Sometimes it’s hard to find certain ethnic delicacies around town. Case in point: people often ask me where to get simple, authentic Middle Eastern food. It might seem like an easy enough question, but answering it wasn’t always easy.

At last I’ve found a place in Naples to try when I’m in the mood for gyros, falafel and kofta. Tucked in the corner of an L-shaped strip mall, hidden behind a Hess Mart gas station on Pine Ridge Road, Falafel Grill has been open for a couple of months now, and on any given day, around lunch time, the small dining room is literally packed with customers. Be prepared to wait; the family-ran kitchen gets a constant flow of orders.

If you don’t like long waits, try to go in the off hours, in the middle of the afternoon or before noon. Owned by a husband-and-wife team from Egypt, Falafel Grill serves Middle Eastern street food favorites at very affordable prices. The dining room itself is bare and the décor almost nonexistent, but the patrons, many of whom are of Middle Eastern descent, don’t seem to care.

With a name like Falafel Grill, the restaurant’s specialty is a must to try. Its falafel is a simple, traditional dish. And as it often happens with simple, traditional dishes, you will find millions of different version out there, depending on where the cook is from and how his or her mother used to make it. In its simplest form it’s a chickpea patty or ball, quickly fried and served alone or in a pita bread.

At Falafel Grill the classic falafel ($4.95) is prepared by mixing smashed chickpea with fava beans, garlic, cumin and coriander. The silver dollar-sized patties are then fried, drained of excess oil and stuffed in a pita with organic greens, grape tomatoes, onions and your choice of tahina — sesame — or tzatziki — a yogurt-and-cucumber sauce.

What makes Falafel Grill’s rendition particularly enjoyable is the pita bread itself, freshly baked in the restaurant’s kitchen. Fluffy and hot out the oven, its pita is one of the restaurant’s major strengths.

Luckily, the pita can be enjoyed in a myriad of ways, from appetizers to main dishes. The Gyro ($6.50) is another good way to enjoy the same delicious pita bread — in this case it’s stuffed with thinly sliced lamb, onions, tomatoes and tzatziki sauce. The meat isn’t piled high, but this little sandwich is all about the quality of the meat and spices — not about their quantity. The lamb is moist and juicy and its flavor is distinct enough to shine through and not be overwhelmed by the yogurt and cucumber sauce.

The Shawerma ($6.95) is another Middle Eastern specialty worth trying. Similar to a gyro, this sandwich is stuffed with both lamb and beef for earthier appetites. Another must-try, for those who are not in the mood for a sandwich, is the selection of kababs, often known here as kebabs. Available made with lamb ($11.95), beef ($10.95), chicken ($9.95) or ground beef ($9.95), these skewers are seasoned, marinated, grilled and served with a side of rice and vegetables.

The ground beef skewers, called kofta kabab, are particularly tasty because the ground meat is seasoned before being rolled into little balls and grilled on a skewer with morsels of green bell pepper.

The sampler platter ($8.95) is a good way to try a little bit of everything the restaurant has to offer for “sides” — which can also be enjoyed as appetizers. The platter features Middle Eastern favorites such as hummus, tabouli salad, baba ghanouj — eggplant spread — and falafel patties, served with wedges of warm pita bread. Forget the store-bought stuff. Homemade hummus is creamier, drizzled with good quality olive oil and a little paprika, while the eggplant dip has a delicate and pleasant bittersweet aftertaste. Both are perfect spread on the ever present, delicious pita bread.

The tabouli salad is refreshing and simple: bulgur tossed with cilantro, tomato and lemon juice. If you want a bigger, better salad, order the Greek salad ($5.95) or the Caesar (also $5.95). While the first is rich with vegetables, feta and olives, the latter is a slightly different version of the American classic. Chunks of pita bread substitute for the croutons and the dressing is lighter and milder than most.

If you don’t have time to dine in, Falafel Grill offers take out and delivery for orders of more than $15.