A simple little place for affordable kosher food from the Middle East

by Contributor

The Scene
Rarely has there been a plainer setting for a restaurant: Tile floors and half-high tile walls topped with mirrors and a few posters of Israel. The eclectic clientele includes business-suited folk, a few more fashionable guests and the occasional dread-locked customer, plus a few men in skull caps (complete with anchoring bobby their pins or curler clips).

The Food
Announced on the restaurant window alongside the entrance the food is described as "glatt kosher" which might be translated as perfectly proper--no mixing of meat and milk dishes. In fact, Maccabeam's menu offers no diary products at all. The emphasis is on simple, spicy and inexpensive Middle Eastern vegetarian dishes such as falafel, hummus, baba ghanoush and shakshuka (scrambled egg mixed with tomatoes, parsley, cardamom and hot sauce). There are also tasty beef and chicken shish kebobs, shawarma-even a Philly steak sandwich. Extra hungry? Order a side of crispy latkes or tasty fries.

10/21/03

Plain Fare, Plainly Served

by thelostairman

The editorial review gave it a 7 and I have to agree. I had a kufte kebab (spicy meatballs) on laffa bread for $7. A can of soda was a buck. It was good but kind of "lonely." No chips or fries or anything. If like me, you don't care about keeping kosher, your dollar will go farther at a lot of other places. They have a six item salad for $7 that sounded tempting but it has no meat. I think if they put together a luncheon platter about that price or even a bit more they'd have a solid seller.

• Pros: Glatt kosher
• Cons: Not a bargain