Falafel review #2: cart outside AMNH, May 25, 2026

I was trying to cram in as much of the American Museum of Natural History as possible before an appointment back on the Upper East Side, couldn’t find any food there without long lines, was super-hungry, and saw falafel on the digital top banner of one of the many food carts lined up on Central Park West. My expectations were low, but nobody was in line and I took a chance.

  • Falafel itself: Crunchy shell, fairly moist interior. A little cumin-heavy, and a not-unpleasant sour tinge (not exactly lemony). 6/10
  • Bread: Pillowy, warm, tasty. 8/10
  • Sandwich fixings, taste and texture: Just iceberg lettuce and hard tomato, but fresh; white sauce decently tangy, and I managed to say “not too much” in time. 5/10
  • Value for money: $14 (tax included) before tip, expensive for a fairly small sandwich but not out of line for the location. 5/10
  • Eatability: Given the fork, which I did not request, they expect it to be messy. But it wasn’t overfilled so I managed pretty well. 3/5
  • Bonus points: Fast, exceeded my expectations, and I was grateful because I was SO hungry! 2/5
  • Total: 29/50

Falafel review #1: Syriana Cuisine, May 17, 2026

I stopped adding “treats” posts a while back… ran out of steam and motivation. But I’m glad I did them, especially since not a single one of those items is still available. I absolutely love falafel sandwiches and I’ve been on a quest to find good ones wherever I travel. And they vary so much – the falafel itself, but also the bread, the fixings, and the overall eating experience (is it a tidy bundle or a freaking mess that drips all over and falls apart?) We are lucky to have excellent falafel right here in Northampton (Pita Pockets!) although so far my very favorite is Yalla Vermont in Brattleboro.

So I’m starting another writing experiment which may or may not last. I searched for other falafel rankings and found a couple (both regional – wait, here’s a US list, and a short global list). Getting at least one falafel on the side to see them in their native state seems like a good idea, but also a bit of a hassle. I skip onions and don’t want it spicy, but otherwise I’m into whatever the shop offers to put on, from pickled turnips to Yalla’s 3-hour boiled egg. I’m going to score up to 10 points on five categories, for a perfect score (very unlikely, I’m picky) of 50 – but Jonathan made an excellent point that eatability isn’t as important as the others, so I’ll reduce that to 5 possible points and add bonus points.

When I’m out on a day trip, typically I’m visiting a museum, running some streets, and looking for other interesting things to do. I use Google Maps looking for “falafel near me” and pick a high-rated one. Sunday, May 17 was Syriana Cuisine, a large but quite empty restaurant in a strip mall in New Britain, CT.

  • Falafel itself: Well-cooked crunchy outsite, decently moist on the inside. Not as green as I prefer, but good. 7/10
  • Bread: Thin, not greasy, savory, great for wrapping, well-toasted. A little tough but that helps it hold up to the fillings. 7/10
  • Sandwich fixings, taste and texture: Excellent additions include lemon zest and mint. Tahini and also pickled vegetables on the side, very nice. 9/10
  • Value for money: $10 before tax & tip, decent for a fairly small sandwich. 7/10
  • Eatability: Excellent! Tightly-rolled, held together until the next-to-last bite, hands stayed clean, ingredients well-distributed. 4/5
  • Bonus points: a well-lit, spacious restaurant with comfortable booths, a very nice greeter/cook/server (just 1 staffer running the place!), and the side pickles. 4/5
  • Total: 38/50