Crisp

I had intended on going here today and I ended up doing so, not because I read the menu and something struck me, but the employee came out to hand me a little falafel ball. Yes, she walked away from her station and gave me a free sample. Woohoo and it was good! If it wasnt the taste of the falafel that brought me in there it was the nice gesture.
I ordered the African falafel sandwich on wheat pita. Very nice! never had a falafel sandwich like this. It was spicy, but not too spicy, and the sweet potatoes were all grilled and yummy. I also noted that the tomatoes were cut grape tomatoes — thats effort! The sandwich came in a neat package which the manager happily demonstrated to me. Overall, I left there feeling happy and full.
And by full, i mean FULL! these guys are hearty sandwiches.
Go with the African.
I also had their chili burger a long time ago which was awesome too.

This is one of my favorite places in Center City to grab some falafel. There are several good options in the area (and Mama’s is definitely best for traditional pita sandwiches at cheaper prices), but I like the variety of Crisp. You can add all kinds of items to your wraps (cheese, vegetables, etc), and they also have a lot of non-​traditional items, such as the falafel «burgers» and pizzas.
They have some odd hours and always seem to be closed when I stop by, so I think they’re more of a lunch spot around here. Nevertheless, I always love stopping in here!

Went in with a vegetarian friend, which I am the complete opposite and I’m not afraid to admit we both left happy. Falafel was better than I expected. Some cool options for sandwiches and salads. I’ll give you a heads up, the hidden gem are these pita chips they make. They weren’t on the menu but I helped myself to more than my fair share of the ones set out for people to try. Warm, delicious, soft and crunchy at the same time. Awesome with any of their sauces. If you go in and don’t see them out or on the menu, try asking for some. Their crazy good.

This vegetarian thing is really catching on. Lately there are so many new vegetarian joints, and there are so many choices of places to dine if you are a vegan.
I am a profesed carnivore, but I aint hatin, I am enjoying vegetarian food more and more these days especially falafel. Which brings me to my review.
In my humble opinion Mama’s Vegetarian makes the best falafel, Crisp Has a very very inventive menu but the falafel doesn’t measure up. And it can be quite expensive. I had the Athenian falafel pita and while all the toppings were spot on, the falafel was disappointing and it was over 9 bucks. I asked for some hot sauce and they had 3 levels of spice, I asked for the hottest sauce and the lady cringed and said «You better take a cup for water because that sauce is really hot». I said «child please“and opened the lid from that little cup and downed half of the pepper sauce and watch the all Haoli staff gasp in horror. I calmly sat down and ate my sandwich in peace.

Best falafel in Philly !
That statement might spark some controversy but it really is the most flavorful falafel i’ve ever had. Most falafel I’ve had needs a lot of toppings and sauce, but this one is great on its own. I also love the packaging of their sandwiches. This will be one of my new go to places for fast & healthy lunch/​dinner

This is my idea of fast food! Being a vegetarian, there tend to be limited options when it comes to quick bites that are on the healthy side. Crisp does an amazing job of this. You order at the counter– they have prepared options or you can create your own. You choose from a traditional falafel, burgers, hummus bowls. I love that you choose exactly what goes in. They have many healthy, unique and some not so healthy fillings (the fried eggplant is amazing).
Their seating is very casual-​stools at counters along the walls of the restaurant. The owner is typically there and very friendly. One time he even delivered our food himself– yes, they deliver! We love ordering for lunch from work.
Their falafel balls are very tasty– crispy and not too oily with a light flavor. Their fillings seem to be very fresh and they have daily specials (I.e. any falafel with fries and a drink for around $ 8). Their ours seem to accommodate the business crowd, so check their website before heading over in the evening or weekend. Oh and they have this very convenient packaging for their falafels– it’s a box with a zip tab so that you don’t end up with falafel juice all over your hands. Very clever!

Delicious but way too expensive!
While I applaud their untraditional and enjoyable takes on the Falafel (note: the original is fantastic as is, but it’s ripe for innovation) their offerings are modestly sized yet liberally priced.
I also tried the falafel hamburgers, again excellent, but it was like $ 5 and I took it down in three bites.
I suggest they axe the creative packaging and ideally, in turn, their prices. I don’t need instructions on how to smash a falafel, thanks.
2.5 Stars.

I would rate this place 3.5, really, because the salad and toppings that came with my sandwich were really fresh and tasty. I got the traditional falafel on pita. They had a nice selection of flavored teas that you could sweeten yourself with simple syrup, which was nice. All in all, a decent place for lunch, and it’s healthy, but the same thing could be gotten at a middle eastern joint or halal cart for cheaper. Plus, they were a bit stingy with the tahini sauce.
Maybe next time I’ll try one of their fusion style wraps.

I had a great impression of this place when they offered me a free falafe, until;
Even tho I made it clear several times I don’t want tomatoes on my sandwich, I was so surprised to find them in there.
And the price was suddenly a lot more than what I expected. Around 11 something for a sandwich and small fries? And it’s not even that big of a sandwich
Overall, my impression of this place fell down soooo much so fast.

Crisp has been on my list for a while and unfortunately it did not live up to my interest levels.
Today, I happened upon Crisp on my lunch break when I was doing a little shopping in the area. It’s kind of like Maoz, with the main differences are it’s pricier, not as good, and the salad bar is not make-​your-​own.
I ordered the $ 11 mediterranean salad which consisted of a small handful of iceberg lettuce (yuck), some sundried tomato paste (yum), sliced up cherry tomatoes (fine), and crispy eggplant (oily). The eggplant topping was barely recognizable; it consisted mainly of oil and breading. The falafel came on the side of my salad and was actually quite good and flavorful; it was a bit fluffy inside and crispy on the outside. The pita that came with the meal was incredibly fluffy, fresh and tasty.
The moral of the story is: don’t waste your money on a salad at Crisp. If you go, try a pita sandwich or falafel «burger.» Or go to Maoz which is cheaper and better.

I was so hungry I was ready to lick the sidewalk, but that is not a good idea in the middle of Center City. Instead, I wandered into Crisp. Although yesterday I had an INSANE cheesesteak for lunch, today I decided was a good day to eat on the lighter side.
So one of the things I like about Crisp is that in addition to the standard Mideastern fare, they also have a different presentations of it. For example there was a Mexican one. Ironically, I went with the Baba Burger, but that is what I was craving at the time. I also got a side of hummus.
I liked that rather than the falafel being in its usual ball shape these were burger shaped. So it was a true falafel burger and it was nice and crispy. The babaganoush on it was tasty and well seasoned. The hummus had too much tahini and not enough of any other seasoning for my personal taste. The pita which came with it was fluffy and warm and rather delightful. They had several urns of different unsweetened ice teas. I had passion fruit with my meal and Gaucho mint on my way out.
I do have to say that I found it pricey for what I got: a «burger», hummus, and a drink came to a little over 13 dollars (!). I think that is quite expensive for what this is. The man who waited on me was pleasant and helpful thought.
And I have to say that I think both Mama’s and Maoz are better for the money. It wasn’t bad, don’t get me wrong. I just think for the price and what it is, you can do better elsewhere.

I went to Crisp for the second time over the weekend, hoping it would be better than my first visit around the time it opened, but sadly, it was not. The place was empty, the man who served me wasn’t rude, but he wasn’ t friendly either.
I ordered the standard falafel pita with salsa/​tomato cucumber salad, and hummus. The hummus and falafel was pretty good, but the salad on it really grossed me out. There was way too much of it, and the tomatoes were mealy, which really skeeves me.
I don’t have too much experience with falafel, but I do know that I enjoy the self-​serve aspect of Maoz much better.
Two times at Crisp was enough for me.

Just had a very tasty and satisfying lunch at Crisp. They have a decent amount to offer on their menu, and I like that they have falafel dishes with other themes (mexican, french) in addition to the classic mediterranean. I went with the Nouveau burger which was a falafel patty, goat cheese, sundried tomato spread, roasted red peppers, and arugula. I also got a side salad, which turned out to be a cucumber tomato salad over arugula dressed in a very light and fresh vinaigrette. The burger was amazing, the flavors all went together really well and I love anything with goat cheese. My two complaints were that the patty could have been a little thicker, and they freshly bake their pitas but the burger bun definitely didn’t taste like it.
This place would get five stars, but the prices are wayyy too high. I only came here because I had a $ 5 credit on seamless web. Without it, my burger ($ 7) and side salad ($ 3.25) would have come to over $ 10. That’s a lot for lunch in my opinion, especially for the portion that they give you.

Not too shabby, but pretty price-​y for falafel — especially when there are oodles of falafel places in and around that are much less expensive and just as good (if not better, Mama’s for starters).
Blame it on the man, man. Crisp is a chain that has quite a few spots in NYC, and this is Philly’s first incarnation. Hence, I’m figuring, this is the reason behind the costs.
Loads of options, falafel burgers, sammies and salads, and loads of fresh ingredients — which is always nice to switch it up with your falafel cravings.
With the very sad closing of Argan, I was jonesing for some babbaganousch, and Crisp’s Casablanca falafel sandwich was able to sate me (but nowhere near Argan’s delectable baba, sadly), but with the bits of eggplans and Moroccan carrot salad, it made for a total filing sandwich.
The falafel itself is pretty good, if not a bit dry and the flavor is spot on. Four flavor options for iced tea is a nice touch (very berry, gaucho mint, passion fruit and white grape). The pita bread is a bit thick and not particular memorable.
Overall, a decent lunch option — almost as expensive as the falafel cart — but nowhere near as good.

Crisp is a nice addition to the Rittenhouse area lunch scene! I particularly like that their offerings are both healthy and satisfying. I tried the «Crisp Casablanca» sandwich — falafel with babaganoush, carrot salad, and delicious crispy bits of eggplant. I loved the carrots and eggplant, they gave it a great texture and flavor. It was quite filling. I ordered a side of fries but in retrospect should have done without them — the sandwich was plenty on its own! Their menu has a nice variety of falafel sandwiches and «burgers,» and also offers plenty of options to make your own — with tons of potential and delicious-​looking toppings.
Service was very friendly, although they seemed a little overwhelmed at times. I waited for my fries for quite a while, I think they forgot I was waiting (because I sat down to eat) and they used up a batch of fries on take-​out orders. The woman working at the register was very friendly and suggested I get my food as a lunch special, since it was less expensive with a can of soda than fountain soda. It was just over $ 9 for my sandwich, fries, and soda — for the amount and quality of the food, I think they’re right on with their price point.
I was very impressed and look forward to coming back to try more of the menu!

After hearing about Center City’s newest falafel spot, I finally stopped by. Well, it’s certainly an improvement over the previous occupant (a forgettable falafel joint whose name I already forgot).
Crisp has an interesting variety of pita sandwiches and salads available. We tried the Mediterranean salad, which included tasty greens, cherry tomatoes, shavings of good parmesan, and sides of falafel balls and pita. The salad was rather tasty and was completely devoured. The falafel balls were not greasy and tasted good. The whole wheat pita could hold its own with the other falaferias around and, like the others, is waaaay better than what you’d find at your local supermarket (side rant — what’s up with crappy market pita? even Whole Foods and TJs sell only dry rubbery disks mislabeled as pita). But … the price isn’t right to make this a regular lunch spot. After tax, the salad was almost twelve bucks. For a lot less, I can get a great meal a couple of blocks away at Mama’s or the falafel truck (and will).
Uniquely, they have a sink available for customer use by the soda fountain, which is nice if you need to wash off a day’s accumulated grime before you dine. Staff is friendly. And you can get in some good people-​watching at the window seats.

Dear Prospective Eater,
Thank you for your interest in Crisp. We had many fine applicants to our falafel program but, unfortunately, you were not one of them. We were obliged to select candidates who clearly could do sound work at Crisp and there’s one incident from your visit we can’t get past.
As you certainly remember, you fully removed the Crisp falafel from our nifty to-​go box instead of following the simple directions on the box: Rip the tear-​away tab to cut the box in half and eat from that. I could see where you, the eater, were surprised when I walked out from behind the counter and physically took the falafel from your hand, placed it back in the box, and showed you how to properly eat it out of said box. Don’t you respect us? Does proper etiquette evade you? Did I wash my hands before touching your food?
Of all our prospective eaters that day, you were the worst. We’re still laughing at you. You have nicknames.
To mitigate the mild retardation you demonstrated while trying to «eat» at Crisp one would have to hum Steve Winwood’s «Higher Love» on my balls to break even with the other candidates. I’m forced to ask if you are this bad in all aspects of life. You can’t even imagine giving your imaginary girlfriend an orgasm, can you?
In closing, prospective eater, and upon review of your resume, we have found that eating at Crisp is not a suitable match for your skills. Remember our saying around here, which you heard me say to another applicant: «People wait in lines out the door for this in New York.» We hope you cherished your opportunity to eat like a New Yorker.
– Team Crisp
As for the food, it’s not on par with Mama’s, but is good and the number of choices make it a solid option. The falafel has a great crunch that doesn’t sacrifice softness on the inside, and the cubed salad – basically cucumbers, tomatoes, and a few onions – was fresh and tasty. The hummus was good but the sauce that came on the side with the Crisp Authentic was bad. Watery hummus bad. Avoid it and you’re likely to get an A-​OK meal and a demonstrative lecture.

At Crisp, you won’t find the same quality falafel ball that you can at Mama’s. You won’t get an impassioned lecture on QUALITY like you will at the cart on 20^th & Market. But Crisp struts into Philly’s falafel world with something unique: choices.
There’s the standard sandwich with fresh veggies and hummus. Or the Athenian, with yogurt, olives, and feta. Or the Mexican, with guacamole, nachos, corn, and jalapenos. Or the African, with peanut sauce and sweet potatoes. You can get these choices, and more, as a salad. Or build your own. Or substitute something. You get a choice of white or wheat pita, and the wheat pita is light and airy meaning I can eat a whole sandwich without feeling like I have a concrete block in my stomach.
The menu sounds a little strange, as if Crisp is trying too hard to be different, but their combinations work well, and the overall experience can be so different from the competition that it’s hard to compare. As a bonus, they serve your sauce (tahini or otherwise) on the side, so the sandwich doesn’t turn into a drippy mess unless that’s what you want. Hey, choices!
At $ 7-​$ 9 per sandwich, more for a salad, cost is a little bit steep, but you’re buying QUALITY, and as anyone who’s been to the crazy falafel man’s cart knows, QUALITY is worth the cost.

Dang, how did Christine beat me to the first review?! Girlfriend is fasssst.
I dragged a coworker with me to try this place on their opening day– I’ve been walking past it daily since May and couldn’t wait to try it. The line was sizable but moved quickly. The operation is Chipotle-​meets-​falafel in terms of the service setup, and it was their first day so servers are still getting into the swing of things. I went for the authentic falafel on white pita and Caity got the Mexican. Total for me was $ 7.51 after tax, I did not get a drink and went for the cheapest option so it’s a tad pricey for falafel.
The packaging they use is brilliant– a box that «unzips» in the middle to create the perfect holding vessel for your messy falafel pita. The pita was ultra fresh and pillowy and the fillings were all top-​notch. The hummus may have been slightly pasty for my taste but the flavour was good and the chopped salad was nice. The falafel themselves were almost perfect– really flavourful, moist, and a great crunch on the outside. The only drawback for me was that the crunch was almost as often a whole coriander seed getting stuck in my molars as it was crunchy fried falafel exterior. Coriander is pretty overpowering and the whole seeds just didn’t work well in the context of an otherwise-​perfect falafel. It could be that this is traditional, I have no idea, but I would prefer the coriander seeds to be coarsely ground instead. It didn’t ruin it for me by any means (I ate the whole thing), and I’ll probably be back to try a new flavour combo.
This place comes close to making up for the apparent closure of the Argan Moroccan café nearby, which had been my go-​to place for a $ 7 tasty pita sandwich. Did they close? There’s no indication or sign but passing by numerous times recently during lunch it’s been closed every time. Sadness.

They have some kinks to work out with the service, but otherwise this seems like it will be a solid lunch spot. I had the athenian sandwich which came with a yogurt sauce, salad, and feta cheese. The falafel itself is good, crunchy on the outside, but soft in the middle, but there was something about it I didn’t love. The whole wheat pita was delicious. It was soft and very fresh, and not too thick. Total price was $ 9 without a drink which is a little pricey for falafel given the plethora of options in the Rittenhouse area.
They have a really awesome box that holds your to-​go falafel.