From the Seemingly Neverending Annals of Things That Used To Be Good and Aren't Now (Also File Under You Get What You Deserve)

On that sad note about Mo P's, another place that was good and is now F-ed.   I am, as we speak, eating at Chickpea in Astor Place.   Chickpea was never great, but it used to be passably good -- a reliable spot to have a fairly healthy and cheap meal after yoga class or whatever.   I, for one, liked the turkey schwarma (though this is understandably controversial).  Something happened (I hear they're franchising?).   It's now bland, repulsive.   The pickles are just plain limp cucumber pickles.   The schwarma is dry and barely spiced.   The salad is meager and limp.   The tahini sauce tastes watered down.   The mystery cumin sauce that used to be so good has had xanthan gum or something added to it.  The always surly staff is now actively rude.   'Everything' seems to now mean they put onions on your plate.   I had to harass the counter guy to get four measly hot peppers.   And, if you think from the picture, "Well at least it's a LOT of bland schwarma!", think again.    There's a big pile of salty bulgur wheat to unpleasantly surprise you under that meat.   Chickpea?   More like Dickpea (sorry!)

Comments

[I Feel Crazy]

i disagree with Ulrike. i actually think chickpea used to be damn good. i love me some israeli-style falafel, and though the best in the city is, hands down, Azuri, chickpea used to be a reliably fantastic place.

the franchising thing does, indeed, seem to be the likely reason for the new revamped vileness. the astor place branch used to be quirkily cheesy, with the faux-middle eastern decor and poorly organized ordering system. now soullessly starbucksy, it seems too big for its britches, like some chain based in st. louis or bensonville or who knows where. I mean, Fleet-a-Pita, people?

[Annie]

I don't know Chickpea, but the same thing happened with an independent Tex-Mex place where I'm from. The owner decided to expand and open 3 more places (at once! ???) and the food became TERRIBLE. The original place ended up closing because no one went there anymore. Please, people. If you have a good restaurant, do not mess with it.