House of Kabob
1537 Stanley St
New Britain, CT 06053
(860) 223-1200
By Melissa Traynor
The addition of this unassuming Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food restaurant is totally out of sync with the surrounding plaza (Domino’s Pizza, Blimpie, Underground Deli are located in the same space) but it’s a good one. West Hartford’s Tangiers is the nearest good falafel.
When they first moved in and opened shop last semester, it seemed as if the staff or the customers didn’t know what to make of the place. It was carpeted and the counters near the kitchen were kind of awkwardly poised. Today, things are pretty organized; House of Kabob has nice printed menus, a little coffee counter and a spacious-enough dining area. The staff is very friendly and it’s good to see that they’re getting CCSU customers while the spring semester is in full swing.
One downside is that the food is slightly inconsistent. I’ve stopped by House of Kabob for falafel about four times, each pleasant, but the food experience can differ wildly. Originally, the falafel on a pita wrap was impressive. But as of late, the falafel has sometimes left something to be desired. At one point, they even put pickles and mayonnaise on the falafel wrap, which is cardinal sin in crossing food boundaries.
It comes in relatively neat packaging – clutch for dealing with messy (however delicious) tahini sauce. The toasted pita wrap also helps. The actual falafel tucked in the wrap was almost baked on the outside, soft on the inside like the way it should be. It’s not completely hard or crunchy, but it actually has a shape and stays together in a rather compact way. Another huge plus is that they originally folded sauteed onions in with the falafel, which gave it an added layer of flavor. House of Kabob doesn’t do this regularly anymore. It’s now the standard lettuce, tomato, raw onion slivers, tahini sauce and the falafel.
For sides, House of Kabob offers falafel (pieces only), baba ghanoush, hummus, grape leaves, and french fries. Though its oily appearance is a little startling at first, the hummus proves to be a quality addition. It tastes slightly bland, but in the way that serves as a contrast against the other flavors in the meal. A thick pita pocket is provided as well for dunking.
The prices are pretty good, too: $4.25 for the falafel wrap and the House of Kabob has several lunch platters between $7 and $10. Each platter comes with the kabob or vegetarian meal of choice and sides of rice and pita bread. They have burgers and salads, as well as different kabob choices for pita wraps or grinders, all under $7. Baklava as dessert also looks like a good idea ($2.50).
Note: The Recorder staff also recommends the chicken kabob on a pita, which comes with tomatoes, onions and parsley, at $4.99.
