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Opinion

Balady for falafel - what's the fuss all about?

Giles Coren's review of this spit and sawdust takeaway has started a NW London stampede. I can't see what he was raving about.

May 9, 2019 15:13
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2 min read

What a kerfuffle! After Giles Coren's glowing review of Temple Fortune kosher falafel bar, Balady, hungry Jews have been lining up to fress on falafs.  

I'm not immune to a feeding frenzy, so rather than fire up the barbie or enjoy a spot of Israeli dancing (which I'm particularly averse to) I opted for a sabra-style meal at the local with a name basically meaning 'local'. A couple of my JC colleagues decided to join me. One (like me) a Balady virgin. The other, living closer to NW11, a previous visitor - bemused by all the fuss.   

Visually, it's stark. The fascia says 'charity shop'. Garish blue background with business-like, white letters. Inside - wipe-clean walls, wooden tables and simple stools with no backs to them. We watched a pair of older ladies grimacing at the seating options before leaving, unfed.