Sassool (Raleigh)

Sassool's is a Mediterranean deli with locations in Raleigh and Cary. I'm a big fan of their menu, and as a picky Med. food enthusiast, that's saying something. Their Raleigh location also has a corner of the store set up like a market & bakery. There are the usual date cookies and boxed falafel mixes, but also harder to find Middle Eastern items like sumac and rose water.

Pictured, their lunchbox special: half a falafel pita with choice of two sides and a piece of baklava (you can give it away to a non-vegan friend). My two sides were rice-stuffed grape leaves (request replacement of yogurt sauce with hummus) and the black bean salad.

Look at the gorgeous interior of their falafel—herby as fuck! The way it should be!

I've sampled many of their other sides, and these are all good so far. Sassool doesn't over-salt, but lets the herbs and olive oil do the talking. I would personally like more salt, but I know other people are practically salt-phobic (my parents). My mom, a devout carnivore who now likes Med. food since I've become veg, has now really taken to eating lentils—and all because of Sassool's delicious lentils with caramelized onions.

Above, my plate on another occasion I went: their quinoa tabouli (again, needed more salt, but still so herby and good) and more of the black bean/chickpea salad.

On this occasion I noticed they have vegan versions of their stuffed dates. I have no idea what it was stuffed with, but the filling was a thick kind of creamy (like cake frosting) and perhaps a little too sweet to eat right after enjoy delicious acidic Med food. Still, it's nice they keep the vegans in mind with regards to their pastry counter.