No Finer Shwarma (Pita Inn)

Then the chicken shwarma served at Pita Inn (is there?). Really, is there anything finer in the Chicago area for the price then Pita Inn's chicken shwarma? How so? They begin with chicken breasts skinned totally. No surprises of slime effect the eating. These breasts get enough marinade to turn them yellow and lend enough undertone to an essentially bland meat--I'll return to the condiments in a second. Pita Inn then cooks the shwarma ideally. Unlike some other stalwarts, including Salaam, which is still a really fine shwarma, this shwarma gets cooked totally on the vertical grill. When shwarma gets even some heat in a pan on the stove, it greases it up, and you lose crucial crust. With Pita Inn's method, each shard of shwarma gets plenty of crisp crust, but nary a piece gets dry and there is no residual grease. Finally, you dress the meat with as much of Pita Inn's two sauces as you want. There is white, tahini based, a bit gritty, and there is red, not Zim hot, but perky. There are all sorts of secret ingredients within the red sauce that it reminds me of a good Mexican salsa instead of the one note players that usually accompany Middle Eastern food (and do not get me wrong, those one noters, like Salaam's green sauce, are plenty good, what's wrong with one note if it is played well?) And could there really be a finer shwarma?

Wait, let me add, Pita Inn serves the shwarma two ways that I absolutely adore, and lucky me, the Condiment Queen adores these two ways as well, and I do not have to choose. First, they serve it on a bed of finely diced romaine lettuce with a bright vinaigrette. You get contrast between hot and cold and even more flavors to perk up the meat. Second, they serve the meat on a bed of hummus, which again adds more flavors and also a bit of moisture. I prefer these two options to Pita Inn's standard plates. I have nothing against their fluffy yellow rice, but the thin cuttings of iceberg lettuce are just plate wasters. The above two options present much better deals.

Pita Inn has other locations but I was at the Skokie branch:
3910 Dempster, Skokie
Tel: (847) 677-0211

I am also a big fan of their chicken shwarma, it is delicious (but not their normal shwarma which I find uninteresting).

Neverthless, I will submit that there exists a finer chicken shwarma:

Olive Mountain
610 Davis St., Evanston
847-475-0380
http://www.olivemountainrestaurant.com/

Get there early because they often run out of it.

eatchicago wrote:I am also a big fan of their chicken shwarma, it is delicious (but not their normal shwarma which I find uninteresting).

Neverthless, I will submit that there exists a finer chicken shwarma:

Olive Mountain
610 Davis St., Evanston
847-475-0380
http://www.olivemountainrestaurant.com/

Get there early because they often run out of it.

I agree that Pita Inn's beef shwarma is nothing special--it's just gyros meat, no?

I will have to try Olive Mountain to see if it is finer. Thanks for the suggestion.

Rob

Definitely gyro meat (and not very good gyro meat).

There are a couple items there that I'm really not fond of, but for the most part Pita Inn is an unbeliveable value with delicious food.

I feel bad dissing Pita Inn, they've been so good to my stomach and wallet for so many years.

Rob,

I agree with you about both of Pita Inn's shwarma's. I have eaten at PI (Niles & Wheeling) three or four times in the past two or three months.

In fact, I wondered how a place could make such a really good chicken shwarma and such a mediocre to bad beef shwarma? There was obvious care involved with the chicken, but it seemed like the cooks said WTF with the beef. On my last visit, there was varying qualities within the same order of the beef. The pieces that were sliced thinner, were superior to the rubbery, tastless, thick pieces. You are better off skipping the beef shwarma and just get the chicken.

We ate at Olive Mountain in April with another family and had a really good, and inexpensive, dinner. Unfortunately, we didn't order any chicken shwarma. The weak point were the two soups that we had. One was cream of broccoli and it was terrible. I think my small bowl contained a pound of flour. I don't remember specifics any longer, but two of our entrees were lamb and they were great (esp. the lamb shank; deep, complex flavors). We had five kids in the group and the restaurant is very kid friendly. Besides stuff from the regular menu, like kebabs, that my kids really like, they have very inexpensive kids meals. And the deal maker, BYO!

Al

Hi,

I have also come to really like the chicken shwarma addition to the Pita Inn menu.

Another new addition I would like your opinion someday of the dressed up falafel sandwich which includes fried potato slices, diced tomatoes and cucumbers. I cannot find their take out menu this moment, but I believe they indicate this is the way it is served on the streets of Jerusalem.

Regards,
Cathy2

Pita Inn
9854 N. Milwaukee Ave
Glenview, Il
847/759-9990

Pita Inn
3910 Dempster
Skokie
847/677-0211

Pita Inn
122 S. Elmhurst Rd
Wheeling
847/808-7733

We ate at Olive Mountain in April with another family and had a really good, and inexpensive, dinner. Unfortunately, we didn't order any chicken shwarma. The weak point were the two soups that we had. One was cream of broccoli and it was terrible. I think my small bowl contained a pound of flour.

The soups at Olive Mountain are the one dish that I stay away from. They really don't know soup. I've had the same experience as you: thick, goopy cream soups with no flavor.

Olive Mountain, like many Mid-Eastern cafes, has a great combination plate that I'd highly recommend. It includes all the basics: kifta, shish kebab, shwarma, taouk, rice, veggies. Add a yogurt or Jerusalem salad and you've got an awesome meal.

Another new addition I would like your opinion someday of the dressed up falafel sandwich which includes fried potato slices, diced tomatoes and cucumbers. I cannot find their take out menu this moment, but I believe they indicate this is the way it is served on the streets of Jerusalem.

I have had the new "dressed-up" felafel at Pita Inn and it is good, but I am not crazy about the potatoes. I have eaten many felafel on the streets of Jerusalem (and other Israeli cities) and they do often serve them with a variety of different toppings (though I don't remember fried potato).

In a way it reminds me of hot dogs in Brazil which can include corn, mashed potatoes, quail eggs, and olives among other things.

Pita Inn only uses beef for their meat schwarma: no lamb, and no zing. If in Niles - Pita Town is the better choice for meat. I haven't tried Pita Inn's chicken but I will based on your reviews.

Pita Town
9001 N Milwaukee (at Ballard)
Niles, IL
847.965.7202

You guys hit the nail on the head! That chicken schwarma from Pita Inn was fabulous! I'm glad you posted this b/c I wouldn't have gone back after having the beef. The chicken rules though!

spa_girl wrote:That chicken schwarma from Pita Inn was fabulous!

You really don't waste any time!

And the deal maker, BYO!

I didn't know there were any BYO restaurants in Evanston. I thought the city "strongly frowned" on it and no restaurants allowed booze you didn't buy from them.

Anyway, that is definitely exciting info.

Are there other BYOs in Evanston (I mean no corkage fee BYOs, to be precise)?

Deflator_Mouse wrote:Are there other BYOs in Evanston (I mean no corkage fee BYOs, to be precise)?

There aren't many. I think Lulu's (yuck) used to be. The Dining Room at Kendall College is with a $5 corkage fee. (And they're moving to the city).

You really don't waste any time!

LOL - I work just down the street.

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

Another new addition I would like your opinion someday of the dressed up falafel sandwich which includes fried potato slices, diced tomatoes and cucumbers. I cannot find their take out menu this moment, but I believe they indicate this is the way it is served on the streets of Jerusalem.

Regards,
Cathy2

I do have the menu on me. Its listed as "Gourmet Falafil Sandwich (Jerusalem
Style)"... "shaped into patties and deep flied (their typo, not mine ... served
with potatoes, diced tomatoes, cucumber and pickles in a pita bread
pocket". Costs 3.95 - the normal falafil sandwich is 2.75.

c8w

P.S. If one spends too long on a post before actually submitting (or even
previewing) it, does it just vanish into the ether? Thats what happened to
my reponse on the Baba Palace thing this evening Wouldnt let me
retreive it neither, just logged me off in the meantime I think.

Deflator_Mouse wrote:Are there other BYOs in Evanston (I mean no corkage fee BYOs, to be precise)?

DM,

I believe there was a nominal corkage, but I don't have a problem with a small charge.

Cheers,
Al

On topic: love Pita Inn, and particularly the grocery next door to the Skokie location.


Off topic: When and where is Kendall moving?

pd

Kendall College is moving soon to a Chicago this fall, new address:

Kendall College
900 N. North Branch Street
Chicago, IL 60622

I have been dreaming of Pita Inn taking over the spot on Western left vacant by Riggio's Cafe Pranzo. I know they already have three locations that are all northish, does anyone know if they are planning to open any other locations?

My favorite is the businessman's lunch - for $3.95 you get shish kabob, kifta kabob, beef shawarma (which perks up a lot with the red hot sauce on it), falafel, rice pilaf, salad and a piece of pita. The catch is to ask for the hot sauce and go there between 11-3 M-F to get it. (although I have yet to do it, you can add chicken for $1).

momgray wrote:I have been dreaming of Pita Inn taking over the spot on Western left vacant by Riggio's Cafe Pranzo.

I've been dreaming of anything decent taking over that space.

I have been dreaming of Pita Inn taking over the spot on Western left vacant by Riggio's Cafe Pranzo. I know they already have three locations that are all northish, does anyone know if they are planning to open any other locations?

Why not give destiny a little push and suggest it to the Pita Inn owners? From what I have observed recently, the business management is slowly transitioning probably to the next generation.

If nothing else, Pita Inn will be flattered you think so highly of them.

Regards,

why not suggest the space to hot doug. or will he be reopening in his old space?

sharon

Thanks for recommending the Pita Inn's Chicken Shwarma. Thursday evening Wife #1 and I dined there. She enjoyed her Kifta Kabob plate; I was happy with Chicken Shwarma.

Also, the servings are generous. We combined leftovers which made for a full meal for one the next day. A great value.

I think the key part of VI's phrase was the "for the price" part. To that I'll agree, but as with others, I too think that Olive mountain's version of shawerma is better than pita inn's, in fact I think basha's version just down the block is a little tastier as well.

at Olive mountain, though, even though I like the chicken shawerma, and it is my normal order there for lunch, I'll often skip an entree altogether and just have two orders of what I think is their best dish, the desert kulaj. IF there's a bette kulaj around, i'd love to hear about it

zim wrote:I think the key part of VI's phrase was the "for the price" part. To that I'll agree, but as with others, I too think that Olive mountain's version of shawerma is better than pita inn's, in fact I think basha's version just down the block is a little tastier as well.

at Olive mountain, though, even though I like the chicken shawerma, and it is my normal order there for lunch, I'll often skip an entree altogether and just have two orders of what I think is their best dish, the desert kulaj. IF there's a bette kulaj around, i'd love to hear about it

Really?

I think the chicken shwarma at Pita Inn is so great, I cannot imagine something better. I'll have to try the other places though.

Vital Information wrote:

zim wrote:I think the key part of VI's phrase was the "for the price" part. To that I'll agree, but as with others, I too think that Olive mountain's version of shawerma is better than pita inn's, in fact I think basha's version just down the block is a little tastier as well.

at Olive mountain, though, even though I like the chicken shawerma, and it is my normal order there for lunch, I'll often skip an entree altogether and just have two orders of what I think is their best dish, the desert kulaj. IF there's a bette kulaj around, i'd love to hear about it

Really?

I think the chicken shwarma at Pita Inn is so great, I cannot imagine something better. I'll have to try the other places though.

Yes indeed. I'll stand with zim on my earlier contention that Olive Mtn's is finer than Pita Inn's. At $8.95, it is a few dollars more than PI's, but I consider that price very fair for the mound of food that you get.

And the kulaj is killer, without a doubt.

eatchicago wrote:

Vital Information wrote:

zim wrote:I think the key part of VI's phrase was the "for the price" part. To that I'll agree, but as with others, I too think that Olive mountain's version of shawerma is better than pita inn's, in fact I think basha's version just down the block is a little tastier as well.

at Olive mountain, though, even though I like the chicken shawerma, and it is my normal order there for lunch, I'll often skip an entree altogether and just have two orders of what I think is their best dish, the desert kulaj. IF there's a bette kulaj around, i'd love to hear about it

Really?

I think the chicken shwarma at Pita Inn is so great, I cannot imagine something better. I'll have to try the other places though.

Yes indeed. I'll stand with zim on my earlier contention that Olive Mtn's is finer than Pita Inn's. At $8.95, it is a few dollars more than PI's, but I consider that price very fair for the mound of food that you get.

And the kulaj is killer, without a doubt.

I had dinner sunday night at Olive Mtn. and had a schwarma that was completely inconsistent with my experiences over the last 5 years eating there. The chicken schwarma was dry and flavorless and not a joy to eat at all. I hope this experience was an anomaly, but if it continutes, I may have to rescind my earlier statements.

Best,
EC