Happy Herald November 2007
By: Arnold Leir

Wayne and Kris have an appealingly unique take on Mediterranean delicacies. One visit to Fala in Boynton Beach will convince you that quality and flavor are their primary concern. You can sense the direction of their style with the first spoonful of the fragrant Butternut Squash ($2.49) or satiny Cream of Broccoli ($2.49) soup.

The cheerful dining room contains an open service area where patrons place their orders with a helpful and courteous staffer. Comfortable seating is available at a small counter and at rows of tables aligned with floor to ceiling windows.

I have a passion for chick peas, whether it's a straight out of the container, on a salad or in soups. Falafel recipes take this remarkable legume to a higher plane by accenting it with select seasonings. The chefs at Fala shape the falafel mix into tiny globes and fry them in kosher oil to produce crispy sensations that are pure joy. They also serve a sensuous hummus which can be ordered separately or included as a component of salads and sandwiches.

Most appealing is the toppings bar which provides a host of freshly prepared vegetable and grain delicacies formulated in a variety of inventive and delicious ways. In addition, carefully crafted sauces, some of which can reach an upper end of the Fahrenheit scale, are available to harmonize with the toppings to create accents for salads and sandwiches.

Our Spicy Moroccan Chicken Salad ($6.49) was composed of slices of grilled chicken dusted with a golden seasoning and two falafel balls arranged over a medley of toppings. The Fala Salad ($5.99) featured three of the crisp spheres over romaine lettuce and selections from the bar. We applied swirls of almost all the sauces, except those with extremely fiery dispositions.

Wayne gave us a tour of the immaculately maintained kitchen and explained in detail how Kris prepared the whole wheat and white pita breads from the basic ingredients. You can taste the quality when you bite into the Chicken Shwarma ($5.49) served, as we requested, in a whole wheat pita packed with the aromatic chicken delicacy and toppings. Our Fala Royal ($5.99) wrapped falafel, eggplant, lettuce, feta cheese and toppings in delectable white pita. Be sure to call for the thick cut Belgian Fries ($1.49/1.99) which can be ordered separately or as part of a combo. Freshly brewed Cappuccino ($2.49) works perfectly with triangles of honey drenched baklava ($1.99).

Positive customer response, plus the demand for takeout and catering, has led to the opening of a second Fala in Jacaranda Square near Pine Island Road and Sunrise Boulevard. At both locations, you can look forward to additional culinary refinements.