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With an abundance of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern restaurants in the Madison area, one only needs to step just off State Street to find the perfect setting for a delicious and enjoyable dining experience at King of Falafel (453 W. Gilman St.).

With both a carryout section and a dining area, King of Falafel offers traditional Arabic cuisine for lunch, dinner and meals on-the-go. The atmosphere of the dining area is charmingly ethnic, with Middle Eastern instruments strung up on the walls next to pieces of artwork from the owner’s home country of Kuwait. Adding to the mood was beautiful ethnic music streaming throughout the dining area, which only houses about 12 tables.

Although the chilly winter season is quickly approaching, King of Falafel does have an outdoor patio facing the University Avenue entrance. With only two round tables that sit about five people each, the outdoor scene is small but pleasant. Patrons can choose to smoke hookah on the patio, an offering from Falafel that is often forgotten.

To start my first dining experience at King of Falafel, I ordered two different appetizers. They were not only delicious but served in perfect proportions. The namesake Falafel dish ($4.95) is offered in both a regular and spicy version. Not wanting to taint my palette before I could enjoy the savory dishes to come, I opted for the regular. The appetizer served up four balls of a fried blend of ground chickpeas, vegetables and fava beans. The yogurt-based tahini sauce in which I dipped the falafel did not provide much added taste, but it was a nice compliment to the texture of the crispy falafel. The other appetizer I sampled was the labnee ($4.95), a generous amount of yogurt cheese with olive oil served with warm, thin triangles of pita. This dip tasted a little bland but was still satisfactory. The delicious pita saved the dish, as it was fresh out of the oven.

Following our appetizers, my dining companion and I hastily received refills on our water and complimentary hot tea. After a short wait we were brought our main dishes. As we had come for lunch, we both opted for pita sandwiches, which all come with perfectly cooked french fries and a yogurt sauce.

The chicken shawarma ($5.95) I ordered consisted of pieces of chicken topped with lettuce, tomatoes and onions. The pita was warm and fresh, just as it had been with the labnee appetizer. The sandwich, which more resembled a wrap with the thinness of the pita, was too heavy on the lettuce and lacking on the chicken and tomatoes. Adding more chicken would have improved the taste of the sandwich, as the meat was excellently saut?ed. The yogurt sauce also complemented the chicken shawarma nicely.

After trying the chicken shawarma, the lamb kabob pita sandwich ($7.95) was a much-welcomed change. The sandwich was more flavorful, the lamb was more tender, and the hint of parsley among the lettuce and tomatoes added a pleasant aftertaste.

With affordable, delicious meals, friendly and quick service and a comfortable atmosphere, King of Falafel is a dining experience not to be missed.

4 stars out of 5