September 29, 2011 - 1:12am
Food Wars: Falafel
BY DAILY ARTS STAFF
Pita Pit, 615 East University Ave.
Service is fast, but prices are a bit steep. Meat costs extra and this addition brings the falafel to more than $8, while the vegetarian option plays around $6. The ingredients lack pizzazz; they don’t embrace one another. The result is a pita of Philly cheese steak, hummus and pickled vegetables that sit in your mouth but never blend to make something greater.
Pita Kabob, 619 East William St.
Pita Kabob knows what falafel is. It’s fast food — no matter how you slice it — and here, they embrace it. Deep fried falafel balls, lathered in the patron’s choice of excellent hummus or baba ghanouj (at no extra charge, too!), and garnished with pickled parsnips so that every bite is as savory and flavorful as the last. And all this deliciousness at only $4.89? Not bad at all.
Oasis, 1106 South University Ave.
At Oasis, the falafel itself — the little fried spheres of heaven incarnate — are clearly cooked with a carefully seasoned touch. While the wrap in totality could use a little less tahini and a bit more flavor, the crispy chickpea shells and the crunchy pickles come together to bring the dish to a new scrumptous textural level.
La Marsa, 301 South State St.
La Marsa’s falafel comes in a warm, crispy pita with yogurt sauce, tomatoes, lettuce and pickles. The consistency is flawless with the crunch of the pita, the crispy fried goodness of the falafel and the fluffiness of the delicious chickpea inside. There is also a surprising cilantro-lime taste that coats the falafel, giving it a zesty flavor. At first bite, the tastes blend harmoniously.
And the winner is: La Marsa
Each week, one Ann Arbor staple menu item becomes a battlefield as Daily Arts editors butt heads over which restaurant makes it best. Where should you go for your burger, fro-yo or garden omelette? Daily Arts will fight for the truth.
