Falafel Bistro

Vegetarian Kosher Restaurant Opens up In Coral Springs

and The Idiots Guide To Kosher Dining

by Howard Melamed

October 30,2007: Coral Springs Fl. :  With so many restaurants closing in Coral Springs due to lack of clientele,  a diamond is found!   The Falafel Bistro is a Mediterranean vegetarian kosher restaurant that has open its doors a few months ago.  Run by husband and wife owners are  Lauren and Elan Cohen, two Coral Springs residents that came down to Florida from New York.  Amazingly, Lauren attended school here in Coral Springs back when there was only one High School and a lot of dirt roads. When she left many years ago she never thought she would return here with her young family.  Back they came and this restaurant happens to be one of the best in Coral Springs.

Only a few tables and a sit-at bar occupies the Falafel Bistro located at 11570 Wiles Road on the south side of the street near Coral Ridge Drive. The falafel happens to be one of best I have ever eaten.  With their home made hummus ( chick peas crushed into a paste)  and Baba Ghanouj ( eggplant combined with tahina, oil and lemon)  these mouth watering dishes leave you wanting to come back for more. As well, you will love their Bourikas a flaky cheese puff which melts in your mouth! Don't forget to try the Jachnoon, a Yemenite breakfast rolled pancake pastry dish that you will not find in any restaurant on this side of the planet.

Since this is a vegetarian restaurant, there is no 'Meaty' aftertaste that you get at other places.  Like most people, after you finish their falafel sandwich or taste their Mediterranean plate, you will no doubt ask for a pint of hummus to take back home!

Also on the menu are some recognizable dishes like a Tuna Sandwich for the weak of mind, but you need to try the Moroccan Cous Cous and especially their Tilapia Moroccan style served only on Thursday and Friday.   They serve only Lavazza, which is one of the world's best coffee, and their Latte is made with great care. I would suggest leaving room for their pastries, especially the chocolate filled croissant.  This is a clean restaurant with pleasant decor: a place you can feel comfortable in while you dine or trust with take-out.  

Now if all of the above dishes are a little strange to you and you are a little worried about this 'Kosher' thing let me give you  a quick synopsis of what Kosher means. This way you will not have to worry.  There are many myths about Kassrut ( Kosher)  so let's dispel them immediately.

Kosher means "Fit" to eat.  A person that is Kosher believes that their body is holy and as such only the best foods may go in it.  Kosher dietary laws are based on cleanliness. Meat can only come from certain animals that are clean.  You may have heard that no pork is eaten by someone who is kosher. This is because to many, Muslim and Jew, a pig is considered to be an unclean animal and as such should never be consumed.  As well, shellfish are not considered to be kosher, and certain fishes cannot be eaten due to the same concern.  There is also no mixing meat with milk. That is why at Falafel Bistro, you will find no meat dishes, only dairy and vegetarian.

However, every vegetable or fruit or seed can be Kosher.  I use the word 'can' because in the case of a leafy vegetables like lettuce, cabbage or even califlower or broccoli, it needs to be properly prepared with each leaf removed and washed. Only then can the food be served. Makes sense? In a non kosher restaurant where they do not take this care,  do you really know if the vegetables are clean or does it matter what is chopped up  and handed to you?

Most people that are worried about the food supply, a la E- Coli in beef etc, will tell you that eating Kosher guarantees that you will never get these things. All food prepared in Falafel Bistro is also being supervised 100% of the time by someone responsible for make sure all Kashrut laws are followed.

Falafel Bistro's customers are people from all over our area that like good quality vegetarian dining, along with great tasting falafel. They make their way from as far north as Boca Raton  and as far south Hollywood.  Religion does not have to play a part in the dining experience of most that come in.  So you don't have to be kosher to eat kosher. You just have to be smart :)

The restaurant is open from 9 am to 8 pm from Sunday to Thursday, and until a couple of hours before Friday  sunset. All day Saturday and any Jewish holiday they are closed.   ( rent the Gene Wilder movie Frisco Kid for more explanation ). 

This is a restaurant that our local neighborhood should support.  Well priced and great for lunch as well as early dining.  They cater as well! When you go there tell them you saw the review on CoralSprings.com.  Tell Elan and Lauren " Gimme some of dem der Kosher food!" . ( click here for their menu ) 

The best  restaurants in Coral Springs that we have reviewed are:

Falafel Bistro :  11570 Wiles Road  (954) 346-5300 :  Vegetarian Kosher Restaurant with great Falafel and other mouth watering Mediterranean delicacies.  Lauren and Elan Cohen are local Coral Springs residents that have a well priced , homemade style of cooking. Eat healthy while enjoying their delicious dishes.  Well priced and great for Lunch as well as early dining.  They cater as well!   Try the Mediterranean plate or a Falafel sandwich. Open most days except from Friday night from  sunset to all of Saturday and Jewish holidays. 

Chopsticks:  10339 Royal Palm Blvd  (954) 227-2888  : I think this is perhaps the best Sushi Restaurant in Coral Springs.  This location has changed hands a few times.  The current owners and sushi chefs  Cool Juang and James Zheng are residents of Coral Springs. They  have a great menu that is well prepared and priced.  A small amount of tables, and a sushi counter with a few seats, make this a quaint, comfortable place to go to.   They have some very imaginative dishes, and a different taste from the same old stuff you get everywhere else in this town. Their scallop volcano roll is out of this world!  The good news is that it is open for lunch as well.  It is located right beside Pasquali's ,one of the best pizza places in town.

Ruyons 9810 W. Sample Road,  Runyons is the place to go for the best steak or fish in town. They have been around for over 20 years and offer the same high quality service and menu as ever.  The sister restaurants had closed a few years ago, Chowders, where Miami Subs was built. This is my favorite restaurant in the city.

Onyx Bistro and Bar located 3111 N. University Drive in the 'Darth Vader' boiling ( commonly called because it is a black glassed building )).The ownership also has a controlling interest in another fine restaurant called  The Onyx bar is also what would be the only 'pick up' joint in the city for the 45+ crowd.   A live 1 piece band ( actually a great pianist and singer) offers up old favorites like 'tie a yellow ribbon around the old oak tree'.  Food is great, and their Cowboy Steak is the best in town.  In both places I have yet to have a bad meal, or leave unsatisfied. 

Flavors of Italy: 3111 University Drive. This is the best Italian restaurant and is in the Same building as the Onyx ( Darth Vader).  Always offering excellent fine Italian cuisine and service as well.

Gold Coast Grill:  2752 N University Dr . Located at the Walk, this is a popular spot that is always busy. There is a waiting list, and one of the owners , Bruce can always be seen floating around making sure the customers are happy.  Bruce used to be the manager at the Outback restaurant and when his contract ended he developed a quality product along with a few partners.  The food is fantastic and the atmosphere is Boca like.

Blue Moon Fish Company located 10317 Royal Palm Blvd. at the shopping center on the north side, is perhaps the best fish restaurant in town.  They offer the same menu as their mother restaurant locating in Fort Lauderdale.  However, less known is their fantastic Sunday All You Can Eat brunch that features a raw bar including oysters, clams and steamed shrimp.   You get to chose among several appetizers as well, including the Gumbo.  At $25 per person, all you can eat comes in handy.

Mambo Jambo 1933 University Drive, Coral Springs. 954.575.0533.  This restaurant is the sister to the one located in Westin, and is owned and operated by the same family.  Cuban and Peruvian dishes are fantastically displayed and served.  Never had a bad meal here either. Expect some waiting as it is a quite popular place especially on weekends when a live band provides the Latin music ambiance along the front patio.

Pizza Time: 11504 W. Sample Road. Coral Springs Fl. 33065. (954) 753 7827  Around in this town since 1980,  this is the best place for Pizza and New York style Italian food.  Not a fancy shmancy place, but you can go there wearing a tuxedo or jeans and still have the best new York style Italian food unequaled for 1500 miles south of New York. In a Soprano's TV show style accent and screaming at each other in the kitchen the staff tires their very best to make you feel at home. Forget about it. They also have been around for the last 20 years, and local family owned. 

Big Bear Brewing Co.1800 University Drive, Coral Springs, Florida 33071 ● (954) 341-5545 Although this place does suffer from an identity crisis, as it doesn't know whether it is a sports bar or a fine dining restaurant. The food is outstanding and this micro brewery serves up its own brewski.  Although the lighting is a little too dark everything else provides a gentle family dining type of atmosphere.  They have a great brunch on Sunday. A reasonably priced restaurant I have yet to have a bad meal (or beer!) . 

Arts Bar-B-Que: 2070 University Drive ( west side of the road) 954-346-924.   Great BBQ.  That's where Artis and Marilyn Holmes came along and opened up their original recipe style BBQ.  In our fast food city it is rare to see a restaurant run by a husband and wife team.  Marilynn is at the counter and Artis is in the kitchen cooking, and the hospitality shown to each and every customer will keep people coming back for more.  The dishes are authentic southern style, with just the right 'Bam', including Ribs and Chicken, with collard greens, and fried okra! Their sauce is better than anything you have tasted anywhere. Eating with the blues being played in the background gets you in the mood, and allows you to relax and enjoy.  However, don't wait too long until visiting the place as line ups out the door will no doubt occur once the word gets out.  

Off the list: 

Taverna Mythos also located at the Walk 2864 N. University Drive,  was the best ( and only) Greek restaurant in town.  It has changed hands and the food has gone downhill. The place is dirty.  Needs a cleaning!

Bone Fish Grill:  I used to like this place a lot. However, the menu never changes.  Soup.  Where is the soup? They only got one type. The service used to be great, but has gone downhill. when I do frequency this place, it seems they can never get the order straight. Gold Coast Grill is a better choice.

What about Chinese restaurants in our city.  There are several but it is difficult to recommend as I all of them that I tried are dirty  with an unappealing atmosphere.  With sticky floors and dirty bathrooms it is incredible that the health department hasn't closed them down. I hate going to a restaurant that doesn't  change dirty and stained ceiling tiles ( bad news if they are over the fish).  If you want good Chinese food, you need to go to New York! 

There are a lot of Chain Restaurants in the city , some of them high end such as Bone Fish Grill, owned by Outback steakhouse, Casaba's, Macaroni Grill, Sweet tomatoes etc However, I try to frequent those restaurants that are owned and operated by locals who spend their money in the very same town they are located in.  If we do not support the locals, then let's not complain when the great restaurants of our city close up and are replaced with such classics as " Sonny's B-B-Q".  and Chicken Lickin.

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