The Amsterdam Falafelshop in Washington DC was created to look and feel like the falafel fast-food restaurants Scott and Arianne Bennett enjoyed while traveling in Amsterdam.
The garnish table, shown here in the Boston location, offers 22 toppings so diners can customize their order.
Falafel, served in a pita as a sandwich or in a bowl as a salad, is the only main dish on the menu.
Dutch-style fries are also available, as are virgin brownies—named to preempt the invariable question about the dessert's ingredients.
Several customers have enjoyed the concept so much, they've taken it to other cities as franchises. Units are open outside Boston and in Annapolis, MD, and more are coming to Boston, Texas and Utah.
Although the self-serve garnish table is reminiscient of other fast-casual chains, the Bennetts bring a fine-dining background to the concept and try to provide a more personable experience to customers.
The food at Amsterdam Falafelshop has been a hit with not only Americans, but also customers from the Netherlands and the Middle East.