DARIEN, CT — Darien residents will have a new option when it comes to getting some healthy Mediterranean cuisine and sweet, creamy gelato.
The Darien Planning & Zoning Commission on Tuesday night unanimously approved plans for Mr. Falafel Mediterranean Cuisine and Gelato to open up a 2,090 quick-service restaurant within Old Kings Market at 25 Old Kings Highway North.
The space was formerly occupied by Gut Reaction, a racket sports store.
Darien Planning & Zoning Commission meetings are available to watch on demand on Darien TV79
There are other locations in Stamford and Riverside, with another outpost planned for Cliffside Park, N.J., according to owner Majd Junaidi, who appeared before the Darien Planning & Zoning Commission on July 8. Junaidi also owns Coco Cafe in Stamford.
“Before we decided to open up a location in Darien, we did our research,” Junaidi told commissioners during the July 8 meeting. “We do believe people of Darien live a healthy lifestyle. At Mr. Falafel, we’re about healthy food. Everything is fresh.”
Junaidi said everything is made in-house.
Menu items at other locations include middle eastern sandwiches, shawarma and kabob platters, bowls, salads, burgers, omelettes and sides.
“It’s daily prepared; nothing is frozen, nothing is leftover. We make sure we sell what we make daily, and if we run out, we run out. That’s the reason we’re coming to Darien,” Junaidi added.
General hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
“People might come in at 11:30 a.m., but it gives them time to set up at the start of the day,” Darien Director of Land Use Jeremy Ginsberg said earlier this month. “They also sell gelato so they would expect to get a dinner business, and on what might be a nice summer night, you go over for gelato.”
Ginsberg said kids drive to New Canaan for gelato, so having a business in town would be beneficial.
Three tables and 12 chairs are proposed inside. There is an option to have outdoor seating, too.
Junaidi will be installing a brand new kitchen and will work with the health department in the coming months.