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Soomsoom Vegetarian Bar
Rating Details »
Category: Kosher
Neighborhood: Upper West Side166 West 72nd Street
(between Columbus Ave & Amsterdam Ave)
New York, NY 10023
(212) 712-2525
- Nearest Transit:
-
72nd St (1, 2, 3)
72nd St (B, C)
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- None
11 reviews for Soomsoom Vegetarian Bar
Great place for a quick bite or an inexpensive meal. The falafel is made perfectly and you "build" your own sandwich from the vast array of offerings on the salad bar. In addition to the standard selections, they had something new to me - pickled turnips - they were delicious and added an interesting crunch, texture and taste to the mix.
They make their own lemonade with a hint of mint which was very good. It's a sliver of a space, so there's only a few seats to dine in, but the space is bright, clean and friendly. They could use some music though.
The cashier/manager(?) was extremely friendly and went around to each person in the place to make sure everything was alright. (I, as well as some of the other diners that night, tried to figure out his accent - he sounds a little like a Sabra, but he assured us that he is from PR and picked up his accent from his roommates.)
Soomsoom caught my eye with its modern decor and the word "falafel". I'm a sucker for falafel and hummus so when I spotted this place in a Saturday, I vowed to return the next day when it was open.
I am not Jewish so the kosher aspect doesn't do much for me but is certainly a huge plus for others and I can respect that.
The staff was super friendly and enthusiastic. The cashier (which may have also been a manager or owner) gave us free samples and offered an abundance of suggestions.
The food was good, not great. And while I certainly love supporting independent businesses over chains, I find it hard to return to Soomsoom when Maoz is right around the corner offering larger portions for less money.
1. I am Isaeli
2. I am spoiled and consider most hummus in America to be "chick pea dip" unworthy of the title.
3. Even the recent popping up of Israeli places do not successfully make Israeli food.
4. This place is OUTSTANDING and compares favorably to many Israeli joints in Israel!
5. Hummus fresh, correct texture, proper flavor. Falafel perfectly done. Tahini excellent. High quality ingredients. Fresh. Organic pickled eggs. Beautiful salads. Friendly staff.
6. I would travel across NYC for this, but fortunately it is right around the block.
Soomsoom = Yumyum.
Soomsoom is an Israeli style falafel place with an 'open salad bar' for most meals, like Maoz but tastier, friendlier and cleaner (though I enjoy the unhealthily fried broc and cauli at Maoz).
My new favorite UWS vege option and great for a quick pre-Lincoln Center meal. The decor is fresh and light, everything clean (with disinfectant for your hands!), and the bar stools sturdy enough though fairly high. There are perhaps 14 seats.
The falafel is tasty, the pita soft, the free zatar crisps scrummy, and the salads colorful. It's wonderful to be eating such colorful, pretty vegetables. Some of the salads taste a bit similar to me, and if you stuff too much in, you obscure the yummy falafel. My modus operandi is to squirt some tahini in first, then add lots of salad, eat off the top of the salad using a fork, then refill and eat the whole thing. If you're tired of falafel try the sabich pita (poached egg and potato and eggplant fritters) or chips.
Yum.
There are little desserts too. The creamy milky one tastes good with Soomsoom's rosewater sauce.
Best of all are the staff and owner who are so friendly - enthusiastic about their food, full of recommendations.
Soomsoom is kosher and closed on Saturday. A non-observant Jewish customer tried to convince the Orthodox owner that this was bad for business; the owner looked bemused.
I LOVE this place.
The first time I came to Soomsoom, I thought it was too good to be true. Now that I've gone back for more, I am sure that this place is great. First, they offer you falafel and fried pita bread samples the minute you walk through the door. The staff is SO friendly. Their salad bar is full of interesting, colorful, flavorful additions to the falafel sandwiches and salads...there are so many choices. I've had the Soomsoom original (falafel sandwich) and the Soom salad (salad bar plus falafel balls), and both have been delicious. The falafel is cooked perfectly and is just the right consistency with a crispy outside and tender inside. It isn't too oily, too hard, or too soft.
Also, be sure to ask for whole wheat pita if you're interested! I'm not sure if they advertise it on their menu board.
This place is pretty amazing!
I just moved to the block and saw someone coming out of there one day with a very delicious looking pita thingy and made a mental note to check the place out....and boy was I glad I did!
I've been twice now and have had the Soomsoom original both times. The pita is warm and fluffy and delicious and the falafel is just right! I hate when falafel is too green with parsley, too dry or too greasy...but theirs is none of those things. The Soomsoom original also comes with access to their salad bar, which has all sorts of goodness to load up your pita with.
My only complaints here are the price and lack of labels on the salad bar. Maybe I'm both cheap and naive, but about $7 for a falafel pita with hummus seems a little much to me (though highly worth it) and also I don't know what any of the stuff on the salad bar is (besides tasty). I swore there were labels the first time I went...but none the second. I could be totally wrong....but I need some labels!
Anyway, I'll definitely be eating there quite frequently because it is yummy and will constantly be tempting me on my walk home from the subway.
For the second time since working at my new job, a co-worker has suggested I visit Soomsoom on my lunch break. So today I decided to take their advice.
As I enter and approach Soomsoom's counter I read a sign that says try our free samples of falafels. So oblige and I ask the earthy lass behind the counter how I could go about this. She points to heated bowl next to her, plucks one fresh falafel ball and drizzles a little tahini sauce on top. Then she places it and a fresh pita chip in a napkin for me. I take one bite of that lightly crisp outer shell of the falafel and bite into its warm flavorful inside and I felt love. I tried to hide my excitement and decide that if this tastes this good then I am up for the challenge of whatever lovely adventures another menu selection may provide.
I survey the small list of choices placed upon their chalkboard and shoot for the #2 an eggplant & egg sandwich filled with boiled potatoes and access to their fresh salad bar for just under $7. As I await my food I grilled the nice lady behind the counter about the salad bar options that were placed before me. "Ooo what's this??" I say more times then I should have. She politely responds back and urges me to try the ones that I can tell are her favorite. I, for one enjoy when people can turn me on to things they like.
The food arrives, hell yeah I am starving. I observe the whole wheat pita (they give you an option between regular & whole wheat) and notice its warmth between my fingers. I pile a few salad choices atop...they have; tahini sauce mixed with parsley, fried cauliflower, beets, cucumbers mixed with tomatoes, mild green sauce, sliced carrots, pickles...what-have-you's...all which were fresh and every topping I chose tasted delicious.
I took a seat at a tall wooden rectangular table with high stools. They only have 3 tables though so seating is limited as its a small store. I take a bite and I'm sent to the moon. I swear I got an emotional eating my warm eggplant, egg, boiled potato whole wheat pita sandwich. Especially when it got down to just the warm potatoes and pita...seriously I don't know what happened. What I do know is that I am 98% sure I made a man passing on the street come in and order, when he looked in at me enjoying my meal. I was fully reminded why I was a veggie for years.
When I returned to work after my break I was beaming which is only sort of unusual because I am usually geeked off something but still...my experience at Soomsoom was religious for real!
This place is delicious and the staff so friendly. I always go for the combos and they fill me up like nothing else without putting a dent in my wallet. I also love that they let you sample things. Great place to go if you're on the run and looking for something quick, cheap, tasty, and healthy.
I went in recently to have a "combo" meal - the original falafel (with wheat pita), fries, and a mint tea.
The staff was very friendly and patient, explaining all the options. While waiting for my order, Alex the manager, apologized to me and another patron for the delay. The fryer wasn't hot enough so the falafel wasn't as crisp as he wanted. You could see him testing the falafel out of the fryer.
I wasn't in a rush so no complaints from me. Anyway, after a few minutes, my order was ready and he offered me some complimentary hummus to go with my sandwich. It wasn't necessary but he insisted.
It's rare to see outstanding customer service and quality control these days.
The sandwich was great as is the fixins bar. The fries are cut home fries style (round), are lightly battered then fried. It was a little oily but good. I put a little tahini sauce and chili peppers on the fries and it was even better.
They also offer baked sweet potato if you want something healthier. The mint tea was fine. It has no sugar which is how I like my tea. They have soda or lemonade if you prefer something sweet.
The place is small with minimal seating but bond with the person next to you as you moan out loud about how good the falafel is. I want to make this clear, I love pork products as much as any other meat eater. However, if the food is good, I'm fine with eating vegetarian dishes.
Add another star if you are vegetarian or kosher. Yes, this would give it an imaginary 6 stars.
Cheers!
N.
Walking by this place one night before it was opened, my husband got really excited about an upcoming place called Soomsoom. Apparently, Soomsoom means "sesame" in Hebrew and as sesame is one of our favorite things, we looked forward to this place opening.
It finally has and totally lives up to expectations. The falafel is just outstanding, best around.
They opened very recently so they're not delivering yet and they didn't even have business cards when I stopped in. The guy at the counter had to print a receipt for me with the info so I could add it on Yelp. I imagine this place is going to be even better once it finds its footing.
Love this place! Falafel is very moist and there is an open salad bar to add great Israeli condiments!! This is the Israeli answer to all of the Turkish falafel places!! Prices are decent and the people who work there are super nice! Plus, everything is kosher, so you should be aware of their hours... not sure if they are open on the weekend?