Palmyra Pizza Vs. Mediterranean Gate: Falafel Wrap

Palmyra Pizza and Mediterranean Gate are two popular eateries in the city of Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. While each has dishes that are unique from each other, there are quite a few overlaps, which make deciding on which place to eat a little more difficult. One dish that is offered at both places is the falafel wrap.

Palmyra Pizza Falafel Wrap

The falafel wrap at Palmyra Pizza comes with either two or three falafel balls. The wrap is then stuffed with a sort of salad and dressing and/or sauces. There are varying accounts on whether the wrap is served hot or cold. The wrapping itself may have been toasted or warmed before wrapping. The falafel balls themselves are cold when added to the wrap. Also, there seems to be no warming process once the wrap is completed. It is simply packed up in some packing paper and/or served to the customer once the wrap is finished.

If you decide to have everything included in the falafel wrap, you may experience quite a wet experience, as the sauces generally do start to spill after a while. If you prefer a less sauce-heavy experience, you could always ask to hold the sauce and/or dressing. Although I have been asked once if I would like everything in my wrap, most of the time the staff member making the wrap does not ask questions and simply includes everything in the wrap.

Mediterranean Gate Falafel Wrap

At the Mediterranean Gate, ordering anything can be a little more personal than ordering food at Palmyra Pizza. Ordering the falafel wrap is no exception. The service is much like a Subway Restaurant, or a Chipotle Mexican Grill chain store, in that you have almost full control over the toppings you want inside the falafel wrap, or any wrap for that matter. This can be a little daunting for those unfamiliar with toppings in a typical Mediterranean or Middle Eastern dish. The display case that is presented before you when you first walk in the little eatery can be surprising for newcomers but also helpful in that it clearly displays the toppings and allows customers to point at toppings to ask questions or seek advice.

When ordering a falafel wrap at the Mediterranean Gate, you are essentially guided by the staff member in picking toppings. This makes your falafel wrap a more personal wrap than the one at Palmyra Pizza. Another major difference is in the preparation of the wrap. At Palmyra Pizza, while there is little to no toasting or warming involved, the wrap is essentially a cold to medium-warm wrap. At Mediterranean Gate, once the wrap is complete, it is press-warmed, allowing two sides of the wrap to be toasted. This adds a more crispy texture to the wrap.

When comparing the size and value of each wrap, it can be argued that the wrap at Palmyra Pizza is a bit bigger. Both are offered at about the same price.

In terms of taste, I must say the wrap at Mediterranean Gate tastes better. It takes longer to make, and the location may not be as conveniently located as Palmyra Pizza for a student at the University of Edinburgh, but one can definitely taste the difference.

Bottom line: if you're in the area, go for the falafel wrap at Mediterranean Gate. If you're just looking for some quick food, go to Palmyra Pizza. But, if you want food and don't mind getting there, then make Mediterranean Gate your next destination.

Palmyra Pizza is located on Nicolson Street, just a few minutes walk from the central area of the University of Edinburgh, while Mediterranean Gate is located on George IV Bridge, across the street from the Elephant Cafe, which is famous for being known as the birthplace of the popular Harry Potter series.