Somerville Somerville

Somerville, near Boston, is known for its vibrant arts scene and diverse cuisine, with a mix of Italian, Portuguese, and eclectic eateries offering innovative dishes.

Sam’s Falafel Shawarma

Sam’s Falafel Shawarma

215 Highland Ave, Somerville I-02143-1515, United States

Kebab • Cafés • Casual • Falafel


"The food at Sam 's was so good, it took me on a trip to memory lane!I 'm from a Lebanese family in Paris France and I 'm picky about my food. I went to Sam 's after reading reviews and I was expecting good Falafel and good Mediterranean food, but not GREAT Middle Eastern food. Sam is a great chef and cooks the best homemade style dishes from his native Syria.The Falafel was refined with just the right mix of spices (not loaded with cumin as people from other regions make it), a crispy exterior and a moist interior. It was sitting on a bed of tahini sauce that also had the perfect amount of seasoning. The foul madamas brought tears to my eyes because I haven 't had one like this in so many years. It was the perfect warm temperature, the Middle Eastern fava beans were flavorful, cooked to perfection, and again seasoned with just the right amount of garlic, lemon and olive oil. The olive oil itself had a great flavor, a sign that this kitchen uses quality ingredients, which makes all the difference.I also tasted a roasted eggplant in tomato sauce that was delicious and not as acidic as I expected.My husband and a friend had Shawarma sandwiches that were huge and they said were outstanding, with all the trimmings including pickled turnip. Another friend had Sam 's Special Falafel which he absolutely loved although it was really spicy.Another sign that he knows his food: Sam 's had 2 different of pita breads, including what is called mountain bread in Lebanon, a paper-thin type of pita that has a slight sourdough flavor. My only comment would be to add whole-wheat pita bread to the menu for those who eat only whole grains. Apart from that, everything was perfect!Shukran! Thank you so much, Sam, you made my day! I will be back for more!"