Hail Fava! In this pocket-sized space, Wael Kostantinos brings Middle Eastern delights to the whole Porte de Hal neighborhood. Here, the undeniable star of the show is the sabich-style pita pocket, made with soft homemade pita stuffed with grilled eggplant, hard-boiled egg, fluffy potatoes, tomatoes, pickles, parsley, zhoug, a generous drizzle of tahini and that sticky, addictive mango condiment known as amba. Another perennial crowd-pleaser is the falafel pita pocket, made the Egyptian way with fava beans and a flurry of fresh herbs – best devoured straight on the sidewalk or at one of the small tables outside, if you’re in luck. For a bit on the side, go for the incredibly creamy hummus, complete with classic Middle Eastern toppings: tahini from Le Voilier fine foods store, chickpeas, eggs, fava beans, olive oil, eggplant, za’atar or sumac. Otherwise, scale up with a roast cauliflower salad or a portion of mutabal, the iconic smoked eggplant dip (a touch under-seasoned). An array of homemade cakes adorn the display counter, so follow your sweet tooth to the moist, fragrant carrot cake, or the more hard-to-come-by za’atar halva, to go with your coffee. It’s in the pocket! · Billie Relish
FEELING THIRSTY? Alongside beers like Zenne Pils (€3) and BBP Delta IPA (€4.50), there are L’Annexe lemonades (€3.50), plus homemade hibiscus and ginger kefir and kombucha (€2.50 to €3).
PRICE: Pitas €7-8, hummus €6-8.50, dishes €7-10, desserts €3-3.50.
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