Getting Sauced - Babylon Eatery

Babylon Kitchen appeared yesterday at the right time, when Mom and Dad were hungry and tired after a trip to Costco (kidz quenched by that amazing rubber pizza that tastes not bad did not share the need to eat). And Babylon might not be the place I would go to in search of Arabian food, but I cannot say I did not enjoy my food last night, especially the sauces. Babylon reminds me of a place in New York City, where you run across good and inexpensive ethnic eateries outside of ethnic enclaves. Like NYC, inexpensive is relative.

The chowhounditas, while sated on pizza have a need to consume, experience. They dickered over what to share, finally agreeing on the falafel sandwich. Now, $4 for a falafel sammy is not that expensive, but not the dirt cheap falafel found in other parts of the city. Still, the falafel, shaped like tiny Bedouin tents, gets thrown in the fryer after we ordered them. As it has been said 1,000 times before, a fresh falafel is a fine falafel. I do not think the thin pita used was a concession to low carb mania, but I liked it that way. The Condiment Queen got the vegetarian combo. I tried the baba ganoush and the grape leaves and liked both. The grape leaves had that tight-dense structure that requires recent handiwork, and the baba had that nice smoky flavor from too long on the grill. I did not try the hummus, but Sophia lapped it up (Forcing Ms. VI into my plate of mixed shwarma).

I liked the shwarma least. If the falafel benefited greatly by getting ready for us, the shwarma suffered awfully from not being ready for us. I should have know better because the two spits of shwarma, meat and chicken really looked spent, yet we all have our benchmarks. They fry the shwarma in a pan to get it ready to eat. It did not get slimy or otherwise yucky as some re-heated shwarma gets. I actually was fine with the dry, shall we say arid (crisp?) texture, but the shwarma also lacked much in the way of flavors. Luckily, Babylon supplied a real good hot sauce. With a bit of investigating, I learned that Babylon's Mexican cook put together the hot sauce. He said it included chile de arbol, but I really think it included that canned chipoltle chiles in adobado, it had that smoky flavor. Another good sauce, that also seemed borrowed, was a green sauce served on some fried potatoes. The sauce had the same look, although not quite the same kick as the green sauce served at the Peruvian restaurant around the corner from Babylon.

Like I say, Babylon does not come close to the hospitality of Steve's Shish Kebab House or Salaam. At the last second, I threw an order of torshi, pickles, into the order, again to try. Again, the pickles were good enough but darn too few for the price. If I was in the area, say coming home from Costco again, I would probably return to Babylon for the food though.

Babylon Eatery
2023 N. Damen Ave
773-342-7482

Some of my cursory remarks on Babylon, from the other board.

Regards,
Erik M.

Babylon is OK, I guess. The kebabs are usually overcooked, and the shawerma is often a little dry, as noted above. The rice is excellent always, as erik said.

I've had generally decent luck with the kibbeh there. It's not all that special, but it's reliably decent.

I'm more likely to go to sultan's for felafel.

I do wish there was a reliable shawerma stand in the area.

gleam wrote:I'm more likely to go to sultan's for felafel.

I mentioned this once on the other board, but I never got an answer. I had heard lots of hype about Sultan's Falafel being the best in the area, so I went there to try a sandwich. What they served me was refrigerated, then nearly warmed to room temp falafel in a thin pita. Is this their normal style? I did not like it at all, much preferring my falafel to be hot from the grease.

stevez wrote:

gleam wrote:I'm more likely to go to sultan's for felafel.

I mentioned this once on the other board, but I never got an answer. I had heard lots of hype about Sultan's Falafel being the best in the area, so I went there to try a sandwich. What they served me was refrigerated, then nearly warmed to room temp falafel in a thin pita. Is this their normal style? I did not like it at all, much preferring my falafel to be hot from the grease.

Oh, I love* this topic.

Erik M.

* I'm a hater from way back.

stevez wrote:I mentioned this once on the other board, but I never got an answer. I had heard lots of hype about Sultan's Falafel being the best in the area, so I went there to try a sandwich. What they served me was refrigerated, then nearly warmed to room temp falafel in a thin pita. Is this their normal style? I did not like it at all, much preferring my falafel to be hot from the grease.

No, that's not normal in my experience. It's not fried to order (they do batches), but in my experience the felafel is still warm from the fryer. I only go during the lunchtime rush, though, so going at off-peak hours may be bad. You might be able to convince them to drop a few in just for you, though.

Erik is right that the hummus-jerusalem salad-sambal combo is weird. The sambal works for me, but it's definitely an unorthodox way of preparing.

I usually skip the jerusalem salad and have just hummus, felafel, and sambal. I also only eat at sultan's about once every 6 weeks. I tend to save up my middle eastern cravings for when I'm in albany park or detroit/windsor (where there's some fairly good lebanese food, including the much-adored la shish).


-ed

I once attempted to post a bad review of Sultan's Market on Metromix: denied. The Tribune's recent positive review only inflamed my distaste.
For LTH's delectation:

Awhile ago I decided upon Sultan's Market as the destination for a rare lunch with an old friend. Afterall, SM receives rave upon rave.

Steam table Middle Eastern?

It was terrible: gloppy lentil soup, pasty falafel.

Friendly staff offered us nibbles of an undercooked buffet-style casserole.

It was ersatz-hip(as becomes that area). I left with the impression that these raves were more in tune with the "cool" staff and d.i.y. culinary aesthetic than any empirical assertation of cuisine.

-loved the barrels of sambal oelek ornamenting the eaves

oh...the cold pita was yummy

I'm laughing when I realize that I've been driving past Monet's for ~2 years now - almost daily. The place is about 3 blocks from home for me - yet I've made the trek to Sultan's dozens of times, because I didn't know any better.

Well, I guess I've been enlightened now?

I, too, have been driving past both Monet's for the last 2 years and had no idea they served Egyptian style felafel (like the Oasis?). I have a coworker with the same name and teased him with being the owner of the stores!

How much is the felafel at Monet's and what other items do they sell?

Hey, what's this slamming Sultan's Market, just because it's convenient to a trendy area? I think it's really good. In fact, I'd rank it with Leona's on Sheffield for pizza, Twin Anchors for barbecue, El Jardin for Mexican...

Seriously, I went there once. Wasn't terrible, but never gave me an urge to go back.

Apple wrote:I, too, have been driving past both Monet's for the last 2 years and had no idea they served Egyptian style felafel (like the Oasis?).

From my first Chowhound post that I linked, above: "For falafel in the predominant Israeli-Lebanese style, and for very good homemade tahina dressing and hot sauce, you might consider Monet's Deli, on the corner of Ohio and Damen." (February 24, 2005)

From my second Chowhound post that I linked, above: "And, as far as falafel sandwiches go, I'd recommend Monet's for this purpose, as well. Unlike the ersatz sandwich creation at Sultan's, Monet's uses very good homemade Egyptian hot sauce and tahina sauce." (October 25, 2004)

I'd referred to the hot sauce as being Egyptian in style*, not the falafel. At any rate, I am fairly certain that the family that owns the shop is not Egyptian. Sorry for any misunderstanding.

Apple wrote:How much is the felafel at Monet's and what other items do they sell?

I don't remember, Apple. Admittedly, it has been awhile since I've been back. If I hadn't lunched at Sphinx Cafe, this noon, I'd be there tmrw.

Regards,
Erik M.

* This is how the counterman described it to me.

Erik M. wrote:I don't remember, Apple. Admittedly, it has been awhile since I've been back. If I hadn't lunched at Sphinx Cafe, this noon, I'd be there tmrw.

How is sphinx nowadays? When I was last there 18 months ago (I don't get out that way often) it was good, fairly cheap food. I loved the aggressively seasoned felafel and the quite hot sauce. Good meats, too..

Obviously not good enough for me to make the trip from chicago or oak park, but good if i'm ever in the area.

gleam wrote:

Erik M. wrote:I don't remember, Apple. Admittedly, it has been awhile since I've been back. If I hadn't lunched at Sphinx Cafe, this noon, I'd be there tmrw.

How is sphinx nowadays? When I was last there 18 months ago (I don't get out that way often) it was good, fairly cheap food. I loved the aggressively seasoned felafel and the quite hot sauce. Good meats, too..

Obviously not good enough for me to make the trip from chicago or oak park, but good if i'm ever in the area.

I thought is was quite good, gleam. As you point out, the falafel were nicely seasoned, and I also really liked their course texture. The only problem was that the oil that they had been fried in seemed a bit old. I liked the lentil soup alot, and the sauteed eggplant dish, maskah, was a real delight. We shared a combination platter which included shish tavouk, kefta, shawerma, and beef shish kabab. I thought the quality of the meat was good and the flavourings were great, but, with the exception of the chicken (shish tavouk), it was all a bit overcooked.

That was my first visit, and the place is really quite a trip. Literally and figuratively.

Regards,
Erik M.

Erik M. wrote:That was my first visit, and the place is really quite a trip. Literally and figuratively.

Sounds like they still have the black lights, then

gleam wrote:Sounds like they still have the black lights, then

Oh, yes. Fully blazed at High Noon.

The lights. I mean the lights.

Erik M.

Almost as if on cue, Monet's had a sign out today advertising that their Falafel is $3.29.

That's even cheaper than Sultan's, if memory isn't failing me. If I hadn't had a rather filling lunch at Chuck's Southern Comforts Cafe, I'd stroll down and grab one to give a report.

Pete wrote:That's even cheaper than Sultan's, if memory isn't failing me. If I hadn't had a rather filling lunch at Chuck's Southern Comforts Cafe, I'd stroll down and grab one to give a report.

I think sultan's just recently bumped from $3 to $3.50 for a sandwich, so it is indeed a little cheaper.

Both are high by a lot of standards though...

Being a (mostly) vegetarian and living in Bucktown means I eat a falafel sandwich at Sultan's quite often. Over the couple years I've been going there I've come to a simple conclusion - Sultan's Market has a serious quality control problem. The falafel sandwich ranges between cold, stale and bad to utterly sublime - heaven in a pita. Cross your fingers and plunk down your $3.26

Thanks for the heads up on Monet's. Made to order falafel sounds great (even if driving down to Ohio street doesn't)

vegmojo

I was in a felafel frame of mind for lunch today and stopped by Monet's on Damen and Ohio.

The felafel sandwich was good with felafel cooked to order but the sandwich itself was prepared like a wrap.

I was told Monet is the owner's first name and he is Palestinian.

The location of this store is actually not too far from LT's, II Jack's and Uncle Mike's Place.

Apple wrote:The felafel sandwich was good with felafel cooked to order but the sandwich itself was prepared like a wrap.

This manner of preparation happens to be my personal preference. I am sorry if it disappointed you. Remember, though, that you'd already been apprised of this fact.

At any rate, thanks for the follow through. I will be in, tmrw. It has been too long.

Erik M.

I didn't see this mentioned on earlier posts, though I may have missed it ...

Be forewarned: no felafel on the weekend. Kitchen is closed.

I stumbled in on Saturday in the grips of a fierce hunger only to slink out moments later, felafel-less. Interesting that they have the felafel, hummus, baba ghannouj, etc., but no other indication, product-wise or in terms of signage, of Middle Eastern-ness.

Fortunately, a quick jaunt over to Taqueria Traspazada (811 North Ashland) for a hurache and a torta de camaron mentioned in the thread on Mexican Lenten food did the trick.

rien

rien wrote:I didn't see this mentioned on earlier posts, though I may have missed it ...

Be forewarned: no felafel on the weekend. Kitchen is closed.

I stumbled in on Saturday in the grips of a fierce hunger only to slink out moments later, felafel-less. Interesting that they have the felafel, hummus, baba ghannouj, etc., but no other indication, product-wise or in terms of signage, of Middle Eastern-ness.

Fortunately, a quick jaunt over to Taqueria Traspazada (811 North Ashland) for a hurache and a torta de camaron mentioned in the thread on Mexican Lenten food did the trick.

rien

They seem to be often not serving food. I went in the day after this thread first appeared and they were not serving food (it was mid week). The person minding the store said that the owner had something else to do that day and they were not serving. The food service there seems to be at the whim of the owner.

There are a couple of different threads on Babylon on LTH, but I thought I'd post this here. Though I have never eaten there, you may care to know that they now reside in the vacated Ceres' Table location. Here is more info.

Babylon Middle Eastern Kitchen
4882 N. Clark St., Chicago (ignore references on website to Bucktown location)
773.342.7482