Get OUT of here!" I bellowed, aggressively pushing over my sister after she had delivered the most miraculous, most awe-and-nostalgia-inspiring news: Maoz, the refillable pita place some friends and I discovered in Barcelona (and whose one remaining location in London and eight in Amsterdam we then continued to stalk and devour), was coming to Philadelphia. The provider of falafel from heaven and so many fond abroad memories was now following me across the globe! As soon as we could, a rowdy pack of hungover females -- some suffering from withdrawal (from good falafel, not booze, silly) and some wondering what all the fuss was about -- arrived on 2nd and South, ready to attack.
Walking -- no, frollicking -- past Maoz's (pronounced MAH-ohz...zez) funky and fresh storefront, we entered the restaurant. The space is mini -- it makes Bui's seem palatial. But when you pay $4.70 for a freshly grilled pita schmeared with Middle Eastern-style hummus and stuffed with freshly fried falafel balls, lettuce and unparalelled cooked eggplant, and THEN get to cover it yourself with LIMITLESS (and fresh, fresh, fresh) selections from the salad bar -- like cucumber salad, tomato salad, tabuli, tahina, fried cauliflower -- who gives a hoot? For a buck more, throw in a drink of choice (howzabout some fresh squeezed juice?) and some Belgian chips (AKA French fries that put even McD's to shame). And let me emphasize that the Maoz folk would never be bitter if you happened to exploit this semi-all-you-can-eat policy. In fact, as the six of us sat on stools in the cozy corner for an hour and a half, continuously getting up to refill, Shai, the friendly Israeli owner, looked on proudly and showered us with free Maoz t-shirts afterwards. Yes, there was some running behind the grill for sweaty hugs and promises of many a future visit. And yes, there was a follow-up to that promise a couple weeks later when I stumbled out of Monte Carlo, the nightclub next door, and gleefully recalled that Maoz is open until 3 a.m. Thursday- Saturday. Take that, Lorenzo's!
Oh, wow -- just called Maoz to see how Shai spelled his name, and upon hanging-up he said, "I love you." I'm pretty sure refillable pitas can put anyone in the mood.
