The corner of 16th St. and Prospect Park West has had quite a history in the three years I’ve lived here. The space is only big enough to house a tiny kitchen, so it’s always been perfect for a take-out joint. When I first moved in the corner was home to a lousy falafel place. Eventually it that was replaced by a Filipino place, which I thought was mediocre the one time I got food from them. Now it is home to another falafel place, with the unwieldy name Shawarma Mediterranean Grill Flame House (the take-out menu claims it is “House of the Flaming Kebab” as well, though I don’t think that is part of the name). I visited a mere week after they opened, and I am sorry to say that the falafel is not very good.

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Sometimes I think I’m kind of a grouch when it comes to eating. Why can’t I just enjoy a meal, especially when it’s free (as my meal at Barbounia was)? I think i often set my expectations too high. I wasn’t anticipating much when I first saw the menu at Barbounia, but then I read Frank Bruni’s one star review and I thought maybe there was hope for the meal after all. Unfortunately, the bread and olives brought out at the beginning of the lunch were the best parts. The bread was still warm from the oven, and crusted with sea salt and rosemary, and they brought out plenty more at our request. Look at those greedy hands reaching for the bread!

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