fantastic falafel

anonymous

I apologize if this has already been discussed somewhere on the boards, but I just have to make sure everyone knows that Sam's BBQ and Falafel is finally open and well worth a visit. I had sort of lost faith in falafel, but theirs has turned me into a believer once again. It's light green and spicey--yum! Tried a couple other things--Turkish salad and fava beans--and they were great, too.

Plus, the people in there are super nice and attempting to make it a 24-hour place. We need to support these guys! They're on the corner of Carleton and Park, right across from the 7th Avenue Q station.

daniel

Hasn't that palce been open for a while? I've been confused by their signage everytime I've passed by - the big awning above the store, "Sam's BBQ & Vegetarian", with the smaller yellow sign hanging below it: "Coming Soon: Sam's BBQ & Vegetarian".

I find the yellow falafel at most places to be bland and dry - it's always a good sign to see the green falafel. Both places in Park Slope - Pita Pan and Mr. Falafel - have the yellow stuff, and they both suck. Green falafel always seems to be moister, tastier and sometimes a little bit spicy. I think I'll Sam's this weekend.

carnivore

Subject: Re: fantastic falafel

goldiewood wrote: I apologize if this has already been discussed somewhere on the boards, but I just have to make sure everyone knows that Sam's BBQ and Falafel is finally open and well worth a visit. I had sort of lost faith in falafel, but theirs has turned me into a believer once again. It's light green and spicey--yum! Tried a couple other things--Turkish salad and fava beans--and they were great, too.

Plus, the people in there are super nice and attempting to make it a 24-hour place. We need to support these guys! They're on the corner of Carleton and Park, right across from the 7th Avenue Q station.

They're open 24 hours? I was on my way home from work last night at about 2 am and totally starving, but nothing was open except Natural Land. I'm sure I would have noticed if Sam's was open- I've been wanting to try that place.

Have you gone there late night? I'll definitely look out for it next time.

anonymous

I have not gone there late night, but the people who run it said they were attempting the 24-hour thing. Maybe they're not doing it afterall.

By the way, the awning has been up but I believe the place was functioning as a bodega until late last week. I'm not entirely sure because I was out of town for a couple weeks. All I know is that when I stumbled upon this place on the day I returned, my post-vacation blues vanished away.

alan

There is a place on the Slope side of Flatbush (by the 7th ave Q stop) that makes Falafel sandwiches, but they are disgusting.

I haven't tried any places in the Slope yet. I remember one place charging a ridiculous amount for a Falafel sandwich ($7.00?), so I left the place.

The best places I've been for Falafel have all been in the other borough that starts with an M:

http://www.mamounsfalafel.com/ (favorite)
http://www.chickpearestaurant.com/index.html (decent, but pricey)
http://www.menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?neighborhoodid=0&restaurantid=2374 (ok)

daniel

Olive Vine on 7th also uses yellow falafel, but makes up for it by having freshly baked pitas.

What is the special ingredient that makes green falafels green?

candicissima

Subject: Re: fantastic falafel

[quote=Carnivore]They're open 24 hours? I was on my way home from work last night at about 2 am and totally starving, but nothing was open except Natural Land. I'm sure I would have noticed if Sam's was open- I've been wanting to try that place.

I spend too much time coming from the Q past midnight and I've never seen it open late. Tell them to start with 24-hours on weekends and work from there...

laura b

Just want to give props to Maha's amazing homemade middle eastern food on Sixth between Bergen & Flatbush. She makes a delicious falafel, as well as other mezze like roasted vegetables, baba ghanoush, etc., but I rarely see the place mentioned.

And thanks for the word on Sam's!

alan

Laura B wrote: Just want to give props to Maha's amazing homemade middle eastern food on Sixth between Bergen & Flatbush. She makes a delicious falafel, as well as other mezze like roasted vegetables, baba ghanoush, etc., but I rarely see the place mentioned.

And thanks for the word on Sam's!

Ah, forgot about that place. The shawarma I had there a few months ago wasn't bad, but a little pricey. But then again, pricey to me is > $3.00 for a falafel sandwich...

I think the shawarma sandwich was something like 5 bucks...

bluedove

daniel wrote: I've been confused by their signage everytime I've passed by - the big awning above the store, "Sam's BBQ & Vegetarian", with the smaller yellow sign hanging below it: "Coming Soon: Sam's BBQ & Vegetarian".

Me too! Not only because of that, but also the whole "BBQ & Vegetarian" thing has always seemed kind of odd...I mean, not that you can't have both in one restaurant, but it seems strange to specialize in two such disparate food groups, I guess. Or something. I don't know, that place has just always confused me.

But if they have great falafel, I'm there!

dailyheights

We did a blurb on this "vegetarian vs bbq" thing awhile back:

Swinging Both Ways: Permitted?
http://www.dailyheights.com/archives/2005/06/swinging_both_w_1.html

The place was a bodega until very recently, as noted above.

bluedove

Right, which is...even more curious.

roux42

Subject: Green

daniel wrote: Olive Vine on 7th also uses yellow falafel, but makes up for it by having freshly baked pitas.

What is the special ingredient that makes green falafels green?

Herbage! Like parsley

greenermjr

I tried both Maha and Sams lately for Falafel.

I thought Maha's was ok. Too dry and too small for me.

My Sam's falafel was pretty good. Inadequately hot-sauced though and not a homemade pita. Nice size though.

qtrain

*paging Mr. Tips*

qtrain

Nevermind, found the thread. Mr. Tips on Sams BBQ and Vegetarian

(edited URL)

pete_c

I'm a big fan of Olive Vine's, their pitas and dolmades are always good. I've been seeing more and more people in Sam's though, so will definitely check it out.

mr. tips

qtrain wrote: *paging Mr. Tips*

Funny I JUST came back from a (my first) COLONOSCOPY an hour ago because of this place.

EDIT: To be fair...it was one tasty gyro.

vanilla

anyone ever try PITA PAN on seventh ave? slightly $$$ but super tasty, generous portions, & no trips to the ER as of yet.

*sorry mr.tips..*

daniel

I've tried Pita Pan a few times since my message above (where I say "they suck"). I now say this: Pita Pan isn't bad, but it took me a bit to get over the fact that they use tortillas instead of pitas. Which, come to think of it, is really odd - I don't think they actually use pitas for any of their dishes there. The fallafel is a bit on the dry side, and looks like it's 1/2 between a yellow and green falafel. Tasty, but definately a non-traditional NY falafel.

j0518

here's my PS/PH falafel heiarchy (wow...i can't spell that word):

1) Mr. Falafel
2) Sam's
3) Pita Pan
4) Maha's
5) Olive Vine

as much as i don't want to diss Olive Vine, since their little pizzas are amazing, their falafel is tasteless. A lot of places, not just Pita Pan, use tortillas instead of pita. i don't know if i really have a preference. Sam's caught be completely off guard.....but Mr. Falafel is still best.

carnivore

J0518 wrote: A lot of places, not just Pita Pan, use tortillas instead of pita. i don't know if i really have a preference. Sam's caught be completely off guard.....but Mr. Falafel is still best.

Has anyone else noticed that just about every Chinese restaurant in New York has also started using flour tortillas instead of mooshoo pancakes? Bizarre. I guess they're so cheap and ubiquitous that it doesn't pay to make any similarly shaped bread item.

j0518

Carnivore wrote: [quote=J0518]A lot of places, not just Pita Pan, use tortillas instead of pita. i don't know if i really have a preference. Sam's caught be completely off guard.....but Mr. Falafel is still best.

Has anyone else noticed that just about every Chinese restaurant in New York has also started using flour tortillas instead of mooshoo pancakes? Bizarre. I guess they're so cheap and ubiquitous that it doesn't pay to make any similarly shaped bread item.

you mean tortillas of the Fresco Tortillas variety?

armchair_warrior

my favorite joint isnt in ph. its some where else in brooklyn

Famous PITA 935 Coney Island Avenue
(718) 284-0161