Falafel King — Restaurant in Gainesville

After patronizing this establishment on many occasions over the years, I'm sad to say that yesterday the twenty-seventh of May 2020 will be my last day of using their food services.

During this devastating period in our lives as Americans, our country which I served as a veteran for twelve years; has now lost 100,000 fellow Americans to the COVID-19 virus. When I entered Falafel King yesterday I met a young man who also was wearing a mask and we talked about the importance of caring for each other. And he was trying to do his part by wearing a mask. I was left with a very good feeling that shattered the images seen so much today of people spewing hatred and caring only about their personal freedoms. Rather then putting some thought into social responsibility towards others.

My good feelings were quickly shattered when I saw the two employees who were preparing the food, ringing up the charges and placing the packages food into the hands of customers, not wearing masks. When I asked the youngest of the employees why masks were not being worn her response was "we're not required to, but we can deliver your food outside at the curb." When I asked her if she would be wearing a mask at that time, her answer was "no, we don't have to. " It was at this time I informed her that I really enjoyed their food but could no longer be their customer, she just smiled.

Three things were conveyed to me at this moment. This employee showed little value towards anyone else. Second, Falafel King cared nothing about the safety of their customers. Third, although studies seem to show that the risk is low when preparing food. The risk for the virus is still there. And it is certainly there when packaging and handing the package to the customer.

So, in closing I have to ask is the Alachua County Department of Health and the State showing a lack of...

I got the chicken pita wrap, add hummus and tzatziki. The chicken was extremely dry, and there was way too much hummus and tzatziki in the wrap that it was just pouring out. Each end of the wrap was open, so I guess that’s why the wrap couldn’t hold the contents. The wrap fell apart and I had to eat it with a fork and knife not even half way through. They served me with a paper plate… The place is a quasi-sit down restaurant with booths, and they bring it to your table. I didn’t expect to be served with a paper plate, which by the way was way smaller than the pita wrap. No one ever came by to ask how the food was. I would’ve told them all of this, but it was apparent they weren’t interested to know, even though from the looks of my plate the whole wrap had exploded. The place has no music and is basically dead silent making the atmosphere very awkward. I know this was just one person’s experience, but based on that I definitely won’t be back.

What would have made the experience better: fresh chicken, be more conservative with added sauces so it’s not so sloppy, get better quality pita wraps that don’t fall apart, serve on real plates that fit the food, play some music to make the atmosphere less awkward, and check in with the customers...

I recently visited Falafel King in Gainesville and I must say, I was thoroughly impressed. From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was inviting and the staff was incredibly friendly. I decided to try their mint lemonade and it was absolutely delicious - the perfect balance of sweet and refreshing.

For my main course, I ordered the lamb chops, falafel platter, and beef pitta. Each dish was cooked to perfection and the flavors were out of this world. The lamb chops were tender and flavorful, the falafel platter was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the beef pitta was seasoned just right.

I was also pleasantly surprised by the generous portion sizes - I left feeling completely satisfied. The prices were very reasonable for the quality of food and service that was provided.

Overall, I would highly recommend Falafel King to anyone looking for delicious Mediterranean cuisine in Gainesville. I will definitely be returning to try more of their menu items in the future. Thank you, Falafel King, for a wonderful...