Lunch Combo from Jerusalem Cafe
Item Purchased: Lunch Combo from Jerusalem Cafe
Location Purchased: Jerusalem Cafe / 1030 Lake St. / Oak Park, IL
Price: $5.99 + tax
Purchased on: 10/02/07
Review: “Mediterranean food” (as we refer to it here in the midwest) can win me over in one of two ways: Excellent Falafel (see Old Jerusalem in Chicago’s Old Town) or excellent Kefta.
Jerusalem Cafe’s lunch special offers a feast for a moderate price, but I’m sorry to report that most of what is offered is simply mediocre. Not that I expect much from my “lunch specials,” mind you, but I’m a bit of a working-man’s food snob.
The Schwarma strips are the typical chicken-dry that most lunch spots seem to serve up nowadays. I harbor the same sentiments about the beef kabob. There is more vinegar in the Jerusalem salad than in a coffee pot during cleaning that pushes flavor over the border into tongue shock (and I happen to like an abundance of vinegar in almost anything). The falafel is dry and bland and the rice is fluffy and soft like mashed potatoes. This isn’t meant to come off as an insult or criticism, because all of this mediocre food is still a value at the price they charge.
“But wait,” you might ask. “What about the Kefta?!”
Well, aren’t you the diligent little lecture hall student?
The kefta, my friends makes up for all of the other mediocrity. Two delicate and delectable little morsels of spiced lamb carcass. JC’s kefta is so melt-in your mouth juicy and barbecued to perfection that these two small patties are enough to make me want to come back.
Bravo, JC. You’ve inspired me to make a second coming for lunch. And with such a small portion of my purchase. If I didn’t love you so much, I’d hate you.
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Leave a Comment