Amsterdam Falafelshop, the nationally celebrated, iconic top-it-yourself falafel fast-casual restaurant, announced Thursday that it has opened its first Florida location in South Beach’s Flamingo/Lummus district.
Located at 1522 Washington Avenue, the new shop continues Amsterdam Falafelshop’s tradition of serving America’s most craved falafel in a unique atmosphere that only this beloved brand can create.
Guests top their falafel pitas and bowls themselves with selections from more than two dozen fixings on the fresh garnish bar. The falafel and all toppings are made fresh daily by hand from fresh veggies and are an unexpected explosion of flavor.
Falafel is accompanied by Dutch-style twice-fried fries in paper cones, with dipping sauces flowing from pumps that the guests administer, reminding guests of trips to Europe—and convenient to walking the streets of South Beach, day or night.
Live locally, or a visitor to Miami? This is the food that binds both groups together: a magnet for foodies and an adventure for newbies, top-it-yourself falafel rocks everyone’s world.
Local entrepreneur Ajay Patel leads a talented team in opening the new Amsterdam Falafelshop.
“I chose to open an Amsterdam Falafelshop for the freshness of its vegetables, salads and sauces. Everything is fresh and created onsite daily,” says Patel, who also owns and operates a chain of successful sandwich shops. “My wife and I try to avoid unnecessary preservatives, and I know other people also seek that in comfort food, so this is exactly what I wanted to bring to the South Beach community.”
The renowned top-it-yourself falafel shop with a vibe, culture and flavor that commands a global fan base has become a sensation, consistently topping best-food lists, receiving widespread food-critic acclaim and winning over the hearts of discerning customers who have made it a top restaurant on Yelp. The unique differentiators, such as the fresh-made falafel, Dutch-style fries [“frieten”] and topping bar that allows each guest to customize their meal, inspired Patel, who couldn’t resist the opportunity to expand with Amsterdam Falafelshop.
“We’re so excited for Ajay and his team to open the first Amsterdam Falafelshop in South Florida,” says Arianne Bennett, CEO of Amsterdam Falafelshop. “We want to grow with the right people and they fit the bill for what we are looking for in a partner. Opening this new shop on South Beach has been a long time coming and we’re thrilled Ajay’s team is on board to make the introduction to South Florida.”
Patel is also planning to open South Florida’s second location in early summer. The second location will be at 5835 Sunset Drive in the South Miami neighborhood.
In addition to growing in Florida, Amsterdam Falafelshop is moving forward with a U.S. franchise growth plan calling for expansion into other select urban centers where the brand can maintain its originality among a diverse collection of consumers. The company is currently accepting applications from qualified franchisees interested in further developing key U.S. areas throughout the Northeast, Eastern Seaboard, Midwest and Southeast.
