Pilpel, the middle-eastern street food restaurant group, will open its fifth site in London next week – with two more planned by the end of 2017.
The falafel and houmous bar concept, which was founded by Uri Dinay and Joseph Cohen, will open in the new Aldgate development in Ailie Street.
The group also runs healthy Mediterranean takeaway concepts Badolina in Bishopsgate and Barraka in Spitalfields, with the search ongoing to find for new sites to expand these brands, MCA has learnt.
Dinay said expansion was possible due to the increased interest in world food and healthy, Vegetarian options.
He told MCA: “Whether you’re in Israel, the middle east or London, it’s always hard to find brilliant falafel, you need to love and respect the product. We have noticed a growing interest in the cuisine with the increased intrigue in vegetarian food.
“We have quite a following in the City already serving fresh, healthy food with exceptional service and lots of love. We’re confident this will be a great new location for us.”
The new site is 1,850 square feet with 50 covers and was designed by Ben Mailen.
It features a marble serving counter, distressed copper wall panels and exposed filament bulb lighting, with a middle eastern geometric patterned floor tiles.
Customers can eat-in or take-away, and order a pita or salad box, served salads, accompaniments such as hard boiled eggs, aubergine and guacamole and chilli or tahini sauce, from 10am-9pm Monday to Friday.
The falafel is based on a secret family recipe belonging to Dinay’s grandfather who ran a falafel and houmous kiosk in Tel Aviv for more than 60 years.
The group was founded in 2009 and also operates Pilpel sites in Fleet Street, Spitalfields Market, Brushfield Street and St Paul’s.
CDG Leisure acted on the Aldgate deal.
