Falafel balls may be served as part of a meze, a shared selection of small dishes. Meze is common across the Eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East, and nearby regions, where diners sample several foods at the table.
A meze spread can include dips, salads, pickles, vegetables, cheese, grilled foods, and fried items. Falafel fits naturally because the balls are easy to share and can be dipped in tahini or accompanied by bread and fresh herbs.
Meze is a serving tradition and meal format rather than one fixed recipe. Antipasto is the Italian equivalent in broad concept, thali is an Indian platter format, and bento is a Japanese boxed meal; all can involve several foods, but they are not the canonical answer here.