Falafel At Cranford Restaurant Ranked Among Best In NJ: Report

CRANFORD, NJ — Falafel is a staple of any Mediterranean or Middle Eastern restaurant, and a local joint in Cranford received high praise for its chickpea dish.

NJ.com recently compiled a list of the 15 best restaurants to get falafel at in New Jersey, and Lebanese restaurant Old City Café & Grill in Cranford made the list.

For those who don't know, falafel are deep-fried balls or patties made form chickpeas or fava beans — sometimes both — as well as herbs and spices, according to The Food Network. Falafel is a popular Middle Eastern street food sold from vendors or fast-casual spots in countries such as Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey and Israel — where it’s the national dish.

It is often served in pita sandwiches with hot sauce, tahini and vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce.

The falafel plate served at Old City Café & Grill offers "tender and well-season falafel," according to NJ.com's review.

Owner Rafi Namroud told NJ.com that he uses his mother's recipe, which involves ensuring that color of the falafel balls is somewhere between yellow and green — a tone hard to master.

Namroud said he uses parsley and cilantro to achieve that color.

Old City offers a wide variety of Lebanese dishes on its menu, such as an array of hummus dips, salads, kebab and shawarma platters and much more.

You can check out their full menu here and visit the restaurant at 20 N Union Ave. Dine-in, takeout and delivery are all available options.

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