Pita Pit brings healthy flavor to Athens, but there's nowhere to sit

by Adam Koehler
FOR THE POST

The Pita Pit has come to Athens promoting the appeal of healthy and tasteful food for the Uptown diner.

Upon entering the restaurant, your eyes will undoubtedly dart toward the two large, novelty safe doors leading to the storeroom that houses all of the ingredients. This clever device is symbolic of the freshness that The Pita Pit guarantees in each of its pita sandwiches - a claim oddly corroborated through a large mural depicting talking, disgruntled-looking meats and vegetables.

Lucky for us, these magically conversational food items speak the good word. And our taste buds are rewarded with a variety of fresh-tasting and healthful creations.

Most pitas begin with a selection of the basic meats, though vegetarian and more ethnic (gyros, falafel) options are available. The meat, if you so choose to go the non-veg route, is not so much cooked, as seared on a grill, releasing a fuller flavor. Then, it is put onto the large and pleasantly thin pita bread, where all of the fun begins.

With topping choices such as alfalfa sprouts, green olives and feta cheese, as well as the classic fare of sliced lettuce, tomatoes and so on, there's a lot of room for creativity.

Once you're satisfied with the toppings, take a pick from one or more of the eight sauces offered. With options such as tzatziki sauce, honey mustard or "secret" sauce, you'll have the ability to discover a great, new taste. Although choosing poorly will make a waste out of the $3.75 to $4.50 (most available pita sandwiches are in this price range) you just spent. Conclusion: Put some thought into it.

Take a walk on the wild side and get sprouts, green olives, honey mustard and a dash of secret sauce on a Black Forest ham pita and you'll be happily rewarded for your bravado.

After getting your pita sandwich, I guess you're just supposed to go somewhere else to eat it, because there's no trace of something to sit on, despite the ample amount of open floor space.

If Goodfella's can cram in tables and chairs enough for 12, why can't The Pita Pit?

So despite this drawback, The Pita Pit is a fine establishment; offering healthy, tasty food and speedy service. But beware of the talking vegetables painted on the wall, as they could cause a great amount of panic and confusion after visiting other Uptown establishments on a Friday night.