Mr. Kabob Cafe

Mr. Kabob Cafe
35 W. 35th St. (between 5th and 6th Ave.)
Tel: 212-290-0040

I'm shocked, Mr. Kabob serves absolutely delicious tabbouleh. (Much better than either of my two favorite Middle Eastern places in Brooklyn, Zaytoons or Waterfalls.)

Frankly, I don't even like tabbouleh, but it came with the vegetarian platter. Mr. Kabob's tabbouleh is mostly parsley with diced tomatoes and cucumbers and a little chewy fine grained bulgar wheat as an accent. The dressing is probably just fresh lemon juice and olive oil. North American tabbouleh is usually a bulgar and tomato salad with a little parsley. The traditional way is better.

I was thoroughly impressed by the entire vegetarian platter, actually. The babaghanouj was smoky with a light, fluffy texture. Superior to Zaytoons' and comparable to Waterfalls. I also really liked the muhammara (a red pepper and walnut spread).

The falafel were a little cold, but nicely seasoned and crispy. Next time I'll wait for a fresh batch instead of getting the ones under the warming light.

Mr. Kabob's pita is the ultra-flat 2-ply variety from a package. They warm it up for you in the panini press, but it's still not great.

I want to try the moudardra (rice, lentils, and crispy fried onions) and the fried eggplant patties. The actual kabobs looked awfully good, too.

Comments

[John Needham]

Lindsay, Are you a vegetarian?

[Squashed Lemon]

..I am so hungry now... *sigh*

[Lindsay Beyerstein]

John, let me put it this way... I would be a vegetarian if I were a better person.

I do have some ethical boundaries. I gave up eating octopus when I learned that they're smart enough to open jars.

I know I shouldn't eat pigs, either, but I'm having a lot of trouble quitting.

Cows and chickens are more or less fair game.

[TomK]

I'm a vegetarian.

I struggled with moral vegetarianism for a while. Then I gave it up.

Then I was eating some beef jerky and had a moment of awareness where I could see and feel all the processing and animal cruelty, violence, and ecological harm, and psychological need to dominate other life that went into me eating that pack of jerky. I threw the rest away and haven't eaten meat since. Being a vegetarian is no longer a struggle at all. It is only a complete joy. It brings happiness in my life to know that my actions and my beliefs are consistant, and I feel less responsible for the weight of the worlds suffering.

You need one of these moments of exceptional awareness to convert you. Maybe some psilocybin mushrooms would help?

[The Heretik]

I am a tabbouletarian. That is, I only eat tabbouleh. You are spot on the on the dressing of lemon and olive oil, though as I am sure you know, so many olives and so many flavors to choose from. Impersonally, I like kalamata.

I find a hint of fresh mint can add some zest to the tabouli which can be enjoyed at a table inside or al fresco for the frisky.

Thanks for making me heartsick for the wonder that is NY, NY.

[djw]

Why do otherwise magnificent middle eastern places use those crappy two-ply pitas? Why? WHY?

[epistemology]

Pictures please.

[epistemology]

I'm a vegetarian since about 1991 (if I had TomK's epiphany I would remember the date). Chicks dig it.

[epistemology]

Good question, djw. If the pita stinks, case closed. Same as the hoagies (subs, heros) down here Philadelphia way; if they don't use good, fresh, Italian rolls, fuggedaboutit. The bread c'est tout.

[Battlepanda]

Oh lord. I hate American style tabbuleh. It's all about the parsley, dammit! The bulgur is an accent!

[djw]

I'd like to try this parsley dominated tabbuleh. Sounds interesting. I must say I do enjoy the american style, but then I really like bulgur and make bulgur salads of various sorts all the time. I suppose I don't know what I'm missing.

[mds]

Ah, memories. The first time I had tabbouleh the right way was at Queen's Quay Terminal in Toronto. There was a small food court on the top floor with a Middle Eastern place. Most everything we tried was good, but it was the parsley-dominant tabbouleh that made it memorable. Like so much else, the place has long since been swept away by time...

Haven't been to Mr. Kabob yet, but I liked Bread & Olive, on W. 45th b/w 5th and 6th Ave...Hmm, 5th and 6th Avenues. Coincidence? I don't think so!

[John Needham]

I'm an omnivor. Well, largely an omnivor. I'll always be an omnivor, and I embrace my omnivourousness.

This was a funny line:

"Cows and chickens are more or less fair game."

Few foods in life are as satisfying as a nicely grilled NY strip steak. Unless it is a Cuban">http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_26333,00.html">Cuban Stlye Cheeseburger. Or a Jamaican Jerk Cheeseburger with Orange-Chipotle Mayo.

Yes, I've made all of these, and more. Come over some time for dinner, why don't ya?

[epistemology]

John Needham:
I would envy you your meat eating pleasure had I not so many of my own. To each their own. With three kids graduating (one college, two high school, not twins, don't ask) in 2004, we had a Cuban pigroast done to the specifications of the Three Guys From Miami and it worked perfectly. Got some fresh Italian rolls from South Philly and made roast pork sandwiches.

I broke the oven down in November to a smaller one, and smoked a brined turkey for Thanksgiving in it. The vegetarians had homemade lasagna with roasted vegetables for which I made a savory garlic spinach pudding base. Bon appetit!

[Robin]

Have you tried Bedouin Tent on Atlantic @ Bond in Brooklyn?

[The Kenosha Kid]

It would be funnier if Mr. Kabob was actually his name, and his store only sold frozen yogurt.