for french fries? I will buy me a lifetime supply of Ore-ida for that price.
However, stop the presses. What is the deal with no side cups? First of all, you have got all these toppings and sauces (about 8 toppings/salads and 10 sauces) and no opportunity to taste. I ask the lady at the counter what I should do and she says "just put them all on!" Well then how do I know what I liked and what I didnt? That operation seems flawed? Also, what should I do about sauces if I want to take it home? What if I need a sauce refill at the end? She said they dont have cups because it is an added cost. We all know you will just pass the cost on to me so bring on the damn cups!
Also, the sandwich comes in a little waxy paper. Thats it. No tray. No basket. A piece of wax paper. What the hell am I supposed to do with this? Give me some respect!
The way to go is A la Flattop Grill. Move the falafel to the side and stuff as many toppings in as possible. Really make sure you get your $4.95 worth. You will have to take some things back out in the end, but think of it as temporary storage. I would try everything, as they all seem to have pretty good taste. The garlic sauce and yogurt sauce were top notch. The spinachy-saucey stuff at the end of the counter was very tasty too. I got that recommendation from the guy in line behind me and I would agree. It was good!
Here is what I recommend:
1. Order the sandwich ($4.95) and take it to go.
2. Jam pack that thing like your life depends on it and put sauces everywhere in that wrapper.
3. Smile at the staff as you feel you won the battle
4. Hold it in one hand as you drive home (easier in the car than the bike).
5. Watch out for bikers - A swerve could cause a mess
6. Get home and unload the thing on a place and make it into your own salad. Perfect!
Also, limited street parking in the 'hood. I recommend biking or walking ...or just going somewhere else!
Very, very good for a restaurant in its second week.
I had the falafel sandwich with the feta/basil add on and I decided to put some yogurt sauce and tabouleh on it, as well as sample a few of the items like the fried cauliflower (delicious) from the salad/add on bar that is included with your meal.
I also liked that the cup for the large sized fountain beverage was clear and large so I didn't need to even do a refill.
I liked the window seating, I sat there to people watch while I ate.
The quality of the falafel was great -- perfectly crisp and fresh. My only suggestion would be that instead of 4 falafel balls in the sandwich that they include 5 or 6. This is because it only half-filled the pita and so the pita felt only like 2/3 of a sandwich after the fillings were added.
This place is a deal and great for eat-in or take-out. They were fast.
SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG AT FALAFILL?
I live in the neighborhood and cheer for the little guy who starts a business or eatery. I'm thankful they chose our neighborhood. I want them to succeed. I want to patronize their business. I hope they grow like Intelligentsia Coffee, Akira, MorningStar, and North Community Bank, all neighborhood successes.
The boss/manager explained she was aware of the concerns of online reviewers who wrote that more sauce was needed for the dry falafel balls. In response, she instead REDUCED the size of the stand alone sauce containers from two ounces to one ounce; and you're allowed only one.
Well one ounce is just two level tablespoons! And this has to be divided by five or six dry falafel balls. There's a variety of sauces to try, but if you ask for another one ounce Solo cup, the manager moves them out of reach and repeats the rules, and that's after spending $11. Well filling a 1 ounce Solo cup is like filling a thimble!
Now I'm sure there must be a business plan with complex algorithms factoring portion size and profit margins. It's just too bad that friendliness, welcome, hospitality, service, customer satisfaction, common sense, or even a paper plate and a cup of water were left out.
A cheery, brightly-colored falafel joint right around the corner from my apartment? I'm there.
Although a tad overpriced for a falafel joint, Falafill does sport an extensive toppings bar and the falafels themselves are certainly delicious. If you get the combo meal, do note that the portion of fries is pretty large - I think big enough to share. The cup they give you for the drink is enormous, as well. Share that too, while you're at it.
The place is small. My friends and I had to juggle our falafel/drink/fries combo (no trays here) for a few minutes until seats freed up (which didn't take long, but we weren't there at a peak time either).
They were out of sweet potato fries and Coke Zero. This was displeasing.
My conclusion? Delicious stuff, but next time I'll skip out on the combo meal and just get the falafel and bring it home.
Really 2.5 stars. Interesting space. That's the first thing I thought as I walked into Falafill. Minimalist white. I, of course had no idea they are going for minimalist everything as well.
Walk up to counter, peruse menu. $5.00 for falafel sandwich? Okay, if you say so, since the topping bar looks pretty substantial. Typical falafel toppings like tabbouleh, tahini, and chick peas. As well as some not so typical, like beets, and olive/onion salad. While pseudo drooling over salad bar (not actual drooling), another patron is also ordering her falafel sandwich and counter person asks if she wants wheat or regular pita. What the? I would have preferred wheat but no one cared to ask. -1 star. Then my order is called. It's a falafel sandwich all right, but it's in this odd contraption. Like a paper sleeve in a paper boat. Weird. Once I piled on my toppings I was so concerned with spillage I could hardly enjoy the sandwich. -1 star
Is there a tray shortage in Chicago I'm not aware of? There must be since Falafill has decided to go completely trayless. -.5 star
So, I will give Falafill another chance since I think it's a great concept & it is NEXT DOOR to my gym. And the sweet potato fries. Sweet potato fries.That's Falafill's only saving grace at this point.
This place is pretty good. I had the sandwich which was a great size and came with the ability to put any ingredient on it from the "bar" for free. I also had the sweet potato fries which were a little expensive but good.
Overall, the price of this place is decent and it's pretty tasty. I'll return for sure.
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