Dear Taim: Please Open In Nolita So We Can Have Harissa Falafel Every Day

It’s a good thing I don’t live or work near the Taim brick and mortar location in the West Village or I may develop an addiction. However, when news came out that they’re opening a new flagship shop on Mulberry St. (at Spring) in Nolita, I did a little happy dance inside because their delicious falafel would be available after only a short ride on the subway. But that opening was announced what seems like ages ago, and the Taim Web site still carries a message that the shop is opening “soon.” Reports at the beginning of July said the location would open in two weeks, but that came and went. Rather than wait for the Taim Mobile truck to come close to my office (the WFC lot is as close as it gets, and that’s still far), I took matters into my own hands to try their harissa falafel at last weekend’s food truck rally in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. And after tasting this flavor of their falafel, I want that new shop to open even more.

The harissa falafel sandwich ($6.50) has the same components as Taim’s other versions, meaning hummus, cabbage slaw, tahini, tomato and cucumber and Israeli pickles if you choose. The difference is they add the spice mix harissa to the chickpea balls, coloring them a ruddy orange, and flavoring them with a smoky, intriguing flavor that has a spicy edge to it. There were three large falafel balls in this sandwich and I found myself digging even after I knew they were gone, looking for more.

And because I was feeling gluttonous, I tacked on an order of fries ($4) because that sounded better to me than a smoothie. Did I mention that there was no line when I got to the truck, which is basically unheard for Taim Mobile at prime lunch time? It was a case of “I should order too much because I’m getting food so quickly!”

So, in summary, whenever the location in Nolita does get around to opening, I’m going to eat harissa falafel whenever I want rather than when it’s offered as a special flavor on the truck and I’m guessing I’m not alone in this wish.

Taim and Taim Mobile, on Twitter and the Web

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