Photo by angela n. via Flickr
Popular Middle Eastern chain Mamoun’s Falafel has opened its Upper East Side location at 1105 Lexington Avenue, between East 78th Street and East 77th streets.
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Mamoun’s first opened in 1971. “Family owned and operated since its inception, Mamoun’s has grown into a premier brand that is recognized as one of the oldest and most legendary falafel restaurants in the country,” the eatery’s website states. “With its original flagship location still operating in the heart of Greenwich Village in New York City, Mamoun’s is now part of the storied history and culture of the Village.”
Mamoun’s original location on MacDougal Street. Photo by Alan Turkus via Flickr.
The restaurant was an instant hit at a time when falafel wasn’t nearly as widespread in New York as it is now. In fact, a 1976 article in the Village Voice was so positive about the food that it basically claimed it could solve the long-simmering Arab-Israeli conflict.
“[Henry] Kissinger could take a lesson in diplomacy here,” the article stated. “[Mamoun’s] got Arabs and Jews eating at the same table.”
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The addition of Mamoun’s to the neighborhood is a welcome one. Although new additions like Lava Shawarma at 1640 Third Avenue (between 91st Street and 92nd streets) has added some much-needed Levant flavors to the area, the closure of neighborhood favorite Lashevet in July, as well as the non-arrival of popular Israeli falafel franchise Taïm, left a chickpea-sized hole in the Upper East Side’s culinary scene.
Mamoun’s offers the classics, such as falafel, shawarma and kebabs, as well as its own takes and combinations on those classics; pita creations such as the Macdougal (shawarma and falafel) and the Manhattan (falafel, hummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, pickled turnips and olives) provide a nice variation to familiar flavors.
Additionally, the chain sells Middle Eastern dessert staples like baklava and kadayif, as well as specialty beverages such as fresh tamarind juice and mint lemonade.
Check this page for Mamoun’s UES hours and contact info.
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The MacDougal location brings back lots of memories. How an outpost in Georgia?
There is already an excellent Israeli Falafel place called Tamam open for years directly across Lexington Ave. Really no need for another Falafel place.
Please get a photographer to do some professional shots… the picture here is a hot mess (or is it cold). There is much to the saying, “We eat with our eyes first”.