Hamburg, like most German cities, has almost more döner (Kebab) shops than New York city has Starbucks. The döner is to the Germans like the burrito is to Americans (USA), and so I am a believer in its underlying science. It is wrapped in a thin pita layer to keep the fingers clean and force the juicy pressed meat, crunchy onions and lettuce, sour and spicy white and red sauce (and a pickle if you are lucky) into an unlikely but harmonious dance. It is eaten at all times of day but only fully appreciated late at night. There are good döner shops and bad, and one can make a fairly accurate judgment based on the look of the meat sweating on the rotisserie. Okay! I get it. The döner is king here. But, can we even speak about him without mentioning his equally robust counter-part, the Falafel?
I could count the number of notable falafel experiences I have had in Hamburg on one hand, but today was a special day. I discovered Azeitona, an oriental vegetarian and international restaurant with a number of middle eastern dishes. Though I cannot speak for the rest of the extensive menu, I can highly recommend the Falafel Spezial (Falafel sandwich plus one of the other sides and hummus and lettuce). The sides, which include hummus and tabouli, a rare treat here), all look hearty and fresh and most importantly the falafel is freshly fried, krunchy on the outside and warm and soft on the inside.
The small restaurant is hidden away behind scaffolding on Beckstrasse near Neuer Pferdemarkt. Vibrant paintings hang from the walls and and the benches are covered with pieces of Persian rugs. In the back room you can take off your shoes and sit at a low table without chairs drinking coffee and tea for hours at a time and shooting the shit with friends.
Yay Falafel!
