I used to live over in allston nearby the "Garlic & Lemons". First time I had shawarma was there. I have to say Moody's doesn't live up to Garlic & Lemon's standard. Price-wise its pretty decent. Food quality however I would have to give a 3/5. They also only accept cash FYI. I usually order the lamb shawarma plate. Not much sauce is provided, hummus is extra. The meat is precut and stored warm which actually I've found to taste a bit drier (G&L keeps it intact and cuts it when you order). Honestly its not an incredibly cheap place and with the food quality so-so. I think there are better alternatives.
(2)
Michelle L.
This place is a solid late night meal to grab when walking back from central square. It has both vegetarian and non-veg which are equally delicious . The food is well executed middle eastern food and you get what you order. Make sure you have cash though as this place only accepts card for big orders greater than $25 (much bigger than you could ever eat by yourself :) ). The restaurant is in a fantastic location an is inviting yet unassuming. There are no places to sit so don't plan on eating there unless its the summer and you can walk down the street to some of the benches on Western Ave.
(4)
Jeff M.
I kind of liked Moody's better before the renovation. Always a solid option.
(4)
bridgette h.
I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! it's honesty so good.. best falafel roll-up i've ever had. and its decently priced! JUST REMEMBER TO BRING CASH! my friend who was visiting from out of town came here and ordered just 3 falafel balls and when she went to pay she didn't have any cash.. so they gave it to her for free as a favor! how sweet! it's fresh, clean, and just tastes amazing.. please go here and the staff is really nice and cute!
(5)
Chris F.
Delicious falafel
(4)
Kaveh D.
Always consistent in quality. Very friendly people. Open till late. Not a fancy place, but certainly a gem for those who appreciate middle eastern cuisine.
(5)
A S.
The owner is the worst here! Rest of staff friendly. I really really really dont like him. Basically I have been going to this place for years. Today I went in and got a $15 rice plate for adding extra shawarma (of which he gave me like hardly anything extra) and for adding veggies (charged $1 extra for EVERY veggie) and I didnt even get any hummus (which I already knew they nickel and dime for). BOTTOM LINE: STAY AWAY. So many better placed to go. Around the corner is Andala (AMAZING every time) and Mass Ave Chicken, both 5 stars and are VERY fair people. Particularly Andala.
(1)
Ajay P.
Friend said its the best shwarma around. The meat didn't look too good, but still tried and the wrap was stale; and the meat smells. I think this is aimed at drunks. Aweful.
(1)
Andrew W.
Ordered the Triple Veggies Roll-Up. Quick service, and super-delicious sandwich. Very small; no seating on the inside, but plenty of park benches around Central if you want to stop and eat. Cash only.
(5)
Emily L.
LOVED this tiny falafel shop, one of many in a city that can't possibly appreciate the richness of its Middle Eastern culture! Our wraps were perfectly proportioned, easy to eat without making a mess but packed to the gills with a symphony of contrasting flavors and textures: smoky grilled meat and baba ganoush, creamy tahini and hummus, lemony tabouli, fresh vegetables and falafels that were dark and crispy outside, tender and herb-flecked within. Wow. They were so good, in fact, that they rate four stars despite some pretty serious problems. The most egregious is that they're cash-only, forcing a couple of us to zip up the street to an ATM. I get why small places do this, but I think it's causing them more harm than good, as I tend to avoid them even when they're as high-quality as Moody's. They really aren't equipped to handle large groups (there were eight of us) as there is no space to eat inside and only a tiny table outside -- we had to look elsewhere for a picnic spot. And I felt the prices were a little high: $8.50 for a smallish wrap (I ate mine and split a second with a friend; others in our party ordered two) and $2.50 for a can of soda. Knowing all that, if the circumstances were right, I would definitely return. Well done!
(4)
Rachel D.
Myself and two friends ate at Moody's this past week. This was the only meal that all 3 of us ate together. We have all contracted salmonella which has lasted 5 days and counting. This is the most sick I have ever been in my entire life, I can't even describe how painful it was. We all needed to go to urgent care for IV drugs and fluids. We are starting to hear from at least 10 others who have had the same experience. Please contact Cambridge restaurant inspections if you have gotten sick too 617 349-6124 Salmonella can kill people, this business really should not stay open after this.
(1)
E F.
Can't be beat for inexpensive delicious food in central square. After a while they did start to recognize me when I came in, so obviously I am addicted. (and maybe biased) Tiny interior space. Food is great - best baba ghanoush in town. Super veggie plate is where it's at.
(5)
Brendan G.
I have never given a review of a restaurant (call this place that if you will) before in my life because I have never felt so passionately about an establishment. I ate at this "restaurant" last week with friends when we were in town visiting two of our fraternity brothers. All four of us had falafel, and all four of us were unable to go to work all week because WE ALL HAVE FOOD POISONING. It's a damn shame that this goes on in a great state like Massachusetts. This type of treatment is not the America I have come to know and love. Please change your ways. Customers beware. I would give negative 5 stars if I could.
(1)
Sam D.
Myself, my sister and a friend got some of the worst food poisoning I've ever heard of from this place Friday 9/4/15. We have each been sick for 4 days and have all made trips to the hospital for IVs. I have eaten here several times and is generally good, but this was an awful disgusting experience and I will never go back.
(1)
Yan C.
Moody's is your typical hole-in-the-wall restaurant - tiny, hidden, dingy, but the food is oh-so-delicious! I came here on a beautiful fall day. There was a long line, so I waited a while to place my order and get my food. I got a chicken and lamb shawarma (couldn't choose between the two so why not get both?!) I think it was only around $6-7. There was barely any space inside the restaurant to enjoy the food, but I planned on getting it to go anyway, so I didn't really mind. It was a short walk to the Charles river. I sat down on the bank, enjoying my shawarma while watching the Charles Regatta. The shawarma was so flavorful! Both the chicken and lamb were marinated and quite juicy. The veggies balanced out meat, so the wrap was not so heavy. I absolutely believe it when other Yelpers say that the falafel and shawarma here make some of the most glorious (and cheap) drunk food. But hey, they are pretty damn tasty when I'm sober too!
(5)
Natalie R.
Myself and 4 other friends ate here last week, and about a day or two later, we all got crazy food poisoning. I got salmonella, haven't been right all this week and have been out of work because of it. This place is usually fine, idk what happened. I called the Cambridge board of health, hopefully they can straighten things out.
(1)
Olivia D.
It's fast, cheap, and tasty. The wraps are perfect to grab on the go. I have no qualms.
(5)
Isaac E.
Amazing little place on a corner. I think it is operated by the same family that first opened it many years ago. The food is incredible and the prices are fair, for Cambridge. Try the felafels ! I had the shewarma.
(5)
Ashwin K.
Awesome shawarma at reasonable prices. And they are open late!
(5)
Jon T.
Falafel here is pretty delicious, but the service can be so-so. I stopped in here at about 9:45pm one night because there were so few other restaurants (with vegan options) open at that time. I wanted to get a rice and lentil dish to go with my falafel but they were basically out of everything except wrap material. If there wasn't much of a demand at night, I could see why they wouldn't want to make more. But several people kept coming in asking for non-wrap items so clearly they could have made more and sold it. Also, it's cash only which is always a drag (though I understand why small businesses do this.)
(3)
Bob B.
the woman who serves the food was cleaning the counter and around food container with a cloth napking and dumped the food back into the food container. when i said something i got kick out from the restaurent saying i have been rude. that's food poisoning right there... i called cambridge city hall inspection services
(1)
Karis O.
Central Square essentially sets up Moody's Falafel Palace for victory since there's no late night pizza options available...BUT, that being said this place is like a light shining down from the heavens when you're running around from 11pm-2am trying to figure out how you can eat your feelings pre-bar/post-bar/anytime. Go to Moody's Falafel Palace. Bring cash. Get the Kafta Roll Up: slabs of tender beef with the fixings and their homemade tahini sauce. Or the regular Falafel Roll Up (vegetarian friendly) for a solid initiation experience. Throw in some feta in both of them, let's celebrate! This place is on par in my eyes like a Mediterranean Chipotle/Boloco/Anna's Taqueria [also, if you dislike any of these establishments, I dislike you] where you watch them put everything together in awe. Also- their restaurant is shaped like an actual palace. You know, the palace you were convinced you were going to live in when you were a kid. Points for sentiment and artistry.
(4)
Adam R.
Best falafel in Boston. Get the King's Wrap up and ask for extra taboli!
(5)
Noe C.
This is absolutely my favorite middle eastern takeout spot ever!!! Love that it's open late! It's so tasty I'm always extremely impressed. I've tried practically every dish there. Love the small local vibe. Great hidden gem in Central. Highly recommend. I have recommended many!!
(5)
Michelle D.
I work around Central Square and this is my favorite place to pick up a relatively cheap, healthy, and delicious meal. I'm a fan of the grape leaves and baba ganoush wrap in particular. I'm glad it's open late as my work shifts have been going later too. If it had some seating that would make it even better but otherwise I think it's pretty great for what it is!
(5)
Anthony L.
Oh man, Moody's is easily my favorite falafel place in town. Easily! In fact, one of my fears about moving to the west coast is no longer being able to stroll (read: drag) myself to Moody's at all hours of the night. Perhaps I should list my favorite attributes of Moody's for you: * Open until 3 a.m.... 3 a.m.! This means you are able to eat your favorite treat between any part of the sober-intoxicated spectrum * Inexpensive BUT damn good. (Have it be known that I really wanted to drop the f-bomb instead of 'damn', but censorship is okay on Yelp) * Location: Moody's is in the heart of Central Square; eat your grub at one of the bar tables, at one of the tables outside, OR venture to the grass in front of City Hall / Charles River. I need to break out of my shell a little more, but I have only gotten the Moody's (spicy) Falafel Wrap... but it's so damn good to try something else. Go here and enjoy! You will not be sorry, I promise. Pro-tip: Moody's is cash only! If you don't carry cash, head over to the 24-hour CVS, grab a beverage, get some cash back, and then head on over.
(5)
Jennifer T.
*falafel wrap (the falafel themselves were moist, crisp and meaty. Good flavor and texture. Not traditional with pita bread but with a wheat wrap. Regardless, I definitely enjoyed this!) *lamb & chicken schwarma wrap (omg!! The meat was so good! flavorful and perfectly cooked and tender. The meat was cut up so it was easy to eat in a wrap form; you have to get the hot sauce with the meat because it takes the meat to another level. Super good!!) It's like a Subway for Mediterranean food in terms of the wraps.. Pick your filling and they add the peppers, pickles, etc. They have platters too but we didn't get that. We went for a late night snack after drinking and it was totally worth the drive!!! Just park on the side street and walk over. There's no seating in there; just stand at the counter along the window and eat. If I were ever in that area again, I'd go back.
(4)
Austin W.
I had one of the most frustrating food ordering experiences of my life here. I came here an ordered a king shawarma plate, and instead of platting a king shawarma plate, the woman behind the counter put together a chicken and rice half plate for me. She asked me twice if I had wanted chicken, and twice, I made eye contact and specified that I wanted the king shawarma plate, and she proceeded to make the wrong order right in front of me. When the cashier rang up my order, I was charged not the price of a king shawarma plate, nor the price of a chicken and rice half plate, but something completely arbitrary. Go anywhere but here for your falafel fix. Try Chicken and Rice guys.
(1)
Victoria P.
Walked by Moody's on the way to the bus stop and decided to split a lamb shawarma roll-up with my boyfriend. It was just okay. The meat was tough, the veggies were lackluster, and the tzatziki was extremely runny/watery and lacked flavor. Overall, not my favorite and probably won't go back,
(2)
Julie M.
If you want something cheap go here . The owner Khalid was a little not there staring at me and my girlfriends ordering as if he was going to rape us with his eyes .the food was good until I looked behind the kitchen and saw a rat omg running around as if he owned the place . Not ok when ordering food it's not something I would particularly want to see when ordering food . That's why I labeled it as if you want something cheap go here , and don't bring your daughters unless you was a pedophile to look at them ...
(1)
Milena P.
Ughhh it pains me to downgrade Moody's because I used to go pretty much every week and loved the previous Syrian owner and his son. They were so, so kind to me. The new owner is a creep who hit on me and made me feel very uncomfortable the first time I visited after a long time and asked for the previous owner. They jacked up the prices significantly -- like $2 per sandwich. They ask you if you want hummus with your sandwich, making it sound like it's a standard topping, yet they charge you extra at the register. Had I known, I would have refused it! The "lamb" also tastes different, although they swear up and down it's the same recipe. I'm... doubtful. Also, not taking cards at all? Why? Get with the times! Yes, the falafel is still ace, and there's not really a lot of options for late night eats in Boston, but I'll probably start considering other options. Moody's is just not what it used to be.
(2)
Kristen C.
Preface: I have tried Falafel Palace twice: once sober and once en route home after a lovely evening dancing with friends. The former experience was underwhelming. I got a falafel salad and the falafel was dry, lacked flavor, and seemed like a misfit lost in a sea of iceberg lettuce. The latter experience was much better, though still different than expected. It was late at night, I was cold and hungry, and got a spicy falafel wrap. It was hot and savory and flavorful enough.. but not remotely spicy. It satisfied like a snickers. Recommendations for improvement include increased consistency of quality and assembly. Bottom line: great late-night, post-excursion fix.
(3)
Katie P.
Open until 3am. Had the mixed schwarma wrap. It was awesome! They put hummus in the wrap and with extra hot sauce it had a nice kick. You can get falafel and schwarma mixed which is what if like to try next time!
(4)
Monica T.
Awesome spot to pick up dinner after an overtime shift at work. Spicy chicken sxhwarma is amazing!
(4)
Lauren P.
I LOVE the falafel here. It is a great flavor and texture and definitely not dry. I order the falafel wrap, spicy. The spicy sauce is just enough kick. They smash up the falafel on the wrap making it much easier to eat than trying to balance a falafel ball between the pita. There reason I gave it a four is because I want the pickled turnip on my falafel wrap.
(4)
Luis D.
I may be a bit spoiled, because I have had the oportunity to taste the delights of Middle Eastern food in the Middle East. Moody's is not the best Middle Eastern food place, but it sure does fill in a niche. It is a quick bite and an affordable bite in a good location. Moody's is within a few minutes walk of Central Station and it is open late. I quickly popped in and bought myself a lamb and beef shwarma and it was not magical, but it was a tasty bite. The meat was marinated well and the toppings were additionaly good. Service was quick as well which makes this place a good lunch spot. This place only accepts cash which sucks. It is best to grab your food to go as there is only a standing counter. I also should mention that there is some interesting art work on the walls there. I didn't ask who made it, but I wondered if it was someone who works or owns the shop.
(3)
John M.
They stop having falafel and meat before they actually close. Super annoying to go in and be told all you can get is old rice.
(1)
Alexandra M.
Got take away from here and it was amazing. Best Falafel I've had in ages (which isn't saying much, seeing as I spent a year living in Korea but still). Perfect amounts of everything. And still warm when we got home. Such a long line when the bars close, but they were fast! 2 people went in to get food for 5 and we were amazed how fast they were out. Seemed like they were in and out.
(5)
Kenneth R.
Great Mediterranean food you can get at 2:30 AM on a Sunday morning! I had the Spinach Pie, Palace Super Veggie Plate (Falafel, Hoummos, Baba Ghanouj, Foul, Tabouli, & Grape Leaves), and the Beuruti Chicken Shawarma Plate (with bread, rice, and Syrian salad) [what, I was hungry]. The line took about five minutes, but the food was ready and fresh within a couple of minutes of that. It was really tasty, and its so nice that its open late every night of the week, and super late Thursday through Saturday! I was initially disappointed that they didn't take phone orders, but the line moves quickly and the food is ready, so that's not really an issue. I'll be back again soon.
(4)
Tricia T.
Palace Super Veggie Plate was an awesome way to get a good size portion of all my favorites! Absolutely packed with flavor. Super fresh. Quick, friendly take-out service.
(5)
Chootar L.
They ask if you'd like hummus on your sandwich but "forget" to tell you it costs extra. Very shiesty way of doing business. Why not disclose it will cost an extra $ so that I know instead of conning another $ out of me? During the past 1-2 yrs it has changed ownership as the food isn't as good, prices have gone up and amount of food as decreased.
(2)
Courtney H.
Lovely friendly staff and fresh ingredients. What more do you want? Hungry guys would probably need two though. Get down there.
(4)
Vivian Z.
This place serves a flawless falafel. Also staff is super nice and its small but I've never had to wait.
(5)
Lewis G.
This place is dank for lamb or chicken roll-ups w hummus and veggies. Open til 3AM thurs-sat. great place for drunk food after drinking in the bars. cheap food.... roll-ups are like 6$ decent quality ingredients and great taste. i will be returning a lot in the future. I want to try the kabob plates.
(4)
Dodge S.
Great place to eat cheap, lamb is wonderful with tahini sauce in a wrap.
(5)
Trent T.
open late; affordable; inexpensive; I should stop being surprised that I enjoy the shawarma. a relief in the inexplicable food desert of central cambridge.
(4)
Jess M.
Dear Moody's, I loved you when your shop was dingy looking and the staff was kinda mean and often forgot the hot sauce I paid for and then yelled at me that they certainly did include it. I still love you now that the staff is a lot nicer and the place is a lot prettier. But could you please do something about your super stale pita? I never know what to do with it because it's too stale for eating. Once I fed it to the birds. Today I fed a little to my cat. She seemed to like it. My cat also likes smelly gross cat food. I love everything about your food and eat it at least once a week, so unless you want my cat and the birds to get fatter from stale pita bread I suggest you wrap it in saran wrap. Thanks!
(4)
Corey L.
Went there once to find a good Falafel (visited Egypt a few years ago and had dirt cheap incredible falafels every day for 2 weeks and have been searching for good ones ever since) Anyway, I went inside and immediately became nervous - it was like the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld. Everyone was in line and seemed to know exactly what they wanted and how to order. I'm an annoying question-asker in restaurants, so I was nervous. I asked a few questions and they answered them, though without smiling, I got my food, and I quite enjoyed it. Then I ate it on the sidewalk as it was busy and that was the option. Luckily it was a lovely day and plenty of eye candy about. And by eye candy, I mean drunk homeless people trying to sell me drugs. Ahhh Central Square. Anyway, I'll be back if I'm in the area and in the mood for Falafel.
(3)
Kiki P.
Moody's Falafel Place is the perfect spot to grab some falafel and lamb or chicken shawarma after or during a night of drinking. I stopped by Moody's when I was at a few bars in Central Square. It was around 10pm and I was starving so I pulled out my phone and did a quick Yelp search. Moody's popped up right away and it was exactly the type of grub I was looking for. Ambiance: This is a quick and easy bite. There are no seats inside the restaurant. There are a couple of seats outside for maybe 2-3 people. Be prepared to eat your meal while standing. It is just one of those places... Food: I ordered Moody's falafel plate, which has all of your standard falafel ingredients: salad, falafel, tahini etc served with pita bread. The falafel itself was rather average. A few hours after my meal, I had very bad stomach pains. Not sure why the food upset my stomach. Service: You cannot really comment much on service at a fast food restaurant. They obviously prepared my order very quickly. The staff seemed nice enough, but when someone in the group brought up Yelp, they were bitter. They stated that they "hate" yelp. I am not sure why they have such strong feelings of hatred towards Yelp but since Yelp is my life (or a large portion of it), I was not happy about this comment. Maybe they were just hung up on some nasty reviews written by Yelp users. NOT COOL for them to be haters. TIP: Moody's is CASH ONLY so please be sure to bring some with you. There are several ATMs in Central Square in case you forget. Overall, I would recommend checking out Moody's Falafel Place if you are looking for a quick late night bite to eat and in the Central Square area. I would not suggest going far out of your way though. Enjoy!
(3)
Arpita B.
It's cheap, serves delicious food, stays open late and is close to the Central Square T stop...what else could you ask for when you aren't in the mood for burning a burning a hole in your pocket! This place is a speck on the wall (you will miss if you blink), with barely enough place for 5 people to stand in at one time....But the food more than compensates for its size. The chicken and lamb shwarmma wraps are the best items on their menu. The meat is mounted on a rotating rod being slowly cooked all day and is sliced off in individual portions only when ordered. This slow roasting allows the meat to soak in all falvors of herb rub it has. The falafel wrap comes a close second. The only down side would be: they take cash only (sometimes they take credit cards...depends on the cashier's mood), there is limited street parking and hardly any seating...The only reason to come here: Hearty, delicious FOOD!!
(4)
Emily G.
The 3 stars is partly if not mostly my fault for not being completely and utterly hammered. Truth. Lets face it. Moody's is the best drunken-food-venture place in the area. Their wraps are big and filling, their store is tiny, the owners can treat you like shit case you're too drunk to care and everything is cash-only unless you are smashed enough to order food for everyone. But all of that is alright, because you're drunk. Really really drunk. Their veggie surprise dish (i'm making up the name here, its veggie something and it costs $7) is loaded with falafel, a chick pea salad, sauces and tons of veggies with added spice depending on how much you plan on loving your bowels later. The wrap is incredibly filling and large, which is just about the right amount of food for someone that needs to balance out all those jager bombs and Miller Light (seriously, you couldn't pick something classier to get drunk on?). To be honest, their falafel is amazing on its own. Its crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and packs tons of flavor. The rest of the filling in the veggie wrap just bring down the falafel instead of enhancing it. I would've ordered straight up falafel with a dipping sauce for the perfect midnight snack. Since my wrap was under the $10 card minimum, I had to show some serious cleavage for them to make an exception. So this is what I recommend. If it is plain daylight and you are looking for a Mediterranean to-go meal, then this place is A-OK. If you are drunk, walking sideways and having some serious munchies, this place will taste like the milk of the gods caressing your face and massaging your body. TL:DR? 3 stars sober. 89 stars drunk. *drops mic* IM OUT.
(3)
Karina L.
This place is open until 3am, which is downright shocking for any eating establishment in the Greater Boston Area. That said, I usually come here during work, and there is never a long wait -- which I think is more of a reflection on their service than their popularity. A man I can only assume is the manager noticed a customer was waiting for her side, and made sure she got it immediately. There are a ton of vegetarian options here. Because I am me, I opted for the meatiest option they offered -- a lamb/beef roll up. The pita is put on a grill for several minutes, so it's crisp and piping hot once you get it. The meat is flavorful and juicy, and made even more moist with their delicious hummus. The only thing I omitted were the raw onions (they make my breath smell like Satan). This is a GREAT lunch option if you want something that's filling but won't throw you into a food coma for the rest of the day.
(5)
Carrie P.
This is really a 3-star restaurant. The falafel isn't anything special, and the service isn't stunningly fast. This restaurant gets an EXTRA star for one reason: it is open until 3am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The owner of this restaurant understands that I want some foooooooood after a night of dancing. In a city that closes down at 2, this is one of your post-bar options. Bookmark it and set an alarm to remind yourself. The falafel is acceptable, but not authentic. Even in an intoxicated state, the falafel is noticeably dry and lacks any interesting flavor.
(4)
Damien S.
Well Moody, after years of only sampling your wares while unlawfully intoxicated, I finally ate your chicken shawarma... (Is it possible? Can it be? Are they serious? Well, I've never. Preposterous!) ... SOBER!!! And it was damn tasty. Where normally dry proteins are carved from a vertical rotisserie, they seem to take an altered approach during non-closing time hours and store the bird in a bin. Result: maintained juiciness, if not practically post-brined. I'm a fan of the warmed wrap loaded with, well, pick your lead role: chix, lamb, kafta kabob, all for $5.50 and all made a bit more flavorful with a dollop of hummus and a squeeze of hot sauce. For veg, the standard L, T and pickle cool and give texture, but only the pickle lends anything to the sandwich. Moody's hits the street food trinity: fast, cheap and tasty, and does it where few contest their title. Plus, if you're polite (as most drunkards aren't), they are too. Bonus!
(4)
Maximillian M.
The king's roll up is excellent, as is the falafel side (a couple more than two would've been nice for the price though). Ask them about leaving out the pickles and be enlightened.
(4)
Y. R.
Totally delicious food. Have been eating here for years. It's a small place, so there's a standing counter but I don't mind. Sometimes I stay, sometimes I eat on the go. Food has always tasted great no matter what I order.
(5)
David K.
This place is the perfect way to cap off an evening after a night out at the bars in central or anywhere else. The kings roll up is perfection in the form of donner lamb, with some fantasticly spicy sauce and chicken. Cash only, so come prepared.
(5)
Kev H.
The Falafel here is pretty good. The pita could be a little better, but everything else from the salad to the lamb is good. Service is quick. I'd say it could be a little less expensive given it's cash only. I'll be back to try something else next time since it's open so late.
(3)
Keem H.
I ordered 3 wraps to go. The guy who was filling the wraps wasn't paying attention to what he was doing. I was standing in front of him while he was talking to his friend and laughing not paying attention to what I asked him. Instead of doing lamb he was filling for chicken. The wrap was completely empty and he was about to close it up and give it to me. I asked him what is that! He told me that the owner told them not to fill the wrap. I told him "but it is almost empty!!" He said the owner doesn't care!!! I left the place without taking anything. The guy was very very ignorant and rude. And if the owner really said that so, I would never go there again and I would highly recommend against this place. As if all the shawerma places ran out of the city!!! Horrible service and horrible food.
(1)
Andrew C.
Open late and reasonably priced. They might run out of lamb if it's a busy late night.
(3)
Jessica H.
My favorite go-to at 1:30am after a show at the Middle East or TT The Bears. Since it seems nothing in Boston and Cambridge is open after 2am for food this is the go to place! They are open till 3am on the weekends (Thurs - Sat nights). SWEET! Lots of vegetarian and vegan choices. I only get the falafel though because it's consisnt, quick, and easy to walk and eat with. Is it the best falafel in the city? No there are certainly much better places. But is it amazing at 2am? YES. Also they will cut the roll-up in half so it's easy to split with a friend. There used to be a young guy that worked there for many years that I thought was super cute but he isn't there anymore. I used to like ordering from him between 2005-2008. The place can get crazy crowded at 2am when the bars let out, so be prepared for a line and wait. Otherwise it's pretty quick. Usually you can find a place to eat though since people are in and out of there pretty fast. Last Fall they were doing rennovations to the place so it was closed for awhile and I got so sad thinking they were closed forever, but glad to know they reopened!! Also if you don't know of the secret parking space late at night, well then you are missing out! =)
(5)
Carlos R.
No reason to go anywhere else.
(5)
Allison M.
I want to give more than a 1 star because the food is tasty, but the service is horrible and rude and the portions are cheap and stingy. I get a bad taste from interacting with the people working there that I don't even want to eat their food! I bought a veggie plate, the most expensive thing on the menu, and I only received ONE piece of falafel and one piece of stuffed grape leaves and heard them arguing about how much lettuce they give me. And no pita bread. sheesh, but no thanks. i rather go to Davis square for a better deal and more amicable atmosphere.
(1)
M A.
Five years ago the food was fantastic. Hot sauce, garlic, veggies, and perfectly marinated meats combined for an amazing fast food experience. I was looking forward to returning. My recent visit found the food bland, dry, and almost inedible. Despite an ownership presence there was absolutely no flavor to the food and the chicken roll up had barely any chicken. I took a bite and hastily disposed of it.
(1)
Jon G.
I thought the food was very well priced and at a great location.
(3)
Ryan M.
I stopped in here while waiting for my bus, haven't been in here in a while, the food went down just fine but I think I may have gotten food poisoning when I got the veggie falafel wrap on Monday night 1/13/2014. This was the only thing I had eaten for the day and spent the next 2 days in a pretty rough condition, the typical food illness stuff that I am sure I do not need to go into details about.... Anyone else that came in past 6 PM Monday have any issues??
(1)
Jonathan W.
Well if I hadn't been spoiled by Moody himself years ago I might give this four stars. Moody is the brother to the famous Mamoun who made the BEST felafel in NYC. Moody did too, but alas Moody went back to Lebanon and now while the food is good, it is not the spectacular repast it once was. They used to offer an eggplant rollup to die for and used to grill the wraps. Anyway, good felafel etc.
(3)
here t.
Yeoow! nice work guys... by the way, the place is just chock full o' guys of various types. Grunting, smelling, yeah-ing, thinking, etc. The wimmins be scared it seems but they shan't be as its nice afterall. If a bit gritty. The food is fresh..thats' the most important thing in a low margin place like this. The hummus and baba are very very good... I autta know Ive made 'em from scratch a few times in my day. Actually, the weakest link.........is the falafel..what?! - hey is this a trick review?! .... yeah sorry but its bland and somewhat mealy. Ive had way worse but at a Palace, wherein falafel is presumably the centerpiece of the altar, it should self-levitate and gently turn in coordination with planetary movements, or, maybe just have a bit o' crisp to it. Everything else is great. Some of the best tabouli around, cucke salad done with aplomb and a bit of lemon and mint. (Where do they BUY that aplomb?) Fresh bread, great small pastry deserts, and good prices. What else can you say except don't navigate your next galactic GPS program using their falafel. You may end up in Onion Square. Maybe the fifth star would be earned by some floor to ceiling cleanup a bit more often. But then it might help in this age of H1N43 or whatever it is we're terrified of this year.
(4)
Marcos R.
Greater Boston, being alongside with San Francisco the most European of metropolitan areas in the United States, should have more eatery places like Moody's Falafel Palace. This Central-Sq. obligated late night stop for God's hungry children offers healthy and tasty food from the Middle East at a very affordable price. While in Europe it was easy to find these independent food stands which run at a small scale and don't hurt your wallet. So far I've been two times and I'm already a fan. Try the baba ganouj (however it's spelled) sandwich. This is not a place for an elaborate date, but I'm sure a lady would appreciate if you showed her this convenient place for the first time.
(4)
Brian G.
Somehow ended up here after the yelp elite karoke event, drunk off my ass. Got a cheap, vegan, delicious falafel made pronto. It had pickles on it too which was odd but zesty. They are open til 3am! No one is open til 3am! Brilliant! Boston seems to be into falafel like Sacramento is into burritos. I like both, I'm happy either way (but I haven't had a good burrito in ages....)
(5)
Lala L.
Since I started working in the area...been coming here about once a month when I'm bored with everything else and it's nice enough to walk a few blocks over. The chicken shawarma roll up is one of my faves, esp with hot sauce. it's got enough kick to get me chugging down that Orangina. It's also a plus that they don't go cheap on their sauce. I hate dry sandwiches. The falafel isn't bad either. This place puts enough veggies in your sammy...the right amount of pickles too.
(3)
Augustina C.
This used to be a four- or five-star place, before the renovations (and change of management?). Their foul was delicious, stuffed with beans, pomegranate seeds, tahini, and other bits and bobs. Now it's just a mass of shredded cabbage with some tomatoes and onions. I haven't tried anything else there since they renovated, to be fair, but they do seem to be much sloppier than I remember.
(3)
Taryn L.
Went for lunch yesterday and the food was fantastic. I had a veggie platter while others in my group tried a chicken dish and everyone was quite pleased. Seasoning on everything was really the best part.
(5)
Maya S.
Moody's is one of the best Falafel places you can find. The prices are reasonable and the portions are filling. Ideal place to go grab a bite when you are really hungry! Be sure to try out their cashew filled dessert wrap or whatever it's called. It's delicious!
(4)
Dana L.
So, after 6 years in the area, and three right near Central Square, I was embarrassed to have never visited this place. I made a pilgrimage on a sunny spring day, and it definitely met my standards. The falafel was just about right - not too dry or greasy, and pretty much the right mixture of stuff. Maybe not the perfect falafel, but it was darned good.
(4)
RM M.
This place is cheap and has always been good. Expect to wait for a bit at peak times. There is very little room inside; it can be hard to find a seat and even if you do, you will feel crowded. I swear that this place has the best cheap falafel in the Boston area. Great late night food, open til 3am on weekends!
(5)
Shawn W.
My first experience with Moody's was much less than satisfactory. Venturing in during a lunch break I'd ordered a lamb shawarma, and literally every other bite of lamb was un-chewable. After half of the shawarma, I tossed it. I was very displeased and it took over a year for me to return. The second time around was under very different circumstances. Stumbling all the way back to Central Square from Porter at 2 am on a Saturday night, post awesome party, my friend asked what sort of food was available in the area. Moody's was the first place to pop up in my clouded consciousness, so in we went. We spent a few minutes looking over the menu carefully deciding what to order, only to be informed that falafel was the only thing being served at that hour. Fair enough. We got our falafel shawarmas and proceeded to finish them rather quickly. Good news, the falafel was much better than the Lamb - tasty and moist. Perfect food for coping with excessive inebriation.
(3)
Melody N.
I went here once late on a Friday night with friends after many libations. I had major munchies and was glad to eat anything. The place is small but it was bursting with people. The line moves quickly though and the place smells great. My husband and I shared the King Shawarma plate which had both lamb and chicken, rice, salad, and comes with bread. All components of the plate were delicious and it was good portion to feed the both of us. It is relatively inexpensive as well. Definitely a great place for a late night munch.
(4)
Zoe M.
Moody's is a great place to stop for lunch or a light dinner. The food is fairly cheap and the staff is super friendly. I have no idea what to suggest to order, because I've tried half the menu at this point and it's all really, really good. The falafel is a go-to, but so is the chicken shawarma. Honestly try anything. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Heads up: There aren't seats inside (only a counter to stand at) and they only take cash so be prepared.
(4)
Mike S.
Falafel Palace has obviously undergone a management change sometime in the last year or so and has taken a nosedive in quality. This used to be one of my favorite spots and was impossible to resist late at night. The portions make you think that we're war rationing to send our chickpeas to the Prussian front. The current staff there has legit made me a falafel roll with 2 falafel in it. TWO. I can see you making it. I know it's 90% lettuce. It's a sad sad way to see one of the greats go out.
(2)
Jarrod G.
This place is the best! So convenient, healthy, & delicious. The hot sauce is great and Danny is the man! He remembers my order every time!
(5)
D F.
Have been coming here for 7 years and although it has changed some, it's still one of the best things about Central Square. Many great nights have been ended here at 2am, picking up a Chicken Sharma roll-up which you then enjoy sitting outside on the sidewalks of Cambridge. This late, you can't do much better for food and ambiance, it's like a ritual. Side note, I've eaten there during the day and the food actually tastes better! Liquor is not needed to enjoy Moody's delicious food!
(5)
Scratchie S.
This place is the bomb. I've been going here since you could get a sandwich and a side of rice pilaf for three bucks (early 90s). It's still cheap, if not *that* cheap, and still tasty, and still open late night on the weekends. Now that the CPD has moved, you can find parking around here at night, too. Glad to see this place is still around and still serving great food.
(5)
Mason H.
Amazing food, great people, authentic flavors. Get some.
(5)
Tanya V.
Worst falafel sandwich I ve had. The falafel doesn't even taste like falafel. It looks like its mixed with bread crumbs and tastes like bread inside a wrap. They don't use tomatoes, just iceberg lettuce and a scanty pickle or two. The tahini sauce is watered down. Overall a very dry and bland falafel sandwich.
(1)
Joey C.
I was visiting Cambrdge this weekend and headed back to Moody's for my favorite falafel sandwich...It was great. I like their wrap style sandwiches better than the pita pocket style that other joints serve. When I made a visit last summer to Moody's, it was pretty terrible (as reflected in other's 2012 reviews here. at Yelp.) Judging by my visit two days ago, they've gotten their mojo back.
(4)
Bertrand R.
Some excellent middle eastern food. The shwarma plate and the falafel wraps are my two favorite dishes. They also have some excellent baklava. The manager of the place during the daytime is really friendly and sometimes they will offer you some stuff to try (like lentil soup he let me have for free a while back). I would say that the only downside of the place is that it's on the small side, so you can end up waiting for 15 minutes for your dish if you're there during rush hour. Also, there is one lady who is really stingy with serving you meat. I've seen her put a bunch onto a plate only to remove some later. Most everyone else will give you a bountiful portion.
(4)
Ned K.
It's generally tough to find good food in the main Central Square drag, but I really like Falafel Palace from the handful of times I've been. I've gotten the Chicken Shwarma which was great and would also recommend the stuffed grape leaves for something a little lighter. Definitely going back to expand my menu knowledge. Would definitely recommend if looking for a quick bite while on the go or for something to bring home.
(4)
Geneva B.
Everytime I used to go visit my friend at NYU, I'd be psyched to go to Mamoun's -- a hole in the wall falafel place in Greenwich village open all night. Moody's Falafel Palace is the equivalent, and it's /right next to where I live./ So excited. A lot of their stuff has dairy in it (like the tahini -- so vegans and lactards be alert), but not all, and they'll show you what you can eat. $10 minimum for credit cards. Fantastic food.
(5)
Jaxon W.
My go-to place for a quick, flavorful and affordable lunch in Central Sq. Get a Shawarma and Falafel mix, filling and delicious. Cash-only.
(4)
Alyssa H.
I'm with Ladyjane. What happened here??!? I used to dream about the babaghanooj here it was so good. I worked down the street and frequented Falafel Palace at least twice a week. The staff was friendly, the food was cheap and delicious. They knew me and my order. Fast forward 2 years and I stopped by yesterday to have the sandwich I missed so much. Pressed slightly on the grill, full of baba ghanooj and pomegranate seeds. While the location is the same I am guessing ownership has changed. It's slightly remodeled, the prices are slightly higher, the staff and the recipes have changed. My sandwich was cold and limp. No pomegranate seeds. I'm so sad :(
(2)
Kenny C.
I did not like this place at all. Friend and I came here late night after not-so-heavy drinking and each had the chicken shawarma wrap. BIG MISTAKE. The chicken was dry, the sauce was flavorless and runny, and it made me bloated and feeling like crap until the next afternoon (so much so that "chicken shawarma was a bad choice" became an inside joke). I've had good shawarma before, and this place does not make it. But what can you expect from a place that spells it "falafal" instead of an "falafel" on its storefront sign?
(1)
Nick T.
Fantastic food but I'm giving only 2 stars because the owner refuses to let you pay with a credit / debit card (or something like level up which is now the norm for most locations in boston or cambridge these days).
(2)
Ladyjane S.
I ate here recently and, wow, things have truly gone downhill here. I used to get lunch here weekly when I worked in the square. Best falafel and shwarma wraps ever. But no more. Now, the falafel is white (?) and mushy and not falafel-tasting at all. And they don't wrap them properly so you have a soupy mess at the bottom when you're finishing. Also, my bf got the chicken and lamb combo wrap and he requested no onions. So she started piling on chicken and then some meat/onion mix on it and when we told her, no, he can't have onions, she goes "oh, well that lamb's not ready yet", pointing to the spit. So then she picks the chicken out then pours the lamb/onion/bits of chicken mixture back into the lamb bin. (WTF??) Food is not very tasty and service...weird. I will not be returning.
(2)
Ali H.
If you're looking for a roll up or a light delicious meal, then this is the place that you're looking for. The owner is really kind, humble. and he's always there, the guys working here are so nice too ;) . Don't miss the spicy sauce and tahini .
This place is glorious. It's right off the Central Square T, they have vegan options, and it's cheap. There's no seating, although there is a bar-type area so that you can buy your food, eat it immediately, and then turn around to buy more food to eat. The card minimum is $25 though, or else I would eat it everyday going both to and from work. Oh- the only downside to this place is that it will make your clothes smell like falafel. Actually, that's not really a downside. EDIT: They don't take cards at all anymore.
(5)
Anthony R.
Decently falafel sandwiches served quickly for a fair price. Back in the day, they used to ignore you for a bit, (slowly) assemble your sandwich, the place it on a grill and hand it over a few minutes later with delicious results. Unfortunately, the Falafel Palace has (somewhat) recently taken a turn for the worse as they've changed the format of the place. The service is now assembly line Anna's Taqueria style, which means that you get your sandwich probably ten times faster, but it's not as good as it used to be. The ingredients are still great, but the lack of grilling and generally sloppier assembly takes the sandwiches from drunk-divine to drunk-good (and sober-acceptable). Still, it's a tasty falafel, served to you in a palace, and open (very) late on weekends. Not bad.
(3)
Nadia A.
I personally had a really bad experience here on a Wednesday night last week. The place is small, so don't be intimidated by a long line, it goes relatively fast. There was Arabic music playing and a lively vibe. I felt very rushed to order but decided on the falafel wrap and a side of dolmas. The owner, I assume, was on the cash register and was slowing down the line because his eye was on the food line and he wasn't paying attention to the people in front of him. He rang me up to $9.54, which I thought was a bit pricey. I asked to use a card, and he said: "it's cash only unless you want to use your card to buy a $25 gift card." My dad owns a small business, so I know cards can be expensive per transaction, but you need to be consistent, cards or no cards! I scrambled to find the cash, since I knew I wouldn't be returning. I was handed a large bag with my sandwich and my sides in a large styrofoam container. As I was getting on the T, I tried to take the sandwich out of the bag, and oil spilled ALL over my coat from the open container. It was not properly closed and was prone to leaks (no way to seal a styrofoam container!). Beyond that, three dolma pieces cost nearly 4 dollars. Stick with the sandwich! The only positive piece was the fact that the sandwich came in a plastic bag, which allows for easy and clean eating of a messy sandwich. Food was tasty! Pros: convenient, relatively quick, nice ambiance, tasty food Cons: a bit pricey for sides, bad card policy (bring cash), messy food and not appropriate food container (except clear bag for sandwiches)
(3)
Michelle J.
I was originally going to give this place 3 stars but after seeing a situation with a customer and the staff willing to make them a brand new wrap they deserve that extra star. You've got to love a place willing to give you exactly what you want the way you want it if you're not happy, even though it wasn't their fault. For a number of times I've had to elude this place. Central Square though vibrant with various dine-in eateries actually doesn't have many places open for takeout after hours. And I've many a time gone in and leave because of the sheer volume of people who want a schwarma at 9PM. Most of their wraps are decently priced at $6. Sometimes I like to imagine a place open at 2AM and not next to a bar might very well be selling some crack. But no, this place just sells some really good food. (Those of you looking for crack should probably eat here too. It's cheaper but can be just as addictive.) I've had the lamb, chicken and kafka roll-ups. I was a bit disappointed in their falafel. That's supposed to be a staple food and the one time I did try it seemed hard to chew and the salad that comes with it was not that good. In all though this place is good for lunch, dinner or that 2AM hangover when the bars stop pouring and you don't want pizza. While I praise all food that comes in wrap form you can go without if you're counting those carbs.
(4)
liz c.
I used to love this place, but it has really gone downhill. The new owner or manager or whoever he is is kind of a drag. They used to have delish green falafel, but no more. You can no longer sit down in there since they re-did it. The drink selection has gotten worse and more sugary. too bad!
(2)
Brady B.
I've tried this place twice and I must say I'm a fan. Being on what seems to be a never ending falafel kick, Moody's is right up there w/ Cafe Jaffa and Falafel King, which is my personal favorite. Shwarma is definitely next on my list when I go back to Moody's. Great location, nice staff and open very late...a rarity in this town. Thank God I don't live near here otherwise I'd be ODing on falafel and waking up on the floor on a Sunday morning with tahini and hummus smeared all over me!
(4)
Steve H.
Great selections for vegetarians abound. Service is quick which is great if you're in a hurry in busy Central Square.
(4)
Karan A.
Good, consistent food and probably the best Chicken Shawarma in town. Also good for late nights - Its open till really late on Friday-Saturday nights. The only bad things about this restaurant are - Pay extra for sauces - Only Cash policy - Not enough seating
(3)
Nikhil P.
Decent food but nothing to write home about. Coming from downtown Toronto, land of the shawarma, this was kind of imposter'ish. Good for a quick bite though -- fast, affordable food, just nothing that'll knock your socks off.
(2)
Sarah G.
Walking by this place yesterday brought back my utter feelings of disappointment and dissatisfaction with this falafel experience...I can't believe that I never wrote this place up!!! Thank goodness I walked by it yesterday to remind me to tell all of you true yelpers out there, that this place has to be one of the most overrated places I have been to in Boston so far.... It is tiny...which sure shouldn't be a deterrent, but since it is a late night place, I am not one who after my night of drinking, wants to have to worry about some weird guy standing all up in my business at 2 or 3 am in the morning, let alone trying to make sure you don't spill your food in such cramped quarters! It is cold outside, so of course everyone crams in this place like little sardines to try and eat their late night munchies!! And the fact that I had had a couple of drinks before I got here, makes it even worse that I was so sad about the quality of food I got here. I literally should have gone to some alley in Central Square and found a dry cardboard box, and taken a bite or two of that, because honestly, their falafel wraps here taste about the same as I think a cardboard box would. Absolutely flavorless, hard, bland, and stale...People must have to be seriously wasted to like this place. The sauce even had no flavor and the lamb wrap we got was exactly the same only a little chewier! They do have fast service here, especially for the late night crowds that is usually a good thing, but in their case, I would say that means that the food has been sitting out a while...which is maybe why it tasted so bad. Why eat food if it isn't satisfying in the least bit? My question exactly, and if I came here again, I just wouldn't eat anything. Problem solved.
(1)
Dessa R.
It's 2am on Thursday night in Central Square. You're starving after a night of drum n bass rear-shakin at the Phoenix. Suddenly it hits you like a slap in the face-- despite Central Square's oh so hip vibe, there are close to zero food options at this hour. Don't insult me by bringing up Hi-Fi and Cinderella's. These are not food "options." A milkless bowl of Cheerios from my kitchen is a more legit food option than the terrible twins of pizza failure. No, only one establishment remains in the 02139... Falafel Palace. It's hot, it's good, it's cheap. It's open late. I've had much better falafel in my day, but the Chicken Kebab rollup is pretty decent in a pinch. They turn off the grill by the latenight hours though, so it tends not to be available. So I frequently just end up with an okay order of falafel, which is by far the best and only option at 2am. Someone please open up some great latenight eats spot in Central Square-- it'd make a killing.
(3)
Howe L.
I've tried my fair share of falafel places across Boston. Despite my anticipation to try Moody's, I can't rank it at the top of my list. Little dry, did not seem fresh, and not really enough filling. Cant go wrong as drunk food though.
(3)
Yaka M.
Food is pretty good. Service is good and quick. Very limited seating. I would happily go back and try something else if I'm in the area and want to grab something quick to eat, but this is not the kind of place that I would take my friends etc. Cash Only.
(4)
Casey F.
Chicken shwarma!! Everything is good. There's a lunchtime rush - avoid noon on weekdays.
(4)
Paul M.
In a land that public transportation shuts down at 12:45 am, bars at 1 or 2 am, and other restaurants usually 10:00-11:00 pm Falafel Palace stays open to the wee hour of 3 am. Not only that but today, on the heels of the remnants of Hurricane Irene, when every other restaurant seemed closed, Moody's was not. They serve a variety of Middle Eastern fare from their namesake falafels to shawarma to tasty desserts like baklava and bird's nests. They serve the food cheap. They serve the food in a mini-castle in the middle of Central Square. That's why they've been a staple of the area for years. I'm pretty sure Matt Damon loves the place. I'm sure that a lot of other people do too. Count me among them. There are some cons- the quality hasn't always been exactly steady. Sometimes the chicken just isn't as good as it usually is. Sometimes the lamb isn't. Sometimes it's the falafel. But nevertheless any of their dishes are generally excellent. And be careful, the wraps can get mighty soggy at the bottom.
(4)
Eric M.
When it comes to falafel, I've been spoiled my whole life. Growing up as a strapping Palestinian lad, I've been given some of the finest falafel around, whether it be from my mother or from delicious restaurants that my family has frequented. So I came to Moody's with a pretty high standard for what "great" falafel should taste like - and came away mildly disappointed. It was very dry and the tahini was nothing to write home about either. But at the same time, the prices are very fair and they give you a fresh product in about a minute. So I can't really be picky here - this is very much a 3.5 star place, but unfortunately I can't round up here. I'll go back and hope to upgrade my rating after.
(3)
Ram K.
Cheap and good food, but not excellent. Best part, they are in central square. There is a zipcar lot right behind this place where you can manage to park for few minutes (shhhh) and grab a bite on the go. This place is open till 3AM every day. Thats a steal for a weekend night after drinking so much and dancing. Schwarma plates are ample enough. Not a huge fan of rollups but not so bad.
(4)
Alex L.
I used to be addicted to this place. Whenever I go I usually get either a roll-up with lamb, or a shawarma plate with lamb and chicken. The first few months of getting this you're likely to think it's amazing, and it's all very cheap which is great. After a few more months though of eating this regularly, the novelty wears off and the food becomes less appetizing. Now I only go to take my friends there since I know it's a popular first-timer, but I don't go on my own just for food anymore. Still worth 4 stars though for the initial great taste.
(4)
Rebecca N.
Always delicious for a quick dinner or for a snack late night. Staff is fast and friendly. Lots of vegetarian options, which I very much appreciate. So glad I live so close to this place! It is an important staple in Central square; the other fast food places in Central are chains like McDonalds or Wendys. Thanks Falafel Palace!
(4)
Aaron W.
This is my go-to lunch place in Central Square. - Great food in an easy to carry package... check. - As fast as Ana's Taqueria (my current high speed benchmark)... check - Friendly service... check My only complaints are: - They seem understaffed for the lunch crowd (late night seems fine) - No place to sit after the renovation Bonus: - The servers recognize me and help me learn Spanish phrases (I am trying to learn Spanish as a New Year's Resolution).
(4)
Boberella B.
Moody's is a old time standby for those late night, post-party snack attacks, or a quick, inexpensive bite on the go. I have many a fond memory of late nights when their chicken or lamb shawarma rollups have provided the perfect, savory exclamation point to a great night out. Lately though Moody's has really been letting me down. What's up with pre-made sandwiches unceremoniously handed over the counter by some uninterested grunts after being half-assedly rewarmed in a sandwich press? What's with the babaganoush and falafel rollup I ordered not having any baba despite my having paid an extra $.50 for it? (it's not the money, it's the principle). That sandwich was pretty awful, actually. The bread was soggy from sitting around for a while, the lettuce was wilted, and those tomatoes were, well, kind of gray. I don't even want to talk about the soggy, listless falafel patties. I can forgive a mistake every now and again, but this is getting to be more of a rule than an exception. 2 stars cause I know you can do better, Moody's.
(2)
Daniel M.
The place is adorable. A little unfortunate that there isn't much seating anywhere because you have to basically take the food and go elsewhere, but the food is great. My friend got the spinach pie and it was teeny tiny for 3 dollars, and not what he was expecting, but my wrap was delicious.
(3)
Adriel I.
So you took her on a date. Why not? Not the prettiest girl in the world but she laughed at your lame joke, and there was something about the way she twirled her hair. So the date went well. And so did the second. Didn't get past second base, but meh....there was just something about the way she smiled at you. You think. Maybe it's just because she lives just down the street. Or maybe its cause she always answers the door, even if it's 2am in the morning. You don't know...hell, most of the time you go see her, the room's spinning from one to many at Redline or Middlesex Lounge, and you can't be bothered to think about why's and hows. Until suddenly you're walking down the aisle and her gap toothed smile catches the corner of your eye from under her veil and you think to yourself "how did it come to this?!" And you know it's gonna be lamb roll ups for the rest of your life. Yep. Moody's is kind of like that.
(4)
Roscoe R.
The food has always been mediocre at Moody's -- not great, but not bad. I'd give the food itself 2.7 stars. The main reason I often returned to Moody's was because they were open past midnight and because they were pretty cheap. Basically, it was either Moody's or 7-11. I used to get the chicken shwarma, lamb shwarma, or kafta kebab sandwiches (tried a foul sandwich once, when I was in a veggie mood, but the foul was indeed foul). The lamb was usually fatty/gristly/sinewy -- pretty gross having to spit stuff out a lot -- so I preferred the chicken (which was often dry/overcooked) or the kafta (made to order). And the sandwiches were way too "americanized" for me -- other than tahini, they came only w/lettuce, tomato, and supermarket pickles on them. Moody's never offered cumin-marinated onions, garlic paste, etc. I stopped going to Moody's entirely last year because of too many bad experiences with service. Enough is enough. Too many of the guys who work there late at night are surly assholes, too distracted by their loud music and friends to provide decent service, and so I'd rather spend my money supporting other Central Square food places. For example, if you want similarly cheap, mediocre food in Central Square but with GOOD service, visit Mass Chicken, which is 1 block away. It's worth noting that Moody's USED to have some really nice, courteous employees -- Sami comes to mind, and so does Danny -- but a bunch of them left, and some started working at the (MUCH better quality) Falafel Corner in Harvard Square when it opened about a year ago. Two bad (but typical) Moody's service experiences come to mind. The one and only time I called in an order, to avoid waiting in line, guess what happened when I showed up 30 minutes later (they had said "15 minutes," but I knew better than to trust that time frame)? They said, "Oh, yeah, we didn't make it yet, we're pretty busy." The second bad experience that comes to mind was the occasion that led me to not come back. I went there one night and ordered my 2 sandwiches (you need 2 to fill you up because they don't have much meat on them, so I'd get 1 lamb and 1 chicken). I asked for "just a tiny bit of hot sauce, just a little," like I always do (because their hot sauce is super hot). A few minutes later, I'm watching the guy make what I think is my sandwich, and he puts a TON of hot sauce on it -- I'm talking SPOONFULS. I say, "Is that mine you're making?" He says, "Yeah." I say (very politely), "Oh, well, I had asked for it with just a little hot sauce, and that's way too hot for me." He says, with considerable attitude, "Well, just try it anyway" and handed me the sandwich when he was done making it. [He re-made it without comment after I did try it, handed it back to him, and said, "Yeah, it's too hot".] I don't know who owns Moody's, but it seems like the owner spent little or no time on-site late at night. Again, if I were rating Moody's on food alone, I'd give it a higher rating -- 2.7 stars -- but the service is the dealbreaker.
(2)
Chewie L.
Was here for lunch and got the falafel wrap. It was swimming in tahini sauce and the falafels didn't have that nice crunch that makes them great. They were also surprisingly bland all-around: the tahini, the falafel, the hummus all lacked personality. Also, pickles in a falafel wrap is kinda weird to me.
(2)
Robin H.
Super good! I go every week. I just wish they had somewhere to sit.
(4)
Bob S.
A wayyyy better late night option than hifi. Actually tastes pretty good and doesn't make you hate yourself. I've actually gone there when I wasn't hammered and it still was quality. Although I was in there once and the manager threatened to fire an employee in front of customers. It was very uncomfortable. Guy seemed like a jerk.
(3)
Brian D.
Good spot for late-night lamb shwarma or falafel, but my satisfaction with this place is always correlated with the # of drinks I've had that night... None-1: I really wish this place tasted like the deliciousness of Israel and Greece. 2 stars 2-4:Why do I sometimes get so frustrated with this place? It's pretty good. 3 stars 4+: This is AMAZING and a perfect late-night drunk food spot. 5 stars!
(3)
Allison R.
Nothing compares to Döner stands in Berlin for me, but Moody's sure is tasty. I would give them five stars if they sold beer, which would complete the nostalgia for me. Then, I'd give Boston ONE MILLION stars if I could drink said beer walking down the street and on the T...legally. But, the next best thing, in terms of schwarma, falafel, hummus, and pita is Moody's Falafel Palace. The building is even shaped like a castle! They also sell meat pies (MAJOR WIN, trust me), baklava, and are open until 3 AM Wed-Sat, as their neon sign proclaims.
(4)
Sarah D.
We go back a ways, Moody's and I. How many dalliances can I have with them before I just come right and admit that I love them? No more, that's how many. I eat their shawarma when I am coming home late and hungry from the bar. I eat their shawarma when I can't think of anywhere else to go for dinner. I eat their shawarma when I don't feel like cooking. I ate their shawarma when I lived in Quincy and I sure as heck eat their shawarma now that I live in their neighborhood. This is my midnight snack of choice on the weekends and my dinner of choice when left to my own devices. It's fast food i guess, but it's so darn good. I love the pickles, by the way. Lamb is tasty, chicken with hot sauce is maybe tastier, but i will eat it pretty much however it arrives. I have no idea whether it is authentic or traditional, but it is definitely delicional (YUP).
(5)
Kim S.
Being new to the area, I stumbled upon this awesome place on a Saturday night, after contemplating another late night session of mediocre pie at Hi-Fi Pizza down the road. Even around 2 am, this place is bustling with a combination of locals, visitors, and falafel enthusiasts, who are looking to satiate their post-revelrous adventures with some authentic middle eastern cuisine. I tried the lamb shawarma, and it was deliciously cheap at $4.99 for a reasonably sized wrap. And the variety of options offered for such a small place was pleasantly surprising. They offer everything from traditional falafel, to baba ghanouj, and of course, hummus. And although there was a bit of a line outside the door, it was absolutely worth the wait. This palace just gained a new regular customer.
(5)
Aaron B.
I had the Aleppo pepper lamb wrap. Really tasty and just spicey enough.
(4)
Jon H.
I definitely need to come back here and try it again. Moody's has a great small-town feel with obviously lots of fans - evident by the packed interior on a late Friday night (keep in mind this place is open until the early morning). Unfortunately, I wasn't blown away by the super combo plate I got (chicken, hummus, tahini, lots of fresh veggie mixes (onions, tomatoes, cilantro). It was a little too light on the chicken, a little too heavy on the veggies. BUT I can see the potential for more satisfying meals here in the future (read: ALL CHICKEN plates). The hummus, the pitas, the shredded chicken, the veggies. LOVING IT.
(4)
Jen T.
There is no other place to get falafel in the area. I mean, there is, but there may as well not be. This place is cheap, fast, delicious, AND open late. And if you're familiar with greater Boston, you may know that the last thing is the hardest to find. I've always found the portions here to be huge and can rarely finish my huge wrap even after some hunger-inducing drinking. My advice is to wrap it back up in the foil and be delightfully surprised when you wake up the next morning and find it in your fridge :) The night time crowd can be fun or annoying depending on your mood, and sometimes you really have to force your way in to get served.
(4)
Susan N.
This place has gone seriously downhill in the last year or so. I used to come to Moody's after bar hours. I love how they used to grill it so it's soft and crunchy. No more. Now you get to wait forever for a sandwich that's mediocre at best. It's great when you're drunk because you don't really know what you're eating. The falafel is bland, which defies everything a good falafel should be. Nothing makes up for a bad falafel sandwich. NOTHING.
(2)
Joseph G.
Falafel Palace is awesome. Perfect meal, perfect snack. Always cheap. Personally I almost always get the lamb schwarma rollup, because it is just too delicious. When you walk in the door and look at that giant spit of meat roasting in front of you, it's almost impossible to buy anything else. That said, I have also had their falafel as well as their hummus and tabuli and it is all tasty as can be. Not too much in terms of seating, but you'll probably end up scarfing your food down before you even realize that you want to sit.
(4)
Orian I.
Value +excellent quality food = happy tummy. We trampled through the snow to grab a bite for dinner. my boy regailing me with tales of late night study sessions at MIT and running down here, or drunken stumbles here on the weekends. The place is just the right size, it's tiny and cozy and the incredible spice filled air wraps you up like a blanket. We got the veggie combo and the lamb shawarma. The rotating spit is filled with that delicious perfection the quick attentive service. delicious rice, fantastic falafel. great salad, great tabouli salad. mmm mouth watering. next time i'll get the wrap, i'm a sucker for pickles and hot sauce. this is a little gem.
(5)
Michael P.
*The ONLY late night pit-stop for REAL food in Central Sq. ("Real" as in none of that pizza down Mass Ave). It's definitely worth the late night trip. *Lamb Shawarma! Thumbs up! Good solid wrap. $5. Beware that they usually run out of this; so it's not available after midnight ish on busy nights? *I prefer not to get the combo plates; the food is too compartmentalized and the take-out box is bulky. The wrap is where its at. All the delicious ingredients are well-mixed and bundled into a ready-to-eat form (oh, and grill pressed too right before it's served). Moody's is afterall a food pit-stop: order, grab'n'go, and bon appetit!
(4)
Joanna C.
While the Falafel Palace has numerous "pros" working for it: walking distance, central location, late hours, decent prices, variety of options...there are too many "cons" and the "quality" (or lack of quality) of those negative points that bring out the rating that it deserves. Having moved from an area that offers a variety of fresh, low-priced, and delicious choices - I have tried not to let my previous experiences affect the lacking options in the greater Boston area. Keeping that in mind, I still cannot allow this place to be recommended. The items are often dry, rubbery, flavorless (and sometimes, really strange flavors), and mushy. I have tried their falafel and shawarma wraps - and just can't get myself to come back anymore to try anything else. Service can also be spotty and inconsistent. Yelp is asking me to rate what it's "Good For" (i.e. Lunch, Dinner, Late-nigh snack) and I wish there was a "Barely Sub-par Meal" option. While it's reputation may rise as the hours get later in the day - that is not enough to warrant it anything more than 1 star. And appropriately so. Don't waste your time here.
(1)
Joojie R.
Let me just start off by saying every Friday I religiously visit Falafel King in Quincy. I decided to venture out here and see how it compares. I'd better not compare... TINY PLACE. It's the size of one-person bathrooms at restaurants. Not that they need to be huge to be good, but it was good. That's it. It was good. You can sit outside. Lots of weirdos walking by, perfect for people watching.
(3)
Melissa L.
Yum yum yum. I'm hungry just thinking about Moody's. I love this place because it's open way late. My producer lives about 4 blocks away and when we were recording my album, I would get hungry and we'd walk over to Moody's. Their lamb shwarma plate (any combo plate actually) is SO huge, with piles of tabouli salad, rice, lamb, pita bread, hummus... It's just really delicious in so many ways. Try their delicious garlic sauce, and their falafels, perfectly fried - just to die for. Totally satisfies all my late night cravings. Just two weeks ago, I performed at All Asia, and after the show, we were so hungry we trudged through the snow to Moody's and it totally satisfied all of our eating needs. I'm not a fan of sweets, but I heard their baklava is good too.
(4)
ThePainfulTruth X.
Extremely rude counter worker. Flat-out refused to recommend something fast. I was on the way to a dance class, running late, and in need of some quick food. I wanted to buy local, so I stopped in at Moody's Falafel Palace. I approached the guy behind the counter, smiled and said: "Hi, so, I'm running late, what can you make that is fast?" The man says, bored, "everything we make is fast". I hardly ever eat Middle Eastern food so I couldn't really remember what was fast and what took time to cook. I said "Um, I know some things take a while to cook, can you tell me what is fast?" He said again, "everything is fast". I had been scanning the menu until this point; I looked him in the eye, pleading, kind of shaking my head, like, "what's the problem?" He shoots me a nasty glare and says, "I think you should go somewhere else." I have never been treated this way in a restaurant. Every restaurant I've ever visited in a hurry, the server has been able to recommend one or two menu items that suited my needs. I recommend you avoid this establishment and the rude guy who works there!
(1)
Maria R.
Ugh- I've now been 3 times since the change in management- it's just not the same place at all. sure the paint is refreshed- but so are the prices and the attitude. The last time I was there the guy behind the counter was SO RUDE! He took orders from his friends that were coming in behind me, and then, when I was finally the last possible person he could wait on, refusing to make eye contact, he nodded in my direction "yes?" that was it. If i want to be treated badly, there are numerous places-- particularly in Central Square where I can go to be taken down a peg. but when I'm a customer, me thinks not. that was my last visit- buh-bye Moody's. Nice knowing ya- plenty of places to get a shwarma wrap & falafel nearby.
(1)
Mike L.
Been living in Cambridge for over 5 years now and this USE TO be my weekly spot, I refered everyone here, my gf/nephew/etc. Loved the food and the owner. This place recently has been renovated and the owner is no longer present so the INMATES are running the place. FIRST. The woman at the cashier is always on the phone so she won't interact with you at all. Unless she is Yelling at you saying your wrong and she is right regarding a sandwich?! SECOND. If you want something on your rollup like pickles/no onions you better not ask because its not BURGER KING where you can HAVE IT YOUR WAY. Especially if there is 1-2 people behind you. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND SKIP THIS PLACE. SAD SAYING THIS BECAUSE THIS PLACE WAS AWESOME! USE TO BE....NOW IT IS JUST ANOTHER SNOBBY TRENDY EATERY! I WILL NEVER EVER GO BACK...........................
(1)
Nitya D.
Moody's is basically a hole in the wall and might as well be the smallest eatery establishment in Central. Don't let that fool you though because the portions are large, the quality is great, and it's really cheap (I don't think I've spent more than $10 there and that's the upper limit). You won't really be able to snag a seat given that they have only 4-5 chairs, but it's great when you just want to grab a wrap to go. So basically, the ambiance is completely underwhelming, but the food totally makes up for it.
(4)
Pecan E.
Things here have taken a turn for the worst. Appears to be under new ownership. Interior has been renovated. Prices have gone up. Portions are smaller. The owner is very rude. I used to come here very regularly on my commute home. Revisited today after an 8 month gap. I'll try again just to verify but what I experienced wasn't good. Terrible mushy falafel and flavorless chicken shawarma. It's always a bad sign when all of the meat is precut off the spit and laying in a warming tray. Oh, did I mention that the owner is very rude.
(1)
David A.
SLOW AND MEDIOCRE. I've been here 4 times and once last night around midnight. We both ordered falafel sandwiches. They were OK compared to other ones I've had at other places. I only ate mine as I was HUNGRY. The guy behind the counter wasn't that friendly and they were pretty slow in making the sandwiches. 10 minutes was very fast for them, as the last few times I've been there, I've waited 20-30 minutes for my food. It's small, so most people do take out, rather than eat there. There are benches in the square, if it's nice out. On a PLUS SIDE, IT IS OPEN LATE and it's hours match the typical crowd coming out of bars/clubs in the area. How to get there? It's in Central Square. Street parking, paid lots, and T.
(2)
Dee P.
Did someone really just say they got "two falafels, one lamb and one chicken" here? Um, people unclear on the concept, perhaps? Pretty damn good falafel here (which is CHICKPEAS for the clueless), good tahini, EXCELLENT prices (can you walk out of any other place in the square with a full meal for less than $5? I think not). Cute longhaired arabic boys who are nice to flirt with. The staff generally remembers regulars and are super nice. This is a family-owned place (run by the original Moody's cousin) and it could surely use a re-decorating venture and a deep clean (the hanging decorations haven't been dusted in millennia) but the food is good and one of the best deals in the area. The only cons: the spinach "pie" has no cheese in it (sacrelige) and the salad that comes with platters is super watery so it leaks all over. Oh and they still use styrofoam, sadly. The falafel comes with pickles so make sure you specify if you don't like those!
(4)
Andy C.
Pros: quick service right near the T. Open till 3am. Cons: Overfried falafels that are a bit expensive. I guess you can't complain too much at 2 in the morning when you've got a hankering for a falafel wrap.
(3)
Jeremy S.
Boston doesn't have an abundance of late-night food establishments, so the Falafel Palace in Cambridge gets 5 stars from me simply for being open (the fact that its tasty, honest, and trustworthy are also good attributes). Other reviewers are right: this place is at its best after a night of moderate to heavy drinking. It's cheap, quick, and far better than pizza for a 2AM snack. Still not convinced? Hit up a live show at the Middle East, then wash it all down with a $5 shwarma before hitting the hay. The Palace will feel like Heaven.
(5)
Scott B.
Holy Mother of Shiznit... this place may not look like a Palace... but the treasures within atest to every quality a Palace should exhibit... Moody's has the magic to change any bad mood's frown upside down. Get out of work at 1am on a Saturday, and hungry as a mofo? Head down to Moody's... they're open until 3am Wed-Sat! The falafel is incredible... tasty, stuffed with hefty portions... and press-grilled to perfection. Oh yeah... and it was only... get this... wait for it... FOUR TWENTY FIVE... yup... you read it right... $4.25~! Moody's, you're awesome... and only one thing could bring you to a level OVER five stars... DELIVERY would seal the deal.
(5)
Cherie C.
Good prices, good food. The guys working the counter were pretty mellow despite the crowds. They even noticed that we stepped outside while waiting and looked out the window and motioned that our food was ready. They could have just left it on the counter. And I know that if I was working that counter I wouldn't remember the faces of who ordered what, let alone remember where we were standing. The only negative: they were out of some drinks and the selection left a bit to be desired. That said, the shawarma was delicious. My fava bean thing was okay, but I should have gotten falafel or just hummus or tabouli instead. Can't wait to go back.
(4)
Kimberly H.
THE BEST LATE NIGHT FOOD IN ALL OF CAMBRIDGE! Falafel Palace delivers consistently every time. Before you assume your experience is going to be perfect, beware of the following: - Long lines, especially around 2am - Juicy, drippy falafel wraps - No space inside to eat If you're prepared to endure those hardships, then you're ready for: - Amazing, quality falafel (I've been to Israel twice, I know my falafel) - If you ask for extra anything (I highly recommend pickles), you will get an abundance of that item - LOTS OF FOOD for CHEAAAP - Homemade baklava - If you ask for spicy, you're going to burn your mouth For a while I only ordered the falafel wrap with tahini sauce and extra pickles, but the other day I branched out and got the vegetarian plate (which is a healthier option). I have never been disappointed at Falafel Palace. The owners are awesome, too.
(5)
David R.
Slamming chicken falafel wraps with hot sauce! Quick fast and affordable. Tied for the best falafel in Boston .
(5)
David Y.
Was disappointed by this place. Was in on a slow Fri night and got the veggie combo plate. The $7 dish has hummus, baba ganoush, 2 pieces of falafel, taboulleh, and pita. The taboulleh was very watery. The pita too thin and cold. The falafel not crispy, rather mushy actually. And the hummus had a weird unpleasant tanginess to it. Not the middle-eastern food I was hoping for and I did expect more out of this place. Cheap but you get cheap food.
(2)
Alex P.
Home of the toasted falafel. I can say from experience that this was once of the best falafel places in the world. Today, it's hit or miss. Perhaps lacking the toppings panache of Moaz in Isreal/Barcelona, without the savory street tang of roadside schwarma stands in Aleppo or Damascus (which, incidentally, is where Moody's takes inspiration from. See the wall photos...) and not quite as fresh as its nearby cousin Sepal of Watertown, Moody somehow rivaled the best of them with a perfectly toasted wrap and tahini sauce that would make angels weep. Today's it has succumbed to wilty lettuce and lemon juice concentrate for zest. I believe original owners took a back seat to the day-to-day operations some time ago, and with them went a special concern for quality and freshness. You can still get a world-class falafel at the Palace, but you'll have to get lucky.
(3)
Steve K.
After coming back from a semester in Europe a few years back, I realized why succumbing to your drunchies over there was so much easier and more rewarding than over here: late-night döner kebab. For the first few weekends on American soil, I mostly spent my late nights picking through the aisles at convenience stores, eventually walking to the counter with some hastily selected bags of God-knows-what. As I pulled out my wallet to pay, a single tear of longing would roll down my cheek. Oh, to have late-night shaved meat on this side of the ocean! Then, one fateful night, one of my Central-dwelling friends recommended we brave the cold February winds at two in the morning in order to sate our inebriated hunger. I thought he had lost it. Turns out, he had Moody's on the brain, and since then, nothing's been the same. (And by nothing, I mean nothing having to do with late-night shawarma.) Open until three in the morning, Moody's will carve you up a shawarma (or lightly smash you a falafel) for a shockingly small amount of money, considering how satisfying it ends up being, and that the same amount of cash spent at most any other late-night place in Central will leave you feeling all greasy and gross in the cab on the way home. Don't skimp on the pickles, and the baklava are pretty decent. The only drawback is the occasional wait, depending on when you're there. I understand crowds can make things a little slow, but when it's nearly empty, come on. I know putting these things together doesn't take that long. That aside, though: next time you want a little taste of that time you had one too many in Berlin and found refuge in one of the only still-lit establishments on the block, hit up Moody's. Your stomach (and your wallet) will thank you.
(4)
Eric F.
Tasty lamb shawarma and open late, but service is very questionable. As Brian S. noted, one of the punks there gave a lot of uncalled for attitude when we asked for water.
(3)
EC S.
I got the falafel pita with hummus. The falafel itself was fine, not the best I've ever had, but not particularly bad either. But since when do you put pickles in a falafel pita?? Also, there was something off about the pita itself. I don't know if it was a little stale or what, but it was unpleasantly chewy/tough. All these imperfect ingredients didn't come together to make anything special. On the positive side, if I remember correctly, they took my card, which was really nice and honestly unexpected in a place so small. The employees were nice too. The food is just lacking, unfortunately.
(2)
Sarah T.
This is the closest falafel shop to my place, and you know what? It's just not worth it. Exhibit A: It's tiny. Really, it's standing room only. I can't imagine wanting to eat anything inside unless you have nowhere else to go. And with the amount of time it takes to get you your food, there will be no oxygen left in the place by the time you leave. Exhibit B: The falafel's just not good. My vote is for Greek Corner II at Harvard Sq. $0.75 more for falafel that actually tastes good and is more than I can usually finish. I eat seafood but not other meats, so I haven't tried most of the rest of the things Moody's offers. The baklava and cashew fingers are pretty decent, but not worth making a trip for it. Sometimes I'll pop in just for that if I'm waiting for the 83 or 91 buses. On the other hand, if you're less than sober and needing a bite at 2 a.m., by all means come here. It's cheap, and it's not like your taste buds will be in full working order at that point anyway.
(2)
Alexander L.
love this place. whenever i head into boston, i'm always thinking about this place and whether or not i can afford the time to stop in central square on my route and pop in for a king's roll-up. i don't know what it is about the food, but it always leaves me feeling satisfied and refreshed. best part is it's open late and they serve food fast. and because it's a roll, you can eat it while driving pretty easily. for just a dollar more (i think), you can get the full plate, which is like almost as much food as 1.5-2 rolls! yum.
(5)
Michelle L.
Maybe this place should be called "Moody's Shawarma Palace" instead. See, the Shawarma and the other meat entrees are pretty darn tasty. I've had the super combo plate and the chicken shawarma roll-up (mm, pickles.) I tried the combo plate because I'm indecisive and like to try everything. So: the tabbouli? Good. The chicken? Good. Greasy, but tasty, and I watched the guy shave the fresh meat off the stick, which is always a plus in a place like this. The hummus? Good. The pita? Well, average, but what do you expect. The baba gannoush? Very tasty. The falafel? AWFUL. I'm sorry, but I love falafel, and this was inedible. It tasted nothing like any falafel I've ever had before. I'm not sure what went wrong. It didn't seem as if it had ever come from chickpeas, and tasted oddly bitter on the inside, though that was mostly masked by the overpowering fried breading flavor. Texture was spongy and weird. If you want good falafel, go to Falafel King in Downtown Crossing. That place is falafel heaven. This might just be falafel hell. But like I said, this place isn't all bad: it's just the falafel...which is kind of a problem for a place that has falafel in the name. And it's open late and it's cheap, two other huge bonuses in the Central Square area (or anywhere in Boston/Cambridge). Stick to the meat, or, if you're a vegetarian, to the tabbouli or baba gannoush or hummus. Stay far away from the falafel.
I was always curious about seeing so many normal looking people queuing at this place. On sat night, on our way to Shakespeare in the Common, we grabbed 2 falafel. One beef and one lamb, what a disappointment, the beef was overcooked, and tasteless; the lamb (actually more like some old sheep) was irregularly cooked, very nervy, some massive chunks, and some big piece of fatty chewy nerve balls that I had to spit out. I had stomach ache for the entire night. And I am not a princess when it comes to food, and had always finish my plates even in the most exotic locations. A part from that, the service is rude but quick, the vegies were fresh, prices low. But it is not a reason to sell perished meat.
(1)
Bruce M.
From the heat emanating off the shwarma racks... to the glass enclosed display of baklava glistening with honey... to the generous portions of hot felafel... to the gregarious owner greeting you warmly... to the Arabic music straining from the speakers... Moody's Felafel Palace is simply the best felafel west of Aleppo (which is where owner Chaled is from--mention Aleppo fondly and you'll have a friend forever). I had the felafel platter with a side of tahini and hot sauce--although the sides are a extra $.50, they're absolutely worth the investment and complement the food well. My partner had the lamb shwarma, which after I took a bite I regretted I didn't order. Order a lemonade to take some of the bite off the hot sauce, and don't skip the baklava for desert. Between us, $15 for dinner. And Worth. Every. Penny. After you're done, tarry a little while to talk politics with Chaled: After all, you can't spell Middle East without "eat", and--like hole-in-the-wall felafel joints the world around--the post-meal kibitzing is almost required.
(4)
Shane P.
What happened!? Moodys used to be a place I loved to frequent and would brag about to out-of-town friends. Pretty sure this place changed hands and it shows. Everything has gone downhill fast. Sadly now the portions are small and quality of food is shoddy. Recently I've been handed pre-made wraps! (WTF?) The chicken is dry and chunky and the hummus is inconsistent and not nearly as rich and creamy as it used to be. Moody's used to be a destination. Now it's a last resort. However, all hope is not lost since I do believe the Falafel shop in Harvard Sq. next to Charlie's Kitchen is run by the original Moody's owners. I suggest trying that location.
(1)
Zinah A.
I crave Moody's Falafel and my favorite the lamb shawarama! This place is quick, fresh, cheap, and it's open late night for those walking through Central Sq after a couple of drinks with some cravings! Stop in this little corner whole in the wall is a central square yummy treasure! I am half middle eastern and this is the spot! LOVE LOVE Moody's!
(5)
Ali E.
Oh how I love you, Falafel Palace. Tremendous. My only complaints are 1) pickles in your falafel wrap? and 2) i am covered in shwarma sauce. Awesome lamb shwarma, awesome falafel, but make sure to ask for no pickles (those of you who find them as incongruous as I do). Big ups to being open until 3, but the line can get super long after 1:30 or so so if you really want it, be prepared to wait. Also, I'm curious. I see your sign: "We have a special." What kind of special? Should I know this already?
(4)
Jeremy K.
This Lebanese place is fantastic. There are a few flaws but the ambiance, staff and food make up for them easily and once you bite into those delicious, messy sandwiches, all of your problems will go away. One important thing you should consider about this place is that they are slow. It can take up to thirty minutes for you to get your sandwich depending on how busy they are. It's slow. Sure. Criticize. Boo. No but honestly their stuff is great. They have all kinds of Middle-Eastern food like falafel and grape leave sandwiches, kebab and kaftas, lamb... chicken, you name it. They have tea and coffee, and even some Orangina! Yes!!! That's awesome. They have have deserts available, from their succulent fruit salads to honey-based pastries. They are opened up to 3am on certain days, which is later than bars and that is also awesome. Although parking can be difficult to find there, the place is great and the food tasty! The decor is authentic and the music nice as well. Just don't set your expectations to thinking that you'll have a guaranteed seat or that you will be served quickly and instead order, relax and enjoy yourself.
(4)
Sean J.
I forced my cab driver to stop here late Friday night. I knew it was going to be the only place I could grab something to eat so late after the bars were all closed. I tried ordering numerous menu items but it seems that at a certain point in the night they narrow is down to just 2 items. I don;t entirely understand what I ordered, I just know if was some kind of wrap with lamb in it and it was pretty delicious. I got some hotsauce with it that was absolutely delicious. It wasn;t too expensive either, I dropped $10 and fed me and my girlfriend, and even had a little food left over to give to the homeless dude sleeping on the bench next to me while I was eating.
(3)
Iv L.
hey not bad, had the chicken shawarma. It was good. The place is at a corner and very small inside, so do not expect much seatings. It's more like a fast food place, but descent. I would go again.
(3)
Noshii R.
Im eating my chicken roll-up as I type this and its horrible. The lettuce is wilted and god knows how old (yes, I am famished & dont feel like venturing out this horrible rain again) There is no sauce in it at all...totally dry. I asked for extra hot sauce...the guy charged me .50cent for it...FOR HOT SAUCE!!! They are hit or miss...there have been times where its been good and then times like tonight--where it totally sucks!!! Gonna have to find a new spot in Central--cause this one has been sucking lately.
(1)
Jen L.
Eh. Not that great and frankly, not that cheap either. Isn't that why we love falafel?
(2)
Branson L.
I just come here because ben affleck comes here. I just eat whatever he eats. What happened to this place? It used to be the bomb... I feel like its gone down hill a bit... or maybe my palette is now more refined... hrm... I actually prefer falafel corner in Harvard Sq or the Jerusalem cafe in Back Bay for my falafel... I mean this place is still good, but it used to be so much better. Thanks a lot Ben Affleck you freakin douche.
(3)
Daniel L.
Argh, Moody's ... I'm so close to giving you 5 stars, but a few things are just killing it for you! + It's not that I don't love your wondrous lamb shawarma, with juicy meat, tahini, cucumber, tomato and pickles. + Or how you're open late in a city that sleeps too damn early (3 am on Thursdays through Saturdays, 3 AM!!!). + Don't get me wrong, I love how 2 people can stuff themselves silly for the price of 1 entree at any restaurant nearby. Moody's has great bang-for-the-buck cost-effectiveness that you can't replicate. HOWEVER, these things are dragging your business down, Moody's. You want that 5th star? Fix this: - When I want that quick-and-easy take-out dinner for those weeknights when work has been sucking ass and I just don't give a damn, take my credit card. I don't care that my order is under $15. If you're going to slap a VISA sticker on your establishment, follow the merchant agreement with Visa and DON'T IMPOSE A MINIMUM PURCHASE AMOUNT. It's a violation of Visa rules, and what's worse, an inconvenience to your customers. I understand you have to pay Visa, but do you want my money or not?! - If you're going to tell me that you are out of chicken kabobs, show me that you're actually out of chicken kabobs. Last night, I ordered the kabobs since I saw 8 or 9 of them on the grill. The guy there told me I can't have them, because someone else already placed an order for all of them. Fair enough. After I finish eating 20-25 minutes later, the same kabobs are still cooking on the grill! Now these aren't big kabobs, and they sure as hell don't need to be grilling for that long (unless someone likes tough meat). So do you have the f'ing kabobs or not?! Plus, how in the world do you run out of kabobs at 6pm on a weeknight?! Moody's has been around for as long as I can remember, and I'm pretty sure they should know how much food to prepare for each business day. Those last two points piss me off, yet Moody's still gets 4 stars. That's how good this place is. Remember, there are only 12 seats inside and it gets packed. $15 minimum order to use your credit card. Lamb shawarma. Lamb shawarma. Mmm .... lamb shawarma ....
(4)
Mike M.
It is physically impossible to walk past this place without your mouth watering for some delicious shwarma. It may be a lack of insulation in that super retro tiny castle on Western Ave, but the smells just waft out to tempt passers by inside. Plus, they are open late Wed - Weekend until 3am! This place is definitely wallet friendly and I am a big shwarma fan dating back to some time I spent in the Middle East a few years ago. Delicious shwarmas were the amazing discovery of that trip and Falafal Palace has the best representation of those flavors I have had in the US. Plus, today the guy behind the counter suggested hot suace on my chicken shwarma roll-up.... whoa... that was a total game changer for me. They keep raising the bar!
(4)
Lauren S.
This place, as Yelp would say, is as good as Falafel and Shwarma gets. I often get the Lamb or Chicken Shwarma wrap (depending on which one looks freshest) and you will not believe the deliciousness that ensues after you open the foil. I sometimes order the Falafel which is less amazing than the Shwarma but is STILL SUPERB and great for the veggies. After discovering the Foul (pronounced Foooool), which is a red bean salad with pomegranate and a yummy dressing, I now have them put some in my wrap for only $1 extra. Who would say no to extra protein and extra scrumptiousness? I don't know. Go get some today, or tonight since they're open until 3am!
(5)
Claudia H.
Went here for lunch with a couple of friends. Actually grabbed some food and ate it outside on some benches, which was really nice on a sunny day. However, a few points to note around takeout. First, the chicken shawarma is amazing after 15 minutes, maybe even better than right away because all the flavors mix together into a delicious mess. However, the falafel (and maybe this is obvious) - not great after 15 minutes. Gets a little soggy. And finally, I know people rave about the lamb shawarma on this site, but the meat was a little tough. The chicken one was much, much better. Maybe hit or miss. I guess, in sum, if taking it away from the restaurant, pick the chicken shawarma. If eating there, go for either that or the falafel. But for $5 each, who can be unhappy?
(3)
Kate S.
Fast service! Great food! Good portions! I was quite pleased!!! We had the lamb and the chicken shawarma. The lamb was the best!!! A friend said she found hair in her food once though....I guess it happens?
(4)
Yasmin E.
SUCH a cute little falafel place! And the A3mu (Uncle) that runs the place is this adorable little Syrian man who will let you sample his amazing lentil soup if you converse with him in arabic (hehe, if you know but only a few words, I'm sure this will also score you some free treat points :) The falafel is MAGIC! I've eaten my share of arabic cuisine, but his falafel is easily the best falafel I've had...ever!! This place is literally down the street from the Central Square T stop, so if you're looking for a quick bite to eat, check it out :) Bon apetite!
(4)
Amanda W.
'You're still the one I run toooooo, the one that I belong toooo'... Just another late night Friday jamming to some Shania with friends in a conga line in our favorite late night foodie joint. It's no problem that they're closing in 15 min - I happened to order the last falafel and we scared off the last of the customers. My friends' mouths are watering over their lamb schwarma and the ipod keeps playing all these songs we haven't heard in a decade. We sing loudly, dance obnoxiously, but as long as we keep ordering extra hot sauce and sending smiles across the counter, the owners don't seem to mind too much.
(4)
Josephine L.
Quick, cheap and surprisingly flavorful. The shwarma is usually tender and juicy (though it can sometimes be dry), the rice/baba ganoush is delish, the hummus is lovely, the pita is probably store-bought so skip that and the service is (surprisingly) fantastic every time I come here.
(4)
Aboud Y.
Good but very inconsistent. When its "on," the food is delicious, but I have visited on "off" nights where I've left disappointed. I haven't figured out a pattern or rhyme/reason for what drives this inconsistency...in the meantime, I've decided to move on to greener pastures (er, I mean tastier shawarmas).
(3)
Mary G.
So they don't fresh-fry the falafel here (who in Boston does?) I feel like the sizes have gone down as the prices have gone up (even when the attendant flirts with me, c'mon!) And I have definitely had an unpleasant experience or two with the manager when I have called about placing bulk orders for some big parties I organize. Regardless, with generous late night hours, multiple options for vegans, and a $4 meal, it is hard not to like this place. The vegetarian platter is still a steal, and good to share with a friend. I picked up the grape-leaf wrap (with extra pickles) the other night and was pleasantly surprised. The lamb schwarma is a bit of a let down, but still one of the better ones you can find in the area. I often find my self chatting with strangers while I wait, and am rather sure I have vague memories of one sharing his food with me... So yeah, it is hard to turn down a suggestion to hit up Moody's (unless maybe you want a seat), and their prices have aways to go before I start to think twice about walking into this former White Castle joint.
(4)
Adam C.
There's no other spot I can think of in the Central/Inman area that offers speedy, delicious ethnic food on the SUPER-cheap. Plus, it's open until 3 a.m., which, to my knowledge, is later than any other greasy spoon joint in the area. If you're looking for a quick bite, particularly of the post-partying variety, Moody's is your must-go for munchies. It's not anything revelatory, quality-wise, but a solid Beef or Lamb Shwarma certainly satisfies. The waitstaff are friendly even when the lines get insane. Gets the job done, and done well.
(4)
David M.
First off, I love that this place is in a palace. I guess it used to be a White Castle (I have no idea if that is true or not). I stopped by after a beer at the Cantab before heading to a friends place. One of the workers was out sweeping the front started flirting with a girl that was waiting. It was amusing to watch. Especially since he failed. The falafel sandwich was good. Not as good as Falafel king, but tasted a bit healthier. There was a hint of basil that was a welcome surprise. I also ordered an order of stuffed grape leaves. It came in a set of four on a cucumber salad. The sandwich and grape leaves were paid for with a ten and I got some change back. (I think it was 8 + change). I'll go back if I'm in the area.
(4)
Hisham K.
Why I like it: -Open late -Five minute walk from my house -Service is friendly enough -They have some placards in Arabic that remind me of home Why I don't like it: -Maybe my expectations of falafel / shawarma is a bit high, y'know, me being Lebanese and all, but the food here isn't that great for what it's supposed to be. I just feel that since the people who make these wraps are Egyptians, they should know better. All my friends love it, but it just doesn't taste like home to me. -They have some placards in Arabic that remind me of home.
(2)
Sarah G.
Update: Just had the worst falafel of my life! Managed to be soggy and dry at the same time. Never again! Should be either called "Falafel Hovel" or "Crap Palace." Husband's shwarma was gross as well. Reminded me of Jim Gaffigan's Lean Pockets joke - "Remove from box, place directly in toilet." Incredibly hit or miss. Sometimes 2 stars, sometimes 4. Today was a 1.5. No pickles and incredibly dry. Prices have gone up, but it's still the cheapest falafel in the area. OK, a few months later, I just had one of the top 3 falafel sandwiches I've had in my life. Made by a middle-aged gentleman with an air of owner about him. The crappy sandwiches I've had have been made by younger dudes. I WILL figure out the formula here.
(1)
Samantha H.
Worked in Central Sq. for a while now and have been meaning to hit this place because I heard it was good. So I went today around 1pm. Well, I was not impressed, though I am open to a second shot to try other items. I ordered the lamb plate which comes with rice, salad and pita. First of all, as soon as the chick behind the counter swiped my card and handed it back to me, my plate was DONE! I like fast quick food, but that this was just too quick!! I don't know where/how she put together my plate, I didn't see her cut the lamb off of the rotisserie. Lamb (lack of) was also on the border of burnt. The rice was ok, nicely cooked. The salad was not a salad. More like a Middle Eastern salsa that was sitting in a huge puddle of "dressing." The pita bread was stale. All in all, food wasn't bad. I have certainly had better. I will definitely come back to try some other things.
(2)
Angela C.
I'm a huge fan of falafels, and this place does it right. It's a tiny hole in the wall, with an extensive menu. My friend and I shared a Falafel wrap and it was plenty. Instead of stuffing falafel balls in a pocket pita, they use a flatbread pita and roll up the falafels and veggies like a burrito. Although I wish the falafel balls were hotter (instead of lukewarm), the flavors in the falafel wrap were spot on. The tahini sauce, cucumbers, lettuce, etc. all worked together to enhance the flavors in this wrap. Super delicious comfort food.
(4)
Boris Y.
This used to be my favorite place for falafel and schwarma outside the middle east. After a long absence I wanted to try it again, and there was sand and rocks in my schwarma.. wtf?!
(1)
Rahul C.
Lamb Shawarma was amazing. Tender meat and juicy. Falafel sandwich wasnt so good. It was dry. Yete to try a few other things I brought to-go with me. Want to give a 3.5 stars but the additional half star for good service and cheap prices. Plus they are open late! Make sure you ask for additional Hot Sauce on your Rolls.
(4)
M. A.
This place used to be fantastic. I used to make excuses to come to Central Square and order a ful sandwich. Then it came under new management. The place looks cleaner, and orders are completed faster, but the food is boring now. Not really bad, but not better than any other falafel joint in town, either.
(3)
Gen M.
I don't think it's an Israeli place, but I plotz, people! Plotz, I say! I reviewed Jerusalem pita in Brookline and their falafel was good. But seriously, Moody's falafel has stolen my heart and stomach and brain and love and other things. It's perfectly crispy and delicious and it has the market cornered on hotness and goodness and perhaps even sexiness. The meat is eh, but who cares! Actually, perhaps I should take away a star. The last time I was there, the chicken was very very dry. The time before, it was okay, but nothing special. I love the salads and the condiments such as the tahini sauce. It's just too good and CHEAP! Oh, the jew in me is plotzing again.
(5)
Heather G.
Why do you go to Moody's Falafel? Well because it's open until 3am in Central square. Just to give you some perspective, the only other thing open at that hour is 7-11. What would you prefer to satisfy your late-night drunchies cravings with? Bad shawarma or taquitos that have been rolling around in the incubator for approximately 18 hours? You go for the subpar shawarma, of course. Moody's gets my 3 stars if only because of its late closing time. After a night on the town, this place tastes amazing. Sober? Probably head elsewhere. A few things to note: 1. they put pomegranate seeds in their salad. Not sure how authentic this is, but it was certainly a welcome surprise for me. 2. On the topic of salad, theirs comes very heavily dressed, so try and remember to ask for it naked. 3. Rice pilaf on the dinner plates is very dry, but with the aforementioned drippy salad, they make a good balance. 4. The chicken shawarma is extremely dry. Perhaps not a high enough fat content on the rotisserie, but these chicken shavings were too dry to choke down, even with the small little container of tahini they give you. Ask for extra tahini. No wonder they charge 50 cents extra for it - brilliant marketing, guys. You'll certainly need to splurge for the extra and will happily pay for it if the alternative is dry chicken. 5. The rollups are actually pretty good. The moisture ratio is more balanced than the dinner plates, despite the large pita they're served in. The lamb is especially fatty and juicy. No, this is not high-quality tasting lamb, but it's greasy and has some nice flavor. The women behind the counter are certainly not friendly by any means, but they're polite and serve your food extremely quickly. This place is certainly in my regular rotation, if for no other reason than because they're the only kid on the block after hours.
(3)
Julie S.
Typical hole-in-the-wall late night falafel place. Pretty good falafel, esp. with hot sauce and extra tahini. A savior when after-work drinks turned into many more drinks and no substantive food. Speedy. Cheap. Tasty. Right next to the T. Open really late. Need I say more? (And though I steal this from the wall of an equally-teeny falafel shop in Santa Cruz, CA, I sometimes pretend that I work in environmental politics because of the following quote: "Save the Earth. It's the only planet with falafel" and think of it every time I come in here, especially after a long day at work)
(4)
Kim K.
As I approached the counter to place my (first ever) order at Falafel Palace a customer flew in the door, hustled right up behind me, and scootched herself between me and the guy behind the counter. He immediately looked confused. The girl held out a half eaten falafel: "Ummm, I think there's blood in this." *record screeches to a halt* "What?" "Well I was eating this and then there was all this red stuff and it's all over my hands and I think it's blood." "No, not possible, it's tomato." "No, it's blood." "I don't think so!" Then he takes it from her, brings it to the back, and returns. "It's not blood, I can make you a new one though. Free of charge." "I just want my money back, ok?" He retrieves her money, hands it over, and she leaves. Without skipping a beat the guy looks and me and says "Falafel sandwich. With or without blood?" It was hilarious. I know Yelp readers, I should have left. But I had never been and I had been hearing how wonderful it was and I was looking right at the girl's wrap and I swear I didn't see any blood. Hell, I didn't see anything red at all. So I rationed that after that mine was probably the cleanest, most sanitary falafel ever made. So I stayed. And plus, I really wanted falafel (I had just come from the gym and shopping, c'mon now!). Anyways, it was delicious. First, after they make the wrap, the press it in a grill press. The pita gets all hot and crunchy, OMG yum. The falafel was yummy, not too fried, delicious texture. The tahini was perfect, super creamy but really light. And the best part? Pickles. Pickles!! Genius idea. The flavor combo is enhanced exponentially when pickles are added to the party. Also, no blood! Side perks: Dirt cheap and open until 3AM. Potential cons: Service is sloooow and I've had comparable (if not better) falafel at my favorite work lunch stop, Derne Street Deli on Beacon Hill
(3)
Yun M.
I eat here almost everyday since my work is just minutes away. It is great for the price , the portion and the taste. A chicken shawarma, about $6, is the right amount to make me comfortably full. Sometimes I buy their chicken plates with the special rice (mixed with caramelized onion). It is absolutely amazing, but sadly it costs $10. Sometimes, I would visit Moody's Falafel Palace after hanging out at the nearby Field Pub, which closes their kitchen early. I'd bring my friends too and they all liked this little falafel place. I recommend this place, there is no doubt about it. However, I do not recommend purchasing their gift card if you forgot bringing cash with you. The gift cards are very unreliable. I have lost 4 dollars using the gift card because it simply decided to show zero dollar balance while I still had 4 dollars on it.
(4)
Faith N.
Awesome falafel sandwiches at Moody's. I love that they're open late.. definitely a life saver on those nights after the bar. Kind of a funny tangent.. last time my friends and I went there after night of dancing, we all got falafel and were walking to our car to devour them in the warmth, and instead of throwing away the wrap she accidentally threw away her entire un eaten falafel sandwich. haha. it was heartbreaking. Anyway.. this is one of my favorite falafel places besides Rammy's in Brookline. I'm trying to encourage all of my favorite restaurants to look into the green restaurant association and their green restaurant certifications. I would love to keep coming to restaurant I know is doing their best to be environmentally sustainable =)
(4)
Dela B.
I've been on something of a falafel quest in Boston after eating out Philadelphia's falafel scene and Moody's was my new falafel joint of the day. Unfortunately, Moody's falafel did not cut it. It was possibly the only thing worse than the Mass ave middle eastern truck falafel at MIT. It tasted like a flavorless vegan chicken nugget both in taste and in texture. It had a sort of rubbery, elastic kind of texture and I'm guessing that if I had decided to throw it on the ground, it would have probably bounced back at me. In all honesty, I would say that Moody's falafel deserves less than one star, but I'm going to give it two since I have not tried the shwarma and the other non-falafel parts of their menu. Maybe it was just a bad day for them today or something, but to say the very least, Moody's failed to impress me. I will certainly not be going back.
(2)
Steph D.
I still love you, period. I have since stopped being a vegetarian and ordering only falafel. I have since been to Spain where they have real life Turkish people selling real life Turkish kebabs. This place is like shoving candles in Turkey's face it's so damn good (that was a play on holding a candle to sth... but it didn't really work as well as I wanted it to). AN - Y- THING you order is going to make you super happy. It is like sunshine on a rainy day, except it's a kebab or a falafel when you're hungry... which is better.
(5)
Haley T.
I heard this before I got falafel here for the first time: The smaller and dirtier the falafel stand, the better the falafel. Tiny: Yes. Dirty: only slightly. Best falafel I've had so far: Yes. Cheap to boot. Yum.
(4)
David C.
Owned by a guy from Aleppo, the tiny place in an old White Castle, was refurbished a few months ago. The food is still the same, fast and good. Classic middle eastern dishes and sandwiches. Always a good option in Central Square.
(4)
Ryan L.
Best. Schwarma. In. Cambridge. Ask for the hot sauce.
(5)
Krystal T.
What happened to this place?!! It recently either changed owners or staff and it went from a 5+++ to a mediocre 2. My husband and I use to go to this spot every other day since we live 2 steps away, but after last nights meal we have sworn not to return.
(2)
May N.
Good place for cheap, fast ethnic food. They serve meat and veggies and decent falafel. Not much place to sit, more of a take-away fast food joint reminiscent of Maos in Barcelona. They're open til 3 am on the weekends so perfect for post-boozing munchies. There's a minimum for credit cards.
(4)
Sahil G.
Too convenient and value-riffic not to be 5 stars. I've been coming here as long as I can remember. My family would stop here anytime we made a trek to the city from the burbs. We stopped going maybe 10 years ago, but then I moved to Central Square a year ago and my love for Falafel was reignited. The location is great. Not only is it a 5 minute walk from my humble abode, it's right in the heart of Central Square. Very easy to get to. The prices are fantastic. $5 for a full Falafel sandwich, sure! Plates cost a bit more, but you could feed a medium-sized Asian family for under $20 bucks easy. Food. The food is good. The food is great. Plenty of options, for vegetarians and omnivores alike. Chicken, Lamb, Veggies, Tahini, Falafel, Baklava etc. Typical middle-eastern fare. All prepared fresh, right in front of you. You can make some substitutions or additions as you please. Never have to wait longer than 5-10 minutes after ordering, even if it is slammed and there is a line out the door at 1:00AM. Service is good. No frills, but most of the time the service is with a smile. Quick, efficient, accommodating. Overall, 5 stars. This can't be beat. It's too cheap, it's too good. It's as authentic tasting as I've had in a while. Stop by!
(5)
Allison C.
Delish! I love Falafel Palace! Enough Said! There is a reason why there is always a line outside the door during peak hours and at 2 am in the morning. Falafel Sandwich is the way to go! The Chicken Shwarma and Lamb Shwarma is good too. Its a pretty small restaurant, so be prepared to feel squeezed in....but well worth it :)
(4)
Kris M.
What can I say that hasn't already been said? Well, probably something like "fudgetastic" or "pugilicious," but as neither word describes Moody's I probably shouldn't. Instead, I'll say words like "delightful," "tasty," and "inexpensive." Also, "vegetarian-friendly" and "stern-but-well-meaning cashier lady." Try the hummus falafel. You won't be disappointed.
(4)
sierra l.
their shawarma omg so good. I travel from roslindale to that part of town for that kind of food so yummmy
(5)
Sling S.
Very vegetarian friendly. Fast convenient service. Open lat on Thursday and Fridays.
(5)
Shaina P.
Oh. My. God. It's cheap, it's open late, and its gaddem delicious. I could eat their cucumber salad always. But I suggest not the falafel sandwich, must get plate to enjoy full falafel flavor. Their chicken kebab is fresh grilled, no frills. And their service, with a smile.
(5)
Anthony V.
Great Falafel wraps and also fantastic (though sloppy) chicken shwarma. fannnntastic. $5 gets you a wrap. Perfect. The downsides are that if you get there any time between 1215-1 you will be waiting. They only have two people that work at a time max. One of them is the (typically frustrated) owner, but they get the job done and its delicious.
(4)
Jenny M.
I think I'm in love. The way they spiced the meat of the lamb shwarma. The 50 cent side of tahini. The enticing items on the menu -- how on earth can they fit it all in that tiny kitchen? I don't know yet, but I intend to go back and find out....dish by dish. When I walked in I espied rows of whole eggplants roasting on the grill. This is a very, very good sign.
(5)
Dorothy C.
The Great: - Mazza Salad (deep fried home-made pita chips + pomegranate hot sauce + tabbouli salad) = AWESOME. - Kafta Kebab Roll-Up (yummy salty kafta balanced just right with lettuce/tomato/tahini in syrian bread) = Favorite - Hours (Open till 3am) - Accepts Credit Cards (Over $15) The Good: - Chicken Schwarma Roll-Up (pickles strangely yummy) - Chicken Kebab Roll-Up (maybe a little dry) - Baklawa (why it's spelled with a "w" instead of a "v" - I don't know) - Fatoush Salad (basically, the best part is the fried pita, so you should just get the Mazza Salad instead) The Meh: - Falafels (bland) - Hummus (bland) - Lamb Kebab (dry)
(4)
thermopylae x.
first in line of many; ordered 14 people afterwards got their food, fast after inquiring about our order, a hermetically-sealed bag was pulled from behind the counter with cold shawarma, turkish coffee and warm cucumber salad couldn't even rectify in english, as the 3 employees only spoke spanish
(2)
Christopher M.
Who would guess that little fried ball of carbs coul bing so much joy into my life? I've passed moody's fo years, but for whatever reason never went in (I was always drawn to the more surly and greasy hi fi for my drunken post-club reveling). Wow, do I ever feel like a bufoon. Moody's offes up some amazing deep fried chick pea love, and if that isn't theeogh the tabouli is ZOMG just-hook-it into-my-veins good. Oh but wait there's more, you don't need to dail now becasue from thus- sat tey're open till 3. . . .THREE AM!! And here I was getting munchies on crsing the late night food gods that my only option as sketchy chinese. Moody's I'll be see you again real soon (and probably real late. . and perhaps really drunk. . .probably not but maybe.) LOVES YOU!
(4)
Shaina S.
I am in love with the wraps here! Well dispersed food stuffs (pickles, tomatoes, onions, lettuce) drizzled with creamy tahini all wrapped up in a grilled lavasch makes my belly smile. The chicken shwarma and the falafel are both really good (though the lamb shwarma is a little bit fatty). It's super cheap (under $5 for lunch) and also, it's a palace. 4 stars.
(4)
Deanna D.
Great falafel & shawarma! Very cute & tiny hole in wall with really friendly service. Its super cheap and very tasty! We will be back!
(3)
David S.
I love falafel. I love chicken shawarma. And I love them together. So obviously a place that serves both should pretty much be halfway to heaven for me. Unfortunately at the Falafel Palace, the path to heaven leads through hell. The first time I came here was around 7:00 on a weekday evening, and I had fifteen minutes before my bus came through, so I figured it was a perfect place to pop in and get a sandwich for dinner. After waiting to order, ordering, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting for them to actually MAKE the sandwich (a process that takes my man the Falafel King downtown all of ten seconds), I was treated to the special sight of watching my bus go by out the window. And then I had to wait some more. Seriously... any place that takes over ten minutes to make a falafel sandwich has some serious issues. And twenty? Ridiculous. But I figured I'd give them another try, after some late weekend night shenanigans it seemed like the perfect midnight snack before heading home... no bus to catch, what could go wrong? I tried to get the chicken shawarma... but they were only serving falafel that night. So I got the falafel sandwich, figuring that they were probably only making one thing so they could do it efficiently. Wrong. Another fifteen minute wait for a sandwich that I had to settle for in the first place. Sorry, Falafel Palace... there is only one Falafel King in this land, and he doesn't hold court in your house.
(2)
Matt S.
Best cheap eats in Cambridge. Really good falafel, great shawarma. The baba ganouj is the best in Boston (love the pomegranate they add for a special touch). Haven't been there in a year (I moved away from Cambridge), but even then you could get a baba wrap for $2.99, which is a great deal. P.S. It's spelled "falafal" on the sign.
(5)
Masmin P.
We've been going to Moody's for the last 7 years or so, and it's generally pretty good. We usually get the combo meal, which offers a nice selection of different items and since the portion size is large, makes a good sharing meal. They have one of the best babaganoush I've ever had - fresh, creamy, very tasty. I just went back last night after a long hiatus and was pleasantly surprised by the newly-renovated interior - dark wood accents and better counter layout. Met the proprietor for the first time too, who is very friendly and accommodating. It's still a tiny little space, so best for take-out.
(4)
R. M.
Tasty and well-priced. Good for vegetarians, too, unlike a lot of places that are open late. The place has been renovated and so looks a lot better and cleaner. Staff is friendly. Whomever runs the place has been making careful small changes to improve presentation (my order now has a little plastic baggie around the aluminum foil to catch stray tahini! good idea!) which is great.
(4)
Sam S.
Great reliable food, but a 15 dollar minimum on credit and debit with everything on your menu under 10 bucks, come on!
(3)
shannon c.
I love this place so much. I can't really add anything that hasn't already been said. Except maybe get the hummos plate. It's so fresh and so food and sometimes I just crave it. Yum.
(4)
Brian S.
The food is quality, I especially love the lamb shawarma. However, depending on who is working the service can be either very great or very shoddy. The owner is very nice and courteous, but one of the employees seems to have a temper. I asked for tap water to go with with my meal and he filled it up and slammed it to the counter top in a fit of anger unprovoked. I'm not the kind of person to go out looking for munchies at 3am, but I guess you can't complain about the hours.
(4)
Gordon B.
If I had Youk's arm I could hit this place with a baseball from the window of my apartment. Sadly I dont make millions a year playing a game, however I do have a pension for late-night eats; especially on the weekend (read: drunchies). When 2am rolls around and I'm fumbling home there's nothing better than a falafel sandwich from Moody's. However, I've also discovered that there's more to Moody's than falafel sandwiches and have taken out dinner (sober) on a number of occasions. The Super Combo Plate seems to be the best value and selection. It comes with pita, falafel, and chicken or beef, plus a load of salad, hummus, baba ganoush... you get the idea. I've had better falafel (not in Boston, sadly) and the prices are average, hence the 3-star review. It's a solid 3 stars, however, so dont let this dissuade you from dropping by on the walk home some Friday night.
(3)
Liz S.
I haven't tried every falafel place in town, but of all that I've tried, this is the best. Delish!
(4)
tom k.
Spicy spicy hot sauce, burns in just the right way! It's a bit of a train wreck with me; getting tahini sauce everywhere and teary eyed from hot sauce misuse ... but it's so delicious and so worth it. Unlike some places, the lamb shawarma actually tastes like lamb ... they don't seem to mix it with beef, so Moody's maintains the succulent gamey flavor. The Falafel is quite good too, especially right out of the fryer ... dipped in tahini and hot sauce. It's also convenient that they are open until 3 AM Thurs - Sat ... I can stumble in here late at night after imbibing and get food I really enjoy.
(4)
Ashlee C.
I enjoyed the palace very much. I am pro-pickle in the falafel sandwich, so I was happy they were included. I ordered 2 sandwiches and the total came in to just under 9 dollars. This is a great place for cheap and late night eats when in Central. Minus one star for the lack of space and slightly oblivious counter help. I called in the 2 falafel sandwiches and one spinach pie, but when I got there the counter help informed me there was no spinach pie to be had. I wish they would have told me they didn't have any when I placed the order over the phone. I totally would have ordered something else instead, but it is a minor gripe considering how tasty the sandwiches were. I will definitely be back for chicken kabobs. I am not too keen on the shawarma mystery meat on a spit deal, so I cannot comment on that. Overall, tasty and recommended!
(4)
Arnie F.
Great food at a reasonable price. Friendly staff There is no room, however, to eat inside the restaurant.
(5)
Tali S.
Some might call me a falafel fiend, but I just like to say I know my way around a chickpea. That being said, so does this place. I've made it a life mission of mine to sample the falafel everywhere I go, and lemme tell you, I have eaten some dry, nasty balls. Pun completely intended. But the Palace has got the know-how - their falafel is moist and melts in your mouth, just like in the mother country. And, of course, plus super extra points for being open late in a city that doesn't know the meaning of the word. Not the best I've ever had - I'd say the pita could use some more vegetables and tahini, to fill it out a bit more - but this place slings a mean ball, and that's the most important part, baby. Take it from an expert.
(4)
Andrea M.
Most times that I am in Central Square, I end up at Moody's for two basic reasons. The food is pretty good taste and portion wise, and their prices are very reasonable! Best place to eat in Central when you are skimping on money. I love their hummus and falafel sandwiches!
(4)
Daniel J.
It's pretty good stuff. I judge a place like this on their plain falafel pita. I will make a point of asking for extra tahini because it has been pretty scarce the few times I've been here. The most off-putting thing about this place is that the cashier is the person who makes your food, and there isn't always (ever?) a handwashing in between handling money and handling cucumbers. I realize this is a tactical problem for a business like this, but nonetheless it is off-putting to me when I see somebody touching my food after handling money. It actually prevents me from going back, except for once in a great while when I'm feeling adventurous/immune.
(4)
Ryuji S.
Moody's shawarma is tasty and so are their tabooley and cucumber salad. Their food is generally good, cheap and healthy. The downside is that the quality and quantity of their food vary a lot depending on the day and time. Toward the end of their business hours, and toward the end of each round of meat, the food is not as good as early night and in the mid-round of the roasting. But that's to be expected. If the meat is too dry, you can always use tahini sauce (the mild sauce made from white sesame paste).
(4)
Samuel F.
It's a hole-in-the-wall falafel place, and one of the few places open late in the area. Perfectly good for what it is, nothing exceptional.
(3)
Nadia A.
Oh Falafel Palace...I used to live up the street from FP and ate there maybe 2-6 times/week. It is hands down the best value for the $ in the area. The food is fresh and delicious and you can tell them exactly how you want it (e.g. extra hot sauce, less falafel more hummus) and they're completely obliging. I especially love the lentil soup, falafel wraps, and foule salad. While the service can be slow at times (because it gets so crowded during lunch and dinner hours), for the price, you can't beat Moody's!
(5)
Lynn D.
I wasn't all that impressed with the lamb shawarma. I've never had one before, so I don't know how it compares to others, but nonetheless, I have a feeling there are better lamb shawarma's to be found.
(3)
Liza N.
I used to like Falafel Palace. Then, one time I went when it was light out ... and I wasn't stumbling drunk. Need I say more?
(1)
Josh G.
The food here is a perfect late night treat, but the service is...near-violent? It's hard to explain, but while the guys are making you a tasty shawarma, you get this really harsh vibe, like you've said something so horrible they can barely keep their rage in check. I guess dealing with drunk people all night will do that to you. Falafel is actually not their strong suit. Get a proper shawarma if your diet allows. The desserts are very sweet, but also very good in moderation. You can afford to pig out a bit here, but I've always come here for a quick lunchtime meal or a late-night snack.
(3)
Jarrod C.
Pretty underwhelmed with my first experience at Moody's. The service was quick and the two guys behind the counter were friendly and warm. However, the falafel was clearly in the fryer for too long, as it was very burned, chewy, and almost inedible. The Syrian bread that accompanied my falafel plate was very stale also. Folks, this place pales in comparison to Rami's or Shawarma King in Coolidge Corner. Seriously if you want good falafel, make your way to Brookline and skip Moody's altogether.
(2)
Ann L.
I fully admit that the quality (not to mention wait times and relative friendliness of service) is insanely variable here, they've been stingy with the tahini lately, and that the pickle issue is a controversial one (I am, for the record, so pro-pickle I ask for extra in my falafel sandwiches). But you can't argue with a line out the door, even if the line goes out the door because there's only room for like four human-sized people inside. (Hint: If you are going to converse while waiting for your shawarma be careful - everybody else in line is listening. This means you, "I think I'd like to travel to India because I really like taking yoga classes" dude. You are dumb.) But man, Moody's has earned my loyalty in so many ways over the years that I'll love 'em forever. Some nights it was the random single-falafel-in-a-cup-of-tahini eat-while-you-wait apology for a long line, some nights it was just remembering that I don't like onions on my sandwich, and one time it was a gratis piece of baklava because I was low on cash and too stupid to check my wallet before I ordered. For that I can forgive the occasional dry falafel wrap, or the crazy-making inconsistent appearances of those tasty spinach pie thingies. Hell, one dude gave me a free t-shirt for absolutely no discernible reason a couple years back. It's pale purple, so I only wear it on laundry days, but still. If you haven't tried the foul (not pronounced the way you think, Mr. Smartypants), give it a shot. Fava beans, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and pomegranate seeds either saladified or in a sandwich. Good stuff. For those keeping score, the nickname for Moody's in my house is "The Palace." Didja know the building is a historical landmark and a former White Castle? I like falafel way more than creepy midgety burgers.
(5)
Jillian S.
I tried to drunkenly post a review of this from my phone a while ago, and failed. I only recently tried this place (thanks to Yelp) because I'd been faithful to the Middle East. Now, I still love the Mid East's food, and if I want to sit down with friends, that's the obvious choice. But for grabbing a snack on the way home, nothing beats Moody's. Possibly the best Chicken Shwarma I've had in my life (obviously, since I felt the need to attempt to mobile post while the sauce was dripping down my face). Definitely don't be put off by the crowd of people crammed into this tiny room at 2 AM. Suck it up and wait 10 minutes. It is totally worth it. Oh, and could you keep your eye on my car? It's out front with the hazards on... half a block from a police station. Whoops.
(4)
Misha L.
When I forget to go to the grocery store, I primarily survive on Moody's. The chicken shawarma wrapup with hot sauce is amazing, and it's great any time of day, even 2:30am! I'd call myself a shawarma connoisseir, a shawarmmelier if you will, and Moody's is one of the best joints I have ever been to, not to mention lived down the street from!
(5)
Tracey N.
My Central Square sandwich of choice just got better. After the Yelp party at MIT, I really needed something to soak up the booze since I didn't have dinner. I NEED falafel. On top of being an excellent sandwich, they had some very attractive young men behind the counter. At this point, I don't care how authentic it is. I'm enjoying the wait, and my sandwich when I finally bite into, I forgot they put pickles in the sandwich. Mmm, yummy. When I got to the train, I was so hungry I couldn't wait to get it home, (I know it's rude, thankfully there's hardly anyone around), so I ate on the platform--no leakage=points for neatness. But, I'm surprised to find a mystery spooge of tahini on my napkin, rendering it useless. I found a clean spot, but it was still weird. It won't stop me from going back though!
(4)
Cecilia L.
I try not to review a place before going at least twice, but Moody's was too bad to go back. I went midday and got a kebab sandwich. It's cheap, and there's a reason. The place is dark and nasty inside and I waited nearly half an hour for one lousy kebab. When I peeled the foil back from the sandwich, the thing fell apart. The meat inside was cold, probably from sitting so long while I waited, and the watery tzatziki dripped out everywhere. The overwhelming flavor was of pickles and pungent raw onions. I could only eat half the sandwich, then realized I needed to change because my clothes stank from the experience, like at the college dining hall. Night and day from the Boston Kebab House. I probably made the mistake of going sober. The whole thing left me feeling dirty and indecent.
(1)
Alison P.
Yeah. Heard really great things, had to try this place, but...I have experienced way way better. I gave it two tries, the first I had a falafel wrap, which only featured maybe two falafels, the rest was lettuce, pickles, and tons of wrap. Way sub par. Also, the falafel in it was bland. Lacked garlic or spice. Meh. The second time I had the lamb schwarma wrap, figuring it had to be more flavorful. And it wasn't. There wasn't enough lamb, and it had too much lettuce, again. The service is friendly, and fast (around 1pm-2pm weekdays). They seem like nice folk, but the food was totally not worth it.
(2)
Peter G.
For weeks, I have intended to write this review. But every time I think about writing the review I end up going to eat there instead. This is partly procrastination and partly because their falafel wraps are phenomenal. This has become a shining beacon of hope after months of disappointment living in Central Square. I've only ordered their falafel wrap, and frankly see no reason to get anything else. They use just the right amount of tahini, the falafel themselves are moist and flavorful, and the ingredients taste very fresh. The lightly toasted pita is a great touch and heating the wrap before serving seems to give the flavors a chance to blend nicely. The guys behind the counter take their jolly time, and the confined waiting/dining area is often very crowded with impatient people waiting. People who eat in seem to struggle to enjoy themselves with all the movement and lack of space. If you want to get that failed OkCupid attempt off your back try taking your date here - a guaranteed miserable time for romantics. I could not imagine eating here nor would I want to. But with their late hours on Thursday through Saturday you have no excuse to suffer Hi-Fi pizza ever again.
(4)
Small Town G.
Nice lamb shawarma- a little light on lamb and heavy on the lettuce but a great combination of the aromatic marinated meat, tahini and pita wrap put it over the top. I did not try the falafel. Good price and nice overall portion size as well.
(4)
Derek B.
I went here in hopes of grabbing a shwarma that was close to the ones I had in Saudi Arabia, big mistake. My biggest complaint has to be flavor or lack of flavor. I ordered one chicken and one lamb neither had flavor and were dry as a bone. The greens on the inside might as well been covered in dirt. I won't be going back which is sad I had such high hopes for this place too.
(1)
Kelly L.
I've walked by this place for years and never stopped in, but a friend of mine has raved about it, so we stopped. And I was pleasantly surprised! It's actually much nicer inside than it looks outside (although looks or ambiance are definitley not the selling points of htis establishment). Nothing special about the service, but the food was yummy and really hit the spot. I had the falafel platter, which included 4 falafel balls served on top of cucumber, lettuce, tomato and dill salad, plus warm lavash and tahini for $5.75. It is really filling for what you spend. I'd go back.
(4)
Betsy E.
I have been blessed to be able to live up the street from this literal palacio de falafel. I come here every Saturday post-gym (because what better way to unwind from a spinning class than with fried chickpeas?!) and I have yet to be disappointed. It's probably not a good thing that I can now recognize the Syrian techno that they are always playing, but hey, I'm patronizing a local business! The falafel here is top-notch, and so are the chicken schwarma and the grape leaves. I am always satisfied, and I cannot think of any other place in Central Square where you can have a full (vegetarian) meal for under $7. However, I withheld the 5th star because the minimum for credit cards is $15, and it is really hard to reach that with one person!
(4)
Mats K.
I have been here a few times and it is positively the best falafel in town. The building looks like the place used to be an old white castle, but now it belongs to Moody's Falafel Palace. Apart from ranting and raving about how good the falafel is at this place I just need to give one word of advice. Unless the older Mediterranean gentleman who looks like he might own the place is making falafels go somewhere else. His falafels are absolutely wonderful. The people he has hired to work there recently - however - don't quite do it as well. They still aren't bad, but unless Moody himself (I am assuming) makes them, they just aren't the same.
(5)
Sara S.
Anyplace that stays open on most nights until 3AM and serves falafel is amazing in my book. Add in that it's cheap, fresh, and convenient, and it can't get much better than that! I was "privileged" (if that's what you want to call it) to work in Central Square for a few months and discovered Moody's. It quickly became my favorite lunch stop. Any combination of salad or wraps ordered with chicken kebabs or falafel are awesome. Highly recommended. It's sometimes a little slow, probably due to lack of space and workers. If you're in a rush, call ahead.
(4)
Katelyn M.
This was one of the best lamb schwarma I've had. The lamb was well seasoned, crispy and tender. I love the pickles in the rollup - it goes so well with the tahini and spruces up the lettuce and tomatoes. Great price, quick service - whether its 2am or 12pm. I just wish the rollup didn't start falling apart halfway through eating it.
(4)
Marc L.
I was visiting Cambridge today and had a few minutes in which to grab an early dinner before boarding the T at Central Square and taking a bus to NYC. I see Moody's Falafel Palace right across the street. I'm thinking fast and cheap. It looks like a dive from the outside. Inside: photos of Aleppo, Syria, a great assortment of falafel-schwarma-foul and other Middle East standards. Having spent a little time in that part of the world, this place rang true. And the food was really good--and fast and cheap. As one of the reviews (posted in the restaurant) said accurately: come here to eat with your closest friends, or take out the food. The place is pretty tiny, maybe seats 10 people max. Great food, cheap, fast.
(3)
Fionna L.
Best place for falafel. Sabra's is dry and the new Wrapro was even more so. I also use this place to reward myself for going to the Boston Sports Club. I eat Moody's probably once every 6 months.
(5)
Tim W.
Okay, they got a lot better. Even though I thought it was bad before, I continued to go because its right next to my building. I'm glad to say they do not suck anymore.
(3)
Jocelyn C.
I really want to like Moody's a lot more because everyone I know swears by them... but this place is always hit or miss for me. While the food is always pretty good, I've definitely had better (just not in Boston... yet?). Also, the thing about falafel sandwiches is that they're supposed to be fast. Last time I was here, I waited over 30 minutes! Instead of telling me they had just ran out of falafel and had to make more up front, they just kept me waiting. I was seriously getting annoyed (I had a bus to catch, and it was a Sunday night), but all they kept saying was "oh, just 5 more minutes, 5 more minutes." Everyone else coming in after me were getting their food though. If only they had explained the situation, I wouldn't have gotten so impatient and snapped at the guy when he finally did hand me my order and explained himself. And I missed my bus. Bad times.
(3)
Matthias T.
I think this is probably the best falafel in the universe. I discovered falafel about 15 years ago when I was a vegetarian, and I really liked the idea, but had a hard time finding any that I thought was worth ordering a second time. After enough abortive attempts, I mostly gave up. Then I found Skewers in Harvard Square (gone now, sadly), and everything else on their menu was good enough that I gave falafel a second chance. That falafel was good, but the falafel sandwich at the Falafel Palace brings the dish to a whole new level of existential transcendence. After about a year of loving their falafel sandwiches so much, I started branching out into the shawarma roll-ups: also completely awesome. I think the key elements in the roll-ups are some otherworldly tahini and tart, crunchy pickles. Damn, I love those roll-ups! The staff is always friendly, and even remembered me when I came back after being away for over 6 months: "Where have you been?!" The only reason I can't give it an unreserved 5-star rating is because it's so tiny. They have one table and a counter, and not much standing room beyond that. It's a 15+ minute walk from my work place, so I'd prefer to be able to sit there and eat when I get there, but I usually can't if I go during the lunch rush. It's a shame because I've often wanted to bring friends here, but I usually won't if I know the rush is on and we won't be able to get seating. Other than the seating though, the low, low price, the great service and awesome awesome awesome awesome roll-ups make this place almost like the perfectest place you could go for lunch. In the universe.
(4)
Sarah S.
I ordered the chicken shawarma, I think, and it was nothing to write home about. My friend bragged about the falafel, and indeed I ended up lusting after his plate the whole night. I'll know better next time. This place is tiny and disorganized. It felt really hectic inside, everyone streaming in and out, ordering, getting their food after a semi-lengthy wait. The ordering process was also confusing; first you order, then instead of paying there, you pay when your food is called. Except everyone's getting the same thing, so it's hard to tell whose order is whose. There was a lot of anxiety involved for a falafel joint. And the hot sauce wasn't so much sauce as it was a chunky, ruddy colored paste., more like pate than something you can sprinkle on your dish. It freaked me right out.
(2)
Brian G.
The falafel here is pretty solid; nothing great, but fresh and as tasty as any other falafel. I've been here a bunch of times before and after nights out at any of the spots in Central Square, and this is definitely the place to grab a bite to eat on the cheap. Pros: Falafel and Shwarma sandwiches are fairly large and satisfying. I never feel like I should have ordered something else afterward. Cons: - The wait is very long, but I guess that is the price you pay for sandwiches that are made on the spot, not pre-made and heated up hours later. - Any of the pastries are ridiculously expensive. I'm not sure what the going rate is for Baklava, but 2 bucks for a piece about the size of your thumb seems a bit pricey.
(4)
Blake M.
I'm giving Moody's three stars for the chicken shawarma plate, one star for the hot sauce and minus one star for the dude wearing the blue tooth behind the counter. With that said since moving to NYC I've found that Moody's could learn a thing or two from the cart on Crosby and W. Houston. I've since nicknamed him "the meat artist". Regardless if I'm eating at 2am-3am I'm willing to look over much worse, shame on all you 1 and 2 star reviewers.
(4)
Sarah S.
Oh sweet bejeesus! Okay, another update to an update, but I swear it's for a good reason: Moody's hot sauce. Maybe before they weren't giving me a ton of it, or my taste buds were feeling particularly hardy last month, but that stuff is HOT. I am a spicy food fiend, and have a really hard time not getting food spicy enough for my liking, and I needed a DRINK to soldier on through the extreme heat searing off my taste buds and pins-and-needlesing my lips. "What?!" you say? "Drinks are for the weak and the infirm!" Then color me weak and stick me in a wheelchair. As long as I can have the hot sauce.
(4)
Anastasia S.
I want to run away with Moody to live in a falafel palace, ensconced in Syrian mystery and velvet and constantly fed tasty falafel. It's gonna happen.
(5)
Charoline D.
I was going to order some sort of HAHT BEEF INJECTED wrap, but the cashier warned me that it took awhile to prepare and well, it was something like 2am and let's not be greedy. But fortunately for the chicken schwarma, I was still INCREDIBLY greedy, but in that way that I offered bites to my fellow Thunderdomers and wound up with schwarma goo all down the front of my dress. CAUTION: SCHWARMA MAY BE DELICIOUS, BUT IS MESSY. And for $5, I can't be choosy. If you were to ask me what schwarma is or possibly tasted like.....I couldn't tell you, other than that it tasted like delicious and made me wish that I could've spent a little more time assaulting it in the confines of the car on the way home. Alas, no schwarma allowed in the MiniCooper. I'll be back Moody's Falafell Palace, you're lucky I'm deciding to ignore that there were PICKLES in my wrappywrap. LoveLoveLoveLove
(5)
Orly M.
Moody's really hits the spot. It's not really great middle eastern food, but for the Boston area it's wicked pissah. If it were more expensive, this place wouldn't get 4 stars, but the prices are right! The biggest bargain on the menu is the lentil soup. Not the best lentil soup ever, but 2 bucks for 12oz for it with pita for dipping. When it's cold out, it's definitely my standby. Who am I kidding, I ate it all the time this summer, i'm a soup whore. If I'm feeling gluttonous, it's all about the SUPERCOMBO!! Daaamn that's a lot of food. The falafel balls are the big, hard kind, which I am not digging, but they're Syrian style. I like the Israeli style falafel with round, small balls. Yup, I like small balls, just in case you were wondering. The shawarma is pretty decent. You can't really mess up a huge slab of lamb on the rotisserie. Although I wouldn't mind if they spiced it some more. The real trick to shawarma is the later in the day you get it, the better it will taste because more of the fat burns off and it becomes more flavorful as it cooks all day. The supercombo also comes with mediocre babaganoush, salad (which I despise, yucky flavor combo), tabouli, and tehini. It's annoying to me that falafel and shawarma round here don't come with hummus. Huh? All of the discussion of "authenticity" starts to get annoying. If you order "falafel" at an American restaurant, you're a dumbass and deserve the dry crappy ground chickpeas you'll get. That said, there are many contries in the middle east and they each make their falafel, hummus, and bread differently. Oh, and middle eastern food is all about pickles! Any vegetable you can pickle stuffed in a pita with hummus and falafel = love. The service is...unique. I find that the guys behind the counter are much friendlier than the one lady behind the counter. Basically, if you want cheap Syrian food that's open late, this is your go-to spot.
(4)
Nina D.
Really delicious falafel, and open at convenient falafel-eating hours -- but why don't you guys PLEASE take credit or debit card? Who carries cash? There have been multiple times in the last few years that I would've come and gotten a roll but didn't because I didn't want to deal with the cash hassle, either because I was saving it for emergencies or just didn't have it. Usually the latter. Warning - the spicy sauce, while delicious, is not for the faint of taste-buds!
(4)
Sean C.
I always get the lamb Sharma. Be mindful they can't take credit cards. I found this out and they held my order when I ran to the ATM. However, since this was February and freezing, the manager gave me a free lentil soup on top of it! Great staff and everything is always fresh
(5)
Rachel J.
Moody's is great and they have tiny bottles of San Pellegrino limonata, which are adorable. I just want to give a shout out to the guy at the counter last night because I felt pretty bummed out but he gave me some extra toppings on my falafel and was very friendly. so thanks Moodys for going just the little bit above and beyond that really makes it count.
(4)
Jessica F.
Good late night grub. Not too heavy if you dont want a full meal, but not too light if you want more than a snack. Prices are on par with other falafel places. If you want to go with a safer option, the Beiruti wrap (~7$) has chicken and other yummy fillings (not spicy). Bring cash and get it to go. My only gripe was that my wrap was barely lukewarm.. but it was still tasty.
(4)
Andrew B.
I have primarily had wraps with falafel and chicken tarna with hummus, tahini, and spicy sauce. Everything has been fantastic. The falafel has real flavor, not just a bland mush. Everything tasted legitimately fresh. Lots of attention to detail. And the best part is that the spicy sauce is LEGIT spicy. So tasty.
(4)
Jenni R.
I am obsessed with this place! It is always consistent. It is a tiny place with no seats. The owner is great and the workers are friendly! Check it out!
(5)
Caroline H.
This place is precisely what you would expect out of it, and more. It is a great takeout place for middle eastern/mediterranean food. The chicken shawarma plate is fantastic, it comes with plenty of chicken, plenty of rice and salad. The chicken is roasted well; it is not over cooked or fatty. It is tender and flavorful. The prices here aren't the lowest in the city, but the quality redeems any cost of the price. The owner here is also very pleasant. The only drawback to the place is that they do not take cards. I only wish that this location was closer to where I lived!
(4)
Jessica S.
This place is very unassuming and kind of a hidden gem in Central Square. I stumbled upon it several months ago and just keep going back. I find myself craving their falafel sandwiches at random times. I've also had great success with the hummus sandwiches and the falafel plate (not sure if that's what it's called). The best part is how cheap everything is. I haven't really had falafel anywhere else, so I can't compare, but I do know that I love this place and would highly recommend it. Friendly staff, great food, very affordable. If I remember correctly, they're open late, too. The only reason they don't get five stars is because there is very little seating inside. It's definitely more of a take-out place, and it's always so crowded in there that I have to wait outside until my food is ready.
(4)
Layla P.
Good for a late night snack after hanging out at the neighborhood bars. I've had better falafel wraps though. I definitely did not dig the pickles in my wrap, although I should have thought of that when I read the menu because it does say pickles are involved. It's cramped but cozy and the prices are good - under $5 for my wrap. No restroom - so use it before you head over.
(3)
Barney B.
I would tend to think that lunch here is a bit different than a late night bite. At a minimum, I would assume that they don't have stacks and stacks of premade falafel and shwarma wraps ready to go without prep for a busy crowd. Or at least I hope they do - because the pre-made stuff is kind of bland. By design they were dry - too little hummus and sauce - which is likely on purpose to prevent them from getting soggy while waiting for the 2 a.m. masses to arrive. But when you are not hammered, and in the mood for a later snack - it just doesn't hit the spot. Granted, it's better than the other late night options in the vicinity, notably HI-FI slop (er, pizza) won't rush back - but then again, boring falafel is better than no falafel, so I might eat those words.
(3)
Andrew M.
I'm confused by the other reviews. This place is awesome! I think their falafel is good. I'm not a middle eastern cuisine specialist but I have had plenty of falafel in Fafalel Countries. Actually, I got a chicken schwarma and THEN a steak kebab. I was enthusiastic about the idea of a third entree but just too full at that point.
(5)
Mushhoor A.
One of my fav places for shawerma. Disappointed as of late though. Inconsistent portions, forgetting simple things like tahini sauce and the sandwich opening constantly which leads me to request for extra napkins. Some of the staff are great and some just suck huge falafel balls! better to go during lunch time and avoid the workers who are suicidal. In terms of taste when at it's best this place tops all other 'shawerma/falafel' joints. Still a regular
(4)
Sam G.
Eating at Falafel Palace is a good idea, whether or not you are wasted. It's just that when you do happen to be wasted, it is an even better idea. I am a big fan of the vegatarian combo, which includes falafel (with tahini sauce), hummus, tabbouleh, baba ganouj, greek salad, and pita bread. It is not only delicious, but also relatively healthy... which means you won't feel gross the next day, even if you eat it at 3 in the morning and promptly fall asleep on the nearest horizontal surface. Location can't be beat; prices are excellent. The only down side is that there can be quite a bit of a wait right after the bars let out. Expect to wait at least 20 minutes regardless of what you order.
(4)
Ron W.
First off the owner who I don't know his name but he is a real cheap prick! Why am writing such a bad review. Well a couple of years ago I went to this place ordered a chicken shawarma with a little extra tahini sauce. When I asked him for a little extra tahini sauce on my vegetable salad with chicken bits "shawarma sandwich" and he told he needs to charge me $0.75 extra because he has overhead, (his words) "if I don't charge you than everyone else will want extra". I objected why the higher price and what I got was a whiny response that already left a bad taste in my stomach even before I ate. Believe me this guy must have had the violin sob music playing in his head and it was never ending because I just asked why? Not that $0.75 is a big deal but it sent a bad vibe down my back that I am dealing with another CHEAP business owner who likes to cut corners and is interested only in nickel and diming his customers for more profit rather than a good experience. I know it sounds like I am against capitalism but I am not. This guy has a monopoly because there is no other falafel shacks around open late. I went in a few weeks later ordered a sandwich and the guy in front of me was an Arab speaking fellow and he and the owner were conversing in Arabic some and mostly English. I ordered and paid for my sandwich with an extra squirt of Tahini sauce, $0.75 extra squirts worth. The Arab guy after me and the owner were speaking and ordered the same sandwich with extra, tahini, a little extra meat and so on. The owner did not mention a word of the sob story on why he "has to charge everyone extra for extra condiments on a sandwich" but not a word of charging extra. I watched as the owner handed the Arab fellow his much larger sandwich with extra everything on it and charge him just the normal price. At this time I was finishing my sandwich, saw and hear the whole transaction/conversation. When he charged me and didn't charge him extra I spoke up. "What is this? You charged me extra for an extra squirt for tahini sauce and your Arab brother doesn't get charged extra for everything else. I told the owner straight out he was fair with me and that he price gouged me many times in the past including today and right away the owner was saying "I am sorry but you know how it is sometimes I got to charge people different prices". I didn't understand what he was getting at but I said to him "I am not upset at paying an extra $0.75 on a sandwich but when you skimp out on everything els, nickel and dime me for every cent you can and not do the same to your Arab brother how do you think I am going to react". Again I get the story of why he has to charge me extra and he pulls out of his register a dollar bill and tries to hand it to me. I said to him "keep it because you need it to buy some business etiquette lessons on customer service. I went' back there on 2/4/2012 at 11pm with my wife for a late night sandwich only to be disappointed again from RUDE CUSTOMER SERVICE and less than par chicken shawarma sandwich with barely any (less than an ounce) of dried crunchy chicken bits and a lot of bread. The sandwiches Lamb and Chicken really SUCKED for the amount of money you will spend here. I asked for shepard's salad on my sandwiches and the responce I got was that I have to charge you $1.50 extra. This was a latino speaking guy with real rotten attitude. I said forget it. I was nver so angry over a sandwich but more so the attitude I got. This PLACE SUCKS. Find another place for Shawarma.
(1)
Chris G.
This place is great - after a late night at Middlesex we stopped here - they make the wraps fresh (it takes some time to make the falafel wrap). Except for the big 6'4'' drunk dude that tried to cut the guy behind me and almost started a melee, it was a good night. I totally recommend dropping by here and with the 3AM closing time, it's usually convenient!
(4)
Keith T.
I'm sticking to my guns here and giving Moody's 2 stars. I wanted to move up to 3 or even 4 after finishing my Chicken Shawarma roll-up with Falafel 'cause it was so good, but I'm forcing myself to go with my initial instinct. Why? The service is just awful. Every time I go there, I wait an inordinate amount of time for my food. That is, when they remember what I ordered. Or that I ordered anything at all. Tonight, I went with my roommate. They took my order, and left him standing there in front of the register, money in hand, for at least 5 minutes. Then they take his order, and we sort of fade back into the crowd to wait. He got his roll-up and finished it well before the guy making the sandwiches looked at me confusedly and asked "did you order something?" I don't know how one could organize a restaurant more poorly. Here are some easy suggestions for improvement in case anyone from Moody's cares about their poor service, though from how pissy they seem with the customers, I doubt they do. How about a system in which orders are assigned numbers, which are then called out when the order is ready? One time I got a block away from Moody's when I was chased down by an employee to be told that they had given me the wrong roll-up. For god's sake, how does that happen?!? Second, how about some sort of line system, so people aren't standing around going "did you order? did you order?" Etc, etc. But man that's such a good roll-up.
(2)
Anna H.
It's a Palace. (What if it was actually a palace, constructed OF falafel? I'd give it five stars.) I went to Moody's for the first time last week. I had the vegetarian combo plate. I wouldn't get it again, but I would definitely try other things. The baba ganoush was really strange--very sweet and a different texture than I am used to. The falafel was good, not too dry. I forgot that I don't like tabouleh, so I can't really say anything about that. It was a ton of food, and it was really inexpensive. I was in there on a Sunday night around 7.30 and it took about 15 minutes to get the food, to go. It was packed and there were people waiting before me that were still there when I left. I'm not sure if I'd wait MORE than 15 minutes for this food...unless I was starving. Also, its location in zany old Central Square provides free entertainment-- like the couple fighting about whether or not they had to go back to the Police Station, or the hipsters in their strange clothes, or men of ambiguous nationality in ornate shoes. Always fun. I also appreciate Moody's embracing of Yelp!
(4)
Meaghan S.
Two haikus: Three a.m., tipsy Chicken shawarma with hummus Extra pickles, bliss Falafel Palace An oasis in Central Hi-fi pizza hurts
(3)
Jane N.
These guys sustain me! I fell in love with chicken shawarma when traveling in Syria in the mid 90s and until I found Moody's, I hadn't found a reasonable approximation here Stateside. The sandwich is well balanced with the rotisserie chicken, sauce, and most importantly, pickles! The key ingredient is the pickles! One of these days I might try something else on the menu, but for now, the shawarma is all I need!
(4)
Ligaya T.
Mooooody's. Any time you may be hungry. Mooooody's. Any time you need a friend. Mooooody's. Any time you're out from under. Not getting served, not getting fresh. Too long over the fryolater. Keepin' their headsets on. Making your wrap without looking. Two am on a Friday night. Moooooody's. Tabuleh, hummus. Mooooody's. Scratchin' and surviving. Mooooody's. Hangin in a chow line Mooooody's. *inspired by Dave Chappelle's "I Know Black People" episode. Extra star for putting up their "People Love us on Yelp" sticker and letter in the window. Yelp and local biz goes hand in hand, w00t!
(3)
Jason T.
Having lived within a few blocks of this "palace" for the last three years I can tell you assuredly that Moody's is capable of being anything from a 2-star yuck to a 5-star gem- depending on who's behind the counter. I eat here regularly; at least once a week. Things to avoid: -overdoing the hot sauce. Let's just say it tastes better than it makes you feel. -forgetting to ask for hummus on any falafel dish. A dry sandwich is the bane of any man's existence. Things to enjoy: -Orangina is a life changing experience -The prices are fantastic -There are little tidbits about the history of the building on the wall -Quality vibes What are you waiting for? The next time you stumble out of Zuzu, skip hi-fi and proceed directly to Moody's.
(4)
Loren B.
Great value, open late, always hits the spot. 'nough said.
(4)
Moomin T.
Pretty good & cheap. The falafel is a little overcooked, but hey for the price who is arguing? I think this building was probably a White Castle in a former life.
(4)
Sandra L.
I love falafel but this was a let down. It's a lot of fun for a late night snack. I found their falafel a little too try and the service slow. The price was right though, so I guess you get what you pay for. It wasn't the worst experience I've only been once, so I might have to go again but as of now there are better places to get falafel.
(3)
Cassie T.
I was obsessed with this place when I lived in Boston this past summer. They've got excellent falafel for the price (it's the only thing I ever got there). Bottom line. I like how it comes in a handy little package too. Open late and the inside of the store is small and cute. I would highly recommend paying this place a visit!
(5)
Kev M.
If nothing else, this place wins because of their late hours with respect to bar closing times. Let this be a note to the MBTA, this is how you serve your customers. The quality of the food isn't very consistent, which hold me back from giving a full 5 stars. However, i guarantee i will keep coming back when the night is over and i need something good and cheap.
(4)
Ryan H.
I've been a vegetarian for a dozen years and I often eat Falafel... This is the best I've ever had. I love the falafel sandwich and I love that it is only $4.25. Sure, it takes a little bit of time to make - but thats why its so great. The only reason it doesnt get 5 stars is because the place is microscopic. Also, one of the tables is always kinda sticky... Whats up with that? I have never figured that out.
(4)
Eve L.
The only way you could find this place slow is if you're smoking crack. Considering how it's always quite packed with people no matter when you go, it's amazing I've never waited more than 10 minutes for my food. And 10 minutes really isn't too long to wait for cook, fresh-made food. If it is, you probably need to plan your day a little better. Moody's is the closest thing to authentic falafel stands like I used to frequent in Israel and Jordan. It's very similar. Small space, but most people take the food out, so I've never had trouble finding a table if I wanted to stay. Excellent falafel, and my spouse tells me their schwarma is great too. Wonderful tahini.
(5)
Dan S.
Cheap, Delicious, I have only had a shwarma sandwich this good in Germany.
(5)
Stephanie F.
For Boston, this falafel place is pretty good - not the best, but it will do. It gives me that NYC feeling of having a hole-in-the-wall restaurant open late.. but it isn't exactly like the NYC falafel places I'd visit back in NYC. To date, I've only had the falafel and had a little bit of the lamb shawarma roll-up that my boyfriend ordered. The falafel is not bad, but if you're going to be eating it with friends, make sure not to talk too much or else it will get cold fast. And if you want some spicyness added to it, make sure you ask for it spicy, and not ask for it on the side. The side spicy sauce is thick and pasty, not like the easily pour-able sauces that I've had. Maybe it's just my experience, but I like the more watered down, diluted version of the spicy sauce. The lamb shawarma that I tasted had A LOT of onions. It made my boyfriend's breath smell wayyyyyy bad. And he knows this. It was pretty tasty for what it is, but then again -- I've had better.
(3)
Matt S.
When you leave a club or bar in Central Square at 2 AM, there are very limited food options. If you're wasted enough, you won't mind drinking the grease off of the slices at Hi Fi pizza or buying gummi worms and a power bar at the 24 hour CVS. That's why Moody's is the go to spot for late night food here Wednesday through Saturday (unfortunatley not open the other nights). Lots of review will cite the falafel and shawarma wraps which are wonderful in their own right. I'm extra impressed however, by the option of fruit salad and fresh baba ghanouj plate with hummus and lettuce greens. It's hearty enough for an after midnight snack (don't tell the mogwais), but nothing you'll regret. Save the greasy food for the hangover the next day.
(4)
Jennifer L.
I've returned to test the waters again. Falafal Palace is back to it's old delicious self!
(4)
Tom E.
The Good: :: Open til very late (3am) :: Reasonably cheap for a fill-up :: Conveniently placed near Central Sq :: Some good Shwarma The Bad: :: Falafel is a bit too dry :: The rice and tabouleh are bland :: Staff are too busy chatting on their Bluetooths to care less :: The thinness of meat on the rotisserie is disturbing The Queen: :: The building is beautiful - a mini-palace for midnight snack royalty
(3)
Yui K.
Eh... is pretty much all I have to say about this place. Quick fix for food. Not expensive. Open late. A line often forms, which I thought was a good thing.. but EH. Food tastes..... ok. I didn't really get why the pickles, so good thing I like pickles. The guy was a bit rude, snatching money here and there, but my friend said they werent the regular people. EHHHHHHH............
(3)
Tony S.
Foods good but service blows... Showed up at 11:50pm sign said they closed at 12am. Walked in to order they said they were closed. Nuff said.
(1)
Michael D.
Great Falafel and open late! Ask for it Spicy!
(5)
Tristan B.
I live down the street from Moody's and there really isn't a lot to say about the former White Castle. The food is cheap, reliable, if a bit tasteless, but what do you expect from a wrap in Cambridge that's less than 5 bucks? Service is menial, expect to talk to the people with their headsets still on, don't expect to eat there except maybe on the sidewalk, and expect to get your pants squirted with the sauce at some point. But hey, Ben Affleck ranks it as "Best Falafel" (as seen on the wall written on a staff shirt) , and who are we to argue with him? If you're hungry at 1:00 AM and there's not much of a line, it beats out Hi-Fi by far.
(3)
Vanilla P.
Maybe it's because I went during the heat wave. Maybe it's because I was slightly hungover. I'm not sure what it is exactly, but after my falafel sandwich, I was so thirsty. The sandwich was flavorless but edible, and the tahini was bland. The size of the sandwich was good, I just wish there was more flavor. Falafel's not too hard to frick up, mind you. Mash up some garbanzo beans with garlic and spices, deep fry it... How hard can it be? Throw it in a pita with some sauce and veggies -- Taa Daa!
(2)
Kimble M.
This is some solid drunk food, kids, and open until 3A most days, making it likely to be one of the few places to get it. You're not here for quality after midnight, you're here to satisfy your inexplicable need for deep fried foods and interaction with other overly friendly (read: drunk) people. The place is tiny with basically nowhere to sit, but you won't really care, you'll just take your shawarma with falafel added in outside where you'll make new friends talking about bumpits and Scott Brown. It's even cheap enough that when you relive your night the next morning, you may have enough money left over to come back and cure your hangover, too.
(3)
Michael L.
Moody's is an excellent place to catch a cheap ($4.19) meal, that fills you without making you sick. Yes, they put pickles on it. It says so on the menu, so ask for "no pickles" if you don't like them. It's crowded and uncomfortable to sit in there, so it's much better to get your food to go if at all possible. They're open until 3am on the weekend!! It's housed in the building that once held the last White Castle franchise in New England. No, it won't be the best you've tasted, but at 2:43am on a Saturday or just for $4, try it and see what you think.
(4)
Kristine M.
We got there around 10:30, and they told us they "ran out of meat"...which was fine because I really just wanted falafel, but my husband was disappointed because he was hoping for shwarma. Anyway, we ordered the falafel plate and they didn't even heat up the falafels. It was disgusting. The falafel was cold as ice and hard as a rock. Will never go back there. It was also about 20 degrees outside and not much warmer inside. It also felt filthy and gross in there. Even the Middle East has better falafel than this place.
(1)
Gina D.
Fantastic food considering the prices. Nice guys behind the counter, fast food that still feels pretty healthy. Great late-night or when you're in a rush... or just when you don't feel like spending a ton, but want something hot and delish!
(5)
Mary S.
I love Moody's! A friend introduced me to the restaurant, and I have been a regular since then. The food is fantastic - I eat very little meat so I cannot comment on the lamb, but the falafel, hummus and fatoush salad are all delicious. I love that Moody's is open late, plus the staff is friendly and make it clear that they appreciate your patronage. Everything is decently priced, cash only and no seating, but you won't hear me complain. Highly recommended for night owls!
(5)
Whitney W.
Moody's is apparently somewhat of an institution, judging by the number of Yelp reviews and the Ben Affleck autographed "best falafel ever" shirt. I find the food here to be extremely reliable in that it is usually good. Not "best falafel ever," but good. I know that if I order a hummus sandwich, I am going to be full, be content, and probably be covered in hummus, because there is a lot of hummus going on in that sandwich. The only food item I've ever had here that was markedly bad was one time the tabouli apparently had salt spilled in it, making it painfully salty. Other than this, all of my experiences have been good. I do not even know what Falafel Palace is like in the daytime hours, because it is the standby post-show dinner from anytime my band played in Cambridge. For the option of having something moderately healthy and delicious that is not expensive or from Store 24, I have to give Falafel Palace 4 stars.
(4)
Steven G.
Place is OK. Very low levels of customer service and the service is SLOW. But the food is good. I like the hot sauce
(3)
Amanda M.
Right near a bus stop, I thought it'd be convenient to stop in for some falafel, as I love it and rarely have it. I ordered a falafel sandwich. First off, they took so long to make a simple sandwich that I nearly missed my bus. It was at least 15 minutes, maybe 20, and no, the place was not inordinately busy. Second, they only accept cash for orders under $15. This is annoying, yet not worthy of the one star. Why the one star rating? I finally got my sandwich to go and ran to catch my bus I was about to miss. When I got to my destination and bit into my sandwich I found NO FALAFEL. Nada. Zippo. It was simply hummus and veggies. I distinctly said falafel sandwich, paid the price for a falafel sandwich, and when the counter woman handed me the sandwich she said "miss, here's your falafel sandwich." They totally gypped me! Don't ever go here!
(1)
Courtney E.
Are the falafels supposed to smell like B.O.? Dry and unappetizing, I tried the Chicken Shawarma (call it a "chicken wrap") and it was marginally good. Why the McDonald's hamburger pickels in there!? And is the tahini sauce supposed to be watery and chaulky tasting? And the pita bread chewy and flat? This was a surprise on numerous accounts, and these were actual recommendations from people in the resturant. Are you kidding? People need to up their standards on food. Go to Rami's in Coolidge Corner. It's the BEST.
(1)
Elizabeth S.
The same thing happened to me that happened to a previous reviewer. I have been going to Falafel Palace for many years. It has always been one of my favorites spots in Central Square. I went a few weeks ago and ordered a vegetarian platter. The salad was rotten, the tabouli was very off and the tahini was spoiled. I haven't been back. Just the thought of the food there makes me sick.
(1)
William M.
Great food. Minus one star for the drunk meatheads that populate the place after-hours, but that's what you get being one of the only places in Boston open past 1am.
(4)
_ _.
Scale of 1-10 (multiple visits): 10 Food 9 Service 10 Atmosphere 9 Value Not good for eating in if they're busy b/c it's so small, but the size also feels nice and fitting. Don't leave without getting some cashew fingers.
(5)
Craig A.
I have been a GIANT fan of Moody's Falafel Palace for years and years but I only recently discovered (stumbling out of the Field drunk at 2:09am) they are open until 3:00am! I'll make this short and sweet! If you're a McDonalds/Burger King dude/Chick ... they are open late and have drive through. If you like good food cheap - eat here! Lunch, Dinner, or late night you'll always be happy. It's a cheap take away place with some of the best damn falafel (and other stuff too) around. What more can I say?
(5)
MaryTyler M.
I really do want to say meh, but my heartstrings have been ensnared by a lasso made of fried chick pea mash. The experience was def 3-4 stars -- Em's Eff Pee is your best option by FAR for the time of night and the price. If you're the kind of person who sweats shwarma and falafel, you probably are not the kind of person who would pass by this place at 2:30 am in favor of McDonald's drive through, so keep it on your list. The falafel sandwich I had was a clear 2-star. It pains me so much to say this (as a lifetime Cambridge resident, Moody's has sentimental value to me), but the fake falafel I had at Cafe Dilara was better (I'm pretty sure they bought it in the frozen section of Trader Joe's). The problem was just that it was too mushy and totally bland. I am pretty positive that there was no seasoning of any kind in my sandwich. This is further supported by its unappetizing gray color. I felt like I got what I paid for at $4.66, but I still would rather pony up for Rami's.
(3)
Jess R.
This place has a deservedly high rating: even if the food sucked, where else are you going to find food in Central Square at 2 a.m.? Fortunately, the food doesn't suck; I'm a big fan of the lamb shawarma. I do have a quibble with the service. It was considerate of them to post a sign explaining that they only accept credit cards until midnight (a fellow customer, clearly a late-night regular, explained that the card check line is down after midnight). However, it would also have been considerate of them to post a sign saying that they have a $15 minumum for credit cards. If, in fact, they do have a minimum, and therein lies my quibble. The counterman told me they had a $15 minimum, so I prepared to put away my card and go across the street to the ATM. Like magic, the credit card minimum suddenly vanished and the counterman could take my card after all. Word of advice, dude: If you hadn't been so busy thinking of reasons not to let me use a credit card, you might've been able to hear me better when I placed my order. "Lamb shawarma" doesn't really sound like "chicken kabob", but I guess it was hard to hear me over the sound of your own self-importance.
(4)
Amaker L.
falafel late night? ooooh hurt me. Its hard to fuck up falafel.
(4)
Bonnie M.
I'm vegetarian and love all of the options here. This is a very reliable place for a relatively quick roll up. I like mixing a side into my roll-up. My favorite is the falafel rollup with hummus. It's just a buck extra. My husband likes the baba ganoush with grape leaves. They have AWESOME turkish coffees but they do take a while. Definitely worth the wait if you have a place to sit. I like having the birds nest with the coffee. The cashew fingers are so-so - lots of filo. The guys behind the counter will smile if you smile at them first. I think they call it moody's for a reason! :-) Just be pleasant and hopefully they'll be pleasant back. I actually got a free dessert here once for asking how one guy was doing (he seemed stressed) which was a big surprise. I love, too, how they grill their roll-ups. It definitely makes a difference.
(4)
Meghan Q.
So I've never been here before the bars close HOWEVER the fact that they are still open at that hour deserves some serious credit! The falafel and the shwarma are divine alternatives to the other late night choices in Central (ie. pizza). A roll up will come will include pickles, tahini, lettuce, other goodness, in a soft warm pita...mmmm. Napkins are usually recommended. At a certain point in the evening there is a massive crowd in the pizza-box-sized area in front of the counter -- think riding the T at rush hour -- but the 2 guys behind the counter do their best to keep the orders coming at a brisk pace so as not to keep the booze-soaked mob waiting. The price is right, the food is right, and the proximity to nightlife/transport is right. You really can't go wrong here, folks!
(4)
Melissa A.
There's two things that I think are important to a falafel sandwich. One: must have falafel in it. Two: must have tahini sauce. Granted, my falafel sandwich had (der) falafel in it, but where was the tahini sauce? This wrap was wrapped so tightly, I thought that liquids would explode once I took a bite (like the tightly wrapped crepes on Seinfeld). And pickles?? Why are there pickles in my sandwich? It was totally ruined with that gross briney stuff permeating every little nook and cranny. The sandwich was so dry, I should have dipped it in some water or maybe some of the sweat that the guy making my sandwich kept emitting. But everybody raves about this place? Did I do something wrong? Is it my face??
(2)
Lauren B.
This is my favorite place to stop in for some very cheap take-out. For a whopping $4.25, you can get a delightful vegetarian falafel sandwich in about five minutes. I always ask the friendly guy behind the counter to spice up my falafel with hot sauce (which I definitely recommend supplementing with a bottle of water). I have never tried anything else besides the falafel, but the place is always hopping so I'll bet that the rest of the menu is pretty tasty. Definitely stop by if you're in Central Square. I don't know anywhere else in the city where you'll find a better deal!
(5)
erica c.
Hands down my favorite falafel place in the area. And I will be the first to admit that I HATE people that compare NYC to Boston but when i moved back here from NYC I went on a falafel HUNT Yummy cheap Falafel joints were so readily available in NYC....and then I came across this place thanks to an ex BF of mine.....it has since become one of my favorite cheap eats. Also of note are the spinach pies and baklava(that is prob the wrong name for it here but you know what I mean) And the people that work here have always been nothing but super friendly to me....falafel with a smile that doesn't make my tummy moan later? I'll take it!
(5)
James L.
This is definitely one of my all-time favorite restaurants here in the Boston area. They are opened up all the time - even until 3! I love their chicken falafel wrap with hot sauce, and maybe a little hummus if I have extra napkins. The ground beef and steak wraps have a little too much connective tissue, which is why I avoid them. The chicken plate is excellent as well. Their pastries don't seem to be home made. I would avoid that.
(5)
Meg F.
Used to be a go-to place, not anymore. My friend bit into his falafel and broke his tooth on something mysterious he spit out. That's a hefty price for a cheap, not-so-great wrap and terrible service.
(1)
Janelle M.
The falafel sandwich at this Turkish (I think) joint is large and filling; however, I can't say that the actual falafel was very tasty. The falafel were lightly fried, not greasy, which was good, but it was definitely lacking flavor. The sandwich is completely wrapped in a pita and seemed to be toasted on the outside. The fillings inside were both generous and fresh and included: LTO, tahini, and hummus. The hummus, by the way, was outstanding! Let me close by mentioning that I eat falafel everywhere I go, so I am no stranger to the world-of-falafel. Honestly, I would have enjoyed it more on the 2 am walk home from the bar. 2 stars for the falafel, but I added an extra for the delish hummus and mezze platter.
(3)
John K.
Moody's Falafel Palace can be summed up in one word: overrated. While the food is reasonable, and the staff is polite and efficient, the food isn't all that great. I thought it was pretty good before being served a runny chicken wrap one day. It was one of those dining experiences where you actually lose your appetite. Usually, the food is serviceable, though. If you're in a rush, you could do much worse than the Palace. Unlike others, I don't think the Palace is the best thing since air conditioning.
(3)
J R.
The Lamb Shawarma never lets me down! So good.
(5)
joe b.
It's a damn solid falafel, I have to say, and I always appreciate the rolled-then-grilled style. The sandwiches can be a little dry, but I typically ask for extra sauce on a falafel/shawarma anyway, so that hasn't been a problem for me at this place. Good, cheap food that gets the job done, and then some.
(4)
Graham C.
Alright, tonght I was in the mood for a good falafel. Having read the reviews here, I decided to try Moody's. I found parking a block away and got ready to have some tasty treats. A few notes, I'm from New York City. MacDougal Street in the Village is a Falafel heaven, with tons of great places to gorge. My pick is Mamoun's there. Here, my favorite so far has been Cafe Barada on Mass Ave. For shawarma, my choice is Shawarma King, but we're not talking about that now, are we? So up here, falafels are in wraps as opposed to the pita. I prefer the pita. And there are pickles, which I happen to like. But this falafel was dry. I should have asked for more tahini, but I didn't know. So overall, this sandwich was dry and meh. I hate meh food. Personally, I think this place is rated so highly because of all the drunks that realize it's open until 3AM Wed-Sat. If you moved this place out of the way, no one would really go. So sad...I so wanted a good falafel.
(2)
Tani S.
Great and inexpensive.. Chicken, lamb, and falafel wraps are very good as well as hummus and their spinach/meat pies.. The meat is usually tender unless you have the bad luck of getting meat that is close to the spit.
(4)
Salvatore R.
The hoummus and the pickles were wildly memorable. A side of hoummus is enough to save for lunch and dinner. The pickles have a nice biting taste that may overpower the falafel sandwich, but still I was impressed. A great falafel sandwich though with reasonable prices.
(4)
Chris L.
If the name of a place is "Falafel Palace", you would think that they should have pretty good falafel. Sadly, my first falafel here after 14 years walking by the place was cold, spongy, and greasy. Sad. There is nothing worse than cold falafel.
(1)
Anna G.
This place is small and best suited for take out only, but oohhhh the food is so worth it. I had a lamb roll up and it was to DIE FOR! The prices are reasonable too! They only take cash, but don't worry there are about 10 ATMs around the corner to choose from. Definitely recommended for a late night snack after a night of drinking.
(4)
Bird B.
It's hard to find a cheap, healthy, oh -my- god -I -feel- like- Im -being- a- fattie- but- Im- not, take out place. Most of the menu is under 5 bucks, it has a ton of veggie and vegan options, its right in central square, and i pretty much love it. Sucks I waited this long to find it.
(5)
Ryoji U.
This place is SO GOOD. Their falafel wraps are #1 in Boston
(5)
rewan a.
This is my favorite place to go after (or before!) a night in central square. Their chicken shawarmas go very nicely with a post-zuzu's buzz. This is definitely not the place to bring a first date, although I have shared many delicious meals here with my favorite people. They have a vegetarian friendly menu, as well as chicken and beef kababs for you fellow carnivores. My friends and I like to play the "guess the city" game with the photos hanging on the walls, although it's hard to differentiate some of the old middle eastern cities apart. As I mentioned the chicken shawarma earlier, let me just say, it is fantastic. Very very delicious. However it is rather small and sometimes there's a line which makes things a little claustrophobic if you're sitting inside. Also, you will probably leave smelling like grilled food, which could be either a good thing or a bad thing depending on personal preference of course.
(4)
Annie P.
This place is just plain good and convenient. In the midst of fast food places and overpriced bar food on Mass Ave in this area... I'm glad Central has this place to run to. Instead of going for some junk food when you're hunger overwhelms you at night.. head to the falafel palace! I personally love the Baba Ghanouj (Eggplant) Sandwich and Lamb Shawarma Plate. The rice pilaf and tahini sauce is easy to any tastebuds. Flavorful. I usually toss the side of syrian bread though. It's sort of tasteless and useless. Whenever I go and see the fresh cut watermelon and pineapple slices packaged up.. I grab it also. It's fresh. I always bump into a friend or neighborhood person here.. in a run or grabbing lunch during their break. Lines move quick and seats open up left and right in this tiny joint.
(4)
Trish F.
Props to the T passengers that didn't point out the white (tahini) sauce that was all over my scarf, shirt, and skirt. Either they were jerks or didn't want to interrupt a rather ravenous Dish. Whatever.. they were just jealous of all of the above. ;) For f*ck's sake. Seriously? Why did I NEVER go here when I lived on Green Street? Probably because my undergrad thoughts of falafel pranks (those things can be manipulated in so many fashions) always made me cringe. And a palace full of it? Yeah, no. But after seeing people's positive reviews and after a night of dancing that let out past regular restaurant hours.. I had to.. just had to go this late night dining gem. I walked in past midnight and feared that the alleged 3AM closing time was false, but alas, the rush hadn't come in yet. Good.. some time to marinate (in thoughts and smells). It took me a little while to decide what to get because everything was so cheap. I finally went with lamb schawarma and was in negotiations to share some spinach pie. When I went to pay, the guy repeated my order, but misheard and charged me for a meat pie instead. When I corrected him, he apologized. The guys weren't pockets full of sunshine but they asked me how I was and that was enough convo for me. A couple minutes later, boom, everything was ready. Gotta love the quickness. I dove into the spinach pie before we even got to the T (which you can probably note is a short distance). Because of the last minute switch from meat it was a bit cold, but I ate it anyway since it tasted fine (hey.. I hadn't eaten in 12 hours.. don't judge). The breading was warm and soft like a mouth blanket and the pie soon disappeared. Looking at my cohort I threw up my hands and put on my dimpled pressed lip smile... "Sowee". Revenge was probably not telling me about the tahini sauce that later became an accessory...but whatever. The first few bites into the wrap were disappointing. The lamb seemed to be a bit charred.. BUT that was just the few first bites. The rest of the wrap was sooo gooooodddd. My belly felt happy even into the next morning. Hooray Falafel Palace! You have broken the spell of evil/scary falafel thoughts that I once had! Slash.. I love that they have the little "People Love Us on Yelp" letter on the glass at the counter. Awww. They feel the love. And I feel the love. And I will definitely be back for some late night grub.
(4)
Chris B.
they had the best lamb shawarma wrap i had ever tasted. not to mention it was pretty cheap. I love this place!
(5)
D M.
It may have been a bad move for me to stop here a few weeks ago on the way home, because Dorian and I may have a falafel problem now. It's super cheap and so delicious. The falafel is fresh, and the perfect amount of fried and slightly healthy things. The gentleman at the counter were friendly, perhaps a little overly so, and I would suggest the cucumber salad if you love things involving mint, yogurt, and cucumber because it is so yummy. You will be filled up (with possibly two meals) for $6 each.
(4)
Bevin C.
Important: Moody's Falafel Palace is one palace in the daytime and another entirely different palace in the nighttime. Daytime (2 stars) - semi-competent grumpy staff who don't make eye contact with you skimping on the shawarma and rolling up scanty, dryfalafel sandwiches. Nighttime (5 stars) - really nice, friendly fellow (the owner? manager?) giving you ample amounts of deee-lishus shawarma and freshly fried falafel with a smile. So come here for dinner, or after the bars, and you will be happy. Go to Rangzen for lunch instead.
(3)
Mike F.
If you are looking for a tasty lunch on the run in Central Square , this is an easy go-to. I've sampled a few items on their menu, but it's hard to pass up a falafel for less than $5. The only problem is that if you want to get a cheap lunch, then you'll have to bring cash. They do not accept credit cards for orders under $15.
(4)
Liz H.
falafel wrap was delicious and really cheap! possibly my new favorite spot in central. on the other hand, my bf's chicken shwarma was not as great and he was wishing he went with falafel too. the place is tiny so definitely be prepared to grab and go. they are also open until 3am, which i have yet to cash in on but definitely plan to.
(4)
Ethan C.
Good: great schwarma sandwiches Bad: the lamb used to be better.
(4)
Rohan P.
I discovered Moody's this past summer with a couple of friends. Moody's is my favorite late night food spot, period. The falafels and baba ganoush sandwiches are absolutely delicious, and the hot sauce hits the spot. Service is a bit slow, but totally worth the wait. Anyone I've brought here has had nothing to say but positive things. Oh, and they are open till 3 AM.
(5)
dio c.
My friend took me here for the first time and we gotta veggie and a chicken falafel and it was fucking good!! I really liked how speedy the service was with one person working. I will be coming here again to try the deserts/pastries.
(5)
Julia F.
The Falafel Palace (a former White Castle) is hands down where you get a quick bite to eat in Central. It is often the winner when I eat out with my vegan cousin. Who thought it was possible to feel that full and happy after eating just a falafel sandwich? It hits the spot - the servers are nice more often than not but the interaction is short and you can walk out the door minutes later with your food. If you don't want the falafel sandwich, I suggest the chicken and lamb shawarmas, so fucking good. I don't recommend eating inside unless you don't mind the very cramped counter-style seating. It's open until 3am I think wednesday to saturday, so as you stumble home from the bar and your too far away from the hong kong or cinderellas, this is the place for you.
(5)
vinny f.
i am originally from new york and i have known pretty much every falafel places but this definitely stands out. why - their falafel is freaking huge. in new york you usually get a pouch shaped syrian bread which is 1/4 of the size they serve here. - best lamb wraps i have had in time. so is chicken but its like ordering salad in a burger shop. you gotta have lamb when you goto middle east rest.. - they have awesome desserts. try baklawa for the beginners. - if bored of falafel, try their grill items, like chicken or kafta kebab [takes little more time because they grill as ordered] - most imptly they are open till 3am. long story short, nothing beats this in central sq.
(5)
Mike R.
Good, fast, reasonably price food from a fun, local place. The lamb was delicious, portions are probably big enough for two if you're not large eaters and going for lunch.
(3)
Ishraq A.
open late, quick bite atmosphere, and one of the best shawarmas in town. its also really cheap, though the new 15 dollar or whatever minimum for credit card is a bummer. but its better than not having credit card at all! previously reef's cafe in allston only topped this place for the lamb shawarma but now that reef's has closed, moody's reigns king.
(4)
Thomas B.
This is one of my favorite places for a quick lunch. The falafel sandwiches are always great. I recommend adding hummus or baba ghanoush or both like I do!
(5)
Pete S.
You can still get a good meal at Moody's Falafel Palace, so life can't be all bad. Still my standby for falafel. Other dishes are reliable good and mostly under $5 -- shawarma, kafta kebab, and the usual array of vegetarian options -- but the falafel sandwich keeps me coming back. Be sure to ask for a side of the smoky, delicious hot sauce, and ask what special thing not on the menu they have cooking up today. Props to them for keeping an old White Tower building alive (and one Zippy's been to, no less: see snipurl.com/os8h ). Open until midnight S-M-T, until 3am W-T-F-S. Cheap, historic, and late -- finally, a place that understands me.
(5)
V J.
Wow, went downhill, in a category of food that does not survive downhill very well. At this point, avoid.
(1)
A V.
Open late, tastes great! Nothing beats stumbling out of a show at the Middle East in central and grabbing a lamb shwarma wrap.
(4)
Amy B.
Wondering what this building used to be...perhaps a stable at one point in time? I always over-order here and do not visit as often as I should. Ordered the chicken swarma (love those pickles) and ended up with tahini all over myself! Ate practically the whole thing, then waddled back to the office. My other favorites are the cucumber soup served with pita (very refreshing) and baba ganoush (not as good as the Sultan's Kitchen but still very good).
(4)
Jess P.
If Moody's were just a regular falafel joint, I'd give it maybe three stars at most. Points for pretty good falafel wraps (and to all you pickle-naysayers, you can dislike them all you want, but they're supposed to be there, and in my opinion they add a needed bit of tang), but not so much for the decently textured but bland lamb shawarma. However, Moody's is no regular eatery, but the place that welcomes your drunk ass in at 2:15 am, after you've stumbled out of some bar or club and realize you might want some food to soak up some of that booze (at least on Wednesdays-Saturdays). It's the place that means you don't have to rely on greasy pizza at HiFi after a show at the Mideast. It's the place that does all of that for about $4-5 for a huge sandwich. If that isn't worth some more love, I don't know what is.
(4)
Em B.
This place used to be good. I have been getting the lamb shawarma here for the past 3 years and this year the quality has just gone down. The wraps are now filled with a little bit of burnt meat and lots of wilted lettuce. The staff is also very crabby. Very disappointed.
(2)
Jeff M.
I have been working in Central Sq for 10 years now and Moody's used to be the go to place for a quick and tasty lunch. There used to be a woman who worked behind the counter every day who would make the best sandwiches and plates. She has been gone now for about 6 months and since then the place has gone downhill in both service and food. 1st - The new "manager" (he seems to be the manager as he is there all the time and always seem to be the one taking your money) is always on his cell phone, even while ringing up your order or bossing around the new young staff. His attitude toward the place definitely can be seen and tasted. 2nd - The chicken and lamb instead of getting cut off the spit like it used to, now is pre-cut and sits in a warmer before they add it to a sandwich or plate. With the lamb, which is my favorite, makes it almost inedible. They continuously include large pieces of fat and the meat sits in the grease. Many times I have gotten the meat and it's been cold. 3rd - The house salad has gone way downhill. How hard is it to make a cucumber and tomato salad? It used to be perfect! Then someone decided to add green pepper, mess with the dressing, throw in scallions every so often and add huge chunks of wilted and brown lettuce. All that coupled with the fact that almost all their staff is new, several times my wraps have been missing Tahini sauce (a staple for all wraps!!) and service is just way too slow most of the time (more so than it was in the past, which I can forgive if the food is good), I have to rate them a 2. 6 months ago, it was a 5. I'll still go here as I do love the lamb and there isn't necessarily a substitute for a cheap sandwich. But I really wish they would bring back the woman who used to work there because she knew something that the current owners obviously do not.
(2)
Gabriel B.
Could go here twice a week...oh wait, I do. I recommend the lamb and the Falafel.
(4)
Ari S.
So basically, I eat here every day. The sandwiches (or "wraps" as yuppies call them) are nicely packed and filled with the traditional lettuce, tomato, pickle (!) and tahini, along with your choice of meat or falafel. They also have hot sauce that has an oddly smoky flavor. They normally grill them, which can be weird if you're used to every other falafel slinging joint ever. You can, however, ask the dude making your sandwich to give it to you ungrilled - this usually solves the leak problems that some people moan about. For an extra dollar, you can get any number of other fillers in your sammich, including falafel (in a shawarma or kabob), grape leaves, hummus, baba ghanouj and tabbouli. The falafel itself isn't so super - it's mushy, not greasy-crispy like they have at Falafel King in Downtown Crossing. I'd say it's more of a "put it in along with a shawarma" falafel, than a "make a sandwich out of it by itself" falafel. The chicken and lamb shawarmas are the real high spot though - the meat is grilled really well and tastes damn good for the money you're paying (less than $5 for a regular sandwich). Also, the dudes who work at Moody's are pretty awesome, although it's hard to chat them up when it's packed. The place is open 'til 3AM, which is excellent for alcoholics like me. Do yourself a favor and get takeout, the place is so small that eating in is like eating in your closet. Also, if you call ahead they will love you because you're not clogging up the place waiting for your food. Oh, and expect a wait for your food if the place is packed - it's not excessive, but worth noting. The place is basically keeping me alive at this point, so much love to Moody's.
(4)
Laura F.
I have a very tough tummy and I had some sort of terrible reaction to the falafel plate. Since that day, I can't even walk on that side of the street w/o cringing. I must have gone on a bad day.
(1)
Ken C.
overrated. dry, boring shawarma and falafel. good only for late night drunk chow.
(2)
S W.
Food is eh. Falafel didn't taste fresh (try Cafe Jaffa downtown for a better falafel). Really slow service and the staff's attitude lives up to the name "moody". Also, they will leave you waiting on a long line without making a general announcement that they are out of all meat dishes-- you find out this after you have waited 20 minutes in line and are starving at the counter. OVERRATED OVERRATED OVERRATED.
(2)
Kit Y.
I don't wanna make it, I don't have time to go to Boston, I didn't take cash out today, so I end up at Falafel Palace. Big falafel wraps for four bucks. It's not the best quality, or taste, but it's there and I eat it.
(3)
Michael D.
Amazing Falafel, open late, reasonable prices, fast and efficient with polite service. I have yet to try the shawarma, but i've heard good things.
(4)
Esther W.
something happened to this place. new owners? new recipes? new servers? i dunno. doubt i'll go back here. so sad :(
(2)
Ashley S.
my name is ashley and i'm addicted to the falafel sandwich at moody's falafel palace! seriously. so cheap. so good. i am only holding back on the five stars b/c i haven't tried anything else on the menu.
(4)
J B.
Falafel was kinda mushy, won't be going back.
(1)
Jessica D.
Had to go to Falafel Palace on my first night as a Boston resident. If they make falafel that my husband enjoyed then it must be good! I was not disappointed. My falafel wrap was juicy and tasty and very filling. Not perfect because I like my falafel pretty crispy, but darn perfect flavor-wise. Next I'll try the lamb shiwarma wrap!
(4)
Erica S.
Um 3:00am drunken falafel binge? Yes, please! But hold the pickles.
(4)
Darth R.
I lived in Cambridge for a year, and when short on a dollar Moody's was always the place to go. For a fiver you can enjoy some of the best chicken Shawarma to be had, and the counter people are more courteous than other Shawarma vendors in the area. The lamb can be good, but tends to run rather fatty leaving you with a mouthful of lamb fat; just a little gnarly. All in all, the value exceeds any expectations, and a touch of the hot sauce on your roll is just what the doctor ordered to clean out your sinuses.
(5)
Laura P.
If it was still last year id be giving this place 5 stars but after several bad experiences its sadly been slashed to three. Still the best darn falafal ive had in mass. though thats for sure. They make them just how i like them when the one older gentleman was still running things behind the counter. The younger folk ive had make my roll ups arent completely awful its just lacking someing in taste and make which usually has me end up with a lap full of hummus.
(3)
stacey l.
Don't expect a nod, a smile or perhaps even an acknowledgment from the counter staff...it doesn't work that way. Their food really is fantastic, their service is really horrendous, forget the decor/atmosphere, order your food and get in and get out as fast as possible. I even call ahead so that I don't have to wait in line too long...in the summer, the cramped space can be a bit overwhelming. I love the super combo platter - has some of everything and is only $7.. Only thing to watch for is the shawarma can get grizzly down at the bottom...if you complain they will cut you some new meat.
(4)
JV B.
Fantastic falafel sandwich, hommus is fresh, prices inexpensive. I always stop in if I'm in Cambridge.
(5)
Jen Y.
I went back to try lamb plate, 5 stars!! Cheap, scrumptious food for the win!! My brother also decided to ask for a plate without vegetables thinking that they were going to just keep that spot empty, but they just filled it up with rice and lamb anyway, awesomeness!
(5)
Sevn M.
Moody's has been pretty consistent for me. I usually order the vegetarian combo or the falafal sandwich and both are great. They are also usually quick, even during lunch time
(4)
Jeffrey L.
3am 3am 3am 3am 3am 3am 3am 3am 3am
(5)
Muckenfuss V.
Staying open until 3 am + very cheap makes up for a lot of other deficiencies, especially the dry shwarmas and the endlessly long waits for service (it's been 20 minutes). Food is comparable to what you'd get from a cart; nonetheless, this is the kind of place Boston desperately needs more of.
(4)
Nick P.
Yes the place is small, yes the hours are weird, but yes this is the best late night food anywhere around. Be prepared to wait a little in line, but it is well worth it when you get that delicious shawarma. I live closer to Harvard Square but after a night at the bar I take the T to Central just to hit up this place.
(5)
Heidi X.
I've recently been trawling Cambridge for tabouli (my new fav superfood), and decided to give Moody's a try when I passed it on the way home. It's storefront is unpretentious, and there's too little space inside for more than 2 groups to sit, but I love the old-world diner feel in this little shop. Moody's does a great version of the tabouli wrap; it gets the grill treatment, and was nice and warm when I took it with me. 2 hours later, the wrap still tasted delicious, and the dressing they put in the wrap kept everything just nicely juicy without the whole thing going soggy. Loved it! My biggest surprise was that the shop didn't display any more critic reviews than an old 1980s (I think) magazing clipping.
(4)
Joshua G.
Great place for 3 reasons: 1. The food is really pretty good. 2. The atmosphere--it's an architectural marvel and they place cool music and loud volumes. 3. It's open until 3 AM.
(5)
Stefanie G.
There is something special about Falafel Palace - the falafel wraps and gyros are solid and I love a canned soda, but what really does it is eating here drunk at 2:30 AM after partying in Central (after Thunderdome, Chicken Slacks). For lunch on a weekend, it's cheap and filling.
(4)
jen f.
a great place to go at 3 a.m. on a winter's night when it is too cold to realize you just broke your foot at an insane party at the Greek-American Club down the street. the great taste and great deal make you feel a little better when you are on crutches the next day. recommended.
(4)
Joy W.
Best falafel I've ever had - not too greasy, not too dry - and you can't beat the vegetarian combo plate. Hoummos, baba ghanouj, falafel, tabouli, house cucumber/tomato salad, tahini and pita, all for less than $6??? INSANE! Amazing.
(5)
F N.
Always outstanding...good service, good food. One of the best hummus we've ever had.
(5)
Jackie K.
Nothin' like falafel. You gotta try this, it's cheap, quick, and yummy! My boyfriend and I can split a chicken one and it's PLENTY of food. We absolutely are drawn in by the smell, and the Baklava is my personal favorite (it's the best I've had in years, but sometimes they run out, so make sure get it if you see it there!). Go on, have some falafel at 2am, you know you want to...
(5)
Lara S.
I agree that the prices here are downright cheap, but that only makes sense since the food was mediocre. This hole in the wall restaurant (barely large enough to turn around in) doesn't hold a candle to the excellent falafel at Rami's in Brookline. Moody's falafel was dry and wrapped in too much pita, and they were stingy with the accoutrements (tomato, pickle, etc.)
(2)
Jess C.
Ooooooooohhhhhhhhh! THAT's what a falafel wrap is supposed to taste like!!!
(5)
Amanda B.
Absolutely amazing food and nice staff, but I just wish they would remember to put my baklava in the bag!
(4)
Wayne J.
This place is pretty good for their shawarmas and kafta kebab wraps. Sometimes they are very slow with service, but I keep coming back. I guess I really like this place because it's convenient, close, and has tasty food for a good value. The space itself is small and dingy, but it fits the vibe/style of the food and the people.
(4)
Ashley S.
I don't know what people are talking about when they say the food is just mediocre. It's amazing! Always quick, always fresh, and the people working there are great--funny and courteous. I've tried many shwarmas many places/countries and this is definitely one of the best!
(4)
Anonymous P.
I'm a fan. Delicious falafel, maybe the best of Boston. Everything's quite good. I love how they grill the sandwiches. The staff are very nice, the prices are right. Just wish they had more seating. update: 12/10/06. Whoa, guess I was wrong or this place has gone downhill. The food was terribly bland and dry.
(2)
Katia M.
It took awhile to get my falafel wrap, and it was a freezing night, but what can I say? The falafel was good -- loved how they warmed it up. But like I said, it took kind of forever. Turkish coffee was also tasty. I can't wait to go again and sample the tabbouleh. Oh, how I love thee, tabbouleh. Thumbs way up.
(4)
Al N.
The shawarma is very good. The pastries are very, very good. Unfortunately, I really, REALLY don't like the falafel. Maybe it's a regional thing? It's too cakey and too subtly flavored. I describe it as tasting healthy which is not good because the whole purpose of a falafel is to take a bunch of healthy stuff, then deep fry it until you've rendered it UNhealthy. I don't like the salad that comes with the plates, either. Too heavy on the cucumbers and kind of bland. I prefer Falafel King or Rami's.
(3)
Kelly G.
Good, fast, fresh, cheap, substantive. If you like hot sauce w your falafel, they have it.
(4)
Molly S.
I typically hate falafel, but I love this place. If you love falafel other places, maybe this place won't suit you. But if you usually find the flavor off-putting and dry, try this place for a happy alternative.
(5)
shary m.
It's there, and it's an option, and I'm glad it's there. Definitely not the most delicious middle eastern option in town, but at 2AM, I may think differently, and you gotta love having access to it!
(2)
Kim R.
its cheap. its fast. its filling and pretty yum. wah wah just ask for no pickels and extra tahini and then its awesome.
(4)
June P.
So, after 5 years of walking by this place, today, I decided to walk in. I was desperately hungry, on the verge of fainting or chewing someone's arm off (I don't usually have cannibalistic tendencies, I swear!). I ordered the Falafel Plate (didn't even see the sandwiches because of my hunger), and then the guy behind the counter asked, "Anything else?" like he KNEW I had been eyeing the baklava! So of course I had to order it. I'm not actually sure how the Falafel Plate tasted because I inhaled it. But the baklava, I'm telling you, is good. GOOD. REALLY GOOD. I even saved some for later because it was so good. And at two bucks a pop (ok, fine 1.75), I think they're a deal. So flaky, gooey, mmm... I'll try the shwarma next time, but I think we have a winner here!
(4)
Nathan H.
Great falafel and roll ups. The lamb plate is also a ton of food for your money. I'd highly recommend calling in your order to pick up though. During dinner time the line can back up and you can end up waiting for your order for a while. It always felt great to walk in and having my food waiting for me, probably saved several hours over the years.
(4)
Huan z.
Another cheap eat, Their falafel is not as good as Romi's but they are really good. Another great thing about this place is they open very late, if you are hungry at 11:00pm and don't know which restaurant is open. Try them. It is a little tiny place with nice big taste!
(3)
Kabir H.
I didn't think I came here that often, but then the dude behind the counter asked me if I wanted the usual.. which is a chicken shawarma with baba ganoush. The baba takes cares of the nearly universal dryness complaint in the rest of these reviews. Plus, it makes for a damn fine shawarma. Really, there should be more dishes with pomegranate. Anyway, the point I'm driving at is that Moody's comes through in spades when you're looking for a quick, cheap meal.
(4)
Ja H.
One-of-a-kind in Boston! You've gotta try it all!
(5)
Jim K.
Workers seem like they'd much rather be making falafel elsewhere if at all. Not worth the wait or the attitude. Don't bother unless this is your only option.
(2)
kathy a.
This place is real good...I've tried other places where the hot sauce and the marinationof the meats aren't that great..this place though, they really know how to make the dishes right. The hummus is excellent, baba ghanouj is real good and their chkn, lamb, and falafel plates or sandwiches are excellent! Plus they are open till 3 am wed-sat!
(4)
Helen T.
I LOVE THE FALAFEL PALACE!!! Although the falafels and baklava are wonderful all the time, my favorite time to visit is Friday or Saturday night between 2-3am. Everyone is there waiting in line because the place is packed but it fosters the most fun conversations and atmosphere! The guys behind the counter are wonderful!! As a cornerstone to my weekend nights in Central Square this place gets 5 Stars without question!!
(5)
JEM C.
I love this place! The chicken was so tasty and every bite was an explosion of good flavor. I ordered the chicken plate with Syrian salad instead of rice. OH SO YUMMY! Its a little whole in the wall, so don't expect anything fancy, heck with only a handful of seats, you might end up having to take it to go. But its very affordable and you can ask for extra sauce, so that shouldn't be a problem.
(5)
Andrew K.
Very good, fresh, cheap falafel, open late, and grilled to perfection. Good bean options.
(4)
Kevin T.
I'm really glad Central Sq has this small falafel place. It's almost like a hole in the wall, but the food is great and cheap. my favorites are the chicken shawarma, lamb shawarma plates, and the kabob rolls. I believe the rolls run about 4-5 bucks and the plates run about 6 bucks. The plates are plentiful in portion, and quite healthy with sides of rice and diced cucumber/tomato salad. The only downside is it can take a while to order your food, but I guess that's because it's such a popular place with the locals.
(4)
marissa k.
I think something happened to this place, because it seems to have gone downhill...I only tried the chicken shawarma...too dry....not a lot of flavor. Just not good. This place is probably ideal for those stumbling out of central square bars at 2 am...but I would never come here again...I'd rather drive farther to reef cafe (which is incredible) or of course shawarma king. I was also aggravated when I was there, there were a ton of people waiting and someone who came in after me and ordered a chicken shawarma got hers before mine....annoying, they should use a number system, but they didn't seem to care. they could be friendlier. Oh and as for the pickles, that is fairly standard shawarma content...unfortunately, the shawarma i had here seemed to contain none of the spices contained in real shawarmas.
(2)
Christopher M.
Peak food experiences for $3.12 (side of falafel+tax).
(5)
Leroy t.
It's open until 3:00am, serves falafel and shawarma, and is roughly 6' x 8' inside. Given the above, it really couldn't be better. Consistent, hot, spicy if you want it, with a unique pickle flavor. Good falafel. Really fucking cheap.
(4)
jonathan n.
My first review, and it's a scathing one. This was my second visit. Ordered a falafel sandwich both times. The first time was at 2am (I was not drunk), and so was somewhat understandably dry and awful (though, if you're going to stay open til 3, make the falafel fresh to order and don't skimp on quality assuming everyone coming in is drunk and indifferent). Second time was this afternoon. I ordered my falafel spicy, and with extra mint and parsley. 1 minute into my wait, I reminded the surly sour-faced woman: extra parsley and mint. I got the sandwich, drove off, parked, and ate the sandwich. Not only was it rather stale and obviously not freshly-fried again, but there was not a single gram of parsley or mint on the sandwich: nothing. It was overall one of the worst falafels I've ever eaten, second perhaps to the last one I had there. Sure, I knew better than to try them again, but I'd heard good things from a friend, and decided a second chance was in order. Oh, and I am not a fan of businesses that illegally post a minimum charge for cards. Never again.
(1)
Jonathan R.
Decent falafel. The sandwiches benefit greatly from the sandwich press, and are even better with hot sauce. Probably the best I've had around Boston, and more than passable (which is more than I can say for most), though not earth-shattering like a few of my favorites elsewhere in the world. Service is mixed, but usually professional and rarely bad. Prices can't be beat.
(4)
Srikanth S.
Superb value here. The plates -- a signature item with rice and syrian salad -- are especially good for the money. I think the falafel sandwich gets a lot out of being pressed here. I also liked the addition of pickles, a nice touch. The chicken shawarma was dry on several occasions; I'd go with the kebab, which is made to order (call ahead to save time, if you like). The hot sauce can be wickedly, gloriously hot - I think its a wonderful friend to have at your side when eating what Moody serves up, especially when some items (baba, shawarma, spinach pie) just taste weird.
(4)
Erin D.
I used to love Falafel Palace. Their falafel sandwiches and spinach pies were my favorite. However, I had a terrible experience a few months ago. I watched one of the cooks run his hands through his hair a few times and then he started touching all of my food. It grossed me out and now I can't go back. I know this type of stuff happens out of my view in many kitchens, but seeing that made me nauseous.
(2)
Nathan P.
I usually eat lunch here once a week -- it's cheap, easy, and pretty tasty. Agree with the comments re: falafel. Before going to Rami's, I thought it was real tasty, but it's just not that good. I have been opting for the lamb shawarma roll-up for six months now and it hasn't let me down. I went last week and they had out these new plates (half chicken, lamb leg etc.) -- didn't try them, but i just might one of these days.
(4)
Will E.
Cheap, excellent falafel sandwiches - open late - great people watching. What more can you ask for? Well, you could ask for a little bit more seating, but beyond that, this place is a real gem - especially late at night.
(4)
jack p.
I eat here more than anywhere else in the world. The falafel sandwich is amazing. People I've taken here also adore the falafel, although I've heard mixed reviews about the lamb (I don't do meat so I don't know). It's cheap and open until 3am on weekends (finally, a break from hi-fi).
(5)
Katy T.
Get the falafel sandwich with hummus. Crispy crunchy goodness inside a pile of amazing flavors. It's good stuff, Maynard!
(4)
Paul M.
Let me just put it this way: no other fast food place in Mass does falafel better. It is simply true. Some restaurants are possibly better, Ill admit that much. Every time Im in central around lunch time I go to Moody's. No other place is even an option. That place is a central sq landmark - check it out. Oh just make sure you take it to go, or eat outside because the inside is tiny and they dont have a/c.
(4)
Mary T.
Food isn't great & frequently the people are semi-mean. Nice that it's open super late.
(2)
Hungry J.
This place has all the characteristics I expect, know, and love in a falafel place: indifferent and borderline rude staff, pretty quick service, delicious food! This place is so goofy, it really does look like a castle on the outside. Well, the inside is not meant for royalty... we ended up sharing a table with some folks we didn't know, because the place is quite cramped. I'm not a huge falafel aficionado, but I think the sandwich I ate here was good enough to go back. It's open really late, and that's probably when they get most of their business. Is it gourmet? No. Is it fancy? NO...I wouldn't want to stay in here for long, and would probably get takeout next time. But if you want some falafel, this isn't a bad place to go.
(3)
Josh O.
This place has the best falafel I've found since moving back to the East Coast, and I'm a _huge_ falafel fan.. I haven't tried everywhere yet, and there's a few places on my list that I've heard good things about, but for now this it my go-to falafel shop.
(4)
mickey l.
Ok. Tons of mixed reviews here. First off, it's super cheap. Secondly, they may only have one person working the entire joint, so it can be slow. But on a warm night, with a lamb shawarma in my hand, and a freshly fried Falafel (we had to wait 10 min as she ran out) I was winking at the robust but cute lady in admiration for her calm under the pressure of 10 sets of hungry eyes saying hurry hurry I'm next! Of course you're next, and she knows it. She even threw in three extra falafel for my patience-
(4)
Stavros M.
I like this place: cheap and good. The falafel is good, they have a good selection of soft drinks.... The main complaint I have is that, though the shwarma is delicious, it is tough and gristly.
(4)
rishi h.
I eat a falafel here like once a week. I'm a believer in the myth of the greatest falafel on the planet...but, till then I'm OK enjoying a falafel at moody's. For a dollar extra they'll mix in baba ganoush. Yum.
(4)
Khalid S.
For its price and the convenience of the place being open 'til 3 in the morning, it's the best falafel sandwich or shawarma in town. I also tried their cucumber salad, meat pies, hummus, and baklava. And pretty much everything here is excellent. A word of caution about their chili sauce... now when they ask you regular or spicy, they mean SPICY, their red sauce is delicious but it's really HOT, almost on the level of Desi spicy :) Also, I like the music they're playing there, most of the time it's Amr Diab... one downside to Moody's is that the place is really small, but what the hell, it's cheap fast and delicious food!
(4)
Juho W.
ok... WTF happened to this place... this was my go-to place for a long long time. I've been in Cambridge since September of 2007 and when i first came here.. wow the food was awesome! They use to fill the wraps with lots of meat ( if you get a chicken or lamb roll-up). It seems like this place got new ownership and they are sacrificing quality. The old Falafel palace would take their time pressing the rolls until they are crispy... Now the rolls are pressed WITH the aluminum on. They only leave the rolls on the presser for mere seconds. What you are left with is a floppy, cold roll that falls apart. Speaking of falling apart.. they now leave the top and bottom ends of the roll OPEN. EVERYTHING falls out! wtf are they thinking. And what is the deal with the greens they are putting in the rolls... first, they tried to use "high-class" salad type of greens in the roll. I think they realized that cost too much money and now they put in lettuce.. wtf.. just keep it original.. more meat.. less greens. Before these new people started working at Falafel it used to be meat/falafel, pickles some tomatoes and few, few greens. They USED to give a hot crispy roll that was much larger in size. I keep getting angry thinking about the change in food. I dont even want to talk about the quality of the chicken, lamb and plates. Do not go to Falafel palace... this place went from A+ to Z-
(1)
Stephanie W.
For the most part I enjoy Falafel Palace. I typically order a chicken shawarma plate which I feel the quality is inconsistent. The prices are extremely reasonable though and I am impressed with the amount of food you get for your dollar.
(3)
Phil D.
Just seeing a picture of the exterior makes me hungry. I have never had anything but the falafel sandwich, Really, why bother with anything else? I like to eat in at the counter and watch the world go by...Central is not as weird as it used to be, but there's still some sights. Sometimes they even throw a couple of tables outside--that's nice, too! I am a total carnivore so someday I guess I should try some meat, but just can't tear myself away from the falafel. It's delicious. The pita is also perfect and the vegetables are fresh. Man am I hungry. I have also been told that it's not that good, but I don't care. I like it.
(5)
Laura A.
i really like this place a lot. maybe my falafel palate isn't that well developed though because other people have told me that it actually sucks. (including miss sonali m., the falafel expert of the bay area.) it's the perfect place to go after a night of drinking in central.
(5)
Ani G.
For some reason, the service has speeded up some since I had multiple bad experiences almost a year ago. Maybe this is because I am often going at off-peak times? I haven't seen the guy who ignored me lately, so maybe they just have better people in there? I'm not sure, but whatever it is, the increased speed makes it a better option for a quick meal in the neighborhood.
(4)
Vijay N.
My first post! This place is awesome and I keep going back for more and more. Out of all the similar restaurants in the city, this is one that keeps calling my name. The roll-ups are an amazing deal with tender meat, fresh veggies, and great sauces. This is definitely the hidden jewel of Central Square!
(5)
Malena L.
all i'm saying is that if i'm to drunkenly pass out on my titanic sized couch while clutching onto some food item, i better wake up to one of their falafel sandwiches in my hands.
(5)
Eli G.
Some of the best falafel in Boston. Moody's sets itself apart by grilling the pita after they fill it, creating a warm taste explosion!
(4)
Vincent M.
this place is good. its worth the money (which is not all that much). easy location...what more could you want!?
(5)
Amaldo ..
This place is phenomenal. I've been looking for decent falafel and shwarma since I came back from traveling in the Middle East. The meat (chicken and lamb) shwarma is very tasty and well-cooked. The restaurant itself is small, but well maintained and clean. I sat down and ate there and found the atmosphere and music to be very amiable. Didn't try the falafel but will definitely be back soon to try it. Much better than Rami's or Shwarma King.
(5)
K M.
One of the best hole-in-the-wall places in Central.
(5)
KC F.
I'm not giving it a 5 just b/c it's nothing like the falafel you'll find in Israel. However, that said, for Boston, it's not half bad. And the fact that it's right near my apartment is a major plus. My only visits here have been at 2:30am after a night out, which might skew my review on the side of deliciousness, but it also means that I can review the service adequately. At 2:30am, this place is PACKED! But don't be afraid of the line out the door -- it moves quickly. Plus, there are always others around who are either nice to talk to while passing the time or hilarious to watch as they drunkenly embarrass themselves.
(4)
Taryn J.
I'm vegetarian so the giant spinning racks of meat kind of creep me out, but the falafel plate is delicious so I don't mind.
(4)
solomon s.
I like the food at this place but I am terrified of the "efficient" (maybe mean??) employees. Last time I went, I ordered a falafel wrap with baba ghanouj and was handed a warm little roll-up that tasted quite delicious, but lacking something. A few bites in, I realized that it didn't actually have any falafel in it, and was just baba ghanouj and lettuce and pom. seeds. My boyfriend, who is part Lebanese, approved of the something animal-product-wrap thing he got.. There were 80 people in line and I was already worried about getting back to work so I just munched on my falafel-less falafel wrap and wondered if I'd be returning to this place-- I think I will. Maybe not at lunch time.
(3)
Henry P.
Cafe Barada is 10x better than this place.
(1)
Kaopectate P.
the food prob 3 stars, an extra star for the late hours
(4)
HJ U.
Love Moody's- great falafel, hummus, shwarma (ask for a pita wrap with either falafel or shwarma WITH hummus). Inexpensive and filling. Seating is limited and there's no A/C, so be prepared to take out or stand.
(4)
Ashley M.
and the 'can't judge a book by its cover award' goes to moody's. its a hole. it looks like a hole. food's great. oh and i've asked them to make me things not on the menu and they have! how's that for customer service?
(4)
Michael J.
One of the best places to get a quick cheap lunch in central square. The sandwiches are good, reasonably priced, and as long as you dont show up during the lunch rush, you'll be in and out in no time...unless of course you eat your sandwich there. Plus, you can't beat the old White Tower building.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : No Good For : Lunch, Late Night Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : No
JW N.
I used to live over in allston nearby the "Garlic & Lemons". First time I had shawarma was there. I have to say Moody's doesn't live up to Garlic & Lemon's standard. Price-wise its pretty decent. Food quality however I would have to give a 3/5. They also only accept cash FYI. I usually order the lamb shawarma plate. Not much sauce is provided, hummus is extra. The meat is precut and stored warm which actually I've found to taste a bit drier (G&L keeps it intact and cuts it when you order). Honestly its not an incredibly cheap place and with the food quality so-so. I think there are better alternatives.
(2)Michelle L.
This place is a solid late night meal to grab when walking back from central square. It has both vegetarian and non-veg which are equally delicious . The food is well executed middle eastern food and you get what you order. Make sure you have cash though as this place only accepts card for big orders greater than $25 (much bigger than you could ever eat by yourself :) ). The restaurant is in a fantastic location an is inviting yet unassuming. There are no places to sit so don't plan on eating there unless its the summer and you can walk down the street to some of the benches on Western Ave.
(4)Jeff M.
I kind of liked Moody's better before the renovation. Always a solid option.
(4)bridgette h.
I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! it's honesty so good.. best falafel roll-up i've ever had. and its decently priced! JUST REMEMBER TO BRING CASH! my friend who was visiting from out of town came here and ordered just 3 falafel balls and when she went to pay she didn't have any cash.. so they gave it to her for free as a favor! how sweet! it's fresh, clean, and just tastes amazing.. please go here and the staff is really nice and cute!
(5)Chris F.
Delicious falafel
(4)Kaveh D.
Always consistent in quality. Very friendly people. Open till late. Not a fancy place, but certainly a gem for those who appreciate middle eastern cuisine.
(5)A S.
The owner is the worst here! Rest of staff friendly. I really really really dont like him. Basically I have been going to this place for years. Today I went in and got a $15 rice plate for adding extra shawarma (of which he gave me like hardly anything extra) and for adding veggies (charged $1 extra for EVERY veggie) and I didnt even get any hummus (which I already knew they nickel and dime for). BOTTOM LINE: STAY AWAY. So many better placed to go. Around the corner is Andala (AMAZING every time) and Mass Ave Chicken, both 5 stars and are VERY fair people. Particularly Andala.
(1)Ajay P.
Friend said its the best shwarma around. The meat didn't look too good, but still tried and the wrap was stale; and the meat smells. I think this is aimed at drunks. Aweful.
(1)Andrew W.
Ordered the Triple Veggies Roll-Up. Quick service, and super-delicious sandwich. Very small; no seating on the inside, but plenty of park benches around Central if you want to stop and eat. Cash only.
(5)Emily L.
LOVED this tiny falafel shop, one of many in a city that can't possibly appreciate the richness of its Middle Eastern culture! Our wraps were perfectly proportioned, easy to eat without making a mess but packed to the gills with a symphony of contrasting flavors and textures: smoky grilled meat and baba ganoush, creamy tahini and hummus, lemony tabouli, fresh vegetables and falafels that were dark and crispy outside, tender and herb-flecked within. Wow. They were so good, in fact, that they rate four stars despite some pretty serious problems. The most egregious is that they're cash-only, forcing a couple of us to zip up the street to an ATM. I get why small places do this, but I think it's causing them more harm than good, as I tend to avoid them even when they're as high-quality as Moody's. They really aren't equipped to handle large groups (there were eight of us) as there is no space to eat inside and only a tiny table outside -- we had to look elsewhere for a picnic spot. And I felt the prices were a little high: $8.50 for a smallish wrap (I ate mine and split a second with a friend; others in our party ordered two) and $2.50 for a can of soda. Knowing all that, if the circumstances were right, I would definitely return. Well done!
(4)Rachel D.
Myself and two friends ate at Moody's this past week. This was the only meal that all 3 of us ate together. We have all contracted salmonella which has lasted 5 days and counting. This is the most sick I have ever been in my entire life, I can't even describe how painful it was. We all needed to go to urgent care for IV drugs and fluids. We are starting to hear from at least 10 others who have had the same experience. Please contact Cambridge restaurant inspections if you have gotten sick too 617 349-6124 Salmonella can kill people, this business really should not stay open after this.
(1)E F.
Can't be beat for inexpensive delicious food in central square. After a while they did start to recognize me when I came in, so obviously I am addicted. (and maybe biased) Tiny interior space. Food is great - best baba ghanoush in town. Super veggie plate is where it's at.
(5)Brendan G.
I have never given a review of a restaurant (call this place that if you will) before in my life because I have never felt so passionately about an establishment. I ate at this "restaurant" last week with friends when we were in town visiting two of our fraternity brothers. All four of us had falafel, and all four of us were unable to go to work all week because WE ALL HAVE FOOD POISONING. It's a damn shame that this goes on in a great state like Massachusetts. This type of treatment is not the America I have come to know and love. Please change your ways. Customers beware. I would give negative 5 stars if I could.
(1)Sam D.
Myself, my sister and a friend got some of the worst food poisoning I've ever heard of from this place Friday 9/4/15. We have each been sick for 4 days and have all made trips to the hospital for IVs. I have eaten here several times and is generally good, but this was an awful disgusting experience and I will never go back.
(1)Yan C.
Moody's is your typical hole-in-the-wall restaurant - tiny, hidden, dingy, but the food is oh-so-delicious! I came here on a beautiful fall day. There was a long line, so I waited a while to place my order and get my food. I got a chicken and lamb shawarma (couldn't choose between the two so why not get both?!) I think it was only around $6-7. There was barely any space inside the restaurant to enjoy the food, but I planned on getting it to go anyway, so I didn't really mind. It was a short walk to the Charles river. I sat down on the bank, enjoying my shawarma while watching the Charles Regatta. The shawarma was so flavorful! Both the chicken and lamb were marinated and quite juicy. The veggies balanced out meat, so the wrap was not so heavy. I absolutely believe it when other Yelpers say that the falafel and shawarma here make some of the most glorious (and cheap) drunk food. But hey, they are pretty damn tasty when I'm sober too!
(5)Natalie R.
Myself and 4 other friends ate here last week, and about a day or two later, we all got crazy food poisoning. I got salmonella, haven't been right all this week and have been out of work because of it. This place is usually fine, idk what happened. I called the Cambridge board of health, hopefully they can straighten things out.
(1)Olivia D.
It's fast, cheap, and tasty. The wraps are perfect to grab on the go. I have no qualms.
(5)Isaac E.
Amazing little place on a corner. I think it is operated by the same family that first opened it many years ago. The food is incredible and the prices are fair, for Cambridge. Try the felafels ! I had the shewarma.
(5)Ashwin K.
Awesome shawarma at reasonable prices. And they are open late!
(5)Jon T.
Falafel here is pretty delicious, but the service can be so-so. I stopped in here at about 9:45pm one night because there were so few other restaurants (with vegan options) open at that time. I wanted to get a rice and lentil dish to go with my falafel but they were basically out of everything except wrap material. If there wasn't much of a demand at night, I could see why they wouldn't want to make more. But several people kept coming in asking for non-wrap items so clearly they could have made more and sold it. Also, it's cash only which is always a drag (though I understand why small businesses do this.)
(3)Bob B.
the woman who serves the food was cleaning the counter and around food container with a cloth napking and dumped the food back into the food container. when i said something i got kick out from the restaurent saying i have been rude. that's food poisoning right there... i called cambridge city hall inspection services
(1)Karis O.
Central Square essentially sets up Moody's Falafel Palace for victory since there's no late night pizza options available...BUT, that being said this place is like a light shining down from the heavens when you're running around from 11pm-2am trying to figure out how you can eat your feelings pre-bar/post-bar/anytime. Go to Moody's Falafel Palace. Bring cash. Get the Kafta Roll Up: slabs of tender beef with the fixings and their homemade tahini sauce. Or the regular Falafel Roll Up (vegetarian friendly) for a solid initiation experience. Throw in some feta in both of them, let's celebrate! This place is on par in my eyes like a Mediterranean Chipotle/Boloco/Anna's Taqueria [also, if you dislike any of these establishments, I dislike you] where you watch them put everything together in awe. Also- their restaurant is shaped like an actual palace. You know, the palace you were convinced you were going to live in when you were a kid. Points for sentiment and artistry.
(4)Adam R.
Best falafel in Boston. Get the King's Wrap up and ask for extra taboli!
(5)Noe C.
This is absolutely my favorite middle eastern takeout spot ever!!! Love that it's open late! It's so tasty I'm always extremely impressed. I've tried practically every dish there. Love the small local vibe. Great hidden gem in Central. Highly recommend. I have recommended many!!
(5)Michelle D.
I work around Central Square and this is my favorite place to pick up a relatively cheap, healthy, and delicious meal. I'm a fan of the grape leaves and baba ganoush wrap in particular. I'm glad it's open late as my work shifts have been going later too. If it had some seating that would make it even better but otherwise I think it's pretty great for what it is!
(5)Anthony L.
Oh man, Moody's is easily my favorite falafel place in town. Easily! In fact, one of my fears about moving to the west coast is no longer being able to stroll (read: drag) myself to Moody's at all hours of the night. Perhaps I should list my favorite attributes of Moody's for you: * Open until 3 a.m.... 3 a.m.! This means you are able to eat your favorite treat between any part of the sober-intoxicated spectrum * Inexpensive BUT damn good. (Have it be known that I really wanted to drop the f-bomb instead of 'damn', but censorship is okay on Yelp) * Location: Moody's is in the heart of Central Square; eat your grub at one of the bar tables, at one of the tables outside, OR venture to the grass in front of City Hall / Charles River. I need to break out of my shell a little more, but I have only gotten the Moody's (spicy) Falafel Wrap... but it's so damn good to try something else. Go here and enjoy! You will not be sorry, I promise. Pro-tip: Moody's is cash only! If you don't carry cash, head over to the 24-hour CVS, grab a beverage, get some cash back, and then head on over.
(5)Jennifer T.
*falafel wrap (the falafel themselves were moist, crisp and meaty. Good flavor and texture. Not traditional with pita bread but with a wheat wrap. Regardless, I definitely enjoyed this!) *lamb & chicken schwarma wrap (omg!! The meat was so good! flavorful and perfectly cooked and tender. The meat was cut up so it was easy to eat in a wrap form; you have to get the hot sauce with the meat because it takes the meat to another level. Super good!!) It's like a Subway for Mediterranean food in terms of the wraps.. Pick your filling and they add the peppers, pickles, etc. They have platters too but we didn't get that. We went for a late night snack after drinking and it was totally worth the drive!!! Just park on the side street and walk over. There's no seating in there; just stand at the counter along the window and eat. If I were ever in that area again, I'd go back.
(4)Austin W.
I had one of the most frustrating food ordering experiences of my life here. I came here an ordered a king shawarma plate, and instead of platting a king shawarma plate, the woman behind the counter put together a chicken and rice half plate for me. She asked me twice if I had wanted chicken, and twice, I made eye contact and specified that I wanted the king shawarma plate, and she proceeded to make the wrong order right in front of me. When the cashier rang up my order, I was charged not the price of a king shawarma plate, nor the price of a chicken and rice half plate, but something completely arbitrary. Go anywhere but here for your falafel fix. Try Chicken and Rice guys.
(1)Victoria P.
Walked by Moody's on the way to the bus stop and decided to split a lamb shawarma roll-up with my boyfriend. It was just okay. The meat was tough, the veggies were lackluster, and the tzatziki was extremely runny/watery and lacked flavor. Overall, not my favorite and probably won't go back,
(2)Julie M.
If you want something cheap go here . The owner Khalid was a little not there staring at me and my girlfriends ordering as if he was going to rape us with his eyes .the food was good until I looked behind the kitchen and saw a rat omg running around as if he owned the place . Not ok when ordering food it's not something I would particularly want to see when ordering food . That's why I labeled it as if you want something cheap go here , and don't bring your daughters unless you was a pedophile to look at them ...
(1)Milena P.
Ughhh it pains me to downgrade Moody's because I used to go pretty much every week and loved the previous Syrian owner and his son. They were so, so kind to me. The new owner is a creep who hit on me and made me feel very uncomfortable the first time I visited after a long time and asked for the previous owner. They jacked up the prices significantly -- like $2 per sandwich. They ask you if you want hummus with your sandwich, making it sound like it's a standard topping, yet they charge you extra at the register. Had I known, I would have refused it! The "lamb" also tastes different, although they swear up and down it's the same recipe. I'm... doubtful. Also, not taking cards at all? Why? Get with the times! Yes, the falafel is still ace, and there's not really a lot of options for late night eats in Boston, but I'll probably start considering other options. Moody's is just not what it used to be.
(2)Kristen C.
Preface: I have tried Falafel Palace twice: once sober and once en route home after a lovely evening dancing with friends. The former experience was underwhelming. I got a falafel salad and the falafel was dry, lacked flavor, and seemed like a misfit lost in a sea of iceberg lettuce. The latter experience was much better, though still different than expected. It was late at night, I was cold and hungry, and got a spicy falafel wrap. It was hot and savory and flavorful enough.. but not remotely spicy. It satisfied like a snickers. Recommendations for improvement include increased consistency of quality and assembly. Bottom line: great late-night, post-excursion fix.
(3)Katie P.
Open until 3am. Had the mixed schwarma wrap. It was awesome! They put hummus in the wrap and with extra hot sauce it had a nice kick. You can get falafel and schwarma mixed which is what if like to try next time!
(4)Monica T.
Awesome spot to pick up dinner after an overtime shift at work. Spicy chicken sxhwarma is amazing!
(4)Lauren P.
I LOVE the falafel here. It is a great flavor and texture and definitely not dry. I order the falafel wrap, spicy. The spicy sauce is just enough kick. They smash up the falafel on the wrap making it much easier to eat than trying to balance a falafel ball between the pita. There reason I gave it a four is because I want the pickled turnip on my falafel wrap.
(4)Luis D.
I may be a bit spoiled, because I have had the oportunity to taste the delights of Middle Eastern food in the Middle East. Moody's is not the best Middle Eastern food place, but it sure does fill in a niche. It is a quick bite and an affordable bite in a good location. Moody's is within a few minutes walk of Central Station and it is open late. I quickly popped in and bought myself a lamb and beef shwarma and it was not magical, but it was a tasty bite. The meat was marinated well and the toppings were additionaly good. Service was quick as well which makes this place a good lunch spot. This place only accepts cash which sucks. It is best to grab your food to go as there is only a standing counter. I also should mention that there is some interesting art work on the walls there. I didn't ask who made it, but I wondered if it was someone who works or owns the shop.
(3)John M.
They stop having falafel and meat before they actually close. Super annoying to go in and be told all you can get is old rice.
(1)Alexandra M.
Got take away from here and it was amazing. Best Falafel I've had in ages (which isn't saying much, seeing as I spent a year living in Korea but still). Perfect amounts of everything. And still warm when we got home. Such a long line when the bars close, but they were fast! 2 people went in to get food for 5 and we were amazed how fast they were out. Seemed like they were in and out.
(5)Kenneth R.
Great Mediterranean food you can get at 2:30 AM on a Sunday morning! I had the Spinach Pie, Palace Super Veggie Plate (Falafel, Hoummos, Baba Ghanouj, Foul, Tabouli, & Grape Leaves), and the Beuruti Chicken Shawarma Plate (with bread, rice, and Syrian salad) [what, I was hungry]. The line took about five minutes, but the food was ready and fresh within a couple of minutes of that. It was really tasty, and its so nice that its open late every night of the week, and super late Thursday through Saturday! I was initially disappointed that they didn't take phone orders, but the line moves quickly and the food is ready, so that's not really an issue. I'll be back again soon.
(4)Tricia T.
Palace Super Veggie Plate was an awesome way to get a good size portion of all my favorites! Absolutely packed with flavor. Super fresh. Quick, friendly take-out service.
(5)Chootar L.
They ask if you'd like hummus on your sandwich but "forget" to tell you it costs extra. Very shiesty way of doing business. Why not disclose it will cost an extra $ so that I know instead of conning another $ out of me? During the past 1-2 yrs it has changed ownership as the food isn't as good, prices have gone up and amount of food as decreased.
(2)Courtney H.
Lovely friendly staff and fresh ingredients. What more do you want? Hungry guys would probably need two though. Get down there.
(4)Vivian Z.
This place serves a flawless falafel. Also staff is super nice and its small but I've never had to wait.
(5)Lewis G.
This place is dank for lamb or chicken roll-ups w hummus and veggies. Open til 3AM thurs-sat. great place for drunk food after drinking in the bars. cheap food.... roll-ups are like 6$ decent quality ingredients and great taste. i will be returning a lot in the future. I want to try the kabob plates.
(4)Dodge S.
Great place to eat cheap, lamb is wonderful with tahini sauce in a wrap.
(5)Trent T.
open late; affordable; inexpensive; I should stop being surprised that I enjoy the shawarma. a relief in the inexplicable food desert of central cambridge.
(4)Jess M.
Dear Moody's, I loved you when your shop was dingy looking and the staff was kinda mean and often forgot the hot sauce I paid for and then yelled at me that they certainly did include it. I still love you now that the staff is a lot nicer and the place is a lot prettier. But could you please do something about your super stale pita? I never know what to do with it because it's too stale for eating. Once I fed it to the birds. Today I fed a little to my cat. She seemed to like it. My cat also likes smelly gross cat food. I love everything about your food and eat it at least once a week, so unless you want my cat and the birds to get fatter from stale pita bread I suggest you wrap it in saran wrap. Thanks!
(4)Corey L.
Went there once to find a good Falafel (visited Egypt a few years ago and had dirt cheap incredible falafels every day for 2 weeks and have been searching for good ones ever since) Anyway, I went inside and immediately became nervous - it was like the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld. Everyone was in line and seemed to know exactly what they wanted and how to order. I'm an annoying question-asker in restaurants, so I was nervous. I asked a few questions and they answered them, though without smiling, I got my food, and I quite enjoyed it. Then I ate it on the sidewalk as it was busy and that was the option. Luckily it was a lovely day and plenty of eye candy about. And by eye candy, I mean drunk homeless people trying to sell me drugs. Ahhh Central Square. Anyway, I'll be back if I'm in the area and in the mood for Falafel.
(3)Kiki P.
Moody's Falafel Place is the perfect spot to grab some falafel and lamb or chicken shawarma after or during a night of drinking. I stopped by Moody's when I was at a few bars in Central Square. It was around 10pm and I was starving so I pulled out my phone and did a quick Yelp search. Moody's popped up right away and it was exactly the type of grub I was looking for. Ambiance: This is a quick and easy bite. There are no seats inside the restaurant. There are a couple of seats outside for maybe 2-3 people. Be prepared to eat your meal while standing. It is just one of those places... Food: I ordered Moody's falafel plate, which has all of your standard falafel ingredients: salad, falafel, tahini etc served with pita bread. The falafel itself was rather average. A few hours after my meal, I had very bad stomach pains. Not sure why the food upset my stomach. Service: You cannot really comment much on service at a fast food restaurant. They obviously prepared my order very quickly. The staff seemed nice enough, but when someone in the group brought up Yelp, they were bitter. They stated that they "hate" yelp. I am not sure why they have such strong feelings of hatred towards Yelp but since Yelp is my life (or a large portion of it), I was not happy about this comment. Maybe they were just hung up on some nasty reviews written by Yelp users. NOT COOL for them to be haters. TIP: Moody's is CASH ONLY so please be sure to bring some with you. There are several ATMs in Central Square in case you forget. Overall, I would recommend checking out Moody's Falafel Place if you are looking for a quick late night bite to eat and in the Central Square area. I would not suggest going far out of your way though. Enjoy!
(3)Arpita B.
It's cheap, serves delicious food, stays open late and is close to the Central Square T stop...what else could you ask for when you aren't in the mood for burning a burning a hole in your pocket! This place is a speck on the wall (you will miss if you blink), with barely enough place for 5 people to stand in at one time....But the food more than compensates for its size. The chicken and lamb shwarmma wraps are the best items on their menu. The meat is mounted on a rotating rod being slowly cooked all day and is sliced off in individual portions only when ordered. This slow roasting allows the meat to soak in all falvors of herb rub it has. The falafel wrap comes a close second. The only down side would be: they take cash only (sometimes they take credit cards...depends on the cashier's mood), there is limited street parking and hardly any seating...The only reason to come here: Hearty, delicious FOOD!!
(4)Emily G.
The 3 stars is partly if not mostly my fault for not being completely and utterly hammered. Truth. Lets face it. Moody's is the best drunken-food-venture place in the area. Their wraps are big and filling, their store is tiny, the owners can treat you like shit case you're too drunk to care and everything is cash-only unless you are smashed enough to order food for everyone. But all of that is alright, because you're drunk. Really really drunk. Their veggie surprise dish (i'm making up the name here, its veggie something and it costs $7) is loaded with falafel, a chick pea salad, sauces and tons of veggies with added spice depending on how much you plan on loving your bowels later. The wrap is incredibly filling and large, which is just about the right amount of food for someone that needs to balance out all those jager bombs and Miller Light (seriously, you couldn't pick something classier to get drunk on?). To be honest, their falafel is amazing on its own. Its crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and packs tons of flavor. The rest of the filling in the veggie wrap just bring down the falafel instead of enhancing it. I would've ordered straight up falafel with a dipping sauce for the perfect midnight snack. Since my wrap was under the $10 card minimum, I had to show some serious cleavage for them to make an exception. So this is what I recommend. If it is plain daylight and you are looking for a Mediterranean to-go meal, then this place is A-OK. If you are drunk, walking sideways and having some serious munchies, this place will taste like the milk of the gods caressing your face and massaging your body. TL:DR? 3 stars sober. 89 stars drunk. *drops mic* IM OUT.
(3)Karina L.
This place is open until 3am, which is downright shocking for any eating establishment in the Greater Boston Area. That said, I usually come here during work, and there is never a long wait -- which I think is more of a reflection on their service than their popularity. A man I can only assume is the manager noticed a customer was waiting for her side, and made sure she got it immediately. There are a ton of vegetarian options here. Because I am me, I opted for the meatiest option they offered -- a lamb/beef roll up. The pita is put on a grill for several minutes, so it's crisp and piping hot once you get it. The meat is flavorful and juicy, and made even more moist with their delicious hummus. The only thing I omitted were the raw onions (they make my breath smell like Satan). This is a GREAT lunch option if you want something that's filling but won't throw you into a food coma for the rest of the day.
(5)Carrie P.
This is really a 3-star restaurant. The falafel isn't anything special, and the service isn't stunningly fast. This restaurant gets an EXTRA star for one reason: it is open until 3am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The owner of this restaurant understands that I want some foooooooood after a night of dancing. In a city that closes down at 2, this is one of your post-bar options. Bookmark it and set an alarm to remind yourself. The falafel is acceptable, but not authentic. Even in an intoxicated state, the falafel is noticeably dry and lacks any interesting flavor.
(4)Damien S.
Well Moody, after years of only sampling your wares while unlawfully intoxicated, I finally ate your chicken shawarma... (Is it possible? Can it be? Are they serious? Well, I've never. Preposterous!) ... SOBER!!! And it was damn tasty. Where normally dry proteins are carved from a vertical rotisserie, they seem to take an altered approach during non-closing time hours and store the bird in a bin. Result: maintained juiciness, if not practically post-brined. I'm a fan of the warmed wrap loaded with, well, pick your lead role: chix, lamb, kafta kabob, all for $5.50 and all made a bit more flavorful with a dollop of hummus and a squeeze of hot sauce. For veg, the standard L, T and pickle cool and give texture, but only the pickle lends anything to the sandwich. Moody's hits the street food trinity: fast, cheap and tasty, and does it where few contest their title. Plus, if you're polite (as most drunkards aren't), they are too. Bonus!
(4)Maximillian M.
The king's roll up is excellent, as is the falafel side (a couple more than two would've been nice for the price though). Ask them about leaving out the pickles and be enlightened.
(4)Y. R.
Totally delicious food. Have been eating here for years. It's a small place, so there's a standing counter but I don't mind. Sometimes I stay, sometimes I eat on the go. Food has always tasted great no matter what I order.
(5)David K.
This place is the perfect way to cap off an evening after a night out at the bars in central or anywhere else. The kings roll up is perfection in the form of donner lamb, with some fantasticly spicy sauce and chicken. Cash only, so come prepared.
(5)Kev H.
The Falafel here is pretty good. The pita could be a little better, but everything else from the salad to the lamb is good. Service is quick. I'd say it could be a little less expensive given it's cash only. I'll be back to try something else next time since it's open so late.
(3)Keem H.
I ordered 3 wraps to go. The guy who was filling the wraps wasn't paying attention to what he was doing. I was standing in front of him while he was talking to his friend and laughing not paying attention to what I asked him. Instead of doing lamb he was filling for chicken. The wrap was completely empty and he was about to close it up and give it to me. I asked him what is that! He told me that the owner told them not to fill the wrap. I told him "but it is almost empty!!" He said the owner doesn't care!!! I left the place without taking anything. The guy was very very ignorant and rude. And if the owner really said that so, I would never go there again and I would highly recommend against this place. As if all the shawerma places ran out of the city!!! Horrible service and horrible food.
(1)Andrew C.
Open late and reasonably priced. They might run out of lamb if it's a busy late night.
(3)Jessica H.
My favorite go-to at 1:30am after a show at the Middle East or TT The Bears. Since it seems nothing in Boston and Cambridge is open after 2am for food this is the go to place! They are open till 3am on the weekends (Thurs - Sat nights). SWEET! Lots of vegetarian and vegan choices. I only get the falafel though because it's consisnt, quick, and easy to walk and eat with. Is it the best falafel in the city? No there are certainly much better places. But is it amazing at 2am? YES. Also they will cut the roll-up in half so it's easy to split with a friend. There used to be a young guy that worked there for many years that I thought was super cute but he isn't there anymore. I used to like ordering from him between 2005-2008. The place can get crazy crowded at 2am when the bars let out, so be prepared for a line and wait. Otherwise it's pretty quick. Usually you can find a place to eat though since people are in and out of there pretty fast. Last Fall they were doing rennovations to the place so it was closed for awhile and I got so sad thinking they were closed forever, but glad to know they reopened!! Also if you don't know of the secret parking space late at night, well then you are missing out! =)
(5)Carlos R.
No reason to go anywhere else.
(5)Allison M.
I want to give more than a 1 star because the food is tasty, but the service is horrible and rude and the portions are cheap and stingy. I get a bad taste from interacting with the people working there that I don't even want to eat their food! I bought a veggie plate, the most expensive thing on the menu, and I only received ONE piece of falafel and one piece of stuffed grape leaves and heard them arguing about how much lettuce they give me. And no pita bread. sheesh, but no thanks. i rather go to Davis square for a better deal and more amicable atmosphere.
(1)M A.
Five years ago the food was fantastic. Hot sauce, garlic, veggies, and perfectly marinated meats combined for an amazing fast food experience. I was looking forward to returning. My recent visit found the food bland, dry, and almost inedible. Despite an ownership presence there was absolutely no flavor to the food and the chicken roll up had barely any chicken. I took a bite and hastily disposed of it.
(1)Jon G.
I thought the food was very well priced and at a great location.
(3)Ryan M.
I stopped in here while waiting for my bus, haven't been in here in a while, the food went down just fine but I think I may have gotten food poisoning when I got the veggie falafel wrap on Monday night 1/13/2014. This was the only thing I had eaten for the day and spent the next 2 days in a pretty rough condition, the typical food illness stuff that I am sure I do not need to go into details about.... Anyone else that came in past 6 PM Monday have any issues??
(1)Jonathan W.
Well if I hadn't been spoiled by Moody himself years ago I might give this four stars. Moody is the brother to the famous Mamoun who made the BEST felafel in NYC. Moody did too, but alas Moody went back to Lebanon and now while the food is good, it is not the spectacular repast it once was. They used to offer an eggplant rollup to die for and used to grill the wraps. Anyway, good felafel etc.
(3)here t.
Yeoow! nice work guys... by the way, the place is just chock full o' guys of various types. Grunting, smelling, yeah-ing, thinking, etc. The wimmins be scared it seems but they shan't be as its nice afterall. If a bit gritty. The food is fresh..thats' the most important thing in a low margin place like this. The hummus and baba are very very good... I autta know Ive made 'em from scratch a few times in my day. Actually, the weakest link.........is the falafel..what?! - hey is this a trick review?! .... yeah sorry but its bland and somewhat mealy. Ive had way worse but at a Palace, wherein falafel is presumably the centerpiece of the altar, it should self-levitate and gently turn in coordination with planetary movements, or, maybe just have a bit o' crisp to it. Everything else is great. Some of the best tabouli around, cucke salad done with aplomb and a bit of lemon and mint. (Where do they BUY that aplomb?) Fresh bread, great small pastry deserts, and good prices. What else can you say except don't navigate your next galactic GPS program using their falafel. You may end up in Onion Square. Maybe the fifth star would be earned by some floor to ceiling cleanup a bit more often. But then it might help in this age of H1N43 or whatever it is we're terrified of this year.
(4)Marcos R.
Greater Boston, being alongside with San Francisco the most European of metropolitan areas in the United States, should have more eatery places like Moody's Falafel Palace. This Central-Sq. obligated late night stop for God's hungry children offers healthy and tasty food from the Middle East at a very affordable price. While in Europe it was easy to find these independent food stands which run at a small scale and don't hurt your wallet. So far I've been two times and I'm already a fan. Try the baba ganouj (however it's spelled) sandwich. This is not a place for an elaborate date, but I'm sure a lady would appreciate if you showed her this convenient place for the first time.
(4)Brian G.
Somehow ended up here after the yelp elite karoke event, drunk off my ass. Got a cheap, vegan, delicious falafel made pronto. It had pickles on it too which was odd but zesty. They are open til 3am! No one is open til 3am! Brilliant! Boston seems to be into falafel like Sacramento is into burritos. I like both, I'm happy either way (but I haven't had a good burrito in ages....)
(5)Lala L.
Since I started working in the area...been coming here about once a month when I'm bored with everything else and it's nice enough to walk a few blocks over. The chicken shawarma roll up is one of my faves, esp with hot sauce. it's got enough kick to get me chugging down that Orangina. It's also a plus that they don't go cheap on their sauce. I hate dry sandwiches. The falafel isn't bad either. This place puts enough veggies in your sammy...the right amount of pickles too.
(3)Augustina C.
This used to be a four- or five-star place, before the renovations (and change of management?). Their foul was delicious, stuffed with beans, pomegranate seeds, tahini, and other bits and bobs. Now it's just a mass of shredded cabbage with some tomatoes and onions. I haven't tried anything else there since they renovated, to be fair, but they do seem to be much sloppier than I remember.
(3)Taryn L.
Went for lunch yesterday and the food was fantastic. I had a veggie platter while others in my group tried a chicken dish and everyone was quite pleased. Seasoning on everything was really the best part.
(5)Maya S.
Moody's is one of the best Falafel places you can find. The prices are reasonable and the portions are filling. Ideal place to go grab a bite when you are really hungry! Be sure to try out their cashew filled dessert wrap or whatever it's called. It's delicious!
(4)Dana L.
So, after 6 years in the area, and three right near Central Square, I was embarrassed to have never visited this place. I made a pilgrimage on a sunny spring day, and it definitely met my standards. The falafel was just about right - not too dry or greasy, and pretty much the right mixture of stuff. Maybe not the perfect falafel, but it was darned good.
(4)RM M.
This place is cheap and has always been good. Expect to wait for a bit at peak times. There is very little room inside; it can be hard to find a seat and even if you do, you will feel crowded. I swear that this place has the best cheap falafel in the Boston area. Great late night food, open til 3am on weekends!
(5)Shawn W.
My first experience with Moody's was much less than satisfactory. Venturing in during a lunch break I'd ordered a lamb shawarma, and literally every other bite of lamb was un-chewable. After half of the shawarma, I tossed it. I was very displeased and it took over a year for me to return. The second time around was under very different circumstances. Stumbling all the way back to Central Square from Porter at 2 am on a Saturday night, post awesome party, my friend asked what sort of food was available in the area. Moody's was the first place to pop up in my clouded consciousness, so in we went. We spent a few minutes looking over the menu carefully deciding what to order, only to be informed that falafel was the only thing being served at that hour. Fair enough. We got our falafel shawarmas and proceeded to finish them rather quickly. Good news, the falafel was much better than the Lamb - tasty and moist. Perfect food for coping with excessive inebriation.
(3)Melody N.
I went here once late on a Friday night with friends after many libations. I had major munchies and was glad to eat anything. The place is small but it was bursting with people. The line moves quickly though and the place smells great. My husband and I shared the King Shawarma plate which had both lamb and chicken, rice, salad, and comes with bread. All components of the plate were delicious and it was good portion to feed the both of us. It is relatively inexpensive as well. Definitely a great place for a late night munch.
(4)Zoe M.
Moody's is a great place to stop for lunch or a light dinner. The food is fairly cheap and the staff is super friendly. I have no idea what to suggest to order, because I've tried half the menu at this point and it's all really, really good. The falafel is a go-to, but so is the chicken shawarma. Honestly try anything. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Heads up: There aren't seats inside (only a counter to stand at) and they only take cash so be prepared.
(4)Mike S.
Falafel Palace has obviously undergone a management change sometime in the last year or so and has taken a nosedive in quality. This used to be one of my favorite spots and was impossible to resist late at night. The portions make you think that we're war rationing to send our chickpeas to the Prussian front. The current staff there has legit made me a falafel roll with 2 falafel in it. TWO. I can see you making it. I know it's 90% lettuce. It's a sad sad way to see one of the greats go out.
(2)Jarrod G.
This place is the best! So convenient, healthy, & delicious. The hot sauce is great and Danny is the man! He remembers my order every time!
(5)D F.
Have been coming here for 7 years and although it has changed some, it's still one of the best things about Central Square. Many great nights have been ended here at 2am, picking up a Chicken Sharma roll-up which you then enjoy sitting outside on the sidewalks of Cambridge. This late, you can't do much better for food and ambiance, it's like a ritual. Side note, I've eaten there during the day and the food actually tastes better! Liquor is not needed to enjoy Moody's delicious food!
(5)Scratchie S.
This place is the bomb. I've been going here since you could get a sandwich and a side of rice pilaf for three bucks (early 90s). It's still cheap, if not *that* cheap, and still tasty, and still open late night on the weekends. Now that the CPD has moved, you can find parking around here at night, too. Glad to see this place is still around and still serving great food.
(5)Mason H.
Amazing food, great people, authentic flavors. Get some.
(5)Tanya V.
Worst falafel sandwich I ve had. The falafel doesn't even taste like falafel. It looks like its mixed with bread crumbs and tastes like bread inside a wrap. They don't use tomatoes, just iceberg lettuce and a scanty pickle or two. The tahini sauce is watered down. Overall a very dry and bland falafel sandwich.
(1)Joey C.
I was visiting Cambrdge this weekend and headed back to Moody's for my favorite falafel sandwich...It was great. I like their wrap style sandwiches better than the pita pocket style that other joints serve. When I made a visit last summer to Moody's, it was pretty terrible (as reflected in other's 2012 reviews here. at Yelp.) Judging by my visit two days ago, they've gotten their mojo back.
(4)Bertrand R.
Some excellent middle eastern food. The shwarma plate and the falafel wraps are my two favorite dishes. They also have some excellent baklava. The manager of the place during the daytime is really friendly and sometimes they will offer you some stuff to try (like lentil soup he let me have for free a while back). I would say that the only downside of the place is that it's on the small side, so you can end up waiting for 15 minutes for your dish if you're there during rush hour. Also, there is one lady who is really stingy with serving you meat. I've seen her put a bunch onto a plate only to remove some later. Most everyone else will give you a bountiful portion.
(4)Ned K.
It's generally tough to find good food in the main Central Square drag, but I really like Falafel Palace from the handful of times I've been. I've gotten the Chicken Shwarma which was great and would also recommend the stuffed grape leaves for something a little lighter. Definitely going back to expand my menu knowledge. Would definitely recommend if looking for a quick bite while on the go or for something to bring home.
(4)Geneva B.
Everytime I used to go visit my friend at NYU, I'd be psyched to go to Mamoun's -- a hole in the wall falafel place in Greenwich village open all night. Moody's Falafel Palace is the equivalent, and it's /right next to where I live./ So excited. A lot of their stuff has dairy in it (like the tahini -- so vegans and lactards be alert), but not all, and they'll show you what you can eat. $10 minimum for credit cards. Fantastic food.
(5)Jaxon W.
My go-to place for a quick, flavorful and affordable lunch in Central Sq. Get a Shawarma and Falafel mix, filling and delicious. Cash-only.
(4)Alyssa H.
I'm with Ladyjane. What happened here??!? I used to dream about the babaghanooj here it was so good. I worked down the street and frequented Falafel Palace at least twice a week. The staff was friendly, the food was cheap and delicious. They knew me and my order. Fast forward 2 years and I stopped by yesterday to have the sandwich I missed so much. Pressed slightly on the grill, full of baba ghanooj and pomegranate seeds. While the location is the same I am guessing ownership has changed. It's slightly remodeled, the prices are slightly higher, the staff and the recipes have changed. My sandwich was cold and limp. No pomegranate seeds. I'm so sad :(
(2)Kenny C.
I did not like this place at all. Friend and I came here late night after not-so-heavy drinking and each had the chicken shawarma wrap. BIG MISTAKE. The chicken was dry, the sauce was flavorless and runny, and it made me bloated and feeling like crap until the next afternoon (so much so that "chicken shawarma was a bad choice" became an inside joke). I've had good shawarma before, and this place does not make it. But what can you expect from a place that spells it "falafal" instead of an "falafel" on its storefront sign?
(1)Nick T.
Fantastic food but I'm giving only 2 stars because the owner refuses to let you pay with a credit / debit card (or something like level up which is now the norm for most locations in boston or cambridge these days).
(2)Ladyjane S.
I ate here recently and, wow, things have truly gone downhill here. I used to get lunch here weekly when I worked in the square. Best falafel and shwarma wraps ever. But no more. Now, the falafel is white (?) and mushy and not falafel-tasting at all. And they don't wrap them properly so you have a soupy mess at the bottom when you're finishing. Also, my bf got the chicken and lamb combo wrap and he requested no onions. So she started piling on chicken and then some meat/onion mix on it and when we told her, no, he can't have onions, she goes "oh, well that lamb's not ready yet", pointing to the spit. So then she picks the chicken out then pours the lamb/onion/bits of chicken mixture back into the lamb bin. (WTF??) Food is not very tasty and service...weird. I will not be returning.
(2)Ali H.
If you're looking for a roll up or a light delicious meal, then this is the place that you're looking for. The owner is really kind, humble. and he's always there, the guys working here are so nice too ;) . Don't miss the spicy sauce and tahini .
(5)Joe R.
Ah Moody's Falafel palace- What happened to you? Through the years, I walked through your rehabbed white castle doors into a fantastic haven for a tasty falafel wrap- three or four golden, crispy chickpea balls, a delicious salsa, a little lettuce, some humus and flavorful "sauce". Aside from the fantastic food and reasonable price, the service was also warm and friendly. I even had a late night there once after catching a show at the Middle East where I walked in as they were closing and the gentleman behind the counter, feeling bad that he was closing, actually put down the mop he was using to clean up and offered us some hummus and pita bread on the house. Fast forward to yesterday when I happened back into my old haunt after a hiatus of several years and found the place to remodeled- dark wood décor with a salad bar display of ingredients. I ordered my staple falafel wrap and was disappointed to watch the young man behind the counter smash two falafel balls into the sandwich (I presume to take up more space) - two! Really?! What's the deal with that. Missing from my wrap as well was the bright, tasty salsa replaced with some sliced tomatoes and a few pickles. Sigh. I guess some good things just don't last.( After writing this, I just read a few reviews and it seems the ownership must have changed.)
(2)Connie C.
This place is glorious. It's right off the Central Square T, they have vegan options, and it's cheap. There's no seating, although there is a bar-type area so that you can buy your food, eat it immediately, and then turn around to buy more food to eat. The card minimum is $25 though, or else I would eat it everyday going both to and from work. Oh- the only downside to this place is that it will make your clothes smell like falafel. Actually, that's not really a downside. EDIT: They don't take cards at all anymore.
(5)Anthony R.
Decently falafel sandwiches served quickly for a fair price. Back in the day, they used to ignore you for a bit, (slowly) assemble your sandwich, the place it on a grill and hand it over a few minutes later with delicious results. Unfortunately, the Falafel Palace has (somewhat) recently taken a turn for the worse as they've changed the format of the place. The service is now assembly line Anna's Taqueria style, which means that you get your sandwich probably ten times faster, but it's not as good as it used to be. The ingredients are still great, but the lack of grilling and generally sloppier assembly takes the sandwiches from drunk-divine to drunk-good (and sober-acceptable). Still, it's a tasty falafel, served to you in a palace, and open (very) late on weekends. Not bad.
(3)Nadia A.
I personally had a really bad experience here on a Wednesday night last week. The place is small, so don't be intimidated by a long line, it goes relatively fast. There was Arabic music playing and a lively vibe. I felt very rushed to order but decided on the falafel wrap and a side of dolmas. The owner, I assume, was on the cash register and was slowing down the line because his eye was on the food line and he wasn't paying attention to the people in front of him. He rang me up to $9.54, which I thought was a bit pricey. I asked to use a card, and he said: "it's cash only unless you want to use your card to buy a $25 gift card." My dad owns a small business, so I know cards can be expensive per transaction, but you need to be consistent, cards or no cards! I scrambled to find the cash, since I knew I wouldn't be returning. I was handed a large bag with my sandwich and my sides in a large styrofoam container. As I was getting on the T, I tried to take the sandwich out of the bag, and oil spilled ALL over my coat from the open container. It was not properly closed and was prone to leaks (no way to seal a styrofoam container!). Beyond that, three dolma pieces cost nearly 4 dollars. Stick with the sandwich! The only positive piece was the fact that the sandwich came in a plastic bag, which allows for easy and clean eating of a messy sandwich. Food was tasty! Pros: convenient, relatively quick, nice ambiance, tasty food Cons: a bit pricey for sides, bad card policy (bring cash), messy food and not appropriate food container (except clear bag for sandwiches)
(3)Michelle J.
I was originally going to give this place 3 stars but after seeing a situation with a customer and the staff willing to make them a brand new wrap they deserve that extra star. You've got to love a place willing to give you exactly what you want the way you want it if you're not happy, even though it wasn't their fault. For a number of times I've had to elude this place. Central Square though vibrant with various dine-in eateries actually doesn't have many places open for takeout after hours. And I've many a time gone in and leave because of the sheer volume of people who want a schwarma at 9PM. Most of their wraps are decently priced at $6. Sometimes I like to imagine a place open at 2AM and not next to a bar might very well be selling some crack. But no, this place just sells some really good food. (Those of you looking for crack should probably eat here too. It's cheaper but can be just as addictive.) I've had the lamb, chicken and kafka roll-ups. I was a bit disappointed in their falafel. That's supposed to be a staple food and the one time I did try it seemed hard to chew and the salad that comes with it was not that good. In all though this place is good for lunch, dinner or that 2AM hangover when the bars stop pouring and you don't want pizza. While I praise all food that comes in wrap form you can go without if you're counting those carbs.
(4)liz c.
I used to love this place, but it has really gone downhill. The new owner or manager or whoever he is is kind of a drag. They used to have delish green falafel, but no more. You can no longer sit down in there since they re-did it. The drink selection has gotten worse and more sugary. too bad!
(2)Brady B.
I've tried this place twice and I must say I'm a fan. Being on what seems to be a never ending falafel kick, Moody's is right up there w/ Cafe Jaffa and Falafel King, which is my personal favorite. Shwarma is definitely next on my list when I go back to Moody's. Great location, nice staff and open very late...a rarity in this town. Thank God I don't live near here otherwise I'd be ODing on falafel and waking up on the floor on a Sunday morning with tahini and hummus smeared all over me!
(4)Steve H.
Great selections for vegetarians abound. Service is quick which is great if you're in a hurry in busy Central Square.
(4)Karan A.
Good, consistent food and probably the best Chicken Shawarma in town. Also good for late nights - Its open till really late on Friday-Saturday nights. The only bad things about this restaurant are - Pay extra for sauces - Only Cash policy - Not enough seating
(3)Nikhil P.
Decent food but nothing to write home about. Coming from downtown Toronto, land of the shawarma, this was kind of imposter'ish. Good for a quick bite though -- fast, affordable food, just nothing that'll knock your socks off.
(2)Sarah G.
Walking by this place yesterday brought back my utter feelings of disappointment and dissatisfaction with this falafel experience...I can't believe that I never wrote this place up!!! Thank goodness I walked by it yesterday to remind me to tell all of you true yelpers out there, that this place has to be one of the most overrated places I have been to in Boston so far.... It is tiny...which sure shouldn't be a deterrent, but since it is a late night place, I am not one who after my night of drinking, wants to have to worry about some weird guy standing all up in my business at 2 or 3 am in the morning, let alone trying to make sure you don't spill your food in such cramped quarters! It is cold outside, so of course everyone crams in this place like little sardines to try and eat their late night munchies!! And the fact that I had had a couple of drinks before I got here, makes it even worse that I was so sad about the quality of food I got here. I literally should have gone to some alley in Central Square and found a dry cardboard box, and taken a bite or two of that, because honestly, their falafel wraps here taste about the same as I think a cardboard box would. Absolutely flavorless, hard, bland, and stale...People must have to be seriously wasted to like this place. The sauce even had no flavor and the lamb wrap we got was exactly the same only a little chewier! They do have fast service here, especially for the late night crowds that is usually a good thing, but in their case, I would say that means that the food has been sitting out a while...which is maybe why it tasted so bad. Why eat food if it isn't satisfying in the least bit? My question exactly, and if I came here again, I just wouldn't eat anything. Problem solved.
(1)Dessa R.
It's 2am on Thursday night in Central Square. You're starving after a night of drum n bass rear-shakin at the Phoenix. Suddenly it hits you like a slap in the face-- despite Central Square's oh so hip vibe, there are close to zero food options at this hour. Don't insult me by bringing up Hi-Fi and Cinderella's. These are not food "options." A milkless bowl of Cheerios from my kitchen is a more legit food option than the terrible twins of pizza failure. No, only one establishment remains in the 02139... Falafel Palace. It's hot, it's good, it's cheap. It's open late. I've had much better falafel in my day, but the Chicken Kebab rollup is pretty decent in a pinch. They turn off the grill by the latenight hours though, so it tends not to be available. So I frequently just end up with an okay order of falafel, which is by far the best and only option at 2am. Someone please open up some great latenight eats spot in Central Square-- it'd make a killing.
(3)Howe L.
I've tried my fair share of falafel places across Boston. Despite my anticipation to try Moody's, I can't rank it at the top of my list. Little dry, did not seem fresh, and not really enough filling. Cant go wrong as drunk food though.
(3)Yaka M.
Food is pretty good. Service is good and quick. Very limited seating. I would happily go back and try something else if I'm in the area and want to grab something quick to eat, but this is not the kind of place that I would take my friends etc. Cash Only.
(4)Casey F.
Chicken shwarma!! Everything is good. There's a lunchtime rush - avoid noon on weekdays.
(4)Paul M.
In a land that public transportation shuts down at 12:45 am, bars at 1 or 2 am, and other restaurants usually 10:00-11:00 pm Falafel Palace stays open to the wee hour of 3 am. Not only that but today, on the heels of the remnants of Hurricane Irene, when every other restaurant seemed closed, Moody's was not. They serve a variety of Middle Eastern fare from their namesake falafels to shawarma to tasty desserts like baklava and bird's nests. They serve the food cheap. They serve the food in a mini-castle in the middle of Central Square. That's why they've been a staple of the area for years. I'm pretty sure Matt Damon loves the place. I'm sure that a lot of other people do too. Count me among them. There are some cons- the quality hasn't always been exactly steady. Sometimes the chicken just isn't as good as it usually is. Sometimes the lamb isn't. Sometimes it's the falafel. But nevertheless any of their dishes are generally excellent. And be careful, the wraps can get mighty soggy at the bottom.
(4)Eric M.
When it comes to falafel, I've been spoiled my whole life. Growing up as a strapping Palestinian lad, I've been given some of the finest falafel around, whether it be from my mother or from delicious restaurants that my family has frequented. So I came to Moody's with a pretty high standard for what "great" falafel should taste like - and came away mildly disappointed. It was very dry and the tahini was nothing to write home about either. But at the same time, the prices are very fair and they give you a fresh product in about a minute. So I can't really be picky here - this is very much a 3.5 star place, but unfortunately I can't round up here. I'll go back and hope to upgrade my rating after.
(3)Ram K.
Cheap and good food, but not excellent. Best part, they are in central square. There is a zipcar lot right behind this place where you can manage to park for few minutes (shhhh) and grab a bite on the go. This place is open till 3AM every day. Thats a steal for a weekend night after drinking so much and dancing. Schwarma plates are ample enough. Not a huge fan of rollups but not so bad.
(4)Alex L.
I used to be addicted to this place. Whenever I go I usually get either a roll-up with lamb, or a shawarma plate with lamb and chicken. The first few months of getting this you're likely to think it's amazing, and it's all very cheap which is great. After a few more months though of eating this regularly, the novelty wears off and the food becomes less appetizing. Now I only go to take my friends there since I know it's a popular first-timer, but I don't go on my own just for food anymore. Still worth 4 stars though for the initial great taste.
(4)Rebecca N.
Always delicious for a quick dinner or for a snack late night. Staff is fast and friendly. Lots of vegetarian options, which I very much appreciate. So glad I live so close to this place! It is an important staple in Central square; the other fast food places in Central are chains like McDonalds or Wendys. Thanks Falafel Palace!
(4)Aaron W.
This is my go-to lunch place in Central Square. - Great food in an easy to carry package... check. - As fast as Ana's Taqueria (my current high speed benchmark)... check - Friendly service... check My only complaints are: - They seem understaffed for the lunch crowd (late night seems fine) - No place to sit after the renovation Bonus: - The servers recognize me and help me learn Spanish phrases (I am trying to learn Spanish as a New Year's Resolution).
(4)Boberella B.
Moody's is a old time standby for those late night, post-party snack attacks, or a quick, inexpensive bite on the go. I have many a fond memory of late nights when their chicken or lamb shawarma rollups have provided the perfect, savory exclamation point to a great night out. Lately though Moody's has really been letting me down. What's up with pre-made sandwiches unceremoniously handed over the counter by some uninterested grunts after being half-assedly rewarmed in a sandwich press? What's with the babaganoush and falafel rollup I ordered not having any baba despite my having paid an extra $.50 for it? (it's not the money, it's the principle). That sandwich was pretty awful, actually. The bread was soggy from sitting around for a while, the lettuce was wilted, and those tomatoes were, well, kind of gray. I don't even want to talk about the soggy, listless falafel patties. I can forgive a mistake every now and again, but this is getting to be more of a rule than an exception. 2 stars cause I know you can do better, Moody's.
(2)Daniel M.
The place is adorable. A little unfortunate that there isn't much seating anywhere because you have to basically take the food and go elsewhere, but the food is great. My friend got the spinach pie and it was teeny tiny for 3 dollars, and not what he was expecting, but my wrap was delicious.
(3)Adriel I.
So you took her on a date. Why not? Not the prettiest girl in the world but she laughed at your lame joke, and there was something about the way she twirled her hair. So the date went well. And so did the second. Didn't get past second base, but meh....there was just something about the way she smiled at you. You think. Maybe it's just because she lives just down the street. Or maybe its cause she always answers the door, even if it's 2am in the morning. You don't know...hell, most of the time you go see her, the room's spinning from one to many at Redline or Middlesex Lounge, and you can't be bothered to think about why's and hows. Until suddenly you're walking down the aisle and her gap toothed smile catches the corner of your eye from under her veil and you think to yourself "how did it come to this?!" And you know it's gonna be lamb roll ups for the rest of your life. Yep. Moody's is kind of like that.
(4)Roscoe R.
The food has always been mediocre at Moody's -- not great, but not bad. I'd give the food itself 2.7 stars. The main reason I often returned to Moody's was because they were open past midnight and because they were pretty cheap. Basically, it was either Moody's or 7-11. I used to get the chicken shwarma, lamb shwarma, or kafta kebab sandwiches (tried a foul sandwich once, when I was in a veggie mood, but the foul was indeed foul). The lamb was usually fatty/gristly/sinewy -- pretty gross having to spit stuff out a lot -- so I preferred the chicken (which was often dry/overcooked) or the kafta (made to order). And the sandwiches were way too "americanized" for me -- other than tahini, they came only w/lettuce, tomato, and supermarket pickles on them. Moody's never offered cumin-marinated onions, garlic paste, etc. I stopped going to Moody's entirely last year because of too many bad experiences with service. Enough is enough. Too many of the guys who work there late at night are surly assholes, too distracted by their loud music and friends to provide decent service, and so I'd rather spend my money supporting other Central Square food places. For example, if you want similarly cheap, mediocre food in Central Square but with GOOD service, visit Mass Chicken, which is 1 block away. It's worth noting that Moody's USED to have some really nice, courteous employees -- Sami comes to mind, and so does Danny -- but a bunch of them left, and some started working at the (MUCH better quality) Falafel Corner in Harvard Square when it opened about a year ago. Two bad (but typical) Moody's service experiences come to mind. The one and only time I called in an order, to avoid waiting in line, guess what happened when I showed up 30 minutes later (they had said "15 minutes," but I knew better than to trust that time frame)? They said, "Oh, yeah, we didn't make it yet, we're pretty busy." The second bad experience that comes to mind was the occasion that led me to not come back. I went there one night and ordered my 2 sandwiches (you need 2 to fill you up because they don't have much meat on them, so I'd get 1 lamb and 1 chicken). I asked for "just a tiny bit of hot sauce, just a little," like I always do (because their hot sauce is super hot). A few minutes later, I'm watching the guy make what I think is my sandwich, and he puts a TON of hot sauce on it -- I'm talking SPOONFULS. I say, "Is that mine you're making?" He says, "Yeah." I say (very politely), "Oh, well, I had asked for it with just a little hot sauce, and that's way too hot for me." He says, with considerable attitude, "Well, just try it anyway" and handed me the sandwich when he was done making it. [He re-made it without comment after I did try it, handed it back to him, and said, "Yeah, it's too hot".] I don't know who owns Moody's, but it seems like the owner spent little or no time on-site late at night. Again, if I were rating Moody's on food alone, I'd give it a higher rating -- 2.7 stars -- but the service is the dealbreaker.
(2)Chewie L.
Was here for lunch and got the falafel wrap. It was swimming in tahini sauce and the falafels didn't have that nice crunch that makes them great. They were also surprisingly bland all-around: the tahini, the falafel, the hummus all lacked personality. Also, pickles in a falafel wrap is kinda weird to me.
(2)Robin H.
Super good! I go every week. I just wish they had somewhere to sit.
(4)Bob S.
A wayyyy better late night option than hifi. Actually tastes pretty good and doesn't make you hate yourself. I've actually gone there when I wasn't hammered and it still was quality. Although I was in there once and the manager threatened to fire an employee in front of customers. It was very uncomfortable. Guy seemed like a jerk.
(3)Brian D.
Good spot for late-night lamb shwarma or falafel, but my satisfaction with this place is always correlated with the # of drinks I've had that night... None-1: I really wish this place tasted like the deliciousness of Israel and Greece. 2 stars 2-4:Why do I sometimes get so frustrated with this place? It's pretty good. 3 stars 4+: This is AMAZING and a perfect late-night drunk food spot. 5 stars!
(3)Allison R.
Nothing compares to Döner stands in Berlin for me, but Moody's sure is tasty. I would give them five stars if they sold beer, which would complete the nostalgia for me. Then, I'd give Boston ONE MILLION stars if I could drink said beer walking down the street and on the T...legally. But, the next best thing, in terms of schwarma, falafel, hummus, and pita is Moody's Falafel Palace. The building is even shaped like a castle! They also sell meat pies (MAJOR WIN, trust me), baklava, and are open until 3 AM Wed-Sat, as their neon sign proclaims.
(4)Sarah D.
We go back a ways, Moody's and I. How many dalliances can I have with them before I just come right and admit that I love them? No more, that's how many. I eat their shawarma when I am coming home late and hungry from the bar. I eat their shawarma when I can't think of anywhere else to go for dinner. I eat their shawarma when I don't feel like cooking. I ate their shawarma when I lived in Quincy and I sure as heck eat their shawarma now that I live in their neighborhood. This is my midnight snack of choice on the weekends and my dinner of choice when left to my own devices. It's fast food i guess, but it's so darn good. I love the pickles, by the way. Lamb is tasty, chicken with hot sauce is maybe tastier, but i will eat it pretty much however it arrives. I have no idea whether it is authentic or traditional, but it is definitely delicional (YUP).
(5)Kim S.
Being new to the area, I stumbled upon this awesome place on a Saturday night, after contemplating another late night session of mediocre pie at Hi-Fi Pizza down the road. Even around 2 am, this place is bustling with a combination of locals, visitors, and falafel enthusiasts, who are looking to satiate their post-revelrous adventures with some authentic middle eastern cuisine. I tried the lamb shawarma, and it was deliciously cheap at $4.99 for a reasonably sized wrap. And the variety of options offered for such a small place was pleasantly surprising. They offer everything from traditional falafel, to baba ghanouj, and of course, hummus. And although there was a bit of a line outside the door, it was absolutely worth the wait. This palace just gained a new regular customer.
(5)Aaron B.
I had the Aleppo pepper lamb wrap. Really tasty and just spicey enough.
(4)Jon H.
I definitely need to come back here and try it again. Moody's has a great small-town feel with obviously lots of fans - evident by the packed interior on a late Friday night (keep in mind this place is open until the early morning). Unfortunately, I wasn't blown away by the super combo plate I got (chicken, hummus, tahini, lots of fresh veggie mixes (onions, tomatoes, cilantro). It was a little too light on the chicken, a little too heavy on the veggies. BUT I can see the potential for more satisfying meals here in the future (read: ALL CHICKEN plates). The hummus, the pitas, the shredded chicken, the veggies. LOVING IT.
(4)Jen T.
There is no other place to get falafel in the area. I mean, there is, but there may as well not be. This place is cheap, fast, delicious, AND open late. And if you're familiar with greater Boston, you may know that the last thing is the hardest to find. I've always found the portions here to be huge and can rarely finish my huge wrap even after some hunger-inducing drinking. My advice is to wrap it back up in the foil and be delightfully surprised when you wake up the next morning and find it in your fridge :) The night time crowd can be fun or annoying depending on your mood, and sometimes you really have to force your way in to get served.
(4)Susan N.
This place has gone seriously downhill in the last year or so. I used to come to Moody's after bar hours. I love how they used to grill it so it's soft and crunchy. No more. Now you get to wait forever for a sandwich that's mediocre at best. It's great when you're drunk because you don't really know what you're eating. The falafel is bland, which defies everything a good falafel should be. Nothing makes up for a bad falafel sandwich. NOTHING.
(2)Joseph G.
Falafel Palace is awesome. Perfect meal, perfect snack. Always cheap. Personally I almost always get the lamb schwarma rollup, because it is just too delicious. When you walk in the door and look at that giant spit of meat roasting in front of you, it's almost impossible to buy anything else. That said, I have also had their falafel as well as their hummus and tabuli and it is all tasty as can be. Not too much in terms of seating, but you'll probably end up scarfing your food down before you even realize that you want to sit.
(4)Orian I.
Value +excellent quality food = happy tummy. We trampled through the snow to grab a bite for dinner. my boy regailing me with tales of late night study sessions at MIT and running down here, or drunken stumbles here on the weekends. The place is just the right size, it's tiny and cozy and the incredible spice filled air wraps you up like a blanket. We got the veggie combo and the lamb shawarma. The rotating spit is filled with that delicious perfection the quick attentive service. delicious rice, fantastic falafel. great salad, great tabouli salad. mmm mouth watering. next time i'll get the wrap, i'm a sucker for pickles and hot sauce. this is a little gem.
(5)Michael P.
*The ONLY late night pit-stop for REAL food in Central Sq. ("Real" as in none of that pizza down Mass Ave). It's definitely worth the late night trip. *Lamb Shawarma! Thumbs up! Good solid wrap. $5. Beware that they usually run out of this; so it's not available after midnight ish on busy nights? *I prefer not to get the combo plates; the food is too compartmentalized and the take-out box is bulky. The wrap is where its at. All the delicious ingredients are well-mixed and bundled into a ready-to-eat form (oh, and grill pressed too right before it's served). Moody's is afterall a food pit-stop: order, grab'n'go, and bon appetit!
(4)Joanna C.
While the Falafel Palace has numerous "pros" working for it: walking distance, central location, late hours, decent prices, variety of options...there are too many "cons" and the "quality" (or lack of quality) of those negative points that bring out the rating that it deserves. Having moved from an area that offers a variety of fresh, low-priced, and delicious choices - I have tried not to let my previous experiences affect the lacking options in the greater Boston area. Keeping that in mind, I still cannot allow this place to be recommended. The items are often dry, rubbery, flavorless (and sometimes, really strange flavors), and mushy. I have tried their falafel and shawarma wraps - and just can't get myself to come back anymore to try anything else. Service can also be spotty and inconsistent. Yelp is asking me to rate what it's "Good For" (i.e. Lunch, Dinner, Late-nigh snack) and I wish there was a "Barely Sub-par Meal" option. While it's reputation may rise as the hours get later in the day - that is not enough to warrant it anything more than 1 star. And appropriately so. Don't waste your time here.
(1)Joojie R.
Let me just start off by saying every Friday I religiously visit Falafel King in Quincy. I decided to venture out here and see how it compares. I'd better not compare... TINY PLACE. It's the size of one-person bathrooms at restaurants. Not that they need to be huge to be good, but it was good. That's it. It was good. You can sit outside. Lots of weirdos walking by, perfect for people watching.
(3)Melissa L.
Yum yum yum. I'm hungry just thinking about Moody's. I love this place because it's open way late. My producer lives about 4 blocks away and when we were recording my album, I would get hungry and we'd walk over to Moody's. Their lamb shwarma plate (any combo plate actually) is SO huge, with piles of tabouli salad, rice, lamb, pita bread, hummus... It's just really delicious in so many ways. Try their delicious garlic sauce, and their falafels, perfectly fried - just to die for. Totally satisfies all my late night cravings. Just two weeks ago, I performed at All Asia, and after the show, we were so hungry we trudged through the snow to Moody's and it totally satisfied all of our eating needs. I'm not a fan of sweets, but I heard their baklava is good too.
(4)ThePainfulTruth X.
Extremely rude counter worker. Flat-out refused to recommend something fast. I was on the way to a dance class, running late, and in need of some quick food. I wanted to buy local, so I stopped in at Moody's Falafel Palace. I approached the guy behind the counter, smiled and said: "Hi, so, I'm running late, what can you make that is fast?" The man says, bored, "everything we make is fast". I hardly ever eat Middle Eastern food so I couldn't really remember what was fast and what took time to cook. I said "Um, I know some things take a while to cook, can you tell me what is fast?" He said again, "everything is fast". I had been scanning the menu until this point; I looked him in the eye, pleading, kind of shaking my head, like, "what's the problem?" He shoots me a nasty glare and says, "I think you should go somewhere else." I have never been treated this way in a restaurant. Every restaurant I've ever visited in a hurry, the server has been able to recommend one or two menu items that suited my needs. I recommend you avoid this establishment and the rude guy who works there!
(1)Maria R.
Ugh- I've now been 3 times since the change in management- it's just not the same place at all. sure the paint is refreshed- but so are the prices and the attitude. The last time I was there the guy behind the counter was SO RUDE! He took orders from his friends that were coming in behind me, and then, when I was finally the last possible person he could wait on, refusing to make eye contact, he nodded in my direction "yes?" that was it. If i want to be treated badly, there are numerous places-- particularly in Central Square where I can go to be taken down a peg. but when I'm a customer, me thinks not. that was my last visit- buh-bye Moody's. Nice knowing ya- plenty of places to get a shwarma wrap & falafel nearby.
(1)Mike L.
Been living in Cambridge for over 5 years now and this USE TO be my weekly spot, I refered everyone here, my gf/nephew/etc. Loved the food and the owner. This place recently has been renovated and the owner is no longer present so the INMATES are running the place. FIRST. The woman at the cashier is always on the phone so she won't interact with you at all. Unless she is Yelling at you saying your wrong and she is right regarding a sandwich?! SECOND. If you want something on your rollup like pickles/no onions you better not ask because its not BURGER KING where you can HAVE IT YOUR WAY. Especially if there is 1-2 people behind you. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND SKIP THIS PLACE. SAD SAYING THIS BECAUSE THIS PLACE WAS AWESOME! USE TO BE....NOW IT IS JUST ANOTHER SNOBBY TRENDY EATERY! I WILL NEVER EVER GO BACK...........................
(1)Nitya D.
Moody's is basically a hole in the wall and might as well be the smallest eatery establishment in Central. Don't let that fool you though because the portions are large, the quality is great, and it's really cheap (I don't think I've spent more than $10 there and that's the upper limit). You won't really be able to snag a seat given that they have only 4-5 chairs, but it's great when you just want to grab a wrap to go. So basically, the ambiance is completely underwhelming, but the food totally makes up for it.
(4)Pecan E.
Things here have taken a turn for the worst. Appears to be under new ownership. Interior has been renovated. Prices have gone up. Portions are smaller. The owner is very rude. I used to come here very regularly on my commute home. Revisited today after an 8 month gap. I'll try again just to verify but what I experienced wasn't good. Terrible mushy falafel and flavorless chicken shawarma. It's always a bad sign when all of the meat is precut off the spit and laying in a warming tray. Oh, did I mention that the owner is very rude.
(1)David A.
SLOW AND MEDIOCRE. I've been here 4 times and once last night around midnight. We both ordered falafel sandwiches. They were OK compared to other ones I've had at other places. I only ate mine as I was HUNGRY. The guy behind the counter wasn't that friendly and they were pretty slow in making the sandwiches. 10 minutes was very fast for them, as the last few times I've been there, I've waited 20-30 minutes for my food. It's small, so most people do take out, rather than eat there. There are benches in the square, if it's nice out. On a PLUS SIDE, IT IS OPEN LATE and it's hours match the typical crowd coming out of bars/clubs in the area. How to get there? It's in Central Square. Street parking, paid lots, and T.
(2)Dee P.
Did someone really just say they got "two falafels, one lamb and one chicken" here? Um, people unclear on the concept, perhaps? Pretty damn good falafel here (which is CHICKPEAS for the clueless), good tahini, EXCELLENT prices (can you walk out of any other place in the square with a full meal for less than $5? I think not). Cute longhaired arabic boys who are nice to flirt with. The staff generally remembers regulars and are super nice. This is a family-owned place (run by the original Moody's cousin) and it could surely use a re-decorating venture and a deep clean (the hanging decorations haven't been dusted in millennia) but the food is good and one of the best deals in the area. The only cons: the spinach "pie" has no cheese in it (sacrelige) and the salad that comes with platters is super watery so it leaks all over. Oh and they still use styrofoam, sadly. The falafel comes with pickles so make sure you specify if you don't like those!
(4)Andy C.
Pros: quick service right near the T. Open till 3am. Cons: Overfried falafels that are a bit expensive. I guess you can't complain too much at 2 in the morning when you've got a hankering for a falafel wrap.
(3)Jeremy S.
Boston doesn't have an abundance of late-night food establishments, so the Falafel Palace in Cambridge gets 5 stars from me simply for being open (the fact that its tasty, honest, and trustworthy are also good attributes). Other reviewers are right: this place is at its best after a night of moderate to heavy drinking. It's cheap, quick, and far better than pizza for a 2AM snack. Still not convinced? Hit up a live show at the Middle East, then wash it all down with a $5 shwarma before hitting the hay. The Palace will feel like Heaven.
(5)Scott B.
Holy Mother of Shiznit... this place may not look like a Palace... but the treasures within atest to every quality a Palace should exhibit... Moody's has the magic to change any bad mood's frown upside down. Get out of work at 1am on a Saturday, and hungry as a mofo? Head down to Moody's... they're open until 3am Wed-Sat! The falafel is incredible... tasty, stuffed with hefty portions... and press-grilled to perfection. Oh yeah... and it was only... get this... wait for it... FOUR TWENTY FIVE... yup... you read it right... $4.25~! Moody's, you're awesome... and only one thing could bring you to a level OVER five stars... DELIVERY would seal the deal.
(5)Cherie C.
Good prices, good food. The guys working the counter were pretty mellow despite the crowds. They even noticed that we stepped outside while waiting and looked out the window and motioned that our food was ready. They could have just left it on the counter. And I know that if I was working that counter I wouldn't remember the faces of who ordered what, let alone remember where we were standing. The only negative: they were out of some drinks and the selection left a bit to be desired. That said, the shawarma was delicious. My fava bean thing was okay, but I should have gotten falafel or just hummus or tabouli instead. Can't wait to go back.
(4)Kimberly H.
THE BEST LATE NIGHT FOOD IN ALL OF CAMBRIDGE! Falafel Palace delivers consistently every time. Before you assume your experience is going to be perfect, beware of the following: - Long lines, especially around 2am - Juicy, drippy falafel wraps - No space inside to eat If you're prepared to endure those hardships, then you're ready for: - Amazing, quality falafel (I've been to Israel twice, I know my falafel) - If you ask for extra anything (I highly recommend pickles), you will get an abundance of that item - LOTS OF FOOD for CHEAAAP - Homemade baklava - If you ask for spicy, you're going to burn your mouth For a while I only ordered the falafel wrap with tahini sauce and extra pickles, but the other day I branched out and got the vegetarian plate (which is a healthier option). I have never been disappointed at Falafel Palace. The owners are awesome, too.
(5)David R.
Slamming chicken falafel wraps with hot sauce! Quick fast and affordable. Tied for the best falafel in Boston .
(5)David Y.
Was disappointed by this place. Was in on a slow Fri night and got the veggie combo plate. The $7 dish has hummus, baba ganoush, 2 pieces of falafel, taboulleh, and pita. The taboulleh was very watery. The pita too thin and cold. The falafel not crispy, rather mushy actually. And the hummus had a weird unpleasant tanginess to it. Not the middle-eastern food I was hoping for and I did expect more out of this place. Cheap but you get cheap food.
(2)Alex P.
Home of the toasted falafel. I can say from experience that this was once of the best falafel places in the world. Today, it's hit or miss. Perhaps lacking the toppings panache of Moaz in Isreal/Barcelona, without the savory street tang of roadside schwarma stands in Aleppo or Damascus (which, incidentally, is where Moody's takes inspiration from. See the wall photos...) and not quite as fresh as its nearby cousin Sepal of Watertown, Moody somehow rivaled the best of them with a perfectly toasted wrap and tahini sauce that would make angels weep. Today's it has succumbed to wilty lettuce and lemon juice concentrate for zest. I believe original owners took a back seat to the day-to-day operations some time ago, and with them went a special concern for quality and freshness. You can still get a world-class falafel at the Palace, but you'll have to get lucky.
(3)Steve K.
After coming back from a semester in Europe a few years back, I realized why succumbing to your drunchies over there was so much easier and more rewarding than over here: late-night döner kebab. For the first few weekends on American soil, I mostly spent my late nights picking through the aisles at convenience stores, eventually walking to the counter with some hastily selected bags of God-knows-what. As I pulled out my wallet to pay, a single tear of longing would roll down my cheek. Oh, to have late-night shaved meat on this side of the ocean! Then, one fateful night, one of my Central-dwelling friends recommended we brave the cold February winds at two in the morning in order to sate our inebriated hunger. I thought he had lost it. Turns out, he had Moody's on the brain, and since then, nothing's been the same. (And by nothing, I mean nothing having to do with late-night shawarma.) Open until three in the morning, Moody's will carve you up a shawarma (or lightly smash you a falafel) for a shockingly small amount of money, considering how satisfying it ends up being, and that the same amount of cash spent at most any other late-night place in Central will leave you feeling all greasy and gross in the cab on the way home. Don't skimp on the pickles, and the baklava are pretty decent. The only drawback is the occasional wait, depending on when you're there. I understand crowds can make things a little slow, but when it's nearly empty, come on. I know putting these things together doesn't take that long. That aside, though: next time you want a little taste of that time you had one too many in Berlin and found refuge in one of the only still-lit establishments on the block, hit up Moody's. Your stomach (and your wallet) will thank you.
(4)Eric F.
Tasty lamb shawarma and open late, but service is very questionable. As Brian S. noted, one of the punks there gave a lot of uncalled for attitude when we asked for water.
(3)EC S.
I got the falafel pita with hummus. The falafel itself was fine, not the best I've ever had, but not particularly bad either. But since when do you put pickles in a falafel pita?? Also, there was something off about the pita itself. I don't know if it was a little stale or what, but it was unpleasantly chewy/tough. All these imperfect ingredients didn't come together to make anything special. On the positive side, if I remember correctly, they took my card, which was really nice and honestly unexpected in a place so small. The employees were nice too. The food is just lacking, unfortunately.
(2)Sarah T.
This is the closest falafel shop to my place, and you know what? It's just not worth it. Exhibit A: It's tiny. Really, it's standing room only. I can't imagine wanting to eat anything inside unless you have nowhere else to go. And with the amount of time it takes to get you your food, there will be no oxygen left in the place by the time you leave. Exhibit B: The falafel's just not good. My vote is for Greek Corner II at Harvard Sq. $0.75 more for falafel that actually tastes good and is more than I can usually finish. I eat seafood but not other meats, so I haven't tried most of the rest of the things Moody's offers. The baklava and cashew fingers are pretty decent, but not worth making a trip for it. Sometimes I'll pop in just for that if I'm waiting for the 83 or 91 buses. On the other hand, if you're less than sober and needing a bite at 2 a.m., by all means come here. It's cheap, and it's not like your taste buds will be in full working order at that point anyway.
(2)Alexander L.
love this place. whenever i head into boston, i'm always thinking about this place and whether or not i can afford the time to stop in central square on my route and pop in for a king's roll-up. i don't know what it is about the food, but it always leaves me feeling satisfied and refreshed. best part is it's open late and they serve food fast. and because it's a roll, you can eat it while driving pretty easily. for just a dollar more (i think), you can get the full plate, which is like almost as much food as 1.5-2 rolls! yum.
(5)Michelle L.
Maybe this place should be called "Moody's Shawarma Palace" instead. See, the Shawarma and the other meat entrees are pretty darn tasty. I've had the super combo plate and the chicken shawarma roll-up (mm, pickles.) I tried the combo plate because I'm indecisive and like to try everything. So: the tabbouli? Good. The chicken? Good. Greasy, but tasty, and I watched the guy shave the fresh meat off the stick, which is always a plus in a place like this. The hummus? Good. The pita? Well, average, but what do you expect. The baba gannoush? Very tasty. The falafel? AWFUL. I'm sorry, but I love falafel, and this was inedible. It tasted nothing like any falafel I've ever had before. I'm not sure what went wrong. It didn't seem as if it had ever come from chickpeas, and tasted oddly bitter on the inside, though that was mostly masked by the overpowering fried breading flavor. Texture was spongy and weird. If you want good falafel, go to Falafel King in Downtown Crossing. That place is falafel heaven. This might just be falafel hell. But like I said, this place isn't all bad: it's just the falafel...which is kind of a problem for a place that has falafel in the name. And it's open late and it's cheap, two other huge bonuses in the Central Square area (or anywhere in Boston/Cambridge). Stick to the meat, or, if you're a vegetarian, to the tabbouli or baba gannoush or hummus. Stay far away from the falafel.
(3)Daphné A.
I was always curious about seeing so many normal looking people queuing at this place. On sat night, on our way to Shakespeare in the Common, we grabbed 2 falafel. One beef and one lamb, what a disappointment, the beef was overcooked, and tasteless; the lamb (actually more like some old sheep) was irregularly cooked, very nervy, some massive chunks, and some big piece of fatty chewy nerve balls that I had to spit out. I had stomach ache for the entire night. And I am not a princess when it comes to food, and had always finish my plates even in the most exotic locations. A part from that, the service is rude but quick, the vegies were fresh, prices low. But it is not a reason to sell perished meat.
(1)Bruce M.
From the heat emanating off the shwarma racks... to the glass enclosed display of baklava glistening with honey... to the generous portions of hot felafel... to the gregarious owner greeting you warmly... to the Arabic music straining from the speakers... Moody's Felafel Palace is simply the best felafel west of Aleppo (which is where owner Chaled is from--mention Aleppo fondly and you'll have a friend forever). I had the felafel platter with a side of tahini and hot sauce--although the sides are a extra $.50, they're absolutely worth the investment and complement the food well. My partner had the lamb shwarma, which after I took a bite I regretted I didn't order. Order a lemonade to take some of the bite off the hot sauce, and don't skip the baklava for desert. Between us, $15 for dinner. And Worth. Every. Penny. After you're done, tarry a little while to talk politics with Chaled: After all, you can't spell Middle East without "eat", and--like hole-in-the-wall felafel joints the world around--the post-meal kibitzing is almost required.
(4)Shane P.
What happened!? Moodys used to be a place I loved to frequent and would brag about to out-of-town friends. Pretty sure this place changed hands and it shows. Everything has gone downhill fast. Sadly now the portions are small and quality of food is shoddy. Recently I've been handed pre-made wraps! (WTF?) The chicken is dry and chunky and the hummus is inconsistent and not nearly as rich and creamy as it used to be. Moody's used to be a destination. Now it's a last resort. However, all hope is not lost since I do believe the Falafel shop in Harvard Sq. next to Charlie's Kitchen is run by the original Moody's owners. I suggest trying that location.
(1)Zinah A.
I crave Moody's Falafel and my favorite the lamb shawarama! This place is quick, fresh, cheap, and it's open late night for those walking through Central Sq after a couple of drinks with some cravings! Stop in this little corner whole in the wall is a central square yummy treasure! I am half middle eastern and this is the spot! LOVE LOVE Moody's!
(5)Ali E.
Oh how I love you, Falafel Palace. Tremendous. My only complaints are 1) pickles in your falafel wrap? and 2) i am covered in shwarma sauce. Awesome lamb shwarma, awesome falafel, but make sure to ask for no pickles (those of you who find them as incongruous as I do). Big ups to being open until 3, but the line can get super long after 1:30 or so so if you really want it, be prepared to wait. Also, I'm curious. I see your sign: "We have a special." What kind of special? Should I know this already?
(4)Jeremy K.
This Lebanese place is fantastic. There are a few flaws but the ambiance, staff and food make up for them easily and once you bite into those delicious, messy sandwiches, all of your problems will go away. One important thing you should consider about this place is that they are slow. It can take up to thirty minutes for you to get your sandwich depending on how busy they are. It's slow. Sure. Criticize. Boo. No but honestly their stuff is great. They have all kinds of Middle-Eastern food like falafel and grape leave sandwiches, kebab and kaftas, lamb... chicken, you name it. They have tea and coffee, and even some Orangina! Yes!!! That's awesome. They have have deserts available, from their succulent fruit salads to honey-based pastries. They are opened up to 3am on certain days, which is later than bars and that is also awesome. Although parking can be difficult to find there, the place is great and the food tasty! The decor is authentic and the music nice as well. Just don't set your expectations to thinking that you'll have a guaranteed seat or that you will be served quickly and instead order, relax and enjoy yourself.
(4)Sean J.
I forced my cab driver to stop here late Friday night. I knew it was going to be the only place I could grab something to eat so late after the bars were all closed. I tried ordering numerous menu items but it seems that at a certain point in the night they narrow is down to just 2 items. I don;t entirely understand what I ordered, I just know if was some kind of wrap with lamb in it and it was pretty delicious. I got some hotsauce with it that was absolutely delicious. It wasn;t too expensive either, I dropped $10 and fed me and my girlfriend, and even had a little food left over to give to the homeless dude sleeping on the bench next to me while I was eating.
(3)Iv L.
hey not bad, had the chicken shawarma. It was good. The place is at a corner and very small inside, so do not expect much seatings. It's more like a fast food place, but descent. I would go again.
(3)Noshii R.
Im eating my chicken roll-up as I type this and its horrible. The lettuce is wilted and god knows how old (yes, I am famished & dont feel like venturing out this horrible rain again) There is no sauce in it at all...totally dry. I asked for extra hot sauce...the guy charged me .50cent for it...FOR HOT SAUCE!!! They are hit or miss...there have been times where its been good and then times like tonight--where it totally sucks!!! Gonna have to find a new spot in Central--cause this one has been sucking lately.
(1)Jen L.
Eh. Not that great and frankly, not that cheap either. Isn't that why we love falafel?
(2)Branson L.
I just come here because ben affleck comes here. I just eat whatever he eats. What happened to this place? It used to be the bomb... I feel like its gone down hill a bit... or maybe my palette is now more refined... hrm... I actually prefer falafel corner in Harvard Sq or the Jerusalem cafe in Back Bay for my falafel... I mean this place is still good, but it used to be so much better. Thanks a lot Ben Affleck you freakin douche.
(3)Daniel L.
Argh, Moody's ... I'm so close to giving you 5 stars, but a few things are just killing it for you! + It's not that I don't love your wondrous lamb shawarma, with juicy meat, tahini, cucumber, tomato and pickles. + Or how you're open late in a city that sleeps too damn early (3 am on Thursdays through Saturdays, 3 AM!!!). + Don't get me wrong, I love how 2 people can stuff themselves silly for the price of 1 entree at any restaurant nearby. Moody's has great bang-for-the-buck cost-effectiveness that you can't replicate. HOWEVER, these things are dragging your business down, Moody's. You want that 5th star? Fix this: - When I want that quick-and-easy take-out dinner for those weeknights when work has been sucking ass and I just don't give a damn, take my credit card. I don't care that my order is under $15. If you're going to slap a VISA sticker on your establishment, follow the merchant agreement with Visa and DON'T IMPOSE A MINIMUM PURCHASE AMOUNT. It's a violation of Visa rules, and what's worse, an inconvenience to your customers. I understand you have to pay Visa, but do you want my money or not?! - If you're going to tell me that you are out of chicken kabobs, show me that you're actually out of chicken kabobs. Last night, I ordered the kabobs since I saw 8 or 9 of them on the grill. The guy there told me I can't have them, because someone else already placed an order for all of them. Fair enough. After I finish eating 20-25 minutes later, the same kabobs are still cooking on the grill! Now these aren't big kabobs, and they sure as hell don't need to be grilling for that long (unless someone likes tough meat). So do you have the f'ing kabobs or not?! Plus, how in the world do you run out of kabobs at 6pm on a weeknight?! Moody's has been around for as long as I can remember, and I'm pretty sure they should know how much food to prepare for each business day. Those last two points piss me off, yet Moody's still gets 4 stars. That's how good this place is. Remember, there are only 12 seats inside and it gets packed. $15 minimum order to use your credit card. Lamb shawarma. Lamb shawarma. Mmm .... lamb shawarma ....
(4)Mike M.
It is physically impossible to walk past this place without your mouth watering for some delicious shwarma. It may be a lack of insulation in that super retro tiny castle on Western Ave, but the smells just waft out to tempt passers by inside. Plus, they are open late Wed - Weekend until 3am! This place is definitely wallet friendly and I am a big shwarma fan dating back to some time I spent in the Middle East a few years ago. Delicious shwarmas were the amazing discovery of that trip and Falafal Palace has the best representation of those flavors I have had in the US. Plus, today the guy behind the counter suggested hot suace on my chicken shwarma roll-up.... whoa... that was a total game changer for me. They keep raising the bar!
(4)Lauren S.
This place, as Yelp would say, is as good as Falafel and Shwarma gets. I often get the Lamb or Chicken Shwarma wrap (depending on which one looks freshest) and you will not believe the deliciousness that ensues after you open the foil. I sometimes order the Falafel which is less amazing than the Shwarma but is STILL SUPERB and great for the veggies. After discovering the Foul (pronounced Foooool), which is a red bean salad with pomegranate and a yummy dressing, I now have them put some in my wrap for only $1 extra. Who would say no to extra protein and extra scrumptiousness? I don't know. Go get some today, or tonight since they're open until 3am!
(5)Claudia H.
Went here for lunch with a couple of friends. Actually grabbed some food and ate it outside on some benches, which was really nice on a sunny day. However, a few points to note around takeout. First, the chicken shawarma is amazing after 15 minutes, maybe even better than right away because all the flavors mix together into a delicious mess. However, the falafel (and maybe this is obvious) - not great after 15 minutes. Gets a little soggy. And finally, I know people rave about the lamb shawarma on this site, but the meat was a little tough. The chicken one was much, much better. Maybe hit or miss. I guess, in sum, if taking it away from the restaurant, pick the chicken shawarma. If eating there, go for either that or the falafel. But for $5 each, who can be unhappy?
(3)Kate S.
Fast service! Great food! Good portions! I was quite pleased!!! We had the lamb and the chicken shawarma. The lamb was the best!!! A friend said she found hair in her food once though....I guess it happens?
(4)Yasmin E.
SUCH a cute little falafel place! And the A3mu (Uncle) that runs the place is this adorable little Syrian man who will let you sample his amazing lentil soup if you converse with him in arabic (hehe, if you know but only a few words, I'm sure this will also score you some free treat points :) The falafel is MAGIC! I've eaten my share of arabic cuisine, but his falafel is easily the best falafel I've had...ever!! This place is literally down the street from the Central Square T stop, so if you're looking for a quick bite to eat, check it out :) Bon apetite!
(4)Amanda W.
'You're still the one I run toooooo, the one that I belong toooo'... Just another late night Friday jamming to some Shania with friends in a conga line in our favorite late night foodie joint. It's no problem that they're closing in 15 min - I happened to order the last falafel and we scared off the last of the customers. My friends' mouths are watering over their lamb schwarma and the ipod keeps playing all these songs we haven't heard in a decade. We sing loudly, dance obnoxiously, but as long as we keep ordering extra hot sauce and sending smiles across the counter, the owners don't seem to mind too much.
(4)Josephine L.
Quick, cheap and surprisingly flavorful. The shwarma is usually tender and juicy (though it can sometimes be dry), the rice/baba ganoush is delish, the hummus is lovely, the pita is probably store-bought so skip that and the service is (surprisingly) fantastic every time I come here.
(4)Aboud Y.
Good but very inconsistent. When its "on," the food is delicious, but I have visited on "off" nights where I've left disappointed. I haven't figured out a pattern or rhyme/reason for what drives this inconsistency...in the meantime, I've decided to move on to greener pastures (er, I mean tastier shawarmas).
(3)Mary G.
So they don't fresh-fry the falafel here (who in Boston does?) I feel like the sizes have gone down as the prices have gone up (even when the attendant flirts with me, c'mon!) And I have definitely had an unpleasant experience or two with the manager when I have called about placing bulk orders for some big parties I organize. Regardless, with generous late night hours, multiple options for vegans, and a $4 meal, it is hard not to like this place. The vegetarian platter is still a steal, and good to share with a friend. I picked up the grape-leaf wrap (with extra pickles) the other night and was pleasantly surprised. The lamb schwarma is a bit of a let down, but still one of the better ones you can find in the area. I often find my self chatting with strangers while I wait, and am rather sure I have vague memories of one sharing his food with me... So yeah, it is hard to turn down a suggestion to hit up Moody's (unless maybe you want a seat), and their prices have aways to go before I start to think twice about walking into this former White Castle joint.
(4)Adam C.
There's no other spot I can think of in the Central/Inman area that offers speedy, delicious ethnic food on the SUPER-cheap. Plus, it's open until 3 a.m., which, to my knowledge, is later than any other greasy spoon joint in the area. If you're looking for a quick bite, particularly of the post-partying variety, Moody's is your must-go for munchies. It's not anything revelatory, quality-wise, but a solid Beef or Lamb Shwarma certainly satisfies. The waitstaff are friendly even when the lines get insane. Gets the job done, and done well.
(4)David M.
First off, I love that this place is in a palace. I guess it used to be a White Castle (I have no idea if that is true or not). I stopped by after a beer at the Cantab before heading to a friends place. One of the workers was out sweeping the front started flirting with a girl that was waiting. It was amusing to watch. Especially since he failed. The falafel sandwich was good. Not as good as Falafel king, but tasted a bit healthier. There was a hint of basil that was a welcome surprise. I also ordered an order of stuffed grape leaves. It came in a set of four on a cucumber salad. The sandwich and grape leaves were paid for with a ten and I got some change back. (I think it was 8 + change). I'll go back if I'm in the area.
(4)Hisham K.
Why I like it: -Open late -Five minute walk from my house -Service is friendly enough -They have some placards in Arabic that remind me of home Why I don't like it: -Maybe my expectations of falafel / shawarma is a bit high, y'know, me being Lebanese and all, but the food here isn't that great for what it's supposed to be. I just feel that since the people who make these wraps are Egyptians, they should know better. All my friends love it, but it just doesn't taste like home to me. -They have some placards in Arabic that remind me of home.
(2)Sarah G.
Update: Just had the worst falafel of my life! Managed to be soggy and dry at the same time. Never again! Should be either called "Falafel Hovel" or "Crap Palace." Husband's shwarma was gross as well. Reminded me of Jim Gaffigan's Lean Pockets joke - "Remove from box, place directly in toilet." Incredibly hit or miss. Sometimes 2 stars, sometimes 4. Today was a 1.5. No pickles and incredibly dry. Prices have gone up, but it's still the cheapest falafel in the area. OK, a few months later, I just had one of the top 3 falafel sandwiches I've had in my life. Made by a middle-aged gentleman with an air of owner about him. The crappy sandwiches I've had have been made by younger dudes. I WILL figure out the formula here.
(1)Samantha H.
Worked in Central Sq. for a while now and have been meaning to hit this place because I heard it was good. So I went today around 1pm. Well, I was not impressed, though I am open to a second shot to try other items. I ordered the lamb plate which comes with rice, salad and pita. First of all, as soon as the chick behind the counter swiped my card and handed it back to me, my plate was DONE! I like fast quick food, but that this was just too quick!! I don't know where/how she put together my plate, I didn't see her cut the lamb off of the rotisserie. Lamb (lack of) was also on the border of burnt. The rice was ok, nicely cooked. The salad was not a salad. More like a Middle Eastern salsa that was sitting in a huge puddle of "dressing." The pita bread was stale. All in all, food wasn't bad. I have certainly had better. I will definitely come back to try some other things.
(2)Angela C.
I'm a huge fan of falafels, and this place does it right. It's a tiny hole in the wall, with an extensive menu. My friend and I shared a Falafel wrap and it was plenty. Instead of stuffing falafel balls in a pocket pita, they use a flatbread pita and roll up the falafels and veggies like a burrito. Although I wish the falafel balls were hotter (instead of lukewarm), the flavors in the falafel wrap were spot on. The tahini sauce, cucumbers, lettuce, etc. all worked together to enhance the flavors in this wrap. Super delicious comfort food.
(4)Boris Y.
This used to be my favorite place for falafel and schwarma outside the middle east. After a long absence I wanted to try it again, and there was sand and rocks in my schwarma.. wtf?!
(1)Rahul C.
Lamb Shawarma was amazing. Tender meat and juicy. Falafel sandwich wasnt so good. It was dry. Yete to try a few other things I brought to-go with me. Want to give a 3.5 stars but the additional half star for good service and cheap prices. Plus they are open late! Make sure you ask for additional Hot Sauce on your Rolls.
(4)M. A.
This place used to be fantastic. I used to make excuses to come to Central Square and order a ful sandwich. Then it came under new management. The place looks cleaner, and orders are completed faster, but the food is boring now. Not really bad, but not better than any other falafel joint in town, either.
(3)Gen M.
I don't think it's an Israeli place, but I plotz, people! Plotz, I say! I reviewed Jerusalem pita in Brookline and their falafel was good. But seriously, Moody's falafel has stolen my heart and stomach and brain and love and other things. It's perfectly crispy and delicious and it has the market cornered on hotness and goodness and perhaps even sexiness. The meat is eh, but who cares! Actually, perhaps I should take away a star. The last time I was there, the chicken was very very dry. The time before, it was okay, but nothing special. I love the salads and the condiments such as the tahini sauce. It's just too good and CHEAP! Oh, the jew in me is plotzing again.
(5)Heather G.
Why do you go to Moody's Falafel? Well because it's open until 3am in Central square. Just to give you some perspective, the only other thing open at that hour is 7-11. What would you prefer to satisfy your late-night drunchies cravings with? Bad shawarma or taquitos that have been rolling around in the incubator for approximately 18 hours? You go for the subpar shawarma, of course. Moody's gets my 3 stars if only because of its late closing time. After a night on the town, this place tastes amazing. Sober? Probably head elsewhere. A few things to note: 1. they put pomegranate seeds in their salad. Not sure how authentic this is, but it was certainly a welcome surprise for me. 2. On the topic of salad, theirs comes very heavily dressed, so try and remember to ask for it naked. 3. Rice pilaf on the dinner plates is very dry, but with the aforementioned drippy salad, they make a good balance. 4. The chicken shawarma is extremely dry. Perhaps not a high enough fat content on the rotisserie, but these chicken shavings were too dry to choke down, even with the small little container of tahini they give you. Ask for extra tahini. No wonder they charge 50 cents extra for it - brilliant marketing, guys. You'll certainly need to splurge for the extra and will happily pay for it if the alternative is dry chicken. 5. The rollups are actually pretty good. The moisture ratio is more balanced than the dinner plates, despite the large pita they're served in. The lamb is especially fatty and juicy. No, this is not high-quality tasting lamb, but it's greasy and has some nice flavor. The women behind the counter are certainly not friendly by any means, but they're polite and serve your food extremely quickly. This place is certainly in my regular rotation, if for no other reason than because they're the only kid on the block after hours.
(3)Julie S.
Typical hole-in-the-wall late night falafel place. Pretty good falafel, esp. with hot sauce and extra tahini. A savior when after-work drinks turned into many more drinks and no substantive food. Speedy. Cheap. Tasty. Right next to the T. Open really late. Need I say more? (And though I steal this from the wall of an equally-teeny falafel shop in Santa Cruz, CA, I sometimes pretend that I work in environmental politics because of the following quote: "Save the Earth. It's the only planet with falafel" and think of it every time I come in here, especially after a long day at work)
(4)Kim K.
As I approached the counter to place my (first ever) order at Falafel Palace a customer flew in the door, hustled right up behind me, and scootched herself between me and the guy behind the counter. He immediately looked confused. The girl held out a half eaten falafel: "Ummm, I think there's blood in this." *record screeches to a halt* "What?" "Well I was eating this and then there was all this red stuff and it's all over my hands and I think it's blood." "No, not possible, it's tomato." "No, it's blood." "I don't think so!" Then he takes it from her, brings it to the back, and returns. "It's not blood, I can make you a new one though. Free of charge." "I just want my money back, ok?" He retrieves her money, hands it over, and she leaves. Without skipping a beat the guy looks and me and says "Falafel sandwich. With or without blood?" It was hilarious. I know Yelp readers, I should have left. But I had never been and I had been hearing how wonderful it was and I was looking right at the girl's wrap and I swear I didn't see any blood. Hell, I didn't see anything red at all. So I rationed that after that mine was probably the cleanest, most sanitary falafel ever made. So I stayed. And plus, I really wanted falafel (I had just come from the gym and shopping, c'mon now!). Anyways, it was delicious. First, after they make the wrap, the press it in a grill press. The pita gets all hot and crunchy, OMG yum. The falafel was yummy, not too fried, delicious texture. The tahini was perfect, super creamy but really light. And the best part? Pickles. Pickles!! Genius idea. The flavor combo is enhanced exponentially when pickles are added to the party. Also, no blood! Side perks: Dirt cheap and open until 3AM. Potential cons: Service is sloooow and I've had comparable (if not better) falafel at my favorite work lunch stop, Derne Street Deli on Beacon Hill
(3)Yun M.
I eat here almost everyday since my work is just minutes away. It is great for the price , the portion and the taste. A chicken shawarma, about $6, is the right amount to make me comfortably full. Sometimes I buy their chicken plates with the special rice (mixed with caramelized onion). It is absolutely amazing, but sadly it costs $10. Sometimes, I would visit Moody's Falafel Palace after hanging out at the nearby Field Pub, which closes their kitchen early. I'd bring my friends too and they all liked this little falafel place. I recommend this place, there is no doubt about it. However, I do not recommend purchasing their gift card if you forgot bringing cash with you. The gift cards are very unreliable. I have lost 4 dollars using the gift card because it simply decided to show zero dollar balance while I still had 4 dollars on it.
(4)Faith N.
Awesome falafel sandwiches at Moody's. I love that they're open late.. definitely a life saver on those nights after the bar. Kind of a funny tangent.. last time my friends and I went there after night of dancing, we all got falafel and were walking to our car to devour them in the warmth, and instead of throwing away the wrap she accidentally threw away her entire un eaten falafel sandwich. haha. it was heartbreaking. Anyway.. this is one of my favorite falafel places besides Rammy's in Brookline. I'm trying to encourage all of my favorite restaurants to look into the green restaurant association and their green restaurant certifications. I would love to keep coming to restaurant I know is doing their best to be environmentally sustainable =)
(4)Dela B.
I've been on something of a falafel quest in Boston after eating out Philadelphia's falafel scene and Moody's was my new falafel joint of the day. Unfortunately, Moody's falafel did not cut it. It was possibly the only thing worse than the Mass ave middle eastern truck falafel at MIT. It tasted like a flavorless vegan chicken nugget both in taste and in texture. It had a sort of rubbery, elastic kind of texture and I'm guessing that if I had decided to throw it on the ground, it would have probably bounced back at me. In all honesty, I would say that Moody's falafel deserves less than one star, but I'm going to give it two since I have not tried the shwarma and the other non-falafel parts of their menu. Maybe it was just a bad day for them today or something, but to say the very least, Moody's failed to impress me. I will certainly not be going back.
(2)Steph D.
I still love you, period. I have since stopped being a vegetarian and ordering only falafel. I have since been to Spain where they have real life Turkish people selling real life Turkish kebabs. This place is like shoving candles in Turkey's face it's so damn good (that was a play on holding a candle to sth... but it didn't really work as well as I wanted it to). AN - Y- THING you order is going to make you super happy. It is like sunshine on a rainy day, except it's a kebab or a falafel when you're hungry... which is better.
(5)Haley T.
I heard this before I got falafel here for the first time: The smaller and dirtier the falafel stand, the better the falafel. Tiny: Yes. Dirty: only slightly. Best falafel I've had so far: Yes. Cheap to boot. Yum.
(4)David C.
Owned by a guy from Aleppo, the tiny place in an old White Castle, was refurbished a few months ago. The food is still the same, fast and good. Classic middle eastern dishes and sandwiches. Always a good option in Central Square.
(4)Ryan L.
Best. Schwarma. In. Cambridge. Ask for the hot sauce.
(5)Krystal T.
What happened to this place?!! It recently either changed owners or staff and it went from a 5+++ to a mediocre 2. My husband and I use to go to this spot every other day since we live 2 steps away, but after last nights meal we have sworn not to return.
(2)May N.
Good place for cheap, fast ethnic food. They serve meat and veggies and decent falafel. Not much place to sit, more of a take-away fast food joint reminiscent of Maos in Barcelona. They're open til 3 am on the weekends so perfect for post-boozing munchies. There's a minimum for credit cards.
(4)Sahil G.
Too convenient and value-riffic not to be 5 stars. I've been coming here as long as I can remember. My family would stop here anytime we made a trek to the city from the burbs. We stopped going maybe 10 years ago, but then I moved to Central Square a year ago and my love for Falafel was reignited. The location is great. Not only is it a 5 minute walk from my humble abode, it's right in the heart of Central Square. Very easy to get to. The prices are fantastic. $5 for a full Falafel sandwich, sure! Plates cost a bit more, but you could feed a medium-sized Asian family for under $20 bucks easy. Food. The food is good. The food is great. Plenty of options, for vegetarians and omnivores alike. Chicken, Lamb, Veggies, Tahini, Falafel, Baklava etc. Typical middle-eastern fare. All prepared fresh, right in front of you. You can make some substitutions or additions as you please. Never have to wait longer than 5-10 minutes after ordering, even if it is slammed and there is a line out the door at 1:00AM. Service is good. No frills, but most of the time the service is with a smile. Quick, efficient, accommodating. Overall, 5 stars. This can't be beat. It's too cheap, it's too good. It's as authentic tasting as I've had in a while. Stop by!
(5)Allison C.
Delish! I love Falafel Palace! Enough Said! There is a reason why there is always a line outside the door during peak hours and at 2 am in the morning. Falafel Sandwich is the way to go! The Chicken Shwarma and Lamb Shwarma is good too. Its a pretty small restaurant, so be prepared to feel squeezed in....but well worth it :)
(4)Kris M.
What can I say that hasn't already been said? Well, probably something like "fudgetastic" or "pugilicious," but as neither word describes Moody's I probably shouldn't. Instead, I'll say words like "delightful," "tasty," and "inexpensive." Also, "vegetarian-friendly" and "stern-but-well-meaning cashier lady." Try the hummus falafel. You won't be disappointed.
(4)sierra l.
their shawarma omg so good. I travel from roslindale to that part of town for that kind of food so yummmy
(5)Sling S.
Very vegetarian friendly. Fast convenient service. Open lat on Thursday and Fridays.
(5)Shaina P.
Oh. My. God. It's cheap, it's open late, and its gaddem delicious. I could eat their cucumber salad always. But I suggest not the falafel sandwich, must get plate to enjoy full falafel flavor. Their chicken kebab is fresh grilled, no frills. And their service, with a smile.
(5)Anthony V.
Great Falafel wraps and also fantastic (though sloppy) chicken shwarma. fannnntastic. $5 gets you a wrap. Perfect. The downsides are that if you get there any time between 1215-1 you will be waiting. They only have two people that work at a time max. One of them is the (typically frustrated) owner, but they get the job done and its delicious.
(4)Jenny M.
I think I'm in love. The way they spiced the meat of the lamb shwarma. The 50 cent side of tahini. The enticing items on the menu -- how on earth can they fit it all in that tiny kitchen? I don't know yet, but I intend to go back and find out....dish by dish. When I walked in I espied rows of whole eggplants roasting on the grill. This is a very, very good sign.
(5)Dorothy C.
The Great: - Mazza Salad (deep fried home-made pita chips + pomegranate hot sauce + tabbouli salad) = AWESOME. - Kafta Kebab Roll-Up (yummy salty kafta balanced just right with lettuce/tomato/tahini in syrian bread) = Favorite - Hours (Open till 3am) - Accepts Credit Cards (Over $15) The Good: - Chicken Schwarma Roll-Up (pickles strangely yummy) - Chicken Kebab Roll-Up (maybe a little dry) - Baklawa (why it's spelled with a "w" instead of a "v" - I don't know) - Fatoush Salad (basically, the best part is the fried pita, so you should just get the Mazza Salad instead) The Meh: - Falafels (bland) - Hummus (bland) - Lamb Kebab (dry)
(4)thermopylae x.
first in line of many; ordered 14 people afterwards got their food, fast after inquiring about our order, a hermetically-sealed bag was pulled from behind the counter with cold shawarma, turkish coffee and warm cucumber salad couldn't even rectify in english, as the 3 employees only spoke spanish
(2)Christopher M.
Who would guess that little fried ball of carbs coul bing so much joy into my life? I've passed moody's fo years, but for whatever reason never went in (I was always drawn to the more surly and greasy hi fi for my drunken post-club reveling). Wow, do I ever feel like a bufoon. Moody's offes up some amazing deep fried chick pea love, and if that isn't theeogh the tabouli is ZOMG just-hook-it into-my-veins good. Oh but wait there's more, you don't need to dail now becasue from thus- sat tey're open till 3. . . .THREE AM!! And here I was getting munchies on crsing the late night food gods that my only option as sketchy chinese. Moody's I'll be see you again real soon (and probably real late. . and perhaps really drunk. . .probably not but maybe.) LOVES YOU!
(4)Shaina S.
I am in love with the wraps here! Well dispersed food stuffs (pickles, tomatoes, onions, lettuce) drizzled with creamy tahini all wrapped up in a grilled lavasch makes my belly smile. The chicken shwarma and the falafel are both really good (though the lamb shwarma is a little bit fatty). It's super cheap (under $5 for lunch) and also, it's a palace. 4 stars.
(4)Deanna D.
Great falafel & shawarma! Very cute & tiny hole in wall with really friendly service. Its super cheap and very tasty! We will be back!
(3)David S.
I love falafel. I love chicken shawarma. And I love them together. So obviously a place that serves both should pretty much be halfway to heaven for me. Unfortunately at the Falafel Palace, the path to heaven leads through hell. The first time I came here was around 7:00 on a weekday evening, and I had fifteen minutes before my bus came through, so I figured it was a perfect place to pop in and get a sandwich for dinner. After waiting to order, ordering, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting for them to actually MAKE the sandwich (a process that takes my man the Falafel King downtown all of ten seconds), I was treated to the special sight of watching my bus go by out the window. And then I had to wait some more. Seriously... any place that takes over ten minutes to make a falafel sandwich has some serious issues. And twenty? Ridiculous. But I figured I'd give them another try, after some late weekend night shenanigans it seemed like the perfect midnight snack before heading home... no bus to catch, what could go wrong? I tried to get the chicken shawarma... but they were only serving falafel that night. So I got the falafel sandwich, figuring that they were probably only making one thing so they could do it efficiently. Wrong. Another fifteen minute wait for a sandwich that I had to settle for in the first place. Sorry, Falafel Palace... there is only one Falafel King in this land, and he doesn't hold court in your house.
(2)Matt S.
Best cheap eats in Cambridge. Really good falafel, great shawarma. The baba ganouj is the best in Boston (love the pomegranate they add for a special touch). Haven't been there in a year (I moved away from Cambridge), but even then you could get a baba wrap for $2.99, which is a great deal. P.S. It's spelled "falafal" on the sign.
(5)Masmin P.
We've been going to Moody's for the last 7 years or so, and it's generally pretty good. We usually get the combo meal, which offers a nice selection of different items and since the portion size is large, makes a good sharing meal. They have one of the best babaganoush I've ever had - fresh, creamy, very tasty. I just went back last night after a long hiatus and was pleasantly surprised by the newly-renovated interior - dark wood accents and better counter layout. Met the proprietor for the first time too, who is very friendly and accommodating. It's still a tiny little space, so best for take-out.
(4)R. M.
Tasty and well-priced. Good for vegetarians, too, unlike a lot of places that are open late. The place has been renovated and so looks a lot better and cleaner. Staff is friendly. Whomever runs the place has been making careful small changes to improve presentation (my order now has a little plastic baggie around the aluminum foil to catch stray tahini! good idea!) which is great.
(4)Sam S.
Great reliable food, but a 15 dollar minimum on credit and debit with everything on your menu under 10 bucks, come on!
(3)shannon c.
I love this place so much. I can't really add anything that hasn't already been said. Except maybe get the hummos plate. It's so fresh and so food and sometimes I just crave it. Yum.
(4)Brian S.
The food is quality, I especially love the lamb shawarma. However, depending on who is working the service can be either very great or very shoddy. The owner is very nice and courteous, but one of the employees seems to have a temper. I asked for tap water to go with with my meal and he filled it up and slammed it to the counter top in a fit of anger unprovoked. I'm not the kind of person to go out looking for munchies at 3am, but I guess you can't complain about the hours.
(4)Gordon B.
If I had Youk's arm I could hit this place with a baseball from the window of my apartment. Sadly I dont make millions a year playing a game, however I do have a pension for late-night eats; especially on the weekend (read: drunchies). When 2am rolls around and I'm fumbling home there's nothing better than a falafel sandwich from Moody's. However, I've also discovered that there's more to Moody's than falafel sandwiches and have taken out dinner (sober) on a number of occasions. The Super Combo Plate seems to be the best value and selection. It comes with pita, falafel, and chicken or beef, plus a load of salad, hummus, baba ganoush... you get the idea. I've had better falafel (not in Boston, sadly) and the prices are average, hence the 3-star review. It's a solid 3 stars, however, so dont let this dissuade you from dropping by on the walk home some Friday night.
(3)Liz S.
I haven't tried every falafel place in town, but of all that I've tried, this is the best. Delish!
(4)tom k.
Spicy spicy hot sauce, burns in just the right way! It's a bit of a train wreck with me; getting tahini sauce everywhere and teary eyed from hot sauce misuse ... but it's so delicious and so worth it. Unlike some places, the lamb shawarma actually tastes like lamb ... they don't seem to mix it with beef, so Moody's maintains the succulent gamey flavor. The Falafel is quite good too, especially right out of the fryer ... dipped in tahini and hot sauce. It's also convenient that they are open until 3 AM Thurs - Sat ... I can stumble in here late at night after imbibing and get food I really enjoy.
(4)Ashlee C.
I enjoyed the palace very much. I am pro-pickle in the falafel sandwich, so I was happy they were included. I ordered 2 sandwiches and the total came in to just under 9 dollars. This is a great place for cheap and late night eats when in Central. Minus one star for the lack of space and slightly oblivious counter help. I called in the 2 falafel sandwiches and one spinach pie, but when I got there the counter help informed me there was no spinach pie to be had. I wish they would have told me they didn't have any when I placed the order over the phone. I totally would have ordered something else instead, but it is a minor gripe considering how tasty the sandwiches were. I will definitely be back for chicken kabobs. I am not too keen on the shawarma mystery meat on a spit deal, so I cannot comment on that. Overall, tasty and recommended!
(4)Arnie F.
Great food at a reasonable price. Friendly staff There is no room, however, to eat inside the restaurant.
(5)Tali S.
Some might call me a falafel fiend, but I just like to say I know my way around a chickpea. That being said, so does this place. I've made it a life mission of mine to sample the falafel everywhere I go, and lemme tell you, I have eaten some dry, nasty balls. Pun completely intended. But the Palace has got the know-how - their falafel is moist and melts in your mouth, just like in the mother country. And, of course, plus super extra points for being open late in a city that doesn't know the meaning of the word. Not the best I've ever had - I'd say the pita could use some more vegetables and tahini, to fill it out a bit more - but this place slings a mean ball, and that's the most important part, baby. Take it from an expert.
(4)Andrea M.
Most times that I am in Central Square, I end up at Moody's for two basic reasons. The food is pretty good taste and portion wise, and their prices are very reasonable! Best place to eat in Central when you are skimping on money. I love their hummus and falafel sandwiches!
(4)Daniel J.
It's pretty good stuff. I judge a place like this on their plain falafel pita. I will make a point of asking for extra tahini because it has been pretty scarce the few times I've been here. The most off-putting thing about this place is that the cashier is the person who makes your food, and there isn't always (ever?) a handwashing in between handling money and handling cucumbers. I realize this is a tactical problem for a business like this, but nonetheless it is off-putting to me when I see somebody touching my food after handling money. It actually prevents me from going back, except for once in a great while when I'm feeling adventurous/immune.
(4)Ryuji S.
Moody's shawarma is tasty and so are their tabooley and cucumber salad. Their food is generally good, cheap and healthy. The downside is that the quality and quantity of their food vary a lot depending on the day and time. Toward the end of their business hours, and toward the end of each round of meat, the food is not as good as early night and in the mid-round of the roasting. But that's to be expected. If the meat is too dry, you can always use tahini sauce (the mild sauce made from white sesame paste).
(4)Samuel F.
It's a hole-in-the-wall falafel place, and one of the few places open late in the area. Perfectly good for what it is, nothing exceptional.
(3)Nadia A.
Oh Falafel Palace...I used to live up the street from FP and ate there maybe 2-6 times/week. It is hands down the best value for the $ in the area. The food is fresh and delicious and you can tell them exactly how you want it (e.g. extra hot sauce, less falafel more hummus) and they're completely obliging. I especially love the lentil soup, falafel wraps, and foule salad. While the service can be slow at times (because it gets so crowded during lunch and dinner hours), for the price, you can't beat Moody's!
(5)Lynn D.
I wasn't all that impressed with the lamb shawarma. I've never had one before, so I don't know how it compares to others, but nonetheless, I have a feeling there are better lamb shawarma's to be found.
(3)Liza N.
I used to like Falafel Palace. Then, one time I went when it was light out ... and I wasn't stumbling drunk. Need I say more?
(1)Josh G.
The food here is a perfect late night treat, but the service is...near-violent? It's hard to explain, but while the guys are making you a tasty shawarma, you get this really harsh vibe, like you've said something so horrible they can barely keep their rage in check. I guess dealing with drunk people all night will do that to you. Falafel is actually not their strong suit. Get a proper shawarma if your diet allows. The desserts are very sweet, but also very good in moderation. You can afford to pig out a bit here, but I've always come here for a quick lunchtime meal or a late-night snack.
(3)Jarrod C.
Pretty underwhelmed with my first experience at Moody's. The service was quick and the two guys behind the counter were friendly and warm. However, the falafel was clearly in the fryer for too long, as it was very burned, chewy, and almost inedible. The Syrian bread that accompanied my falafel plate was very stale also. Folks, this place pales in comparison to Rami's or Shawarma King in Coolidge Corner. Seriously if you want good falafel, make your way to Brookline and skip Moody's altogether.
(2)Ann L.
I fully admit that the quality (not to mention wait times and relative friendliness of service) is insanely variable here, they've been stingy with the tahini lately, and that the pickle issue is a controversial one (I am, for the record, so pro-pickle I ask for extra in my falafel sandwiches). But you can't argue with a line out the door, even if the line goes out the door because there's only room for like four human-sized people inside. (Hint: If you are going to converse while waiting for your shawarma be careful - everybody else in line is listening. This means you, "I think I'd like to travel to India because I really like taking yoga classes" dude. You are dumb.) But man, Moody's has earned my loyalty in so many ways over the years that I'll love 'em forever. Some nights it was the random single-falafel-in-a-cup-of-tahini eat-while-you-wait apology for a long line, some nights it was just remembering that I don't like onions on my sandwich, and one time it was a gratis piece of baklava because I was low on cash and too stupid to check my wallet before I ordered. For that I can forgive the occasional dry falafel wrap, or the crazy-making inconsistent appearances of those tasty spinach pie thingies. Hell, one dude gave me a free t-shirt for absolutely no discernible reason a couple years back. It's pale purple, so I only wear it on laundry days, but still. If you haven't tried the foul (not pronounced the way you think, Mr. Smartypants), give it a shot. Fava beans, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and pomegranate seeds either saladified or in a sandwich. Good stuff. For those keeping score, the nickname for Moody's in my house is "The Palace." Didja know the building is a historical landmark and a former White Castle? I like falafel way more than creepy midgety burgers.
(5)Jillian S.
I tried to drunkenly post a review of this from my phone a while ago, and failed. I only recently tried this place (thanks to Yelp) because I'd been faithful to the Middle East. Now, I still love the Mid East's food, and if I want to sit down with friends, that's the obvious choice. But for grabbing a snack on the way home, nothing beats Moody's. Possibly the best Chicken Shwarma I've had in my life (obviously, since I felt the need to attempt to mobile post while the sauce was dripping down my face). Definitely don't be put off by the crowd of people crammed into this tiny room at 2 AM. Suck it up and wait 10 minutes. It is totally worth it. Oh, and could you keep your eye on my car? It's out front with the hazards on... half a block from a police station. Whoops.
(4)Misha L.
When I forget to go to the grocery store, I primarily survive on Moody's. The chicken shawarma wrapup with hot sauce is amazing, and it's great any time of day, even 2:30am! I'd call myself a shawarma connoisseir, a shawarmmelier if you will, and Moody's is one of the best joints I have ever been to, not to mention lived down the street from!
(5)Tracey N.
My Central Square sandwich of choice just got better. After the Yelp party at MIT, I really needed something to soak up the booze since I didn't have dinner. I NEED falafel. On top of being an excellent sandwich, they had some very attractive young men behind the counter. At this point, I don't care how authentic it is. I'm enjoying the wait, and my sandwich when I finally bite into, I forgot they put pickles in the sandwich. Mmm, yummy. When I got to the train, I was so hungry I couldn't wait to get it home, (I know it's rude, thankfully there's hardly anyone around), so I ate on the platform--no leakage=points for neatness. But, I'm surprised to find a mystery spooge of tahini on my napkin, rendering it useless. I found a clean spot, but it was still weird. It won't stop me from going back though!
(4)Cecilia L.
I try not to review a place before going at least twice, but Moody's was too bad to go back. I went midday and got a kebab sandwich. It's cheap, and there's a reason. The place is dark and nasty inside and I waited nearly half an hour for one lousy kebab. When I peeled the foil back from the sandwich, the thing fell apart. The meat inside was cold, probably from sitting so long while I waited, and the watery tzatziki dripped out everywhere. The overwhelming flavor was of pickles and pungent raw onions. I could only eat half the sandwich, then realized I needed to change because my clothes stank from the experience, like at the college dining hall. Night and day from the Boston Kebab House. I probably made the mistake of going sober. The whole thing left me feeling dirty and indecent.
(1)Alison P.
Yeah. Heard really great things, had to try this place, but...I have experienced way way better. I gave it two tries, the first I had a falafel wrap, which only featured maybe two falafels, the rest was lettuce, pickles, and tons of wrap. Way sub par. Also, the falafel in it was bland. Lacked garlic or spice. Meh. The second time I had the lamb schwarma wrap, figuring it had to be more flavorful. And it wasn't. There wasn't enough lamb, and it had too much lettuce, again. The service is friendly, and fast (around 1pm-2pm weekdays). They seem like nice folk, but the food was totally not worth it.
(2)Peter G.
For weeks, I have intended to write this review. But every time I think about writing the review I end up going to eat there instead. This is partly procrastination and partly because their falafel wraps are phenomenal. This has become a shining beacon of hope after months of disappointment living in Central Square. I've only ordered their falafel wrap, and frankly see no reason to get anything else. They use just the right amount of tahini, the falafel themselves are moist and flavorful, and the ingredients taste very fresh. The lightly toasted pita is a great touch and heating the wrap before serving seems to give the flavors a chance to blend nicely. The guys behind the counter take their jolly time, and the confined waiting/dining area is often very crowded with impatient people waiting. People who eat in seem to struggle to enjoy themselves with all the movement and lack of space. If you want to get that failed OkCupid attempt off your back try taking your date here - a guaranteed miserable time for romantics. I could not imagine eating here nor would I want to. But with their late hours on Thursday through Saturday you have no excuse to suffer Hi-Fi pizza ever again.
(4)Small Town G.
Nice lamb shawarma- a little light on lamb and heavy on the lettuce but a great combination of the aromatic marinated meat, tahini and pita wrap put it over the top. I did not try the falafel. Good price and nice overall portion size as well.
(4)Derek B.
I went here in hopes of grabbing a shwarma that was close to the ones I had in Saudi Arabia, big mistake. My biggest complaint has to be flavor or lack of flavor. I ordered one chicken and one lamb neither had flavor and were dry as a bone. The greens on the inside might as well been covered in dirt. I won't be going back which is sad I had such high hopes for this place too.
(1)Kelly L.
I've walked by this place for years and never stopped in, but a friend of mine has raved about it, so we stopped. And I was pleasantly surprised! It's actually much nicer inside than it looks outside (although looks or ambiance are definitley not the selling points of htis establishment). Nothing special about the service, but the food was yummy and really hit the spot. I had the falafel platter, which included 4 falafel balls served on top of cucumber, lettuce, tomato and dill salad, plus warm lavash and tahini for $5.75. It is really filling for what you spend. I'd go back.
(4)Betsy E.
I have been blessed to be able to live up the street from this literal palacio de falafel. I come here every Saturday post-gym (because what better way to unwind from a spinning class than with fried chickpeas?!) and I have yet to be disappointed. It's probably not a good thing that I can now recognize the Syrian techno that they are always playing, but hey, I'm patronizing a local business! The falafel here is top-notch, and so are the chicken schwarma and the grape leaves. I am always satisfied, and I cannot think of any other place in Central Square where you can have a full (vegetarian) meal for under $7. However, I withheld the 5th star because the minimum for credit cards is $15, and it is really hard to reach that with one person!
(4)Mats K.
I have been here a few times and it is positively the best falafel in town. The building looks like the place used to be an old white castle, but now it belongs to Moody's Falafel Palace. Apart from ranting and raving about how good the falafel is at this place I just need to give one word of advice. Unless the older Mediterranean gentleman who looks like he might own the place is making falafels go somewhere else. His falafels are absolutely wonderful. The people he has hired to work there recently - however - don't quite do it as well. They still aren't bad, but unless Moody himself (I am assuming) makes them, they just aren't the same.
(5)Sara S.
Anyplace that stays open on most nights until 3AM and serves falafel is amazing in my book. Add in that it's cheap, fresh, and convenient, and it can't get much better than that! I was "privileged" (if that's what you want to call it) to work in Central Square for a few months and discovered Moody's. It quickly became my favorite lunch stop. Any combination of salad or wraps ordered with chicken kebabs or falafel are awesome. Highly recommended. It's sometimes a little slow, probably due to lack of space and workers. If you're in a rush, call ahead.
(4)Katelyn M.
This was one of the best lamb schwarma I've had. The lamb was well seasoned, crispy and tender. I love the pickles in the rollup - it goes so well with the tahini and spruces up the lettuce and tomatoes. Great price, quick service - whether its 2am or 12pm. I just wish the rollup didn't start falling apart halfway through eating it.
(4)Marc L.
I was visiting Cambridge today and had a few minutes in which to grab an early dinner before boarding the T at Central Square and taking a bus to NYC. I see Moody's Falafel Palace right across the street. I'm thinking fast and cheap. It looks like a dive from the outside. Inside: photos of Aleppo, Syria, a great assortment of falafel-schwarma-foul and other Middle East standards. Having spent a little time in that part of the world, this place rang true. And the food was really good--and fast and cheap. As one of the reviews (posted in the restaurant) said accurately: come here to eat with your closest friends, or take out the food. The place is pretty tiny, maybe seats 10 people max. Great food, cheap, fast.
(3)Fionna L.
Best place for falafel. Sabra's is dry and the new Wrapro was even more so. I also use this place to reward myself for going to the Boston Sports Club. I eat Moody's probably once every 6 months.
(5)Tim W.
Okay, they got a lot better. Even though I thought it was bad before, I continued to go because its right next to my building. I'm glad to say they do not suck anymore.
(3)Jocelyn C.
I really want to like Moody's a lot more because everyone I know swears by them... but this place is always hit or miss for me. While the food is always pretty good, I've definitely had better (just not in Boston... yet?). Also, the thing about falafel sandwiches is that they're supposed to be fast. Last time I was here, I waited over 30 minutes! Instead of telling me they had just ran out of falafel and had to make more up front, they just kept me waiting. I was seriously getting annoyed (I had a bus to catch, and it was a Sunday night), but all they kept saying was "oh, just 5 more minutes, 5 more minutes." Everyone else coming in after me were getting their food though. If only they had explained the situation, I wouldn't have gotten so impatient and snapped at the guy when he finally did hand me my order and explained himself. And I missed my bus. Bad times.
(3)Matthias T.
I think this is probably the best falafel in the universe. I discovered falafel about 15 years ago when I was a vegetarian, and I really liked the idea, but had a hard time finding any that I thought was worth ordering a second time. After enough abortive attempts, I mostly gave up. Then I found Skewers in Harvard Square (gone now, sadly), and everything else on their menu was good enough that I gave falafel a second chance. That falafel was good, but the falafel sandwich at the Falafel Palace brings the dish to a whole new level of existential transcendence. After about a year of loving their falafel sandwiches so much, I started branching out into the shawarma roll-ups: also completely awesome. I think the key elements in the roll-ups are some otherworldly tahini and tart, crunchy pickles. Damn, I love those roll-ups! The staff is always friendly, and even remembered me when I came back after being away for over 6 months: "Where have you been?!" The only reason I can't give it an unreserved 5-star rating is because it's so tiny. They have one table and a counter, and not much standing room beyond that. It's a 15+ minute walk from my work place, so I'd prefer to be able to sit there and eat when I get there, but I usually can't if I go during the lunch rush. It's a shame because I've often wanted to bring friends here, but I usually won't if I know the rush is on and we won't be able to get seating. Other than the seating though, the low, low price, the great service and awesome awesome awesome awesome roll-ups make this place almost like the perfectest place you could go for lunch. In the universe.
(4)Sarah S.
I ordered the chicken shawarma, I think, and it was nothing to write home about. My friend bragged about the falafel, and indeed I ended up lusting after his plate the whole night. I'll know better next time. This place is tiny and disorganized. It felt really hectic inside, everyone streaming in and out, ordering, getting their food after a semi-lengthy wait. The ordering process was also confusing; first you order, then instead of paying there, you pay when your food is called. Except everyone's getting the same thing, so it's hard to tell whose order is whose. There was a lot of anxiety involved for a falafel joint. And the hot sauce wasn't so much sauce as it was a chunky, ruddy colored paste., more like pate than something you can sprinkle on your dish. It freaked me right out.
(2)Brian G.
The falafel here is pretty solid; nothing great, but fresh and as tasty as any other falafel. I've been here a bunch of times before and after nights out at any of the spots in Central Square, and this is definitely the place to grab a bite to eat on the cheap. Pros: Falafel and Shwarma sandwiches are fairly large and satisfying. I never feel like I should have ordered something else afterward. Cons: - The wait is very long, but I guess that is the price you pay for sandwiches that are made on the spot, not pre-made and heated up hours later. - Any of the pastries are ridiculously expensive. I'm not sure what the going rate is for Baklava, but 2 bucks for a piece about the size of your thumb seems a bit pricey.
(4)Blake M.
I'm giving Moody's three stars for the chicken shawarma plate, one star for the hot sauce and minus one star for the dude wearing the blue tooth behind the counter. With that said since moving to NYC I've found that Moody's could learn a thing or two from the cart on Crosby and W. Houston. I've since nicknamed him "the meat artist". Regardless if I'm eating at 2am-3am I'm willing to look over much worse, shame on all you 1 and 2 star reviewers.
(4)Sarah S.
Oh sweet bejeesus! Okay, another update to an update, but I swear it's for a good reason: Moody's hot sauce. Maybe before they weren't giving me a ton of it, or my taste buds were feeling particularly hardy last month, but that stuff is HOT. I am a spicy food fiend, and have a really hard time not getting food spicy enough for my liking, and I needed a DRINK to soldier on through the extreme heat searing off my taste buds and pins-and-needlesing my lips. "What?!" you say? "Drinks are for the weak and the infirm!" Then color me weak and stick me in a wheelchair. As long as I can have the hot sauce.
(4)Anastasia S.
I want to run away with Moody to live in a falafel palace, ensconced in Syrian mystery and velvet and constantly fed tasty falafel. It's gonna happen.
(5)Charoline D.
I was going to order some sort of HAHT BEEF INJECTED wrap, but the cashier warned me that it took awhile to prepare and well, it was something like 2am and let's not be greedy. But fortunately for the chicken schwarma, I was still INCREDIBLY greedy, but in that way that I offered bites to my fellow Thunderdomers and wound up with schwarma goo all down the front of my dress. CAUTION: SCHWARMA MAY BE DELICIOUS, BUT IS MESSY. And for $5, I can't be choosy. If you were to ask me what schwarma is or possibly tasted like.....I couldn't tell you, other than that it tasted like delicious and made me wish that I could've spent a little more time assaulting it in the confines of the car on the way home. Alas, no schwarma allowed in the MiniCooper. I'll be back Moody's Falafell Palace, you're lucky I'm deciding to ignore that there were PICKLES in my wrappywrap. LoveLoveLoveLove
(5)Orly M.
Moody's really hits the spot. It's not really great middle eastern food, but for the Boston area it's wicked pissah. If it were more expensive, this place wouldn't get 4 stars, but the prices are right! The biggest bargain on the menu is the lentil soup. Not the best lentil soup ever, but 2 bucks for 12oz for it with pita for dipping. When it's cold out, it's definitely my standby. Who am I kidding, I ate it all the time this summer, i'm a soup whore. If I'm feeling gluttonous, it's all about the SUPERCOMBO!! Daaamn that's a lot of food. The falafel balls are the big, hard kind, which I am not digging, but they're Syrian style. I like the Israeli style falafel with round, small balls. Yup, I like small balls, just in case you were wondering. The shawarma is pretty decent. You can't really mess up a huge slab of lamb on the rotisserie. Although I wouldn't mind if they spiced it some more. The real trick to shawarma is the later in the day you get it, the better it will taste because more of the fat burns off and it becomes more flavorful as it cooks all day. The supercombo also comes with mediocre babaganoush, salad (which I despise, yucky flavor combo), tabouli, and tehini. It's annoying to me that falafel and shawarma round here don't come with hummus. Huh? All of the discussion of "authenticity" starts to get annoying. If you order "falafel" at an American restaurant, you're a dumbass and deserve the dry crappy ground chickpeas you'll get. That said, there are many contries in the middle east and they each make their falafel, hummus, and bread differently. Oh, and middle eastern food is all about pickles! Any vegetable you can pickle stuffed in a pita with hummus and falafel = love. The service is...unique. I find that the guys behind the counter are much friendlier than the one lady behind the counter. Basically, if you want cheap Syrian food that's open late, this is your go-to spot.
(4)Nina D.
Really delicious falafel, and open at convenient falafel-eating hours -- but why don't you guys PLEASE take credit or debit card? Who carries cash? There have been multiple times in the last few years that I would've come and gotten a roll but didn't because I didn't want to deal with the cash hassle, either because I was saving it for emergencies or just didn't have it. Usually the latter. Warning - the spicy sauce, while delicious, is not for the faint of taste-buds!
(4)Sean C.
I always get the lamb Sharma. Be mindful they can't take credit cards. I found this out and they held my order when I ran to the ATM. However, since this was February and freezing, the manager gave me a free lentil soup on top of it! Great staff and everything is always fresh
(5)Rachel J.
Moody's is great and they have tiny bottles of San Pellegrino limonata, which are adorable. I just want to give a shout out to the guy at the counter last night because I felt pretty bummed out but he gave me some extra toppings on my falafel and was very friendly. so thanks Moodys for going just the little bit above and beyond that really makes it count.
(4)Jessica F.
Good late night grub. Not too heavy if you dont want a full meal, but not too light if you want more than a snack. Prices are on par with other falafel places. If you want to go with a safer option, the Beiruti wrap (~7$) has chicken and other yummy fillings (not spicy). Bring cash and get it to go. My only gripe was that my wrap was barely lukewarm.. but it was still tasty.
(4)Andrew B.
I have primarily had wraps with falafel and chicken tarna with hummus, tahini, and spicy sauce. Everything has been fantastic. The falafel has real flavor, not just a bland mush. Everything tasted legitimately fresh. Lots of attention to detail. And the best part is that the spicy sauce is LEGIT spicy. So tasty.
(4)Jenni R.
I am obsessed with this place! It is always consistent. It is a tiny place with no seats. The owner is great and the workers are friendly! Check it out!
(5)Caroline H.
This place is precisely what you would expect out of it, and more. It is a great takeout place for middle eastern/mediterranean food. The chicken shawarma plate is fantastic, it comes with plenty of chicken, plenty of rice and salad. The chicken is roasted well; it is not over cooked or fatty. It is tender and flavorful. The prices here aren't the lowest in the city, but the quality redeems any cost of the price. The owner here is also very pleasant. The only drawback to the place is that they do not take cards. I only wish that this location was closer to where I lived!
(4)Jessica S.
This place is very unassuming and kind of a hidden gem in Central Square. I stumbled upon it several months ago and just keep going back. I find myself craving their falafel sandwiches at random times. I've also had great success with the hummus sandwiches and the falafel plate (not sure if that's what it's called). The best part is how cheap everything is. I haven't really had falafel anywhere else, so I can't compare, but I do know that I love this place and would highly recommend it. Friendly staff, great food, very affordable. If I remember correctly, they're open late, too. The only reason they don't get five stars is because there is very little seating inside. It's definitely more of a take-out place, and it's always so crowded in there that I have to wait outside until my food is ready.
(4)Layla P.
Good for a late night snack after hanging out at the neighborhood bars. I've had better falafel wraps though. I definitely did not dig the pickles in my wrap, although I should have thought of that when I read the menu because it does say pickles are involved. It's cramped but cozy and the prices are good - under $5 for my wrap. No restroom - so use it before you head over.
(3)Barney B.
I would tend to think that lunch here is a bit different than a late night bite. At a minimum, I would assume that they don't have stacks and stacks of premade falafel and shwarma wraps ready to go without prep for a busy crowd. Or at least I hope they do - because the pre-made stuff is kind of bland. By design they were dry - too little hummus and sauce - which is likely on purpose to prevent them from getting soggy while waiting for the 2 a.m. masses to arrive. But when you are not hammered, and in the mood for a later snack - it just doesn't hit the spot. Granted, it's better than the other late night options in the vicinity, notably HI-FI slop (er, pizza) won't rush back - but then again, boring falafel is better than no falafel, so I might eat those words.
(3)Andrew M.
I'm confused by the other reviews. This place is awesome! I think their falafel is good. I'm not a middle eastern cuisine specialist but I have had plenty of falafel in Fafalel Countries. Actually, I got a chicken schwarma and THEN a steak kebab. I was enthusiastic about the idea of a third entree but just too full at that point.
(5)Mushhoor A.
One of my fav places for shawerma. Disappointed as of late though. Inconsistent portions, forgetting simple things like tahini sauce and the sandwich opening constantly which leads me to request for extra napkins. Some of the staff are great and some just suck huge falafel balls! better to go during lunch time and avoid the workers who are suicidal. In terms of taste when at it's best this place tops all other 'shawerma/falafel' joints. Still a regular
(4)Sam G.
Eating at Falafel Palace is a good idea, whether or not you are wasted. It's just that when you do happen to be wasted, it is an even better idea. I am a big fan of the vegatarian combo, which includes falafel (with tahini sauce), hummus, tabbouleh, baba ganouj, greek salad, and pita bread. It is not only delicious, but also relatively healthy... which means you won't feel gross the next day, even if you eat it at 3 in the morning and promptly fall asleep on the nearest horizontal surface. Location can't be beat; prices are excellent. The only down side is that there can be quite a bit of a wait right after the bars let out. Expect to wait at least 20 minutes regardless of what you order.
(4)Ron W.
First off the owner who I don't know his name but he is a real cheap prick! Why am writing such a bad review. Well a couple of years ago I went to this place ordered a chicken shawarma with a little extra tahini sauce. When I asked him for a little extra tahini sauce on my vegetable salad with chicken bits "shawarma sandwich" and he told he needs to charge me $0.75 extra because he has overhead, (his words) "if I don't charge you than everyone else will want extra". I objected why the higher price and what I got was a whiny response that already left a bad taste in my stomach even before I ate. Believe me this guy must have had the violin sob music playing in his head and it was never ending because I just asked why? Not that $0.75 is a big deal but it sent a bad vibe down my back that I am dealing with another CHEAP business owner who likes to cut corners and is interested only in nickel and diming his customers for more profit rather than a good experience. I know it sounds like I am against capitalism but I am not. This guy has a monopoly because there is no other falafel shacks around open late. I went in a few weeks later ordered a sandwich and the guy in front of me was an Arab speaking fellow and he and the owner were conversing in Arabic some and mostly English. I ordered and paid for my sandwich with an extra squirt of Tahini sauce, $0.75 extra squirts worth. The Arab guy after me and the owner were speaking and ordered the same sandwich with extra, tahini, a little extra meat and so on. The owner did not mention a word of the sob story on why he "has to charge everyone extra for extra condiments on a sandwich" but not a word of charging extra. I watched as the owner handed the Arab fellow his much larger sandwich with extra everything on it and charge him just the normal price. At this time I was finishing my sandwich, saw and hear the whole transaction/conversation. When he charged me and didn't charge him extra I spoke up. "What is this? You charged me extra for an extra squirt for tahini sauce and your Arab brother doesn't get charged extra for everything else. I told the owner straight out he was fair with me and that he price gouged me many times in the past including today and right away the owner was saying "I am sorry but you know how it is sometimes I got to charge people different prices". I didn't understand what he was getting at but I said to him "I am not upset at paying an extra $0.75 on a sandwich but when you skimp out on everything els, nickel and dime me for every cent you can and not do the same to your Arab brother how do you think I am going to react". Again I get the story of why he has to charge me extra and he pulls out of his register a dollar bill and tries to hand it to me. I said to him "keep it because you need it to buy some business etiquette lessons on customer service. I went' back there on 2/4/2012 at 11pm with my wife for a late night sandwich only to be disappointed again from RUDE CUSTOMER SERVICE and less than par chicken shawarma sandwich with barely any (less than an ounce) of dried crunchy chicken bits and a lot of bread. The sandwiches Lamb and Chicken really SUCKED for the amount of money you will spend here. I asked for shepard's salad on my sandwiches and the responce I got was that I have to charge you $1.50 extra. This was a latino speaking guy with real rotten attitude. I said forget it. I was nver so angry over a sandwich but more so the attitude I got. This PLACE SUCKS. Find another place for Shawarma.
(1)Chris G.
This place is great - after a late night at Middlesex we stopped here - they make the wraps fresh (it takes some time to make the falafel wrap). Except for the big 6'4'' drunk dude that tried to cut the guy behind me and almost started a melee, it was a good night. I totally recommend dropping by here and with the 3AM closing time, it's usually convenient!
(4)Keith T.
I'm sticking to my guns here and giving Moody's 2 stars. I wanted to move up to 3 or even 4 after finishing my Chicken Shawarma roll-up with Falafel 'cause it was so good, but I'm forcing myself to go with my initial instinct. Why? The service is just awful. Every time I go there, I wait an inordinate amount of time for my food. That is, when they remember what I ordered. Or that I ordered anything at all. Tonight, I went with my roommate. They took my order, and left him standing there in front of the register, money in hand, for at least 5 minutes. Then they take his order, and we sort of fade back into the crowd to wait. He got his roll-up and finished it well before the guy making the sandwiches looked at me confusedly and asked "did you order something?" I don't know how one could organize a restaurant more poorly. Here are some easy suggestions for improvement in case anyone from Moody's cares about their poor service, though from how pissy they seem with the customers, I doubt they do. How about a system in which orders are assigned numbers, which are then called out when the order is ready? One time I got a block away from Moody's when I was chased down by an employee to be told that they had given me the wrong roll-up. For god's sake, how does that happen?!? Second, how about some sort of line system, so people aren't standing around going "did you order? did you order?" Etc, etc. But man that's such a good roll-up.
(2)Anna H.
It's a Palace. (What if it was actually a palace, constructed OF falafel? I'd give it five stars.) I went to Moody's for the first time last week. I had the vegetarian combo plate. I wouldn't get it again, but I would definitely try other things. The baba ganoush was really strange--very sweet and a different texture than I am used to. The falafel was good, not too dry. I forgot that I don't like tabouleh, so I can't really say anything about that. It was a ton of food, and it was really inexpensive. I was in there on a Sunday night around 7.30 and it took about 15 minutes to get the food, to go. It was packed and there were people waiting before me that were still there when I left. I'm not sure if I'd wait MORE than 15 minutes for this food...unless I was starving. Also, its location in zany old Central Square provides free entertainment-- like the couple fighting about whether or not they had to go back to the Police Station, or the hipsters in their strange clothes, or men of ambiguous nationality in ornate shoes. Always fun. I also appreciate Moody's embracing of Yelp!
(4)Meaghan S.
Two haikus: Three a.m., tipsy Chicken shawarma with hummus Extra pickles, bliss Falafel Palace An oasis in Central Hi-fi pizza hurts
(3)Jane N.
These guys sustain me! I fell in love with chicken shawarma when traveling in Syria in the mid 90s and until I found Moody's, I hadn't found a reasonable approximation here Stateside. The sandwich is well balanced with the rotisserie chicken, sauce, and most importantly, pickles! The key ingredient is the pickles! One of these days I might try something else on the menu, but for now, the shawarma is all I need!
(4)Ligaya T.
Mooooody's. Any time you may be hungry. Mooooody's. Any time you need a friend. Mooooody's. Any time you're out from under. Not getting served, not getting fresh. Too long over the fryolater. Keepin' their headsets on. Making your wrap without looking. Two am on a Friday night. Moooooody's. Tabuleh, hummus. Mooooody's. Scratchin' and surviving. Mooooody's. Hangin in a chow line Mooooody's. *inspired by Dave Chappelle's "I Know Black People" episode. Extra star for putting up their "People Love us on Yelp" sticker and letter in the window. Yelp and local biz goes hand in hand, w00t!
(3)Jason T.
Having lived within a few blocks of this "palace" for the last three years I can tell you assuredly that Moody's is capable of being anything from a 2-star yuck to a 5-star gem- depending on who's behind the counter. I eat here regularly; at least once a week. Things to avoid: -overdoing the hot sauce. Let's just say it tastes better than it makes you feel. -forgetting to ask for hummus on any falafel dish. A dry sandwich is the bane of any man's existence. Things to enjoy: -Orangina is a life changing experience -The prices are fantastic -There are little tidbits about the history of the building on the wall -Quality vibes What are you waiting for? The next time you stumble out of Zuzu, skip hi-fi and proceed directly to Moody's.
(4)Loren B.
Great value, open late, always hits the spot. 'nough said.
(4)Moomin T.
Pretty good & cheap. The falafel is a little overcooked, but hey for the price who is arguing? I think this building was probably a White Castle in a former life.
(4)Sandra L.
I love falafel but this was a let down. It's a lot of fun for a late night snack. I found their falafel a little too try and the service slow. The price was right though, so I guess you get what you pay for. It wasn't the worst experience I've only been once, so I might have to go again but as of now there are better places to get falafel.
(3)Cassie T.
I was obsessed with this place when I lived in Boston this past summer. They've got excellent falafel for the price (it's the only thing I ever got there). Bottom line. I like how it comes in a handy little package too. Open late and the inside of the store is small and cute. I would highly recommend paying this place a visit!
(5)Kev M.
If nothing else, this place wins because of their late hours with respect to bar closing times. Let this be a note to the MBTA, this is how you serve your customers. The quality of the food isn't very consistent, which hold me back from giving a full 5 stars. However, i guarantee i will keep coming back when the night is over and i need something good and cheap.
(4)Ryan H.
I've been a vegetarian for a dozen years and I often eat Falafel... This is the best I've ever had. I love the falafel sandwich and I love that it is only $4.25. Sure, it takes a little bit of time to make - but thats why its so great. The only reason it doesnt get 5 stars is because the place is microscopic. Also, one of the tables is always kinda sticky... Whats up with that? I have never figured that out.
(4)Eve L.
The only way you could find this place slow is if you're smoking crack. Considering how it's always quite packed with people no matter when you go, it's amazing I've never waited more than 10 minutes for my food. And 10 minutes really isn't too long to wait for cook, fresh-made food. If it is, you probably need to plan your day a little better. Moody's is the closest thing to authentic falafel stands like I used to frequent in Israel and Jordan. It's very similar. Small space, but most people take the food out, so I've never had trouble finding a table if I wanted to stay. Excellent falafel, and my spouse tells me their schwarma is great too. Wonderful tahini.
(5)Dan S.
Cheap, Delicious, I have only had a shwarma sandwich this good in Germany.
(5)Stephanie F.
For Boston, this falafel place is pretty good - not the best, but it will do. It gives me that NYC feeling of having a hole-in-the-wall restaurant open late.. but it isn't exactly like the NYC falafel places I'd visit back in NYC. To date, I've only had the falafel and had a little bit of the lamb shawarma roll-up that my boyfriend ordered. The falafel is not bad, but if you're going to be eating it with friends, make sure not to talk too much or else it will get cold fast. And if you want some spicyness added to it, make sure you ask for it spicy, and not ask for it on the side. The side spicy sauce is thick and pasty, not like the easily pour-able sauces that I've had. Maybe it's just my experience, but I like the more watered down, diluted version of the spicy sauce. The lamb shawarma that I tasted had A LOT of onions. It made my boyfriend's breath smell wayyyyyy bad. And he knows this. It was pretty tasty for what it is, but then again -- I've had better.
(3)Matt S.
When you leave a club or bar in Central Square at 2 AM, there are very limited food options. If you're wasted enough, you won't mind drinking the grease off of the slices at Hi Fi pizza or buying gummi worms and a power bar at the 24 hour CVS. That's why Moody's is the go to spot for late night food here Wednesday through Saturday (unfortunatley not open the other nights). Lots of review will cite the falafel and shawarma wraps which are wonderful in their own right. I'm extra impressed however, by the option of fruit salad and fresh baba ghanouj plate with hummus and lettuce greens. It's hearty enough for an after midnight snack (don't tell the mogwais), but nothing you'll regret. Save the greasy food for the hangover the next day.
(4)Jennifer L.
I've returned to test the waters again. Falafal Palace is back to it's old delicious self!
(4)Tom E.
The Good: :: Open til very late (3am) :: Reasonably cheap for a fill-up :: Conveniently placed near Central Sq :: Some good Shwarma The Bad: :: Falafel is a bit too dry :: The rice and tabouleh are bland :: Staff are too busy chatting on their Bluetooths to care less :: The thinness of meat on the rotisserie is disturbing The Queen: :: The building is beautiful - a mini-palace for midnight snack royalty
(3)Yui K.
Eh... is pretty much all I have to say about this place. Quick fix for food. Not expensive. Open late. A line often forms, which I thought was a good thing.. but EH. Food tastes..... ok. I didn't really get why the pickles, so good thing I like pickles. The guy was a bit rude, snatching money here and there, but my friend said they werent the regular people. EHHHHHHH............
(3)Tony S.
Foods good but service blows... Showed up at 11:50pm sign said they closed at 12am. Walked in to order they said they were closed. Nuff said.
(1)Michael D.
Great Falafel and open late! Ask for it Spicy!
(5)Tristan B.
I live down the street from Moody's and there really isn't a lot to say about the former White Castle. The food is cheap, reliable, if a bit tasteless, but what do you expect from a wrap in Cambridge that's less than 5 bucks? Service is menial, expect to talk to the people with their headsets still on, don't expect to eat there except maybe on the sidewalk, and expect to get your pants squirted with the sauce at some point. But hey, Ben Affleck ranks it as "Best Falafel" (as seen on the wall written on a staff shirt) , and who are we to argue with him? If you're hungry at 1:00 AM and there's not much of a line, it beats out Hi-Fi by far.
(3)Vanilla P.
Maybe it's because I went during the heat wave. Maybe it's because I was slightly hungover. I'm not sure what it is exactly, but after my falafel sandwich, I was so thirsty. The sandwich was flavorless but edible, and the tahini was bland. The size of the sandwich was good, I just wish there was more flavor. Falafel's not too hard to frick up, mind you. Mash up some garbanzo beans with garlic and spices, deep fry it... How hard can it be? Throw it in a pita with some sauce and veggies -- Taa Daa!
(2)Kimble M.
This is some solid drunk food, kids, and open until 3A most days, making it likely to be one of the few places to get it. You're not here for quality after midnight, you're here to satisfy your inexplicable need for deep fried foods and interaction with other overly friendly (read: drunk) people. The place is tiny with basically nowhere to sit, but you won't really care, you'll just take your shawarma with falafel added in outside where you'll make new friends talking about bumpits and Scott Brown. It's even cheap enough that when you relive your night the next morning, you may have enough money left over to come back and cure your hangover, too.
(3)Michael L.
Moody's is an excellent place to catch a cheap ($4.19) meal, that fills you without making you sick. Yes, they put pickles on it. It says so on the menu, so ask for "no pickles" if you don't like them. It's crowded and uncomfortable to sit in there, so it's much better to get your food to go if at all possible. They're open until 3am on the weekend!! It's housed in the building that once held the last White Castle franchise in New England. No, it won't be the best you've tasted, but at 2:43am on a Saturday or just for $4, try it and see what you think.
(4)Kristine M.
We got there around 10:30, and they told us they "ran out of meat"...which was fine because I really just wanted falafel, but my husband was disappointed because he was hoping for shwarma. Anyway, we ordered the falafel plate and they didn't even heat up the falafels. It was disgusting. The falafel was cold as ice and hard as a rock. Will never go back there. It was also about 20 degrees outside and not much warmer inside. It also felt filthy and gross in there. Even the Middle East has better falafel than this place.
(1)Gina D.
Fantastic food considering the prices. Nice guys behind the counter, fast food that still feels pretty healthy. Great late-night or when you're in a rush... or just when you don't feel like spending a ton, but want something hot and delish!
(5)Mary S.
I love Moody's! A friend introduced me to the restaurant, and I have been a regular since then. The food is fantastic - I eat very little meat so I cannot comment on the lamb, but the falafel, hummus and fatoush salad are all delicious. I love that Moody's is open late, plus the staff is friendly and make it clear that they appreciate your patronage. Everything is decently priced, cash only and no seating, but you won't hear me complain. Highly recommended for night owls!
(5)Whitney W.
Moody's is apparently somewhat of an institution, judging by the number of Yelp reviews and the Ben Affleck autographed "best falafel ever" shirt. I find the food here to be extremely reliable in that it is usually good. Not "best falafel ever," but good. I know that if I order a hummus sandwich, I am going to be full, be content, and probably be covered in hummus, because there is a lot of hummus going on in that sandwich. The only food item I've ever had here that was markedly bad was one time the tabouli apparently had salt spilled in it, making it painfully salty. Other than this, all of my experiences have been good. I do not even know what Falafel Palace is like in the daytime hours, because it is the standby post-show dinner from anytime my band played in Cambridge. For the option of having something moderately healthy and delicious that is not expensive or from Store 24, I have to give Falafel Palace 4 stars.
(4)Steven G.
Place is OK. Very low levels of customer service and the service is SLOW. But the food is good. I like the hot sauce
(3)Amanda M.
Right near a bus stop, I thought it'd be convenient to stop in for some falafel, as I love it and rarely have it. I ordered a falafel sandwich. First off, they took so long to make a simple sandwich that I nearly missed my bus. It was at least 15 minutes, maybe 20, and no, the place was not inordinately busy. Second, they only accept cash for orders under $15. This is annoying, yet not worthy of the one star. Why the one star rating? I finally got my sandwich to go and ran to catch my bus I was about to miss. When I got to my destination and bit into my sandwich I found NO FALAFEL. Nada. Zippo. It was simply hummus and veggies. I distinctly said falafel sandwich, paid the price for a falafel sandwich, and when the counter woman handed me the sandwich she said "miss, here's your falafel sandwich." They totally gypped me! Don't ever go here!
(1)Courtney E.
Are the falafels supposed to smell like B.O.? Dry and unappetizing, I tried the Chicken Shawarma (call it a "chicken wrap") and it was marginally good. Why the McDonald's hamburger pickels in there!? And is the tahini sauce supposed to be watery and chaulky tasting? And the pita bread chewy and flat? This was a surprise on numerous accounts, and these were actual recommendations from people in the resturant. Are you kidding? People need to up their standards on food. Go to Rami's in Coolidge Corner. It's the BEST.
(1)Elizabeth S.
The same thing happened to me that happened to a previous reviewer. I have been going to Falafel Palace for many years. It has always been one of my favorites spots in Central Square. I went a few weeks ago and ordered a vegetarian platter. The salad was rotten, the tabouli was very off and the tahini was spoiled. I haven't been back. Just the thought of the food there makes me sick.
(1)William M.
Great food. Minus one star for the drunk meatheads that populate the place after-hours, but that's what you get being one of the only places in Boston open past 1am.
(4)_ _.
Scale of 1-10 (multiple visits): 10 Food 9 Service 10 Atmosphere 9 Value Not good for eating in if they're busy b/c it's so small, but the size also feels nice and fitting. Don't leave without getting some cashew fingers.
(5)Craig A.
I have been a GIANT fan of Moody's Falafel Palace for years and years but I only recently discovered (stumbling out of the Field drunk at 2:09am) they are open until 3:00am! I'll make this short and sweet! If you're a McDonalds/Burger King dude/Chick ... they are open late and have drive through. If you like good food cheap - eat here! Lunch, Dinner, or late night you'll always be happy. It's a cheap take away place with some of the best damn falafel (and other stuff too) around. What more can I say?
(5)MaryTyler M.
I really do want to say meh, but my heartstrings have been ensnared by a lasso made of fried chick pea mash. The experience was def 3-4 stars -- Em's Eff Pee is your best option by FAR for the time of night and the price. If you're the kind of person who sweats shwarma and falafel, you probably are not the kind of person who would pass by this place at 2:30 am in favor of McDonald's drive through, so keep it on your list. The falafel sandwich I had was a clear 2-star. It pains me so much to say this (as a lifetime Cambridge resident, Moody's has sentimental value to me), but the fake falafel I had at Cafe Dilara was better (I'm pretty sure they bought it in the frozen section of Trader Joe's). The problem was just that it was too mushy and totally bland. I am pretty positive that there was no seasoning of any kind in my sandwich. This is further supported by its unappetizing gray color. I felt like I got what I paid for at $4.66, but I still would rather pony up for Rami's.
(3)Jess R.
This place has a deservedly high rating: even if the food sucked, where else are you going to find food in Central Square at 2 a.m.? Fortunately, the food doesn't suck; I'm a big fan of the lamb shawarma. I do have a quibble with the service. It was considerate of them to post a sign explaining that they only accept credit cards until midnight (a fellow customer, clearly a late-night regular, explained that the card check line is down after midnight). However, it would also have been considerate of them to post a sign saying that they have a $15 minumum for credit cards. If, in fact, they do have a minimum, and therein lies my quibble. The counterman told me they had a $15 minimum, so I prepared to put away my card and go across the street to the ATM. Like magic, the credit card minimum suddenly vanished and the counterman could take my card after all. Word of advice, dude: If you hadn't been so busy thinking of reasons not to let me use a credit card, you might've been able to hear me better when I placed my order. "Lamb shawarma" doesn't really sound like "chicken kabob", but I guess it was hard to hear me over the sound of your own self-importance.
(4)Amaker L.
falafel late night? ooooh hurt me. Its hard to fuck up falafel.
(4)Bonnie M.
I'm vegetarian and love all of the options here. This is a very reliable place for a relatively quick roll up. I like mixing a side into my roll-up. My favorite is the falafel rollup with hummus. It's just a buck extra. My husband likes the baba ganoush with grape leaves. They have AWESOME turkish coffees but they do take a while. Definitely worth the wait if you have a place to sit. I like having the birds nest with the coffee. The cashew fingers are so-so - lots of filo. The guys behind the counter will smile if you smile at them first. I think they call it moody's for a reason! :-) Just be pleasant and hopefully they'll be pleasant back. I actually got a free dessert here once for asking how one guy was doing (he seemed stressed) which was a big surprise. I love, too, how they grill their roll-ups. It definitely makes a difference.
(4)Meghan Q.
So I've never been here before the bars close HOWEVER the fact that they are still open at that hour deserves some serious credit! The falafel and the shwarma are divine alternatives to the other late night choices in Central (ie. pizza). A roll up will come will include pickles, tahini, lettuce, other goodness, in a soft warm pita...mmmm. Napkins are usually recommended. At a certain point in the evening there is a massive crowd in the pizza-box-sized area in front of the counter -- think riding the T at rush hour -- but the 2 guys behind the counter do their best to keep the orders coming at a brisk pace so as not to keep the booze-soaked mob waiting. The price is right, the food is right, and the proximity to nightlife/transport is right. You really can't go wrong here, folks!
(4)Melissa A.
There's two things that I think are important to a falafel sandwich. One: must have falafel in it. Two: must have tahini sauce. Granted, my falafel sandwich had (der) falafel in it, but where was the tahini sauce? This wrap was wrapped so tightly, I thought that liquids would explode once I took a bite (like the tightly wrapped crepes on Seinfeld). And pickles?? Why are there pickles in my sandwich? It was totally ruined with that gross briney stuff permeating every little nook and cranny. The sandwich was so dry, I should have dipped it in some water or maybe some of the sweat that the guy making my sandwich kept emitting. But everybody raves about this place? Did I do something wrong? Is it my face??
(2)Lauren B.
This is my favorite place to stop in for some very cheap take-out. For a whopping $4.25, you can get a delightful vegetarian falafel sandwich in about five minutes. I always ask the friendly guy behind the counter to spice up my falafel with hot sauce (which I definitely recommend supplementing with a bottle of water). I have never tried anything else besides the falafel, but the place is always hopping so I'll bet that the rest of the menu is pretty tasty. Definitely stop by if you're in Central Square. I don't know anywhere else in the city where you'll find a better deal!
(5)erica c.
Hands down my favorite falafel place in the area. And I will be the first to admit that I HATE people that compare NYC to Boston but when i moved back here from NYC I went on a falafel HUNT Yummy cheap Falafel joints were so readily available in NYC....and then I came across this place thanks to an ex BF of mine.....it has since become one of my favorite cheap eats. Also of note are the spinach pies and baklava(that is prob the wrong name for it here but you know what I mean) And the people that work here have always been nothing but super friendly to me....falafel with a smile that doesn't make my tummy moan later? I'll take it!
(5)James L.
This is definitely one of my all-time favorite restaurants here in the Boston area. They are opened up all the time - even until 3! I love their chicken falafel wrap with hot sauce, and maybe a little hummus if I have extra napkins. The ground beef and steak wraps have a little too much connective tissue, which is why I avoid them. The chicken plate is excellent as well. Their pastries don't seem to be home made. I would avoid that.
(5)Meg F.
Used to be a go-to place, not anymore. My friend bit into his falafel and broke his tooth on something mysterious he spit out. That's a hefty price for a cheap, not-so-great wrap and terrible service.
(1)Janelle M.
The falafel sandwich at this Turkish (I think) joint is large and filling; however, I can't say that the actual falafel was very tasty. The falafel were lightly fried, not greasy, which was good, but it was definitely lacking flavor. The sandwich is completely wrapped in a pita and seemed to be toasted on the outside. The fillings inside were both generous and fresh and included: LTO, tahini, and hummus. The hummus, by the way, was outstanding! Let me close by mentioning that I eat falafel everywhere I go, so I am no stranger to the world-of-falafel. Honestly, I would have enjoyed it more on the 2 am walk home from the bar. 2 stars for the falafel, but I added an extra for the delish hummus and mezze platter.
(3)John K.
Moody's Falafel Palace can be summed up in one word: overrated. While the food is reasonable, and the staff is polite and efficient, the food isn't all that great. I thought it was pretty good before being served a runny chicken wrap one day. It was one of those dining experiences where you actually lose your appetite. Usually, the food is serviceable, though. If you're in a rush, you could do much worse than the Palace. Unlike others, I don't think the Palace is the best thing since air conditioning.
(3)J R.
The Lamb Shawarma never lets me down! So good.
(5)joe b.
It's a damn solid falafel, I have to say, and I always appreciate the rolled-then-grilled style. The sandwiches can be a little dry, but I typically ask for extra sauce on a falafel/shawarma anyway, so that hasn't been a problem for me at this place. Good, cheap food that gets the job done, and then some.
(4)Graham C.
Alright, tonght I was in the mood for a good falafel. Having read the reviews here, I decided to try Moody's. I found parking a block away and got ready to have some tasty treats. A few notes, I'm from New York City. MacDougal Street in the Village is a Falafel heaven, with tons of great places to gorge. My pick is Mamoun's there. Here, my favorite so far has been Cafe Barada on Mass Ave. For shawarma, my choice is Shawarma King, but we're not talking about that now, are we? So up here, falafels are in wraps as opposed to the pita. I prefer the pita. And there are pickles, which I happen to like. But this falafel was dry. I should have asked for more tahini, but I didn't know. So overall, this sandwich was dry and meh. I hate meh food. Personally, I think this place is rated so highly because of all the drunks that realize it's open until 3AM Wed-Sat. If you moved this place out of the way, no one would really go. So sad...I so wanted a good falafel.
(2)Tani S.
Great and inexpensive.. Chicken, lamb, and falafel wraps are very good as well as hummus and their spinach/meat pies.. The meat is usually tender unless you have the bad luck of getting meat that is close to the spit.
(4)Salvatore R.
The hoummus and the pickles were wildly memorable. A side of hoummus is enough to save for lunch and dinner. The pickles have a nice biting taste that may overpower the falafel sandwich, but still I was impressed. A great falafel sandwich though with reasonable prices.
(4)Chris L.
If the name of a place is "Falafel Palace", you would think that they should have pretty good falafel. Sadly, my first falafel here after 14 years walking by the place was cold, spongy, and greasy. Sad. There is nothing worse than cold falafel.
(1)Anna G.
This place is small and best suited for take out only, but oohhhh the food is so worth it. I had a lamb roll up and it was to DIE FOR! The prices are reasonable too! They only take cash, but don't worry there are about 10 ATMs around the corner to choose from. Definitely recommended for a late night snack after a night of drinking.
(4)Bird B.
It's hard to find a cheap, healthy, oh -my- god -I -feel- like- Im -being- a- fattie- but- Im- not, take out place. Most of the menu is under 5 bucks, it has a ton of veggie and vegan options, its right in central square, and i pretty much love it. Sucks I waited this long to find it.
(5)Ryoji U.
This place is SO GOOD. Their falafel wraps are #1 in Boston
(5)rewan a.
This is my favorite place to go after (or before!) a night in central square. Their chicken shawarmas go very nicely with a post-zuzu's buzz. This is definitely not the place to bring a first date, although I have shared many delicious meals here with my favorite people. They have a vegetarian friendly menu, as well as chicken and beef kababs for you fellow carnivores. My friends and I like to play the "guess the city" game with the photos hanging on the walls, although it's hard to differentiate some of the old middle eastern cities apart. As I mentioned the chicken shawarma earlier, let me just say, it is fantastic. Very very delicious. However it is rather small and sometimes there's a line which makes things a little claustrophobic if you're sitting inside. Also, you will probably leave smelling like grilled food, which could be either a good thing or a bad thing depending on personal preference of course.
(4)Annie P.
This place is just plain good and convenient. In the midst of fast food places and overpriced bar food on Mass Ave in this area... I'm glad Central has this place to run to. Instead of going for some junk food when you're hunger overwhelms you at night.. head to the falafel palace! I personally love the Baba Ghanouj (Eggplant) Sandwich and Lamb Shawarma Plate. The rice pilaf and tahini sauce is easy to any tastebuds. Flavorful. I usually toss the side of syrian bread though. It's sort of tasteless and useless. Whenever I go and see the fresh cut watermelon and pineapple slices packaged up.. I grab it also. It's fresh. I always bump into a friend or neighborhood person here.. in a run or grabbing lunch during their break. Lines move quick and seats open up left and right in this tiny joint.
(4)Trish F.
Props to the T passengers that didn't point out the white (tahini) sauce that was all over my scarf, shirt, and skirt. Either they were jerks or didn't want to interrupt a rather ravenous Dish. Whatever.. they were just jealous of all of the above. ;) For f*ck's sake. Seriously? Why did I NEVER go here when I lived on Green Street? Probably because my undergrad thoughts of falafel pranks (those things can be manipulated in so many fashions) always made me cringe. And a palace full of it? Yeah, no. But after seeing people's positive reviews and after a night of dancing that let out past regular restaurant hours.. I had to.. just had to go this late night dining gem. I walked in past midnight and feared that the alleged 3AM closing time was false, but alas, the rush hadn't come in yet. Good.. some time to marinate (in thoughts and smells). It took me a little while to decide what to get because everything was so cheap. I finally went with lamb schawarma and was in negotiations to share some spinach pie. When I went to pay, the guy repeated my order, but misheard and charged me for a meat pie instead. When I corrected him, he apologized. The guys weren't pockets full of sunshine but they asked me how I was and that was enough convo for me. A couple minutes later, boom, everything was ready. Gotta love the quickness. I dove into the spinach pie before we even got to the T (which you can probably note is a short distance). Because of the last minute switch from meat it was a bit cold, but I ate it anyway since it tasted fine (hey.. I hadn't eaten in 12 hours.. don't judge). The breading was warm and soft like a mouth blanket and the pie soon disappeared. Looking at my cohort I threw up my hands and put on my dimpled pressed lip smile... "Sowee". Revenge was probably not telling me about the tahini sauce that later became an accessory...but whatever. The first few bites into the wrap were disappointing. The lamb seemed to be a bit charred.. BUT that was just the few first bites. The rest of the wrap was sooo gooooodddd. My belly felt happy even into the next morning. Hooray Falafel Palace! You have broken the spell of evil/scary falafel thoughts that I once had! Slash.. I love that they have the little "People Love Us on Yelp" letter on the glass at the counter. Awww. They feel the love. And I feel the love. And I will definitely be back for some late night grub.
(4)Chris B.
they had the best lamb shawarma wrap i had ever tasted. not to mention it was pretty cheap. I love this place!
(5)D M.
It may have been a bad move for me to stop here a few weeks ago on the way home, because Dorian and I may have a falafel problem now. It's super cheap and so delicious. The falafel is fresh, and the perfect amount of fried and slightly healthy things. The gentleman at the counter were friendly, perhaps a little overly so, and I would suggest the cucumber salad if you love things involving mint, yogurt, and cucumber because it is so yummy. You will be filled up (with possibly two meals) for $6 each.
(4)Bevin C.
Important: Moody's Falafel Palace is one palace in the daytime and another entirely different palace in the nighttime. Daytime (2 stars) - semi-competent grumpy staff who don't make eye contact with you skimping on the shawarma and rolling up scanty, dryfalafel sandwiches. Nighttime (5 stars) - really nice, friendly fellow (the owner? manager?) giving you ample amounts of deee-lishus shawarma and freshly fried falafel with a smile. So come here for dinner, or after the bars, and you will be happy. Go to Rangzen for lunch instead.
(3)Mike F.
If you are looking for a tasty lunch on the run in Central Square , this is an easy go-to. I've sampled a few items on their menu, but it's hard to pass up a falafel for less than $5. The only problem is that if you want to get a cheap lunch, then you'll have to bring cash. They do not accept credit cards for orders under $15.
(4)Liz H.
falafel wrap was delicious and really cheap! possibly my new favorite spot in central. on the other hand, my bf's chicken shwarma was not as great and he was wishing he went with falafel too. the place is tiny so definitely be prepared to grab and go. they are also open until 3am, which i have yet to cash in on but definitely plan to.
(4)Ethan C.
Good: great schwarma sandwiches Bad: the lamb used to be better.
(4)Rohan P.
I discovered Moody's this past summer with a couple of friends. Moody's is my favorite late night food spot, period. The falafels and baba ganoush sandwiches are absolutely delicious, and the hot sauce hits the spot. Service is a bit slow, but totally worth the wait. Anyone I've brought here has had nothing to say but positive things. Oh, and they are open till 3 AM.
(5)dio c.
My friend took me here for the first time and we gotta veggie and a chicken falafel and it was fucking good!! I really liked how speedy the service was with one person working. I will be coming here again to try the deserts/pastries.
(5)Julia F.
The Falafel Palace (a former White Castle) is hands down where you get a quick bite to eat in Central. It is often the winner when I eat out with my vegan cousin. Who thought it was possible to feel that full and happy after eating just a falafel sandwich? It hits the spot - the servers are nice more often than not but the interaction is short and you can walk out the door minutes later with your food. If you don't want the falafel sandwich, I suggest the chicken and lamb shawarmas, so fucking good. I don't recommend eating inside unless you don't mind the very cramped counter-style seating. It's open until 3am I think wednesday to saturday, so as you stumble home from the bar and your too far away from the hong kong or cinderellas, this is the place for you.
(5)vinny f.
i am originally from new york and i have known pretty much every falafel places but this definitely stands out. why - their falafel is freaking huge. in new york you usually get a pouch shaped syrian bread which is 1/4 of the size they serve here. - best lamb wraps i have had in time. so is chicken but its like ordering salad in a burger shop. you gotta have lamb when you goto middle east rest.. - they have awesome desserts. try baklawa for the beginners. - if bored of falafel, try their grill items, like chicken or kafta kebab [takes little more time because they grill as ordered] - most imptly they are open till 3am. long story short, nothing beats this in central sq.
(5)Mike R.
Good, fast, reasonably price food from a fun, local place. The lamb was delicious, portions are probably big enough for two if you're not large eaters and going for lunch.
(3)Ishraq A.
open late, quick bite atmosphere, and one of the best shawarmas in town. its also really cheap, though the new 15 dollar or whatever minimum for credit card is a bummer. but its better than not having credit card at all! previously reef's cafe in allston only topped this place for the lamb shawarma but now that reef's has closed, moody's reigns king.
(4)Thomas B.
This is one of my favorite places for a quick lunch. The falafel sandwiches are always great. I recommend adding hummus or baba ghanoush or both like I do!
(5)Pete S.
You can still get a good meal at Moody's Falafel Palace, so life can't be all bad. Still my standby for falafel. Other dishes are reliable good and mostly under $5 -- shawarma, kafta kebab, and the usual array of vegetarian options -- but the falafel sandwich keeps me coming back. Be sure to ask for a side of the smoky, delicious hot sauce, and ask what special thing not on the menu they have cooking up today. Props to them for keeping an old White Tower building alive (and one Zippy's been to, no less: see snipurl.com/os8h ). Open until midnight S-M-T, until 3am W-T-F-S. Cheap, historic, and late -- finally, a place that understands me.
(5)V J.
Wow, went downhill, in a category of food that does not survive downhill very well. At this point, avoid.
(1)A V.
Open late, tastes great! Nothing beats stumbling out of a show at the Middle East in central and grabbing a lamb shwarma wrap.
(4)Amy B.
Wondering what this building used to be...perhaps a stable at one point in time? I always over-order here and do not visit as often as I should. Ordered the chicken swarma (love those pickles) and ended up with tahini all over myself! Ate practically the whole thing, then waddled back to the office. My other favorites are the cucumber soup served with pita (very refreshing) and baba ganoush (not as good as the Sultan's Kitchen but still very good).
(4)Jess P.
If Moody's were just a regular falafel joint, I'd give it maybe three stars at most. Points for pretty good falafel wraps (and to all you pickle-naysayers, you can dislike them all you want, but they're supposed to be there, and in my opinion they add a needed bit of tang), but not so much for the decently textured but bland lamb shawarma. However, Moody's is no regular eatery, but the place that welcomes your drunk ass in at 2:15 am, after you've stumbled out of some bar or club and realize you might want some food to soak up some of that booze (at least on Wednesdays-Saturdays). It's the place that means you don't have to rely on greasy pizza at HiFi after a show at the Mideast. It's the place that does all of that for about $4-5 for a huge sandwich. If that isn't worth some more love, I don't know what is.
(4)Em B.
This place used to be good. I have been getting the lamb shawarma here for the past 3 years and this year the quality has just gone down. The wraps are now filled with a little bit of burnt meat and lots of wilted lettuce. The staff is also very crabby. Very disappointed.
(2)Jeff M.
I have been working in Central Sq for 10 years now and Moody's used to be the go to place for a quick and tasty lunch. There used to be a woman who worked behind the counter every day who would make the best sandwiches and plates. She has been gone now for about 6 months and since then the place has gone downhill in both service and food. 1st - The new "manager" (he seems to be the manager as he is there all the time and always seem to be the one taking your money) is always on his cell phone, even while ringing up your order or bossing around the new young staff. His attitude toward the place definitely can be seen and tasted. 2nd - The chicken and lamb instead of getting cut off the spit like it used to, now is pre-cut and sits in a warmer before they add it to a sandwich or plate. With the lamb, which is my favorite, makes it almost inedible. They continuously include large pieces of fat and the meat sits in the grease. Many times I have gotten the meat and it's been cold. 3rd - The house salad has gone way downhill. How hard is it to make a cucumber and tomato salad? It used to be perfect! Then someone decided to add green pepper, mess with the dressing, throw in scallions every so often and add huge chunks of wilted and brown lettuce. All that coupled with the fact that almost all their staff is new, several times my wraps have been missing Tahini sauce (a staple for all wraps!!) and service is just way too slow most of the time (more so than it was in the past, which I can forgive if the food is good), I have to rate them a 2. 6 months ago, it was a 5. I'll still go here as I do love the lamb and there isn't necessarily a substitute for a cheap sandwich. But I really wish they would bring back the woman who used to work there because she knew something that the current owners obviously do not.
(2)Gabriel B.
Could go here twice a week...oh wait, I do. I recommend the lamb and the Falafel.
(4)Ari S.
So basically, I eat here every day. The sandwiches (or "wraps" as yuppies call them) are nicely packed and filled with the traditional lettuce, tomato, pickle (!) and tahini, along with your choice of meat or falafel. They also have hot sauce that has an oddly smoky flavor. They normally grill them, which can be weird if you're used to every other falafel slinging joint ever. You can, however, ask the dude making your sandwich to give it to you ungrilled - this usually solves the leak problems that some people moan about. For an extra dollar, you can get any number of other fillers in your sammich, including falafel (in a shawarma or kabob), grape leaves, hummus, baba ghanouj and tabbouli. The falafel itself isn't so super - it's mushy, not greasy-crispy like they have at Falafel King in Downtown Crossing. I'd say it's more of a "put it in along with a shawarma" falafel, than a "make a sandwich out of it by itself" falafel. The chicken and lamb shawarmas are the real high spot though - the meat is grilled really well and tastes damn good for the money you're paying (less than $5 for a regular sandwich). Also, the dudes who work at Moody's are pretty awesome, although it's hard to chat them up when it's packed. The place is open 'til 3AM, which is excellent for alcoholics like me. Do yourself a favor and get takeout, the place is so small that eating in is like eating in your closet. Also, if you call ahead they will love you because you're not clogging up the place waiting for your food. Oh, and expect a wait for your food if the place is packed - it's not excessive, but worth noting. The place is basically keeping me alive at this point, so much love to Moody's.
(4)Laura F.
I have a very tough tummy and I had some sort of terrible reaction to the falafel plate. Since that day, I can't even walk on that side of the street w/o cringing. I must have gone on a bad day.
(1)Ken C.
overrated. dry, boring shawarma and falafel. good only for late night drunk chow.
(2)S W.
Food is eh. Falafel didn't taste fresh (try Cafe Jaffa downtown for a better falafel). Really slow service and the staff's attitude lives up to the name "moody". Also, they will leave you waiting on a long line without making a general announcement that they are out of all meat dishes-- you find out this after you have waited 20 minutes in line and are starving at the counter. OVERRATED OVERRATED OVERRATED.
(2)Kit Y.
I don't wanna make it, I don't have time to go to Boston, I didn't take cash out today, so I end up at Falafel Palace. Big falafel wraps for four bucks. It's not the best quality, or taste, but it's there and I eat it.
(3)Michael D.
Amazing Falafel, open late, reasonable prices, fast and efficient with polite service. I have yet to try the shawarma, but i've heard good things.
(4)Esther W.
something happened to this place. new owners? new recipes? new servers? i dunno. doubt i'll go back here. so sad :(
(2)Ashley S.
my name is ashley and i'm addicted to the falafel sandwich at moody's falafel palace! seriously. so cheap. so good. i am only holding back on the five stars b/c i haven't tried anything else on the menu.
(4)J B.
Falafel was kinda mushy, won't be going back.
(1)Jessica D.
Had to go to Falafel Palace on my first night as a Boston resident. If they make falafel that my husband enjoyed then it must be good! I was not disappointed. My falafel wrap was juicy and tasty and very filling. Not perfect because I like my falafel pretty crispy, but darn perfect flavor-wise. Next I'll try the lamb shiwarma wrap!
(4)Erica S.
Um 3:00am drunken falafel binge? Yes, please! But hold the pickles.
(4)Darth R.
I lived in Cambridge for a year, and when short on a dollar Moody's was always the place to go. For a fiver you can enjoy some of the best chicken Shawarma to be had, and the counter people are more courteous than other Shawarma vendors in the area. The lamb can be good, but tends to run rather fatty leaving you with a mouthful of lamb fat; just a little gnarly. All in all, the value exceeds any expectations, and a touch of the hot sauce on your roll is just what the doctor ordered to clean out your sinuses.
(5)Laura P.
If it was still last year id be giving this place 5 stars but after several bad experiences its sadly been slashed to three. Still the best darn falafal ive had in mass. though thats for sure. They make them just how i like them when the one older gentleman was still running things behind the counter. The younger folk ive had make my roll ups arent completely awful its just lacking someing in taste and make which usually has me end up with a lap full of hummus.
(3)stacey l.
Don't expect a nod, a smile or perhaps even an acknowledgment from the counter staff...it doesn't work that way. Their food really is fantastic, their service is really horrendous, forget the decor/atmosphere, order your food and get in and get out as fast as possible. I even call ahead so that I don't have to wait in line too long...in the summer, the cramped space can be a bit overwhelming. I love the super combo platter - has some of everything and is only $7.. Only thing to watch for is the shawarma can get grizzly down at the bottom...if you complain they will cut you some new meat.
(4)JV B.
Fantastic falafel sandwich, hommus is fresh, prices inexpensive. I always stop in if I'm in Cambridge.
(5)Jen Y.
I went back to try lamb plate, 5 stars!! Cheap, scrumptious food for the win!! My brother also decided to ask for a plate without vegetables thinking that they were going to just keep that spot empty, but they just filled it up with rice and lamb anyway, awesomeness!
(5)Sevn M.
Moody's has been pretty consistent for me. I usually order the vegetarian combo or the falafal sandwich and both are great. They are also usually quick, even during lunch time
(4)Jeffrey L.
3am 3am 3am 3am 3am 3am 3am 3am 3am
(5)Muckenfuss V.
Staying open until 3 am + very cheap makes up for a lot of other deficiencies, especially the dry shwarmas and the endlessly long waits for service (it's been 20 minutes). Food is comparable to what you'd get from a cart; nonetheless, this is the kind of place Boston desperately needs more of.
(4)Nick P.
Yes the place is small, yes the hours are weird, but yes this is the best late night food anywhere around. Be prepared to wait a little in line, but it is well worth it when you get that delicious shawarma. I live closer to Harvard Square but after a night at the bar I take the T to Central just to hit up this place.
(5)Heidi X.
I've recently been trawling Cambridge for tabouli (my new fav superfood), and decided to give Moody's a try when I passed it on the way home. It's storefront is unpretentious, and there's too little space inside for more than 2 groups to sit, but I love the old-world diner feel in this little shop. Moody's does a great version of the tabouli wrap; it gets the grill treatment, and was nice and warm when I took it with me. 2 hours later, the wrap still tasted delicious, and the dressing they put in the wrap kept everything just nicely juicy without the whole thing going soggy. Loved it! My biggest surprise was that the shop didn't display any more critic reviews than an old 1980s (I think) magazing clipping.
(4)Joshua G.
Great place for 3 reasons: 1. The food is really pretty good. 2. The atmosphere--it's an architectural marvel and they place cool music and loud volumes. 3. It's open until 3 AM.
(5)Stefanie G.
There is something special about Falafel Palace - the falafel wraps and gyros are solid and I love a canned soda, but what really does it is eating here drunk at 2:30 AM after partying in Central (after Thunderdome, Chicken Slacks). For lunch on a weekend, it's cheap and filling.
(4)jen f.
a great place to go at 3 a.m. on a winter's night when it is too cold to realize you just broke your foot at an insane party at the Greek-American Club down the street. the great taste and great deal make you feel a little better when you are on crutches the next day. recommended.
(4)Joy W.
Best falafel I've ever had - not too greasy, not too dry - and you can't beat the vegetarian combo plate. Hoummos, baba ghanouj, falafel, tabouli, house cucumber/tomato salad, tahini and pita, all for less than $6??? INSANE! Amazing.
(5)F N.
Always outstanding...good service, good food. One of the best hummus we've ever had.
(5)Jackie K.
Nothin' like falafel. You gotta try this, it's cheap, quick, and yummy! My boyfriend and I can split a chicken one and it's PLENTY of food. We absolutely are drawn in by the smell, and the Baklava is my personal favorite (it's the best I've had in years, but sometimes they run out, so make sure get it if you see it there!). Go on, have some falafel at 2am, you know you want to...
(5)Lara S.
I agree that the prices here are downright cheap, but that only makes sense since the food was mediocre. This hole in the wall restaurant (barely large enough to turn around in) doesn't hold a candle to the excellent falafel at Rami's in Brookline. Moody's falafel was dry and wrapped in too much pita, and they were stingy with the accoutrements (tomato, pickle, etc.)
(2)Jess C.
Ooooooooohhhhhhhhh! THAT's what a falafel wrap is supposed to taste like!!!
(5)Amanda B.
Absolutely amazing food and nice staff, but I just wish they would remember to put my baklava in the bag!
(4)Wayne J.
This place is pretty good for their shawarmas and kafta kebab wraps. Sometimes they are very slow with service, but I keep coming back. I guess I really like this place because it's convenient, close, and has tasty food for a good value. The space itself is small and dingy, but it fits the vibe/style of the food and the people.
(4)Ashley S.
I don't know what people are talking about when they say the food is just mediocre. It's amazing! Always quick, always fresh, and the people working there are great--funny and courteous. I've tried many shwarmas many places/countries and this is definitely one of the best!
(4)Anonymous P.
I'm a fan. Delicious falafel, maybe the best of Boston. Everything's quite good. I love how they grill the sandwiches. The staff are very nice, the prices are right. Just wish they had more seating. update: 12/10/06. Whoa, guess I was wrong or this place has gone downhill. The food was terribly bland and dry.
(2)Katia M.
It took awhile to get my falafel wrap, and it was a freezing night, but what can I say? The falafel was good -- loved how they warmed it up. But like I said, it took kind of forever. Turkish coffee was also tasty. I can't wait to go again and sample the tabbouleh. Oh, how I love thee, tabbouleh. Thumbs way up.
(4)Al N.
The shawarma is very good. The pastries are very, very good. Unfortunately, I really, REALLY don't like the falafel. Maybe it's a regional thing? It's too cakey and too subtly flavored. I describe it as tasting healthy which is not good because the whole purpose of a falafel is to take a bunch of healthy stuff, then deep fry it until you've rendered it UNhealthy. I don't like the salad that comes with the plates, either. Too heavy on the cucumbers and kind of bland. I prefer Falafel King or Rami's.
(3)Kelly G.
Good, fast, fresh, cheap, substantive. If you like hot sauce w your falafel, they have it.
(4)Molly S.
I typically hate falafel, but I love this place. If you love falafel other places, maybe this place won't suit you. But if you usually find the flavor off-putting and dry, try this place for a happy alternative.
(5)shary m.
It's there, and it's an option, and I'm glad it's there. Definitely not the most delicious middle eastern option in town, but at 2AM, I may think differently, and you gotta love having access to it!
(2)Kim R.
its cheap. its fast. its filling and pretty yum. wah wah just ask for no pickels and extra tahini and then its awesome.
(4)June P.
So, after 5 years of walking by this place, today, I decided to walk in. I was desperately hungry, on the verge of fainting or chewing someone's arm off (I don't usually have cannibalistic tendencies, I swear!). I ordered the Falafel Plate (didn't even see the sandwiches because of my hunger), and then the guy behind the counter asked, "Anything else?" like he KNEW I had been eyeing the baklava! So of course I had to order it. I'm not actually sure how the Falafel Plate tasted because I inhaled it. But the baklava, I'm telling you, is good. GOOD. REALLY GOOD. I even saved some for later because it was so good. And at two bucks a pop (ok, fine 1.75), I think they're a deal. So flaky, gooey, mmm... I'll try the shwarma next time, but I think we have a winner here!
(4)Nathan H.
Great falafel and roll ups. The lamb plate is also a ton of food for your money. I'd highly recommend calling in your order to pick up though. During dinner time the line can back up and you can end up waiting for your order for a while. It always felt great to walk in and having my food waiting for me, probably saved several hours over the years.
(4)Huan z.
Another cheap eat, Their falafel is not as good as Romi's but they are really good. Another great thing about this place is they open very late, if you are hungry at 11:00pm and don't know which restaurant is open. Try them. It is a little tiny place with nice big taste!
(3)Kabir H.
I didn't think I came here that often, but then the dude behind the counter asked me if I wanted the usual.. which is a chicken shawarma with baba ganoush. The baba takes cares of the nearly universal dryness complaint in the rest of these reviews. Plus, it makes for a damn fine shawarma. Really, there should be more dishes with pomegranate. Anyway, the point I'm driving at is that Moody's comes through in spades when you're looking for a quick, cheap meal.
(4)Ja H.
One-of-a-kind in Boston! You've gotta try it all!
(5)Jim K.
Workers seem like they'd much rather be making falafel elsewhere if at all. Not worth the wait or the attitude. Don't bother unless this is your only option.
(2)kathy a.
This place is real good...I've tried other places where the hot sauce and the marinationof the meats aren't that great..this place though, they really know how to make the dishes right. The hummus is excellent, baba ghanouj is real good and their chkn, lamb, and falafel plates or sandwiches are excellent! Plus they are open till 3 am wed-sat!
(4)Helen T.
I LOVE THE FALAFEL PALACE!!! Although the falafels and baklava are wonderful all the time, my favorite time to visit is Friday or Saturday night between 2-3am. Everyone is there waiting in line because the place is packed but it fosters the most fun conversations and atmosphere! The guys behind the counter are wonderful!! As a cornerstone to my weekend nights in Central Square this place gets 5 Stars without question!!
(5)JEM C.
I love this place! The chicken was so tasty and every bite was an explosion of good flavor. I ordered the chicken plate with Syrian salad instead of rice. OH SO YUMMY! Its a little whole in the wall, so don't expect anything fancy, heck with only a handful of seats, you might end up having to take it to go. But its very affordable and you can ask for extra sauce, so that shouldn't be a problem.
(5)Andrew K.
Very good, fresh, cheap falafel, open late, and grilled to perfection. Good bean options.
(4)Kevin T.
I'm really glad Central Sq has this small falafel place. It's almost like a hole in the wall, but the food is great and cheap. my favorites are the chicken shawarma, lamb shawarma plates, and the kabob rolls. I believe the rolls run about 4-5 bucks and the plates run about 6 bucks. The plates are plentiful in portion, and quite healthy with sides of rice and diced cucumber/tomato salad. The only downside is it can take a while to order your food, but I guess that's because it's such a popular place with the locals.
(4)marissa k.
I think something happened to this place, because it seems to have gone downhill...I only tried the chicken shawarma...too dry....not a lot of flavor. Just not good. This place is probably ideal for those stumbling out of central square bars at 2 am...but I would never come here again...I'd rather drive farther to reef cafe (which is incredible) or of course shawarma king. I was also aggravated when I was there, there were a ton of people waiting and someone who came in after me and ordered a chicken shawarma got hers before mine....annoying, they should use a number system, but they didn't seem to care. they could be friendlier. Oh and as for the pickles, that is fairly standard shawarma content...unfortunately, the shawarma i had here seemed to contain none of the spices contained in real shawarmas.
(2)Christopher M.
Peak food experiences for $3.12 (side of falafel+tax).
(5)Leroy t.
It's open until 3:00am, serves falafel and shawarma, and is roughly 6' x 8' inside. Given the above, it really couldn't be better. Consistent, hot, spicy if you want it, with a unique pickle flavor. Good falafel. Really fucking cheap.
(4)jonathan n.
My first review, and it's a scathing one. This was my second visit. Ordered a falafel sandwich both times. The first time was at 2am (I was not drunk), and so was somewhat understandably dry and awful (though, if you're going to stay open til 3, make the falafel fresh to order and don't skimp on quality assuming everyone coming in is drunk and indifferent). Second time was this afternoon. I ordered my falafel spicy, and with extra mint and parsley. 1 minute into my wait, I reminded the surly sour-faced woman: extra parsley and mint. I got the sandwich, drove off, parked, and ate the sandwich. Not only was it rather stale and obviously not freshly-fried again, but there was not a single gram of parsley or mint on the sandwich: nothing. It was overall one of the worst falafels I've ever eaten, second perhaps to the last one I had there. Sure, I knew better than to try them again, but I'd heard good things from a friend, and decided a second chance was in order. Oh, and I am not a fan of businesses that illegally post a minimum charge for cards. Never again.
(1)Jonathan R.
Decent falafel. The sandwiches benefit greatly from the sandwich press, and are even better with hot sauce. Probably the best I've had around Boston, and more than passable (which is more than I can say for most), though not earth-shattering like a few of my favorites elsewhere in the world. Service is mixed, but usually professional and rarely bad. Prices can't be beat.
(4)Srikanth S.
Superb value here. The plates -- a signature item with rice and syrian salad -- are especially good for the money. I think the falafel sandwich gets a lot out of being pressed here. I also liked the addition of pickles, a nice touch. The chicken shawarma was dry on several occasions; I'd go with the kebab, which is made to order (call ahead to save time, if you like). The hot sauce can be wickedly, gloriously hot - I think its a wonderful friend to have at your side when eating what Moody serves up, especially when some items (baba, shawarma, spinach pie) just taste weird.
(4)Erin D.
I used to love Falafel Palace. Their falafel sandwiches and spinach pies were my favorite. However, I had a terrible experience a few months ago. I watched one of the cooks run his hands through his hair a few times and then he started touching all of my food. It grossed me out and now I can't go back. I know this type of stuff happens out of my view in many kitchens, but seeing that made me nauseous.
(2)Nathan P.
I usually eat lunch here once a week -- it's cheap, easy, and pretty tasty. Agree with the comments re: falafel. Before going to Rami's, I thought it was real tasty, but it's just not that good. I have been opting for the lamb shawarma roll-up for six months now and it hasn't let me down. I went last week and they had out these new plates (half chicken, lamb leg etc.) -- didn't try them, but i just might one of these days.
(4)Will E.
Cheap, excellent falafel sandwiches - open late - great people watching. What more can you ask for? Well, you could ask for a little bit more seating, but beyond that, this place is a real gem - especially late at night.
(4)jack p.
I eat here more than anywhere else in the world. The falafel sandwich is amazing. People I've taken here also adore the falafel, although I've heard mixed reviews about the lamb (I don't do meat so I don't know). It's cheap and open until 3am on weekends (finally, a break from hi-fi).
(5)Katy T.
Get the falafel sandwich with hummus. Crispy crunchy goodness inside a pile of amazing flavors. It's good stuff, Maynard!
(4)Paul M.
Let me just put it this way: no other fast food place in Mass does falafel better. It is simply true. Some restaurants are possibly better, Ill admit that much. Every time Im in central around lunch time I go to Moody's. No other place is even an option. That place is a central sq landmark - check it out. Oh just make sure you take it to go, or eat outside because the inside is tiny and they dont have a/c.
(4)Mary T.
Food isn't great & frequently the people are semi-mean. Nice that it's open super late.
(2)Hungry J.
This place has all the characteristics I expect, know, and love in a falafel place: indifferent and borderline rude staff, pretty quick service, delicious food! This place is so goofy, it really does look like a castle on the outside. Well, the inside is not meant for royalty... we ended up sharing a table with some folks we didn't know, because the place is quite cramped. I'm not a huge falafel aficionado, but I think the sandwich I ate here was good enough to go back. It's open really late, and that's probably when they get most of their business. Is it gourmet? No. Is it fancy? NO...I wouldn't want to stay in here for long, and would probably get takeout next time. But if you want some falafel, this isn't a bad place to go.
(3)Josh O.
This place has the best falafel I've found since moving back to the East Coast, and I'm a _huge_ falafel fan.. I haven't tried everywhere yet, and there's a few places on my list that I've heard good things about, but for now this it my go-to falafel shop.
(4)mickey l.
Ok. Tons of mixed reviews here. First off, it's super cheap. Secondly, they may only have one person working the entire joint, so it can be slow. But on a warm night, with a lamb shawarma in my hand, and a freshly fried Falafel (we had to wait 10 min as she ran out) I was winking at the robust but cute lady in admiration for her calm under the pressure of 10 sets of hungry eyes saying hurry hurry I'm next! Of course you're next, and she knows it. She even threw in three extra falafel for my patience-
(4)Stavros M.
I like this place: cheap and good. The falafel is good, they have a good selection of soft drinks.... The main complaint I have is that, though the shwarma is delicious, it is tough and gristly.
(4)rishi h.
I eat a falafel here like once a week. I'm a believer in the myth of the greatest falafel on the planet...but, till then I'm OK enjoying a falafel at moody's. For a dollar extra they'll mix in baba ganoush. Yum.
(4)Khalid S.
For its price and the convenience of the place being open 'til 3 in the morning, it's the best falafel sandwich or shawarma in town. I also tried their cucumber salad, meat pies, hummus, and baklava. And pretty much everything here is excellent. A word of caution about their chili sauce... now when they ask you regular or spicy, they mean SPICY, their red sauce is delicious but it's really HOT, almost on the level of Desi spicy :) Also, I like the music they're playing there, most of the time it's Amr Diab... one downside to Moody's is that the place is really small, but what the hell, it's cheap fast and delicious food!
(4)Juho W.
ok... WTF happened to this place... this was my go-to place for a long long time. I've been in Cambridge since September of 2007 and when i first came here.. wow the food was awesome! They use to fill the wraps with lots of meat ( if you get a chicken or lamb roll-up). It seems like this place got new ownership and they are sacrificing quality. The old Falafel palace would take their time pressing the rolls until they are crispy... Now the rolls are pressed WITH the aluminum on. They only leave the rolls on the presser for mere seconds. What you are left with is a floppy, cold roll that falls apart. Speaking of falling apart.. they now leave the top and bottom ends of the roll OPEN. EVERYTHING falls out! wtf are they thinking. And what is the deal with the greens they are putting in the rolls... first, they tried to use "high-class" salad type of greens in the roll. I think they realized that cost too much money and now they put in lettuce.. wtf.. just keep it original.. more meat.. less greens. Before these new people started working at Falafel it used to be meat/falafel, pickles some tomatoes and few, few greens. They USED to give a hot crispy roll that was much larger in size. I keep getting angry thinking about the change in food. I dont even want to talk about the quality of the chicken, lamb and plates. Do not go to Falafel palace... this place went from A+ to Z-
(1)Stephanie W.
For the most part I enjoy Falafel Palace. I typically order a chicken shawarma plate which I feel the quality is inconsistent. The prices are extremely reasonable though and I am impressed with the amount of food you get for your dollar.
(3)Phil D.
Just seeing a picture of the exterior makes me hungry. I have never had anything but the falafel sandwich, Really, why bother with anything else? I like to eat in at the counter and watch the world go by...Central is not as weird as it used to be, but there's still some sights. Sometimes they even throw a couple of tables outside--that's nice, too! I am a total carnivore so someday I guess I should try some meat, but just can't tear myself away from the falafel. It's delicious. The pita is also perfect and the vegetables are fresh. Man am I hungry. I have also been told that it's not that good, but I don't care. I like it.
(5)Laura A.
i really like this place a lot. maybe my falafel palate isn't that well developed though because other people have told me that it actually sucks. (including miss sonali m., the falafel expert of the bay area.) it's the perfect place to go after a night of drinking in central.
(5)Ani G.
For some reason, the service has speeded up some since I had multiple bad experiences almost a year ago. Maybe this is because I am often going at off-peak times? I haven't seen the guy who ignored me lately, so maybe they just have better people in there? I'm not sure, but whatever it is, the increased speed makes it a better option for a quick meal in the neighborhood.
(4)Vijay N.
My first post! This place is awesome and I keep going back for more and more. Out of all the similar restaurants in the city, this is one that keeps calling my name. The roll-ups are an amazing deal with tender meat, fresh veggies, and great sauces. This is definitely the hidden jewel of Central Square!
(5)Malena L.
all i'm saying is that if i'm to drunkenly pass out on my titanic sized couch while clutching onto some food item, i better wake up to one of their falafel sandwiches in my hands.
(5)Eli G.
Some of the best falafel in Boston. Moody's sets itself apart by grilling the pita after they fill it, creating a warm taste explosion!
(4)Vincent M.
this place is good. its worth the money (which is not all that much). easy location...what more could you want!?
(5)Amaldo ..
This place is phenomenal. I've been looking for decent falafel and shwarma since I came back from traveling in the Middle East. The meat (chicken and lamb) shwarma is very tasty and well-cooked. The restaurant itself is small, but well maintained and clean. I sat down and ate there and found the atmosphere and music to be very amiable. Didn't try the falafel but will definitely be back soon to try it. Much better than Rami's or Shwarma King.
(5)K M.
One of the best hole-in-the-wall places in Central.
(5)KC F.
I'm not giving it a 5 just b/c it's nothing like the falafel you'll find in Israel. However, that said, for Boston, it's not half bad. And the fact that it's right near my apartment is a major plus. My only visits here have been at 2:30am after a night out, which might skew my review on the side of deliciousness, but it also means that I can review the service adequately. At 2:30am, this place is PACKED! But don't be afraid of the line out the door -- it moves quickly. Plus, there are always others around who are either nice to talk to while passing the time or hilarious to watch as they drunkenly embarrass themselves.
(4)Taryn J.
I'm vegetarian so the giant spinning racks of meat kind of creep me out, but the falafel plate is delicious so I don't mind.
(4)solomon s.
I like the food at this place but I am terrified of the "efficient" (maybe mean??) employees. Last time I went, I ordered a falafel wrap with baba ghanouj and was handed a warm little roll-up that tasted quite delicious, but lacking something. A few bites in, I realized that it didn't actually have any falafel in it, and was just baba ghanouj and lettuce and pom. seeds. My boyfriend, who is part Lebanese, approved of the something animal-product-wrap thing he got.. There were 80 people in line and I was already worried about getting back to work so I just munched on my falafel-less falafel wrap and wondered if I'd be returning to this place-- I think I will. Maybe not at lunch time.
(3)Henry P.
Cafe Barada is 10x better than this place.
(1)Kaopectate P.
the food prob 3 stars, an extra star for the late hours
(4)HJ U.
Love Moody's- great falafel, hummus, shwarma (ask for a pita wrap with either falafel or shwarma WITH hummus). Inexpensive and filling. Seating is limited and there's no A/C, so be prepared to take out or stand.
(4)Ashley M.
and the 'can't judge a book by its cover award' goes to moody's. its a hole. it looks like a hole. food's great. oh and i've asked them to make me things not on the menu and they have! how's that for customer service?
(4)Michael J.
One of the best places to get a quick cheap lunch in central square. The sandwiches are good, reasonably priced, and as long as you dont show up during the lunch rush, you'll be in and out in no time...unless of course you eat your sandwich there. Plus, you can't beat the old White Tower building.
(5)