I fully confess to you that I am not a falafel expert. That said I’ve ordered it at several different places around town and my hands down favorite comes from Zaytun. Someone more learned on the subject than I am can tell you if it’s perfectly traditional or whatever I’m just going to tell you it tastes really good. And you can get it with a variety of toppings. I’m a fan of choosing your own toppings.
In addition to the falafel there’s a lot to like at Zaytun. I’m incredibly impressed with how warm and cozy they’ve made the restaurant after the, um, less than warm and cozy decor of the previous restaurant in the same spot. Everything B and I have tried there has been really good (including really tasty fries. I’d never had fries with falafel before but it works). They have 26 bottled beers available and they have Ale-8! Ale-8 makes me happy.
Services has always been attentive and nice and the food comes really quickly. These are all traits that endear a restaurant to me.
I’m incredibly pleased that Zaytun opened up in the neighborhood last fall. When warm weather hits I picture myself walking up there for lunch and dinner quite a bit. Cafe Lou Lou at the Loop? You’ve got competition for my lunch meetings.
Zaytun Mediterranean Grill
2286 Bardstown Road
Louisville, KY 40205
502-365-1788
March 2nd, 2009 at 6:32 pm
I really like Zaytun. They are friendly, have great food, and are reasonably priced.
March 5th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Lindsay and I tried this place tonight based on this writeup. I don’t know what was there before, but the interior is nice enough and there were quite a few people in there, which must mean that it’s got a good little following.
I consider myself something of a falafel person, I’ve had hundreds of falafels over the years in a lot of different places. No place in Louisville has really impressed me with their falafel*, and I’m afraid that Zaytun is no exception. Theirs was really smooth and almost creamy, perfectly round, and served sitting atop a thick, chewy flatbread (not in or with pita as usually the case). Had almost a buttery taste. I prefer more texture and spice in my falafel. The bread was probably better than the falafel, and I didn’t think the fries were memorable either, though I didn’t have the “fancy” kind they serve, just the standard ones.
The menu was kind of skimpy, I was hoping to get a tabouli salad with my falafel but it wasn’t offered. Lindsay had hummos that she thought was so-so. The olives were okay. We didn’t know they offered a soup until after ordering, I saw the sign on the way to the restroom. While it wasn’t a bad experience, we probably won’t go rushing back.
* My favorite falafel in town is from the Falafel House (formerly Marrakesh and also Gyros Hut or something in recent years) at the corner of Bardstown and Highland. Theirs is the only halfway-tasty falafel I’ve had in the area that isn’t really overpriced. Middle eastern food should be cheap and tasty, but for some reason most places around here think it’s haute cuisine just because it’s a little “exotic.” Anything over about 3-4 dollars for a falafel is highway robbery. I’ve felt that Pita Delites, Grape Leaf, Shiraz, Pita Hut (awful!), Safier, Omar’s Gyros, Monkeywrench, and anywhere else I’ve tried falafel in Louisville has been either disappointing and/or overpriced. Safier is probably my second-favorite for middle eastern in town.
On an unrelated note, this site never remembers who I am, I have to re-enter my info each time even though I always check “remember personal info.”
March 6th, 2009 at 7:04 am
Sorry you didn’t like Zaytun PJ. As I said I’m not a falafel expert but I’ve had falafel from The Falafel House and didn’t like it nearly as well as Zaytun. I guess it’s just a matter of personal preference in falafel styles.
Thanks for letting me know about the not remembering you thing, I had no idea so now I can look into it.