Alexander's, Heaven on Campus

The UO campus has a lot of food carts, in addition to the restaurants. Cart De Frisco consistantly wins best food cart when Eugene Weekly does their best of Eugene issue. But in second, and my vote everytime, is Alexander's Great Falafel.

Everything sold there is Vegan, not a single animal-related product in sight. And the prices are wonderful, 6.50 for the deluxe, which is my choice. The deluxe consists of a warmed pita, six falafel balls, six-vegetable salad, a generous scoop of hummus, tahini (sesame seed) sauce, and hot sauce if you want it (I always do. Always.) 

Every order comes with a dixie cup of lemonade, not the greatest lemonade in the world, but it goes very well with what comes after. In a paper holder, Alexander himself hands you your falafel. It's hard to figure out where to bite first. but once you dive in, sheer food-bliss awaits you. The falafels are crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. If you've never had falafel, I don't know how to describe it to you, if you have before, especially the boxed kind you find at the store, then imagine that taste with much better quality. The hummus follows the same line. Tahini is under appreciated, but you've never had true falafel until you've had it with a real tahini sauce. The salad provides a cool contrast to all the other flavors vying attention and the hot sauce sneaks up on you, more than once I've thought "Hmm, Alexander skimped on the hot sauce," and them bam! it hits and it hits hard. 

The true charm of Alexander's is Alexander himself, if you've ever had a chance to go and talk to him he's in incredibly nice man and does very well at remembering his customers, impressive considering the number of faces he must see throughout his day. Alexander's would not be the special place it is without he himself running things.

I'm currently taking a running class, and the deluxe from Alexander's is great before a run. Enough to keep you through 2 and 1/4 miles but not too heavy to cause problems. 

All in all, I cannot recommend it highly enough. It's a gem of campus, and a place you could easily walk by without knowing it was there without someone telling you. I'm telling you. And what I'm telling you is to go eat there. You will be glad you did.

-JDT