Carmel Haifa

CuisINE - Mediterranean (great falafal!)

682 Speedwell Ave, Morris Plains, NJ 07950 | WEBSITE | (862) 242-8918

The first time i ever had Shawarma was in 1977. I was 13 years old and i was in Israel. It was so good that at age 53 i still remember it. Fast forward 40 years to today! This very afternoon i had a "Ratatouille" moment at Carmel Haifa. I ordered the Haifa Shawarma that was Veal, Lamb and two Falafel with lettuce, onion, pickles, tahini, and Harissa. When i bit into that sandwich it's like the world stood still! The meat was tender and the edges made crispy. The falafel were aromatic The lettuce,and onions were cool and crispy, a great contrast to the warm meat and falafel. The tahini and the Harissa were the icing on the cake. I also took heed to the handwritten sign on the door boasting the best soup I'll ever eat and ordered the Cream of Mushroom soup. Delicious and ladened with garlic, it was almost a cream of garlic soup with Mushrooms. Much to my delight, it really was some of the best soup I've ever eaten, certainly the best Cream of Mushroom Soup I've ever had.

So i want to be clear that this is a Mom and Pop owned falafel/Shawarma Shop in small storefront with 5 tables on Speedwell ave, the food deserves to be put on a pedestal and described in the same way I'd describe any fine dining cuisine.

I will make this my goto lunch spot whenever i find myself near Morristown in fact i just might plan my day around a visit to Carmel Haifa and i suggest you do the same.