FALAFEL REVIEW: Bedouin Tent

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

A Bedouin tent is a convertible structure usually made of goat or camel hair that allows nomadic people to stay safely and comfortably in the desert. It’s also the name of a restaurant in the cozy neighborhood of Boerum Hill. As far as I know, Boerum Hill is nothing like the Arabian desert.

But in the back of this seemingly small, crowded Jordanian-owned restaurant, lies a hidden dining area with colors and images that could convince you that you were in fact dining inside a Bedouin tent. If it weren’t for the sirens and traffic outside. And while the service was lackluster and lazy, the excellent Middle Eastern food is made to be savored.

A wide variety of salads, sandwiches, soups (the lentil is fantastic), and pitzas (Middle Eastern pizzas) make up the menu, but I was here of course for the falafel. I was surprised to see the sandwich served wrapped up in a pita. I had only seen that once before at Alafanoose and I wasn’t crazy about the results. Here, it held together nicely and made for a very tasty sandwich.

These falafel were not the usual nuggets or balls, but instead a rather large patty that had been broken up into pieces. It was loaded with crunch and laced with red pepper flakes that gave it a bold kick.

I was elated to see it maintained the crunch throughout the meal and that the insides were full of other herbs and lots of earthy flavors.

Since this place is known for their baked pitzas, I was not surprised that the homemade pita bread was excellent. Some of the best I’ve had on this falafel journey. That almost made up for the lack of fillings inside the sandwich. It could have used a little more hummus or tahini to keep it from going dry. I actually asked for an extra side of the tahini and was pleasantly surprised to see a pale orange colored and spice-infused sesame seed sauce. It was spectacular.

Little kinks aside, this is an under-rated champion of falafel. The flavors and crunch are all there, the ambiance of the restaurant is warm and lively (although the service could use work), and little touches llike a housemade tahini and outstanding pita bread make this a destination. And you’ll have all the luxuries the name implies. Minus the desert views.

Does Bedouin Tent have the best falafel in NY? It’s an underdog for sure, but their falafel is perfect with a tender crunch and loads of flavor.9 out of 10 for serving that falafel with an extraordinary pita bread and interesting versions of tahini.