FALAFEL in New York: Spice Brothers

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

Falafel hasn’t been quite as successful when given a gourmet spin. It lives very comfortably in the world of street food and fast food and while unique spins on the chickpea fritter are welcomed, high prices usually are not.

Spice Brothers is a bit sneaky because it feels like a casual fast food joint, but the pedigree here (both owners work at Daniel) is top notch and has been one justification for the prices to have crept up.

A side of falafel is $8 (for 7) which is a far cry from the days of Mamoun’s $1 portion on this same street. But, of course, I could still afford this price and so wanted to judge the falafel from a taste perspective.

They are quite good. These are exceptionally crunchy orbs that are loaded with spices and seeds.

Inside they are nice and green with a consistent chew and the exterior managed to stay crunchy. There wasn’t much tenderness, perhaps due to how thin the falafel were shaped. It was mostly a crunch party throughout.

And now that brings me back to the price. Perhaps it is just the way things are nowadays (all the sandwiches here push $20), but I do have a hard time justifying more than $1 a falafel, especially when the balls are as thin as these.

If you are more adjusted to the idea of high priced falafel, then you can’t go wrong – since the falafel themselves are excellent.

Is Spice Brothers the best falafel in NY? I’m trying to forget about the price when rating these, but I can’t completely and can’t give them more than an 8.5 out of 10 for very crunchy crispy pucks.