FALAFEL REVIEW: Gazala Place

My search for the best falafel in New York continues….

SADLY, GAZALA PLACE IS NOW CLOSED.

Gazala Place in Hell’s Kitchen (and its bigger, newer location on the Upper West Side) is the only place in New York to get Druze cuisine. The Druze are a religious people that live throughout the Middle East and have a fairly distinct cuisine. The most notable difference is their very large and thin pita breads cooked on a griddle called a sagg.

I’ve enjoyed many delicious meals at Gazala Place and am especially fond of all their breads and savory pies. On a recent meal, I paid special attention to their falafel, which was served as part of their appetizer sampler platter alongside hummus and labneh.

I was quite impressed with the falafel and would relish it at any lunch inside a pita. It crumbled upon biting and yielded a nice crunchy, crisp exterior with a very light touch.

Inside, the flavors were revealed – pleasant notes of unique spices and a hint of raisiny sweetness. The extra dip in the tahini sauce added creamy richness to the vegan fritter.

Most falafel explorers in this city don’t really have Gazala Place on their radar, since it is more of a sit-down restaurant specializing in pies. But the falafel are definitely worth exploring.

Does Gazala Place have the best falafel in NY? Alongside their other appetizers, the falafel is a wonder of unique, deep flavors and a light crunch. I can only imagine how good it would be on its own as a sandwich. Either way, 8 out of 10.