Ah, London Fields, the epicenter of all things trendy. This bustling corner of east London seems to be springboarding small food businesses into superstardom – and Pockets could be next.
Following in the footsteps of blockbusters Bao and Willy’s Pies, the Insta-famous falafel bar put down permanent roots last year after growing out of its stall at Netil Market. Now flinging chickpeas from the arches of Mentmore Terrace, the hole-in-the-wall has had queues around the block ever since.
It’s easy to see why since I’m the fattest pita I have ever seen. Drizzled with mystery sauces and filled to the brim with lettuce and pickles, I’m two seconds away from double-checking that they haven’t forgotten the star of the show because how does it all fit?
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I make an ever-so-guilty beeline past the patiently waiting but obviously hungry crowds as the server closes the door behind me. She had already stayed open for an extra 20 minutes but apparently that was enough.
I would recommend queuing at least an hour before the weekend closing time. 4pm to ensure you are not disappointed. There’s a bar right next door that sells takeaway pints so it’s the perfect opportunity to grab a Moretti and enjoy a sidewalk chat with your new pita brothers.
From my grassy seat overlooking Broadway Market, I inspect my bountiful lunch more closely. To my relief, there are falafel stuffed there, as well as a whole chili (!) and to my surprise a fried potato.
Pockets are oh so sure of their pitos that there’s nothing else on the menu – and boy, do they know what they’re doing. The whole experience was delightful, from start to finish. The bread itself is incredibly fluffy. Stone-baked and freshly steamed on site, it’s almost reminiscent of an Asian bun.
In addition to that, we have the wonderful salad consisting of coleslaw, sumac and finely chopped tomato, cucumber and parsley. Everything is not perfect; no dreaded humidity, no harshness with the vinegar.
Truly a 10/10 on the veggie front, which is only made better by the chaotic drizzles of hummus, tahini, herb green sauce, chilli sauce and mangoamba shredded on top. My only negative: I would forgo the massive chili because for me it was more of an aesthetic choice than a practical one.
The stars of the show, however, are the falafel and potato chips. The chickpea patties are cooked to perfection, no risk of a dry or crumbly time over here.
The potatoes are smeared and dipped in hot oil until they are perfectly crispy. Owner Itamar Grinberg says this unique addition was inspired by his favorite falafel stand as a child in Tel Aviv and, oddly enough, also recalled a childhood favorite. I only mean this as the highest praise but it was almost identical to a potato smiley in taste and texture.
You could tell a lot of love goes into each pita because each component was as amazing as the last. At £9 it’s a bit on the expensive side for falafel but I’d say it’s worth it. It wouldn’t surprise me if we see more brick-and-mortar pockets popping up in London soon, but for now I hope it remains something of a gem in East London.
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