Day Twelve: Pilpel's Falafel

In the beating heart of the city of London, down an alley cast in shadow by Saint Paul’s Cathedral is a small falafel restaurant called Pilpel's. It offers a customizable falafel bar: sauces, crunchy fillings like cucumbers and onions, tomatoe,s and peppers. I’m not generally a fan of falafel, but this food was so satisfying for my stomach and my bank account, that I can’t help but sing its praises.

Rating:

Food: 10/10

Price: $

Accessibility: 9/10

Service: 8.5/10

Food:

I loved this place, and it’s now on my list of favorites, right under Lemi’s shawarma wraps. The texture was amazing, it had the perfect balance of tangy, spicy, fried and hearty, and it made a great satisfying meal after a long day of walking. The options available mean you could make it any flavor you like and all the ingredients were fresh. The food was ready in seconds and it kept me full for wayyy longer than I thought it would. I would definitely go back if I was in the area.

Accessibility:

I’m not really sure how this could get any more accessible. It’s built on a flat street, with smooth concrete leading to a door with no steps. There might have been a bump for the door jam and it would be hard to see the topping from a wheelchair height, but the staff is very kind and able to explain any ingredient and topping available.

Service:

The woman serving me was very sweet and patient when I asked for water and fumbled my way through the ordering process. Overall, a very lovely experience.

Falafel: A Brief History

It’s difficult to say where falafel originated, some say India, and some say Egyptians brought the food up from the Middle East. It is a popular food, especially during Ramadan, and was brought to Europe when the Arab and Turk populations migrated into northern cities. It has since grown in popularity in the West, first as a street stall item and next in restaurants.