Who is taking off the whole tail today? Shawarma Shimoni (Photo: David Rosenthal)
A few years ago, IRS investigators tricked a falafel vendor in the south. He reported a certain amount of sales, they went and counted the pita tails he cut and found that he was selling twice as much as he stated. The rumor has spread its wings, which is why in the last decade you no longer see fast food vendors cutting off their tails, but only making a cut in the pita.
To all the columns of "Rosie the Taster"
I was reminded of this story when I arrived at Shawarma Shimoni in Gan Yavneh, and not, God forbid, because someone there is financially smart. On the contrary, and it is worth emphasizing this in order to clear any suspicion - the sympathetic cashier gave me two notes and explicitly said "one is a receipt, the other you give at the stand", and she did the same with those before and after me.
So what does that have to do with that? I ordered and was surprised when they cut off my entire tail and left pita open, as it used to. It seemed strange to me, but I flowed. You'll get the punch later.
Looks juicy and inviting. Shawarma Shimoni (Photo: David Rosenthal)
Here it is considered a flagship branch not only due to its pioneering and strategic location, but also due to the selection
The large branch of Shawarma Shimoni is located in Gan Yavne, right on the exit from Highway 4 to Ashdod, on a busy and crowded path with parking problems. Who even thought there would be parking problems in Gan Yavneh?
The old place, which opened its first branch at this junction and later in Gedera, became such a well-known institution on the Rishon LeZion-Ashdod route that it opened several additional branches in the area, such as in Rehovot, Rishon LeZion and Nes Ziona. Here it is considered a flagship branch not only because of its pioneering and strategic location, but also because of the selection - three thick and impressive blocks, reminiscent of the best shawarmas of Haifa.
It was barely possible to breathe in Shimoni when I arrived. Swarms of people swept the place, reminding what value a good reputation has. And like we said, it's not that the place is accessible, so the effort is admirable. I stood in line, eyes greedily tanning the ramp's wheel proudly on the right. When I arrived at the checkout, after a short wait, I recited to myself an ancient phrase I had recently adopted: "When you arrive at the shawarma stand, do not be ashamed alongside the lamb pita to take half a portion of turkey" (Skewers <>, verse <>).
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I was expecting wow. There was none. Shawarma Shimoni (Photo: David Rosenthal)
I took a bite of lust. I expected fire, sparks and smoke plumes but there were none
The pita cost me 45 shekels, half the chicken portion 29 shekels. After the last visit to Dalit al-Carmel charged me half price for half a dish, the new-old reality hit me, but here comes the promised punch from the opening story - the half dish is the same pita I mistakenly thought was a whole dish. The almost only difference between it and a complete dish lies in the full cutting of the tail. Definitely fair in relation to the value.
I took a bite of lust. I expected fire, sparks and smoke plumes but there were none. The lamb shawarma would have been satisfactory, maybe even beyond that, the turkey was ok too, but "wow" wasn't there. I think more than the meat, the problem was in the pitas. They felt like they had come out of the freezer and thawed. I don't know if that's the case, probably not, but I'll say that to say the least I've eaten better, more mellow pita bread.
Broadly rewarded. Shawarma Shimoni (Photo: David Rosenthal)
At the table next to me sat an elderly couple. "Look at how much meat they put on my plate," the man marveled, and the friendly woman replied, "Well, you paid 74 shekels, they don't want them to put much." And so I became aware of the not at all cheap price of the dish on the plate.
So C.M.A. came out?
Generosity dominates Shimoni shawarma, and generosity is a very important parameter in the quantity-price-quality index, from 1 to 10. Already on the way from the checkout to the order, you pass a salad bar full of goodies that give with a wide hand. When you ask for fries they don't put inside the pita but a nice amount in a bag, and we won't forget of course the "half dish". The price may not be cheap, but in terms of quantity it eclipses the vast majority of central shawarmies.
We stayed, therefore, with the quality. It seems to me that my problem with Shawarma Shimoni was the level of expectations. It wasn't bad at all, but I felt like a fan of Brazil in the World Cup for the last 20 years – I was promised a championship, and I had to settle for a reasonable place at the top. Nice experience, good shawarma, but there are better ones. The quality alone felt like a 7 to me, and yet, people who give wholeheartedly should be rewarded - a score of 8. Let's.
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