I Dream of Falafel in the Loop (in the former Lunchrolls space)

I work across the street from the Monroe Street location, but was never a big fan of either Spa Cafe or Lunchrolls - tried Spa Cafe twice, Lunchrolls once over almost three years. The new concept is much more streamlined from a food cost concept, and so far the lines have been 15 deep both times I've been there.

The first time I tried the kofta kebab (ground lamb) sandwich ($5.40), with an extra side of falafel ($2.00). The sandwich was solid, and will have me coming back compared to McWendyCafeteriaLunch.

Today, I was not particularly hungry (Manny's for breakfast) but wanted something small before my flight and my dinner at Oklahoma Joe's in KC, and I had to go to Walgreens anyway. I stopped in and got just the side of falafel. $2.20 after tax for five perfectly acceptable pieces in a domed plastic container, with an adequate side of tahini. I'm sure there are better, and I know I've had worse, but for me this is a great go-to snack for the car ride home!

Most impressively, a manager had a meat thermometer out and was measuring the temperature of the stored schwarma chicken being used for various dishes. I like the emphasis on good food service sanitation.

(Mods, I'll understand if this should be a new thread, but I wasn't sure since it appears to be the same owners with just a different concept if you would prefer to just rename this one.)

Isn't this now another outpost of I Dream of Falafel?

Yes, I'm sorry - I put that in the title of my post but it doesn't bold very well.

threadkiller wrote:Yes, I'm sorry - I put that in the title of my post but it doesn't bold very well.

Oops, sorry I missed that . I hardly ever look at the subject lines of individual posts. Carry on!

threadkiller wrote:(Mods, I'll understand if this should be a new thread, but I wasn't sure since it appears to be the same owners with just a different concept if you would prefer to just rename this one.)

Done.

I Dream of Falafel
112 W Monroe
Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312 263-4363

=R=
for the moderators

The original location, still in operation and expanding, is in the old Petra Space on Franklin, mentioned here in the Petra Thread

I Dream of Falafel
http://www.idreamoffalafel.com/
331 S FRANKLIN ST
CHICAGO, IL 60606
312.913.9660

So, I decided to branch out from my normal Oasis routine and went to I Dream of Falafel. I got the trio of salads with falafel balls. Two of the three salads are cucumber/tomato-based, and are just fine, though nothing special (one has a tahini dressing, the other I can't quite tell). The third salad is shredded lettuce with shredded carrot and radish slices - unfortunately the shredded lettuce was sad and browning.

The falafel balls have a nice herbal quality to them, but unfortunately are a bit of a bad fry job. The outside is really loose and oil has worked its way in to all the crevasses, resulting in a thick, slightly greasy crust. Clearly not as lovingly crafted as some falafel balls around town.

-Dan

The lines here around noon are crazy. The food is ok, but not worth a 15 minute wait.

I Dream of Falafel is opening the first of three new restaurants. 19 N. Wells St.

https://chicago.eater.com/2017/4/7/1522 ... ummer-2017