Fulfill Your Falafel Fantasies At Crisp

Falafel is something of an elusive white unicorn. Whether too soggy, too bland or...dare we say it...too moist (blech!), this middle eastern staple is very easy to screw up. On the other hand, when it's good (like, actually), those crunchy balls are comparable to crystal meth. So when we heard Crisp was opening in Center City, we took matters into our own hands and embarked on a very serious investigation.

Crisp currently has several spots in New York, but this is the falafel-centric eatery's first time setting up shop in Philly. Located between Chestnut and Market on 18th, it's not a short walk from campus, but it is a quick bus ride and a good excuse to spend the afternoon in Rittenhouse perfecting your judgmental stare. Check out our review (and more pics!) of Crisp's goodies after the jump.

THE MENU: What makes Crisp stand out as a falafel joint is its menu. Reminiscent of Pita Pit, you can pick and choose what you want intermingling with your fala(lalala)fel. Some of the more interesting toppings include a North African peanut sauce, sweet potatoes and a sun-dried tomato spread (best eaten separately unless you're really into cultural integration).

THE FOOD: We chose the Crisp Mexican, which comes in a white or whole wheat pita and is stuffed with corn, salsa, guacamole, nachos and jalapenos (we skipped the nachos and stuck with a whole wheat pita, because we like to pretend we're healthy while we stuff our faces with fried, carb-y goodness). In terms of boy bands, the falafel was a pre-IWITW Nick Carter, and everything else was just a bunch of Joey Fatone cardboard cutouts. The toppings worked well together, but separately only the falafel could stand alone.

THE EXTRAS: Another thing that makes Crisp stand out is the carrying case. This contraption is sort of like a paper purse with a perforated edge in the middle, so you can eat your sandwich on the go without spilling so much hot sauce you look like you just murdered Bob The Tomato. Snaps for inventiveness!

THE VERDICT: It was a bit pricey ($11.02 for the specialty sandwich and a drink), but the experience was worth it. This beats most (if not all) falafel on campus--including Magic Carpet--so if you've got an hour to kill or an appetite not even Bui's Hangover Special can satiate, Crisp is definitely worth checking out.