Mamoun's Falafel — Restaurant in New Brunswick

Mamoun's is ok. I find myself there frequently, buying moderately priced "East Village" falafel sandwiches (or wraps). I can never resist Middle Eastern food, whether hummus, falafel, tabbouli, tahini or lentil soup, etc. I should be using Evelyn's Restaurant--right across the street--with the highest-quality Middle Eastern food in the area, but, sometimes I just wander into Mamoun's, instead. Why? Think of it like a fast-food falafel place: I can walk in there, order a falafel, wait a few minutes, then get it and either eat it there or leave and eat it elsewhere. And, I don't have to buy anything else, to go with it, either--so it's sort of like my quick falafel "fix" (if you know what I mean...) And it doesn't cost me as much as Evelyn's. (But, don't get it wrong: Evelyn's still has the BEST falafel and Middle Eastern food, ANYWHERE, around here. I wouldn't bring a first date ANYWHERE ELSE--other than to the ONLY high-class Middle Eastern place in the whole area, namely: EVELYN'S RESTAURANT.) But, if I'm feeling cheap and dirty and/or lazy, at any point in time when I'm down over on Easton Avenue, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, then I'll wander over into Mamoun's, instead, for my "quick fix" of Middle Eastern food, in the form of one of their East Village falafel sandwiches (wraps). And, in all fairness to the now-departed Mamoun (whose very first fast-food falafel place opened in 1971, in the WEST Village--not the East), I also enjoyed his wonderful $3 falafels on MacDougall Street in the West Village on Saturday nights around 3 or 4 AM, back around 1991, when I had finished driving someone home from the I-Can Club in Hollis, and all the other falafel places were closed, by that hour, including Famous Falafel over on St. Mark's Place, across the street from the H.O.W. Club. And I was surprised, at that time, at how quickly he and his fellow workers would cook up a good falafel sandwich (like, in a few minutes--no less!), and how cheap it was (and good, too!) It was a hole-in-the-wall joint, with late-night Manhattan litter everywhere, but I just brushed it aside and enjoyed my good fortune at having found an excellent falafel in the early morning hours, inexpensively, no less--before my long drive home. And I never expected that he'd expand his little fast-food joint into a thriving chain of falafel places, so that one day I'd find myself eating at one of his places right in my current neighborhood, here in Jersey (amazing!), 30 years later! May God bless your soul, Mamoun--and may you rest in peace--and thank you very much, my Middle...

To: The Office of the Mayor of New Brunswick

Mr. Mayor, My family recently dined at Stuff Yer Face on Friday evening, parking was extremely difficult and I believe their is an overload of confusing signage. We have not ventured into New Brunswick because of safety concerns. When I was younger, I worked and volunteered for several emergency squads and ambulance companies where I frequently visited RWJ and St. Peter's Hospital's and found New Brunswick less thank desirable. However, I feel New Brunswick has done a great job turning that around over the years. Today, I came from Somerset and decided to stop at Mamouns Falafel, across the street from Stuff Yer Face. I had the same difficulty finding a place to park in order to pick-up a relatively quick order. I found the exact spot I had the previous visit which was two blocks away. I was away from my vehicle for about 15 minuted and upon my return found a $25 parking ticket on my car. I looked around at all the signs to find I was in fact wrong, a sign stating "No Parking on Tuesday from 1-3 PM." What are the chances! Since that is the law, I will pay my fine with no hesitation. It does come with a price to both the City of New Brunswick and the business community. I do not see myself coming back to patronize the local businesses. I received the message loud and clear that New Brunswick does not need or want my business or anyone who is not a resident, student, or employed near by. I understand New Brunswick is a complicated city with a large State University, two teaching hospitals, and the heart of the county government. Mr. Mayor, I am not looking for special attention to my particular case. The losers here are the businesses within your borders who I have either included in this email or forwarded to review, not to mention the ones we planned to visit. I appreciate you taking the time to listen to my grievance and wish you all the luck...

After my experience today, this place would get a negative star rating if it were possible. My pregnant wife and I decided to order out for dinner tonight because she wasn't feeling well and didn't want to go out. We were staying at a local hotel in New Brunswick so we decided to order Mamoun's. We asked for the sauce on the side so the bread wouldn't get soggy by the time we got it. When we received our order, we quickly realized that they had left out the hot sauce, and gave only a third of a container of tahinah. Also, when delivering to a hotel it would be nice to throw some utensils in the bag. When I called back to ask for our sauces, the person on the phone by the name of "Jayjay" the Whoopi Goldberg look -a-like told me that he wouldn't send the delivery driver back for some sauce. I asked to speak to a manager and he lied, claiming he was the manager. He then listened to my complaint and hung up the phone in my face. We then called back numerous times to no avail. After several trys to get the real manager on the phone, we decided to take a ride there and return the food, which had then gotten cold. Having seen my pregnant wife (now even hungrier and waiting to eat so she can take a tylenol for a severe headache) Jayjay, AKA Whoopi still had absolutely no consideration. We waited in line and when we got to the front he said we would have to wait inline all over again to get our refund. Of course for the sake of my pregnant wife I refused. After several calls back fourth between another employee and the real manager (who apparently wasn't present), they took a shot at offering us a "partial" refund. We declined. We then had to call the police, whom in New Brunswick have a lot more to be concerned with than an incorrect food order. Eventually we got a refund and lived...