Advi's Falafels

Advi’s Falafels – previously Little Advi – is by Gene Kapaufs, who’s also behind nearby Middle Eastern restaurant Advieh in Seddon. The focus here is on takeaway.

The all-vegetarian, mostly-vegan menu is centred around Lebanese-style split pea and chickpea falafel. It’s served on pita, like an open souvlaki, accompanied by hummus and four salads, which Kapauf’s mother prepares daily.

On any given day, the staple pickled-cabbage salad might come with Italian-ish green beans cooked in Napoletana sauce, a ratatouille-style roast veggie salad or a lentil dal.

Another permanent fixture (and the only thing that’s not vegan) is the crisp haloumi fries. The “chips” are slices of deep-fried haloumi, served with pomegranate molasses and yoghurt zhooshed with mint, dill, coriander and lemon – plus chilli, if you’re so inclined.

The baklava is made using Nuttelex instead of butter, and a spiced sugar syrup rather than honey. Other vegan desserts include gluten-free orange cake and rose-topped mini cupcakes – what’s in the cabinet depends on what Kapaufs’s mother is in the mood for.